Throwback Thursday: Disneyland Half Expo 2013

I'm getting so excited for the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend!  This time last year, I was still running my own personal blog, which I had originally created to keep me on track while training for my first Goofy Challenge.  I thought that would be the end of my running, but HA...not so!  So...in an attempt to psych everyone up even more, I thought I'd share my reviews (there are a few parts) from previous Disneyland Halves as part of a little "Throwback Thursday" mini-series!  Enjoy!

Original post: September 8, 2013: The Expo

Let's make this one short and sweet.  The expo was terrible this year.

Just a bit of the madness!

Okay, I'll elaborate.  I met up with my family, who graciously saved a spot in line about two hours before opening.  Yes, two hours, and no, we were not the first ones in line.  Both Katie and I were wanting a pair of the New Balance runDisney sneakers, so we knew we'd need to get there early.  That was the easy part.  My phone was dead from taking pictures, updating facebook, and tweeting all morning during the meet-up, so there was a little confusion, but eventually we all got our shoes and we were pretty happy.  Then we entered the runDisney merchandise booth.

It was a mess to say the least.  Black Friday at it's worst.  Hours and hours lost in line to get a sweatshirt.  I just wanted a stupid magnet for my car.  We ended up spending close to 3 hours waiting to checkout, and Billy didn't even get the shirt he wanted.  It really was ridiculous.

At this point, we were starving so we took a break for lunch to hit up ESPN zone.  I swear it was the best sandwich I ever ate (not really, I was just that hungry).  We still hadn't gotten our bibs at this point, so we had to go back.  We headed straight to pick up bibs, and...no Dumbo pin...what!?!?  I don't actually remember ordering it or not, since I usually just order all the pins available.  The real kicker was that Billy had one in his hand at checkout that morning and we almost bought it...almost.  Now we had to go back upstairs to brave the crowds one more time.  We ended up leaving it to chance and giving up for the day.  The pins are the one "thing" I collect from the runs, so I would have been disappointed if I didn't get one.  I was able to pick up a cute Dumbo shirt from One More Mile and some Bondi Bands for the races in November.

We finally made it back to our hotel around 4 to drop off our stuff and get ready to finally go to the parks.  In case you were wondering, we were able to get the pin on Saturday with a quick expo trip.

We tried to make the best of it...

I'm not sure what went wrong--too much hype, too many people making tons of profits on ebay?  I can only hope runDisney does something about this for future races.  Something as simple as allowing people to pre-order items or making an order form available for items they run out of would really help the frenzy.  I missed out on half a day at the parks to be frustrated at the expo.  Not worth it at all. 

Aly's Top 10 Magical Memories at Disney

Sorry mom, it was just too good of a topic to leave just for you!  A few weeks ago, my mom blogged about her top 10 Disney memories.  If you missed it, check it out here.  Needless to say, it got me thinking about mine.  Some are similar, some totally different.  Here’s my trip down memory lane—my top 10 Disney memories.

10.  Food contests between me and my cousin.  Growing up, we traveled to WDW together pretty much every other summer.  My parents always wanted to eat at new restaurants, so they challenged us to eat as many different things as possible.  Alligator.  Yep.  Sweatbread.  That too.  Oh, and we were not at all encouraged to show any self-control!  Eat up!

9.  Eating at 50’s Prime Time Café for the first time.  Okay, I can’t really remember it that clearly, but I can say it made an impression.  To this day, and silly as it sounds, that is my favorite place to eat!  I can’t get enough of the s’mores or peanut butter and jelly milkshake.



Still a favorite!

8.  Tower of Terror memories—gotta put two here.  When ToT first opened in Disney World,  rode as a family.  It was the beginning of those pictures that they took on the rides, and when we got off, there was the most perfect picture of my dad, elbows out in front of everyone else, with a toothy grin, while all of us had a look of terror.  That image is etched in my brain, and we so regret not purchasing the picture!  About a decade later, I got to ride ToT with my (now) hubby for his first ride.  He didn’t know what to expect, but at that first drop, his hand grabbed my thigh in pure fear.  It was awesomely funny.  I will never let him live that down!

