RunDinsey Avengers Superhero Half Marathon Recap

After three days in the parks and two races, I was ready for the Avengers Superheroes Half Marathon—not only was I looking forward to all the fun but I was also looking forward to earning my second Infinity Gauntlet Challenge medal.  As I mentioned in my Dr Strange 10K recap, we had decided to mash Disney with Superheroes so I would be running the half marathon as Super Snow White, complete with shield to weild off any bad apples I encountered on the course. (See what I did there…)

Sunday Runday was off to an early start—we headed over the the start line area to meet up with everyone and get a few pre-race pictures before the race started.  Then we were off to our corrals to wait for the race to start.  After the national anthem and other announcements, the runner's were on their way.  The waves seemed to be going rather quickly and before I knew it, it was time for us to start.

Our plan going into Sunday was to have all the fun.  The course for this race was new and I was looking forward to it—this was my fourth runDisney half marathon at Disneyland and every course has been different so far. Shortly after mile one, we came up to the first photo stop and the line was short! What?!  This never happens so we took a quick picture, took a bathroom break and continued on our way.  Then we came up to the next photo stop and again, a short line! 

I’m not sure why all the lines were short, but the longest wait we had for a photo was about seven minutes.  Maybe people took all their pictures at the 5K and 10K—it’s the same characters, but we still wanted all the pictures.  

After mile four, we headed out of the parks and into Anaheim.  If I’m being honest, the most exciting thing in Anaheim is Disneyland, but the crowd support makes this race worth it.  At mile six, we came upon the Sparkle Athletic cheer station, complete with the Sparkle unicorns.  We then continued on and before I knew it, we were entering Angels Stadium.  In the past, the course routed you through the back entrances and you didn’t see the completed stadium.  This course brought you through the front and I saw the Angels helmets that I had never seen before.  

The crowd support near the stadium was awesome.  My favorite part of any runDisney event has been the group dressed in vintage military uniforms, complete with a dance floor and dancers.  I was excited to see them out there again.  Once we left the stadium, a cosplay group cheered us on for about half a mile.  Before I knew it, we were at mile ten with only a 5K left to go.  

I struggled the last three miles.  I don’t know if it was a combination of running two races the days before and spending time in the parks, but my legs were not happy with me.  I was getting cramps in my legs and my feet were screaming at me to stop.  I was grateful to have Stephanie, Toni and John with me to help keep me going.  

Finally we found the finish line! I’m not sure that I’ve ever been so happy to cross a finish line.  After getting our medals, snack boxes and taking a few pictures, we headed to the stage area to meet up with the rest of our friends.  I decided I needed to keep moving, so I headed back to the hotel to get ready for the rest of the day in the parks.  (I think I may have been having some shoe issues during the race because as soon as my shoes came off, my legs felt so much better!)   

After the 10K on Saturday, I was a little concerned about the hydration stops along the course, but they had so many.  The crowd support was awesome and we loved getting shout outs on our Princess Superhero costumes—we even had some people take pictures with us because they loved our shields! The new course? Amazing!  I loved this change and I hope runDisney sticks with it.  

It was another great runDisney Avengers Superheroes weekend and I can’t wait until next year!  Maybe I’ll actually watch the movies before then.

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1

Ultra Training: Week Four

This week started off with all the fun and all the miles.  It took a slight detour at the end of the week, but the miles have been run and week four of my training is done!

Sunday
I ran the Avengers Superheroes Half Marathon to start my week.  According to my watch, I actually ran over 15 miles—I’m not sure if it was the weaving or the back and forth, but somehow I ended up with extra mileage.

Monday
After finishing up the half on Sunday with very sore legs, I woke up feeling pretty good on Monday.  When I headed out for my run, I wanted to run fast.  My legs didn’t agree with me.  It was a slow three miles, but it still felt good to get out there and stretch my legs.

Tuesday
On Tuesday, I needed to run five miles and I decided I wanted to feel some dirt under my feet and headed out to the trails.  It was just what I needed.  It was a beautiful day and the miles felt great.  

Wednesday
Day 170 of my Run Streak!  How did this happen?  When I started my run streak, I never imagined I’d make it this far.  I am beyond grateful for everyone who has been a part of it and supported me on my journey.

Thursday
Another five miles on Thursday and it felt good.  The weather is finally starting to cool down and I wore my “winter” running clothes.  For me, that’s a short sleeve shirt—but how fun is this #runner shirt from pointonemiles?

