Oh Florida! An East Meets West Girl's TR: 8/9 p56 & 8/17 p57

[MEK]

Embarrassingly late to this party, but looking forward to catching up. Love the throwback to the first East meets West trip. What amazing friendships came out of that trip and what fun we had.

C!!!!!! Thanks for stopping by. Trust me - you are NOT late at all! It was funny because you posted just as I was writing a response to Cynthia saying how great it was to see you at dinner. That was really fun!

I will always have great memories of our East Meets West trip! It really was a special time!

Great race ladies! I admire your tenacity and perseverance in committing to something like this. Will I ever do it nah, but I admire y'all for doing it!

Thanks Bill! It was actually a really great experience. I'm so glad I decided to do it and that I made the commitment to train as much as I did. I would definitely recommend a Disney race to anyone.

I love all the F&G pics! That is the one "season" at WDW we have not visited during yet, and I'd love to go sometime. Looks beautiful!

It really IS a beautiful time. If you can ever plan a trip then definitely do it. By May its like summer, but March can be really nice. They do a great job with F&G and the topiaries are amazing.

Another thing that looks beautiful is that cronut! lol Yum! Gotta try one of those when we go back, for sure.

Eating one has almost become a rite of passage.

Loved the short recaps of PHM weekend. Looks like a blast...aside from those frozen pipes and all. lol

It was a great experience. I definitely recommend a Disney race to anyone. It's definitely worth it. We had a wonderful trip on so many levels and those stupid frozen pipes could not ruin that.

I couldn't agree more says the girl who has never been to the Statue of Liberty.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? From the girl from NYC? OK - I propose a road trip! I haven't spent time in the city myself, and I would definitely like to go up there and do some of the touristy things. I also want to see the 911 memorial. It was pretty convenient taking the commuter train from Trenton. the price was excellent, but the whole travel thing ate up too much of the day.

I went once with Friends to see Gilda Radner live on stage but other than that if it wasn't for school trips my trips to the theater would be non-existent. My mother made sure I saw Christmas in the City and we used to go to the circus at the Garden and Rockefeller Center but I distinctly remember going into the city during my college years and having a very nervous mother.

I know ALL about nervous mothers.

I bet Gildna Radner was wonderful. She is someone who died much too young.

I second that.

 

[MEK]

OMG - I have been working on replies for hours and I am STILL ON THE SAME PAGE. How is THAT Possible? This new DIS. Sheesh!

 

[Poolrat]

Dinner was fun! Denny really enjoyed himself and so did I. So glad we got to spend that time together and to ride ToT the next day. It was really great! I hope we have overlapping trips again. Maybe Pat will want to train for the PHM for next year. I already made my DVC registration so I am in for either the 10K or the 1/2.

I am struggling right now and wondering if I can do the 5k for the EEC. I really need to get back out there but this past couple of weeks have been horrible for my allergies. I got home a little early today and went outside, sneezed twice and went back in. Seriously it was awful, if I stayed out I would be in bed again like I was last week after sitting outside for a meeting.

Feb is a good time to go. Maybe Marv wants to run the 1/2?


Finally I can comment on the PHM mini TRs. I feel honored to be able to give what you needed ( even holding a hat )
I know how the crowd can help you through and I liked being a spectator- maybe a bit more that a runner a Disney race is amazing. It was great having some new and not so new DISmeets. Dinner with you and Denny was great and yes the Trattoria has YUM margaritas but we might need to go to ESPN to check those out.
I really enjoyed spending time with everyone and can't wait to do it again.

 

[MEK]

I am struggling right now and wondering if I can do the 5k for the EEC. I really need to get back out there but this past couple of weeks have been horrible for my allergies. I got home a little early today and went outside, sneezed twice and went back in. Seriously it was awful, if I stayed out I would be in bed again like I was last week after sitting outside for a meeting.

That is awful! Do you have someplace to go where you can run inside on the treadmill? It's better than nothing. I hope your allergies calm down soon. We have no foliage yet, so allergies are not an issue ...YET!

