tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70243071641503151662024-03-13T08:33:46.796-07:00The Unlikely CompetitorJaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.comBlogger332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-8643830599319610642017-02-14T13:46:00.001-07:002017-02-14T13:46:59.682-07:00Registration PsychosisAll of the runDisney fans know that today was regular registration for Marathon Weekend 2018 at Disney World. There was a lot of hoopla about this race weekend, because it happens to be the 25th anniversary of the WDW Marathon and the 5th anniversary
of the Dopey Challenge. After having a great time this year during the marathon, I decided I would register for 2018 and also register for the 10K, which I also did this year. It worked out perfectly because I used the 10K as a last training run but had
a day off before the full. I planned to do the same again for next year.
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<div>But then you know what happens....suddenly your social media feeds are full of everyone planning on Dopey because then you're in for two anniversaries. I ran the 20th anniversary of the full as part of Goofy in 2013. I can't believe it's already time
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<div>I also very clearly remember crying after crossing the finish line and stating that I would never do it again. Of course, I developed race amnesia by the time I got to the Orlando airport and claimed I would probably do Goofy during some anniversary
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<div>But this was before there was an official Dopey Challenge. </div>
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<div>Then after doing several race weekends, I swore off challenges. At least for awhile.
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<div>Suddenly, this morning, with just over an hour before registration I went into some sort of race psychosis, where I suddenly wanted to sign up for Dopey. Not really because I <i>wanted</i> to do Dopey, but because what if I wanted to do it later and
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<div>I even had to consult my trusty friend, Abby, to talk me out of being stupid. I was having a pretty severe case of FOMO.</div>
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<div>Luckily, I came back to reality and stuck with my original plan of doing the 10K and the full. Also, I was signing my mom up for the 10K and it was pretty crazed trying to race against the clock to get it all done, but I needn't have worried. It is
now three and a half hours since registration opened and <i>nothing</i> is sold out. Not even the 5K. That's a pretty good indicator that the glory days of runDisney are waning.</div>
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<div>I just hope we get something cool for the full marathon anniversary like the halfers got luggage tags this year for the Half That Never Happened. We only got a button for the 20th anniversary of the full. Boo.</div>
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</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-63604020557747380032017-01-30T20:41:00.001-07:002017-01-30T20:41:03.464-07:00Marathon Monday, Medal MondayThe following conversation with my coworker, April, happened last week at work. This conversation led to me making dumb life choices, as usual.
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<div>April: Have you ever thought about runnning the LA Marathon?</div>
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<div>Me: Not really. </div>
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<div>April: I'm running it.</div>
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<div>Me: Are you going by yourself? </div>
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<div>April: Yeah, I think my friend is going to back out.</div>
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<div>Me: Are you driving or flying?</div>
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<div>April: I'm going to drive.</div>
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<div>Me: I'll go with you if we can see the <a href="http://www.cabazondinosaurs.com" title="">Cabazon Dinosaurs</a> on the way home.</div>
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<div>April: Cool! Let's go.</div>
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<div>And that's how I ended up registered for the 2017 LA Marathon.</div>
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<div>I'm actually super excited about this. Never mind that I haven't run since I crossed the finish line of the WDW Marathon...but I'm already basically trained, right?</div>
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<div>April ran it last year but hurt her foot and was miserable most of the way. She decided to run it again this year and said that the course is awesome, which is the most important to me since I need constant entertainment.</div>
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<div>Plus, I <i>really </i>want to see the Cabazon Dinosaurs. </div>
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<div>My mother pointed out that it was not necessary to run 26.2 miles just to visit the dinosaurs, but it certainly got me excited to go.</div>
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<div>I<a href="http://theunlikelycompetitor.blogspot.com/2017/01/walt-disney-world-marathon-2017-recap.html" title=""> finally recapped the WDW Marathon</a>, but since it's Monday, a.k.a. <i>Medal Monday </i>in the racing community, I figured I'd include the
many post-marathon medal opportunities I had since I was at the most magical place on earth. Or is that Disneyland? Whatever. It was magical. Mai Tais can make <i>anything </i>feel magical.</div>
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<div>This is my post-10K-I-Got-A-PR-Even-Though-It-Was-Only-By-20-Seconds-But-It-Is-Still-A-PR drink picture. That is a HippopotoMaiTai and if you don't order the drink, you can't have the glass. Which I absolutely needed. But PSA here: that glass is
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<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I paid for memory maker, so by God, I <i>will </i>find something to do with all of these post race pictures! So I will lovingly share them with you.</span>
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<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I had no idea what to do here, except stare at him awkwardly. But then I channeled my inner Syth Lord and tried to take over the world.</span>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Luckily, I found a good guy before I went to the Dark Side for realz...</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">This Jawa tried to make a trade with me: my medal for a straw. Somehow, that didn't seem like a worthwhile trade.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">My mom also tried her hand at bartering. I think she tried to trade a piece of metal that broke off of a keychain or something. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">After Hollywood Studios, we headed over to Animal Kingdom. I really want to like this park, but honestly, it's so boring! I wish Rivers of Light would open or Avatar Land or <i>anything</i> that would make that park more entertaining. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">We did, however get some good pictures by The Tree of Life.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">And of course, we had to do the Timkerbell shot. Which I actually think is kind of cool, although makes more sense in front of the castle in MK, but whatevs.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Medal Monday then carried over until Tuesday. My mom and I had tickets for the Early Magic Hours at MK, so I took full advantage of the fairly empty park. I should write more about this but the brief version is that we rode the Mine Train 7 times
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<div style="text-align: left;">And last but certainly not least, we saw Stitch on our way out of MK on our last full day. I love Stitch. He's so naughty! I was really tired and the line was long, but I love my pictures with Stitch, so it was entirely worth the long wait.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I'm not one of those that actually wears their medals around all day. I keep them in my bag and just pull them out for photos. When I pulled out my medal, Stitch pretended to bite it and steal it. I wish I had pictures of that!</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">So by now, I'm sure you're thinking, <i>wow, what a narcissist! </i>And of course, you'd be right, because I'm a blogger, and that's what we do. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Expect more of the same after The LA Marathon, particularly with the dinosaurs. I can't help myself. </div>
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</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-20486812263129995172017-01-26T14:17:00.002-07:002017-01-29T23:08:03.520-07:00Walt Disney World Marathon 2017 RecapWow. I don't even know where to begin with this. The WDW Marathon was my 3rd marathon, and honestly, the other two were pretty disastrous. The first was also the WDW Marathon in 2013 as part of Goofy and the heat, sun and humidity were absolutely horrible.
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<div>Spoiler alert: This marathon was pretty great, despite the weather. Or maybe because of it. </div>
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<div>The following is my recap that consists mostly of pictures because who really wants to read about my splits, right?</div>
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<div>As most people know, the Half Marathon was cancelled on Saturday due to thunderstorms. The temperatures dropped quite a bit by Saturday afternoon, and even though there was no rain in the forecast, I definitely was concerned about having warm enough
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<div>I brought one fleece as a throw away, but then ended up checking it because I knew I would be want it the finish line for an extra layer. In the end, I "borrowed" an extra blanket from our room and it was the best decision ever.</div>
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<div>I was a bit behind schedule when I left the room. Since I was worried about being out in the cold for too long like I had for the 10K, I ended up walking out the door around 4:20 rather than my original plan of leaving at 4:00.</div>
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<div>I ended up in a wee panic when I was the only one on the bus at 4:30. But I was in corral J, so I still wasn't too concerned. Finally, more people arrived but it took quite awhile for the bus to actually leave. And then, of course, it took awhile
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<div>There really wasn't a whole lot of time once we got there to get bags checked and make the super long walk to the corrals, but the bonus of sitting on the heated bus as long as possible was awesome. I wasn't standing around long enough to be get too
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<div>The race started before I was actually in my corral. Despite my initial panic, I still ended up waiting for a bit for corral J to start. I wore that blanket until approximately 15 feet before crossing the start line. It was that cold.</div>
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<div>And finally we were off. It remained really cold for the first hour while we waited for the sun to come out. I really hadn't trained enough long distances, but I had definitely run very consistently for the previous two months. That being said, I knew
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<div>So I ended up keeping myself at a pace about a minute and a half slower than what I'm currently used to. It was a lot harder than I would have thought to keep slowing myself down, but it was a smart move in the end.</div>
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<div>I won't give you the specific play by play, since I pretty much don't remember everything. But at least I took a decent amount of pictures this time. The last time I ran, the WDW Marathon, I barely took any.</div>
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<div>The first few miles of the marathon went by pretty quickly. Around mile five, the course enters the Magic Kingdom.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">The crowds at MK are awesome. Running back stage and then coming out onto Main Street USA is so cool. The crowds are great.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I love running through the castle, even though it can get a little bit packed. I must have started in a corral far enough ahead of the last corral that this wasn't really an issue for me during this race. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">You can see by the layers on the girl in front on me, that it was pretty chilly out.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I have to take a moment to bitch about this, though. Why the F do people think it's okay to jump in front of you and then stop so that <i>they </i>can get a good picture, but completely don't give a shit if it messes up yours? I mean, this happened
at just about every major picture area in the first two parks. I'm assuming it happened less toward the end of the race because people were just too exhausted.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I give you Exhibit A. These women ran in front of me and came to a complete stop, three across, completing messing up everyone else's picture. Total dick move. And unfortunately, it's becoming the norm at Disney races.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Arg, just looking at it again pisses me off. This could have been a good picture for me but these three darted across the path to stand in front of everyone, not caring about tripping anybody or ruining anyone else's shot. This happens <i>every time I run through the castle. </i>No
joke. Okay, moving on...</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">This thing was pretty cool. We ran past it when we were back stage. I was told later that it's from one of the parades and that I must see it, but sadly, I missed the parade. Hopefully, I'll see it next year!</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">After MK, you run for quite awhile along back roads, the golf course, etc. They changed the route from the last time I ran this marathon, so the stretch from Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom is a bit tiresome. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I loved this shirt. In fact, I may or may not have had some shirt envy. I didn't take many pictures the last time I ran the WDW Marathon, so I was determined to have more this year. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I took a picture of this volunteer just to show how bundled up everyone was. Hello? This is FLORIDA. Every race I have done at WDW has been overly hot. But cold is better than hot, or so I told myself as I froze my ass off.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I wish I had gotten this girl's name. She was on the bus with me and we walked to the bag check together. This was her very first race longer than a 5K. And I thought I was crazy running a half marathon for my first race!! We leap frogged each other
multiple times and chatted on course. The last time I saw her was after mile 13 because I congratulated her for completing her first half, but I'm not sure exactly which mile it was at. I believe maybe after Animal Kingdom. Anyway, it was a cool experience
and like I said, I wish I had gotten her name or that I had run into her at the finish to see how she did. So if anyone knows her, send her to my blog!</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I always take a picture at mile 10 during half marathons, so I've continued that tradition during full marathons....well, the whopping 3 marathons that I have run so far. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I didn't really plan to stop at many character stops because I had no desire to be on my feet longer than necessary, so waiting in long lines for characters seems crazy to me on any race longer than a 10K...unless the line is super short. Then I'll pop in line. I don't even know who these characters are, but no one was waiting. And I was getting photo pass, so why not take advantage?</span>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I took this picture because it seemed much more like a velociraptor enclosure than a rhino one. And if there was ever going to be a real Jurassic Park, you know is would be owned by Disney. Just sayin'.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Finally, we were heading into Animal Kingdom. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I take the worst selfies. Oy. How do people take good selfies? I swear it's an art.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I considered riding Everest, just to add to the experience, but I think this was only around mile 13ish and I was worried about getting moving again if I rode a ride. Not to mention, Everest can make me feel quite queasy and I just wasn't willing to risk it. Maybe one day!</span>
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<div style="text-align: left;">After Animal Kingdom, we ran through the parking lot and of course, I needed a picture of this unicorn sign.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">The back side of the new Avatar land was also visible from the parking lot. Why is this park not open, yet?! I feel like it should have been opened some time last year. Crossing my fingers that maybe it will be open for next year's marathon.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I have to say that the first half of this marathon is somewhat boring aside from the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. I struggled a bit at this point and mentally beat myself up for not getting in enough long runs. There's really a whole lotta nothing
for long stretches now that the Speedway is gone. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">My muscles felt fine and I wasn't tired, but my feet hurt and strangely, so did my ankles, which is not something that usually happens. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">So I started taking pictures of random shit to distract myself from my feet and ankles hurting. This is the line of traffic to get into the parks during marathon weekend. I bet these people were <i>pissed!</i>
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<div style="text-align: left;">This part of the course is <i>brutal</i>. For anyone reading this post to get information about this race, just know that it does improve! It just feels like miles of nothing. I think this stretch is mile 14 through mile 18 and includes an area at
mile 16 or so where you can see across the highway where the runners are at about mile 21. Which was a sweep point when I got to mile 21.<i></i>
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<div style="text-align: left;">And then suddenly, I got a second wind. I went from starting to feel horribly miserable, to being able to keep running along. Once you get to ESPN Sports Compex, there's much more to see and from there the other parks come quickly. I didn't take
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<div style="text-align: left;">Once I saw mile 20, I got excited. I had exactly two hours to finish to get a PR, which meant I could truly mosey along and still get a PR.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">The parking lot we ran into next was awesome. There were people that had parked their cars and were handing out treats of all kinds including shots of bourbon, which I thought was funny, but I was definitely not going to risk it. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">After 20 miles of sugary GU and Power Aid, these women were a welcome sight. In fact, I think I literally blurted out, "I love you!" to them as she scooped out some pickle chips for me. Mmmmm. Salt.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I was feeling really pretty good at this point, which was about mile 21. I was bummed for the people across the road, though, that were getting on the sweep bus around mile 16. I originally tried to get a close up of the front of the bus with a scrolling
marquee that read, Parade Bus, which I can't decide whether or not I think that's annoying or funny. I don't know that I would find it funny were I to be riding it...</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">It occurred to me while I was snapping a picture, that maybe there was someone sitting on that bus, in tears, watching me take pictures. So I decided to move along.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">And then, finally, I was entering Hollywood Studios, and I must have been grinning like an idiot. I was almost done, I was going to PR, I was finally having an enjoyable marathon after a horrible first two, and I knew -and this is really important
- <i>that there was candy ahead</i>!!! Yahooooo! </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">This tasted so delicious after 21 miles. Hollywood Studios is fun to run through because the parks are open at that point and the crowds are incredible. Running through the park and then out onto the path that leads to the back of the Boardwalk is full
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<div style="text-align: left;">I was on cloud nine. I had passed mile 24 and I knew I had friends waiting for me by Italy in Epcot. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">And they had champagne waiting for me. This moment is seriously my favorite race memory of all time. How cool are these girls!? <i></i>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Huge thank you to <a href="https://sarahrunsalot.blogspot.com" title="">Sarah</a>, Abby and Pam. You guys totally made my day!</div>
<a href="https://sarahrunsalot.blogspot.com"></a>
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<div style="text-align: left;">And then I had a champagne glass for the rest of my running pictures, which was awesome.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">So, all in all, I have to say WDW Marathon 2017 was amazing. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't entirely hearts and flowers, but the second half was so much better than the first half and having friends on the course and handing you champagne was incredible. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">In fact, I felt so good afterward, that I pretty much decided I would be doing the full in 2018. I made my way back into Epcot immediately afterward to meet back up with Abby, Sarah and Pam so I could snarf food. And when I say "immediately", I mean
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<div style="text-align: left;">I actually caught the very end of the race, which I passed at Germany in Epcot on my way to America to eat, probably an hour after I crossed the finish line. They still had almost a mile to go and looked pretty beat up. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I packed a full change of clothes so we ate and then spent pretty much the rest of the day drinking at a new bar on the Boardwalk called, Abracadabar, which was cute, but really should have more food on their menu for post marathon snarfing. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I ended up with a 20 minute PR for the full, following the <a href="https://theunlikelycompetitor.blogspot.com/?m=0" title="">20 second PR I got during the 10K</a>. WDW Marathon Weekend 2017 was quite a success! Who wants to run it with me next
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</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-76178252185468264952017-01-16T09:04:00.002-07:002017-01-16T09:05:16.409-07:00Walt Disney World 10K Recap<div>Friday morning was the WDW 10K. I was up at 3:15 and out the door by 4:00AM. I didn't really plan costumes for this race weekend, but I had picked up this shirt at the Tinkerbell expo and I was finally going to wear it for the 10K. I might have worn it
for the marathon, but it was supposed to be super cold and I knew a short sleeved shirt wasn't going to cut it.</div>
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<div>I headed down to the buses and ran into Pinnochio and Geppetto.</div>
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<div>I'll admit, I was pretty excited about the marathon, since I have so few pictures of my first marathon and my second marathon was a horrible disaster for many reasons. I was going to soak this one in and enjoy it, which meant taking as many pictures as
possible in front of anything that said "marathon" on it.</div>
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<div>I'm really glad I did that. This whole weekend was awesome, so I'm glad I have so many pictures to look through.</div>
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<div>After taking pictures, I made my way to the corrals. I was in corral D. I don't know how many total corrals there are, but the corral system definitely does not work the same way for the 10K as it does for the half or full. We stood in that corral for
what felt like an eternity. They broke the corrals into waves, so even though a corral would start, there was a considerable amount of time before the next corral was released. I'm guessing at least 10 minutes. I'm used to doing the half or full where
the corrals are released every few minutes and things move along.</div>
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<div>My muscles stiffened up and my back was killing me. It was so weird- I haven't had problems like that for a long time, so I panicked a little at how crappy my body felt.</div>
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<div>Finally, FINALLY, our corral moved to the start. I really felt stiff at that point, but still I felt confident that I was going to PR that morning. </div>
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<div>I didn't take any race pictures myself since I was so focused on PRing, but luckily, I had Memory Maker and unlimited access to Photo Pass photos. Otherwise, I'd have no pictures of this race.</div>
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<div>What I thought would be an easy, peasy PR turned out to be a real struggle. I had been running at a PR pace for a month and running 5-7 miles at the pace multiple times a week. I thought I'd practically be moseying to the finish line and still get a PR.</div>
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<div>Well, nope. It didn't work out like that. I don't really know what the problem was. Maybe it was the fact that my muscles stiffened up in the corrals. Maybe it was having been on my feet for the last few days at the parks and the expo.</div>
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<div>Regardless, I struggled. I struggled a lot. But I actually got some decent photos out of the Photo Pass photographers, which is a huge improvement over Marathon Foto, in my opinion.</div>
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<div>I pushed harder than I have pushed for a PR at any race I can remember. Every step felt like a struggle and my lungs were burning. In the back of my mind, I knew there was a chance I was screwing things up royally for myself for the marathon on Sunday,
but I couldn't give in. </div>
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<div>I ended up with a 20 second PR, beating a time from 2011. I literally sprinted down the finisher chute and when I crossed the finish line, I not only felt like I might throw up any moment from pushing that hard, but I felt disappointed that I didn't have
an obvious PR. To me, it felt like the same time since the minutes were the same.
