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Half Marathon Training Update #8: Mr. Creeper Peeper

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I’m training for a half-marathon on 3/31. Running is not my strength. I’m a bad, bad runner. But, pushing comfort zones is how we get better in life, so I persist.

Every Friday, I publish an update on my training. This is Update #8.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

In Running Update #2, I mentioned that I’m not going to cut my hair until after the race on 3/31. This was a bad idea. I don’t like having hair. It’s just one more thing to complicate my life. With the rare exception of this race, as soon as my hair gets long enough that I have to brush it, I cut it all off. It is starting to get out of control now:

Left: 1/16. Right: 3/1

I’m so used to not having hair that I sometimes do stupid things. Earlier this week, I went to a school activity first thing in the morning. Because I’m so used to not brushing my hair, I forgot to do it (I take showers at night, so my hair is wild and crazy in the morning until I tame it). When I got home, I glanced in the mirror and my hair looked 10x worse than the picture on the right. Scary, I know. I’m surprised the school didn’t call the cops.

Another morning, I lumbered out of bed and greeted my young daughter:

  • Me: Hi D, how are you?
  • D <with a look of revulsion>: *groans*
  • Me: What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?
  • D: It’s your hair dad. You look creepy. I’m going to start calling you Mr. Creeper.

The good news is that despite the advanced length of my hair, I haven’t found a need for hair conditioner. I remain steadfast in my belief that hair conditioner is a giant scam.

 

Peepers

In worse news, I finally registered for the half-marathon. I was kinda hoping that I’d get hit by a pickup truck or attacked by a pack of dogs on one of my runs so I’d have an excuse not to do the half. Despite darting into traffic and routing myself past a home of angry Dobermans (and really, are they ever not angry?), I remain in perfect health. It looks like I’ll have to run, long hair and all. Sigh…

In better news, I discovered this on the half-marathon site:

PEEPS ON COURSE! And you know the race organizers are serious because they put it in pink and in all caps!

I LOVE PEEPS!

And you know I’m serious because I put it in huge letters and centered it all fancy.

Anyway, here is the image I have brewing in my mind’s eye:

I’m at mile 11 with only 2 to go. However, I’m broken and battered. My legs hurt. I’m sweating. I’m cold. Bad words fly from my mouth. Just when I think I can’t go another yard, what do I see? Peeps. Yes, Peeps. It’s at this point that I know I will make it. I grab like 38 of them and stuff them down my throat. Peeps are to me what spinach is to Popeye. I blow past fellow race participants Mr. WoW and JD. I cross the finish line with fists in the air and the crowd goes nuts!

My imagination got the best of me. Here is what will actually happen:

…I grab like 38 Peeps and stuff them down my throat. Three minutes later, my stomach protests the decision. Another minute later, I’m on the side of the course, huddled over. Seconds later, my stomach revolts and expells the Peeps, a liter of orange Gatorade and the box of Samoas I had for breakfast. Mr. WoW and JD laugh at my demise. The cops haul me off for public indecency.

You know when you’re about to do something stupid, but you do it anyway? It’s every day for me. So yes, I am going to stuff myself full of Peeps while I run.

 

This Week In Running

  • Runs: 3
  • Miles: 12
  • Longest run: 6

This Year In Running

  • Runs: 30
  • Miles per run: 3.68
  • Miles: 110.44  (goal is > 150)
  • Days until half marathon: 29

2018 Activity (walking included)

  • Total steps: 950,609
  • Total miles: 449.88

Weight, Heart, Beer

  • Weight: 157.0 (goal is < 150)
  • Low resting heart rate for the week: 63 (goal is < 60)
  • Beers consumed this week: 6
  • Beers consumed this year: 43
  • Beer ratio: 2.57 : 1 (2.57 miles ran per beer). Goal is > 3 : 1

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Comments

  1. Just for the sake of argument… would you rather have peeps or beer during a half marathon?

    One of the half marathons I completed in the past routed past a house of young-ish guys who put up their own “unofficial hydration station”. It was around Mile 11 and I’m not going to lie… a quick gulp of whatever crappy lite beer was in the cup was EXACTLY what I needed to keep a smile on my face the last few miles (if only because I knew I could say that I drank beer while running my fastest half marathon 😉 )

    Peeps on the other hand… I’m sorry but I think I’d rather run an extra mile before eating a peep during a race!
    Mrs. Adventure Rich recently posted…Creating Your Personal Buyback ProgramMy Profile

  3. Dude, no. SHAMPOO is the scam. Conditioner is life.

    Signed,
    A woman with very long, curly hair

    • Ha ha! My hair is still short, but does get curly when it gets long. I promise to let it grow another foot (and get super curly) before I pass judgment again about hair conditioner.

