2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend - Part 4

I found Brett at our meeting point afterwards and I had (and still have) the biggest smile on my face. I had done it. Little Miss, I cant run, Im not a runner, I cant get past the 5K mark, ran a 1/2 marathon!!

Now lets explain something - I did 'train' for this because I posted about my running adventures along the way. I say 'train' loosely as I only had 1 long run of 7 miles, which prior to this race was my longest run EVER!  For the month of december I was in Europe for 11 days and then came Christmas and New Years so on new years day I ran a 10K and that was it prior.

Was this smart? Nope. Well how did I do this? I have no clue. I think I am very lucky that I'm not hurt, not super sore and I guess young enough still that my body bouces back.  I do think what helped me finish was the fact that my 1st 6 miles were slower than my last 6.

So how'd I do? 13.26 miles 2:20:28..... how'd Brett do 13.25 miles 1:49:31.... with less training than me...crazy!

Distance: 13.26 miles
M1- 12:01                     M7 - 10:16                      M13 - 9:45
M2 -11:54                    M8 - 10:30                      M14 - (.26) 8:47 pace
M3 -11:07                    M9 - 10:01
M4- 10:58                   M10 - 9:55
M5 -10:51                   M11 - 10:11
M6 -10:57                  M12 -  9:41
                                   

2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend - Part 3

Miles 1-3 were a breeze, I knew I was running slower than normal because well it was so freaking crowded. I didnt look at the garmin because I told myself its ok, this is your warm up, let the crowd spread out and then you can pick it up and stay strong to the finish.  Because I at breakfast at 3am, I decided to eat 2 cliff blocks at the 5K mark. 1st time having these and they were quite tasty in Orange flavor.

Mile 4-6 were more fun as you got closer to magic kingdom and inside the park. The crowds were awesome cheering for everyone, the scenery was awesome, the music along the way. I left my music off and enjoyed looking around, listening to people, listening to the crowd. Downside as you got closer to the park there was this area with an overpass that you went under around mile 4 that had a nice incline that everyone was freaking out about.... in addition it was a 2 lane road everyone was on with only 1 lane for runners.... talk about cramped and not easy to move in or out of people.
The run took you into Magic Kingdom, down main street, through tomorrowland, through fantasy land, through the castle, into Frontier land and then out the back towards the main road back to Epcot.

Mile 7-9 were a little dull....at around Mile 8 I put on my music as this was offically my longest run ever and though I was feeling ok, there was less crowd support so I was a little scared I was going to wuss out and mentally break down.

Mile 10 came and I thought only a 5K to go, I can do this OMG I really am going to do this!! I'm not sure what I did but i noticed my hand hurt so i looked down and my hands were swollen. Like hurt when I bent my fingers swollen and I didnt have my wedding rings off! So then a mini freak out happened. I'm trying to get my rings off while still running....so then i have to slow to a walk to blow, lick, my fingers to wiggle the rings off..... finally i get them off in what seems like to be 10 mins and put them in my zipper pocket on my running pants.

Mile 11 - 12 I continually touch my butt pocket to ensure I havent lost my wedding rings, because eventhough the race fee was $140 and quite expensive, I didnt need to turn this race into a thousand dollar one by loosing 2 rings. With the ring dilema, I forgot what mile I was on and when I saw the mile 11 sign I couldnt believe it as I thought I was only approaching mile 10. 2 miles to go I thought! HOLY cow!!  As I lost my dad this year, I said to myself, hey dad hope youre awake, if so go get nana and grampa and poppa and watch me finish this thing!!
I was on a runners high, I was so close it was awesome, my legs were cramping some but I couldnt stop, I was going to finish and I was going to be able to say I did it without stopping.

Mile 12 to 13.1 were in Epcot - you went in, down to where the World Showcase started then turned around - where the turn around was , it was cramped as it was narrow so that was a little tricky when getting around people / dealing with those walking. Once past the turn around you had maybe another .5-.6 to go. It felt so far but so close at the same time. I did my best weaving in and out of people and had a few run into me but I didnt care, I was almost there.

