Hello again

Well it is me again. I have been having a very tough time getting back into running after my marathon in January. Yes you read that right a freakin marathon, 26.2 miles, and it was awesome.
Anyway I have had some pain in my hips and Achilles and blah blah blah.  I joined Weight watchers so that when I get going again it might be easier without 30 extra pounds.

Well today is the day the training starts again.  I have a 10k and half marathon at Disney in January. I want to increase the run of the run/walk ratio.  I know I can do it, but will I? Big question. It is so much have easier to "stay hurt" then try, so I am using you to help me, I need accountability, I need to know that people will be wondering if the next blog entry will be next week or next year! So today begins my journey( I really hate that phrase). I ran 1 mile in 13:45. Not bad but it will get better. I am going to run three times each week, probably not far but consistently.

I also have lost 8.8 pounds in a month, pretty proud of that. I want to do the Princess half in 2018, I love that race-Girl power! So I am looking for running buddies, we will have a blast.

That's all for now, I'll be back! I promise.

Time flies

I know it has been a long time since I posted anything. I am back to running but still slow. I plan on doing three halves and a 15k this year. I did the Minnie 10k back in January so one medal so far. I have to make the big decision on April 22, do I sign up for the Disney MARATHON? My plan is to do one before I turn 60, so I have two years to get this done. I am pretty sure I could walk/run the whole thing in 6 hours, so should I? My answer is yes. With the Boston marathon coming up many of the running magazines have heart wrenching stories of survivors who plan on running or just plan on being there. If they can do it so can I. Today as I ran my 8 miles of hills at Chestnut Ridge I was thankful for the ability to run, no matter how slow it is. You have to be thankful for what you have, sure I would love to run faster but I don't really train to run faster so it won't just happen, but I CAN run, plan and simply. I may not always feel like it but today when it was a beautiful spring day it was amazing. It boosts your self esteem when you just go out the door, after the first two brutal miles your body understands this is what we are doing today, get with the program, the longer you run the better your body feels because you are accomplishing something. You may feel like crap and you are tired and something is hurting but that feeling when it is over is the best! 

So I need to train harder and more, now that it is lighter earlier in the morning I will be better. I am not an evening runner. I think wearing heels during the day kills my legs for running at night, I don't wear high heels but any kind kill my legs and flats are NOT an option, a girl has to have some style!

I am really excited that my sister Susan and my brother in law and niece and nephew will all be running the Wine &Dine in November, it is always so much more fun with family and friends running.  But first I have the Buffalo half, Boilermaker (yes I know I said never again), the Biggest Loser Half and then the Wine & Dine. So many races and probably a few 5k's too. I am just so excited to be running again, I am blesses.

Well signing off , see you all soon!

Excited

Tomorrow is our big travel day, thank God it snowed earlier in the week, I cannot wait to feel the sun on my face!  A little nervous about the run, haven't really trained as hard as I should have, but what's the worst that could happen, I walk it? Been there but no tshirt! I am really proud of my husband Doug who is running the Goofy Challenge, a half and then a marathon-39.3 miles in two days, there is a reason they call it the Goofy! But he has trained hard and will DOIT!!!,

Brianne will be there too which is always great to have my little one around. She is running too but she will be waiting for Mom for about 45 minutes, she is 24, young and can run!  Then it is off to the Magic Kingdom just her and I another BONUS day. So excited we are eating lunch at Be Our Guest an awesome restaurant, love Beauty and the Beast.

I am hoping to sign up for the Wine and Dine half in November, Susan this is for you- I am signing you up, no excuses, you can do this, heck I ran walked my first half and it was fun, so be prepared for notices that you are running!! It will be one of the funniest halves I run, and I WILL NOT leave you no matter what so don't ask.

I will give details after Friday's race, Orlando here we come!!

TTFN

Just a 10k...

Never in my life would I have thought I would say, "it's just a 10k". But that is how I feel has. I gear up to go back to Disney, my favorite place to run, for the inaugural Minnie 10k. I am so excited for a Minnie medal, besides your princess she is every girls dream character, you gotta love her shoes!  I am kinda bummed I didn't sign up for the half now, it will be weird not doing it but I get to cheer my hubbie on instead, who is doing the Goofey Challenge, a half and then a full, the name says it all.

The great part of the race is we run around EPCOT which I never done so that will be fun. The other great thing is that it should on,y take me an hour and a half, much better than three.

This weekend starts the distance training group, as it gets closer I keep thinking, why did you sign up for this again, the weather sucks during the whole time! I am training to do the Buffalo half in May, I figure you should really do the race that is in your hometown! And this year it is a new course so that will be fun.

I am watching the RunDisney website for the sign up for the wine and Dine in November, hoping my sister Susan will do it with me......

I will let you know after the 10k how it went, thanks for taking the time to read the rambling blog!

Half marathon number 4.....what?

Never in my lifetime did I think that I would be posting on a blog about my fourth half marathon in a year. I am really nervous about this one, I haven't trained as hard, I have been so busy and life is in the fast lane way too much. I will get through this, I am running with my friend Debbie and together we will push each other. We really want to do this under three hours, she thinks under 2:45, she is nuts!  Doug and Meg are also running, Doug will have at least an hour wait so he better bring some warm clothes for afterwards! I kinda can't wait til it's over, but then I know I will sign up for distance training again, it is like childbirth, right after you say no more kids and a year later you say well..... Same with running, this is for you Susan, try again, don't give up, you CAN do this if you want to.

