Race Bling

The close of 2018 is right around the corner and with that comes blog posts that reflect on the past year. Since I'm one of those sappy, reflective, memories type person, I thought it would be fun to participate in a Tuesday on the Run topic and take a look back over the race bling that was earned in 2018!

There were three sets of races that I ran this year where I earned medals, and all three are very special to me in different ways! 

It all started in January with my favorite race of the year, the Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World!

This race experience included four different races, one of those being my 6th full marathon (and last for a little while). I ran this entire event with a friend of mine and we had a BLAST! Crossing the finish line of the full marathon after 48.6 miles through the most magical place on earth was truly a race highlight! 

In February, I ran the Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon and had a marvelous time!

Rock n Roll New Orleans is another favorite of mine (I run it every year) and LOVE love love the course! I also added the 5K this year (as a first at this event for me) and really enjoyed myself there as well! With the addition of the 5K, I also earned an extra medal for a three medal weekend! Rock on!

Last but not least, I ran the Rock n Roll San Antonio Half Marathon just a few weeks ago and had another amazing experience! 

I mainly registered for the San Antonio Half because I heard about an "extra bling" opportunity for running both New Orleans and San Antonio in the same calendar year.  This race was definitely well worth the extra effort and I love the bling!!

Three races and eleven medals - sounds pretty legit to me! It was definitely a great year filled with lots of fun racing memories!

It's the Tuesdays On The Run Linkup with Erika, Marcia and Patty. 

Tips For Staying Healthy During the Holiday Season

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! The holiday season is always a tough time to stick with healthy choices and exercise (at least for me, it is)! I know I devoured a few too many goodies last week during Thanksgiving and want to get back on track before Christmas arrives, so I thought of a few tips and I wanted to share them because they might help you, too!

#1 Plan Ahead and Don't Overdo It

Going into a party or festive gathering can cause a little anxiety, especially when trying to live a healthy lifestyle (which may seem impossible to keep during the holidays)! Sure it's easy to say "oh, this is just ONE party, I'll work it off later.." bur if your schedule looks like mine, I have several Christmas parties to attend this year...and that's before Christmas even arrives! Having a game plan and sticking to it ahead of time will help a lot! If asked to bring a side dish to a party, bring a healthy option. Others will thank you for this, too!

#2  Make Time to Exercise

Yes, the holidays are SUPER busy and our schedules are jam packed. Follow me here for a minute, though....there's 24 hours in a day, right?  Well, taking 30 minutes or even an hour away from those 24 hours is not a whole lot of time. Let's break it down even more - there's 168 hours in a week - setting aside 3 to 5 of those hours for exercise is totally doable. Your body will thank you later, I promise!


#3 Wash Your Hands

Here's where the nurse in me is coming out - hand washing cannot be stressed enough. Its' cold and flu season, people. Wash your hands and do it often! This will definitely help to keep you as healthy as possible this holiday season. Even my 2 year old knows how to wash his hands! Keeping a tiny hand sanitizer in your purse is a great option as well.


#4 Get Some Sleep!

Rest. Rest. Rest. Getting adequate rest is so important and will help your body rejuvenate for another day. Even though it's a busy time of year, making time for adequate sleep (8ish hours a night) will help you stay rested and energized for the day ahead!


#5 Don't Deprive Yourself 

I mean, it IS the holidays after all - if you see a delicious looking dessert or dish you want to try, go ahead and do so. This does not mean eat all the things! I know if I deprive myself too much, then I go overboard later. Just remember to keep in mind tip number one - don't overdo it! Remember to keep things in moderation and you will be ok!

I hope this holiday season is off to a great start for you! Stay safe, happy, and healthy! 

Any tips you would add to this list? Leave it in the comments below! :) 

It's the Tuesdays On The Run Linkup with Erika, Marcia and Patty. 

Racing Mistakes

How many of us wake up on race morning and don't have it all together? As much as we try to prepare ahead of of time the night before, sometimes things just don't work out. Many pre-race nightmares have occurred about alarms not going off in time, missing a race bus, etc.

So, what kind of mistakes have I made in the past that am trying to avoid in the future? I've come up with a list to share with you today so you can avoid making these mistakes too.
 

