Reader Samantha S. emailed me and I thought this was really interesting…
On the Bobby Bones Show, a radio show in Austin, there’s a DJ on it named Lunchbox who’s known for being a sort of dirtbag.
Anyways, he went to the Austin Marathon to “cheer” people on and said that he saw so many fat, old out-of-shape runners that marathon runners are wimps and he could run one without any training.
Notorious for his harsh remarks on the morning show about overweight and "lazy" people, Lunchbox set out to prove a point.
"That’s the problem with the world, is we have a lot of lazy people, in my opinion," he said. "People always make excuses, and if I can do it without ever even training, you can do whatever you want to do, and hopefully it helps."
So Lunchbox ran his own marathon with a pacer and co-worker and even did an extra mile for a “victory lap”. He finished the 27.2 miles in 4:51.
I know us marathoners want to immediately get all indignant (Oh no he didn’t just call us wimps!), but the dude did go run a marathon with zero training. He said that he ran 3 miles 4 months ago, but regularly plays soccer and is just stubborn according to this article.
Pretty interesting. Thoughts?
The Rundown (a bunch of other stuff)
Reader Runner
Tracy D. who just ran the Disneyworld Half Marathon looking all cute and costumed up:
*A reader sent me a link to his new Half Marathoners website if you’re looking for all things half.
*Thanks to you ladies (I’m assuming no dudes) who’ve recently purchased the Don’t Stop shirt. It and the “Run to Look Good” long sleeve are now on sale so scoop your sassy selves up one.
*A bunch of you asked what I do to my hair when it becomes a big fat mess like this:
My trick is to not wash your hair. I hadn’t washed it for 3 days here and it just grows bigger and bigger. Instead of regular shampoo, I use baby powder or dry shampoo and it multiplies like rabbits.
From Hawaii – this was on the verge of a rat’s nest. Ashley, my friend in the blue, was disgusted. seriously.
I prefer my hair a little messy and dirty so I don’t mind it at all. This post is all about my skincare and hair routine if you want to know what I do to cover up all my zits and greasiness.
On a side note, did anyone flat iron the heck out of their hair in college? Mine was really long and I would flat iron it every single day. I also dyed the underneath super dark (almost black) and the top was super white blonde. skunk. sexy.
This was from a couple weeks ago and I flat ironed it and then my Chi iron broke.
*SUAR has a great post today with a few little life tidbits that we all know but need to hear again. That geriatric mama (I say that lovingly) knows what she’s talking about. and it’s not just poop.
- You must love who you are or no one else will either. And when you are truly comfortable in your own skin, not everyone will like you, but you won’t care about it one bit.
- Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.
- Exercise to be fit, not skinny. Eat to nourish your body. And always ignore the haters, doubters and unhealthy examples that were once feeding you. To truly be your best, you must give your body the fuel it needs
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{ 72 comments… read them below or add one }
I think that is quite hilarious and really interesting that that dude just went a ran a marathon with no training. It just goes to show that YOU can do anything you set your mind to, especially with fitness goals and racing times. Once I set my mind to it, I too ran marathons.
I love my CHI! Still use it often (makes my hair look like I actually did it. Hah).
I just read your skin care and hair routine and would have NEVER guessed that you have acne problems! Your skin always looks flawless.
Crazy! I’m sure I could go out and run a marathon if I put my mind to it but that sounds like the most excruiatingly painful experience ever so good for him.
How can you call “fat out of shape people” wimps, when they’re RUNNING A MARATHON?! I think they’re awesome. I don’t think that my body would like me run a marathon even if I trained. That guy was a douchebag.
I love you hair dirty like that. Mine just gets greasier and flatter when I don’t wash it.
I would be curious to know if that guy could actually walk the next day……
That’s what i was wondering.
Wow…good for that guy. I honestly don’t think I could go out and run a marathon today just to prove a point, so kudos to him. I wish I could go a couple of days without washing my hair; I’ve tried the dry shampoo and baby powder thing, but I look like a giant greaseball if I go more than a day without showering.
