Week 47: Day 7 - 2014

• walk with Priceless Pet Rescue (no kill animal shelter) = 3.75 miles
• easy walk with my dogs = 1.5 miles

I am mainly updating my blog today so I can keep track of my running mileage.

Total Weekly Running Mileage: 21.66

Total Monthly Running Mileage: 89.83

Total Yearly Running Mileage: 590.01

Total Shoe Running Mileage: 149.57

Week 47: Day 6 - 2014

• trail RUN with a running group = 7 miles
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.2 miles

I didn't run with my dog, but I did run with a group of runners this morning. I went for a run this morning instead of tomorrow because I know that I have to run with others sometimes. Also, we met at the Chino Hills State Park (entering through the city of Brea side) at an entrance that I never go to. (I normally go to this park on the Chino Hills side, but that entrance is closed for maintenance.) Running with others and running in an area I don't normal go to is good for me. I had planned to do eight miles, but there were some very challenging hills during our run (I had to walk on those hills). I am still sore from it and it has already been several hours later since I finished the run. I hope that by running with this group and in a new area will help me feel better and more motivated to continue with my half marathon training. I think I may run with this group again at the end of December (December 27), however, I may have to slightly change my running schedule for that week. While we may probably be doing seven miles that time again, I think I will still have to do my long run (ten miles) as scheduled on December 28.

Week 47: Day 5 - 2014

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 6.24 miles, time = 1:13:46, pace @ 11:49
• easy WALK with two dogs = 1.52 miles

I took my dog out for a run with me. It felt a little cooler than yesterday morning, but I didn't run as fast as I thought. Hoping that tomorrow's run will be better since I'll be with a group of runners.

Week 47: Day 4 - 2014

• easy road RUN with one dog = 4.87 miles, time = 57:30, pace @ 11:49
• easy WALK with two dogs = 1.55 miles

Happy Thanksgiving!

I took my dog out for a run this morning and she did well! I checked her feet often during the run to make sure that there were no cuts or blood. All seemed well for the run! I will take her out for a run tomorrow morning.

It was warm this morning. I felt like I was losing motivation like I didn't want to run or train anymore, but I can't stop, quit or give up when I have nine more weeks (after this weekend) left until race day. I hope it was just the weather bothering me and not me losing my motivation because I must keep on trucking! It's a good thing I've planned to do a run with a meetup group on Saturday morning. While they are meeting and starting the run a little later than I'd like because I think it would be a little warmer than usual (I hope it's better than I think!), I know that I have to run with other people sometimes and it's good for me and my mental state anyway.

Week 47: Day 3 - 2014

• bike ride = 7.33 miles, time = 38:30, pace @ 11.4 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 1.1 miles

I was going to wait until Friday to cycle, but I didn't feel like running this morning, so went out for a ride instead. The planned run from this morning will be rescheduled to tomorrow and tomorrow's planned run will be on Friday instead.

Week 47: Day 2 - 2014

• hilly trail RUN (solo) = 3.55 miles, time = 48:10, pace @ 13:34
• easy WALK with dogs = 1.8 miles

I was going to go for a bike ride yesterday, but decided not to because I was sore from the eight mile run on Sunday. The trail run from this morning was pretty hilly, but I have nine more weeks (after this week) to train and get better on it. I had to walk a lot because it was challenging and I liked that. I think I will get better at it as long as I keep trying to run on it every week.

Week 45: Day 7 - 2014

• Long Run (solo) = 8.23 miles, time = 1:33:16, pace @ 11:20
• Easy Walk with Dogs = 2.21 miles

Total Running Weekly Mileage: 22.72

Total Running Monthly Mileage: 68.17

Total Running Yearly Mileage: 567.29

Total Running Shoe Mileage: 126.85

For once, I didn't feel that I had to take Exedrin (over the counter pain killer) for runs of eight miles or longer. OK, I actually forgot to take some before the run, but it turned out that I didn't need any after all. I'm hoping it's from all the hill running that I've been doing.

After my run this morning, I went to lunch with some people from a meetup group. I had mentioned on the meetup group before that I'd be running eight miles this morning and I'd definitely bring an appetite for lunch. The host (who set up the lunch) asked how hiking went. Mind you, I said that I was running (I also never said that I was going to run in a hiking area either). I wonder how many more people out there actually think that running and hiking are the same thing? (I'm not sure I will hanging out with this host again...the person is nice, but I found her a bit annoying.)

Week 45: Day 4 - 2014

• road/trail RUN (solo) = 6.09 miles, time = 1:09:14, pace @ 11:22
• easy WALK with dogs = 1.76 miles

I'm going to attempt running with my dog tomorrow. One mile warm up (walk + run), one mile hilly trail run and a one mile cool down (walk + run). I miss running with my dog and if she gets cuts on her feet again for some reason, at least, it will be a short run.

