Week 26: Day 4 - June 30, 2016

• easy trail RUN (solo) = 5.09 miles; time = 1:08:26; pace @ 13:27
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

I need to somehow catch up on sleep. I seem to always feel tired and sleepy when it's time to get up for a run. I walked a few times in the first two miles of my run. While I did continuously run without stopping or slowing down after that, I didn't really feel better. In other runs in the past, I would feel better after two miles, but I didn't today. It was almost a bit too warm for me. I don't like summer and I hate hot weather. I can't wait for summer to be over!

Week 26: Day 3 - June 29, 2016

• bike commute to work= 37.84 miles round trip; time = 2:54:15; pace @ 13 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles

I did get a few extra hours of sleep this morning since I didn't run, so I hope I feel better about running tomorrow morning. It is suppose to be a little cooler in the afternoons for the next few days, but we'll see about the weather in tomorrow morning.

Week 26: Day 2 - June 28, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN (solo) = 5.03 miles; time = 1:03:23; pace @ 12:36
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

Between the warm weather and not enough sleep, it was hard for me to enjoy my run this morning. I had heavy legs and wasn't exactly that motivated. At first, I thought my legs were sore from riding yesterday, but I don't think that was the case. I'm just glad that I went for a run.

Week 26: Day 1 - June 27, 2016

• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 37.86 miles round trip; time = 2:59:23; pace @ 12.7 mph

Today's weather was great for a bike ride to work. It was low 90s as I expected/hoped and definitely didn't feel like it was almost 100 degrees. Tomorrow will be a little warmer in the afternoon, but I hope it feels cool in the morning. I don't feel like running in warm or humid weather.

I forgot to mention this yesterday since I did a short, leisurely bike ride...since I started going to work on a bike, I've been lazy about riding more locally around town to do errands (post office, bank, etc). Due to some recent vandalism at the post office where some of the po boxes (mine was not affected) was broken into and mail was stolen, the post office closes and locks the po box area at 6pm during the week and 4pm on Saturdays. I can't go to the post office to check for mail at my po box anymore whenever I feel like it....like going on a Sunday or in the evening after the post office closes for the day. This made me become lazier, so if I want to go to the post office on a bike, I have to go before work (Monday to Thursday) or on a Friday, but I'm really lazy to go before work even though it is on the way to the freeway if I'm driving and it only takes a few minutes. So I have to force myself to go on a Friday if I want to check my mail during business hours. So inconvenient!

Week 25: Day 7 - June 26, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 5.35 miles; time = 1:04:48; pace @ 12:07
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.3 miles

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 19.81

Total Monthly Mileage: 68.39

Total Yearly Mileage: 435.88

Total Shoe Mileage: 201.61

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 52.71

Total Monthly Mileage: 233.69

A few days ago, I checked the weather forecast for tomorrow, it called for 98 degrees. I checked on several online weather forecast websites and it will be a little cooler. One says 92 degrees while the others say 95. I will check the weather forecast again tomorrow because I care. Most likely, I will be going to work on a bike.

Week 25: Day 5 - June 24, 2016

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 5.16 miles, time = 1:05:18, pace @ 12:39
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.4 miles
• leisure bike ride = 7.53 miles

This morning was overcast, but a little cooler than yesterday morning. 

I went for a bike ride as well because I needed to check my PO Box at the post office. Monday's weather calls for more hot weather...around 100 degrees F by mid-day! I think I can handle a bike ride when the weather is mid-90s, but I'm not sure about 98 or 99 degrees F. So, I'm not sure if I will be going to work on a bike on Monday.

Week 25: Day 4 - June 23, 2016

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 5.03 miles; time = 1:04:45; pace @ 12:43
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

I'm so glad that I went to work on a bike yesterday! I really thought about doing a run yesterday and going to work on a bike today because today was cooler, but I wanted to do a run this morning instead. No rhyme or reason. It was overcast this morning. It was still warm and humid - not exactly what I liked - but it was better than sunny and warm/humid!

