Hanging up my running shoes-Update on ZellyB

[roxymama]

That's cool that you have a costume maker in the family! I'm trying to imagine my hubby agreeing to a costume...I think he'd only do it if my kiddo asked him because she's a better negotiator (and cuter.) I foresee great Donald medal pictures in your future.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Super cute costumes!

 

[ZellyB]

TRAINING UPDATE 11/13 - 11/19
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A pretty good training week for me. Woohoo!! After taking last week easy to rest up from our local race, we tried to get back into pretty normal training routines again this week. Ran an easy 4 miles on Tuesday and then just 3 miles on Thursday planning for my bump up to 15 miles this weekend. The original plan was to run on Saturday morning, but a late Friday night meant we decided to postpone until today, Sunday. Winter decided to finally arrive here and so at 6:00 when my alarm went off it was only 27 degrees. BRRRR!!! I know I hate running in the heat, but a little warmer might have been nice. Still, we bundled up (I wore my awesome InB Wildflower tights that I got recently when they suddenly reappeared on the website and layered up on top. Gloves and a stocking cap and we were ready to head out. I laid out a pretty good route and we settled in doing :60/:30 intervals. It was really beautiful and sunny day and around mile 11 or so I had warmed up enough to drop off one layer I was wearing on top.

I really held up pretty well until about mile 12ish and then had to take the occasional extra walk break and then finally at mile 14 with mostly uphill left to go for the final mile, we decided to run the :30 and walk the :60. Finished up our 15 though with a pace a little slower than I might normally like (12:21), but totally fine with me. Just happy to get the 15 miles in and try to get back on track with Goofy training. Legs are pretty sore and tired today, but overall quite livable. My heel is a little tender as well, but also not that bad considering having only 1 week off in between the half and this 15 miler.

The next couple of weekends with bit a little lower mileage and then our first back to back of 8 and 17. If those go well, then my confidence for finishing Goofy will go way up. Feeling a lot more optimistic than I have in awhile though, so YAY!

Sorry not to have many pictures today. But, how about I throw in a Goofy weekend RDP? One of my favorite character pics - maybe I've posted this in this journal before, but I guess if so you get a repeat. Ulf the Mime from Tangled (which I happen to have just watched with my daughter this afternoon) during the half.

 

[Ariel484]

Yay!! Awesome job on your 15-miler. I'm so glad you are feeling better, both physically and mentally!

Love that Ulf picture. Such a great character meet!

 

[girliea]

So glad that you are feeling better! And I'm loving the Donald costumes-how original and yeah for a personal seamstress!!
Unfortunately, I am understanding your injury more personally than I wanted to--my hip has started bothering me in the past month-so I'm glad that you are feeling better, it gives me hope!
As always, loving your posts ZellyB!

 

[ZellyB]

Yay!! Awesome job on your 15-miler. I'm so glad you are feeling better, both physically and mentally!

Love that Ulf picture. Such a great character meet!

Thank you! I'm relieved to be feeling better too. I couldn't believe how few people were lining up for a picture with Ulf! I thought he was awesome.

So glad that you are feeling better! And I'm loving the Donald costumes-how original and yeah for a personal seamstress!!
Unfortunately, I am understanding your injury more personally than I wanted to--my hip has started bothering me in the past month-so I'm glad that you are feeling better, it gives me hope!
As always, loving your posts ZellyB!

I'm so lucky to have my mom to make things like that. I did NOT inherit her sewing talent. I'm so sorry to hear that you are struggling with some pain. I hope that you can heal up quickly and feel better!

 

[rteetz]

Yay for feeling better! Great job on the 15 miler! I ran 15 last weekend and felt good.

Love the Ulf picture, he a great meet and greet.

 

[ZellyB]

TINKERBELL WEEKEND PLANNING


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I posted this on the official Tinkerbell thread as well, but I booked our hotel for Tinkerbell weekend in May. I did quite a bit of searching and looking at reviews before settling on the Residence Inn at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center. The rooms are all suites and have a small kitchen in them. We booked a King Suite and the pictures look really nice and the reviews were all quite good. I was able to use some of the points I got from our new Chase Sapphire Reserve card - so free hotel! Sorta. Pictures from their website...

