Two easy hours

Got my two hours in today, to end sort of a slacker week. My time for the week was only a little more than four hours total. The plan is to get more miles/time next week.

My security guard was there, talking about his running plans again.

Another funny thing happened: Some guy on his balcony yelled to me at about the 110-minute mark -- "Wow, you've been running for a while. You're getting a great workout." He was a 30-something, buff-looking guy. I always get a kick out of the certain surprise from athletic types about how long I'm out there. Because I certainly don't look athletic.

I wore a skort and a sleeveless top, for the first time on one of my long runs. I was alert to the possibility of chafing, but there was none.

I took an ice bath afterwards again. It wasn't as hot out today, so it wasn't quite as appreciated.

Baseball and my walk

When I was at my top weight, I used to waddle more than a little, I think.

Paul said to me yesterday, "You've got your walk back."

Hey, I've had it back for a while.

"No, this is your even more confident walk, your of-course-I-don't-pay-to-get-into-baseball-games walk."

I pay now, of course, but Paul is remembering the first time he came to visit my parents with me. In 1993.

We got off the plane and went straight to my dad's work, the ballpark, where there was a game going on. I walked right up to the pass gate, where the security guards and ticket takers, whom I had known a lot longer than I'd known Paul, gave me hugs and let me right through.

That was just normal for me, but it amazed Paul. I don't think I ever truly needed to pay to get into a pro baseball game, anywhere or at any level, until after my father died. He wouldn't have allowed it. He knew everyone in the game, and he'd call his buddies and get me tickets. Sometimes, in my early 20s, I'd rebel by not letting him know I was going to see a game and he therefore couldn't call in any favors for me. By my mid-20s, I had outgrown that, fortunately. He loved to do it, and, heck, it saved me money.

Running/walking pet peeve -- and a favorite thing

First, the pet peeve:

OK, when I'm out with any number of my kids and we approach someone coming the opposite way on the sidewalk, I tell them, "OK, single file."

If my 5-year-old understands, what is it with adults?

Some of it has to be the whole L.A. power/image thing, where people will be darned if they'll give anything -- at all -- for another person, even share the sidewalk for any length of time.

Young couples holding hands cannot pull themselves away from each other for the millisecond it would take to be pass. Older couples sometimes do the same thing. I just don't get it. Women walking together do it as well. I'm sorry. You don't have to be linked at the hip constantly to have a conversation or show you're together or whatever else it is you're trying to prove.

My new thing, though, is that I'm refusing to move off the sidewalk, even as I make sure other people have sufficient room. I don't want to crash into anyone, but I also don't want to reward obnoxious behavior.

Now, my favorite thing: People who yell to you when they're coming up fast behind you, particularly when it's a large man -- or someone on a bicycle.

50 not-totally-wussy minutes

It's hotter than heck already this morning.

But, I found a spot near me that has buildings that create a lot of shade. It means running on concrete, and I like to vary my surfaces, but in a pinch (when it's hot), I can do the straight concrete.

I was pressed for time, so I worked at increasing intensity. I did a long slope for a bit, which made it clear to me that I'm not ready to enter a hilly half-marathon that I'd been eyeing. Then, I did a lot of micro-intervals -- little bursts of all-out runs. It's my own invention, so who knows if there's even any point to it. I figure I'd better test the effects of higher impact on my gimpy toes in a conservative way.

Running socks

I went out and bought some special, fancy, noncotton socks yesterday.

At this point, my feet have stayed blister-free with socks I've bought at the 99 Cents Only store, believe it or not.

I've got my toenail firmly attached -- so far -- with a boatload of polish and part of a tea bag. I rethought the tape I was considering because I'm concerned that when I have to remove it, the tape will pull the nail with it.

Parenting ...

... is wreaking havoc on my running schedule.

Which, of course, is no set schedule -- just what I decide to do on any given day.

But, anyway, the kids have been getting up earlier, so morning runs are becoming more challenging.

P.S. To my regular reader from Kansas City -- I think I know who you are. Send me an email for goodness sake!