13.1 - the finish line was right infront of me and i picked it up to what I had left in my tank and crossed the finish line. My end photo will probably be so horrible because i was so confused on where the finish mat was. I couldnt see it at first to know i finished and there were 2 so I didnt know what to think and when to hit stop on my garmin.

Then medal and mylar time. I was so excited to get both. yes both! LOL. afterwards it was so congested and there were lines of people and I couldnt figure out why.... well now I know because I didnt get one. A race finish photo with the Disney 2012 marathon weekend backdrop. OH well - another time I guess.... For someone who reads a lot of running blogs you would have thought I would have known about this.... nope. not me! So instead I stood in line for all the freebies that they hand you (water, powerade, banana, orange, candy, bagels,) and seriously you cant hold it all. Someone should really think about getting little bags and just hand you one when you finish with all this inside.

2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend - Part 2

We arrived at Epcot and parked the car at 3:50am, (traffic was congested but not horrible). Because it was cold out we stuck it out in the car until 4:15 to head to bag drop to leave a much too big of bag for one small pair of keys.

In the bag drop tent (Where it was much warmer) i told Brett to stay put as I was going to brave the cold to stand in line for a porta-potty. Yah about 20 mins later I finally get to one and then it was head for the start line.... well when they tell you it takes 20 mins to get from the bag area to the start, they really mean it. There were just sooo many people crammed into one area. Which wasnt bad because it was so freaking cold.

While we were closer to the corrals but not close enough we see the fireworks go off and everyone knew the race had officially started.....I started to get nervous thinking we wouldnt make it to the corral, but then we turned a corner and wouldnt ya know about 100 porta potties and all the corrals LoL.... after my 2nd stop and Brett's first we headed for Corral D and basically got into the back of the corrall and stood around for 2-4 mins before we started moving to the start line. Talk about perfect timing.

Race starts- Brett and I wish eachother luck, tell eachother to have fun, take it easy and see you at the finish.

2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

I did it. I completed my 1st Half Marathon!! Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Now first things first - I didnt take a camera or my phone to take pics along the way. So there arent a lot of photos until I can find a blogger who took some that I can borrow. :)

So back to the event - Brett and I were both signed up - we did the whole expo thing on Friday

Holy Moly was that an event. Packet pick up was in one building and the expo in another.... a little pain in the butt but not horrible.  So Packet pick up was super easy - with the number of cars and the thousands of people walking towards the buildings I thought oh this will take an hour at least. Nope not at all. Got our #'s and found out we were in Corral H....the last freaking corral..... ok ok I get it 1st race, youre not 'royalty' to be in the front just yet.

We head to the Expo because 1) we needed our goodie bags and 2) I signed Brett and I up for Pace groups by Cliff Bar....so we wanted to find out where they'd be. So we walk up and me being so proud of signing up tells the guy and he says ok pace group 1:50 is in corral A and 2:15 is in B what are your corrals.......my heart sinks and I say H.... hes like Oh just go back to registration and have them switch you.... Im thinking I know its not that easy so after a quick purchase at the trackshack booth for some cliff shots and body glide, back to registration we went.

We go to the lady and tell her what Cliff bar man said and shes like sure we can if you provide proof of a 10K race or higher......hahahh yah right lady I've only ran a 10K as practice not in race format. so we say sorry we didnt sign up for anything prior and she says well the closest I can put you in is corral D instead. So we easily agreed and were now in Corral D.

Brett was really happy and said it would work out to our benefit, just wait and see. So we headed home like 2 kids before Christmas and I laid out all of our stuff (clothes, ipods, garmins, race #'s, breakfast,) so we'd be ready to go in the morning.

Finally at 10:00pm we went to bed.......and at 2:45am we were awake, wanting but not wanting to get out of bed. at 3:10am we left our house for the Mouse house for the race.

