Connect the Dots Ginger | Becky Allen: Races
Showing posts with label Races. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Races. Show all posts

Monday, January 5, 2015

NYD5K Race Recap

My first race recap of the year! Oh how fun!
~Pink faced from the race. I look like I am dying but I am fine!~

New Year's morning I braved the wind and cold to run a 5k. I was told the week earlier by one of the coaches from my training program that the beginning is a dirt road. For nearly a week I was wondering what that meant. Like super rocky, like break my ankle cause I am super clumsy or if it meant anything else.

I got a ride from my friend J. It was a lot colder than we were expecting and very windy but the winds really weren't that bad when we started to run. It was just freezing at the beginning because it was so shady where the bib pick up was.
J and I went and huddled in the car after we got our bibs to try and warm up. J mentioned that she ran the race a couple of years ago and it was pretty flat. I am starting to like hills, to an extent, because that is where I can make up my time lost from walking. My game plan was to come in at under 50 min. That is all I wanted.

I lined up at the back of the pack, I was actually right behind my captain from the training program. I jogged with her in the beginning, for about the first 3/4 miles. Then I actually needed a short walking break. As I walked I noticed a lady behind me, then she passed me but she breathing a little hard. We started talking and she said that it was her second race ever.

I started pacing with her and talking with her to help her breathing out. The common question of "why am I doing this" kept coming up. I told her she was already doing it and I kept running with her. As we rounded the 1.5 mile mark at the turn around I felt like she was pulling back on the downhills. I told her to open up her stride and let gravity take her. She did and was loving it!

We continued to run and talk and I shared advice with her on running. As we came up to the last 1/4 mile my friend J met us and was join in. She was already done, totally kicked butt and she is pregnant! The lady I was running with, her family was going to run in with her too so I pulled ahead and ran in with J. Right as I crossed the finish line the lady I was running with sprinted right in front of me and finished half a second before me! And here I thought she was further behind me. J pushed me at the end and I was actually pushed at the end which is good!

And good news is, I came in at 47:45. I was super excited. I think I could have even come in sooner but I would rather help someone out than just let them suffer and struggle. Maybe for the 10k I have coming up in February I will push myself. Actually I have to push myself because I need to hit a certain time so that I can use it for corral placement for Disney. I want to be in a good corral!

The course was not too hilly. I had a steady climb then decline so that was nice. More rolling than anything. The landscape was beautiful. We were running on a back road and there were some pretty beautiful homes out there! Not to mention that a horse charged at us. I thought he was going to jump the fence at us.

The only draw back is that the road was not closed so cars were driving around us runners so it could have been potential even more dangerous than it was, but it was a back road and there weren't that many cars. It is a very small race. But nice to have a New Year race so close to home!

Thursday, January 1, 2015

2014 Goals Recap


HAPPY NEW YEAR! It is the start of a great year and I am so looking forward to it and to my goals I have. First though I wanted to take a look back at my goals I had for 2014 to see if I accomplished them or not. So here is a look back!

Here are a list of my goals for this year:

1. Weight loss/Staying Healthy-
I was pregnant so this was hard on me but I DID IT! I continued to exercise while pregnant and only gained 15 lbs while pregnant. PRETTY GOOD for this food lover! It was after I had Collin that I struggled. I kept a pretty good diet while pregnant but then fell into eating poor foods after about 3 months postpartum. That has resulted in me ending the year gaining weight from when I had him and that is just not cool! So I did great for the first 6 months, it is the last 6 that I struggled. So I give myself a C+ on that one. And breastfeeding never helps me lose weight. Awful rumor to say that it will cause it does nothing for me! 

2. Exercise-
Yep, did pretty well with this one for most of the year. I ran all the way till 30 weeks pregnant (the week after my half marathon) And also again at 40 weeks started walking and doing some runs to help Collin come out. Then I had a LONG recovery after Collin to the point that any time I ran ) even after 3 months I would bleed heavily for a few days. I think those days are over but it has really messed with me mentally and wanting to get back into running. I was getting frustrated with my body for not listening to me and for fighting me for exercising. But I have pushed on and it seems (cross fingers) that it is getting better. 

3. Blog pageviews-
YES! I have doubled my views since last January and it has been AMAZING! I have had almost 25k total page views since I started blogging and that is AMAZING! Thank you so much for reading and it is still a goal of mine to continue to grow in my readership, which means for you, yes you my friend, to pass my blog on to your friends! 

4. Be a Better Mother-
Well, not sure about this. I question it most days if I am being a good mom or not and Mason will even say, "Not bad mommy, good mommy!" It is kind of cute, but I am still trying to be better. We do our little "homeschooling" most days and he is talking so much now and is doing great with numbers. January I plan on starting to help him color more and then hopefully transition into trying to write. Plus working on reading words. So we will see. Oh and he will be potty trained by July! 

