Aug 30, 2013

Wish I Was Here - Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend

Disneyland Dumbo Double Dare
Credit: http://runningatdisney.com/
This weekend is the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend. It's not only that, but it is the inaugural Dumbo Double Dare Challenge. How cool would it be to be a part of an inaugural race like that, and get the first ever of those medals? So cool, I think at least. Maybe someday when they add one I'll tackle one of those challenges and be one of the first. I do want to run the Disneyland Half Marathon someday, take on the Dumbo Double Dare challenge and of course earn my Coast-to-Coast medal. Next year, I'll be doing my first half at the Walt Disney World Half, but I won't be going for my C2C. I just can't afford the trip cross country to follow it up. But oh well. I will earn that medal eventually. I'm determined. Of course, first step comes in January. For those in California now, though, I'm sure they'll have a great time and they're part of something special.

Any hoo, I just wanted to wish good luck to all those participating in the festivities this weekend. Good luck to all the bloggers I follow there, such as Pam and Christine of We Run Disney, Heather (and her husband Bobby) of Through Heather's Looking Glass, Jenn of Eat. Sleep. Run. Disney, Greg of Why I Run Disney and of course all the members and friends of Team #runDisney. Of course, also good luck to any of you running other races this weekend, like Lacey and Meranda of Fairytales and Fitness, running the Rock n Roll VA Beach Half Marathon.

Good luck to everyone. Run hard, smile and most importantly have FUN.

Wish I was there.

Aug 29, 2013

Back to Blogging and Running

After a short time of some personal transitions, I'm getting myself back into routine (in a good way). I recently had vacation followed by turning in my notice at work followed by starting a new job. Couple that with the start of school and band camp for my wife, needless to say, it's been a busy time in our household.

This week I was back out running for the first time in two weeks. It felt good to get out there. While I was out running, I realized I missed it. I missed getting out there, music in my ear, just running and letting it all go. While I was running contemplating this, I think I realized why I've been having trouble getting out. It's all about timing. I enjoy running in the morning. This comes with the problem of fighting my love of sleeping and my non-willingness to go to sleep. It's not as much trouble falling asleep, but trouble going to sleep. When I don't get up early to run, this leaves running in the evening. On these days, I go to run after Sam goes to sleep. This comes with its own set of problems, mainly getting hungry and forgetting. I'm either really hungry by the time I go out and get back or I get hungry, forget and eat dinner, which makes then running in this heat and humidity a poor idea.

I'm working on doing better on both of these fronts. My work schedule has evened out that I can run in the morning before work if I want to, even with still going into work after if I need to. I'm also working on doing better if I need to run in the evening. Today I had one of my Clif energy bars for "dinner" when eating with Sam so I had something in my stomach to help with the hunger while still being a part of family dinner.

Credit: Amazon.com
I've been doing an ok job of counting my points. I've been using weekly extra points (which are there for that purpose) but at times it just feels like cheating too much. As long as I'm within my points I have to let some of that guilt go. I also want to try and do a better job of not over indulging too much. I often have a low points lunch with a salad, yogurt, carrots and an apple. With lunch that low, I end up having extra indulging points, which while may meet the levels of my plan, don't completely meet the spirit. Just another thing to keep improving on.

While running, I have Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky as part of my playlist. The album as a Gonna Fly Now remix, that includes some quotes from the various movies. So I'll leave you with one from there, that I do quite enjoy
But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!