Bibbity Bobbity Back Pain...a Midlife Crisis Journal

[choirbird]

Hello World! I am starting a training journal here to give me a place to rant about running so my friends don't disown me. I have been a Disney fan for about a decade, but took 2022 off when I had my son, with whom we spent a month down in Disney for his 1st birthday in 2023. We stayed offsite for the first time (my husband was working remotely) and it was a great experience hanging out with a baby! We took 2024 off due to my husband's layoff and our trying to buy a house, which we just did in May and we will be headed back for a regular vacation at the end of August for my birthday! BUT what if I told you...I could justify additional trips to WDW by making it be part of a fitness program? Girl math!

Returning to Running

As a lifelong gym class hater, I first completed Couch to 5K in 2009 while in college. I managed to lose about 60 pounds over the course of two years and in Summer 2010 I was running 4-5 miles 3 times per week and strength training twice a week. I graduated and became busy with Adult Life, and abandoned running. I had a couple other stints of training for and completing 5Ks but was never particularly consistent about it beyond that.

I'm now 36, almost 37, and have a 3 year old. I've lost 66 pounds since he was born but had not been exercising consistently. I started powerlifting at a CrossFit gym 2-3 days a week (another thing I've done periodically but not consistently for any length of time) and have been enjoying it. This July, on a whim, I signed up for the Runna app. I was inspired by a YouTuber who did C25K last August and is now training for her first Half Marathon. On July 5, I did my first run/walk run with Runna and LOVED it. For the first time, I had a goal of enjoying the runs - pushing myself just a bit so I improve, but not so much that I start dreading it.

After returning from my first run on July 5, I immediately signed up for a bunch of races. I'm having a midlife crisis or something. I'm not planning to treat those runs as races so much as Instances of Running in Public for Accountability.

A Moment of Destiny: runDisney

Four weeks later, I have been thrilled with how training has been going so far and today I completed my first 5K in years with a time of 41:59 (It was a speedwork run, not a race, but I did better than I expected, particularly in the heat and the day after deadlifts!). Yesterday, on another complete whim, I decided to look into runDisney and was shocked to find out that there were still places available for the Springtime Surprise 10 Miler. (I have since learned that this often happens because it's hot and a terrible idea...oh well!) I signed up and immediately revised my training plan to extend into April, and signed up for yet more races to keep myself on track.

Current Race & Training Schedule

August 2025
I am finishing the "Return to Running" 5K plan with Runna. I might end up skipping the last 2-3 runs because I will be at a retreat in Maine Aug 13-21 and then turning around and flying to Florida on Aug 23. I am OK with this, especially since I did complete a 5K today.

While at home in NJ, I will continue to lift 2-3 days a week at the Crossfit gym, although I anticipate that I will ask my coach to modify my training as time goes on to focus more on upper body and give my legs a break.

September-October 2025: 10K Training Plan
September 7, 2025: 5K (official goal: do it and enjoy myself; unofficial goal: complete in 40:00)
October 5, 2025: 5K (goal: improve in some form from September)
October 25, 2025: complete my first ever 10K (goal: finish)

November 2025-April 2026: 10 Mile Training Plan
November 23, 2025: 10K (I think this is a trail run actually)
December 13, 2025: 10K
January 1, 2026: 5K
February 14, 2025: 5K
March 29, 2026: 10K
April 19, 2026: Springtime Surprise 10 Miler <3

I know this is a midlife crisis/hyperfocus hobby, but I am already feeling more confident and am excited to keep growing along the way!

 

[choirbird]

Springtime Surprise Travel Plans

I will update this when I know more, but my current plan is to fly into MCO on Saturday, April 18 (arriving about 9am). I will attempt to wake up very early to run for several weeks before this race so the 6:00am flight shouldn't be too terrible. I'll be waking up by 3 on race day anyway.

I have to go to the expo at some point between 11-4. I'm not sure whether it makes more sense to drop off my luggage at Pop first, or take an Uber right to the expo...if anyone reads this, feel free to let me know your advice!

After the expo, I would like to have some (very light!) park time but nothing terribly crazy on my feet if possible...and then get to bed early. I also intend to do some mild carb-loading (gluten free) somewhere and put some breakfast in my hotel room. (Does the Pop quick service area have anything available for this?)

I am planning to get an early bus but whether I need to get the first bus or not will depend on advice I get along the way...I don't like to be late for things so I will probably be That Guy.

I hope to have some park time on Sunday and Monday, and maybe a little bit on Tuesday, before flying back at 2:11 on Tuesday. I could only take 2 days off work for this solo trip so I decided to take them after the race rather than before, because I didn't want to risk walking too much and hurting myself...

