Week 43: Day 6 - 31 October 2020

• morning run = 5.72 miles; time = 1:27:34; average pace @ 15:19
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

I was going to learn how to get on and off my rollers by taking it out to an empty parking lot. I got to the parking lot with everything and then I chickened out. I need more time? I think I will need to practice a bit more by moving the rollers a little farther away from the wall when I'm riding on them at home. Most of the time, I can hold my balance and don't touch the wall, but occasionally will touch the wall. I have to learn not to rely so much on the wall and sticking close to it.

Week 43: Day 5 - 30 October 2020

• morning run = 4.86 miles; time = 1:15:39; average pace @ 15:35
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• morning ride = 10.33 miles; time = 44:35; average speed @ 13.9mph

I've been on "vacation" from work all week and hadn't done much because there wasn't any work to do. At least, I still have a job and I got paid for the week even though I wasn't there (showed up to clock in and then left after 30 minutes...or five minutes). I didn't feel like doing a ride, but I wanted to get in a few miles for an outdoor ride. Next week, we go back to work and actually have work to do?

Week 43: Day 4 - 29 October 2020

• morning run = 4.21 miles; time = 1:03:22: average pace @ 15:04
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Week 43: Day 3 - 28 October 2020

• morning indoor ride - roller training = 10 miles; time = 36:04; average speed @ 16.6mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

On Monday, I inflated my tire on my bike and did a ride on my rollers. It was fine. I did a ride on my rollers yesterday and it was fine. I did a ride on my rollers this morning and as soon as I was done, I heard a loud hissing sound coming from my back tire. There had already been some cuts from getting flats in both of my tires while doing outdoor rides. Even though I inflated my tires to the minimum PSI (there is a minimum to max range on the tires, but I only inflate to the minimum because the tires feel good at the minimum and I fear getting a blowout from overinflating even by a little too much which can be dangerous). I guess between the air pressure and my weight, the cut in the back tire couldn't take it anymore. I also guess it was a good thing that I was still home (doing a ride on rollers) and the tire held up long enough for me to finish my ride (however, I did notice that annoying noise while riding on rollers, but I thought that there was something else wrong being with the rollers...but now I know). This hasn't happened to my front tire yet, although it also has cuts (from metal debris and glass from the road). I went to the local bike shop to get two new tires and a new tube. The irony is that the tube that was in the tire while it was leaking air and making a loud hissing sound...I took it out and inflated air in it. I tried to squeeze the air by hand and very forcibly too, but I didn't hear any air coming. I'm so confused? It's okay. I got a new tube and new tires anyway.

Week 43: Day 2 - 27 October 2020

• morning run = 4.31 miles; timne = 1:04:15; average pace @ 14:54
• warmup on rollers = 3 miles; time = 13:00; average speed @ 13mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• evening indoor ride - roller training = 10 miles; time = 37:08; average speed @ 16.2mph

Sometimes I wished I had a treadmill. The air was so smokey this morning as there was (still is) a fire locally, about 15 miles from my home. The air bothered my eyes, nose (a little runny), and throat/lungs (coughed a little). Carbon Canyon Road to which I ride on at least once every month had been closed for the fire department and evacuees (there are several homes on the street and the fire is on the other side of a hill that can potentially threaten the homes on Carbon Canyon). I was originally planning on doing a ride there on Saturday because I wanted to take a picture of the skeleton with its many oufits, but I'm not hopeful that it will reopen. I will just have to listen to the news for updates and hope that the firefighters are diligent in fighting the fire without issues.

I can now say that Fall has finally arrived! My hands were frozen stiff this morning from the run. I will still wear shorts and a t-shirt, no matter how cold it is, but I think I need to start wearing gloves. I love cold weather, but I don't like frozen cold hands.

Week 43: Day 1 - 26 October 2020

• morning indoor ride - roller training = 12.01 miles; time = 42:20; average speed @ 17mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• late morning run = 2.72 miles; time = 38:42; average pace @ 14:15

I did an indoor ride on my rollers very early this morning. I wished I had done a run first thing this morning instead. On a very extreme rare occasion, I went to work and was sent home early (everyone left 30 minutes after getting there). I AM NOT unemployed and I CANNOT collect unemployment because I'm still employed full time with the same company. I still have to show up for work tomorrow. We did not get laid off. We just didn't have any work to do and we still got paid for the eight hours today even though we were literally only there for 30 minutes. I went for a very short run after I got home from work. Usually, I have the most motivation to run before 7AM, but I wanted to get in a few miles...something is better than nothing. I felt like dying because anything over 50F degrees felt too warm for me. It didn't help that it was super windy and dirt was blowing everywhere.

