Week In Review: 4/2/17

Ugh! This week did not go as planned, but it wasn't terrible either. I feel like NO week ever goes as planned, so I guess it's just accepting that fact and moving on!

Sunday: Taught HIIT
Monday: Insanity Max 30
Tuesday: Insanity Max 30 (then skipped my run because it was pouring and I got home late--FAIL)
Wednesday: Insanity Max 30, Taught Fit Fun Kids, BodyPump, and Trigger Point
Thursday: Insanity Max 30
Friday: Insanity Max 30
Saturday: Taught BodyPump, Trigger Point, & Kids Yoga; 5 mile run on the treadmill

I think this was the perfect example of how difficult it can be to run with a toddler, no treadmill at home, a husband who travels for work, and the inconsistent spring weather. All challenges that I need to figure out as I go along on this training journey!

I did end up rolling and stretching more this week. I'm a little sore from the new BodyPump 101 release, but nothing too bad. This upcoming week (and month) are definitely going to be a challenge because I'm teaching a ton at the gym. That's usually when I fall back into bad eating habits because I think I've "earned it". Gotta keep my eyes on the prize! Tink is just a few weeks away!

So You Want To Run Disney--Part 2: Registration

Updated July 2021

We are on to Part 2 of the “So You Want to Run Disney” series!  If you missed Part 1: Choosing your race, check it out HERE.  Now that your heart is set on one race, a series of races, or all of the races, it’s time to get registered.  This can be just as hard as running!  Don’t say we didn’t warn you!  SPECIAL NOTE: the runDisney climate has changed. It's been a frenzy, chill, and now it seems to be back at frenzied times. If you want to get into a race, be prepared! 

Typically, runDisney opens registration about 9-11 months before the race date (currently dates were pushed back due to Covid-19).  You can sign up for reminders at rundisney.com, but I wouldn’t wait for the reminder!  They are often emailed after the race registration opens and sometimes even after the race is already sold out.  You can find the dates for registration up many places, including on our Facebook, Instagram, and blog pages.  I always mark my calendar and be sure to schedule my availability.  Races usually open at 10:00 am Eastern, 7:00 am Pacific.  These times have changed over the years, so it never hurts to triple check.

You will want a few things ready for your registration.  You will be asked all the basics—name, birthday, address, etc.  You will also need to indicate if you are participating in any special categories, such as the military division.  When (I'm hopeful) Coast to Coast comes back, there is also a place to indicate if you are completing your Coast to Coast.  One important piece of info you will want to have handy is your proof of time.  In order to be placed in a corral with runners that are at similar speeds, you need to submit a previous completed race time from a registered race.  For half marathons, this must be a 10k or higher; for the full, a 10-miler or higher.  If you do not have a previous time, you will be placed in the last corral.  You can update that time in the future if needed. In fact, I often do this just to get to the "complete your registration" button sooner. You will need: the name of the race, city/location, date, official time, and the link to the race results.  Yes, I always have to look it up.  Also note that the race had to have been run somewhat recently.  runDisney.com will list the cut-off dates (it's usually within the past 2 years).  You will also want to login to your runDisney account BEFORE registration begins!  Create your account and have it open; save your password to your computer--if the race will sell out in minutes, you won't want to waste precious time typing. I would also recommend you follow runDisney on Twitter and different Facebook groups.  That is where they will continually update registration news the morning of registration.  If your computer uses autofill, that sometimes messes with the website. Shut it off for registration and type in your information. 
Does Disney Run in YOUR Family?  If so, you're in luck, because recent changes have allowed you to register multiple people at once! Just hit "add additional registration" before checking out.

Get your credit card warmed up, because it will get good use during registration.  You will want to note that in addition to the price listed from runDisney, added administration fees will increase the price by 6.6%.  Plan for $15-$20 in fees for the mid-range races.  You can use a Disney gift card or rewards redemption card to make your purchase. Just be aware that you can only use one payment method, so be sure you have enough loaded to your card to cover the race and fees. 

A quick note about challenges: runDisney is really getting into the race weekend challenges.  If you plan to run a challenge, such as the Dopey Challenge or the Glass Slipper Challenge, you must register for that challenge to receive all the benefits of the challenge.  You will not get the challenge medal or shirt if you sign up for the races individually. 

