It's Registration Day!

No, I'm not talking about school classes registration, I'm talking about WDW Marathon Weekend Registration! Though people do get schooled with the lessons learned from that weekend apparently. I wouldn't know, I've never been...until now!

I had talked about it during my post last week about how I registered for a big event during the WDW Marathon Weekend, but didn't go into much detail. Now that registration is opening today for the general public, I will talk about what it is I registered for.

Dreaming of Wining and Dining

I wanted to start first off saying thank you to all that came by yesterday and read my blog post about my GD. It was a tough one to write but I felt that I wouldn't be honest on here if I didn't talk about that and how it affects my daily life. So thank you for all the kind words of encouragement and for people who shared their stories, it meant a lot to me.

On more upbeat news, the social sphere I'm a part of is swirling like CRAZY with talk about the runDisney Wine and Dine Half Marathon weekend coming up this weekend. I have wanted to be a part of this race weekend for the past two years and both years I've been sitting at home reading the posts, looking at the pictures and reading the blog updates on how much fun everyone is having. It literally is "the runner's night out", it looks like SO MUCH fun is had the whole weekend.

Disneyland Race Weekend: 5K Race Recap

With all the runDisney buzz yesterday with the announcement of the first ever night meet-up at this years Wine and Dine Half Marathon weekend, I got so excited and am currently going through runDisney withdrawls, that I couldn't wait to finish my race recaps.  So, continuing on with my recap of the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend, here is the first race recap, the 5K.

Yes, if you know my blog content leading up to this, I had signed up for the Dumbo Double Dare and was REALLY excited about running the inaugural of the 10K AND the Dumbo Double Dare Challenge! However during the hype of signing up for the DDD, everyone was talking about running the 5K too, think of all the BLING you would rack up. My eyes glittered and my credit card winced, I signed up for the 5K too. The cool think about doing the 5K, well other than the extra neckware, was that my hubby was running the race with me as well! It would be his first 5K in almost two years and his first finisher medallion ever. So this 5K was going to be a special race for us.

The morning started off like any other runDisney race morning...REALLY EARLY! If the races have to be done before the park opens, that means 0:dark-thirty start times! This was our picture before we left the hotel room, bibbed up and ready to go! I was dressed as Alice as there was a very distinct reason why, you'll find out very soon!

Momentum Monday: Back at it

Hello and welcome to Monday! Here we are again at the beginning of another week. The weekend went too quickly, as it usually does, especially when you had a packed schedule like I did! Two birthday parties, football games to watch, family to hang out with, grocery shopping to do, get my haircut and...finally get out for a run!

Yes...you read that right, I'm back in the saddle again. And boy was it not pretty.

I got together with my friend Danielle on Saturday morning, the rain had finally stopped and it was chilly. We were out for 3 or 4 miles, depending on how we felt. The first mile was BRUTAL. My body was saying "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?!?!?! I DON'T WANT TO!!!"

It was the hardest mile I have run in a long time. My body mechanics were all off, my breathing was atrocious and I just wanted to stop. By the time we got to 1.5 miles, our turn around point for 3 miles, things were getting better and we both agreed to keep going to mile 2 for the turnaround, we were going for 4 today.

We turned at 2 and both of us were back into our strides. I was feeling better. My form was coming back and my body was finally grooving with me. It's as if it finally remembered "oh yeah, I've done this before, this isn't so bad!" 

The last 1.5 miles went by quick, before we both knew it, we were only .5 miles from our cars. Then the abdominal cramping started. That stopped me cold. We walked a bit and ran the last .2 miles back to our cars. By that time the cramping had subsided, but I was still very conscious of it as this was my first run back with my bigger baby belly, so I didn't want to overdo it. Safety first!

When we got back to the cars and stretched, I looked at my Garmin for the time and was not really happy with it. An hour...for 4 miles. Ugh...I knew I felt like molasses, but I didn't realize that I was actually running like molasses. But I kept thinking to myself that it's my first run back in 3 weeks and I didn't do too bad considering I'm 25 weeks pregnant. I'm not out to break any records or try to best my own time, I'm out for exercise and the enjoyment of running, regardless of how fast or slow I'm going. So when I saw this quote, I wanted to use it for my Momentum today, because I really needed it.

I have to remind myself that getting out there and running, no matter how slow or fast I'm going, is better than sitting on the couch and not running at all. It is infinitely better for my health and well-being to be out there, pounding the pavement and getting some sort of mileage in. Even if it's for the fresh air alone, it is great for my body and soul.

