Week 5: Day 4 - 31 January 2019

• morning run = 5.33 miles; time = 1:10:09; average pace @ 13:09
• walked dogs = 2.5 miles total
• photo walk with photography group = 4.6 miles

I wasn't sure if I would do a run this morning and if I would be sore from all the "mountains" that I climbed yesterday. Both my ride and run from yesterday had challenging hills. I guess I kinda knew that I would be okay because I felt fine after the ride and I felt pretty good this morning. This morning, I also took a chance and did a 1.5-mile walk with my dogs. While I'm usually okay with rain during my runs, I actually didn't want to get rained on during the walk. I'm sure my dogs felt the same. It was cold and the clouds looked gloomy during the walk. As soon as we got home and were inside, it started raining. So I'm glad that the rain held out long enough for us to do a walk. I'm also doing a photo walk with a photography group later this evening. (I'm updating this now at 2pm) While it's really raining out right now, I have faith in the weather and it will stop in an hour or two. We are meeting at 7pm. It doesn't rain on me when I have actual plans and doing special events.

Week 5: Day 3 - 30 January 2019

• morning run = 3.55 miles; time = 52:38; average pace @ 14:49
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• bike ride = 15.26 miles; time = 1:16:19; average speed @ 12 mph

So I did a ride this afternoon. There was a .9 mile (we'll just call it one mile) long "mountain" (challenging hill) starting at mile 2 to mile 3. The first half of the hill had an 11% grade and the second half had a 10% grade - strava says that the second half of the hill has a 12 or 13% grade, but it doesn't feel that steep (the first half of the hill is harder). The first few times that I did this ride/route (in 2015), I stopped 10+ for rest breaks. After awhile, I had rest breaks less often until it was down to one rest break (usually after the first half). My ultimate goal was to make it to the top without stopping, and my secondary goal was just to make it up farther up the hill before stopping. Today was the day that I made it to the top without stopping. My average speed was a little slower because I didn't stop/rest at any point. I rewarded myself with a rest break when I got to the top. I'm ultra proud of myself for making this accomplishment.

Week 5: Day 1 - 28 January 2019

• morning run = 4.86 miles; time = 1:10:15; pace @ 14:27
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total

I'm just updating this. That is all.

Week 4: Day 7 - 27 January 2019

• morning run = 6.09 miles; time = 1:27:32; average pace @ 14:22
• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total

Running: 

Total Weekly Mileage: 19.52

Total Monthly Mileage: 76.67

Cycling:

Total Weekly Mileage: 71.83

Total Monthly Mileage: 117.62

I did a run at Chino Hills State Park this morning. I hadn't done a run there in a year. Mainly out of laziness (too lazy to get in the car and drive). I have to tell myself that I have to run in other areas so I'm not bored of looking at the same scenery all the time. Maybe someday I'll do a run at the beach for training or for fun (not for a race).

Week 4: Day 6 - 26 January 2019

• morning group ride = 27.64 miles; time = 2:05:30; average speed @ 13.2 mph
• walked dogs = 2.4 miles total

I haven't done a group ride in a month because of scheduling (I was working or training for a 10k run). It was nice to ride with a group. I was actually getting lazy with riding because it was getting lonely and boring. Even though my group has rides scheduled on Monday evenings and I am available to join them, but they are a tad too fast for me. Maybe I will in a few weeks after I change out some gears/equipment on my bike that will help me ride faster.

Week 4: Day 5 - 25 January 2019

• walked dogs = 2.6 miles total
• bike ride = 29.04 miles; time = 2:15:11; average speed @ 12.9 mph
• hike = 4 miles; time = 2:00:25

I think I did fine for my ride. I could have been better and faster if I ate before  my ride. I lost a little bit of energy towards the end and I was hungry.

After the ride, I went on a hike on a trail near home. I found the trail head (entrance) before from riding my bike. Things you actually see when you're on a bike. Or out for a run/walk! I tried to go on this hike last year, but there was so much "NO PARKING" signs everywhere that I didn't know exactly where I could park and I gave up looking after a few minutes. I did a satellite imaging of the area yesterday to figure out where people parked cars and found street parking in a residential area that was 1/4 mile from the trail head...even though I generally don't like to park in residential areas because sometimes people are suspicious of unknown/unfamiliar cars and people in their neighborhoods. (I'm one of those people...and I did get a weird look from someone who drove by as I was getting ready for my hike.) I wish the city would create a small parking area on the same side as the trail head though. I had to cross a busy, major street just to get to the trail head. Anyway, I also found information about this trail on alltrails.com so I knew how long the hike was (it was supposed to have bee 3.3 miles round trip, but I kept going until the trail ended by a fence/gate).

Doing a 29 mile ride and a moderate (not easy) four mile hike in the same day was probably not a good idea, but I guess it's a good thing if I'm tired/sleepy at the end of the day and it keeps me out of trouble.

Week 4: Day 4 - 24 January 2019

• morning hilly trail run = 3.55 miles; time = 50:31; average pace @ 14:13
• walked dogs = 2.7 miles total
• bike ride = 15.15 miles; time = 1:15:27; average speed @ 12.1 mph

I finally got in a bike ride. It rained a lot last week and then it was very windy on Monday, so I got really lazy with riding. It wasn't windy on Monday morning when I went running and I don't take breaks and stop running just because it's raining. I melt when it's hot and humid, and rain is better than that.

Anyway, it was really nice weather out today, so it was a very enjoyable ride.