7.  Losing our backpack on the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland.  Nothing said these all have to be happy, exciting ones.  We loaded on the ride, and I thought my hubby had the backpack, he thought I did.  One sharp turn and it flew out the side of the ride—camera, medals, sunglasses…all included. Ugh!  We had to go back a few hours later when they shut down the ride to retrieve all the lost belongings.  They were so awesome in helping us, and even got us to jump the line to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad just to make our day a little better.  Disney definitely does customer service right!

6.  Having my 16^th birthday in Disney World.  Who needs one of those fancy parties?  I had a bulletin board at the entrance of the Grand Floridian and a card, balloons, and treats sent from Mickey.  I would guess my parents might have had something to do with that too…

5.  Getting sick at Disney World.  Yep, it was terrible.  We had planned a huge 10-day vacation --following my first Goofy Challenge.  Dining, park time, the works!  Well, the day after Goofy I started feeling ill and it went downhill FAST.  I ended up taking a taxi to the urgent care and on antibiotics.  No good meals; no fast rides.  By the end of the trip, it started to turn around, but let’s just say I will not be getting the Cobb salad at the Brown Derby anytime soon!

4.  Running, finishing, and getting a marathon PR during the inaugural Dopey Challenge.  I cannot tell you how much that race meant to me.  I doubted myself right up to the end, but when I crossed that finish line, I really believed I could do anything.  I would have been elated just to finish, but to crush my previous marathon PR…that was simply amazing!

3.  Dancing in the Magic Kingdom AND Epcot.  Growing up, my dance studio director was also a Disney lover.  The summer after my junior year in high school, we were invited to dance at the Magic Music Days and perform at BOTH parks (if you don’t know, that wasn’t done often; we were told we were the first).  This summer, the studio is getting to dance in Disneyland Paris—c’mon Miss Donna…don’t you need alumni chaperones? 

2.  Honeymooning in Disneyland Paris.  We started our honeymoon with a few days in Disneyland Paris.  It was really fun to see the similarities and differences.  We sprung for the most amazing suite with a balcony that overlooked the castle.  We even had our own private elevator to get to the park.

Officially married!

1.  Getting engaged in front of Cinderella Castle.  Yep, every little girl’s dream!  My hubby did an AMAZING job surprising me by dropping to one knee at that magical spot.  I was completely surprised.  A few cast members saw the whole thing and brought us a Mickey and Minnie wedding statue as a gift from the big cheese.  Every time we go back, we always visit “our spot” and have quite the collection of pics of our feet standing there!

Our little spot :)

What are your favorite Disney memories? 

Tuesday Reviews-day: Tropicana Inn & Suites--Anaheim

In an effort to get you ready for everything you might need for the upcoming 2014 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, we have adopted a Disneyland theme for our first "Tuesday Reviews-day" posts.  Happy running, and happy vacation planning!

This week, we decided to review a hotel we have stayed at many times while visiting the Disneyland Resort.  Growing up as a Walt Disney World girl, I was convinced early that staying on property was the only way to go!  Disneyland, however, is a totally different story—off property is (almost) just as convenient and much cheaper. 

Photo Credit: Tropicana Inn & Suites

We have stayed at a few duds (but let’s try to keep this positive).  A few years ago, we stumbled upon Tropicana Inn and Suites right after a remodel.  The price was right and the location couldn’t be beat.  We tried it once, and it has become one of our “go-to” choices. 