This is my first international race, if you want to include Canada as international. To us Buffalonians it is just an extension of the US! Hopefully the weather will cooperate, it should be a beautiful race along the Niagara river, if it is cold and rainy it will be a bitch of a run, I am hoping for sunny and 50, perfect running weather.

I know this isn't long but it is all I got, I will blog about the race on Sunday, wish me luck!
TTFN

Waiting at the airport

Ok here's the story....

Got up at 3:30am which may sound early but I never switched to Pacific time so my body thought it was 6:30 so I was good. We went to the staging area which was a 10 minute walk instead of the bus ride, walk that you do in Orlando. Went to the corrals hiding my "F" corral on my bib number as I went into corral E, such a rebel! I just wanted the added assurance that there were at least 1200 people behind me!

Saturday for the 10k it was brutally humid but overcast, Sunday it was mildly humid and about 85 and so sunny it was ridiculous. 

We started down the road past my hotel and were in California Adventure within a mile. It was fun to do the park the opposite direction from Saturday, and on to Disneyland, the whole thing only took 4 miles and in your head you are thinking, "I have 9 more miles of what?". Well let me tell you, the next big excitement was to run through Angel Stadium, the problem was that the stadium is at mile 9, yes I said 9. What the hell is supposed to I spire me for 5 miles? Well it wasn't the glaring sun in my eyes after the first left turn, seriously it was so bright I had no idea how far we had to run because I was blinded. Finally we turn and we are on some crummy street with businesses that are all closed for the weekend, inspiring, no but at least there was a little shade, but we only stay on this street for less than a mile and you guesses it turned back into the sun. There were Spanish dancers in this street but the sun was so bright it was hard to see them, and did I tell you kept getting hotter? So we finally turn again away from the sun and turn again back into it, here we had all kinds os classic cars from a model T I think to 2000's. people were so nice Playing music from their decade but it felt like Death Valley, no shade anywhere. It was between mile 7 and 8 and I had a pep talk with myself. I told me that I could walk to 8 but then we would run, I said ok. So at eight I see the sign Stanley Cup Way, we had made it to the Honda Center home of the Mighty Ducks, quack, quack. It would have been nice to see some hockey players but we didn't. So now I am thinking okay we just have to go around to get to the stadium, yeah over black asphalt, stones, dirt and a steep ravine on the ledt. There was no way to run in this, the poor kid working had a bandana over his mouth becuase of the dust kicking up, stupid move race people. Anyway after what seemed like FOREVER we got to the stadium. What a rush to hear 1000 people or more cheering, running around the field, looking at the pitchers mound and big jumbo tron with all the runners, it was a great time, again there was no run ing we were just walking enjoying ourselves.

So now yiu think I can do this mile 10 only 3 to go, besides you can't give up you just ran 10 freakin miles and you are not a quitter. But I tell you if someone had offered me a ride I would have thought for a split second.

Miles 10,11 and part of 12 were hard, it was just so hot. When I got to 12 we were back on Disney property so you felt ok but still had to walk some, but once you saw 13 it was like OMG I did this and that is when the emotions kick in. I got to high five Mickey, priceless! Will I ever do this marathon again....NO. I totally prefer the east coast. I have my coast to coast and I am good with that. My next adventure is e Minnie Mouse 10k which is only 6.2, then hopefully the Wine and Dine with family.

I know it sounds like it was hell and it is because it was, but I did it! I know I can run 19.3 miles in 2 days. I know this sounds weird but as I was running (and complaining to anyone who would listen, which was quite a few who complained right back to me) I thought could I do 13 more and do a marathons one day? And then I stopped being delusional and said NO, but it does make you think you are strong. Thanks for following my story. I hope my running tales continue for much long.

TTFN

 

An intro to my Dumbo Double Dare

Well it is over, the big Dumbo Double Dare. It was a lot of fun, but now I really just want to be home with my family. It is great to go away but not to have that special someone to share your accomplishment with kinda sucks. I know I am telling the story backwards but when I finished the half I was just spent. You get your half marathon medal first and that was pretty exciting, then you went to each area for them to cut off your wristband and give you the next medal. Dumbo was next and I could feel the tears coming, but held off, then to the coast to coast, again close to tears, eyes welling up ( just like now as I am writing this). I then called Doug and it was all over, crying and so excited, sorry just had to blow my nose and wipe my eyes, you get the picture. Ok on to other things because I will keep on crying.

Another good story was when we were waiting to start, you Re there for about an hour before so if you are like me you start talking to anyone. Well there was this couple next to us her name was Andrea don't know his name. Anyways I ask if this is her first race and she says yes but she hasn't trained for it, so I am thinking didn't train for it like I didn't train for my first half by only running 8 miles. No she hasn't trained at all, someone was supposed to buy her bib but backed out and since she had paid for it decided to walk it. Well I was just the one to tell her about walking a half. Told her the whole story about my back, and how I walked Cleveland, she was so nervous and I just kept talking, imagine that. I told her that because she was walking she would see and remember so much more than her husband who was running. I told her how I would ask Doug if he saw this or that and he always said no, it was because I was slower. I then gave her the words of wisdom that Belinda my daughter's mother in law told me at my first 5k, everyone gets the same medal and thirst no matter how we do it. I wished her luck and away we went, well about a half a mile down the road her husband comes up behind me and thanked me for encouraging his wife, I told him God puts us near people he wants us to help. End of my story. I hope she did ok and had a blast!  

I think that I will break for now Nd continue as I sit for hours at the Airport.

TTFN