Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon - Part 3 "Have Fun Storming the Castle"

As we passed over the starting line I hit the old start button on my long lost friend my Garmin to keep up with my pace on demand, cool huh!  Since I had been injured, I wasn't running outside and the old gal had not been used in over a month- I sure missed her.  As Amy ran off to hit her pace I felt myself smiling despite the fact EVERYONE was passing me, but had to do my warm up walk for a few minutes.  When the IPOD told me "RUN" I took off - it felt so good in the dark surrounded by the back of the pack of Corral B to run and I reminded myself I HAD to restrain myself to make it to the end - so I had to slow down a little.  I felt great and just had a goofy smile on my face.  I was moved to see so many spectators on the side of the road next to the Epcot Parking lot where we started.  They were cheering us on, thanks for getting out so early peeps.  I believe we next passed a high school band which again, I was moved that they came out so early to play for us. Somewhere along the line was a DJ.  Now, I was going to take pics to document WHEN I saw what as far as the course, but alas....no camera for me so this is all from memory.

cute mile markers with a Disney theme...time indicates the start of the race...Amy took this picture but you know the clock read 20:57 when I ran by...he he only mile I beat her due to her potty stop.
  

At some point I passed the mile one marker and was pumped! I am doing this and WILL finish I told myself.  I thought I heard someone yell "JULIE", then heard it again. It was Amy, she had stopped to wait in line at a porta potty and was coming up from behind.  She snapped these pics of me on the course - see still dark out there!

hey who is that fast sparkly runner? 

Shortly after Amy ran ahead at her speedy pace I saw the pirate ship up in the distance and began to hear that great Pirates of the Caribbean movie theme. 

pics courtesy of my weekend roomy Amy, these are just some random princesses.

There was a long line to get pics made with them - I yelled as I passed, "thanks for coming out pirates, hey Jack Sparrow". Johnny Depp um I mean Jack Sparrow pointed right at me and yelled 'GO PRINCESS'.  I was giddy, how fun that the characters were totally into the race and cheering us on! 


We also passed an Epcot hot air balloon that looked like the big ball and then the prince dudes - Tarzan, Aladdin, Eric, John Smith, and Flynn Rider from the newest Tangled movie.  I yelled "Flynn Rider I love You", he turned between photos, gave me a thumbs up and said "Good luck Princess".  It the little things you know that motivate me, I was smiling BIG time and having a blast. And that was my goal...to have fun AND to finish....and if possible do it under 3:30, but hey, I thought the first 2 were the most important.

Here is Amy at mile 3.... cute huh, love that Ariel and Prince Eric.

Somwhere shortly after either the princes or Epcot big ball balloon, can't remember which, I had my first YIKES THIS RACE IS HARD moment.  I felt great and was holding myself back to between a  13-14 minute pace with my 2/1 run/walk intervals.  I saw a girl on the side of the road doubled over and she didn't look good at all.  Two friends were standing with her, this was around mile 3.  I think I was in a WALK interval as I heard her friends say "Look if you need to rest, stay here and we will pick you up on the way back.  If you want to go on, we will stay together".  We were on one side of the divided highway and were coming back on the other side toward later.  The girl was crying and saying "Just go without me".   She looked like she was hurting....who knows, running on injury, running sick....it was a moment when I thought, CRAP that could be me later.  AND this girl was young and in shape - unlike middle aged needs to lose some weight me!  This was also way earlier than I had anticipated seeing this kind of scene.   I had a moment of fear about not finishing and just told myself to say a quick prayer for her and for me to finish. Her friends were so supportive, they were standing with her, not pushing her and letting her tell them what to do.  I jogged off and forced myself to remove ANY negative thoughts..


I tried to remember to thank any spectators as I passed, I gave them the princess one handed royal wave which some smiled and some looked at me like I was nuts.  Being silly and just enjoying the moment and being back in the familiarity of my beloved run/walk interval groove really made me happy.  And the sun was coming up!