It was great to get out there and I can't wait to get out there to run again. It felt so good and I want to run for as long as my body can phyically can handle it. After that, I'll walk. I just know that I don't want to take this long of a hiatus again from being physical, some of that time I couldn't help, but there was at least a week that I could have been out there. I'm excited to be back at it again and have even considered running a race for fun.  Nothing big, just a 5k. Am I crazy? Maybe...but damn am I loving these endorphines!

Now it's your turn: How is your running going? Have you had a return from a hiatus that felt good or bad?

Disneyland Weekend Recap: The Expo

I'm so sorry that my recaps are so sporatic! Between work and home life I've been swamped lately. Definitely running into the "there's so much to do and not enough hours to do it" syndrome. So thank you for hanging in with me on these, considering my recaps are almost a month after the races.

Ugh...that makes it sound worse.

So now onto the next big event and the official beginning of the runDisney race weekend: the expo!!! So let me preface this recap by saying I've had only one other experience with a runDisney expo and it was during the Princess Half Marathon this year, which from what I heard from the runDisney faithfuls, one of their worst. You can read my recap of that here. So when I went to Disneyland race weekend I was hopeful that I would encounter a better planned and laid out expo than what I had experienced earlier this year.

Friday morning I met up with Jen of Travel Girl on the Run, Kim of Kim Runs Disney and Beyond and Jen of Hello Fitness...We Meet Again. We decided to grab an early breakfast and get into the expo line early before it opens at 10am, so we figured meeting around 8ish would be good to scope out the line and grab something to eat. Well good thing we had done that because by 8am, there were two lines forming, one for bibs and one for the runDisney merch area of the expo. Both lines had at least 50-100 people each in them.  So we hopped into the merch line, as we knew from experience that the merch area is the one that fills up and items thin out the quickest. So if we really wanted something, we had to get there REALLY early.

Disneyland Weekend Recap: The Warm-up

So I'm finally getting around to my recaps of the Disneyland Race weekend in Anaheim, there is so much to cover that is race related and not race related, you're going to see it ALL! Here we go!

So we (hubby and I) headed for Disneyland a bit earlier to get some time in the parks before the craziness of the race weekend started. We flew out early Thursday morning to Anaheim, literally to Fort Wayne airport. I love that place, it's nice and small, easy to navigate and just a short 15 minute drive to and from Disneyland from there. Easy peasy!

 Us on the plane and with our carry-on only luggage!

Momentum Monday: Taking a break

Sorry I have been absent from posting this past week and a half. I was in Anaheim for the Disneyland Half marathon weekend, having the time of my life with my hubby and running friends. I will post my total trip and recaps this coming week.

 

Then after that fun filled-sleep deprived trip, I came home and it was my anniversary and now we are celebrating my hubby's birthday on the coast. To say I've been busy lately would be an understatement. So that is why I made my own Momentum Monday today instead of using someone else's words.

 

"All things in life in moderation, even the activities you enjoy the most. Taking a break can give you focus and appreciation for what you have and what you have accomplished."

 

I have taken a short break from blogging and running to be able to appreciate what I have (my family and friends) and what I have accomplished (my third half in my first year of running this distance and earning my Coast to Coast medal).

 

It doesn't mean I love doing this any less, I just feel that sometimes things get so routine that there is no spontaneity and fun/silliness. That is my fault. I want my recaps to portray the same excitement and fun I had while making the memories, as I have retelling the stories.

My time away isn't for much longer and I can't wait to share the stories and pictures I have from that trip. There is so much good stuff and great people I met. I can't wait to share. But for now, I wish you a fantastic Monday and a great start to your week!

Momentum Monday: Run Like A Boss

This weekend is the weekend I've been waiting for since I signed up for it in December, it is the Disneyland Half weekend in Anaheim, CA. As I type those words I still can't believe it! This race weekend has been a long time coming and the fact that I know how quickly it will go by makes me want to put the brakes on and slow time for a bit.

I know what is coming this weekend and it will come like a freight train, you just can't stop it. There will be meet-ups and meals with friends, there will be rides and photo hi-jinx, there will be old friends greeting each other with hugs and new friends coming together with open hearts, there will be laughs and happy tears, there will be tons of catching up and cascades of yawns into the late night hours, there will be shopping and costume wearing, and finally there will be running and getting the bling we've all worked so hard for.

This weekend will be one to remember and one we won't soon forget, and I've been so blessed to have so many great people to plan and experience this with, that I can't think about it being here just yet. Today I officially start my packing and I've got the list all made out. I have my schedule made for the weekend with all the "official times" and all the meet-ups I'm doing and a little bit of sleep scheduled in there somewhere.