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<div>But after I stopped feeling my pulse in my face and had some snacks, I told myself that a PR is a PR, even if it's only by 20 seconds.</div>
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<div>And PRs definitely deserve a cool drink that must shared on Instagram. So that afternoon, my mom and I headed over to Trader Sam's at the Polynesian. </div>
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<div>I had the HippopotoMai-Tai and she had the Zombie. Of course, neither of us would normally order a drink like this. I'm much more of a wine or mimosa girl, but you can't have the glass unless you order the drink, so I put on my big girl panties and ordered
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<div>And it was delicious.</div>
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<div>The temperatures were dropping. There was heavy rain in the forecast for the morning of the half and really cold temps for the full, but I wasn't really paying attention to social media regarding whether or not the race would happen. </div>
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<div>I was completely surprised when I got a text from a friend that the half was cancelled. It hadn't even rained at all at that point, so it seemed a little extreme to me at the time. Signs were out at the Boardwalk, I received texts and there was a message
on our room phone alerting us that the race had been cancelled. I wasn't even running the half and I was alerted numerous times. </div>
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<div>When I woke up to thunder and torrential rain in the middle of the night and the storms were still going at 7 that morning, I knew Disney had made the right call. It was horrible out. The cool thing was watching so many people run their own half marathon
at various hotels where spectators handed out snacks and water and made impromptu character stops. I saw it after the fact on social media, but I wish I had realized what was going on and went out to lend a hand.</div>
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<div>My mom and I had breakfast at Be Our Guest. It was still raining a bit and the temperatures were dropping fast. We rode a bunch rides at Magic Kingdom. This guy didn't seem to be bothered a all by the freezing rain. </div>
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<div>Eventually, we made our way to Epcot for an early dinner at Nine Dragons. I justified the amount of food I ate by telling myself that I was carb loading for the marathon in the morning. And trust me, I ate an impressive amount of fried rice and pepper
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<div>That night I decided to do a load of laundry and stay off of my feet. After the load was done in the washer, I put my clothes in the drier, except for the Darth Vader shirt I wore for the 10K. I had hung it on the back of a chair while I put the rest
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<div>The machines lock once they start and don't unlock until the cycle is done. I made it back to the room before I realized I had left my shirt on the chair. Honestly, I didn't even really worry about it. I truly did not think I needed to race back down
to get my shirt, I mean, who steals clothes from another person? Especially wet, running clothes?! </div>
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<div>But sure enough, when I went back to get my clothes out of the drier, my shirt was gone. It was still wet, so it's not like someone cold think it was forgotten there. It had just come out of the washer. I was honestly surprised. The Boardwalk is a really
nice hotel and runners are typically jerks. The worst part is that you can no longer get that shirt on the Disney Store website. I tried to order one for my mom.
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<div>I'm super sad. I mean, I'm not going to jump off of a building over it, but I saved that shirt for the weekend and I only wore it once. I hope the jerk who took it feels good about his or herself. Grrrrr.</div>
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<div>Anyone else run the WDW 10K?</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-60574827511539733142017-01-12T13:56:00.003-07:002017-01-12T13:57:23.596-07:00WDW Marathon Expo X 3<div>I somehow managed to make three different trips to the expo for Marathon Weekend.</div>
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<div>I planned for my mom and I to spend some extra time at Disney World this year when we went for Marathon weekend so that we could make sure we did everything we wanted to do. I was doing the 10K and full marathon, so I wanted to make sure we had
an extra day at the end in case I was really sore on Monday. So I planned for us to go Wednesday to Wednesday. Traveling east across the country can take all day, so I figured we'd go to the expo Thursday and I'd do the 10K on Friday. </div>
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<div>We ended up on a red eye with a connecting flight Wednesday at 1:00 AM and arrived in Orlando at 9 something in the morning. Despite the fact that I was exhausted and somewhat cranky from not getting any sleep, I managed to get my second wind once we
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<div>Our room wasn't ready, so we ended up heading straight to the expo. I've been to Disneyland race expos right when they open, so I was expecting a total shit show, but it was nice and calm. I think we even ended up inside early.</div>
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<div>The 5K and 10K bib and shirt pick up were outside in the stadium, so we went there first to get my 10K packet. Easy peasy. Some of the vendors were set up there, as well, which was different than other e pos at WDW that I've been to. I haven't been to
Marathon Weekend since 2013, so things were a bit different since then.</div>
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<div>Next, we made our way to the Jostens center so we could get official merchandise. I swear, no matter what race I'm doing, the other races have better shirts. I saw a really cute Dopey pull over that I liked but the marathon merch was just...meh. I did
end up buying a shirt and the medal pins for the 10K and full. I had also preordered the jacket, which I wasn't in love with, but it came in handy later because it was COLD in Orlando.</div>
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<div>After doing some damage at the expo, between merchandise and fuel, I went back to the other building to pick up my bib. There was no line so all I had left to do was go back to Jostens to get my marathon shirt. </div>
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<div>Side note: how irritating is it that the 5K, 10K, Goofy and Dopey all,have shirt pick up where the bibs are but the half and full marathon Runner's have to go to another building to pick up their shirts? Normally, this wouldn't irritate me that
badly, but I hadn't had any sleep, we'd already been there for hours and I walked outside to go grab my shirt and saw this:</div>
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<div>This was what I encountered when I went to just go grab my shirt. Holy wow. No way was I standing in that mess. I certainly didn't want to make an additional trip to the expo, but there was just no way I was willing to wait in that ridiculous line.</div>
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<div>So my mom and I headed over to Disney Springs to check out the Hangar Bar, which was really cute. The food was decent but nothing amazing. I enjoyed it, but I don't know if I need to go back since there are so many other places I have yet to try!</div>
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<div>The ride is really cute and I'm glad we went on it but we didn't really feel the need to go on it again during our trip. Now Soarin' is another story. We definitely wanted to do that again.</div>
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<div>Next we were headed back to Disney Springs to have a late lunch at Raglan Road. I've been there twice now and both times, I've had the Shepherd's Pie and it is so, so good there. Plus, the ambience is great. If you go at night, they have Irish dancers
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<div>I chipped one of my nails and I literally had just had a gel manicure hours before we boarded our flight. It was annoying me and catching on things, so I figured It couldn't be that complicated to get it fixed. Well, just so yo know, there aren't that
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<div>Since we were at Disney Springs, Saratoga Springs is right across the "lake" and they have a spa. So we headed over there and wow, is that resort cute! Especially for a horse crazy girl like me!</div>
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<div>My mom took one look at the spa and got sucked into not only a manicure, but a pedicure, as well. I figured this would be an excellent time to hear back to the expo to get my marathon shirt. </div>
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<div>It was much better this time around. Luckily I had thought to bring my bib with me that morning when we left for Epcot. Picking up my shirt was a breeze since it was the evening of the second day.</div>
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<div>My mom ended up having the longest mani/pedi in history so I wandered around for a ridiculous amount of time waiting for her.</div>
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<div>I spent more money that I should have, but I also stumbled across the world's most amazing running belt that is not only great for races, but awesome for hanging out in the parks if you are like me and like wearing running pants while riding rides. I
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<div>Finally, my mom arrived at the expo and we headed back to the Boardwalk since I had to be up early for the 10K. We had snacks at the hotel and called it a night!</div>
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<div>I made my third trip to the expo on Friday after the 10K to exchange my shirts for a smaller size. Luckily, I was still able to get a medium 10K shirt, even though the race was over. </div>
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<div>Three trips is way more than I want to be making to an expo, let alone one at WDW, where it's a production to get there. </div>
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<div>Next up: the 10K recap.</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-56784413972725934032017-01-11T12:26:00.003-07:002017-01-11T13:53:59.099-07:00In With The NewI must say, 2017 has started with a bang. But before I get into that, I need to complain about a First World Problem. So, I got myself an iPad Pro. And no, I certainly don't have the spare cash to shell out the money for this top of the line, 256G, lightweight
piece of amazingness. Sometimes our vendors pay us in "award points" rather than cash and we can buy things.
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<div>Usually we like just getting paid actual money since award points can't pay my mortgage, but the flip side is that now I have a super cool new toy that is the best iPad out there and I can totally justify its existence. Now I can retire my third generation
of the original iPad, which weighs approximately 68 pounds and freezes all of the time because it's only 32G and there's not even room for iOS 10 on it.</div>
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likely won't upgrade for years. Secondly, now that we can download things from Netflix to watch offline, I'm downloading stuff like crazy. And that takes up a lot of room.</div>
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<br />So my actual problem here is that when I set up my new iPad Pro from iCloud, I thought everything transferred just fine until I went to actually follow through with my New Years resolution to get back to regular blogging and noticed that my favorite
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<br />A few years ago, I purchased an app called Blogsy, that was ah-maz-ing. It made blogging on the go so super easy, even adding pictures with captions. The app wasn't free, either, but so worth the money. I can't remember how much it was when I downloaded
it, but it was totally worth it.
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<br />So I went to the Apple App Store to just get it from the cloud and *GASP* it is gone! Imagine my utter shock and dismay. I mean, I might have even teared up a bit. That app was the best and it's nowhere to be found. All of the other blogger apps
have horrible ratings, but I love writing blog entries from my iPad rather than an actual computer. Plus, my laptop is from like, 2011, and in computer years, that's prehistoric. You don't even want to know what happened to the speed of that thing
after I downloaded Windows 10. It's terrible.
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<br />So, my dear blogger friends, can anyone recommend an app that works well with the Blogger (Blogspot) platform? I've heard the actual website works okay now on Apple devices but I haven't figured out how to add captions to my pictures (or really even
upload pictures from my device) and things like that, and I'll be honest here, captions on pictures make my world go 'round. I just need them, okay? (Updated from the Atlanta airport where I downloaded a brand new app called BlogPal which also
doesn't seem to have an option to adjust pictures or add captions. We'll see how it goes...)</div>
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<br />I'm currently writing this from up in the sky on my way home from Marathon Weekend at Disney World (Spoiler Alert- awesome, awesome, awesome time with PRs, but I'll recap those separately) using the Pages app that came on this iPad. It's pretty cool
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<br />So, in conclusion, I'm attempting to follow through with my New Years resolution to get back into regular blogging and reading other blogs (yes, I know, I've been so terrible about ignoring my blogger friends! I'll change, I swear! Please take me
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<div>Speaking of New Years resolutions... I actually followed through on the one I made going into 2016. I gave up soda (not club soda because that's what I use to get my bubble fix) and didn't have a single sip of that sugary deliciousness in all of 2016.
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<div>Notice I did not give up wine or champagne? No, siree. Not happening. </div>
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<div>And in case you're wondering, no I'm not giving up alcohol in 2017, either. Just throwing that out there, especially since I consumed plenty last week. This is called a HippopotoMai-Tai and I had it at Trader Sam's at the Polynesian. I don't usually go
for mixed drinks, but I had to have the souvenir glass which you can not buy without the drink. And no, you can't substitute. I asked if they could put prosecco in there instead, but no dice. So I took it like a champ. Had to celebrate a 10K PR!</div>
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<div>Bye for now, bloggerinos. I'm off to do some recapping while on my journey back across the USA.
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</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-28834729377177819182016-12-15T18:45:00.001-07:002016-12-15T18:58:20.851-07:00The Scottsdale Half Marathon- A Tale Of Bad Life Choices<p> I know that I claimed that I was going to be better about blogging, but A) work, riding and life have been super crazy and B) I'm a liar. The WDW Marathon is looming on the horizon like horrible monster with razor sharp teeth and blood red eyes, so there's plenty to write about, I've just been so swamped that I just...haven't.</p><p>I've actually been doing a fair amount of consistent running, but I haven't been great about doing long runs. I planned to do the Hot Chocolate Race <strike>for the hoodie</strike> to get in a 15K run, but I waited until the very last minute to sign up and it sold out. I also planned to do the Scottsdale Half Marathon the next weekend, but I wasn't excited about it and they had race day registration, so again, I waited until the last minute.</p><p>This is how my weekend went down and it includes just about every scenario you should avoid before running a half marathon. I am the running equivalent of a D.A.R.E. commercial. Don't drink and run, kids.</p><p>If you happen to be stopping by my blog for the first time ever, I will preface this story by telling you that I am an avid rider (as in horses, not bicycles. Ew.) and my barn mates take weekend brunch very seriously. And by "seriously", I mean that we discovered a new restaurant that serves bottomless mimosas from 10am until 2pm for 12 freaking dollars. And it's not even like you have to reorder! They wander around and just constantly refill your glass, so you never really know how much you've consumed until you realize it's now dinner time and you then order yourself dinner. </p><p>So last Saturday, I still hadn't committed to the race on Sunday morning by the time we decided to go to brunch, which could probably be considered lunch since it was 1pm with only one hour left of bottomless mimosas.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-inBqlZ93BT0/WFNGcaL0-QI/AAAAAAAAJpw/xxh-oMIS8d0/s2048/Photo%25252020161215184140902.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-inBqlZ93BT0/WFNGcaL0-QI/AAAAAAAAJpw/xxh-oMIS8d0/s500/Photo%25252020161215184140902.jpg" id="blogsy-1481853191935.0007" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="537"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't mind my riding clothes and really dirty nails from being at the barn.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>I figured that I couldn't get into too much trouble because we only had an hour. Well, they kept serving us until around 3:00 and then we waited a couple of hours to leave.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bl7lxIijxbY/WFNGihlTd0I/AAAAAAAAJp0/BH2u70z64lA/s2048/Photo%25252020161215184141236.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bl7lxIijxbY/WFNGihlTd0I/AAAAAAAAJp0/BH2u70z64lA/s500/Photo%25252020161215184141236.jpg" id="blogsy-1481853191970.911" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="404" height="539"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I even made sure that I ordered water to counter the mimosas, but I didn't even finish one glass.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This is the conversation at the barn that led to this debacle:</p><p>Kelly: we still have an hour left for bottomless mimosas!</p><p>Me: okay, but I can't drink too much. I might sign up for a race.</p><p>Katie: running is dumb.</p><p>Me: yeah, it is. Let's have mimosas.</p><p>At some point in the middle of all of this, I decide to register for the half from my phone while completely buzzed. Champagne buzzes don't last too long, but being the professional champagne drinkers that we are, we are definitely capable of putting away more than the average person. So even though we sobered up pretty quickly, it certainly doesn't help your energy or hydration levels when you're planning on running 13 miles in the morning.</p><p>Basically, I went home and went straight to bed. </p><p>At 5:30pm. </p><p>Like a boss.</p><p>Then I remembered that my running clothes were dirty, so at least I managed to get a load into the washer and got my socks and underwear out for the morning. Then I went back to bed. </p><p>I slept until midnight and woke up with a killer headache. Now I'm kicking myself because I know I'm going to feel terrible in the morning. I get up and chug two glasses of water and pull my running clothes out of the washer to hang up to dry. It then occurs to me that I don't know where my visor is and I'm sure my iPod needs to be charged. And where the hell is my running belt?!</p><p>So I was awake from midnight until 4:30am, watching <em>Happy Endings</em> on Hulu, and my alarm was going to go off at 5:45. The race started at 7:30. Pretty sure this is part of Meb's routine, too.</p><p>I finally fall back to sleep for about an hour, my alarm went off, and I got ready to race. My headache was much improved but still present and I felt <em>very</em> tired. I think this is why I signed up from my phone while tipsy at the bar. I knew there was no way I'd get up and go register before the actual race, but if I had already spent $85 less than 24 hours prior, there was no way I was wasting that money.</p><p>As I was leaving, I realized that I had no fuel of any kind. I stopped at the Circle K and loaded up on Clif Bars, coffee, water and giant Sweet Tarts (Sweet Tarts actually made good fuel!). I was the only one in the store and the lone employee watched me like I was a tweeker on some all night binge buying up all the snacks in sight.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-noBN8904IFU/WFNGo9CILfI/AAAAAAAAJp4/2V1j1YWHBto/s2048/Photo%25252020161215184141612.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-noBN8904IFU/WFNGo9CILfI/AAAAAAAAJp4/2V1j1YWHBto/s500/Photo%25252020161215184141612.jpg" id="blogsy-1481853192020.3013" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="410" height="332"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possible fuel choice for the WDW Marathon.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>So off I went. I made it to the Scottsdale Civic Center at 7:10, picked up my bib and shirt, then checked the shirt and remainder of my snacks in the gear bag provided, and made it to the start by the skin of my teeth. