Week 52: Day 4 - December 29, 2016

• semi-hilly trail run (solo) = 3.51 miles; time = 39:17; average pace @ 11:12
• @ local jr college trails
• trail run (solo) - shorter, but feels more hilly = 1.1 mile; time = 13:38; average pace @ 12:29
• off campus, but nearby
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

I went for a run at a local junior college. The trails on campus are/were opened to the public, however, I wasn't sure if there would be any cattle that had free range to roam around on the trails. My dog is really scared of cattle and tries to run away. While the cattle will not do anything to me or my dog or run away at the sight of a dog, they glare at my dog and they look horrified. The last time that I ran on the trails on campus was during the summer and there were no cattle there as they were moo-ved to a nearby area. There weren't any cattle today, but I am hoping that the school don't moo-ve their cattle back to these trails for another month and a half...after February 12, so I can run on these trails with my dog without both of us being so afraid of cattle.

While I could have just done my 3.5 mile super hilly trail run with the 1.4 mile long uphill (that I like to train on for half marathon training), I just wanted to change up my scenery. The trail conditions on that run is also not really ideal for my dog's feet. These two trail runs (that I plan to do every week until 10k race week) will still give me the challenging work out that I need while my dog still gets her run in with me. I plan to do my next 10k with my dog.

The 1.1 mile hilly trail that I did...I did the trail faster than I thought even though my legs felt tired from doing the other run right before.

Week 52: Day 2 - December 27, 2016

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 3.25 miles; time = 37:57; average pace @ 11:41
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

I have a 10K race in less than six weeks. I guess I can start training for it this week...as of today, although it'll be an easy training week.

I forgot to mention that I started writing down my runs in a paper notebook. It's mainly to record any routes (including time and distance) that I do, so I can make comparisons. While I do use logmyrun.com to record my time and pace, I'm just too lazy to record a lot of my routes on there.

Week 51: Day 7 - December 25, 2016

• trail/road RUN with one dog = 6.31 miles; time = 1:12:20; average pace @ 11:28
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 19.47

Total Monthly Mileage: 73.95

Total Yearly Mileage: 959.13

Total Shoe Mileage: 19.47

Cycling:

Total Weekly Mileage: 0

Total Monthly Mileage: 60.9

Total Yearly Mileage: 1701.98

Happy holidays to everyone! If you don't celebrate any holidays this month, happy day and happy weekend!

I have decided not to sign up for the The Great Chocolate Race 10 mile run after all. Timing is bad and I have too many things that need to be paid off first....besides, I saw a discount code (roughly $20 off) on their facebook page a few days ago, and I can't find it anymore. Maybe they deleted it already? It expires tonight at 11:59pm.

I am also not going to ride my bike to work. Since most people are on vacation and there will be less traffic, I don't want to take a chance of getting hit by a motorist who won't do the right thing like stopping and calling 911 for help...leaving me to die. And who knows how long someone pulls over to finally help me. I'm not afraid of rush hour traffic and I like it a little busy in the morning. Because if someone wants to hit me and run, there will be too many witnesses...and I will get the help that I need immediately. I thought about driving to the mall and then ride to work from there, but my bike rack is broken. I didn't realize it until around 7pm. I can probably fix it, but I'm too tired to try.

Week 51: Day 4 - December 22, 2016

• road/trail RUN (solo) = 5.34 miles; time = 1:00:47; average pace @ 11:23
• easy WALK with dogs = 1.5 miles

I was hoping that the rain would stop long enough this morning for me to do my run and do a decent walk with my dogs. It had been raining since 8pm last night and it never stopped. I did my run in the rain, but I didn't take my running buddy (dog) with me. It drizzled the during my run, but it wasn't as bad as it seemed. It also seemed windier at home than any other time of my run (mind you, I started and ended my run at home) and I even had to stop for two red lights to cross the street, but it didn't seem windy at all during those stops.

