Week 27: Day 2 - 30 June 2020

• morning run = 5.04 miles; time = 1:0811; average pace @ 13:33
• indoor ride - roller training = 5 miles; time = 18:49; average speed @ 16 mph
• warm up ride on rollers = 3 miles; time = 14:04; average speed @ 12.8mph

So it has begun. The Long Beach Half Marathon is on Sunday, 04 October and I start training this week. Today was the first run for training. I also bought a new pair of shoes (today being the first run). I still have my old shoes, but using those strictly for long runs until they reach 300 miles. Right now, I'm assuming that the event is still happening, however, I'm slowly losing hope.

Week 26: Day 7 - 28 June 2020

• morning run = 3.05 miles; time = 42:25; average pace @ 13:55
• yoga = 1 hour
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Week 26: Day 6 - 27 June 2020

• morning run = 5.53 miles; time = 1:19:02; average pace @ 14:19
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• yoga = 1 hour

I was going to do a ride after my run, but it's so hot and the weather is making me extra tired/sleepy.

Week 26: Day 4 - 25 June 2020

• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• indoor ride = roller training = 6 miles; time = 22:23; average speed @ 16.1mph
• warm up = 2 miles; time = 9 minutes; average speed @ 13.3mph
• yoga = 50 minutes

Felt so much better riding on rollers with properly inflated tires. My stamina doesn't suck after all.

Week 26: Day 3 - 24 June 2020

• morning run = 4.22 miles; time = 1:04:44; average pace @ 15:21
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total
• indoor ride - roller training = 3 miles; time = 12:52; average speed @14 mph
• warm-up on rollers = 3 miles; time = 14:51; average speed @ 12.2mph

I realized that I need to properly inflate my back tire which is causing me to feel tired and my stamina is not that good. I can do better than 14mph, but inflated my tire with a hand pump. Will use a floor pump to inflat my tire better so I can do better tomorrow for another indoor ride on rollers.

Week 26: Day 2 - 23 June 2020

• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• indoor ride = roller training = 5 miles; time 24:27, average speed @ 12.3 mph
• yoga = 1 hour

I haven't done any rides on my rollers in three weeks. My stamina isn't as good it was before. I'd imagine that it'll come back easily after a few tries.

Week 26: Day 1 - 22 June 2020

• morning run = 3.3 miles; time = 48:25; average pace @ 14:36
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

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Week 25: Day 7 - 21 June 2020

• morning run = 5.09 miles; time = 1:14:57; average pace @ 14:44
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total
• yoga = 1 hour

Running:
Total Weekly Mileage: 16.75
Total Monthly Mileage: 37.56
Total Yearly Mileage: 365.8
Total Shoe Mileage: 218.36

Cycling:
Total Weekly Mileage: 42.05
Total Monthly Mileage: 187.12
Total Yearly Mileage: 1539.23
Total Bike Mileage: 905.95

I felt a little sore this morning. I'm surprised by this because my ride from yesterday was not particularly long and definitely not particularly challenging in hills. I think I need to ride outdoors more often so I don't get sore on the day after an outdoor ride.

Week 25: Day 6 - 20 June 2020

• lunch ride = 42.04 miles; time = 3:11:24; average speed @ 13.2 mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

My ride felt much better and nicer this morning. When I fell off riding on rollers three weeks ago, I fell on the right side where all the gears, chain, and derailleur were on. The derailleur was pushed in a little so the chain was acting weird on the cassette and would make jerking movements in certain gears. I didn't ride on my rollers for three weeks because I didn't feel safe with all the jerking movements. I learned to just deal with the jerking movements during road rides because I could balance better outdoors. I mentioned this to the service guys who basically straightened out the derailleur so there isn't any more jerking movements. My bike needed a general basic tune up and they also fixed the tension on my chain since I had been doing a lot of hilly rides. I'd imagine that I would need to get a new chain at the next tune-up service. I'll be riding on rollers soon. I also got new bar tape, so I could have more color on my bike.

Week 25: Day 5 - 19 June 2020

• morning run = 3.35 miles; time = 51: 54; average pace @ 15:28
• walked dogs = 2.5 miles total

Hadn't done a ride since last weekend. I dropped off my bike at the bike shop yesterday for a basic tune-up and picked it up today (after work). Can't wait to ride it tomorrow.

