Weekly Training Roundup Week 3 Dopey

This week went pretty well.  We've had those wonderful, crisp Fall mornings that warm up nicely in the afternoons.  I am loving my pumpkin coffee and basically pumpkin anything right now.  The smells of fall are the best here in upstate NY.  After the Spartan Sprint my legs just felt like dead weight running for a few days.  I felt great but my legs were having none of it (thanks mountain).  Anyways, here is what my training looked like this past week:
Sunday      0 sore from the Sprint (you would be too after hiking a mountain and 30 burpees and obstacles)
Monday    4 very easy
Tuesday    4 easy
Wednesday  3 easy--felt just awful
Thursday     5 easy
Friday        0 I just didn't want to run despite the gorgeous weather
Saturday    5 and felt great- my legs are back :)

This was one of those weeks where I listened to my body and did a lot of walk/jog and easy days (even though those were what are scheduled anyhow).  I am hoping to get a few faster runs in the week coming up.

Weekly Training Roundup week 2 of Dopey

So week #2 of the Dopey training looked like this for me:
Sunday      5 easy and mow the lawn
Monday     3 elliptical miles with cold rain outside all day
Tuesday     5 easy
Wednesday 5 easy
Thursday    5 elliptical and mow the lawn
Friday        3 easy
Saturday death by burpees

Actually Saturday was challenging but I survived.  My friend Dani decided it was a good idea to do a Spartan Sprint.  I agreed a month ago to this and didn't train for it.  I ignored the workout of the days from them (ha, run a few laps and then do burpees.  I'll just run).  Should have done some stinkin' burpees to get ready for this since we hauled it up to the top of a mountain and back down plus some crazy obstacles and if you "failed" you did burpees.  After one failed obstacle I was not going to fail anymore since my arms were shot (30 burpess will do that to me).  Will post more and photos when they are available to me from the race.   Another tip if you consider a Spartan race... (it is fun) make sure you pick a non-championship event one since I believe it may be easier, but only slightly.

Cold Weather Long Run Must Have(s)

With fall in the air it is time to start thinking about those oldies but goodies that have been tucked away since late spring when most were no longer a blip on my radar.  

 My Brooks reflective windbreaker/jacket.  I love that it is light weight and makes me very visible to cars.  If I get warm I unzip and can leave it or take it completely off and tie around my waist.  Basically everything I own (shirt wise) that I run in is this color or hot pink.  I very seldom run in any other color.  Safety is most important.

 Baby oil gel is nice to have in the chilly and winter months.  I put it on my ankles since they always get so dry and red.  I love it better than lotion since it lasts longer and really gives me that layer of protection.  I even slather it on my face when it is really cold out to help with windburn.  Put a little in the ends of my hair as well so help with those dry ends since the cold just pulls moisture.  Another must is protecting my lips with some good old fashioned Vasoline.  It stays on longer than chapstick and doesn't melt off (well, it is cold out).

 Baby powder is a go to for many things.  This is for my medium length runs (up to about 8 miles).  Helps with chafing.  We've got those layers and it's cold while we are sweating.  It happens but most of us just don't talk about it.  Speaking of longer than 8 miles I discovered this wonderful item thanks to my sister having a baby.  Amazing and lasts for a long, long time to protect from chafing.

Of course if you are going to run for a long time you need to have some energy.  I've found that I love the orange blossom Honey Stingers the best.  They are not red so that is what works for me.  Taste great and are easy to chew/swallow.  It is like carrying fruit snacks.  The package keeps them fresh and not making a mess everywhere.  Even in the cold they stay a soft chewy unlike starbursts that I've tried in the past that get very hard and tough to chew.  

What are some of your go to winter/late fall running must haves?  I must have some Pumpkin anything for it to be fall (coffee, pie...)

Weekly Training Roundup

After Disneyland I took a few days off from running and then did a few easy miles for the rest of the first week.  I've been wearing my Newton running shoes and am adjusting to them but still not so sure of them.  I think I'd like them better with 5 lugs instead of 4 but I've adjusted the laces and that is helping a lot with the comfort.  I am starting my "Dopey" training now and it really won't be much different from my regular training.
9/8 Sunday    4 easy
      Monday   0 (I mowed the lawn)
      Tuesday   8 Hot and Humid, plus I only planned on 5 but a trail closure had me backtrack my loop
      Wednesday  3 elliptical miles with outdoor temps in the 90's
      Thursday  3 easy
      Friday       0 (painted at family members house, plus chilly rain)
      Saturday   4 easy
TOTAL:  19 miles

I also spent 7 hours on Saturday at a GOTR training and CPR/AED training.  My upcoming weekly mileage isn't much different but a few longer easy runs.

Half Marathon Disneyland 2013

After the 10K we headed to the parks to check them out with our last day of our passes.  I had a headache and felt pretty awful (we ended up leaving the parks-gasp in horror).  You know me and I do not like to leave Disney, ever!  We did catch the Play Parade (thanks momma for holding a spot for us while I sat in the shade and fan area from lunch with a bag of ice on my face thanks to a slight allergic reaction to the heat and sun block.

 My headache was not going away despite eating and drinking.  We ended up at the First Aid center for some asprin but that did very little in making me feel better.  The heat really got to me after the 10K.  Would I be doomed for the half the next day?

 Those Mickey beignets were delicious and I really wanted a Dole Whip but just wanted to lay down and not feel so icky.  We headed back to our room and I slept through until the next morning when we had to get up for the half marathon.  Bed for me was about 6:30 that night and I planned on getting up for the fireworks to watch from the hotel but that didn't happen.