My thoughts re: marathoners are wimps – GFY. Don’t care.
Love the line … “exercise to be fit, not skinny”! This is so true and I wish more people would listen to this. Because everyone THINKS they just have to be skinny, that it messes with their head when they don’t drop 20 lbs in 1 week. Anyway…the DJ is an A$$h@l# but at the same time…HE DID MAKE HIS POINT! People, stop making excuses and get out there and exercise! http://www.dashingdiva.net
No way I could go 27 days without washing my hair.
sigh. i train a lot and the Austin Marathon was HARD. I ran 4:37 and felt like I gave it my best try. the fact that this dude basically ran the same pace AND added another mile is kind of demoralizing. oh well.
yeah, and that guy has a lot of hate in his heart so I think you should just be proud of yourself and screw that guy.
Like, I don’t mean screw that guy – I mean – that guy sucks so forget about him
– that sounded weird the other way
hahhaha i knew what you meant. yeah, some people are just naturally fast and naturally runners – i guess he is one of them. i am NOT. and furthermore, i think all the “overweight and lazy people” are inspiring. obviously they’re not THAT lazy if they’re running a marathon! haha
edited to add – i don’t think it’s inspiring because the people are “overweight,” in his words – i mean to say that i’m more inspired by the people who are not natural athletes and dedicate themselves to a healthy lifestyle, a good cause, or what have you.
definitely not impressed by him…
Yay! I’m from Austin and listen to the Bobby Bones morning show often. It’s crazy how many people have picked up his story. While yes, he is a HUGE d-bag, he did inspire a lot of people here and I’m sure elsewhere.
The guy is an idiot but he did prove a point. Get out there and move!
I used a flat iron for years. Recently I have started to do absolutely nothing with my hair after a shower and it’s never looked better. There’s no way I can go more than one day without washing my hair. Grease city and flat!
Lunchbox illustrated an excellent point that people can do what they set their minds to do and many times people underestimate their own power. That being said, Lunchbox ran well over 10 minute miles and there is a GREAT difference between running a marathon and putting in the time and discipline to actually train and achieve Personal Records/Boston Qualifying times. Overall, he made a good point.
This guy did not make a good point. In fact it was very irresponsible of him to say that anyone can get up and run a marathon. He played soccer on a regular basis; he was already a conditioned athlete. There is a big difference between him and the out of shape marathoner runners he was mocking. It took a lot more effort for them to get themselves to that point than it would have taken him. What an arrogant tosser.
That radio host reminds me of Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother. He said he could run the NYC marathon without training and did.
Yes! That was my response too! But Barney couldn’t walk afterward. That show cracks me up!
Gotta love Barney.
I’m from Austin and was like ‘no way he’s going to finish’. Still a jerk, but now a marathoner. He said his big toes are black and he couldn’t play soccer over the weekend.
I hate guys who can just go out and run 30 miles with no training. Or eat whatever they want and lose 15 lbs in a week. My boyfriend is like that-annoying. Thanks for your tidbits of wisdom at the end. It brightened my day.
He’s active most the time and is fairly in good shape (He says he plays a lot of soccer, which you can run a couple miles in a game, easily he also ran cross country) its not like he was starting out from a inactive lifestyle and no experience running, like many first time marathoners. Running is mainly mental, first time marathoners make it to be a BIG deal and psyche themselves out (guilty) he didnt and did a great job. Plus I’m a firm believer some people take to running easier, speed and endurance is just more natural for some, obviously he’s one of those. I think its great for him, but his critism for other runners is uncalled for.
I listen to this Radio show daily & Lunchbox usually seems fairly fearless. He speaks his mind a bit too much, but I was so excited when he did it? Just goes to show the power of your mind!
I thought it was a little harsh what he said about runners being wimps but I have to give him props for going out and doing it. That had to hurt! I think the marathon training is the toughest part… having the dedication to get out there most days of the week for months and adjust the training to your everyday life is what makes a marathon runner strong (not wimpy)… the race, while very tough as well, is the reward!