Week 25: Day 3 - June 22, 2016

• bike commute to work = 37.83 miles round trip; time = 3:03:33; pace @ 12.4 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles

It had only been one week since I went to work on a bike. My legs acted like I hadn't gone to work on a bike in a month or two months because I struggled during the second half of my ride home. I also left work 20 minutes later than I wanted to, but it was sorta fun riding in the dark for 30 minutes. I didn't realize this until I got home, but I need to get new batteries for my bike tail light. The battery was on very low power that the light was extremely dim and that's bad for night time riding...even though I was ok most of the time because of the colored lights on my tires which helped a lot. I should probably get some extra batteries for those lights too. Good thing I don't plan to ride at night until next week, so I have some time to buy some batteries.

Week 25: Day 2 - June 21, 2016

• trail RUN (solo) = 4.27 miles; time = 55:37; pace @ 13:05
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

As part of my run, I went on a trail that I had never been on. I didn't take my dog with me for safety reasons. I didn't know the conditions of the trail (rocks, sticks, etc) or how well it was "hidden". There were lots of shrubs, bushes and things for coyotes to hide in and it's pretty isolated. I'm not worried about me, but I worry about my dog. The trail went behind many homes and one home was redoing the wall for the backyard. It was mostly with bricks, but I saw a piece of wood near by and I'm worried that there is a hidden nail that can get stuck in my dog's feet. (I know that it can do that to mine too, but I'm less worried about me.) I did a satillite imaging of the trail on mapmyrun before and noticed that it was short (two miles long). So, I never bothered to run on it. I decided to try it this morning. It was hilly...it wasn't that bad compared to what I was used to, but they still gave me a good work out. I also just wanted a run where part of it was new to me to avoid boredom. I think I will run on this trail again, but I won't bring my dog with me though.

Week 24: Day 7 - June 19, 2016

• easy road/trail RUN with one dog = 5.4 miles; time = 1:05:28, pace @ 12:07
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.4 miles

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 18.37

Total Monthly Mileage: 48.58

Total Yearly Mileage: 416.07

Total Shoe Mileage: 181.80

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 75.66
Total Monthly Mileage: 180.98

A few weeks ago when the sun was out and it was a little warm, I struggled to go running. I had no idea what my problem was. Lack of motivation? Not enough sleep? I don't know. In the recent mornings of Thursday, Friday, and today, it was slightly warm...not exactly to my liking, but it was not humid. I might have been sleepy and tired, but I didn't feel unmotivated, bored or lazy. I don't know what is going on with me or in my head before. I'm also glad that I got a run in this morning. It wasn't that bad, but it became intolerable and crazy. 111 degrees F (our record breaking heat) today!

Week 24: Day 5 - June 17, 2016

• hilly trail RUN (solo) = 3.88 miles, time = 50:37, pace @ 13:03
  (jr college cross country course)
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

I woke up still sore from my bike ride and I felt it during my run. I did a run on a jr college campus. I wanted to do another one on a hilly trail off campus, but I made it 1/4 mile up the hill and I decided that it was too hard. The second trail run was on a harder hill and it made my legs feel more sore. I guess I should have done an easier run this morning and did my two hilly trail runs on Sunday instead.

This morning was a little warmer than yesterday morning, but wasn't too bad and wasn't humid. I felt fine going out for a run.

Week 24: Day 4 - June 16, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN (solo) = 4.51 miles, time = 54:04, pace @ 11:59
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.3 miles

The sun was out this morning! It was 55 degrees...not exactly what I wanted, but it wasn't that bad and it wasn't humid. I was tired and sleepy, but I didn't feel unmotivated, bored or lazy. I hope tomorrow morning is the same as this morning. Then summer is finally here this weekend. I am not looking forward to that. I think I was enjoying the fact that I was heading out for a run between 6am and 6:15m because it was overcast in the morning. Now, I have to get out for a run by 5:15am, so I'm not going stir crazy over the heat and humidity!

Also, I woke up a little sore from yesterday's bike ride. Apparently, I was really trying to get a hard work out!

Week 24: Day 3 - June 15, 2016

• easy walk with dogs = 2 miles
• bike commute to work = 37.83 miles round trip, time = 2:57:45, pace @ 12.8 mph

Yay for muscle memory! My ride home from work on my bike was ten minutes faster than my ride home on Monday. I just now have to make myself eat something before I start and head to work. Food is energy and I can get to work five or so minutes faster.

