Wine & Dine is over (I promise a race report is coming soon) and now I'm onto the next one: The 2014 Las Vegas Rock and Roll Half. I'm pretty tired from the fun of the Disney race and weekend. I definitely did something wrong at that race because my back is killing me. I also registered for Goofy so I have a ton of training ahead of me.
As I picked up my bib last night (and realized that I am corralled WAY too far up), I thought back to when I registered for this race. I registered the night before the Disneyland Half Marathon with the thought that I'd "have fun" at Wine and Dine, then turn around and race Vegas. I had grand ideas of chasing 2 hours again.
Tonight, I sit here and pray just to finish the race under 2:30. Yep, 2:30. I'm not even close to where I was before surgery. It's a huge reality check for me. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. I know I need to get back to a doctor and figure out some next steps. Surgery clearly didn't provide the relief I was hoping for (in brief, they just removed some floating pieces of cartilage; I still have a huge hole in my cartilage). Damn. I was hoping I wouldn't need more procedures.
I'm working on coming up with a new training plan, incorporating more PiYo for stretching and strength. I know Goofy is going to be really slow. I thought I'd be racing by Surf City Half, but now I'm not sure about that either. It's going to be a much longer road than I anticipated. BooHooooo. I'm done complaining. :)
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Greetings from Wine and Dine
Well, we're here, and I wanted to give you all some news. Sure, the expo was great, the food and wine festival is delicious, but you all know that. The big news is I registered for Goofy!!!!! I just couldn't resist the runDisney bag or that beautiful spinner medal! See you all in January. Who's coming???
Now, I'm off to run, because I have 8 weeks to train for Goofy--what did I get myself into?!??!?!
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Throwback Thursday: 2013 Wine & Dine Half Race Report, The Half Marathon
It's almost here! Actually, as you read this, we are probably on the plane on our way to Disney World to take on the 2014 Wine & Dine Half Marathon! I can't wait to party all night. Why? Because last year I felt so terrible afterwards that we had to skip out on the after party :( Boooooooo Hissssssss. Not this year though! I learned my lesson! Here's a recap of my mistakes, and the overall great race. Enjoy!
Original Post: December 5, 2013
Race Report: Wine & Dine Half Marathon 2013--Part 3: The Half Marathon...
already since we are now almost 4-weeks post race, but here's my story anyways :)
My hubby flew in that morning; my mom and I did the 5k. We spent the day at Hollywood Studios, and had a late lunch. I really, really tried to limit my time on my feet (honestly, I did), and we tried to get in a little nap before the race. I got a few minutes of sleep, but I was so excited it did no good. The alarms went off and we were up getting ready around 6:00.
We boarded the buses between 7 & 7:30. I instantly noticed a difference from the January races; people were awake, chatty, and ready to party! I was super excited because I was mid-Dopey-training and was going to set my sights on a PR. I felt great, the weather was good (slightly warm and humid, but almost perfect), and everything seemed to fit for a great run!
We arrived at the staging area and people were really buzzing. I stood
in a long line for the bathroom then we checked our bags. I noticed the
beefed up security post-Boston, but it didn't bother me much. We had
planned to meet-up with some groups, but the bathroom lines were so
long, it was impossible. I waited one more time in the corral area for
the bathroom and then lined up in corral C.
Disney had new corralling for this race; smaller (500 in each for the first few) and more frequent releases at the start. Corral C is what would have been the back of A in previous years. Truth be told, I had that moment of "whoa...I'm with the 'real runners'. I don't belong here!" I sat for about 15 minutes before the hype started up and we were getting ready to go. I was feeling a little tired, but figured that would pass as soon as we got started. Fanfare, A, B, then we were off!
I was really looking forward to this race: 3 parks, nighttime, food & wine at the end. I coasted out pretty quickly and found the course really was nicely spaced out. I never ran into the usual Disney overcrowding and there were very few run-walk-run-ers around. My race plan was to run steady, walk through water stops, grab a clif shot when they were offered, and attempt a PR. Here is what I remember of the run:
Mile 1: side stitches--ouch! Just keep running your pace; it will pass (and it did)
Mile 2: WooHoo! Feeling great, on pace for a sub-2:00 race, not breathing hard
Mile 3: Wow--look at all those people behind me...I'm really toward the front of the pack! (I think somewhere in there we were close to the Animal Kingdom)
Mile 4: I think I ate too much today; I'm not feeling well; this necklace is making me gag; I think I'm going to throw up; rip this necklace off!
