Week 30: Day 7 - July 31, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 3.87 miles; time = 50:37; pace @ 13:05
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

Running:

Total Weekly Mileage: 13.66

Total Monthly (July) Mileage: 72.39

Total Yearly Mileage: 518.39

Total Shoe Mileage: 285.02

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 70.91

Total Monthly (July) Mileage: 264.28

Total Yearly Mileage: 1070.88

I didn't feel like getting into the car out of laziness and going elsewhere for a run. I think I should have gotten into the car to run somewhere else because staying home to run made me feel very unmotivated and it was humid which didn't help at all. Perhaps I'm also a little behind on catching up on sleep. Is summer over yet?

Week 30: Day 4 - July 28, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 5.52 miles; time = 1:08:15; pace @ 12:22
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 15.92 miles total; time = 1:15:35; pace @ 12.6 mph

It took me two miles into my run to finally feel ok with running. It felt a little humid, but it wasn't that bad.

I think I should have eaten something before I headed to work on a bike. I wasn't feeling very motivated, but I was hungry and I think that didn't help. Speaking of which, I forgot to mention on Tuesday that while I was on my way back to my car on a bike from work, I saw a guy run with four full grown husky dogs. They were all on hands-free leashes and all attached to his waist. He must have trained them extremely well to run at his pace because they were on point and didn't drag him down the sidewalk. It was an amazing sight!

Week 30: Day 3 - July 27, 2016

• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 15.86 miles total; time = 1:15:27; pace @ 12.6 mph

I had already planned not to do a run this morning. I am glad that I made this decision. I felt ok walking my dogs this morning, but as soon as we got home, I laid down and fell asleep very easily. I think I was more tired than I felt. I did need to catch up on sleep. If I had decided not to ride to work (part of the way), I would have slept another hour.

Week 30: Day 2 - July 26, 2016

• trail/road RUN (solo) = 4.27 miles; time = 59:16; pace @ 13:53
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 15.92 miles total; time = 1:18:28; pace @ 12.2 mph

I now really believe that I was a wimp with yesterday's weather. I think the weather was the same between yesterday and today, although I'm not sure why I thought it felt awfully hot at my house yesterday. The temperature today...it felt hotter and more humid at my house and cooler between the mall (where I parked my car at and went to work on a bike) and work. I don't know why this is...I live eight miles (if I use the freeway/highway...ten miles if I take the streets) from the mall and the temperature felt cooler there.

My run from this morning, on the other hand, was not enjoyable at all. It felt humid and I took a lot of walk breaks. I really cannot wait for summer to be over with!

Week 30: Day 1 - July 25, 2016

• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles
• group bike ride = 23.21 miles; time = 1:48:35; pace @ 12.8 mph

I went on a group bike ride with a meetup group this morning, but I didn't bother trying to go to work on a bike. It was really hot when I got home and walked my dogs. I think maybe I was really a wuss and overexaggerated the heat. I would have been ok if I drove to the mall to park my car and went to work on a bike from there. It was hot at work, but not as bad as it was at home. I'll ride to work tomorrow, but I am still going to park my car at the mall and I am still going to run in the morning.

During the ride this morning, I carried a 1/2 gallon water jug. It was 85°F at the start of the ride and 95°F at the end, so I wanted to make sure I had enough water to drink during the ride. There were five of us riding together. Some of the riders were faster/stronger than I was, but one of them said that I carried too much water and the extra weight was the reason why I was slower. I did a ride with this group a few months ago. It was 10 to 15°F cooler and I had a 1 liter hydration pack. It was cooler and I carried less water/weight, yet I was slower on that ride compared to this morning's ride. Carrying more water didn't matter. I was just naturally slower. I don't like people telling me what I can or can't do because they think they know me better than me. I am like a camel who can drink lots of water and soak it up like a sponge.

