So if you read my post this week about my PR at the Rock n Roll Dallas Half Marathon, you saw a few of my pirated race photos. Well, I have some bonus ones. Let’s take a look, shall we?
I took time during the race to kiss an angel.
I thought making a double chin would help with wind resistance.
Making sure to give the finish line an angry glare to remind it who’s boss.
After glaring at, be sure to stomp on it’s face.
Then remind the race that you’re stronger than it.
Well, that was fun! You know what else was fun? Hanging out with my puffy cheeked boy and our puffy cheeked friend.
We were watching something very important, I’m sure.
And as I got back into the swing of things this week, I made sure to help my body recover by eating lots of tacos (broken record, I know).
They don’t look it, but they’re vegetarian…Honest! ~Avocados, portabellos, jalapenos, and other veggies that end in “os”.
I also got in a bunch of runs this week. Felt good to work out the soreness. Now it’s on to the weekend and I have to decide if I should race a 5k, or do a long run with friends. Hmmmmmmm. Either way, there will be taco recovery! Believe that, son!
How bout you? Ever kiss an angel? Should I race short or go run long? Who’s meeting me for tacos later?
So I had a pretty good October, running wise. I ended up going the most miles in a month since when I was training for this past year’s Disney Dopey Challenge.
My last run of the month was with friends. Here’s what we looked like after…
Post run #groupie
I ended up running about 145 miles. Not bad, especially considering that I’m not training for any particular race.
I know it says 142, but I did get in some miles that weren’t recorded by my watch.
Buuut, when it came to the last day of Runtober, I didn’t run. Why not? Because my knee felt weird, fool!
I’m convinced that it was my body telling me to get some rest. I didn’t take one day off…even after setting a nearly 5 minute PR in a half marathon in October. Mistake. And so my body was telling me to take a break.
Wheeeeee!
I ended up taking three days off. And since then it feels much better. And I’ve jumped back into running 6 days a week.
My body did the same thing to me back in the winter. After the Dopey Challenge, I didn’t take enough time to let my body recover. And when I was out on a run, I tripped and Nancy Kerriganed my own knee. Forcing me to take a month off.
The view back in early 2014…Gettin my swol on.
What’s the lesson? Don’t be a fool…listen to your body, fool! When it says rest, rest. When it says go, go. When it says go-go dance, go-go dance.
She’s got moves like grocery bagger.
And now for something completely different…
Here in Dallas, the city is gearing up for the football Cowboys playing their game in London, UK this weekend. And the talk radio station I listen too has been broadcasting live from Jolly Ole’ England. They are going on and on about all the cool experiences they are having. I’ve been to London a few times, but it’s been several years. And all this talk is really making me miss it.
London Calling
Ahh well, the best I can do now is find a British Pub and watch English Premiere League on the telly. Might have to do that this weekend.
How bout you? Have a good Runtober? Are you a body whisperer or a fool? Ever been to London town?
In the morning I’m running the race that’s in the title. My friend is the race director. Meet Ann:
Proof that we’re friends. That’s me and her in a race from the other year.
She’s race director because her friend’s daughter has Dandy Walker Syndrome. This race raises funds to help out these sweet little kiddos with Dandy Walker.
The little girl’s name is Abby. Hence the name of the race.
Dandy Walker Syndrome is most unfortunate. I’ve been briefed on it, and basically Abby was born missing 30% of her brain.
Last year I did alright in this race. You can read my recap HERE
At the finish. Pau hana.
It wasn’t my fastest time, but I still finished like 3rd overall and 1st in my age group. Just goes to prove that you never know who your competition will be at any given race. 😉 I was glad that I could come through for a good cause. It’s still one of my fave medals.
Hand painted by a kid with kid with Dandy Walker.
So again in the morning I will run this race. I hope to have a good performance. Why? Well of course, I always want to PR. I also want to support my friends. Buuuuut I also really enjoy and get extra motivation when I know the race is supporting a good cause. We’ll see how it goes.
How bout you? Does the charity help you choose a race? How cool is that medal?
Race 3 of 4 of the Dopey Challenge. This time it was time for the Donald Duck themed half marathon. The evening before the race, we prepared by chilling a bit at Downtown Disney.
My sis and I carbo-loading.
Our sunny set view.
Then came the morning and another 2am wake up call. By now I was used to it. I had used up all my pre-race sleep jitters before the first race (5k). And while I still hadn’t had a full night sleep, at least I got a few hours. And of course we took our customary pre race photo.
Sis, Me, Mom.
Still wanting to take it easy, so I wore one last costume (as you can tell). This time it was my PR 214 tech tank with an Alice in Wonderland apron. My friend (who looks like an elf) lent it to me the day before I left for Florida.
Knee out. Hands on hips.
She told me she got it at Disney World when she was a little girl…so it’s probably like 50-60 years old (JK – if she read this). She also lent me the matching dress, but I could no way in Hades get it on. I tried, but couldn’t get the waist over my broad manly shoulders. Nearly split it in four. I guess costumes meant for a 6 year old girl don’t work on me.
I do like how the rabbit is chasing time – just like us runners!
