Keep Knowing & Keep Kicking, Kiddo – A 2015 Princess 5K PTR/Mini-TR ~ Completed 5/1

[SarahDisney]

Did I Find the Perfect Flight?
According to what I saw a few days ago, there is a JetBlue flight that leaves MCO at 11:30 and lands in NY at 2:00.


Could this really be happening? Could I actually have gotten this pixie dust? Is the flight I wanted actually a real flight?

Now, 2:00 is a little late for me, because if there's an hour delay, I'm in trouble, but ... I knew it would be the best I could get on Friday. I think 11:30 should be doable if I take a cab rather than DME (I don't know that I'd be ready post-race for an 8:30 pick-up).

But taking a Friday flight removes the entire issue of Shabbos (although I might get in touch with Chabad just in case to find out if they could find a place to house me if my flight gets delayed).

And if I fly down Thursday and back on Friday, that means no park tickets.
No ADRs because there's nowhere in DTD where I'd really be interested in eating - so I'd either bring my own dinner or get something at my hotel.

Could this flight resolve all of my issues? Or is it too good to be true because it gives me less than 2 hours to get home? (I live 15 minutes from the airport, but traffic isn't always great)

How do I even bring up the topic with my sister? It's not like the hotel room, which is refundable - this will be a $900 that we can't get back if something stops us from going down (they're all sold out of refundable tickets - I checked).

Side note - new haircut today. Here's a picture: (I'm terrible at selfies)

I haven't run in it yet (planning to tomorrow), so I don't know if it will stay in a pony. It's shorter than I wanted. I might have to invest in a headband for running. Any recommendations? (Preferably under $5 because that's all I have in my running equipment fund right now, but if I have to spend more, I will - I should be putting more money in that fund next week anyway)

 

[SarahDisney]

See Running Journal Here!


Since this was my last run of this "training level" (I increase my total time to 35 minutes with my next run), I wanted to share some ...
Observations on 1:30 walk/3:30 run for 30 minutes (these are also on the running journal linked above)

• It took me a while to adjust
• Became easier when I learned to take it slow and not worry about my pace at all
• I figured it out closer to the end (the last 2-3 runs were my best)
• I felt fine at the end of the last few runs – I think increasing my total time to 35 minutes should be doable

 

[SarahDisney]

The first piece of Mickey Mail for my hotel stay came today! This is my first room-only, so I was actually curious about what was in the booklet. I don’t have my booklet for my upcoming vacation with me (it’s at my sister’s apartment), so I can’t compare, but it looks mostly the same … minus the magnet (which is fine because really, what would I have done with it?)

CBR looks nice, but since I’m used to staying in the over-the-top Disney hotels, I’m not sure if it will have that same Disney feel for me. Oh well, I won’t know until I actually stay there. I am thinking about (depending when I get in) making Thursday a pool day … swimming is one thing I love to do and rarely get to do because our vacations are so busy. I just have to remember to take it easy and not overexert myself.

I keep looking at this vacation as “booking things because I’d rather have them then cancel them.” I wish I actually believed that this trip and this race would happen. But I know there are too many things in my way.

Anyone have experiences of being able to do a Disney race against all odds that they want to share? (Is anyone out there actually reading this or have I scared you all of with my long running journals that are relevant to nobody but me?)

 

[SarahDisney]

See the Running Journal Here!

 

[SarahDisney]

You Wear What? My Running Outfits​

One of the big questions involved in any RunDisney event is whether or not to wear a costume. Before I address the costume issue, I just wanted to go into an explanation of what I wear on an average run.

So here’s the overall picture:

Sorry about the bad lighting

Breaking it down by layer (generally there are 3 layers)
Bottom Layer – Bra and Underwear
*I wear whatever underwear I grab – doesn’t make a difference to me, as long as it fits

*Bra – I have a hard time finding bras because I wear a big size and I don’t like to spend a lot of money. I’ve settled on the Champion Double Dry Spot Comfort Full Support Sports Bra - Style 1602. I like it, it’s comfortable, and I have it in 2 colors. I also have a few older bras that don’t really fit, but that I wear in an emergency.