When you register for the races, you’ll be given the opportunity—isn’t that nice that they give you an opportunity—to also pre-purchase some commemorative items.  For us, we always get the pins.  It’s the one thing I have from every single Disney race I’ve run.  They often also sell necklaces (yes, I’m wearing my Dopey necklace as I write this) and other merchandise including jackets, tumblers, magnets, tons of stuff. Recently they also have done bundle packages. Don't stress out that day, though. You can order the items afterwards too, but don't hesitate too long. When they sell out, they sell out (and this option is getting much more popular).

In the past, early registration often occurs for Disney Vacation Club owners and Disney Annual Passholders.  You can register more than one person in your household using these links.  The links will go live at a specified time/date on your landing page for each of these groups, typically the Thursday prior to the regular registration date.  Unfortunately for 2021, this option is not available. I'm hopeful it will return in the future.

What happens if you miss out and the race is full?  You always have the option of running with a charity group!  It’s a great way to raise money for some amazing causes and still get all the benefits of running the race, usually with extra bells and whistles.  Of course, you can always do both: register on your own AND run for a charity!  

Prior to 2021, you could find a travel provider that has bibs. Hopefully that will return too! If it does, here's some info: At times you may be required to purchase a room and/or tickets with the bib purchase. You can find authorized travel providers at runDisney.com. We've done this a few times and have had great experiences! Often you can register early and save on the fees. Just check with your favorite Disney vacation planner friends (because if you're like me, you have a TON). 

So which races do you need to worry about? Remember, the climate HAS changed (when we first posted this series it was an all out frenzy!!! Now, I'm not quite sure.). The 10ks, 5ks, challenges, and kids races are still hot commodities. Out of those, I think the challenges sell out last. 

So now you are armed and dangerous!  You have everything you need to know to register, stress FREE for you next runDisney event. Hopefully I can take my own advice, and I'll see you at the house of mouse!

April 2017 runDisney Calendar

Here's all the important dates happening this month in the runDisney world:

Tuesday, April 11: Virtual Race Series Registration Opens

Thursday April 20-Sunday April 23: Star Wars: Dark Side Weekend

Thursday, April 27: Annual Passholder Early Registration for Princess Half Marathon Weekend

Be in the lookout for the 2018 Star Wars Light Side registration as well! It's been postponed, but I wouldn't be too surprised if it happens around the Dark Side weekend. We will definitely keep you posted on social media and here on the blog!

Anyone getting tempted by the running shorts virtual races? (Or are you like me and somewhat regretting not doing last year's because the medals were SO cute?)

Week In Review: 3/26/17

Gotta keep myself accountable. Here's my week in review:

Sunday: Taught HIIT (it was my 'rest day' so I kept it light)
Monday: Insanity Max 30
Tuesday: Insanity Max 30 & short family run
Wednesday: Insanity Max 30 & Taught BodyPump and Trigger Point
Thursday: Insanity Max 30 & Taught BodyPump
Friday: Unintentional rest day-ish (was having technical difficulties in my home gym--got my heart rate up, but it wasn't the greatest)
Saturday: FIRST LONG RUN!!!!! (4 miles)

I'm actually feeling really good getting back outside and running. I wish I had more time to build a base before jumping into training, and I wish I had more time to do a better progression on the long run. This is where I am, though, and it feels great just to have a focus again. I know that I won't be breaking any PRs during the Tink half, but I feel like if I focus and train properly I can get through it successfully. I missed one planned run due to helping out at work and teaching an extra class. No worries, though. I got this!

My focus for this next week is going to be recovery. I need to stretch more, roll more, and get my recovery nutrition working for me.

How did your week go? Any big successes?

So You Want to runDisney--Part 1: Choosing your race

Updated April, 2020

Welcome to our series, "So You Want to runDisney!"  We have pooled all our resources to give you a one-stop shop of everything you need to know to get to your first (or second, or third, or...well, you get the point) runDisney race.  Yes, yes, this also applies to other races as well, but some of the information will be specific to running at Disney (we are "Disney Runs in the Family," after all).

