Friday Five: 5 Blogs I Love!

I'm linking up again with the ladies from Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up For What, & Mar On The Run.  This weeks topic is blogs you love to read.  Well, obviously the three hosts are on my list, so be sure to check them out!  So, I guess it's really 8 blogs I love...here are 5 more:

1. Maker, Mother, Marathon Runner
          http://makermothermarathonrunner.com/
     If you ever lack some inspiration, head over to Kimberly's blog!  She is truly the coolest chick--and pretty bad-ass if you ask me.  Dopey Challenge while going through chemo--yep, like I said, pure inspiration!  This past Dumbo Double Dare weekend, my mom was on the same Disneyland tour with her, and to boot, she's a sweet, genuine person. 

2. We Run Disney
          http://www.werundisney.com/
     If you love running, especially running Disney, you have to follow Pam & Christine.  Okay...confession time...I actually spent about 2 miles of the marathon this year walk/run/walking by them.  I am such a dork, and didn't say "Hi" because I didn't want to be a creeper!  Seriously...these two look like they would be so much fun to run with and I love their bond as mother-daughter.  Next race, I'm saying "Hi" for sure!

3. My No Guilt Life
          http://noguiltlife.com/
     Patty keeps it real on My No Guilt Life.  She covers all things fitness, running, diet, and general fun.  I love how honest she is, and she's pretty darn funny too!  She keeps you guessing on what's coming up next, and sometimes I go there just to smile.

4.  Healthy Disney Family
          http://healthydisneyfamily.com/
     Denise has lost over 100 pounds and is currently training for her first Dopey Challenge.  I love keeping up with her training and she's always offering great tips, recipes, and the honest truth about weight loss (and maintaining a healthy lifestyle).  She is also super active on Pinterest and I re-pin her all the time!

5.  I Heart Organizing
          http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/
     Huh?  Okay, well let me explain. Even though this is a running/fitness blog, I like to read other things too!  I stumbled upon this when looking up ways to organize my fitness clothes and I was hooked.  There are some really great ideas on here, and if nothing else, I can dream about a house that is this put together and organized.  If you're crafty or even just looking for some design ideas, check this one out!

So there you have it!  5 blogs that are on my follow list.  I can't wait to find some new blogs to add!  What's your favorite (okay, okay...your favorite OTHER THAN Disney Runs in the Family...lol...j/k!)?

What's On Your DVR?

Did you catch last night's episode of Extreme Weight Loss?  Spoiler alert: it featured this year's WDW Half Marathon. 

It got me thinking--how much fitness motivation is on my DVR?  I personally love Extreme Weight Loss.  I just think Heidi Powell is the coolest chick ever!  Then of course, there's the Biggest Loser, the one that started it all.  I also love watching So You Think You Can Dance.  In some way, that motivates me to keep pushing.  When you see those dancers doing the most amazing routines, it's just awesome! 

Hoping to see myself on the runDisney segment!

I'm not a really big TV watcher and I absolutely HATE movies (I just don't have the attention span).  I'm anything but a couch potato, but every once in a while, I love my weekends full of clearing out the DVR.  So... I want to know...

Do you have any shows that inspire you?  Are you a big TV watcher? 

Race Report: 2014 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend--Disneyland 10k

On Saturday, August 30, 2014, the second Disneyland 10k was off and running!  This was the first part of the Dumbo Double Dare.  Since this was the first time I was out for any distance since surgery, we planed to keep this one slow.

2 Olafs!

 Full OLAF!

We left our hotel a little before 4 am and took the ART bus to the Disneyland area.  Our family met us at the bus stop; they were staying right across the street.  The weather was much better than last year and we were quite optimistic about the morning.  My mom was cheering, so we said goodbye early and she gave me these words of wisdom-- "I hope you make it". LOL... thanks mom!  I just couldn't let her live that down. 

The four of us headed for the starting corrals.  My hubby and I were planning to "run" together (actually walk and save our legs for the half marathon), so we lined up together at the back of corral B.  runDisney went all out on the Elvis/Stitch theme right from the start.  It was fun, but not really my thing.  Confession time: I only first saw Lilo & Stitch a few months ago.  We were off about 8-10 minutes after corral A, and we started out walking. 

Starting line

I look nervous! (I was...)

The first mile + are outside the parks.  I give it to the spectators, they were kind trying to cheer us on (we were really straggling), and I seriously lost it.  Crying, whining, ready to go back to the hotel and just give up.  It was humbling to be walking while everyone flies by. My hubby really had to talk me off a ledge just to get me to keep moving forward. 

Somewhere between mile 1 & 2 (I think)...or maybe right after mile 2...hmmmm, maybe I should have stopped pouting and payed more attention.  Anyway, somewhere around there we entered California Adventure. Once we were in the parks, my mood definitely improved.  We were walking at a good pace--somewhere around a 15:30 min/mile.  Since we started in corral B, we knew we had plenty of time to finish, so my worries were gone. 

