runDisney's Wine & Dine Meetup

I was lucky enough to get into the Wine & Dine Meetup.  It was at night so I wouldn't have to take off from work, so it was perfect!  It was my first meetup and I was so excited!

Cori and I met up with Kristin (A Mom on the Run) and her hubby, Adam.  We showed up at the entrance to Epcot to get our shirts and we got another goody too--a fastpass for Test Track!  I hadn't ridden the new version so this was a plus!

So right after changing into our shirts, we headed over there.

 Once inside, you get to design your vehicle

 

Then it was time to get on board

After our ride, we headed to the countries for some Food & Wine goodies!

 I had to get my favorite--the Dragonberry Colada!

I also stopped in Canada for the filet with the yummy mushroom sauce!

 Then we headed to the special viewing area to watch Illuminations.  It was fun to see so many runners that I chat with on Facebook and Twitter (although I was too shy to say hi to most of them!)

 

 

Then we headed over to America.  We got in line for a picture with the head Chef himself!

 Then we got to the food! This was a vegetarian dish with a spicy curry sauce.  Not sure who thought it was a good idea to feed runners something spicy before a run.  But it was okay.

We also had some fruit, veggies, humus, and cookies.

Then we listened to some speakers. Darrell Fry, Sports Media Director, and Faron Kelley, Director, Marketing and Communication for Disney Sports started us off.

 We listened to Jeff Galloway and runDisney nutritionist Tara Gidus.

 We learned about the new New Balance runDisney shoes that will be coming out as well as other New Balance products.  (Cindy shoes, I'm coming for you!!)














And we learned about some of the food and wine from the countries from some of the chefs and a sommelier. 

They also had several prizes to be won.  Cori won a free entry into any runDisney race.  How lucky! 

We got to take a picture with same famous people: Minnie, Goofy, & Mickey!

Then it was time for the running portion.  We usually do run/walk intervals but when I heard that the group was going to be doing something like :20/:20 I knew I couldn't handle that much starting and stopping.  Cori was worried about the straight running pace so I asked and they said it would be a slow 11ish minute pace.  Well, it turned out to be about a minute faster but we kept up the whole time! 

We ran around the countries once and then back to in front of the fountain where we stopped for some pictures.

Just the straight runners group

And everyone

Then we ran to in front of Spaceship Earth where they had special champagne toast for us!  I forget the exact toast but it went something like "May the road rise up to meet you.  May the wind always be at your back.  May your splits be negative.  And your miles be magic."  Something like that.  Anyways, it was great!

 

 

 

 

I had so much fun and hope I get to participate in another runDisney Meetup!

My Year in Running--2013

I got this from Run Stretch Go who got this from Shoelaces and Bibs and  Miss Zippy.

1) My main goal for 2013 was: to PR in my a half marathon and the ten miler (to get a good corral for the 2014 WDW marathon!) I PR'd the ten miler at the Evergreen Pumpkin 10 Miler and the half marathon at the Space Coast Half Marathon (I haven't written my recap yet)

Evergreen Pumpkin 10 Miler

 





Space Coast Half Marathon

2) My Running Shoes: I started with Brooks Ravennas, which I loved but when it came time for a new pair, they had narrowed the toe box.  Then I got the Saucony Guide 6.  I loved them too except the heel toe drop was too low and they gave me Achilles problems.  So they put me in Brooks Ghosts except they were neutral shoes and I wore them for one race and got knee problems (so I used the Saucony again until the heel problem kicked in again).  Then they put me in Brooks Adrenaline 14 which gave me ankle problems because they're stability shoes.  So now I'm in Asics 2000-2.  Let's hope this works!!

3)Favorite running gear item of 2013:  My Garmin Forerunner 10.  I love constantly looking at my watch to do the math to try to figure out when I am going to finish a run. 

 

 

4) Playlist screenshot: I have too many songs to take a screenshot but they're all upbeat.  I've also gotten into Rock My Run recently.

