Week 22: Day 2 - May 31, 2016

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.15 miles, time = 51:15, pace @ 12:27
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 15.8 miles round trip; time = 1:15:00, pace @ 12.6 mph

While running with my dog this morning, we were followed by a coyote again! Of course, it didn't help that part of my run was in the same area as part of my run from last week. I have two choices now: stop running with my dog in near dense area full of shrubs, bushes, tall grass and trees (which become better hiding places for coyotes)....or don't run with my dog near such areas. I think the coyote from this morning's encounter was the same as last week.

I went to work halfway in my car and then rode my bike for the remainder of the commute (7.9 miles one way). I parked my car at a mall because it was roughly the half way point. There was no way I would be able to get home on my bike before dark, but I knew that I would get back to my car before dark. After being challenged to commute the entire way (19 miles) on a bike, I think I enjoyed the challenge. While I did get my cycling in, I felt underwhelmed and disappointed because I missed out on the best/worst part....riding on the crazy challenging hill which was during the eight miles (technically 11 miles) between the mall and home. Since June 21 is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year with lots of daylight hours, I will start commuting the entire route to work and home on June 14, I think. But I will be looking outside everyday to see when it becomes dark. 15 to 20 minutes may be ok?

Week 21: Day 7 - May 29, 2016

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 5.55 miles
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.3 miles

Total Running Weekly Mileage: 18.26

Total Running Monthly Mileage: 64.45

Total Running Yearly Mileage: 363.34

Total Running Shoe Mileage: 140.07

There was some light drizzle during my run this morning. It would have been nice if mother nature brought some REAL (heavy) rain if the morning is going to be dark and gloomy. I'm just tired of this gloomy, dark weather already.

Week 21: Day 5 - May 27, 2016

• local jr. college cross country course trail RUN (solo) = 3.88 miles, time = 48:44, pace @ 12:34
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

I was going to commute by bike today to a local bike shop to pick up some bike accessories and a new set of pedals. One of my pedals is broken and very annoying to ride on. But I got lazy and drove instead. Now that I have new pedals on my bike, I hope that will help me feel better about riding again even for other reasons if not for work.

Week 21: Day 4 - May 26, 2016

• trail RUN (solo) = 3.55 miles
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

This morning, I did a trail run that I hadn't done in almost a year and a half. It is a good run to train on for a half marathon because half of it is up a tough hill. I went for a run on this trail because I was curious how far I could run without stopping. I was able to run up at least half of it and it was not easy. The last time that I did this run, I was only able to run for five or so minutes before I had to take walk breaks and I took lots of walk breaks. I took a few walk breaks this morning, but not as much as I expected. I'd like to think that all that time spent riding my bike to work has helped a great deal with my running! I will do this run again next week, but I'll make sure to record a time. I had my watch on me, but it was on "clock" mode and I forgot to switch it to "stop watch" mode.

I hadn't done a bike ride in two weeks. I'd really like to get back into it and I should. I think I will ride to work starting next week, but I drive to a mall with my bike and then ride my bike from there. The mall is a half way point and I know that it will take about 45 minutes to commute in either direction. While I would prefer to ride the whole way between home and work, I know that I will not make it home before dark. It gets dark at 8pm and it will take me another 45 minutes to get home after that. I don't like to bike ride (or run) in the dark.

Week 21: Day 2 - May 24, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 5.28 miles, time = 1:05:15, pace @ 12:19
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

I'm finally back to my regular running schedule and I'm feeling less lazy now. I missed two runs last week....because 1. gloomy/dark, overcast weather made it really hard for me to find some motivation to run. and 2. I missed a run on Sunday because I was out of town for my brother's graduation (he is now a vet doctor).

Also, I signed up for a 1.5 mile pet charity walk a few months ago. The event was on Saturday, but of course, I missed it because I was out of town! Oh well, at least my event fee went towards helping homeless pets and I didn't spend that much money on the event fee anyway.

While I was out running with my dog this morning, we were followed by a coyote towards near the end. I guess the coyote was noisy enough for my dog to hear and turn around to look at it. I noticed that she turned around, so I did too because I wanted to know what she was looking at. Good thing that I did because if I hadn't turned around, the coyote would have gotten close enough to take my dog away! The coyote stopped following us because someone else with a small dog was walking by in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, I didn't warn him like I should have, but would it have matter? He seemed more interested in his phone than seeing what was around him!

Week 20: Day 3 - May 18, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 3.26 miles, time = 38:30, pace @ 11:49
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.3 miles

I woke up to a dark, gloomy, yet dry morning again. This year has been more gloomy than last year and previous years. I'm starting to get tired of this stupid weather. If it is going to be dark and gloomy, it needs to rain and I don't mean drizzle and mist. I want RAIN where everything gets soaking wet in two minutes! Then I feel ok for missing a run because of rain. All this talk about El Nino in the area and there had been little rain. What a lie!