I would have done my run tomorrow morning instead, but I'm working in the morning. Tomorrow would have been a bit better as far as the rain holding out long enough in the morning. I thought about going to work by bike, but the rain is/was questionable on the way home and I didn't want to ride in the rain. It doesn't matter anyway, because I have to be at work by 7am. That means that I have to wake up at 3:45am (to eat, get dressed, set up my bike, and walk my dogs) and then leave home by 4:45am. I also had to work this afternoon and got off at 7pm. Riding to work on Monday mornings is a little easier (even though I start at 7:30am) because I don't have to work on Sunday afternoon/evening, so I get to rest up a little more/better.

Week 51: Day 3 - December 21, 2016

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.52 miles; time = 53:09; average pace @ 11:46
• easy WALK with dogs = 1.5 miles

I managed to do my run in dry conditions this morning. I had no idea that it would rain this afternoon until mid-morning, so I didn't do a lot of walking with my dogs. I saw the weather forecast two days ago and it mentioned that the next call for rain was on Friday night/Saturday morning with no mention about rain for today. I was confused and a little disappointed. Supposedly there will be rain tomorrow morning, but I hope it happens during some ungodly hours of the morning and stops before 6am, so I can do my run.

Week 51: Day 2 - December 20, 2016

• super hilly trail RUN with one dog = 1.1 mile; time = 14:06; average pace @ 12:49
• warm up (jog) = 1.1 mile
• cool down (jog/walk) = 1.1 mile
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

Instead of riding my bike, I went to work by car yesterday (Monday). It was very windy. I wasn't worried about motorists running me over because of strong winds. I was worried that I would get knocked down by the winds because my feet would have no contact with the ground. You can actually have both feet off the ground at the same time when you're running, but your feet are much closer to the ground.

Week 50: Day 7 - December 18, 2016

easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.16 miles; time = 48:17; average pace @ 11:36

easy WALK with dogs = 2.6 miles

Running:

Total Weekly Mileage: 9.95

Total Monthly Mileage: 54.48

Total Yearly Mileage: 939.66

Total Shoe Mileage: 351.41

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 0 

Total Monthly Mileage: 60.9

Total Yearly Mileage: 1701.98

I want to sign up for this The Great Chocolate Race and do the 10 mile run (there is a 5K option, but I don't like doing races less than a 10k...). I have not signed up yet, but training (for me if I want to do it) starts this coming week. I have to wait until my next paycheck (this coming Friday) first and figure out my budget. In the meantime, I'm going to start training like I've already signed up. The race is on Sunday, January 29. Even though I just finished a half marathon last week, I'm itching to do another long-ish race. On the other hand, I can and should just take it easy for the rest of the year and then start training at the first week of January for my Firecracker 10k race/run....this race is on Sunday, February 12.

Week 50: Day 4 - December 15, 2016

• easy trail run with one dog = 3.63 miles; time = 42:13; average pace @ 11:38
• easy walk with three dogs = 2.3 miles

I recently bought new shoes. I haven't worn them for a run yet, but I will starting next week. I'm finishing off my current pair with some easy runs for an easy recovery week before I "retire" them. I could probably continue running in the current pair until the end of the year, but I wanted to put some miles on the new shoes before the new year starts.

Week 50: Day 3 - December 14, 2016

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 2.16 miles; time = 26:07; average pace @ 12:05
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

All of my previous half marathons, I took a one week break from running to rest up my legs. I didn't do that this time around. I got bored and did a short, easy two mile run. It's amazing how I missed a run last week because my motivation crashed and then I am bored and can't wait to do a run within a few days after the race. I don't think I will do a run on Friday morning because the weather calls for lots of rain on Friday morning, but I will do one tomorrow morning.

Week 49: Day 7 - December 11, 2016

• Holiday Half Marathon = 13.1 miles; time = 2:13:00 (official finish time); pace @ 10:09
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 24.16

Total Monthly Mileage: 44.53

Total Yearly Mileage: 929.71

Total Shoe Mileage: 341.46

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 60.9

Total Monthly Mileage: 60.9

Total Yearly Mileage: 1701.98

I can take a rest day tomorrow. I do not plan to ride/bike to work. My legs are not that bad right now, but I will probably become very sore if I do ride to work tomorrow. I am working on Tuesday morning to fill in someone else's shift, and going to work by bike is questionable. Most likely, I am. Even though I want to do some easy, recovery runs later in the week, I also want to catch up on sleep. I need to sleep and I can finally catch up on it!

