Disney Half, Etc.

Published by Bethany on January 17, 2012

Fundraising is tough!! Wow, I only have the utmost respect for those people who constantly do this as part of your job etc. I HATE bugging people about things like this, which is ironic, since I am in sales. But that it what I must continue to do.. until you donate. Then you are exempt from my pleas. Sorry.

At first I thought it would be extremely easy. Just put the word out and surely everyone would be happy to throw 5 bucks or so in. But I am thinking about it and seeing why it doesn’t always happen. I try to support such ventures myself but I’m sure there are as many times as I’ve forgotten or though, I’ll do it later, versus times I actually followed through and did it. Or thought, I’m sure this person has dozens of other people helping, they don’t really need my help.

Well that is definitely Not the case here so if you have it in your heart to donate, then please know that you will be one of a very select few and the effort will not be in vain, no matter how small the amount. Soo easy and so beneficial for those dogs whose lives you are directly saving http://sadier.chipin.com/barking-hound-village-foundation-rescue And for those who are reading this who HAVE donated, I love you and you are awesome!

waiting for cool pic from Disney to go here

On the training front, things are going well for the time of year. Actually last weekend we participated in my first race with Both my parents and John, the Walt Disney World half marathon. I had zero expectations going into this race. I really wanted to just use it as social time with parents. I didn’t even know if they had seeded corrals or if we had submitted times when we registered. I wasn’t even sure who had ended up registering us.

We waited too long to get plane tickets, which is becoming a theme lately, and didn’t arrive until Friday evening to pick up our bibs. Well I was telling everyone about my plan to take it easy and I was being totally forthright too. That was the plan. Then we went to the expo to pick up our bibs and I saw that my number was very low and had my name and the word ‘Elite’ on it.

First of all, it goes without saying that their definition of ‘elite’ is, shall we say, Quite broad if it includes me. Elite is people finishing 15 minutes faster than my seed time. But hey, they gave me one and that was that. I don’t like starting in front and then jogging. Maybe it’s a pride issue that I need to work on. But I almost feel like it’s disprespectful.

Last year at the Peachtree road race, for example a race with 50000ish people, I BARELY by the skin of my teeth managed to get a ‘ top seeded’ time, which meant I got to start in the front. Or ALMOST at the front.. so I thought. The plan for that one was to run easy, too.

In fact, I was having a conversation about it with a young cross country girl right before the start this year in July. We were at the ‘front’ but comfortable behind the line, as it was roped off on our side and full of the runners who were flown in and trying to win money on the other side.

Weren’t we surprised when the tape was lifted at the last moment and we were Forced to the LINE of the Ptree road race. Next to Ryan Hall et all. (Was Ryan Hall there this year or has my story just improved over time?)

So that was another example of when it was just NOT possible to stick with a plan of running easy. Even if the people you’re running ‘with’ are going to be done ten minutes plus before you are.

So where was I? Aww yes, the not going to run easy part. So the next morning we left our hotel with plenty of time, so we thought. I mean we walked out at 3:30 AM but for the Disney, apparently that is cutting it SUPER close. We almost missed the start by the time we got down there.
Plan was to just go by feel and look at my watch.. just to see. Start up and I was pleasantly surprised to be comfortably clicking off miles in the 6:30s. Legs were sore from my first big week back training but felt fine aerobically. Hoped sore legs wouldn’t catch up with me.

Through 10k and I basically was at my PR for that distance. To this point we had been running very straight but then we got into the park, where you are running around attractions and making a lot of 180 degree turns. At this point I started to feel very sore and like I might need to make a quick stop.

I was trying sooo hard not to think about it. I was actually on pace for a good sized PR if I just didn’t have to stop. Well I guess I thought about it too much because a stop became mandatory and after that I was just trying not to fall off the pace. Managed to squeak in with about a 6 or 7 second PR. Hey, I’ll take it!

The very good news is I think rested and with a bit more running I could really knock off a few minutes this year. John, had a great race and knocked THREE minutes off of his Publix time from last year. He is definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with in all three sports this year. Watch out, boys!

My parents both finished, too. My dad hasn’t been training a bunch and my mom was walking with a friend. Both of them finished but unfortunately, she hurt her knee in the process. Thought I understand it is healing well, I’m not sure she will be rushing to do a bunch more races anytime soon. Hoping though that many more races with the parents are in the future!

Overall a great weekend with the family. A logistically difficult race. Would do it again if it meant roping family into it, but not really a good ‘A’ race because of the crowds.