Week 22: Day 3 - May 31, 2017

• trail/road RUN with one dog = 5.68 miles; time = 1:08:37; average pace @ 12:05
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

Yesterday morning was overcast, but felt cool. It didn't feel "stuffy" to me. This morning was also overcast. I was going to complain that it felt "stuffy" until it started to feel a little misty after one mile. I should be happy for this and I actually was! A few weeks ago, someone told me that this summer will be very hot. Worse than last summer. While it will be 60-something degrees at 5am, it will be crazy humid (humid and crazy in my mind) and I will not enjoy running in that kind of weather at all! I hope this summer will go by very fast.

Week 22: Day 2 - May 30, 2017

• very hilly trail run (solo) = 3.55 miles; time = 41:46; average pace @ 11:46
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

I mainly wanted to do my hilly trail run to change up the scenery without driving too far. I sorta didn't feel like driving, but I needed a change of scenery before I got bored of running. The last time that I did this run was two or three weeks ago and I made it to the top without stopping. Since my bike is still out of commission (it's been four weeks now), I haven't been riding at all and I've lost some strength/endurance. I almost made/ran to the top, but took a rest break .05 (half of 1/10) mile before I reached the top. I guess that is still pretty good considering that I hadn't been riding my bike for awhile. It's going to be a little longer (financial reasons) before I can finally get my bike fixed.

Week 21: Day 7 - May 28, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 5.44 miles; time = 1:04:58; average pace @ 11:57
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles total

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 19.53

Total Monthly Mileage: 79.91

Total Yearly Mileage: 410.97

Total Shoe Mileage: 41.11

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 0

Total Monthly Mileage: 32.34

Total Yearly Mileage: 847.99

Starting tomorrow, I am "on vacation" until my new job starts. Grand opening was suppose to be yesterday, but my new boss had too many things to get the business set up that it couldn't be open on time. Hopefully, I am "on vacation" for only a few days. Whether I am on vacation or working at my new job, this means that I get mornings free everyday to do whatever I want, like sleep in, do a run, do a bike ride, or something else! I am a morning person when I get some sort of exercise (preferably vigorous enough like running) in the morning. I am not a morning person if I don't and I just go straight into work first thing. At my old job, I did two afternoons and three mornings (all half days). I struggled to stay awake after 9am for the morning shifts. In 2009, I used to be able to run in the morning, then take a nap right after and then head to work in the afternoon. I don't know what happened, but I wish I can take a nap right after a morning run!

Week 21: Day 5 - May 26, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5.62 miles; time = 1:06:18; average pace @ 11:48
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles total

Tomorrow is my last day at my current (now old) job. I start my new job next week which have different business hours. This means that I don't have to work "early bird" hours. I am a morning person if I get a run or bike ride in. Exercise is like a morning coffee/caffeine for me (except for frappacinos from Starbucks, I am really not a coffee drinker/person). I really am not if I don't do some sort of exercise. If I have to go straight into work first thing in the morning like say 7am or 8am, I'm very tired, sleepy and a little grumpy. By 9am, I really struggle to stay awake.

Week 21: Day 3 - May 24, 2017

• easy trail run (solo) = 3.32 miles; time = 41:57; average pace @ 12:32
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

I woke up not really feeling well. I think I should have taken a rest day, even though I didn't feel worse during the run. I felt better after the run though now that I was more awake. It is a good thing that tomorrow is a planned rest day anyway and I think I will be fine for my next run on Friday.

Week 21: Day 2 - May 23, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5.15 miles; time = 1:00:38; average pace @ 11:44
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles total

The daytime temperature wasn't that bad. It was 57 degrees at the start of my run (5:45am). It was probably all in my head, but it felt so warm to me! I am not looking forward to summer when it is 60 degrees and humid feeling at 5am exactly! I will complain, whine, cry and kick dirt because I don't like summer and I hate hot weather!

Week 20: Day 7 - May 21, 2017

• trail run (solo) @ Chino Hills State Park = 5.46 miles; time = 1:02:46; average pace @ 11:30
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 21.58

Total Monthly Mileage: 60.38

Total Yearly Mileage: 391.44

Total Shoe Mileage: 21.58

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 0

Total Monthly Mileage: 32.34

Total Yearly Mileage: 847.99

I decided to go run at Chino Hills State Park this morning...without my dog. (My dog didn't need to be there.) I am okay with running, but figured I could use a change of scenery before I got bored of running. The run started off a little muggy/humid, but got better after one mile and felt nice from there to the end. I was glad for that. It got warm when I got home to walk my dogs.