Week 25: Day 3 - 17 June 2020

• morning run = 4.25 miles; time = 1:02:16; average pace @ 14:40
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

Week 25: Day 1 - 15 June 2020

• morning run = 4.06 miles; time = 1:00:31; average pace @ 14:53
• walked dogs = 2.5 miles total

Still felt sore this morning and I was asking myself why I was out running with sore legs. I actually felt better and less sore during the second half of my run.

Week 24: Day 7 - 14 June 2020

• morning run = 5.05 miles; time = 1:16:39; average pace @ 15:12
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total
• yoga

Running:
Total Weekly Mileage: 17.78
Total Monthly Mileage: 20.81
Total Yearly Mileage: 349.05
Total Shoe Mileage: 201.61

Cycling:
Total Weekly Mileage: 71.3
Total Monthly Mileage: 145.07
Total Yearly Mileage: 1497.18
Total Bike Mileage: 863.90

Felt sore this morning. Yesterday, someone sent me an email, inviting me to do a ride that would have been this morning. I thanked her for inviting me, but I had to pass. I couldn't handle more rides after doing a 70 mile ride unless they were very short and slow (like beginner's pace).

Week 24: Day 6 - 13 June 2020

• morning ride = 71:30 miles; time = 4:24:23; average speed @ 16.2mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

I had a follow-up appointment this morning with my bike fit guy in Long Beach. Since my bike needed to come with me, I decided to go for a ride and started from the Yorba Linda Regional Park to Long Beach. About .14 (point fourteen) mile is on the trainer at the appointment and I don't feel like substracting it from my ride since I forgot to remember how long I was on the trainer (my Garmin was still recording). My fit guy and I came to the conclusion that my left foot had a slightly higher arch than my right foot (the arch in my right foot is normal). The insoles that I got for my bike shoes were customizable according to the person's arches (the insoles are "heated up" and there are these little molds things that go under the insoles and the person stands on the insoles so that the insoles can mold to the person's arches). He asked me to email him after my ride back to my car (to which I did) how my foot felt whether it was good or bad. My left foot is still hurting during rides, but it didn't start to hurt until the last 10-12 miles of my ride when I was almost back to my car. He said he would need to special order certain insoles just for my left foot. When I had a follow-up appointment with him two weeks ago, riding in was fine. My left foot started to hurt when I was ten miles away from my fit guy and then again during the last 10-12 miles of my ride. I didn't turn around and go back to my fit guy when I was ten miles away because that would mean adding another 20 miles to my ride and I didn't think my legs could handle a 90-mile ride. Trying to finish 70 miles that day was a struggle (I was dying during the last 10-12 miles with muscle fatigue, soreness, and less energy).

I was watching the Global Cycling Network on youtube about doing century (100 miles) rides. If you could do a 70-75 mile ride and felt fine, you would do fine on a century ride. I felt better doing a 70 mile ride for the second time compared to the first time. I was 35 minutes faster the second time.

After my appointment on my way back to my car, I finally visited the "famous" Sancho's Tacos in Huntington Beach that was always in my bike friends' photos from their rides. I wished I could have tried something from their lunch menu, but I got there during breakfast hours and they wouldn't let me order from the lunch menu.

Week 24: Day 4 - 11 June 2020

• morning run = 4.2 miles; time = 1:00:18; average pace @  14:13
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Is summer over yet?

Week 24: Day 3 - 10 June 2020

• morning run = 4.2 miles; time = 1:04:21; average pace @ 15:21
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Really struggled to run in humid 65 degrees weather this morning at 5am. I'm now asking what I've gotten myself into and why I'm training for a half marathon in the middle of summer. Right now, I'm regretting my decision, but I think I'll be fine once the event is finally here.

