I thought I was excited before...

I am even more excited now!

A bit of history: this last January I ran the Disney World Half Marathon and was amazed with everything about this event.  I had never ran a Disney event before and did not know what to expect.  Everything was perfect and the humidity, well, I was in Florida so that is to be expected.  What I didn't realize was that I would get hooked on Run Disney events!

 After my Donald Duck Half Marathon Jan. 14

While I was there, I noticed people wearing multiple medals at once.  I can understand like wearing two, but on the day we left we saw people wearing 4 and 6 medals!  I was amazed and thought WOW!  I asked a few people about them and they informed me about these challenges.  I really don't know why I never really knew about them in the first place - maybe because I just did not buy in to the Disney hype before and could not be bothered with running an event there.  But since I was given a chance to run this last Jan., I took it.  Well worth it.  Thus began my quest to run more Run Disney events. :)

As soon as I got back home I marked my calendar for when the registration opened up for another Disney Race.  I also did not want just one race, I wanted the multiple medal experience.  I read more about the Disney races and also learned that if I run in Disneyland in the same calendar year as my Disney Half, I would get a Coast to Coast medal.  Cool.  Then I looked at the possible events and found the Disney Dumbo Double Dare would be perfect.  Now to just get in...

I literally sat by my computer, prayed, and to make a long story short...

 I got in!!!! 

In total I will be getting four medals: Alice's 10k, Disneyland Half, the Dumbo Double Dare, and the Coast to Coast. :D  As long as I am careful and diligent about my training, I think things will go not bad - especially when I am running the SeaWheeze Half in Vancouver the weekend prior.  I have already decided that both races will not really be an A race for me because in Disney I just want the experience and to compare my time with Jan in Orlando, and the SeaWheeze is a week before so I don't want to go to hard there either. (mind you the yoga will be beneficial).

So, if that was not enough, I watched the posts about the other Disney races, saw how fast the events sold out in and then thought about really challenging myself to something hard.  I had already went with the Dream Travel group to the Jan. Disney event and wondered if I could gain a spot in the biggest challenge of them all at Disney...

I did!!

Next Jan. I will be participating in my biggest event challenge yet by completing Run Disney's Dopey challenge.  For those that do not know what this event is: you run 48.6 miles over four days, which is a 5k, 10k, half, and full.  In the end you get 6 medals: the Goofy 5k, the Minnie 10k, the Donald half, the Mickey full, the Goofy challenge medal (for doing the half and full), and the Dopey Challenge medal for doing all events.  You also get 6 shirts, one from each race.

The best news out of all of this is that I asked my hubby if he wanted to go to Disney World with me this time and he said if he was going to go, he was going to run a race.  So, my hubby is now signed up for the Mickey Mouse full marathon!! I am both shocked and impressed because he is not really a runner (does not like to run).  The longest event he has done was walking a half with my friend and I.  I told him that there will be lots of training, and he responded casually "no problem." ;)  This should be fun. lol  

For me, this event is going to mean more than just acquiring the six medals, it is going to be about accomplishing more than many have said I would ever do.  It will be an emotional ride.  There is one quote that I heard on TV today that I thought was very suiting to my new challenge:

"If you let everyone define your limitations, you'll be limited forever"

(author unknown)

There you have it, my BIG news and I guess I should now admit,

Hi, my name is Heidi and I am a Run Disney-a-holic. ;)

What happens when you are away from running for a bit...

So, today I head on my treadmill for a 45 min run - yes the treadmill as I was too lazy to head outside for some unknown reason - and the run went really well, but... it was after the run that I realized that oh my, I really need to get back in to routine again.

The first part was that when I went to get my foam roller to do some rolling, I noticed that it looked like a shark had used it for a chew toy.  It seems that my cat has decided that it was now theirs... not going to happen.  I used it and it still did the job so that part was fine.

The part that really made me realize that I have been neglecting things is when I was rolling.  Ouch!! All those days sitting doing assignments and studying had taken their toll on me and I was now paying for it dearly.  Parts that I rolled that are not usually painful at all were screaming at me as I rolled and paused, and rolled and paused.  I came to the conclusion that I need to roll a few times a day right now until things are a bit better.

The obvious part about not running and being active at all for a bit is my weight.  I ended up gaining a bit from sitting on my butt.  Thankfully I have been back on track with that also and only 3 more lbs to go till I am back to where I was before my university end of semester fun.