Week 29: Day 7 - July 24, 2016

• trail RUN (solo) = 5.86 miles; time = 1:16:00; pace @ 12:58 @ Chino Hills State Park
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike ride (local) = 15.07 miles; time = 1:19:57; pace @ 11.3 mph

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 18.47

Total Monthly Mileage: 58.73

Total Yearly Mileage: 504.73

Total Shoe Mileage: 271.36

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 54.16

Total Monthly Mileage: 193.37

Total Yearly Mileage: 999.97

I had only done one run at Chino Hills State Park with my dog. As I was told by a park ranger (or employee) that it was ok to run or walk/hike there with a dog as long as we stayed on the paved road. For safety reasons, dogs (leashed or not) weren't allowed on the dirt trails. There were many things on the trail that could injure the dogs' feet like thorns, rocks, etc. Also, dangerous animals like coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions could smell out dogs on the trail and snakes could strike when threatened/scared even though dangerous animals were not likely to happen during the daytime. I chose to keep my dog at home so I could run on the trails without putting my dog in danger. The first 1/2 mile of my run was on a paved road before reaching my designated trail, but while I was about to start my run, I saw a coyote on the paved road near the entrance. I was glad that I chose to always keep my dog at home when running at this state park. I was not worried that the coyote would come after me, but I didn't want it to come after my dog!

Week 29: Day 5 - July 22, 2016

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

I had planned to do a run yesterday, but I felt tired and sleepy, so I went back to sleep, even though I couldn't sleep past 9:30am. I guess I needed to catch up on sleep and it's hard to when I'm either at work or doing some sort of exercise. I had also planned to do a bike ride (locally) after my run this morning, but I waited too long. I lost motivation and it got too warm. 

Today was so hot! It was 100 degrees by 12pm noon and 105 degrees by 2pm...and these temperatures were in the dense shade! It's going to be a long summer and I can't wait for it to be over! I've been done with summer since last summer! We now have a major brush fire locally that has been going on since early this afternoon with zero percent containment. Even though the fire is burning in a city one hour away from me, the sky looks pretty and sad at the same time with lots of smoke. (Fortunately for me, the air quality over where I live isn't bad and it isn't "raining" ashes.)

Week 29: Day 3 - July 20, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 4.61 miles; time = 58:28; pace @ 12:41
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles 

Amazing...my legs felt totally normal with no sign of soreness this morning! So, I will be going on a challenging trail run tomorrow morning. This is not my normal/regular run when I'm not training for a race, but I need to do a run somewhere that I don't often do. Boredom and lack of motivation are slowly kicking in.

Week 29: Day 2 - July 19, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 4.45 miles; time = 55:50, pace @ 12:33
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

I woke up and did my run with sore legs. It's amazing that my legs are not sore anymore! Maybe they are a little sore still, but they are much better than before.

Starting tomorrow until the weekend, we will be getting temperatures close to 100 degrees and possibly more. I am not 100% sure, but I am probably not going to work on a bike tomorrow or Thursday. I am not sure if I want to be in 98 or 99 degrees even for 45 minutes on a bike in the afternoon. I think I will be doing a run tomorrow morning and Thursday morning. Then I will do a bike ride (locally...possibly the 12.7 mile route with the big hill in the middle) on Friday morning really early . I want my legs to get some rest before tackling another hill on a bike. I think I will do fine running even if my runs included some big hills.

Week 29: Day 1 - July 18, 2016

• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles
• group bike ride = 23.22 miles; time = 1:49:57; pace @ 12.7 mph
• bike commute to work = 15.87 miles total; time = 1:19:20, pace @ 12 mph

Surprisingly, I felt fine this morning after all the hills that I did (running and cycling) yesterday. That is good to me! 

I did a group bike ride with a meetup group this morning. I did a ride with this group before, but it has been awhile. Despite the fact that I went on a ride with a group this morning, I still  went to work on a bike from the mall. I felt fine from riding this morning, but the ride back to my car from work did me in! My leg are slightly sore now.

