When Every Day is a Bad Gray Hair Day

Background:  Thanks to a genetic double-whammy (both of my parents grayed very early), I started getting gray hair in my 20s, and was coloring it in my early 30s.  The few times I decided to let it go back to the natural gray mix, it never went well.  I'm not opposed to having gray hair, but my particular shade really makes me look washed out.

Several years ago after deciding to embrace the gray again, I thought I'd try adding a few black streaks to break it up, and was pleased with the result.  But like so many things, I was never able to duplicate it, so always ended up buying a box of whatever I could find on sale to cover it all up again.

I stopped coloring again mid-2017, and a month or so before leaving Ohio, decided to splurge and went to the local salon and had the stylist add some black foils for the salt 'n pepper look again.  I figured that would be enough that as my hair grew, gray roots wouldn't be as noticeable.  She did an ok job, but it wasn't as good as my own first attempt.  Still, I figured I could freshen it up every couple of months and it would be fine.

Wrong.  Black fades.  News flash - gray with brown 'highlights' looks ridiculous.

The back of my head (that doesn't get as much sun exposure) is still gray peppered with black, and isn't too bad.  The top and going down the sides is fading, so I have a (not-so-attractive) head of gray hair, with streaks of various shades of brown and black.  Yuck.

I've been spending time outside running and walking the dogs, and do wear a hat sometimes, but even if I kept my head covered while outside, basic shampooing will still cause it to lighten some.  It's a no-win situation, so - one more time - I give up.  Today I will again be joining the ranks of untold number of women who pour chemical-laden junk on their head, stinking up the house, and likely scattering little blotches of dye on the walls of the bathroom that would make Rorschach proud.

Where's my MOPP gear?  I'm going in.

~ Marie Anne

Running the Rails - Or Trotting the Trails

I mentioned in my earlier post that I wanted to check out another trail nearby that would allow for a bit longer runs.  There's a Rails to Trails location that starts about 2 miles from my house and goes all the way to base (Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune) that's about a 10-mile out-n-back. I headed out last Friday to check it out.  It's a nice trail, but I had a hard time figuring out where to park based on where they say the trail starts.

I started at the beginning of the trail and turned around as I approached the pedestrian walkway that goes over Hwy 24, logging 4 miles on that first trip.  It's a really nice trail, with just a few twists and turns and having to cross a couple of side streets, but flat and fully paved.

While I was out that day, I noticed a few other places I could park further along the trail, so I went out again Wednesday and started at a park (with bathrooms!), hoping to get closer to base on this trip.  Conditions were near perfect - approximately 55°, sun with a few clouds, little to no wind.  I was a little stiff so started off slow, wanting to just enjoy the trot and see where it took me.

I hadn't gone far when I saw the pedestrian walkway ahead of me.  It goes up and over, crossing 6 lanes of traffic.  Have I mentioned that I don't do heights?  As I went up the short incline to get onto the bridge, I spooked and almost turned around, but somehow managed to talk myself into it.  I took a few pictures, then literally tiptoed the span, shaking like a leaf all the way.  I'm pretty sure my heart rate was highest at that point of the run, even though I wasn't even walking at a normal speed, much less trotting.  The worst part was knowing that even if I managed to get over it without a full-on anxiety attack, I would still have to come back!

(The cars and street look closer and don't show the full height of the bridge. 

 I forgot that I still had a bit of zoom on from earlier photos.  It was definitely higher than I was comfortable with!).

But make it I did.  The rest of the trail was flat and straight and I continued on without issue.  I was just shy of the 2.5 mile point when I came upon a Marine holding a stopwatch, timing the turnaround of a PFT.  I paused and chatted with her for a bit before moving on, then thought to holler back and ask her how far to the main gate.  She said it was about a mile and a half, to which I replied 'NOPE, not today!', knowing that would have put me at 8 miles or so ... risking injury at my current weight. Not happening, GI.  I did an about face and headed for home.

The return trip was uneventful, and I stayed at an easy lope.  I was still a little apprehensive when I got to the bridge, but I did push myself over at a slightly slower than normal pace (but better than my earlier crawl), so hopefully it'll get easier each time I do it.  A glance at my watch told me that stopping at the park would put me at around 4.8 mi, so I trotted a short distance beyond, then around the park area to get a full 5 miles in.

All in all I was pleased with the run. I'm still slower than I'd like to be, but I'm also older, just getting back into it, and carrying more weight than I was when doing 3-6 miles fairly consistently several times a week two years ago.  I want it all ... today ... but after previous debilitating injuries, I know I have to pace myself.

I felt great on this trip, even logged negative splits for the first time, which was a nice bonus. I hit my max heart rate too, so will need to watch that.  It might take a while, but my goal is to do the full 8 mile or so distance from the park to base and back.  Maybe next time I'll park at the main gate and start at the other end.

Next stop?  Onslow Beach!

~ Marie Anne

Goodbye Ohio, Hello NC and a New MA!

So ... in a less than 60-day period, I listed my house in Ohio for sale, sold it, packed and moved to NC, found a house, moved in, and closed.  What a whirlwind!  

During the months preceding all this, my fitness and activity level bottomed out.  I wasn't eating right, often bingeing on carb-laden junk food, got very little dedicated exercise in, and just overall wasn't taking care of myself.  It definitely showed on the scale and directly affected how I was feeling.  After the first week in NC, I was once again at my highest weight.  Nooooo!!!!!

The move is now behind me, and while I'm not completely settled in the house yet, things are coming together.  More importantly, much baggage was left behind in Ohio (and I don't mean the kind you pack), and I feel a great weight lifted.  With that weight gone, it's time to work on the numbers on the scale, fit into some summer clothes, and start feeling better.

This last week has been a good one as far as food choices and exercise.  There's a short paved trail just a block from my house, and I did a mile or two the first few times out so I could see where it went.  The last three times, I trotted around a couple of the cul de sacs in the neighborhood before/after hitting the trail and stretched it to a full 5K (3.1 mi), then hitched up the dogs for a short walk to cool off.  It's not a scenic route by any stretch, but it still works out well for me since I can get a run in right here at the house without having to drive anywhere!  I'm told there are longer trails a short distance away and I want to work up to 10K (6.2 mi) again, so will be checking those out also.

I lost about 1.5 lbs the first few days, but the scale hasn't moved since, but that's ok.  I feel good, and the rest will happen all in good time. I'm a little tired from the added activity, but it's a good tired, not a sluggish, too-fat-and-don't-even-want-to-roll-off-the-couch tired.

It took me 11 years to make it happen, but I'm over-the-moon excited to be back in NC once again.   This is where the road ends, yet welcomes new beginnings.

~ Marie Anne

P.S.  Did I mention I can drive to the beach for a run (or just look for shark's teeth) any time I want?