No, you won’t find much Disney magic here, but what you will find is a short walk to the park entrances, clean rooms, and a basic breakfast options in a café downstairs.  The price is a quarter of what you would pay to stay on property.  For runDisney race weekends, we love staying here because every extra step we can avoid, we do to save our legs.  It’s also great if you are one that likes to take a mid-day break.  No need to walk a few miles back and forth to get to your room.  The front desk and parking attendants have always been kind and helpful, even when arriving late or very early.  The rooms are basic, no frills, but when you are on a budget and planning on spending all your time in the parks, this works perfectly. 

Photo Credit: Tropicana Inn & Suites

The hotel itself is motel style, with room entrances surrounding a common courtyard.  There is a pool and spa, and while we aren’t big swimmers, there are always people in there enjoying the facility.  It looks to be well kept up and clean.  Yes, I’m big on hotels being clean.  As long as it’s clean and there is enough space to move around, I’m good.

During the 2013 Disneyland Half Marathon weekend, we stayed here, 4 adults in one room.  Now, I have to admit, it got a little crowded, especially when we started stacking up our souvenirs and expo purchases.  It was a huge plus, though, to have a fridge and microwave, especially for that weekend, so we could keep on top of our nutrition leading up to the race day. 

Whenever one of my social media groups asks for recommendations, I always jump on recommending Tropicana Inn & Suites.  I haven’t been disappointed yet, and I hope they continue to provide the same quality and affordable options for people traveling to Disneyland.  You can check the hotel out for yourself at http://www.tropicanainn-anaheim.com/

Where do you usually stay?  What's your best recommendation for off-site hotels near Disneyland? (And for the record, no, we were not compensated in any way for this post--just trying to help out fellow Disney bargain hunters!)

The Countdown: 51 Days Until the Disneyland Half

Photo Credit: Team Sparkle

Time for a check-in!  How are you all doing in getting ready for the Happiest Race on Earth?  This year will mark me and my hubby’s 5^th Disneyland Half Marathon and 2^nd Dumbo Double Dare.  We are hoping to make Dumbo our Legacy race.  (Of course…this is all said with a caveat that I may still need knee surgery and blah, blah, blah…)

So where should you be in training?  You should be ramping up the miles, nailing down a comfortable race pace, and starting to think about the details!  Don’t forget to attend to things like nutrition (especially the night before and morning of the race) and your wardrobe (start trying things now so you have plenty of time to make adjustments).  Are you planning on getting new shoes for the race?  I like to run at least 2 long runs in my new kicks before race day.  I stick with the same pair and just update the model, but if you are thinking of trying a different brand or style, start early and get that nailed down too!

What about the other fun stuff like hotel, park tickets, and dining reservations?  This week, we hit the 60-day mark for dining reservations.  We will be having a special lunch at Carthay Circle to celebrate my mom’s 60^th birthday right after she runs her first solo 5k!  Way to go, mom!  She’s hitting 60 with a vengeance!  I love to plan at least one special, celebratory dinner during race weekends.  Hey…it’s a big freakin’ deal that you just ran a race!  Not everyone can or is willing to do that!  Pop a bottle, eat some cake, and make sure you get the reservation you want!  Don’t forget that runDisney offers discounted travel packages through GET Travel.  We have used them every year, and they offer awesome discounts for runners that can’t be beat! 

I hope you already have your transportation booked, but if not, it’s go time!  “They” (who the heck knows who “they” are) say that you find the best flight deals 60 days out.  Again…go time! 

2012 Bling

So…tell me!  How is your training going?  Will this be your first Disneyland Half Marathon…or better yet, your first runDisney race?  This is my “expert” race—do you need advice or have questions?  I’d love to answer them!  Happy training! 

Switch It Up Saturday: Choosing a Zumba Instructor

Unless you’ve lived under a rock the past few years, you know that Zumba Fitness is a Latin dance fitness class that has taken over the world.  Unless you are a newer reader of this blog, you probably also know that I am a licensed Zumba instructor and I teach 3 classes a week at 24 Hour Fitness.  This week, as we look into Zumba as another option for fitness other than running, I thought I’d give you my tips for choosing a great Zumba instructor.