After we passed into the Magic Kingdom Entrance under the big signs, Lilo and Elvis Stitch were dancing to some Elvis tunes. I guess we were by the Polynesian resort. 

Shortly after that we passed the Richard Petty Driving Experience and they had a car out and some cute drivers cheering us on and available for pics.  When we went by the Ticket and Transportation center, the drumming band from Japan at Epcot was beating us on, they were AWESOME and all smiles as we ran by.   

Somewhere around this time, we hit the 5 mile marker and I was thinking, soon I will be running under the castle.   There is a dip in the road that goes under a bridge by the Contemporary resort with a DJ up on top playing tunes - recognizing people by costume - I believe Captain America was around me at this time  as was the four people dressed as the Incredibles.  Loved this sign by the DJ!

He told us at the top of the hill....men on trampoline LOL.  Surely enough, we got to the top and there was a guy doing stunts on a trampoline.  I yelled "You Go Dude on trampoline" and I must have been loud as he gave me a thumbs up between tricks.  It was so great to have all that entertainment, really fun.

I was thinking wow, soon I will be at the Magic Kindgom and felt the tug at my heartstrings.  All my training was for THIS moment, its the highlight of the race I think.  I really was getting excited as we approached space mountain....when I was little I thought the coolest thing ever would be to go to Disney and ride it, I rode it the day before for the first time!

We rounded a corner through a castmember entrance - for those not into the Dis, Castmembers are Disney employees; I hear someone say "Good Morning Princesses, Welcome to the Magic Kindgom".....all of a sudden I was on Main Street.  Yeah, some tears came out. 

They had let families in to cheer on their loved ones and they were on the left.  Some cheering, some with noisemakers some just staring - I guess looking for their princesses.  I decided I didn't want to walk, but DEF slowed down the pace to enjoy every second in the park.  I felt some big tears roll down my cheek when I saw a sign that said "My mommy is my favorite princess", and for a minute I really missed my family...but it passed.

Here is Amy - what a great pic!

As we headed to Tomorrow Land I said good morning to a castmember standing on the side and as sincere as could be he smiled a huge smile and said "Good Morning Princess!".  OK, that made my morning!   Chip and Dale were cheering on runners - and available for photos, as was Buzz Lightyear, he had a huge line but gave me a Thumbs up as I screamed something to him. Those Disney folks are the best!  I felt invincible at this point though decided a stop in a REAL bathroom would be nice. Only had to wait behind 2 people at our favorite Tomorrow land ladies room and got to wash my hands and splash my face with water.  How refreshing!  We ran through Fantasy Land and the carousel and teacups were on, empty but on.  Alice was there as were Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and the Queen. 


And now, time for the BIG moment - the castle.  As we approached I saw Prince Charming and some royal folk, but no Cinderella.  She must have been on a royal break.   Royal Minnie and Mickey were also there, big lines for all these.  The crowd in front of us were yelling as they ran under the castle. When I got in the tunnel I raised my hands.....hmm no one was screaming, so I did - I mean why run quietly in a tunnel you know? and others followed.  What a cool feeling to come out in the early morning sun - the lighting at that time was GORGEOUS and you could see the specatators at the bottom.  I went over to the left to wait in a line to get the money shot!  See the next entry for the photo he he.


As I ran jogged away from my photo, I noticed my calves were a tad tight.....I said "I WILL FINISH THIS RACE" just get me to the 11 mile marker. The Castle moment was indeed spectacular...what a rush!


to be continued...............................  Disney Princess 1/2 Part 4

Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon - Part 2 Lets Get it started........Its race day!

Before the alarm went off at 3am, I woke up.  Amy stirred as well and we turned off the alarm about 5 minutes before it was to go off.  Time to get dressed, tape up the feet as if I am an elite runner and slather the Blue Emu cream on the calves and feet.  This is what early and nervous looks like in my Snow White themed running attire - it ain't pretty that early!