5. Continue to grow my piano studio-
CHECK! YEP Totally did this! As of January I have 10 students! How awesome is that! I am so proud that finally after 2 years I finally have a full studio! The only thing is I have to keep it now, so I am always looking for more students to make sure that my studio stays full!

I have written 316 posts including this one since I began blogging and I love it. Thank you so much for staying with me and getting to know me! Hope your day and beginning of the year is a great one! 

QOTD: How did you do with last years goals? 

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

JANUARY 2015 first race is going to be...

New Year's Day 5k here in C-ville VA! It is a race recommended for my training program anyhow and I wanted to do it last year but with being pregnant and ice, I didn't run in it. I stayed indoors on the treadmill. But not this year, I will be hoofing it with the rest of them!

Looking for a February race. Need to find out what my mileage for the training program will be in February first to see if it can be a 10k or not!

Know any good races in the central VA area for February???

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

The Road Not Taken

You guys! YOU HAVE TO READ this blog post by my friend and fellow Blogger Jen! She is amazing and I kid you not I was balling my eyes out reading her amazing race recap! She is an elite runner and someone I look up to and admire so much because of her hard work and dedication. She ran the New York City Marathon at 6 months postpartum and it didn't go quite as planned and 2 week later she decided THE NIGHT BEFORE to run a local marathon and KICKED IT'S BUTT!

Such an amazing story about not giving up and listening to your body. Please read this! Don't forget to give her a shout out in the comments too!

http://www.runnerstrials.com/2014/11/16/charlotte-thunder-road-marathon-2014-race-recap/

Thursday, November 6, 2014

10 Miler Training Plan


I am in a local training group for my upcoming race, so a lot of the guess work for my training is already taken care of for me. I was given a handout with how many miles to run on X day and I'm golden. The training calls for weekly runs on Monday, Wednesdays and starting next week adding Thursday runs as well, then the long run with the group on Saturday mornings. Sounds easy.

My goals for the race though are I want to go into it strong. There are a lot of hills. That's Charlottesville for ya! So I am making sure to do strength training this time around. I did not do any strength training at all for the Princess half I trained for. Plus adding in yoga to keep me limber and stretched. ENTER PIYO! I am going to be doing a PiYo routine at least once a week to get the lower body strength training and stretching that I need. As you know buns, and core are my fav workouts in that series and I will be doing lower define too. Still debating on the rotation. Those workouts will be earlier in the week. As far away from the long run as possible!

For upper body strength I will be doing 21 day fix and possibly PiYo. But have thought about adding in P90X too. (mainly for core though)

I also want to increase my speed. That means less walking breaks and just a faster run in general. With previous trainings I ran around a 4.5 speed on the treadmill with walking between a 3.8-4.0. I avg to a 14:30 min/mile.

This time I want my running to be in the 5.0-5.5 range, and minimal walking breaks. The cool thing about my training group is that on Saturdays we will be running on parts of the actual course so my body will be used to the hills by race time. But I know I can do the 5.0-5.5 speed because I have done it before. I just have to find that groove and stick to it! Goal under 2 hours and 15 min  for the 10 miler. (I think that is realistic. I would love under 2 hours but I have to be honest and real!)

So weekly my training plan will look like this!

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

New Disney Bling!

Isn't this a beauty! Oh my, oh my, I have a new prize to eye! The way to earn this is to participate in the Disney Princess 1/2 marathon and then the following weekend take a little disney cruise and run the Castaway Cay 5K.

All I know that if I decide to do this I will have to save for awhile because I will want to spend some time at the parks between the race and the cruise! This does come at a pretty hefty price tag, especially if your family tags along. Which why wouldn't they!?! IT IS A DISNEY CRUISE!

QOTD: Would you do this at least once to earn this medal? 

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Back into Running!

Today was my first solo run of the fall! YEA! And in a month I will begin the 10 miler training program for the spring 10 miler, or the C-ville 1/2. Not sure which one I will do right now but I should do the training program anyways because it is a great way to stay in running shape during the cold winter. I found this great article on the Charlottesville 10 miler training page and I couldn't help sharing it here! So click below to read about


ENJOY! 

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

2014 Charlottesville's Woman's 4 Miler - Race Recap


I have done my first repeat race ever! It was kind of fun knowing the course and what to expect going into my second time doing the same race. What an exhilarating experience running with so many other women though! It is such an awesome feeling.

My race I knew I was going to be slower than last year since I hadn't trained for it and certainly not like last year. I went into the race last year ready to conquer it and to kick it's butt. This year I was just happy to be there and to actually do it. I was nervous and scared of getting hurt so I did not push myself like I could have. (which makes me wonder how well I could have done if I had.) But it was my first postpartum race, and first time doing 4 miles in a row for a very long time!

