201 Days Later...

I ran the Darkside half marathon two days ago!  I kinda forgot to update the blog because I kinda forgot to train.  Whoops!  School became a top priority, and running just fell by the wayside.  I started doing some rock climbing to keep fit (there's a rock climbing gym in our new apartment building... we moved apartments.  More on that later, maybe?), and ran a 5k or two, but nothing longer than that.
We also most certainly did wing it for WDW.  It was a pretty big learning experience.  Due to it's massive size, it's so much different than Disneyland.  We stayed in an offsite hotel and almost missed the start of the race as a result.  We woke up at 3am, left the hotel at 3:45am, and didn't manage to get to the corrals before the 5am start time.  We were stuck in traffic with our Uber driver and hundreds of of other runners for a nerve-wrecking 45 minutes!  Fortunately, I was way back in corral I -- which was still FOURTH corral from last -- and had an extra 50min. before crossing the start line, so even though we heard the official start while hoofing it to the corrals, we still started on time with the rest of corral I.

The butterflies I felt stuck in traffic were only the cherry on top of the anxiety sundae.  I was pretty sure I wasn't going to finish the half.  I hadn't trained at all, my hip and back had been acting up the previous week, and my feet were so tired from walking 10k around the Magic Kingdom the day before (we only went for the weekend, and there was no way I was going to go to Disney World and not GO to Disney World).  I made Riki tell me it was okay to not finish before we left the hotel.  I made a promise to myself that I'd at least make it to 10k, if I made it to Animal Kingdom (mile 8.5) I'd be happy, and if I managed to finish without being swept -- i.e. in ~4h -- I'd be thrilled.

Mile 7 to 8 kicked my butt.  I smashed into the wall and wanted to call it quits right then, but I was so close to Animal Kingdom, and to real bathrooms.  I kinda had to pee, but the thought of waiting in line for a port-a-pottie that had been sitting in the Florida sun was ... less than appealing.  I walked and cried my way into Animal Kingdom, picking up some Cliff gels from the nutrition station along the way, and stopped at the second for realzies bathroom I saw (the first had a fantastically long line - I guess I wasn't the only one not thrilled at the prospect of the port-a-potties).  Riki also stopped to use the washroom, and before we went our separate ways, he reminded me to stretch out while standing in line.  I bent over to stretch out my low back and felt every vertebrae crack.  It was heavenly.

I don't know if it was the stretch, the bathroom break, the energy gel, or some magical combination of all three, but I felt fantastic.  I didn't start running right away because there was quite a bit of bottle-necking inside Animal Kingdom, but it was shady and cool, and we got to see some monkeys being fed their breakfast, so I didn't mind walking.  We left the theme park, hit mile marker 9, and started running again.  I came shockingly close to an 8-minute mile.  If I'd have realised how close mile marker 10 was, I probably could have done it, but I dropped back to a walk just before seeing the sign.  But that was it - the home stretch!  Now all I had to do was run a 5k.  I've run 5k's before!  No problem!

I was still deathly afraid of the Balloon Ladies sweeping me, but had stopped pestering Riki for our time.  He told me back around the 10k mark to just run my race and not worry about the Balloon Ladies.  It wasn't until just before mile marker 11 that I did the math and figured out how well I was actually doing.  I checked Riki's fitbit just to be sure.  We'd been running for three hours.  I had to cover slightly over 2 miles in under 36 minutes to beat my previous time.  What?!  I eased up for mile 12 so I could try and run all of mile 13 (which I almost managed to do).  Right before the finish line, we crossed a chip timing mat and over the PA I heard, "Sarah Ellis, welcome to the finish line!".  I was off.  I ran like crazy those last few meters and managed to cross the finish line six seconds shy of 3:30.  3:29:54 - a new PR.  I think the announcers made a few more comments about me - I heard one of them mention they were also from Virginia - but I wasn't paying attention.  Riki gave me a huge hug, I started crying (maybe I was already crying, who knows), and we hobbled over to the volunteers presenting medals.

It still feels unreal.  I can't believe I did it again.
I can't believe I'm going to do it again.  Before Sunday, I was convinced this would be my last half marathon -- 10k's from now on, please! -- but come June 14th, I'm almost positive I'll be signing up for the Star Wars - Lightside half marathon.



266 days.

3:36:49

I did it!

I ran my first race, my first half marathon!  We started out really slow - I wanted to walk through the first 5 miles, since that was the part within Disneyland, and I was afraid of burning out before the finish line.  It didn't work out great.  Walking hurt my shins a lot more than I was expecting, so we switched to a kind of jog, and that helped.  We also stopped for almost every bathroom break in the park ('cause I'm terrified of using port-a potties), and a few photo ops.
I didn't finish sub-3:00 like I'd hoped, and actually went over the allotted 3:30, but since I wasn't in the last corral, I wasn't picked up.
I think I could've done better.  I walked a lot, and had enough energy to run the 5k at the end.  I also felt fully recovered by supper time, after napping in the afternoon.  I was expecting to be completely wiped, but I walked around Downtown Disney with Riki and Joe (the friend who's original FB post inspired me to sign up in the first place), then had supper with the family, and did a little shopping afterwards.  Next time, I'm going to push myself a little harder.  Oh yes, there will be a next time.

