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.)