A Pink Pixie Princess - Complete!

[Ariel484]

Thanks! I looked everywhere but in this thread lol! For some reason I thought it was older. That is the look I am going for, although I was thinking of a silver Sparkle Skirt, only because there is one on one of the facebook group sale pages and I can get it cheaper than the white one from SSH. Hmmm...

You got it! Probably thought it was older because this journal has been going on foorrrrrever!!

Silver or white would be great - either way you'd get a lot of use out of them for other outfits!

I like to think of over-packing as ensuring I won't need all the things (think umbrella, multiple shoes, medecine, jackets etc.) The whole rule that if you bring something you won't need it. Because I don't ever want to be the reason it rains or anyone gets sick (from not packing something and jinxing the trip.) So you can see how I end up with too much stuff every trip
But lately I have started to not pack things I know I can get if needed where I am staying, so I've gotten better. But yeah...still over pack.

Exactly. Plus - I am flying on Southwest on that trip, so I get free checked bags. May as well pack allll of the things!

Also I think I may be opposite of you for my next expo. I've often held-back on buying things because I've only been doing shorter races and there's usually not much for the 5k type crowd. So when I finally get to my first half marathon expo, I'm gonna be out of control. And will have to ask myself the dreaded "but will I use this in the real world" questions. Which are no fun, but practical.

I totally get that though - it's your first half!! Huge deal! You should have seen my haul at Dopey in 2015, it was insanity. I am to the point where I feel like I need to rein it in a bit!

 

[Ariel484]

Dopey Challenge Training - Week 6

The Week of the Crud!

Week 6 (10/10) - 18 miles planned, 11 miles completed
MO: 3 miles
TU: 5 miles
WE: 3 miles
TH: rest
FR: ST/yoga (rest)
SA: 7 miles (rest)
SU: ST/yoga (rest)

Step-back week...and somehow a third of the way through training already! What?! This is the last week in training that I had a long run less than 10 miles, until the second week of tapering in late December...EEK. I feel like this training cycle is going by incredibly quickly!

This week I moved up to running 2:45/walking 1:00. Monday’s run went well with the new interval...slowly creeping up! Another success on Monday - I bought tickets to game 2 of the ALCS! They were tougher to get than the ALDS tickets, and a little more expensive (like $20 per ticket more), but I managed (thanks for training me on how to purchase things quickly online, runDisney!). WOOHOO for the Indians sweeping Boston, and WOOHOO for homefield advantage!!

There is no eloquent way to say it - Tuesday’s run SUCKED! 5 miles on the treadmill, and it was such a mental battle. Physically it was fine - I was very happy with how my back held up - but I just wanted to quit from the beginning, especially because I felt a teeny tiny cold coming on. At the time I thought it was just one of those “the season is changing” deals (I turned out to be wrong…), but the cold didn’t really have an effect on this run, just something that I noticed starting up. Mostly I was just bored being on the treadmill for that long.

Wednesday’s run was good. Downright easy in comparison to Tuesday’s run! My cold or whatever felt better right after the run, but as the day went on I felt worse and more run down. I finally decided to take some medicine that afternoon (a decongestant - my head felt weird enough that I was having trouble focusing on work) and that made me feel a LOT better. Poor Mr. A was worse off than I was and ended up missing work on Wednesday and Thursday.

That evening, the tide turned - Mr. A was feeling better and I was feeling considerably worse once I got home from work. Thankfully I could work from home on Friday - I was in no shape to be in the office! I decided to take the day off from working out in hopes that I’d feel better on Saturday in time for my run...but the cold worsened and I ended up taking Saturday off as well. I felt well enough to go to game 2 of the ALCS (WINDIANS!!) but there were points where I wasn’t sure I’d make it to the end of the game. Both Mr. A and I got caught up in the excitement of the whole thing and did stay until the end, but we were wiped out when it was done. If it was normal Ohio October weather we probably would have sold the tickets and stayed home, but we’ve been having unseasonably warm temperatures lately, so it was downright pleasant out.

I’m glad I went so that I could see my friends LeBron, JR, Kevin et al.

Former Cleveland Indian/speed demon Kenny Lofton was also in attendance. So cool!!

So now the hope was to run on Sunday, but when I woke up I still felt pretty terrible...so this was my first missed run of training. I’m not gonna sweat it too much - missing runs, especially long runs, isn’t ideal, but if I had to miss one I’m glad it was a stepback run...and I really think I needed the rest. By the end of the day Sunday I was feeling better and was pretty groggy - I usually get to a point where I’m sick where I start to feel like it’s time to get back to my normal routine, like that would be better for me than just lazing around, and I was to that point late Sunday. Hooray!