Feb is a good time to go. Maybe Marv wants to run the 1/2?

I love going into February. It really helps me with the winter blues. I am definitely going to do one of the races. Not sure if it will be the 10K or the 1/2.

Finally I can comment on the PHM mini TRs. I feel honored to be able to give what you needed ( even holding a hat )

If only I had seen you at mile 8.

I know how the crowd can help you through and I liked being a spectator- maybe a bit more that a runner a Disney race is amazing. It was great having some new and not so new DISmeets.

The spectators save me - pure and simple.

Dinner with you and Denny was great and yes the Trattoria has YUM margaritas but we might need to go to ESPN to check those out.

We had a great time that night. So glad we got to meet up for dinner and Epcot. And that rita was SOOOOOOOO good! I loved that they let me take one to go.

I really enjoyed spending time with everyone and can't wait to do it again.

Same!

 

[Poolrat]

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? From the girl from NYC? OK - I propose a road trip! I haven't spent time in the city myself, and I would definitely like to go up there and do some of the touristy things. I also want to see the 911 memorial. It was pretty convenient taking the commuter train from Trenton. the price was excellent, but the whole travel thing ate up too much of the day.

Maybe a road trip is in order. I can probably re-count school trips. One to the UN- We had a classmate becoming a citizen, Evita was a SS trip, numerous museum trips, Fantastiks was an English trip, A science trip to see a 3D movie when they "came back" in style for a short while. Deathtrap was an English trip which ruined horror movies for life for me. Mostly school buses but the Evita trip the crazy Teacher thought it would be cool to take 8th graders in on the train!!!

I look back and see how lucky I was to be able to experience all that even though there was always drama, like having said SS teacher let us have lunch at Nathan's on 42nd street.

I would love to go back at Christmas time but it is just so darned cold.

I know ALL about nervous mothers.

I bet Gildna Radner was wonderful. She is someone who died much too young.

I guess she had a right to be nervous but I was a junior in college... It was mostly because I was meeting friends IN the city and took the train by myself to Penn Station. The ride in was ..... creepy. The ride home at 2am... I actually bumped into a kid a went to high school with that was randomly on the train so my college friends sat me by him and thought he would get home but I didn't need him I was making sure he got home.

That is awful! Do you have someplace to go where you can run inside on the treadmill? It's better than nothing. I hope your allergies calm down soon. We have no foliage yet, so allergies are not an issue ...YET!

I have 2 fitness centers at my disposal but like Cynthia the dreadmill scares me. Fear of planting a knee wrong mostly. I hope I can get out early and then it should be fine. We went out Sat and I loaded up on Mucinex and inhaler and made it. This afternoon after getting home ( new car smell is nice but I don't think my allergies like it too much) I went outside to enjoy some warm weather and within 2 min let out 2 sneezes with more behind it. There was no point in risking it.

If only I had seen you at mile 8.

I wanted to get over there since the route back from MK is hard. But there was no way we would make it back to the finish line. I really wanted to try to get to the entrance to EPCOT but mile 13 won out.

We had a great time that night. So glad we got to meet up for dinner and Epcot. And that rita was SOOOOOOOO good! I loved that they let me take one to go.

Dinner was good. I would go back there easily.. Rita to go - that was nice.

 

[eandesmom]

Cynthia, awesome recap of the PHM! I'm just starting (again) to try to get into running. Not my thing, by a long shot, so I'm pushing myself a lot, but you gals really provide a LOT of inspiration and I THANK You for that!!
Your costumes are adorable!! I love them!
Your new "toy" is so cute, great way to remember each race.

ah well it wasn't my thing either, not by a long shot. It totally sucked rocks for a while before it became bearable. It is doable though, you can do it! And really it is not a huge time investment at all, a little really does go a long ways, far further than equal time in the gym I think!

Embarrassingly late to this party, but looking forward to catching up. Love the throwback to the first East meets West trip. What amazing friendships came out of that trip and what fun we had.