Mile 5: Don't throw up
Mile 6: Don't throw up
Mile 7: Don't throw up
Mile 8: Don't throw up (oh, and don't take that gel either, that will make you throw up)
Mile 9: Don't throw up
Mile 10: Don't throw up
Mile 11: Don't throw up, but maybe drink a little water--Ooooo...Osbourne lights! They ARE amazing!
Mile 11.29: Yes, I remember looking down at my Garmin at this exact moment and thinking, "You idiot! You ran a 5k this morning, walked around all day, and now you're running a half marathon at close to midnight. I want to be done with this race!"
Those thoughts consumed me pretty much until the end. 13.1 miles, built up for years as the runDisney event that is everyone's favorite. I was miserable. I finished in 2:13; not the worst race ever, but far from the glory that I was expecting.
I
got my medal, my snacks, my drinks, my bag and headed out toward the
finish line party. My plan had been to do a wipe-down in the bathroom
to change and wait for my husband, but that didn't happen. I found some
grass and planted myself in the grass. I was wet and freezing! This
was a bad idea--I should have stuck to my original plan of changing
right away. I tried drinking little sips of PowerAde and water (I
didn't even open the wine). I tried to slowly chew some chips, thinking
it was the closest to a saltine cracker to settle my stomach. I
debated over and over whether or not to get up and get to a bathroom. I
was too afraid that the moment I stood up I'd be sick. I sat in the
grass, freezing, soaked in sweat for about 20 minutes before I decided I
had to get up and change. By that time, my hubby had finished, so I
stood to the side and waited for him. He immediately knew I did not
feel well; I could barely stand.
We made our way to the Epcot bathrooms, passing many people who looked like they were in rough shape too. I changed out of my wet clothes and felt slightly better; I wish I had brought warmer clothes. I definitely underestimated how cold I would be after the race. Billy changed too, and then we sat outside the bathrooms for about an hour. I wanted to go into the party so badly, but my stomach wouldn't do it. We finally decided just to take the buses back to the hotel. Huge disappointment--I really wanted to go to the after party. I made Billy promise we could come back and do this race again in the future so we could plan better. Add insult to injury--I got the prize for the worst wife that night, when I was so consumed with my own misery that I never asked him about his race. He did really well; no PR but close and he ran the entire time (no run-walk intervals). I hate that I didn't ask. He is amazing and so supportive of me all the time; I was a big poo and didn't even acknowledge his victory :(
Now
that you know all about my miserable night, I have to say, it is not a
fault of the race itself. I loved being able to run through 3 parks.
The smaller corrals worked wonderfully (though to be fair, I was toward
the front so I have no idea about people behind me). I found little to
no crowding on the course. The Osbourne lights were literally
breathtaking. I wish I had more time to see them. I loved some of the
nighttime effects, like the disco-ball costuming area and the laser
lights. There were a few dark spots that slowed me down, but overall,
it was a very entertaining course. As always, the volunteers were
awesome, the medals were great, and the organization of the event was
spot-on. The port-o-potty lines were a bit long before the race, so I'm
not sure if they just didn't have enough or if I'm just impatient. In
summation: great race, I'm not a night runner, I should have had more
fun, and I'll be back!
Original Post: December 5, 2013
Race Report: Wine & Dine Half Marathon 2013--Part 3: The Half Marathon...
already since we are now almost 4-weeks post race, but here's my story anyways :)
My hubby flew in that morning; my mom and I did the 5k. We spent the day at Hollywood Studios, and had a late lunch. I really, really tried to limit my time on my feet (honestly, I did), and we tried to get in a little nap before the race. I got a few minutes of sleep, but I was so excited it did no good. The alarms went off and we were up getting ready around 6:00.