 

[nancipants]

Welcome, and congrats on returning to running! Looking forward to following along!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Welcome! (to your new obsession)

My midlife crisis/hyperfocus obsession with running is going on 5 years now.

Springtime Surprise Travel Plans

I will update this when I know more, but my current plan is to fly into MCO on Saturday, April 18 (arriving about 9am). I will attempt to wake up very early to run for several weeks before this race so the 6:00am flight shouldn't be too terrible. I'll be waking up by 3 on race day anyway.

Unless you're coming from a very different timezone, there's no reason to make yourself [potentially] miserable for several weeks leading up to race day. You'll have plenty of race-day excitement and adrenaline to get you up and moving.

I have to go to the expo at some point between 11-4. I'm not sure whether it makes more sense to drop off my luggage at Pop first, or take an Uber right to the expo...if anyone reads this, feel free to let me know your advice!

If you have more than just a carryon, drop off the luggage first. The expo is pretty spread out, and stairs can sometimes involved. You won't want to deal with suitcases AND looking at stuff.

*If you see pre-order merch that you REALLY want, order it as the expo will be very picked-over by Saturday.

After the expo, I would like to have some (very light!) park time but nothing terribly crazy on my feet if possible...and then get to bed early. I also intend to do some mild carb-loading (gluten free) somewhere and put some breakfast in my hotel room. (Does the Pop quick service area have anything available for this?)

Be sure to practice your carb-loading strategies before your long runs so you know what works/doesn't work for you.

I am planning to get an early bus but whether I need to get the first bus or not will depend on advice I get along the way...I don't like to be late for things so I will probably be That Guy.

Just don't wait until the last minute and try to catch the last bus. There are some things you can do pre-race (some character pics, usually a small disboards meetup at a specific lightpole) and it's about a 10-15min walk from the bus drop-off to the staging area. But there is also a lot of waiting around in the corrals.

I hope to have some park time on Sunday and Monday, and maybe a little bit on Tuesday, before flying back at 2:11 on Tuesday. I could only take 2 days off work for this solo trip so I decided to take them after the race rather than before, because I didn't want to risk walking too much and hurting myself...

This is a great plan! And the walking will be good active recovery.

 

[choirbird]

Training: July 31, 2025

0.95mi warm up at a conversational pace (13:04)
120s walking rest

---

6x:
0.10mi running, pushing the pace - 9:34; 9:29; 9:24; 9:34; 10:01; 10:17 - very proud of this honestly
90s walking rest

---

0.95mi cool down at a conversational pace - I did end up adding some walking into this, but I'm pleased with my average pace! (13:13)
120s walking rest

Overall I am VERY proud to have completed this workout, especially considering that Tuesday's workout was 0.95mi conversational pace x2 as the "working" part of the run! Today that was the warmup/cooldown!!! It was also hot and I did deadlifts yesterday, so I am extra stoked that my 41:59 5K time felt fairly easy. I added a bit of extra walking into the cooldown just to make sure I was enjoying myself and not feeling sick.

Race Time Predictions (just for fun - I don't expect this to be accurate, but I like data):

• Strava now predicts my 5K as 40:58 and 10K as 1:23:51.
• Runna now predicts my 5K in October as 39:30-43:00 and in February as 32-33:55
• Runna: my first 10K in October as 1:17-1:24
• Runna: 10 Mile time in April as 1:43-1:50. (I know with crowds & characters that this is unlikely at Disney!)

Tomorrow's plan: upper body lifting and some mobility stuff

 

[choirbird]

Welcome, and congrats on returning to running! Looking forward to following along!

Thank you! I'm looking forward to the community aspect!

 

[choirbird]

Welcome! (to your new obsession)

My midlife crisis/hyperfocus obsession with running is going on 5 years now.




Unless you're coming from a very different timezone, there's no reason to make yourself [potentially] miserable for several weeks leading up to race day. You'll have plenty of race-day excitement and adrenaline to get you up and moving.

If you have more than just a carryon, drop off the luggage first. The expo is pretty spread out, and stairs can sometimes involved. You won't want to deal with suitcases AND looking at stuff.

*If you see pre-order merch that you REALLY want, order it as the expo will be very picked-over by Saturday.

Be sure to practice your carb-loading strategies before your long runs so you know what works/doesn't work for you.


Just don't wait until the last minute and try to catch the last bus. There are some things you can do pre-race (some character pics, usually a small disboards meetup at a specific lightpole) and it's about a 10-15min walk from the bus drop-off to the staging area. But there is also a lot of waiting around in the corrals.