Before my little hiatus from all things running, I was participating in the Canadian Bloggers #RuntoCanadaDay challenge and was doing quite well at it until the stress of school started.  Then it just did not happen.  This week I have walked everyday thus far and as of today, back on track with everyone joining the challenge today, May 1st. :)

In the mean time, I am going to head back to my decluttering and spring cleaning of my house with all my new spare time that I have now.  I am officially done my university classes for good and only have my Education internship in the fall.  I have found that I have been so busy the last few years that I am going nuts not being busy now - I have even taken up learning Spanish and back to learning getting better at the guitar.  Summer campfire season is coming! The Spanish will help with the travels.

Cheers!

Yepprrs I am still alive!

Wow... The last bit of university classes really did a number on me and I had to take time off of everything and just veg... Basically just get my life back in order from the chaos.

Things are good right now and back to my running, although decreased mileage from where I should be. That's ok though as my body was able to have a good break from the pounding. I was hoping to race the end of May here doing a half but if I want to do it for any type of time, that is not goin to happen. If to just finish, I can do that. BUT I have a few races coming up this year that I do not want to tempt fate and injure myself so will prob go with a smaller race like a 5 or 10 k. We will see.

So there you go, a bit of an update with me and I look forward to catching up after my bit of hiatus. The race season is now in full swing so get out there if you are able and enjoy yourself. :)

Me, I just finished a canoe pool session with high school students for their upcoming canoe trip and the weather is finally sunny and warm again... I just may head out for a small jaunt. 

What a Slushy Mess!

FinBut I did it! I ran my first outside hill workout in a while. It had me dodging large deep puddles, slushy messes, ice areas, and running back and forth between the sidewalk and the road. 

These photos don't do much justice to show the conditions, I was just trying to show the hill when I was done running. 

Just a muck image for you. You have to love the finger photo bomb. (Small puddle) 

I will have to say that I really feel for those out East that got hit with snow again. This has been another weird winter. 

This was the end result of today's hill workout. Ran up 3 times which was the same number as last week on the treadmill but didn't wanted to risk getting injured right now. Figured first outside hill run? Yeah, gonna be a bit careful.

Anyways, sorry for the huge images today but I thought I would try using the blogger app... I think I need to be a bit more prepared to use it. It's great though if you you have no computer on hand. ;)

Anyone else run hills today?

When Life Gets Busy...

... You sometimes just have to go with the flow. Have I ever said that I so can not wait for university to be over yet?  Yeah...  ;)

(Week recap of running after the grad recap)

Well, my university education class's grad banquet was last Friday night and it was so much fun!  I was very happy to celebrate their achievement with them - and also told them that they will have to celebrate with me when I finish in December this year. :)

Here are some glimpses of that night...

The night continued and eventually the dance floor started to accumulate shoes, purses, clothing, and such as our class made a huge circle around it. Like high school all over again. ;)

This is an image of the start of our little pile...

My husband was very gracious to drive me in to the city so I could have a drink or two and ended up going to bed around 2:30 am.  There was no running the next day... not hungover, just very tired. ;)

Saturday, as I said was just a rest day to make sure I was hydrated and rested up enough for my Sunday long run.

On Sunday we were blessed with gorgeous warm weather and I took advantage of it by running a 10 mi loop around main river trail in the city.

It was a seriously warm day and of course making a mistake of wearing a black jacket and a black long sleeve shirt.  I lost the black jacket right away and went from there - just a tad bit warm. ;)

Weekly Summary

Mon: rest
Tues: rest/core workout
Wed: Hills (1 mi warm up, 3x400m, 1 mi cool down)
          Done on treadmill and first hill training of season. core workout
Thurs: 2.8 mi  11'25"  32:10 mins
          Steady run outside on trail,  core workout
Frid: 2.9 mi  10'07"  30:08 mins
          Accelerations on treadmill, core workout
Sat: Rest/Core workout
Sun: 10 mi  13'04"  2:10:58
          Including around 10 flts of stairs and one stop to adjust shoe.
          Forgot about running and wet footwear = blisters if not wearing proper stuff. Ugh.

I kept my mileage around the same as last week because I was starting hills, moving my running days to over 4 days from 3, and moving more of my runs outside which are more physically challenging.

All in all I am happy with what I accomplished this week in my running.  My paces reflected my transition from treadmill running in what seemed like forever, to running back on the trails which are very up and down, and not that even of a surface.  Also, I can really tell that I need to work on my hills...

Weight Loss (thus far and forgot to post last week)

To date:
Start - 164 lbs
Today - 154.2 lbs
Total loss = 9.8 lbs

Pretty happy about how things are going.  My husband says that he can really tell now that I am losing so, Yay! :D  I will post a comparison photo later here.

Last Couple of Days...

