Final Race Email from Disney!

Friday – Strength Training

• Kettlebells – Sculpt & Condition Workout (40 minutes)

Before I get to the super exciting news of the day, let me tell you how the rest of my day went. After such an exhausting and amazing run last night, I decided that sleeping in would be better than waking up early and trying to get my workout done before work. I also didn’t want to spend the day being upset with myself for not doing my workout before work. Work today was the same as it has been all week, sort of slow and relaxed. I still have two weeks before my next deadline so I am not having to kill myself at the office.

When I got home, my sister was still working on dinner and indicated she didn’t need any help. I decided that there was no time like the present to workout, I changed into my workout clothes and popped in my kettlebell DVD. After today’s workout, I can honestly say that I am really comfortable with the basic kettlebell exercises. I am completely thrilled by that fact because next week I start working with the Volume 2 DVD. I am a little nervous but mostly very excited. I can’t believe how much I have progressed in the last three weeks.

Now for the good stuff! As I got ready to leave work today, I got an email from Disney. It is the last one before the the race. That is right people! There is only five weeks left before my very first half marathon. I am ridiculously nervous about this event but also super excited. This race email included information about race numbers, waivers, and final race instructions. On the waiver form next to my race number was the shirt size I ordered. I didn’t realize that I would have lost so much weight since I registered and my shirt is going to huge. I quickly sent and email to Disney asking to change my shirt size. Hopefully everything will work out!

25 percent

I hope you guys had a great weekend! Mine was long and filled with craziness but I had a lot of fun. Be sure to check out my race review and recap for the Ace of Diamonds 5K that took place yesterday. Also I posted my first featured piece as part of my new ongoing series, A Few of My Favorite Things. This Sunday’s article featured a great Vegetarian Recipe that will make either a delicious lunch or dinner. It is super healthy (around 300 calories per serving) and is relatively inexpensive (under $5.00 per serving). Of course, that depends on the ingredients you use to make it.

I originally had a strength training workout scheduled for today but I chose not to do it. The hilly race course really did a number on my quads. I decided to give my legs a full day’s rest before I continue my training. I did have a very exciting day though. When I weighed myself this morning, the scale said that I weigh 151.8 lbs., which means that I have lost 53 lbs. since embarking on the healthy lifestyle journey. I have lost more than 25% of my starting weight. I am getting really close to a healthy body weight and I am really happy about that.

Also, a couple of weeks ago, I entered a raffle over at Running With Sass that benefited the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She is raising money as part of her Team in Training Program. Last week, I found that I won one of the prizes. I received my prize in the mail this weekend and am already planning what to do with them. Since the headband is Disney themed, I am definitely going to be wearing it for Disney’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon. I am planning on putting the decal transfer on a tank top and wearing the day after my first marathon.

Have you ever won a raffle? What did you win and what did you do with it?

UPDATE: Disney's Wine & Dine Half Marathon Medals have been unveiled!

This is an update to my previous post about the medals for this year's Wine & Dine Half Marathon and Relay. Yesterday, runDisney reposted the image of what the medals will actually look like (see below). Apparently, the medals should not have looked gold at all becuase they will be the same silver color as last year's medal. This means that the only difference between this year's and last year's medal is the lanyard and a few minor tweeks to the actual medal. Disney also stated that not only is half marathon filled to capacity but now the relay is too. The only way to participate in this event is to sign up through a charity organization.



2011 Wine & Dine Medals

So what are my thoughts on what the actual medal will look like? I really like it. In fact, I love it. Yellow is NOT one of my favorite colors. I don't think I own a single piece of gold jewelry. Needless to say, I am excited that the medal will be silver again this year. Besides, the silver color means it will resemble the real Spaceship Earth much better. And even though, yellow is one of least favorite colors, I really do like champagne and white wine, which what the lanyard reminds me of. I really can't wait to run this race and add this medal to my collection (which stands at one). I actually received a medal for my very first race even though it was a 5K. The Iron Girl Race Series believes that everyone deserves a medal to honor their accomplishment. This one looks way cooler than that one but they are both special to me.

Disney's Wine & Dine Half Marathon Medals have been unveiled!

With just over two months to go before the big race, Disney has released what the medals will look like for this year's Wine & Dine Half Marathon and Relay. After seeing last year's medal, it appears that one of the differences is the color. The 2010 inaugural medal was silver and this year's medal appears to be gold in the picture. Disney also indicated that the lanyard will be different from last year's maroon (or red wine) colored one. If the picture is showing the new lanyard, the it is probably supposed to either be gold to match the new medal color of white wine colored to go along with the theme. I can't wait to have that medal around my neck after I cross the finish line. Between this year's and last year's colors, I look much better wearing silver but there is just something about the thought of having a gold medal around my neck. It just makes you feel like a winner and in my opinion anyone who trains and runs a half marathon (or any other long distance) is a winner. Most people don't have the desire to start training for an event like this let alone actually participate in it. If you are among the few people that start training and participate in teh event, then you are a winner and you deserve a medal like this to commemorate this milestone in your life. I am completely excited about earning this medal!