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-priDCIiL9t8/WFNGvI8PlzI/AAAAAAAAJp8/5ASXFwM8w58/s2048/Photo%25252020161215184142025.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-priDCIiL9t8/WFNGvI8PlzI/AAAAAAAAJp8/5ASXFwM8w58/s500/Photo%25252020161215184142025.jpg" id="blogsy-1481853192025.9197" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="303"></a></div><p> </p><p>I won't bore you with a mile by mile recap, since most of my race was not monumental. Spoiler alert: I survived my first hung over half marathon and it wasn't as horrible as I imagined it would be.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hTqYxEs9Xv0/WFNGz6Ch4pI/AAAAAAAAJqA/vjaq34nRZic/s1584/Photo%25252020161215184142276.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hTqYxEs9Xv0/WFNGz6Ch4pI/AAAAAAAAJqA/vjaq34nRZic/s500/Photo%25252020161215184142276.jpg" id="blogsy-1481853191959.9521" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="408" height="425"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This race used to be the Fiesta Bowl Half but changed this year to the Scottsdale Half.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>It's a fairly small race, but well run. They only had aid stations every 2 to 2.5 miles, which is way less than I'm used to since I usually run really large races, but I can't complain too much about that since it was a small race. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GQ_JHmOeUSc/WFNG7LMgMsI/AAAAAAAAJqE/LSdKTkNOtgU/s2048/Photo%25252020161215184142678.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GQ_JHmOeUSc/WFNG7LMgMsI/AAAAAAAAJqE/LSdKTkNOtgU/s500/Photo%25252020161215184142678.jpg" id="blogsy-1481853192018.3586" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="404" height="303"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The course was through a pretty nice part of town, which was enjoyable.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The crowd support was pretty much nonexistent, which made it hard to distract myself from the fact that I was trudging along for 13 miles, sweating out champagne though my pores.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IgNBRgtiyeU/WFNHB8Mm-OI/AAAAAAAAJqI/MzeC65Yyfis/s2048/Photo%25252020161215184143128.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IgNBRgtiyeU/WFNHB8Mm-OI/AAAAAAAAJqI/MzeC65Yyfis/s500/Photo%25252020161215184143128.jpg" id="blogsy-1481853191992.0413" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="537"></a></div><p> </p><p>I actually didn't do too badly considering my race preparation, or lack thereof. Like I said earlier, I've been running consistently, but I think I survived this race as well as I did because I've dropped about twenty pounds since this summer, which has helped my stamina immensely (but sadly, has not really made me faster). I'll write more about that in another post.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3vYQueqh8T8/WFNHFd4B6qI/AAAAAAAAJqM/dfufit2qQWg/s1239/Photo%25252020161215184143323.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3vYQueqh8T8/WFNHFd4B6qI/AAAAAAAAJqM/dfufit2qQWg/s500/Photo%25252020161215184143323.jpg" id="blogsy-1481853191945.1028" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="397"></a></div><p> </p><p>I'm no speed demon, that's for sure, but I still squeaked across the finish line in just under 3 hours. I hit a big wall at about mile 10, but that wasn't a shocker, considering. I walked all of miles 12 and 13. My legs were toast.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N6Swfhwu9zA/WFNHPSjUelI/AAAAAAAAJqQ/vFZzS7zcMe0/s2048/Photo%25252020161215184143767.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N6Swfhwu9zA/WFNHPSjUelI/AAAAAAAAJqQ/vFZzS7zcMe0/s500/Photo%25252020161215184143767.jpg" id="blogsy-1481853191958.5222" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="402"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berry champagne is pretty delicious.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p> </p><p> But then there were free mimosas at the finish line, so my pain floated away and dissolved into a cloud of happiness. And they were <em><strong>not</strong></em> skimpy on the champagne, either. That drink is like 7/8 berry champagne, which is where the color of this drink comes from, and 1/8 orange juice. Frankly, this is the proper mimosa ratio, in my professional opinion. None of that 'splash of champagne in the O.J.' bullsh*t for this girl.</p><p> The irony of all of this is that <a href="http://(null)" target="_self" title="">when I ran the Tink Half in May</a>, I totally did everything right. I ate very carefully the day before the race, I drank tons of water, did a lot of relaxing, didn't use effing Sweet Tarts for fuel, and you know what? I was still sick as a dog for half an hour post race in the porta potty, just like every half marathon (or longer) that I run.</p><p> This time, my stomach totally felt great and my headache disappeared somewhere around mile 10 and unicorns appeared in the sky, etc. Maybe I've stumbled upon my new pre-race routine, because once I was in that mimosa garden, I felt like a million bucks. And you're welcome, by the way, for always doing things in the most stupid way possible so that you don't have to. That's public service, right there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gm3NzA00Bcw/WFNHQ9bHEVI/AAAAAAAAJqU/RDJxuXqu1LI/s1280/Photo%25252020161215184143879.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gm3NzA00Bcw/WFNHQ9bHEVI/AAAAAAAAJqU/RDJxuXqu1LI/s500/Photo%25252020161215184143879.jpg" id="blogsy-1481853191963.0579" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="227"></a></div><p> </p><p>Then I went home and spent my afternoon in the most cliche way possible: as a 40 year old spinster cat lady with Chinese take out. The end.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O-sg2r1HwWk/WFNHTV5xOJI/AAAAAAAAJqY/r_P9nSizaxg/s1280/Photo%25252020161215184144031.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O-sg2r1HwWk/WFNHTV5xOJI/AAAAAAAAJqY/r_P9nSizaxg/s500/Photo%25252020161215184144031.jpg" id="blogsy-1481853192012.501" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="408" height="306"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My selfie skills are seriously sub par.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-32263391136235503732016-11-01T14:04:00.001-07:002016-11-01T14:04:58.080-07:00Once Upon A Time<p> Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (we'll call this land Arizona) there lived a girl. ("Girl" in this instance refers to a recently turned 40 year old spinster cat lady in a mid life crisis.) This girl had a blog and said blog was loosely running themed. (The term "running" is used loosely simply because there was a whole lot of <em>not </em>running happening.) I'm like that person that decides they are going to take up fly fishing so they buy all the books and equipment, but never actually goes fly fishing. I possess all of the equipment - basically two feet and some shoes- and I've even got the blog! But to have a running blog, it's probably ideal that it be maintained by, you know, <em>someone that actually pauses Netflix long enough to run somewhere. </em></p><p>I just spent several amazing days with some friends at a waterfront condo in Panama City Beach, Florida. I was telling these wonderful people (who clearly know I'm a bizarre weirdo but pretend like I'm an entertaining and interesting individual) about <a href="http://theunlikelycompetitor.blogspot.com/2016/02/i-can-make-this-stuff-up.html?m=1" target="_self" title="">this one running experience that I had</a> where this guy was wearing an elevation mask but was all creepy and Darth Vader-like. I couldn't remember exactly what happened, so I looked up the blog entry and read it to them. They thought it was hysterical. </p><p>Well, this response fed my narcissistic, ego maniacal soul perfectly. So I read them a few more entries and again, they thought the entries were great. All joking aside about my ego, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed writing some of those entries and how much I missed being a part of the blogosphere. </p><p>I even went running on this trip, which rarely happens for me on vacation. Panama City Beach is an odd, eclectic tourist town and right now must be in the off season because the place was deserted. Also, Panama City has the most miniature golf courses I have ever seen in my life. Like, there's so many of them that it feels like maybe it's a cover up for something else. I mean, c'mon, this octopus looks shady as shit.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gaMfKhaM7Wg/WBkCxnWswSI/AAAAAAAAJo0/UEjlB5f9Sws/s2048/Photo%25252020161101140111571.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gaMfKhaM7Wg/WBkCxnWswSI/AAAAAAAAJo0/UEjlB5f9Sws/s500/Photo%25252020161101140111571.jpg" id="blogsy-1478034296208.0942" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="451" height="451"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty sure he was hunting me as I ran by.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> Also, wtf with the color of this water? This mini golf course was right by condo and I must have mentioned the color of the water approximately 376485 times. I'm not sure why I was so obsessed with it, but it's certainly suspicious. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wmoeU9Ndhwk/WBkC4RPEGSI/AAAAAAAAJo4/y-XDCbhUZYA/s1761/Photo%25252020161101140111819.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wmoeU9Ndhwk/WBkC4RPEGSI/AAAAAAAAJo4/y-XDCbhUZYA/s500/Photo%25252020161101140111819.jpg" id="blogsy-1478034296188.3596" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="367"></a></div><p> </p><p>And not only that, but it wasn't the only mini golf course with the same color water. That, my friends, is the color of toilet water that is spiked with some sort of non-environmentally friendly concoction. In fact, I can't remember the last time I actually used a toilet with water that color, so maybe there's a chance it has been outlawed as an eco hazard, causing three eyed fish and double tailed squirrels and the perfect place to hide the surplus is at the 4536 miniature golf courses in the small tourist town of Panama City Beach.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qWaTPeGEaEc/WBkC6bmQcNI/AAAAAAAAJo8/oMko2ouqjiM/s342/Photo%25252020161101140111885.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qWaTPeGEaEc/WBkC6bmQcNI/AAAAAAAAJo8/oMko2ouqjiM/s342/Photo%25252020161101140111885.jpg" id="blogsy-1478034296208.4016" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="304" height="404"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">I swear I was coming to some sort of point here, but that point has eluded me since boarding my second flight on my journey home and finding out it is SANS WIFI. Why, Southwest, WHY? That's what I love about you! You pay one fee and you have wifi access for the whole day, even after changing planes. Of course, that's assuming all of the flights you're taking that day have wifi on them. I feel so robbed. Anyway, making a point here...<br></div><p>I've struggled on and off over the years since I began writing this blog with trying to define what kind of blog this is. I suppose the original intent was to write a running blog because A) I had found so many blogs helpful when I was training to run my first half marathon and B) all the cool kids were doing it and we all know how cool I am.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qz2Q1q37-To/WBkDEyhxsDI/AAAAAAAAJpA/2Kj96Gtt2Lg/s2048/Photo%25252020161101140112414.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qz2Q1q37-To/WBkDEyhxsDI/AAAAAAAAJpA/2Kj96Gtt2Lg/s500/Photo%25252020161101140112414.jpg" id="blogsy-1478034296238.126" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If this doesn't scream, "cool," then I don't know what does.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The problem is that as far as training and ability goes, I really have nothing to offer most runners. I am not what some would call educated in really any aspect of running or working out and if we're really being honest here, no one gives two shits what my sets, reps or splits were on any given day. </p><p>BUT if you want to know what kind of crazy, outlandish and stupid shit that goes through my mind while I'm trying not to hurl myself in front of on coming traffic during a long run just to end the pain, then I'm your gal. I certainly have nothing to offer any reader as far as a training plan goes, but feel free to use me as an example of how <em>not </em>to do things. I'm pretty open and honest about my stupidity when it comes to my training cycles. I can also justify pretty much any completely insane dream or idea, so I also provide services as an enabler completely free of charge. #communityservice </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GLdoApTfsSg/WBkDGgRTcTI/AAAAAAAAJpE/SDywlmKha8E/s604/Photo%25252020161101140112482.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GLdoApTfsSg/WBkDGgRTcTI/AAAAAAAAJpE/SDywlmKha8E/s500/Photo%25252020161101140112482.jpg" id="blogsy-1478034296236.674" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regardless, I'm here for you.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>There's also a good chance that I reside somewhere on the psychological spectrum when it comes to illusions of grandeur because I rarely believe I <em>can't </em>do something. I might not be ready or capable at this very moment in time, but to me, that is not synonymous with being incapable. There is a difference between being incapable and untrained/inexperienced/unprepared. I don't doubt for a minute that I am capable of training hard enough to complete an Iron Man. I certainly couldn't do it right now, but I don't doubt that I <em>could </em>do it if I wanted it badly enough.</p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">And likewise, I rarely believe that others <em>can't </em>do something. I hear it all of the time; <em>I could never do what you do. </em>And that, kids, is simply not true. Choosing not to do it is one thing, and I'm not being flippant when I say I have respect for that. But if you didn't try simply because you think that you <em>can't, </em>then you're robbing yourself of the victory. There is no victory quite like the victory that stems from a place of conquering fear, doubt, and a lack of faith. It's life changing and the feeling is so potent that when it happens, it's very hard to describe in the retelling.</span></p><p>And maybe that's the point here. Maybe it never was about splits, reps and PRs for me, but rather doing something simply because I had the idea that I <em>could </em>do it and therefore, <em>would </em>do it. I certainly have a flair for the dramatic, but it hurts my heart a little when I hear people say they can't do it, whatever the "it" happens to signify. Your road may be harder/slower/longer/more painful and that applies to so many aspects of life. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6J6ojrGBL6I/WBkDY-obpQI/AAAAAAAAJpI/m546di_F8C0/s2048/Photo%25252020161101140112943.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6J6ojrGBL6I/WBkDY-obpQI/AAAAAAAAJpI/m546di_F8C0/s500/Photo%25252020161101140112943.jpg" id="blogsy-1478034296287.8723" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="455" height="455"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This could be the background for a motivation meme, right?</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The answer is more often <em>yes </em>than people realize. </p><p>I'm running the WDW Marathon in January. Anyone that has crossed a marathon finish line knows what an insanely emotional experience it is. As much as I have a that flair for the dramatic, I think just about anyone that has crossed the finish line of a marathon will tell you that it is a life changing event; the good, the bad, and the ugly. I'm not in horrible shape going into this and I have more to say on that topic on another day, but I will leave you with this spoiler alert: I already have my race shirt picked out. Priorities, my friends.</p><p>Wow, I don't even know how this post got so damn serious, but I better put my bitch face back on before you guys start thinking I'm some sort of nice person. I can't go ruining my street cred. Helpful side note: sunglasses and a resting bitch face help keep people from sitting next to you on airplanes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v3XwvtMlH3E/WBkDd4LgjFI/AAAAAAAAJpM/NJ3JBLcqJQU/s1195/Photo%25252020161101140113153.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v3XwvtMlH3E/WBkDd4LgjFI/AAAAAAAAJpM/NJ3JBLcqJQU/s500/Photo%25252020161101140113153.jpg" id="blogsy-1478034296256.6187" class="aligncenter" width="445" height="553" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p>The point of this post got completely derailed like a runaway train, but I guess what I'm saying is that now seemed as good of a time as any to jump back into the blogosphere with this 26.2 mile trek of life defining misery glaring at me from the upcoming horizon. I follow many of my blogger friends on Instagram, so I've been following many of you and your adventures there. Likewise, many of you are already aware of some adventures I've had this summer that includes a humongous milestone for Louie The Magical Unicorn and myself, which deserves a stand alone blog post. Until next time, bloggarinos. </p><p> I should also note that I wrote this on Sunday while I was traveling and am just now getting around to actually posting it. Since I haven't posted anything for like, 4 months, I suppose this is par for the course with me.</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-73625034398804975532016-06-23T13:24:00.001-07:002016-06-23T13:24:45.505-07:00Marathon, Marathon, Marathon<p>I made hotel reservations for the 2017 Disney World Marathon Weekend yesterday for my mom and myself. Luckily for me, my mom likes to travel in style. I did a bunch of research on various resorts like the Polynesian, Beach Club, and Yacht Club but in the end, my mom wanted to stay at the Boardwalk again like we did for Wine & Dine. So that is where we are staying. I'm certainly not complaining because A) that would make me an asshole and B) if I was paying for it myself, I'd only be able to afford a value resort...barely.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cRs-221Rx_M/V2xE7vB0T-I/AAAAAAAAJmc/KoHgNfRwe2A/s2048/Photo%25252020160623132141102.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cRs-221Rx_M/V2xE7vB0T-I/AAAAAAAAJmc/KoHgNfRwe2A/s500/Photo%25252020160623132141102.jpg" id="blogsy-1466713483863.4712" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="300"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this on my phone and must have gotten a little carried away with a bokeh app at some point...</td></tr></tbody></table><p> Anyhoooooo, my mom and I are both doing the 10K on Friday and I'm going to do the full on Sunday. This is also a bonus for staying at the Boardwalk- the marathon route goes past the hotel. Making that reservation got me super excited.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OXkj3AYZsuI/V2xE8kWxXAI/AAAAAAAAJmk/6BkZ38oDrMc/s430/Photo%25252020160623132141194.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OXkj3AYZsuI/V2xE8kWxXAI/AAAAAAAAJmk/6BkZ38oDrMc/s430/Photo%25252020160623132141194.jpg" id="blogsy-1466713483869.4165" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="313" height="430"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really need this on a mug. Or t-shirt. I'm not picky.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> This will be my third marathon and official training is right around the corner. Even though I've been neglecting my blog and have been a bad blog reader, I have not been totally slacking off. I'm finally using the gym membership that I signed up for....a year ago. Better late than never, right?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E0ZbbfW83X4/V2xFCQpvjcI/AAAAAAAAJms/QjQNa4AvBeo/s1925/Photo%25252020160623132141488.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E0ZbbfW83X4/V2xFCQpvjcI/AAAAAAAAJms/QjQNa4AvBeo/s500/Photo%25252020160623132141488.jpg" id="blogsy-1466713483857.9646" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="396"></a></div><p> </p><p> The gym opens at 4:30am and it's on the way to the barn, so I've been going to the gym and <em>then </em>to the barn to ride at 6:30 and then to work by 8:30. Yes, I'm patting myself on the back here, because I'm tired <em>all of the time now.</em></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gHca0FQudpc/V2xFIoYfTOI/AAAAAAAAJm0/EB-DgUcOQnw/s2048/Photo%25252020160623132141883.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gHca0FQudpc/V2xFIoYfTOI/AAAAAAAAJm0/EB-DgUcOQnw/s500/Photo%25252020160623132141883.jpg" id="blogsy-1466713483899.688" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="536"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure what he's so cranky about, he only has to work out once a day! Free loader.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> I was smart enough to sign up for a winter marathon rather than a fall marathon because I'm super over doing long runs in the summer here. OVER IT.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b0NHqROc6VI/V2xFOYSG5zI/AAAAAAAAJm8/dPD05nnKWqA/s2048/Photo%25252020160623132142237.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b0NHqROc6VI/V2xFOYSG5zI/AAAAAAAAJm8/dPD05nnKWqA/s500/Photo%25252020160623132142237.jpg" id="blogsy-1466713483882.497" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="404" height="303"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nope, nope, nope. This was on Sunday.