Anyway, I went for a run in a pair of shoes that were recently retired...back in March. I wanted to the get 10th and 100th of a mile slightly different from my total mileage on my current shoe versus the total for the year. That is all.

Week 20: Day 2 - May 17, 2016

• junior college cross country course trail RUN (solo) = 3.47 miles, time = 43:28, pace @ 12:32
• hilly trail RUN (solo) =  1.1 miles, time = 13:24, pace @ 14:44
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

I did two runs today...but they were on the shorter side and located about one mile from each other. The "longer" run had some challenging hills, but the shorter one felt more challenging.

After some thought, I remember that there is this route that I can ride my bike on. It is an out and back type of route and there is a big hill in the middle, so I would be riding the hill twice. Riding a bike on hills really does help my running and endurance/strength, especially when I'm running up hills. Running up hills seem easier. But I have a problem with this route/idea. It involves only riding for the sake of exercise/riding. Riding a bike is exercise...an alternate to running. Also riding a bike up hills to help me better for another type of exercise. It's easy for me to ride a bike for exercise when I'm with other people or when I have something to do or somewhere to be (like going to work or going back home from work). I have to go to work to get paid....and I have to go home because no one else can take me home. Like walking...I don't like to walk for exercise and I need different reasons to walk...like walk my dogs because they need exercise and a place to go to the bathroom. Or walking to do some errands or to meet someone somewhere. Exercise can be a secondary reason. Anyway, I'll try this route and see what happens. I'm a little scared because it has a big hill. I do go for runs on this hill, but I usually stop at the top and turn around....and I only run on this route when I'm training for a half marathon. Although I should try running on it for the fun of it...

Week 19: Day 7 - May 15, 2016

• trail/road RUN (solo) = 6.1 miles; time = 1:11:06; pace @ 11:44
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

RUNNING: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 18.01

Total Monthly Mileage: 38.36

Total Yearly Mileage: 337.34

Total Shoe Mileage: 117.24

CYCLING: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 37.35

Total Monthly Mileage: 113.76

I thought about adding yesterday's mileage and I decided that I would because I did run a portion of the event. However, I used an old/retired pair of shoes....but I realized that I used the wrong retired pair of shoes! I meant to wear the pair that was recently retired in March, but I put on the pair of shoes that I retired back last October! Whoops, oh well!

This year during the months of April and May seem gloomier than last year and the year before during the same months and we had gloomy weather last year and the year before too (mostly in May), not necessarily with more rain...just darker and gloomier clouds. It makes it harder for me to go out for a run because gloomy weather makes for great sleeping weather and all I want to do is sleep in.

I almost didn't do my run today because it was dark and gloomy outside. When I finally found the motivation, it was later than my usual time and I was actually glad that I got it done when I did because there was a little drizzle/mist during most of my run. I didn't want so much rain that I came home sopping wet and dripping, but I somewhat wished that it was a little heavier mist/drizzle. It is what it is. Whatever moisture there was during my run, it felt good on my face.

Now I don't know what I'm going to do with my bike ride time. I'm going from 50+ miles a week to 10 or 20 miles week (possibly non-existent) now and I'm disappointed that I won't be riding to work for awhile.

Week 19: Day 6 - May 14, 2016

• 5K Bubble Run/Walk
• easy walk with dogs (home) = 2.1 miles

Normally, I would never agree to doing a 5K run because they are short and boring. I will do pet charity 5k WALK if I can bring my dogs and the charity is raising money for homeless pets and pet rescue shelters. This month is a friend's birthday and she wanted to do a Bubble 5K Run for her birthday month. I only agreed to do this 5K because I had always wanted to do a Bubble Run and I did this event with a friend. We didn't run the whole time, but that was ok because I didn't care. I was there with a friend and we were having fun!

Because I did this event, I didn't go to work on a bike.

Speaking of going to work on a bike, I recently found out that my work schedule has changed and I can no longer ride my bike to work. I get off work four days a week at 7pm. It gets dark at 8pm and it takes me almost one hour and 45 minutes to get home (which includes stops at intersections and stops for water breaks). I'm not comfortable enough or willing to ride in the dark, especially during that last 45 minutes of my ride because part of the ride is on a narrow two lane (one lane for each direction) windy road. People can't even see me during the daytime. They don't become better drivers at night. I can ride to work still on Saturdays, but I start at 8am and finish at 5pm. That is nine hours just for working. Two hours to get to work and almost two hours to get home. That is a 13 hour day.