Week 20: Day 5 - May 19, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 5.53 miles; time = 1:04:11; average pace @ 11:36
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.5 miles total

So, I think I should start eating oatmeal before every run whether I'm training for a race or not. The last few times that I did eat before a run...I had a banana and applesauce, and this was during a half marathon training. I think it helped with my energy level during the run, but it didn't help me run/feel faster. I was a little worried that I would feel sick at the beginning of my run after eating some oatmeal this morning, but I did just fine.

Week 20: Day 3 - May 17, 2017

• easy trail/road RUN with one dog = 5.29 miles; time = 1:03:03; average pace @ 11:55
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles total

I am not looking forward to the warm weather this weekend. I had been enjoying the cool weather (although I prefer COLD temperatures, but cool is doable) these past few days/weeks. I guess it's a good thing that it will start to cool down next Tuesday.

Week 20: Day 2 - May 16, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5.3 miles; time = 1:01:49; average pace @ 11:40
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I bought a new pair of running shoes last week. Too bad I got an REI 20% coupon one and a half week later. Oh well. I don't feel like going back to REI to use it for something else. Anyway, I thought a lot about when to start wearing them for runs, but decided to start wearing this morning. I think I may just sign up for a February 2018 half marathon and I may have to buy another pair of shoes at the end of October. My now current shoes...I may wear them at the beginning of training. If I time it correctly, my new shoes (to be bought in October) will still be okay to run in the Chinese New Year 10k run that will be after the half marathon.

Week 19: Day 7 - May 14, 2017

• "easy" RUN with one dog = 6.31 miles; time = 1:14:56; average pace @ 11:53
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 20.51

Total Monthly Mileage: 38.80

Total Yearly Mileage: 369.86

Total Shoe Mileage: 393.13

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 0

Total Monthly Mileage: 32.34

Total Yearly Mileage: 847.99

I did a 6.3 mile run this morning because I felt like it and my dog came along with me. It was nice, sunny, and cold this morning.

Week 19: Day 5 - May 12, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 5.53 miles; time = 1:03:50; average pace @ 11:33
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

My run started off somewhat cloudy. Halfway through it got really cloudy/overcast and cold. What happened? The sun came out later this morning. I like cold temperatures, but I like the sun too. (Perfect weather, perfect in my mind, would be clear/sunny and COLD!)

Week 19: Day 03 - May 10, 2017

• hilly trail run (solo) = 3.55 miles; time = 42:13; average pace @ 11:53
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles

I went for a run on a hilly trail that I normally would do while training for a half marathon I hadn't done this trail since December when I was training for a December half marathon (I also didn't have strava at the time). When I did this run last time, I almost made it to the top. I ended up taking a rest break 200 feet before getting to the top...my legs couldn't finish the last 200 feet. There is a street off to one side of this trail to which I ride my bike on...that street has a hill with an 11% grade. Both my run and ride come out on a different street on the other side of the trail (going up this street has a hill with a 9% grade). I hadn't done any riding on the hill with the 11% grade in two weeks, but all those efforts of trying to go up that hill had helped my running so much. I didn't use strava to record my run back in December, but I did use that today. The grade was 10% and I made it to the very top without stopping! The hill is 1.4 mile long from bottom to top. So this means that if I should continue to ride up the hill with an 11% grade when I train for a half marathon. I generally pick flat half marathons, but I will feel so much stronger and maybe faster too.

I haven't done on bike ride on this trail because I don't have mountain bike tires and the trail has lots of rocks that can easily give me a flat. I didn't take my dog with me on this run because of the rocks...although she would have been okay? I could tell that other people bring their dogs on this trail because they didn't pick up after their dogs. (I've been lucky that I haven't step on anything bad.)

Week 19: Day 2 - May 09, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5.42 miles; time = 1:03:03; average time = 11:38
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I ran in partially cloudy sky this morning. I was glad for that because it got really overcast (no rain) later in the morning. I'll tolerate overcast because it is better than hot and humid, but I like clear (or almost clear) sky and cold temperature when I run.

