Disneyland Half Marathon-SOLD OUT!!

The Disneyland Half Marathon SOLD OUT TODAY!! I can't believe it!! It is still 32 weeks away and it's sold out! It is either that awesome, or just that rare. Either way, I feel so special that I get to run it. We've already got our road trip planned for Aug/Sept including Crater Lake, Yosemite, Palm Springs(seeing family), Disneyland (3+ fun-filled days there) and Redwood National Forest on our way back. It should be a great way to end the summer :)

Surprise-It's Marathon Training Time!

Somehow I just realized that the Hal Higdon marathon training plans are 18 weeks, not 12. So I am technically in week 3 right now! The good thing is that I have been completing the sorts of workouts on the plan already-phew!

I'm really glad. I was kind of looking for a little direction anyway ;)
http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

Redemption Run

Run: 5.46 miles
Location: Astoria High School Track
Run Time (if applicable): 46:01, 8:25 splits
Run Start: 8:05 am
Temperature: 50-ish degrees
Weather: Clouds, drizzle

Notes:

After yesterday I quickly came to the realization that I was going to have to be more flexible with my body. I usually do a pretty good job of listening to my body while running but since I haven't come up against too many problems this go around, I was thrown for a loop a bit when Aunt Flo knocked me on my butt. I was so bummed that it would affect me for several days each month. Well today I found redemption!

While I can anticipate that Aunt Flo very well may give me multiple challenging days per month, today was not one of them! I had to drop our Excursion off for some servicing at the Ford Dealership, just down the road from the high school. The counter service guy told me the servicing was an estimated 45 min-1 hour wait, and I said it was ok, I was just going to go for a run. His expression was so funny...like I was NUTS! Haha!!

In the interest of a cautious run, I planned on 3-4 miles, slower paced, and on the track so I could bail out if I started to feel icky. After 5 bouncy minutes on the track, I upped my goal to running for an hour because I was so jazzed that I felt good. In the end, I talked myself down to a reasonable 45 minutes in the interest of not overdoing it. I set my Nike+ on 'Time' setting for the first time and it was cool to hear Lolo's voice gently alert me every 5 minutes that passed.

I was properly outfitted today in case I got stuck in a downpour which felt so great! I was not intimidated by the weather one bit! It only drizzled though.

But the magic happened around 30 minutes into my run. I turned the corner and lifted my eyes forward (I am  really working on keeping my chin up for correct form), and two deer strolled right in front of me...like TEN FEET!! They just stood there, unintimidated by me. It was the most amazing sight! I have seen deer before, this is the third time while running actually. But this was just awesome. I stood there dumbfounded, jaw-dropped, just staring. Then they pranced on forward and I couldn't stop smiling. How cool was that?

Feelin' the Flo

Run: 1.5 miles
Location: Irving St.
Run Time (if applicable): N/A
Run Start: 8:05 am
Temperature: 34 degrees
Weather: very cold and foggy.

Notes:

This was supposed to be a 4.5-miler but for some reason I couldn't get out of the "funk" I was in and find a groove. I decided to cut it short and call it a day. I had a stressful morning (as most of mine are-getting 3 kids out the door plus myself, plus all of my school stuff, gym stuff and any other random thing I have to remember...) but usually as soon as I drop Aaron off at school it turns around and I feel upbeat and ready to run. Not today...today I was in a black cloud of funk. I figured I would just power through. For the most part my warm-up was good...and the run wasn't terrible necessarily. I just felt weak, and couldn't get it together. Then I realized what it was...

Ol' Aunt Flo had arrived. I have been blessed the last 5 years, not having to deal with Aunt Flo thanks to my Mirena IUD. But the time had finally come and Mirena had expired and it has been time to try something new, hoping it will help clear my adult acne. Long story short, I now have to deal with Aunt Flo, and I was not prepared for how it sucked my energy, my pep, just all of it. My day went better as I progressed through my classes and studying but as soon as I got around my family again (dirty house, needy kids, etc), the b**** in me sort of started to rear her head. Seven-thirty rolled around and I could barely keep my head up/eyes open.

I hope every month isn't going to be like this. I guess it is going to be something I will have to learn to deal with. I'm sure some sort of meds will help. Meds, good hydration, iron supplements.

I hope to make up today's mileage through Thursday and Friday through "easy" 3-milers. I guess we'll see tomorrow!

Disneyland Half-I Made It!!

It's the Happiest Race on Earth!

In less than 7 months I will be running through...

High-fiving...

Getting this beauty hung around my neck...

And soaking up some sun in...