My first reaction was UGH this makes me looks so bad and I can’t stand when people don’t train. However then I thought, how amazing it is when the mind over powers the body. This man obviously has way stronger will power than me so for that I say awesomeness.
I think certain people just can do stuff like that. I can 149034% tell you that if I just decided to run a marathon today, I couldn’t do the entire thing. I really wonder how he was feeling the day after…
Hmmm…makes me feel like this 50k I’m training for should be no problem. Yet it doesn’t feel that way. I should try being more obnoxious about it – maybe that would help ?!
Good advice from SUAR
Guy sounds like an ass. Yes, he did it and it is a big deal. Good for him. He plays soccer and stuff, from what I read. Every body is different.
I couldn’t go 27 days without washing my hair. I hate going 3 days without washing it. I feel disgusting. I can brush my hair back and it just stays in place. Gross. I should invest in some dry shampoo or something… I tend to over apply baby powder and look like I have gray hair.
I don’t care if he ran 26 miles or 126 miles. How can you really sit there and be hateful towards people that are trying to do something hard. They’re doing something that is difficult and they didn’t do it for him, they did it for themselves.
There is so much hate in the world, I just don’t want to support someone helping to spread it.
My hips are aching just thinking about running a marathon with no preparation. I wonder how he felt the day after, there seems to be no mention of this.
I guess I’m not impressed by a guy who completes something to throw it in the face of people whom he has insulted. Also, the fact that he can complete a marathon with no training makes him an exception to the rule. Most people cannot do that, nor should they try. If he really wants to inspire and help people get in shape he should be more like skinny runner and others who share their successes without putting others down.
Well said. I agree with you, what he did was inspired by disdain for others…not the type of inspiration I want to endorse and certainly not in line with a healthy lifestyle.
Well said, Grace.
darn, maybe I need to quit wasting time training.
OK but TECHNICALLY… if he plays soccer… he did “train” by running… I heard once that the average pro soccer player runs 8 miles in a game. While he might not be pro, I’m guessing he is putting some miles on his legs that way. So, it’s not like he jumped up from the couch one day and said “hey, I’m doing a marathon!” or did an experiment like the Fit2Fat guy.
Just sayin’.
Exactly what I was thinking! Soccer players run a lot! They get to work on their speed and endurance each time they play soccer. Even though didn’t follow a formal marathon training plan, he was obviously running enough to feel comfortable taking on a marathon. (Doubt he would’ve made all those insulting remarks if he was truly out of shape/unfit).
I use my flatiron all the time. I love it and want to marry it. I also don’t wash my hair (or brush it) that often. It’s too much work.
Great post all around. The fact that that just went out and ran a marathon definitely proves that anyone is capable of anything and should be a great lesson to people out there who are too afriad to start. I think it’s a pretty low blow that he was making fun of overweight people running marathons but whatever I guess he did prove his point.
Love the last few bullet points that I am assuming are from SUAR’s blog. Very good points. Oh and I love your hair. I used to straight iron my hair for days and now I’m lucky if I even look in the mirror before I head out the door for work. My poor co-workers!
Ugh Lunchbox infuriates me. I tend to turn the radio channel when he starts talking about something stupid. I was coming off my Austin half marathon high when I heard him doing this the next day. I think he’s an idiot, but he did manage to do it. However, I feel proud for having dedicated 5 months to training for a half because it showed me that I could stick to something that big (for me). That’s something he can’t say.
My husband is one of “those” types that can run a marathon on virtually no formal trainer aside from a 5 miler here and there- he jokes that his taper lasts from one marathon to the next (if i didn’t love him I would hate him!!). BUT I don’t think everyone can or should try that…I am injury prone and would end up really hurt if I did that. I think that guy made a good point that people need to get up and move, but 26 miles is tough…he’s fortunate he didn’t hurt himself. And for him to make fun of anyone running a marathon…shame on him….they are doing it!