Friday
I woke up Friday morning with a fever- this was not how I wanted to start my day.  Although I sometimes push myself, I know that running with a fever is a big “No,” so I didn't take any chances and skipped my Friday morning run group.  After consulting with my doctor, I did get a mile in later in the day to keep my Run Streak going (By this point, I had been fever free for over six hours).  I had more miles on my schedule, but I know that running the minimum was the smart decision.

Saturday
I woke up still not feeling 100% but I am stubborn.  I kept telling myself, “It’s just a cold” so I headed out for my long run—I had eight miles scheduled and almost made it.  I was able to get in just over seven miles and I was done.  I spent the rest of the day in my pjs, resting and getting ready for a new week.  

One of my rest buddies! 

Total Weekly Miles: 41

I'm looking forward to a new week, which includes a Turkey Trot in Thursday.  

What are your run plans for Thanksgiving?  

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1

runDisney Dr. Strange 10K Race Recap

When registration opened for the runDisney Avengers Superheroes weekend, my first thought when I saw the theme for the 10K was Dr. Strange was, “Doctor Who?!”  Although this would be my second year running the Infinity Gauntlet Challenge, I’ve never actually seen the Avengers movies and don’t know who the characters are. 

As I mentioned in my Captain America 5K recap, this was a girls weekend with Michelle, Stephanie and Toni.  After discussing costume ideas, we decided to mash Disney and Superheroes—for the 10K we decided to be Superhero Mouseketeers.  Julian would also be joining us and I couldn’t wait to have all the fun.

Like all runDisney races, race morning came early and we headed over to the start line area to meet up with our friends for some pre-race pictures and fun. This year we stayed at a Disney hotel and I loved being that close to the start area!  After meeting up with everyone and taking pictures, we came up with a race plan.  AJ and Ivie were starting in earlier corrals, so they would run ahead to the first photo stop and wait for us. 

 It worked out perfectly—by the time we met up with them in line, we were almost to the front of the line.  As a group, we definitely follow racing etiquette and picture taking etiquette—although it may have looked like we were cutting in line, we take one group picture with one person’s phone.  We have the process down to a science to make it easy on everyone.  After the first photo stop, we were on our way for the rest of the race—I run most races alone so I always have a blast with the groups at runDisney events.  This race did not disappoint.

After all the character stops and all the fun, the race was over.  I was honestly having so much fun, that I didn’t pay that much attention to the course.  I know that I wasn’t struggling to get through the crowds like I was at the 5K and it never felt too congested to me.  

The only change I would make would have been the number of water stations—there were only two and I would have liked one more.  The weather started getting warmer the last couple of miles and one more water station would have been perfect. 

I still don’t know who Dr. Strange is but I had a blast at the Dr. Strange 10K.  And the bling is pretty awesome too! After getting our medals and snack boxes, we made our way to the race stage to meet up  with other friends, have more fun and take more pictures.  After this race, I was definitely looking forward to the next day’s Avengers Superheroes Half Marathon and earning my Infinity Gauntlet Challenge medal.

Have you ever done a multi-day race challenge?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1

runDisney Captain America 5K Recap

In 2015, I ran the runDisney Avengers Infinity Gauntlet Challenge.  As part of the weekend events, I went to a We Run Social meet-up and met Michelle, Stephanie and ToniAnn.  We became instant friends and decided we would return for a girls weekend in 2016.  After a year of planning, the weekend was finally here and I was beyond excited.  

A few weeks ago, I obtained a bib to the Captain America 5K as part of the runDisney Avengers Superheroes weekend.  It was a last minute decision and I was excited because it would be my first runDisney 5K.  

After fun  at the expo and spending time in the parks with my friends, I was ready for bed and the early wake-up.  If you have ever run a runDisney race, you know they start at 5:30am and as early as you need to wake-up, I love that an early race means you’re finished early and have plenty of time to enjoy the parks.  

I headed to the start line with Michelle and we met up with Julian.  After catching up and taking some pictures, we headed to our corrals.  I’m not sure if it’s because I registered so late, but I was placed in the last coral.  Frankly, I wasn’t happy about this—I wanted to run with my friends who were in other corrals. (I did go to runner relations at the expo, however they were unable to change my corral placement) 

Pre-Race show- how awesome that they have interpreters?!

