Tuesday: 7km, avg 7:27/km

Wednesday: 3km around Meridian Hill Park with 25 jumping jacks, 25 bench pushups, 25 air squats

Thursday: 11:30km, avg. 6:11/km

Saturday: 8:08/km, avg 6:02/km

Monday (Labor Day): 16.14km/avg, 6:12/km

According to Runkeeper, I’m 66% of the way through training.

And I’m terrified. This is really happening.

Ok, that’s passed. The next two weeks will be the toughest in terms of distance ran. I’m aiming for about 50-60 km (about 40 miles), with an 18-miler this Saturday and the 20-miler the following Sunday. After that, it starts to taper down and we hit the home stretch toward Buenos Aires.

All in all, I feel good. I feel some soreness in my knees and legs but nothing that hinders me. It’s really the issue of just getting going on the runs. Once I do that and I hit my stride, it feels good to find the rhythm again.

In addition, most of the details for the trip are just about completed. I’m a closeted Type-A personality with a fair amount of low self-confidence, so I overindulge in preparation. That does wonders for me but it leads to issues of over-training and over-preparation.

By this point, I would have most of my trip planned out. However, my approach changed dramatically with my father coming along as a travel companion and support coach. A great man, my dad is as low-key as one can be. Combined with never traveling outside the country before means that every decision is “sure, whatever you want to do.”

That drives me crazy. I’m not quite sure why but part of it is that I usually travel alone. In fact, I’ve done most things on my own.

Part of it is circumstance and part of it habit but my default is to go solo. Nothing gives me more pleasure than seeing a movie during the first matinee showing in an empty theater. Or traveling on your own, where you discover whatever you want in however manner you choose. Such liberation and independence!

And really, it is. While I have lots of friends and have traveled with others, it’s becoming tiresome. Dare I say lonely? How about it was starting to get old.

When I first started thinking about the trip, it was going to be the ultimate solo adventure. Even when I signed up for the marathon, I thought about how I was going to take a picture on Facebook and have everyone celebrate with me online. Yet, it was my victory, my trip. Just me.

Truthfully, I wanted someone to come with me. I just didn’t know how to ask. Or, I haven’t been approachable. I get accused of being a cynic and while I don’t see myself as cynical, I do realize that my attitude isn’t always one of openness and accommodation. Again, there’s lots of reasons for that which are worthy saving for the therapeutic couch but I’ll just say I was grateful when Dad asks if I wanted company.

It’s requiring me to have patience (trying to plan with someone on the other side of the country about a trip on the other side of the world is ‘fun’), which I need. And flexibility, which I need more of and openness, which I need the most.

Cannot wait.