I haven't done much and have been really trying to focus on my last month of class studies in university.  I am really feeling the pinch right now and a bit stressed with all the assignments that are coming due soon.  All is good though as I know all will finish things. ;)

So there you go! All updated. :)
Now to read some blogs...

Time to Celebrate

Tonight I am donning my heels for my runners...

This doesn't happen very often, but tonight was to be my grad banquet from university.  Since I had to extend my program by one semester due to having to work also, I will not be able to graduate with my cohort that I have shared all my classes with.  So, I am going to go celebrate our achievement in university together with them tonight at my 'supposed to be' grad banquet.

My runners won't be too sad though...

We have a date right away here for a quick run on the treadmill before I get all dolled up. ;)

Finally Got to Run Outside Again

So, the weather blessed us with this:

I wore my running stuff to the university today and set out in this:

After running on uncleared paths, with some head wind, and some rolling hills, I finished proudly and just happy that I was able to get outside running again.

This was the result of my run...

 Not the best, not the greatest, but it really doesn't matter.  I just finally got out there. :)

In Today's Episode, Hills

Since I have been debating on what other running events I would like to run this year, I have just been following my running plan over again, building my mileage back up to the half distance, backing back down a couple of weeks, and then building back up again.  I am now at the point where I may have decided what other events I am going to do, but not writing anything in stone yet.  So to cover my behind with training, I am going to add hills in this week.

This starts tonight... ugh. I mean, YAY! :)  Hills and I have a love/hate relationship.

Since the weather has improved so much, I had full intentions of changing after work today and head to one of the hills in the city to get re-acquainted with.

And... I forgot my stuff. 

Now I sit here at home, finished my snack, and trying to boost my mojo to get my butt up, get downstairs and on that treadmill for some hills.  (we do not have any hills around here worth running)

Running the other types of runs on the treadmill is one thing... but I find running hills on a treadmill WAY more challenging.  I just have a real hard time with it.  For example, just maintaining a good running posture for going up hill on a treadmill.

Anyone have some hill running tips for a treadmill? lol  Tks!

One Of My After-Run Delights

Today I thought I would share something that I like to make pretty much for any meal of the day, especially after a good long run.  All the ingredients and steps to prepare are laid out in the images, but I will share in written form if requested. Thought it would look nicer this way. ;)

Breakfast Burrito

Ingredients

(I usually use mushrooms too but ran out) 

Prep

Cooking

(Just slightly overdone here, sorry)

Assembly

Enjoy!! :0P

My Motivation

One of my favourite quotes that I always think of:

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."

                                                      - by John Bingham

Like so many people out there, many of us have stories behind us and what prompted us to run in the first place.  Some reasons were: weight loss, getting fit and healthy, physio, coming back from major injuries, surgeries, and life threatening illnesses like cancer (just to name a few).  Some of us were told that we would never be able to run...

And then proved them wrong.

Why did you start to run?

Weekly Running Summary

This past week did not go quite as planned for all my workouts thanks to having the life of a stressed out university student, but I did get in three good runs that felt good for me, and I am happy with that. I am even happier that I am seeing some improvements again in my average pace. Yay!

It has been a while because It seemed like when I had my broken leg set back, that I never really returned back to the pace I was running prior.  Even though my pace isn't fast for some of you, it was great when I finally beat that 30 min mark for my 5k @ just under 29 mins. I was stoked let me tell you. After I broke my leg though, I just did enough to cover the distance and not really motivated to try harder.  I was just SATISFIED with getting out there and running.

Now, I am still happy with being satisfied with physically being out there, but I want that taste of some new PBs.  It doesn't matter what distance I do it in, I really don't care, but I have a feeling that as long as I am careful with my training this year, that I can experience more running accomplishments for myself.

(Stats from Nike watch)
Mon: yoga
Tues: small body workout at gym with weights
Wed: run 4.3 mi  10'29"/mi  45:03 mins (steady run with TM set at 5.4 mph)
Thurs: rest
Fri: run  4.44 mi  10'34"/mi  47:02 mins (steady run with TM set at 5.4 mph)
Sat: rest
Sun: run 10.01 mi  11'43"/mi  1:57:19 mins (10:1's with TM set at 5 mph and a 3 min walk warmup)

Week avg pace: 11'16"/mi
Total week distance: 19.16 mi

Looking back:

Yoga
I did do a tiny bit of yoga everyday to accomplish my challenge, but these were not yoga classes that I usually go to.  After this past week, my yoga will be returning to once per week.

Runs
I have been a bit stressed in the homework area and just felt like running with no defined objective besides time so I did not do any cadences drills or speedwork.

Gym
Again, all the assignments and midterms I have right now, the gym has been lacking.

