Running rant

There's this Buzzfeed video about a girl training to run a marathon in 10 weeks. And this girl not only does it but qualifies for Boston with her amazing time.

And this video just makes me mad because it is not realistic.

That wouldn't happen for 99% of the population. And it makes me mad because I have so many friends who have trained so hard for years and not qualified for Boston. It's hard work.

I think about 75% of the population wouldn't have been able to do this. Well over half of people would have gotten injured. It's so tough on the body.

I honestly would have expected her to walk part of the course, or finish in 4+ hours. I would have liked the better if she struggled but did it, and did an okay time. I would have liked it if it was more realistic. Or if there were more disclaimers at the end, how her training was under strict supervision, how this isn't normal. How she did amazing and better than anyone expected.

There's so much that's not included in this video.

How did she have enough base to do a 35 mile week at week one. I can't even do 20 without getting hurt. Has she secretly been running for two years? Did she lie about never running more than 3 miles? I think that's the most realistic.

What was her nutrition?

How did she not get injured? Did she see a physical therapist daily?

And I just really want someone to call this girl out for course cutting or having someone run part of the race for her.

You don't go from non-runner to elite in 10 weeks.

The comments have said she's a pro cyclist so had a good cardio base. So she's not honestly going from couch potato to best of the best runner. She's simply switched sports.

I get hurt bumping my days running up by two days a week. I don't understand how she didn't. Maybe she's one of those rare people who never get hurt.

If she did this race and time honestly, good for her. That's awesome.  Girl should try triathlons and get some sponsorship deals.

I think there should have been more disclaimers on the video. I don't want people thinking they can run a marathon in 10 weeks and stay healthy and qualify for Boston. That's not what will happen to most people and to me, this video isn't inspiring.

On being a couch potato

Photo by Ian Burt, Flickr

The other day someone told my husband they were so proud of my fitness routine. Which is awesome. Except it was kind of a backhanded compliment because they told him that I used to be such a couch potato.

And he was pretty offended by that comment. I have never been a couch potato. I'm a hyper, always-moving type person. (He readily admits he's a couch potato.)

I haven't always been as active as I am now. I didn't have time.

In college, I was a workaholic. I was always studying or at work. After college, I was working 70 hours a week in my first jobs. Maybe I could have found time to workout, but I didn't. I was always busy with something: cooking, blogging, writing, reading, playing with my pets. I rarely sit still.

The comment grated him and it grated me. Someone else said I used to be sickly, which also offended me.

I have horrible allergies, that I haven't always had in check. I take about one sick day at work a year. That is not sickly.

I don't know what people say these things.

Am I healthier now?

Yes. I gave up dairy three years ago and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. My lactose intolerance got exponentially worsened in my 20s. I went from not being able to eat pizza—to being miserable if I had a bite of yogurt. So I cut it out completely and my daily stomach aches have banished. And I take calcium supplements and make sure to drink soy or almond milk.

I've got muscular arms now. But the thing is—I'm the same size I've always been. There's no dramatic weight loss. And at any point during my years of inactivity I could run an 8-minute mile. (I tried to take running back up about once a year during my hiatus.)

So this is probably a vent.

But people go through periods of inactivity and activity. Maybe I regret not being active all those years—but maybe I would have hurt myself, who knows? I started going to the gym when I had time for it—when my job changed and I had more time and more stress and needed an outlet.

My view is: If you work out—great! If you don't work out—make sure you eat healthy and have hobbies and outlets—then, good for you.

And just don't say: "I'm so proud of you" when I tell you about my fitness adventures.

It makes me feel like a special needs child.

Say: "I love that you're so into fitness. It looks like you're having so much fun."

Or just say: Cool or Good job. Awesome works too.

Keep it light and positive. There's no need for back handed compliments.

Misadventures in Lululemon

I'm a pretty big Lululemon fan. Today was more sour lemons than awesomeness.

I wanted to order some pants from the markdown section. I put them in my cart and they were sold out. Of a lot more sizes than a few minutes ago. Was it a glitch? I went back in and put them in my cart and ordered.

What I wanted.

What I ordered :( 

Only I was trying to order the Jet Crop Slim and ended up with Jet Crops, which are cotton and baggy and not at all what I wanted.

I have a pair of the slims and like them. The non-slim ones—I tried on once in the store and hated them.

But I'd already hit order—not knowing they were separate things and I ordered the crops I hated when I tried to order some I liked.

Seconds after I got the order email—I messaged guest support to cancel the order. After 10 minutes of waiting the educator said she couldn't cancel the order. Which is ridiculous. It hasn't processed yet.

I called my credit card company. I can't dispute it until it's no longer pending.

I called Lululemon back and after 8 minutes of holding, the educator also said she couldn't cancel the order.

It hasn't processed yet!

Finally, I played the I SPEND A TON OF MONEY WITH YOU card and asked for a manager and she said she'd allow for a one-time return, even though it's final sale. I have to call them when it comes in the mail and they'll get me a gift card.

That takes way too long and will waste them money having to ship it to me. CANCEL IT.

Don't ship it. Don't give me a gift card in three weeks. I want the charge off my credit card.

Of course you can give me a gift card, I could just take it to the store and say they're defective and then I could get a store credit instantly instead of waiting for weeks.

I think I might need to take a Lululemon break for a while. Or stick to buying in store.

Dear Lululemon online. You suck. You should be able to cancel orders—before it's processed—like every other company.

Update: I finally got the pants in the mail and they might be the worst thing Lulu ever made. They are atrocious. I wouldn't take them if they were free. (Major diaper butt on these babies.) I had to call Lulu customer service, print the label an then take it to a post office. I ended up getting the gift card Aug. 25.

So 25 days and shipping two ways because they couldn't cancel an order. 

I'm sure glad my cat has never stepped on my computer and accidentally ordered something.