I did a lot of thinking whether I wanted to run or bike today. I chose to bike. I almost did not want to bike (out of laziness), but I'm glad that I went anyway. I hope I feel better about running tomorrow.

Week 24: Day 2 - June 14, 2016

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.58 miles, time = 58:49, pace @ 12:40
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

I had a hard time getting out for a run. When I finally did get out, I felt unmotivated and slow, and I did not enjoy my run at the beginning. I also walked a little bit. I felt a little better after halfway through and I'm glad that I did a run at all, but still felt a little disappointed. I don't know what will happen tomorrow, but we'll see what tomorrow brings.

Week 24: Day 1 - June 13, 2016

• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 37.83 miles round trip

Today was the first time in two months since I went to work on a bike completely the whole way. For the last two weeks, I would park my car at the mall and then go to work from there on my bike which was eight miles one way. The best and worst/hardest part of the commute was between the mall and home because that was where the REAL hills (challenging for me) were. I could tell that I lost a little bit of endurance/strength because I was struggling a little bit.

My boss let me leave work 20 minutes early so I could get home before it got dark. I wouldn't have minded being in the dark during the last 20 minutes of my ride though because I would enjoy the colored lights on my wheels. On the other hand, I had a driver slow down and followed me a bit even though there was plenty of space for him/her to pass me. I think he/she was distracted by the colored lights. I think I'm afraid of a driver who will be so distracted by my colored lights that they will stop minding their driving/surroundings, and crash into me instead!

Week 23: Day 7 - June 12, 2016

• easy road RUN (solo) = 5.18 miles, time = 1:01:52, pace @ 11:57
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.4 miles

RUNNING:

Total Weekly Mileage: 18.55

Total Monthly Mileage: 30.21

Total Yearly Mileage: 397.70

Total Shoe Mileage: 163.43

It drizzled a bit while I was walking my dogs this morning. I thought that it would rain heavier, but it didn't and it lasted a few minutes. Although I wouldn't have mind heavier rain after my walk. There was some light mist yesterday on and off, but it would have been nice if it was also more!

I may attempt to go to work on my bike and ride the whole way. The whole being from home to work (and vice versa) instead of parking my car at the mall and ride halfway. I know that part of my bike commute home will be in the dark and I hope I get through this narrow two lane street (that has no lights) before it becomes completely dark. Half light is ok, but not when it's completely dark. I have a head light, tail light and a few colored lights on my wheels. I hope the colored lights help me become more visible for people in the dark. If you don't get an update from me tomorrow night, I probably am at the hospital by someone who isn't paying attention and hit me.

Week 23: Day 4 - June 09, 2016

• trail RUN with one dog = 4.4 miles; time = 53:49; pace @ 12:14
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 15.8 miles round trip

I've been tired/sleepy all week. I definitely feel like I need to catch up on sleep. I still want to go for a bike ride in the morning to get a new tube (spare/extra), but I'll see how I feel in the morning. I took 5-htp and melatonin (both are sleep aid) to help me sleep tonight. Since I can't sleep in at all on Saturday morning because I have to be at work by 8am, I will make sure I head to bed early so I can feel like I'll catch up on sleep that way.

Week 23: Day 3 - June 08, 2016

• easy trail RUN (solo) = 5.09 miles; time = 1:03:44, pace @ 12:31
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.3 miles
• bike commute to work 15.8 miles round trip; time = 1:17:12, pace @ 12.3 mph

In 2009, I went for a run in the morning, then took a short nap and then got ready for work and went to work in the afternoon. Nothing has changed between then and now. I run in the morning and work in the afternoon, but I don't know what happen because I can't seem to take a short nap after a run anymore. I attempted to take a nap after my run this morning, but to no avail.

I got a flat  on my bike 1.5 miles away from my car after work. That sucks. Because I was going to use this Friday as a complete rest day (dog walking only, no run or bike). I'm going to bike ride to the bike store to buy another spare tube. Apparently, 2016 is not the year that I'm meant to ride a bike to work! I'm trying to better myself health-wise, be environmentally friendly and save some money on gas. I guess all that money I've been saving isn't going toward something else like food or bills....it is being spent on new tubes because I keeping getting flat tires every month or every two months! This is the fourth flat tire this year! I had my bike for three years now and I'm getting all flat tires from this year only!

