Week 48: Day 6 - 2013

@ 10:00am: road run = 4.83 miles, time = 52: 40, pace @ 10:54

I had a meeting for work this morning at 8am. If I didn't have to go to this, I would have gone on a bike ride with a group of people instead. This was the second time that I had to miss out on a group bike ride because of a work meeting. Work meetings are so pointless and stupid.

I went on a run this morning after the meeting. I went later than I was used to and the weather was warmer than I'd like, but I ran faster than I thought. At least, it wasn't humid or smoggy...

Week 48: Day 4 - 2013

@6:50am: trail/road run = 4.57 miles, time = 53:16, pace @ 11:39
@1:45PM: bike ride = 13.72 miles, time = 1:04:17, pace @ 12.8 mph

I almost didn't want to go out for a bike ride. Laziness was kicking in (I already went for a run this morning after all), but I told myself that I would feel better. I knew that if I paid for parking (starting and ending point of my bike ride in El Monte), there was no point of return and I couldn't get a refund. I went on the Rio Honda bike path with the parking lot that started/ended in South El Monte and rode until I got to around the El Monte airport (turn around point). It was a nice long ride. I think I will be riding this bike path occassionally. Sometimes I need to ride in different areas to find motivation. I thought about doing a run on this bike path, but the scenery is extremely boring. I like looking at natural/nature-like scenery and this bike path is not that at all.

Week 48: Day 2 - 2013

@ 7:00am: hilly trail run = 1.1 miles, time = 14:26, pace @ 13:07

I figured out how to improve my bike endurance/strength! All I have to do is run on challenging hills once a week. I used to do this to build my endurance and speed for long distance running. I think I need to get back into running on challenging hills again.

The last time I ran on challenging hills was last July. Surprisingly, I did better than I thought this morning and I was able to run continuously without slowing down (to a walk) or stopping. Of course, I wasn't as fast as I'd like, but it was ok. I will get better if I continue to run on the hill/trail regularly/weekly.

Week 48: Day 1 - 2013

@ 9:10am: bike ride = 10.15 miles, time = 48:16, pace @ 12.6 mph

For whatever reason, I feel like I'm getting slower on some hills. These are the same hills that I've done many times before. I guess this is what happens when I don't ride on a regular basis (two or three times a week). I lose some endurance and strength because I don't ride as often as I like.

On the bright side though, I get to ride with a group of other cyclists on Friday and Saturday. They are two different groups. Friday's ride is 18 miles and Saturday's ride is 17 miles. I hope I can do ok keeping up with them. I can use the motivation of being around other cyclists so I can ride more often on my own.

Week 47: Day 7 - 2013

@ 6:40am = trail/road run = 4.44 miles, time = 49:19, pace @ 11:20

Total Weekly Mileage: 12.24
Total Monthly Mileage: 18.74
Total Yearly Mileage: 517.40
Total Shoe Mileage: 248.47

I had planned to do my bike ride this morning after my run. I went to a park in El Monte to use as a starting/ending point. I had forgotten that I might possibly have to pay a parking fee. I didn't have enough money to pay for it, so I didn't get a ride in. I have no motivation to ride now. I think I will make up for it during the week and I'll make sure that I have enough money to pay for the parking fee.


Week 47: Day 4 - 2013

@ 1:35pm = bike ride = 9 miles, time = 45:30, pace @ 11.9 mph

I debated about going out for a bike ride today. It had been sprinkling on and off all day. There was finally a break in the rain. I braved the weather, even though there were still dark clouds lingering around. Luckily, it sprinkled for a few minutes towards the end of my ride and I stayed dry the whole time. I was going to ride in a completely new area today, but I wanted to stay closer to home, so I'd have a better chance of staying out of the rain during a ride because I didn't commute to anywhere.

Week 47: Day 3 - 2013

@ 6:40am: trail/road run = 4.19 miles, time = 48:01, pace @ 11:28

I was going to do my bike ride work out this afternoon. I ended up not doing it because of lazyiness.

I should start riding my bike in different areas, preferably on a bike path that only allows bicycles and pedestrians. I think I need some kind of motivation to get out for more bike rides and I think it would be easier if I went in other areas. Riding around in my own town gets boring sometimes.

Week 47: Day 2 - 2013

@ 6:40am = 3.61 miles, time = 39:14, pace @ 10:52

I didn't run far this morning, but I finally have some motivation to run and I'm enjoying my runs again. Too bad, it came at the wrong time and not during my half marathon training when I needed it most. I don't know why I'm suddenly getting the enjoyment and motivation now. I think it's better now than never. I hope I still have it when it comes time to train for my 10K race in February though.

Week 47: Day 1 - 2013

@ 9:30am: bike ride = 7.15 miles, time 36:40, pace @11.7

I need to stop being so lazy with my bike rides and runs.  I recently joined a bicycle group on meetup and I had RSVP'd to do a 20 mile bike ride with them on November 29. My longest ride was 14 miles. That was one time and it was in May. Time to get to work!

Week 46: Day 5 - 2103

@ 1:00pm: trail/road run = 3.2 miles, time = 35:17, pace @ 11:02

I wasn't go for run or bike ride at all today. The clouds looked a bit "rainy" and I was scared to run/bike in the rain because I didn't want to get sick. I decided to brave the weather and the weather wasn't as bad as I thought. It was actually quite warm and got a little sunny. I was going to go for a bike ride afterwards, but I think it's a little too late in the afternoon for that. I don't want to get stuck in any residual school traffic since I live near a middle school and a high school (they're directly across the street from each other and they're both ending their school day very soon). I don't fear careless students walking home, but I fear careless drivers/parents picking up their kids.

Week 46: Day 4 - 2013

@ 9:15am: road run = 2.12 miles, time = 23:21, pace @ 11:01

Whoops, I forgot to update yesterday after I did my 7.15 mile bike ride. I started recording my ride. I have a gorillapod (a mini tripod with flexible legs) and a point & shoot camera. Since I was recording my first ride yesterday, I seemed to pay more attention to how many bad/careless drivers there were and it threw me off, realizing how many careless drivers there actually were. I was also recording the time (how long it would take me to ride), but when I stopped at the bank (to deposit my paycheck), I forgot to put my stopwatch on pause. I'm not going to share the video from the ride because I grumbled a few bad words that I don't want anyone to hear.

week 45: Day 7 - 2013

@ 6:15am: road run = 2.17 miles, time = 25:17, pace @ 11:39

Total Weekly Mileage: 2.17
Total Monthly Mileage: 4.38
Total Yearly Mileage: 503.04
Total Shoe Mileage: 234.11

This morning was the first time that I did any work outs (run or bike) since last Sunday. After my last run, I did something to my back and tweaked it so it was sore in my lower back on one side. My back is fine now, but the soreness took a few days. I think I may actually need a back massage because now one of my discs in my lower back is "popping" (like when you crack your knuckles). There is no pain or discomfort, but I think my back is spasming. I was hoping that I wouldn't get a back massage for awhile since I just had one two weeks ago (my back issues started last weekend).

Week 44: Day 7 - 2013

@ 7:45am: trail/road run = 2.21 miles, time = 25:07, pace @ 11:22

Total Weekly Mileage: 7.66
Total Monthly (October) Mileage: 142.74
Total Monthly (November) Mileage: 2.21
Total Yearly Mileage: 500.87
Total Shoe Mileage: 231.94

Since we had to change the clocks back one hour last night, the extra one hour of sleep this morning helped a little bit. Even though I still feel tired and I want to go back to sleep. Maybe I can take a nap this afternoon before I go to work.

It's also already November, but it still feels warm in the morning. I'm waiting for the days with really cold mornings.