I was so tired and nervous, I started to try to focus on being positive. "I will finish, I can do this, its going to be so much fun, think of all the cool pictures for the memory book" I said to myself.....Amy my roommate had a pre-race panic attack "can I do this kind of thing", but she calmed down before we left.  We headed down to the lobby to meet up with Jennifer an online Disboards.com buddy that we were giving a ride to...never met her before, but figured doing a good deed for someone would be good karma for us all. 

Jennifer was super nice - and told us her 10 year old son was like "Mom, you are riding with strangers you met on the internet?" ha ha. Poor thing had been diagnosed the day before at the doc in a box while on vacation with Bronchitis and was just hoping to finish.  Me, well I had my Plantar Faciitis issue and was also hoping to finish without snapping a tendon!  Eve had a hamstring issue she had been working through as well, and yep "hoping to finish".  Jackie had been dealing with some funky knee thing and had a history if ITB so you guessed, she just wanted to finish.  Amy was still nervous at this point too.  What a car ride!  We left the hotel around 4:10 with no set directions but did not need them, traffic was CRAZY....it was easy to see where to go because of the traffic and Disney had done a great job with the signs

We made it to the Epcot parking lot and when we got out to make the trek to the start, I wanted to take a photo for posterity - here is Amy's picture right after I realized my mistake and why my camera wasn't working....

  
Yeah, I am about to cry in this picture and not because I need to lose my spare tire - but with more training and better diet, I will lose it because with this go round my butt and hips got smaller, time for the tummy to catch up....oops back to topic.

I had my camera but when I took my charged battery out of the charger the night before, I put it back in my camera bag NOT in the camera, and I didn't have the bag with me.  I had that face of about to cry and I remember Jennifer saying Oh No..... I cried because I wanted those pictures on the race, they were my safety.  They would be my fun if my foot gave out and I had to stroll from character to character until the van picked me up.  Race Plan B was a shambles and the lack of sleep and highly charged emotional state of "will I finish" came out as tears.  I think it was Eve who said, "Its OK, now the bad thing has happened on the race, its all good from here on out, this just means you ARE finishing."  The other girls rallied to get me back in a positive frame AND gave me my time to grieve the loss of Race Plan B.

We made the long walk to the starting Corrals....seriously, it was a 20 minute walk in a herd of princesses. By the time we got to the bathrooms at the Corrals, my grief period was over......I was starting to say, I am here, have fun and lets finish this thing!  Plus there were so many fun costumes and men in Tutu's and tiaras as well.   We all did the obligatory empty out in the potty before the start, took a group photo and headed to our corrals.  Amy and I were in B, Jackie in D and Eve in E....Jackie hung back with Eve.  As we departed from our foursome, we reminded each other, Pray for Me I will pray for you!

A shout out to Amy for the pictures!

When we got in the corral, again I felt like a herd I sat down and stretched out some.  The president of Run Disney gave us a pep talk, Ethan Zohn and Jenna Morasco from Survivor gave us a pep talk and thank you for running a race which supported the Leukemia and Lymphoma society - he is a Cancer survivor, we sang the national anthem and awaited the start.  Cinderella's fairy godmother was up on the platform - she reminded me of Paula Deen for some reason, waiving her wand and giving us her magic fairy dust.  As the first group went off, fireworks shot up in the sky.  Holy cow, 8 more minutes and it was time for us to go.

Amy and I were happy at this point, "I can't believe we are finally here about to do this".  I remembered the sage advice I got on disboards about the first mile setting the pace mentally....start out with your positive mantras and a smile on your face.  Focus that first mile on how much FUN this is and is going to be.  The fireworks went off and off we went running.  