I plan to run tomorrow morning, but I think I will do a short, easy run to recover.

Week 28: Day 7 - July 17, 2016

• trail RUN (solo) = 6.15 miles; time = 1:16:48; pace @ 12:29
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike ride (local) = 12.72 miles; time = 1:07:12; pace @ 11.4 mph

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 15.94

Total Monthly Mileage: 40.26

Total Yearly Mileage: 486.26

Total Shoe Mileage: 252.89

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 60.62

Total Monthly Mileage: 139.21

Total Yearly Mileage: 945.81

I decided to do a bike ride (locally) after my run this morning because I didn't get any hill challenges during any of my bike rides this week. I chose a route that was my go-to run when I trained for past half marathons, except my runs would end halfway before turning around. It involved a big hill that I liked running on when training for half marathons, but I liked running to the top and then turning around so I would only have to run the hill once. During my bike ride, I had to ride the same hill twice...the second time would be on the way back because a 6.6 mile bike ride seemed to short and I wanted a challenge on a bike. The hill is/was part was short, but tough for running to begin with. It was harder on a bike. I wish to do this route again to get in my bike work out, but I'm not sure when I will try again. It was hard, but it was also fun. But I will have to make sure that I change my gears accordingly when I ride up the hill easier in the future. I didn't pay attention to my gears and riding up the hill was so hard that I wanted to cry.

Week 28: Day 5 - July 15, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN (solo) = 6.24 miles; time = 1:15:08; pace @ 12:02
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

I didn't go for a run or a short, local bike ride yesterday. I wanted to sleep in except to walk my dogs until it was time to get ready for work.

I thought about getting into the car and going into a completely different area/city for a run this morning. At the last second, I decided to be lazy and just run "at home". I should have gotten into the car and went running somewhere else because I was really poorly unmotivated and bored to run. I felt better after two miles though. I didn't take my dog on the run with me because part of the run was in an area where a coyote followed us on three different occasion. Coyotes (if they are looking for food and want to follow someone with a small dog) don't seem to come out when there is no "easy food" to get.

I was also going to do a bike ride (locally) today after my run, but I waited too long and my motivation dwindled.

Week 28: Day 3 - July 12, 2016

• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 32 miles total; time = 2:25:16; pace @ 13.2 mph

If I choose to go the entire distance between work and home bike, there is a street or road between the mall and home that I wish to avoid riding on in the dark when going home because it is dangerous and I fear that I will get hit by a speeding car with a careless driver. It is dark (no street lights), narrow two lanes (one lane for each direction and not wide enough for cars and bikes), no bike lanes or sidewalk or shoulder and lots of curves/turns/windy. I left work way later than I wanted (7:30pm). To avoid riding on said dangerous street, I had to ride to the mall and catch the bus to avoid bike riding on this street. The bus won't get me all the way home, but close enough. Also, because I left work way late, I had to really ride hard and fast so I could catch the bus on time (the bus arrives at 8:08pm if it is on time, not early or late). I was about eight miles from the bus station to catch the bus I needed to take. On average if I am riding at normal speed, it would take me 37 to 40 minutes just for the distance...extra five or so minutes for any stops at red lights. I had to be at the bus stop by no later than 8:05pm so I could have a few minutes to take my stuff off of my bike and carry with me onto the bus. In record time, I did eight miles in 33 minutes which included many red lights and got to the bus station at 8:03pm! It also helped that the bus was three minutes late and I was glad for this. My legs really burned from trying so hard to be on time for the bus and I was getting so mad at all the red lights that I got caught at because there was less traffic after 7pm (there is a little more traffic going to work so I get a few more green lights).

Anyway, I am not sure if I will be running tomorrow morning. If it is overcast, perhaps I will.

