Good News, Bad News

I have good running news and I have bad running news, which is actually also good depending on how you look at it...

Good News- I got signed up for 2017's Lumiere's 2 Plate Challenge!  Another race on the schedule, another chance to make sure I'm ready for the Dopey Challenge.  I'm excited.  I know the Wine and Dine race, and the course specifically, have always been a bit controversial with some people liking it and other not so much.  For me, I've always enjoyed it, but I'll really enjoy anything that lets me get out there, show off my hard work, and earn some bling in the process.

Bad News- I found out I have a health problem, an enlarged spleen, that will prevent me from running outside for at least a month.  I can walk, and speed walk, as long as I keep it gentle for the most part.  I also can't fall, play really any ball sport, or do anything to my stomach/spleen area.  I'm going to get really stir crazy, but I'm already excited for when I can get completely back into it.

The good news from this?  I've been suffering from on and off stomach issues for a while and if this is the problem or going to point more towards the problem, then I'm happy.  I'm at the point that I'm tired of never finding anything so even bad news is good news at the moment!

Life is full of these Good and Bad events... it's what makes life interesting and fun to live!  You just have to make whatever you can out of the event, find the positive in every situation, and continue enjoying every day!

Wine and Dine Weekend- Remy's 10k

The weekend has finally arrived, and first off, I survived all 19.3 miles!  I'm feeling all 19.3 miles, but I survived.

It all started with the 10k Saturday morning, which actually ended up being a lot of fun and went a lot better than I was expecting.  I arrived early, and by early I mean before the race area was even open.  Considering I was driving myself, I just didn't want any unexpected delays, like road closures and things.  Since I was there so early I decided to go ahead and take some pictures before the race.  There were quite a few characters out, Mickey and Minnie, Remy and Emile, Goofy and Donald, and Lumiere.  I went shortest line to longest and was able to get everyone except Lumiere, but that was fine since I saw him at the expo.  The pictures actually came out really well!

 

I was in my coral staging area nice and early, which means I was practically right up against the gate. Of course, that was an hour early.  This is that magic time where you become friends with everyone around you.  I had a good time waiting, well other than the fact my body decided it needed to go to the bathroom right when the race was starting.  I was going to have to wait... They walked each corral from the staging area to the start and the front people got to hold the race tape, which was fun.  I was right behind them, and honestly I really liked my placing.

There wasn't a lot of fanfare when it came to the start.  I mean the race announcers were doing a great job, the music was going, and the atmosphere was there, but there weren't as many fire works and craziness as expected.  I assumed those were being saved for the half (and I was not disappointed!).  Luckily I was able to get around the few walkers (seriously, why do they go to the very front?) and I actually had a ton of space for the first mile or so.

The character lines were long compared to my memory of previous years and I chose to run past most.  Partially in favor of a restroom and partially because I just really wasn't interested in waiting for the character pictures.  The first few miles were all on the major roads around EPCOT so there wasn't too much entertainment, but one new thing were the massive TVs that Disney brought out and were showing clips from old Disney cartoons and current movies.  It was like watching TV on the elliptical, except I was actually moving the the screen wasn't.

Once I got into EPCOT, I was actually surprised how pretty it looked.  I'm no rookie to the parks and have seen EPCOT in all different weather and at all different times, but this was just something new for me and I just really don't know why.  There were characters in a few of the countries... ok I finally stopped for a bit for a picture with vacation Genie, but he was totally worth it!

Running around Boardwalk was a lot of fun because that is my typical vacation run.  It brought back memories of all of my family vacations, I even found the room we normally stay in!  It had rained the night before so it was a little slippery, but I think everyone was prepared for that.

We finally hit EPCOT one last time, ran past the center, by Spaceship Earth, and to the finish line, where I had excellent spacing for some great finish line pictures.

On my Nike+ app, which paused when I stopped, clocked me at 1:01.39.  Disney had me at 1:15.14.  Ya, that bathroom stop and Genie took a bit longer than expected... as well as the few other little stops.  Still, I did better than I was expecting, I felt strong, I felt good... Now I just had to prep for the half...

 

Wine and Dine Expo

The race is finally here... my first race in a few years.  Whether or not I think I'm ready, I am going to have to be.  Today was the first day of the expo and I was able to make it over in the early afternoon.  I was expecting it to be insane at packet pick up and the expo.  The expo was busy, but I had definitely missed those early bird crowds and everything else was pretty calm.

I quickly found my packet, got all my race shirts, and was even able to grab a picture with Lumiere and my friend before heading over to the expo.  I did have to make a quick stop at the pre-purchase room to pick up some pins.  They also had a runDisney merchandise booth so of course I had to check that area out.

Earlier runDisney had posted pictures of some of the merchandise and I had already fallen in love with one of the tank tops... the one that wasn't at the booth.  I found two other tank tops and a jacket so I wasn't completely broken hearted.  Once my loot was gathered and payed for (the painful part), we headed over to the expo.