This is a great plan! And the walking will be good active recovery.

YAY thank you for the advice!!! I will definitely be trialing my fueling and such since I tend to struggle with dizziness and blood sugar fluctuations even in normal life, plus the celiac disease of it all...but I have plenty of "practice races" to practice. I will probably just do one smaller "fun" Disney meal on Saturday midday (if anything) and eat "boring" food Saturday night and Sunday early morning. Another bonus to doing the park days post-race!

I will drop the luggage at Pop first - I'm just doing a carry on, but crowds make me nervous as it is so it'll be easier to not be carrying anything major.

I already pre-ordered the spirit jersey and pin bundle! I'm not a huge merch person typically, but it's my first time and I didn't want to risk FOMO.

Glad to know that I can strike a balance between early and late bus...and I have to get to work at 7:30 as it is (and am better at working out consistently in the morning) so there's a good chance I will be waking up and running at 4am on weekdays anyway, so waking up at 2:30am for my flight on Saturday should be enough preparation for Sunday! Fortunately, I'm in NJ so FL is the same time zone. I do not envy the folks coming from the west coast...

Feeling pretty sore so I'm going to do some grad school work from an Epsom salt bath!

 

[choirbird]

Training: August 2, 2025

The weather was so nice today!!! Even at 9:30 it’s only 71 degrees and it’s so much nicer than the 90s we’ve been having. I wore my new Garmin for the first time but wasn’t totally sure how to use it so I wore both my Garmin and my Apple Watch, haha! I’m going to need to do some “homework” and figure that out before my next run. It was nice to be able to see my pace without taking out my phone.

I don’t like to sleep with a watch band on because my skin gets irritated, so I kinda want to reserve my Garmin for runs and disable the notifications etc. I’ll have to look into that, too.

I definitely spent some time bookmarking half marathon races “just for fun” last night…what has gotten into me? I haven’t even run 4 miles yet lol! Assuming I survive the 10 Miler in April, I could do 13.2 in June, right? There is a HM in Banff and another in Acadia that would both have decent temperatures (especially compared to Orlando!), but I intend to be finishing graduate school during that time AND it’s a busy time at work so it would be a BAD IDEA.

Maybe Wine & Dine 2026 or the HM in January 2027?!? Haha

 

[The Expert]

definitely spent some time bookmarking half marathon races “just for fun” last night…what has gotten into me? I haven’t even run 4 miles yet lol! Assuming I survive the 10 Miler in April, I could do 13.2 in June, right? There is a HM in Banff and another in Acadia that would both have decent temperatures (especially compared to Orlando!), but I intend to be finishing graduate school during that time AND it’s a busy time at work so it would be a BAD IDEA.

This is how it happens. One of us! One of us!

 

[nancipants]

Training: August 2, 2025

The weather was so nice today!!! Even at 9:30 it’s only 71 degrees and it’s so much nicer than the 90s we’ve been having. I wore my new Garmin for the first time but wasn’t totally sure how to use it so I wore both my Garmin and my Apple Watch, haha! I’m going to need to do some “homework” and figure that out before my next run. It was nice to be able to see my pace without taking out my phone.

I don’t like to sleep with a watch band on because my skin gets irritated, so I kinda want to reserve my Garmin for runs and disable the notifications etc. I’ll have to look into that, too.

I definitely spent some time bookmarking half marathon races “just for fun” last night…what has gotten into me? I haven’t even run 4 miles yet lol! Assuming I survive the 10 Miler in April, I could do 13.2 in June, right? There is a HM in Banff and another in Acadia that would both have decent temperatures (especially compared to Orlando!), but I intend to be finishing graduate school during that time AND it’s a busy time at work so it would be a BAD IDEA.

Maybe Wine & Dine 2026 or the HM in January 2027?!? Haha

I went from never having run a race (only walking 5ks for fun) to doing the marathon in less than two years.

 

[choirbird]

This is how it happens. One of us! One of us!

I went from never having run a race (only walking 5ks for fun) to doing the marathon in less than two years.

YAY see I’m being *reasonable* by spreading things out! I have over a year to get to the HM distance if I do Wine & Dine 2026 or the Monterey Bay HM (supposed to be very scenic, although it usually falls on a Sunday where I’m not allowed to take that Monday off from work, so I’d have to get on a plane right after the race which seems like a bad idea)…

Today is a rest day, and we are having a birthday party for my 3yo son (and my best friend is visiting from Utah yay!)…but I just want to go run! Crazy. Where did this manic episode come from? I always have to talk myself into going to the gym even though I’m always glad I went, but I’m excited to get out there and run. I think part of it is finally setting achievable goals - my plan is to enjoy it and not suffer, haha! I also really like the Runna app so far; my workouts have been a good balance of challenging but doable.