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> My gym has wifi, so I can camp out on the treadmill and watch Netflix. Yes, I can move faster than 3.6mph but I can't do that <em>and </em>take a picture. #priorities</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5-pJczdfT5c/V2xFTZ1b67I/AAAAAAAAJnE/7zNW84p-Ao8/s2048/Photo%25252020160623132142651.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5-pJczdfT5c/V2xFTZ1b67I/AAAAAAAAJnE/7zNW84p-Ao8/s500/Photo%25252020160623132142651.jpg" id="blogsy-1466713483918.4094" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="407" height="543"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In case you're wondering- that's Pretty Little Liars</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> I don't necessarily recommend watching something like Game of Thrones while on the treadmill because other people can see and well, if you are a GoT fan, you know there is a lot of violence and a lot of s-e-x. </p><p>So yeah. I'm getting pumped for my marathon adventure and making that reservation made me happy.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3z4RDkpRsV0/V2xFavsAVwI/AAAAAAAAJnM/234zIzpv72k/s2048/Photo%25252020160623132143168.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3z4RDkpRsV0/V2xFavsAVwI/AAAAAAAAJnM/234zIzpv72k/s500/Photo%25252020160623132143168.jpg" id="blogsy-1466713483924.737" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="402"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Tink Expo</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NePbypCEGPo/V2xFipIR-eI/AAAAAAAAJnY/EfrXmU2wPLQ/s2048/Photo%25252020160623132143552.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NePbypCEGPo/V2xFipIR-eI/AAAAAAAAJnY/EfrXmU2wPLQ/s500/Photo%25252020160623132143552.jpg" id="blogsy-1466713483916.4124" class="aligncenter" width="408" height="408" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hope the medal for 2017 is pretty like this one.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> Time to start actually formulating a plan. I'm hoping for a PR since my other two marathons were in terrible conditions and took me way longer than they should have. But I've learned that just because you train really hard, doesn't mean you're guaranteed a PR. We'll see what happens. Is anyone else doing WDW Marathon weekend?</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-21577805965673912112016-05-18T17:07:00.001-07:002016-05-18T17:07:56.656-07:00PhotoPass versus Marathon Photo<p> So I gotta say, I'm a total fan of the PhotoPass system for runDisney race photos. I never buy race photos because, without fail, I look terrible <em>every</em> picture.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RHG6Ukfsb_8/Vz0C7xTlLZI/AAAAAAAAJlk/DdtsI_ro5iM/s2048/Photo%25252020160518170318791.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RHG6Ukfsb_8/Vz0C7xTlLZI/AAAAAAAAJlk/DdtsI_ro5iM/s500/Photo%25252020160518170318791.jpg" id="blogsy-1463616475685.4373" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="602"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you, cheapo Wet'n'Wild lip stick for remaining painted on my face for an entire race.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>I'm not really sure why I insisted on doing my <a href="http://(null)" target="_self" title=""></a><a href="http://theunlikelycompetitor.blogspot.com/2016/05/tinkerbell-half-marathon.html" target="_self" title="">Tinkerbell Half recap</a> <em>before </em>downloading the official pictures. It is a mystery. I make bad choices. Often.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K9sNaRSZ4nI/Vz0DZakbteI/AAAAAAAAJlo/KK49UsrGPeQ/s2048/Photo%25252020160518170319164.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K9sNaRSZ4nI/Vz0DZakbteI/AAAAAAAAJlo/KK49UsrGPeQ/s500/Photo%25252020160518170319164.jpg" id="blogsy-1463616475611.056" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="603"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! I'm winning!</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>I knew before the race that runDisney was making the switch, but I had never done PhotoPass at either resort before, so I wasn't entirely sure how it worked. Turns out, it is not rocket science <em>but </em>it's a bit confusing at first and you have to seek out the information on the runDisney page to figure out how you link your race photos.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iHLtKHft91Q/Vz0DfY28mGI/AAAAAAAAJls/PlqfLURTe4w/s1334/Photo%25252020160518170319375.jpg" target="_blank" style=" " title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iHLtKHft91Q/Vz0DfY28mGI/AAAAAAAAJls/PlqfLURTe4w/s500/Photo%25252020160518170319375.jpg" id="blogsy-1463616475691.6414" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="407" height="724"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Official Disneyland app for iPhone </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Basically, PhotoPass is a service where park photographers take your picture in front of the castle or with characters, etc, and they give you a card so that you can access your pictures. You download the app, they scan a card or the bar code on your app and voila! You can can pay for your pictures and download everything for that day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o602rOI6W4Y/Vz0DieQi3_I/AAAAAAAAJl0/-VhFEOTX6ac/s1334/Photo%25252020160518170319482.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o602rOI6W4Y/Vz0DieQi3_I/AAAAAAAAJl0/-VhFEOTX6ac/s500/Photo%25252020160518170319482.jpg" id="blogsy-1463616475652.1648" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="713"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p>You can look up the race codes on the runDisney website for each race. You plug in the codes with your number and link them to your photo pass account.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AUiuVjxo0H4/Vz0DkhORDhI/AAAAAAAAJl4/D6gYNDR1O7c/s1334/Photo%25252020160518170319605.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AUiuVjxo0H4/Vz0DkhORDhI/AAAAAAAAJl4/D6gYNDR1O7c/s500/Photo%25252020160518170319605.jpg" id="blogsy-1463616475698.0579" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="714"></a></div><p> </p><p>I didn't really investigate the process until I was at the airport on my way home. I wish I had done my homework ahead of time, because for a flat rate of about $40, you can download all of your pictures for one day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X_VCQJjl5LY/Vz0DrPoIUfI/AAAAAAAAJl8/o7HyiTRWyYE/s2048/Photo%25252020160518170319940.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X_VCQJjl5LY/Vz0DrPoIUfI/AAAAAAAAJl8/o7HyiTRWyYE/s500/Photo%25252020160518170319940.jpg" id="blogsy-1463616475665.512" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="406" height="610"></a></div><p> </p><p>On the day of the half marathon, we took a bunch of pictures with characters in the parks with our medals on. We just used cell phones, but if I had realized how it all worked, we could have had them scan the bar code and gotten a bunch of professional pictures in addition to the race photos for a very reasonable price. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o9oUSTwcdpA/Vz0DyD3Xo8I/AAAAAAAAJmA/N161WYWLWWg/s2048/Photo%25252020160518170320315.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o9oUSTwcdpA/Vz0DyD3Xo8I/AAAAAAAAJmA/N161WYWLWWg/s500/Photo%25252020160518170320315.jpg" id="blogsy-1463616475662.183" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="608"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the most flattering picture of me but I couldn't resist Caption Jack in it.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>So now I know for next time. Also, if you take a photo after the finish, there a nice race banner at the bottom. I think that's really cool. And in general, I feel like my pictures over all were just <em>better </em>than other race photos in the past. Maybe PhotoPass cast members get trained on taking decent action shots. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nQl3-inGHu0/Vz0D2uRvxLI/AAAAAAAAJmE/RiJOVWcRcT8/s2048/Photo%25252020160518170320707.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nQl3-inGHu0/Vz0D2uRvxLI/AAAAAAAAJmE/RiJOVWcRcT8/s500/Photo%25252020160518170320707.jpg" id="blogsy-1463616475618.2485" class="aligncenter" width="402" height="604" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little sass for Goth Tink</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>All in all, I totally approve of this change and I will better take advantage of the process for the WDW Marathon in January. </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-50775642143331753392016-05-17T13:47:00.001-07:002016-05-17T14:12:30.144-07:00Tinkerbell Half Marathon <p> I didn't take very many pictures during the Tinkerbell Half Marathon, sadly. I was focused on one thing: a PR. Spoiler alert: No PR for Jaime.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lIv8sI8kZAI/VzuCvOG-FzI/AAAAAAAAJk0/OBnxyDL2gIo/s2048/Photo%25252020160517134403345.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lIv8sI8kZAI/VzuCvOG-FzI/AAAAAAAAJk0/OBnxyDL2gIo/s500/Photo%25252020160517134403345.jpg" id="blogsy-1463519536402.5015" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="406" height="542"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ran as Goth Tink because I'm way too cool to be regular Tink. Also, black is more slenderizing than lime green.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>I really hate when I actually try at something and it doesn't go my way. I can be <em>really </em>bad about training, especially back when I was racing a lot. If you're doing half marathons every two or three months, you're basically semi trained all of the time. Even if you're not super focused on it, you're still getting some regular long runs in. That really hasn't been the case for me for the last couple of years, so I was determined not to show up at Tink untrained.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gdACZe-k4C4/VzuC3ArL78I/AAAAAAAAJk4/mpWZAvF785A/s2048/Photo%25252020160517134403626.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gdACZe-k4C4/VzuC3ArL78I/AAAAAAAAJk4/mpWZAvF785A/s500/Photo%25252020160517134403626.jpg" id="blogsy-1463519536396.4663" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="407" height="543"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrienne as Tinker Belle and Abby as Fairy Poppins. They're more creative than me.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>I decided to focus on a PR at Tinkerbell back in January when I signed up to run 1000 miles in 2016. I have to say, I was definitely trained for the distance but I knew that I was only on the cusp of PR territory. It was possible to PR, but I couldn't give any time away taking pictures, etc.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9LYqaHfBIYs/VzuC8d7q-XI/AAAAAAAAJk8/UEnkOrw7NWY/s1460/Photo%25252020160517134403772.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9LYqaHfBIYs/VzuC8d7q-XI/AAAAAAAAJk8/UEnkOrw7NWY/s500/Photo%25252020160517134403772.jpg" id="blogsy-1463519536387.7827" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="377"></a></div><p> </p><p>The only pictures I took were snap shots as I was running a long. No character stops for me!</p><p>I won't bore you with the mile by mile recount since I don't have super cute character pictures. Basically, the short version is this: I ran at a pace that was about 30 seconds too fast per mile for 10 miles. I was on track to PR until mile 10 when I got a horrible stitch in my side. I still kept pushing until mile 11 when I started seeing spots. I walked for a bit, trying running again, but I was done. I had pushed a little too hard for two hours and by the time I was at 11.5 miles, I knew I was going to have to walk for awhile to get my heart rate back to normal. I ended up walking until the last mile. </p><p>Seeing spots is definitely not something I'm used to. I knew it was stupid to keep trying to push myself. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YEHiMv77Cc4/VzuDHLNgHzI/AAAAAAAAJlA/bVmOL1P2Dtg/s2048/Photo%25252020160517134404159.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YEHiMv77Cc4/VzuDHLNgHzI/AAAAAAAAJlA/bVmOL1P2Dtg/s500/Photo%25252020160517134404159.jpg" id="blogsy-1463519536391.0334" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="303"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">California Adventure</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VrnKRDdEkD8/VzuDM6v_qyI/AAAAAAAAJlE/T-bwJtzPbTY/s1451/Photo%25252020160517134404304.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VrnKRDdEkD8/VzuDM6v_qyI/AAAAAAAAJlE/T-bwJtzPbTY/s500/Photo%25252020160517134404304.jpg" id="blogsy-1463519536378.3562" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="407" height="561"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to take a picture of this shirt because it is awesome. #truth</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I was a bit sad for a while because, like I said, I actually trained for months for this race. However, since I had hardly run for most of 2015, I was starting from scratch in January. I did build my base back up and if I had had another month or so to train, I'm sure I could have pulled off a PR.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QrqfDoXM9J4/VzuDP6TFiMI/AAAAAAAAJlI/-i7VAOAf30A/s1112/Photo%25252020160517134404410.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QrqfDoXM9J4/VzuDP6TFiMI/AAAAAAAAJlI/-i7VAOAf30A/s500/Photo%25252020160517134404410.jpg" id="blogsy-1463519536431.225" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="403" height="459"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always get a picture of the mile 10 marker.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>All in all, I loved this race and I hope to do it again next year. The weather was fantastic for my entire stay with overcast, chilly weather. There was none of the rude dramatics I've experienced at Princess weekend, from <a href="http://theunlikelycompetitor.blogspot.com/2016/05/tinkerbell-half-marathon-expo.html" target="_self" title="">my expo experience</a> (which was shockingly civilized and not at all like a Hunger Games experience) to the races. So as far as girly Disney races go, I think I'll stick with Tink.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QrsAYttYAh4/VzuDYx9Rk7I/AAAAAAAAJlQ/0uuMhaQgUlg/s2048/Photo%25252020160517134404805.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QrsAYttYAh4/VzuDYx9Rk7I/AAAAAAAAJlQ/0uuMhaQgUlg/s500/Photo%25252020160517134404805.jpg" id="blogsy-1463519536469.5476" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="407" height="305"></a></div><p> I actually got some good official pictures from Photopass but I haven't downloaded them, yet. I'll do a separate post on my thoughts about that later, but in short- they did a good job. Who else ran Tink?</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-9827369654999121582016-05-13T14:23:00.001-07:002016-05-13T14:34:47.118-07:00Tinkerbell Half Marathon Expo<p>Last week, I spent five days with some awesome people in Disneyland for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon. I don't usually recap expos anymore, but Tinkerbell's expo was the best runDisney expo I have experienced for awhile.</p><p>I was the first of our trio of awesome to arrive in Anaheim, so I quickly checked into our room, took a weirdly angled selfie for no good reason, put on my iPod, and began the trek across the universe to a land far, far away (a.k.a. The Disneyland Hotel) to participate in the Tinkerbell Half Marathon Expo Hunger Games.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j5zoYUwOshg/VzZEhmtn0uI/AAAAAAAAJjA/S0G9Th4hTro/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141729122.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j5zoYUwOshg/VzZEhmtn0uI/AAAAAAAAJjA/S0G9Th4hTro/s500/Photo%25252020160513141729122.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832254.411" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="535"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narcissistic Selfie. </td></tr></tbody></table><p> I have to say, I'm really disappointed in the lack of bloodshed at the expo. I was totally ready to represent my district in mortal combat if tiaras and glitter started flying.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rvwaqg6864Q/VzZEkEzFp8I/AAAAAAAAJjE/oo1v4CXWCFE/s1200/Photo%25252020160513141729250.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rvwaqg6864Q/VzZEkEzFp8I/AAAAAAAAJjE/oo1v4CXWCFE/s500/Photo%25252020160513141729250.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832289.335" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="400" height="246"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actual picture of me.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> But it was so <em>civilized. </em>Can you believe it? I mean, wasn't there an actual fist fight or something at the Princess Half Marathon expo? When I was at the Wine & Dine expo, it was a shit show.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zEkmsv3-7mA/VzZEl8ymHGI/AAAAAAAAJjI/Hh-WnQnHBx4/s1920/Photo%25252020160513141729561.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zEkmsv3-7mA/VzZEl8ymHGI/AAAAAAAAJjI/Hh-WnQnHBx4/s500/Photo%25252020160513141729561.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832274.1484" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="225"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front doors to the ESPN building at W&D</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> I arrived at the expo at about noon, so it had already been open for awhile. It was still packed, of course, but the CMs at Disneyland have gotten their shit together since the Inaugural Dumbo Double Dare weekend, when all shit broke loose and small children were devoured by merchandise crazed people. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pY9jQ5JU-UI/VzZEmlRgWzI/AAAAAAAAJjM/c-W6lOYLYZ4/s675/Photo%25252020160513141729632.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pY9jQ5JU-UI/VzZEmlRgWzI/AAAAAAAAJjM/c-W6lOYLYZ4/s500/Photo%25252020160513141729632.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832287.2727" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="225"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dumbo Double Dare 2013</td></tr></tbody></table><p> When I first walked into the hotel, the merch line seemed incredibly short. I felt a wave of euphoria pass over me as I thought, <em>now I can BUY ALL THE THINGS AND NOT HAVE TO WAIT!!! </em>But no. That was not the case. I was directed to go down to the lower level of the parking structure where the end of the line was.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VGxYn5gAKOc/VzZEqsDyNaI/AAAAAAAAJjQ/VPwNRcDUIdY/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141729867.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VGxYn5gAKOc/VzZEqsDyNaI/AAAAAAAAJjQ/VPwNRcDUIdY/s500/Photo%25252020160513141729867.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832326.3865" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="408" height="544"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Disney Dungeon</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> So yeah. There was a huge line down there. But. It totally didn't suck. It was calm and quiet and organized. No one got punched in the kidneys or stabbed with a shiv. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h2RWF12X7wg/VzZEvsNpYII/AAAAAAAAJjU/4lpz_YSQqZE/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141730177.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h2RWF12X7wg/VzZEvsNpYII/AAAAAAAAJjU/4lpz_YSQqZE/s500/Photo%25252020160513141730177.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832306.767" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="304"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wait, what? We can behave like civilized beasts?! Who knew? I'm across the way in another huge group of people.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> This is where I think Disneyland won the expo war. Each taped off line had probably 30-40 people in it. Rather than have a really long line creeping along and wrecking your back for the rest of the weekend, they just moved the groups upstairs by section.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Hc2CHoJtYZ0/VzZExDM2TvI/AAAAAAAAJjY/ux5A2Nk01Rg/s1280/Photo%25252020160513141730320.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Hc2CHoJtYZ0/VzZExDM2TvI/AAAAAAAAJjY/ux5A2Nk01Rg/s500/Photo%25252020160513141730320.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832273.5103" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="301"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I seriously suck at selfies.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> The benefit to this format was that we could sit down and be off of our feet. I was in line for probably an hour, listening to my iPod, and I wasn't in a horrible, cranky mood when we were moved upstairs. That constant creeping along makes me insane. I was perfectly happy to sit down until it was our group's turn to move upstairs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QjwFalY-A6A/VzZE2P2XwjI/AAAAAAAAJjc/wUNYV1Q5Pls/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141730640.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QjwFalY-A6A/VzZE2P2XwjI/AAAAAAAAJjc/wUNYV1Q5Pls/s500/Photo%25252020160513141730640.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832233.24" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="537"></a></div><p>Finally, it was our turn to head up, and there was another line to get into the merch booth, but it was relatively short.