Week 45: Day 3 - 2014

• trail/road RUN (solo) = 4.85 miles, time = 55:03, pace @ 11:21
• easy walk with dogs = 1.55 miles

I recently purchased a Garmin Vivofit. It is basically a "pedometer". It tracks walking steps, running steps and calories. While it keeps track of the total steps, I like that it knows when I'm running and records the time (what time I went), how long I ran, and knows the difference between running and walking, and it will tell me when I download the information onto my computer. Too bad, the calorie reading isn't accurate at all for running. I guess I have to get a heart rate monitor for it (the heart rate monitor will have to be used for cycling as well if I want to know how many calories I burned during a ride because the device only tracks walking and running).

Week 45: Day 2 - 2014

• hilly trail RUN (solo) = 3.55 miles; time = 45:49; pace @ 12:41
• easy WALK with dogs = 1.8 miles

I went on a run in a new area in my city. I have noticed the trail in this neighborhood before, but it involved some very challenging hills and I wasn't mentally ready for it. I finally conquered my fears and went for the trails. Running up the challenging part was harder than walking the same hills. I like this trail so I think I will make it a regular route/run, but I think it will only be for training. I don't like doing challenging runs for fun.

I took my bike into a local bike shop yesterday evening for basic tune up. I hadn't done it in over a year and my bike is due for one. It really needed one badly. My bike is ready for pick up now, but I wasn't able to make it to the store before closing time so I'm picking it up tomorrow. I think I feel more motivated to get back into cycling again although it would be nice to ride with other people.

Week 44: Day 7 - 2014

• LONG RUN (solo) = 7.12 miles, time = 1:22:33, pace @ 11:35
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.1 miles

Total Running Weekly Mileage: 20.66

Total Running Monthly Mileage: 45.42

Total Running Yearly Mileage: 544.54

Total Running Shoe Mileage: 104.10

Training Week 3 RECAP:

~ Mon, Nov. 10: Active Rest (walked dogs)

~ Tues, Nov. 11: 3 mile RUN

~ Wed, Nov. 12: Active Rest (walked dogs)

~ Thurs, Nov. 13: 4.54 mile RUN

~ Fri, Nov. 14: 6 mile RUN

~ Sat, Nov. 15: Active Rest (walked dogs)

~ Sun, Nov. 16 (today): 7.12 mile RUN

Today was the first time in awhile that I used my camelbak (hip hydration pack). I hadn't used it in awhile that I forgot how to clip on the tube/mouth piece onto my shirt. It took me ten minutes or so to figure it out. Now that I have, I can have something to drink during my long runs because I'm too lazy to hand carry water bottles and I don't have to stop at a convenient store to buy water or Gatorade/Powerade. It only carries about one liter of liquids, but I should be fine on any long runs that I do, including my 12 mile run (in January).

Week 44: Day 5 - 2014

• trail/road RUN (solo) = 6 miles, time = 1:10:02, pace @ 11:40
• easy WALK with two dogs = 2.11 miles

I think I need to get a leg/foot massage. I have a sore left calf muscle right now. My quads and feet feel fine now, but they felt sore during the run this morning.

Week 44: Day 4 - 2014

• "warm up" (walk + run) with one dog = 2 miles
• trail RUN (solo) = 4.47 miles, time = 49:34, pace @ 11:05
• easy WALK with two dogs = 1.28 miles

I originally wanted to run with my dog this morning, but after running one mile, I noticed some blood on her left foot (at the toe that had a toe nail problem last week). This made me sad. Instead of continuing to run, I WALKED the one mile back home with my dog. I used up most of my motivation from trying to run with my dog. I still had a little bit of motivation left that I attempted another run right after I dropped off my dog. So I guess you can say that the first attempt at running was a warm up (albeit a long one) and I generally don't do a warm up before most of my runs. I barely had enough motivation to get started on my run, but I think it ran out because I didn't have much of an energy towards to end of the run.

Week 44: Day 2 - 2014

• trail RUN with one dog = 3 miles
• easy WALK with two dogs = 2 miles

My dog seems fine with running and being on grass now. Some people have suggested to get "shoes" for my dog. I have some at home, but I have no idea how to put them on properly. I can't make them fit all the way onto the feet and they always seem to fall off after a short walking distance. I guess I should keep practicing and trying to put them on my dog.