Week 28: Day 2 - July 12, 2016

• semi-challenging trail RUN (solo) = 3.55 miles; time = 45:44; pace @ 12:53
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

I woke up feeling tired and sleepy this morning. I didn't want to run, but I did it anyway. I struggled in the beginning of my run, but felt better after a few minutes. I did a run on a trail that I hadn't done in two months (or something like that) which was the same run that I hadn't done in over a year because this is my go-to run when I'm training for a half marathon. When I did this trail run over a year ago, the first half mile was the easy part...mostly flat with a small hill and I was able to run that in five to six minutes before hitting the real challenging part of the run. I was only able to run one or two minutes in the beginning of the challenging part because it was really that challenging to me. When I did this trail run two months ago, I managed to run 12 minutes which included the easy first 1/2 mile, even though I wasn't exactly in a good mood because it was sunny and too warm. Thanks to all the bike riding to work that I did prior to the run. I did the same run this morning. It was cloudy and overcast (I thought this was over!) this morning, but I was in a better mood. The first 1.4 mile (including the first easy 1/2 mile) was all up hill. I managed to run the first 1.25 mile continuously before taking a walk break and then finished the run from 1.4 mile and on without stopping or slowing down. I did one walk break on this run! Thanks to all the bike riding to work and shorter yet challenging hill running that I did in the last month or so!

I didn't bother going to work on a bike today. I just didn't feel like it at all. While I did wanted to go back to sleep after my run, I just couldn't make myself. I just laid there and stared at the ceiling. I plan to run on Friday morning. As far as tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday, I haven't decided what I'm going to do with going to work on a bike or another run.

Week 28: Day 1 - July 11, 2016

• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 15.9 miles; time = 1:18:28; pace @ 12.2 mph

I thought about whether I should bike ride or drive to work today. I felt tired and sleepy despite the fact that I went to bed at 7pm (for real) yesterday and slept for 12 hours. I decided to just drive to the mall and then bike ride to work the rest of the way. I sorta didn't feel like riding at first, but felt better once I got to work. I am still going to run tomorrow morning, but I am deciding if I want to bike ride part of the way to work tomorrow.

Week 27: Day 7 - July 10, 2016

• trail RUN (solo) = 5.78 miles; time = 1:09:48; pace @ 12:05
  @ Chino Hills State Park
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 15.65

Total Monthly Mileage: 24.32

Total Yearly Mileage: 470.32

Total Shoe Mileage: 236.95

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 78.59

Total Monthly Mileage: 78.59

Total Yearly Mileage: 885.19

The days with overcast mornings are gone now until possibly November. I am sad by this because I can now complain about warm/hot and humid weather and I do not like that kind of weather. I think I can tolerate sunny and 60-something degrees weather in the morning when I drive to a different city and be in a completely different area for a run. I need to make this into a weekly or regular habit even though I'm generally lazy to get in the car to go run somewhere else. I wish I had powers to teleport, so I don't have to commute in any way, shape, or form (car, train, bus, plane) when I want to go for a run.

Week 27: Day 5 - July 08, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 5.42 miles; time = 1:09:31; pace @ 12:50
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.4 miles
• easy bike ride (local) = 7.57 miles; time = 35:48; pace @ 12.7 mph

My motivation totally tanked yesterday while trying to go to work. I don't know why I feel better/differently on a bike today. Maybe because I did a much shorter route and I wasn't going to work. I'm not sure. After I dropped off my car at the mechanic, I went to the post office (by bike) because I was expecting something in my PO Box. I went by bike to get my car back from the mechanic. All is well with my car now, so I can go back to two days a week of going to work by bike.

I also felt ok running. I still can't wait for summer to be over though.

