There are so many things I thought I would never have – twins, a master’s degree, cookbooks (that I actually use) and platinum blonde hair. Well, never say never my friends…
I honestly do not really know how this happened. It started with an idea of growing out my grey because I was sick to death of coloring it, and turned into wanting platinum blonde hair. It’s been an interesting experiment of sorts.
WEEK OF JULY 21, 2019
RUNNING
Unfortunately, my newfound blonde locks have not helped me power through the heat and humidity. Holy hell. I’ve had some really tough track workouts and long runs before dawn when the heat and humidity was still off the charts.
I’m happy with my progress though and I know suffering though all this heat and humidity will pay off in my fall half marathon…but will it help in the mountains of Vermont? We’ll find out in about two weeks.
Monday: 5 miles easy | 5.73 miles | 8:38 average pace
Tuesday: track workout from hell | 3 x (1200,800,400,200) | 9.34 miles total | 8:41 average pace (because walking in between and dumping water over my head!)
Thursday: easy 5 | 5.32 miles | 8:41 average pace
Friday: long run, broken into two since the weather was death | 6 miles outside in the a.m. (8:32 average pace) and 6 miles on the treadmill (8:24 average pace) | 12 miles total
Sunday: hill repeats | 4 x (90,60,45 second hill sprints) | 6.34 miles total | 8:48 average pace
Total = 38.73 miles
CYCLING
Cycling is such a better option in the heat! I was so happy to get out on my bike especially since I have been looking forward to riding on a freshly paved road right near my house. This road has been a pothole disaster for years and leads to one of my favorite routes. To say I was excited about the new pavement was an understatement.
The things that cyclists get excited about… No wonder people hate us.
Wednesday: strength + cycling | 1:48:29 | 29.6 miles | 1 hour strength training
THINGS I LOVE
Being blonde. Yes, it’s a little weird and every time I catch my reflection I freak out a bit, but I really do love the color and it’s fun for the summer.
My 4.0 GPA. Ok so I had one class but right now my graduate GPA is perfect. Haters back off.
Student discounts. Lately, while online shopping, I noticed a new button in the checkout details…ID.me! By registering as a student on the website (which was very easy and took less than 3 minutes!) I get up to 40% on a ton of stuff. #mindblown
HOKA Recovery Slides. You think Oofos are good? You will want to throw them out after your tired, sweaty, blistered, black-toenailed feet get a load of these…
I bought a pair for a friend and my husband and although they are kinda hideous looking, you will not give one shit because your feet will be in heaven.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Being blonde has not helped me have more fun at the gym, where I’ve been trapped a few times because of the heat. Here are some of the ridiculous and disgusting things I’ve witnessed from other members:
- a woman using the bathing suit drying machine for an exorbitant amount of time and then doing weird half press/push ups on it. I swear I cannot make this up. I decided to dry my suit at home.
- people changing in the bathroom stalls (because there are no changing rooms) and being in there for 20 minutes to do so. #Ihavetopee!
- almost everyone being absolutely clueless about track etiquette. The first lane is for RUNNERS. Seriously. How many times do I need to run directly around you before you get it? And one woman who walks the track with her purse. Why? Is there life-saving medicine in there? A cure to cancer? Tell me!
Finally, one last pet peeve of mine has nothing to do with the gym but the overuse of the word “unpack” as in “let’s unpack what you just said because there’s a lot to dissect there.” I read it in text, hear it in podcasts and on the radio and it’s time to stop. Please. #makeitstop
TELEVISION
The new season of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is amazing. Jerry Seinfeld has somehow upped his game and, although we have only watched a few episodes, they were absolutely hilarious, starting with Eddy Murphy!
I was disappointed with season 3 of Stranger Things and have yet to watch the last 38 minutes of the season finale. I fell asleep watching it (which tells you something) and its been over a week and have yet to go back and finish it. Lame.
Big Little Lies and Handmaid’s Tale continue to be captivating and I just started watching Queer Eye (I know. I’m the last one) and obviously I love it. YEASSS QUEEN!
BOOKS
So.many.books! I’m mostly excited for vacation so I can read. It’s not like I don’t have time now but it’s so much better with the ocean in the background. And, since we’re going to Cape Cod where there’s a freaking shark fest, I won’t be swimming, and will therefore have more time to read.