Another note from this week: Wine & Dine course maps and bib numbers were leaked.

I’m pretty happy with my and Mr. A’s bib numbers for the races. I’m guessing I’ll be in Corral A for the 5K and that Mr. A will be in A or B for the 10K...and I’ll be in D or E for the half (EDIT: E it is!) and A or B for the 10K (basing this off of comparing my bib number to the Empire Challenge corrals).

I have mixed feelings on the 10K - it’s the same course they use in January and February, which is one of my favorite runDisney race courses, but I wish they’d have more variety in their race weekends.

As for the half marathon...if you look at the course map for the 2016 WDW Marathon and the WDW/Princess Half Marathons, you can see where they came up with this course. It’s essentially miles 9-17 of the marathon (in reverse) and miles 9-13.1 of the half marathon courses.

Behold my MS Paint Skillz...marathon course in black & white, WDW/Princess Half in color, Wine & Dine at the bottom:


Good things I can say about this course: at least I’ve run it all before, so I know what to expect...and at least they didn’t make up the miles we lost by skipping DHS inside Wide World of Sports. But they could have made the half way better with a lap through the World Showcase - something they couldn’t do when this was a night race thanks to the after party.

Basically I think these courses coming from runDisney show extreme laziness on their part, which is especially funny after they put up a blog post talking about all of the works that goes into designing the courses. Whatever you say, runDisney!

Having said that - still SUPER excited for this race weekend!!

Continued in Next Post

 

[roxymama]

No World Showcase for the half ???????? During Wine n Dine????
Is that because of the food booths needing to set up early (and maybe the 10k is dunzo way earlier than the half?) The 10k goes through it right?

And the 5 mile thing on the treadmill....I FEEL YOU! I've got 7 lined up for Thursday and I'm already making excuses that I will eventually have to talk myself out of. Booooooring.

Edited to add that it looks like the Epcot golf ball has a dangling...ummm...nevermind

 

[Ariel484]

No World Showcase for the half ???????? During Wine n Dine????
Is that because of the food booths needing to set up early (and maybe the 10k is dunzo way earlier than the half?) The 10k goes through it right?

When the race was a night race it made sense - the party would be going on right when the race was done so they couldn't have he party going AND have runners on the course in the same area. But now the race is in the morning and the party is later that night so I was hoping...sigh. Yeah, the 10K course goes through WS. It's way better!

And the 5 mile thing on the treadmill....I FEEL YOU! I've got 7 lined up for Thursday and I'm already making excuses that I will eventually have to talk myself out of. Booooooring.

Right? I kept telling myself I was building mental toughness and how that was a good thing. BLECH!!

Edited to add that it looks like the Epcot golf ball has a dangling...ummm...nevermind

DYING. DEAD.

You know how many times I've looked at that course map and have never put that together?? You've forever altered my world here!!!

 

[roxymama]

Well the close up of the dangle is a uterus, soooooo


Please don't ban me

 

[pixarmom]

That IS in my direction! I think I know which campus you are going to...pretty campus. I don't know the Berea area quite as well, but there are nice surrounding areas...Olmsted Falls will be nearby, it's a cute little town. Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted will also be somewhat close (10-15 minutes) so there are restaurants around there as well, and the mall has a Disney store (though the last couple of times I have gone through it has been mostly kids stuff ). If you want to go out a little further, there are good restaurants in Rocky River and Westlake (which also has an outdoor shopping area, Crocker Park - couple of restaurants in there as well. B Spot is good for burgers!). And Downtown Cleveland has some good places as well, but again, may be a little out of the way for you. Good luck with the college visits!!

Thanks so much! Great to have some guidance - we're entirely unfamiliar with the area and this helps give us some perspective! I was initially thinking about Downtown, but our son is a prospective conservatory student, so his itinerary includes sitting in on an evening rehearsal - close and quick is good!

 

[pixarmom]

Dopey Challenge Training - Week 6

The Week of the Crud!

Week 6 (10/10) - 18 miles planned, 11 miles completed
MO: 3 miles
TU: 5 miles
WE: 3 miles
TH: rest
FR: ST/yoga (rest)
SA: 7 miles (rest)
SU: ST/yoga (rest)

Step-back week...and somehow a third of the way through training already! What?! This is the last week in training that I had a long run less than 10 miles, until the second week of tapering in late December...EEK. I feel like this training cycle is going by incredibly quickly!

