Roxymama's 5k to Marathon, Time to Collect Another Castle

[michigandergirl]

I would choose an Epcot resort - more flexibility for your afternoons/evenings. And convenient for food & wine and any race you might run. I've only ever stayed at Beach Club and I did not have kids with me that time, but I loved it! We are currently booked at Boardwalk for April, so I can let you know how that goes. I would have preferred BC because of the sandy bottom pool (my kids swim so much they tear up their feet from the bottom of most pools), but I couldn't get a discount.

 

[ZellyB]

I'm not an expert on WDW resorts because we've typically stayed off-site. We are staying at Beach Club this time and with your being there around F&W, I'd say that might be a good choice as well. We chose it this time because the kids are with us and I thought they'd enjoy the pool there. I wonder if Yacht Club is a bit cheaper right now because there are doing some refurbishments I think, so there might be some ongoing construction or something. Maybe?

 

[rteetz]

And now an informal poll since I need to start thinking about booking my Fall WDW vacation once we get past the holiday season.
Stuff to know: My kiddo turns 5 on actual Halloween. We'd like to be there for at least a few days of Halloween decorations and possibly (but not necessary) a party night.
She loves to swim, but we realize it is Fall.
W&D is a nice perk that is close to dates we are thinking about, but it's not the focus at all. I'd probably do the 5k and hubby the 10k. I would not be doing ALL the races or challenges.
This trip will be just hubby, kiddo and me this time for now. Any add on family members would do accomodations on their own.
We'll be using EMH and rope drops as we are early birds and we take afternoon breaks.
DH & I LOVE Food & Wine fest.
My kiddo LOVES Magic Kingdom. Has done very little of the other three parks to date. But she'll be 5 this time.
Last trip was Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary and we were big fans of location and hotel, but we don't need that much room this time.
We want kiddo to have her own bed.
I'd love to get a 30%/25%/20% type fall discount.

So we are thinking possibly the whole week before W&D weekend as our major park going time.

Where would you stay if you were choosing between the following and why? I'm waffling and so this may help me decide.
Epcot deluxes:
Beach Club
Yacht Club - this seems to get better discounts than the Beach for some reason? Anyone know why?
Boardwalk
MK area deluxes:
Contemporary
(I'm nixing Poly and GF this time because they are just too rich for my blood for a full week+ vacay)
Wilderness Lodge (worried about construction? but love the idea of it.)
Any other resort you want to nominate? We like monorails and walking to parks over busses, so that's main reason I didn't list a "bus only" resort. But if you want to sales pitch one, I'm all ears.

I have only stayed at BC as for deluxe but will be staying at SSR in January. BC is great because its so close to Epcot. Our room was on the ground floor and as close as you could get to Epcot really. I would say Yacht Club gets better discounts because its a convention hotel. We were originally booked at YC last year but switched over a few days before. Both should be good choices.

I don't think you can go very wrong with Contemporary either. I have always wanted to stay there.

 

[SarahDisney]

If you're big Food & Wine people, I'd say stay at one of the Epcot resorts. Especially if you're getting park hopper tickets - that way you can stop in for a short while after you're done at one of the other parks.
Beach & Yacht Club have Stormalong Bay, which is supposedly the best pool on property, so if you think the kiddo will want to swim, those are good options (even though it's fall, it may still be appropriate swimming weather ... it is Florida, after all).

Of course, I always stay at the values, so ... my opinion's not really worth much.

 

[cavepig]

I'm a value person but my sister & her kid's have stayed at a lot of the resorts. Her favorite is Beach Club (they just stayed there in Nov). They love how easy it is to walk to EPCOT &
Studios. The theming at Beach she loved the best too Stormalong Bay is amazing they said (if warm enough to swim of course). They all thought Yacht looked boring compared to Beach Club. They had 2 beds & a roll away since no one shares. If I could pick I would go Beach club too I think for the ease of walking to 2 parks over the others & Contemporary 2nd for the monorail.