Wahoooooo Wednesday

Wahoooooo its Wednesday....... this week is FLYING by, and pretty soon I'll be Flying outta town for some vacation!

First, let me provide a tiny running update.

Its been oh, hmm, a good week or two since I've 'really' ran. On Thanksgiving morning I did a 4 mile run in Ohio - just realized I didnt write about that, sorry folks.
Then with being busy with work and going to Bikram Yoga, my running has been in the 2-3 mile range (which isnt horrible, its just I neeeeeeed to up my mileage since I have this tiny 1/2 marathon coming up).

So last night Brett and I went running.... we ran separate and then he met up with me for miles 3-4.  I broke in the new shoes last night and oh dear wow, I forgot how much that sucks. But its what I needed as I ran my 2nd 10K last night. It was awesome. No mental issues, body felt good, had a little chafing, but when I finished I was the happiest girl ever- because my new official time is 1:01:19. Wahoooooo!

Now what makes Wednesday Wahoo is the fact that tomorrow, my mom comes into town!!
She gets to see our house decorated for Christmas!

The 'I wish I was this Skinny Christmas Tree'

Decorations around the TV                                      Closeup of the Ornament Tree by TV

Love having the house decorated for Christmas. :)  Just wish I was going to be home to enjoy it. Yet again the husband and I have vacation in December, we head for Europe this weekend.  We'll be back soon enough - and I can already tell its going to be rough getting home and logging some miles.

Gotta go pack!

Weekend Re-Cap

So this weekend, the inlaws and I celebrated Bretts 29th Birthday, by going to Asia & Africa.... oh yah know just a quick 30ish mile drive away at Disney's Animal Kingdom. hahah. Had ya fooled almost right?

The weather was great this weekend so a lot of the animals were actually out when we went on the 'safari'.

We also went on Expedition Everest - the newest roller coaster.

One Word - AWESOME! It goes forward and backwards. I'm really at a loss of words on how else to describe it.

In addition to that-  this weekend was the OUC 1/2 Marathon and 5K. I didnt sign up for the 1/2 Marathon like I was encouraged to do, nor did I sign up for the 5K.  Being an accountant, it was month end close Thursday & Friday and I had 2 back to back late nights.... so Saturday on my way to Bikram Yoga, I see the race finishing up and tons of people with their medals..... it made me sad.  I wish I would have just sucked it up and gone and attempted my 1st 1/2 marathon but Disney is about 30 days away! OMG!!!

Giveaway Time

Skinny Runner is at it again....shes giving away BIC bands..... I so hope I win one because I'm dying to try one out but Im a tad cheap to buy myself one....

I need a...

Vacation from my vacation, but that would mean I'd need this week off since another Vacation starts soon.....

For Thanksgiving, Brett and I traveled to my parents house in Ohio to see the family. We like to take our 4 legged child and since she's never flown, we drive. We are a tad bit crazy and drove overnight after work for 16 hours. Not sure how we do it but we get it done.

Loved seeing the family - Love being up north where the weather feels like the holiday. Ok Ok I really just like to wear my sweaters.

I'm very fortunate to have my aunt and uncle live next door to my parents. Each house is on 5+ acres of land so my uncle (who acts like hes 14) comes over on the 4 wheeler. Which worked out because when Uncle #2 arrived, he realized he left some adult beverages at home so the cousin and I were sent to retreive it.

The day after Turkey Day, Brett and I helped my mom set up the Christmas Tree and Garland on the banister. I love where she puts her tree, its such a fun spot.

With the nephews being over, we thought it would be a great idea to take their pictures infront of the Tree... yah not as easy as it seemed. Trying to get three boys (ages 5, 23 months, 11 months) to sit still isnt all cake and ice cream.


