Week 5: Day 2 - January 31, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 3.24 miles; time = 39:40; average pace @ 12:15
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.2 miles
• bike commute to work/home = 25.52 miles total round trip; time = 2:09:41; average pace @ 11.8 mph
• commute to work = 12.84 miles; time = 1:06:20; average pace @ 11.6 mph
• commute home = 12.68 miles; time = 1:03:41; average pace @ 12 mph

I didn't really enjoy my run this morning. I'm slowly losing motivation. In the spirit of the challenge/schedule, I didn't want to miss a run on a Tuesday, and I wanted to do a run so I could say that I did it.

I went to work on my bike today and I took the bus in both directions as part of my commute. I actually enjoyed my ride today. I do not know why this is because I didn't enjoy my ride yesterday. I didn't ride the full distance because I felt that I mentally couldn't handle the great distance (38 miles round trip) two days in a row. I'm sure my legs would have been okay, but my mind wouldn't be. I think I will do this more often...take the bus as part of my commute for work like maybe twice a week. My legs can probably handle riding four days a week (two days full distance and two days partial distance). For $5 a week on the bus, it'll be a lot cheaper than paying gas and taking my car. For $20 on gas, that will take me one week. The commute between riding the whole distance versus half bus ride and half bike ride, is more or less the same. Also, if I take the bus as part of my commute, I can still go for a run earlier in the morning. I would most likely not run on days that I'm riding 38 miles for work.

Week 5: Day 1 - January 30, 2017

• bike ride/commute to work/home = 37.87 miles round trip; time = 3:12:59; pace @ 11.8 mph
• commute to work = 19.21 miles; time = 1:33:40; pace @ 12.3 mph
• commute home = 18.66 miles; time = 1:39:19; pace @ 11.3 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

I didn't feel like riding a little harder/faster going to work or home. While I did feel better once I got to my destination, I was just tired and felt that I needed more sleep. I have to remind myself to go to bed early tonight, maybe earlier than normal, and try not to be distracted by a computer or tv.

Week 4: Day 7 - January 29, 2017

• road RUN with one dog = 6.7 miles; time = 1:23:05; average pace @ 12:24
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles
• miscellaneous bike ride = 5.48 miles; time = 32.24

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 20.33

Total Monthly Mileage: 81.2

Total Yearly Mileage: 81.2

Total Shoe Mileage: 104.47

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 5.48

Total Monthly Mileage: 108.51

Total Yearly Mileage: 108.51

During the month of December (last month), I really debated if I wanted to do the Great Chocolate Race (10 mile run). It would have been today and it was a good thing that I chose not to sign up and run the event. My car ended up with a problem and it is "disabled" right now. I have no one willing to wake up super early to drive 45 miles to take me to the race, then wait around for me to run (or go home and then come back two hours later), and then take me home. My car will be in the shop tomorrow, so I have to ride my bike to work. It is a good thing that I work in the morning and leave work early afternoon. It is easier and I feel safer to ride in the morning than in the dark past 8pm.

While I could done a longer bike ride today and it wouldn't have affected my bike ride tomorrow, I just didn't feel like riding longer today. The ride was really to do some errands and I actually felt better doing doing some errands while riding a bike.

Week 4: Day 5 - January 27, 2017

• easy WALK with three dogs = 1.5 miles
• hilly trail RUN with one dog = 1.1 miles; time = 14:09; average pace @ 12:52
• warm up = 1.1 mile
• cool down = 1.1 mile

I didn't run yesterday because I thought that I could sleep in and get some rest in the morning. I am not 100% better and still recovering from a cold, and I thought that trying to rest/sleep would help me feel better. I was disappointed instead. I just laid there with my eyes closed and pretended (I tried) to sleep all morning. I could have used that time to go for a run.

While I am not 100% better, I feel better compared to last weekend. I didn't run this morning because I had to work. I really debated if I was actually going to get out for a run later today and if I did, it would have been around 5pm when it felt cooler. I generally have no motivation to do a run and start one after 8am. I was lucky that I found some! I suppose 62 F degrees at 5pm in January is the same as 62 F degrees at 6am in March or April? I suppose it's a good sign that I'm truly getting better and my cold is almost over when I have no reaction to the smoggy air at 5pm. I generally don't like to start a run after a certain time and especially past mid-morning because the level of smog picks up and my lungs don't like smoggy air...and when I'm recovering from a cold, my eyes, ears, nose, throat, and lungs burn from breathing in all the smoggy air. I did pretty good.

Now I am not going to make running in the afternoon or evening into a habit. The last time that I did a run later in the day was last January....at 12pm noon. I really am a morning runner where I really prefer to run in the morning when I have the most motivation. I really like the idea of starting my day "on the right foot"...because I have more energy when I start my day with a run.