I’m also really glad that there are a lot of people online now talking about their “slow runner” paces because in 2009 when I first tried running, I was embarrassed to be so slow because most of the people writing about running were much faster than me. But a lot more “regular” people seem to talk about running now, and there are people with YouTube channels who run more slowly than I do but complete amazing distances all the same!

I’m also glad Disney has the 16:00 cut off time - between the heat, crowds, and characters, I could see it being an issue, but it seems like a totally doable challenge too. This calculator predicts I will finish 10 miles in 2:25, based on my speed workout on Thursday in which I finished a 5K in 41:59. I wasn’t racing, and it was hot, and I did deadlifts the day before, so I could probably beat that now in better conditions, but Florida is not going to be better conditions (other than happier ones!) so it’s a fair starting point. I also walk a lot in my regular life, so it stands to reason that I would probably survive the 10M today, and possibly wouldn’t even get swept, but it would NOT be a fun experience. Fortunately, I have 8 months to train for it, both physically and mentally.

I’m still fairly young (I’ll be 37 this month) but I have hyper mobile joints and some chronic illnesses, so I think training will mean learning more about what I need to do to keep myself from getting injured. I think most healthy people can get through (whether running the whole time or walking) a 5K without a lot of special preparations but I’m guessing the longer distances, even the middle ones like 10K/10M, are best done with strength training, mobility, adequate sleep, and some thought put into fueling and hydration. When I ran a bit back in college I definitely didn’t do any of those things and even ran in Converse (ugh!).

One of my “treats” to myself next week, for surviving a ton of homework for graduate school (I am 2/3 done with Philosophy, the Class from Hell) will be to go to a Real Running Store and get fitted properly for shoes. I have been running in Hoka Bondi 8s which are my regular sneakers, and they’re probably decent, but I want to check and see what else I need to do.

(For anyone who reads this, I welcome any and all advice on any of these topics!)

 

[jmasgat]

Great mindset, great progress so far. There will be ups and downs along the way, but nice that you are feeling good right now.

As for shoes, clothes, gear…..don’t think of them as treats, think of them as tools. Cause that’s what they are— tools to help you get it done.

 

[choirbird]

Training: August 4, 2025

I had a busy, fun weekend with my best friend who is visiting from Utah. I don’t get to see her nearly as often as I’d like and we typically communicate asynchronously via voice memo so it was great to be “live”! She helped out with my son’s 3rd birthday and I showed her some sights in/near my new town.

I’m dealing with PMS nonsense today so I decided to skip the gym and run instead. I also am a little nervous about my upcoming travel disrupting my running routine, so I’d like to get as much of the training plan completed (without overdoing it of course) before I leave just in case. I feel fairly confident about the 5K now, but I don’t want to lose too much progress!

I moved some runs around so today I did intervals, but given the state of my uterus I just wasn’t “feeling it” so I walked a bit extra. I was surprised to find that I actually PRd my 5K time by 4 seconds! Cool. I was fighting to understand my Garmin so I wasn’t really keeping track of my pace in the moment. I also tried out a lightweight hydration vest because it’s getting to the point where I need to be drinking during my runs but I don’t want to carry anything…and that worked pretty well!

I’m going to go home and shower and try to do my evil homework…and my reward for finishing this week’s Big Doom and Mini Doom (what I’ve called my Philosophy assignments) will be to go to Fleet Feet

 

[choirbird]

I've been feeling antsy about the upcoming disruptions to my routine. I will be in Maine for 8 days and WDW for 9 days and while I am open to running in both places, I don't know if it's reasonable to expect that I will do it. I will be at a camp in Maine and might not be able to fit them in, and WDW will be hot and full of walking. Maybe I'll want to wake up early and get the miles in, but I don't want to put pressure on myself - as long as I get back to it in September!

Inspired by my unexpected success today, I signed up for a 5K on Saturday in a nearby town. I know I can finish in <40:00 if I push myself a bit, and if I employ a run-walk strategy I could very well improve that further. I played with my Garmin settings, and I don't feel crazy confident about them but I am planning on trying them out tomorrow, and then doing an easy 2 miles on Thursday, resting on Friday, and doing the race on Saturday...

I have a TON of homework for graduate school to complete this week too, ugh...and packing to do!

 

[Herding_Cats]

I've been feeling antsy about the upcoming disruptions to my routine. I will be in Maine for 8 days and WDW for 9 days and while I am open to running in both places, I don't know if it's reasonable to expect that I will do it. I will be at a camp in Maine and might not be able to fit them in, and WDW will be hot and full of walking. Maybe I'll want to wake up early and get the miles in, but I don't want to put pressure on myself - as long as I get back to it in September!

