Week 13: Day 5 - March 31, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5.44 miles; time = 1:04:11; average pace @ 11:48
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I felt like I could run longer this morning. Maybe I would have if I didn't have my dog with me. Too bad, I don't feel like this all the time...

Week 13: Day 3 - March 28, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 3.7 miles; time = 44:59; average pace @ 12:09
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles

My legs were a little achy/sore this morning from all the riding that I did yesterday and Monday...funny, I don't remember my legs feeling like this a few weeks ago when I did the same thing...ride to work two days in a row (second day including a bus ride). I did a short, easy run this morning.

Week 13: Day 2 - March 28, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 4.59 miles; time = 56:37; average pace @ 12:20
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles
• bike commute to work/home = 26.08 miles total; time = ?
• commute to work = 13:05 miles
• commute to home = 13:03 miles

I went to work by bike and took the bus part of the way in both directions. Commuting to work/home by bike and bus wasn't exactly planned, but I didn't really have a choice if I didn't want to miss a day at work. I usually like to take a picture of my bike computer when I reach my destination to "record" my distance, and time, but I forgot to press "save" after I took the picture when I got to work. (I like to start over and clear the computer for the ride home from work.)

Week 13: Day 1 - March 27, 2017

• bike commute to work/home = 37.20 miles total; time = 3:07:06; average speed @ 11.9 mph
• commute to work = 19.30 miles; time = 1:35.31; average speed @ 12.1 mph
• commute home = 17.90 miles; time = 1:31:35; average speed @ 11.7 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

I attempted to make my commute home from work a little shorter, but it was so windy that it didn't seem to matter. I don't know where this wind came from.

Week 12: Day 7 - March 26, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 3.29 miles; time = 41:44; average pace @ 12:41
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

Running:
Total Weekly Mileage: 18.57
Total Monthly Mileage: 67.39
Total Yearly Mileage: 228.44
Total Shoe Mileage: 251.71

Cycling:
Total Weekly Mileage: 53.39
Total Monthly Mileage: 274.12
Total Yearly Mileage:  513.38

I had planned to go for a bike ride today, but too much time has passed and I don't feel like doing one anymore. I'm tired...even though I didn't attempt to take a nap.

Week 12: Day 5 - March 22, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5 miles; time = 1:00:11; average pace @ 12:02
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles
• training ride (bike) = 15.39 miles; time = 1:29:23; average pace @ 10.3 mph

I decided to change things up a little bit for my bike ride. Part of my ride is on a loop which involved a 9% grade on one side...this side would normally be the side that I went up first. Just for this loop only was about 3.3 miles. The other end of the loop also had a long, steep down hill....so steep that I had to watch my speed and be very careful. I decided to do this loop in reverse because I knew that the incline was harder and I wanted to train on a harder hill to prepare myself for the 30 mile ride at the "Finish The Ride" event. I used strava app to record my ride. The harder side of the loop had an 11% grade and the hill was .90 mile (less than one mile) long! I had to stop and rest many times during this hill. It was pretty hard that it seemed longer. I guess if I want to be stronger and maybe a bit faster, I should train/ride on a hill with an 11% grade!

Week 12: Day 3 - March 22, 2017

• easy trail/road run (solo) = 5.14 miles; time = 1:03:52; average pace @ 12:26
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles total

I felt a little better running this morning. I had thought that it would be raining during my run this morning, so I didn't bother to bring my dog along. It rained a little bit after my run, but it stayed dry during while there were lots of dark clouds. I also had thought that it would rain all morning and then stop by afternoon, so I hadn't actually planned to do much walking (three short walks for a total of 1.5 miles) with my dogs....since it looked like it would stay dry long enough, I took my dogs out for a 1.5 mile walk at late morning (with two other very short walks at other times).

Week 12: Day 2 - March 21, 2017

• easy trail run (solo) = 5.14 miles; time = 1:05:35; average pace @ 12:46
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

I didn't bring my dog with me for my run this morning. I thought that it would rain during the run. It drizzled a little bit when I took my dogs out for a "potty break" before the run and the clouds looked dark. The sky cleared up halfway through the run. I also struggled during the first two miles of the run, but felt better after that. I went to bed "on time" last night and "on time", I meant by 10:15pm. I think it didn't really help that I took some ZZZquil and meletonin before bed because I woke up tired. (Zzzzquil is not meant for colds/flu/etc...it is like Tylenol PM or Advil PM and it is suppose to help you go to sleep.) I probably should not try that again unless I don't plan to run (or have other obligations) in the morning.

