Runners UNITE! We've graduated C25K, so let's keep on going!

[AmyBeth68]

Oh and Corinna....you can DEFINITELY crush the 30 minute mark for a 5K. No question. ITA with Kim's advice there. Good luck and what an awesome goal to have .

 

[katerkat]

Thinking about walk-breaks, I think there was that one last little walk on the last bump of the Fantasmic hill. Brutal. Doesn't count as much of a walk break.

That doesn't count, we were just running so slow that it was easier to walk.

I am so on for the Half in 2009, and I'll even do a mini-Goofy with the 5K. And Kim, you're totally coming. Even if we all have to cram into one hotel room.

I think the biggest problems with disorganization was the traffic - they didn't plan well enough to have the runners coming IN when guests were leaving MGM. We didn't have a huge problem because we were turning right at the light, not left, but it still took a good while to get into the park. Plus I heard other people had problems lapping the 6.5Kers and other problems on the course - didn't bother me at all. I would have liked to run more inside the park - that was disappointing - and a couple little other things, like maybe "inaugural" somewhere, anywhere, on the shirt or medal.

I don't have the marathon to compare it to, but I did Bloomsday last May and that has 50,000 participants. Possibly because of the sheer number, or maybe because they've been doing it 30 years, but Bloomsday is so much better organized from start to finish. Including transportation.

Anyway, Mom got all her pictures off her camera and will upload them tonight so I can share!

 

[aldisneygrl]

Stacey - thanks for stopping by! You are always welcome here, even if you didn't provide a valuable piece of information and link!

Allie, I did not see any sweepers, but the time limit for this race was very generous (16 min/mile pace - it is frequently 15, which is a FAST walk, IMO) By the time the sweepers were pulling people, if they did, I think that I was probably in a fast limo ride to the Aerosmith concert..... The 5K in January is a 15m/m pace requirement, right? But if you run some and walk some, you WILL be able to stay ahead of those sweepers!

As for being disorganized, I heard everyone and her brother comparing this with marathon weekend which has a reputation of being awesomely run. I don't think you will have the confusion and multiple stations at packet pick-up, though that is me assuming you will pick up at the same place as the marathon people. Just plan to get there early both to the race and packet pick up, if possible, use the potties early and bring your own water if you are accustomed to sipping. You should be fine. We say it was disorganized, but really, it could have been worse. You are unlikely to have the traffic problems they ran into with their first "night" race.

You and your dd will be fine - It's going to be a FUN race for you. I WISH I could be there, but it seems to be all sold out and I'm not sure I could justify the extra travel to my family, even if it is a 5K through my FAVORITE Park. Maybe I will have to hit that one in 2009 before the half......

Thankd for the reassurance. I think we will do fine, but I do still worry. I am just OCD that way. Like I am trying to decide if I want to upgrade my ressie to a pkg., and take advantage of the code they just released today, or wait and see if they issue a room only code. OCD again.

We pick up our race packets at the WWoS on Thursday along with everyone else. I plan to be there at the beginning, so that I don't have to worry about it. OCD again. I think they will have separate lines for each of the races, so I don't think the 5K line will be as long as the Goofy, Half, or Marathon lines.

I figure we just have to run fast enough to get past mile 2 in less than 30 minutes to keep from being swept. We did it in 27 this past weekend. It took us 20 minutes to do the last 1.1 miles. Mainly because she walked the last part.

Thanks again for your feedback and your reports. I am hoping to meet some DISers while I am there.

 

[katerkat]

Not to jump ahead of Corinna (but hey, she posted my time! ) but the ASI pictures are up:

http://www.asiorders.com/view_event.asp?EVENTID=25124&ID=42665484

I'm bib #1752 and she's #877 - obviously a little overlap!

I have no idea what I'm pointing at.

Our bling!

 

[corinnak]

Awesome! Well, this is probably the worst batch of photos of me since.....my January trip to WDW, but nevermind - I think it looks like my shoulders are up to my ears in half of my photos.

I think you were pointing at.....I don't know. I am not sure where we even were at that point. Maybe runners going the other way?

Kate -do you remember our brief non-debate about whether to have our finish-photo taken together or not? I'm glad we decided on together! It's twice as cute that way - maybe more.

Did you see that one of you where you were FLYING across the finish line? Very cool.

 

[corinnak]

OK - it took me a moment, but I have developed a theory. EITHER, you are telling me to turn ahead OR I had just said something like"

"Russ has to be along here somewhere." and you said something like "They are right there!" Which would explain my hunkered squinting and your joyful knowing smile in that photo.