We lined up in our corrals and I lined up with the 13-14 min mile pace. I trusted my body and knew that I could sustain that for a little while. I had a couple of friends in this pace group that I was going to run with, so why not!

We made our way to the line ups and before we knew it, it was time to go! Me and 2 other ladies who were starting together. One took off like a rocket and we told her to keep going, she did! The other 2 we ran together. One friend took a stumble just before mile 1 and I stayed with her to make sure she was ok and T kept on trucking along. It took me awhile to get back up to her. V was ok and got back up. Her ankle was hurt so we slowed our pace to let her get back into the groove. I started running with another lady and encouraged her to pump her arms more and we started talking. V caught up with us and then there was a third lady I started talking to along the course. She said she was going to pace with me and another lady did as well. So we just kept on trucking.

My my calves were on fire and starting to cramp up around mile and a half. I kept thinking, how on earth am I going to do this. I am so silly to think I could just up and do 4 miles. I have to keep going to help these ladies. And that last thought gave me the motivation to just trust my body and to listen to it and keep going. We walked then jogged back and forth doing intervals. Allowing all of us to not over do it. Around mile 2 my legs started to feel pretty good and 2.5 miles in they were finally warmed up and I felt like I could keep going and fly! I started to push my pace a little more and 2 out of the 3 ladies I had with me now were keeping up but V and her ankle were hurting. She said to keep going and we did. At some point I lost another of the ladies but me and one other were able keep on going and push each other.


I was shocked at how my body was feeling. I was breathing fine, and my legs were doing great. It felt like I had been running all along. It is amazing what the body can remember doing even after so long of a break. Mile 3.2 is the long downhill and I just let gravity take me and ran the whole way down. I caught up with one of my starting buddies at that time. She was just trucking along! As we approached the end, I had to take a 15 second little walk break and K who was my running buddy kept going. I sucked up the little bit of tiredness in my legs and just ran the last 1/4 mile to the end. Thankful to have actually finished with doing as much running as I did. 59:53 is what I finished in. Last year I finished in 55 min so I was pretty pleased with myself. I knew I could have gone faster, but didn't want to risk injury and I had ladies that I was running with. It wasn't about me anymore it was about making sure they finished and crossed the finish line safely! And they did. I waited for V to make sure she was ok. She was fine until she stopped running and then the pain hit. Her knee was pretty banged up too but SHE FINISHED and that is what it is about people, just finish. It doesn't matter if you run the whole thing, walk or run/walk as long as you finish is the key!

Overall it was a great race. It wasn't too hot, it was humid but it was overcast the whole time! It was well organized and everyone I talked to had a great time. I love the field where the spectators watch and it allowed Mason to run around like the crazy 3 year old boy he is! I am looking forward to next years race and blowing my time out of the water!

I am so proud of all the women who ran for the great cause of supporting the University Of Virginia's Cancer Center Breast Care Program. And all the money that goes towards their research and care of the women. Donations are still being accepted. So if you would like to donate, click on the picture below and make a donation in support of me as the runner! EVER PENNY COUNTS!

Friday, August 29, 2014

Race Day Prep


TOMORROW, TOMORROW, I'm gonna, try so hard, to noooottt hurt my-self! (you have to sing it to get it!)

Things not to do, run a race that you haven't trained for. OOPS! Well tomorrow is that day. I am going into a 4 miler race, COLD! I just haven't done it. I have helped out at the training and most of the summer I had Collin with me and when I was able to run other things happened that didn't allow me to do the full mileage. I have done max of 3 miles total in one run/walk this summer so to say that I am ill prepared for tomorrow, yeah!

But the great thing is, I am already in pretty decent shape. Yes, I might be bigger than all the other girls, and yes I did just have a baby, BUT training while pregnant was a major AWESOME thing I did, because my body remembers and craves to run. So I think I will be ok tomorrow. I knew I would be walking more than running in this race months ago and I was totally ok with it. Next year, I plan on blowing away my time from my first race (unless at that point I am pregnant again) But still I am not giving up. I love running and I still plan on doing it as often as I can! I have a plan coming up for Saturday long runs in September and I love running in Sept and Oct. The weather is so beautiful!

Couple of things to think about for today as it is the day before the race:

~Keep on hydrating! I talked about it yesterday but still cut out the other drinks and just do water. (not that I drink pop or other drinks all that much, well, except for milk. So no milk for me.)