Take 1 - Anthony must have done                            Take 2 - Almost there except Anthony'ssomething interesting                                  Anthony again. LOL

                        


Hope everyone had a Great Thanksgiving.... I know we did. :)

Run # 72

"But here's the thing, just by lacing up your shoes and putting one foot in front of the other you are declaring to the world that you are a runner. " - Amanda from 'Run to the Finish'

Hey Hey! Yep the celebration badge is back.  I set a Personal Distance Record tonight. What you ask? Because you're on the edge of your seat, I'll tell you. I ran 7 miles tonight!!

I definately wasnt planning on running that far but it happened. I am in shock! I am super proud of myself. As my husband said when i got back 'I didnt know you had that in the tank tonight'.

During my run tonight I was thinking alot about running and running with people, most specifically my husband. We occassionally run together but for the most part I hate running with him. I cant do it. Ok take that back - I CAN do it, I just dont like doing it. Why? I dont feel like its my run when I run with him. I feel like I'm having to run his run and do what he wants. Its weird - when we do run together I feel like we are running 5 min miles and that I'm about to die. I'll slow down so I follow him and then he likes to play the slow down speed up game with me and I dont even know we are doing it. SO I think thats part of the reason why Im not a fan of running with him.

So after thinking about this tonight, I get back and start reading Amanda's blog and she had some great stuff about running tonight that I have to share.

Running isn't about speed

Running isn't about PR's


Running isn't about how far you go


Running is a process and one that you should definitely enjoy by allowing yourself to go on a journey. You don't have to run 3 miles on day one, you just have to put one foot in front of the other and then do it again tomorrow.

I LOVE how right she is. I also want to add that Running isnt easy, but DONT get easily discouraged if you cant run a mile or you cant run 6 in under an hour. To get better you have to sick with it. Just read back at some of my older posts - I spent forever in the under 3 mile range because mentally I couldnt do it. Yes I wanted to throw in the towel, and I'd take days off because I wouldnt want to run but overall I never really quit and I can say here today that I ran 7 miles!

Am I fast? No I dont think so - but to someone else I am. Dont judge your capabilities against someone else.  Its extremely hard not to - and I'll be the 1st to admit that I would do it a lot but now I've 'seen the light' and running is my own race and I can only compare myself to me.

Results of Run #72
Distance: 7.0 miles
Time: 1:10:07
Pace: 10:00 / mile
M1- 10:23
M2 - 10:00
M3 - 10:13
M4 - 10:01
M5 - 9:55
M6 - 10:05
M7 - 9:25

Three Things Thursday

1. I woke up this morning and was 100% convinced it was only Wednesday. Yep its been one of those weeks already. I was corrected by Brett leaving the house, didnt believe him, checked the calendar and yep its Thursday. Good thing I found out because Thursday = Greys Anatomy. :)

2. I had a great run tonight - though my right food started to hurt like near my pinky toe. I've been needing to get a pedicure (or just do it myself) but I was hopeful that I'd go and pamper myself soon but that hasnt happened (especially when I figured out it was later in the week than I thought). WELLLLLLL I get home, take off the shoes and I have bloody sock. woah - what?? yep! where my pinky toe is - my long toe-nail dug into my neighboring toe and caused a sore that bled. sweet. Sike!

3. This weekend I'll be going here

my best friend got us free tickets and we havent been in forever together. We cant wait to go on the new Harry Potter ride and see the new Harry Potter area. I'll have to post next week a review. :)

Run # 71

"On days you don't want to run or think you will have a bad run, go run! You will surprise yourself." - Me

                                          
Yep - celebration time again.... bust out those dancin' shoes

I set another PR tonight running 4 miles. Amazing. Well I find it amazing, you dont have to if you dont want to but trust me this is some serious stuff over here. I've been sick and didnt run for a week, had to work a ton and set out tonight wanting to run 4 miles. I have a 2 mile loop that I do and told myself that I had to run the loop 2ce. No questions, no stopping, no quitting. I really felt like I was running in slow motion tonight. Thankfully my ipod was working (these past runs its not been charged) but every song that came on seemed to be a slower song, which had m thinking,

when you run - what do you listen to?

do you have slower songs on your play list? do you think they make you run slower?