We boarded the buses between 7 & 7:30. I instantly noticed a difference from the January races; people were awake, chatty, and ready to party! I was super excited because I was mid-Dopey-training and was going to set my sights on a PR. I felt great, the weather was good (slightly warm and humid, but almost perfect), and everything seemed to fit for a great run!
 |
| Ready to run! |
Disney had new corralling for this race; smaller (500 in each for the first few) and more frequent releases at the start. Corral C is what would have been the back of A in previous years. Truth be told, I had that moment of "whoa...I'm with the 'real runners'. I don't belong here!" I sat for about 15 minutes before the hype started up and we were getting ready to go. I was feeling a little tired, but figured that would pass as soon as we got started. Fanfare, A, B, then we were off!
I was really looking forward to this race: 3 parks, nighttime, food & wine at the end. I coasted out pretty quickly and found the course really was nicely spaced out. I never ran into the usual Disney overcrowding and there were very few run-walk-run-ers around. My race plan was to run steady, walk through water stops, grab a clif shot when they were offered, and attempt a PR. Here is what I remember of the run:
Mile 1: side stitches--ouch! Just keep running your pace; it will pass (and it did)
Mile 2: WooHoo! Feeling great, on pace for a sub-2:00 race, not breathing hard
Mile 3: Wow--look at all those people behind me...I'm really toward the front of the pack! (I think somewhere in there we were close to the Animal Kingdom)
Mile 4: I think I ate too much today; I'm not feeling well; this necklace is making me gag; I think I'm going to throw up; rip this necklace off!
Mile 5: Don't throw up
Mile 6: Don't throw up
Mile 7: Don't throw up
Mile 8: Don't throw up (oh, and don't take that gel either, that will make you throw up)
Mile 9: Don't throw up
Mile 10: Don't throw up
Mile 11: Don't throw up, but maybe drink a little water--Ooooo...Osbourne lights! They ARE amazing!
Mile 11.29: Yes, I remember looking down at my Garmin at this exact moment and thinking, "You idiot! You ran a 5k this morning, walked around all day, and now you're running a half marathon at close to midnight. I want to be done with this race!"
Those thoughts consumed me pretty much until the end. 13.1 miles, built up for years as the runDisney event that is everyone's favorite. I was miserable. I finished in 2:13; not the worst race ever, but far from the glory that I was expecting.
I
got my medal, my snacks, my drinks, my bag and headed out toward the
finish line party. My plan had been to do a wipe-down in the bathroom
to change and wait for my husband, but that didn't happen. I found some
grass and planted myself in the grass. I was wet and freezing! This
was a bad idea--I should have stuck to my original plan of changing
right away. I tried drinking little sips of PowerAde and water (I
didn't even open the wine). I tried to slowly chew some chips, thinking
it was the closest to a saltine cracker to settle my stomach. I
debated over and over whether or not to get up and get to a bathroom. I
was too afraid that the moment I stood up I'd be sick. I sat in the
grass, freezing, soaked in sweat for about 20 minutes before I decided I
had to get up and change. By that time, my hubby had finished, so I
stood to the side and waited for him. He immediately knew I did not
feel well; I could barely stand.We made our way to the Epcot bathrooms, passing many people who looked like they were in rough shape too. I changed out of my wet clothes and felt slightly better; I wish I had brought warmer clothes. I definitely underestimated how cold I would be after the race. Billy changed too, and then we sat outside the bathrooms for about an hour. I wanted to go into the party so badly, but my stomach wouldn't do it. We finally decided just to take the buses back to the hotel. Huge disappointment--I really wanted to go to the after party. I made Billy promise we could come back and do this race again in the future so we could plan better. Add insult to injury--I got the prize for the worst wife that night, when I was so consumed with my own misery that I never asked him about his race. He did really well; no PR but close and he ran the entire time (no run-walk intervals). I hate that I didn't ask. He is amazing and so supportive of me all the time; I was a big poo and didn't even acknowledge his victory :(
Now
that you know all about my miserable night, I have to say, it is not a
fault of the race itself. I loved being able to run through 3 parks.