It's vintage runDisney (before runDisney was even a thing)!

#1 Fitness Tracker/Garmin/Watch

For my VERY FIRST half marathon ever (that really cold one at WDW back in 2010), I made it all the way to the bust stop at Pop Century and realized I left my Garmin charging in the room! After turning around and running back to my room to retrieve it, I made it back to the bus stop to encounter a now SUPER long bus line. I thankfully made it to the start line on time, but still...I always plug in my Garmin to charge in a visible location and I make it part of my routine to put on while I'm getting dressed on race morning. Never. Again.

#2 No TP!

So, this one my be kind of funny, but at Rock n Roll New Orleans this year, it took me SEVERAL miles of port-a-potty stops before I finally found one that had toilet paper. Had I added Kleenex to my flipbelt, this all could have been avoided. Definitely noted for next time.

#3 Prepare for Weather

This one can be tricky because weather can change at the drop of a hat. Take Princess Weekend of 2015 in Florida for example - on Friday for the 5K, we were bundled up in layer after layer with near freezing temps and by Sunday, we were in short sleeves. Craziness. My husband was not prepared for the 5K and had to purchase additional clothing items at the Expo. Now, we always pack for any and every weather situation.

#4 Fuel

Y'all, Disney spoiled me with full marathons on this one. RunDisney has bananas, chocolate, gels, more bananas, and plenty of fuel to keep the full marathoners going for 26.2 miles. On my first non-Disney full attempt at Rock N Roll New Orleans, I realized my mistake on this - not all races equal the same and by mile 22, I was STARVING. I've run the Rock N Roll full marathon two additional times since this and am always prepared with extra fuel on my part.

#5 Travel Time

I've had some close calls in my years of running races with nearly missing an expo or nearly missing my chance to make it to day-of race registration. We always try to plan a little extra travel time to make sure we are at the race start way ahead of schedule. For out of town races, that means driving or flying in the day before and for local races, that means setting the clock just a bit earlier in the morning.

So, there you have it - my racing mistakes and ways I've adjusted so they don't happen again in the future!

What's your biggest racing mistake? Any advice to add to the list?

It's the Tuesdays On The Run Linkup with Erika, Marcia and Patty. 

Best Things Seen At A Race

Today's Tuesdays on the Run topic centers around the best things you've seen at a race. This is something that really excited me because I love to carry my camera around with me during races and have done so for many years!

There's so many great things I've seen at races that it's impossible to include them all in one post. Instead, I hope you'll enjoy this little walk down memory lane with me and enjoy some of these images just as much as I did!

Most race I've run have been in the morning (with the exception of a few Wine & Dine's and Gleaux Runs), so looking forward to the sunrise has always been a perk!

How about costumes? Running a Disney race definitely gives the chance to see a ton of runners in costume!

Along with costumes goes characters! Of course running a Disney race always offers a ton of opportunities to see characters! (If you want to, of course.)

I've seen some really funny race signs in my running career! This group was situated around mile 3 of a half marathon and they kept moving along the course. I saw them again around mile 12!

Anyone remember the 2013 VMA's with twerking Miley Cyrus? Well, this guy was at the 2013 Disneyland Half and has one of my favorite race signs I've seen to date!

Speaking of California, I've also run into a few celebrities along race courses - Joey Fatone being one of them! 

Beads! If you run the streets of New Orleans, you'll see beads...lots and lots of them!

Ballparks! Running has offered me the opportunity to run on several professional MLB ballparks, along with the spring training field at ESPN's Wide World of Sports!

How about a state capitol? The Louisiana Half Marathon begins at the state capitol in Baton Rouge!

Finish lines - I've definitely seen my fair share of them at races!

Last but not least....friends. Races are a great way to catch up with friends and meet new ones! It's always great when I run into a familiar face somewhere along a race course or around town afterwards! Friends really do making the running journey an extra meaningful one!

What's the best thing you've seen at a race?

It's the Tuesdays On The Run Linkup with Erika, Marcia and Patty. 

Running on a Disney Cruise Line Ship

Running while on vacation is definitely a personal preference. Some runners choose to go on vacation and not worry about a schedule while others like to stick to a training plan. While I'm not super strict about a specific training plan, running on vacation is definitely something I enjoy.