DCA has tons to look at, and we arrived just around dawn, letting the glow of Cars Land capture our attention.  There is something so different about running through the parks.  There's just a little more magic than when its crowded with people everywhere.  DCA pulls out all the stops, running World of Color, running rides, and giving runners plenty to look at.  The course was also themed out with plenty of Elvis.  Might have been pretty novel for some, but for this Vegas girl, an Elvis sighting is almost a daily occurrence.


After a run through Cars Land, through Tower of Terror, around Paradise Pier, and out through the front of the park, we were off to Disneyland.  The crowd really perked up and gave us a good push into the next park.  Right around the corner and we were on to one of the highlights: running down Main Street USA!  For those who have never done it, I promise you, it's one of the most magical moments of ANY Disney race.  No matter how many times you do it, it's still super special. 


Through Tomorrowland, then Fantasyland, then through the castle--another huge highlight! Over and over again, no matter how many times, it's always magical!  Then through the rest of the park, and it definitely makes the miles fly by.  You also get a few steps "behind the scenes" which is always fun.  Okay, not always--the trash area and animals can get pretty smelly, but it's still pretty impressive, especially when you think about how many thousands of people never get this perspective.

We love funny pics!

You are around mile 5 when you finally exit the parks, but then you just swing into Downtown Disney.  The crowds are raring to go and cheer, and you are still surrounded by Disney!  Seriously, if you are looking to run at Disney and want a race full of magic, the 10k is the way to go! 

These two Dole Whips were a hit!

A few twists and turns and you're at the finish line.  Oh, the sweet, sweet finish line!  I immediately collected my bling and headed straight for the ice!  I wasn't going to jeopardize my half the next day by being stupid.  I even opted for 2 bags :)  We got our snack box, our water and PowerAde, and were off to meet up with the rest of the family.  My mom was already waiting and Chris & Katie weren't far behind.

We took a bunch of pictures (the Dole Whips were a HUGE hit), and we were headed for the showers!  Overall, the race was a little warm and humid, but not nearly as bad as last year.  I really do love this course, and I know we will all be back again next year to conquer the 10k...and the Dumbo Double Dare!

Yep...Disney DOES Run in the Family!

Race Report: 2014 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend--Disneyland 5k

It was Friday, August 29, 2014, the morning of the Disneyland 5k and I awoke extra early. I was excited to run my first "solo (without my daughter pushing me)" race along with 5,999 other runners.  My alarm was set for 3:30 am, but I was wide awake by 3:10 (still on East Coast time).

I donned my modified Lilo outfit, had a quick bagel thin and peanut butter, and was ready to go. Chris and Katie (coincidently) were staying at the same hotel and graciously offered to meet me around 4:15 to walk me to the race (our extended West Coast family is really awesome!)  They left to meet Aly and Bill and I set off for Corral A. (As I waited for the start, I rec'd a text telling me where the 4 of them would be chEARing.)



Time passed quickly and you could feel the excitement in the air.  Carissa and Rudy kept the crowd going, along with Lilo and Stitch.  Then a surfer came out and led a "surfer themed" warmup.  The next thing you knew, it was time to go with a burst of confetti!

This was my first race at Disneyland. When we entered California Adventure just before mile 1, I found myself slowing down and "looking" It was the first time I saw Cars Land and because of my love of Disney, I was kind of distracted.   Then, I remembered why I was there!  

Course on RunKeeper

My RunKeeper app was set to a walk/run pace and I surprised myself by maintaining this through almost the entire race.  The miles went by quickly.  I'm sure this was because most of the miles were in the park which was really fun.  It was way more humid than I thought it was going to be so I took advantage of both water stops.  

As I was passing under the monorail near the spot where my family was supposed to be, I spotted them holding up a sign and cheering me on. I think that gave me the final push I needed to finish strong.

I received my medal from one of the many wonderful volunteers (Thank you, volunteers!) and went to the tents to meet my family. 

My regret:  I didn't take any pictures on the course!  I was so concerned about "getting it done", I never stopped.

My accomplishment:  I PR'd my 5K!    After looking at my stats, I know I will do fine in my first 10K in May.   Tinkerbell here I come!

Race Report: 2014 Disneyland Half Marathon--The Expo

My runner's high is fading, which means it's time to start the race recaps!  This year, there were 5 of us at the races, so we've got them all covered.  But...I'm getting ahead of myself!  Before you run, you must SHOP, so let's first explore the expo.

Speaker Series

If you hadn't previously heard, the 2013 expo was a HUGE disaster!  I won't get into the negativity, but I have to give MAJOR kudos to runDisney for a job well done this year.  They really listened to the feedback and made so many improvements.  My credit card didn't like it as much, though, because with all the improvements, I was able to buy way more stuff!