Christine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY, so happy you are here and so sorry I was such a dud at dinner. I just recall coveting your wine and feeling like a total conversation dud as I faded. It was SO great to see you and I promise to be more fun next time!

You aren't late at all, we are still on day 1 lol!

Great race ladies! I admire your tenacity and perseverance in committing to something like this. Will I ever do it nah, but I admire y'all for doing it!

You could though...if you wanted....just sayin

it gets you more trips to Disney....

LOL!

I am struggling right now and wondering if I can do the 5k for the EEC. I really need to get back out there but this past couple of weeks have been horrible for my allergies. I got home a little early today and went outside, sneezed twice and went back in. Seriously it was awful, if I stayed out I would be in bed again like I was last week after sitting outside for a meeting.

Allergies have been bad here too, Jeff has had to use his inhaler. I use Advil Cold and Sinus but have to take it after my runs as NSAID's while running are bad. Would it really matter for most of my runs? Probably not but safer not to.

Feb is a good time to go. Maybe Marv wants to run the 1/2?

Can you guys maybe find a local 5K to do over the summer or in the fall when allergies are better? Dreadmill? You can do this!

Finally I can comment on the PHM mini TRs. I feel honored to be able to give what you needed ( even holding a hat )
I know how the crowd can help you through and I liked being a spectator- maybe a bit more that a runner a Disney race is amazing. It was great having some new and not so new DISmeets. Dinner with you and Denny was great and yes the Trattoria has YUM margaritas but we might need to go to ESPN to check those out.
I really enjoyed spending time with everyone and can't wait to do it again.

Just get the Rita to go LOL!

I know Mary Ellen really appreciated dumping that hat. LOL!

 

[dizneeat]

Mary Ellen and Cynthia, I just wanted to let you know that I am here, reading and now all caught up. But with us going away at the end of the week time is an issue, so no other comments. Let me just add that I loved all your updates!

 

[afwdwfan]

That is awesome. Where did you find that????

A magical tool called Google.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

It was too cold for coffee on the balcony but I did take a picture of my new mug.

I thought coffee on the balcony was like the mail...it happens no matter what!

As we stood there the CM went

"you know, if you don’t see what you want, ESPN can make anything you like"

I said thanks but I’m just confirming what my friend wants.

She continued

"you know, ALL of ours are premade mixes, ESPN will make it to order and add as much alcohol as you want"

Okaaaaaayyyyy......

She continued

"and…if I don’t have any more customers in the next 2 minutes I can go ahead and close"

She was freezing

And miserable

And begging

So I said.....

I think I’ll go to ESPN!

LOL.

Hint, hint!

ESPN is not my kind of place. AT ALL.

Really? I had no idea.

This BLEW them away. I have to admit. Best Rita on property. Craziness I tell you, craziness!

We did, I confess, have a cowbell. Which our next door neighbor didn't appreciate.

Ah, now I get the picture. Mary Ellen conveniently left that part out.

We took some early pics and then headed off.

You all look way too happy to be up so early in the morning!

I have to say, running down Main Street and through the castle was absolutely magical, as was seeing Tomorrow land all lit up.

That does sound really cool.

However, I didn't really factor in the fact that there are THREE ramps in a row in the later part of the race.

That, however, does not!

The gospel choir lifted me and as I rounded the end I saw and heard Pat and Marv cheering for me.. That was VERY cool!!!!!!

Awesome! Now there are some quality DIS friends.

And proof I actually finished!

Congratulations Cynthia!

I am ok with it. It was a PR (personal record) by over 5 minutes.

Ok with a PR? Yeah, I'd be OK with that!

 

[dawnbu40]

All caught up!
Congrats again to both you ladies for your impressive showings at the PHM!

You all inspired Dale and I to do it next year in honor of our 50th bdays.

It was wonderful seeing both of you again too

 

[MEK]

Maybe a road trip is in order. I can probably re-count school trips. One to the UN- We had a classmate becoming a citizen, Evita was a SS trip, numerous museum trips, Fantastiks was an English trip, A science trip to see a 3D movie when they "came back" in style for a short while. Deathtrap was an English trip which ruined horror movies for life for me. Mostly school buses but the Evita trip the crazy Teacher thought it would be cool to take 8th graders in on the train!!!