</p><p>Once we were finally in the booth, I was expecting a scene similar to one from the Walking Dead, with carnage and weapons.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xSK2PADcJXE/VzZE23MGvGI/AAAAAAAAJjg/Cp9veMDYVXs/s276/Photo%25252020160513141730680.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xSK2PADcJXE/VzZE23MGvGI/AAAAAAAAJjg/Cp9veMDYVXs/s276/Photo%25252020160513141730680.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832254.282" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="321" height="213"></a></div><p> </p><p>But again, it was like a normal shopping experience. They were already out of wine glasses, but everything else seemed to be in decent supply. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dRsM2LZ6M6k/VzZE7x6d32I/AAAAAAAAJjk/CqA7xnrmnRY/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141730986.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dRsM2LZ6M6k/VzZE7x6d32I/AAAAAAAAJjk/CqA7xnrmnRY/s500/Photo%25252020160513141730986.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832305.1555" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="303"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ST5F8vTLNsQ/VzZFB7lTCkI/AAAAAAAAJjo/bMBO3l7zFF8/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141731314.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ST5F8vTLNsQ/VzZFB7lTCkI/AAAAAAAAJjo/bMBO3l7zFF8/s500/Photo%25252020160513141731314.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832296.808" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="535"></a></div><p> I bought more than I probably should have. I didn't take pictures of my loot, but I got the jacket, a half marathon tech shirt, a pin and a mug. Here's a picture that Abby took of me wearing the jacket after I got picked "randomly" for the hundredth time for extra security screening to get into the parks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FZUjssWV0lU/VzZFDmzdwkI/AAAAAAAAJjs/vOwmajypTe8/s927/Photo%25252020160513141731427.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FZUjssWV0lU/VzZFDmzdwkI/AAAAAAAAJjs/vOwmajypTe8/s500/Photo%25252020160513141731427.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832327.439" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="403" height="605"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">The other parts of the expo were fine, too. We had some fun photo opportunities.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Snj-OxfFD0o/VzZFIxY_aOI/AAAAAAAAJj0/pwebyFCiH1s/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141731716.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Snj-OxfFD0o/VzZFIxY_aOI/AAAAAAAAJj0/pwebyFCiH1s/s500/Photo%25252020160513141731716.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832298.3018" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="537"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Abby and Adrienne</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KruF4B3cHr8/VzZFOZ45shI/AAAAAAAAJj8/R2cH8m3-yEM/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141732063.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KruF4B3cHr8/VzZFOZ45shI/AAAAAAAAJj8/R2cH8m3-yEM/s500/Photo%25252020160513141732063.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832256.4297" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="537"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pandora had a booth where they printed pictures with wings</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><p> And, of course, the area for the race itself. The lighting is always terrible here. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8hroLlk4-iY/VzZFWO3ANsI/AAAAAAAAJkE/10pKjLq3yIg/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141732446.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8hroLlk4-iY/VzZFWO3ANsI/AAAAAAAAJkE/10pKjLq3yIg/s500/Photo%25252020160513141732446.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832309.744" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="405"></a></div><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RhEpDw0d_Rw/VzZFbnq3QnI/AAAAAAAAJkI/ZWRtTmrBU0Q/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141732739.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RhEpDw0d_Rw/VzZFbnq3QnI/AAAAAAAAJkI/ZWRtTmrBU0Q/s500/Photo%25252020160513141732739.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832341.525" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="301"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrienne, Abby and Moi</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> I also took a couple of photos of the WDW Marathon Medal from this year for motivation for 2017. Eeeek!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UCNnWcts4lg/VzZFlc1REDI/AAAAAAAAJkQ/UdYop63egwI/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141733081.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UCNnWcts4lg/VzZFlc1REDI/AAAAAAAAJkQ/UdYop63egwI/s500/Photo%25252020160513141733081.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832259.3066" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="403" height="403"></a></div><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-51Qep_LPoxg/VzZFtJySyYI/AAAAAAAAJkY/hbgkw7UyMmA/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141733407.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-51Qep_LPoxg/VzZFtJySyYI/AAAAAAAAJkY/hbgkw7UyMmA/s500/Photo%25252020160513141733407.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832291.5925" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="402"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy hair don't care.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>All in all, I actually enjoyed my time at the expo for this race. I didn't feel all ragey and murdery. I did spend more than I planned, but since I have backed way off on my racing, I have a renewed compulsion to buy everything in sight. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8h6r7Oh7FX4/VzZFxwN3z1I/AAAAAAAAJkg/eOO7SLjP3xg/s2048/Photo%25252020160513141733781.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8h6r7Oh7FX4/VzZFxwN3z1I/AAAAAAAAJkg/eOO7SLjP3xg/s500/Photo%25252020160513141733781.jpg" id="blogsy-1463174832256.1494" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="302"></a></div><p> </p><p>Did anyone else have a pleasant experience at the Tink expo or did I just get super lucky with my timing?</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-47053437123306261372016-04-27T13:56:00.001-07:002016-04-27T16:55:50.712-07:00My Third Full Marathon...and the 10K<p> I signed up for my third full marathon yesterday. That marathon being the WDW Marathon in January. I also signed up for the 10K, plus had the task of signing up my non-running mother for the 10K, which was <em>super duper insanely stressful. </em>Not to mention, my mom doesn't have an Active.com account and can't remember her Facebook password to register via Facebook login. Grrrrrrrr. I even tried to hack into it. True first world problems, right there.</p><p>I knew that the 10K would fill up really fast, but that I would have plenty of time to get signed up for the full. WDW Race registrations always open at noon EST. That means 9:00am for Arizonans in the summer (AZ does not observe daylight savings, so sometimes, registration is at 10:00). This means that I took my lunch at 9:00 after getting to work at 8:30. #winning</p><p>I had one link open on Internet Explorer and one open on Google Chrome. I planned to start my mom's first since it was the only race she was doing. I got right in and was doing both when I got stuck on explorer at the very end. Horror! So I quickly finished mine and raced to get back in to do my mom's. Success!! Within probably 15 minutes of opening, the 10K showed "on hold" and then a few minutes later was sold out. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6mwbLlxtyDs/VyEnURBQCDI/AAAAAAAAJiQ/FqR7Tdl2N4o/s2048/Photo%25252020160427135521345.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6mwbLlxtyDs/VyEnURBQCDI/AAAAAAAAJiQ/FqR7Tdl2N4o/s500/Photo%25252020160427135521345.jpg" id="blogsy-1461801332112.291" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="403" height="473"></a></div><p> </p><p>The 5K was sold out pretty quickly and then this morning, so was the half. I'm guessing the half sold out quickly because it's an anniversary year.</p><p>Also, I don't recall this being an option before. I wonder if this is in response to the increasing amount of people that seem to enjoy studying the results to see if they can find cheaters. I certainly enjoy some good online drama, but I'm not going to go searching for it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d02-POeoPMY/VyEnV5b-OEI/AAAAAAAAJiU/79NHWK2DeT0/s2048/Photo%25252020160427135521449.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d02-POeoPMY/VyEnV5b-OEI/AAAAAAAAJiU/79NHWK2DeT0/s500/Photo%25252020160427135521449.jpg" id="blogsy-1461801332126.0037" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="63"></a></div><p> </p><p>It seems our pals at runDisney are listening to complaints about a lack of merchandise for runners. I know, I know, waaaaaahhhh, the whining gets to be a little much. <em>But. </em>I do agree that it's ridiculous that it sells out so fast. I can live without race merch, but I do feel bad for first time racers that really want a souvenir. They added several things at registration. Thank God they added the effing Tervis tumblers. Personally, I don't give two shits about it, but the whining about a lack of stock during Star Wars clogged my Facebook feed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BaNS0ntVPFo/VyEncAI_uHI/AAAAAAAAJiY/I9_8C6D6o24/s2048/Photo%25252020160427135521734.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BaNS0ntVPFo/VyEncAI_uHI/AAAAAAAAJiY/I9_8C6D6o24/s500/Photo%25252020160427135521734.jpg" id="blogsy-1461801332135.654" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="404" height="489"></a></div><p> </p><p>Granted, this means I won't get to enjoy witnessing a massacre a lĆ Walking Dead style at the expo over merchandise, but maybe the whining will stop. I don't know.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AdwkfFz1ALg/VyEneXxO9gI/AAAAAAAAJic/aL9JvZGVY0M/s1280/Photo%25252020160427135521882.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AdwkfFz1ALg/VyEneXxO9gI/AAAAAAAAJic/aL9JvZGVY0M/s500/Photo%25252020160427135521882.jpg" id="blogsy-1461801332091.7961" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="411" height="308"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This scene was filmed at a runDisney expo. Will Glenn survive his quest for a car magnet?</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> I did preorder a jacket only because I'm running the full, but it seemed like there weren't different jackets for each race like for the pins, so I'm not sure what I'll be getting. Hopefully nothing like this! Eeeek. I did a google image search and found this gem.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JIl90xwiV4I/VyEnfF16BxI/AAAAAAAAJig/lqA5sUqd3gU/s400/Photo%25252020160427135521947.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JIl90xwiV4I/VyEnfF16BxI/AAAAAAAAJig/lqA5sUqd3gU/s400/Photo%25252020160427135521947.jpg" id="blogsy-1461801332072.5056" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="300" height="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This makes my eyes hurt.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> So yeah. I'm signed up for the 10K and full marathon for January. I'm exhausted just thinking about training for a full, but at least my longest runs will be during better weather instead of when I trained for NYC in the summer in the desert. In case anyone is interested in my first WDW Marathon experience, <a href="http://theunlikelycompetitor.blogspot.com/2013/01/goofy-challenge-2013-marathon.html" target="_self" title="">here is a link.</a></div><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-2238469361333530492016-04-22T14:09:00.001-07:002016-04-22T14:11:09.186-07:00Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire<p> Some interesting stuff went down at the Boston Marathon on Monday. That's not unusual, considering the latest trend in bib thieves, race bandits, and cheaters making the news and rounds on social media. This situation, however, is a bit different. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BCEwx04jxKM/VxqS95ukV2I/AAAAAAAAJh8/FLjYeoYf_uc/s628/Photo%25252020160422140908162.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BCEwx04jxKM/VxqS95ukV2I/AAAAAAAAJh8/FLjYeoYf_uc/s500/Photo%25252020160422140908162.jpg" id="blogsy-1461359433966.3875" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="504"></a></div><p> I will preface this story by saying that this thread was originally posted in a closed running group on Facebook of about 2500 members. I wouldn't normally post stuff from a closed group, but this situation has escalated to the point of being posted on Reddit by a member with the original poster's permission, using full names and all. Below is the original post on the group.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uM9UZYHz4Iw/VxqS_ZkpvkI/AAAAAAAAJiA/9w_4CJVv688/s867/Photo%25252020160422140908298.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uM9UZYHz4Iw/VxqS_ZkpvkI/AAAAAAAAJiA/9w_4CJVv688/s500/Photo%25252020160422140908298.jpg" id="blogsy-1461359433992.456" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="579"></a></div><p> Needless to say, everyone in the group went batshit crazy over it. I spent <em>hours </em>last night reading all of the comments on this post as people tried to put the pieces of the puzzle together and figure out how she got a medal, etc. </p><p>It's very clear that this imposter lied and never ran Boston, but the lengths she went to just to make her friends believe that's she did is insane. Like genuinely insane.</p><p>I never went to the "wrong" Tina's Facebook page. It wasn't necessary considering the amount of screen shots showing up in the thread on Facebook. Lie after lie was posted, digging herself deeper into a hole.</p><p>I'm sure she never thought this would escalate the way it did, especially considering she wrote about marathon Sunday, when Boston runs on a Monday. She said she missed the "trade show" (not expo), but still somehow has a hat and jacket....not to mention someone else's bib. I'm guessing you can preorder merchandise for Boston, so maybe she did that? She's definitely not educated on racing because her terminology is wrong.</p><p>Anyway, I couldn't stop watching this train wreck last night, nor today. This is great stuff. The Reddit thread was posted within the last hour, and it's starting to light up. If you're interested in watching the crazy like I was, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/4g0778/stolen_valor_non_boston_marathon_runner_claims_to/" target="_self" title="">here is a link</a>. The thread on Reddit also has links to some of the original posts that started all of this.</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-685405205322558202016-04-21T13:14:00.001-07:002016-04-21T13:22:59.836-07:00The Struggle Is Real<p> Two weeks from today, I head to Disneyland for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend. I'm super excited, especially for the vacation part of things and spending time with some of my favorite race buddies. And since it's Thursday, here's a throwback Thursday picture from the inaugural Tinkerbell Half in 2012.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aJB0gZjjidE/Vxk0aJzwZQI/AAAAAAAAJhU/0EhMmKUgwJY/s781/Photo%25252020160421131322504.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aJB0gZjjidE/Vxk0aJzwZQI/AAAAAAAAJhU/0EhMmKUgwJY/s500/Photo%25252020160421131322504.jpg" id="blogsy-1461270164331.3782" class="aligncenter" width="402" height="619" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laser beams: ARMED</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>In case you're wondering why my tutu is so awkward looking, those aren't gaps between strands. It's actually black strands that aren't showing up in this picture. I figured I'd alternate colors since I was wearing a black top, but that didn't work out so well. Plus, I totally hated running in a tutu. So that was my one and only experience.</p><p> Anyway, I'm actually trained for this race. I've been dedicated to my running since New Year's. I'll admit to a few weeks of very low or no mileage, but in general, I haven't been that dedicated in years. </p><p>Now I realize that this isn't really a cause for applause because that is what you are <em>supposed </em>to do, but I don't have the best record of training for races. I really tried this training cycle. On Monday, I ran 10 miles after work. I rarely run that kind of distance on my own. I have good intentions and everything, but I burn out at 6 or 7 miles and call it a day. Plus, when you run like a turtle, 10 miles takes a couple of hours.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qg2IGZAqTGs/Vxk0hRBlFrI/AAAAAAAAJhY/FoQmvfqp0kE/s2048/Photo%25252020160421131322883.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qg2IGZAqTGs/Vxk0hRBlFrI/AAAAAAAAJhY/FoQmvfqp0kE/s500/Photo%25252020160421131322883.jpg" id="blogsy-1461270164409.8804" class="aligncenter" width="402" height="402" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seen on my run. All I can say is...WHY?!?!</td></tr></tbody></table><p> Generally, I tend to run faster at races, so I'm hoping that what I'm clocking right now is slower than what I can pull off at Tink. I <em>really </em>want a PR, and I feel like I really earned it, but my pace at home isn't indicative of that happening. It's close, but I had antipicpated being a bit faster at this point. </p><p>Granted, I'm fairly confident that I can pull off a time that is better than what I've done in awhile, but I don't know if an actual PR is in the cards. And that thought is tormenting me because, like I said, I really trained this time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Oa4qbWQf9OM/Vxk0idUMiUI/AAAAAAAAJhc/zvdRzLe4mDg/s387/Photo%25252020160421131322935.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Oa4qbWQf9OM/Vxk0idUMiUI/AAAAAAAAJhc/zvdRzLe4mDg/s387/Photo%25252020160421131322935.jpg" id="blogsy-1461270164408.955" class="aligncenter" width="387" height="387" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is me as a bitmoji. Everyone needs this app on their phone. For real.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Not to mention, the weather here is getting gross. I ran 5 miles last night in this: </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ps6Q4Wy1NUc/Vxk0n2i5c5I/AAAAAAAAJhg/RKLppS2s-PM/s2048/Photo%25252020160421131323290.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ps6Q4Wy1NUc/Vxk0n2i5c5I/AAAAAAAAJhg/RKLppS2s-PM/s500/Photo%25252020160421131323290.jpg" id="blogsy-1461270164363.0483" class="aligncenter" width="404" height="375" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally not ready for this, yet.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> So basically, I'm hoping that the excitement of a race and cooler Cali temps (although it's certainly not <em>that </em>much cooler in Cali right now) will help me PR. In the meantime, I will concentrate on my last two weeks of training runs and properly hydrating...on mimosas. Just keepin' it real, yo.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NimWyfmHPLg/Vxk0qJFZ3pI/AAAAAAAAJhk/aMuQOdhRXBI/s1280/Photo%25252020160421131323423.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NimWyfmHPLg/Vxk0qJFZ3pI/AAAAAAAAJhk/aMuQOdhRXBI/s500/Photo%25252020160421131323423.jpg" id="blogsy-1461270164379.943" class="aligncenter" width="407" height="543" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what we do after we ride ponies on the weekend.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-76223782034940721712016-04-13T14:12:00.001-07:002016-04-13T14:12:12.544-07:00Promises, promises<p> Well, once again, I've been a bad, bad blogger. They good news is that this time, I didn't disappear because I stopped running. I actually <em>have </em>been running. I've just been so incredibly busy that I haven't made time to write posts or read other blogs. My bad. I'll make it up to you. I promise. I'll change, baby, I swear. (If that doesn't sound just like a promise made by a bad boyfriend just to get into your pants, then I don't know what does.)</p><p>So, I've actually been doing a lot of running. Tinkerbell Half is on the horizon and I'm super excited. I get to see a bunch of running/blogging buddies. And since I have actually trained, I'm hoping it will be semi easy. Truth be told, I'm hoping for a PR, but I don't know if I have actually improved that much. We shall see. I also planned on losing 20 pounds before Tink and that didn't happen. At least I can be proud of the fact that I actually trained for a race. C'est la vie, right?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gIW5uAF83m4/Vw619yoNPaI/AAAAAAAAJgw/GfBa2akibNE/s576/Photo%25252020160413141113103.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gIW5uAF83m4/Vw619yoNPaI/AAAAAAAAJgw/GfBa2akibNE/s500/Photo%25252020160413141113103.jpg" id="blogsy-1460581931401.0054" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="404" height="430"></a></div><p> I'm also taking a break from horse showing. I feel like I've been showing nonstop for the last year and a half. It has certainly paid off. 2015 was an incredible year. We had an awards banquet on Sunday for the Arizona Dressage Association and I ended up First Level Rider of the Year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SZTFNnnNtmY/Vw62CRUnrmI/AAAAAAAAJg0/Gx8CEsND9P0/s2048/Photo%25252020160413141113517.