Week 51: Day 4 - December 21, 2017 (Training Week 8)

• semi-long run = 6.64 miles; time = 1:26:40; average pace @ 13:02
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

This morning was so nice and cold, but not so cold that my hands were frozen (my hands got really cold and stiff yesterday during the run). I think I should look for my gloves, just in case. I'll still wear shorts and a t-shirt though. I just need my hands covered up when it gets below 40 degrees. My next run is on Sunday, but I checked the weather forecast and it will be 38 tomorrow and Saturday morning...

Week 51: Day 3 - December 20, 2017 (Training Week 8)

• easy run = 5.14 miles; time = 1:06:28; average pace @ 12:55
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

I felt better running this morning. I must have really needed the extra rest yesterday. I wore my almost soon to be retired shoes this morning. My feet were achy, but not as bad as yesterday. I am going to do one, maybe two, more runs (next week) in the shoes before I officially retire them.

Week 51: Day 2 - December 19, 2017 (Training Week 8)

• hilly trail run = 3.55 miles; time = 51:05; average pace @ 14:27
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

I really feel like I need to retire one of my shoes...the older pair. I ran in this pair this morning. My feet were more achy than usual. My legs felt heavy and I also felt unmotivated. I had the opportunity to go to bed early (or at a normal hour) last night, but I went to bed late. I did take a nap this afternoon, but whether I slept well or not last night or got a nap, it probably wouldn't have matter. Maybe I will try another run in the pair tomorrow. It'll be a little longer, but much easier (less hilly). I was able to nap this afternoon even though there weren't any quality to my sleep/nap. If taking a nap didn't help, then I am really going to retire my shoes even though I don't want to.

Week 50: Day 7 - December 17, 2017 (Training Week 7)

• long run = 9.42 miles; time = 2:09:24; average pace @ 13:44
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 24.12

Total Monthly Mileage: 62.30

Total Yearly Mileage: 975.13

Cycling: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 27.01

Total Monthly Mileage: 216.24

Total Yearly Mileage: 1531.63

I had some peanut butter on one slice of bread before my run. It wasn't enough and I "ran" out of energy near the end of my run. Time to go shopping for some oatmeal and banana (pre-runs) and some snacks for during my runs.

Also, there were light to no winds during my runs. It was very windy by late morning, so I was glad that the winds held out long enough for me to finish my run, but the winds had died down by early afternoon

Week 50: Day 6 - December 16, 2017 (Training Week 7)

• cycling (easy ride) = 11.72 miles; time = 57:25; average speed @ 12.3 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

I wanted to do a ride (27 miles) with a group this morning, but I left work very late last night and I felt very tired when I woke up at 6am this morning (the ride started at 8am). I had wanted to do a 22 mile ride on my own, but it is/was quite windy outside and I didn't want to deal with the wind for a ride of that length. So, I did a shorter ride because it is better than nothing. Drivers were better today during my ride, but not so good when I was walking my dogs.

Week 50: Day 5 - December 15, 2017 (Training Week 7)

• cycling (easy ride) =15.29 miles; time = 1:14:30; average pace @ 12.3 mph
• easy walk with dogs = 2.6 miles total

So many bad driver out there? Why? Why are people in such a hurry to go home or to the store or wherever??? I almost got hit twice by two different drivers during today's ride. They cut me off while they were making their turns. I had to completely stop for one and I almost fell off my bike because he clearly didn't see me. He also had his passenger window opened. I yelled loudly at him and I got NO reaction from him. I wonder if I had actually thrown an egg at his door, would he stop and pull over when he heard something hit his car? Would he get out of his car to investigate? Would he yell at me for throwing an egg at his car? Or would he just ignore the sound of something hitting his door and keep driving? I thought about just letting bad drivers hit me, but I don't want to get so injured that I can't go to work.

Week 50: Day 4 - December 14, 2017 (Training Week 7)

• semi-long run = 6.24 miles; time = 1:23:51; average pace @ 13:26
• easy walk with dogs = 2.7 miles total

Currently I am alternating between two pairs of running shoes. One pair is a little older with more mileage than the other pair. I was running in the older pair this morning. My feet were aching in them. They barely have done 200 miles and my feet act like it's time to retire the shoes. My feet only aches in shoes when it's almost time to retire the shoes. I was really hoping that they would last until Sunday, December 31 before I retire them, but it seems like my feet are not having it. My legs also felt heavy and struggled to run this morning. I am not sure if this has anything to do with the shoes or if I'm feeling a little unmotivated/bored. After two miles into my run this morning, my feet and legs felt a little better. I ran in my newer shoes yesterday and my feet felt fine. No aching.