I listen to just about anything - Blink 182, Lil wayne, JayZ, Linkin Park, Eve 6, Jack Johnson.

Right now my favorite running song(s) are

Think Twice by Eve 6 and Who Gon Stop me and Ni**as in Paris by Kanye & JayZ

Yep total different sides of the music spectrum. <3 it.

Results of Run #71

Distance: 4.05

Time: 39:57

Pace: 9:51 / mile

M1 - 9:59

M2 - 10:13

M3- 10:00

M4 - 9:23

M5 - 7:05 (.05)

4 mile time only = 39:38  previous 40:06

Run # 70

"Ask yourself: 'Can I give more?'. The answer is usually: 'Yes'."
-Paul Tergat, Kenyan professional marathoner
                                                      
Celebration Time!  Yep - a new PR Tonight. You'll never guess what I did........... I ran.......... 6.23 miles. O-M-G! yep for real it happened. I was at my inlaws place and decided to go out for a run, well the loop around the neighborhood is 1.5 miles and I usually run 2 loops, well I knew I wanted to accomplish 3 and told myself I could do it. Well I changed things up some and included running to the entrance of the neighborhood as well. So when I hit the 5 mile mark I knew I could get to 6.2 to have my 1st 10K under my belt! WAHOOOOO!

This was the best run of my life. I felt good, the weather was perfect, mentally i didnt hit the wall. I was, and still am a very happy camper! 1/2 marathon here I come!


In other news - check out Run To The Finish. The 2011 Holiday Bootie Buster challenge is coming up soon. I did it last year and Amanda puts on a great challenge to keep you in shape over the holidays. And the best part is you can win prizes!


Results of Run # 70
Distance: 6.23 miles
Time: 1:03:45
Pace: 10:13 / mile
M1 - 10:06
M2 - 10:29
M3 - 10:20
M4 - 10:20
M5 - 10:12
M6 - 10:13
M7 - 8:56 pace (.23)

August 18 - October 8th

Yep, thats the timeframe in which I've not posted a thing. Whoopsie? Sorry?

I've had a huge life adjustment. I started a new job that I absolutely LOVE. Yes seriously I do. I actually have to work too - but I like it. Wait what? Ok so previous job I had to work, but it was like crazy easy and no stress and I'd get my daily tasks done super quick which left a lot of time for playing on my phone.  So why leave an easy job? Basically for career growth. I"m now learning a TON, doing more with my accounting/finance degree and it feels wonderful.

So with this new job I've had to adjust to new hours, new responsibilities and that has meant some later nights. Later nights have meant fewer runs. Also I'm trying to stick with this studying for the CPA thing.  Has anyone attempted to study for something AFTER being done with college? Umm it sucks. I have no desire to study, but I know I need my name followed by 3 letters to at least climb the corporate ladder one day (that is if husband fails at climbing his own lol j/k).

So now here I am - attempting to come back - not on a daily basis but i hope for 1-2ce a week.
I want to run the OUC 1/2 Marathon in December as a warm up to my January Disney 1/2 Marathon..... So I need to log more miles and get ready!

Here's to some longer runs and more studying!

Run # 69

ITs a Celebration!!! New Personal Record Tonight!! and I accomplished a goal!

First - I am still around, I am trying to run more but Ive been busy lately with starting my new job (which I LOVE!) and I've signed up for another 10 class Bikram Yoga package so I do that 1-2 times a week.

Tonight, the hubby and I went out to go run. It luckily wasnt as hot as normal so you didnt feel like you were going to melt or die. Monday we ran 2 miles - I wanted to die but didnt, Thank you God, we both know its not my time. So today I wanted to run at least 3 miles - we set out and I tried hard not to look at my pace but cheated a few times and compared to Brett and he said we were going a lot slower than my garmin said so I knew his must be wrong because it felt like 5 min miles. LOL.

