Where Have I Been?!?!

Well hello there!

I realize it's been over a year since my last blog post...wow...I can't believe I let it sit idle for so long! BUT - I have a great excuse...

At the end of June 2016, my husband and I found out that we were expecting our first child!  The first (and only) race I ran during my pregnancy was a week later at the 2016 Peachtree Road Race.

Luckily, my pregnancy was pretty easy...no real complications...but having hypertension caused my doctors to strongly discourage me from continuing to run and work out during the pregnancy.

Back in January, we headed to Walt Disney World on our "babymoon" (yes, I see some of you rolling your eyes at that term)

We happened to be there during Marathon weekend and spectated the marathon in EPCOT.  It was a lot of fun cheering on the runners and many of my friends during the race, and it validated what I had been thinking about for quite some time...when registration for the 2018 runDisney marathon weekend rolled around, this happened -

Yep...not only did I sign up for my first full marathon, but I'm going for the Goofy Challenge!  I'm crazy excited and scared to death at the same time, but I have some amazingly supportive friends and family and an equally crazy friend who will be by my side every step of both races...it's going to be a tough, but fun journey!

And, on March 4th, we welcomed our son into the world!

I'll be checking in with my training, products I've found to be helpful, and planning our first trip as a family of 3 to Disney World! It's time to dust off the cobwebs and keep you guys in the loop (if anyone even still reads my blog!)

More to come soon!

2015 runDisney Princess Half marathon weekend is here!

This weekend Walt Disney World will be taken over by princesses (and a few special princes) who are earning their tiaras and some pretty sweet medals during the runDisney Princess half marathon weekend!

photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

This race weekend really holds a special place in my heart as it was where I ran my very first half marathon back in 2013. 

I am so incredibly envious of all my friends who are jetting down to Orlando to participate in this year's races.  Whether you're running the 5k, 10k, half marathon, the Glass Slipper Challenge or ALL the races, always remember to take a minute and soak everything in.  Running at Disney is such a magical experience, one that you will never forget.

I'm super excited that this year they will have a live stream at the finish line of the half marathon!  You can get more information about this on the Disney Parks Blog.

Do you have runner tracking set up to see how your friends and family are doing during the race?  Go here to sign up now.

The runDisney Health and Fitness Expo is a great place to do a little shopping for official race merchandise as well as other fantastic vendors.  Make sure to swing by the runDisney booth to sneak a peek at the medals you'll be earning over the weekend!  Just in case you need a reminder, here are the times the expo will be open -

photo courtesy of runDisney

If you love social media like I do and want to share your pictures throughout the weekend, runDisney has created some hashtags for you to use -

photo courtesy of runDisney

And last, but not least, I thought I would share my recaps from my 2013 Princess half marathon weekend with you :) 

runDisney's Fit for a Princess expo - Day 1
runDisney's Fit for a Princess expo - Day 2
runDisney Princess half marathon - Part 1
runDisney Princess half marathon - Part 2

I hope each and every one of you have a magical time at Walt Disney World this weekend and I look forward to following along on social media and watching the live stream on Sunday morning!  I hope to get my recap of my Wine and Dine half marathon up in the next week or so.

What was your first half marathon? 

Until next time,

Looks like Dopey is Official!

The Dopey Challenge is coming to Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, January 8-12, 2014!




Straight from the runDisney site -
Are you ready for the ultimate endurance challenge? Then take part in four days of fun for a total of 48.6 miles in the all-new Dopey Challenge! Participants will run the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon, and if you complete all four races within the pacing requirements you will be awarded the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge medal and the brand new Dopey Challenge finisher medal for a total of six pieces of "bling."