Week 4: Day 3 - January 25, 2017

• trail/road RUN with one dog = 5.93 miles; time = 1:11:25; average pace @ 12:03
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

Yay for cold mornings! I must enjoy while it lasts! The days are truly starting to get longer. This means that the weather will start to get warmer and summer is almost here. I do not like summer and I hate hot weather!

Week 4: Day 2 - January 24, 2017

• trail RUN with one dog = 4.4 miles; time = 54:00; average pace @ 12:16
• WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I finally get to run in sunny, dry yet cold conditions in what seems like forever. I get to enjoy running in this weather for awhile.

I'm not 100% better, but I'm mostly better. I enjoyed my run this morning a lot better than Sunday morning.

Week 3: Day 7 - January 22, 2017

• trail/road RUN (solo) = 6.27 miles; time = 1:17:07; average pace @ 12:18
• easy WALK with three dogs = 1.2 miles

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 20.67

Total Monthly Mileage: 60.87

Total Yearly Mileage: 60.87

Total Shoe Mileage: 84.14

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 37.84

Total Monthly Mileage: 103.03

Total Yearly Mileage: 103.03

I caught a minor cold...from someone who is sick. I think I have an idea who got me sick. I woke up and went to work yesterday morning feeling totally normal and healthy. As the day went on, I started developing a sore throat and coughing. My sore throat would only hurt when I coughed or swallow. I tried very hard after work to get better. I still have a cough and my sore throat seems a little better...I didn't sleep that well last night, but not because I was coughing or had a sore throat. My body ached. I don't have a flu or fever. No one should do any exercise with a flu or fever, but I went on a six mile run this morning...in the rain, and I felt totally fine. I can't be sick. I can't afford to get sick and I don't want to be sick. I have a 20 mile bike ride family event and a 10k run/race in two weeks!

There have been so much rain that it's hard to walk my dogs in it. We don't enjoy it one bit!

Week 3: Day 4 - January 19, 2017

• easy trail RUN (solo) = 4.5 miles; time = 51:57; average pace @ 11:33
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I watched the weather forecast on tv within the two or three days. The newscasters people said that the rain would stop at 8am this morning. I am really in awe and surprised that they were actually right about this. Although it didn't matter, I thought that it would be overcast/cloudy all day after the rain had stopped, but the sun came out eventually this morning. I got to walk my dogs in dry conditions, but I still had to run (without my dog) in the rain and I came home sopping wet, mostly at the front side of my clothes, and soaked to the bone because basically all the rain was hitting from the front, so my backside was pretty dry.

Tomorrow calls for rain...although I will be working tomorrow morning and I would have preferred to go to work on a bike, I will not going to work on a bike for my own safety.

Week 3: Day 3 - January 18, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 5.14 miles; time = 1:04:45; average pace @ 12:36
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

The weather calls for rain tomorrow morning. As much as I don't want to run in the rain, I am going to anyway.  It is a good thing that I don't easily get sick in the rain anymore like I used to.

Week 3: Day 2 - January 17, 2017

• hilly trail RUN with one dog (part 1) at local jr college = 3.66 miles; time = 46:15; average pace @ 12:38
• hilly trail RUN with one dog (part 2 off campus, but nearby) = 1.1 miles; time = 15:00; average pace @ 13:38
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

I decided to go run on two hilly yet short trail runs this morning. One was at a local junior college. The other one was off campus, but nearby. I think I should have done one 4-mile run with easier hills. Between all the runs from this morning and the bike commute to work/home yesterday, there were just too much hills. My legs felt heavy and they are sore now. I could have done them tomorrow and I don't know why I didn't. It seemed like a good idea to do them this morning.

More rain is coming this week. While I really am grateful for the rain that we are getting, I wished that it would rain in the afternoon or during some ungodly hours of the night like 2am to 5am. I hope I will get to finish the rest of my training in dry conditions after this weekend. I don't get sick that easily just for simply being in the rain, but I'm tired of running in the rain.

Week 3: Day 1 - January 16, 2017

• bike commute to work/home = 37.84 miles total/round trip; time = 3:07:40; average pace @ 12.1 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

I struggled to ride/commute to work because I wanted to sleep in and I was tired. I almost overslept too, but it was a good thing I had a few alarm clocks set. I felt better when I got to work. The commute home was better than commuting to work. I hope that I can just fall sleep early tonight.