Looking at the map, I think this would be a little less than a mile away from DL property, so hoping that will be a manageable walk for us to the parks. I have the option to cancel the reservation with no penalty if a better option should come up, but from what I've seen looking at the on property hotels most don't even have availability any more and the one that does is WAY too expensive as far as I'm concerned. Maybe we can find a small grocery store or something near by where we could buy some breakfast or snack items as well to eat in the room prior to the races.

Excited to get this part of the planning done!!!

 

[rteetz]

Looks awesome! So excited for your Tink planning.

 

[ZellyB]

TRAINING UPDATE 11/20 - 11/27
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This week was a step back on the long run to do some recovery from the 15-miler. We ran our regular 4 mile loop on Tuesday. I felt good during this run. Plenty of energy and no serious discomfort from my foot during the run.

Thursday was of course Thanksgiving, so rather than do a normal training run, we participated in our yearly tradition of participating in the local 5K Turkey Trot. It's a pretty big race with about 7000 people who participate. It is chip timed, but we always do it as a family and just take our time basically doing whatever the kids want to do. This year, we also included my little dog, Teddy, in the tradition. There are lots of people who come out with their dogs, so it was fun to include him this year. We weren't sure how he'd do as he can get nervous around people he doesn't know, but he was actually quite the little trooper. He was a little anxious here and there and we did have to carry him quite a bit, but I'd say he walked/ran a good mile and a half of the course. Ready to head out in our Christmas finery!

Selfie action before the start as well. My daughter Paige refused to be included in the shot. Teenagers...

After the race we stopped off for donuts (another tradition) and then headed home to clean up and rest until the next eating event at my Mom's. After making myself thoroughly sick on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes etc. I felt like I would explode, but don't forget..

UGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!! So much food. Friday was all about decorating the house for Christmas. I absolutely love Christmas and love fixing up the house for the holiday. We managed to get most everything done by the end of the day.

Saturday we drove up to KC for another Thanksgiving meal this time with Chris' family. Oh my gosh, I ate soooooo much this weekend. We came home the same night, so Chris and I knew we had to do a longer run on Sunday morning. I had us scheduled to do 8 and we did do it, but man did I struggle. I mean, not so much physically. My legs were fine and our pace was pretty typical of where we have been lately, but mentally I just did NOT want to run. I'm guessing maybe all the sitting around and eating I'd done over the last few days played a part in my sluggishness. Thankfully, we managed to get it done and finished out the last of our long weekend by staying up way too late last night to watch the Chiefs pull off an insanely lucky win against the Broncos last night in overtime. Woohoo!!!! But, today I'm exhausted!!!

This next weekend brings about our first back to back run. The plan is for 8 miles on Saturday followed by 17 on Sunday. Makes me a bit nervous after the mental difficulties I had doing 8 on Sunday, but I'm hoping it was just one of those days and these two will go better for me. Regardless, there are only a few more long runs left before the trip and I can't wait to get down to Florida and enjoy the event!!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving! You look so great in your inknburn Christmas stuff!!

 

[roxymama]

Commenting late, but I think I embodied that Dory picture too. So I get how you felt. Post holiday runs are tough.

You are adorable in your holiday gear and I can't even with that cute puppy. You officially win the disboards costume contest (that I just made up)

 

[Ariel484]

PUPPY CHRISTMAS SWEATER SQUEEEEE!! Don't you love those Cable Knit capris? I think they are so pretty!!

Hope your back-to-back run went well! And please come decorate my house for Christmas, I love the picture you posted!

 

[ZellyB]

Sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving! You look so great in your inknburn Christmas stuff!!

It was a great day and thank you!! I'm obsessed with that Christmas shirt!

Commenting late, but I think I embodied that Dory picture too. So I get how you felt. Post holiday runs are tough.

You are adorable in your holiday gear and I can't even with that cute puppy. You officially win the disboards costume contest (that I just made up)

Thank you for the (totally made up) award. My puppy and I humbly accept.

PUPPY CHRISTMAS SWEATER SQUEEEEE!! Don't you love those Cable Knit capris? I think they are so pretty!!

Hope your back-to-back run went well! And please come decorate my house for Christmas, I love the picture you posted!

The color on those cable knit capris is the best. I've got lots of shirts that go with it. I love their capris. And thank you about the house. I love to decorate for Christmas.