2 miles in I wanted to quit but told myself I had to get 3 in Once we were getting close to the 3 mark and that a PR would be possilble the 5K goal came about and wow. Maybe I dont need to train for the 1/2 marathon and just go wing it since I can not run for a lil while and pull this out. Dont get me wrong but I just dont get it. Why cant every run be a good / amazing run?

Results of Run #69 - New 5K PR

Distance: 3.10 miles

Time: 28:51

Pace: 9:18 / mile

M1 - 9:17

M2 - 9:16

M3 - 9:28

M4 - 8:20 pace (.10)

June & July 2011 Summary

With my lazy but I forgot to post my monthly summary for June. Since its August I figured post a combo summary for June & July.... lets see if I can space these 2 out in 2 columns

42.40 miles in June                                               65.60 miles in July
Running: 14.66 miles                                             Walking: 30.42 miles
Walking: 14.17 miles                                              Running: 19.59 miles
Cycling: 10.30 miles                                              Cycling: 15.30 miles
Elliptical: 3.10 miles                                               Swimming: .25 miles
Swimming: .19 miles

June was my longest run to date with a whopping 4 miles - then July came and I was able to run a 5 miler. Maybe August will be my 6??? hahahh

Lazy

Yep - I've been very lazy lately.  Almost feel like that cute pup, but wish my laziness looked like that.  What doesnt help is that last week I caught a cold from a very sharing co-worker.

Now that I'm feeling better I really need to start running / training for this 1/2 marathon I signed up for.... cant believe its in 152 days...eeek!

Oh dang

Though I'm notorious for learning about things last - I've known about the heat but havent paid real close attention to the rest of the world. Holy moly people - its been hot and not just in Florida and like oh dang real hot.

I attempted to run the other day to 'start' my half marathon training. So I waited until it was 'later' uhh yah stilllllll way too hot out. Not cool. I really dont want to run 'real late' when its dark out, so Please God turn off the heat at night I dont want to die of heat stroke when I run.

With the job hunt this cartoon was exactly how I felt.  The job market hasnt been ideal lately and I have a decent job its just not what I want out of my career.  Well the other day I posted about an interview and well I heard back and................

YAYA I am so happy! I start in 2 weeks and cant wait.

Hello World

Please accept my apology as I have not posted in oh hmm over a week. I have been running, I have been studying and I've been working. Aka Life has been busy.

Lets give you the update

So Everyone knows I'm studying to become a CPA. Well, in my current position, upon gaining this designation it wouldnt do a whole lot for me. So I've been interviewing - well passing out my resume and getting a few bites here and there. WELL today - I went in for an interview, and it sounds promising and having my CPA there would be very beneficial in the future.

So I spend a lot of my time studying lately neglecting almost anything else in my life.

Now - here comes the debbie downer part of the post

I'm going to have to continue to slack on my posting while I study to get this CPA done. I'm trying to come up with ways to stay active on this blog (aka write posts at work during my downtime) and then copy and paste...... I of course will post about huge milestones I accomplish with my running because that was the whole reason behind starting this blog.

Hope everyone is doing well. *Fingers Crossed* this new job works out. I'll let you know soon.

Three Things Thursday

1. Love that its already Thursday, with having the holiday on Monday almost everyone I know thinks tomorrow is thursday but its actually time for Friday!!

2. I'm in a slump with exercise - I still cant believe I pulled out a 5 mile run over the weekend, so you'd think I'd be all about running this week but I havent gone out :(   2 days the weather sucked and 1 was a holiday so yah no excuse for the other 2 days.......maybe a morning run tomorrow?

3. CPA Exam studying is back in action. I started earlier than I planned thinking I'd be ahead.....well I was until umm yesterday. Now Im right on track with my original plan. Kinda blah feeling, but could be worse I could be behind.

Happy 4th of July

Hope everyone has a Great 4th of July.

Its a gorgeous day today, so we spent a large majority out here

Nothin ever changes.....well for me, once a pool kid always a pool kid

Kady, isnt a pool dog but loves the hose and laying out

Time to eat.  :)