Week 2: Day 7 - January 15, 2017

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 5.28 miles; time = 1:01:12; average pace @ 11:35
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles
• easy (local) bike ride = 12.74 miles; time = 1:07:44; average pace @ 11.3 mph

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 19.24

Total Monthly Mileage: 40.20

Total Yearly Mileage: 40.20

Total Shoe Mileage: 63.48

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 12.74

Total Monthly Mileage: 65.19

Total Yearly Mileage: 65.19

About two years ago around this time, I noticed that public restrooms at local parks were closed until around 7:30am or whenever the city parks and recreations department personnel got to them. In the summertime, they would open the restrooms at 6:30am. Park hours were from 6am to 10pm, everyday all 365 days a year. The posted sign for the restrooms were from 8am to 9pm. I complained (two years ago) that the city parks and recreations should open the restrooms at local parks at the same time everyday, whether it was summer or winter. Because sometimes I forget and end up going to a place of business to use the restroom because it is too early for restrooms to be opened at local parks. I am a morning runner and I head out at first light (or as soon as the sun comes up because I don't run in the dark) whether it is 5am in the summer or 6:45am in the winter. During this time of year (in January), it gets a light (not full sunlight, but enough to see) out at 6:45am, so I head out for a run. Recently, I have noticed that public restrooms at local parks (at least the ones I run by most of the time) are open at 6:30am. I was half kidding when I complained about the restrooms opening at varying times throughout the year, but I guess they magically/mysteriously heard me. I guess I can stop complaining about the restrooms not being open when I need to take care of some personal needs during a morning run.

Week 2: Day 4 - January 12, 2017

• easy road RUN (solo) = 4.5 miles; time = 52:22; average pace @ 11:38
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.6 miles

While I am grateful for the rain that we are getting, sometimes I wish that it rains when I don't plan a run in the morning. On the bright side, I got to do a good walk with my dogs without getting rained on. I'm also glad that I don't get sick anymore for simply being in the rain and underdressing for it. I wore shorts and a technical t-shirt for a run in the rain.

Week 2: Day 3 - January 11, 2017

• trail/road RUN (solo) = 4.83 miles; time = 56:38; average pace @ 11:44
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

I went for a run in the rain this morning and I went without my running buddy (dog). Mainly because I didn't feel that I should make her suffer in the rain with me. I will probably have to run alone again tomorrow morning because it is suppose to rain. I prefer not to run in the rain, but I have to work on Friday morning and I really am a morning runner (I find it easier to run in the morning) and I'm training for a 10k race. While I can probably afford to miss a run or two here and there, but I need to adhere to the spirit to the "challenge" of not going more than two days in a row without running. I probably could have used today as a rest day instead because it was raining this morning.

Week 2: Day 2 - January 10, 2017

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 4.64 miles; time = 55:37; average pace @ 11:59
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.4 miles

I checked the weather forecast on  Saturday evening. It said that it would be mostly cloudy today. Who knew that it would there would be some light drizzle or mist during my run this morning. I'm not opposed to having rain. Why not rain in the afternoon after I do my run and do a decent walk with my dogs? Or on days that I don't have a run? Or when I'm sleeping? Or only when I'm at work? I think I will just be fine running on most trails, but the two super hilly trail runs that I wanted to do (one at a jr college campus and one that I use to train for a half marathon) may be too wet and muddy, and I don't like to run in mud. I have to wait until next week to run at school. It is also suppose to rain tomorrow morning and Thursday morning. I am working on Friday morning, so no run on that day (I am a morning runner). While it will be sunny and clear on Friday morning, I won't be going to work by bike. I would have tried if I didn't have other plans (not working) on Thursday evening. I may be too tired on Friday morning.

Week 1: Day 7 - January 08, 2017

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 4.87 miles; time = 57:21; average pace @ 11:47
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles
• local bike ride = 15.01 miles; time = 1:18:40; average pace @ 11.5 mph

Running:

Total Weekly Mileage: 16.91
Total Monthly Mileage: 20.96

Total Yearly Mileage: 20.96

Total Shoe Mileage: 44.24

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 52.45

Total Monthly Mileage: 52.45

Total Yearly Mileage: 52.45

I checked the weather forecast a few days around Wednesday or Thursday. It said that it called for rain on Monday (tomorrow) and Friday next week. I am working in the morning tomorrow and Friday and I have already decided not to ride (bike) to work on these days because of the rain. I checked the weather forecast again yesterday. It has changed and now calls for rain tomorrow and Wednesday...maybe a little bit on Thursday evening with no rain on Friday. Now I wouldn't care to be in the rain when I run, but I had planned to run on certain trails (two short yet hilly runs...one at a local junior college and one on off campus, but close by) Thursday morning. While I will be okay to run on the OFF-campus trail, I have to avoid the one at school because it will be very muddy and I don't like to run in mud. The rain/weather has screwed up my running plans and I have to come up with a back up plan now. I suppose I can run on my other hilly trail run that I normally do when I'm training for a half marathon. I'm running a 10k race next month and the course is hilly, so I have to train on hills. It's also a good thing that I'm making an effort to cycle because I can feel EVERY hill on a bike.

