Week 9: Day 4 - 2013

cardio:

• @ 6:15pm = karate: 1 hour
• "warm up" = 1 mile walk to class
• "cool down" = 1 mile walk after class

I didn't do a full hour of karate, and whatever I did in class was half-ass. I donated blood today, so I had to take it easy in whatever exercise that I was doing. Since I donated blood in the afternoon, I shouldn't run tomorrow morning just, so I don't get dizzy/light-headed and pass out in the street somewhere during my run.

Week 9: Day 2 - 2013

cardio:

• @ 10:30am = bike ride: 3.44 miles

I almost wanted to just stay inside and do nothing today because I woke up with a mildly stiff neck this morning. It was just too nice outside not to go for a bike ride. I must enjoy this weather and go on bike rides before summer comes.

Week 8: Day 7 - 2013

cardio:

• 8:30am: 6.21 miles, time = 1:04:50, pace @ 10:26

I did my 10k race this morning. I actually could have done better this morning and made personal record had I not slow down to take some photos or had I tried a little harder during the race. The first year that I did this race (which was in 2009), my finish time was 1:04:34. It's ok. The race officials changed the course this year and it went back to the "original" course that I remember doing (when I first did this same race) in 2009. When I did this race in 2011, we cut through the parking lot at Dodger Stadium and ran next to the stadium. Running through the parking lot and next to Dodger Stadium was the highlight of the race for me.

 

So now that I'm done training for a race of some kind, I feel like I can run for the sake of running. I'm motivated to run alone again now. I guess this goes to show that I need to run with other people or change my running routes (by getting in the car and going somewhere else) to stay motivated with running.

Week 8: Day 5 - 2013

cardio:

• 7:00am: trail/road run = 4.71 miles, time = 48:14, pace @ 10:14

I'm done with training for my 10K race and it will be this Sunday morning. While I've missed two training runs this week (from a combination of laziness and lack of interest/motivation), I don't think it will affect my overall running performance because I did just fine running this morning. I don't expect to break any personal records, although I will be pleasantly surprised if I do. I hope/wish for a cold temperatures (perfect/ideal in my mind) on Sunday morning, but I know that this is wishful thinking.

 

Wish me luck...not that I need it!

Week 7: Day 7 - 2013

cardio:

• @6:50am: trail/road run = 5.16 miles, time = 54:37, pace @ 10:39

Total Weekly Mileage: 13.34
Total Monthly Mileage: 40.15
Total Yearly Mileage: 102.41
Total Shoe Mileage: 95.28

The 10K race is finally next weekend! I'm so ready for it!

So I finally decided that I wanted to take photos during my runs whether I'm training for a race or running for fun...and not just during a race. I did take some photos, but I'm not going to share on here.

While I was out for my run, there was a race in my hometown. It hadn't began yet when I started my run or when I finished because I went out early enough. One of the lanes on one of streets I live near was closed for race course runners. During the second half of my run, I saw Law Enforcement officers waiting on different street corners that the runners would pass, basically so they could control the vehicle traffic for the safety of the runners. It was nice that I got to run the stop signs/lights, basically jaywalking (jayrunning?) in front the cops without worrying about an $85 to $90 jaywalking ticket. Anyway, I'm not sure what kind of race this was or what the purpose of it. It's an annual race, but I usually forget about it immediately after the race until I see cones set up, closing down a lane for the runners for the following year. I think this race has been going on for three years now (as far as I know)?

Week 7: Day 5 - 2013

cardio:

• 6:50am: road/trail run = 4.88 miles, time = 50:21, pace @ 10:19

My motivation is so up and down right now. Blah! I didn't do any work outs on Wednesday morning or yesterday. I felt a little better after 1.5 miles into my run when I realized that I should change my routes...by changing my routes, I need to get into my car and drive to a different city. This is probably all I need and I'll make sure that I do that for one of my runs next week. I also thought about bringing my point and shoot camera, and just take random photos during my run. Last year, I told myself to bring a camera with me to take photos of sunrises, but most of the time, I don't see nice sunrises during my runs. One time, I saw a hawk sitting on a lamp post. Did anyone see "Yes Man"? Remember "jogger photographer"? I know some real life jogger "photographers" who take photos during all of their runs and races. So while I know that my photos won't be professional quality from my runs, I think I'm going to start taking random photos of me running, or random stuff that I see (like a hawk sitting on a lamp post).