Well, he’s got balls. He talked junk, but backed it up! Maybe he’s just a big teddy bear in real life… ya know, just has a “assh*le persona” for radio. No judgement here…
I don’t doubt that anyone could run a marathon without training but why? You miss the true reward of setting a goal. Marking off your training days, pushing through those days you don’t want to run, enjoying the days when running feels awesome and then crossing the line after all your hard work. That is where the true sense of accomplishment comes from. Whether you weight 100lbs or 300lbs, run a 5min mile or a 15min mile, it is in the journey to the finish line that we reap the rewards.
great point, missy!
My hair wouldn’t look as cute as yours if left unwashed for three days. It would just be a flat mop of slimy grease. No one would want to see that!
I also think it’s the difference between running a marathon and racing a marathon. Yeah, he ran it. But what could he have done if he dedicated half a year/5ish months to training like the rest of us do? What was the day after like for him? Most of us train so that the day after hurts, but won’t side line us for weeks afterwards.
As a runner, people ask me all the time if they could do a run without training. My answer is always the same, “Probably, but you won’t enjoy it.” The great thing about running is that it really doesn’t take a lot to do, but to do it well and enjoy it does take a bit more dedication and practice, and I think that’s the thing people like this miss.
It would have been better if he hadn’t put people down. Being “inspirational” doesn’t give someone the right to be a jerk. But I’m guessing that guy is STILL recovering, so he probably paid for it in the end.
Curious to see how that guy was walking the next few days… ; ) His comments kinda bug me but that is my own issues. I am a fat runner and it bums me out when people look me up and down like “what are you doing here?” Yes, I can run marathons and am still overweight, it happens.
I definitely work out to be healthy, not to prove a point. Or to create a publicity stunt. I run about 12 – 15 miles per week, and mixed with some yoga, I find that this amount is perfect for me. I just don’t see the need to put people down who are actually working out at all. So you can run without training? Great. This does not mean that people who do train are somehow less great.
I agree with the racing vs running comment. And he did back up his claim that he could do it. The truth is that there are a lot of lazy people out there, whether they are fat or not. He still sounds obnoxious though.
The Kidless Kronicles
Hey thanks for shouting out to us old geriatric people. I barely had time to write that post because I was doing my daily enema.
I actually wondered what would happen if someone tried to run that far w/o training. Now I know.
ahahahah please post tomorrow a play by play of that enema. maybe with pictures?
Seriously, Lunchbox must watcg “How I Met Your Mother.” There was an episode (maybe last year?) when the dude runs the New York Marathon with no training. And then later he can’t walk! HA! Wonder how lunchbox was feeling the next day?
Agree there are a lot of lazy people out there, but if someone is out running a marathon (or running at all!) I wouldn’t call that person lazy. He sure is quick to judge based on body type and that bugs me. Boo on that!
Dry shampoo (and conditioner) is the bomb. Yeah I said it, THE BOMB. Love it. Love your beachy hair!
I’m fat, but not lazy. I don’t think my knees would handle a marathon, but I have run at least 1 5K a month every month since October 2010 — in fact, in January 2012 I ran a 10K.
So good for him for running a marathon. But I dare him to call me lazy to my face.
Maybe Lunchbox is just showing us that mind over matter (body) does have some credence.
But, still, no sense in knocking what a lot of people put a lot of effort and time into!
How funny! I listen to this show (even though I live in Dallas now) and heard all of this hoopla going on. Crazy that’s it’s made national news! PS: Love the blog, SR. Keep up the great and entertaining writing!
I ran my first marathon in November, and I noticed that there were a lot of overweight people running it. As a nurse, it made me nervous for them. I ran a 10K once where a man died going over a bridge. I still couldn’t believe the amount of overweight people running the full marathon. Im running another full next november, so we will see if this is the case again
I’ve heard of people who do a thirty day challenge of not washing their hair. The most I have ever done is 3 days. I use dry shampoo but I just have very fine hair that gets greasy.