Conference 2014

Zumbathon Charity Event

First, my soapbox: Zumba issues their instructors a license after attending a training.  They are very clear with instructors that it is NOT a certification, and they highly encourage instructors to continue their education and obtain fitness certifications.  That being said, anyone can be a licensed Zumba instructor—you just need to show up to the class.  Participants are often times unaware of this, and don’t understand the difference or importance of having a true fitness professional as your instructor.  So, with all that said, here are my tips:

1.      Most importantly, be sure your instructor IS licensed!  Sounds crazy, right?  There are tons of people out there calling themselves “Zumba Instructors” who are not licensed.  There are even people doing “trainings” that are not actual Zumba trainings!  Crazy!  It’s really easy to check: If you logon to www.zumba.com you can search for your instructor.  You can check out my page HERE.  You may also hear it/see it referred to as the instructor being part of “ZIN”, the Zumba Instructor Network.  The site will also tell you all the specialty areas the instructor is licensed in as well as some trainings they attended, like the national convention or conference.  I get on a soapbox here, too, because it’s one of those “I take my job very seriously, and it really irks me when other people portray themselves falsely”.  Yes, I pay money (a lot of money) to stay licensed and to continually educate myself on both this format and fitness in general.  Now that that’s out of the way, let me step off the box and let’s get onto some fun parts!

Vegas' first group of licensed Zumba Step instructors!

2.      Find an instructor that you can follow.  It’s different for everyone and is very personal because this aligns with your personal learning style.  Give it a few classes, especially if you like the instructor overall.  Yes, there is some coordination involved, so give yourself a break the first few times!  You WILL get it, I promise!

3.      Zumba is based in music, so find someone that uses music that moves you!  The format requires the class to be at least 70% Latin/International, so your instructor shouldn’t be using all top 40s hits, but within that format, you want to connect with the music and moves.  No, I never know what the artist is singing, but I CAN tell if I like the beat and want to dance.  That’s what makes it fun! 

4.      Talk to participants in class and make new friends.  I always laugh because when I’m doing my introduction before class, 90% of the people are too busy talking to their neighbor to listen to me!  I LOVE THAT!  I love when people connect through fitness!  My participants are truly friends, both with me and with each other.

5.      Find an instructor that is focused on you as the student.  Yep…anther pet peeve!  As the instructor, it’s not about me being the best dancer in the world or showing off how fast I can shake my hips (because, let’s be honest, I’m not, and my hips aren’t that great anyway).  It’s about YOU, the participant, and it’s my job to deliver the best workout and to make you have fun so you come back again and again.  Does the instructor spend the entire time in one spot, facing the mirror, and never interacting with anyone?  It’s not a show, at least it shouldn’t be for the instructor.  When you find that person that focuses on you, it makes a huge difference.

At Zumba Kids Training

6.      Find an instructor that is also having fun!  Are they smiling?  I bet if they are, you will be too!  It’s hard to be miserable when you have someone who is having a party right in front of you. 

7.      Finally, find an instructor that is professional.  Yes, I jumped back on my soapbox a little, but it goes beyond a Zumba license.  I have met instructors who only hold a Zumba license, but are also really professional.  They take their job and duty to lead a class safely and effectively very seriously.  It’s not only about certifications or workshops, it’s also about professionalism and dedication.  It’s about proper warm-up and cool-down; it’s about providing moves that are safe for most populations to perform; it’s about reliability; and most of all, it’s about YOU as the participant.  Those are qualities that no piece of paper can verify.

A Zumba party at my 24 HF with another awesome instructor!

So, how do you find this person?  Pretty simple—ask around!  People who love Zumba really, really LOVE Zumba.  They’d be happy to tell you about their favorite instructor, who to avoid, who’s great for beginners, who’s great for advanced students, etc.  Try a few classes and see for yourself.  There are some amazing instructors out there that will have you hooked and coming back for more. 