Oh brother - 8th graders on a train. I bet she regretted that almost immediately.

I look back and see how lucky I was to be able to experience all that even though there was always drama, like having said SS teacher let us have lunch at Nathan's on 42nd street.

That's awesome!

But, seriously, you are lucky to have had those experiences. Most people don't. Sounds like mostly great memories.

I would love to go back at Christmas time but it is just so darned cold.

I hear ya! Christmas would be fun, but after this winter the thought of freezing does NOT appeal to me. AT ALL!

I guess she had a right to be nervous but I was a junior in college... It was mostly because I was meeting friends IN the city and took the train by myself to Penn Station. The ride in was ..... creepy. The ride home at 2am... I actually bumped into a kid a went to high school with that was randomly on the train so my college friends sat me by him and thought he would get home but I didn't need him I was making sure he got home.

Yup - I can see why your mom would be nervous about that. And coming home at 2am would be super creepy, especially in that dark area right before the station.

I have 2 fitness centers at my disposal but like Cynthia the dreadmill scares me. Fear of planting a knee wrong mostly. I hope I can get out early and then it should be fine. We went out Sat and I loaded up on Mucinex and inhaler and made it. This afternoon after getting home ( new car smell is nice but I don't think my allergies like it too much) I went outside to enjoy some warm weather and within 2 min let out 2 sneezes with more behind it. There was no point in risking it.

What a total pain. I didn't realize that your environmental allergies were as bad as your food allergies. That's terrible.

I wanted to get over there since the route back from MK is hard. But there was no way we would make it back to the finish line. I really wanted to try to get to the entrance to EPCOT but mile 13 won out.

There were spectators nears the Grand Floridian (across the street from it), but then there were NO spectators until mile 12. Thank goodness for those spectators. They save me!!!!

Dinner was good. I would go back there easily.. Rita to go - that was nice.

It was very good. I definitely enjoyed it!

Mary Ellen and Cynthia, I just wanted to let you know that I am here, reading and now all caught up. But with us going away at the end of the week time is an issue, so no other comments. Let me just add that I loved all your updates!

Thanks Karin! I know what it's like to be behind on the DIS. I've behind for the past month.

I hope you have an awesome trip!

A magical tool called Google.

But of course! Doh!

All caught up!
Congrats again to both you ladies for your impressive showings at the PHM!

Yay!

I'm not sure if my time was all that impressive. I really wanted to do better, but I am still satisfied that I finished and that I didn't have any serious injuries while training.

You all inspired Dale and I to do it next year in honor of our 50th bdays.

I think that is awesome! I am sure you guys will do great. I don't envy you for having to train in the heat of the summer, but by fall and winter you'll have it made. And you have each other to run with, so that's awesome! I will see you there!!!!!

It was wonderful seeing both of you again too

Agreed! And I am looking forward to seeing you guys again in August. Can't wait!

 

[MEK]

Before I start this update, just a few housekeeping things - Don't forget to read Cynthia's account of the PHM. I think its on page 20. I am going to try to get all the links done. I am afraid to change our subtitles because I think it messed up all the links last time.

Edited to say that as soon as I updated our TR title it screwed up all the update (chapter) links. Does anyone know HOW to fix this? I'm so irritated I think I have to get off the boards for a bit.

And - I am SLOWLY catching up on everyone's TRs. Please be patient with me. I know I have been terrible since I got home. I blame it on the fact that I am still working a lot of OT every other week. It's wearing me out. And now its time to prepare for Easter music, so that's extra rehearsals. Hopefully things will slow down soon!


After the Cronut

Ready for a real TR update? I think I am. Finally. So here we go.

I think I’ll start here. AFTER we met up with Cynthia. AFTER the cronut.



After we met I think there was a lapse in picture taking for awhile. We walked back into the world showcase for awhile.



