Half Marathon Pre-Training

I realized I have been slacking on my dailymile usage. I have been working out - but it's been in the 90s here in lower Michigan, so I haven't been running as much as I should. ( I also am in the process of switching jobs, so I haven't h ad as much time for blogging.)

In order to properly train for my first Disney Princess Half Marathon in February 2012, I have decided to utilize the Jeff Galloway Training Program. It looks like a 19 week training schedule, meaning my "official training" should commence the first week in October. Between now and then I think I will stick to the 30 minute runs and 3-5 miles each weekend to maintain my strength.

The biggest challenge I have with distance running is endurance! I used to be a dancer, so I am good at "sprinting" we would have 4 hour practices and we would run the routine through a few times then we would stop and make corrections. Since I heard about the run/walk method, I've been trying to use it rather than just run until I can't anymore, instead running about 5-7 minutes then walk for 1-2 minutes. Does anyone use the strategy consistently?

So between now and October, I think I will use the training schedule and just maintain the 30 minute runs during the week and get in 1 3-5 mile run each weekend, as a pre-training! I also hope my body will get more used running more frequently so it will be easier.

Has anyone tried the Jeff Galloway program - did it work for you? What do you do between races to maintain your running?

New runDisney Merchandise!

While I am still upset about the cancellation of ESPN The Weekend, runDisney announced Sunday via Facebook that select runDisney merchandise is now available at select locations at the WDW resort. I can't wait to pick up a couple things on my next visit! Select items will also be available online at www.disneystore.com soon.

I hope they come out with one of those "Training for the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon" performance tees they had in the past for the Disney World Marathon & Half Marathon. That would be awesome!

Photo: From runDisney Facebook Page

Join Recycle Bank

In addition to being a big fan of Disney, I am also a big fan of Couponing & Being Green! In fact, I have been recycling since I was 7 years old - and we don't even have curbside in our city. I actually separate and wash all my recyclables and drive them to the recycling center about 2x per month!

I just recently found out about a site called Recyclebank, where you can sign up for free and earn points by doing things to help our environment. You can then redeem your points for grocery coupons, gift cards and lots of fun prizes!

Its totally free to join, and if you click my link here, I'll get a few bonus points for sending you over! Please use my link to join so I can earn more coupons in my hopes of saving enough money for my Disney Princess Half Marathon trip!

Thanks in advance for helping me out, and for being green!

RIP ESPN Weekend

Well it's a sad day for me. Last week on the Disney Parks blog they announced that ESPN The Weekend will no longer be taking place because ESPN has such a larger presence at the resort now though the ESPN WWS Complex. This was one of my absolute favorite events at the Walt Disney World Resort. Through these weekends I have gotten an opportunity to run my first 5K, and meet several sports celebrities including Tim Tebow, Garrett Hartley, DeAngelo Williams and so many more. This year I had planned to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon and stay the week, ending my vacation with ESPN Weekend and run the 5K again. Glad I didn't book any tickets yet! I hope Disney decides to change their mind, I know many fans are upset about this.

3.1 Miles Of Sports Magic

March 5, 2011.

It had arrived. Race Day. Brittany and I began the day dark and early, 5am at Coronado Springs Resort & Spa.

We donned our Race gear and drove over to Disney's Hollywood Studios where we were greeted by Minnie and Mickey - who were much more awake than we were. We hung out in the tent to stay warm - the morning air was nippy and to watch the costume contest.

Closer to the 7am start, we made our way out to the starting line and took a place in the 13 minute mile group. We began chatting with some other runners and explained it was our first race and we just wanted to finish. With good lucks said, Trey Wingo and Dana Jacobson from ESPN took the stage and said a few words. DeAngelo Williams from the Carolina Panthers was also on hand for the starting fireworks.

It took us a good couple minutes to get a walk going being so far behind in the corral. It cleared up and spaced out pretty quickly as the track got wider. We started off a good jog, running behind the Studios parking lot and wove through, entering the studios backlot tour area as we crossed the 1 mile marker.