Here are the price tags for this ultimate race weekend -

Entry Fees and Deadliness
Walt Disney World® Marathon

$160 by June 18, 2013
$175 between June 19, 2013 and August 13, 2013
$190 on or after August 14, 2013

Walt Disney World® Half Marathon

$160 by June 18, 2013
$175 between June 19, 2013 and August 13, 2013
$190 on or after August 14, 2013

Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge

$340 by June 18, 2013
$370 between June 19, 2013 and August 13, 2013
$400 on or after August 14, 2013

Walt Disney World® 10K

$95 by June 18, 2013
$110 between June 19, 2013 and August 13, 2013
$125 on or after August 14, 2013

Disney Family Fun Run 5K
$60 per participant

Dopey Challenge
$495 by June 18, 2013
$525 between June 19, 2013 and August 13, 2013
$555 on or after August 14, 2013

runDisney Kids Races
$15 per child

Mickey Mile
$30 per child

Race Retreat Packages

$120 Half Marathon Package
$120 Full Marathon Package
$200 Goofy's Challenge Package

Will you be participating?

Until next time,

Jen

Disney's Fit For a Princess Expo - Day 1

I can't believe this weekend finally came!!  I was up bright and early to catch an 8 a.m. flight out of Atlanta to head down to Orlando to start my magical weekend.  Amanda asked if I wanted to come a day early to hang out since we never get to see each other.  I was so anxious to get there and head to the expo!

As soon as I was dropped off at the Pop Century resort, I checked my bag with luggage assistance and hopped on a bus to the expo to meet up with Amanda and two of her friends who were also running.

This was my first major race expo, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  Amanda was waiting for me in the lobby of Coronado Springs, where the expo took place.  We hugged and got in line to get our bibs!

That was quick and painless...then we had to get our shirts.  The line was CRAZY!!!  One of Amanda's friends, L, went and stood in line for the shirts while Amanda, Jules, and I headed for the official merchandise booth.  There was actually a line to get in, and once we got in it was a madhouse.  We grabbed whatever we thought we might want, and then pondered on the purchases while we stood in line to check out.  I bought a pin that looks like the medal and a lanyard for them for myself, and I bought Sharon a magnet, pin, and Vinylmation medal, just in case they were out the next day when she got there.

I had seen a sneak peek of a limited edition shirt that Team Sparkle was going to have for the expo, so Amanda and I headed over to see if they had any left.  I met Kelly (who I follow on Twitter and Instagram as well as her blog) and she is as sweet as anything.  My stupid phone died so I didn't get a picture with her, but maybe at the Dumbo Double Dare we can make that happen...AND I was able to score a shirt!  (Picture of it to come in a future post)

We stopped by the runDisney booth to check out the medals and see if they had the new 10k and Dumbo Double Dare medals out yet (sadly they did not).  While we were there, we said hello to Jeff Galloway! Since my phone died, Amanda was nice enough to get a picture for me!

We did a little more shopping and decided it was too crowded, so we decided to head back to the hotel and come back when the expo opened in the morning to get taped up by KT Tape.

Amanda's eye had been bothering her, so later that evening Jules and L took her to urgent care and I stayed behind.  I was able to meet another fellow blogger and Twitter friend, Lena from The Beginner's Runner at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa during a Run Disney So I Can Eat Disney meet up!  She's also very sweet and I look forward to seeing her again at Disneyland later this year!

Afterwards, I decided to jump on the monorail and stop off at the Polynesian resort for a Dole Whip!  I had to complete my research in determining which Dole Whip was better - one from the Dole Plantation in Hawai'i or one from Walt Disney World.  Blog post to come soon on my findings!

As I was walking past the Magic Kingdom on my way back to the resort buses, I heard the "Wishes" firework show playing, so I stopped at the gates to watch.

 Amanda was back from urgent care so I stopped by the hotel to check on her.  She also was having a migraine so I left her in the room to rest and headed to Downtown Disney to do a little shopping and grab some dinner.  I bought a couple more pins and got a BLT from Earl of Sandwich for dinner.  I did a TON of walking on Friday so I threw these babies on to help keep my legs fresh -

We had plans to get up and go cheer on the 5k participants, so I headed to bed.  It was a long but fun first day at Disney!

Part 2 of the expo to come tomorrow!

Until next time,

Jen