As for wine & dine races just saying that the Holiday 5k is a BLAST. It was sooo much fun this year & the characters in their holiday attire & fake snow just make it so fun. And running at AK is my favorite too. I think my parents will be doing it next year & I keep telling them it was soo fun & my favorite of the weekend. My 6 yr old nephew did it as his first 5k so it was fun seeing him finish! Just thought I'd share

 

[roxymama]

Thanks for all of the opinions on the resorts. It sounds like hubby is most interested in the Beach Club and the Wilderness Lodge after much discussion. So I've now got it narrowed down to those two. I do like the idea of hopping to Epcot for dinnertime around the world a couple of different times, so that makes me really like the idea of Beach Club. I'll for sure let you all in on my decision once I actually make it.

@cavepig I am a super Christmas lover so the jingle jungle HIGHLY interests me. And I've never ran in AK. I'm pretty much set on running that one, no matter what other ones I do or do not decide to run

I RAN OUTSIDE TODAY!
Yes, it was only for a few miles but it was on an unscheduled run day. I had just gotten home from Target which was INSANE! I wanted to get stocking stuffers while my family was napping and cookie ingredients and carrots for santa and his reindeer. Also wrapping paper that only Santa's elves will use. I won't say what I may have grabbed for hubby to supplement his presents because he comes on here now and again. But I will say that yesterday we both bought a running shoe ornament while at a Christmas market.
Anyways...Well I got home from that insanity and everyone was still napping. So I just put on my running clothes. Hubby stirred so I told him I'd see him in like a half hour and then I went out. Very spur of the moment. It's 36 and was lightly snow/drizzling by the end of my run. Felt warmer to me.
I typed in Christmas on spotify but stuff was too slow, so I typed in Christmas workout and was treated with a bunch of like pop/punk/rock/techno Christmas music. Was highly odd/weird/entertaining but at least was upbeat and kind of fun. Anyways at about mile two my sinuses were just feeling so stuffed up and I was soooo phlegmy. I think my body is not acclimated. I hacked a lugie into the snow (I feel congratulations are in order from everyone here) but I failed in trying to snot rocket (you can all boo me now.)
I wish the cold weather hadn't of bothered me as much as it did in my head region. It's possible I have the start of a cold but I'm in denial about that. I feel totally fine now hours later.

Anywho...that's my report. I'll likely be back outside or on the treadmill plenty more times as I'm on day 2 of a billion days off in a row!

Happy winter festivities to all..no matter what they may be! Good luck to everyone in tapertown, trainingtown, or couchtown!

 

[roxymama]

Just finished a little 3.4 mile run on my off day because it's 54 degrees out and sunny and all the ice melted!!!!
After mile 2.5 miles I literally had to throw my jacket at my porch cause I was hot! What?
Hubby got 3.1 in right before me and warned me that it was super windy. So I was prepared for that (no hat!).
Saw a million runners and walkers outside. One shirtless guy??? Is this December?



I got some new running socks, reflective food bands, a new carry on suitcase for Tink, and lots of other awesome run related swag. Including a zoodler (to make healthy noodles!!!)
But now I do the annual traditional slipper retirement

Nothing like new cushy softness after a run

 

[SarahDisney]

Nice haul!
I'm jealous of the zoodler. I love zoodles.

 

[roxymama]

After many many many youtube viewings, trip report stalking, and review reading...and number crunching and general wishy-washing. The roxymama family decided on our WDW vacation hotel for the fall.....
WILDERNESS LODGE!

So how did we finally get to that decision?
We narrowed it down between Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge as each one seemed like an awesome choice for us...but very different feels and locations. In the end we thought doing something totally new for us (we've stayed at yacht club before) was what we wanted to do. The pool looks awesome for what our kiddo likes (the kiddy water play area looks really fun), hubby and I love the wilderness vibe especially for Fall, and we want to try the backyard bbq this time. And the boat ride to Magic Kingdom or the other area resorts sounded nice. The big thing though is we got our room for about 100 less than Beach club per night. And that savings can go towards halloween party tix, bibbidi bobbidi or other "add on things" while still staying at a deluxe resort. I'm kind of super excited!!
It was a really really really tough call, but the savings and the atmosphere won out.

Now if discounts come out for the Fall that persuade me to change my mind...we shall see, tbd. But right now I'm pretty stoked about it.

Now that I have that finalized I'm making up my list of races for 2017 (right now, got my notepad out) and which ones are for "competing" and which ones are for "completing". It's slightly annoying that a lot of races don't have dates set yet in our area, so my list will look a little sparse or have a few TBDs.
But I just had to come on here to talk about how excited I am about dis-vacay planning!