As runDisney continues to gain popularity, getting into a race can be just as challenging as actually running the race.  Okay, maybe not, but it does take some planning and knowledge.  For example, the 2013 and 2014 Dumbo Double Dares sold out in less than an hour, and the most recent 2020 Wine and Dine was a bucket of stress on registration day. We don't want to add to the hysteria, but we do want to be honest.  Especially if you don't have much flexibility in racing, we want to be sure you get into the race you want, but I digress.  Before registration, you need to decide which race (or races) you are going to run!



2013 Dumbo Double Dare

First disclaimer: just like every great company, runDisney sometimes makes changes to the race schedule to add, improve, etc.  Some races, such as the marathon, have been happening for over 25 years, so it's highly likely it will remain. Since we first published this series many races have been added: Superheros, Star Wars, and Paris--Ooo la la--and even a virtual race series! I think the rumor mill has slowed now that these have been added, but no one knows for sure. As an aside, it's never guaranteed that a race will stay the same or even be there next year, so as long as your budget and health are in line, just jump in!

Right now, you have quite a few races to choose from.  So what's first? In my opinion you have to decide on the distance.  runDisney currently has 5k, 10k, half marathon and full marathon distances, plus additional weekend challenges.  There are many factors that play a role in deciding on a distance, so here are just a few questions to ask yourself:

How much time can I put into training?

     Typical training for anything over a 10k requires at least 3-4 months of a training schedule.  Even a 5k and 10k take time, especially if you are starting from the ground up. Take a peek at the race dates--do you have commitments that would prevent you from training properly?  You can guarantee that things will come up and you'll adjust, but if the thought of training through the busy holiday season sounds like torture, the January races are probably not the best bet.  Don't forget about weather, too!  We've now been on both ends: training in Las Vegas summers for the Disneyland Half and training for Tink in the snow. Definitely doable, but you should know what challenges lie ahead. Google search some training plans to get an idea of what you're really getting into.  My favorites are Higdon and Galloway.  I'm starting to look at Hansons as well. 

How far is reasonable based on my current fitness/running level?
     I'll be honest, my first race was a marathon.  Would I recommend that?  NO!  But it can be done with proper training (and being 25 and in pretty good shape already).  If you have never laced up running shoes, though, do that before deciding.  Get in a few miles and decide if this is something you really want to do.  I have people tell me all the time how much they hate running.  Yes, it's shocking to me too, but it might not be your thing.

Do I favor one Disney park (Disneyland races are currently on hiatus)?
     If your heart is set on either Disneyland or Walt Disney World, that already limits some races.  Hey, that might be a great place to start...

Our first runDisney race

What is my budget (race and run-cation)?
     Running at Disney is EXPENSIVE.  There is just no other way to slice it!  I wish it was cheaper, and it used to be, but with sell-outs happening at warp speed, there is no motivation for price decreases.  For reference, my first Disneyland Half Marathon was $95 in 2010.  For 2021, the WDW Marathon Weekend 5k is $89. Don't forget to factor in travel expenses like hotel, airfare, and, of course, spending money.  

Dopey was all about running!

Am I traveling to Disney to run, or am I running during a vacation?
     Huh?  So let's break this down.  Running at Disney is awesome, but it is very different than seeing Disney on vacation.  Will you die if you travel to WDW and don't see Fantasmic and the Magic Kingdom Fireworks?  Do you expect to be in a greasy, sugary food-coma everyday?  You just plopped down a ton of money (see previous question), so it's important to adjust your expectations.  Races start early--like, really, really, really early!  When I did Dopey, we only got a few hours in the parks each day, and there was no way I was staying up to watch a show.  In fact, we were back in the room by dinnertime before the half and full.  If you are not willing to compromise your vacation to run, the Dopey Challenge may not be for you.  You can absolutely still run and have a great vacation, but consider this when deciding on which race to run. 

So, now that you've thought through all these questions, here's the current list of runDisney races to choose from:

January: WDW--5k, 10k, Half, Full, Goofy (half + full), Dopey (all the races); Castaway Cay 5k Challenge on a special sailing of the Dream
February: WDW--(Princess) 5k, 10k, Half, Fairy Tale Challenge (10+half)
Spring: Virtual Star Wars Half Marathon
April: WDW--(Star Wars Dark Side) 5k, 10k, Half, Dark Side Challenge (10+half)
May: Disneyland Paris--(Princess)
Summer: Virtual Shorts
September: Disneyland Paris--5k, 10k, Half, Challenges (10+half or 5+10+half)
November: WDW (Wine & Dine)--5k, 10k, Half, Two Course Challenge (10+half)

Disneyland races are on hiatus for now, but we are all hopeful they will come back soon! There were 4 race weekends, all consisting of a 5k, 10k, and Half Marathons.