Thankfully, Disney Cruise Line makes the option of working out or running while on board possible!

#1 Jogging Deck

Located on deck 4, this is my favorite way to get in a run while out to sea! On the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, 2.5 laps equals a mile. On the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, 3 laps equals a mile. Pro tip: (This is kind of an obvious one) While the ship is in motion, your fitness watch will not register the correct distance - for example, I once ran a "4 minute mile" while cruising Alaska because the ship was also moving. Hah...right. I suggest bringing along a fitbit or step counter to help keep track of your movement.

#2 Fitness Center (located just inside the Senses Spa)

The Fitness Center on all four Disney ships offers a wide variety of ways to workout. From weight machines to the elliptical and treadmills, there's so many options for the fitness enthusiast. I once attempted running on the treadmill while the ship was in motion and my uncoordinated self almost fell off. True story. However, I do like the personal TV's that are located at most machines - those were a nice option! Pro tip: You also have use of the restroom and showers that are located inside the Senses Spa after your workout. The shower gel and shampoo/conditioner that's included in these showers are by Elemis and it's heavenly. Trust me on this one!

#3 Castaway Cay 5K

On most sailings, a 3.1 mile run around Disney's Castaway Cay is offered. At this moment, it's free to participate and runners each receive a race bib as well as a medal upon completion of the race. Runners can register once on board the ship at the excursions desk. This race is so much fun and a neat way to see the bike path as well as other parts of the island. If you're interested, check out these blog posts for more information on the Castaway Cay 5K.

• 2014 - Comparing the Castaway Cay 5K from 2009 to 2014
• 2014 Castaway Cay 5K Vlog
• 2017 Castaway Cay 5K Recap
• 2017 Castaway Cay 5K Vlog

And for the avid runDisney enthusiast, you can also add a Disney cruise to the end of your runDisney race weekend experience (currently available for Marathon Weekend in January). We participated in the "Castaway Challenge" back in 2015 and had a blast!

• 2015 Castaway Challenge Part 1
• 2015 Castaway Challenge Part 2
• 2015 Castaway Challenge Vlog

As you can see, there's many different ways to get those training miles or workout in while sailing with Disney Cruise Line! Check out this video below for a tour of the jogging deck and a glimpse of the Fitness Center located inside of the Senses Spa on the Disney Fantasy!

Have a magical day! :)

It's the Tuesdays On The Run Linkup with Erika, Marcia and Patty. 

Gleaux Run 2018

Well, another Gleaux Run 5K benefiting the American Cancer Society is in the books!

This was our 4th Gleaux Run and although turnout was a bit less than previous years, we still had an amazing race and a great time! I love volunteering with the American Cancer Society and events like this make all the extra time and energy worth it! Check out previous year's recaps here, here and here.

For starters, it rained almost all day long on event day. We kept praying it would pass through by evening time and although it seriously looked ominous with lighting off in the distance, we had a local meteorologist out there on our team and he reassured us that all would be ok (and it was)!


Setup began around 3 p.m. and having plenty of hands out there to help made the process a breeze!

One major change we made this year was the registration table - we moved it closer to our stage to keep everything and everyone centrally located. This helped a ton with the crowd at the stage for opening ceremonies. In previous years, we've had registration a bit further off from the stage and runners missed a lot of the announcements and parts of opening ceremonies.

Another major change we made this year had to do with the mile marker signs. In the past, runners told me that the signs were not visible at all. With this being a night time race, this route can be dark and although I've used glow in the dark paint for the mile marker numbers, they still weren't seen once the sun completely set.

We've also used glow sticks inside of balloons in the past which didn't work at all either.

So, imagine my surprise when I saw a pack of balloons at Walgreens (of all places) that were MEANT to glow. Each balloon had a tab inside and once pulled, the light was activated. These balloons glowed for hours (as a matter of fact, they were still glowing the next day) and runners said the balloons were highly visible on the route! It felt great to finally have a victory with these signs after the third year of trying! I also used white lettering on top of a black background which also made a world of difference.

Our group of volunteers were amazing this year, including our local university softball team. When I say they are some of the best volunteers I've ever worked with, I mean it!!

So grateful for them!