Week 7: Day 2 - 2013

cardio:

• @6:45am: hilly trail run = 1.1 miles, time = 13:12, pace @ 12:00
• warm up = 1.1 miles
• cool down = 1.1 miles

If this weather (my ideal/perfect) keeps up for the next two weeks, I may be able to finish my 10K training with a decent amount of motivation/interest. I love sunny and cold (low 40-something degrees) weather, but it has to be sunny. Otherwise, I'm tempted to go back to sleep.

Week 6: Day 7 - 2013

cardio:

• 6:50am: trail/road run = 6.38 miles, time = 1:07:21, pace @ 10:33

Total Weekly Mileage: 19.65
Total Monthly Mileage: 26.81
Total Yearly Mileage: 89.07
Total Shoe Mileage:81.94

I'm still struggling with lack of motivation/interest, but this morning had my ideal weather, perfect in my mind, so my motivation was actually better than what it was before. In my perfect world, it would be sunny with temperatures in the low 40s degrees everyday that I run or for 365 days a year. In reality, that can't and won't happen. I wish for the same weather as this morning everyday until I do my race.

10K Training Week 5 REVIEW:

Mon, Feb 04: Rest
Tues, Feb 05: 1.1 mile hilly RUN
Wed, Feb 06: REST
Thurs, Feb 07: 4.46 mile RUN + karate
Fri, Feb 08: 5.51 mile RUN
Sat, Feb 09: REST
Sun, Feb 10 (today): 6.38 mile RUN

http://www.firecracker10k.org

Total Weekly Mileage: 17.45
Total Overall Mileage: 71.04

Week 6: Day 5 - 2013

cardio:

• 7:00AM: trail/road run = 5.51 miles, time = 58:56, pace @ 10:42

I can't wait for the race. I know I'll be fine once it's here, but in the meantime, I'm struggling with my motivation level.

I'm so glad that I got my run out of the way and the rain held out long enough for me to finish. The clouds didn't seem that bad when I was running, but they are now very dark and it looks like it's going to rain. I hope/wish for heavy rain this afternoon/evening, so I can have an easy work shift!

Week 6: Day 4 - 2013

cardio:

• 6:50AM: road/trail run = 4.46 miles, time = 47:02, pace @ 10:33
• 6:15PM: karate = 1 hour

I'm trying so hard not to give up on my training. I have a little over two weeks left until race day and I must keep on training/running. I have to play mind games in the meantime. I'm burnt out and unmotivated. My legs ache when I run (they're fine when I'm not running). This morning, I ran faster than I thought because I felt so slow and I ran with heavy breathing like I was out of shape. I'll feel so much better when race day is finally here. I'm always/usually feel better on race day. The training part always seems like the hardest part. Hurry up, race day!

Week 6: Day 2 - 2013

cardio:

• @6:50am - hilly trail run = 1.1 mile, time = 13:30, pace @ 12:16

With the overcast, the weather felt better this morning than over the weekend. This says a lot because I usually don't think overcast mornings feel cool.

Since today is National Pancake Day and IHOP is serving free buttermilk pancakes all day, I enjoyed my pancakes after my run. I'm not sure if this has helped with my running motivation though.

Week 5: Day 7 - 2013

cardio:

• 6:50am - trail road run = 7.29 miles, time = 1:18:19 (h:m:s), pace @ 10:45

Total Weekly Mileage: 22.44
Total January Mileage: 55.71
Total February Mileage: 7.16
Total Yearly Mileage: 69.42
Total Shoe Mileage: 62.29

I felt better this morning compared to my last run on Friday morning. I also realized yesterday that I started training for my 10k race one week too early and I actually have three more weeks left until race day, so my training schedule is a bit off! I hope my motivation can last that long!

I didn't go to karate training because I was so sleepy and tired. I think I needed to catch up on sleep because I slept all afternoon! Maybe this was why I felt fine this morning and did better than Friday morning!

10K Training Week 3 Review:

~ Mon, Jan 28: 3 Mile Bike Ride
~ Tues, Jan 29: 1.1 mile hilly run
~ Wed, Jan 30: REST
~ Thurs, Jan 31: 5.43 mile RUN
~ Fri, Feb 1: 6.42 mile RUN
~ Sat, Feb 2: REST
~ Sun, Feb 3 (today): 7.29 mile RUN

http://www.firecracker10k.org

Week 5: Day 5 - 2013

cardio:

• 6:50am: trail/road run - 6.42 miles, time = 1:09:54, pace @ 10:53

The race is in 16 days! At this point, I'm so ready for it because I don't want to run anymore. This morning, I had enough motivation to get out and run the first two miles, but I became grumpy and unmotivated after that. It was warmer than I wanted this morning, but I hope that I'm just bored and unmotivated.