Middle Layer – T-Shirt/Pants
*T-Shirt – On days like today, when it’s colder (50-ish or lower), I wear a long-sleeve cotton t-shirt. When it’s “medium” (50’s or low 60’s) I wear a short-sleeve cotton tee or a short-sleeve moisture wicking shirt.

*When it gets below 55ish, I wear long pants/leggings like the ones pictured above (just ... turn them the right way - I was having trouble rotating the picture). Any warmer and I wear capris. These are all specific moisture-wicking athletic pants.

Top Layer – Jacket/Skirt

*The jacket is an H&M sport jacket. I wear it over whatever t-shirt I’m wearing. When it’s in the mid-high 70’s or higher, I have a long-sleeve moisture wicking shirt that I wear instead of the jacket. I always wear long sleeves, so the jacket is essential when I’m wearing short sleeves.

*So, I know you’re all wondering why I wear a knee-length denim skirt over a pair of pants. For religious reasons, I always wear skirts, and my skirts have to be at least knee-length. A denim skirt doesn’t seem like a great idea, but since it has a slit, it’s not restrictive, and I love the pockets. I am actually looking for a different running skirt (I want one specifically for running – I wear this skirt 1-2x per week as a regular skirt), but I have yet to find one that is long enough, has pockets and doesn’t have shorts attached (I don’t want shorts because I prefer to wear pants underneath).

In terms of gear:
I use my Droid Ultra phone for music (Google Play), GPS tracking (MapMyRun), interval timer (A HIIT Interval Timer) and keeping notes (Inkpad Notepad). I have a holster case that I use, and I keep it in my left front pocket. I use Yurbuds sport earphones, which sometimes feel like they’re going to fall out, but are mostly great.

I have a 24-oz Thermos Intak water bottle which I LOVE, but may have to be replaced sooner rather than later because I’ve dropped it quite a few times, and eventually it won’t survive the drop.

I just got new sneakers – Asics Gel Galaxy (aka whatever was cheap & in my size at Kohls). This is my 3rd pair of Asics, and I like them because of the arch support.

So, that’s a basic summary of what I wear & use when running. Hopefully soon I’ll update you on the costume questions and considerations.

 

[SarahDisney]

See the Running Journal Here!

 

[SarahDisney]

See the Running Journal Here!

 

[SarahDisney]

Will I Run in a Costume?​

This post has been a long time coming ... I meant to post it early last week, but just didn't get to it. Finally I have the time to post! So anyway, here goes:

One of the most important questions in preparing for any RunDisney race is … Will I Run in a Costume?

Short Answer: NO

Long Answer/Explanation:
It’s hard enough for me to find clothing that adheres to my dress code (see previous post on what I wear when running)… and while I don’t necessarily buy into the idea that I need special running clothing, I have get to find a good skirt that isn’t my regular denim skirt.
It’s hard for me to find the right clothing. Many things the necklines are too low (I need my neckline to approach the collarbone), or I can’t find long sleeves, or the skirts are too short. I don’t have the time, patience, or budget to buy a costume that will conform to my needs.

Who knows, maybe I’ll love my first race so much that I want to do every RunDisney race, and over the years I’ll collect enough pieces and eventually I’ll run in a costume, but until then … my costume is “girl running in long sleeves and a knee-length skirt.”

FINAL NOTE: I might consider DisneyBounding if I have the right stuff … but I’m not buying much special stuff, just working with what I have. I actually would really love to go out and buy the stuff to DisneyBound, but it’s not in my budget for right now. Oh well, there’s always the next race, right?

 

[SarahDisney]

See the Running Journal Here!