I had been doing rides on rollers since I got them in April. Today was the first time that my hands didn't get really numb and feel pain. I haven't learned how to ride with one hand without freaking out in a panic. If I learned how to let go for a minute or longer, it could relieve any numbness or pain in my hands when I ride on rollers. My bike fit guy said that getting a bike fit wouldn't help make my hands feel more comfortable riding on rollers...a bike fit is meant for outdoor rides (road, gravel, or mountain trails). I've been able to ride on my rollers with the wall on one side and nothing on the other side comfortably for a few months now. Perhaps, I should go back to having a side barrier on the other side so I could learn how to ride with one hand.

Week 42: Day 7 - 25 October 2020

• morning solo ride = 28.55 miles; time = 2:12:01; average speed @ 13mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

Running:

Total Weekly Mileage: 14.02

Total Monthly Mileage: 54.11

Total Yearly Mileage: 676.44

Total Shoe Mileage: 177.62

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 91.27

Total Monthly Mileage: 351.76

Total Yearly Mileage: 2674.33

Total Bike Mileage: 2036.43

This is going to be very long. Thanks for reading to the end if you were able to. Sorry for making this so long if you didn't have the attention span.

In 2018, I did the "Finish The Ride" 35-mile route which was in May of that year. It was a small event as there weren't that many people for all the combined rides (there was a 12-mile ride for families, 20-mile ride, and 50-mile ride that year as well as a 5k, 10k and half marathon for the people who preferred to run/walk). The route markers for each distance were confusing and I didn't have the course map on paper to follow. Since there weren't that many people for all the combined rides and everyone was spread out, it was hard to follow anyone from the same distance. I ended up doing 20 miles even though I paid for the 35-mile ride.

I signed up for the "Finish The Ride" 35-mile route at the end of last October. At that time, I was asking myself why I signed up for the Firecracker 40-mile ride (which was in February this year) and I was questioning my riding ability on anything longer than 35 miles. I ended up doing a 60-mile ride with the Pyscho-Lists group in November and then again in January. I had a ton of fun doing the Firecracker 40-mile ride that I sent an email to the Finish The Ride event people, requesting to "upgrade" my ride from 35 miles (2,300 feet in total elevation) to 50 miles (3,400 feet in total elevation) to which they gladly allowed me to. The event was supposed to have been in April, but the pandemic hit and Covid had other plans. The event was rescheduled to 20.September, but that was canceled. I think they are still working on a new date for the Spring as I haven't heard anything about it yet.

Most people don't know this about me, but I wear prescription eyeglasses when I drive. I only really wear it when I'm going somewhere new because I can't read street signs very well without glasses. When I'm not driving, I don't/can't wear them because they hurt my eyes and give me headaches (I can only wear prescription eyeglasses when I'm driving). So in general, I'm not very adventurous when I'm riding solo because I'm always afraid of missing a left turn and getting lost. Usually, when I ride with a group, I just follow the group and don't bother learning the route. However, I'm getting bored of doing rides closer to home and needed a change of scenery, so I have to get over this fear of getting lost. On the other hand, I wanted to get myself familiar with the course/route, so I would have an idea where I was going by event day. So I attempted the ride today. The ride went through Griffith Park and Elysian Park. I had the course sent to my Garmin device so it could help me along, but it was a little confusing...it told me to make a left turn and ride across the grass (my bike isn't made to ride on grass)? There was a few times where I was questioning Garmin's direction. I didn't get lost per se, but I did miss a few left turns (but no big deal) even though I had the route/map/directions on paper because I think I was supposed to have done an extra ten miles just through Griffith Park. I think I had a hard time reading the paper because it was awkwardly placed on my bike. Then I took the Los Angeles River bike path to Elysian Park. The bike path was open to bikes and pedestrians, but only for a short time. I never made it to Elysian Park because the bike path was closed for "road work" and was completely blocked off. There was access to the streets from the bike path, but I didn't know the area at all to take the streets to Elysian Park. So I just turned around and went back to my car. From the looks of it, the bike path may be closed to bikes and pedestrians for awhile. Maybe I will try this ride again in January??

Week 42: Day 6 - 24 October 2020

• morning run = 5.55 miles; time = 1:20:37; average pace @ 14:32
• warmup on rollers = 3 miles; time = 13:59; average speed @ 12.9mph
• morning (outdoor) ride = 30.72 miles; time = 2:08:34; average speed @ 14.3mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

The weather has finally cooled down so I can sleep in a little bit and do a run a little bit later in the morning and for me to do an outdoor ride today. Tomorrow will be a little bit cooler, and I plan to do another ride.

