AJollyHoliday with the Wine and Dine Half Marathon 2016~ PTR

[rteetz]

I followed all the registration hoopla on the runDisney board. When I'm not running I love following along with those things for some reason. I'm glad you got everything you wanted.

I've never stayed at AKL but have always wanted to. Some day. That is an excellent view I can see why you own there.

I like your costume ideas!

Cancer does suck my grandma is currently battling pancreatic cancer.

 

[AJollyHoliday]

I followed all the registration hoopla on the runDisney board. When I'm not running I love following along with those things for some reason. I'm glad you got everything you wanted.

I've never stayed at AKL but have always wanted to. Some day. That is an excellent view I can see why you own there.

I like your costume ideas!

Cancer does suck my grandma is currently battling pancreatic cancer.

I am so sorry about your grandmother. Mine also battled pancreatic cancer. It is so tough to watch. I do consider myself one of the luckiest people alive.

AKL is beautiful! Such a different resort with such beautiful decorations and views. Not to mention Sanaa, yum! Being vegetarian, Sanaa is one of our most favorite places.

 

[AJollyHoliday]

Hot Chocolate 15k Race
​

This weekend DH and I ran the Hot Chocolate 15k in Philly. My parents live about 45 mins outside Philly so we take any opportunity to run races in that awesome city. Oh before I go too far, GO WILDCATS!! My dad is a dean at Villanova so we are Wildcat fans and last night's NCAA championship game was amazing! Ok, back to the race. We had our packets mailed to us because we couldn't get down there for the packet pickup and we didn't want to ask my dad to drive into the city to get them (good this too because he had to fly to Houston Friday for the game).

We drove down and had a nice dinner with my mom. This was DH's first big city race and actually the first race he did outside of NY. He has been a runner for a long time, just not a big racer. Now he has caught the bug and will tick off 3 states this year. The weather was going to be semi-warm, in the low 50s, and they were predicting rain. I am fine with running in a light rain, just not when it is rainy and cold (I did a marathon in the rain while it was in the 40s, it was brutal). We prepaid for parking and got up and drove into the city. DH had trouble sleeping, which is totally normal before a race. This was going to be my 6th race in Philly so I was fine, I stopped having pre-race jitters a couple of years ago. We got to the parking garage that we prepaid for and got the last spot. It was a mad house! We started walking to the start which was a little over 1/2 mile away and it was raining. Not heavy, just enough to annoy us. It let up by the time we got to the start.

We got in line for the bathroom and then just hung around for 10mins before getting into our corral. We were somehow in the front corral, which was fine, but I have no idea how we were placed there. We registered so long ago that I can't remember what information I had to enter. The gun went off and we were off. The first mile is in the city then the rest of the race is an out and back along the river. Not my favorite course, but it is nice and flat which is hard to come by in Philly. The crew teams were out on the river which was fun to watch. The rain had stopped at this point and we were having a nice race with a good even pace. I was feeling really strong and just so happy to be out racing again! DH was feeling it a little more. He has been really stressed at work and our CrossFit workouts the week prior left him sore. Regardless, he rallied and we kept a very even pace, even though he felt we were slowing. The last couple miles the rain started coming down and the temperature was dropping slightly. We could see the art museum up ahead and I knew the finish was close. DH thought we had further to go, but then I yelled, SPRINT! And he kicked it up! We crossed at 1:23 and change. I was so happy! When I ran this race 2 years ago with my sister, we finished in 1:19. This was my first big race after cancer and I was so happy to feel as strong as I did. Heck 4 months ago I was struggling through 3 miles!

Here is DH and I after the race with the "Rocky" steps in the background.

Here is my watch, I am so pleased with our 8:59 pace:

Before I went in for surgery, I worked out really hard because I wanted to make sure that I was strong enough to make a quick recovery. 3 weeks after my surgery (which involved removing 4 1/2 feet of my colon) I was back to run/walking. I kept that up all throughout my chemo. It was hard as hell, but I knew that it was keeping me strong and helping me bounce back between rounds of chemo (I went every other week). I was worried that I would not recover my speed very quickly after treatments ended, but I think that working out throughout and then doing spin, CrossFit, and running helped me tremendously. I was worried about my half marathons coming up in May, but this race gave me the confidence that I could do it! DH is running one of the 1/2 marathons with me so he was feeling good too about how we did. He ran a marathon in the fall, but then took it somewhat easy this winter running about 5 miles 4 days a week. Overall, we were so thrilled with this race and of course thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate goodies after. Seriously, this race has the best swag. Just look at those medals! They are only second to Disney in terms of swag and medal design. The first year we ran it, there were no medals so I was very excited to have it this time, I am all about the bling.

