Tag: no Shave November

Veterans Day 2024

November 13th, 2024

I am a veteran. I served in the United States army from 1994 to 1998. I was honorably discharged from Ft. Hood, Texas, at the rank of e-4. My MOS was 54B. Chemical operations specialist. My service was sort of unique. My MOS was actually 3 specialties all jammed together. After I left, they broke that specialty into 5 new jobs. Even training was a little different. Instead of eight weeks of basic training and then a separate school for my MOS, it was a new program called OSUT or one station unit training. Twenty-two weeks of combined basic training and military oriented specialty training. In my case, chemical school. It just occurs to me now that maybe I shouldn’t be talking about all this. Is it top secret? After 30 years? I’ll try to keep it boring. Just like my time in the service, lol.

Anyways, from chem school basic training, straight to the republic of Korea. Not Seoul, either. This was real “MASH” type Korea, up in the mountains. There were some cool things I saw and did there, some things I missed out on. I regret not trying kimchi while I was there. Young people are idiots. The point is that technically, I’m a veteran of a foreign war. Not long ago, I went ahead and got a lifetime membership to the vfw. I have no home post. Someday, I’ll probably get more involved. I don’t know. I mainly use it when I’m traveling alone. VFW is an okay place to get food and a couple of beers, if you can stand the company.

Veterans Day is personal to me, but i also get it’s kind of a bologna holiday. If you don’t work at a bank or a government office, you don’t get the day off. Mainly, it’s a day to avoid going out to eat. I haven’t ever taken advantage of the free meal. I’ve wanted to, do sure. The day sneaks up on me, and i forget to take the day off work. Somehow, the free meal thing just doesn’t seem to work out. I do like to act super entitled all day (or more) saying things like ” You’re WELCOME for my service!” And “That’s not what I served for!” Is all in fun. Just jokes.

Know what isn’t a joke? The Veterans Day 5k at English Landing Park in Parkville, Missouri. Put on by our friends at the kc running company. Somehow, after weeks of training, I came in the first male – masters division. Masters are runners over 40 years old. I was eighth overall. Not too shabby!

I’m still doing no Shave November. I’ve pretty much given up on the movies, though. It was a neat idea, but who has time to sit and watch a movie every day? I got through some, though. Syd and I watched “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.” I watched “A Night at the Opera. ” I was looking for “The Dirty Dozen.” That’s about when I gave it up. I thought about spreading it out into t.v. shows (My Name is Earl) and even cartoons (Yosemite Sam), but in the end, it’s better to call it quits. There’s always next year, after all.

There are some big events coming up! Thanksgiving! Ollie’s Ultra 24-hour race! Christmas themed runs! It’s going to be a great season.
Developing Toughness

November 7th, 2024

Today is day 7 of No Shave November. My face…itches. except it’s not really an itch, but rather a desire. A desire to scrape the stubble off. There is discomfort, to be sure. Sometimes, I try to distract myself. Other times, I lean in. The feeling comes and goes. Former smokers probably understand. Ultrarunners get it. The fact that nothing lasts forever. That discomfort passes. You adapt.

Sometimes, when i bathe, I get in the shower before I turn the water on. That initial blast of cold water isn’t even that cold. It’s the fortitude it takes to turn that water on knowing full well what’s coming. Uncomfortably cold water is going to hit me full on, and there’s nowhere to hide. The thing is, once the water warms up it’s almost too hot. I’ve gotten used to the cold water. Sometimes the cold water feels really good. I guess I’m just a weirdo. I also park on the end where nobody can park next to me, so… grain of salt.

It’s difficult to find the mustache movies i want to watch on streaming. I guess they’re just too valuable. Yesterday, I watched the misfits with Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe. Honestly, I only watched about 40 minutes of it. I had to work, and I’m glad I did. Seeing a tired old has been trying to “make it” with the model of classic beauty was a struggle to be sure.

I thought surely Flash Gordon would be streaming somewhere. But no. I guess I’ll miss a day (at least!) of mustache films. Boo!

I guess I’ll take this disappointment and use it to push through a tough training day. Like all disappointments and discouragement. Like coach Bennett says: this is about running. This is not about running.
Yeti Endurance Weekend

November 3rd, 2024

This was, for me, kind of a busy weekend. A dress run, on top of a race, along with regular weekend stuff? I’m glad we got an extra hour!

Before going on and on about running stuff, I want to update you about “No Shave November.” There were several really great suggestions about what and who to watch. I appreciate the feedback. I am using the suggestions where I can. 30 days is a long time, after all. I can’t give a definitive list of everything I’ll be watching, but I will say Tombstone was day 2. That movie is at least 80% mustache. I would like to pick a Clark Gable film that isn’t Gone With The Wind. For day 3 I’m thinking Kill Bill volume 2. The flowing beard, mustache, eyebrow, and hair combo are impossible to ignore and tough to beat. Days 4 is probably going to be Shaft 1971.

On to adventures!

On Saturday, Sydney and I dressed up in purple dresses and ran around midtown k.c. with the pearl necklace hash house harriers. It was something. Love those people.

I woke up early Sunday. Earlier than I wanted. I had forgotten about the time change. Fall back! Lol, it’s useless. I had to be at Longview swim beach early for packet pickup. It was perfect running weather. Rainy with no lightning. Cool, but not cold. If i hadn’t been pacing, i would have tried to set a new personal record.

But i was pacing. I was pacing the 2:30 finish time. A pace of 11:27 minute miles. I love pacing! I try to keep it fun without being obnoxious. Motivating without being overbearing. And, most importantly, on time.

The rain made things interesting. The paper flag showing the target time fell off less than three miles in. For ten miles, when I thought it was necessary or appropriate, I would shout out “two and a half! Finish time of two thirty!” That’s just one of my very funny jokes.

I thought it should have been a dentist doing that pace time. Get it? That’s it. Those were the only jokes.

I finished very close to on time. According to my garmin, I finished the seconds late. Officially, I finished in two hours, thirty minutes and thirty seconds. It was as close to perfect as I could ever hope for.
This Is Still A Blog (Mostly) About Running

November 1st, 2024

But ALL my goals are ways away. And I’m training “in the dark.”

Also, since I’m paying for another year of this jazz, I may as well produce at least a bit of content. Maybe this will be my thing? One post a year, justify the blogs existence?

In celebration of No Shave November, I’ve decided to highlight and try to watch some movies with, in my opinion, the best examples of facial hair. First up of course is the 1977 classic Smokey and the Bandit. Burt Reynolds in his heyday. Sporting a trademark lip warmer. Up against Jackie Gleason as sheriff Buford T. Justice with a pencil thin flavor savor. Mm-hmm! Those are some fine mustaches for sure.

Smokey and the bandit is only available to rent at the moment. But surely this summer it will pop up on a streaming service for free. I wouldn’t spend money on it unless you’re REALLY into southern redneck car culture, burt Reynolds, Sally field, and/ or Jerry Reed.

Tag: no Shave November

Veterans Day 2024

Developing Toughness

Yeti Endurance Weekend

This Is Still A Blog (Mostly) About Running