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SZTFNnnNtmY/Vw62CRUnrmI/AAAAAAAAJg0/Gx8CEsND9P0/s500/Photo%25252020160413141113517.jpg" id="blogsy-1460581931393.337" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="400" height="534"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kKshpHd9UCA/Vw62FL3uKII/AAAAAAAAJg4/fh7wx1bQfUg/s2048/Photo%25252020160413141113786.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kKshpHd9UCA/Vw62FL3uKII/AAAAAAAAJg4/fh7wx1bQfUg/s500/Photo%25252020160413141113786.jpg" id="blogsy-1460581931402.2166" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="606"></a></div><p> </p><p>I'm super excited about that. Louie and I also ended up regional champions and reserve national champions for the US Equestrian Federation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NKub5O7P7Cs/Vw62Jzng2SI/AAAAAAAAJg8/JPZDo6rBQzg/s2048/Photo%25252020160413141114116.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NKub5O7P7Cs/Vw62Jzng2SI/AAAAAAAAJg8/JPZDo6rBQzg/s500/Photo%25252020160413141114116.jpg" id="blogsy-1460581931411.3064" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="537"></a></div><p> </p><p>I won't even pretend that this is a humble brag. It's an all out brag. In my defense, I've never had a year like that before and chances are low that I will again, so I'm riding this awesome wave for as long as possible. </p><p>I ended up showing <em>a lot </em>to get this accomplished and I really feel exhausted. I need to focus on training my horse to move him up another level. Less horse shows means there is more room for races! I think I will be doing RnR Las Vegas this year. I haven't done it since the first year they held it at night and it was a total shit show. I've heard it's great now, so I'm excited to try it out. I also like that I can run the 5K the night before and it counts as a challenge. That's much better than having to run a 10k the night before like at the runDisney events.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2pTnpQ5rpHo/Vw62KsitRCI/AAAAAAAAJhA/y19AY7cQcA0/s624/Photo%25252020160413141114193.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2pTnpQ5rpHo/Vw62KsitRCI/AAAAAAAAJhA/y19AY7cQcA0/s500/Photo%25252020160413141114193.jpg" id="blogsy-1460581931407.9092" class="aligncenter" width="402" height="380" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from RnR AZ, but I'm hoping for something awesome like it.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> So what has everyone else been up to? </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-49674389041448531412016-03-01T14:33:00.001-07:002016-03-01T14:44:29.489-07:00Tuesdays On The Run: My Running Uniform<p> This is my first time linking up with the girls from Tuesdays On The Run, <a href="http://mcmmamaruns.com" target="_self" title="">Erika</a>, <a href="http://noguiltlife.com" target="_self" title="">Patty</a> and <a href="http://www.marciashealthyslice.com" target="_self" title="">Marcia</a>. The topic is Running Uniforms, such as go-to pieces, etc.</p><p>This topic is perfect because very recently, I experienced the creme de la creme of first world problems when I thought my very favorite hoodie of all time was lost forever. Like, I legit was depressed over the situation. I bought that hoodie at least four years ago which is the first time I made a Facebook appearance in it- at the Inaugural Tinkerbell Half 2012.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XucMHHCwfVk/VtYKSZO21EI/AAAAAAAAJfs/2DsNKFVs8Ds/s781/Photo%25252020160301143147479.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XucMHHCwfVk/VtYKSZO21EI/AAAAAAAAJfs/2DsNKFVs8Ds/s500/Photo%25252020160301143147479.jpg" id="blogsy-1456868667907.9634" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="617"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't mind the laser beams from the reflectors!</td></tr></tbody></table><p> This hoodie has zip pockets on each hip and is technical fabric, which makes it ideal for <em>so many things. </em>I bought it at Road Runner Sports, which I think is only in AZ and CA. At the time, I remember wincing at the price, which I think was around $60- $70. But man, this thing goes with me <em>everywhere</em>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YG84DudIGlw/VtYKY1Sd4-I/AAAAAAAAJfw/0PR6KZLD3A4/s2048/Photo%25252020160301143147917.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YG84DudIGlw/VtYKY1Sd4-I/AAAAAAAAJfw/0PR6KZLD3A4/s500/Photo%25252020160301143147917.jpg" id="blogsy-1456868667983.893" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="302"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ragnar Del Sol 2013</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2v-YzFNRN2g/VtYKcLb2dyI/AAAAAAAAJf0/Ess9mGXRhEc/s1371/Photo%25252020160301143148100.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2v-YzFNRN2g/VtYKcLb2dyI/AAAAAAAAJf0/Ess9mGXRhEc/s500/Photo%25252020160301143148100.jpg" id="blogsy-1456868667986.7139" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="405"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whale Watching</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JmbWTsucWus/VtYKdu69bjI/AAAAAAAAJf4/g3k2s85YIj8/s750/Photo%25252020160301143148179.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JmbWTsucWus/VtYKdu69bjI/AAAAAAAAJf4/g3k2s85YIj8/s500/Photo%25252020160301143148179.jpg" id="blogsy-1456868667970.0054" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="406" height="406"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It makes an excellent riding shirt</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> Louie loves it so much, he bit a hole in it. I was not pleased. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xYX8zMq7s08/VtYNOUGMqZI/AAAAAAAAJgU/kToWI0igG0Y/s2048/Photo%25252020160301144407718.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xYX8zMq7s08/VtYNOUGMqZI/AAAAAAAAJgU/kToWI0igG0Y/s500/Photo%25252020160301144407718.jpg" id="blogsy-1456868667956.057" class="aligncenter" width="403" height="538" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I feel like I need a teeny tiny patch for this. Like a lady bug.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QmqrGn_SFq0/VtYKi0n-8xI/AAAAAAAAJf8/2jL8vMSd0GY/s2048/Photo%25252020160301143148581.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QmqrGn_SFq0/VtYKi0n-8xI/AAAAAAAAJf8/2jL8vMSd0GY/s500/Photo%25252020160301143148581.jpg" id="blogsy-1456868667921.6772" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="410" height="410"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising in Alaska </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rCRYY2jFPn4/VtYKkSo196I/AAAAAAAAJgA/dANJ6vHSMZ0/s960/Photo%25252020160301143148678.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rCRYY2jFPn4/VtYKkSo196I/AAAAAAAAJgA/dANJ6vHSMZ0/s500/Photo%25252020160301143148678.jpg" id="blogsy-1456868667965.2417" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="407" height="407"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ran the NYC Marathon in it</td></tr></tbody></table><p> I now consider this hoodie to be somewhat "lucky". Not to mention, it's super comfy <em>and </em>has a flattering cut. What more could a girl ask for?!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G7FqDe9iT-o/VtYKqW7jxII/AAAAAAAAJgE/uYIBI0XA7FM/s2048/Photo%25252020160301143149005.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G7FqDe9iT-o/VtYKqW7jxII/AAAAAAAAJgE/uYIBI0XA7FM/s500/Photo%25252020160301143149005.jpg" id="blogsy-1456868667951.8276" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="403" height="403"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing giant Jenga</td></tr></tbody></table><p> Basically, this is my very favorite article of clothing that I own. I wish I could find another like it, but so far, no such luck. It was missing for about two weeks and I walked around in utter dispair, mourning the loss of my beloved hoodie.</p><p>Anyone else have a treasured item of clothing that would bring on complete mourning if it was lost?</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-69156816631094597182016-02-09T15:05:00.001-07:002016-02-09T15:05:52.448-07:00Tempo Tuesday<p> Most people follow some sort of training plan when they are preparing for a distance race. This involves things like tempo runs, long runs, 400s, 800s, speed work, fartleks, 3542s. Okay, I made the last one up. But you get the point. This is complicated. I'm sure I could understand it if I tried, but I just file it away in the "things runners do that make other people think they are crazy" file.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gchZHJL9wx4/VrpiqJf2pJI/AAAAAAAAJfI/wM6L1b8dgDU/s487/Photo%25252020160209150527070.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gchZHJL9wx4/VrpiqJf2pJI/AAAAAAAAJfI/wM6L1b8dgDU/s487/Photo%25252020160209150527070.jpg" id="blogsy-1455055552774.746" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="487" height="324"></a></div><p> </p><p> I'm on a running roll and I'm pretty proud of that. Last night, I ran 9 miles. It's only February and I'm training for Tinkerbell Half in May, so I feel way ahead of myself. Yes, I'm aware that this is what normal dedicated runners do, so I've been pretty busy patting myself on the back, feeling all awesome for doing shit most runners do all the time. Baby steps, people.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G7HLTL5rtZs/Vrpirv6TVoI/AAAAAAAAJfM/PGnDHaLrK8I/s842/Photo%25252020160209150527169.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G7HLTL5rtZs/Vrpirv6TVoI/AAAAAAAAJfM/PGnDHaLrK8I/s500/Photo%25252020160209150527169.jpg" id="blogsy-1455055552762.1653" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="561"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saw this on Instagram </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>I've developed my own kind of tempo/long run/speed work type of training plan that I've sort of become addicted to. I use a Garmin but I also use the Runkeeper app on my phone. I had taken most of 2015 off of running, so when I committed to run 1000 miles in 2016, I was basically starting over.</p><p>I started taking a screen shot on my phone at the one hour mark. Each week, I've tried to get a little farther in one hour. Then I keep a list on my phone to see how I've progressed. I have a file for 1:00, 1:30 and 2:00 hour runs. This includes my warm, walk breaks, water breaks, and <a href="http://theunlikelycompetitor.blogspot.com/2016/02/i-can-make-this-stuff-up.html">freaking out over Darth Vader runners</a> in my neighborhood.</p><p>Tracking myself this way forces me to be really aware of how long it really takes me to cover a certain distance. For example, if I can get to 5 miles in a hour and then be at 10 miles at two hours, I have a chance at getting a PR at Tinkerbell. I'm shooting for getting to 5.5 in an hour before May, which is totally doable. If I can get to 10.5 or 11 in two hours, I'll be golden for a PR.</p><p>These were my screen shots from last night. I didn't really intend to run on a Monday night for two hours, but I just kept pushing and I felt pretty good for most of it. Because I was only intending to run 5-6 miles total, I didn't have any fuel and I was really feeling it in miles 7-9. (I did finish 9 miles but only took a screen shot right a two hours.)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IVSBHep-Y3I/VrpiswId_rI/AAAAAAAAJfQ/r55ZV23Zi30/s1334/Photo%25252020160209150527257.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IVSBHep-Y3I/VrpiswId_rI/AAAAAAAAJfQ/r55ZV23Zi30/s500/Photo%25252020160209150527257.jpg" id="blogsy-1455055552830.0454" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="408" height="726"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I know this is slow, but I'm getting faster!</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pKN8_JXWT34/VrpiuG7076I/AAAAAAAAJfU/XXUmGk263ls/s1334/Photo%25252020160209150527337.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pKN8_JXWT34/VrpiuG7076I/AAAAAAAAJfU/XXUmGk263ls/s500/Photo%25252020160209150527337.jpg" id="blogsy-1455055552758.7231" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="716"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yvnpNemrsvs/Vrpivf6Gx8I/AAAAAAAAJfY/GyWt2gjO1bY/s1334/Photo%25252020160209150527420.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yvnpNemrsvs/Vrpivf6Gx8I/AAAAAAAAJfY/GyWt2gjO1bY/s500/Photo%25252020160209150527420.jpg" id="blogsy-1455055552824.1682" class="aligncenter" width="407" height="724" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p>This method seems to combine tempo, a bit of speed work to beat the clock, and distance running. I like watching myself improve, even if it's just in small increments. Instead of focusing on specific distances, I'm focusing on time and increasing the distance within a certain time.</p><p>So far, I'm really enjoying training in this manner. I definitely don't do this for every run. Some runs I just mosey along and get some miles in, however they come.</p><p> Last night's 9 miler leaves me with 910.44 miles left to run in 2016.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-65487819859817963832016-02-02T14:51:00.001-07:002016-02-02T16:45:41.457-07:00I Can't Make This Stuff Up<p>It's amazing how much more I have to write about (on my running blog, no less) now that I'm doing actual running. Also, it's amazing how much weird shit happens right in my own neighborhood. Also, there's a lot of pot smoking apparently, because <em>wow</em>. The neighborhood had that particular "aroma" hanging about last night. (At least it's what I imagine pot smells like because, in case my boss or parents are reading, I certainly would not have any first hand knowledge of such things. Especially not back in college when I had a pot dealing roommate. No, sir.)</p><p> </p><p>Anyhoo. When I run by myself, I run at a park that is about a mile in perimeter. I head to the park straight from work because if I dare set foot in my house, the couch emits laser precise tractor beams and holds me hostage against my will, forcing me to watch Netflix. </p><p> </p><p>I had forgotten my iPod *gasp* and I'm seriously not capable of running alone without music and I've already addressed the danger of stopping by my house first. Well, I had my phone and some giant, clunky skull headphones in my desk. Off to the park I went, straight from work.</p><p> </p><p>Now I should preface this tale by saying that it was really cold for Arizona last night. And windy. Brrrr. Instead of wearing normal running clothes, I wore a thick hooded sweatshirt. Basically, I just run laps around the park and I always run in the same direction. Now mind you, this park is pretty well lit, has houses on 3 sides and a police precinct in the middle. All in all, it's pretty safe. There's just one short side that's pretty dark.</p><p> </p><p>Because I didn't have my iPod with my trusty playlist, I was forced to scramble through random shit on my phone, like <em>Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, </em>specifically the last movement which is the choral section, better known as <em>Ode To Joy. </em>I'm telling you this because I like my life to have a soundtrack and <em>Beethoven's Ninth </em>is very dramatic and very German. I sang it in college several times and shockingly, still know ever last word of it in German. #lifesoundtrack</p><p> </p><p>As I came to the dark side of the park, I see a man dressed entirely in black, with a black hat and what appears to be some sort of face warmer covering the bottom of his face. I don't pay too much attention but I notice that as he passes, I hear a weird sound that appears to be interfering with my music. Weird.</p><p> </p><p>Well. I run into him again on the opposite side of the park where there is more light, but it's still dark. You know those moments you have where you see something but your brain can't process or comprehend what it's seeing, and you have a delayed reaction? </p><p> </p><p>He gets close to me and all I can hear is insanely loud breathing that I'm totally not exaggerating here- sounds exactly like Darth fucking Vader. As he's passing me, he reaches up to his hat, and parts of it light up. It took a few more steps of running on my part before my brain caught up and said, "what the fuck did I just see?" And yes, all of these f bombs are necessary because 1) I really like saying it and 2) it really was <em>fucking weird. </em></p><p>All that makes sense to my brain at this point is this:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8dyocIdKqtY/VrEkthI-8CI/AAAAAAAAJek/nzwl_jzSQm8/s300/Photo%25252020160202145043004.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8dyocIdKqtY/VrEkthI-8CI/AAAAAAAAJek/nzwl_jzSQm8/s300/Photo%25252020160202145043004.jpg" id="blogsy-1454456719827.9858" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="300" height="225"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a villain from Batman</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This is what my brain interpreted. So I decide I'm totally going to be ready for this guy on the next lap. Ready to to fight crime? Ready to save the world? No, sillies. Ready with my camera to document this shit for my blog, because God knows I won't be able to tell this story well enough.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kSdGljwGE5U/VrEkvwNJS2I/AAAAAAAAJeo/mPSrPVjXXRA/s1920/Photo%25252020160202145043168.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kSdGljwGE5U/VrEkvwNJS2I/AAAAAAAAJeo/mPSrPVjXXRA/s500/Photo%25252020160202145043168.jpg" id="blogsy-1454456719861.6743" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="403" height="226"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obviously, I'm Batman in this scenario. Duh.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> Sadly, he must have called it a day, because I didn't cross his path for a third time. It took me awhile, but I'm guessing he was wearing a elevation training mask. I've never seen one actually used, but I read about it when I considered hiking to Everest Basecamp. But seriously, dude, you look super fucking scary in that get up and my brain has no choice but to immediately see myself as Anne Hathaway as Cat Woman. And I left my cat ears at home. Sheesh.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0LnGN-tOUQo/VrEkw_88YuI/AAAAAAAAJes/OVlC6zQ25Hg/s401/Photo%25252020160202145043203.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0LnGN-tOUQo/VrEkw_88YuI/AAAAAAAAJes/OVlC6zQ25Hg/s401/Photo%25252020160202145043203.jpg" id="blogsy-1454456719840.2769" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="300" height="401"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me or Anne? Can you tell us apart?</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> So here is a public service announcement for those of you deciding to wear all black at night with a breathing apparatus that makes you sound like Darth Vader: maybe you should consider wearing a shirt that says "Elevation Training" or "I'm Not Darth Vader" or "Sorry, Cat Woman, You Don't Rock That Suit As Well As Anne Hathaway". You know, something that makes you look a little less terrifying.</p><p>Side Note: I set out to run 4-5 miles and ended up running 8. I felt like Forrest Gump last night. I felt so good running that I just kept going. And that kind of shit never happens to me. </p><p>And with that, I have 935.56 miles left to run in 2016. </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-34506429758495013172016-02-01T14:21:00.001-07:002016-02-01T21:11:15.663-07:00One Month Down, Eleven To Go<p> As you all know, I signed up to run 1000 miles in 2016. It's definitely a daunting task, particularly when you consider that I'm not always a dedicated runner.</p><p>After running the NYC Marathon in 2014, I was pretty much over running, in general. I managed to ride that training cycle into January and complete the Star Wars Half, basically on residual training from NYC. After that, I half assed it for Wine & Dine (although "half assed" is reaching. Quarter assed would be more accurate) and called it a day for the rest of 2015.</p><p>It was enough of a break that I've rekindled my desire to do some actual running. (Also, this break has rekindled a love of buying all merch at races, which I thought that I had gotten over. *sigh*) I turn 40 in July, so I decided it would be a good idea to go into this year ready to tackle the last few months of my 30s.</p><p>Running 1000 miles in one year is somewhat of a numbers game, particularly if you are starting over. For example, 1000 miles breaks down in several ways. It's approximately 2.73 miles per day...or 20 miles per week...or 84 miles per month. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9wlgSZLYYCY/Vq_MCPg9IZI/AAAAAAAAJds/bZCtrokC_rs/s1334/Photo%25252020160201142001269.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9wlgSZLYYCY/Vq_MCPg9IZI/AAAAAAAAJds/bZCtrokC_rs/s500/Photo%25252020160201142001269.jpg" id="blogsy-1454386096413.9204" class="aligncenter" width="405" height="720" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p>I ran 56.3 miles in January, which for me, is pretty good. Plus, having to basically rebuild my running base means that I had to be careful not to do too much too fast. Running 20 miles a week doesn't sound too bad, but that works out to be five 4 mile runs, or some similar variation. I couldn't really just start out having 8 mile long runs right off the bat if I wanted to keep myself from getting injured early in the year.</p><p>I'm behind, but honestly I'm not too worried about it at this point. Now instead of having to run 83.33 miles a month, I need to run 85.79 for the remaining 11 months. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pqkVJM6jOIA/Vq_MJYkCd7I/AAAAAAAAJd0/gSnDoKcCW0I/s2048/Photo%25252020160201142001677.