There were a lot of great booths, but more importantly there was a bigger runDisney booth that still had a few of the shirts I had really wanted.  That was quickly added to my collection.  Of course my friend and I walked around for a bit, only really stopping at raw threads to check out their shirts.  My friend had to buy their Beer Run shirt for the race and I added a Brave tank top to my collection.

Overall, I spent more money than I wanted, but not as much as I normally do.  I'm going back tomorrow with another friend just to look around.  I figured it would be a good excuse to get my legs loose and moving for the day.  One day of rest (I think... I have nervous energy that wants another small run...), then the 10k, then the half, then party!

  

Staying Positive

This morning was nice, warmer than I expected, but nice.  I set out on a run that I hoped would be about 4 or 5 miles.  I really needed to start getting my outdoor runs back up to a decent mile.  I got out on the first mile... felt fine.  Then about 1.6 miles in, I started falling apart.

For the first time in a long time I found myself suffering from a side cramp.  It didn't last long, but was replaced the fatigue feelings and an uneasy stomach.  The funny part was the fatigue wasn't in my legs, it was in the rest of my body.  So overall, I just didn't feel good.  My legs felt fine and like the could run, but with the rest of my body effectively trying to shut down, I knew my goal of at least 4 miles wasn't happening.  I still need to go to work today so I couldn't completely kill myself.

I'm 2.5 months out from running Lumiere's challenge.  While I feel ok about the 10k, I'm nervous about the half marathon, especially since it's right after the 10k.  I have a recovery plan and know how I plan to run the 10k to be ready for the half, but my mileage and endurance has just never gotten up to where I wanted it to be for the race.  The mornings are starting to get nicer so I'm hoping that I will be able to build up my longer runs again, even though it feels like I'm doing so from scratch.

It's in these times that I have to think about why I'm doing all this.  There are a few main reasons... the money I've invested into running the races, the time I've invested in training runs, and the support I've gained from friends and families.  They all know and somewhat expect me to be able to run these races and here I am questioning myself.  I have to know what they know.  I can do this, I will do this. I will run Lumiere's Challenge and while it is going to hurt, I will finish.  It won't be my best time, but I have never expected it to be.  This is my return to runDisney running... this is just the beginning for another chapter of running.

Currently I'm watching the Olympic marathon and I'm finding myself excited about my race because of this one.  I never expect to be an olympic runner, but I can be my own personal running hero because I have beaten the odds in the past and I plan to do so again, and again, and again.

In the coming weeks, as I prepare for Lumiere's Challenge, I'm going to look at what really motivates me.  I'll write posts on the random to the understandable but each thing gets me moving for one reason or another.  And hopefully, writing about my motivations will help me find my feet and find my endurance again!

Putting In My Order

It's official!  I'm in for Lumiere's Two Plate Challenge this November.

Not going to lie, I totally forgot about registration and went to work like it was any other day.  Luckily I have a wonderful mother who put it on her calendar and texted me that she was ready to help me sign up.  Good thing too since I was no where near a computer and wouldn't be for a few more hours.

So yes, I'm officially in and ready (I hope) to run the Food and Wine challenge.  I still have quite a bit of training to do and I'm nervous about training through the Florida summer again, but I'll get through it regardless.

Right now I need to focus on getting better.  I was stupid and decided not to admit I was getting sick last week and now I'm paying for it.  So I'm taking this week off of training and will restart next week... again.  Hopefully this time I'll be completely healthy and ready to go for a while...

Wine and Dine Makes A Menu Change

This week runDisney has caused a bit of controversy.  It began Tuesday when they delayed the registration for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon by two weeks.  Tuesday was supposed to be the early registration day, but runners are now waiting till the 22nd (For Annual Pass and DVC members) or 29th to register for the race.

runDisney followers were already speculating there were changes coming sine runDisney had yet to announce any real details surrounding the traditional fall night run.  And sure enough... their speculations did hold some merit.

Announced today, the Wine and Dine Half Marathon has gone from a night race to a morning race and they added a 10k, thus starting a new challenge for the weekend.

First issue- Time Change  

From what I've read on runDisney's Facebook page and other disney fan sites, people really liked running through the parks at night and thought that made the run unique since it really was one of the few true night races in the country.  Yes it did make the run unique, and the yes the parks are lovely at night, however summer nights in Florida and wrought with thunder storms and other issues.  Wine and Dine weekend has seen two consecutive years with weather related issues.  Last year they had to delay and then shorten the race because of there weather!

The morning should limit whatever bad weather might be in store for the runners this year and future years.  Yes it might be like any other runDisney event now that it is held before the sun rises, but I'd rather see the race actually run in full than have to question the weather during it.  Plus I'm slightly biased to morning races regardless because I have always enjoyed running in the morning far more than at night.

Second Issue- 10k and Challenge

Ok, this really isn't an issue, it's an addition that has been rumored for a while since all of the other events have been paired with 10k and challenges.  The theme for the 10k is something with Chef Remy from Ratatouille and the challenge is themed around Lumiere which I find to fit the theme of the weekend quite well.

I have decided to run the challenge as well... mainly because it is a challenge and I really can't say no.  It does mean I really have to get serious for my training since I'll be doing a little bit more now, but I think I can handle that...