Inspired by my unexpected success today, I signed up for a 5K on Saturday in a nearby town. I know I can finish in <40:00 if I push myself a bit, and if I employ a run-walk strategy I could very well improve that further. I played with my Garmin settings, and I don't feel crazy confident about them but I am planning on trying them out tomorrow, and then doing an easy 2 miles on Thursday, resting on Friday, and doing the race on Saturday...

I have a TON of homework for graduate school to complete this week too, ugh...and packing to do!

if you're staying on-site at WDW, the fitness centers are (generally speaking) great. All of the walking will be great for you, and if you feel super motivated to go for a run in the morning (because HEAT!) go for it.

 

[choirbird]

if you're staying on-site at WDW, the fitness centers are (generally speaking) great. All of the walking will be great for you, and if you feel super motivated to go for a run in the morning (because HEAT!) go for it.

We will be staying at Caribbean Beach, which does not have a fitness center, but if I wake up earlier than my family I could always go for a run...I am not holding myself to any sort of plan while I am there (I typically get 15,000-20,000 steps per day while at WDW, even the year we spent a month there!) but will consider it a bonus.

 

[choirbird]

Training Journal: August 5, 2025

Ok, today I did an experiment. I tried setting my Garmin to alert me to run for 5 minutes, walk for 1 minute. I did a "free run" and wanted to see how that ratio feels right now. I ran on a flat course (the trail I go to most of the time), with a little less than adequate sleep, and I had half a cocktail last night and have moderate cramps but otherwise the weather was good. I PRd my 5K in 38:48, but had to insert a bunch of extra walking into the last mile. I could have done it but I was struggling to keep up the pace and keep running that much, and I didn't want to hate it. I can't tell whether 5:1 intervals are good for the beginning and then I should shorten them for the second half, or if I would do better aiming for 4:1 the whole way through...

I am taking a rest day tomorrow (I might go for a walk, or do upper body at the gym, but nothing crazy) and then Thursday I will do an easy 2.0 mile run - Runna is saying no faster than 13:55, which might be annoying, but I am going to follow that guidance and see how it feels to run continuously. Then on Saturday I think I want to try 4:1 ratio of run/walk with pace alerts set to 10:20-12:20 and see how I do. In theory, I would finish in 37:59 if I averaged 11:20 for the running intervals and 17:30 for the walking intervals...but under 40 minutes is my official goal, given that I can only control so many factors.

I spent the day hanging out with my best friend, her partner, and her two sons, at the science center, and now I am home in an Epsom salt bath with my laptop ready to get some graduate school homework done...wish me luck!

 

[nancipants]

Training Journal: August 5, 2025

Ok, today I did an experiment. I tried setting my Garmin to alert me to run for 5 minutes, walk for 1 minute. I did a "free run" and wanted to see how that ratio feels right now. I ran on a flat course (the trail I go to most of the time), with a little less than adequate sleep, and I had half a cocktail last night and have moderate cramps but otherwise the weather was good. I PRd my 5K in 38:48, but had to insert a bunch of extra walking into the last mile. I could have done it but I was struggling to keep up the pace and keep running that much, and I didn't want to hate it. I can't tell whether 5:1 intervals are good for the beginning and then I should shorten them for the second half, or if I would do better aiming for 4:1 the whole way through...

I will put on my Jeff Galloway hat and say to aim for a pace/ratio that you can maintain throughout. The pros of doing run/walk is that you don't get tired as quickly. You might even want to try a shorter ratio (like run 60 seconds, walk 30 seconds) and see how that feels.

 

[choirbird]

I will put on my Jeff Galloway hat and say to aim for a pace/ratio that you can maintain throughout. The pros of doing run/walk is that you don't get tired as quickly. You might even want to try a shorter ratio (like run 60 seconds, walk 30 seconds) and see how that feels.

Thanks for the advice!

I am supposed to do an easy run of 2mi tomorrow "no faster than 13:55/mi" which seems like a very slow pace for me to run continuously BUT I could try doing a 2:1 ratio (either 2 min/1 min or 60s/30s) running at 12:30 and walking at 18:00 and see whether one of those patterns works for me. I could then try to do it during the 5K race on Saturday but with a faster running pace of 10:50 or ideally a little faster, to finish faster than my most recent PR.

Thoughts welcome I overthink everything but that's part of the "fun" for me and ultimately however Saturday goes, it will give me room for improvement in October/January/February when I have other 5Ks planned.