~Disney has this huge Pasta in the Park event the night before their races, but that is just not the best thing to do before a race. Yes, it is widely known to carb load before a race, but it is only 4 miles. It is not a marathon. So if you do eat pasta tonight before the race don't over indulge. (Olive Garden's pasta dishes are enough pasta for 3 people. Know your portions.) You can probably go just a smidge over a cup of pasta but don't, don't, don't over do it! I personally am looking forward to my butternut squash soup tonight! YUM! (Thank you Whole Foods Market for awesome butternut squash soup)

~Lay all of your race clothing out tonight so you know where to find everything. It is an early call tomorrow and you will be excited. Don't want to risk leaving anything at home. So have your outfit, bib and a bag filled with what you will need for tomorrow.

~Also put out your kids clothing and hubs too, so that there is nothing to think about in the morning so you can try to sleep in as long as possible and not run around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to find everything tomorrow morning when you should be leaving!

~Plan on leaving early and arriving way before the cut off for the street to be closed. There will be traffic if you arrive too late. If they ask you to be there between 6-7 am be there by 6:30 so that they aren't in a huge rush to get everyone off the roads for the race to start.


~I already mentioned this but pack a bag of things you will need after the race. I pack an extra pair of socks and flip flops. Depending on how my feet feel post race I get to choose. The grass tomorrow will be damp so I will prob change my socks before I race so I don't have soggy feet when running (like last year) And the flip flops will be for after the race. Pack a towel and a change of shirt too if you want. (Me I'm brining a change of bra because nursing in a sports bra not made for nursing, almost impossible!) Sorry if TMI! For the 4 miler race, bring some chairs to sit in. So that you don't have to sit in the grass, unless you want to sit in the beautiful grass you can but we learned from last year, bring some chairs!

~Make sure you eat something tomorrow morning before you run and drink a glass of water before you leave the house. You need fuel for your body. You need water. A Banana is great. don't drink 24 ounces of Shakeology, unless you are used to doing that before a run of course, but just eat something small. Don't make your body work too hard by having to do 4 miles and digest a large breakfast. Snacks and fruit will be provided at the end of the race, and you can always bring your own snacks to munch on after the race too.

So there are my tips! Hope everyone has a safe race tomorrow. Rest today for tomorrow we will play! See you there!

Thursday, August 28, 2014

HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!

2 days and counting down to my first postpartum race on SATURDAY! Today begins the 2 day of binge drinking! WATER THAT IS you silly people! I am not going to be over drinking water I am going to make sure that I am drinking the required amount of water for my body.

General rule of thumb to drinking the required amount of water is divide your weight in half and make that number into ounces and that is the minimum amount required. Plus if you workout and drink 8oz while working out, add an extra 8 ounces to replace the 8oz you sweat out. And since I am nursing, I have to drink even more water in general so I am drinking at least 150-200 ounces a day. It's a lot but I love my water and my body is used to it!

The biggest thing to not do before a race is to drink gallons of water leading up to a race. Because it can deplete our electrolyte levels prior to running, plus I don't want to feel squashy when running. The best thing we can do is just make sure that we cut out the other types of drinks, i.e. pop, sugar drinks, alcohol, and such. And replace those drinks with just water. It will keep us more hydrated and we will feel better the morning of the run.

So for the next 2 days, drink plenty of water, but not too much and cut out the other drinks.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Friday's 5: What NOT To Do For A Race!


Hey, hey everyone! Today is my first time doing a Friday 5. So here are 5 things on what NOT to do for a race! SERIOUSLY Learn from me. Now this post is for everyone. If you have never run in a race, READ IT and if you have run in a race before, go ahead and laugh at what I learned because chances are you have experienced these before! Just saying'!

1. DO NOT forget to apply BODY GLIDE to anywhere that rubs. That means under clothing seams at the waist, under the sports bra, between your thighs and your feet. Rubbing causes friction. Which will cause blisters or chaffing. It is not fun trying to finish a race with a massive blister on the verge of bursting, or has already burst or major chafing going on. IT HURTS!

2. DO NOT shave your inner thighs or higher, you know what I am talking about, the night before a race or the morning of the race! I REPEAT! DO NOT SHAVE! Just don't even shave. Make it a plan that you will shave  a couple of days before. Here is why. FRICTION plus razor burn! Worse than just chaffing. The morning of my 1/2 marathon I made this mistake. I shaved my upper thighs, not that they needed it but I thought it would be more "slippery" when I applied my body glide and be better. IT WAS WORSE And it hurt and I dealt with the chaffing for days afterwards.

3. DO NOT forget to use the bathroom just before you enter your corral for the start line. If you have a long wait ahead of you, ahem Disney races, then wait as long as you can to go before you have to go in the corral. Other wise you will be like a lady in the Disney Race that has to go within the first 80 ft and uses her friends as a shield so she can go in the bushes off the side of the road. Or like my friend K who had to use the bathroom by the 1st mile. Stay hydrated but make sure you empty your bladder as close the the beginning of the race as possible.

