prncssjas
Running, Disney, Aladdin...
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2000
- Messages
- 981
Welcome to my running journal.
I literally just discovered this page today and spent the afternoon reading many, many of your journals entries (please don't tell my employer...
). I feel so inspired by you all and the efforts you have put into your training--so amazing. I have been on the DIS boards for over 20 years but until recently, I usually just lurk--I promise I am not creepy, just an introvert. I live in the beautiful state of Michigan, where the seasons are not variable at all and it's balmy year round. 
Just kidding, it's colder than *&#%$ but excellent for training purposes.
While I try not to take myself too seriously (I love sarcastic humor), I do taking my running and training seriously. I have been running since 2011 (off and on for a few of those years) but in the past two years, I have really started to buckle down on my performance. Running has been my patient friend that I have ignored for days (or months) and it has patiently awaited my return. The irony in all of this is that I hated PE in high school (from faking injury to skipping class) and did not grow up athletic at all--so here I am, age 48, mom to an almost 21 year old college student (please wait until you're legal child...) and wife to an amazing husband who runs really fast and I am ready to set goals and achieve them, even as I approach AARP eligibility! Woooooo!!!
My short term and life running goals are both serious and not so serious:
For 2023
Run a 54:45 10k time locally so I can attempt to secure Corral A at Princess Weekend Half in 2024 (per the guidelines shared by @DopeyBadger ). This is NOT because I am elitist I promise. It's truly because my obnoxious husband is always in Corral A and I have so much FOMO. And his race pics are always much better than mine....
So ideally, I'd love to experience it with him instead of asking him to drop back (even though he is such a good sport about it). I have a few minutes to go on this goal.
And beyond
Run a 25 minute 5k (I have a couple minutes to go here)
Run a sub-two half marathon (close but no cigar)
Qualify for Boston (please don't tell anyone...lol. I haven't even told my husband. Saying it out loud makes it real and that's super scary). This one feels like it's long years away but I am hoping if I put it here, it might actually come true.
I have a terrific running coach who is very active in our local community with track & field coaching and she is pretty elite herself. I adore her and have been coaching with her since last summer. Because of her guidance, I have PR'd in every single distance in the past year (5k, 10k, 10 miler, half and full distance). I am grateful but I would like to see myself run stronger and faster--some days, I look at my Garmin and I am emotional at how far I have come. Running is very much the sport that you get out what you put in.
80% of my training runs are an easy pace while the remaining 20% is speed work/tempos/hills and other refined workouts. I try to cross train but that might mean chasing my three dogs (two standard poodles and a Maltese) in the yard. I do my best.
Upcoming Races in 2023
Glass City Half Marathon in Toledo, OH this weekend (yikes!) so I am in an oddly weird taper mode (although I raced a 10k last weekend, set a new PR and won third place in my age group...must have been a slow heat...
)
Bayshore Half Marathon in the beautiful town of Traverse City, MI in May
TBD on a few others (maybe CRIM festival of races 10 Miler in Flint for August). My training plan for the rest of 2023 will likely focus on 5k/10k distance and speed work because I don't know how fast I can get my half marathon time down without the speed work.
For 2024, I plan to run Princess Half and the Revel Mt. Charleston Half in Las Vegas.
Don't come at me but I like the Disney races but don't plan my life around them. They have their own unique joy and splendor but I love running more (Disney just becomes part of the fun). I hope it's ok to say that on the DIS boards in the RUN DISNEY group. LOL.
If you have read this far, wow, thank you. I am humbled by all of this and incredibly grateful. The best day to run is today--you never know where it will take you.
I literally just discovered this page today and spent the afternoon reading many, many of your journals entries (please don't tell my employer...




While I try not to take myself too seriously (I love sarcastic humor), I do taking my running and training seriously. I have been running since 2011 (off and on for a few of those years) but in the past two years, I have really started to buckle down on my performance. Running has been my patient friend that I have ignored for days (or months) and it has patiently awaited my return. The irony in all of this is that I hated PE in high school (from faking injury to skipping class) and did not grow up athletic at all--so here I am, age 48, mom to an almost 21 year old college student (please wait until you're legal child...) and wife to an amazing husband who runs really fast and I am ready to set goals and achieve them, even as I approach AARP eligibility! Woooooo!!!
My short term and life running goals are both serious and not so serious:
For 2023
Run a 54:45 10k time locally so I can attempt to secure Corral A at Princess Weekend Half in 2024 (per the guidelines shared by @DopeyBadger ). This is NOT because I am elitist I promise. It's truly because my obnoxious husband is always in Corral A and I have so much FOMO. And his race pics are always much better than mine....

And beyond
Run a 25 minute 5k (I have a couple minutes to go here)
Run a sub-two half marathon (close but no cigar)
Qualify for Boston (please don't tell anyone...lol. I haven't even told my husband. Saying it out loud makes it real and that's super scary). This one feels like it's long years away but I am hoping if I put it here, it might actually come true.
I have a terrific running coach who is very active in our local community with track & field coaching and she is pretty elite herself. I adore her and have been coaching with her since last summer. Because of her guidance, I have PR'd in every single distance in the past year (5k, 10k, 10 miler, half and full distance). I am grateful but I would like to see myself run stronger and faster--some days, I look at my Garmin and I am emotional at how far I have come. Running is very much the sport that you get out what you put in.

80% of my training runs are an easy pace while the remaining 20% is speed work/tempos/hills and other refined workouts. I try to cross train but that might mean chasing my three dogs (two standard poodles and a Maltese) in the yard. I do my best.

Upcoming Races in 2023
Glass City Half Marathon in Toledo, OH this weekend (yikes!) so I am in an oddly weird taper mode (although I raced a 10k last weekend, set a new PR and won third place in my age group...must have been a slow heat...

Bayshore Half Marathon in the beautiful town of Traverse City, MI in May
TBD on a few others (maybe CRIM festival of races 10 Miler in Flint for August). My training plan for the rest of 2023 will likely focus on 5k/10k distance and speed work because I don't know how fast I can get my half marathon time down without the speed work.
For 2024, I plan to run Princess Half and the Revel Mt. Charleston Half in Las Vegas.
Don't come at me but I like the Disney races but don't plan my life around them. They have their own unique joy and splendor but I love running more (Disney just becomes part of the fun). I hope it's ok to say that on the DIS boards in the RUN DISNEY group. LOL.
If you have read this far, wow, thank you. I am humbled by all of this and incredibly grateful. The best day to run is today--you never know where it will take you.