But all this prep wouldn't be happening if it weren't for one thing: running. All the fun and anticipation is great but it also is because we are gathering to run races together. To push ourselves physically and to have fun in the process. As I get ready for this weekend, physically and mentally, I have to remember that all my training has brought me to this point and I can't prepare myself anymore than I already have, it's race time. So as I mentally get myself in the game, this quote really jumped out at me for today's Momentum Monday.

Momentum Monday: Friends

I struggled with today's Momentum Monday quote. I really wasn't sure what I wanted to talk about as there has been so much going on in life lately, that I just feel scatter brained all the time. Especially with the racecation coming up in 16 days (!?!) life seems to be going at warp speed and I can't seem to slow things down.

Then as I pondered about my weekend and thought of my morning a warm feeling came over me. No, it's not a hot flash, I'm too young for that. I thought about the interactions I had with my friends over the weekend and this morning and a smile came across my face. Now I'm not talking about the friends that I have locally, I am talking about my running friends that I have made all over the country. These lovely people have come into my life during a time of change and struggle and have filled my life with joy each day.

I don't live close to them, so we can't run together. Most of us don't even share the same time zone, so our schedules are a bit off. We are of varying backgrounds and ages and at different points in our lives. But that doesn't seem to matter. We can talk about a subject like we've known each other for several years and be able to pinpoint someone's personality on a situation and be able to laugh about it. We can also pick up conversations that may have ended months ago and carry on like no time has passed.

So as I sit here thinking about my running friends, I felt compelled to post this Momentum Monday quote for them.

I feel like I'm part of a running family, not just a community of like-minded individuals, but the people I have around me feel like family. I can talk to them about problems I'm having, gush excitedly about great news and be there when they need someone to confide in, all without being judged. Due to our distance we may see each other perhaps once a year, if at all, but that doesn't seem to matter. We carry on each day wishing each other a good day, giving kudos for doing well on a run, sharing in each of our triumphs and lamenting with each other when something goes awry.

I love the running family I'm a part of and I wouldn't change it for the world. These people help lift me up and I hope that I return the favor as well. We are a unique group of individuals that are bonded by the same goal and love, running. So thank you, my running friends, I appreciate and love you for all the wonderful people you are and know that someone far away is thinking of you and rooting you on.

End of Week 13 Double Dare Training and Race Info!

It's Wednesday and...wait, it's Wednesday? When did that happen? I mean I don't mind the week going quickly, but that means the race weekend is that much closer! How much closer? 26 days! Holy cow!

Let's talk training!

Tuesday: 30 minute run
Thursday: 30 minute run
Saturday: 4 miles with Magic Mile

Let's start with Tuesday. I've been riding the wave of getting out for my runs on Tuesdays and LOVING it. However when I woke up this past Tuesday, my hips and lower back were quite angry with me. If being laid up for a month and a half with hip and back pain has taught me anything, it's to not push it when there is discomfort or pain for risk of further injury. I am not able to run without my hips and back being in working order and not in pain. So in order to not make the situation worse, I took the day off from running and let my hips and back relax and workout whatever kinks were in there.

Momentum Monday: Wishing

Another crazy weekend that went far too quickly has spilled over into Monday. I swear it was JUST Friday! What happened?!? I hope your weekend was just as fun and full of activities as mine was and that you are starting this new week looking forward to next weekend. HA!

A recurring theme that came up this weekend very randomly for me is touched on by today's Momentum Monday quote.

These words are so very true.  Let me give you some examples of  how I encountered these this weekend.

End of Week 12 Double Dare Training

Wow...does that say week 12? There are only 19 weeks in the training guide, that means there are only 7 more weeks of training, well technically 6 weeks considering the week after the race is included in the training schedule as well. That means there are 6 weeks until the big race weekend. 6 weeks until I get to run through the castle at Disneyland. 6 weeks until I can hopefully get my Coast to Coast medal to top off an incredible year of running at Disney.

Less than 6 weeks, that's 37 days, until 22.4 miles.

Oh boy...let's get to the training!

Race Recap: Rock and Roll Seattle Half Marathon

A year ago I watched my friend Danielle complete her first half marathon at the Seattle Rock and Roll race. I was so inspired and motivated by what I saw around me that day, that I went to the registration tent that same day and signed up for the next years race. Never having run a distance longer than 5k, I knew that I had a lot of training ahead of me, but I was excited for the challenge.
 
Fast forward a year, I've completed a half marathon already and I ran plenty of double digit training runs to feel comfortable with the distance of 13.1 miles. And it was time to run the race I had signed up for so long ago.
 