I HAD to keep it slow and the pace I would have to run to avoid injury was WAY slower than the people I was with.  I told Amy to "Run your race" and off she went ahead of me.  All I kept thinking was "I can't believe I am here and doing this half marathon".  I appreciated all the training I had completed and thought "I am so glad I got up to 10 miles and that was a great run that day".  I reminded myself I was so lucky to have a supportive Physical Therapist with the foot and she told me, "I think you ARE going to finish as your foot is SO much better than when we started". I thought of myself when I started couch to 5k back in July and those hot humid summer mornings when I was trying to just get into doing my cardio.  I thought of the runs in the cold winter as I tried to figure out how to stay warm without overheating. The payoff was here!  I worked hard, time to enjoy. It was going to be a beautiful sunny day, no worries about keeping warm here.


I told myself I could have quit, but I didn't because I wanted to be exactly where I was right at that moment.....doing a half marathon, and lucky me was at Disney.  The song playing on my ipod when we started was "Wanna Be Starting Something".....how appropriate! 

Off into the early morning darkenss I jogged deciding to try my original 2minute jog, 1 minute walk intervals. If I got tired or my foot hurt I was prepared to switch my running interval to 1 minute or 30 seconds, or heck walk the darn thing! I had my sunglasses for when the sun came up, my garmin to help me stay in a pace to finish without getting swept up, my IPOD strapped on my arm to tell me when to switch from Running to walking and some inspirational tunage, and my new spibelt with my Cliff Blocks, lip stuff, glasses, and room key... Pack rat I was, all ready to attack the 13.1 miles ahead of me to the finish where my medal awaited me!
I was indeed smiling.

Here we go

to be continued.........................   
Disney 1/2 - Part 3

Disney Princess Half Marathon - Part 1 Princess Palooza

The half marathon weekend arrived......it was time to go to Orlando.  I hadn't run over 10.5 miles in my training and that was on Jan 15th, 2 weeks later I attempted to do 11 and had to stop at 9 and walk to my car for .8 in PAIN.  On Jan 15th, my Plantar Faciitis flared up BAD. I tried to run on gravel or packed dirt....ouch, even short distances. I planned on an active recovery as I saw a sports doc and began physical therapy...which helped, but when we make plans God laughs....I got sick with a flu like virus for a week in bed for 6 days. Best thing that happened as my foot felt better, though not fully, so I attacked the elliptical for 2 weeks to try to keep my legs moving and cardio in some kind of shape.  I struggled for a month with "will I be able to finish it"?  Both the PT and the sports doc told me to take it SLOW and just listen to my body.  No reason while I could not try.....BUT to be prepared to stop if things didn't feel right.  I began to periodically have visions of myself in the race and a tendon snapping.  And visions of being picked up by the van for those who can't make the minimum pace.

Eve from Boston, who is now teaching at Harvard and I arrived at MCO the same time and my buddy from preschool and church Amy picked us up and took us to the Swan where we were staying.  We met Jackie another friend of mine from CT who was at the pool.  She headed upstairs and we had a nice beer to relax and enjoy the resort atmosphere.  Afterall...isn't beer carbs and we needed our carbs.  Jackie came down to join us for a beverage then we headed over to the Princess Expo to pick up our numbers.

The SWAN is a GREAT hotel!  Very nice place.  Next we headed over to the Wide World of Sports to pick up our race packets.  We were greeted in style at the door... let the princess treatment begin!

From the Left....Amy, Footman #1, Jackie, Eve, Footman #2, and me. I wonder if either of these guys ever mice - I mean for all we know its Jac and Gus under Fairy Godmother's spell.

The expo was closing in less than an hour so we grabbed our bags....which are nice little mesh backpacks full of a bunch of ads, a tiny luna bar, some safety pins, our race # with timing chip, tshirt and final race instructions.  The Tshirt is a technical one, and its very nice - white, the pic is yellow, but come on Disney, how about a little more swag!  Your races are not cheap! I do LOVE how my race number had me as Princess Juliann!  I was happy to see Amy and I would be starting together in the same group and I was up towards the front - which gave me more time as the during the race the minimum pace time starts when the last runner crosses the starting line. There were 16,000 women and 600 men running!

