NYC Marathon Acceptance

I know I still have to post my recaps of the Half Marathon and Marathon at Disney, but I received my 2019 NYC Marathon acceptance today and thought it worth sharing. 

The registration period for NYC opened last Monday.  The last several years I have been unsuccessful getting in through the lottery.  So when I ran a time that qualified me for guaranteed entry at last May's Chicago Spring Half, I was even more overjoyed.  Applications for time qualifiers using non-NYRR events are supposed to be first come, first served, but I have never heard of someone being turned away who submitted a qualifying time.  I finally submitted my application last Thursday night, and this morning I got the email that I am in!

I'm going to wait to see how things go over the next several months before making the final decision whether to do it this year or not.  Boston in April is my main focus right now and then we have Berlin in September.  NYC is 6 weeks after Berlin -- it's a lot but barring injury I think it is doable.  Seeing NYC in that way and being part of the largest marathon in the world is sure to be an amazing experience.  Let's see what the year brings...

So happy to get this!

Walt Disney World 10K

Yesterday was Day 2 of the Dopey Challenge - the Walt Disney World 10K.  My schedule was pretty much the same as the previous day - up way to early to get a bus to Epcot to stand around in my corral for a long time before running the race.

At the starting line for the 10K

The temperature was a little warmer than the previous morning, but I still chose to wear pants and a long sleeve since I didn't want to get cold before the race began.  I was comfortable for most of the race but was sweating by the end. 

The last stretch before the finish line

Crossing the finish line

The first half of the race was out and back on a road near Epcot.  We didn't enter Epcot until after mile 3.5.  From there we ran around the World Showcase before exiting out the back entrance to the park.  We ran around the Boardwalk and then over past the Yacht and Beach Club (a route I am VERY familiar with from the last several vacations) before entering Epcot again for the last mile of the race.  I again stopped for 3 pictures with characters on the course.  I ran a pretty fast race and was only 11 seconds off my 10K PR time so I was very pleased with the results.  My pace was consistent throughout.

The Old Hag was along the road before Epcot

Goofy was on the Boardwalk next to ESPN Zone

After I got my medal, I posed for pictures with the characters in the staging area.  Minnie is on the 10K medal so I had to make sure to get my picture with her (I also got a high five from her at the finish line).

Posing with Minnie Mouse

Once I got back to the resort, I climbed back into bed for some more sleep.  Later in the day I spent a little time at Hollywood Studios and then made the walk over to Epcot to look around and pick up dessert.  Then it was back to the Wilderness Lodge for more rest before heading to bed early.

I told Daisy she needs to be on a medal and she agreed with me!

Walt Disney World 5K

Yesterday I was up before 3:15 and on a bus to Epcot by 3:45 in the morning for the Walt Disney World 5K.  In past years, Pluto was always on the 5K medal.  This year, however, they changed it and made Oswald the star of this race.

Ready for the 5K!

I headed straight to my corral when I got there and was near the front.  The 5K races are all family-friendly, untimed events (although a time is recorded for Dopey participants), so I knew that I needed to be in the front to avoid walkers and slower runners.  There were only 3 corrals for this race.  Luckily I didn't have to weave past too many people once the race started.

The race began right at 5:30 and we were off!  I entered Epcot around the first mile marker and the rest of the race was mostly in the park.  There were several characters along the course, and I stopped 3 times for a picture.  I love being in the front of the pack because I can run right up to the character for a picture and speed off again without too much loss of time.

Lots of photographers in the park

Donald Duck...

...and Pinocchio

The race was over pretty quickly.  I got my medal and a few more pictures with the characters back in the staging area.  Of course I had to make sure I got my picture with Oswald since he was on the medal!

First race done!

Once I got back to the resort, I climbed back into bed for another hour of sleep.  I spent a couple hours later that day at Hollywood Studios and doing some shopping at Disney Springs before spending the remainder of the day just resting at the Wilderness Lodge.  These are several long days and I'll take all the rest I can get!

I always love posing for a picture with Chip and Dale

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Expo

I was awake at 4 AM this morning for my 6 AM flight to Orlando for this year's marathon weekend.  This is the fourth year I have attended and the second year that I am doing the Dopey Challenge (5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon).  My flight landed before 9:30.  I was at the Wilderness Lodge to drop off my luggage by 10 AM and was on the bus pulling into the ESPN Complex for the expo around 10:30 -- not too bad.  Last year I came in the afternoon and dealt with terrible crowds and lines to buy merchandise, so I was determined to avoid that this year.

Another year of the Marathon Weekend!

Outside the merchandise area

There was no real line to get my Dopey bibs and shirts and after those were secure I headed over to the official merchandise area.  Even though I was there before 11 (the expo opened at 10), I still had to wait in a line to get in!

Better than last year's line which was outside in the cold

Luckily, the line moved quickly and I waited less than 20 minutes to get into the merchandise.  I knew what I wanted to buy (the usual souvenirs -- wine glasses, pint glass, headband, magnet, shoe ornament) but I also enjoyed looking around at all the new apparel.

So very true -- I love Disney desserts!

I thought this would be perfect for Mike and my parents!

I also briefly looked around the area where all the different vendors were set up.  I needed a couple Gu's for Sunday so I was able to pick them up.  I was back on the bus before 12:30 so I spent less than 2 hours there which I'm happy with.

Now to rest up for the next four very early mornings and running 48.6 miles!

Ready for Dopey!

Another article for Chicago Athlete

I submitted another article to Chicago Athlete last November, but with the holidays it got lost in the shuffle of things.  I wrote about last year's injury and why I think my rehab experience was much different the second time around.  It was finally published online today and so I am sharing the link below:

How a Different Mindset, Recovery Method Helped Heal My Repeat Injury More Quickly

Christmas morning run at Lake Scranton

We spent the last several days visiting Mike's father in upstate NY.  Last night we started the drive to my parents in PA.  We decided to break up the trip and spent the night in Scranton.  This morning, I drove about 10 minutes from our hotel to Lake Scranton where there is a nice paved trail around the lake.  It was a chilly Christmas morning run, but having spent my time in NY running on a treadmill, I was determined to get back outside.  I was happy I did!  The whole trail around the lake is about 3.5 miles.  Part of it was closed but I could still run out and back.  There were some hills but it wasn't like the mountainous area where the hotel was located.  Merry Christmas!

Beautiful morning run around the lake

Back at Disney World

We arrived at Disney World Monday afternoon for our annual holiday trip.  We are again staying at the Beach Club, which is where we stayed in June.  The last time I was here was right before my stress fracture and surgery.  I think the fracture started on my run that Thursday morning but didn't stop me from running Friday morning.  Luckily I made it home before it got to the point that walking was painful.

Thankfully this trip has been much different.  I still enjoy running around the Boardwalk area resorts and over to Hollywood Studios and back.  The weather has been on the cooler side, which is a welcome change from June's oppressive heat and humidity.  I love seeing the holiday decorations all around the resorts!  I had good runs yesterday and this morning and am hoping to get a run in before we leave tomorrow morning.  Then the next time I will be back at Disney will be for Marathon Weekend in less than a month!

Christmastime at the Beach Club

I always love the sun rising over the Boardwalk