The apron got quite the few comments and gawks. One example during the race: a couple bros asked me if I lost a bet – I told them that it was either a result of too much medication, or not quite enough.
I’d be much faster if I ran like a normal person.
I also ran with the GoPro camera. But I had forgotted to charge it the night before, so I only got a few moments of video recorded during the race. You can see the fleeting moments here:
As you can see in the video, there was a bit of a let down at the start of our corral. Now I won’t get into the corral complaints here, as I’m sure the runDisney folks have gotten quite the mouse earful already. But what I wanted to bring up was that our corral got extra jacked up. You see, Disney shoots off a pretty nice little fireworks show for each corral start – except for ours. Something happened when the dude pushed the boom button and we got zilch sky explosions. Bummer, bro.
But no matter, we were underway!
Follow the yellow brick road…or painted line, as it were.
I ran the whole way with my sis. We chatted the whole way too, further ensuring that we’d take it easy (in addy to the costumes).
I have to correct my running form. So does she.
We didn’t stop for any characters, but we couldn’t pass up the Cinderella’s Castle photo op (no lines!).
As much as my arms are in the air, I hope I didn’t have B.O.
I was looking forward to this leg of the Dopey. I had run the Disney Marathon 3 times, but never one of their 13.1 races. I wanted to know what it was like.
I think I thought I was in 2nd place here.
But after running it, I can now say that I’m glad I run the fulls. They didn’t have all the bells and whistles out for the half. The course only hit up two parks (Magic Kingdom and Epcot).
Half of the most magical place on Earth.
The lights of the castle weren’t even on. The people who run the half really do miss out on all the action of the full – but I guess that’s part of the reward for the people who are more than half crazy???
Catchin flies.
Anyways, it was pretty warm and humid. So the apron and everything else got nice and sweaty (if Elf reads this – we did wash it after). I’m really glad we didn’t have this weather for the full! It was swampy!
Put the guns away already!
Once again, the race started and ended in the Epcot parking lot. The crowds of supporters were bigger than the day before (10k), which was bigger than the day before (5k).
No mid race selfie for you! Battery is dead bro!
But once again, I was trying to go for a personal worst (PW). This was the 3rd of 4 legs of the Dopey Challenge and the 1st of 2 legs of the Goofy. And once again I succeeded!
I must’ve run the entire way with my hands in the air. Sheesh.
We finished at 2 hrs 17 mins. A near 30 minutes slower than my previous half (1:48). Just a nice easy medium-long run.
And at the finish, I did a little high step dance, but I couldn’t get the video for y’all, but you can kind of tell from the pics.
Sideways high steppin.
Anyways, we enjoyed the journey and Disney does make a fine race medal!
Thumbs up, finally arms down.
So now we’re 3 races down, with just one to go – the full 26.2 mile marathon!
Family reunion time.
The only scary thing was that people started to point out that even though we’d finished 3/4 races, we hadn’t yet reached halfway of the total mileage!!!!! We wouldn’t reach that until a few miles into the full. I wish nobody had pointed that out.
You can lick the medals if you want. One of the benefits.
So there you go. We are now 1/2 Goofy and 3/4 Dopey. One (big) race to go to complete the challenges!!!
***Side note – I saw a really funny race shirt that day – it read on the back, “Is this the line for Space Mountain?” Bwhaha!****
If you missed the previous recaps, here’s the ones for the Expo, 5k, and 10k.
How bout y’all? Ever cross dress in an ill-fitting outfit for a race? Can you suggest a new mid-race pose other and arms up? Should we had made fireworks sound effects when their real ones malfunctioned?
OK, so on Saturday June 8, we are leading a social run in Allen, TX at 8am. We are starting/stopping at Pure Movement Dance and Fitness Studio. One of my cool friends is the co-owner…I know people. But that’s not necessarily why we’re running from there. They are also hosting a big health/fitness event that same day. See the flier below…or is it flyer?
Click on it to make it bigger. Or not, whatever.
I love hanging out with my like minded health conscience friends. Especially when we’re encouraging others to get fit. And so as part of this morning, after our run, they are offering us a yoga session by an amazing instructor for only $5. Pretty cool deal. And if you follow my blog, then you know how important I think yoga is for athletes – especially runners. Check out my post on it here: Yoga for Runners
If you’re in the area, join us. If you’re not in the area, get to the area. Minimum run will be 2 miles, max run is up to you as we are running laps around Celebration Park…the more laps you do, the more mileage. It’s 1.5 miles around and exactly 1 mile from Pure Movement. Here’s the course: Saturday’s route
I hope you can join us.
Other than that, I need to make a correction to my last post. I said I had done 4 videos with Flula. But I lied. I had forgotted the very first video I made with him. It was on a show we used to do called “The Dilly-O”.
Silly show, yes, but it must’ve been working because the series did win Two Emmys!
Fun night that was.
And one more thing I forgot to write about this week. My soccer team made it to the championship game of our league. The semifinal went to double overtime, then a double shootout. I made my penalty shot to help them win. But in the final, we also went to double overtime and double shootout, and I also made my penalty, but this time we lost. Oh well, still had fun.
No smiles for second place.
OK, I think that’s it for now. Keep it fit people!
Piratebobcat 