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pqkVJM6jOIA/Vq_MJYkCd7I/AAAAAAAAJd0/gSnDoKcCW0I/s500/Photo%25252020160201142001677.jpg" id="blogsy-1454386096410.041" class="aligncenter" width="403" height="403" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My early Sunday run</td></tr></tbody></table><p> In January, I was more consistent with running than I have been in a long time, so I feel like I'm off to a good start. I ran 5.22 miles yesterday morning and it's finally starting to feel easier. We walked much less than usual, so that's good.</p><p>I'm excited to go into Tinkerbell Half training with a good base so that I'm not scrambling to cram all of my training into the month before. I can pull it off, but it totally feels like shit when I do that. </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aRt_qs-xfqg/Vq_ML7r-z_I/AAAAAAAAJd8/D7uuPOfARp8/s1296/Photo%25252020160201142001797.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aRt_qs-xfqg/Vq_ML7r-z_I/AAAAAAAAJd8/D7uuPOfARp8/s500/Photo%25252020160201142001797.jpg" id="blogsy-1454386096421.8367" class="aligncenter" width="405" height="541" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post race rehydrating like a champ at DCA</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I ran the inaugural Tink in 2012 when it was still in January and had a great time. I'm looking forward to running it in an anniversary year. I know people were complaining that they should have changed the medal more, but I like it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_qej86V-Pi8/Vq_MNBrwvUI/AAAAAAAAJeE/6y7SXMrS8Gs/s750/Photo%25252020160201142001863.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_qej86V-Pi8/Vq_MNBrwvUI/AAAAAAAAJeE/6y7SXMrS8Gs/s500/Photo%25252020160201142001863.jpg" id="blogsy-1454386096392.8408" class="aligncenter" width="404" height="404" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took a screen shot of this awhile ago, so I don't know whom to credit. My bad.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>As far as other resolutions, I have not had a single soda in 2016. I do drink club soda at restaurants or when I'm really craving a Coke, but I don't think that counts. There's no sugar or artificial sweetener, so I figure it's okay. </p><p>Also, I've ridden my horse without stirrups during my warm up every single ride this year. That's something I haven't done since I jumped as a teenager. In case anyone is wondering, riding without stirrups strengthens your legs and core and it helps me get my leg longer in the saddle. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X8cVKlXryx4/Vq_MR6jrodI/AAAAAAAAJeM/xJWfSo4IMHw/s2048/Photo%25252020160201142002255.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X8cVKlXryx4/Vq_MR6jrodI/AAAAAAAAJeM/xJWfSo4IMHw/s500/Photo%25252020160201142002255.jpg" id="blogsy-1454386096473.6902" class="aligncenter" width="404" height="539" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warm up day at last weekend's horse show. That tent is where the judge sits.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'm planning to start February off right and run tonight. Sadly, IT IS X-FILES NIGHT. Serious sacrifices being made on my part. It's like I'm curing cancer or something.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mH6XPN_DB78/Vq_MTT5LP6I/AAAAAAAAJeU/-FqFqtaDecc/s750/Photo%25252020160201142002319.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mH6XPN_DB78/Vq_MTT5LP6I/AAAAAAAAJeU/-FqFqtaDecc/s500/Photo%25252020160201142002319.jpg" id="blogsy-1454386096454.6099" class="aligncenter" width="403" height="403" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I <3 them</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>So yeah.... I think 2016 is starting off nicely. Granted, I feel like I'm getting fatter, despite all of my changes, which is super annoying. I guess I'll tackle that next.</p><p>943.7 left to run in 2016. </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-64670798234544459692016-01-28T16:16:00.001-07:002016-01-28T16:16:07.169-07:00The Other Side Of The Tunnel<p> Well, I experienced something new last night.</p><p>I've been running with my trusty running partner, Lara, on Wednesday nights. I also call Lara "the billy goat" because she has no problem prancing up and down mountains in the dark and calls them, "trail runs". But whatever, the billy goat is currently 7 months pregnant and finally my speed. So rather than drag me along, kicking and screaming, at a pace that is a serious struggle for me, she now has been slowed down to something more reasonable: sedated snail speed. Perfect.</p><p>Anyhoo, Lara and I have been meeting at a running path called the greenbelt that runs through parts of Scottsdale and all the way into Tempe. Being that this is the desert and very little green grows here naturally, it's safe to assume that the greenbelt runs along heavily watered, higher end communities. And golf courses. Lots of golf here in the desert.</p><p>The start of the path is located next to a parking lot for shops and restaurants. When I was training for the NYC marathon, we ran here because there are a lot of trees on the path for shade and it's prettier than running in the desert. Plus, you can run for miles and miles. Ideal for marathon training.</p><p>We've been running just over 2 miles out and back, for a total of about 4.5 miles. Well, last night we got to about 1.9 miles and the sprinklers along the path were on. When it's hot out, this sounds ideal, but in reality, the water is reclaimed water, so not really good to be running through.</p><p>We decide to turn around and make up the difference on the way back by getting to the parking lot and running through the tunnel to get to the other side for a bit. Of all the times we've run the greenbelt, I've never gone through that tunnel to the other side. I assumed it was just a neighborhood.</p><p>We get through the tunnel and up to the sidewalk. It's really dark, so I can see some random lights up ahead off to the right. Because I'm a nosy, busy body, I suggest that we should check it out. Plus, I've watched enough X-files in my lifetime to know that this could be the work of aliens or a government conspiracy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N-KlK3bmBcU/Vqqg7Kbl1kI/AAAAAAAAJc8/phyqKAc_7Ss/s259/Photo%25252020160128161446887.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N-KlK3bmBcU/Vqqg7Kbl1kI/AAAAAAAAJc8/phyqKAc_7Ss/s259/Photo%25252020160128161446887.jpg" id="blogsy-1454022964986.5764" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="259" height="194"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p> As we got closer, it became increasingly obvious that we were not dealing with alien aircraft lights, but in my vast experience ("vast experience" loosely translates as paranormal nerd) you can never be too careful.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o1m6xULmEe8/VqqhAO7TVoI/AAAAAAAAJdE/OeZrd7ILbqE/s2048/Photo%25252020160128161447287.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o1m6xULmEe8/VqqhAO7TVoI/AAAAAAAAJdE/OeZrd7ILbqE/s500/Photo%25252020160128161447287.jpg" id="blogsy-1454022965021.268" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="407" height="407"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those are solar lights planted into the ground.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> We get up close and find solar lights in the ground. Weird, right? It was a large grassy area. Being that is was really dark with no street lights, I couldn't quite figure out what we were looking at.</p><p>Yup. We were in a grave yard. That's certainly a first for me. This must be a smaller and newer cemetery because I didn't really see any upright head stones, but rather head stones on the ground.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OkRdde3_6lc/VqqhFt9fdFI/AAAAAAAAJdM/KPerqwk8tRw/s2048/Photo%25252020160128161447630.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OkRdde3_6lc/VqqhFt9fdFI/AAAAAAAAJdM/KPerqwk8tRw/s500/Photo%25252020160128161447630.jpg" id="blogsy-1454022965006.6462" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="402"></a></div><p> </p><p> So, of course, what's the first thing I do when I realize that I'm standing in a cemetery? Take a picture with the flash on to see if I spot any orbs. Disappointingly, I found none.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-89l7oiCSl9g/VqqhLtGetSI/AAAAAAAAJdU/IPgh13u4c1E/s2048/Photo%25252020160128161447960.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-89l7oiCSl9g/VqqhLtGetSI/AAAAAAAAJdU/IPgh13u4c1E/s500/Photo%25252020160128161447960.jpg" id="blogsy-1454022964951.204" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="404" height="404"></a></div><p> </p><p> If you don't know what orbs are, you clearly have not watched as many episodes of <em>My Ghost Story </em>as I have. I do not recommend watching that show and running alone in the dark. Just sayin.</p><p>I was hoping for my very own X-file experience (I can't express my joy enough over the revival of my all time favorite show <em>ever</em>), but clearly this is not an overly haunted cemetery. Disappointing.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6_tB6coL-Ic/VqqhMwzEftI/AAAAAAAAJdc/Ak1Y4qWVzhE/s750/Photo%25252020160128161448048.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6_tB6coL-Ic/VqqhMwzEftI/AAAAAAAAJdc/Ak1Y4qWVzhE/s500/Photo%25252020160128161448048.jpg" id="blogsy-1454022964951.9165" class="aligncenter" width="401" height="401" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sexiest TV duo in history</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> And that leaves me with 953.37 miles left to run in 2016.</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-55150208501792073242016-01-20T22:46:00.001-07:002016-01-20T22:46:52.888-07:00Throwback Thursday: A Tale Of Two Pins<p>This post is about as long as <u>A Tale of Two Cities</u>. I present you with an epic tale about the origin of Disney pin trading and even if you think an idea is stupid, Disney is an evil, mastermind genius, and they will prevail. (I'm sure this is how Darth Vader feels every time he sees a depiction of himself with Mickey ears on)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F3HOgXbaEi0/VqBwW9J0qtI/AAAAAAAAJbI/bd9n-vGT7dw/s236/Photo%25252020160120224452210.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F3HOgXbaEi0/VqBwW9J0qtI/AAAAAAAAJbI/bd9n-vGT7dw/s236/Photo%25252020160120224452210.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211363.8337" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="306" height="252"></a></div><p> </p><p> Since I've been doing so much running, I've been doing way too much thinking. Mark my words: it won't be long until you can have a Netflix chip implanted directly into your brain. Then I won't have to do any thinking at all. I will be able to just beam old episodes of Parks and Rec (someone help me out- should that be italicized? Underlined? Does anyone even care?) directly into my brain and trot happily along, not a real thought getting in the way of my Amy Poehler time. Or Ron Swanson time, whom I have a wee crush on, despite his being my polar opposite.</p><p>But I digress. I <a href="http://theunlikelycompetitor.blogspot.com/2016/01/monday-musings-thing-called-amnesia_18.html">mentioned in my last post</a> that I freaked out on a run because <em>there was a possibly that I forgot to order the commemorative pin for Tinkerbell Half this year. </em>Gasp! Mind you, I am not a crazy pin trader, and pretty much could not give two shits about the Disney pins. I don't collect them and I don't trade them. Since I started running, I've gone to both Disneyland and Disney World a bunch of times and never have I just bought a pin at one of the parks for a keepsake. <em>Ever. </em>Somehow, the race pins are different. I must have them. This is all part of Disney's master plan for world domination. They will get you, eventually.</p><p>I didn't decide to run Tinkerbell until Wine & Dine weekend. The night of the half, I met up with friends that I love to see at races and had a blast with them as I always do. They were all heading to Tink and <a href="http://abbysroadtoamazingness.blogspot.com/">Abby</a> offered to let me bunk with her and her sister. All of the Tink races were sold out, including the Pixie Dust challenge, but the half itself was still open. The next morning, I signed up. Since I signed up from my phone during breakfast, I couldn't remember if I had ordered the pin. Well, you can all relax because *spoiler alert* I did, in fact, order the pin. I may or may not have actually checked my confirmation in the middle of my run. That information is classified, however, so I guess you'll never know the truth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BY_6xEAj8XA/VqBwZh3KxqI/AAAAAAAAJbQ/WEfU3ukGtcA/s2048/Photo%25252020160120224452639.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BY_6xEAj8XA/VqBwZh3KxqI/AAAAAAAAJbQ/WEfU3ukGtcA/s500/Photo%25252020160120224452639.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211333.133" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="408" height="544"></a></div><p> </p><p>Disneyland Half 2010 was my very first race ever. Back then, the expo was a normal, semi quiet affair. People didn't mob the merchandise section like crazed Black Friday Shoppers at Best Buy. I was so scared I wouldn't finish that first half, that I refrained from buying any souvenirs. I was petrified that I would jinx myself and since I was a rookie, I assumed that I could just buy a souvenir after the race was over. <em>So, so naive, I was. </em></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zhFvieN717U/VqBwcCWGBJI/AAAAAAAAJbY/hwqNgbg4fHQ/s2048/Photo%25252020160120224453041.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zhFvieN717U/VqBwcCWGBJI/AAAAAAAAJbY/hwqNgbg4fHQ/s500/Photo%25252020160120224453041.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211349.4075" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="420" height="420"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first race pin. Disneyland Half 2010.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><em><br></em></p><p>Luckily, I had preordered that first race pin. I managed to find a really ugly men's half marathon jacket after the race in downtown Disney. I bought it, but I have never once worn it. I also found a key chain. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R1i7D5GKbNY/VqBwe037bpI/AAAAAAAAJbg/EMgcTuPXJT4/s2048/Photo%25252020160120224453426.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R1i7D5GKbNY/VqBwe037bpI/AAAAAAAAJbg/EMgcTuPXJT4/s500/Photo%25252020160120224453426.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211311.0862" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="421" height="316"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of my Disneyland race pins</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Ever since then, I automatically have ordered the pin when I sign up of a runDisney race. If I signed up for the challenge, I get the pins for the individual races and the challenge pin. Even though I seriously cringe at the price, somehow I can't stop ordering them. I have a preordered pin (and sometimes an additional pin from the expo) for every Disney race that I've done. The only exception being the Marathon Relay in 2012 because there weren't any even produced.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9PqCOCT8bcw/VqBwhHFggSI/AAAAAAAAJbo/f-5elbzM13s/s2048/Photo%25252020160120224453742.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9PqCOCT8bcw/VqBwhHFggSI/AAAAAAAAJbo/f-5elbzM13s/s500/Photo%25252020160120224453742.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211376.6882" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="421" height="316"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goofy Challenge 2013</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>It's like this love/hate/resentful thing I do during every registration. I can't break the chain but those pins are like $15 a pop. Damn you, Disney!! *shakes fist*</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HPZia7SH3Zs/VqBwju4WkTI/AAAAAAAAJbw/lTaZ_BwG1ZM/s2048/Photo%25252020160120224454143.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HPZia7SH3Zs/VqBwju4WkTI/AAAAAAAAJbw/lTaZ_BwG1ZM/s500/Photo%25252020160120224454143.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211287.8135" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="404" height="404"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite of all of my race pins</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Anyway, as I was trotting around the park, secure in the knowledge that the coveted pin would be added to my collection, I was also grumbling about the amount of money of have invested in those stupid pins and I'm not even a pin collector. Don't judge, my dear readers, I have a sneaking suspicion that there are a few of you out there in the same boat as me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0bWZHd-p36s/VqBwlo7g9NI/AAAAAAAAJb4/YP89_d1WLGc/s2048/Photo%25252020160120224454522.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0bWZHd-p36s/VqBwlo7g9NI/AAAAAAAAJb4/YP89_d1WLGc/s500/Photo%25252020160120224454522.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211327.4216" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="417" height="556"></a></div><p> </p><p>And then, as I was finishing up the last mile of my run, I remembered the story of the origin of Disney pin trading. </p><p>Growing up in Arizona, I went on tons of road trips to Disneyland. Family trips, school trips, friend trips. Pretty much every year we ended up at Disneyland at some point. At no point, did I recall seeing a bunch of pins in the gift shops.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q-aN7fV7ULY/VqBwnl2QCxI/AAAAAAAAJcA/a0N-Wx1ui8g/s2048/Photo%25252020160120224454879.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q-aN7fV7ULY/VqBwnl2QCxI/AAAAAAAAJcA/a0N-Wx1ui8g/s500/Photo%25252020160120224454879.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211389.9604" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spaceship Earth dressed up for the Millennium Celebration. That is a picture of a picture from our trip.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>In 2000, my family took a vacation to the Disney World Resort. My dad and step mom must have booked through a Disney travel agent because when we met at their house in the wee hours of the morning to leave on our trip, my dad handed all of us the standard complimentary Disney luggage tag and keepsake pin from the Disney travel company. I didn't think much about it, but for some reason, I kept that pin.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4SwE6kYE3NA/VqBwpQT_LWI/AAAAAAAAJcI/i2Bdc925vpU/s1630/Photo%25252020160120224455154.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4SwE6kYE3NA/VqBwpQT_LWI/AAAAAAAAJcI/i2Bdc925vpU/s500/Photo%25252020160120224455154.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211362.6365" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="411" height="411"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first Disney pin</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Upon arrival at The Boardwalk (a hotel I adore but can only afford if I'm with a parental unit and not actually paying for it), we were greeted by a cast member. I believe we were staying on the concierge level (also something I can not afford on my own). When you stay at a nicer hotel, especially when you're on the concierge level, the cast members take their time explaining everything to you and giving you tips and pointers to ensure that you have the most magical time possible.</p><p>Part of this magical experience hinged on taking part in a new Disney past time ("Disney past time" loosely translates as "ways you can spend even more money at Disney, despite the second mortgage you have on your house just to afford this trip in the first place") of pin trading.</p><p>She then handed everyone a special pin to "start our very own collection". She explained that pin collecting and trading was new, but that if we saw a cast member with a pin on, we could trade our pin for one of the cast member's pins. If we bought a pin, we could trade that pin, too.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G_TQsMARs_g/VqBwrpdJMFI/AAAAAAAAJcQ/QlMqIM2lPNk/s2048/Photo%25252020160120224455538.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G_TQsMARs_g/VqBwrpdJMFI/AAAAAAAAJcQ/QlMqIM2lPNk/s500/Photo%25252020160120224455538.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211300.6335" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="415" height="415"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And so it begins</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>I remember her telling us that this was going to be a huge thing in the future. Everyone would be pin trading like trading baseball cards in the past.</p><p>You know what I remember the most clearly about all of this? All I could think is that pin trading is the dumbest thing ever and there's no way it was going to be successful. No one cares enough about pins for it to be traded on a mass scale.</p><p>Well, we all know how wrong I was about that. Never doubt the Mouse. Oh, the irony. I'm now almost 40 and I had a minor panic attack that I would be missing a pin from from collection, had I forgotten to order it. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4Qlge6jYbsA/VqBwt4n4xeI/AAAAAAAAJcY/6m06fk6HUnM/s2048/Photo%25252020160120224455914.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4Qlge6jYbsA/VqBwt4n4xeI/AAAAAAAAJcY/6m06fk6HUnM/s500/Photo%25252020160120224455914.