Overall:
I am happy with this week's ending result with my running and know where I need to try to slip a bit more time towards (core strengthening).

Today's Pampering...
A nice epsom salt bath after a good rub down date with my Stick and foam roller. ;)


How do you treat pamper yourself after a good weekend run?

Silly Saturday

Considering the super cold weather and all the races this weekend, I thought this was a bit fitting and humorous at the same time.  It also fits my previous post this week Would Love to Run But... about my guilt and cold weather running events.

(source)

Looking Back...

Looking at the past decade, my running achievements have had their ups and downs just like anyone else with some of us having more of a roller coaster than others. ;)  Through injuries, sickness, weather, new family members, and other things beyond, or even in, our control, we runners tend to come back and work towards our various running goals again, and again.

Knowing your injured, but still thinking of tomorrow's marathon.

I look at my PB/PRs, my various running paces that I have ran, and the distances that I have run thinking that I did not too badly considering what had influenced my running throughout the years. Yes, I could have done better at times, but looking back at what I have worked on, tried, and achieved in the past gives me more guidance on my running today.

I have learned many lessons along the way which have been vary valuable in allowing me to run more injury free and to get to some of my running goals.  Even the hard lessons about running that I may have hated along the way, I would never take those away because of their lessons.  For example; the 10% rule in running... and how you should never increase beyond that each week.  Yeah, sometimes we just assume that we are super human and that rule would never apply to us.  Just look at the last time you had a slight 'twinge' during a run or got sick.  They could be from anything, OR, they could be from any running mishap like trying to make up a missed run, pushing yourself just a bit too hard for that day, or just stepping right back in to your schedule after a holiday.  This list could go on. Some people are adaptable and can handle it.  Then again, some of us muggles have to be a bit more careful.

As I get ready to lace up for today's run, I will be thinking of my past running experiences, both good and bad, and will also think of ways that I can continue to work towards the runner I want to be.

What running mistakes have you made and learned from?

P.S. Feeling much better today as my run did its usual magic.  Please keep warm everyone who will be affected by this even colder deep freeze we are supposed to get. -55C/-67F with wind... There will be no debate on where I am running. LOL

It has been one of those days...

Yep.  You know the ones that you just want to come home, ignore everyone, and go straight to bed?

I am thinking a run is in order right now.

Would Love To Run But...

I have some studying to do. :(

I figured if I spend my time here

I would not get distracted as much.

Yeah right.

No, I just start reading more running blogs which gets me thinking more and more about what running events I would like to do this year.  I am a bit limited from Sept. to around the beginning of Dec. due to my internship in a school, but otherwise I should be free.

I already have broke the bank with some of my distance events that I have just finished and have planned for the rest of this year, so I am thinking I may be sticking a bit closer to home for the rest.  I was going to run the Saskatchewan half marathon but now I am wondering if I should run the 10k instead and build that distance a bit stronger.  There are a couple of smaller events around here that I could do, but I find them so discouraging because I am always one of the last to cross the finish line and by the time I get there, it always seems like I am more of a bother than anything else because I am not a fast runner.  The larger races that I experience in the distance events I feel more at home, even with the crowded conditions.

For example: A couple of weekends ago we had our Hypothermic Half in our area.  I was going to sign up but the main reason I didn't because of my experience a couple of years ago when I was the last person to cross. I did not get a nice vibe lets just say and it wasn't even that cold out.  This year, every time I thought about signing up I kept thinking that I need to ask them how long they were going to open the course for especially considering the really cold temperatures that we have been experiencing.  I also don't want people volunteering their time in such cold circumstances for a slow turtle like me.  I hate the guilty feeling of putting people through that and I am sure that some of them don't like the slow runners that much on cold days either.  In the end, I never did sign up for the Hypo Half and really glad I didn't because of the really cold temperature we had that day, not just because of me running in the cold, but because I did not want to make anyone upset because of a slow runner in those conditions.  I can dress for the temperature and be OK.  The volunteers are not moving like the runners are and it not fun for them.  I will add though that I appreciate every volunteer out there and always try to volunteer and help out when I can too.

So, I am still undecided about what future running events I will partake in. Ah, decisions, decisions... and now I am boring you with another one of my debates.

Have you ever felt guilty in a running/walking event for any reason?

To Run on the Treadmill or Outside Today?

I have 8.3 mi to run today and it is -32C.

I don't have to run far.  I have run many times in worse and I have a bazillion running clothes for this type of weather...  it is just that I am warm, comfy, and don't really feel like driving in to the city to the main paths.  I know I could easily just loop the path near my house a couple of times... no problem really.