So, I gotta know!  Have you taken Zumba?  Do you think the instructor matters?  How did you find your favorite instructor?

My Pin Project

Do you love Disney pins?  We do!  We are not big pin traders, but this is our "go to" souvenir whenever we visit a Disney park.  We have our rules to keep us in check: we always get a dated park pin, a hotel pin (if we are staying on site), and, of course, we get pins from each and every runDisney event.  A few years back, I found a cork board picture frame in a bargain bin at Target.  It's worked really well to display our pins, but recently it's been looking a little crowded.  

This past weekend as we were strolling through Target (yes, again) and found a great cork board in the dorm room section.  Knowing we are outgrowing our current display and we have many upcoming Disney vacations and runDisney events, this seemed like the perfect time for a little pin project!  Since we are renting our current house, we also decided to use Command Hooks to prevent us from having to drill into the wall.  Those little strips are awesome!

It took me about 10 minutes to get the strips on the board and to get the board hung.  I made sure to use a level and to really press/hold those strips in place for 30 seconds.  The instructions also recommend letting the frame "set" for an hour before use.  I'm not entirely sure what will hang on the hooks, but 4 Command strips holds up to 16lbs, so I wanted to be sure it was nice and secure.

After an hour, I was ready to get the board set up.  Time to make some decisions.  Since this new board lives in the same room as our medal display, I decided to dedicate this board to runDisney and leave our other Disney pins on the frame in our bedroom.  This freed up PLENTY of room for more races and more Disney vacations!  The shelf at the bottom provided the perfect place to display all those buttons we've collected over the years, including the 20th anniversary marathon button.  On the hooks, I have my 20th anniversary shoelaces along with the lanyard I bought during the Dopey Challenge weekend.  I will likely find more items to hang, but for now, they may end up empty. 

There you have it!  My little project that is making me smile :)  I can't wait to get my pins home in September to add to my new display.  Do you collect pins?  Do you display them or wear them to the parks?  Any other display ideas?

Road to Recovery: What's It All Mean?

Are you all tired of hearing about my injury yet?  Today marks 6 weeks since I fell.  6 WEEKS!  It's commonly known that 6 weeks is kind of the "healed" point for most tissue repair.  I should be feeling much better at this point, but that's not the case.  Some weird part of me thought I'd bound out of bed this morning and be 100% better.  Nope.  Not the case. 

So... along with perseverating on the options, surgery, therapy, and other injury related things, I've been pondering the meaning of life.  Okay, not quite the meaning of life, but more like the meaning of this injury.  Not to get all "do do do do... do do do do/ Twilight Zone" on you, but I do think that things happen for a reason. 

There must be a reason why this happened (other than my own stupidity for not paying attention to my running).  Here are my two theories:

First, my confession is that I had been considering leaving the world of education for a work-life full time in fitness.  No, not tomorrow, but I was really considering the move post-babies and I hadn't really worked out all the details. 

That being said, here's my first theory: This was God's way of telling me that it would be foolish to leave a stable career which I'm fairly skilled at.  Not to brag, but hey, I did get a job as a central office administrator at the age of 30.  My career has been very successful, thus far.  I have been lucky and am so grateful for the positive experiences I have had.  Am I supposed to really do this forever? 

Or, theory two: Did this injury occur to really show me how passionate I am about fitness and running?  I literally cannot stop thinking about running and how much I want to get back on the road.  I have deeply missed teaching my classes, and I have immersed myself in reading about fitness and running.  In a strange way, my sadness along this journey has made me aware of a true love of sport.  Is it true that if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life?

There they are--two polar opposite theories, and I can't figure out what it all means.  Or is it just a cautionary tale to pay attention before something serious happens when I'm running?  Or is it a sign that I need to have my phone and an ID with me just in case?  Or heck, is it really just me needing to obsess over something and since I can't run to clear my head, all I can do is throw around conspiracy theories?  So... what do you think?  What's it all mean?