Is runDisney becoming less popular?

Last year when I signed up for the Star Wars Half Marathon, it sold out in less than an hour. I remember taking my lunch break at 9:00 in the morning so I could sign myself up for the half and two of my friends for the 10K.

My current favorite race

This year, I knew the regular (non AP holders, etc) registration opened while I was going to be on a cruise and that there was pretty much no way I was going to be able to register without incurring some obscene wifi bill on the boat.

My current favorite race

I decided that was fine because I really can not spend the money to go in January nor can I really afford to use PTO because I have a major trip happening next spring not to mention horse shows, etc.

My current favorite race

It didn't even really occur to be to check whether the race had sold out because I just assumed that it had. They always do, right? Wrong.

Gorgeous weather

Star Wars Half was at 90% on Tuesday and still at 90% today. That's crazy to me!

 

I was somewhat surprised when Avengers didn't sell out, but not shocked because a lot of people weren't too impressed with it. As of a few minutes ago, it's less full than Star Wars, yet opened quite a bit earlier.

I'm honestly shocked that Star Wars Half still has slots. That is currently my new favorite runDisney event. The weather is perfect in Anaheim in January and the theme was just so fun. The course is good and the spectators were amazing and hilarious.

 

I'm wondering what is keeping this race from being full. Some have said it's because there's so many events on. Everyone I talked to loved this race weekend so I can't imagine how it is still open.

It appears that the runDisney events on the west coast are becoming less popular. The Disneyland Half events sold out immediately, so I'm wondering what's up with Star Wars. It's actually a more fun event, better weather and not during Labor Day weekend, which makes Disneyland a complete zoo.

I felt pretty good about my decision not to do this race because I convinced myself since there was no way I could get myself registered in time, I'll just skip it. BUT IT IS STILL OPEN AND MOCKING ME WITH ITS OPENESS!!!

So far, I've remained strong, but I make no promises as to what I will do when registration shows 98%. Sometimes I make bad life choices...

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Wild Frontier

I've been totally MIA from bloggerville because I was conquering the wild frontier.

This outfit screams, "frontier woman" right?

When I say I was 'conquering the wild frontier' I actually mean I was staring at it from the comfort of my cruise ship balcony while sipping on Prosecco. I'm not what you would call, "outdoorsy".

I spent last week aboard the Norwegian Jewel on an Alaskan Cruise and it was awesomely awesome. I'll bore you guys to death with cruise recaps later (unless I get lazy, which is highly possible).

Because there is food everywhere on a cruise ship, I feel fairly certainly that I have gained 10 pounds in a week, but I'm not brave enough to step on the scale to find out. I pretty much lived in running pants for this entire trip, so I didn't have to battle my pants being tight while I gorged myself like a veal calf.

I actually did go running, though, for the first time since the Star Wars Half marathon in January. I even went running twice!

At least I think it was the first time I've been running. I can't remember, but let's just assume that I haven't because it certainly wasn't consistent.

I don't know if you can read the sign, but 5.5 laps equals one mile. I couldn't really keep track, but I was up there for an hour and 15 minutes, so I'm guessing I plodded along for 4 miles.

Brrrr! Super chilly up there.

I felt surprisingly good for not having done any running. And my back held up pretty well, too. I'm glad I took a running break because it actually felt really good to get back at it, even though it was seriously freezing up on the 14th deck. And the wind was horrible. But you can't beat the views!

I'll be back with more pictures of Alaska that will make you want to immediately book a cruise. Maybe I'll even keep running.

Throwing My Back Out Thursday

See what I did there? Throwback Thursday? Get it?

Annnnnnyyywaaayy. As you can probably tell from the title, I hurt myself. I was so gung ho and excited to get back into running since running and I have been on a break in our relationship.

 

I joined a really nice gym with wifi, conned my dad out of his Showtime login so I could binge on Homeland, and was all set to rekindle my relationship with running. I even was looking forward to running outside with views like this while sweating my ass off in the Arizona summer heat.

Wishing for beautiful sunset views.

