Week 42: Day 4 - October 19, 2017

• cycling = 14.79 miles; time = 1:21:11; average speed @ 10.9 mph
• easy walk with dogs (@ home) = 2.6 miles total
• walk dogs (volunteering) @ priceless pet rescue shelter = distance unknown; time = 3 hours

So I decided to volunteer today at a local pet rescue shelter. I have been volunteering there on and off since November 2014 and am starting to not like the adoptions managers there. I should really go there for the animals and help care for them so they can get adopted out. I spent most of my time walking the dogs so they could have somewhere to go for their bathroom needs and not in their crates or kennel. I did spend a little time with the cats. I told the adoptions manager that I would be the one caring for the cats (cleaning their liter box, sweeping the floor in the cat room, checking the water/food bowls, etc) and dogs. She had another volunteer do cat duty even though that volunteer only cleaned the liter box and then left. Meanwhile I had no help walking the dogs. The volunteer could have helped me walk a few dogs in her short time there. I have to tell myself that I should volunteer and go there for the animals.

Week 42: Day 3 - October 18, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 4.79 miles; time = 1:03:46; average pace @ 13:19
• easy WALK with three dogs = 2.6 miles total

I woke up this morning to the smell of fire smoke. There was an apparent brush/hill fire seven miles from me during the wee hours of the morning that started at 2:15am (it was not near any homes or businesses, so no one had to evacuate). This wasn't the first time that there was a fire in this same exact area, but the last time was ten years ago. You wouldn't have known since mother nature (lots of rain) took care of it with green grass. I was a little worried that the smell and air quality would affect my breathing during my run, but surprisingly, I was fine. When I headed out for my run, the sky looked as normal as it could be because all the local area fire departments were quick and getting the fire under control. I think it was 100% contained when I woke up to get ready for my run and the smell of smoke was all that was left lingering.

I had also wanted/planned to do a bike ride today, but I waited too long and I lost motivation.

Week 42: Day 2 - October 17, 2017

• easy RUN with one dog = 3.3 miles; time = 43:36; average pace @ 13:13
• easy WALK with four dogs = 2.6 miles total

While it was 63 degrees this morning (which was okay), it felt so warm and humid! I think summer didn't get the memo that summer had been over for a few weeks. Why is it 90-something degrees (daytime high) in the middle of October??!?!? I really hope that November is not as warm as October, although I guess too warm in November would be better than too warm in December, January or February!

Week 41: Day 7 - October 15, 2017

• cycling (easy ride) = 10.03 miles; time = 52:00; average speed @ 11.6 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

Running:
Total Weekly Mileage: 18.31
Total Monthly Mileage: 36.67
Total Yearly Mileage: 777.27
Total Shoe Mileage: 108.69

Cycling:
Total Weekly Mileage: 42.13
Total Monthly Mileage: 105.96
Total Yearly Mileage: 1256.90

I decided to ride this morning before heading to work. I was on a time limit, so I had to do a short, easy ride which was okay with me. It was warm and windy. The wind made my ride harder than necessary. I think it was a good thing that I didn't become angry or grumpy. I still didn't enjoy my ride though because of the wind.

Week 41: Day 6 - October 14, 2017

• easy run (solo) = 4.52 miles; time = 1:00:56; average pace @ 13:29
• easy walk with four dogs = 2.5 miles total
• cycling = 18.69 miles; time = 1:40:12; average speed @ 11.2 mph

I almost didn't go out for a bike ride because I was being lazy. After visiting an REI store and picking up some running shoes, some clothes (bike/running) and other things, I felt motivated to ride! Anyway, I feel ready for my next half marathon....even though I don't start for another two weeks.

Week 41: Day 5 - October 13, 2017

• hilly trail run (solo) part 1 = 3.95 miles; time = 50:20; average pace @ 12:45
• hilly trail run (solo) part 2 = 1.1 miles; time = 15:00; average pace @ 13:38
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

I forgot to mention that my last bike ride included a route that I hadn't done since April. It had a hill (0.9 mile, slightly less than one mile) with an 11% grade. The first 0.4 mile (slightly under 1/2 mile) was harder than the rest of the hill and I took a rest break when I got to .04 mile before heading up the rest of hill. I was able to make it to the top of the hill without stopping, although trying to make it to the top during that last .1 (1/10) mile was hard. It felt hard because my legs were "fried" after making it (last 1/2 mile) to to top without stopping. I didn't get sore after the ride. I really believe that if I keep riding on this hill, I'll make it to the top from bottom without stopping and it'll get easier.

I didn't do any work out yesterday. I had a doctor's appointment, but it was at 11:45am. I would have preferred an earlier time because it is easier to work things around a 9am (or 10am) appointment time than one that is mid-day. I just don't like to do a work out before an appointment and I get a little lazy if I have to do a bike ride in the afternoon (my bicycle friends do rides on Thursdays, but their rides are too fast and too far for my legs to handle).

Week 41: Day 3 - October 11, 2017

• easy run (solo) = 5.27 miles; time = 1:09:41; average pace @ 13:13
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total
• cycling (semi-challenging ride) = 13.41 miles; time = 1:14:42; average speed @ 10.8 mph

I finally got the garmin app to work on my phone, so I could transfer data from my garmin watch to garmin connect. It was really frustrating, and so much effort/work to get it to work. I don't always bring my phone with me when I walk my dogs (I don't use strava (phone app) for walking my dogs around the neighborhood), so my watch gets disconnected from my phone and doesn't always reconnect when I get back. I just saved a bunch of money by not buying a new computer and I'll suck it up with a really old computer for the time being. The battery needs to be recharged every so often, but it has to be connected to the computer by a usb cord. The recharge mode works just fine.

I have an account on LogYourRun.com and I have an account there since 2007. A few weeks ago (maybe two months ago?), LogYourRun decided to wipe out all of my runs/rides that I logged into my account. I like using it to figure out average pace/speed and compare runs or rides. All of my runs and rides with recorded times came back. I don't use it to log in where I'm going for my routes when I run or ride, but I have names for many of my routes and races because I like to compare time and average pace. LogYourRun decided to delete all of these route/race names. I've started using a notebook to jot down where I am going for my routes because I don't always remember them, especially when I'm doing long training runs for a half marathon. When I "run out" (excuse the pun!) of ideas on where to run for long runs, I get bored sometimes when I don't mix things up. So now I have to use a notebook (a new/different one) to log my runs and rides with distance, time and pace/speed so I can compare for future reference. I am still going to use LogYourRun to figure out average pace/speed though. The upcoming half marathon that I'm doing in February 2018, I've done this two other times before, but I have to refer to my blog to compare my times, although I sorta remember what my finish times were and I probably won't be as fast as those times....