For the female who is fed up (is any woman not?), and needs a reminder of where she came from and how to find her fierce, I highly recommend this gem…
But if you’re looking for something a little lighter, I can kind of recommend Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok. I say “kind of” because I’m not finished and also because it started out really intriguing and intense and has fizzled a bit. I’m still reading because I have to find out just what the hell happened but I’m not sure it will be satisfying. So, proceed with caution.
RANDOM TIDBIT OF THE WEEK
In case you were wondering (as I was) where the phrase “blondes have more fun” originated, it can be attributed to one woman — Shirley Polykoff. Below is an excerpt from her obituary (she died in 1998 at age 90!) from the NYTimes:
“Shirley Polykoff, the pioneering advertising woman who came up with a single double-entendre that changed the face, or rather turned the heads, of American society, died on Thursday at her home on Park Avenue. She was 90 and the author of the ”Does she . . . or doesn’t she?” slogan, which unleashed American women to choose the color of their hair.”
“In an era when hair color is no longer a fiat of nature but a routine fashion choice, it is easy to forget that as recently as the mid-1950’s hair coloring was such an exotic exception to a cultural norm that only 7 percent of American women dared dye their hair, mainly actresses, models and other fast women.”
Well, I like to think of myself as a “fast woman” so obviously I made the right decision. Thanks Shirley.
Are you or have you ever been blonde? Ever thought about it?
What grotesque or annoying things have you witnessed at the gym recently?
Favorite recovery sandals?
Don’t laugh but I just had my colorist put in low lights because I felt like my hair was getting too blonde. Guess I’m just not ready yet. Of course, I’m completely gray and I can’t embrace that either. So I continue my regularly scheduled (aka every 4 weeks) color appointments.
Yeah, the heat really sucks the joy out of any movement, doesn’t it?
Well of course I’m laughing at that! I did like my grey but I’m loving the blonde, but I won’t keep this either. It’s just so fun to change it up!!
And yes, the current humidity is sucking all my joy!
LOL, I tried all the hair colors in college. I’m naturally a “dirty blonde”, but I went from Maxi Blond to Jet Black and back again. So funny about the paved roads. I’ve really learned to appreciate the counties that take care of their roads. It’s rough when a road is under repair, but so sweet when it’s done! I wonder if the purse lady is afraid to leave her purse in the car? That’s the only thing I can think of.
It’s fun to switch it up, right? Try ALL the colors!!
And she must be afraid to leave it in the car or a locker. So weird.
I think I need to go blonde at least once in my life – a la Mary J. Blige – what do you think?
I think the blonde looks hot on you and can’t wait to see you so soon!
PS: I need to try those recovery slides…
PPS: Nice work on the workouts last week!
Love the Mary J. Blige look for you!!!
I can’t wait to see you either 🙂 And you NEED those slides in your life!
Love love love the hair!! Platinum looks amazing on you! Congrats on the 4.0. I’ve been so pissed because 1teacher game me an A- and brought me to a 3.9. I’ve never had that high of a GPA in my lie! Adult learning is so much different!! I have not seen Queer Eye but it sounds like I need to? And totally obsessed with Big Little Lies but hate that they only make the season 7 episodes!! Hope you are doing well!!! XOXOX
That Platinum is totally working for you, Allie!!!! I’m currently mostly Blonde and I prefer it for myself-but I’m not in love with my dark roots, so I contend with a maintenance factor. And since my spectacular hair stylist who made me blonde moved to the Netherlands, there’s a chance I may be trying on my natural brown for size soon.
On ‘unpacking’ : hopefully it will get packed away with ‘transparent.’ I hated it 10 years ago, and it hasn’t grown on me. I’m glad I don’t regularly encounter this ‘unpacking’ business because I may pack up the person who uses it in a box and send them to Antarctica!
Enjoy your vacation and having More Fun as a Blonde!
LOL!!! Yes, you will need a new hairdresser – so sad!! The maintenance is intense so I’ll probably change it up in the fall. And yes to “transparent” omg so awful!!
Thanks and we need another meet up when we get home…and you get back up north!
Thanks so much Sue!!! And damn that teacher!! You are so right about adult learning – it’s way different and I love it! And I agree about Big Little Lies – why so short?? Grrrrrrr!!
Miss you friend!! We need a meet up!
It looks great on you!! I have had blond highlights years ago and it looked terrible!! Heat has arrived in LA and it is slowing me waaaay down- May need to turn to indoor classes for a bit
I can’t imagine it looked terrible!? And omg this humidity is insane and sucking the life out of my running. Is it fall yet?