My finger still feels a tiny weird, but I can fully close my hand to make a fist now.

Week 42: Day 5 - 23 October 2020

•  morning run = 4.23 miles; time = 1:05:38: average pace @ 15:34
• warmup on rollers = 3 miles; time = 12:06; average speed @ 14.9mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

Week 42: Day 4 - 22 October 2020

• morning indoor ride - roller training = 11 miles; time = 40:33; average speed @ 16.3mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

Week 42: Day 3 - 21 October 2020

•  morning run = 4.24 miles; time = 1:05:54; average pace @ 15:33
• warmup on rollers = 3 miles; time = 13:20; average pace @ 13.5mph
• walked dogs = 2.5 miles total

Week 42: Day 2 -20 October 2020

•  morning easy, recovery run = 3.3 miles; time = 54:03; average pace @ 16:23
• warmup on rollers = 2 miles; time = 9:43; average speed @ 12.4mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

My finger still hurts a little, but better than last week. Still somewhat sore from Sunday's ride, but not as bad as expected.

Week 42: Day 1 - 19 October 2020

• morning easy, recovery ride = 10 miles; time = 42:57; average speed @ 14mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Week 41: Day 7 - 18 October 2020

• morning solo ride = 47:44; time - 4:00:58; average speed @ 11.8mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 19.96

Total Monthly Mileage: 40.09

Total Yearly Mileage: 662.42

Total Shoe Mileage: 163.6

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 78.06

Total Monthly Mileage: 260.49

Total Yearly Mileage: 2583.06

Total Bike Mileage: 1945.16

My finger is still slightly swollen, but it feels better. I can make a fist as long as I close my hand slowly. Tomorrow will be a different day...we'll see how my finger does with work.

Week 41: Day 6 - 17 October 2020

•  morning run = 6.7 miles; time = 1:39:28; average pace @ 14:50
• warmup = 3 miles; time = 13:39; average speed @ 13mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

After tripping from my run yesterday, I went to work. I think I did too much because my hand was hurting a lot at work and it looks worse than yesterday. It doesn't hurt unless I'm doing something with it, but it's more swollen and bruised. I can close my hand and make a fist except for the one finger.

Week 41: Day 5 - 16 October 2020

•  morning run = 5.07 miles; time = 1:16:24; average pace @ 15:05
• warmup on rollers = 3 miles; time = 12:49; average speed @ 14.1mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

One of my "talents" is tripping on uneven sidewalk. It didn't help that I was dragging my feet and I was daydreaming. I must stop being lazy and learn to pick up my feet. Strangely, I had my phone in my hand and it didn't fly out of my hand. On the other hand (excuse the pun), I landed wrong on my other hand. I don't pay attention to how my hands are when I throw my hands in front to catch my fall, although I usually scrap my palms. Instead of my palm hitting the ground, I stubbed two of my fingers. I scrapped my knee also, but it didn't hurt as much as my fingers. One finger is okay, but the other is bruised and swollen. At least it is not broken because I could still move it.

Week 41: Day 4 - 15 October 2020

• morning indoor ride - roller training = 11 miles; time = 37:51; average speed @ 17.4mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Week 41: Day 3 - 14 October 2020

•  morning run = 5.14 miles; time = 1:15:40; average pace @ 14:44
• warmup on rollers = 3 miles; time = 12:26; average speed @ 14.5mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

Week 41: Day 2 - 13 October 2020

•  morning run = 3.05 miles; time = 46:25; average pace @ 15:13
• warmup = 2 miles; time = 9:14; average speed @ 13mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

Unsurprisingly, still feeling  little sore, but not as much as I expected.

Week 41: Day 1 - 12 October 2020

• easy, recovery ride (morning) = 8.62 miles; time = 33:22: average speed @ 15.5mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Almost made it to ten miles for my easy recovery ride on rollers. My front tire fell off and I didn't bother getting back on and finishing the rest of the ride. I was a little worried that I would get frustrated even though it was 1.4 miles left. I'm also suspiciously not sore. I'm either getting used to doing long flat rides or because I've finally figured out this whole post-ride protein thing. I'll find out how sore I really am tomorrow morning when I do a short easy run. Running is harder than riding a bike.

Week 40: Day 7 - 11 October 2020

• morning ride = 71.12 miles; time = 4:33:56; average speed @ 15.6mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 10.78

Total Monthly Mileage: 20.13

Total Yearly Mileage: 642.42

Total Shoe Mileage: 143.64

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 113.7

Total Monthly Mileage: 182.43

Total Yearly Mileage: 2505

Total Bike Mileage: 1867.1

I'm using strava info for bike mileage and total yearly cyling mileage until I recalculate the mileage again.