 

We attended the expo after the 5k race.  We got in a little after it opened at 9, but our family got in even earlier.  They opened the expo about 30 minutes early!  Immediately I noticed a huge difference from the year before!


Pins!

We started the expo with New Balance, who's new virtual queue worked perfectly!  We were in group 1 (which allowed us to get shoes first). I showed my confirmation text, got in a very short line, and was helped within minutes.  I walked away with two new pairs of runDisney shoes.  That was the start of my shopping downfall!

Next we headed to get our bibs.  They were still downstairs, but there were no lines and I was easily able to pick up my bib, coast to coast wristband, and pre-ordered pins.  Then there was a short walk up the ramp to get into the expo right where you pick up your shirts.  No lines.  Really cute shirts.  My hubby was even able to easily exchange his size.  Seriously people--a complete 180 from last year!

I had a list, so I got what I needed (some Bondi Bands, a new Sparkle Athletic skirt, etc) then finally headed to the official merchandise booth.  Now, I was pretty optimistic here, but I never expected to be able to buy so much!  We ended up with our hands full of jackets, t-shirts, headbands, even a Minnie running skort!  Yep, they got LOTS of my money.  And checkout--no line there either! 

Just SOME of what we bought!

Before long we were on our way with our arms full of runDisney goodies!  Straight to the parks we went!  In and out of the expo in less than 2 hours.  Thank you runDisney for making it all seamless!!!
 

Breaking News: Guess Who's Running in Vegas?

ME!  Okay, okay... that's not the breaking news part, but I did register for the 2014 Rock n Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon.  One day after registering, this comes across my email:

I know some readers are not super into running, so to save you the Google Search, Meb is the 2014 Boston Marathon winner!!!!  At a time when it was needed most, he pulled through and surprised everyone becoming the first American to win Boston in decades.

Last year, I was able to see (and run with for a few feet) the marathon winner.  I'm hoping this year provides the same opportunity.  Then I can literally "run with Men".  This event is shaping up to be an epic run!  Anyone else out there in for RnR Vegas? 

My runDisney Love Letter

My heart is so full right now after an amazing Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend.  Somewhere in the middle of the half marathon, I started to come up with this blog idea.  Don’t worry…specific race reports are coming soon, but I wanted to start with a few love notes.

Dear Expo,

Last year, you were so disappointing, but wow, what a difference a year makes.  Thanks for being controlled, stocked with merchandise, and full of space to walk around.  Thank you for listening to the fans and making the adjustments needed to make the expo a fun experience.

Dear New Balance,

Thanks for finally figuring out a process that works.  I registered and you texted be back right away.  I had a return time, and when I got there, there was plenty of help to get me the shoes I wanted. 

Dear race organizers,

Thanks for splitting up the 5k and 10k.  We were able to cheer on my mom, then she cheered for us.  There was no mistaking where to line up or who was going where.  Three early days were tough, but the smoothness was worth the early alarm.  Heck…thanks for the smoothness with everything—this weekend went off without a hitch for us!
 

Dear volunteers,

Thanks again for all you do to keep us safe, hydrated, fed, and happy before, during, and after our races.  You are always great!  A special thanks to those who were diligently checking bibs at the starting corrals.  I’m sorry that some runners were rude to you, so I wanted to give you a special shout out.  It’s not an easy job, and I really appreciate that my corral was full of runners that actually were supposed to be there. 

Dear fellow runners,

Wow…thanks for the support!  I wish I could personally thank each and every runner that ran past me giving me a high-five or a few words of encouragement.  I really, truly didn’t think I’d make it.  I mean, it wasn’t the smartest move running a race 6 weeks-post knee surgery.  Every person saying “great job” or “keep it up” got me one step closer to the finish.  I can honestly say I couldn’t do it without the support of everyone on the course.

Dear family (you know…those other Disney Runs in the Family folks & the family supporting from home),

Thanks for being there!  Thanks for pushing me in a wheelchair so I could save my legs.  Thanks for cheering.  Thanks for running too and making this a family affair.  Thanks for finding a table at Trader Sam’s.  I gotta say…by blood and by marriage, I have a pretty amazing family!

And finally…

Dear Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend,

Thank you for bringing me back to life!  Being injured and having surgery can really get you down.  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling a bit depressed and hopeless through some of the last 3 months.  What I’ve been through is in no way even close to being the worst that could happen, and I’ve seen people be much braver through much worse.  For this little blip of time, though, for me, it’s been hard.  I finally feel one huge step closer to my normal.  And for that…I’ve got lots of LOVE!

Hope all the runners had as great of an experience as I did!  I can’t wait to share more details in the race reports!