Week 12: Day 1 - March 20, 2017

• bike commute to work/home = 38 miles round trip/total; time = 3:14:27; pace @ 11.7 mph
• commute to work = 19.35 miles; time = 1:37:13; pace @ 11.9 mph
• commute to home = 18.65 miles; time = 1:37:14; pace @ 11.5 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

I struggled commuting/riding to work this morning. I wanted to go back to sleep for another hour. It was my own fault for going to bed late last night, so I have no one to blame but myself. I felt better once I got to work. I was tired and my average/overall pace was slower than normal, but I felt better going home. I did think about catching the bus as part of my commute, but when I got to the bus stop (at the mall/halfway point), I decided that I was okay to ride the whole distance.

Week 11: Day 7 - March 19, 2017

• easy trail run (solo) = 3.24 miles; time = 42:19; average pace @ 13:04 (minute:seconds)
• group bike ride = 20.34 miles; time = 1:32:41; average pace @ 13.2 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.5 miles

Running:
Total Weekly Mileage: 17.28
Total Monthly Mileage: 48.79
Total Yearly Mileage: 209.87
Total Shoe Mileage: 233.14

Cycling:
Total Weekly Mileage: 81.39
Total Monthly Mileage: 220.73
Total Yearly Mileage: 459.99

I did my three mile run in the dark. It was the first time that I ran in the dark. My dog didn't run with me for her own safety because I didn't want a coyote to attack/take my dog in the dark since it was harder to see. I didn't really enjoy my run. It wasn't that I couldn't see where I was going, but I couldn't see the ground and I couldn't watch my step. I'm already clumsy enough as it is and sometimes I will trip on my own feet in daylight hours. I was also tired and wanted to sleep more. I got it down and now I can say that I did it.

After that, I met up with a bike group from meetup. I hadn't done a ride with this group in a year because of my running schedule and work schedule. I think my average speed around 12 mph when I did a ride with this group one year ago. My average speed is 13 mph. It was nice to ride with a group, but who knows when I'll get to ride with this group again...?

Week 11: Day 6 - March 18, 2017

• training ride (bike) = 16.5 miles; time = 1:29:15; average pace @ 11 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.1 miles

I did not ride/commute to work by bike today. When I woke up and looked out the window this morning, it looked very cloudy and cold. It made me lazy and more tired, so I went back to sleep for an extra hour before finally getting ready for work (going by car). I thought that it would stay cloudy all day/afternoon, but the clouds burned off and the sun came out by mid-morning. I was a little sad by this because I wanted to go for a run after work (most likely a little closer to evening like 6pm). So instead of going to work by bike or going for a run, I went for a bike ride "around the block" for "training".

Tomorrow morning, I am going to make an effort to do an easy three mile run before heading out to meet a bicycle group. We are meeting at 8am and doing a 21 mile ride. The run is more like a warm up for the ride and I've already put in 14 miles (running) for the week, so I don't have to do more. I just feel like I should still do a run to make it 17 miles and it's easier for me to do a run in the morning...than in the afternoon or evening. (It's a little harder for me to run later in the day when it's warm.) I probably wouldn't have met up with a bike group tomorrow if I had gone to work on a bike today.

Week 11: Day 5 - March 17, 2017

• hilly trail run (solo) part 1 = 3.67 miles; time = 43.32; average pace @ 11:52
• hilly trail run (solo) part 2 = 1.1 miles; time = 14:40; average pace @ 13:20
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles
• bike ride (training) = 13.17 miles; time = 1:19:25; average pace @ 10 mph

My work scheduled changed a little bit. I now work on Thursday mornings and off on Fridays. I'm not really happy about this. So instead of running yesterday, I did my runs this morning and both runs were without my dog. First run was at a local junior college, but there was cattle on one trail. It seemed easier to run alone, surrounded by cattle than run with a dog. I'm already slightly afraid of cows, but my dog and I become more afraid when we run together surrounded by them. While I think they wouldn't do anything, they also look horrified to be near a dog!

