Week 49: Day 5 - December 08, 2017 (Training Week 6)

• cycling ("long" ride) = 20.37 miles; time = 2:01:42; average pace @ 10 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

My ride was slow. I guess that is what happens when I don't drink enough water or eat enough food. I did eat before my ride, but I think it wasn't enough for the distance and level of difficulty (it was hilly). Then near the end of the ride (about four miles from home), I went over a storm drain that had uneven asphalt. In trying to be mindful of the traffic behind me, the unevenness made me clumsy and I fell off my bike. There was actually a car right behind me and even though she was driving slow because she could only go so fast with me in front of her (the lane was narrow with no bike lane and she couldn't easily pass me), she still had to break pretty hard. If I'm going to keep riding alone, I have to be more careful and stop being clumsy. Perhaps next time I will get hit by a car and it wouldn't be their fault (unless they left the scene, leaving me there to die). I joked to a previous boss that I was a pro at falling off my bike. Time to reverse that. Not that I want to get hit by an angry, bicycle hating driver or a distracted driver, but it seems worse to get hit by a car because of my clumsiness.

I was actually thinking about riding tomorrow and I couldn't decide on the distance. I think I should take a break from riding. I guess it's a good thing that I have a birthday party to go to at 11:30am for my niece. I'll use this reason/excuse not to ride tomorrow.

Week 49: Day 4 - December 07, 2017 (Training Week 6)

• easy-ish run (training) = 6.1 miles; time = 1:20:09; average pace @ 13:08
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

This morning felt/was warmer than yesterday...by ten degrees! I was so excited for cold mornings that I was telling myself that I needed to bring out my gloves for morning runs.

Anyway, my next run will be on Sunday, December 10, and I am doing a "Holiday Fun Run" (15k distance).

Week 49: Day 3 - December 06, 2017 (Training Week 6)

• easy run = 4.87 miles; time = 1:04:48; average pace @ 13:18
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total
• cycling = 15.29 miles; time = 1:12:33; average speed @ 12.7 mph

I did a ride today...the first half of it was a route that I hadn't done in a long time. The last time was maybe in 2014. At the time, the hills that were part of the ride seemed hard. They didn't look like mountains, but they felt like mountains to me. I was using all lowest gears on my bike and I was slow. Today was good. The hills definitely felt like hills, but they don't feel or seem like mountains to me anymore and I'm not angry at them. I think I am getting better because I wasn't using the lowest gears and I felt like I was riding faster. Must be from riding all those tough hills and long distance riding! I could look up what my time was in 2014, but I'm being a little lazy right now. I'll attempt this ride again soon.

Week 49: Day 2 - December 05, 2017 (Training Week 6)

• hilly trail run = 3.55 miles; time = 46:37 miles; average pace @ 13:08
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

I did a run on a trail that I hadn't done since May. It had a .9 mile incline. I don't know why I stopped doing this run. I made three rest stops during my run this morning...the first one was to take a quick picture of the sunrise. The second stop, I had to tie my laces. The third time had a steep incline and my legs felt like rubber. I guess I'll find out next week if I can run most of the way up hill without stopping.

Week 48: Day 7 - December 03, 2017 (Training Week 5)

• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

Running:

Total Weekly Mileage: 23.67
Total Monthly Mileage (November): 92.49
Total Monthly (December) Mileage: 14.31
Total Yearly Mileage: 927.14

Cycling:
Total Weekly Mileage: 20.55
Total Monthly Mileage: 153.57
Total Yearly Mileage: 1468.96

This post is more as an update and to track mileage for running and cycling. I was going to do a ride with a cycling group from meetup, hence why I did my long run yesterday (Saturday). Normally, I would do long runs on Sundays. I did have to work last night (Saturday), but not too late. I woke up feeling tired. I walked my dogs and was able (very easily) to go back to sleep. I wish I could easily go back to sleep for a nap after a run.

Week 48: Day 6 - December 02, 2017 (Training Week 5)

• long run = 8.24 miles; time = 1:49:22; average pace @13:16
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

I didn't get much sleep after work last night. Surprisingly, I did perfectly fine during my run this morning. I did started to feel it this afternoon. My head kept nodding off and it was hard to keep my eyes open while sitting, so I attempted to take a nap. It felt like I did take a nap, but not really at the same time. I don't know what is it with me and nap. I don't know why I can't take naps anymore when I need it.

I had wanted to go for a ride today as well, but never got around to it. I actually felt sore after my run. Should have, could have gone yesterday....

Week 48: Day 5 - December 01, 2017 (Training Week 5)

• morning run = 6.07 miles; time = 1:19:59; average pace @ 13:11
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

I had planned to ride this morning after my run, but laziness kicked so I didn't ride. Perhaps tomorrow after my eight mile run, but we'll see about that.