Week 30: Day 7 - July 30, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 3.29 miles; time = 44:39; average pace @ 13:34
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles total

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 16.93

Total Monthly Mileage: 59.87

Total Yearly Mileage: 578.09

Total Shoe Mileage: 208.23

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 0

Total Monthly Mileage: 0

Total Yearly Mileage: 847.99

I struggled a little bit to walk up and down some stairs this morning before my run. I didn't think my soreness was that bad and I went for a run anyway, but my legs felt heavy like they didn't want to run! My legs felt much better and I didn't struggle with the stairs anymore after the run. Funny how that works. I felt much better running this morning than Friday morning.

Week 30: Day 6 - July 28, 2017

• hiking with meetup group = 10.7 miles total; time = 4:34:09
• easy walk with dogs (@ home) = 1.3 miles total

My longest hike BEFORE today was seven miles. Today was my longest hike ever to which was 10.7 miles. I like challenging activities and I've done half marathons, so I've figured I could handle this hike. I went on this hike with a hiking meetup group. I think I did pretty good on the hike, but I'm a little sore (surprisingly not that bad) and I'm sleepy!

For those who live locally (Los Angeles area), you will know this hike as "Bridge To Nowhere". If you don't know this piece of history, the bridge was built in 1936 over a gap carved by the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. The bridge was built to serve as a link in a roadway between the San Gabriel Valley to the south and Wrightwood to the north. However, in the Spring of 1938, a massive flood changed the landscape of the canyon and washed out the road leading to the bridge. The road was never restored and construction was abandoned due to lack of financial investment. This is normally an even ten mile round trip hike, but my group decided to hike alongside the river and we took the "road less traveled" by literally walking in the river as we headed up to the bridge. We took a small detour to see a waterfall and a mine (we do not know what was being mined..coal? Gold?) on the way, so the hike was little longer than expected.

I had my garmin watch set to record time, distance and gps for the hike, but between normal mode (while I was sleeping for six hours) and the hike, my watch couldn't last the entire hike and completely died when we got to the bridge (halfway point). The battery could only last a total of eight hours when gps + heart rate is being used. The total time of our hike was 7 hours and 23 minutes which included snack/lunch break and stopping (so stragglers could catch up). I think the next time that I do a really long hike, I should turn off my watch while I sleep and turn it on when I get to the destination. Surprisingly my phone lasted the entire hike when strava was being used.

We'll see what tomorrow brings. I am a little sore, but I hope not so sore that I can't manage an easy run.

Week 30: Day 5 - July 28, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 3.7 miles; time = 46:49; average pace @ 12:39
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles total

I don't think I am unmotivated or bored of running, but I really struggled with my run this morning. It didn't help that it was a little muggy and warm, but mainly because I was tired and really needed to catch up on sleep.

I had planned to run tomorrow morning, but I am going on a group hike (nine and a half miles round trip!) instead. So I'll go for a run on Sunday morning. Maybe this is a good thing. I hope I'll feel better about running on Sunday.

Week 30: Day 3 - July 26, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.5 miles; time = 58:01; average pace @ 12:54
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles total

Is summer over yet? While the daytime temperature/weather seems tolerable, the morning feels humid and muggy. I am struggling with the morning weather during my run. It's going to be a long summer.

Week 30: Day 2 - July 25, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5.44 miles; time = 1:09:59; average pace @ 12:41
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles total

Is summer over yet? So humid this morning!

Week 29: Day 7 - July 23, 2017

• easy walk with dogs = 2.2 miles total

Running:
Total Weekly Mileage: 18.29
Total Monthly Mileage: 42.94
Total Yearly Mileage: 561.16
Total Shoe Mileage: 191.30

Cycling:
Total Weekly Mileage: 0
Total Monthly Mileage: 0
Total Yearly Mileage: 847.99

I had every intentions to go to the local high school football stadium to run up and down the stadium stairs...and do some jump rope. After I took my dogs for a walk this morning, I went back to sleep instead of getting ready for my work out.

Week 29: Day 6 - July 22, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.65 miles; time = 57:41; average pace @ 12:24
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles total

I forgot to mention that yesterday morning was cloudy/overcast even though it burned off right after my run. This morning was the same, cloudy/overcast, so I enjoyed it a little bit during my run. It felt cooler, but didn't really help me run faster.