      • In things most people don’t care about today: a majority of shampoos contain sulfates, which create the suds people associate with getting things clean, but those sulfates are also incredibly drying for hair. Curly hair in particular tends to be drier, and sulfate shampoo exacerbates this issue. It’s better to use a sulfate-free shampoo or a clarifying conditioner.

        When your hair gets to be a foot long, I’ll let you in on the secret of the homemade apple cider vinegar rinse and exfoliating conditioner recipes. 😉

        • “When your hair gets to be a foot long, I’ll let you in on the secret of the homemade apple cider vinegar rinse and exfoliating conditioner recipes.”

          Sounds good, although I fully admit that there’s no way my hair is ever getting to be a foot long! I have no idea how you people with long hair do it! 🙂

    • “i just staggered out the hotel in a satin cheetah shirt and some doc marten shoes”

      Hilarious! I didn’t know one could actually run in Doc Martens, although I’ve never tried myself!

  5. You will be pleased to hear that I have not run in two weeks. This time, I don’t have pneumonia to blame. Every day — including today — I just make excuses: “I have too much work to do…”

    On the plus side, I’m not drinking much…

    Ugh.
    J.D. Roth recently posted…The five types of retirementMy Profile

  6. Are you sure that it is the marshmallow peeps on course or did they mean peeping toms? Honestly, I could do without either. I’m with Mrs.AR and have been dreaming about the good craft beer after the race. Less than a month to go, you got this my friend!
    Mrs.Wow recently posted…Setting Up a Big Boy 401kMy Profile

    • To join ZZ Top, I’d have to have some musical talent. If there is anything I’m worse at than running, it’s playing an instrument of any type.

  10. That’s a good look. I’d do the same, except I’d end up divorced by March 31. I also have none on the top, so it makes it all the more creepy.

    Well done on the running. We’re almost there, can you taste it? Feeling anxious? You’ll do just fine.

    As far as the peeps. Can’t be that much different than the Goo packs that people take on these things. And those are disgusting. They even came out with a “Birthday Cake” flavor… GROSS!! https://guenergy.com/ plus just depends on the way the wind is blowing. If they’re caught in your beard, it might act as a sail!

    Less than a month, now is the fun stuff. We have about three weeks to make sure we get in some 10 mile runs. DO IT!

    Also remember you’re training at altitude, we’re decidedly not as we run along the beach. so that’s definitely an advantage.

    • Mr. Wow, I notice you haven’t been posting YOUR training update and you seem pretty feisty – have you been sneaking in long runs and not telling anyone!?

      If we microwave the Peeps they will greatly expand in size and definitely provide some buoyancy and lift!

      I simply plan on hiring someone to run backwards in front of me – holding a frosty dark beer…

      • “I simply plan on hiring someone to run backwards in front of me – holding a frosty dark beer…”

        Oh wow, how do I get in on this! I’ll run it in under an hour!

  12. Maybe your hair wouldn’t have looked 10x worse at the school activity had you used conditioner.

      • There must be levels of hair conditioner acceptance based on hair length.

        Stage 1: Hair conditioner is a scam. Total waste of money! (Sound familiar?)
        Stage 2: Hair conditioner is nice. It’s not necessary but maybe a luxury. It could help.
        Stage 3: Hair conditioner is necessary. Without it, my hair would be impossible. I’m going to spend the extra dollars and luggage space to have it.
        Stage 4: I’m stranded on a deserted (not desserted) island and I only have three items. What are they? Water filtration system, matches, and hair conditioner.

  13. Great job on your training. I hope the articles I sent you have been helpful. Here is my weekly update as well:

    Swimming 2000 Yards
    Bike:
    Rode:
    Ironman Wisconsin course for 3 hours – 60 miles.
    National Championship Course: 80 minutes – 24.8 miles
    Regular Training Ride: : 15 miles

    No running this week. Oops got to get back on that.

    Keep up the good work!

    Mr. Free

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