We ate at Wolfgang Puck express in Downtown Disney, walked around a bit and headed back to the swan.

On Saturday our plans were to hit Disney Hollywood studios early to do Tower of Terror - well me with my fear of heights and recurring free falling dreams passed on this one, The Rock N Roll Roller Coaster - now my favorite roller coaster, and Toy Story Mania -LOVED IT.  With the help of a Fast Pass AND low crowds we knocked out all 3 by 10:45.

We headed over to the Magic Kingdom to do Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain and whatever else we fancied.  We had a great lunch at the Mexican place by Pirates of the Carribean - really you get alot of food for your $$.  I just got a taco salad and loaded up on the lettuce and tomato at the fixin's bar - kept it simple!  We watched a parade and decided we needed ice cream. The  girls got FREE ice cream from a nice Cast Member "just because" - now who would have thunk that?.... while I purchased my Dole Whip vanilla swirl...ummm, pineapple. It was a BEAUTIFUL day but OOPS we stayed til 7 later than expected. 

We headed back to the swan, just picked up some dinner at Picabu in the hotel, nothing too heavy with some protein and carbs.   I charged my camera battery til full, plugged in my laptop to charge the Ipod and Garmin and layed out my Princess race attire.  The nerves started to set in as we had to leave the hotel at 4am to get there by the ungodly hour they want you there before the start....start is at 5:45am for the first group, my group was starting at 5:53.   I think we got in bed at like 10.....I had a very hard time falling asleep!  My plan was to finish the race...but I had to listen to my body. So in the event I couldn't finish I had to be prepared to stop.  I knew I had to take it slow and my plan B was to make it to the Castle and just go crazy with taking pics if things were bad.  Then after the castle...it would be ok to stop as I had all those cute photos.  We were giving someone a ride who had done 2 other races, so we would know where to go. Off to bed we went....................................................

Disney Princess Part 2

Perseverance

So I am 4 weeks away from the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon.  


Cute outfit ..... CHECK , got it


Training....... Check...well lets review


I have been following the Jeff Galloway plan from the Disney Princess site. Its all good but apparently I am not stretching enough as I have had shin splints and now am suffering Plantar Faciitis in the left foot.  Its been pretty painful.


Thing is, on my 10.5 mile run Jan 15th, the heel pain kicked in bad.  So bad I went to  a sports med doc.  He was happy with how in tune to my body I am and said "train away" with your current plan - though cut your run intervals down so you are running less and walking a little more...and go see a physical therapist.  Oh and if i feel pain, stop!


So been seeing a PT with some super cool anti-inflammatory treatments including ionotopheresis and ultrasound.  Seriously take away the swelling.  She also has shown me some gentle stretching as apparently its my calves where all this started..yeah, remember the shin splints - its all related, they disappeared when my heel and foot started to hurt.


So last Sunday on another "long training run" goal was 10 miles.  First 8 miles, not easy, but totally doable.  My feet had a little tingling, like they were asleep.  Mile 9 kicks in and its pain more so when I walk than run.  This cannot be good I think so I decide to just get to the car, which was 1 mile away.


It was the hardest mile of my my life. Took me FOREVER to get there...I had to walk a mile on feet that hurt. I was scared something would snap.  Then the realization hit, what if I am on the race and my feet can't make it.  Total Bummer.  


I stopped by the river and just chilled out...actually started crying.  If this were the Princess 1/2 Marathon I would be done.  I would have sought the medical attention and gotten to the end via the van.  Good news is it wasn't the princess it was a training run.  I have a few more weeks to loosen up the calves. Funny thing is I didn't turn off the Garmin, took me 27 minutes to go that last mile... which includes the phone call to the hubs and the cry it out moment.