Then we decided to do something I’ve never done before



We decided to cross the World Showcase Lagoon on the Boat! Yup. I’ve never done that before!



I took these pictures while waiting for our boat.





Can’t decide which I like better, so I posted both.









Once we hit the water I realized that this was a great photo op. I could see things from an entirely new perspective. Cool!





I know you can see the reflection of the glass in some of these pics.







Once again, I can’t decide which I like better

















So the boat was fun. I’m not sure how efficient it was, but it was nice to see things from a new vantage point.



Continued In the Next Post...

 

[MEK]

Group Shot!





Our next stop was here



Because, you know - you can NEVER have too many rides on Space Ship Earth!








I always try to take at least one different picture when I’m on this ride.















Unlike my ride earlier in the day with Pat (where our faces photographed in their entirety), Cynthia and I suffered from what I call the “swiss cheese” effect.



I would say we are pretty much unrecognizable! What do you think?



Our next attraction was LWTL. And we all know by now that this was actually Cynthia’s first trip on this infamous ride.



I always try to get pictures in the dark section - just to see if I can!



That Exit sign sort of blows it, doesn’t it?



I took a few too many pictures of the waterfalls.











Continued In the Next Post...

 

[MEK]

See - WAY too many fake waterfall pictures!

Moving On!



And then the blast of sunshine.



I actually didn’t take that many pictures during this section of the ride. Shocking, I know!





Black Pepper? OK, then!



I love me some sweet potatoes!





I still don’t know what a dragon fruit is!



I leave you with one final picture from LWTL



After LWTL we decided to call it an afternoon and head back to OKW. But not without a few Epcot pictures signaling our departure





Good Bye Epcot. We will most certainly be back!







Once we got back to the resort I am sure Cynthia finished unpacking and we discussed dinner options for the evening. It was a pretty easy decision. We decided to eat at Olivia’s. Cynthia had eaten there before, but this was a first for me.

On the way





Naturally we started off dinner with one of my (and I’m sure Cynthia’s) favorite drinks. The infamous Turtle Krawl



If you have never sampled one of these little beauties before, I suggest you do. Trust me! What are you waiting for?

Dinner for me was Shrimp and Grits.



You see - I should really have been born in the south. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE shrimp and grits and its not something I can get in my neck of the woods. So having shrimp and grits is a real treat for me. And this was especially delicious.

I think I pretty much had the perfect meal!

After dinner I took a few pictures. It was a gorgeous night and the sun was getting ready to set.



Continued In the Next Post.....

 

[MEK]

Like I said - a beautiful night!





Our plans for the rest of the evening - how about taking it easy and just chilling at the resort. After all, we had big plans for the morning. We were going to have breakfast with some princesses.

 

[Tracy161]

Ahhh, one of the beauties of Disney is that there's always new things to do and explore, no matter how well seasoned you are! The boat across the lagoon is an excellent example! And the pictures you captured are just stunning, really, really beautiful Mary Ellen!

I'm so glad you took some shots of LWTL, I really love that attraction and it's typically under-represented in TRs. So to you!

I, too, should have been born in the south... though less for the shrimp and grits (although I DO love me some grits!) and more for the weather! And we could both also add proximity to WDW!

 

[Poolrat]

Oh brother - 8th graders on a train. I bet she regretted that almost immediately.

Oh I think we were fine. It was the ditzy English teacher that took a group back to school on another train. Oh During rush hour!!!!!

I remember feeling like a chaperone on that trip. I felt the teachers had NO clue how to keep our group together, The same ditzy teacher took " the girls" to Bloomies on a city bus!!!! I stayed with my friends, synchronized watches and kept an eye on each other on 42nd street and the crazy gift shop near the theater selling " Home of the whopper " underwear. YES those things I remember.

That's awesome!

But, seriously, you are lucky to have had those experiences. Most people don't. Sounds like mostly great memories.

All good times and yes so easy to take it for granted.