Funny about the bathing suit dryer situation. Love the platinum blonde on you. You can really pull it off. I was blonder a few years back and loved it. Now I am more dark brown w some reddish tints. Newly paved roads yes!
Thanks so much. I’m enjoying the change and it’s good for summer but I will need something less bright for fall 🙂
Your hair look great! You totally are rocking the platinum ((#fistbump)). I love anything Jerry Seinfeld is involved with; he’s such a comedic genius. Gosh, Eddie Murphy? Pairing the two of them is recipe for a potty accident LOL
Thanks so much! And you HAVE to watch that episode – hilarious and definitely pee inducing 🙂
It looks awesome!!!
Thanks so much Jess!!
Congrats on that 4.0!! Your hair look great also!
Stranger Things Season 3 was definitely slower than the first two seasons, but the finale is worth watching.
And OMG I feel you on the indoor track etiquette. I’ve ended back up on the treadmill if I have to be at the gym because I have absolutely no patience for dodging people, especially right now that I have such a massive bump. Some people at my gym decide to do walking lunge around the track. Fine, but just stay out of the run lane!
I’ve never ever dyed my hair. My hair is super dry and frizzy and I always worry that dyeing it will damage it too much.
Thanks so much Laura! And walking lunges? That is one thing I have yet to see but I believe it because people are nuts!!
I did finally see the whole finale and it was really good. I’m glad Hopper isn’t really dead 🙂
So excited for you and that bump! It won’t be long now!!
I love your blonde ‘do! I have never been blonde, although I dressed up as Sookie from True Blood one Halloween, and wore a long blonde wig. I did not wear the color as well as you do, and I kept freaking out friends who had no idea it was me from the back.
How about dogs at the gym? My daughter saw one at the small gym in her boyfriend’s family’s beach house development. The owner let it wander around off leash, and my daughter almost hit it with her elliptical pedal. Wtf, lady?
HAHA – that is too funny about the blonde wig! People totally don’t recognize me either and it’s kind of awesome.
A dog? Off leash? WTF??? Now that is something I have never seen!!
Platinum looks great on you! As the mother of two blonde daughters, I can also vouch for the fact that sadly, the stereotype of “dumb blondes” is alive and well. I tell my kids the blonde thing will be their trump card because their brains routinely take people off guard.
Annoying gym goers? Don’t get me started. How about women who blow dry the “downstairs”?
I’m sure it is and that is freakin sad!
And I’m sure you can write a book on annoying people at the gym. Sadly, they are everywhere!!! And the blowdryers from top (and especially) bottom are just absolutely gross! I mean, do they do that at home?? Ewwwww
What a fun and bold change! Good for you!
I wasn’t in love with Season 3 of Stranger Things either…I wanted to love it, but didn’t. Haven’t started Handmaid’s Tale yet, working through OITNB first!
Thanks – I’m loving it!
OITNB is really good for a few seasons but then it kinda goes off a cliff. I hope you like it!! And Handmaid’s is amazing!
CAn we please have discussion about crazy things at the gym? 5am and there’s a lady doing dead bug on the bench in the locker room naked . She has other antics included side crunches, naked and laying leg lifts , you guessed it, all naked
Unfortunately they are everywhere!! There’s always one naked weirdo but side crunches and leg lifts??? I just can’t handle that.
Love your blonde! About 10 years ago I cut my hair really short and went platinum blonde. Loved it! Unfortunately it was so far from my natural color that keeping up with the root growth got to me and I went back to dirty blonde.
Thank you! And yes, the maintenance is the tough part. I’ll probably only keep it blonde for a few months because of that very thing!
I love your hair! I’m dark blonde naturally and my highlights help hide the gray. Luckily for me, I take after my dad without much graying rather than my mom who started graying in her 30’s. Sadly, I have my dad’s feet and that’s a whole different ugly story.
They are repaving the “root-infested” trail behind our house and my bike and I couldn’t be happier! We have to ride on it for 1.3 miles to the W&OD Trail, a 45-mile long paved bike/runner/walker path with a parallel gravel path. Ain’t nobody got time for a bumpy ride to get to the fancy trail.
Have a great week!
LOL on inheriting your dad’s feet!!
So glad you can relate to having a smooth bike ride and improved road and trail conditions. It makes such a HUGE difference! Happy trails 🙂