Squeezing in a run

My 5-year-old woke up just after 6 today, which meant I had to -- heaven forbid -- be a mother first thing this morning rather than get my run in.

The run -- later, at the park -- was even slower than usual. I got three miles worth of pounding but probably barely two in distance, as some was in place and some was at a 5-year-old's clip.

It was only 30 minutes, but there was some good news. I didn't feel toenail pain, which had been a concern. Yesterday, while going downhill on our hike, I managed to get one of my nails to split, horizontally, so it's closer to popping off. I'm trying to keep it on as long as I can. The split is less than one-third of the way across the nail, so with nail polish (and maybe some tape), I might be able to keep it on for a few more months.

Things I eat now that I rarely did before

I'm not saying I never ate this stuff, but it was pretty rare:

1) Cherries. They taste so sweet to me, and they're still super-low on the glycemic index.

2) Bok choy. Great for stir-fries.

3) Shredded carrots. Ditto. Also easy to pack up and taste with me.

4) Plain, nonfat yogurt. If I had yogurt before, it was the chock-full-o'-sugar kind.

5) Green tea.

Blast from the past

Paul and I used to take a walk -- even just a short one -- almost every night. One casualty of my running is that we just haven't been doing the walks lately.

But, last night, we did.

While we were walking, we ran into the guy who taught one of my gym classes. He was jogging with a client. He came right up to us, and it was confusing at first -- like when you're a little kid and you run into your teacher at the grocery store. Plus, his hair was longer and he had facial hair. He was smiling and puppy-dog friendly, and I'm used to him being all business. I didn't recognize him.

I had been thinking about calling him; if I believed in such things, I'd consider it a sign.

Posting too early when I have to get kids out the door

Gosh, I can be incoherent when I post too early. And don't have an editor.

Anyway, to clarify -- it's sweet that Paul worries because I'm smaller and look easier to mess with now.

But, I don't like the reminder. It messes with the swagger, you know.

Got a good hourlong hike in today, with a bunch of kids. I was going at my 5-year-old's pace, so it was hardly aerobic, but it was good to get out in nature.

Bright and early

Got my easy 60 minutes in this morning -- I got out the door right after 6.

Paul, aka Mr. Protection, made a big deal about checking to see if it were light enough out for me to go. This is related to the weight loss, undoubtedly, as I'm used to going wherever, whenever and him not being concerned at all. I haven't persuaded him that it's OK if he worries about me, but it's actually safer for me not to know of his concerns.

It's pretty neat to be at a place where I can get out of bed, throw on some clothes and just go run (slowly!) for an hour. And it's not a big deal.

Today's weigh-in

163.2 lbs.

Down 1.8 pounds from 28 days ago.

I lost a couple of inches off my butt (of course!).

The waist apparently stayed the same, which didn't surprise me.

I'm going to have to do more weight training.

The cool thing, though, is that even though I was a little bummed at this number (I was hoping to go into the 150s), I looked back on some of my previous numbers, as I tend to forget how much I've changed. A year ago, I weighed 202 pounds -- and had a 46-inch waist. I've lost more than a foot off the circumference of my waist and nearly 40 pounds since then. The first 47 pounds I lost came off more quickly, of course, but these last 40 have been significant.

Ironically, my calf measurement is precisely the same as it was a year ago.

Restaurants

Paul, the little guy and I went out to eat last night.

Paul, who can eat whatever he wants and never see any scale movement but who has health reasons for needing to "behave," had a rough time.

"I'm just not as good at resisting temptation as you are," he said.

Wait a minute -- that's so not true.

I simply have the physiological advantage of no physical cravings -- as well as a bit of a psychological advantage that veers close to superstition. I can't imagine intentionally eating something that's not on plan.

Paul eats a lot that's not on plan -- there's a lot of healthy food that's not on plan. But, with that, he loses the protection from physical cravings that I enjoy.

Eating out in some ways is easier than cooking my own food, as there are often not that many things I can eat on a menu. My house is full of food I can eat.

I also have to be careful about what kind of restaurants I choose. I might like going to someplace adventurous, but it's better if I stick to simple fare.