Which brings me to something I've been wondering all along. I'm depleating muscle and/or not recovering as properly as I should be after my long distance runs on the weekends.

Tonight was rather fun. It was somewhat warm (around 55+ degrees) and raining. There's something cleansing about running in the rain. Total distance was around 11 miles, and jogged about 7 of them, which is a little more than usual on a weekday.

Today I took an apple with me (Honeycrisp apples are my favorite) and a small plastic bag with hickory smoked almonds. I think this really helped me in the last few miles of jogging and walking. I can foresee taking a similar type of meal with me when I do the marathon next year.

Come to think of it, I only need another 5 miles of path (which would be 10 miles total) to give myself an idea of a 26 mile exercise.

I've been walking around the house, seeing Charly and then not. It's really weird not having her around.

I decided to take some food with me this time because of how far I'm beginning to go. Eventually, I'll try that Gu stuff, but for now, an apple seemed to suffice. About 221 minutes total elapsed. It's a good thing I took an apple. When I go farther, I'll probably have to take something else which has more than just carbs.

I also discovered I'm running out of path (and I think I've said this before). I may have to map a course which involves going across the river or something. The pedestrian walkways by the Rose Quarter are just insane and stupid. Not only are pedestrians confused, but so are motorists. Oh on, we can't have elevated walkways where the pedestrians can simply walk over the moving traffic. That would be too easy. Nah, let's cram pedestrians, motorists, and mass transit in one area.

Charly Is Gone

Today was also one of the more difficult times in my life. I had to euthanize Charly, who was my longtime companion for almost 18 years. She was with me ever since I was in college, and wherever and whenever I moved around the city of Portland...she was there with me in a U-Haul truck or car, getting the most out of the adventurous situation.

I probably will never forgive myself for making this decision. After I got home this morning, I looked at her, and I knew something had to be done. I personally don't like making decisions on another living being's life. This is a hardcore conflict I've always had. She could have lived another year possibly, but the quality of life for her would have made her suffer as well as myself watching her decline. Her weight was virtually nothing, and no matter how much she ate or how much protein I gave her, it just wouldn't make a difference. She was also urinating in places she never used to and wasn't sleeping in her usual areas, and this morning I found she urinated on her own sleeping area, which has never happened before.

I'm not sure if I'll ever have a pet again. Charly was like a daughter to me. She was everything. And I had to end her life. We had an amazing life together, and I will have so many great memories of her. Charly, I miss you.