I finally figured out how to determine a "grade" (how steep) on a hill now. I don't know why I didn't think of this before. I downloaded Strava app on my phone. I used it on one ride many weeks ago. I think I never used it again after that because I got lazy. Out of curiosity, I check the data on the ride like the grade (%) of the hill and it showed up as 7 %. So I used Strava on my ride today. The route that I'm using as training because of the "mountain" has a 9.5 %! Now I know what a 9% grade feels like on a bike. The 30 mile ride that I'm doing for "Finish The Ride" event has a 9% grade....but the event ride has two major hills that I have to conquer! Both are roughly about 1,300 feet (give or take) max elevation gain with a 9% grade for each hill. I suppose if I really want to get crazy, I'll do the same hill twice in the same ride. I'm scared, but it's the only way to train for two major hills with a 9% grade.

I could have been faster on the bike training, but I had bad timing with the eating and I got weak.

Speaking of riding, I will be riding/commuting to work by bike tomorrow. I had been working a full day (8am to 5pm) every Saturday for many months, but my hours got cut and I'm working half day on Saturdays now. It is not because I'm being bad. Because my boss hired new people recently, my boss wants to make it fair to everyone to work on the weekends. It's time for me to look for a new job since I don't like my current work schedule. I think it's time to get a new job...I don't like my new schedule and I'm at the point that I don't want to be where I'm at anymore.

Week 11: Day 4 - March 16, 2017

• bike commute to work (shorter version; starting/ending from mall) = 15.68 miles round trip; time = 1:20:18; average pace @ 11.7 mph
• walk to massage place = 1.22 miles round trip
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

I was tired, riding to work from the mall this morning. I felt better when I got to work and riding/going back to my car at the mall was better than going/riding to work. I also took a walk to a local massage place (near home) after I got home from work. My back (mainly lower back) and legs (mainly right calf muscle) needed work. Although I don't feel like my back was worked on that well because I still feel knots in my lower back (at the base near my hips). I don't really have any actual problems in my calf or feet muscles, but there is some very mild discomfort. I knew that my right calf muscle was tight to which I was "right" because it is sore now. Now let's see how my legs feel tomorrow morning when I go for a run!

Week 11: Day 3 - March 15, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 4.17 miles; time = 50:50; average pace @ 12:11
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I have to work tomorrow morning. I'm not sure if I will ride/commute to work by bike\, but if I do, I'm starting at the mall for the shorter version. I will have to figure it  out when I wake up in the morning. I don't think I can mentally handle the full distance, starting from my house. I got home from work 30 minutes ago. Usually when I work this late and then have work in the morning, I don't get enough sleep and it's harder on me (mentally) get home.

Week 11: Day 2 - March 14, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5.1 miles; time = 1:03:29; average pace @ 12:21
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

It was so warm this morning. I was going to blame the warm weather for why I was struggling during my run because I took a walk break at mile 1, but a few minutes after that, I felt better. I think I need to learn to be okay with warm ups. I do warm ups before a run on occasions, but not every time. I just generally don't like to do warm ups and I know that they help.

Week 11: Day 1 - March 13, 2017

• bike commute to work/home (starting/ending at mall) = 15.7 miles round trip; time = 1:23:32; average pace @ 11.3 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

My original plan was to do the shorter ride/commute to work starting and ending at the mall. The mall was the halfway point between home and work. Because I had something to do in the afternoon, almost right after work. I was glad that I chose to do this after all. I was feeling unmotivated going back to my car at the mall. I felt fine going to work, but I think I just need to catch up on sleep. I feel like I do, even though I didn't even attempt to take a nap when I had the time this afternoon.

Week 10: Day 7 - March 12, 2017

• hilly trail run (solo) part 1 = 4.03 miles; time = 47:34; average pace @ 11:48
• hilly trail run (solo) part 2 = 1.1 miles; time = 14:32; average pace @ 13:13
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles
• cycling ("training") = 23 miles; time = 1:49:24; average pace @ 12.6 mph

Running:

Total Weekly Mileage: 18.57

Total Monthly Mileage: 31.51

Total Yearly Mileage: 192.59

Total Shoe Mileage: 215.86

Cycling:

Total Weekly Mileage: 74.03

Total Monthly Mileage: 139.34

Total Yearly Mileage: 378.60

I'm not exactly caught up on sleep, however, I do feel better about running now. I went to work in a car on Friday, although I think I would have been okay commuting/riding (bike) to work just fine? I woke up feeling okay on Friday morning.

I was also suppose to be attending an event today, but it was cancelled due to some unforeseen circumstances. So I was a little more motivated to ride (bike) today. I do plan to ride to work tomorrow, but I have something to do in the afternoon, and will be starting from the mall....drive to the mall with my bike and then ride from there. The mall is basically the halfway point between home and work.