 

Then I injured a disc in my lower back. Severely. I was stuck on my couch for days, unable to work or ride my horse, or do anything at all besides take repeated trips to the chiropractor.

Instead of sunsets, this was my constant view:

 

I think he's judging me.

I followed every instruction my chiropractor gave me and somehow made very rapid improvement. In fact, the chiro said, "you went from full blown disc syndrome to something much more minor."

So that's a huge relief. I'm back to riding with minimal trouble, but I'm scared to run. I don't have any real pain anymore, but my back is so ridiculously tight. I think I'm going to try using my foam roller on my hamstrings and glutes to see if that helps loosen up my lower back.

Plus, I'd like to sign up for the 100 Miles of Summer challenge at Jost Running as a motivator.

 

How fun is this medal?

I'm leaving on an Alaskan cruise in a week and a half and I'm hoping to spend some time on the treadmill to off set the amount of food I'll be eating! I googled the fitness center on the ship we will be on and it looks gorgeous.

This view could motivate even the laziest runner.

There's also a walking/jogging track. Since I won't be able to use my Garmin (I'm guessing, I won't, anyway) or the runkeeper app on my phone, I like that you can at least keep track of your miles.

 

Has anyone tried to run with a back issue? I could use any input y'all might have!

 

 

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Friday Five: Things I Love About Race Day

I'm taking the plunge and doing my first blog link up. I'm apologizing in advance if I commit a link up faux pas! Someone please let me know if I do, so I can cry myself to sleep rectify my mistake!

Two of the blogs I religiously follow, We Run Disney and Fairytales and Fitness, participate in the Friday Five linkup the girls from DC- Mar, Cynthia, and Courtney.

Today's link up is Five Things I Love About Race Day. And I've got lots o' pictures!

1.) Travel

I know not every race requires travel, but I do love a good racecation. I don't tend to travel for anything less than a half marathon, so the excitement of the race in addition to being on vacation is really fun.

Plus, I can then justify vacation food and wine.

2.) Meeting up with friends.

Asics Tweet up during the New York City Marathon

Since becoming a blogger, I have met some really cool people. Some I have actually met in person and some I hope to meet in the future. There is a commraderie that exists among runners, especially those that use social media.

Princess Half 2014

 

3.) The Scenery

Extraterrestrial Midnight Run at Area 51 in 2012

It's always fun to run in a new location. The miles tick by faster when you have new things to look at.

 

NYC Marathon 2014. Crazy Hair don't care.

 

Plus, it's not too often you get to see a bunch of fairy tale princes just hanging around.

 

Why, hello there.

 

4.) Costumes and Outfits

I always have intentions of putting together a costume for Disney races, but it usually ends up pretty half assed. I love seeing everyone else's costumes, however.

Matchy, matchy for the Enchanted 10K 2014

 

Dumbo Double Dare 2013

5.) Medals

I certainly don't mind getting a prize after a long run! I'm not as medal crazy as I used to be, but let's be real. I still enjoy getting one and I'm certainly not turning it down!

R'n'R Arizona 2014

Star Wars Half 2015

NYC Marathon 2014. One of the hardest days on my life.

So, that's my Friday Five! What are your favorite race day things?

 

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Gym Rat To Be

I'm always looking for some magical motivational factor to get me off of my ass and into the gym (or out running, dieting, etc). I think I've found the answer.

Look! A new keychain. Supposedly, you can use it to work out.

To start, I decided to join a gym. There's a brand new gym that opened in the Bermuda Triangle of my life (home, work and barn make a triangle) and it has one vital thing: wifi. I figure I can feed my love of a good Netflix binge while slogging along on the treadmill.

I made this 18 month gym commitment on Sunday after brunch near the gym (with mimosas). I waltzed into the gym in flip flops and jeans with a mimosa induced happy feelings. Needless to say, I was not prepared to actually begin working out right then and there.

So far, I haven't made it to the gym at all because my adorable horse got an abscess in his foot and I've been soaking it in Epsom salt morning and night since Monday. And there always tends to be happy hour taking place at my barn in the evening. Running post Pinot Grigio hydrating is less than ideal. #priorities

Equine athletes use Epsom salt, too.