4. DO NOT attempt to run in a race in something you have never run in before. You do all this training before a race and you learn what clothing works and how your shoes fit and you are comfortable. Don't mess with that mojo on race day and run in a tutu for the first time without ever trying it out before or a costume you have never worn around the house, or in BRAND NEW SHOES. You already know what works so stick with it, don't change the gameplay at the last minute because you could end up with chaffing, or blisters or a broken ankle. Stick with what you know works!

5. DO NOT forget to have fun. Soak in all the sights, sounds, and excitement that the beginning of a race and the feeling of running a race can give you. It is ok to get teary eyed when you cross the finish line of your first race, first 1/2 marathon or even if it is your 20th race. YOU ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING that many people think is the impossible! It isn't and you showed that if you could do it, they can! We need to work together to end this obesity epidemic. It is out of control in our country. YOU KNOW IT IS and that is why you took this first step to sign up for a race, train for it and FINISH IT! You are amazing and so awesome! ENJOY YOUR RACE!

Friday, August 1, 2014

RunDisney Pixie Dust Challenge

RunDisney just announced TODAY a new 10k challenge to add to the POPULAR Tinker Bell 1/2 Marathon called the Pixie Dust Challenge! I am planning someday to run this race. I can't wait to see what the medals look like, which I will be posting here when they are announced!




Mark your calendars because registration opens and will probably close on AUG 12!



Speaking of MEDALS! RunDisney also announced the 2014 Wine and Dine 5th Anniversary SPINNER MEDAL you can get this year! Super awesome! 2015 W&D Here I COME!



Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Who's Supporting Who?

I seriously love this! Being a military wife I am so impressed with the actions of all involved with this act of kindness. The race benefits the Pat Tillman Foundation which provides scholarships to military veterans and their spouses. So the runners were supporting military families and a vet was supporting the runners! Win, win in my opinion! Way to go runners, you did good!

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Running Tips and Tricks: Clothing

Remember that good ol' saying, "Running doesn't cost anything, just open the front door and go!" Well, that statement is true to a point. It depends on how much you want to pursue running but eventually continuing running will cost something. It is best to be well prepared and as safe as possible and when running often what you are wearing can help you or hurt you.

Shoes: Are a must investment. I am all about pinching pennies and all but when it goes to keeping my body healthy and fewer discomforts when I am exercising than I will spend what needs to be spent. And shoes are the first thing I invest in when running. I can't really say that my running shoes are my most expensive shoe in my closet but they are the most expensive shoe that I wear on a regular basis. (I have gotten my money worth!) Go to an actual running store. Every medium to large city has one. The kind where they actually watch you when you are running or jogging in the shoes that you are trying on. You need the shoe that fits your stride. It makes a difference. It can help you be faster, reduce shin splints, or other aliments that you can get from incorrect shoes support.

Apparel:  This is the next area where I really try to get the right stuff.

Running tops: Make sure that you get the right running tops. I started out exercising in my cotton tanks. I got them from a running store though and wasn't educated on what was the proper top to wear. I bought them originally when I was doing all indoor exercising in an air conditioned facility with a fan blowing on me. I didn't sweat all that much and when I did it was on the way home and time to go. Last summer when I joined the 4 miler training program I wore those tops. (I even raced in them you can see them in my first couple of races the green and yellow tanks.) At the training program they educated us on what not to wear and what to wear. They were right, because of my cotton tank they got saturated in sweat and it was just so hot to wear them. I noticed a HUGE difference when I started to wear teach shirts. Tech shirts wick moisture away from your body and it evaporates so much more easily keeping you cool and dry. They are awesome. One draw back though, they can smell really bad after awhile. When washing follow the label on how to wash. DON'T use fabric softener.

They are more pricy though, check with the local running stores to see if they have any discounted shirts. Sometimes races have extra and might sell them for cheap, cheap just to unload them. So ask around! They are worth the investment though.

Bottoms: Make sure again that you have running bottoms. Shorts that have the fit dry capability that keep you dry and cool are great. There are also super sassy and cute running skirts. The skirts have either a brief or shorts under them or you provide your own shorts. One thing that is a must when running especially in briefs is anti-chaffing cream for your inner thighs or anything that rubs a lot when running. Body Glide is my personal favorite.

Socks: Socks are the next investment. Again you don't want moisture building up where it shouldn't because you are prone to get more blisters due to the moisture and friction rubbing. I used the Thorolo Experia Ultra lightweight socks for my 1/2 marathon and the couple of long runs prior to try them out.

Accessories: A hat for super sunny days is also good to have. Make sure that the hat has perforations in it thought so that your head doesn't overheat. Or a visor (as 80's as it is) is a great thing to try out too. It keeps the sun out of your eyes and some of your face. I also like to wear a headband to keep all stray hairs out of my face! I HATE IT when I have a hair on my face that is dripping sweat and it won't go away. I have tried 3 different non-slip varieties and found that BAMRbands are my fav! I guess I have a funky head shape because all the bands slipped off my head except for the BAMRbands! And Katie, the owner and mastermind, has super cute designs! I am building quite the collection!