Did I mention that I am really comfy right now and my treadmill is just a few steps away, in the warmth?  If I stayed inside, I would have unlimited access to water, washrooms, TV, music, sweat towel, and an assortment of running snacks.  You know this list could go on...  Outside is cold, icy, closed bathrooms, and if I head in to the city, well that just adds a whole extra hour to the mix for the commute and then time for just getting ready.  I could be downstairs in 5 mins from now running if I ran on my treadmill.

Yep, I could be, but what am I doing now?  Sitting on the couch, in my pjs, eating my oatmeal, writing in this blog about this debate on where to run when really, I could have already started my run by now.
At least my watch is ready and doesn't care where I go.

Watch is ready to go

Do you ever have similar debates?

It's All About the Little Things...

That make me happy. :)

When we lived in our other house, my hubby bought me a pair of wireless headphones to wear while I was on the treadmill so I could hear the TV without turning it up super high bugging everyone in the house.  When we moved, I only found the base of the set, no power adaptor, and no headphones.  I searched a few times after moving trying to find all the parts with no luck.  Yesterday I was searching for something else and I ended up finding the headphones!  I then went on a very determined hunt for a power adaptor that would work for the set, batteries for the headset, and an audio splitter for the audio out jack.

Well, the luck was on my side yesterday and I managed to find the rest of what I needed and tested the set out and it worked like I just bought it brand new.

Wireless headset for my treadmill workouts

I was so happy and needless to say I had a very good workout on the treadmill last night and did not have to have the TV blaring so I could comfortably hear it over my treadmill.  My son was very happy about that last part. ;)

So, yes... it took me almost 4 yrs to finally get my butt in order and locate all the parts required, but the headset and I are reacquainted now... well at least until my running returns to the outside.

Are there any little gadgets or other things that make your treadmill runs easier?

Back to My Daily Grind...

... uh, I mean routine. ;)

My Weekly Schedule and Goals

I arrived back home yesterday from the cabin and had full intentions of doing something physical last night, but I just had no energy.   Today though, I am ready to go and excited to getting back to my daily grind.  Since I have had this week pretty much of of any running, today will be around 3ish miles (5k) to get my legs back, and then I will head off to hot yoga later.  If it doesn't look like I will reach my daily step goal with my Fitbit by supper, I will be heading for a walk either outside or on the treadmill.

Speaking of routines, here is what my routine is right now which includes the 30 day yoga challenge.

Monday:     Yoga
Tuesday:     Yoga, weights at gym (full body workout)
Wednesday:     Yoga, run (speed work/acceleration gliders)
Thursday:     Yoga, weights at gym (full body workout)
Friday:     Yoga, run (speed work/cadence drills)
Saturday:     Yoga, walk (1 hr)
Sunday:     Run (LSD), yoga

My daily Fitbit step goal is set to 12000 steps/day.

Current weight is: 155.3 lbs (down 8.7lbs from original start weight, but up 2.3 lbs from last week)
Bodyfat is: 38.3% (down 0.1% from last week, down 0.5% in last couple weeks since getting our Aria scale)

My Galloway 1/2 training plan using the Lolo app is set for 12 min/mi @ 2min run/1 min walk, pace goes between 5.6 mph and 6.2 during the various workouts. Overall goal is to improve my half marathon time.  I will be playing around with the run/walk ratio as my fitness improves.

Oh how I missed thee...

For eating I follow my Fitbit's recommendation of calories (except this last week at lake) with Weight Watchers as my guideline still.  I don't eat much meat at all right now and will only have the odd chicken or turkey if I have no choice, but I will have the odd eggs and eat when I can fish and seafood.  I am not trying to be a vegetarian or vegan, but I am adopting part of the eating habits with some of my food like cheese (I use soy cheese) and I use almond, soy, hemp, or coconut milk instead of regular milk.  I have found that as I am getting older I am having more stomach aches and started to take food out of my diet.  I did the whole take away all bread stuff at one point but found I could not last too long so I have it in moderation.  Beef and pork though I found I was having just too hard of a time digesting them so I stopped eating them.  The cheese part, well, I went vegan for a while and found I like the cheese so sticking with it.  There are a couple of things that I have stayed with.  If you have read my post in the last week here about coconut oil, I don't think I need to explain that one anymore beside I use it and it is my main oil source.

I also try to limit the processed foods I eat and eat as clean and raw as possible.

For water, I try to get in over 64 oz/day of water in (this does not include any other sources of liquids)

So there you go, my weekly routine schedule posted now for the world to see, or at least the few that may stumble across my blog.  :)

Now off I go for a longly anticipated run...

What are some of your routines?