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Half Marathon Training Update #9: I Can Do This.

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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 #9.

Dry Spell

My training wasn’t at the point where I hoped it would be, so I did the unthinkable. Yes, it’s true:

I cut out beer. And by beer, I mean all alcohol.

Completely.

Desperate times times call for desperate measures.

Yes. I’m totally dating myself here. Sorry Millennials.

My last alcoholic beverage was in February on 2/25.

Amazing things started to happen after I stopped:

  • My weight dropped to a new low: 155.0
  • My resting heart rate did too: 61
  • I ran a record length: 9 miles

The benefits weren’t just physical. I also:

  • figured out how to create energy from a sustained fusion reaction
  • solved Pi
  • convinced the North Koreans to give up their atomic weapons program

OK, so I made the last three up. I can dream though, can’t I? Ha, who am I kidding? I can’t even get my children to stop fighting for longer than 5 minutes. But I digress.

Not drinking has felt pretty good. My consumption was mostly confined to weekends, so it’s nice to get on the scale Monday morning and not see a couple pounds of beer bloat.

I plan to stay mostly dry until the half-marathon. I’ll make exceptions for a meeting next week and a party we’re hosting on the 17th.

 

The Hair Situation Deteriorates

In a poor decision, I announced in Running Update #2 that I wouldn’t cut my hair until after the race. I don’t like hair. It just gets in the way, so I usually shave it off. This is how I usually look:

Note the Stegosaurus.

The situation is deteriorating rapidly. My hair has a mind of its own.When it gets long, it goes nuts. I’m forced to wear hats 24/7 to hide the chaos. Here is what I look like now:

Mrs. 1500 hates it. She announced this tonight:

We’re bringing the clippers to Portland so we can shave your head as soon as the race is over!

My children give me strange looks and keep their distance in public. Babies cry and small animals run away. I’m sure I’ll be chosen for the “random” security screening at the airport.

Someone suggested that I give hair conditioner a try. I’ll do that soon.

 

I Can Do This!

Confession: Yes, I’m coming to Portland for a half-marathon, but I never actually thought I would run it. I knew I would finish, but I just assumed that I’d spend most of the race walking or limping while moaning/whining/crying pathetically.

I’m not an athlete in any way, shape or form. I’m clumsy and uncoordinated. I’ve never had cardiovascular endurance. And as a kid, my legs weren’t right and I had to wear Forrest Gump-like braces for a couple years. I hated those f***ing things. My mother told me that I’d have knee issues my whole life. After a couple years, the braces came off, but knee issues never materialized (except a torn meniscus but that’s unrelated). Woot!

Anyway, running has always been challenging. A year ago, I couldn’t run a mile. My first run longer than 3 miles took place late last year. And this week, I ran my longest yet, 9 miles. And something wonderful happened on that 9-mile day.

When I do my weekly long run, I’ve been very conservative. And by conservative, I mean slow. I do 11-minute miles. And tonight, most of my run was no different. However, at mile 7, I was feeling great. This was very strange because I usually feel the opposite of great while running. I decided to turn it up for the last 2 miles and finished them each in under 10 minutes. And I still felt like I had lots of gas in the tank.

It felt amazing. It felt like a breakthrough. For the first time since Mr. WoW suggested a half-marathon back in December, I feel like I can do this. And the feeling is incredible.

 

This Week In Running

  • Runs: 3
  • Miles: 18.5
  • Longest run: 9

This Year In Running

  • Runs: 33
  • Miles per run: 3.91
  • Miles: 128.94  (goal is > 150)
  • Days until half marathon: 22

2018 Activity (walking included)

  • Total steps: 1,065,709
  • Total miles: 505.19

Weight, Heart, Beer

  • Weight: 155.0 (goal is < 150)
  • Low resting heart rate for the week: 61 (goal is < 60)
  • Beers consumed this week: 0
  • Beers consumed this year: 43
  • Beer ratio: 3:1 (3 miles ran per beer). Goal is > 3:1

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Comments

    • My wife made the Unabomber comment too just last night! And, he’s my neighbor here in Colorado. And by “neighbor,” he’s actually a couple hundred miles south in the Supermax. I wonder if he still looks the same?