Week 1: Day 4 - January 05, 2016

• easy road run (solo) = 3.28 miles; time = 37:49; average pace @ 11:32
• easy walk with dogs = 1.8 miles

I checked the weather forecast last week and I knew that it would rain this morning. I had told myself that I wanted to do two short, yet semi (to super) hilly trail runs on Wednesday (yesterday). But I forgot and didn't do them yesterday because I thought I would do them today. I ended up doing an easier route and avoided being on the muddy trails. I don't like attempting to run in mud. Mud is slippery. I don't want to slip and pull a muscle. I also don't want mud caked onto my shoes, adding extra weight and feeling slower than I already do. I ended up not walking my dogs as much as I wanted to because of the rain/drizzle.

Anyway, I still went for a run this morning. It was a little drizzle-y and misty, but I didn't bring my dog with me on the run. It's not missing a run will affect her general fitness level anyway.

I haven't signed up for any half marathons yet, but I am considering one in October. I will be raising funds for "Train 4 Autism" and I am friends with the organizer of this non-profit. He will have a promo code ready in April or May which will give us a discounted entry fee for the race. The last time that I did the race for that non-profit, I ended up getting a free race entry for using the promo code, so who knows. The race was also $80 for the early bird special in 2013. The entry fee is now $95 when I checked last month (December 2016)....and that's the early bird special. I do not know why the entry fee increase, but $80 is already so expensive!

Anyway....if I choose to do a half marathon in October, I have between now and mid-June to randomly miss a run here and there. I am training for a 10k (to be scheduled on Sunday, February 12) and I don't necessarily need to run four times a week for fun or while training for a 10k.

Week 1: Day 3 - January 04, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.59 miles; time = 55:58; average pace @ 12:12
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.5 miles

Attempted to take a nap after my run this morning with no such luck. I did close my eyes and it seemed like I was sleeping, but I didn't feel like I got any quality sleep.

Week 1: Day 2 - January 03, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.17 miles; time = 49:24; average pace @ 11:51
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.6 miles

I used to be able to take a one hour nap after going for a morning run. I do not know what happened and why I stopped. I have a hard time taking a nap after a run now. I am always tired and I really wish that I can take a nap even for 30 minutes or one hour after my morning runs.

Week 1: Day 1 - January 02, 2017

• bike commute to work = 37.44 miles round trip; time = 3:01:48; average pace @ 12.4 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

In a way, I forgot that it would be "quiet" with less traffic (almost none) this morning because many people are/were still on "holiday" today. I went to work by bike forgetting this and came to that realization, four miles into my commute when I was wondering to myself why there were no cars out. I didn't bother to turn around to go home, and then go to work by car. I really am not afraid of rush hour traffic and I like it a little busy. Yes, I was a little worried that someone would hit me and run, leaving me in the street to die, and then not knowing when the next motorist will pull over to help me. But you know, I can't live in fear and this was just one time. If I survived, I would feel better for getting a ride in. I also saw the weather forecast yesterday. I knew that there would be a tiny chance that light rain. There was a little bit of mist, but it wasn't bad and I survived that too. I would not have gone out for a ride if it was a little bit more rain than that.

Week 52: Day 7 - January 01, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.05 miles; time = 47:38; average pace @ 11:46
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 11.91

Total Monthly (December) Mileage: 81.81

Total Monthly (January) Mileage: 4.05
Total Yearly (2016) Mileage: 966.99

Total Yearly (2017) Mileage: 4.05

Total Shoe Mileage: 27.33

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 0

Total Monthly (December) Mileage: 60.9
Total Yearly (2016) Mileage:1701.98

My original 2016 goal for running was 800 miles. I met that goal plus more! It helped that I had a schedule for running and treated it like it was an appointment:

1. Never miss a Monday (...or Tuesday) - Mondays are generally my non-running days since 2007

2. Run three days a week

3. Never miss more than two days of no running

4. Never give up

I also decided to run four days a week in 2016. I missed a few days of running, so I could have easily gotten 1,000 miles. Because I chose to run four days a week with one day of crosstraining (cycling), I lost 20 lbs. I need to figure out how to eat better so I can lose more weight.

When the time changed in March, I decided to ride/cycle to work once or twice a week. Because you know...it's environmentally friendlier, good for one's health, good crosstraining for runners, and saves gas money. Who knew that 2016 would be the year for flat tires! I have had my bike for three and a half years now, and I had eight flat tires just in 2016 alone. I didn't have a flat tire before 2016. I did change out the tubes (one front and one back) before,  but only because they were old and wearing out. All that gas money I saved went towards buying new tubes! I could have used the money for new running shoes, a race, or other fun things. On the bright side, running on challenging hills (mountains in my mind) became so much easier for me because of those times spent riding to work (you can feel EVERY hill, no matter how small or big, on a bike)!