The smaller corrals worked wonderfully (though to be fair, I was toward
the front so I have no idea about people behind me). I found little to
no crowding on the course. The Osbourne lights were literally
breathtaking. I wish I had more time to see them. I loved some of the
nighttime effects, like the disco-ball costuming area and the laser
lights. There were a few dark spots that slowed me down, but overall,
it was a very entertaining course. As always, the volunteers were
awesome, the medals were great, and the organization of the event was
spot-on. The port-o-potty lines were a bit long before the race, so I'm
not sure if they just didn't have enough or if I'm just impatient. In
summation: great race, I'm not a night runner, I should have had more
fun, and I'll be back! |
| Finally drank our finish-line wine 5 days later! |
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
My Goals for the 2014 Wine & Dine Half
We barely just came back from a Halloween trip to Disneyland, and we are getting ready to head to Walt Disney World for the 5th annual Wine & Dine Half Marathon. I am definitely NOT ready--I don't have a costume, haven't started packing, still have tons to do!!! One thing I've been thinking about, though, is my goals. I'm still not really running fast since surgery, so it's time to focus on other things. Here you go--my goals for this race:
1. Finish strong--okay, this one is a little running related. I always set a goal to finish strong.
2. Shut down the after party! We missed the party last year because I was feeling terrible after running. This year--no way! We are shutting it down! I will be dragging myself around the park until 4 am.
3. Meet up with social media friends. I always get caught up in the race and spending time in the parks. This year, though, I'm going to all the meet-ups and being sure to put faces with Facebook names. (If you see me, come say hi too).
4. Enjoy the expo. I usually fly through the expo with a specific list and get back to the parks as soon as possible. This time, I want to really see the booths and enjoy the speakers. I plan to spend at least half a day at the expo.
5. Have more fun! This is my goal for the whole weekend. I just want to really enjoy running again. It's been such a trying few months, and I need to restore my love of running.
What are your goals for your next race? Who am I seeing at Wine & Dine?
1. Finish strong--okay, this one is a little running related. I always set a goal to finish strong.
2. Shut down the after party! We missed the party last year because I was feeling terrible after running. This year--no way! We are shutting it down! I will be dragging myself around the park until 4 am.
3. Meet up with social media friends. I always get caught up in the race and spending time in the parks. This year, though, I'm going to all the meet-ups and being sure to put faces with Facebook names. (If you see me, come say hi too).
4. Enjoy the expo. I usually fly through the expo with a specific list and get back to the parks as soon as possible. This time, I want to really see the booths and enjoy the speakers. I plan to spend at least half a day at the expo.
5. Have more fun! This is my goal for the whole weekend. I just want to really enjoy running again. It's been such a trying few months, and I need to restore my love of running.
What are your goals for your next race? Who am I seeing at Wine & Dine?
Saturday, November 1, 2014
What Runners Do Today
Okay...maybe not every runner, but this is what I DO as a runDisney runner. It's the day after Halloween, so that means costume sales!!!! I always try to think ahead to what races are coming up and what I might do for costumes. Then, I hit those seasonal Halloween stores. Parts like gloves, tights, even full costumes are on sale. This is the perfect time to stock up.
What's on your runDisney race calendar? Think through those costumes and get shopping today! (BTW, anyone else struggling with costumes for Star Wars weekend? I think there are TOO MANY options for that one!)
What's on your runDisney race calendar? Think through those costumes and get shopping today! (BTW, anyone else struggling with costumes for Star Wars weekend? I think there are TOO MANY options for that one!)
Friday, October 31, 2014
Friday Five: My 5 Favorite runDisney Medals
I'm departing for one week from my usual link-up (but you should all still check out the DC gals and their Friday Five--they are talking Halloween). This week, I was inspired by a recent podcast episode from my favorite podcast: Mickey Miles! Seriously, if you haven't listened and you love runDisney, you are missing out (you can find it on i-Tunes)! Mike & Michelle have spent many hours with me on many long runs!!!! A few weeks ago, a listener question arose: "What are you top-5 runDisney medals?" GOOD QUESTION!!!! So I got to making my mental list during my run, and here's the official one:
5. My very first runDisney medal: the 2010 Disneyland Half Marathon (which was also the 5th anniversary of the race). It was the beginning of this addiction. My hubby and I have run that race every year since :)
4. The Dumbo Double Dare medal. This is/will be my first Legacy race. For those of you who aren't familiar with legacy runners, these are people who have done every year of the race, and runDisney recognizes them at 5 years. I can't wait for 2017!
3. All of the Coast to Coast medals--I've accumulated 3 so far, and next year I'm already registered for the races to get the pink one. I love the classic Partners statue and the consistency. I don't think I could ever have too many of these!