Anyway, I had a follow-up with my bike fit guy this morning because I'm having issues with my left foot. Since my bike needed to come with me, I rode in starting from the Yorba Linda Regional Park. He will be ordering special insoles for my bike shoes that are good for high arches (my right foot has a normal arch while my left foot has a slightly higher than normal arch). I feel that I need something better for the arch in my left foot which is why he is ordering these special insoles just for my left foot. Usually, my left foot will start to hurt after 20-30 miles on rides that has a lot of hills/climbing or 40-45 miles on flatter rides. My left foot last the entire ride until the last mile at the end. I guess this is a good start. Some improvements is better than no improvements?

Week 40: Day 6 - 10 October 2020

•  morning group ride = 27.58 miles; time = 1:56:41: average speed @ 14.2mph
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

I did one bike ride with one other person. I did the first group (three or more people) ride today since this whole global pandemic started. I miss riding with my friends. Six or seven months and a million solo rides can get lonely and boring. I was also slowly starting to struggle to find the motivation to ride. I also had to force myself to do this ride because it was shorter (27.6 miles) and flater (1,400 feet in total elevation) compared to all of my solo rides that had been much tougher and my legs needed a break....my solo rides ranged from 40-80 miles, from 3000+ feet in total elevation for 40-50 miles or under 2000 feet in elevation for longer rides. Now that I did a group ride, I think I'm good on solo rides for awhile.

Week 40: Day 5 - 09 October 2020

• morning run = 3.45 miles; time = 53:43; average pace @ 15:35
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

Week 40: Day 4 - 08 October 2020

• morning run = 4.02 miles; time = 1:03:07; average pace @ 15:43
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Week 40: Day 3 - O7 October 2020

• indoor ride - roller training (morning) = 10 miles; time =  43:07; average speed @ 13.9mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Week 40: Day 2 - 06 October 2020

• morning run  = 3.31 miles; time = 54:34; average pace @ 16:30
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Week 40: Day 1 - 05 October 2020

• easy recovery ride on rollers = 5 miles; time = 22:48; average speed @ 13.2mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

I give up trying to figure out my cycling mileage. What I have on my blog is still 100 miles off from Garmin. It also doesn't match up with Strava. Strava and Garmin are similarly close. I don't know what I'm doing.

Anyway, I was only able to do five mile easy ride on rollers this morning. I had to stop because my hands were hurting and going numb. I was going to do a few more easy miles on rollers after work today, but decided to just take a break/rest.

Week 39: Day 7 - 4 October 2020

• morning ride = 58.73 miles; time = 4:58:41; average speed @ 11.8mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 16.64

Total Monthly (September) Mileage: 78.84

Total Monthly (October) Mileage: 9.35

Total Yearly Mileage: 631.64

Total Shoe Mileage: 132.86

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 78.74

Total Monthly (September) Mileage: 188.19

Total Monthly (October) Mileage: 68.73

Total Yearly Mileage: 2320.05

Total Bike Mileage: 1685.89

I've finally recalculated my total bike mileage and total yearly cycling mileage. It took awhile to figure this out because the numbers from Garmin didn't match up with Strava (I generally don't like using Strava to keep track of mileage, however, both were close). I also need to do a better job at updating my blog so it's easier for me to keep track of mileage for both running/shoes and cycling/bike.

Anyway, I did a long ride that had 4,000 feet in total elevation. If you're an experienced cyclist, you will understand this. If you are not, let's just say that it was very hilly.

Week 39: Day 6 - 03 October 2020

• morning run = 5.89 miles; time =  1:26:26; average pace @ 14:40
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

It amazes me how many people think that running and walking are the same. They are NOT. Because people ask me why I'm not with my dogs and they should be with me all the time (I'm very obviously running). These people should try running. If running was easy as walking, everyone would be doing it. I used to run with one dog (I have two), but stopped when I started running in the dark. Since I live in coyote territory and my dogs are small, I leave them at home while I go run around town in the dark so I don't have to worry about coyote attacks. I have enough problems with coyotes following me when I do walk my dogs with the sun out at 7am-8am.

Week 39: Day 5 - 02 October 2020

• indoor ride - roller training = 10 miles; time = 32:48; average speed @ 18.3mph
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Week 39: Day 4 - 01 October 2020

• morning run = 3.46 miles; time = 53:14; average pace @ 15:33
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total