A Yoga Newbie

I like to try new thing with my workout--new running routes, new classes, new instructors.   It keeps things from getting boring.  Today, I tried out a new class--Yoga!  Yoga is certainly not a new thing.  My gym has offered the class for years, but it was new to me.

I got to the class about five minutes before it was scheduled to start  The room was very dark, but a few ladies welcomed me to the class.  I noticed that everyone brought a mat.  I did not think to bring one, but the instructor let me borrow an extra.  The class was very full and felt packed at first.  Once we got started, it felt fine.

The instructor told the class that she does a more fluid type of Yoga, meaning that you move more and hold the poses for just one breath.  At first, I could not keep up!  Once I figured out the basic poses, I got the hang of it.  I was so surprised at how challenging the class was.  I was expecting some tribal music and lots of being still.  We moved so much more than I expected.  It really increased my heart rate and got me sweating.   Half way through the class, my legs were shaking  It was really tough, but I got through it. After the one hour class, I ran for a half hour on treadmill.  When I got home, I was bet!  Yoga can really take a lot of you!  I think this may be my new Wednesday morning routine.  I really enjoyed.

Do you Yoga?

Namaste

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

First Run Back

I have not run for over three weeks!  This flu really got me good.  I had never been sick like this until these past three weeks.  My doctor called it viral bronchitis and said there is a really nasty strain of it going around now.  Then she told me it could last up to four weeks.  I thought, no way--I'm tough--it will have me down a few days tops.  Boy was I wrong!  This lower respiratory infection really kicked my butt!

Breathing has always been my biggest weakness in running.  When I would need to stop, it was not because I was tired, it was because I was out of breath.  With this infection, I could barely walk up the stairs without being out of breath there was no way I could run.  I even missed the Turkey Trot.  I have been terrified that I would lose everything I have worked hard to build in the past two years.  This is by far the biggest running break I have had since I started running.  I have come to far to lose it all now.

This morning was my first run since the runDisney Wine and Dine on November 9th.  I ran on the treadmill at the gym.  I did 3/1 intervals.  It was hard, but I did it!  I ran for 30 minutes and got 2.3 miles.  This was just over a thirteen minute mile.  That's certainly not my best, but its not as bad as I thought it would be.  This was a great place to pick up my training after being sick.  I am really looking forward to the Tinkerbell Half in seven weeks and the Princess Half in eleven weeks.  Time to start running some long runs!

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

Beach Body Ultimate Reset

"The Beachbody Ultimate Reset™ is a program designed to help your inside get into amazing shape,just like your outside."- Carl Daikeler CEO Beachbody

I admit it--I don't always have the best diet.  I eat things I should not--chemicals, toxins, pesticides ect.  Yuck!  I have felt sluggish lately.  After seven half marathons this year and getting over a nasty cold, I needed a jump start back to health!  Some of my Beach Body coach friends suggested we do the reset together.  I was immediately intrigued--but could I do this?  

This is no ordinary cleanse!  You eat real food!  That is what got me to sign up.  The plan lasts 21 days. There are lots of supplements to take.  They are supposed to help remove harmful toxins from your body and give you the nutrients you need.  The plan starts you out slow.  The first week, you cut of red meat.  The second week you become a vegetarian.  The third week week you eat completely vegan.  Sounds scary, huh?  

I am ready!  I started my reset this morning.  Was it challenging?  Yes!  Will it be worth is?  Yes!

I will post after each week of the reset and let you know how I am doing.  Wish me luck!

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

The New Fantasyland

When I was in Walt Disney World for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon, I had the opportunity to preview the brand new but not open to the public yet Fantasyland.  I was not sure what to expect.  There has been so much hype, could Disney live up to it all?

My family got to the roped off section that leads to the new Fantasyland and we were all given wristbands that gave us access to the rides and attractions.  Our first stop was Story Time with Belle.  This attraction is so innovative!  You wait in a line that leads you through Belle's yard, then through the cottage, then into Maurice's workshop.  This is when the show starts!  I don't want to ruin all the surprises for you, but it is a truly magical experience.  Members of the audience are invited to play parts of the story.  My son was asked to be the Beast.  The show was so well done.  Not a single detail was overlooked.  We loved the experience so much, that we did it three times.  After Story Time with Belle, we explored Belle's village.  We stopped in Gaston's Tavern for a famous Disney cinnamon roll.

After checking out the village, we went under the sea.  We rode the Voyage of the Little Mermaid.  The ride it's self was a lot of fun and very well done, but I had rode it before.  It's the same ride as in Disneyland's California Adventure park.  What was extraordinary about the east coast version of the ride the ride entry queue.  There were no people in the line for the ride, but we still chose to take our time and take in all the wonder that was the ride entry line.  The Imagineers really out did themselves on this one!  The way they take you from a beautiful seaside village to under the sea is simply amazing.  The intricate attention to detail is astounding. The ride vehicle is a clam shell.  The ride it classics Disney animatronics, but with a modern update.

After the ride, we again went under the sea, but this time for a visit Ariel herself at Ariel's Grotto.  The same attention to detail was observed at the grotto as it was the ride.  When it was our turn, we got to visit with Ariel--the mermaid.  My family has met Ariel plenty of times in many different locations, but she was always wearing her human legs.  It was so much fun to meet Ariel the mermaid.  The actress did an amazing job.  She stayed in character the whole time, flipping her fins and asking my kids how far their swim was to get to her.  Her costume was so beautiful and life like.  The experience as so much fun and so magical for my family.