My first Coast to Coast

With Disneyland races on hiatus, this also means the Coast to Coast Challenge isn't happening. With some positive thoughts for the future, I figured it would be best to leave this info here :)
Also, don't forget about the coveted Coast to Coast medal!  If you complete a half or full marathon in both WDW and Disneyland in the same calendar year, you receive a special Partners statue medal.  It's beautiful, by the way, just to tempt you a little more.  It is (gulp) at no extra cost to you! There is also the PINK Coast to Coast celebrating the ladies! If you run Princess and Tink half marathons, the pink one is yours. The Kessel Challenge special Coast to Coast is reserved for those who complete both Star Wars half marathons. Finally, if you are lucky enough to travel from France to the U.S. you can earn your Castle to Chateau. That one is definitely up there on my list of favorite medals!!!

 

Caution: Running at Disney is addictive.  Others may get addicted too. 

Lastly, let's not forget about the kids!!! Every race weekend also has an opportunity for the kids to get in on the action (even as young as 6 months). Our boys have both done the diaper dash, and Robby has tackled the 100m dash 4 times. It is so much fun! I will say, we definitely prefer Disneyland over WDW for the kids races, but they are still very much worth it to get your kids involved in the race weekends. It really speaks to us, because after all, Disney Runs in OUR Family!!!

Diaper Dash 2016

Stay tuned for Part 2:  Registration :)

Half Marathon Training Plan for Tink

Well, since I bit the bullet and registered for Tink, I guess I should start training, right? I have some personal motivation for doing this race, but really let's be honest: it's all about the bling! I knew when they released those pretty medals I needed to add them to my collection.

One other big reason, though, is I want to run a faster race to use for proof of time. Of course to do that it would be helpful to train properly. No use crying over spilled milk, right? So here we go, diving into my training plan to get ready for Tink in 7 weeks!

I'm working backwards, aiming for a 10 mile long run on May 6th. I'll be doing my long runs on Saturdays since I teach a HIIT class on Sunday mornings. I'm hoping the weather starts to cooperate a little more. We've had a few nice days after the blizzard last week, so if this keeps up life will be good!

Short runs are important too, so my goal is a Tuesday/Thursday short run. I'll run outside if I can or at the gym if I have to. Luckily Robby adores going to the nursery at the gym, because I'm going to have to rely on that if Bill is on the road. Our town just isn't very conducive to running on the road with a toddler in a stroller.

My schedule is going to be tight. I'm hoping that muscle memory is strong and my body just knows what to do when I lace up those shoes. Guess I won't know, though, until I get out on the road for my first long run this weekend. Wish me luck! I'm going to need it!

A Mother's Day Gift

A few weeks ago my mind just couldn't stop thinking about registering for Tink. A few messages later and here I am buying a bib from my friend Patty at My No Guilt Life. Leave it to another Disney nut to tell you everything you need to hear to make running this race a good idea (okay, not that it honestly took much).

Here we are, a few months from Mother's Day, and I can officially announce that I'll be toeing the line with my fellow moms for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon! I'm super excited to get back on the road and train hard to run faster than I have in a few years. I know, I know, no PRs at Disney races, but I'd really like to get some under 2:30 times again. Between knee surgery and pregnancy, I haven't had a great race in a LONG time. Now that I'm getting back to being fit, I also want to get back to running.

Photo credit: Disney Parks Blog

Time to start planning my training. I'm thinking I'm going to stick with the run/walk/run plan since I've been having some knee pain and I'm just starting out again. I've run great races using intervals, so why not stick with what's been successful before. 

I know my main challenge is going to be running with Robby. He's older now and I have no idea how he'll do running in a stroller. Add to that me working two out of the house jobs and running my online fitness business and the time is ticking away. Maybe a magic running fairy will drop off a treadmill to my house.

I've been really focused on nutrition and fitness, so I'm hoping it pays off on race weekend. Now, I gotta go! It's time to run!