I don’t think I could go 27 days without washing my hair! I do regularly go 3-4 days without it, especially in the winter. I will wash and style it once, then use baby powder and a little hairspray to soak up any excess oil. I just rewet my bangs anytime I run or workout, then blow those dry. I also have developed a routine – I can go two days with it down after I shower, then it goes partially up, and finally, on the last day, it’s a “slicked back pony” look. My friends can tell how long it’s been since I washed my hair from whatever my hairstyle is that day! I’m just fortunate that it’s not a big greasy mess, even after working out. However, in the summer, it’s a different story. It has to be washed every other day or so in the summer!
Honestly, I am not impressed by this DJ.
1) He sounds like a douchebag for belittling the accomplishments of people who might be less naturally athletic (or just older) than him!
2) I played soccer recreationally, and that is a freaking great workout. If you play a 90 minute game, you ran sprints, jogged, etc. Probably ran like 6 miles. Some of our best runners on our XC team in HS were also soccer players.
So if this guy wants to prove a point that a healthy young dude who regularly plays sports can gut through a marathon at a slow pace, fine…but that’s not exactly a surprise, nor really an accomplishment.
(sorry for some reason this riled me up!)
Training properly for a marathon eases the stress on your heart. Sure he ran 26 miles without training but his heart was probably not very happy and he put himself at risk by doing it. I love your hair by the way!
After doing my first marathon with out training properly I feel that finishing a marathon is more about being mentally strong enough than being physically strong enough. It took me close to 7 hrs to finish which is pathetic, but you know what I did it. I saw many people that were way more physically fit then me and that were in front of me drop out and not finish. I think anyone can do a marathon it is so much of a mental game!
Also, I agree that at least he was doing something by playing soccer which if you take it seriously can be a lot of running and training. So just because he wasn’t racking up the miles by running he was still training.
Hey SR, love your blog. I live in Austin and have had the unfortunate experience of (briefly) listening to the Bobby Bones Show that “Lunchbox” is on. He is one of the reasons I couldn’t stand to listen to the show… he’s a punk. I ran the Austin Half Marathon and did see all walks of life..but who cares, at least they’re out there. By him running 27 miles with zero training is not sending a good msg to people!!
I have a lot of thoughts on Lunchbox. I listen to Bobby Bones every single day and made my assistant suffer through three hours that day while we listened for him to finish…not rooting against him, but not rooting for him.
I slugged out five months of training in the Texas heat to complete my first marathon in December. I was pissed thatnhe was able to do it with no training, BUT I was more upset that he just didn’t get the reasons to run.
He was fueled by anger not passion. We train to run injury free, to learn about fueling, to push our bodies, and for the camaraderie. Did he pull an ace and finish 27 miles, yes but for all the wrong reasons.
Run With Joy~
Kristin
Yeah, I think a typical fairly fit person could do it in 4:51. That doesn’t sound unreasonable to me. I know several people who ran half marathons with absolutely no training (although I realize that is a totally different animal); one rather overweight guy I worked with ran a 1:48. He literally only ran one 8 miler the week before, then spent that entire week too sore to run again!
I think we underestimate ourselves a lot. The human body is an amazing creation.
I don’t think anyone should take a marathon so lightly. I’m a firm believer in training. Proper training.
I may have missed this, but can you tell me what you do with your hair while you sleep at night when you’re going a few days without washing? My hair is the same as yours and I love the bigger and better it gets after a few days…but haven’t figured out a good way to keep the top from getting matted down when I sleep. -Thanks!!!
I used to think I HAD to wash my hair daily, but it’s not good for it-esp in the winter. I do need to invest in some dry shampoo though-baby powder is just okay.
Loved SUAR’s post–great reminders to us all.
My roommate in college ironed her hair. Straight up laid her head down on the ground and used a clothes iron on her hair. She even did it to me a couple of times, but I just didn’t feel the need to put that much effort into my appearance most of the time.