 

Despite the fact that I haven't actually made it into the gym, here is where the actual motivation comes in.

Louie still can't figure out why there's a horse in there.

We had mirrors set up in our arena, which is pretty common in dressage, so you can see how your horse is moving. Let me just say, I'm not thrilled with how I'm looking in those damn mirrors. It's way easier to be in denial when you can't see yourself. Although, I think my horse said, "oof!" when I got on him the other day. That might be a sign.

Oh, hey handsome!

 

Alas, having mirrors has not tapped into my narcissistic side, but rather my insecure, self judging side. So, off to the gym, I go. Pretty soon, I'll be posting pictures from the locker room of me kissing my biceps. Just wait.

 

 

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WDW Marathon Is Trying To Suck Me In

It's interesting how fast the challenges fill up while the marathon itself takes quite a while. I know there are more marathon slots than challenge slots, but I guess there just aren't as many runners that want to just do the full.

Only 50%?!?! It's like it's waiting for me.

 

I don't know what it is about the WDW Marathon, specifically, that makes me want to run it, but ugggh. I do want to do it again. I don't even know whyyyyy. I hate marathons! It is especially bad when you are as slow as me and it takes you 276 hours to cross that finish line.

Anyone that is a fan of runDisney gets why running their events is awesome (mostly. They still have their issues.) but I could get the thrill of an rD event without running a full.

So why am I all sad and mopey because I can't sign up for 2016 Marathon? It's not that I don't have enough time to train, it's that I have way too much on my plate, including a trip to Europe next spring, so there just isn't room in the budget or PTO at work to fit this in.

I just get all strangely wistful about running it even though when I ran it in 2013, there was a terrible heat wave and it was awful. Why? Why do I want to do this again? Plus, I can't think of any friends to con into this event with me. Good thing I know a bunch of bloggers to follow around. Ha!

Post Goofy 2013

 

There's just something really awesome about marathon weekend that I love. It has a different feel than some of the other runDisney race weekends.

Who signed up for the marathon today? I need to know so I can feel jealous of you. The struggle is real, yo.

 

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Friday Five

I don't think I've ever done a Friday Five post. I've found that I've had a really hard time coming up with blog topics for a while now. The girls over and Fairy Tales and Fitness posted today about blog link ups (if you haven't seen their blog, hop on over there. They always have fun topics.) While I'm not actually doing a blog link up in this post, I'm jumping on the Friday Five band wagon with the cool kids.

So that brings me to number one.

1. Blog link ups. Despite the fact that I've been a blogger (admittedly, a half- assed blogger, but a blogger, none the less) for several years, I've never done a blog hop or blog link up. To be honest, I'm still a little unsure of exactly how it works. I also have a huge fear of doing something that inadvertently steps on someone's toes. Like, what if I don't link back correctly? What if I look like an idiot. Ahhhh!! The struggle is real. But I think it would help me with blog topics.

You rang?

2. I'm going on an Alaskan cruise is June! I certainly didn't have an Alaskan cruise on my travel itinerary for this year, but a friend of mine convinced me to go. I'm super excited. Being an Arizona dweller, I need to find some warm clothes.

Can. Not. Wait.

3. By the skin of my teeth, I managed to qualify my wonder pony for the Regional Championships in October. Luckily, regionals will be held here in Phoenix this year, so it will be easy to participate. I don't really anticipate getting a ribbon simply because Louie isn't as fancy as the other horses, but you never know. It should still be a fun experience.

This picture is pretty old. I need to get some new show pictures!

4. I just started a new Netflix binge on a show called Bloodline. I'm about four episodes in and it's confusing, but I'm kind of sucked in. Is anyone else watching Bloodline?

5. I'm super, duper excited already for Wine and Dine Half. I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my mom. We're walking the 5K together and then I'm running the half. I've wanted to do this runDisney event for years. I also can't wait to be reunited with some of my favorite blogger friends and maybe meet some new friends! Who else is going to Wine & Dine? We need to meet up! I promise I am not a serial killer.

I love meeting up with friends at races!