This week I moved up to running 2:45/walking 1:00. Monday’s run went well with the new interval...slowly creeping up! Another success on Monday - I bought tickets to game 2 of the ALCS! They were tougher to get than the ALDS tickets, and a little more expensive (like $20 per ticket more), but I managed (thanks for training me on how to purchase things quickly online, runDisney!). WOOHOO for the Indians sweeping Boston, and WOOHOO for homefield advantage!!

There is no eloquent way to say it - Tuesday’s run SUCKED! 5 miles on the treadmill, and it was such a mental battle. Physically it was fine - I was very happy with how my back held up - but I just wanted to quit from the beginning, especially because I felt a teeny tiny cold coming on. At the time I thought it was just one of those “the season is changing” deals (I turned out to be wrong…), but the cold didn’t really have an effect on this run, just something that I noticed starting up. Mostly I was just bored being on the treadmill for that long.

Wednesday’s run was good. Downright easy in comparison to Tuesday’s run! My cold or whatever felt better right after the run, but as the day went on I felt worse and more run down. I finally decided to take some medicine that afternoon (a decongestant - my head felt weird enough that I was having trouble focusing on work) and that made me feel a LOT better. Poor Mr. A was worse off than I was and ended up missing work on Wednesday and Thursday.

That evening, the tide turned - Mr. A was feeling better and I was feeling considerably worse once I got home from work. Thankfully I could work from home on Friday - I was in no shape to be in the office! I decided to take the day off from working out in hopes that I’d feel better on Saturday in time for my run...but the cold worsened and I ended up taking Saturday off as well. I felt well enough to go to game 2 of the ALCS (WINDIANS!!) but there were points where I wasn’t sure I’d make it to the end of the game. Both Mr. A and I got caught up in the excitement of the whole thing and did stay until the end, but we were wiped out when it was done. If it was normal Ohio October weather we probably would have sold the tickets and stayed home, but we’ve been having unseasonably warm temperatures lately, so it was downright pleasant out.

I’m glad I went so that I could see my friends LeBron, JR, Kevin et al.

Former Cleveland Indian/speed demon Kenny Lofton was also in attendance. So cool!!

So now the hope was to run on Sunday, but when I woke up I still felt pretty terrible...so this was my first missed run of training. I’m not gonna sweat it too much - missing runs, especially long runs, isn’t ideal, but if I had to miss one I’m glad it was a stepback run...and I really think I needed the rest. By the end of the day Sunday I was feeling better and was pretty groggy - I usually get to a point where I’m sick where I start to feel like it’s time to get back to my normal routine, like that would be better for me than just lazing around, and I was to that point late Sunday. Hooray!

Another note from this week: Wine & Dine course maps and bib numbers were leaked.

I’m pretty happy with my and Mr. A’s bib numbers for the races. I’m guessing I’ll be in Corral A for the 5K and that Mr. A will be in A or B for the 10K...and I’ll be in D or E for the half (EDIT: E it is!) and A or B for the 10K (basing this off of comparing my bib number to the Empire Challenge corrals).

I have mixed feelings on the 10K - it’s the same course they use in January and February, which is one of my favorite runDisney race courses, but I wish they’d have more variety in their race weekends.

As for the half marathon...if you look at the course map for the 2016 WDW Marathon and the WDW/Princess Half Marathons, you can see where they came up with this course. It’s essentially miles 9-17 of the marathon (in reverse) and miles 9-13.1 of the half marathon courses.

Behold my MS Paint Skillz...marathon course in black & white, WDW/Princess Half in color, Wine & Dine at the bottom:


Good things I can say about this course: at least I’ve run it all before, so I know what to expect...and at least they didn’t make up the miles we lost by skipping DHS inside Wide World of Sports. But they could have made the half way better with a lap through the World Showcase - something they couldn’t do when this was a night race thanks to the after party.

Basically I think these courses coming from runDisney show extreme laziness on their part, which is especially funny after they put up a blog post talking about all of the works that goes into designing the courses. Whatever you say, runDisney!

Having said that - still SUPER excited for this race weekend!!

Continued in Next Post

I'll be really interested in your race report when you return! Wondering about your thoughts regarding the changes in Wine and Dine and whether it's still unique enough to warrant an extra trip. Also very jealous of all the waivers and bibs - still waiting for DL Super Heroes . . . Too funny about that runDisney blog post about course design - I read it and thought the same thing!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Those game pics are awesome! How fun to be there!

Congrats on a 5 mile treadmill run. You're right that right there is all about the mental toughness and it is sooooo hard!

Training question for you: how often do you take a step back week? I'm kind of designing my own training plan for the next few months, and a step back here and there when you are ramping up mileage makes a lot of sense!


