Less of Josephine.

Today I officially start my taper for next Sunday’s half marathon. I’ll run decreased mileage all week in hopes of storing up energy for the big day. Today I was supposed to run 9 miles, but I bonked (lack of food) and only ran 8.1 miles. See, I tried to move solidly back into weight loss mode this past week (trying to move closer to 130) and I’m having a hard time figuring out the right calories to eat to both run relatively well AND also lose pounds. Obviously, yesterday was a FAIL in the fueling up department.

At least I didn’t barf (as I did on my last major bonk), I just sort of pooped-out at the end and knew that it was better to head right back home instead of trying to squeeze in that extra mile.  For my next long training run (not until after the race) I’ll add a few hundred more calories the night before and see how it goes.

My plan for the half marathon is to SERIOUSLY fuel up the day before — even to the extent over overfueling. I want to have alot of fun with ZERO risk of bonking. So even if I’m up a pound or two afterwards, I don’t care, and it is doubtful anyway. I ate alot of carbs prior to last Sunday’s run and breezed right through it with no weight gain. So that’s the plan, man.

Today’s weight: 138.2
Mood: A bit wonky but recovering
Misc.: I think I love the dog park even more than my dog.

On Sunday I ran 12.57 miles on the race course I’ll officially run (as a half marathon) on November 30th. It’s a beautiful course, really top-notch! It flows right along the river and is shaded by old oaks and palm trees and has gorgeous views of sailboats, bridges, and pelican-and-seagull-covered docks. It even has small rolling hills which are very unusual in this area. Oh, and the eye-candy that was out running the course in prep for the big race was phenomenal. I had a great time. My pace was great, I felt great, and I know I’m completely ready for the distance.

But what I’m REALLY excited about is my total and complete victory over the ultimate evil known as CHAFE! I ran 12.57 miles and I had nary a red mark on me! Now that is truly a victory worth celebrating. I FINALLY found the right boob-rig (as I call my regular bra + compression bra combo) and it does a great job of both supporting, wicking, and NOT rubbing. I win, I win!

Today I ran my usual 6 miler and though I felt ok during the run, by this afternoon it was clear that I am fighting a cold. Booooo. My boob-rig is apparently great at staving off chafe but not so good at fighting off germs. Perhaps I expect too much from it.

Today’s weight: 139
Mood: Sniffley
Misc: Why are public restrooms in parks so incredibly FILTHY?!?! How hard is it to put the toilet paper IN the toilet and FLUSH, people? And the full, dirty diaper left on the counter — UNFORGIVABLE.

Just because she’s so adorable, here is much better picture of my little vacation puppy/reading companion from the Maine visit. She definitely rates up there on the list of my most favoritest parts of the trip:

Well, my darling husband is out of town and my subconscious (id? ego? superego? whatever!) is not letting me sleep. Other than 15 minutes of frantic REM sleep last night, during which I dreamed that I lost an eye to a vicious Cockatoo that was permanently attached to my arm, I’ve had zero sleep in 2 days. Being de-eyed does NOT rate high on my list of the bestest stuff to dream about.

So I’d like to place a dream order for tonight, please, to be delivered around oh, say, 5:45 pm. I’d like  the 38-year-old version of Sean Connery and whatever-his-current-age-is version of Daniel Craig to be embroiled in a very naughty love triangle starring a 22-year-old-version of yours truly. Yes indeed I’ll be in complete hot accent and beautiful man overload, but it beats painfully losing an eye to an angry parrot.

Today’s Weight: 140.2
Mood: Mucho groggy
Misc.: I have an unreasonable hate for the lying chick in the Glade candle commercials. I’d very much enjoy giving her a giant wedgie. Is there something wrong with me?

I’m feeling blah about blogging but good about most other things (minus my continued lack of career direction, don’t get my started on that). I’ve made no real progress towards 130; I continue to hover in the 137 to 140 range. For Month 8 as a whole I actually recorded a gain (eek!) — and even though I came back down quickly, it means the month was pretty much a wash as far as getting closer to 130. Ooga booga.

I’m not terribly worried about sitting at this weight — though I am by nature a very goal-oriented person and feel a certain level of frustration at being stymied. But I’m just trying to cut myself a break and let my body settle a bit. Losing weight has to be as hard on the body as it is on the psyche, right? And since it is excruciating on the psyche, well, it figures my body might be a bit tired. A break seems like a good thing. And anyway I’m not sure what I should tweak to change things. I’ll figure it out eventually.

After some lovely cheering from my online friends I’ve decided to go ahead and run a Half Marathon race at the end of this month since my training distances have completely prepared me already. It’s kind of a goal for me right now to be in a constant state of readiness for this length race (13.1 miles) so that I can race one whenever I choose. I’m NOT ready to start training for a full distance marathon (26.2 miles), however. Some day, maybe, but not right now. I’d rather focus on getting faster and stronger at my current distances.

Today’s picture: Maine wasn’t all about hiking. I always had a reading companion during the downtime.

Today’s Weight: 139.8
Mood: Variable from the NNW
Misc.: Die USA Network, die!