Week 19: Day 1 - May 08, 2017

• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total
• group hike = 6.55 miles

Didn't do a bike ride today, but I did a hike with a cycling group from meetup. Must have been a good hike because I am tired and sleepy now! Tomorrow, I'm off to do a run in the morning. I hope my motivation doesn't crash like last week.

Week 18: Day 7 - May 07, 2017

• easy trail RUN (solo) = 5.51 miles; time = 1:03:59; average pace @ 11:37
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.7 miles

Running:

Total Weekly Mileage: 18.29

Total Monthly Mileage: 18.29

Total Yearly Mileage: 349.35

Total Shoe Mileage: 372.62

Cycling:

Total Weekly Mileage: 32.34

Total Monthly Mileage: 32.34

Total Yearly Mileage: 847.99

I did my run alone this morning. I thought that it would be raining all morning. I checked the weather forecast this morning before I headed out and it said that the rain would start at 6am (even though it had already been raining all night for a few hours). I think I read that wrong because I headed out for a run at 6am and it stopped raining completely. Oh well, my dog could use a rest day anyway. It got a little windy during the second half of the run.

My bike is still out of commission and disabled. However, tomorrow calls for slight chance of rain. I think I would have been okay riding in 20% of rain, although an overcast, gloomy sky makes it harder for me to ride because it makes me want to sleep in. I struggle just to do a four mile run and that takes less time than riding. After this week, I won't be riding to work anymore. My boss is having me to show up to work at 7am. I really cannot handle waking up at 3:45am. It was already really hard to wake up at 4:15am just to be at work by 7:30am (I start at 7:30am and show up at 7am...I have to give myself time to get a flat on the way, as a just in case, and to get dressed/ready when I get to work). So even if my bike is up and running, and doing just fine, I'm now really limited on free time or I have to give up running just to ride. I'm not so sure about giving up running since I have been running for over 20 years (vs three years on and off for cycling) and it is still my preferred activity.

Week 18: Day 5 - May 05, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5.03 mile; time = 59:33; average pace @ 11:50
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

My bike is still "disabled" so no riding today. There will be a slight chance of rain tomorrow and Sunday, so I guess it doesn't matter if my bike is down or not. I don't like to ride in the rain, not even a little drizzle..not that running in the rain is any better or any different.

Week 18: Day 3 - May 03, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.46 miles; time = 53:21; average pace @ 11:58
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I felt so much better running this morning. I don't know what happened yesterday. Also, my knee is feeling a lot better. A little achy, but no soreness or pain.

Week 18: Day 2 - May 02, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 3.29 miles; time = 43:33; average pace @ 13:14
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

It was a good thing that I chose to do a short easy run, despite my scraped knee. My knee was sore and hurting at the beginning of the run, but felt totally good during the last mile. However, I think my motivation crashed. I also think that the weather didn't help either. My feet didn't feel like heavy lead, but they were "dragging" along. I couldn't get into the run. My breathing was out of whack the entire run. This is usually a good indication for me that I don't have much motivation to run on. I don't know what I am doing tomorrow morning. I want to run, but I don't want to because I need a break and catch up on sleep. Last Tuesday, I had the same problem with running, but felt good to run the next day.

Week 18: Day 1 - May 01, 2017

• bike commute to work/home = 32.34 miles total; time = 2:38:03; average speed @ 12.3 mph
• commuting to work = 18.55 miles
• commuting to home (almost) = 13.49 miles
• easy walk with dogs = 1.5 miles
• group hike = 4.58 miles

I was doing so well commuting/riding to work and back home...until I fell off my bike five miles from home. (I've become a professional at falling off my bike and getting flats.) I didn't have a choice to walk my bike home from there because the back derailleur came apart. I'm sure the fall was part of the reason, but it was really random. After I fell, I got back on my bike and rode one mile. Then my bike broke down. I don't have a choice to take it into a bike shop, but that will have to wait a few days. My ego is bruised and I'm a little sore, but I'm fine. I went on a hike this evening anyway with my cycling group.

I'm not sure how I will feel tomorrow morning. I may not do a run, or I may do a short, easy run.