Losing a part of me

I set out with a bold path in mind for today’s walk. I had not walked since Friday, and I decided to expand on my normal local routes, which until today have all been around 8km. I was not sure when I set out how much farther my route today would be; I suspected it would be a little over 10km, maybe 10.5km. As it turns out, I was right… 10.45km, starting from the parking lot of my building, down to Mainway, across to Appleby Line, up to Dundas, then back down Walker’s Line to my parking lot. I made one pit stop at the 8km mark, popping into the gas station to pick up a bottle of Gatorade. I had finished my water bottle, and did not think it smart to try to make the last 2.5km without hydration.

• Distance: 10.45km (10km)
• Duration: 1:44:12 (1:41:33)
• Average Pace (Min/km): 9:58 (10:08)
• Best Split-Pace Kilometre: 9m36 (9m44s)
• Steps: 12.8k (12.6k)
• Calories burned: 1,242 (1,188)
• Elevation gain: 37 (62.7)
• Average cadence (steps per minute): 122 (124)

I did not break any speed records, only for distance; today was the longest walk I have recorded, besting my previous best by 450m and about 3 minutes. Five of ten kilometres was at or under the 10m00s pace, although my last 450m was on a pace for 9m33s. I did not need to be a hero to prove that I could do it; In truth, I also did not know that I was on pace to do that.

While it was a terrible cheat, I carbed up for the walk with an indulgence of Goldfish crackers, which I should not have done. There are some athletes who benefit from the consumption of carbohydrates before a workout; I have never been one to notice a difference, and I do not think I did today. In truth, I think I might have felt heavier in my first two kilometres for having enjoyed that snack. I will try to be good the next few days. I will also try to skip one of today’s remaining meal replacements because I know that what I ate is much more than the 160 calories in a meal replacement.

I am enjoying the book on tape that I am listening to, although it makes me want to reenlist in the Army to go fight the Nazis. Yes, it is one of those books that my father and his generation so revered – the Jewish community in Poland at the outset of World War 2, claiming that things are bad but at least they cannot get any worse… and the hero soldier fighter who wants them to pick up arms, all the while most of them are talking of forming a Jewish homeland. Leon Uris’ massive novel was on my father’s bookshelf for so many years, but I never thought to read it. Indeed, at the time I would have been intimidated by the size of it. I started listening to it on the drive home from Montreal and am enjoying it. That is not to say that it does not infuriate me from time to time… few Jewish soldiers would not be enraged by the progression of Nazism.

Earlier today I went shopping for my provisions (forgetting to pick up more lettuce… oops). I decided to take my suits to the dry cleaner… to be specific, I took two suits, a sports jacket, a pair of pants, and one shirt to the dry cleaners. All of them were custom tailored when I originally lost all of my weight in 2017, and they fit again two years ago when I lost all of my weight the second time. Yes, this will now be the third time I have lost all of this weight, and while they do not fit me yet, they will in the next month to six weeks. I want them to be ready for when my wife comes to see me in November, so I can take her out dressed in a nice suit. The dry cleaner asked if it was okay if he only got them back on Saturday, I told him that would be fine. They may not fit yet… but there is room in my closets – both in Canada and in Dallas – for them for when they do fit… and that will be soon.

It is time for me to hit the shower, and then take Her Royal Floofness on her walk. I got the Step Into September badge on Garmin Connect without any doubt today, but I still have responsibilities to my puppy to make sure she is taken care of, and is not forced to have accidents in the house. I will take her out after my shower. This evening, I will have another lovely cigar on the patio date with my wife. I do not think I have any other chores to do… although I know that tomorrow and Wednesday, I have a bunch of errands and doctors’ appointments on the book. Tonight, I can take it easy.