Our children's pastor led the prayer before the race and he prayed for no rain and no potholes! Both prayers were answered! :)

When I saw these dedicated Mickey glow ears at Target this summer, I knew I had to snag a pack for the race! So fun!

We were advised that starting the race 10 minutes early would be wise because of the weather and the Marshal ok'd it. Most people had already picked up their race packets, so we made a last minute decision to be safe and kick the race off early.

Runners lined up beneath our arch with luminaria bags lining the way. Each bag was created in honor of a loved one battling cancer or in memory of a loved one who has lost their battle with cancer. It was a really neat visual to see them all lit up at the start and finish line.

My friends all completed the race together and said they had a great time out there!

Although we didn't have medals for every runner this year, we did have medals for our first, second, and third place male and female!

Cleanup this year was a breeze, thanks to all of our amazing help!

By the end, my legs were tired and even though I didn't officially "run" the race, I still had plenty of miles under my belt for the day!

Our major hiccup this year had to do with the arch. This is only the second time I've used it and wasn't responsible for it last year, so I wasn't even thinking about extension cords. This was a total face palm moment for me because...hello, Karen..duh. Thankfully, our local running store owner was out there and came to my rescue. He was so kind and let me borrow two of his extension cords which seriously saved the day!  I was so thankful for him.

...and that's a wrap for the 2018 Gleaux Run! I am ready and excited for next year's event! Bring on 2019!!

It's the Tuesdays On The Run Linkup with Erika, Marcia and Patty. 

Tips to Keep the Excitement in Running

Let's face it - after running for a while, we all get to a point where we feel tired, worn out, or simply burnt out. I have certainly felt that way many times over the past 10 years or so since becoming a runner, and have found a few tips that help every time I feel that "slump" coming on. Today, I'm sharing a few of my favorite tips with you to help keep the excitement in running!

#1 Change It Up
Do you continually run the same route over and over again? Well, maybe it's time to branch out and explore...find a new route! Do you have a national park near your home? How about a gorgeous lake or a pretty school campus? Seeing new things or running a new route is always a plus for me. Add some variety to your running routes and it will make a world of difference, I promise!

#2 Register For A Race
Are you currently registered for a race? Having a race to train for and look forward to always gives a little extra motivational push for me and it's a great way to add some excitement to your training plan! Finding a local or even an out of town race can be a great way to give a little more excitement to your running regime!

#3 Find A Friend
Having a friend or a buddy to share in the miles with makes all the difference in the world. Branch out and find a local running group! It's not as intimidating as it seems, I promise. Running with a friend helps the miles fly!

#4 Cross Train 
Mix it up! Add a little variety to your training plan with a cross training day or two per week. Do you have a local gym, a spin studio, Orangetheory, a pool, or even access to YouTube? The list could go on and on. There's so many ways to incorporate cross training into your routine and your body will thank you for it, too!

#5 New Shoes
Ok, who doesn't love a run in a brand new pair of cushy running shoes for the first time? Or what about a cute new outfit to add to your running wardrobe? Yes, this one is totally superficial and I'm not encouraging you to go out and buy a new running outfit every single time you feel like you are in a slump, but it doesn't hurt every once in a while! Sometimes, you just gotta look for the little things....

Last but not least, REST.  When your body is telling you it's tired and you need to rest, go ahead and do it. I'm sure you've heard it a million times, but it's SO important to listen to your body and take those rest days when needed. When your next running day comes around, you'll feel refreshed and excited to run once again!

Running is such a fun sport and when that sparkle of excitement dims, it's sometimes hard to find it once again. So, I hope these tips have helped if you're needing to find that excitement once again!

How do you keep the excitement in running? 

It's the Tuesdays On The Run Linkup with Erika, Marcia and Patty. 

Fall Changes, Running Style

Has fall weather visited your place yet? It definitely has not here. Although we've seen a reprieve from the 100+ degree days of summer, it's still hot...and humid...and the mosquitos are BAD.

I do love this time of year, though. The weather and nature starts to show signs that things are changing. I also love fall decor and colors - pumpkins and all things orange and brown and green and cream! One thing I'm not is a pumpkin spice fan. Or pumpkin pie. However, I do love pumpkin bread! That counts for something, right? Sorry all of you pumpkin spice lovers. I've tried it and although I want to like it, I just can't!