We ran though the backlot tour attraction, through the costume hall and stopped for the first water station. It was getting humid as the sun was rising in the sky!

Continuing on the race, we passed through Streets of America uphill, with many cast members cheering us on. The course wove though Star Tours then the 2 mile marker was located just passed the Indiana Jones attraction. We passed by the 50's Cafe as we entered the 2nd mile and followed the cones around the Sorcerer's Hat as Mulch, Sweat & Shears was rockin out some tunes! We ran up Hollywood Blvd and turned down Sunset Blvd, passing many cast members with the Tower Of Terror in our sights. We made a sharp left and passed by the Rockin' Rollercoaster and then were backstage for the next hydration station. We ran behind the Tower Of Terror and re-entered the park at the Fantasmic Show stage, taking the long down hill run (much appreciated) back to Sunset Blvd.



A few strides later were were back on Hollywood Blvd near the park entrance, waving at all the park guests awaiting the park opening as we made the final turn and were backstage approaching the 3 mile marker! I was relieved, at this point my tendonitis in my foot was really starting to hurt, but I sped up, determined to finish. When the final mile marker came into view we picked up speed and crossed the finish line stealing some high fives from The Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders & The Harlem Globetrotters. I crossed the finish line at 39 something, clock time. But my official time was 38:17, which was 2 minutes faster than my training time!

After we crossed the finish line we grabbed our medals and powerades and waiting in line for the photo op. As I was standing there I felt dizzy, having stopped running so abruptly. After the photo we walked it off a bit and ate our muffins, feeling better almost immediately.



Then we walked back to the Finish line festivities to grab photos with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and some sports celebs! We got a shot with the Globetrotters, DeAngelo Williams from the Carolina Panthers and Greg Jennings from the GB Packers, just off his Superbowl win!





After the race, Brittany and I made our way to the studios entrance, medals on and entered the park for some celebratory shots with the Sorcerers hat, and by the ESPN Weekend Sign. We got many congrats from the cast members and "Magical Achievement" buttons that we wrote our official race time on!

By the time we had finished the photos, we headed back to Coronado to take showers and change before heading for our celebratory "ultimate guest" day in the parks. We vowed to wear our buttons and medals all day because we knew we would never actually wear them again. We even got our medals Pixie Dusted at the Magic Kingdom!

So that's my story from my first ever 5K, made even better by the magic of Disney! I can't wait to run my next Disney Race with Brittany!

It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time

Once Upon A Time....while planning a trip to Disney World, a twenty something girl who had never run a day in her life decided to sign up for a 5K.

What a great line to open a post about Disney right? Seriously though, that's pretty much how the story goes. I was planning one of many of my annual Disney Vacations, this one for ESPN The Weekend. ESPN Weekend is my favorite weekend at WDW because 1. I love Disney, 2. I love Sports, 3. I love having my picture taken with cute sports celebrities (or any celebrity for that matter).

During my 2010 ESPN Weekend trip, I was able to attend the "Green Carpet" Grand Re-Opening of the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Conference. This was a pretty big deal, so what could top that for this year? The ESPN Weekend 5K was my answer.

My friend Brittany agreed to run it with me, and the decision was made. We were signed up to race.

After the holiday season passed I was getting very excited for the weekend as the list of celebrities in attendance grew. Then I realized, crap. I need to get training for this race. I joined a gym - the 5K being my motivation to actually go.

I began with a session with a personal trainer at the gym. He told me to get on the treadmill and he said run until you can't breathe. It took all of 4 minutes. I was embarrassed. How is a dancer out of breath after 4 minutes? I wondered how I would ever manage to run 3.1 miles. This is when I thought to myself "it seemed like a good idea at the time."

But I don't quit. So I just kept at it. I checked out the runDisney website and watched some of Jeff Galloway's training videos and modified my running technique. I am super glad I began running the proper way (much easier to correct poor technique before it becomes a habit) and kept running. I soon was making it 1 mile, then 2 and finally 3 without feeling like I would pass out.

Training for this 5K was hard, especially with the tendinitis in my right foot. But in true Disney fashion, this story does have a happy ending.