What a total pain. I didn't realize that your environmental allergies were as bad as your food allergies. That's terrible.

Oh yeah - when the allergist comes in half way during the stick test for trees, weeds and grasses and says STOP that enough because everything is reacting.... I will be much better once the Bradford Pear trees lose the flowers.

There were spectators nears the Grand Floridian (across the street from it), but then there were NO spectators until mile 12. Thank goodness for those spectators. They save me!!!!

So hard to get there and then find a way to EPCOT does not involve running...

But that is where the bands and other groups cheering help. Coming into EPCOT is where you know - you will make it eventually but you will make it.

 

[SimplyGoofy]

It sounds like you had a lovely evening!

I'm not sure if I've ever taken the boat across the lake - it certainly produced a lot of good photo opportunities!

I'm glad Cynthia was able to experience Living with the Land! Whenever I ride that boat, I always sing the old "Listen to the Land" song in my head.

I always hear such great things about Olivia's! I might try and convince Anika to eat breakfast there (as we'll have a rental car for a few days of our trip). It would also be fun to see the resort!

 

[Wood Nymph]

We ate at Olivia's when we were there a few weeks ago and I had the shrimp and grits. I liked the shrimp a lot but thought that the grits had too much cheese in them. I like the version they have at the Flower and Garden booth. It was my first introduction to shrimp and grits.

Your photos are gorgeous. I don't think we have ever taken the Epcot boat. We'll have to try it one time.

 

[eandesmom]

Ugh - that sounds so frustrating. I think all the logistics are one of the reasons I don't do more races. I find all that crap annoying.

Bummer that they bailed. But yay for the shirt!

UGH AGAIN! VERY frustrating. I found my car dead after one of our trips. Totally my fault because I left the vanity mirror down and the light drained the battery. I will have to give the place props because one of the drivers actually charged my battery so we could get home. Sorry there was no beer garden. That sounds so much better than picking up your car.

Good for you for managing a PR with all those distractions, although I am sure it was a cool race. The St Patty's day races all seem really cool.

I think the Bay to Breakers sounds amazing. I have read what a cool race that is. Sounds like a great experience.

That is pretty cool actually. And I'm glad his knee was fine!

Jeff finds all that crap annoying too and that keeps me/us from doing more. Not that I don't find it annoying, I do, I just don't whine as loudly as he does lol. 4 seconds is barely a PR but I will take it.

Bay to Breakers though, that should be fun. Much more of an event than a race it should be a cool weekend. I scored too, I was looking at something else online the other night and realized that it was only 5,000 miles per leg for that weekend so snapped it up like THAT and then had a free Kimpton night I could use so the trip is costing us hardly anything and we now get to stay at one of our favorite hotels anywhere for the weekend.

I am glad his knee was fine too... I hear about it when it isn't lol!

It WAS pretty cool that we got some girl's time in. I think I really needed that. It was really wonderful of you guys for letting me stay there. That worked out SO perfect for me - you have no idea!

Hail to the rita. I SO needed that!

I am so glad Christine met us for dinner. It was awesome to see her. I am sure her adjustment can't be without some hiccups. I give her mad props for making that move. I don't know if I could be so brave.

You are braver than you think

I am so glad we got the girls time in, I needed it!!!!

I loved being with the pace group. I felt so perfect as the beginning, but some of them literally just skipped the water stops and I was too afraid to do that. I really thought we were going to really slow down for each one and we didn't. So I had one scenario in my mind and that's not how it went. I hope to be better prepared next time.

You did really really well! We were exactly the same time behind our desired pace groups.

And she was CRAZY fast.

I totally succumbed to self doubt towards the end of the race. It made me afraid to push through the pain because I was afraid. If I hadn't been up all night I think I could have forced myself more, but once the adrenaline of the newness is gone...well....

I think I only have one race ever and probably not even that, where I don't end thinking I could have forced myself more, that I didn't give up at a certain point or let up, or take water/fuel that maybe I didn't need or...whatever. VERY normal.