5) Number of Races: 28
 Break it down:
1 miler: 1 (Tour de Pain 1 Mile Sizzler)
5ks:12 (Dick Batchelor Run for the Children 5k, Lady Footlocker 5k, Color Me Rad 5k, Castaway Cay 5k, Dawn Brancheau Dream Big 5k, Run in the Garden 5k, Expedition Everest, Hilton Head Firecracker 5000, Splash N Dash, Tour de Pain 5k, Drenched 5k, Gridiron 5k)
6k: 1 (Subaru Distance Classic 6k)
4 miler: 1 (Tour de Pain 4 miler)
10ks: 3 (Winter Garden 10k, Winter Park Road Race 10k, Dumbo Double Dare Disneyland 10k)
15k: 2 (Gate River Run, Miracle Miles 15k)
10 miler: 2 (Tower of Terror 10 Miler, Evergreen Pumpkin 10 Miler)
Half Marathons: 6 (Disney's Marathon Weekend Half Marathon, Princess Half Marathon, Dumbo Double Dare Disneyland Half Marathon, chORD Half Marathon, Wine and Dine Half Marathon, Space Coast Half Marathon)

6) Most Difficult Race and Why: I'm not really sure.  Maybe a tie between the Gate River Run (because of the two huge bridges, one right at the end) and the Tour de Pain 1 mile Sizzler because I ran the whole thing as fast I could without stopping.

7) Favorite Fun Run:  Castaway Cay 5k.  It was so much fun to run on the island! 

8) Favorite Course: Wow--this is really hard.  I love all of the Walt Disney World ones because of running through the parks.  I can't pick just one! 

9) Race I want to do again next year:  Well, I'm already signed up for Princess and the Gate River Run again.  Might possibly do the Dick Batchelor, Lady Footlocker, Dawn Brancheau, and Winter Garden 10k.  The rest will depend on when we decide to start a family.

10)  Best Bling: I love my Princess Half Marathon medal

11) PRs:
 5k: Hilton Head Firecracker 5000: 29:44
10k: Winter Garden 10k: 1:08:20
15k: Gate River Run: 1:41:42
10 Miler: Evergreen Pumpkin 10 Miler: 1:43:38
Half Marathon: Space Coast Half Marathon: 2:21:38

12) Longest run: 19 miles to prepare for the Walt Disney World Marathon

13) Out of State runs: Castaway Cay 5k, Hilton Head Firecracker 5000 and the Dumbo Double Dare (Disneyland 10k and Disneyland Half Marathon)

14) Total miles ran: 642.50

15) Favorite motivational/inspirational quote of 2013:  I don't have one so I'll just use my mantra "Just keep running.  Just keep running."  Said like in Finding Nemo.

16) Lessons I've Learned: Nothing new on race day!! 

17) Injuries I battled and overcame: Achilles issues.  I am currently batting a knee issue and an ankle (possibly stress fracture) injury.

18) 3-5 Most inspiring people: List their blog, twitter, instagram- wherever you follow them"
Kristin from A Mom on the Run @amomontherun
Justin from Always Running Forward  @DisnyRunr24
Meghann from Meals and Miles

19) Favorite place on social media to connect with runners: Definitely twitter!  I have gotten so much great advice from the Twitter running community!

20) 2 goals for the next year: Finish the Walt Disney World Marathon and get another PR in a half marathon


How would you answer these questions?

Weekly Recap- December 23-29, 2013

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!  We certainly did!  It was so great to just relax and enjoy time with family.

I was going to run the Jacksonville Bank Half Marathon on Sunday but I wanted to wait til the last minute to sign up to make sure I was feeling okay and I'm so glad I didn't.  I ran on Tuesday and Thursday and my leg was killing me.  I'm pretty sure that I've narrowed it down to the shoes.  Last time I got fitted, they put me in stability shoes, even though I'd always worn guidance shoes.  He assured me it was the right fit.  It wasn't.  Now my ankle is bothering me and I'm worried about a stress fracture in my upper shin.  I got new shoes today, Asics 2002 2.  I'm planning on walking around in them for the next 2 weeks but I'm not sure I'm going to run in them.  I want to rest my leg as long as possible.  I hope that's the right decision!