Can you tell I am excited?? Happy Valentine's to Me! :-D



Race Calendar

Race Calendar
I find I am constantly updating this with the possiblities of runs that sound great or that I might be able to squeeze in. So if it seems as though my calendar is always changing, it is. But I am not necessarily running all of these (unless they are marked registered), but it is an easy place to come to pick and choose races as I see fit!

March 18th: Portland Shamrock Run 8K-COMPLETED!!
http://www.shamrockrunportland.com/

May 6th: Cinco de Mayo races, Portland, OR

May 13th: Run Like a Mother 5K and kids' 1-Miler
http://www.active.com/running/portland-or/run-like-a-mother-5k-portland-2012

May 20th: Portland Rock n Roll Half Marathon-COMPLETED!!
http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/portland

Sometime this summer...Climb Mt. Hood with Ben

June 2nd: Linear Trail 5K/10K, Banks OR
http://www.active.com/running/banks-or/linear-trail-brave-run-5k-10k-run-walk-2012


June 2nd: Newport, OR Marathon
http://www.newportmarathon.org/

June 3rd: North Olympic Discovery Half Marathon: Sequim, WA
http://www.nodm.com/

June 9th: Helvetia Half Marathon/Widmer Bros 10K, North Plains, OR
http://www.runwithpaula.com/helvetia-half/event-home-page

June 10th: Cannon Beach Fun Run 5K*
http://www.active.com/5k-race/cannon-beach-or/cmon-its-summer-cannon-beach-fun-run-2012

June 23rd: Seattle Rock n Roll Half Marathon Out of Town
http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/seattle

June 23rd: Running of the Trolls, Astoria, OR
http://www.racecenter.com/race-details/?race=7913

July 20-21: Ragnar Relay, Northwest Passage*
 http://www.ragnarrelay.com/race/northwestpassage/registration

July 21st: Seaside Beach Run 10K (-I try to do it every year)

http://www.seasideor.com/item.asp?iid=19&eid=8

July 26th: Viking Vengeance 5K, Forest Grove, OR
http://www.active.com/5k-race/forest-grove-or/viking-vengeance-5k-run-walk-2012

July 28th: 5K Foam Fest, Portland, OR
http://www.5kfoamfest.com/location-portland.php

August 4: My First Tri, Blue Lake Park

August 11th: Garlic Festival 10K, North Plains, OR
http://www.active.com/running/north-plains-or/orrc-garlic-festival-10k-and-2-mile-run---walk-2012

August 18th: Tillamook Bay Run 10K Trail Run*
http://bayrun.org/

August 19: Columbia Muddy Buddy, Portland, OR
http://www.active.com/running-/portland-or/columbia-muddy-buddy-portland-2012

August 26th: Eugene Women's Half Marathon Out of Town
http://www.eugenewomenshalf.com/

September 2nd: Disneyland Half Marathon-Registered!
http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/disneyland-half-marathon

September 9th: Pints to Pasta 10K
http://www.runwithpaula.com/pints-to-pasta-10k

September 15th: Prefontaine Memorial 10K, Coos Bay, OR (-I grew up there, and have always wanted to run this!)



September 22nd: Barefoot on the Beach, Gearhart, OR
http://www.eventurousevents.com/#!barefoot-on-the-beach


September 23rd: Champoeg Half Marathon, 5-Miler and Kids' Dirt Dash (-we could camp and run!)*
https://www.facebook.com/events/143966975719066/

September 29th: Color Run 5K in Portland, OR

September 30th: Great Columbia Crossing 10K, Astoria, Or*

October 7th: Portland Marathon*
http://www.portlandmarathon.org/

October 27th: Runaway Pumpkin Half Marathon, Lebanon, OR
http://www.runawaypumpkinhalf.org/

October 28th: Columbia Gorge Marathon, Hood River, OR
http://www.columbiagorgemarathon.com/

November 10th: Disney's Wine and Dine Half Marathon (Coast to Coast Medal???)
http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/wine-and-dine-half-marathon

November 25th: Seattle Marathon
http://www.seattlemarathon.org/

December 1: Winter Wonderland of Lights

Disneyland Half-Almost Sold Out!

http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/disneyland-half-marathon

Ahhh! The Disneyland Half Marathon is September 2nd and is 79% full and filling up fast! I can't decide whether I am supposed to register for this yet! DH and I just bought our first travel trailer and we are trying to plan our summer trips! We are pretty darn sure Disneyland is in the mix, we just don't know when! Oh Disneyland Half, please don't sell out before we can get our ducks in a row and decide!