Also tutu's are fun to have BUT you must do a run prior to your first race wearing them. Tutu's can be fun but if it is the wrong length it can become annoying because the tulle will get caught between your legs and rub. Janet my fellow pink lady ended up running a race with her tutu pulled up super high because she kept having to pull it from between her legs. Also try not to get the tutu's with glitter on it because they use glue to adhere that glitter on it and it can run and you will get covered in glitter. But they are fun when you get the right length and get used to them. I feel like I am flying sometimes in mine because it bounces so much! RaceJunkie is where I purchased in the past.

Hopefully these tips and tricks help you with your running! 

QOTD: What are your must haves for running? Fav brands? Let me know in the comments!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon Sign Up TODAY!


Who's signing up for the 1/2 marathon today??? Not I, said this ginger! Not this coming year at least. I will run it again, at some point but not this coming year. Why you ask? Well, I would love to run in the Disney Wine and Dine 1/2 in November of 2015 and Disney races are a little pricey and require me to save up some money. But for those of you who are going to be signing up today, here is some advice I would love to share with you!

1. Sign up early. IT WILL SELL OUT QUICKLY! This race is becoming more and more popular every year. The more people are doing it the more want to do it. So registration opens at 12 eastern. SET YOU ALARM! And sign up.

2. Pre-decide if you want to run the glass slipper challenge so that you are not sitting and waiting and deciding to do that or not. It is difficult! I was on the fence and decided as I was signing up that it would have been too much for me as it was my first 1/2 marathon. Glad that I didn't sign up for it since I was 29 weeks pregnant!

3. Once you sign up, start saving your money! The race itself is expensive but so is going to WDW! Hotel, the expo, and of course going to the park wearing your medal after you run the race. It adds up and take my advice, don't start saving for the trip in December. Start saving some money now!

4. Do not train for the 15 min/mile that they suggest if you plan on peeing during the race. Or taking pictures with characters. Just don't! Or hold it for the entire 3 hours and 30 minutes it will take to finish. If you are training at the 15 min/mile exactly know that there are natural choke points and you will have to slow down or walk to get through. (Like down main street or going through the castle.) Corrals A-C don't have to deal with this but if you are in Corrals L-O you better believe that yes you will have to slow down! It is just what it is. There are so many people and the bathroom lines and picture lines get so long that you are going to be strapped for time and watching you back for the sweepers. I was running a consistent 14:30 up until mile 10. I had 4 potty breaks. No pictures with characters. I had to walk the last 3 miles because my body was done. I came in over the time limit and everyone behind me was saying, "The sweepers were coming" When we hit the on ramp loop on the way to Epcot. That was the big fear, the sweepers! So decide now what pace you are going to train at and try to train at it and maybe just a hair faster! That's my 2 cents!

5. Have fun! This is a fun race. As hard as it was for me and as frustrated I was knowing that I was going to come in over the recommended time at just 3 miles in because the bathroom lines were so long, I still had an amazing time! It truly was magical. I will never forget the relief that I felt crossing that finish line with my best friend and knowing that I was done and I did it. Still kicking myself for not getting a decent pic of me wearing my finishers medal just after the race. Oh well, something for next time!

But seriously, DO THIS RACE! At least once. IT is amazing to be surrounded by so many strong, and beautiful women (and some men too) running. Looking at our society with how many people are overweight, how many children are overweight and we had 24,000 women running in the race. And they weren't the same 24,000 from the previous year or the other years. Most of the women running are mothers, being a great example to their children of showing their dedication, effort and determination to run in a race that is physically and mentally challenging! Their children appreciate what their mother is doing, and along the way the child will learn that exercise can actually be fun and uplifting but hard work. It is getting our children to be more active when they see their parents being active. Live by example people! That is what we need to do!

Hope you sign up! WELL WORTH IT! Well done RunDisney for providing such an amazing experience! CLICK HERE to go to the registration page!

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Thinking About Doing A Race?


Is this your first race ever, or your third 5k? How about your first 1/2 marathon or full marathon? You have made the decision that you want to run in a race. GREAT! It is such an amazing feeling to cross the finish line after all the hard work, time and dedication that you have put into doing this race.

Normally you don't just roll out of bed and say, "I'm gonna run a 1/2 marathon today!" NO WAY! (ok there might be some people that do do that but they have probably been running for years and can do that or this is a person that is just going to get hurt.) You must first train for it! Your body needs to get conditioned to the activity you are going to be doing to it. There are callouses that need to be built, strength that needs to be made and determination needs to be set in your mind to get through a race, any race! Here are some things to think about when deciding to start training for a race.