 

[ksl5f123]

I just read your PTR and wanted to say "HI!" I Googled "running skirt" just to see what is out there and I can see where you have a dilemma - everything is SO short! Do you sew at all? Skirts are pretty simple.

I hope you get to go on your trip and that your sister decides to join you!

 

[SarahDisney]

I just read your PTR and wanted to say "HI!" I Googled "running skirt" just to see what is out there and I can see where you have a dilemma - everything is SO short! Do you sew at all? Skirts are pretty simple.

I hope you get to go on your trip and that your sister decides to join you!

Hi! Thanks for stopping by and reading!

I do sew a little, but not much ... mostly I fix things (sew up small holes, fix buttons, etc), I don't really create things from scratch, but it would be something to think about. I hadn't even thought about making my own skirt!

I really hope we can go too ... we were talking about it last week, and we're trying to make it work, but we're still not sure if it can happen and probably won't know for a little bit. I'm still training for it, even though I'm not sure if it will happen.

 

[SarahDisney]

See the Running Journal Here!

I'm hoping to get some time this week to look at flights ... so I may have another update (hopefully) soon.

 

[SarahDisney]

See the Running Journal Here!

This was my first run doing an interval of 1:00 walk/4:00 run - the added running time wasn't bad (especially because I took it slow), but I did miss the extra walking time (especially at the beginning).

Planning update coming soon! (aka within the next 15 minutes or so)

 

[SarahDisney]

Misc. Comments: Airfare, Florida Running, Shopping List, Disneyland 2015​

Nothing much happening, but I’ve got a few miscellaneous comments that I keep forgetting to post.

Airfare: I’ve been looking, but since it’s busy time, it’ll cost about $1000 for flights for the two of us. That’s a lot of money for me right now. I have to be on the lookout for deals, but it’s especially hard because while I’m assuming we’re flying down on Thursday, I don’t know whether to even bother looking for flights back on Friday (which would be cheaper, but I would like to land in NY by 1 and that’s just not possible) or just assume we’re flying back Sunday (which will be more expensive). Last year’s Disney trip I got airfare for about $100-$130 each way (before taxes) – but I don’t think I’m getting that for President’s Week. I hate this “wait and see” pattern, but right now it’s my only option.

Florida Running: I actually got my butt out of bed and went for a run when I was at Disney last week. Weather was great – a little hotter than I like, but February should be a bit cooler. It made me feel a lot better about what the weather will be like for running (and about getting up early to run – although I didn’t get up as early as I’ll have to in February)

Shopping List: With winter coming soon, the weather is getting pretty cold here in NY. If I want to continue running outside in this cold weather (and I certainly do!), there are some things I want to pick up:

• Long-sleeve shirts – I have a few, but I think I need more – mostly I’m cannibalizing my sleeping shirts, and that’s not really working out so well – I don’t need special running shirts, plain t-shirts is fine, I just need more so that I can run and sleep in between laundry days
• Hat/gloves – I’ve been using my regular every day hat and gloves, which has been working out okay, but if I have to go out again later in the day … I don’t like having to put on sweaty hat or gloves, so I’d rather have a dedicated pair of gloves and hat that I only wear for running (and therefore it has time to dry out before the next time I need it)
• Skirt – For winter, I have a fleece vest that I wear that has a pocket for my phone, so a pocket is not essential, but I still do want a dedicated running skirt so that I don’t just always wear my denim skirt

Disneyland 2015: 2015 is the 60th anniversary of Disneyland, and I would love to participate in the Disneyland Half-Marathon weekend. Shabbos won’t be as much of an issue, because I have people in LA that I can crash by (and getting from Anaheim to LA should be pretty easy), so if I can make this happen financially, I would really like to. I don’t have to make the decision until late January/early February (registration opens in February), so I have a few months, but I still need to really think about it. I’m also thinking about registering for the actually Half-Marathon, not just the 5K. I know 10K would be the next logical step, but it’s on Saturday (and therefore not a possibility for me), and I really want to move beyond the 5K. Basically, I have a lot to think about, but I just wanted to share that it’s on my radar and I am thinking about it.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Hiya Sarah!!! Even though I am NOT A RUNNER, nor do I like exercise, but I don't want you to feel all alone over here!!! Yep sure is getting cold up here in the Northeast, huh? I hear this weekend it will be even colder.....I am NOT ready for winter at all!!