 

[ZellyB]

THE YEAR 2016 OFFICIALLY HATES ME

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*Disclaimer before I begin - this will start out sounding alarming, but is likely not that bad - but for the sake of story-telling and for the way it unfolded for us it may sound bad early, just know it ends better than it begins*

Well, this past week turned into a difficult one for us. Chris has been having some minor chest pains that he thought was indigestion, but they were bad enough one day I convinced him to go see his doctor. He went in this past Thursday and his blood pressure and heart sounds were good, but to be safe they did an EKG and it came back with some abnormalities. This obviously alarmed us but it was late on Friday before he heard back from the doctor telling him he needs to get a stress test done and that he shouldn't exercise until we know more. We did get enough information from the doctor to tell us (along with using some Dr. Google) that he's not in any imminent danger and that the issue is more related to some irregular heart rhythms than blockages or potential heart attack. He is scheduled for a stress test on Friday this week and again after talking with a colleague who works in cardiology she also reassured me that it's likely nothing emergent or urgent in nature. Chris also talked to his brother who I guess had a nearly identical EKG and had to have a stress test and that basically they told him there was no need for intervention since he had no other underlying cardiac issues. So, we are keeping the positive outlook that Chris will get a similar answer from his test. Still, we'll take any positive vibes or prayers that anyone wants to offer up.

As you might recall, this was the weekend for our 8/17 back to back run, but Chris was obviously out for any runs until he gets the all clear. Saturday weather was cold and cloudy, but decent, so I decided to head out and do 17 and then see about doing the 8 on Sunday. Chris went out with me in his car and met me at several spots along the route. He used it as an opportunity to read up on more research for his dissertation. I know this will seem strange to people who routinely run alone, but I've never run that far by myself before. With all the stress thinking about Chris (and some other issues we are having with my son), mentally I was in a bad place. I stuck with my :60/:30 intervals heading out and saw Chris around the 5 mile mark. I was already wanting to quit. I told Chris maybe I would just run 8 and then see if I could do 17 tomorrow. He was all, "you are doing great! just keep at it!!" So on, I went. Saw him again about mile 7 and wanted to quit and he was again my good cheerleader and said he'd see my at our next designated spot around mile 10. Honestly, my body was fine, but my mind was sooooooo unhappy. But, I trudged on anyway. Saw him again around mile 10.5 and told him I didn't think I had 17 in me. He was all, "Sure you do!! You are doing great." So off I went again. I did an out and back portion on the trail here and just made myself keep going because then I had no choice but to come back. Got back to Chris at mile 15 and then, ya know, how do you quit at mile 15 of a 17 mile training run? Obviously, you don't. I did switch out to :30/:30 intervals to finish out the run, but I got it done. It was ugly, unpleasant and slow, but I finished it.

The bad news is that I didn't do 8 the next day like I should have, but after the 17, while a bit sore, I felt pretty good. My heel is doing well and doesn't seem to be worsening even after these long runs. Hoping Chris gets the all clear after his stress test and that we can do our 10/20 miler in two weeks before taper. If we accomplish that, then we will be fine to finish Goofy. Not our best shape going into it for sure, but good enough to finish.

So, after that not-so-happy update, I'll end with a picture of happier times and with the confidence that we'll be back here soon and feeling good. Your RDP...

 

[Ariel484]

Ugh. I'm so sorry you're having a tough time, but I am SUPER proud of you for getting that 17-miler done. I can totally relate to feeling okay physically, but not mentally, and having that mess things up - it sucks.

I hope things start to look up soon!

 

[ZellyB]

Ugh. I'm so sorry you're having a tough time, but I am SUPER proud of you for getting that 17-miler done. I can totally relate to feeling okay physically, but not mentally, and having that mess things up - it sucks.

I hope things start to look up soon!

Thank you, friend. I'm proud I got it done as well - and that was actually something I kept saying to myself as I was running, "Just get it done. You know you'll feel better about things if you just finish!". And, of course, I did. Hoping we get good news out of Chris' test and believe that we will!

 

[dis_or_dat]

Sending positive thoughts your way! It's awesome how supportive Chris was during your long run.

 

[ZellyB]

Sending positive thoughts your way! It's awesome how supportive Chris was during your long run.

Thank you! He's the best. I'm really lucky to have him.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Wishing you the best! How great of Chris to keep you going! For your longest solo run, it had to be nice to know that he was always just right around the corner at the next meeting spot. The mental game is real. Just think to yourself on race day of this "one more" mentality and you'll crush it!