Even though I hadn't done a run on a Saturday morning in over a year, it didn't feel strange for some reason. If today had been Monday, that would have been a different story. I have only ran once on a Monday morning in nine years and that one time was in 2014.

Week 29: Day 5 - July 21, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 4.86 miles; time = 59:42; average pace @ 12:17
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

So, I did not go grocery/food shopping yesterday. I didn't eat anything before my run this morning, but I felt okay during the run. I am not working tomorrow, so I will plan to run in the morning instead of Sunday. Next weekend, I will do the same. Run Saturday, rest Sunday. After next weekend, I may have to go back to running on Sunday mornings again because by that time, I will start my second part time job. Although I don't really know what my work schedule there yet.

Week 29: Day 3 - July 19, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 3.7 miles; time = 46:45; average pace @ 12:38
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

I think I need to start eating before my runs more regularly now. I did once in awhile before and it was fine. I wasn't hungry, but I did seem to run better when I did eat pre-run. I have felt hungry during a run before, but I still felt okay. I really struggled this morning. For the first time, I was uncomfortably hungry during a run. It also didn't help that it felt really humid. I don't plan to run tomorrow, but I should probably plan a grocery shopping trip.

Week 29: Day 2 - July 18, 2017

• easy RUN (solo) = 5.08 miles; time = 1:02:13; average pace @ 12:15
• easy WALK with dogs = 2.6 miles total

While I still really prefer COLD temperatures, the weather has been pretty good so far for July. It is definitely a little easier to walk my dogs during the daytime...but come August and September, crazy hot weather that I'm really not looking forward to at all.

Week 28: Day 7 - July 16, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.64 miles; time = 57:07; average pace @ 12:19
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 20.05

Total Monthly Mileage: 24.65

Total Yearly Mileage: 542.87

Total Shoe Mileage: 173.01

Cycling:

Total Weekly Mileage: 0

Total Monthly Mileage: 0

Total Yearly Mileage: 847.99

It didn't feel too bad during the daytime, so it was a little easier to walk my dogs. I still can't wait for cooler temperatures to run in.

Week 28: Day 5 - July 14, 2017

• trail/road RUN with one dog = 5.27 miles; time = 1:0:23; average pace @ 12:36
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

Is summer over yet? I am going to keep complaining about the weather until summer is over because I don't like it at all!

Week 28: Day 3 - July 12, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 5 miles; time = 1:01:17; average pace @ 12:15
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.1 miles

This morning felt a little cooler, but I still struggled with the temperature. Perhaps it is a good thing I don't feel unmotivated. Is summer over yet??

Week 28: Day 2 - July 11, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 5.14 miles; time = 1:03:09; average pace @ 12:17
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

Is summer over yet? Is October here? I want summer to be over already. I am not unmotivated, but I am struggling with the temperature in the mornings!

Week 27: Day 7 - July 09, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 4.6 miles; time = 57:02; average pace @ 12:24
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles

Taking a break from running for a week had been really helpful. I felt so much better this morning. This morning was warmer (70 F degrees) than the last few runs (60 to 63 F degrees) that I did. I did struggle with the temperature this morning, but I didn't feel grumpy or unmotivated last the last few runs. I still wish it wasn't summer anymore though.

Week 26: Day 7 - July 02, 2017

• easy trail RUN with one dog = 4.61 miles; time = 59:23; average pace @ 12.53
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles total

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 21.19

Total Monthly (July) Mileage: 4.61

Total Monthly (June) Mileage: 93.41

Total Yearly Mileage: 518.22

Total Shoe Mileage: 148.36

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 0 

Total Monthly (July) Mileage: 0

Total Monthly (June) Mileage: 0

Total Yearly Mileage: 847.99

I am taking a "vacation" from running, starting tomorrow and my next planned run will be next Sunday. I had felt fine before I headed out for each run all week, but I felt unmotivated during every run all week. I didn't feel better this morning, so I think I am really just unmotivated and needed the rest. I can blame the weather, but I think I can't. I struggled with the weather last summer and my average pace was more or less the same, but I didn't feel unmotivated. I am glad that I didn't sign up for a half marathon in October. I would have to start on Tuesday, July 04. My bike is still not fixed. I may try to go hiking instead, but I guess I'll have to hike alone because the scheduling with the hike groups I'm a member of doesn't work with my schedule.