We have a running joke here that the leaves on the trees go from green to brown. There's not much in between which is sad because fall foliage is so pretty!

So, how will all of this affect my fall running plans? Well, once fall weather DOES decide to arrive (usually around early October), I'll definitely have more motivation to run outside for starters!
  
Consistent Cross Training

This will be the first time in a very long time that I've been consistent with a cross training program (Orangetheory), so I'm curious to see if/how that affects my running performance this fall.
  
10K PR?

My current 10K PR is a really good one for me and I'm not sure if it's attainable at this moment, so we will see what happens with that too. I'm trying to not look at numbers and get scared or say "I can't do that again" because I know if I did it once, I CAN do it again. It's all a mental game. Hopefully the weather for race day is good - that will make all the difference in the world.
 
Warmer Running Clothing

"That" drawer in my closest will finally be opened again and my long sleeved running things will appear! I cannot wait!!

Consistent Training Plan/Longer Mileage 

Lately, I've been kind of doing "whatever" and "whenever" when it comes to working out and that will all soon change. Once I hit the training schedule for my next half marathon (which will be soon), my mileage will definitely increase and thankfully, it will be will a little less heat from the outside world!

 How will fall change your running plans?

It's the Tuesdays On The Run Linkup with Erika, Marcia and Patty. 

Fall Running Plans

Happy Tuesday, y'all! It's officially September now and that means Fall is on the way. The fall decor in my home is up (as of yesterday) - now all we need is change in weather and we will be set!

The thought of fall and cooler weather brings about a new training plan and definitely lots of new possibilities.

So, what's on my fall racing calendar? Let's check it out and see...

• In just a few weeks, our local American Cancer Society is hosting another Gleaux Run and I'm helping with the process. Although I'm not running it, I'll have a lot of behind the scenes involvement and I can't wait! It should be a lot of fun!
• I don't currently have any races planned for October, but I would love to run a 5K if the timing pans out. 
• The Cowboy Gallop 10K will be held the first weekend of November. I've run this one in the past and I really like it! The race always ends on our local University football field which is super fun and it's a nice, flat course. I plan on using this time to submit for Princess. This race currently holds my 10K PR (from 2014) and was my first post-baby race in 2016! I think it's time for a new PR! :)
• Rock n Roll San Antonio is planned for early December and with my brother and sister-in-law's recent move to the area, it gave a little extra incentive to run this race. I'm super excited to return to Texas to visit them and run a San Antonio race for the first time! It should be fun...and hilly...but mostly fun!

 That's it for now. As the weather turns cooler, I'm sure I'll be inspired to throw in an additional race or two here or there. We shall see!

Also, stay tuned for recaps of our recent Disney Fantasy Cruise. We had a blast and really enjoyed our time spent in the Eastern Caribbean! I can't wait to share it with all of you!

What's your fall racing plan look like?

It's the Tuesdays On The Run Linkup with Erika, Marcia and Patty. 

Remaining Summer Running Goals

Although the calendars say that summer is coing to a close soon, that couldn't be farther from the truth for Southwest Louisiana. If this year's weather pattern follows the last, we will have summer like temperatures into October which really makes me sad because I love fall! Oh well, let's hope we at least have a few "fall like" days soon!

Today's Tuesdays on the Run topic is all about our remaining summer running goals.

I have one.
 

My remaining summer running goal is to run the Castaway Cay 5K on Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. Soon and very soon, we will be out in the Caribbean, enjoying the sweet sound of waves crashing on the shore and I'll have the chance to run this 5K once again.

I've mentioned this before, but it's amazing to see how this race has changed and evolved so much over the years. When I first ran it back in 2009, we had maybe 15 fairly hard core runners that met with a cast member on the gangplank and I was the little newbie runner who had no clue what was going on. Now, runners meet in the Walt Disney Theater and there's usually hundreds of runners that take part in this race on each cruise.

We can't wait to board the Disney Fantasy and take part in all the fun the ship has to offer. I also plan on going for a few training runs on the jogging deck on our at sea days.

Do you have a remaining summer running goal?

It's the Tuesdays On The Run Linkup with Erika, Marcia and Patty.