Keep checking airfares. I noticed my flights to Orlando dropped a bit on Southwest, so there's still hope!

 

[SarahDisney]

Hiya Sarah!!! Even though I am NOT A RUNNER, nor do I like exercise, but I don't want you to feel all alone over here!!! Yep sure is getting cold up here in the Northeast, huh? I hear this weekend it will be even colder.....I am NOT ready for winter at all!!

Keep checking airfares. I noticed my flights to Orlando dropped a bit on Southwest, so there's still hope!

Hi Ann! Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!

I don't know what the temperatures are like up in Maine, but we're scheduled to have a high in the 30's at some point next week ... I don't think I'm going out running that day . I'm not particularly ready for winter either ... I know it can't be super warm, but I'll take a few more week of 60-70 degree weather please?

I hope I can find cheaper airfare. I usually fly JetBlue (free checked bag & a lot of flights from JFK), but I've been checking out other airlines too to see if they're cheaper. Southwest is a little cheaper, but they don't fly direct from NY to Orlando (which annoys me a little, but not that much because I actually hate Southwest ... I like having an assigned seat).

I know I just have to keep checking, and hopefully I'll find the right flight at a great price soon!

 

[SarahDisney]

Flights … Maybe?​

I’ve been looking to find airfare for less than $1000 (round trip for 2 people). Today I did!
Leaving NY (Thursday): I can take a 1:15pm flight that lands at MCO at 4:15pm for $139
Leaving Orlando (Monday): 11:30am flight that lands at JFK at 2:00pm for $194
Total (Including Fees): Approx. $666

Issues:

1. This fare is non-refundable … so if we can’t get off work/find a way to make Shabbos work/etc, we’re SOL
2. I currently only have a hotel for Thursday night … I’d have to find a hotel for Friday night (unless we have somewhere to stay), Saturday night, and Sunday night - not going to be easy at this point in time
3. It would mean taking off from work Thursday, Friday, and Monday (currently only an issue for my sister, as I don’t have a job, but still … it’s there)
4. We’re having a family get together at some point in time. I think my father was planning to have it the Sunday before, but based on my quick look at a calendar, it seems to me to make more sense to do it either that Sunday (the 22nd) or the next Sunday. If we have the family get-together that week, my sister and I need to be home to help out with it.

Now I just have to get my sister to agree to this, solve the aforementioned 4 issues, and find $700 in my budget to pay for the flights. Easy as pie, right?

 

[SarahDisney]

See the Running Journal Here!

This was my first time running in sub-30 degree weather, and while it was certainly cold when I started (and any time I took off one of my gloves, which I had to do because the GPS tracking on my phone wasn't working and I kept trying to figure it out), it got better as I was running, and it really was manageable. I know it'll get colder as winter goes on, so I might think about investing in a thicker shirt, but my fleece-lined leggings worked out great!

Hopefully I'll have a flight update within the next week or so ... we shall see.

 

[SarahDisney]

See the Running Journal Here!

As I was getting ready to go out this morning, I realized that running is no longer something out of the ordinary or something that I have to push myself to do - twice a week it's a part of my normal routine. That feels really great!

I'm starting to actually feel like maybe I can become a runner!

 

[ksl5f123]

See the Running Journal Here!

As I was getting ready to go out this morning, I realized that running is no longer something out of the ordinary or something that I have to push myself to do - twice a week it's a part of my normal routine. That feels really great!

I'm starting to actually feel like maybe I can become a runner!

Congrats on crossing over that goal! I am so impressed you are still getting out there in the cold.