runDisney Jingle Jungle 5k 2014

During Wine and Dine Half Marathon weekend, runDisney holds a Christmas themed 5k in Animal Kingdom.  It's a little tradition for my son and I to run the event together.  This year we dressed as Elsa and Olaf!  I love Christmas, I love Disney--so I love the Jingle Jungle 5k.

Nathan and I woke up very early.  We snuck around our room so we did not wake up my still sleeping daughter and husband.  It was a chilly morning.  We walked to the bus stop at the resort to wait to board our bus to the start.

We got to the Animal Kingdom parking lot just as the sun was coming up.  We were lucky enough to have corral B bibs, so we did not have to wait to long to start.  The first mile of the race is out around the AK parking lot.  Then we enter the park and the fun begins.  Nathan and I love to stop for all the character along the course.  The fun part about the Jingle Jungle 5k is that some of the characters are dressed up in their holiday best.

After running through Africa and Asia, we went back stage.  For a Disney geek like me, this kind of stuff is so cool!  We got to see the back side of Expedition Everest.  Even cooler is that we got to see the park's Christmas decorations laid out and ready to be put up.

Nathan and I had so much fun running the race together.  He told me about all the other races he wanted to do--5k's only, nothing longer he says.  By the end of the race, it really started to warm up.  We hit the third mile marker just as we exited the park.  Nathan and I could hear the finish line music planning and he started to dance.  It was such a fun way to finish the race.  He was so proud when the medal was put around his neck. Way to go little Buddy!

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

runDisney Wine and Dine Half Marathon 2014

I like to call the 2014 runDisney Wine and Dine Half Marathon the "splash and dash" half marathon.  The day of the race, the weather was perfect.  All day, I keep reading Facebook posts about how a huge rain storm was coming straight for Orlando.  It's ETA--10 PM, the exact time the race was set to begin.  Oh no, here we go!

I started the day by running the runDisney Jingle Jungle 5k with my son Nathan.  My family spent some time in the parks for the day.  I ate a quick dinner, then it was time to get dressed up for the race!  My running friend, Heather, and I dresses as Anna and Else for the race.

As we hoped off the bus at the race start, it started to drizzle.  My thoughts were immediately--oh no, here we go!  I can handle a lot of crappy situations, but I hate to be wet!  I tried to make the best of it though.  Heather and I walked to our corrals at the start line.  As the race got closer, the rain came harder.  By the time the race started, I was already soaked!  My shoes, my Raw Threads top--already dripping wet.

 We started the race in good spirits.  By the time we hit the first mile marker, I was already miserable! Heather and I love to stop for character pictures at runDisney events.  The only picture we stopped for the entire race was with the Country Bears.

Mile four rolled around as we entered Animal Kingdom.  By this time, I was totally and completely done with this race!  Running through Animal Kingdom was the highlight of the Wine and Dine Half Marathon for me--I really love that park.  As we exited the park, there were several buses parked.  Many of them were loaded with people who decided to call it a day and quit the race.  At the time, I so longed to be one of those people, warm on the bus.  It was raining so hard that my shoes were heavy as bricks. The rain on the road was several inches deep.  My feet were so blistered, they were bleeding.  My arms were chaffing and raw from my shirt being soaked and rubbing.  I was so cold that I could not feel my fingers.

Thankfully, I had Heather to talk me out of quitting.  She was earning her Coast to Coast medal!  She would not have earned the medal if we did not cross the finish line--so we had to finish.  Up next for us was three miles of highway, on to Hollywood Studios.  I was looking forward to running through the Osborne Lights.  We took the race mile by mile.  It was tough, but we kept going.  After Hollywood Studios, we hit the home stretch.  We ran through the Disney Boardwalk (one of my favorite places in Walt Disney World) and entered the back gate at Epcot.  All I could think about by this time was finished and getting into warm, dry clothes.

After thirteen cold, soaking wet miles--we made it!  We crossed the finish line! We got our medals, an adult beverage and headed straight to bag check.  I was never so happy to see my old sneakers and red hoodie.  Putting on warm, dry socks felt better than crossing the finish line.