 

[AJollyHoliday]

Wine and Dine Planning
​

The 7 month window opened up on Sunday so we had to make some decisions. We have a 2 bedroom booked at AKL-Kidani and we are completely happy with that, however, if we got into Boardwalk or Beach Club, well that would be just the icing on the trip. So my BF and I talked things over, then ran it by the husbands (us ladies are the real planners when we vacation together). We decided to waitlist both resorts and cross our fingers. Only BCV had partial availability and that was just 1 day. But we have 7 months so I am eternally optimistic that something will open up. Fingers crossed!

Now, time to update how my GC savings are going. We started at $0 because we spent everything in March. However, in the 3 weeks we had been home, we earned enough through PerkTV, Swagbucks, Shopkick, and Target purchases to buy a $100 GC. I like to hit the $100 mark before buying GCs. Here are the details:

$100 Disney GC
Paid $4.75
Savings $95.25
​

Oh how I love this game! The cashier said she was impressed and jealous. I told her it is a little game I like to play, she said "Clearly you are winning." Yes I am !

 

[TeeterTots]

Wine and Dine Planning
​

The 7 month window opened up on Sunday so we had to make some decisions. We have a 2 bedroom booked at AKL-Kidani and we are completely happy with that, however, if we got into Boardwalk or Beach Club, well that would be just the icing on the trip. So my BF and I talked things over, then ran it by the husbands (us ladies are the real planners when we vacation together). We decided to waitlist both resorts and cross our fingers. Only BCV had partial availability and that was just 1 day. But we have 7 months so I am eternally optimistic that something will open up. Fingers crossed!

Now, time to update how my GC savings are going. We started at $0 because we spent everything in March. However, in the 3 weeks we had been home, we earned enough through PerkTV, Swagbucks, Shopkick, and Target purchases to buy a $100 GC. I like to hit the $100 mark before buying GCs. Here are the details:

$100 Disney GC
Paid $4.75
Savings $95.25
​

Oh how I love this game! The cashier said she was impressed and jealous. I told her it is a little game I like to play, she said "Clearly you are winning." Yes I am !

Awesome job on the race!! You should be so proud! I admire your strength coming back from such an intense surgery and treatments. I'm getting excited for my 10K Sunday except that it will be in the 30s....April 10?..in VA! Ugh! I'm from upstate NY, but come on! Lol! At least we'll be in the warm Disney sunshine the following Sunday! Yay!

I'm so envious of your swag/shop/perk! I need to get the hang of it. With all the stinkin' devices in this house I should be racking it in. Maybe I'll set up accounts for my husband and children I use shopkick the most and I let the perk tv run through the trailers but it's so few points. Ive got time!

 

[TeeterTots]

Hello all!
Well I did it! I ran my first race! A 10K! It felt great! My "official" time 1:01:41 with a pace of 9:57! I'm very pleased! I ran the entire race. My plan was to walk/run but I felt good, so I just kept going at a nice steady pace. I had a goal of under an hour but for a first time runner who has only trained for 6 weeks I'm very proud! P.S. The temp was 21 degrees!

Thanks to my upcoming trip "home," yay, my shopkicks are climbing! I'm a little annoyed because while grocery shopping yesterday I forgot to open my app entering the store so I didn't get my 35 points, but I spent too much so that was rewarded! I hope you all enjoying your weekend.

 

[AJollyHoliday]

Hello all!
Well I did it! I ran my first race! A 10K! It felt great! My "official" time 1:01:41 with a pace of 9:57! I'm very pleased! I ran the entire race. My plan was to walk/run but I felt good, so I just kept going at a nice steady pace. I had a goal of under an hour but for a first time runner who has only trained for 6 weeks I'm very proud! P.S. The temp was 21 degrees!

Thanks to my upcoming trip "home," yay, my shopkicks are climbing! I'm a little annoyed because while grocery shopping yesterday I forgot to open my app entering the store so I didn't get my 35 points, but I spent too much so that was rewarded! I hope you all enjoying your weekend.

Congratulations!!! That is an awesome time and pace! I am glad you felt good enough to run the whole race, what an accomplishment for your first race! You are going to rock the Lumiere challenge! Where was the race?