Tuesday--5.01 miles in 54:06 ( Mile 1: 9:50, Mile 2: 11:10, Mile 3: 11:14, Mile 4: 11:16, Mile 5: 10:33, average pace: 10:48)

Thursday--4 miles in 42:46 (Mile 1: 9:34, Mile 2: 11:26, Mile 3: 11:19, Mile 4: 10:28, average pace: 10:42)

Total miles this week: 9.01
Total  miles in 2013: 642.50
Total miles: 1067.99

Merry Christmas!

I hope your and your family have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!

Weekly Recap- December 16-22, 2013

I took this week, during the week off, too so I could try to get my leg to feel better.  I knew I had a long run on Sunday--20 miles.  And I was not looking forward to it!

I drove up to Jacksonville (where my parents live and where we spend Christmas) a few days early so I could run the Zooma training run with Kristin (A Mom on the Run).  The route was only going to be 10 miles so we got there a little early to get 3 miles in before the training run started. 

The training run was set up nicely.  They had several water stations and there was a van that would come pick you up if needed.  Unfortunately, I was a little out of my league.  I've never been one of the slowest in a group before.  I'm usually right in the middle.  But in this small group, I was definitely toward the end.  And I had no idea where I was.  They gave us maps but I'm horrible with them and I spent the whole run freaking out because they were so far ahead of me and I was worried that I was going to lose sight of them and get lost.  So I felt like I was pushing it to keep them in sight and that just made me tired more quickly.  At one point I almost stopped and called my brother to come get me since he lives right there.  But I kept on going and only lost them at the very end (luckily there was one other runner coming up behind me at that point and she told me where to go).  By the time we finished those ten miles, it was getting to be way too hot, and I was in quite a bit of pain so we decided to finish up the 7 miles later that night.

So after dark, I drove to Kristin's and we ran the last 7 miles.  I felt bad because I'm so much slower than her but she kept reassuring me that it was fine.  And I'm so glad I ran with her!  I was tired and needed something to keep my mind occupied so it was nice to have someone to chat with!

I actually feel pretty okay today.  I'm a little sore, muscle-wise but nothing too bad.  I don't have any stairs here like I do at home to test it out, but my knee doesn't hurt walking and my heel doesn't hurt at all.  I do still have that weird pain shooting up my leg bone though.  It got worse after the run yesterday. 

So I got the 20 miler done.  I just hope that it counts.  I'm a little worried that since we broke it up, my body won't be ready.  But I did the 19 miler and it was fine and I know some people only do 18 so I'm hoping I'm good! 

Sunday--20 miles in 3:50:13 (Mile 1: 9:56, Mile 2: 11:41, Mile 3: 12:11, Mile 4: 10:46, Mile 5: 10:44, Mile 6: 11:02, Mile 7: 11:50, Mile 8: 10:59, Mile 9: 11:25, Mile 10: 11:29, Mile 11: 11:29, Mile 12: 14:09, Mile 13: 12:13, Mile 14: 9:58, Mile 15: 11:36, Mile 16: 11:33, Mile 17: 11:24, Mile 18: 11:50, Mile 19: 11:59, Mile 20: 11:28, average pace: 11:30)

Total miles this week: 20
Total miles in 2013: 633.49
Total miles: 1058.98

Orlando Yelp Event- Tony Roma's

Waaay back on November 6th, I attended a fabulous Yelp event at the Tony Roma's on I-Drive.

We met Chef Bob who told us quite a bit about the restaurant.  I learned that the headquarters for Tony Roma's is in Orlando.  I learned that they will soon be remodeling the restaurant (the Lee Vista location was currently remodeling.)  There will be a new location in Winter Park next year that will have a chef's table!

Up first--drinks.  I ordered a cantaloupe martini.  I'm not a fan of martinis so I asked for it to be super sweet.  This was perfect and delicious! (I had another later on).  You could also order a classic margarita.

While we enjoyed the drinks we snacked on some salted almonds.  I'm not a fan of nuts but I was hungry so tried some.  I'm not sure what it was, but the seasoning was sooo good!   I had quite a few!

Up first was an appetizer--Pigs in a blanket (pecan smoked sausage wrapped in bacon with bourbon sauce) and fresh jalapenos stuffed with chicken breast and cheese.  The pigs in the blanket were really yummy!  I don't like spicy food so I just tried the chicken in the middle of the jalapeno.  It was good but still way too spicy for me.

