Marathon Madness Monday: Week 16

Week 15 ended with my final "long" run of this training cycle. I did 16 yesterday and it went ok. I maintained a 10 min/mile pace, which I am happy with, considering the fact that I felt nauseous for about 14 of the 16 miles. That was tons of fun. I nearly got sick at mile 12, and probably would have if I actually had something in my stomach. Again - super fun. Thank God I was running on a not-so-busy running path.

My marathon training posts have all been pretty upbeat/cheerful so far... but after completing 15 weeks of training, I must be due for a rant, right? So here's a bullet-point list of the random things that annoy the heck out of me when I am running:

• Long Leashes. The trainings run are challenging enough as is - I really don't feel like hurdling over some people's long leashes. I get that they are out for a leisurely stroll with their dog, but if they could be a bit mindful of their surroundings, that would be great. I have seriously had to leap over stretched out leashes. Now don't even get me started on people who don't have their dog on a leash - which is actually prohibited (the path is clearly marked with signs that state all dogs must be on a leash).
• Smoking. Yes, it's a free country, but I would prefer it if smokers didn't sit on the benches along the running path of the chain of lakes. It makes me especially snarky when I see young teenagers who don't appear to be 18... I want to yank the cigarette out of their mouth and tell them how un-cool they actually look.
• OOC children. If you read my blog regularly, you know that I adore kids (especially my nephews). What I don't adore are the out of control kids I sometimes encounter on the running path. I have had some downright unpleasant encounters with children on a running path. Case in point #1: I do NOT want to play chicken with a toddler on a tricycle. If you can't keep up with your child on his bike/trike/scooter, then maybe each him how to share the road and tell him it's not running to charge head-on at a runner. Case in point #2: Last week, I came upon a small child who was with his mom. I am not making this up - he literally stretched out his arms and shuffled back and forth on the running path. I am sure some people think that is cute/funny, but I was pretty unimpressed. His mom totally saw him doing it and did NOTHING to stop him.

I'll stop there, though before I sound too cynical and snarky...

Moving on... This week I get to start to taper! You know that scene from Where the Wild Things Are where the main characters exclaim, "Let the wild rumpus start!" I feel like exclaiming "Let the taper start" with that very same level of enthusiasm!"

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Training Tally:
Miles ran last week: 34
Training-to-date mileage: 438

Just my luck

Rant time.

I haven't had a haircut since this past March - this is probably the longest I've gone w/out getting my hair cut since I did Locks of Love back in 2007.

Abby's wedding is on Saturday, so I schedule a hair appointment for this evening - I wanted to get it cut & colored as close to the wedding as possible because guess what - I am prematurely graying. Yep, I have more gray hair than my mom who will turn 61 next week. Thank you, genetics, thank you.

So anyways, I was feeling quite smug about this whole set up - getting my hair cut & colored is so relaxing since I finally found a hair person in Minneapolis that I know and trust. Up until this last year or so, I was driving to Moorhead, Minnesota to get my hair cut! Yep, I was driving about 4.5 hours to get my hair cut.

I have some trust issues when it comes to hair obviously. But I finally found someone that I know and like and that knows my hair and doesn't butcher it when she cuts it.

Yah, she called in sick today.

I am not blaming her - I understand that people get sick and have to call in. I am just feeling a little bit whiny about the fact that she called in sick TODAY of all days. I have so many grays right now, not getting my hair colored is NOT an option. And it is in dire need of a trim.

So now, some random person will be coloring it. And another random person will be cutting it. Because they don't have one person who can do both. I wasn't exactly flexible on time since this is my last day in the office this week and I have a report that is due before I leave. And oh, the data for that report isn't available until around 2 today, due to some network issues (seriously, I have the worst luck apparently). So taking a half day to be more flexible on availability for my beautification isn't a possibility.

So for a control freak like me, this whole last minute switcheroo of the hair person is not good.

I am just praying that the hair cut & color goes ok.