We made a plan—I would race to the first photoshop, meet up with them and run with them the rest of the race.  Unfortunately starting in the last corral made it a little hard to race—I’ve never had to weave in between so many people during a run.  I won’t lie—I was frustrated as people abruptly went from running to walking or were in groups 4-5 people wide. I ended up skipping the first photo stop (Hawkeye) and met up with Michelle and Julian at the second stop. We continued on our way, saying hi to other runners we knew, having all the fun and taking all the pictures.

While we were in the photo stop line for Captain America, Stephanie and Toni text us to see if we wanted Starbucks at the finish line.  Yes!  We ran into them just before mile 3 and actually took our coffee then and ran the rest of the race with it.  Yes, we crossed the finish line holding Starbucks and it might be my favorite finish line picture ever! 

I love that 95% of the 5K in run through the parks. Running through Cars Land and the Disneyland castle are my favorite. Like all runDisney races the energy is great—the cast members who are out cheering for us and the volunteers are awesome!  Would I run the 5K again?  Without question, yes!    

Race Shirt and bling!

What’s your favorite finish line picture?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1

A Runner's Holiday Gift Guide

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!   Whether you’re shopping for someone who has been running a week or running a decade, here are some things that I think  would make great gifts for the runner in your life.

ProCompression Socks

Compression socks can help before a run, during a run or after a run so it makes sense that they are perfect for every type of runner.  My favorite are ProCompression—not only do they feel great, they come in a awesome selection of colors.  Check out this year's holiday sock—expected to be released on December 1st, you can save 40% off with the code GIFT16.  (If you want these, don’t wait—they sold out in hours last year!)

Photo Credit: www.procompression.com

Gift Cards

There are some things that a runner needs to pick out for themselves and one way for them to do that is with a gift card.  I suggest finding a local running store and getting one from there—not only would you be supporting small/local business, the person getting the gift card will get better customer service and expertise when they use the gift card. 

Race Entries

Let’s be real—for a “free” sport, running can be expensive and that includes race entries.  Do you have someone in your life who is dreaming of running a particular race?  Help make it happen.  Earlier this year, I received a race entry as a gift and it was the best surprise.  They contacted the race organizers, took care of the payment and I was good to go.  It also made the race mean something a little more—I wasn’t just running for myself, but also for my friends who gifted me the entry.    

Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap Towel

You’ve gone for a run, get back to you car, you’re sweaty and you want to change clothes.  The Orange Mud Transition & Seat Wrap towel lets you do both with ease.  After you change clothes without the fear of being seen, you can protect your car seat for your drive home.  It comes in several colors so there’s bound to be one that's your runner’s favorite.  

Photo Credit: www.orangemud.com

Music

Does the runner in your life like to listen to music when they run?  Get them gift cards to iTunes or subscriptions to the various running music apps that are out there like Rock My Run.  

Reusable Water Bottle

Runner’s don’t just need to hydrate when they run and I know for me I know that I hydrate more frequently when I have one of my reusable water bottles with me.  There are so many out there to choose from, but I’m loving the look of Hydro Flask’s “My Hydro.”  It’s the Hydro Flask bottles but it lets you customize them with your favorite color combination.   

Photo Credit: www.hydroflaskcom

Trucker Hats

I admit—I’ve become addicted to trucker hats.  Although I don’t always wear them during my runs, I love them for after my runs to hide my runner’s hair.  There are so many different ones to choose from that you really can’t go wrong. 
    

I love a good trucker hat!

Magazine Subscription

I get Runner’s World magazine every month and I will admit that when I first subscribed, I wasn’t sure if I would actually read it.  But I do—I’ve learned some great tips, been inspired and have found some great recipes in the magazine.  In a day when technology has made most magazines available online, I enjoy getting the actual magazine once a month.  

Subscription Box 

Last year one of my friends gifted me the Runner Box and I loved it.  Not only was it the gift that kept on giving (I received three boxes over a 6 month time period) it was a great way to try new products.  There are several different services and choices out there—I’ve tried Runner Box and Stride Box and loved them both!  

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Running Fuel (Nuun, Honey Stinger and Glukos are a few of my favorites)
Anti-Chafe sticks (I use Glide)
KTTape (All the colors!)
Chapstick
Hair ties (I lose them everyday!)
RoadID (I love the bracelets)

One Last Idea

My final suggestion?  Offer to go for a run with them.  It doesn’t need to be long and it doesn’t need to be fast, but spending time with your family and friends is the best gift and it doesn’t cost a thing!