 

[roxymama]

Pre Tink is light on races as I will be focusing more on training.
March 18: March4Meg 5k, Evergreen Park, IL - local, for fun, no goal
April 2: Shamrock Shuffle 8k, Chicago, IL - PR attempt, just beat 50:02
May 14: Tink Half Marathon 13.1, Anaheim, CA - "A" race but with character stops. Goal is to attack my training, be really fit, run for time while running, but stop and have fun too. A weird combo but one that makes sense to me. No final goal time, but will be an automatic PR!

Post Tink is a bit fuzzier but I have some goals in mind.
Race need: a 10k or a 5k in Chicago or Milwaukee/WI area to CRUSH (anyone know a good pacer @DopeyBadger ) . I'll start making a short list once I know good dates that work. Pretty much anytime between late May through Sept. Or in October.
Aug 6: Maybe?! Naperville sprint triathlon coed relay, 5k run
Sept 24: Chicago Half Marathon 13.1, Chicago, IL - goal tbd, but by default probably will end up faster than my tink character stop filled race
October? St. Xavier Cougar 5k date TBD, local run
Nov 3: Disney Fall Feast 5k, Lake Buena Vista, FL - fun run!

No Hot Chocolate this year...cause I'll be flying home from WDW!!!

 

[roxymama]

Lil update:
Ran instead of napping today (was a tough decision)
Did a tempo run by feel with the tempo part for two miles. Did them in 19:05! Not too shabby! Felt like a lil more than tempo towards the end as I was running straight into tough wind. But Katie Perry's "Roar" was on which although not my favorite song, sure made me feel butt kicky today.
Did one of those crazy Lush Bathbombs to soak my legs after (it felt so cold out there once I slowed down)
I'm thinking I want to run again tomorrow. #addicted

 

[roxymama]

I was too busy talking about running that I forgot to ask who is watching The Crown? I'm 5 episodes in and hooked. I know how it ends but it's so compelling! Luckily bachelor starts on 1/2, to undo any good tv habits

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

I LOVED the Crown! I really didn't know that history of Winston Churchill as an older guy and found that story super interesting and sad in a way. And then of course I learned a lot about the Queen's relationship to her sister and husband too. So well acted!

 

[ZellyB]

The Crown is on my list to watch, just haven't done it yet. I've heard great things about it though!

Awesomeness on your running and it's not a bad thing to be addicted to.

 

[michigandergirl]

I binged on The Crown last month. So intriguing! Now I'm completely obsessed with Outlander - the books and the show.

 

[roxymama]

I forgot to add Flying Pig weekend to my list of races! I promised my Aunt I'd run the 1 mile race with her to get the free beer and coney. So that's be early May. Hubby will likely do a 10k but I'll just see what training says. itll be taper time and Tink is sooooo important to me.

We finalized our wdw days, 10/31 through Sunday

@michigandergirl outlander is so goooood. That Jamie guy is alright on the eyes too.
I think I can get one more crown episode in today.

Ps I bought new running clothes with a target gift card today. Pics coming later

 

[roxymama]

Clothes!!!!!!

I went to target armed with a gift card and the intent to buy one plain black pair of leggings and then save the rest or buy some boring things I "need"
And then I saw some shorts that reminded of InB in their coloring. And then I went down the target rabbit hole.
You might be starting to figure out my color preferences by now based on past clothes pictures.

So I found these shorts which needed a shirt to match

but there was a mannequin with the tights and matching zip up and they didn't have my size. But they had a

So then this happened after some trying things on

Yeah I got it ALL!!!!
Model time!
Sorry about my pale winter fair-pasty-leg-syndrome. Pullover plus shorts...


Shirt plus tights. (Trying to show how the back is a lil different from front)

And one more that shows front of tights better. And a slightly dorkier pose too!!!


And that's how a day off turns into a shopping spree, folks. I paid about 20 something oop which ain't too shabby!

 

[Ariel484]

You look awesome!! I love the stuff you picked out

 

[roxymama]

You look awesome!! I love the stuff you picked out

Thanks! The shorts were given me like a dahlia-ish vibe but more blue than purple. I hope I like running in them.

 

[michigandergirl]

I'm loving those tights! I have a Target gift card I'm itching to spend...