Week 19: Day 4 - May 12, 2016

• solo trail RUN (local college cross country course) = 3.47 miles, time = 42:07, pace @ 12:08
• easy WALK with dogs = 2 miles

Starting next week, I need to make myself go back to having Fridays as my rest days (dog walks only), so I can sleep in a few more hours without work getting in the way (I'm off Friday). It seems easier to catch up on sleep that way and I do need a complete rest day (without work) anyway. I'm always tired, but it also doesn't help that I'm up late all the time. I have a good reason tonight...I just came back from "Taste Of Anaheim" because my boss had a vendor booth set up there. While we didn't serve any food because we are a dog daycare (we are located in Anaheim), but we were there to get our business name out. I did work, but I didn't work the booth. I also got a free dinner because my boss had an extra exhibitor pass. How do you say no to food? Too bad drinks, including sodas and water, were not free! Isn't that stupid???

Anyway, I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing tomorrow. I won't be doing a run, but will it be rest or a bike ride?

Week 19: Day 2 - May 10, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 5.33 miles, time = 1:03:44, pace @ 11:54
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

With all the bike riding that I did between Saturday and yesterday, my legs felt a little sore this morning. I felt like I was running slower than usual and my legs felt like jello. After two miles, my legs felt better and I don't feel as sore now.

It was cloudy/overcast, dark and gloomy this morning. This kind of weather makes me feel lazy, tired, sleepy. It also feels like being in a stuffy room with no air circulation, and it makes me hot to run in it. I know that I shouldn't complain about it because it is better than hot and humid. I think I would have enjoyed it a little better if there was mist or light drizzle.

Week 19: Day 1 - May 09, 2016

• bike commute to work = 37.35 miles round trip; time = 2:57:57, pace @ 12.6 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles

For the first time since I started going to work on a bike, I was able to do it twice within the same week or weekend or short period of time. This is what I imagine will be a regular thing....going to work on a bike twice a week. I think this is all I can handle. I work in the evenings until 7 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and I try to run in the mornings on those days with Friday being a complete rest day (walks only...no run or bike). Even during the summer when it doesn't get dark until around 8:30 pm and I can get home on a bike by 8:40 pm, I don't think I can handle a run and a bike ride on the same day three times a week. When I run and bike ride (with friends) on the same morning/day, it only happens once in awhile.

After a few weeks of going to work on a bike, I've become a stronger rider and it takes me one hour and 40-ish minutes. I shaved 30 minutes off of my ride compared to my first commute home from work. It does help to eat, but so does all of those hills going home!I've only gotten ten minutes faster during the commute to work.

Week 18: Day 7 - May 08, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN (solo) = 3.7 miles
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.2 miles

RUNNING: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 14.91

Total Monthly Mileage: 20.35

Total Yearly Mileage: 319.33

Total Shoe Mileage: 102.34

CYCLING: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 76.41

Had I gotten in the car and drove somewhere, I would have done a longer run. I was being lazy and I wanted to sleep (I need to catch up on sleep!). When I finally found the motivation to run, it was much later than my normal/usual time. I didn't time my run today because I forgot where I put my stopwatch. Oh well.

I need to figure out my running schedule for this coming week. I have a 5K Bubble Run that I'm doing with a friend next Saturday morning. Maybe that will help me feel better running in general after that. On the other hand, I am still going to work on Saturday afternoon, but I will not be going to work on a bike because of bubble run in the morning. I think I can't handle a long distance (38 miles round trip) bike ride with a short easy run on the same day.

Week 18: Day 6 - May 07, 2016

• bike commute to work = 37.86 miles round trip; time = 3:00:01, pace @ 12.6 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.3 miles

I didn't worry that it would rain on me during my commute to work or home, but I really contemplated if I wanted to ride to work or not. It was cold and I was tired/sleepy. I told myself that I would feel better if I just got on my bike and headed off to work. I did feel better once I started.

Week 18: Day 5 - May 06, 2016

• solo trail run (Chino Hills State Park) = 5.6 miles, time = 1:09:41, pace @ 12:27
• easy walk with dogs = 2.3 miles

It stayed dried long enough for me to do my run, although it would have been nice had there been some constant/continuous mist or light drizzle the whole time. That would have felt nice on my face. For Sunday's run, I want to be lazy and just run at home....but I also want to run somewhere else because I know that it's good for me...which means that I have to get in the car and drive...I'm being lazy about getting in the car and driving. Or use up gas and spend money on gas...

Tomorrow morning will be overcast with possibly light rain and then sunshine in the afternoon. I hope it's really light rain that won't make me soak through. I'd like to go to work on my bike.