Happy shopping and until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1. 

Ultra Training: Week Three

Going into week three of my training, I knew it was going to be a busy week.  I was getting ready for a mini-vacation and had last minute costume making for my runDisney weekend, so I definitely appreciated having a plan.  Since I was running with a schedule, there was no question as to how much I had to run.  I’ve mentioned the past two weeks that I was still adjusting to running according to scheduled mileage and this is the week it finally became what I was used to.

Sunday
I ran in the morning and after a fun on the trails the day before, I kept an easy pace.  I had an upcoming race weekend and I didn’t want to push myself too hard leading up to it.  

Monday
Another easy run but I can’t help but wonder what is going on with the weather in Southern California.  It’s be unseasonably warm and running in warm weather is not my favorite.  

Tuesday
I woke up early and got my run in.  I’m learning that running in the mornings is when I do do best.  And it’s a great way to start my day!

Wednesday
I was scheduled five miles on Wednesday.  I did not run five miles.  I ran to keep my streak going, but my heart just wasn’t in it.  This both frustrated and disappointed me, but I also knew that if I forced myself to run the full five miles, it would feel forced.  I never want to get to a point in my running that it's forced and no longer what I want to do.

Thursday
Today's the day to start my runDisney weekend so I squeezed in an easy mile before heading up to Anaheim for all the fun.  The day before I received my first pair of gaiters so of course I had to take them for a test run. 

Friday
I ran the runDisney Captain American 5K (recap coming soon).  All the fun was had and all the pictures were taken.

Saturday
Another fun runDisney day with the Dr Strange 10K (recap coming soon). More fun and more pictures!

Total Weekly Mileage: 23.4

I feel like my mileage was low this week, but I’m glad to have the miles done and I’m looking forward to week four of my training.  

Until next time, happy running
Jenn13.1

Ultra Training: Week Two

The past few days I’ve been so inspired by everyone getting ready to run the New York Marathon and running Wine & Dine at Walt Disney World.  It's easier to get your run on when you’re seeing so much awesome happen.  I finished week two of my Ultra Training and although my training is still in the very early stages, I’m feeling really good about it.  Week two was filled with running friends and new friends—those are the best kinds of weeks.

Sunday
I started my week off with the Rock n Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon.  Although all the fun was had, it wasn’t my best race.  You can read all about it here.

Monday
Although I was still a little sore from Sunday, I couldn’t pass up a Halloween #Runch with Jenny and Smitha.  Running with friends is the best.  It was an easy paced run and I was able to get in touch with my inner emoji.  

Tuesday
Tuesday called for a short run and I kept it short.  I used my short run days as “rest days,” keeping an easy pace for 1-2 miles.  It’s enough to keep my run streak going and my legs loose, but it’s not too much to wear me out.

Wednesday
I met up with Jenny for another #Runch date.  For some reason, I struggled a lot during this run.  I can’t quite pinpoint what wasn’t right but I also know that not every run will be a good run.  

Thursday
Another easy, short run.  Like last week, I added some strength exercises to this run.  I was actually able to get a few push-ups done—this is a huge improvement for me and I look forward to being able to do more.  

Friday
I usually start my Friday with a group run—it’s one of my favorite runs and I was bummed when I overslept and missed it.  Although running later than I had planned, I found myself on the trails of a local mountain to get my miles in.  When I was out there, I met a hiking club  that had traveled to hike the mountain.  We chatted for a bit and I learned the oldest woman in the group was 80.  I love that they still have adventures and I hope I still have that when I’m that age.

Saturday
I woke up early Saturday morning to head out to the trails.  I was so dark when we started and I was certainly glad to have my Run Lites gloves.  It was a little eery when you could shine the light into the distance and see critter eyes staring back at you.  My legs were a little tight, but it felt good to get some solid miles in on the trails.  We were also able to find a few little pockets of fall.

Weekly Total Miles:  37.55

I’m still getting used to having a running schedule but I feel a lot better about it this week.  Again, I am trusting the process.  I’m looking forward to seeing what week three brings.  We've had little glimpses of fall here and I'm hoping for cooler weather soon. Maybe I'll find that in week three. 

What's the weather like where you live?  Have you brought out your fall/winter running clothes yet?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1