 

[aldisneygrl]

It is so great to see the pictures of you two. That is how my friend and I were when we ran my first 5K a month ago. It is so much fun to do it with a friend.

Does disney take pictures of you along the race and then when you cross the finish line? That would be really cool because I didn't want to run with a camera.

 

[corinnak]

Allie, I agree - it is more fun with a friend! And these were all official photographs by a company that does race photography - not Disney, per se, but arranged by Disney. They definitely caught both of us going across the finish and then there were a couple of spots over the course of the race and a couple at the end. It's really a nice service, though in some ways I was happier not knowing what I looked like when running! I belive they do this for all of their races, as well.

 

[kimwim8]

You guys are so stinkin' cute. Look at you GO!!!

How 'bout a 3 person finish line pic at the '09 half?

Oh, and Kat - you may live to regret that "cramming in one room" comment.

 

[kimwim8]

Hey there Coach Kim ....once you are all healed from that nasty case of Bursitis, which will hopefully be VERY soon...any chance you'd like to train for the NJ Half Marathon in May? I've got that race on my radar and it would be nearby for you . It's perfectly flat *YAY* and would be a great warm-up for disney '09. Give it some thought. You'd need a solid 20 weeks of training. The mileage builds gradually for the half marathon in Bingham's plan. Here's the link http://www.njmarathon.org/. My SIL said it was a GREAT race and run really really well.

hey girl.... I'll certainly check it out. It's hard to even think about 13 miles right now, but no one says I have to be out to win....or even run the whole time, right? My worry would be that I'd be WAY to slow for you.

 

[corinnak]

You guys are so stinkin' cute. Look at you GO!!!

How 'bout a 3 person finish line pic at the '09 half?

Oh, and Kat - you may live to regret that "cramming in one room" comment.

Kim - we are totally PLANNING for that 3 person finish picture! That will be adorable, for sure.

And we wouldn't let you stay out in the cold. It will be January, after all!

 

[corinnak]

Well, I just finished another run (treadmill - the joy) and spent a lot of time in considerate thought as I was plodding along at what seemed to me to be an alarmingly fast rate - the treadmill IS its own thing, there is no comparison for me between the treadmill and the road except that generally, my speed is better according to the Garmin as compared with the TM. I was clumping along at 5mph and realized that I have come a long way since I started the C25K program and 4.2 was a good clip on the treadmill for me and 4.5 was an out and out sprint.

And as I was thinking that, I reflected back on the recent 8.1 mile run that I shared with Kate and so many other DISers and was just amazed that I was able to complete that run so well. And then I realized just how hard it is to get from where I was in January:

to where I am today:

And I thought of what it takes to get here, and yes I have worked hard, but it would have been SO much harder if I hadn't had the support of so many people. My husband and kids. My running mentor, Austin and my trainer, Becky. But the most key component that facilitated my success over these months has been my C25K buddies, and that we all started from nothing together - at least as far as running is concerned! We've each had our own individual challenges, that is for sure, but the commitment not only to the program but also to each other moving forward has made a huge difference to me, and I just wanted tomake sure that all the C25Kers out there, but especially my classmates, Kate and Kim know how much it's all meant to me this year.

 

[kimwim8]

You always turn me to mush, C.

If you don't mind...how much have you lost in total between those two pics? Let alone the weight loss....you look SO much happier in the second picture.

 

[corinnak]

Yeah, sorry Kim. I know you have sensitive eyes.

I have only lost about 28 pounds - I am still short of the 30, darn it. And now, crazily, I am actually putting on muscle, I think. So my pants fit and I am rocking the Kung Fu, but.....the scale is staying kind of the same. We went out to dinner for my birthday tonight, and between that and the Halloween Candy and the Tonga Toast...I'm muddling along. But yeah, there is more muscle. When I started with Becky a month and a half ago, I could barely do 15 push ups and the last 2 were pretty bad. Now, I can do 30. That's kind of crazy!

It is kind of a glumish picture of me in the Magic Kingdom, isn't it? Let me see if I can find a happier one for you. I AM happier and I feel younger than I did a year ago, too. I'll post it in the original post for easy shocking comparison, too.

Here, I look a little happier here (but man, my neck!):

But the fact is, I was never very happy to have my picture taken then, and I guess that shows. I'm not as lean now as I would like to be, but I am more comfortable overall and I know I am now headed in in the direction that I want to be going, which maybe means happier pictures. Oh, and come to think of it, in January, I was still trying to claw my way out of that depression. The running has helped me SO much with that, and that probably shows in the photos as well.