Week 27: Day 4 - July 07, 2016

• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 33.17 mile round trip, 2:48:29; pace @ 11.8 mph

Last night when I decided to go to work on a bike today, I thought I would be fine and I felt fine. As soon as I got on my bike and headed to work, I was struggling. Two days, back to back of riding to work the whole way 38 miles round trip really was too much for me. It was like I didn't have any motivation to ride or like my motivation crashed or something. I struggled mentally to ride home. To the point that I rode to the mall and took a bus from there part of the way. This was the first time that I took the bus part of the way home, so I was a little unfamiliar with the stops. I had an idea where I wanted to be dropped off at and then go home the rest of the way on bike. When I finally got off the bus, I realized that I got off at the wrong stop and could have gotten dropped off at a stop that was a little closer to home which was also a little easier too. Oh well. Now I know for the next time that I take the bus home part of the way if I can't handle the whole bike ride or don't want to spend too much time riding in the dark.

Week 27: Day 3 - July 06, 2016

• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles
• bike commute to work = 37.85 miles round trip; time = 2:50:58; pace @ 13.3 mph

I decided not to do a run tomorrow morning. Instead, I will be going to work on a bike. I didn't go to work on a bike on Monday, so this is making up for it. I'm also having car problems anyway. I won't be able to take into a mechanic until Friday, but I don't feel safe to take it onto the freeway. Driving on the streets the whole way is doable, but my car problems will really frustrate me.

Week 27: Day 2 - July 05, 2016

• easy trail RUN (solo) = 4.45 miles; time = 55:31
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

The only thing that I did yesterday was walk my dogs, but I barely put in one mile. I had already decided not to go to work on a bike because I wanted to be home by 8pm, so I could walk my dogs and then go to a firework show at a local high school. The school is located 1/2 mile from home and easy to walk to. Instead of going to work on a bike, I had planned to do a shorter bike ride (more locally, but a bit more challenging) in the morning before I headed to work. But at the last minute, I was asked to go into work at 8am and be off at 5pm (I normally work until 7pm during the week). I said ok, mainly because I wanted to get home earlier.

Except for feeling tired and sleepy, I felt fine during my run this morning. Tomorrow is bike day, so no running in the morning. I'm not 100% sure yet, but I think Thursday will be rest day (dog walking only). I'm not 100% because if it is overcast in the morning like it had been for the last few days, I may do a run on Thursday morning and then I can afford to miss a running day or two when the morning is sunny and warm/hot/humid. I want to take advantage of the cooler weather in the middle of summer before I struggle with the weather of heat and humidity.

Week 26: Day 7 - July 03, 2016

• hilly trail RUN (solo) = 3.91 miles; time = 47:43; pace @ 12:12
• @ local jr college cross country course
• short hilly trail RUN (solo) = 1.1 mile; time = 15:04; pace @ 13:42
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.4 miles

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 18.79

Total Monthly (June) Mileage: 78.51

Total Monthly (July) Mileage: 8.67

Total Yearly Mileage: 454.67

Total Shoe Mileage: 220.40

Cycling:

Total Weekly Mileage: 75.70

Total Monthly (June) Mileage: 309.39

Total Yearly Mileage: 806.60

I woke up to an overcast/cloudy morning. Boy was I really glad to see that kind of weather. When it is summertime and in the middle of July with warm/humid weather, the overcast weather felt nice and much cooler. It really helped my mood and it was really welcoming. I felt so much better this morning. I didn't feel unmotivated or grumpy. I think I much rather have overcast mornings in the middle of summer and not so much in the cooler months.

Week 26: Day 5 - July 01, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 3.66 miles; time = 47:06; pace @ 12:52
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

I tried to take a nap after my run. I took melatonin and 5 htp, natural remedies to help me sleep, but I didn't feel that I had real quality sleep. It was like my eyes were closed and my body was sleeping, but my mind was still awake.

I also realized that I'm way ahead of schedule with the total yearly mileage which included three missed runs. I can afford to miss a run next week, but I still wish to stay on track with the "challenge", or schedule or plan:

1. Never miss a Monday (or Tuesday) and 2. Never go more than two days of no running.

So, I am still doing a run on Sunday and Tuesday as scheduled before missing a run.