Week 23: Day 2 - June 07, 2016

• jr. college cross country course trail RUN (solo) = 3.88 miles, time = 47:47, pace @ 12:19
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 15.8 miles

Catching up on sleep did help a little bit. I should also be grateful for gloomy weather like it was this morning. The weather on my last run (Sunday) wasn't exactly how I'd like it, but it wasn't that bad compared to the previous run before that which was a bit warmer and humid. So, I'm going to attempt another run tomorrow morning and hope that it will be ok.

Week 23: Day 1 - June 06, 2016

• bike commute to work = 15.8 miles, time = 1:12:35, pace @ 13.1 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles

I went to bed early (9pm) last night. After I walked my dogs this morning, I slept another three hours before I had to get up and get ready for work. I really needed the sleep. I am hoping that I'm just lacking sleep and catching up with it will help me feel better about running. There is only one way to find out and that is by going for a run tomorrow morning. This means that I need to get off the computer immediately so I can get in a decent amount of sleep.

Week 22: Day 7 - June 05, 2016

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.62 miles
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

RUNNING: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 15.81

Total Monthly (May) Mileage: 68.60

Total Monthly (June) Mileage: 11.66

Total Yearly Mileage: 379.15

Total Shoe Mileage: 144.88

I had wanted to do a six mile run this morning, but I had to cut my run short because I think my motivation has crashed and boredom has finally kicked in! I walked a lot throughout the whole run, especially in the beginning. What am I going to do now??

In other news, I bought some colored lights for my bike tires in the event that I do ride home from work in the dark. I would like to hope that they will help car people see me better in the dark.

Week 22: Day 5 - June 03, 2016

• easy (leisure) bike ride = 10:12 miles; time = 48:14; pace @ 12.7 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles

After I walked my dogs really early this morning, I went back to sleep. I didn't realize how much I really needed to sleep until after I came back from walking my dogs. I would really like to make Fridays as my rest days (dog walks only..no bike or run) because I don't work on Fridays and I have all day to sleep and rest. It felt really nice to catch up on sleep.

I did my bike ride late morning and I wanted to stop by the post office because I was expecting a package in my PO Box. Going to the post office was a good enough reason for me to get a ride in at all.

Week 22: Day 4 - June 02, 2016

• trail RUN (solo) = 3.55 miles; time = 47:23; pace @ 13:21
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 15.8 miles; 1:14:21, pace @ 12.8 mph

After much complaining about morning gloomy, dark weather for a month, the sky was clear and the sun was out this morning! But I should have been more grateful and not complain so much because it was so warm this morning!

I didn't want to go for a run this morning. I think boredom and low motivation are slowly starting to kick in. I don't know why this is happening because I didn't run for a week recently (remember the weekend that I was out of town?). I went for a run on a trail that I did last week, but I didn't do this run for a really long time, so it wasn't like I was used to this trail. But I had a hard time running that I made a complete dead stop after eight minutes (I didn't time my run last week when I did this trail and I know I lasted way longer than eight minutes without stopping or slowing down). I stood there and contemplated if I should just turn around to go back to my car. I told myself to finish the run because I spent a few minutes this morning (before the run) taking my bike off of my car, so that it wouldn't be on my car while I was on a run. (I had to drive a little bit to do this run.) I didn't want to feel like I just wasted my time getting my bike off of my car because I could have just left it there so I would be ready when it was time to head out for work. I wanted to do a run this morning so that I didn't have to do a run in the next two days (tomorrow and Saturday...not that I would be able to run on Saturday anyway).

Week 22: Day 3 - June 01, 2016

• jr. college cross country course trail RUN (solo) = 3.49 miles, time = 41:36, pace @ 11:55
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 16.2 miles, time = 1:17:39, pace @ 12.5 mph

Today is National Running Day! What have you done today? I hope you all got a run in!

I wasn't going to run this morning because it was dark and gloomy which made me feel lazy. I decided to go for a run to make myself feel better because it is National Running Day even though I didn't feel well. My acid reflux was acting up...since last night.