I am in mid-state NY and it was in the 20s when DH and I went out for an 11 miler on Sunday. Our DD was at a sleepover so we took the opportunity to go for a run together. It doesn't usually happen that much, but lately DD is having more sleepovers so we have been enjoying it. We both felt heavy in the legs, the wind was a beast, it was in the 20s, and a hilly area. When we finished we both agreed it sucked, but our pace was 9:38 which shocked us both. This weekend is looking to be in the 60s for highs so I am hoping for some good running weather!

 

[TeeterTots]

Congratulations!!! That is an awesome time and pace! I am glad you felt good enough to run the whole race, what an accomplishment for your first race! You are going to rock the Lumiere challenge! Where was the race?

I am in mid-state NY and it was in the 20s when DH and I went out for an 11 miler on Sunday. Our DD was at a sleepover so we took the opportunity to go for a run together. It doesn't usually happen that much, but lately DD is having more sleepovers so we have been enjoying it. We both felt heavy in the legs, the wind was a beast, it was in the 20s, and a hilly area. When we finished we both agreed it sucked, but our pace was 9:38 which shocked us both. This weekend is looking to be in the 60s for highs so I am hoping for some good running weather!

Thank you! I feel really good about it! The race was in Frederick, MD. I live in northern VA but was raised in the fingerlakes. In fact, we have a lake house there so I'll be there all of July and August. I'm only running the half in Nov as I was afraid it would be too much to do the challenge, but I think I'll run another 10K and likely a half in Sept too! Who knew running was so addicting! Lol

 

[momabaarjo]

Has it been a year already? WoW Jennifer...again you are so strong and look at the training that you are already back into! You amaze me. So jealous of the Hot Chocolate Race. I wish I would have not talked myself out of it! Congrats on a great race!

I hope you get BC! That would be so much fun to have you around too!

Okay, I need you to help me...walk through how to buy gift cards for Disney at Target using our gift cards from Swagbucks! I need to start cashing mine in and have no clue how to save at the checkout like you did.

 

[AJollyHoliday]

Tammie~ In the Target app, there is a way to enter your GCs and keep them all there. Then I have them all in one place and it is easier to use them. I grab my $100 GCs and go to the checkout. Then I pull up the app, go to My Gift Cards and you can tap one and just scroll through them. They make it quite easy. You use to be able to combine them all into one GC, but they don't do that in the app anymore. I like using the app because I have GCs from Swagbucks, PerkTV (which I am getting $10 a week with now), and purchases (just got $5 for buying paper towels and toilet paper). With the app, they are all in one place. The only one I can't combine in the app is the Shopkick GCs. Does this help? I can't wait to hear about it when you go, people behind me in line are always in shock. Nothings quite feels like walking out of Target paying under $5 for $100 GC. BTW, you totally impress me with your SB powers! You are awesome! I love TTP and LTG, but I have not seen either in awhile. I hope they come back soon.

 

[momabaarjo]

Tell me about PerkTV...that is awesome $10 a week. Do you have a refer link?

 

[AJollyHoliday]

Tammie~ At first, I thought Perk was taking way too long to earn points, then I started giving it a try again and now we are up to $10 a week! Perk just runs movie trailers and other videos. I run it on all our ipads at once (we have 3 ipads in our house) then when our phones are done with SB, I run it on all our phones. We can log into the same account on all the devices so the points rack up. I really rack them up on the weekends when we are home and literally run it all day long. Once in awhile you have to hit a button that asks if you are still watching, but that is after 4+ hours. It is a lot less buggy than SB and doesn't hang up on ads or anything like that.

Here is the link:
https://www.perk.com/

Let me know how you do! I really love playing this "free money" game. I laugh too because I actually watch some of the movie trailers sometimes .

 

[momabaarjo]

Thanks Jennifer...I was hoping you would get some credit for me signing up, since I blew it with the refer link when I started SB!

I made the decision not to teach summer school (at least in June) and do 7 days of training teachers and going to lose around $1000 extra...which is scary with DD in college...but I need a break. That means I really need to up my FREE money game so this trip (and marathon in 2018) does not come out of my household budget. So I am going to give perk a try...with dd home I will have plenty of devices to run everything off of and hopefully time! LOL

I see there is a DIS thread going on PERKS...so time for me to study up and learn so that June 14 I am ready to roll and earn like you.