I really wasn't impressed with the food either. Even the lox and bagels were not as good as what I'm used to there. I kept thinking I was being picky because I was tired, but it goes a long with my overall impression that the food quality at Disney is declining. And that annoys me because I don't know which meals are going to be really good and which ones aren't going to be worth the $. Plus that bathroom was a disgrace.

Amen to that! I am glad I didn't have a final drink. I actually woke up feeling a bit hangover-ish, which was an unfamiliar feeling for sure.
Me too and I felt terrible that I kept falling asleep.

Ugh on the hungover ish. I would have been had I gotten another one, and I really kind of wanted one....but I didn't want to actually get up and deal with it, nor did I know what I wanted. So it was far easier to just sit. LOL!

I am so glad I didn't use that bathroom, it sounds like a nightmare. I actually had great food this trip, that was probably the worst of the bunch.

That pretty much stinks. I do hope the wine & dine is still around then, although part of me thinks I should finally hit DL in the fall of 2017.

I am sure you will figure something out. I have totally confidence.

Me too, I just have to figure out what makes the most sense

I am too! Seriously though - Here's what Cynthia did. She sewed our caps onto the back of our tanks. Then the morning of the race we pinned the wings in place. They were pined through the cape and into the tank. Mine didn't move at all. I didn't even realize the wings were on. Now the visor - well - that was a different story.

Yep, sewed the capes. Not the caps. LOL! I didn't notice the wings either. I was actually glad for the visor when the sun came out since I didn't have my sunglasses.

I agree that C's shoes look a mess. I am shocked they wore that much. I would be highly upset about that.

Hail to the ESPN rita. It was very relish!

It was ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as now trying to find another option to wear. Thought I had something, it was promising and then BOOM it failed the 6 miles Saturday + 10 miles Sunday test last weekend with icky blisters in the bad spot. Although they aren't really that bad...I know my feet and if that happened with that, it will keep happening and I can't pull off a half in those shoes (the replacement option). If I would have been running a half I would have ended with something really nasty, I can tell. However since I do have a half in 3 weeks (ok, 2.5 EEEK) I had to find something to try and so will be breaking in yet another different model tomorrow on a work trip "group" run at the event I am at. Should be interesting.... we will see if I can really do my planned 8 on Saturday (out of town) and then 12 on Sunday.

I don't have high hopes.

Cynthia's speed IS really awesome.

You are funny, I am not that speedy.

I think her shoes were already wearing excessively before the race and that totally pushed them over the edge. That wear was crazy. I would NOT be happy about that.

Actually that picture was taken BEFORE the half. I took it after my FW run with Ann. Absolutely ridiculous.

Mary Ellen and Cynthia, I just wanted to let you know that I am here, reading and now all caught up. But with us going away at the end of the week time is an issue, so no other comments. Let me just add that I loved all your updates!

You are doing better than I! I am not remotely caught up anywhere but have dreams!

I thought coffee on the balcony was like the mail...it happens no matter what!

COFFEE happens. The balcony...well, dude, if it's 30 degrees out...Nope.

Really? I had no idea.

Shocker I know

Ok with a PR? Yeah, I'd be OK with that!

Well....I expected to PR. I mean the math was simple.

Don't stop for a bio break or TWO
+
Don't take selfies
+
Don't stop at most of the water stops, walk them and drink WAY too much water because they give you giant cups
+
Don't get a giant blood blister and walk a lot of the last 3 miles
=
Have a PR!

LOL!

I had hoped for a bit better but realistically it was pretty spot on with what I expected. And hey, maybe if I am not running lopsided next time and take less water breaks (thus less walking) I can shave a little more off!

All caught up!
Congrats again to both you ladies for your impressive showings at the PHM!

You all inspired Dale and I to do it next year in honor of our 50th bdays.

It was wonderful seeing both of you again too

YAY! I will think of you guys at PHM as I'll have turned that big number myself just about 2 weeks prior! I would so love to do it again for the big bday but it's just not in the cards for next year. Sorry we didn't get to chat more, you both look amazing!!!!