It began with the expo on Friday, it was quite impressive and the bib pickup process was quite easy!

End of Week 7 Double Dare Training!

Another week down and another week closer to the race! Two races actually! I have my next half marathon on Saturday with running the Rock and Roll Seattle race. Should be a fun time, but has definitely forced me to make some adjustments to my training schedule.  So my training schedule for this past week was:

 

Tuesday: Run 30 minutes

Thursday: Run 30 minutes

Saturday: Run 3 miles

"The Jam" Thursday

Oh Thursday...how I adore you today. I have Friday off so technically, today is my Friday and I couldn't me happier. My main goal tomorrow? Sleeping in.

Go ahead...you can hate, it's alright, I still like you. :)

Today is a long day for me at work as I have to stay late. I'm meeting up with some friends to go running after work and they get done at least an hour and a half later than me. Ugh. We are doing long hill training in preparation for the Rock n Roll Seattle course. The route has long gradual hills, not a lot of steep short ones, so preparation and training for those is different. Doing lots of short steep hills during your training isn't going to help me with the long haul hills during the race. So that's what's on the docket for this afternoon.

Today is Thursday and time to share another "jam" for the week. This one has been out for a couple of years and you still can hear it almost daily on the Top 40 stations, so obviously people are still liking this song. The group hasn't really released anything since and have kind of dropped off the radar. So today's "jam" is:

Momentum Monday: Just Run

Hellloooooooooooo Monday! It's the beginning of the week and raining. Boo! Where did our glorious sunshine go!?! I'm looking at the weather outlook for the week and all I see is rain. Looks like my Dumbo training will continue on in the rain! May showers bring June...mold?  I don't know, but it seems to be raining in other parts of the country too, so I guess we're not alone!

This weekend was an interesting one for me though.  On Saturday I was able to take my first long run since Easter weekend when my back issues started.  I was naturally nervous and wanting to be cautious about what I did during my run in hopes not to reinjure myself.

Race Recap: BMO Vancouver 8K

It thrills me to be writing this recap.  I wanted to run the BMO Half Marathon in Vancouver and almost signed up for it half a dozen times, but something always kept me from doing it. Then my back issue happened and I realized that I was really glad I hadn't spent the money because I knew I would not have been able to run that course.

However my good friend Danielle was running the half, so I decided to go up with her and cheer her on at the finish. Then she tempted me with entering the 8k...oh running peer pressure, how ruthless you can be. My doctor said I could run 5 miles and with this 8k just looking at me on the page saying "you know you wanna run me", I gave in and registered.  What can I say?  I'm weak for bling.

#BostonStrongSeattle Run and my birthday!

Yesterday I got to be involved in a tribute run for Boston that was hosted by local companies Super Jock & Jill, Oiselle, Kinetics Sports Rehab and my friends at Gametiime.  The hope was to get as many runners as we could together to run around Greenlake (out and back was 5K) in solidarity for the Boston tragedy.

I was excited because I had finally been cleared to run by my doctor.  After three weeks of not running at all, I was excited to get out and pound some pavement, even if I was only allowed to run one mile!

Momentum Monday: Good Mood!

Good Morning All!!!  Welcome to Monday AND the first day of April!!!  I can't believe it is April already, is it just me or is this year FLYING by?!?  Don't worry, there will be no April Fools Joke from me, I've never been a fan of practical jokes or making people feel bad for my own amusement.  Today is business as usual and Momentum Monday! 

Today's quote was very much true for me this weekend and need to be a constant reminder to me when I'm feeling stressed or upset about life.

 

 

Race Recap: St. Pat's Day Dash

I wasn't going to race this past weekend.  I wasn't going to get involved in any runs in the area around here, and there were quite a few being talked about.  Though as the week went on and friends were tweeting and Facebooking about the races they were going to run during St. Patty's weekend, the more I started to rethink my decision.

Then I got a Twitter message.

An invitation to run with the co-founders of a local website, Gametiime.  It is a new site that is designed to be your "go-to" search engine for races.  Right now they are testing their beta site and the listings are only for Washington state races (sorry rest of the nation).  But I have seen and tested their beta site and all I have to say is THANK YOU! I can not wait for this site to be released because it has so many great features and the ease of use is fantastic.

So to have the ability to run with these guys and pick their brains a bit was too good to pass up.  So I signed up, the Thursday before the race.  I never sign up for a race this late, but I did and I'm not sorry about it.

I kinda wanted to run this race to be honest.  I had a great outfit planned for it already if I did decide to run, so I was glad when I finally caved, because I got to wear all this great gear!