 

[AJollyHoliday]

Wine and Dine Planning
​

We have earned another $100 GC using a combination of swagbucks, PerkTV, and target purchases. Right now, our total is:

$200 in Disney GC
$9.50 paid
$190.50 in savings
​

I love seeing the savings total go up! My goal is around a $100 GC per month (if more than great). That would give us close to $900 in GC by the time we go in November.

In other planning news, we booked our flights for the trip home. SW didn't open up the date, but Jet Blue did and it was a good price even with the option to pay for luggage. So up next would be to start planning our meals and talking about FP+. I know that is early, but studies have shown that vacation planning gives you boosts of happiness so I will take any hit of happiness I can get .

How is everyone else doing in saving up for their trip? I know there are threads for Swagbucks and PerkTV (not much to do with this app except let it run), but if you have any questions to ask or big tips you want to share, please do!

 

[AJollyHoliday]

Cross Training
​

A week ago our big present arrived, a Peloton bike! Oh it is so awesome!

It looks so nice next to our treadmill, good old Landice . The elliptical is to the right, now banished to the corner because in all honesty, it just doesn't give us a good workout. But this Peloton, HOLY H-E-Double Hockey Sticks! If you don't know what this is, it is an indoor cycling bike, but it is so much more than that. On it is a touchscreen where you can either participate in live classes from the studio in NYC or you can do the classes on demand (they record all live classes so you can do them whenever and as often as you want). I had been doing spin since December because it was a great cross training exercise, low impact, but helped build my stamina back up. The classes I was going to were fun, but to be honest, they weren't challenging anymore. Also, DH wanted to try indoor cycling as well and since we have DD, we can't both go to classes at 5:30 AM. It worked out ok in the winter that I would go to class on DH's running days where he pounds out his miles on Landice (the TM). However, with the nicer weather approaching, he wants to run outside. So with the bike, we can both ride and we don't impede anyone's ability to run outside as the sun rises. It is not a cheap investment, but to us it is just that, an investment. We have been using it for a week and we both really love the challenge of the workouts. We have learned that when it comes to exercise equipment, we need to get "good stuff." We are not the type of people to just buy equipment then hang our laundry on it. As an example, we went through 3 treadmills in 12 years, the most recent one only lasting a year. We would buy them from Sears or Dick's Sporting Goods. Well, 2 people who are marathoners need a beast of a treadmill so that is why Landice moved in. He now has a roommate with the Peloton. Here's hoping we see the payout in our races this year! If not, that is ok, it is super fun, an awesome workout, and I can do it in my basement where no one is there to judge me as a grunt through the hill climbs .

 

[AJollyHoliday]

Thanks Jennifer...I was hoping you would get some credit for me signing up, since I blew it with the refer link when I started SB!

I made the decision not to teach summer school (at least in June) and do 7 days of training teachers and going to lose around $1000 extra...which is scary with DD in college...but I need a break. That means I really need to up my FREE money game so this trip (and marathon in 2018) does not come out of my household budget. So I am going to give perk a try...with dd home I will have plenty of devices to run everything off of and hopefully time! LOL

I see there is a DIS thread going on PERKS...so time for me to study up and learn so that June 14 I am ready to roll and earn like you.

I'm sorry about the extra money loss this summer, but it will also be nice to have a a little break, you work so hard! The money game is awesome! Who doesn't like getting free stuff! I saw you ordered the Kinsa, I think we might get that. Doesn't hurt to have one of those around. I'll do it through DD's account so she can get her $25 GC. DH needs to get some more points so I am going to make a donation to the nature conservancy on his account. $25 donation gets you a 2500 SB. I'll take that! Helps my taxes and my SBs! How's the running going?

Jenn~ How is your running going since your 10k?

Dis-Yoda~ Reading along in your TR to hear all about the dark side. I so have to figure out how DH and I can run both those races. It will happen, we will make it!

 

[AJollyHoliday]

Oh, I forgot, sorry for the bombardment of posts.... Did anyone preorder items for the W&D? I am thinking of doing the race hat and tumbler for DH, but I just don't like doing these things sight unseen. I know you can return them, but just don't want to deal with the hassle of it all.

 

[momabaarjo]

Great cross training...love the new purchase!

Wine and Dine Planning
​

We have earned another $100 GC using a combination of swagbucks, PerkTV, and target purchases. Right now, our total is:

$200 in Disney GC
$9.50 paid
$190.50 in savings
​

I love seeing the savings total go up! My goal is around a $100 GC per month (if more than great). That would give us close to $900 in GC by the time we go in November.

