Week 8: Day 6 - 22 February 2020

• morning run = 6.26 miles; time = 1:29:04; average pace @ 14:14
• walked dogs = 2.8 miles total

First world problems: I thought it would rain heavily this morning. I was expecting to finish my run, looking like a wet cat. Also, I was originally hoping to do a group ride this morning, but it got canceled due to rain. It was supposed to be 60% chance of rain, but it was super light drizzle (if any at all) during the time that we would have been riding. This whole rain thing is messing everything up because it's inconsistent. I think I would have been okay not doing a ride if it had actually rained heavily.

Week 8: Day 4 - 20 February 2020

• morning run = 3.41 miles; time = 46:09; average pace @ 13:32
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• evening group ride = 26.08 miles; time = 1:52:48; average speed @ 13.8 mph

I recently got a Garmin Edge 130 (bike computer) with bike sensors/cadence and tonight was the first time that I used it on a ride. I wanted to be like my friends (most of them anyway) with bike computers compatible with bike sensors...bike sensors/cadence basically makes a ride a little more accurate with distance and speed, I think. Anyway, when I was looking at the bike computer online, it mentioned that it was compatible with a Garmin Varia RTL510 (taillight with alerts for rear-approaching vehicles) and other similar lights with safety features. It didn't list which lights, so I had no idea that it was compatible with my Cycliq lights (I have a front light and a rear light...both with built-in cameras that can record video and audio...the camera is considered a safety feature) until I had my Garmin charged and I was going through the settings because both lights turned on when my Garmin turned on. I guess I could have done my own night ride to figure out this whole Garmin and lights connection thing worked. The rear light turned on and stayed on for the whole ride. The front light...turned on when Garmin was turned on, but it wouldn't stay on. The camera was recording, but the light would randomly turn on and off which was very dangerous for riding in the dark because other road users (riders and car people) needed to be able to see me, and I needed to see in front of me (and watch out for road hazards). I really hate to borrow other people's lights, but someone did so I could ride with the group. After the ride was over, I ended up just disabling the connection between my Garmin and front light and I would have to manually turn on the light so I could see at night. Unless I can figure out how to get my light to stay on for the whole ride.

Week 8: Day 2 - 18 February 2020

• morning run = 3.45 miles; time = 51:28; average pace @ 14:56
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Not surprisingly, I'm still a little sore. But I'm glad that it's not that bad.

Week 7: Day 7 - 16 February 2020

• Firecracker Run = 6.03 miles; time = 1:08:14; average pace @ 11:19
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 20.89

Total Monthly Mileage: 43.48

Total Yearly Mileage: 90.14

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 42.8 

Total Monthly Mileage: 154.2

Total Yearly Mileage: 517.38

I can go back to being a lazy runner...until I sign up and train for a half marathon or another 10k. Surprisingly, I feel a little sore. I expected to feel worse after doing a 40-mile ride and a 10k run - both on hilly courses - on the same weekend. I may feel differently when I do an easy recovery run tomorrow. I think this course was measured incorrectly....a 10k is 6.2 miles. Based on other runners who also used strava for the same run, basically everyone did a 6 mile run. That last .2 matters to some of us. The course also definitely changed because last year, I was able to get Dodger Stadium and Downtown L.A. skyline in the same photo (I got two separate photos instead).

Week 7: Day 6 = 15 February 2020

• Firecracker Ride = 42.8 miles; time = 3:04:12; average speed @ 13.9 mph
• walked dogs = 2.4 miles total

I had a rough start to my morning before heading out to L.A. for the Firecracker Ride. I like (just kidding, not really) to be unorganized and make things difficult on myself sometimes. I told myself yesterday I was going to take care of some things after work so I didn't have to worry about them this morning, but didn't. Anywayzzzzz...I knew that two friends would be at the ride because they told me. After arriving and waiting at the start line (and during the ride), I found out that I had eight friends doing the same ride. It made me soooo happy and I had a blast which made me forget about how stressful my morning was.

At this time last year (January/February/March), if you had asked me if I wanted to do a 40-mile ride, I would have said HELL NO! even though my longest ride was 35 miles (in 2018). I upgraded my bike in August and then signed up for the Firecracker 40-mile ride in September. I felt that I was ready for something more challenging. When I did the Firecracker Ride in previous years, it was 20 miles...flat and fine for families and beginners. (I didn't do the ride last year...I only had enough money for one event - run or ride - on the same weekend. Running being the love of my life, naturally, I chose the 10k.) At the same time, I was somewhat regretting my decision and asking myself "What have I gotten myself into???" My longest ride for 2019 was 32 miles. I felt better about my decision after doing a 60-mile ride with the Psycho-Lists group in November and did a few 40-mile rides after that. I might have overprepared a little for this ride..it had just slightly under 2,000 feet in total elevation. I did two rides with just over 3,000 feet (and one 40 mile ride with 2,000 feet) in total elevation. I did this on purpose because I wanted this ride to feel a little easier and I didn't want to struggle on any major hills (there were two short rides with a 10% grade and a 10.6% grade).