      Reply

  3. And here’s my public update: I suck.

    My running has dwindled to nothing. I was doing a great job until Kim and I took a trip to the Oregon Coast in mid-February. Since then, I haven’t run once. And I keep making excuses. “It’s too cold. It’s too wet. I have too much work to do.” I’m a big fat idiot who is going to lose a race to a dinosaur-loving bald man from Colorado! 🙂

    Meanwhile, my “no beer” thing has gone away. I’m not drinking nearly as much beer as I was — I was probably having 10-12 beers a week and now I’m only having 2-3 — but it’s still more than zero. (My alcohol consumption as a whole is down from 2017 too, but still not where I want it.)

    The big problem right now? Girl Scout cookies. Stupid Girl Scouts.

    Reply

  4. Woot! Go Carl!!!! Longest run ever and you felt good, that’s great!
    My longest run is now a whopping 28min, which at my slow turtle pace is only around 2.3mi, but I’m only trying to hit 5k.

    Maybe you should cut the hair right before the race…? It’s going to cause some serious drag and slow you down….

    Reply

    • Thanks Wendy! I hope this continues for my next run! And since you’re only doing the 5K, you can be support for Mr. WoW and me. And by support, I mean providing us with nourishment on the route. Any by nourishment, I mean beer. Only after the halfway point!

      I know, right? Too late though; I already put “Crazy Hair Carl” on my bib.

      Reply

  5. You are finally getting in running shape. That last two miles is the “runners high” that can be found.

    It is interesting how much beer/alcohol affects people, especially as you get older.

    I like beer and won’t give it up completely but having a beer in the evening with just me is long gone. Even 1 stronger beer does things to your sleep, your waistline, your water levels.

    I save beer for special occasions. My weight and waistline thank me for it daily.

    Congrats on the good 9 mile run. Work up to 11 as your longest run and then start to taper back. Work on tempo for a 2-3 mile run. The combination of long/slow and short/fast will build your endurance. Toss in some 800 repeats or if you have a big hill near you, do some hill repeats. That will really vault your training forward. Just don’t do it too close to race week. Cut mileage back during that last week before the race.

    Reply

    • “It is interesting how much beer/alcohol affects people, especially as you get older.

      I like beer and won’t give it up completely but having a beer in the evening with just me is long gone. Even 1 stronger beer does things to your sleep, your waistline, your water levels.”

      Yeah! If I have a couple at night, I wake up covered in sweat. This didn’t happen when I was younger. I’m tired for 3 days after. Like you, I won’t cut it out permanently, but maybe it’s time to cut way back.

      Thanks for the tips! Next week, I’ll shoot for that 11-mile run.

      Reply

  7. You have officially had a break through. The really weird part is when your sense of distance gets warped… oh that’s only 5 miles, I’ll run it.

    Regardless… update from me… I had a rough week last week as I three my back out so couldn’t run. But back in the saddle this week. Also, after my last 8 miles, I noticed my toes hanging out of my shoes. Had to get new shoes, and as such had to break them in, so good to slow down a little.

    We are rapidly approaching the time. Tomorrow going to do 8-9. And then one more 10+ and we’re ready to rock.

    No beer is rough. Maybe I’ll do that as well… Lol. Who am I kidding???

    There will be plenty in portland. Beer isn’t going anywhere.

    Reply

    • Let’s do it baby!

      I haven’t had any beer pangs until tonight. Now, I’m thirsty, but I’m sticking to it. I’ll have one on Monday (meeting at a microbrewery) and then another a week from tomorrow (party at our house). I’ll be dry otherwise.

      After the race, I’ll make up for it! Well, not that crazy, but… And, is there any way to get one at about mile 9? Not kidding there!

      Reply

    • Thanks so much Emoney! I’m going for the condition AND 11 miles next Thursday! That could be a pivotal day!

      And if the conditioner works, I’ll take back all of the nasty things I said about it!

      Reply

  12. Best of luck to you! In 2018 (after two very slow half marathons in 2017) I realized running isn’t for me – despite how much I wanted to make it a thing for me…. it was not. That 11-minute mile you speak of is the speed of a CHEETAH! I’ve finally given up on the idea and taken up cycling and yoga instead. Looks like your new hair will keep your face and head warm for the run! 😀

    Reply

    • “That 11-minute mile you speak of is the speed of a CHEETAH!”

      Haha! But really, I’m not much of a runner either. This will be my first and last half-marathon. I love biking too and I’m going back to that after this event is done.

      Reply

  15. Love the ‘Willis’ reference – I’m clearly many years passed the Millennial threshold…

    Truly amazing what you’ve achieved so far, given you could barely run a mile a year ago. I think the hair should really go though, you’d save tens of minutes on your run with the more streamlined look…

    Reply

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