In other planning news, we booked our flights for the trip home. SW didn't open up the date, but Jet Blue did and it was a good price even with the option to pay for luggage. So up next would be to start planning our meals and talking about FP+. I know that is early, but studies have shown that vacation planning gives you boosts of happiness so I will take any hit of happiness I can get .

How is everyone else doing in saving up for their trip? I know there are threads for Swagbucks and PerkTV (not much to do with this app except let it run), but if you have any questions to ask or big tips you want to share, please do!

Nicely done on the Disney GC...I really need to go to Target this weekend and exchange them. Now with all the hoop-la of the bathrooms...I am thinking of getting Sams GC to exchange for Disney GC. I was not a fan of Target anyway and it is out of my way. I can get pretty much the same savings at Sams...

SW does not open flights till June 1st....grr dont they know I need to plan. I am stalking American since I could steal DH miles on his card. Right now they have a flight I like but I have not seen a number to make me pull the trigger.

YAY FOR SOME HAPPINESS...It is always nice to get some. I hope everything is okay though!

As for PERK...I started last week at this time and I am about to earn my first $10...maybe tonight or tomorrow morning. I wont cash out until I get to $25 though....just so I can keep things even in my target wallet. LOL

I love not having to babysit the app and the computer every 30 minutes is nice too!

I'm sorry about the extra money loss this summer, but it will also be nice to have a a little break, you work so hard! The money game is awesome! Who doesn't like getting free stuff! I saw you ordered the Kinsa, I think we might get that. Doesn't hurt to have one of those around. I'll do it through DD's account so she can get her $25 GC. DH needs to get some more points so I am going to make a donation to the nature conservancy on his account. $25 donation gets you a 2500 SB. I'll take that! Helps my taxes and my SBs! How's the running going?

Good news is that I found out that I am getting paid to write the professional development this summer so I will only lose now about $500. I think my mental health is a little more important this summer...I have taught summer school for 15 summers...its time for a break.

Yes...I bought the Kinsa...now with the kids older I really dont need one as much but it will be nice to have around...or I might save it for a baby shower gift.

I am about 4 weeks into training...it is going slow and my pace is slower than a turtle in peanut butter...but I just have to be patient and it will come back. You would think the amount of walking that I do that it would be easier.

Oh, I forgot, sorry for the bombardment of posts.... Did anyone preorder items for the W&D? I am thinking of doing the race hat and tumbler for DH, but I just don't like doing these things sight unseen. I know you can return them, but just don't want to deal with the hassle of it all.

Not preordering...but then again I dont buy much merchandise. I do plan to get me a wine glass to go with my PHM! I am with you I hate sight unseen because I have seen some really ugly color combinations that Disney has put out...

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Oh, I forgot, sorry for the bombardment of posts.... Did anyone preorder items for the W&D? I am thinking of doing the race hat and tumbler for DH, but I just don't like doing these things sight unseen. I know you can return them, but just don't want to deal with the hassle of it all.

If you generally like hats and tumblers, I would go for it! My husband was sad I didn't order him the Dark Side Weekend Jacket (oops)


I'll be posting more this weekend for my report on Dark Side! Overall it was a good weekend, even if my husband and I had slower runs than what we had planned on having. The weekend ended with him getting the flu (and now I'm getting it from him, thanks hun!) and my left hip hating me!

 

[TeeterTots]

I'm sorry about the extra money loss this summer, but it will also be nice to have a a little break, you work so hard! The money game is awesome! Who doesn't like getting free stuff! I saw you ordered the Kinsa, I think we might get that. Doesn't hurt to have one of those around. I'll do it through DD's account so she can get her $25 GC. DH needs to get some more points so I am going to make a donation to the nature conservancy on his account. $25 donation gets you a 2500 SB. I'll take that! Helps my taxes and my SBs! How's the running going?

Jenn~ How is your running going since your 10k?

Dis-Yoda~ Reading along in your TR to hear all about the dark side. I so have to figure out how DH and I can run both those races. It will happen, we will make it!

Hi Jenn! Since the 10K I only ran two days (~6.5 miles total). We are currently at Disney (yay) so I'll let it slide, but I do miss it and am looking forward to running when I get home. Pre trip prep and post trip recoup will be my excuses! Your GC totals are motivating me and I'm thinking I'll use my ebates $$ to buy Disney GC now. Congrats on the new purchase...it's sweet!!