Week 24: Day 2 - 09 June 2020

• morning run = 4.23 miles; time = 59:04; average pace @ 13:58
• walked dogs = 2.5 miles total

A few months ago, I signed up for the Long Beach Half Marathon (to be held on Sunday, 04 October). I was checking the website yesterday for charities that I could set up a fundraiser, so I could collect donations during my training (none are available right now). I originally thought that the event was on Sunday, 11 October. It had always been on the second weekend in October every year before, so I don't know why it's on the first weekend of October this year. I did this event a few times before and I usually started training during the first full week in July, but I have to start training at the end of June/beginning of July this year which is in three weeks from now.  In three weeks for the next three months, I have to stop being lazy with my running. This means that I have to become an old person who is in bed by 8pm so I can run at 4:30am/5am on weekdays (I still have to shower, walk my dogs and be at work by 9am during the week)

Also this summer, I am training for the "Finish The Ride" (50 miles) to be held on Sunday, 20 September. If you're not a cyclist, you may not understand this. The ride has a 3,500 feet total in elevation which is considered "hilly" and challenging. I think I'm ready for it as I did a 54.75-mile ride with a 3,600 feet total in elevation. I am still going to train this summer anyway. I'm trying to get some "big" rides together with some friends...either long rides or rides that are hilly and challenging.

I'm going to have a very busy summer.

Week 23: Day 7 - 07 June 2020

• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total
• morning solo ride = 54.75 miles; time = 4:24:16; average speed @ 12.4 mph

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 3.03

Total Monthly Mileage: 3.03

Total Yearly Mileage: 331.27

Total Shoe Mileage: 183.83

Cycling:

Total Weekly Mileage: 73.77

Total Monthly Mileage: 73.77

Total Yearly Mileage: 1402.31

Total Bike Mileage: 774.15

I'd like to point out that if you are going somewhere in a car, give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination and take your time so you can pay attention to your surroundings better. I was in a left turn lane and I had the right of way because I had the turn signal. Someone (opposite direction) had a red light and was making a right turn. She didn't see me at all because I was behind a car. But she also didn't wait at the red light long enough either. Instead of waiting a little bit after the car in front of me finished making a left turn, she proceeded to make her right turn immediately, basically cutting me off because I needed to be in the right lane after my left turn. She didn't even react to all the screaming and yelling that I did.

 

Week 23: Day 6 - 06 June 2020

• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• solo ride = 16.02 miles; time = 1:17:30; average speed @ 12.4 mph

My original plan was to do a 24 mile ride up a street through Covina and Glendora to the bottom of Glendora Mountain Road (or GMR as us cyclists call it for short which is considered "the best cycling road"). I know I can map out the ride and look at the elevation profile from a website, but that usually doesn't really help me understand elevation profile unless I actually go do the ride. I was curious to know how hilly (or not hilly) the street was. Eventually, I want to go up GMR, starting from my house for a 42 mile roundtrip ride. I didn't get very far because I got a flat. The street was dirty with metal/plastic debris. I was worried that I would get a flat farther away from home and I didn't want to get stranded. I wanted to finish my ride and didn't want to worry about someone in a car coming to pick me up for a ride. So I turned around and finished my ride.

I went to Jax Bicycle today before they closed at 5pm. They were busy, but of course, today was Saturday. Someone arrived after me because he had two flats on his bike. He needed help changing out the flats because he didn't have tubes or tools to fix his flats. When he saw me asking a sales associate that I needed new tubes, he was surprised that I knew how to change a flat. This sounds like someone who is new to cycling...because anyone who rides bikes should know how to change flat and always carry spares and tools in case they get a flat during a ride. I don't want to call an uber or a family member to give me a ride home and AAA won't help me with a flat on a bike because they only help car drivers.

Week 23: Day 2 - 02 June 2020

• morning run = 3.05 miles; time = 45:14; average pace @ 14:39
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

I went running this morning before curfew ended at 6am. I admit that I was worried (and not really at the same time) what the local police would do if they saw me running around town. I saw three police patrols (two could have been the same one....) and they did nothing as they drove by. It is not uncommon for me to see a police patrol driving around at 5am, however, this was the first time that I saw more than one during my run....and it was more unusual to see more of them in the short run. I am glad that I don't live in any affected areas because I have quiet, civilized neighbors and we don't have "outsiders" harassing us.

Week 23: Day 1 - 01 June 2020

• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• yoga = 1 hour

I was going to ride on my rollers today, but my bike has a flat and I'm a bit too lazy to fix it today.