Hey - should I pick a November running goal or just see how it racks up?

 

[corinnak]

Katerkat - this one is for you - where are you, lady? How are your feet and legs doing after your trip? Also, my NaNoWriMo friends (really, just Austin and his wife) want to know how to friend you on there if you are willing - my login there is Sandy_Bucket, not that I have actually written anything....but I would love to be your NaNo Buddy even so!

 

[aldisneygrl]

Corrina - You look amazing!!!! You should be so proud of yourself! You look like you have lost WAY more than 28 pounds. You have passed so many milestones in less than a year.

I am really getting pumped for mine and dd's trip. I am planning on starting back running this week. Hopefully my knee can take it. If not, I'll back off because I sure don't want to disable myself for January.

Hope you all have a great weekend! Enjoy your extra hour of sleep tonight! I will since I didn't get in the bed until 3:45 AM this morning.

 

[corinnak]

Thanks Allie - I'm blushing over here now.

Take care with your knee - you most certainly don't want to compromise yourself for January - that is 100% the most important thing!! How is the recovery going? Are you icing? Are you able to do any gentle exercise and stretching or massage to get blood flowing to the area? Do you feel pretty good about starting back to running? Keep us posted!!

3:45 am!!! That's not bedtime, that's practically getting-up time!! What kept you up so late? You can have my extra hour of sleep too - it sounds like you need it more than I do!

 

[aldisneygrl]

Thanks Allie - I'm blushing over here now.

Take care with your knee - you most certainly don't want to compromise yourself for January - that is 100% the most important thing!! How is the recovery going? Are you icing? Are you able to do any gentle exercise and stretching or massage to get blood flowing to the area? Do you feel pretty good about starting back to running? Keep us posted!!

3:45 am!!! That's not bedtime, that's practically getting-up time!! What kept you up so late? You can have my extra hour of sleep too - it sounds like you need it more than I do!

My knee feels a lot better, and I actually had to jog out to the car the other day, and it didn't bother me, nor did my hip. I am really missing the running. Never thought I would ever say that.

I actually fell asleep on the bed watching tv for about an hour and a half last night. When I woke up, about 11:00, I was wide awake. I decided to catch up on the DIS. I then decided to try and go to bed at 12:45. Well my husband was snoring, and I wasn't tired, so I finally got out of the bed after about 20 minutes. Then I decided to clean out my pm box here on the dis, and look for some answers that I have for our Jan. trip. Next thing I knew, it was 3:30!

Then my dogs woke me up at 6;45 to go pee. Luckily they come right back in and go back to sleep. Then dd got up at 8:00, and had all kinds of questions for her dad and I. Told her she had to leave us alone because we were still sleeping. Anyway, I ended up getting up around 9:30 because the neighbor girl came and knocked on the door for dd to come and play. So, I will take your hour too.

 

[corinnak]

Allie, I'm so glad you knee is feeling so much better. I know how it is to have that itch to run - I actually start to get pretty cranky about it after a couple of days, though I don't always realize that that is why I am feeling cranky. I never thought I would say that, either! I think that joint compression is really good for resetting the nervous system (based on my son's OT evaluation for sensory issues) and when I don't get it, I feel out of whack now. Some would say it was endorphin withdrawl. I can buy that too!

What a night you had. I hope that things went a little better for you with the daylight savings and all!

I get to do a Kim today (speedy 2 miler), according to my new crazy training plan that involves running 5 days a week. I don't think I have the clothes for that! But never mind. I'm going to plug ahead and see how it goes.

Speaking of Kim, I hope you're feeling ready and excited for your trip and your big reveal. Are you bringing a computer or are we going to have to wait until you get back to hear how it went?

 

[kimwim8]

awwww, I still have a distance named after me.

I'm ready mentally for the trip...just not physically! LOTS to do, and a sick DD to deal with right now. But we're pumpin' her full of meds (that sounds bad, doesn't it? ) and she'll be good to go.

I won't be bringing a laptop with me, but there will be plenty of details and pictures when I get back. I plan on writing a trip report while there, so hopefully I'll just have to tweak it a little and then add the pics.

In case I don't stop back here before I go.....Have a GREAT week, guys! Rock out those runs for me!

I'll miss ya!

Oh, and Corinna - I say you set a goal for yourself, but not too much pressure. Maybe stay the same as October? Then if you wanted to work on speed or whatever, you won't feel as much pressure to keep going longer.