The best part of the Wine and Dine Half Marathon is the after party.  Epcot is open till four AM for runners to celebrate their accomplishment.  All of the food stands for the Food and Wine Fest are open.  After all that running, I was hungry!  I got lobster mac and cheese at American and some amazing desserts at France.  And a Coke!  The only time drink real Coke is after a half marathon.

After fresh clothes and some yummy food, I was rejuvenated and ready to party.  Heather and I closed down the party at four AM.  We stumbled onto the bus to the resort and rolled into bed around five AM.  What a night!  It was by far my toughest race ever, but I am glad I finished.  I can't wait to do it again.

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

runDisney Wine and Dine Half Marathon

On November 10, I ran in the runDisney Wine and Dine Half Marathon.  This was my first night race--it started at 10 PM.  Going into this race, I knew I had done everything wrong.  We walked the parks for four days before the race.  I worked for five hours at the SparkleSkirts booth the day before.  I had done a 5k 15 hours before the half with no rest in between.  All of this would spell disaster for a race....

I would not call the race a disaster by any means, but it was by far not one of my best--in performance or enjoyment.  After getting up at 5 am for a 7 am 5k, then walking around Epcot all day, by the time I got to ESPN Wide World of Sports at 9 PM, I was already tired.  My feet were already aching   Since all of my long runs had been twelve hours earlier, my stomach was all messed up from eating dinner.  I was not sure what to do about eating--should I eat?  Should I not eat?  If I did not eat, I would be starving a few miles in.  If I do eat, I might have tummy issues along the course.  I ate a bland dinner of baked chicken and mashed potatoes.  I think my tummy troubles were just nerves because once the race started I felt fine.

The hour wait to go to our corrals was fun.  I got to see lots of friends and they had a great DJ.  In true runDisney style, each corral got a world class send off with their own " Ready, Set, Go" and fireworks!  There we were, off to the Animal Kingdom.  I stayed with my friend Danielle for about the first half mile.  It was very crowded and hard to stay together.  By the time I got to mile three, the leader of the race was coming the other way at around mile seven.  He got a huge cheer.  A few minutes later, the lead women ran past.  She got an even bigger cheer!

Disney's Animal Kingdom was at around mile five.  This park was particularly interesting to me because it is almost never open after dark.  I have never been in the park when the sun was down.  I loved how they lit the park--they used huge cloth lights that looked like elephant tusks.  It was so beautiful!  I loved running in the park in the dark.  Everest looked even more creepy at night.

As runners entered and exited the Animal Kingdom park there were some floats from the Magic Kingdom Electric parade.  I love this parade, so seeing this was very fun.  The entertainment on this course was much different that the entertainment on the two other runDisney half marathons I have done.  This was a much more "adult" course, for lack of a better word.  There were far less characters photo ops, but more other types of entertainment. At several places on the course were puppeteers with huge, two story, light up puppets.  I saw Rafiki from the Lion King, Aladdin's Genie and Lumiere and Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast.  The way they had the puppets move--so life like and amazing.  I loved it.

There was about a three mile run between the Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.  It was at this point that I really start to fall apart.  By this time, it was around midnight.  My feet were aching and my ankle really started to hurt.  Everything that I had done wrong this week keep going through my head--walking the parks for four days before, my terrible fall, working the SparkleSkirts booth, doing the 5k the same day, doing a race so late--I was really losing it.  Thankfully, I made it to Hollywood Studios.  We ran up Hollywood Boulevard to Katy Perry singing "Firework".  This song is very special to me.  I used to sing it to my daughter when she was in the hospital.  The song got me all teared up, but it also gave me a second wind!

I ran strong through Hollywood Studios.  I love running through the back stage areas of Disney parks.  This time, we ran around the building that houses the Rock'n Roller Coaster.  This building typically can not be seen by guests so it was really cool to see.  We exited the back stage area into the Osborne Lights display.  This display was started by one family in Arkansas.  They sent it to Disney years ago.  There are millions of moving lights on display--all synced to music.  The Osborne Lights is one of my favorite Disney holiday traditions.