Also um @roxymama? bah hahahaha!!! That seriously made me lol

 

[Ariel484]

Well the close up of the dangle is a uterus, soooooo


Please don't ban me

Hahahahaha!!!

I declare you - NOT BANNED! (As if I had that kind of power.)

Thanks so much! Great to have some guidance - we're entirely unfamiliar with the area and this helps give us some perspective! I was initially thinking about Downtown, but our son is a prospective conservatory student, so his itinerary includes sitting in on an evening rehearsal - close and quick is good!

Yeah, downtown may be a little far - and depending on when you come we may have some play-off action still going on downtown (fingers crossed) so it could be a little busy. But it sounds like closer is better anyway so good!

I'll be really interested in your race report when you return! Wondering about your thoughts regarding the changes in Wine and Dine and whether it's still unique enough to warrant an extra trip. Also very jealous of all the waivers and bibs - still waiting for DL Super Heroes . . . Too funny about that runDisney blog post about course design - I read it and thought the same thing!

Well, so far, I'm disappointed in the changes. I really liked it being a night race - that made the weekend so unique compared to the other weekends. And the older course was awesome going through 3 parks...which, I understand they can't do that now with the construction in DHS...I think they could have done better with the half course for this year. But I'm still excited to go there and run, and really excited for Food & Wine with Mr. A!!

Those game pics are awesome! How fun to be there!

It was really fun. Lots of Toronto fans there, too! Everyone was pretty respectful. First away game is tonight and I am NERVOUS!

Congrats on a 5 mile treadmill run. You're right that right there is all about the mental toughness and it is sooooo hard!

Yeah, I know I'm supposed to be grateful that I can run, and I am...but MAN was it boring!

Training question for you: how often do you take a step back week? I'm kind of designing my own training plan for the next few months, and a step back here and there when you are ramping up mileage makes a lot of sense!

This is the training plan I am using right now: http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

In the beginning you increase for 2 weeks, and then the 3rd week is a stepback week. Then you increase again for 2 weeks, and then stepback week on the 3rd. Once the mileage gets *up there* (18 miles), then you increase 1 week and then stepback the next week - and then the magical, wonderful taper!

Also um @roxymama? bah hahahaha!!! That seriously made me lol

Seriously, she's killing me right now!!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

This is the training plan I am using right now: http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

In the beginning you increase for 2 weeks, and then the 3rd week is a stepback week. Then you increase again for 2 weeks, and then stepback week on the 3rd. Once the mileage gets *up there* (18 miles), then you increase 1 week and then stepback the next week - and then the magical, wonderful taper!

Perfect! Thank you!

 

[Keels]

I just may take you up on that!!

It will cost you ONE high-five when I see you on the course during the 5K!

 

[rteetz]

That course just looks strange to me. Not a lot of park time it seems. I read that blog post too where they try to give as much park time as they can.

Glad you had a good time at the Indians game I am watching them win game 3 right now.

 

[Ariel484]

Perfect! Thank you!

It will cost you ONE high-five when I see you on the course during the 5K!

One whole high five?! So demanding!

That course just looks strange to me. Not a lot of park time it seems. I read that blog post too where they try to give as much park time as they can.

Yep, I agree. I think they could have made it better but what are ya gonna do? Sigh...

Glad you had a good time at the Indians game I am watching them win game 3 right now.

These 8PM (sorry, 8:08PM) games are killing me, they end past my bedtime! 1 more to go...

 

[Dis5150]

These 8PM (sorry, 8:08PM) games are killing me, they end past my bedtime! 1 more to go...

I feel your pain! I am on central time and my team is on the west coast. All home games and most games played in their division start at 9:00 pm! But since we got eliminated in game 4, I am rooting for the Cubs to beat the Dodgers (as a Giants fan this is a requirement!), but have been rooting for the Indians and will root for them in the World Series after they sweep the Blue Jays!

 

[roxymama]

Yes, I feel your pain with the late game starts! I always try to stay up and I always end up missing all the good parts while I'm half asleep on my couch or in bed.

I'm a White Sox fan but the whole city here is going Cubs crazy right now. My family is in Ohio so it would be cool to see Cubs vs Indians. I think an all midwest time-zone world series sounds just fine.

 

[ZellyB]

The game looks like so much fun and looks like you had some beautiful weather.