Right now, I feel pretty good and my legs don't feel sore. I head back to Chinatown-L.A. tomorrow morning for the 10k run. The first time that I did the Firecracker 20 mile ride (followed by the 10k run the next day), I was fine after the ride and thought I would be fine after the run. I was very sore! I'll be dead at the end of the run tomorrow because it's on a hilly course. After tomorrow, I'm still in training, but this time for the Finish The Ride (35 miles) at the end of April.

Week 7: Day 4 - 13 February 2020

• morning run = 4.2 miles; time = 59:02; average pace @ 13:47
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• Downtown L.A. Night Photo Walk with the Light Chasers (photo group) = 3 miles

It's been awhile since I've met up with the Light Chasers for any night photography.

Week 7: Day 3 - 12 February 2020

• morning run = 6.63 miles; time = 1:26:00; average pace @ 12:57
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

I normally don't do runs longer than six miles on a weekday because I don't want to wake up 15 - 30 minutes earlier. After an awfully stressful start to my week, I needed to do something productive with my energy. Everything is fine now. Good thing I planned a run on Monday morning and no runs yesterday morning. I had four hours of sleep on Monday night and I had to take care of "things" yesterday morning before heading to work.

Week 7: Day 1 - 10 February 2020

• morning run = 4.03 miles; time = 53:43; average pace @ 13:22
• walked dogs = 2.5 miles total

It was windy this morning. I shouldn't complain because I've run in windier conditions, but I don't like wind. I guess it's a good way to strength train with resistance?

Week 6: Day 7 - 09 February 2020

• morning run = 5.75 miles; time = 1:24:46; average pace @ 14:45
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 16.56

Total Monthly Mileage: 22.59

Total Yearly Mileage: 69.25

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 55.6

Total Monthly Mileage: 111.4

Total Yearly Mileage: 474.58

The weather forecast for today was supposed to be rain. We didn't get any, at least, where I lived. The Claremont Cycling Club originally had planned a ride this morning, but it got canceled because we were worried that it would rain during our ride and we didn't feel safe to ride in the rain. I'm disappointed with the weather because it's not always right, especially when it comes to rain.

Week 6: Day 6 - 08 February 2020

• morning ride = 30.5 miles; time = 2:20:09; average speed @ 13 mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

I don't know why I posted yesterday's ride as day 6. It was supposed to be day 5.

I did a ride with one friend this morning. He was basically helping do some hill training. I have a Firecracker 40 mile Ride next weekend. Next weekend's event consists of every grade from 1% to 10.6% throughout the ride. My friend picked out the route for this morning's ride which also consisted of every grade from 1% to 11%. I think I'm ready for the ride. Maybe I've over-prepared a little.

Week 6: Day 5 - 07 February 2020

• morning run = 2.72 miles; time = 41:26; average pace @ 15:14
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Since I didn't do a run yesterday morning, I was determined to do one this morning even though I wanted to sleep in.

Week 6: Day 4 - 06 February 2020

• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• evening group ride = 25.1 miles; time = 1:42:45; average speed @ 14.7 mph

Just updadating this...that is all.

Week 6: Day 3 - 05 February 2020

• morning run = 3.45 miles; time = 49:33; average pace @ 14:21
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

It was a bit frosty this morning. I think I was born as a polar bear because I wore shorts, a short-sleeved technical shirt and gloves...except I took my gloves off after one mile because my hands got hot. Then I put them back on during the last 1/2 mile. Only my hands got cold during the run and it was 36 degrees when I went out.

Week 6: Day 1 - 03 February 2020

• morning run = 4.64 miles; time = 1:10:33; average pace 2 15:15
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

I have a 10K run event in two weeks (from yesterday). I had actually been a little too laid back on my training/running. So I need to take it a little more seriously so I can survive a 6.2 mile run on a hilly course, even though I think I'll be fine.

Week 5: Day 7 - 02 February 2020

• morning run = 6.03 miles; time = 1:28:53; average pace @ 14:44
• morning group ride = 27.6 miles; time = 1:53:59; average speed @ 14.5 mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 12.67

Total Monthly (January) Mileage: 46.66

Total Monthly (February) Mileage: 6.03

Total Yearly Mileage: 52.69

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 80.9

Total Monthly (January) Mileage: 363.9

Total Monthly (February) Mileage: 55.8

Total Yearly Mileage: 418.98

When I'm not being lazy, I can run faster. I heard a pack of coyotes howling/barking during the last two miles of my run. While they were actually kinda far away, I still got scared and picked up the pace. This wasn't the first time that I heard a pack of coyotes barking and howling during my very early morning run, so I don't know why I felt scared this morning. I've never been attacked by a coyote before. My dogs have never been attacked by a coyote before either.

Two hours after my run, I did a group ride. I thought about doing my own ride, but decided that I would feel better with a group. I was a little bit grumpy during the ride, but felt better during the last ten miles. I think it was a good thing that I did a ride with a group instead of going alone. I would have been grumpier and I wouldn't have enjoyed my own ride.

Week 5: Day 6 - 01 February 2020

• morning group ride = 28.2 miles; time =1:53:11; average speed @ 15 mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

I feel like I'm still recovering from the 60-mile ride from last weekend. I think it's just all in my head that I feel a little sore.