I started running in July of last year with Couch to 5K. Its a great program, the app for your Ipod or Iphone makes it SO easy.  After I completed that program,  I decided to attempt another 1/2 marathon... did 2 10 years ago. I realized I love my running...OK, its Run a couple minutes, walk a minute and my run is a jog, so basically I am wogging.   I love being outside, its a great way to see things.  I love the sweating and trying to push myself to see if I can go faster or further. I am surprised that I haven't quit with my feet issues or even having to get up early to get my runs in before Andy goes to work, but I look forward to that time.  Its my ME time, I am alone and clear my head.  Since I am a part time working mom and spend most of my time caring for the little princess, this time alone is a JOY.  I so look forward to it...especially the long runs!


I post my runs on dailymile.com to keep up with my mileage..for the shoes.  I decided to share my runs with my Facebook friends...which I will say, at first I was thinking, um do people REALLY care about my pathetically slow runs.  Apparently they do. A  FB friend told me I don't need to be worried about being a princess as I have been the queen of perseverance.  Also, a few others have told me they like seeing my progress and I have inspired them....me, the slow runner who perpetually needs to lose 20 pounds!  Wow, that is great, who knew I could inspire?




Truth is I like running - this go round, so its not that hard.  Hopefully my feet will hold out, I can keep my calves loose and the perseverance will pay off so I can finish that half marathon. BUT if not, there is always next year!  I have totally been bitten by the "wogging" bug.  I love it.  Perseverance, sure, but its something I really look forward to.


Hoping I don't screw things up by continuing!

Gobble Jog 10K Race Report

Started off this Thanksgiving with a 6.2mile race.  I am signed up for the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon the end of February and my training called for 6 miles this week, so I decided to do this race since the timing miles wise was perfect.  I realized if I could finish this race in 1:15 or less....I could possibly be moved up out of the last starting group for the Princess which started my stress about this race. Not that I hate the last group, but the Princess race has a lot of walkers and while I am no speedy runner, it would be nice to have fewer people to maneuver around at the race in February.  So while I tried to focus on just finishing the distance and that the race was for MUST Ministries which feeds the homeless, I started to stress about my time.


I was nervous last night, my stomach was in knots. You would think this was my first race...it wasn't.  Truth be told, I am slow and have accepted that.  When I was perusing the results of this particular 10k from years past, seems like my recent run times would put me at the back - actually last in my age group.  Its not about where you finish I know, but seriously when the thought of "I will probably be last" hit, its a bummer.  This is why I stopped running 10 years ago, I was slow and compared myself to others.....which I HAVE gotten better about this go round, but still.......


So with my IPOD loaded with some great tunes I set out this morning in the dark fog to the race. No one was on the roads and it was actually a creepy drive that 10 miles, but I made it easily.  Parked the car, and went to get my race number.  It was chilly and I had plenty of time.  For some reason was I all emotional and felt like crying.  Maybe it was the fear of making my time....or heck even finishing or memories of all the mornings in the hottest summer in Atlanta I got up early to start running again.  Maybe I was wishing my husband and daughter had come with me to cheer me on...he did offer to come at the end, I told him to sleep in. I went back to sit in the car, eat a banana and put on my race shirt and number - and have a small cry - don't know what that was about!  I had a time chip for my shoe, but forgot my reading glasses and had no idea how to put it on....it was my first race with one like this.


Got out of the car to walk around a little, found a nice lady to help me with the time chip and set off for the dreaded port o potties.  I drank a 16oz bottle of propel water on my way over and well, I needed to go.  I prayed I picked one without the remains of some other runner who had the nervous stomach deposit.  Happily, it was clean, had sanitizer and was on my way again.  I walked around warming up my legs looking at all the "runners"....people who looked like runners.  Skinny people with muscle tone, but not so much they are bulked up.  Short dudes with tiny shorts, young people who looked fit.  WHERE WERE MY PEEPS I wondered? I realized I had no lip coverage so back to the car I went, vaselined up and was good to go. I started to look for my friend Amy who was also running.  Guess what, hit the potties again....guess I drank too much propel water, but they were still relatively clean!  Yay for the little things in life!


