My vacation from Kuwait!

[Dsnygrl1205]

I'm glad your ankle doesn't hurt. I really hope your IT band doesn't bug you too much. Mine flared up a little bit during my marathon training. It's a bummer our bodies don't always cooperate.

I know, right? I left the gym thinking to myself that my body just doesn't want me using it to run anymore! It's so frustrating! We'll see how it feels tomorrow.

 

[Queenofallthings]

I totally get the whole smell thing at Epcot...Jasmine and I always make a comment about it when we arrive!! There has been a few morning at home when it starts to get hot that we'll leave the house in the morning and we'll both stop dead in our tracks and say ... smells like Florida....and we just enjoy it!!!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

I totally get the whole smell thing at Epcot...Jasmine and I always make a comment about it when we arrive!! There has been a few morning at home when it starts to get hot that we'll leave the house in the morning and we'll both stop dead in our tracks and say ... smells like Florida....and we just enjoy it!!!

I love moments like that but they also make me sad because I'd rather actually be in Florida then somewhere that just smells like it! The bathroom at the Target near my house smells just like the bathroom at Epcot near test track! Isn't that weird? I think they use the same air freshener!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

There has been some huge changes made to my trip! I found out yesterday that my DF, who is also deployed here but is two hours north at a different camp, was able to swap leave dates with someone else so that ours will overlap by 4 days! But in order to make the most of those days I had to move the dates of the trip. So now our dates are are March 4th to the 11th (yes I added a day). Actually I had to add 2 nights because my DM couldn't change her dates off from work to accommodate so she's still going down on the 3rd and leaving on the 9th. We'll just meet up with her a day later but we're all on the same reservation. Now with the 2 added nights it put the cost of the room out of my budget by almost $500 :sad2 so was considering switching to a Moderate which would have saved me a ton but ALL of the moderates are booked full! So I went for my old standby the Animal Kingdom Lodge! I love this resort so I'm not too disappointed. The BWI will have to wait for now. Side note: The reason the budget is so strict is because we're saving for our Disney wedding! I can put the deposit on the day we want in April so that extra $500 really makes a difference right now.

So I'm in the process of making changes to my ADRs and park days. I'm essentially starting over but I'll keep my updates short and sweet. I don't want to bore any of you with this.

Also not sure about the 5K anymore. Training has come to a halt again because of the IT band issues. It's my own fault though and I have learned my lesson! I have dealt with this injury twice in the past and I know I am supposed to start slowly when I return to training but I was so focused on how my ankle was feeling that I forgot about my knee. I feel so stupid. Back at day ZERO with my running. Oh well. Have a great day everyone!

 

[dismagiclover]

The best news is that your R&R will overlap with your DF As you know AK is an awesome resort. Plus 2 more days at Disney!! It's going to be a great trip even without the Boardwalk. I hope your IT band heals quick. You are right about not pushing it.

 

[Queenofallthings]

I am so happy that your leaves will overlap! We love AKL too and for 2 extra nights in Disney, I would have stayed just about anywhere! Sorry about your injury

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

The best news is that your R&R will overlap with your DF As you know AK is an awesome resort. Plus 2 more days at Disney!! It's going to be a great trip even without the Boardwalk. I hope your IT band heals quick. You are right about not pushing it.

We really loved AKL when we stayed there last spring. DS is psyched that we're going there instead of the Boardwalk. Though I'm sure he would have loved BWI just as much.
I really still want to do the race. Even if I have to walk/run. I already paid for it so might as well just do the best I can.

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

I am so happy that your leaves will overlap! We love AKL too and for 2 extra nights in Disney, I would have stayed just about anywhere! Sorry about your injury

It will be great to spend some time together. 4 days is going to feel like a lifetime compared to the 30 minutes I have seen him since we left the US!

 

[carissanboys]

I think I missed that there was a fiance! Very cool that your dates will overlap. I'd love to stay at AKL.

Sorry about your issues with your knee/IT band. I'm still dealing with my groin strain (adductor muscles in my leg). I thought it was all better after taking 3 - 4 weeks off from running, but after just 1.4 miles this weekend, I was feeling it again. Very frustrating so I know where you're coming from!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

I think I missed that there was a fiance! Very cool that your dates will overlap. I'd love to stay at AKL.

Sorry about your issues with your knee/IT band. I'm still dealing with my groin strain (adductor muscles in my leg). I thought it was all better after taking 3 - 4 weeks off from running, but after just 1.4 miles this weekend, I was feeling it again. Very frustrating so I know where you're coming from!

Scott and I have been together for 2 and a half years and he actually proposed here in Kuwait. He was able to come down to the camp I'm at on Christmas and popped the question. He had ordered the ring online before we even left the training site we were at. It will be so nice to spend a little time together.