1. Be EXCITED! Be excited about the thought of your new race. Start to plan ahead on what you can do to be ready for it. Check out what you eat, make a food journal. Make a running journal so that in the future you can look back and see what worked and didn't work. Make this a lifestyle change and stick to it! Make a game plan too on how much you are going to run and when you are going to run. Find a training plan or join a local running group. runDisney has great training programs that can be modified to meet your needs. They have training programs for 10k's up to full marathon, with different levels of running to choose from. Novice to elite!


2. How's your body feel when exercising? Are you used to walking already? Or running? Do you have any aches or pains when you walk or do some running. If you have constant pain in your shins or body and it has been weeks and you are icing and using compression it's time to get the pain checked out! Either try out new running shoes or go see your doctor. (I love my chiropractor) Running is a high impact sport. There will be some aches and pains in the beginning but they should go away as you become more used to the movements and what you are putting your body through. Constant pain for a long period of time is not normal. GET IT CHECKED OUT! 



3. Eat Right! Eat to fuel your body. It takes the right foods to sustain the activity you are going to be doing. Find out the super foods that are great and gives you energy and keeps you satisfied for as long as possible. Also figure out what you are going to eat before you run and always do that. Prep for the race while you train. If you always eat a banana and a cliff bar before training, do that the morning of the race. Figure out what works and stick with it!

4. Coordinate with your family. This is a biggie. Seriously. Training for a race, any race takes a lot of planning for you and your family. Set a schedule to when you are going to run or exercise. I have to figure out a time I can go out and do my runs without Collin right now and I have to be back in a certain amount of time because he gets hungry and grumpy without me and I don't really want to spring a leak while I am running. Saturdays until September I am probably going to go out twice. Saturday mornings work with the training program then do my long run in the afternoon to make sure I am getting my mileage in. Also know that you might have to rest in the afternoon. I had to take a nap every single time after I had a long run. My body needed it. My mind needed it too. So prep your family that you are going to have to have nap time! Then there is race day. I haul my family with me early, early, early in the morning to get to the race, wait for me and watch me run then stay through the awards until it is time to go.

5. Work a race. Volunteers are amazing! They are the ones there super early, walk out to wherever they are working, cheer you on and stay until the last person passes them. They hand out water, often getting covered in spilled water. Pick up the trash, direct you to where you go so you don't get lost. I volunteered at my first race for the 4th of July and really tried to cheer everyone on as they passed! Especially the back of the pack because I know what it is like to be in the back and not have as many supporters cheering you on. I had a ton of fun and it was awesome to see the front of the pack, and the first person to come in and to walk in with the last. I had a lot of fun.



6. Get a buddy! Try to have a buddy that you can report your training to. See if they can be your running buddy either with you on actual running days or long distance. My BFF K was my running buddy as I trained for my 1/2 marathon. I would text her with my times after each time that I ran and she would congratulate me every single time. We would talk about what I was planning on running that weekend, often matching the mileage on my long runs (and kick my butt in the speed factor every time!) But it was awesome to have my running buddy to check in with and be held accountable with!

So plan wisely and you can go from the start line all the way to the finish!



Tuesday, July 1, 2014

runDisney Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler

~I bet the hitchhiking ghosts on the 5k medal glow in the dark! AWESOME!~

New bling was announced yesterday for the runDisney's Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler. It is AWESOME! My BFF Elizabeth ran in this race last year and loved it. During my training runs and even during the 1/2 I did 10 miles seemed like it was my max before my mind started to trick my body into thinking that I couldn't do it. That is my breaking point as it were. So a flat course at night 10 miler would be a pretty fun race. I will run this race eventually, but not this year.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Destination Racing


A day after I had Collin I was talking to my OB/GYN doc what races he was going to do next. He is an avid running and 2 weeks prior he ran in the Tacoma City Marathon and was raving about how beautiful it was. Part of the course was running in a rain forest another part through a beautiful city. All the while staring at the beautiful mountains all around. He just said it was beautiful and wants to do it again. Anyhew, he didn't know what races to do next. I asked if he ever raced over seas. He said no and I mentioned the Dublin 1/2 coming up. I didn't know the dates that day but the next day, while still in the hospital I told him that it was in early August. He said that that fell right at the same time as his wedding anniversary and was seriously considering running in the race while they take 2 weeks and check out Ireland. He is stoked for this race now, wishing it was a full marathon but still he doesn't want to pass up on a great excuse to race and vacation at the same time. 

I have been looking in to it. Why not combine a race and a vacation. Just make sure you allow time for some recovery and then go do your sightseeing. Here are some of the the top races that someday I might try and do. (I will do the Disney ones eventually!!!)

1. Berlin Marathon-  I have always wanted to visit Germany and what a great excuse to visit Germany and to actually run through it. But this is a dream for a long time from now!