2. The 20th anniversary Marathon medal--this one is pure prettiness. It spins, has classic Mickey & current Mickey, and has two of my favorite Disney quotes: "I hope we never lose sight of one thing: that it was all started by a mouse" & "All of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them"
1. My Dopey Challenge medal. I'm not sure if I'll ever run another challenge this huge, but I'm sure glad I did it once! It was seriously such a huge personal accomplishment, and SERIOUS FUN!
What are your favorites? Which medal are you earning next? (Btw, mine is the Wine & Dine Half, in case you were wondering!)
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Throwback Thursday: 2013 Wine & Dine Half Race Report, Jingle Jungle 5k
Happy Throwback Thursday! Last year, I convinced my mom to join me for the Jingle Jungle 5k the morning of the Wine & Dine Half. Enjoy the race report!
Original Post: December 3, 2013
Race Report: Wine & Dine Half Marathon 2013 Part 2--Jingle Jungle 5k
My hubby had to work on Friday, so I conned my mom to run another 5k in
Disney with me (well, let's be honest, when Disney is involved, it's not
too difficult). We had indulged at the Food & Wine Festival and
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party the day before, so that early
morning wake-up call was a little rough. Add to it the fact that I was
using my new phone and didn't set my alarm correctly. The morning was a
little rushed, but we ended up at the start line with plenty of time to
spare.
The new magic bands allowed us to not have to check a bag, so we walked straight into our corral and I quickly sat on the ground to try and save my legs for the half marathon. It was "snowing" and I loved people watching. There were some really great fun and festive costumes. I'll admit it; I've kind of been anti-Disney-5k because of the price and the whole "fun run" thing. This being my second 5k, I will concede and admit it was pretty fun! I hope runDisney doesn't keep the prices soaring, as they are really pricey. I'm actually loving adding these into my race weekends.
Overall
the race was fun; pretty much mile 2 was in the Animal Kingdom and the
rest was outside. It was nice to run through this park since it's
missed in all but the marathon in January. The characters were very
"Animal Kindom-ish". My mom didn't want to stop for pictures; somehow
she was still worried about finishing (she did so much better this time;
I wish she would have taken more pictures, but I let her 'run' the
show).
We
finished right around 45 minutes. Believe it or not, in "fun run"
spirit, I left my Garmin in the room and didn't worry about pace. The
ending felt a little more "parking lot-ish" than some other races, so
after a quick picture, we were on our way back to the hotel to shower
and get ready for the parks. We spent the day at Hollywood Studios and
my hubby and I had to gear up for our first night race: The 2013 Wine
& Dine Half Marathon.
That's all! 5k done, now onto the real reason we came :)
Original Post: December 3, 2013
Race Report: Wine & Dine Half Marathon 2013 Part 2--Jingle Jungle 5k
 |
| A blurry Mickey & Minnie at the start |
The new magic bands allowed us to not have to check a bag, so we walked straight into our corral and I quickly sat on the ground to try and save my legs for the half marathon. It was "snowing" and I loved people watching. There were some really great fun and festive costumes. I'll admit it; I've kind of been anti-Disney-5k because of the price and the whole "fun run" thing. This being my second 5k, I will concede and admit it was pretty fun! I hope runDisney doesn't keep the prices soaring, as they are really pricey. I'm actually loving adding these into my race weekends.
Overall
the race was fun; pretty much mile 2 was in the Animal Kingdom and the
rest was outside. It was nice to run through this park since it's
missed in all but the marathon in January. The characters were very
"Animal Kindom-ish". My mom didn't want to stop for pictures; somehow
she was still worried about finishing (she did so much better this time;
I wish she would have taken more pictures, but I let her 'run' the
show). 
We
finished right around 45 minutes. Believe it or not, in "fun run"
spirit, I left my Garmin in the room and didn't worry about pace. The
ending felt a little more "parking lot-ish" than some other races, so
after a quick picture, we were on our way back to the hotel to shower
and get ready for the parks. We spent the day at Hollywood Studios and
my hubby and I had to gear up for our first night race: The 2013 Wine
& Dine Half Marathon. That's all! 5k done, now onto the real reason we came :)
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