Week 10: Day 4 - March 09, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5.06 miles; time = 1:04:36; average pace @ 12:46
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

Whoops...I forgot to post Thursday's run. Even though I am typing this today (Sunday, March 12), I am postmarking it to Thursday's date and talking/typing like it was on Thursday.

Anyway, I struggled to run. It was 58 F degrees at the start of the run which might have been a partial reason why I was struggling, but I don't think it was the main reason. I felt tired and wanted more sleep. So, it was either not enough sleep or I'm just losing motivation? I had a hard time taking a nap. I was never able to get one. Riding/commuting (bike) to work tomorrow (Friday) may not happen.

Week 10: Day 3 - March 08, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 3.32 miles; time = 42:45; average pace @ 12:53
• cycling (training ride) = 13.04 miles; time = 1:14:00; average pace @ 10.6 mph
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I took one rest break during my ride this morning, but I made it a little further up the "mountain" compared to last week. A few more weeks and I'll be able to successfully make it to the top without stopping. I don't know what the grade (%) of this hill is, but I know the hill during the 30 mile ride at the Finish The Ride event has a 9% grade. I hope my training ride/hill is close enough. If it is a little harder, that would be better for "practice"/training, so the 9% grade won't feel so hard after all.

Week 10: Day 2 - March 07, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5.06 miles; time = 1:01:37; average pace @ 12:11
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I was originally going to postponed my Wednesday morning ride to Sunday ride. Then I remembered that I have an event to go to at 12pm noon. I guess a ride on Sunday is out of the question. I am going to ride tomorrow morning as originally planned. I bought a new tube and a tire (the rubber outer thing). Basically, I burned a hole on the outside, burned a hole in my tire lining and ripped a hole in the tube when I was riding home from work yesterday. The outer tire thing feels more like plastic than rubber and it feels stiffer. I am hoping that it feels plastic and stiff because it is brand new. It was hard to put it on my bike rim. It is probably just all in my head, but it feels like it can withstand many things and can't get a flat caused by nails and screws. (I'm not holding my breath that it can't get a flat by those things.)

Week 10: Day 1 - March 06, 2017

• bike commute to work/home = 37.99 miles round trip; time = 3:11:12, average pace @ 11.9 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

I think I am really not meant to ride or commute to work/home by bike. I am cursed with flat tires if I do try. I got my bike in the summer of 2013. I never had a flat between summer of 2013 and December 2015. January 2016 was when I decided that I wanted to ride to work after the time change (in March for spring forward). I had eight flats in 2016 and half of those were commuting to work/home with the last flat at the end of November (I went three months without a flat). After 300+ miles and many rides to work for 2017, I got my first flat (today) of the year. I guess if I don't want any more flats, I have to stop riding and commuting to work/home, but if I stop doing that, my bike will sit in the garage, collecting dirt and cobwebs because I struggle to find motivation to ride "around the block"...for fun...for the sake of it. My cycling group always have regularly scheduled rides, but their ride schedule doesn't work with my schedule. I'm always at work when they are riding. Anyway, I thought 2017 would be better. New Year. Fresh, new start. Reset. Oh well, so much for that. I'm not going to let flat tires stop me from doing my 30 mile ride for "Finish The Ride". Although my planned ride on Wednesday may get postponed to Sunday. I have to get a new tire, and a new tube (as a spare) before I can ride again. I had a spare tube which is in the tire now, but the outer tire has a huge hole and I don't feel safe with a huge hole, exposing my tube.

Week 9: Day 7 - March 05, 2017

• trail RUN (solo) @ Chino Hills State Park = 5.44 miles; time = 1:09:58; average pace @ 12:51
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.6 miles
• cycling (training) = 15.65 miles; time = 1:24:44; average pace @ 11 mph

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 18.31

Total Monthly (February) Mileage: 76.37
Total Monthly (March) Mileage: 12.94

Total Yearly Mileage: 174.02

Total Shoe Mileage: 197.29

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 65.31

Total Monthly (March) Mileage: 65.31

Total Yearly Mileage: 304.57

I almost did not want to ride (bike) today because of the weather. The morning started off with partly cloudy and partly sunny skies. Then it started to drizzle at 1pm, and then it was partly cloudy/partly sunny again by around 3pm. By this time, it was cold and windy, but the temperature (60 F degrees) and wind seemed worse when I taking my dogs out for a short walk (I took them out for a longer walk after my run this morning). Once I got on my bike, the temperature was fine and it was only windy during parts of my ride...scary (side winds) or annoying (headwinds), although I guess I would rather have annoying headwinds because I can't be blown off my bike like side winds can.

