However, I have been walking consistently for the past week or so.  No morning strolls yet.  Just afternoon and early evening with the dog.  I’ll have to leave the dog if I want to seriously lose weight.  He likes to stop a lot.

I have been walking.  Just checking in and recording that.  Two miles today.

Nothing extraordinary to report. Just remembering that covering 2 miles used to be the “off days” running. Today took longer: 35:17, and I was only in my HR zone for 4 seconds. My average HR was only 101. The total event distance was 2.006 miles.

But, I also remember more days sitting on the couch, thinking about my running days gone by, wondering when I’d be out trying again. So, today was better than nothing.

No comments about Hugh. I fed him a sundae last night. That was unnecessary, but I did it. Tasted good enough.

At least I’m still at it.

Did not make it up early in the morning to run with the club. Did not run or jog yesterday. I did campaign yesterday, and I walked quickly while doing that, but too much stopping and starting to really count as exercise.

We had a candidates’ forum this afternoon. Afterwards, I was very unsettled. I did well, and I thought I answered questions very well. But I was not comfortable. Most likely it’s because of last night, too overtired to really relax. Afterward the forum I went out to Panera Bread with some friends, and I was still unsettled. Just edgy. My blood pressure was probably up from the forum as well.

So, after I got home, I got back on the horse and went for a walk. Not a jog at all, just a walk. Covered 2.084 miles in 37:05. That’s not very impressive, but it is more than I’ve been doing in a long time. So, it’s good compared to sitting my ass in a soft chair all evening watching television.

To Hell with Hugh

And that reminds me of my friend Hugh Dzhass. I almost forgot about Hugh while walking this evening, until he started asking for a chocolate peanut butter sundae with marshmallow and chocolate sauce topping. Whipped cream — the chocolate kind as well. I suppose I could reward Hugh for sitting with me this afternoon during the candidates’ forum, but that will only make him want more. In the past, I would have thought of an excuse to feed Hugh. “It was a long afternoon,” I might have reasoned, “Hugh put up with a lot.” But, not today, at least.

Hugh has a nasty way of playing weird logic games while I’m walking. It’s almost as if he’s afraid of going away, finding someone else to harass. If I exercise, Hugh expects a reward. When I do the work, and Hugh wants to eat ice cream.

That would be funny if it weren’t true.

So, not tonight, Hugh. Just relax. Maybe a bowl of cereal later if I get really hungry, but I’m not going to pour a second bowl for Hugh.

Hugh will have to do without for tonight.

If I win in April, I will have lost if I’m not in better shape, and at least 10 pounds lighter.

Essentially, I have to lose the equivalent of one bowling ball. That’s my motivation.

The first 10 pounds are supposed to be the easiest.

When I started running the first time I had different reasons. I imagined myself impressing others. I emailed friends and told them what I was doing. I wanted to run that first Marathon. That was goal number one. My first 5K? Brentwood Firecracker 5K, south of Pittsburgh, PA. I travelled in for it, and actually finished at a decent time. I have no idea what it was. 4th of July every year, 9:00 a.m., straight up and down Brownsville Rd. It’s a hilly course — at least by Chicago standards. Never level, up and down those little hills a little over 1.5 miles out, and back up and down the same hills, just over 1.5 miles back.

This time it’s not about a race. It’s not about training for a Marathon. It’s about running a mile.

Today is Friday. That’s a day off. Mandated, every week.

And it was too damn cold and windy to run. Tomorrow is a different story.