2011 Wine & Dine Medals
(Half Marathon is on the left. Relay is on the right)



Another Official Race Email from Disney!

Only two and a half months left until my very first half marathon! Just thinking about it makes me so nervous that my stomach gets butterflies. If you were planning on running the Wine & Dine Half Marathon and haven't signed up yet, then you may be out of luck. The Half Marthon has sold out but there are other options if you are interested. According to the runDisney website, there are still still spaces available for the Half Marathon Relay and several charity organizations still have spaces available. So if you are still holding out or even considering running in this event, then hurry up and sign up before it is completely sold out!


2011 Commemorative Pin

It has been about a month since I received the last email from Disney. The last one informed me that the course map was finally available. I am a complete control freak and I am the first to admit it. I am also a very impatient person and I really wanted to know what the course looked like when I registered for the race. Unfortunately, I had to wait almost two months from the time I registered to the time I was able to view the map. This race email provided even more information. Most important of all is that the 2011 Race Program is available! Another piece of crucial information is that bib numbers and waivers will be coming with the next email, which I am assuming will be coming sometime next month. Also, Disney has switched from using the ChronoTrack D-Tag to using the B-Tag. I have never used either system so I can not comment on the advantages or disadvantage of them but hopefully the switch won't affect my race. The D-Tag is the most similar to what I have used for my other races. It is a timing tag that attachs to your shoe. The B-Tag, however, is actually attached to the bib and is very sensitive apparently.

After getting over my initial excitement about receiving another race email from Disney, I checked out the race program to see what valuable information I could gleam from its PDF pages. The list of exhibitors is in the program as well as a layout for the expo hall. I have never been to race expo before so I really hope that I am able to take advantage of everything they have to offer. There are also several articles that contain some interesting information. One in particular by Jeff Galloway was about racing/running at night. Since I am still quite new at this whole racing thing, the running at night aspect of this race is one of the most nerve racking aspects for me. At first, I was nervous about the distance but I really feel like I can do it. Racing at night on the other hand is an idea I am still struggling with. In the article, Galloway suggests scheduling at least two runs in August and September at 10 PM to ensure that you aclimated to running at night. While I had actually thought of this, I am not sure when I will be able to do it. I guess I am nervous about running on the streets by myself at 10 PM, which eliminates scheduling my long runs at night. That leaves me with running some of my treadmill workouts at night. Somehow though, treadmill running doesn't seem like enough when it comes to aclimating to racing at night.

My first official race email from Disney!!

So last night after my workout, I received my first race communication from Disney, indicating that there is only 4 months (120 days) until the race! Good lord that is daunting to think about. While the email itself was a newsletter filled with information that I already knew about, I was excited to course map been posted. Waiting for the course map has been completely nerve racking for me because I really wanted to know where I will be running. I like to plan for everything, which drives my boyfriend nuts most of the time because he likes to go with the flow. This newsletter is full of really useful information though if all you have done is registered for the race without glancing around at the website. Some of the information concerns how to purchase spectator tikets for the Finish Line Party and which of the Disney resorts are offering special deals for race participants. I, however, am a website stalker when it comes to things that I am really excited about. I actually bought my boyfriend a ticket for the Finish Line Party the day that they went on sale. I also made our hotel reservations for the weekend before I actually signed up for the race. I have patiently (impatiently if you ask my sister or my boyfriend) been waiting for the course map to be posted. Based on last year's course map, it hasn't really changed a whole lot. As promised though, the finish line has been moved from inside Epcot to outside the park in one of the parking lots. I am assuming that means that the extra distance was shaved off elsewhere along the course. There are other new features for this race in order to improve the runner's experience. Before signing up for this race, I did a lot of research and I think that many of the changes that Disney has made is based on the comments from last year's inaugural race. I am completely excited about getting to run through Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. If you haven't guessed it already, I love all things Disney. I grew going to Walt Disney World every other weekend (literally). I can't wait to experience the Mouse in this way!



2011 Half Marathon Course Map for Disney's Wine and Dine Half Marathon

I think I must be crazy ....

When I crossed the finish line of my first race, I realized something ... I am a runner. When I first started running at the beginning of the year, I was using it as the exercise portion of my weight loss plan (also known as my lifestyle change). I never thought that it would be a defining characteristic of myself. In high school, I was a swimmer and I absolutely loved the long distance events. I carefree nature of just swimming endless laps is definitely something that I miss and hope to find again through running. So what that, I have taken the plunge into distance running. I don't think that I will be as good as an Olympic Marathoner but I do enjoy the endurance required to cover the longer distances. Within a week of crossing my first finish line, I signed up for my very first half marathon, Disney's Wine and Dine Half Marathon! Because this race isn't until the beginning of October, I figured that I would have plenty of time to train for the distance (about 24 weeks). My training focus for the first 12 weeks is to extend the length of time that I can for as well as the distance of my long runs. Right now, I can run for about 55 minutes on the treadmill and I can run/walk about 6.5 miles on the road. My goal for this race is to run the entire half marathon so far I feel that I am well on my way to achieving that goal.