Up next: Pulled pork tacos--They smoked the pork for 5 hours.  The tacos had apple cider coleslaw and sriracha BBQ sauce.  These were good but still a little spicy for me.  I liked the shell they were cooked in.

Ok, I'm weird but one of my favorite things was this next appetizer: Charred onion dip with BBQ seasoned chips.  I LOVE dips.  And this one was so good.  And even the chips were addicting.  YUM!

For a salad, we tried the Smoked veggie salad with mozzarella cheese and portabella mushrooms with asparagus and a raspberry walnut vinaigrette.  I snuck a lot of cheese off this one!

 Next was a Vegetable pot pie with carrots, celery, bell pepper, and lima beans.  I'm not a huge fan of pot pies and I was starting to get full so I skipped this one.

White cheddar macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs.  Cheesy goodness!

 For the main entrees we tried the Smoked prime rib with Yukon gold smashed potatoes.  It was served with horseradish and beef au ju.

And Lemon brined chicken with fingerling potatoes in rosemary butter.

Wood fired grilled salmon with 8 veggie hash, and couscous with red quinoa.

For the first time ever, I tried brussel sprouts!  They had bacon, balsamic, and pine nuts.  They taste a little like cabbage to me.

 
By this point, we were all ready to be rolled out.  And then dessert was served.  Ricotta Cheesecake served with fresh berries in agave syrup.  This was really yummy.

But the star dessert: Chocolate Mayhem!!  Cake with bourbon caramel coffee ice cream, Ben and Jerry's chocolate ice cream.  chocolate Kahlua mousse, and Snickers bars.  We were all sooo full but we couldn't stop eating it!

We had so much fun!  It was all served family style so it was nice to just relax and chat.

 As a parting gift, we got some Roma Bucks.

 We had to get a picture with Chef Bob!

Race # 40-- Evergreen Pumpkin 10 Miler

This year for the Walt Disney World Marathon, you had to submit a proof of time for a 10  miler race or longer.  So when Kristin (from A Mom on the Run) told me about this run, I signed up.  Plus it was on October 27, her birthday!  I was planning on using my best pace: the chORD half or this race, but since the half wasn't a true half, I knew this was going to be my only shot so I was a little nervous.

Kory, Adam, Kristin, and I headed to the race and got there pretty close to race time.  Kory was just watching so he held all of our stuff.  It was cold, so Kristin and I kept long pants on until the last minute.  And I do mean the last minute.  I'm used to Disney races where you have to be there super early and are in the corrals at least 30-45 minutes beforehand.  So when we were in line for the portapotties and I heard them say that they were about to start, I was freaking out a little.  We got into the corral with about a minute to spare.

 



I had been training by running the first three miles then doing my 2:1 intervals so that's what I did for this race.  Kristin and I ran together for those first 3 miles at a pretty quick pace. 

 

Then we said our goodbyes and she took off and I took a minute walk break.

 

This course is beautiful!  It's all shaded with huge gorgeous trees.  The course wasn't too crowded.  There was one out and back part that was a little congested but not bad. 

By looking at my watch, I knew my pace was pretty fast, for me.  But I was feeling good!  My knee wasn't bothering me, I wasn't that tired, it was cool and shady.  Pretty perfect race conditions.

Close to the end, I went to take a walk break.  I had about a half mile left.  I like to continue my walk breaks until about a quarter mile left and then take off sprinting.  But I met a friend.  He meant well, I know.  But he came up by me and told me I could do it.  I think he thought I was feeling exhausted and needed  motivation or something.  I told him I was okay and just taking a walk break.  He said we were too close to the end to take a walk break.  So I ran again but stopped after a minute.  And he wouldn't let me!  So by the time we got close to the finish line, I was too tired to really push it.  Oh well!  (You can see my "friend" in the finish line picture)

 My official time was 1:43:28 for a pace of 10:26.  I was really excited!  It would be a great proof of time for the marathon.

 I was 217th overall (I think they do it by gender) out of 361.  Lots of fast people!  I was 37th for my age and gender out of 56.  Not so great place-wise.  Lots of fast people running the race!

But I enjoyed it and I'd definitely do it again!