After we left Hollywood Studios, we ran toward the Disney Boardwalk.  Besides the parks, this is one of my favorite areas of Disney World.  It resembles a middle twentieth century Mid Atlantic Boardwalk.  We ran past the Boardwalk Inn, the Yacht Club and the Beach Club.  Its so beautiful there.  These hotels are so magical to stay at.

The Disney Boardwalk the day before the race

After the Boardwalk, it was off to Epcot and the finish.  I was never so happy to see a finish line than I was at the Wine and Dine!  I was so tired and in pain.  The finish was just outside of Epcot, just as was the Princess finish.  I got my medal and some water.  I met back up with Danielle and we headed to the after party--Epcot was open until 4 am just for Wine and Dine runners!

My Princess the night of the race

The park was packed, but the rides were empty.  Runners were so busying wining and dining, that they did not clog up the ride lines.  After a few rides, we needed to find some food!  I don't eat right after I run, but about an hour or two later, I am starving.  I decided on some cheddar cheese soup from Canada and a lobster roll sandwich from America.  Sadly, the party ended and it was time to head back to my room.  I said good bye to Danielle and walked the long hallway back to my room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

Runner Packing List

As I set here watching the election results rolling in, I keep rolling through my packing list in my head over and over again.  My family is leaving dark and early in the morning for Disney World--part family vacation/part running trip for me.  I will be doing the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon on Saturday night.  My entire family will be doing Mickey's Jingle Jungle 5k Saturday morning.  It will be my husband's and kids' first race!

Packing for a race weekend always makes me nervous!  I keep thinking I will forget something.  Here is a really great race day checklist I have it printed out and use it every time I get ready for a race.

I have quite a schedule planned for our trip to WDW.  We will attend a Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.  I will also get to attend a Fantasyland preview.  My family will check out the closing weekend of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival and catch the opening night of the Osborne Family light show.  I can't wait to see the improvements to the Safari at the Animal Kingdom.

Check out my Facebook page for update!

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

I Took a Nasty Fall...

My Team in Training team does not meet in November or December because we do not do any winter events.  We starting meeting again in January when training for spring events starts.  My friend and teammate, Wendy, and I met up Saturday morning at our usually team meeting spot for a long run on the trail.  I have the Disney Wine and Dine Half next weekend, so I need to get one last long run in.  I was so thankful to Wendy for meeting me.

Our run started out like usual, except we could see some storm damage to our trail from hurricane Sandy.  It was nothing much, but we could see how parts of the trail were previously flood and the trail was now leaf covered.  We were about one mile into the run when all the sudden I was on the ground!  It felt surreal at first.  Wendy and I were just running along, chatting about an upcoming team event and--bang!  I was laying face down on the ground.  I slipped on a black walnut and went down fast.

That goes for running too!

Boy did that hurt!  I twisted my ankle, busted up my knee, scratch both hands and landed really, really hard on my right elbow/shoulder.  It really knocked the wind out of me.  I sat on the ground for a minute, then Wendy talked me into trying to walk.  I stood up and stretched a bit.  I felt ok enough to walk, so we went on our way.  We walked about half a mile, than run the rest of our planned route.

The remainder of our ran was not easy, but I am really glad I finished the planned miles.  It may have helped to keep me loosened up.  I am so thankful that I was not out there alone.  Had I been, I am sure I would have lost it, started to cry and limped back to my car.  Had I been hurt worse, I am so glad I had a buddy there to help me out.

I am still pretty sore today.  My hands and knee are really scraped up and my elbow/shoulder hurts worse today than it did yesterday.  But I am tough!  I will be ok.  My biggest concern was being ok for my Disney World trip in a few days and the Wine and Dine Half Marathon.  I think I will heal just fine.

Have you ever hurt yourself during a run?

A dream is a wish...

--Amy