 I felt great the morning of the half other than the hot weather.  It wasn't as humid as the day before so I just figured I'd still take it easy since I do not tolerate heat well.  (Sorry, no pictures since they are on my mom's camera).  I ran very well all things considered and had a great race.   I felt good most of the race.  Also, my first race using music to run with.  I made the decision knowing the course wasn't through parks and I would need a distraction from the weather.

 The music was great and provided me the inspiration I needed right on cue as luck would have it.  As I was starting to feel like ugh, 3 miles to go I heard Ever, Ever After... which reminded me of Luke and how he proposed to me at the finish line 3 years before so I pushed through.  The back area of California Adventure had a "techno" version of I Wanna Be Like You playing and I heard the words, "hit it Papa Bear," and thought of my dad (my papa bear).  Piece of cake after that.

 My very precious Dumbo Medal that I held so it wouldn't clang or get scratched.  Of course I hung my new medals ASAP on my wall.  There isn't much room left so good thing there is only 2 more Goofy's til I have 10 on there (but that Dopey might put the medals over the edge).

Disneyland 10K

So I am going to skip talking about the expo.  It was crowded, I was cranky (what, me cranky at Disneyland?).  Mom waited in line about 2 hours or more to purchase some Dumbo Double Dare items for me and there were just so many people it kind of just bugged me beyond belief.  Moving on to happier memories.

 This post is long and full of lots of pictures.  I carried my camera for the 10K but not the half marathon since I knew most of the course would be "off" Disney property and honestly there wasn't much I'd have wanted to stop for a photo of.

 The start of the race was a disaster to put it mildly.  They had the 5K start 45 minutes before us in 5 minute waves.  We weren't allowed to enter our corrals until they finished the waves and that was about 15 minutes before we started.  A lot of runners very nervous about making it to the start and panic.  Um, I was there for fun but still was concerned since if I didn't get in the 10K I wasn't going to get the coveted Dumbo medal (he's my absolute favorite and I would have had an honest to goodness melt down temper tantrum with uncontrollable sobbing).  Fortunately for Disney this did not happen.  Probably even better for my Momma for not having to deal with that.

 Right away we headed into Cars Land through Route 66.  It was a hot and humid morning with temps already in the mid 70's and probably about 70% humidity.  Hot but not hotter than I have handled in a race before.  I figured stop, take lots of photos and be ready for the half the next day.

 Selfie with World of Color in the background.  Much more beautiful the next morning while it was still dark out.  With any back to back race the strategy is to survive to see the next day.  If you feel good and conditions are favorable bust a move on that second day (or third).

 The 10K theme was Wonderland so they had all sorts of Alice in Wonderland characters out and about for the day.  Characters that you would not normally see so of course I had to stop.

 Perhaps the cutest flowers I will ever see and they weren't scary.  I like this kind of flower.  Or the one from Bambi (also known as a skunk).

 My time already starting to shape up into "meh."  Don't worry, it got slower as I went through Disneyland due to waiting to see characters.

 While waiting to see characters I take a look back at what I have run and check out the other runners costumes and such.  I also get some pretty unique photos at the same time.

 Apparently people run with their iphones so when faced with a real camera for photos people seem to have a tough time.  Hence the weird walking and awkwardness of some of the photos.  They think it's taken the photo and tell me, OK when it's clearly not.

 Joey Fatone!  I also saw him at the Goofy Challenge both days I was there.  Did not see him for the half but he did finish it alongside his lovely wife.  Both are so nice and humble to all the runners who want to stop for photos.  They don't care that they are all sweaty, which is nice cause we all know we aren't looking our best in a race.

 This guy totally reminded me of my Papa Bear.  He picked up the course cone and was using it as a mega phone.  Way to be super awesome.  At least he was cheering which is a lot more than I can say for many of the other cast members.

 Halloween parade floats since they are getting those ready for special performances very soon.  Made me excited to visit a different time of year than my usual.  Hint Hint handsome Manfriend of mine.

 They did a great job of having items and characters along the course for us to be entertained.  These characters were great but I was annoyed at a girl running at this part of the course.  She jumps in front of the line and says she isn't cutting.  Obviously a Cast Member and starts talking to the guy taking the photos and the characters start interacting with her for a few minutes while the rest of us wait in line for our chance to photo and continue.  After this she is in line for characters to have photos and same thing happens.  GRRR!  Take the photo and keep moving, that's what the rest of us do and expect of you.

Sticking with the Wonderland theme we've had the Flowers, Cards and now Mad Hatter and Alice, Queen of Hearts and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (and as Mr. Gallagher said Tweedle Dumber pointing to himself).  

 That was it for the characters.  Meanwhile my mom was at the finish line having her own kind of fun and frustrations.  They didn't put the start of the 10K on the big screen but rather continued to show the people finishing the 5K (right in front of her) on the screen.

She snaps a photo of the first male and female finisher and the confetti burst.  Then tells me that the clean up crew is trying to sweep around runners to clean it up rather than leaving it to take care of at the conclusion of the event.  Also some unfortunate issue with not having the finishers tape up for some runner that was the top runner (or was that half day?).  Anyways, they have some issues to work out.

 The strange curve of the finish did not provide much room for her to "spot" me coming into the finish. Probably didn't help that she was really looking for my bright green Tink outfit.  Hi mom.  I finished and I see you!

 On my way to get my medal and get another wristband to identify that I earn a Dumbo tomorrow.  So now I've got two wrist bands and feel like a ridiculous teenage girl with a coast to coast band, Dumbo band and watch taking up half my arm.

Tomorrow I will be earning my Dumbo medal and I am beyond excited.