Walked out, and immediately saw Amy at the start.  It was great to see a familiar face, especially the one who encouraged me to do this race.  She is also training for the princess, so we try to keep each other motivated.  While chatting with her, I heard a woman say "What I really can't stand, are the power walkers".  Look lady, not all of us have a thin frame like you or are fast - just go up to the front - which is where we were - and quit your bellyaching.  I decided to go further back in the pack since I didn't want to PO anyone who was fast.  I run intervals, 2 minutes run then 1 minute walk....yeah, that lady would love me.


Left Amy to go towards the back of the pack, turned on my music and as the race gun went off started my beloved IPOD Touch Interval App, that tells me when to run and when to walk...seriously, best thing ever.  I have to say, the race start was awesome.  It was kind of bunched up the first mile and you know what, I was passing tons of people.  Not that I am about being best, but obviously I put myself in the wrong spot at the start.   The course was a little hilly not bad, but so happy to hear Beasty Boys "Fight for your right to party" come on when I hit the first hill.  Yeah, its thanksgiving and for me to eat guilt free, this 6 mile race is my fight!


At the next hill my power song came on....John Williams "Olympic Fanfare" came on.  When I hear this one, I see myself like a Kenyan.....upright and FAST!  It always makes me feel like a true athlete when I am running to this.  About this time the race had thinned a bit and I noticed I was with the PWBLM group - that is People With a Butt Like Me....you don't see any tiny shorts among us.  Heck we have to be careful the spandex pants don't spread out too much so you can see what's going on under there.  Not that its a bad thing to be like me, but hey, I felt like I was among my peeps.  Those of us new to running or naturally slower or just trying to stave off a heart attack with some cardio ..whatever, love the PWBLM.


This race is a 3.1 mile course you run twice.  Before mile 3, when I was feeling the runner love...the leader of the race passed us.  The girl next to me laughed shaking her head saying "yeah, he is about to win 6.2 miles and we aren't yet at mile 3". But hey we were out there and this dude was super skinny - totally looked like a runner and he had a huge strides as he passed us shufflers.  We cheered the guy on and when the dude in second came by, same runners body with those tiny shorts, I told him, "go for it, you can catch him".


As I rounded the half way point, I did the old Arsenial Hall arm move and declared to the cheering spectators "I am going around again!"  They laughed and cheered me on more.


I have to say, around mile 4 I realized I was tired and ALMOST got a stitch.  Based on the times yelled out at the miles, I realized I was doing better than planned.  I was scared as still had to hit those hills again.....and thought I really want to beat my goal but if I am getting a stitch I need to slow it down.  I pretty much did my 2/1 intervals the whole race - though this lap 2 times when I was supposed to be running - um uphill- I decided to walk to get my breath back.


Around mile 5 there was a lady sitting on a chair in her driveway with her coffee...alone.  She was cheering EVERYONE on, so me and my pace buddy thanked her for coming out.  I was tired and it seemed like the end of the race was uphill.  I started to walk, but Chris Tomlin's "how great is our God" came on the shuffle.  This is the one "inspirational" in the religious way song in my run shuffle.  Its actually my favorite Praise and Worship song.  I sang to myself thanking God for my health and all he has given me and my family.  Guess what, got emotional and started crying as I saw the finish line in the distance.


The crying ended as fast as it came when Run DMC Walk This Way came on.  When I saw the clock said 1:11, I freaked out.  I was so happy.....it was a ways off, but I could beat my goal.  I picked up my pace and for the end of the race, I was doing HUGE strides to try to make it under 1:13.  I crossed the line at 1:12:40 with my arms raised in victory yelling "I did it, I beat my goal".  There were many people standing around as the 5k race was getting ready to start. Did anyone cheer me on or clap, um, NO!  And a couple people looked at me like I was nuts and I saw an eye roll.  GET OVER YOURSELF LADY! Whatever, she was not the champion I was.