The good thing about the IT band injury is that I have dealt with it before so I know what I need to do to get better. I just didn't want to have to start over. If I had just done only a mile on that first run after my 4 weeks off and worked my way back up slowly I would be fine now. I won't forget that again!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

I went to the gym tonight and am back on a walk/run training program on the treadmill. Walked 1/4 mile then jogged 1/4 mile until I hit 2 miles then walked at an incline of 10% for another 30 minutes. Once my quad strength is built back up I'll be able to do a slow jog straight through to 2 miles. From there I'll increase my distance and intensity very slowly. The rule of thumb is only 10% at a time and never increase both speed and distance at the same time. This is where I went wrong over the last few months. Also I have incorporated some strength training too. I'm planning on trying for a time of around 30 minutes for the 5K at HS. I bought this and am hoping it will work wonders for me. It has some fantastic reviews so I have high hopes! I'm in the process of reorganizing my ADRs and park days but plan to have an update posted in the next day or so.

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

I'm going to a two week leadership course tomorrow morning so I wanted to get an update posted today. I'll try and make it quick and to the point since I'm basically starting over!

We're now arriving on the 4th and staying until the 11th at AKL. The first thing I have to do once we're checked in to the resort is drop my stuff in the room and get over to The Wide World of Sports complex to pick up my 5K packet for the race on Saturday morning. After that hopefully we'll have time for a QS dinner in WS and Illuminations.

Sat morning I'll be up and headed over to HS around 5:30 am. I'm taking a cab since there's no transportation from AKL for this event. The race starts at 7am I plan to be done by 7:30 or 7:45 depending on how far back I am at the start.
After the race I am going to meet the rest of my crew at MK for rope drop. I'll have a bag packed with a change of clothes with me. We have a lunch ADR at LTT at 12:30. I'll probably want to take a break mid day then we'll go back for wishes and a QS dinner at Pecos Bill's.

Sunday is still HS day. No change there.

Monday we'll be at Epcot all day and are having dinner at Via Napoli at 4:30.

Tuesday is AK all day with an ADR at The Wave for 5:30 that evening.

Wednesday is back to MK for the day. We have breakfast at The Crystal Palace at 9:05 that morning so we'll get some great shots of Main Street pretty empty!

Thursday we'll go back to HS for anything we missed om Sunday or want to do again (ToT anyone?) then dinner at Kona Cafe.

Friday morning we'll be back on ME at 7:30 to head home. Then I have to be back on a plane to Kuwait a few days after that.

By the time I get back here the tour will be a little more than half over though! Our replacements get here in June and as they get trained up to take over we get more and more time to ourselves. Not that there's much to do! But I should be out of here by the end of August! Two weeks earlier then we all thought.

A quick running update too:
I did a full mile with NO PAIN today! Felt like I could have gone longer but don't want to push it. Broke up the rest of my workout with 1/4 mile intervals until I got to 3. Once I have that base of 3 miles built back up I vow to up my mileage and speed slowly and only one at a time.
I am feeling optimistic for the first time in a while!

Well have to get packing for my school. I'll see you all in a couple of weeks!

 

[dismagiclover]

Your plans sound great! You're going to have a fabulous time. Yay for being able to run a full mile with no pain! Smart move not pushing it! You'll get there. Just take a little patience. Hopefully your training goes well. I'll miss seeing you around the boards.

 

[DrMomof3]

That's so exciting that DF can come, too!!!!
Glad you're able to start training again.

Amanda

 

[Queenofallthings]

Can't believe you're going to be away from the Boards for 2 weeksYou'll have some serious catching up to do when you get back

Your plans look great....and I'm so excited that it looks like your tour will be over sooner than you thought! I remember crossing off the days on the calendar when we were little waiting for my dad to come home

Hope you have a great couple of weeks

 

[DisMomAmy]

Just popping in to say Hi!

It's been quiet over here... hope all is well!

 

[20thingamabobs]

Our trip dates are basically identical now! I just started my PTR: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2658779, I'm so glad your injury is feeling better and that the training is coming along! I hope everything went well at your leadership training and everything is still all good! Tomorrow is our two week mark!!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

I'm back! The course I went to was pretty good but I'm glad to be "home" back in my bunk in my barracks. I have been sleeping on a cot for the past 16 nights so being back here is like being at the Marriott! And now that I have completed this course I can get my promotion to E6 soon!

I can't believe my trip is so soon.. I started packing to head back to the states today. I should be on a plane by the 28th and I'm so excited to see my family and my dog. I talked to my Mom this morning and she apparently made an ADR at Teppan Edo for us for our arrival evening. It's for 9:20 pm so we'll be eating after Illuminations this time around and we'll have to have a late lunch so we're not starving by 7:00! I do like that she's getting involved with the planning this time around though. Usually she's just along for the ride. I think deep down she loves it as much as I do.

A quick running update... I wasn't able to do much running while I was at the course for the past two weeks but we did a lot of conditioning training so I'm haven't really gotten too far behind on the little bit of progress I had made. My ankle is still feeling great and I ran almost 3 miles today before I could feel my IT band. I stopped immediately and will only run two tomorrow. I think I should be fine for the 5K even if I have to run a lot slower than I want to. I'm really looking forward to it!

I'm still pretty wiped out from my training so I'm off to shower then hitting the sack super early tonight. Have i mentioned how great it is to have a real bed again?! Have a great day everyone!

 

[Queenofallthings]

Welcome back!! We've missed you...and I can't believe how close your trip is either!!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Welcome Back!!!

We LOVE Teppan Edo!