Well done on those corral placements too! That half course is pretty disappointing I'd say. One of the things I was most excited about before the shortened W&D course was that you got to run through 3 parks during a half which I thought was pretty awesome. I hope that once construction at DHS is completed they go back to the same course again. A friend who runs with us occasionally on our mid-day runs ran with us today. She's headed down for W&D too and I was so jealous hearing her talk about it. It's so soon!!!! Any final decisions on your race outfit? I haven't checked to see if the kimono kit is still available online. Isn't that one of your deciding factors?

 

[Ariel484]

I feel your pain! I am on central time and my team is on the west coast. All home games and most games played in their division start at 9:00 pm! But since we got eliminated in game 4, I am rooting for the Cubs to beat the Dodgers (as a Giants fan this is a requirement!), but have been rooting for the Indians and will root for them in the World Series after they sweep the Blue Jays!

Well that's crappy! Normally we have games at 7PM Eastern, and I'm always bummed then they go to the West Coast and things are moved back to 10...how do you ever see any games?! Today's game is at 4, though, so I'll be able to listen to/see the whole thing. SO NERVOUS!

I appreciate your good vibes for the Tribe!

Yes, I feel your pain with the late game starts! I always try to stay up and I always end up missing all the good parts while I'm half asleep on my couch or in bed.

Apparently I didn't miss much last night, just our relievers mowing the Jays down!

I'm a White Sox fan but the whole city here is going Cubs crazy right now. My family is in Ohio so it would be cool to see Cubs vs Indians. I think an all midwest time-zone world series sounds just fine.

Oh, I'm sure they are. I know most people pix the Sox or Cubs, but I feel like if you were in Chicago, how could you not want the Cubs to win? Maybe there is more to picknig the Sox or Cubs that I don't understand.

All-Midwest would be pretty awesome. The Midwest rocks!

The game looks like so much fun and looks like you had some beautiful weather.

We did! It was, like, 80 degrees. Crazy. I'm currently trying to decide if I want to buy World Series ticket (assuming we make it) and I know it'll be a way different experience because after today I think temps drop about 20 degrees or so, like they're supposed to...

Well done on those corral placements too! That half course is pretty disappointing I'd say. One of the things I was most excited about before the shortened W&D course was that you got to run through 3 parks during a half which I thought was pretty awesome. I hope that once construction at DHS is completed they go back to the same course again. A friend who runs with us occasionally on our mid-day runs ran with us today. She's headed down for W&D too and I was so jealous hearing her talk about it. It's so soon!!!! Any final decisions on your race outfit? I haven't checked to see if the kimono kit is still available online. Isn't that one of your deciding factors?

Yeah, I just wish there was more Epcot in the course. I was never impressed with the Epcot portion of the WDW/Princess Half, and that's all the Epcot we get for Wine & Dine, so that was disappointing. I do love running in Animal Kingdom, so I was happy to see that part.

The old Wine & Dine course was my favorite runDisney course after the Marathon - like you said, 3 parks!! I should just be glad that I got to do that course twice, I guess, and just stop whining.

Pretty sure I'm going to stick with Kimono for the half - ISO got delivered to me yesterday but I haven't tried it on yet. I'm REALLY hoping this year's Christmas stuff will ship soon and I'll have it for the 5K, but I'm not banking on that.

 

[roxymama]

Yeah, Cubs vs Sox seems to have been more heated back before the Sox won a world series. I think both teams wanted to be the first to win again after a bajillion years. After the Sox won in 2005 I feel like a lot of Sox fans "softened" and were more "capable" of rooting for the Cubs to get their big win.
I've always been a Sox fan first just due to geography and nostalgia for the home field I went to most often growing up, but I've never been a Cubs hater.

My Ohio family are all big time Reds fans, but we still went to Indian games growing up too

 

[Dis5150]

Well that's crappy! Normally we have games at 7PM Eastern, and I'm always bummed then they go to the West Coast and things are moved back to 10...how do you ever see any games?! Today's game is at 4, though, so I'll be able to listen to/see the whole thing. SO NERVOUS!

I appreciate your good vibes for the Tribe!

A lot of very tired next days lol! Actually I have DirectTV Extra Innings so I get the mlb package free online. I can watch the games 1 hour after they are played so I can watch them the next day online. But usually I watch until 11:00pm and then DVR the rest. Then if we win I watch the rest of the game the next day, before the new game comes on. If we lose I delete it,lol!
I always love when we play on the east coast or Midwest!

 

[SarahDisney]

I gotta say, I'm not super impressed with the course for the half. I don't like that it's only 2 parks when it used to be 3.

Also ... I've decided that October baseball isn't happening this year. If the Yankees aren't in it, it doesn't count.
I don't know why I took so long to reach this conclusion, but ... whatever.