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211353.1243" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="411" height="411"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Tale Of Two Pins. The End.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Well played, Disney. Well played. </p><p>I decided to Google original Disney pin trading (after I wrote all of this because, of course, it didn't occur to me to check it our beforehand. D'oh.), just to make sure I didn't make all of this up in my own mind. I think it's entirely possible that Disney is capable of implanting false memories into our brains while on property, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_pin_trading" target="_self" title="">but my story checks out</a>. Disney introduced pin trading as part of the Millennium Celebration.</p><p>I have to take a moment to thank my research assistant, Bruiser, because he was oh so helpful.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tKM1QunfIv8/VqBwv6FgKRI/AAAAAAAAJcg/ATLoscCjGIY/s2048/Photo%25252020160120224456397.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tKM1QunfIv8/VqBwv6FgKRI/AAAAAAAAJcg/ATLoscCjGIY/s500/Photo%25252020160120224456397.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211363.2878" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="416" height="555"></a></div><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OC9eOYJ_dmE/VqBwycjP7gI/AAAAAAAAJco/YYto-QBB8Gg/s2048/Photo%25252020160120224456793.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OC9eOYJ_dmE/VqBwycjP7gI/AAAAAAAAJco/YYto-QBB8Gg/s500/Photo%25252020160120224456793.jpg" id="blogsy-1453355211343.145" class="aligncenter" width="415" height="415" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So helpful.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-73318930960628514622016-01-18T14:09:00.002-07:002016-01-18T14:28:25.097-07:00Monday Musings- A thing called "Race Amnesia"<p> I gotta say, I've been running <em>a lot. </em>I'm basically starting from scratch since I only ran 2 races last year- Star Wars Half in January (which is pretty much the most fun half marathon, <em>ever</em>) and the inaugural Wine & Dine Half of a Half (I jest. The W&D course was shortened due to weather) in November.</p><p>I signed up for the <a href="https://ilovetorun.org/">Gold Challenge 2016</a>, which is to basically run 1000 miles this year. For a lot of people, this is a piece of cake. Some of you like to run and run and run, Forrest Gump style. I am not typically one of those people. </p><p>I joke about being lazy, drinking too much wine and binge watching Netflix (okay, okay, yes, that's partially true) but in reality, I work <em>really </em>hard at the horse thing. I get to the barn before sunrise in the cold (and heat in the summer) 5 days a week and bust my ass. Sometimes I do get pretty lazy about the running thing because just with work and riding, I'm gone from my house, 12-13 hours every day. </p><p>But maybe I just needed a break from running and racing. Star Wars was my 20th half marathon and the NYC marathon was my second full. Since 2014 and 2015 were really light racing years, that means I crammed a shit ton of racing and running into 2010-2013.</p><p>Why am I sharing all of these? Well, as you know, unless I'm on a treadmill, I can't bring Netflix with me on a run. That means I have to actually <em>think </em>about things. Ridiculous things like <em>why am I obsessed with runDisney pins when I couldn't give two shits about pin trading or collecting? </em></p><p>Also, social media is a very powerful thing. My poor impressionable brain was bombarded during WDW Marathon Weekend. And although running a marathon is a pretty horrible, yet wonderful, yet excruciating, yet magical, and bipolar experience, I have myself convinced I want to do WDW Marathon 2017.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M_rLqoBk_OE/Vp1Y9HcicqI/AAAAAAAAJa0/zY8nT9CTjNQ/s750/Photo%25252020160118142815550.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M_rLqoBk_OE/Vp1Y9HcicqI/AAAAAAAAJa0/zY8nT9CTjNQ/s500/Photo%25252020160118142815550.jpg" id="blogsy-1453152502499.9934" class="aligncenter" width="410" height="324" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bring on the Race Amnesia</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Thanks to the On This Day feature on Facebook, I was reminded that I supposedly am never doing this again. We shall see. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rqJu3fNpIJ0/Vp1UcCQ1DpI/AAAAAAAAJag/CHWy0_DIsx0/s892/Photo%25252020160118140853707.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rqJu3fNpIJ0/Vp1UcCQ1DpI/AAAAAAAAJag/CHWy0_DIsx0/s500/Photo%25252020160118140853707.jpg" id="blogsy-1453152502530.2512" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="403" height="480"></a></div><p> </p><p> I also swore off race challenges...but gah. Effing Dopey Challenge pictures EVERYWHERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Seriously, everywhere. I couldn't escape it. I could feel the Race Amnesia taking hold and a peaceful feeling came over me as I dreamily reminisced in a haze of twinkling pixie dust about the incredible memories I have of Goofy Challenge 2013, which in reality was really fucking hard..and blisteringly hot.</p><p>So, my dear fellow bloggarinos, I pose this question (And please bear in mind that I will most likely choose to take whatever route is most stupid):</p><p>1) Should I train, train, train in 2016 and put my 1000 miles into having a really good time for the WDW Marathon 2017 and then consider Dopey for 2018, which is an anniversary year for the marathon and Dopey, or</p><p>2) Should I realize that accomplishing 1000 miles in one year is a big thing for me and just do Dopey in 2017 while I'm used to doing so much running?</p><p>I'm really torn. And all of this running is making me do more thinking, which leads me to second guessing whatever I most recently decided. I'm leaning toward the first option because I doubt I have several Dopeys in me, so why not pick the anniversary year?</p><p>Plus, you know the 25th Marathon will be awesome.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; 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font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></p><p><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; 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font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></p><p><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> And with that, I have 969.48 miles left to run in 2016.</em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></p><p><i style="font-style: italic; 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font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></p><p><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></em></p><p><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </em></em></em></em></em></em></p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-14157067538824621612016-01-15T14:58:00.001-07:002016-01-16T05:20:08.843-07:00Friday Five: Star Wars Half Marathon Favorites<p>For those of you running the second Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend, I can not stress enough just how jealous I am and I feel sort of bitter and hateful. Just keepin' it real.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v6u7jUenq2E/Vplq0MlYNkI/AAAAAAAAJYk/Tx1GJw-3Y38/s2048/Photo%25252020160115145505597.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v6u7jUenq2E/Vplq0MlYNkI/AAAAAAAAJYk/Tx1GJw-3Y38/s500/Photo%25252020160115145505597.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638343.4185" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="401"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star Wars Half 2015</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>I ran the inaugural Star Wars Half last year <em>and it was amazeballs. </em>I skipped the challenge because at the time I was so over the challenges. I was a wee bit sad about not having the awesome 10K medal, though. The challenge medal was just meh in my opinion.</p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Side note: Star Wars is the last half marathon I have run, can you believe it? I was there for Wine & Dine in November, but as you all know already, that course was shortened into a 6.72 miler. I guess I needed a break from racing.</span></p><p>So here are my top 5 favorite things about the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend.</p><p><strong>1. The Expo</strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0h8JaanclDQ/Vplq4LoMaUI/AAAAAAAAJYs/P1tsZPEymE0/s1600/Photo%25252020160115145505837.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0h8JaanclDQ/Vplq4LoMaUI/AAAAAAAAJYs/P1tsZPEymE0/s500/Photo%25252020160115145505837.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638261.2737" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="401"></a></div><p>The Star Wars expo is like any other runDisney expo, except you have runDisney nerds and Star Wars nerds in one location. I really wish I had taken more pictures at the expo because I saw some funny shit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8GT6PjWBbY8/Vplq5m8VpeI/AAAAAAAAJY0/1J1VIfcFRd0/s700/Photo%25252020160115145505933.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8GT6PjWBbY8/Vplq5m8VpeI/AAAAAAAAJY0/1J1VIfcFRd0/s500/Photo%25252020160115145505933.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638323.1191" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="401"></a></div><p> </p><p>There were plenty of opportunities for photo opps, though, and I'm not good at taking advantage of them!! I need to get better at doing this.</p><p><strong>2. Everything is in close proximity</strong></p><p>One thing I love about races at Disneyland is the ease of getting around. No waiting for buses or monorails (although, technically, you can take the monorail at Disneyland, but it's not all that useful for the most part as transportation.) </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--6XKyEh3kh8/Vplq-0W94PI/AAAAAAAAJY8/viQ4LaiU7hI/s2048/Photo%25252020160115145506272.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--6XKyEh3kh8/Vplq-0W94PI/AAAAAAAAJY8/viQ4LaiU7hI/s500/Photo%25252020160115145506272.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638348.8262" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="406" height="406"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is excellent for pre-race hydrating</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The expo is at the Disneyland Hotel and it's a short walk to Downtown Disney and one of my favorite places: House of Blues. When you're at the House of Blues, you must wear sunglasses inside. Or you've had several glasses of champagne and you think it makes you look cool. Which, in this case, <em>it totally does.</em> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2hbZGUjOR5o/VplrE2u_UUI/AAAAAAAAJZE/7y7H-W6bnb8/s2048/Photo%25252020160115145506565.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2hbZGUjOR5o/VplrE2u_UUI/AAAAAAAAJZE/7y7H-W6bnb8/s500/Photo%25252020160115145506565.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638303.8167" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="401"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta rest those legs!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's also close to the movie theater, which is where we spent our afternoon before the race. I'm fairly certain we saw Into The Woods.</p><p><strong>3. The Weather</strong></p><p>January in Anaheim is usually gorgeous. It's not too cold and not too hot. Basically, it's the perfect race for Goldilocks. This year is an El NiƱo year, meaning the southwest (AZ included) is having a pretty wet winter, so hopefully, the weather will be good this weekend.</p><p>Last year, we got to see <em>the most perfect </em>sunset you could imagine during the race. It almost caused a collision on the course in DCA coming through the tunnel in Carsland because everyone came to a screeching halt, it was that stunning. These pictures don't do it justice.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bA0uD5JxucY/VplrKKWP4bI/AAAAAAAAJZM/89hcTLk3bfY/s2048/Photo%25252020160115145507165.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bA0uD5JxucY/VplrKKWP4bI/AAAAAAAAJZM/89hcTLk3bfY/s500/Photo%25252020160115145507165.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638338.821" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="404" height="404"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back lot of DCA behind Screamin'</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A_XNB_UngHM/VplrN-uPI5I/AAAAAAAAJZU/6Xmo7Mh5bPo/s2048/Photo%25252020160115145507630.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A_XNB_UngHM/VplrN-uPI5I/AAAAAAAAJZU/6Xmo7Mh5bPo/s500/Photo%25252020160115145507630.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638331.3044" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="540"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunrise with the neon signs was just so cool</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><strong><br><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>4. Course Entertainment</strong></div></strong></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: left;">I know a lot of people don't like the fact that a big portion of the courses at Disneyland are off property, but I like it for the additional course support. Apparently, Disney hired cosplay people for the course (I don't exactly know what cosplay is or what they do, but that's what I was told.) Anyway, lots of fun stuff happening on the course.</td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i32FGG9woDE/VplrReo12cI/AAAAAAAAJZc/k16nmw9xfIo/s1600/Photo%25252020160115145507903.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i32FGG9woDE/VplrReo12cI/AAAAAAAAJZc/k16nmw9xfIo/s500/Photo%25252020160115145507903.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638309.9453" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="402"></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3ej9hwjEtoE/VplrTEd0SlI/AAAAAAAAJZk/4JTfqQlM_oU/s988/Photo%25252020160115145508046.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3ej9hwjEtoE/VplrTEd0SlI/AAAAAAAAJZk/4JTfqQlM_oU/s500/Photo%25252020160115145508046.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638335.043" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="411" height="411"></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><strong><br></strong></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>5. Everything</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's sort of a cop out answer for number five, but this race was absolutely awesome last year. I loved every minute of it. I really should have signed up this year, but I spent a week at WDW for Wine & Dine, so I thought I should give my wallet a break. Sadly, I doubt I'll be able to do it next year, either, since I have big plans to tackle the WDW Marathon for the second time.</div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hv8ONSnlVKQ/VplrXLiPhqI/AAAAAAAAJZs/v7hO3clMebA/s1600/Photo%25252020160115145508240.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hv8ONSnlVKQ/VplrXLiPhqI/AAAAAAAAJZs/v7hO3clMebA/s500/Photo%25252020160115145508240.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638353.549" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="405"></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"> I strongly recommend this race. If you want to do it, <strong>DO IT!!</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AXPsXVp8L68/Vplrb5OBrFI/AAAAAAAAJZ0/4Gn6niB4n2U/s2048/Photo%25252020160115145508467.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AXPsXVp8L68/Vplrb5OBrFI/AAAAAAAAJZ0/4Gn6niB4n2U/s500/Photo%25252020160115145508467.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638284.481" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="403" height="538"></a></div><p> I'm linking this post with girls from <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/2016/01/14/friday-five-what-i-love-about-the-fitbit-charge-hr/" target="_self" title="">Friday Five.</a> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BVpur0nxPCQ/VplrdIRDNyI/AAAAAAAAJZ8/vmWYUwfcI90/s360/Photo%25252020160115145508528.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BVpur0nxPCQ/VplrdIRDNyI/AAAAAAAAJZ8/vmWYUwfcI90/s360/Photo%25252020160115145508528.jpg" id="blogsy-1452946638281.1333" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="216" height="216"></a></div><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7024307164150315166.post-70995778043897906162016-01-11T14:27:00.001-07:002016-01-11T14:27:07.944-07:00Mickey Marathon Monday<p> For the third year in a row, I sat at home crying into my Cheerios and stalking social media during WDW Marathon weekend. Sad, sad panda, right here. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fG3UtdbUsUo/VpQd90sqoOI/AAAAAAAAJXs/u48z9PzexLc/s2048/Photo%25252020160111142553213.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fG3UtdbUsUo/VpQd90sqoOI/AAAAAAAAJXs/u48z9PzexLc/s500/Photo%25252020160111142553213.jpg" id="blogsy-1452547626442.467" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="301"></a></div><p> </p><p>Who am I kidding? We were totally at brunch, it was a mimosa rather than Cheerios, and I didn't actually cry. But you get the point. I love marathon weekend. I ran Goofy Challenge in 2013. If they had offered Dopey Challenge that year, I probably would have signed up for that.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z5yF7Y24-vE/VpQeBXP49CI/AAAAAAAAJX0/MpSae5EhQ5o/s1421/Photo%25252020160111142553484.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z5yF7Y24-vE/VpQeBXP49CI/AAAAAAAAJX0/MpSae5EhQ5o/s500/Photo%25252020160111142553484.jpg" id="blogsy-1452547626426.3643" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="401"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goofy looks sad...</td></tr></tbody></table><p> As I said earlier, <a href="http://theunlikelycompetitor.blogspot.com/2016/01/so-far-i-feel-same-as-2015.html">I signed up for a challenge</a> to run 1000 miles in 2016. What better way to celebrate that accomplishment than to run the WDW Marathon at the beginning of January 2017, right? The more I think about it, the more I want to do it. In honor of the marathon yesterday, I planned to run in my marathon shirt from 2013 on Sunday morning. Well, I should have hunted it down the night before because I couldn't find it anywhere when I got dressed in the morning. I wore my half marathon shirt, which is <em>not </em>as cool. But I was going to be late to meet my running buddy, so I had to settle for Donald. And I never took a picture of it, anyway. C'est la vie.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VJeMMlH-pLo/VpQeEDMOkOI/AAAAAAAAJX8/9AQLtbYmYOc/s964/Photo%25252020160111142553630.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VJeMMlH-pLo/VpQeEDMOkOI/AAAAAAAAJX8/9AQLtbYmYOc/s500/Photo%25252020160111142553630.jpg" id="blogsy-1452547626431.273" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="402" height="412"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So here is a pic from some other time I ran in my magical marathon shirt.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>So, I've pretty much decided that WDW Marathon 2017 is a go. I'm also *gasp* considering <em>maybe </em>doing Dopey in 2018. Now, I know I've sworn off race challenges, but 2018 is the 25th anniversary of the marathon and the 5th anniversary of Dopey. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TvoikoESm1U/VpQeHyemHpI/AAAAAAAAJYE/rJNHHb3zBEU/s1600/Photo%25252020160111142554217.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TvoikoESm1U/VpQeHyemHpI/AAAAAAAAJYE/rJNHHb3zBEU/s500/Photo%25252020160111142554217.jpg" id="blogsy-1452547626482.7766" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="401" height="401"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bling, bling, bling.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> Such is the power of social media. After the millionth Dopey medal pic on Instagram, I found myself convinced I should do it. We'll see. One step at a time. </p><p>Speaking of social media powers, I saw this on Facebook, <em>and I must have it. </em>Like, I really, <em>really </em>want it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QpC0MXJZoXM/VpQeJGp22yI/AAAAAAAAJYM/BOVGB2j5hT0/s1006/Photo%25252020160111142554395.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QpC0MXJZoXM/VpQeJGp22yI/AAAAAAAAJYM/BOVGB2j5hT0/s500/Photo%25252020160111142554395.jpg" id="blogsy-1452547626428.026" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="404" height="542"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I need this.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qcDrGsiBUBQ/VpQeKDygUoI/AAAAAAAAJYU/5UgtsDah2ys/s1000/Photo%25252020160111142554506.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qcDrGsiBUBQ/VpQeKDygUoI/AAAAAAAAJYU/5UgtsDah2ys/s500/Photo%25252020160111142554506.jpg" id="blogsy-1452547626428.59" class="aligncenter" width="400" height="534" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It comes in a tee and I few other styles.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> I must have this in my life, and I don't even know why. If you need one, too, <a href="https://teespring.com/AMH01?p=PpWc#pid=370&cid=6546&sid=front">here is the link</a>. Nope, I'm not sponsored by them or getting free stuff. I just like it and I <em>know </em>some other runDisney nerd will like it, too. It's limited, though. I think there's only two more days to order it.</p><p>In case anyone is interested in my mileage, I only have 988 miles left to run in 2016. </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412864659613068146noreply@blogger.com6