After the princesses, we had a chance to check out the new Storybook Circus area.  This is where not one, but two Dumbo rides are.  Disney created a new and innovative ride queue concept with this attraction. Guests are given a pager, just like the one you get at a restaurant.  Families can play in the brand new, indoor circus play area until they are paged.  The line area for this ride is very short--you do your waiting in the interactive play area instead of a boring line.  What a great way to pass the wait time for your ride!  When it's your turn, you pager goes off and you head to the ride.  Also in this area is an arcade and the Barnstormer, a children's roller coaster.  As with all of the new Fantasyland, the attention to detail with the new Dumbo ride is amazing.  I could have spent all day just marveling at the details put into the designs.  

My family was so fortunate to be part of the new Fantasyland preview.  Disney really outdid itself on this one.  I had very high expectations for the new Fantasyland.  My expectations were met and surpassed for sure.  As Walt would say, they took a great idea and they "plused it"!  The new Fantasyland grand opening is December 5th, 2012.

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

I'm Thankful for Running

This Thanksgiving, among any other things, I am thankful for running.

Mom's Thanksgiving hat, lol

Almost two years ago, I made a choice.  I decided to become a runner and I never looked back!  Running has changed my life in so many way--some expected, but most very unexpected.

When I decided to become a runner, my goal was to complete the Disney Princess Half Marathon.  I started this blog to hold myself accountable.  To do this, I knew I would have to get healthy.  The first time I did was to start moving more. I started running of course--well, mostly walking at first.  Since I do not enjoy running outside in the cold, I joined my gym so I could run/walk on the treadmill.  During all my running research, I read about cross training so I started doing Turbo Fire.  To get healthy, I also had to change my eating habits.  I made the change slowly--I started eating more fruits and veggies, drinking Shakeology and eating cleaner.  These changes have helped me to lose a lot of weight and get fit!  The benefits of running are all the effects I had expected.

What I'm most thankful for--my family

The unexpected outcomes of running are the things I am most thankful for.  First and foremost are the friends I have made.  My running friends are some of the most caring and supportive people I have ever met.  They are so excepting.  I can be myself around them and fell like it fit in.  Running has taken me places I have always wanted to go.  I went to San Diego, Myrtle Beach and San Francisco for half marathon this year.  These are places I have always wanted to go, but probably never would have without running.  These trips were with my Team in Training team mates.  My amazing TNT team is something I am very thankful for.  I have made life long friends, got excellent coaching and had the opportunity to travel.  Best of all, I raised over seven thousand dollars to fight cancer.  Also through running, I met Leigh, the owner of Mousekeplanner.  She hired me on as an Independent Agent, so now I get to share my love of all things Disney with other and help them plan wonderful trips every day.  I would never had met Leigh or had this opportunity if I had not started running.   Along the same line, I have also become a Beach Body Coach.  As a coach, I encourage other to reach their goals.  This helps to keep me on track too, and keeps me positive.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so many things to be thankful for--my wonderful family and friends, my house, our health...Here are some of the reason I am thankful for running.  Why are you thankful for running?

A dream is a wish...

Amy

runDisney Jingle Jungle 5k

Our first ever family running event was the runDisney Jingle Jungle 5k on November 10. 2012.  We spent the night at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, so we were right near the Animal Kingdom park for race morning.  As I am a seasoned runner and used to the very early morning, my family is not.  The kids got up ok, but my husband was not so cheerful.  From the balcony of our room we ate breakfast while we watched the animals.  We could hear the music and the DJ at the race.

The trip to the race was very quick.  As we got closer, the music got louder and the kids got more and more excited.  I know its a race day no-no, but we all wore our race shirts.  It was fun for the family to all be dressed alike.  I figured that since it was an untimed family run, it would be ok just this once. Once we parked, we met up with some of the runDisney friends and got in line for a photo with Santa Mickey.

This was the first runDisney 5k that I have been part of that actually had corral placements.  Since we had my daughter in her stroller, the whole family started back with the stroller division.  We all stayed together until we crossed the start line, than my son, Nathan, and I ran ahead.  The first mile was through the Animal Kingdom parking lot.  We had to do a lot of weaving to get around walkers and slow runners.  Around the time we got into the park, we found our pace.  We ran past the Tree of Life and toward Africa.  We then turned into a "backstage" area.  This looked to be parts of where they house the Savanna animals.  One of my favorite parks of runDisney races is getting to see the back stage areas--they fascinate me!

By around mile two Nate and I caught up with some of my runDisney friends. They are usually much faster than me so I never get to see them during a race--just before and after.  With stopping for pictures, I finally had a chance to catch up to them.  We ran the rest of the race together.  There were a few picture stops along the way.  That made keeping up with them easier.  We crossed the finish line together with a big leap!

As much fun as it was to run with my friends, it was more special to finish with my son.  I could not wait to see Mike and Andrea finish too.  I could not wait to hear how much they liked the race and see them get their medals.  The kids loved the race!  They were so proud of their medals.  Mike did not love it so much.  I don't think he got the running bug, but I am very proud of him for doing it.  This was a great event, and in true runDisney style there was lots of characters on the course.  This event will always be special to me because it was the first race I got to do with my whole family.

A dream is a wish...

--Amy