Best Damn Race Ambassador!!!

I'm so excited to announce that I am lucky enough to have been chosen to be an ambassador for the Best Damn Race!

The Best Damn Race has two races: Safety Harbor and Orlando.  This is the first year for the Orlando race and I can't wait!

The Safety Harbor race is on February 1, 2014 and the Orlando race is on March 1st, 2014.  You can participate in either a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon or 5k + 10k Challenge.

I will be running in the Half Marathon in Orlando and I hope to see you there!

Interested in running the race?  Enter code AHOWELL to get  $5 OFF any Orlando or Safety Harbor Race!!!

Weekly Recap- November 11-17, 2013

I had an absolute horrible week running wise.  On Wednesday, my whole run was just tough.  And it was only 6 miles!!!  I'm not sure if it was because I had 2 days of softball tourneys before, plus it was cold and super windy, plus I was wearing more clothes than normal.  The whole time I was running I was thinking how hard it was.  Then I got home, took a shower, and was sick for the next 24 hours.  I'm not sure if I caught a stomach virus from one of my kids or if it was the run but it was no fun.

But I know that not all runs are good so I shook it off and was confident going into today's 17 miler.  But it was horrible.  My pace was about a minute slower right from the beginning.  I was done at about mile 7.  My legs hurt.  I normally run the first mile straight then do 2:1s.  But today at mile 13, I dropped down to 1:1s.  Then I luckily had a friend meet me at mile 14 where I proceeded to drop to 1:2s.  By mile 15, I just straight walked the last 2 miles.  I'm so frustrated and mad at myself.  I was in so much pain in my knee and heel and my calf and thigh muscles were just tired and done.  My foot was hurting too.  It hurt to even walk. 

I just don't know how I'm supposed to go another 9 miles.  I really don't.  Gah

(okay, on a positive note, I hit my goal of 500 miles for the year on Wednesday.  I have now upped it to 600)

Wednesday--6 miles in 1:03:46 (Mile 1: 9:43, Mile 2: 11:16, Mile 3: 10:41, Mile 4: 10:39, Mile 5: 11:00, Mile 6: 10:30, average pace: 10:38)

Sunday--17 miles in 3:36:58 (Mile 1: 10:24, Mile 2: 11:46, Mile 3: 11:57, Mile 4: 12:04, Mile 5: 11:48, Mile 6: 11:47, Mile 7: 11:45, Mile 8: 12:05, Mile 9: 12:26, Mile 10: 12:11, Mile 11: 12:05, Mile 12: 12:21, Mile 13: 12:12, Mile 14: 13:25, Mile 15: 13:53, Mile 16: 17:11, Mile 17: 17:38, average pace: 12:46)

Total miles this week: 23
Total miles in 2013: 525.62
Total miles: 951.11

September Villains Weekend-- Photoshoot Part 3 and Tea!

So we headed into the Grand Floridian to take some pictures.

 

I jumped in this one as a joke.  All weekend long, I had been photobombing Melissa's pictures.  So I had to do I again here!!

Then we headed outside to the front lawn...

 

Then we headed back inside for tea at Grand Floridian Tea Room.

Here are some of my photos from the tea---they look so sad compared to Regina's amazing work!

I got the Mad Hatter's Tea. (Thank you Deena for suggesting it the first time!)  I'm not a huge tea fan but this one is so flavorful!

Kory was a good sport.  I didn't think I'd ever get him into the Tea Room!

We had a joke about these teapot covers..

 Then we hung around a bit, went over to the Wave and the lounge there is so neat!  But it's also dark and several of us were dozing off.  So we decided to split ways for a bit and meet back up later that night for one of the big events!

Weekly Recap- November 3-10, 2013

Well, the knee doctor said the MRI came back negative.  Yay!  He said that I am starting to show a little arthritis behind the kneecap but that had nothing to do with my pain and nothing to worry about.  My knee is feeling lots better.  It only hurt a little bit last night during the half.  And my heel wasn't too horrible either.  It starting hurting at mile 9 but no limping afterwards!  I think its the way the KT tape people wrapped it at the expo!

I went to the Wine & Dine Half Meetup at on Thursday night.  It was SO. MUCH. FUN!!  I was really so lucky to be able to go!

Thursday-- Wine & Dine Half Meetup- 1.64 miles in 16:48 (Mile 1: 10:17, Mile 1-1.64: 10:14, average pace: 10:16)

Saturday-- Wine & Dine Half Marathon- 13.31 miles in 2:37:17 (Mile 1: 10:43, Mile 2: 11:37, Mile 3: 11:43, Mile 4: 11:44, Mile 5: 12:04, Mile 6: 11:41, Mile 7: 11:45, Mile 8: 11:59, Mile 9: 12:13, Mile 10: 12:27, Mile 11: 12:37, Mile 12: 11:50, Mile 13: 11:48, Mile 13-13.31: 9:45, average pace: 11:49)

Total miles this week: 14.95
Total miles in 2013: 502.62
Total miles: 928.11

September Villains Weekend- Photoshoot Part 2

Part 2 of the photoshoot by Regina Hyman Photography!

Next we went up and waited for the monorail

 And hopped on it on the way to the Polynesian.

 I love Melissa's face in this one!

We took some pictures upstairs at the Poly first

Then headed down to the lobby

We even stopped in the gift store for some funny pictures

 

Then we started on our walk over to the Grand Floridian.

We stopped for some pictures on the beach with the castle in the background.

And then we headed past the beloved Wedding Pavilion and into the Grand Floridian.

September Villains Weekend- Photoshoot Part 1

(this is going to be photo heavy so breaking it up into several parts)

Saturday morning we got up bright and early to get our hair and makeup done for our photoshoot.  We were having pictures taken by Regina from Regina Hyman Photography.  Regina is simply AMAZING!!!!  I first met her when I requested her to do my engagement pictures at Epcot.  We loved her so much that I then requested her for my wedding pictures and my Magic Kingdom Bridal Portrait pictures.  And then we were fortunate to have her from her own company (she branched out on her own!) for our 1 year anniversary pictures.  Not only are her pictures gorgeous but she's just a lovely person.  She is so much fun to be around and she makes the picture taking easy.  None of the guys even complained about doing this since she makes it so much fun.  If you're ever in the Orlando and need pictures taken for ANY reason, I HIGHLY recommend her!!!

Anyways, Janet Mednick of Onsite Beauty came out to do some of our hair and makeup.  I chose to have both done since I'm inept at both!

We met at Beth's room at the DVC villas at Wildnerness Lodge.The boys ran and got us breakfast.  Bananas foster waffles-- I had been wanting to try them!

 

Then we were off for pictures!  I'm only going to post ones that Kory and I are in.  This is going to be picture heavy!!

 

We started off at the Contemporary.

 

 

Up next..jumping on the monorail....