Week 44: Day 7 - 2014

• "long" RUN (solo) = 6.7 miles
• easy WALK with dogs = 1.7 miles

Total Running Weekly Mileage: 18.76

Total Running Monthly Mileage: 24.76

Total Running Yearly Mileage: 523.95

Total Running Shoe Mileage: 83.51

Training Week 2 RECAP:

~ Mon, Nov. 3: 3.2 mile WALK (active rest)

~ Tues, Nov. 4: 1.1 mile hilly trail RUN

~ Wed, Nov. 5: REST

~ Thurs, Nov 6: 4.92 mile RUN

~ Fri, Nov 7: 6.04 mile RUN

~ Sat, Nov. 8: Pet Charity 5K WALK (active rest)

~ Sun, Nov. 9 (today): 6.7 mile RUN

Today was the first time that I did a run without my dog since March (or April?). It felt kinda weird because my dog had been with me at every run (except for one or two runs in April, I think) since March. I had planned to run with her today, but she had a toe nail problem and I was afraid that running would make it worse. After looking at my dog's foot, her "broken" toe nail doesn't seem to be a problem any more. It looks like there is a new toe nail growing which caused for it to look broken and the broken piece came off. So I think my dog will be just fine running me again, but I don't plan to make her do my long runs with me.

Week 44: Day 6 - 2014

• pet charity walk with dogs = 5k
• easy walk at home with dogs = 0.8 miles

Did the pet charity 5k walk with my dogs this morning. I expected to see more vendors at the pet fair after the walk, but there weren't much to see. I think I will do this event again next year. I hope I'll have a person to walk with though.

Week 44: Day 5 - 2014

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 6.04 miles, time = 1:10:11, pace @ 11:35
• easy WALK with two dogs = 1.3 miles

I'm sad now. My dog, Jubee, has a broken toe nail. It bled a little bit. I think it was from the run this morning, although I'm not exactly sure how it happened...maybe from being on a trail. Maybe dirt and rocks are really good on the dog's feet. Apparently, dogs have a high tolerance to pain, but I had no idea because she didn't act like something was wrong until we came home from the run and she was licking her toe. I had planned to run with her on Sunday for our longest run (6.7 miles) together, but I'm not sure if it is a good idea. She seems to walk fine on sidewalks and dirt trails. She also likes to walk on grass, but this seems to hurt her foot with the broken toe nail.

I'm taking Jubee and Kiko to a pet charity 5K walk tomorrow morning. I hope there is a vet or vet assistant at the pet fair after the walk.

Week 44: Day 4 - 2014

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 4.92 miles, time = 55:30, pace @ 11:17
• easy WALK with two dogs = 1.2 miles

I timed my run this morning for the first time since before this past summer. The last time that I timed my run, I was running so slow and my time was bad. I didn't like my pace/time that I had to just stop timing my runs. While I don't like that I'm running 11 minutes a mile, it's better than my last timed run (more than 12 minutes a mile)

Week 44: Day 2 - 2014

• hilly trail RUN with one dog = 1.1 mile
• warm up = 1.1 mile
• cool down = 1.1 mile
• easy WALK with dogs = 1.5 miles

It's actually nice to run when it's cool/cold in the morning....but I don't enjoy smelling smoke (from people using their fireplaces) because it bothers my nose and eyes. I don't mind smelling it when I'm walking around, but not when I'm running.

Week 43: Day 1 - 2014

• easy walk with dogs = 2 miles
• easy walk to Panera Bread (knitting group) = 3.2 miles round trip

I'm just updating my blog today with all the walking that I did, after all it's still exercise...technically active rest, but still exercise.

Week 43: Day 7 - 2014

• easy walk with dogs = 2 miles

Total Running Weekly Mileage: 19.66

Total Running Monthly (October) Mileage: 61.41

Total Running Monthly (November) Mileage: 6

Total Running Shoe Mileage: 62.55

Total Running Yearly Mileage: 502.99

I mainly just wanted to update my blog with my running mileage.

Week 43: Day 6 - 2014

• trail/road RUN with one dog = 6 miles
• easy WALK with two dogs = 2 miles

Because I have a work meeting tomorrow morning, I did my "long" run this morning instead. I also knew that it would rain early this morning, but I thought it would completely stop by 5am (based on past experiences, rain was usually between 3am and 5am or similar weird hours like that and doesn't rain anymore after that). The sky directly overhead at my house was also clear when I started my run. At mile two, the dark clouds moved in and the sky opened up with pouring rain. That last two minutes and drizzled for the rest of the run...then it poured again during the last mile of my run.

I got sick when I ran in the rain last time, and that was three and a half years ago. I tried very hard to avoid running in the rain since then. My immune system at that time wasn't good because I didn't run as much as I used to. I'm not sure if my immune system has gotten better since training for my last half marathon, but as a precaution, I went out and bought some Zicam (pre-cold medicine).