I also think it's time to get new shoes...although the current pair will do okay for a few more miles

Week 49: Day 5 - December 09, 2016

• trail/road run (solo) = 6.28 miles; time = 1:12:50; average pace @ 11:36
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles
• bike commute to mall (free birthday meal @ red robin) = 22.88 miles total; 1:52:44; average pace @ 12.2 mph

Last training run before the race! I am so ready for the race on Sunday! I was going to do a run yesterday, but I really struggled mentally to get started and a run never happened. I felt better to run this morning. I almost didn't want to do a bike ride out of laziness, but I felt much better once I got started.

Week 49: Day 2 - December 06, 2016

• trail/road run (solo) = 4.78 miles; time = 57:27; average pace @ 12:01
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

Yesterday morning felt way colder than this morning. I wish the weather/temperature switched places, so I could run in colder temperatures. After I walk my dogs tomorrow morning, I plan to go back to sleep until it is time to walk my dogs again and get ready for work. I need sleep!

Week 49: Day 1 - December 05, 2016

• bike commute to work - 38.04 miles total; time = 2:58:08; average pace @ 12.8 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

I forgot to wear gloves while commuting to work this morning. Normally, I can handle 45 F degrees weather when I'm running because running makes me hot and it doesn't take much for me to get hot, but it's different on a bike. My hands were so stiff frozen when I got to work that I had to put my hands in running hot (to the point of tolerable) until they felt better. Going home was different and much better.

Week 48: Day 7 - December 04, 2016

• long road run (solo) = 10.19 miles; time = 1:58:54; average pace @ 11:40
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles

Running:
Total Weekly Mileage: 25.22
Total Monthly (November) Mileage: 116.23
Total Monthly (December) Mileage: 20.37
Total Yearly Mileage: 905.55
Total Shoe Mileage: 317.30

Cycling:
Total Weekly Mileage: 36.7
Total Monthly (November) Mileage: 163.24
Total Monthly (December) Mileage: 0
Total Yearly Mileage: 1641.08

Final long run today. I have three training runs left and then the race next weekend. After next weekend, I will do a few easy, recovery runs and get lots of sleep. I need to catch up on sleep! I'm always tired!

Week 48: Day 5 - December 02, 2016

• road/trail run (solo) = 6.65 miles; time = 1:13:44; average pace @ 11:05
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles

I had plans to do a bike ride today, but I was on the bike for all of two feet when I realized that my patched up tire was flat. Because I had no idea how to patch up a tiny hole in a bike tube. So I changed out the "bad" tube for a new tube. I lost motivation to ride my bike when I was done. On the bright side, it took me ten to fifteen minutes for the whole process of changing a flat on a bike. I feel like a pro with that now. I'm good to go for riding to work on Monday morning, but I should probably buy a new tube this weekend in case I somehow managed to get another flat on Monday to work or after work. I don't want to be stuck somewhere because I don't have a ride (someone with a car) or a spare tube. I should also pack a small flashlight in case I get a flat on the morning commute to work. Part of my ride is in the dark, so I need to be able to see what I am doing.

Week 48: Day 4 - December 01, 2016

• challenging hilly trail run (solo) = 3.53 miles; time = 42:45; average pace @ 12:06
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

When I did this same run/route last week, I was able to run 1.3 miles (of the 1.4 mile) up the hill before stopping for a rest break. I took another rest break during that last 1/10 mile before reaching the top of the hill. I was able to run 1.35 mile before taking a break and I only took one break this morning. I think if I had kept trying to run through the burn no matter how much it hurt, I would have been able to make it to the top without taking any rest breaks by now. Next week is the last week of training because the race is next weekend, December 01. I usually do this run (that I did this morning) when I am training for a half marathon, so it may be a long time before I do this run again. I may just try it one more time during the week after the race.