Week 18: Day 4 - May 05, 2016

• challenging hilly trail RUN with one dog = 1.1 mile, time = 14:56, pace @ 13:35
• warm up = 1.1 mile
• cool down = 1.1 mile
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

I didn't go for a run yesterday because it was overcast and gloomy. It made me tired, sleepy and lazy. Then I felt a bit disappointed when I realized that there would be rain tomorrow. Because I could have gotten all of my runs in this week and used tomorrow as a rest day so I could just watch the rain without having to run in it. After checking several websites for the weather forecast, the rain will be in the PM, but it will be light. I'm ok with PM rain and/or running in mist and light drizzle. Running in overcast or cloudy sky is like being in a stuffy room with no open windows or working AC and I get more hot than clear skies with 60 something degrees, so I'm ok with continuous mist and light drizzle because it feels good and cools me off. I will have to get in the car and drive somewhere for a run. 99% of my runs start and end at my house. If I start and end my run at home tomorrow, I will most likely not do a run because I'm sure the morning will be overcast/gloomy and that will make me want to stay in bed!

I went for a run on a very hilly trail. I hadn't done a run on this trail/hill since March. I knew that I could run it without stopping, but I just wanted to see how fast I could do it. I was 13 seconds slower than the last time I did this run which was not bad. Cold weather mornings won't be here for many months now, so I would have to run on this trail regularly/weekly if I wanted to run faster.

 

After I did my run this morning, I was talking to someone who was basically traffic control for a school parking lot. I was doing my cool down and going through the school zone. I have talked to this person a few times before and she had seen me running by many times. (I really try to avoid the school zone between 7:15am and 7:45am because parents are dumb drivers when they are dropping off their kids.) Today, she told me that she started going to the gym to run/walk on the treadmill because she was inspired by me. I like to talk about my own exercise routine. All I want is for someone to be inspired and start their own work out. I don't care what they choose as long as it is something that they can enjoy and do on a regular basis.

Week 18: Day 2 - May 03, 2016

• trail (solo) run (cross country course) = 3.41 miles, time = 43:41, pace @ 12:49
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles

I went to a local junior college to do my run. It had a cross country course (on trails) that was (still is) open to the public. I hope I feel better about running if I start and end at my house tomorrow.

Week 18: Day 1 - May 02, 2016

• bike commute to work =38.55 miles round trip, time = 3:07:07, pace @ 12.36 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles

I have to stop being nice to bad drivers who are such idiots around cyclists like me. Sure, there are cyclists out there who are also idiots, but I try very hard to make myself super visible and obey traffic laws.

On my way home, three miles away, a driver was making a right turn into a parking lot. He had to stop because a driver in front of him stopped, however, he stopped mid-turn which completely blocked my path and I had no way to go around. He saw me when he was mid-turn somewhat in the driveway and he just looked at me like it wasn't a big deal to block my way, even though I technically had the right of way. I had to make a complete dead stop after pulling a 20+ mph speed. I had to avoid crashing into the side of his car and it was so sudden that I couldn't hold my balance and fell. He pulled into the parking lot and opened his door when he saw me fall, but didn't get out because he saw me get up. He didn't even apologize. I was wearing a super bright florescent yellow. Is that a color that's hard to see for motorists? This is why I refuse to run or bike ride in the dark. Car people are already such idiots during daylight hours and darkness makes car people worse.

Week 17: Day 7 - May 01, 2016

• trail run (solo) at Chino Hills State Park = 5.44 miles, time = 1:07;02, pace @ 12:19
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles

RUNNING: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 18.78

Total Monthly (April) Mileage: 74.69

Total Monthly (May) Mileage: 5.44

Total Yearly Mileage: 304.42

Total Shoe Mileage: 87.43

CYCLING: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 35.88

Total Monthly (April) Mileage: 242.53

I went for a run at the Chino Hills State Park this morning. I hadn't done a run here in awhile (towards the end of January). The first half of mile was uphill with a 13% grade, so it was pretty steep. Normally when I go for a run somewhere which includes a big hill of such, and I haven't been there in awhile, I have to take some walk breaks because my legs aren't used the inclines anymore. I didn't take any walk breaks this morning on that big hill! Even though I hadn't been riding my bike to work for that long or have done that many rides to work, I'd like to think that all that riding to work had helped build some leg strength! It didn't make me faster, but it made me stronger for hills!

I saw a kid and a dad on a bike. Originally, I saw them on a street going to the park. The street had a pretty good incline and the kid did pretty well on it. Then when I was running up the hill at the state park, I saw them again. Again, the kid did so well on that incline as well! I was so impressed and proud of this kid even though I didn't know who he was. I was hoping that dad and the kid would turn around at some point and that I would see them on their way back. I'm glad that they did because I wanted to say some encouraging words to the kid like "Good job!" He looked like he was around ten years old. I bet he could kick my ass in a bike race!