As I grabbed my banana and water my pace buddy whose name I don't know told me thanks for being so positive on the race.  I tried to thank all the police who were blocking the roads for us as I ran and told many spectators "Happy Thanksgiving".  I told her she was welcome and thanked her for being my pace buddy.  She was running the whole race, so when I would walk, she would get ahead then when I ran I would run past her....happened the whole 6 miles. "You helped me as I wanted to keep up with you" I told her.


I downed my water and walked around for a while to get my heart rate down.  I stretched out my foot and calves...walked some more and stretched at the van.  Andy had sent me a message telling me he was proud of me and guess what, more tears....though short lived.


I drove home feeling good about getting up early and setting a goal...and beating that goal.  Guess what, my time is good enough to get me out of the last start group for the half marathon in February AND is the fastest mile pace I have recorded since I started running this year. Of course I have many weeks of training left - and I will slowly build up to 13.1 miles, but its great to have set a new mile pace on a course that wasn't exactly flat.


Now its time to go eat!  And while I know the running I did surely didn't burn enough calories to make up for the feast ahead, but hey, I did good today and am going to enjoy every bite.... I do have some tight jeans on though, so I will know when I am full.


Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

25 Minutes

Today I hit week 6 of Couch to 5K.  I actually completed a 5K this morning...just didn't run the whole thing - ran 25 minutes walked probably 15 more. I am excited, I ran straight for 25 minutes!!!!  Slow, but still I wasn't walking...though seriously, I could probably walk faster.

Felt great...fall is in the air.  Its amazing 6 weeks ago the thought of running for 25 minutes straight scared me.  I will be honest, I do like a walk brake if for nothing else to break up the monotony and to just do something different a few minutes.  However, my goal is to RUN the entire thing.  I am sure I can do it in 3 more weeks!

Yay me.

Fit by Fall Results

I had a goal to be Fit by Fall.  A rather unspecific goal, so I wouldn't be setting myself up to fail.

Here is where I am, you be the judge how successful I have been.

1. I am 5lbs lighter than spring


2. I could not do any crunches the beginning of the summer....full crunches that is with arms over chest. I can do them now, though sometimes at the end of a workout, I am tired and can't.

3. I was doing boot camp 2 times a week, pretty much all summer other than sick or vacation, think I missed 2 weeks.  I am now exercising 4 times a week consistently. I started a running program and now run 3 days a week, boot camp is only one due to my work schedule. So exercising twice as much as I used to AND getting up early to get it done.

4. I started a running program with a goal of running a 5k after 9 weeks.  And I mean running...OK, jogging, who am I kidding, the whole way.  I did a 5k last month and finished in 40 minutes plus some seconds.  I did a combo run / walk, so I can finish one, now want to be able to run.  Last weekend I did a 20 minute run on my program, this weekend it will be 25 minutes!  When I finish my program, I would like to also beat the time from August just as a goal.


5. I want to complete another 1/2 Marathon, specifically the Disney Princess 1/2....its flat down there and they have entertainment every 1/2 mile which helps pass the time and distance. I did completed 2 1/2 marathons 10 years ago and know it just takes the commitment to slowly building up the mileage.  I will NOT be running the whole way, I am a huge fan of the Run/Walk interval training.


Hopefully, my Plantar Faciitis will not keep me from making my new goals.  I am hoping to avoid injuries.  Along with the Plantar Faciitis which is now better, but I have some heal issues, I developed Bursitis in my shoulder.  I try not to overdo it with my foot or shoulder when I am exercising and Ice and stretching are now a part of my post exercise ritual.  Getting old is hard!

There you go, I think I am doing great by my goals....... and getting more specific.