Anyway, I went riding on a route that I hadn't done in awhile. It had a "mountain" that I would have to ride on twice. The ride was for training and because I wanted to know what the elevation profile was since it has been awhile and my garmin account doesn't keep "records" of all activities within the last two months...it only record activities within the last 17 days. I don't feel sore from the run or the ride today, so I still plan to ride/commute (bike) to work tomorrow...unless the weather calls for scary winds. I guess I should check the weather forecast, but I have to watch the forecast on tv. It seems that the online weather isn't giving me much details regarding the wind factor.

Week 9: Day 5 - March 03, 2017

• commute to work/home (by bike) = 39:52 miles total; time = 3:12:35; average pace @ 12.3 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

I didn't used to bring any food/snack for the ride home when I commute to work/home. I did just fine all of last year and the few times this year. Usually whatever I eat during break at work was enough to get me home, and I've been eating the same stuff. At the halfway point on the way home, I was starting to feel weak with my sugar level crashing. I had donuts, candy and other sugary foods on the brain. At some point, I was at this long stretch (five miles) where there weren't any businesses (in buildings) to just randomly in. I was really thinking about stopping by a donut shop or gas station (for candy) at the next chance that I got...until I saw a fruit stand. Buying a cup (one quart) of mango from the fruit stand was the best decision I made. Not only was it super healthy, it helped my appetite (it filled me up) and balanced out my sugar level. I got a better deal for my money on a quart of mango. One donut or a box of candy (I wanted twizzlers) wouldn't have helped my appetite and MAYBE it would fix my sugar level. On top of that, I "helped" out an immigrant (hopefully in the U.S. legally) who was trying to make a living. His fruit stand was pretty isolated...and by "isolated", I mean he wasn't near other businesses competing for money. His fruit stand was, however, on a busy road with lots of cars. I imagined that he made good money because he didn't have any competition. Whoever his boss was..was smart enough to have fruit stands on a busy street with no competition. Oh yeah, there was another fruit stand across the street, a few hundred yards away, but he was for the traffic going the other direction. The road had only two lanes (one for each directions). There were no signs that says "No U-turn", but it is just common sense to know that it is unsafe and dangerous to make a u-turn on a narrow two laned road. Anyway, I ate half of the fruit at the fruit stand before getting back on my bike to go home....that was how desperately I really needed to eat. I was only able to eat half for some reason. Then I finished the remainder of the fruits a few miles later, but not exactly close enough to home. I also took a detour and stopped by a bank on the way home. (I had enough energy to go home...then my acid reflux started to act up.)

Week 9: Day 4 - March 02, 2017

easy RUN with one dog = 5.33 miles; time = 1:03:35; average pace @ 11:56

easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I don't feel sore from yesterday's bike ride that had a "mountain" in the first half. I will continue riding up this "mountain" regularly every week until the event or until I can ride to the top non-stop. I may do this ride on Thursdays (or Sundays) followed by a commute ride to work/home the next day.

Week 9: Day 3 - March 01, 2017

• easy RUN ("warm up") with one dog = 2.17 miles; time = 27:42; average pace @ 12:46
• bike ride (training) = 10.14 miles; time = 1:02:19; average pace @ 9.8 mph
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I did a short easy run this morning, sorta like a warm up for my bike ride. I didn't want to skip a run entirely because I wanted to run and put in 17 miles this week. It just seemed easier to do a two mile run because even the small runs add up and I don't have to put in extra miles for my other runs.

The hilly trail run that I like to do when I'm training for a half marathon? I did a ride up half of the trail. Max elevation gain of 1,236 feet with a total elevation gain of 2,025 feet. I'm not sure what the grade (%) was on that climb, but it was tough. I had to take a rest break.

So out of curiosity, I went and checked the elevation profile on 30 mile ride from the Finish The Ride event that I'm doing. If I understand it correctly, the max elevation gain is 1,300 feet and total elevation gain is 2,585 feet. I thought the max elevation gain was 2,585 feet and I'm glad that I misunderstood it earlier. 1,300 feet max elevation gain is so much more doable for me. There are two hills on the ride (more like two and a half hills). If I understood this correctly, the total elevation gain is all the climbs/up hill combined?

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