2. Disney World Marathon Weekend-  Ok so I have already done a WDW race and absolutely loved it, except for the small things like not enough potties (are there really enough when there is 20,000 people running?) But I remember when I was working at one of my jobs reading a Runner's World magazine and I saw the beloved MICKEY medal and I knew I wanted to do it! That was the ultimate race I wanted to run in. So someday I will earn my Mickey medal! And then some other day I will earn my Dopey medal with all the other medals that go along with it! I REALLY AM THAT DOPEY TO TRY IT! But not for many years!
~2104 WDW Marathon Weekend Medals~

3. Honolulu Marathon- Why are all these marathons so far??? Anyhew Yes, I would love to run in Hawaii. My BFF K ran this race a few years ago and said it was super hard, because even though it is in December it is still pretty dog gone hot!!! But I would love to go back to Hawaii and why not have a race part of it, I mean with all the spas they have there, imagine if you will all the MASSAGES you can get to help recovery! Oh and soaking in the ocean listening to the waves lap the shore, HEAVEN!

4. Dublin Rock 'n' Roll Half- Ok finally a 1/2! Yes, talking to my Doc about this race peaked my interest too, and We Run Disney Bloggers are running this race this year too, so I have been reading a lot about it and it sounds amazing! I have never been to Europe or that part of the world and would love to go and visit, and since I am part Irish being a ginger and all might as well visit and enjoy the amazing sites there!

5. runDisney's Castaway Cay 5k-  Disney Cruise? YES, PLEASE! The next time we go on a Disney Cruise and it visits Castaway Cay I will be running in the 5k on the little island. I read about it for the first time on Through Heather's Looking Glass Blog . And was kicking myself that I had NO IDEA when I was on the ship that there was actually a 5k!

6. runDisney's Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Weekend-  Yep, another Disney race but that's ok. I AM A LOVER OF DISNEY and runDisney is really what peaked my interest in running and Disneyland is closer to GMA and GPA and they have the Cars Land which Mason would LOVE! I would do the Dumbo Double Dare challenge, to get as much bling as possible and hopefully earn my coast to coast medal too! I would have to time it just right.
~2014 Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Weekend Medals~

7. Versailles la Grande ClassiqueThe 16k race begins at the Eiffel Tower and ends in Versailles. The course travels through Paris and along the river Seine, turns onto tree-lined boulevards and continues on winding paths all before a majestic finish in Versailles. Paris? WHY NOT! This sounds awesome and you end in Versailles sounds awesome!

QOTD: Have you ever wanted to run a destination race? Which ones are you thinking about???

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

National Running Day!


If there is a National doughnut day, or National pancake day, you better believe that there is a NATIONAL RUNNING DAY! TODAY! So Happy National Running Day Today!

Great things about running:

Everyone is friendly: I have made so many friends in the running community both on and off the web! I am so excited to see my friends a week from Saturday at the 4 miler training program! I can't wait to meet my friends I have made over the web!

Races are addictive: When you do one race, you are GOING to do another. Humans are competitive by nature and we want to do better each time we do something. Running is purely a progressive exercise. You can literally see how much you improve with each race through your hard work and training. It just takes hard work and training!

Exercise Makes Us Happy: People who exercise are generally more happy. (see Legally Blond the movie!) It hops us up full of endorphins. It's an antidepressant. (maybe this is why I have been a bit of a grump in the last couple of weeks cause I haven't and can't exercise)

Live Longer: Exercise helps our heart which can help us live longer. Plus keeps us more healthy and make healthier choices in our food choices.

Feel Better About Yourself: when I am exercising I feel better about myself. I feel more sexy, I feel more confident. I just feel better. Plus I am now looking at super cute running apparel! Check out Kiava. Love their sports bras and tops!

Happy National Running Day Today everyone! Hope you have a great day running. I will be running with you in spirit as I still can't run quite yet.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

A Year Ago- My Runniversary

A year ago today I participated in my very first 5k. I can't believe that it has already been a year that I started running/attempting to run. Granted, my first 5k I didn't run at all except for the last 500 ft to finish, but I did meet some pretty amazing women and one in particular who encouraged me to sign up for the women's 4 miler training program. I am and will always remember her as someone who helped me change my life for the better. We have since run in 4 races together and 1 with me as my "safety" while pregnant. I am so grateful for her in my life! Thanks J for all you have helped me accomplish!

Sad that I won't be running in the 4 The Wounded 5k again this year as it is Saturday, and just too close to my delivery date. I couldn't imagine running/walking in it right now anyhow. My body just isn't ready to handle 3 miles quite yet. But soon I will be running agin and training again! Here's to my first 5k a year ago and for changing the rest of my life!

To read about my first 5k click here!
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