In 201 days, I'm running the Star Wars - Dark Side Half Marathon in Walt Disney World!  It was pretty easy to get Riki on board - Star Wars an running, what's not to love?  He's doing the Dark Side Challenge, which is comprised of the half on Sunday, and also the 10k the day before.  We went all out this time - opting in for some commemorative pins.  I was afraid of pre-buying anything for the Disneyland half in case I didn't finish, but now I know I can!  I'm giving myself a little break from training until after Canadian thanksgiving. After that, I'll be following the same couch-to-half  20-week training plan from Woman's Running magazine, but dialling it up a bit.

As for the Disney portions of these RunDisney races...
I had a blast in Disneyland with the fam, but there were a lot of things we could've planned out better from the get go.  For example, Riki and I could've been riding the shuttle between the hotel and park for free the whole weekend!  We also had to wait around on Wednesday morning, since we couldn't pick up our theme park tickets until noon (the brochure I was looking at said 8am, but it was out of date).  Being in the park was great Wednesday and Thursday, but Friday was pretty insane.  It was the labour day long weekend, and lots of people had come out.  Weekdays definitely seem like the time to go. There aren't as many characters or parades, but the shorter lines and thinner to non-existent crowds are so worth it!
For WDW, some more planning will definitely be involved.  Neither Riki nor I have been there in almost two decades, so there's no way we're just going to wing it.  We've got a travel agent friend who's been a couple times who can hopefully give us some tips closer to April.  In the mean time...



201 days.

One Week

Exactly one week from now I will have run my first half marathon.  I ran 6.55 miles yesterday (a quarter marathon?), and I feel sore today, but I can still move around comfortably.  My shoulders and back are what's most sore, and I think that's from yoga.  I'm going to do a gentle 5k today, and I've also got to do my English homework, and head to the drugstore to pick up some waterproof sunscreen, since I fly out to LAX tomorrow morning!
I'm so excited to see my mom and sister, and to hang out in Disneyland!  It feels a bit odd - like I'm getting my reward before I've done the work to deserve it - but I still plan on having an awesome time! There are a couple more runs to work in (today, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday), but they're all easy distances.
I'm so excited to run this race!  I've spent over half a year preparing for it.  Granted, I could've tried a lot harder, and there were plenty of times I wanted to quit, but I pushed through.  I'm going to be really proud to have "ran a half marathon" on my resume before my 26th birthday.  Only one more week until that's a reality.




7 days.

The End is Near

Just a little over three weeks before race day.  I've only just realized the counter I've been using is counting to the Thursday before the half marathon, as that's the day everything officially kicks off.  It was hard to tell when the counter was set at 200-ish days.  Now it says 18!

So much has changed since I signed up for this half marathon.  I've moved to one coast of America, and then the other;  I've crushed a preparatory math course, and signed up for a whole suite of college classes; I've run a 10k;  I've run a 5k in 38 minutes and 27 seconds;  I've played pick-up basketball and didn't get out of breath and have to stop;  I've lost 10lbs and have been keeping it off; I can fit into - and look amazing in - Riki's jeans (which wasn't possible when we were in Portland, spawning the Great Jean Hunt of '15 ... so many tears... ahem); I can run - actually run - for 50 minutes without stopping.  I remember being so proud of running 5 minutes without stopping!

There are still other things I want to change in my life.  I want my apartment to feel less transitory.  Right now it's a dumping ground for things - it's not helping my mood.  I want to make friends who aren't just Riki's friends.  Friends who are my friends.  I want to feel more in control of my life - to have a purpose.  School starts in just over a week, and I want to kick its ass. I'm also getting a bunch of furniture this weekend.  Once that's all put together Riki and I will finally unpack everything, and I want to start a chore scheduled of sorts.  Something concrete to hold us accountable for keeping our space looking and feeling its best.  I also want to add running into that schedule.  I've got a bi-weekly yoga class, but I really want to keep running.  Not as intensely as I have been leading up to this half marathon, but maybe a 5k once a week?  I want to keep myself looking and feeling my best.  I also want to stay in good enough running condition so that I can have an even better time running the Disneyland Half Marathon next year.  And the year after that.




18 days (but actually 21).

28 Days Later...

I've got less than a month until the half marathon.  Things are going well.  I can actually run a 10k (I do have to pause and reset the treadmill though, since it takes me longer than an hour). Last night I PBd a 5k running the whole way.  My last PB was from intervals - walking a minute, running two - and I didn't think I could beat it with just straight running.  I did the first 2.5k running 13 min miles, then upped it to 11 min, then finished out at 10.5 min.  My marathon miles are probably going to be closer to 13.5, but if I can get down to 12 I'll be happy.  Heck, a 13 min. mile still gets me done in under three hours, but I want some wiggle room for washroom breaks, photos, walking, etc.
I've been doing yoga classes every second week.  Even though it's not a lot, my hip feels better (maybe it's just a mental thing), and I feel better about myself in general.  It's a good reason to get out of the apartment, and it's nice to feel a spiritual connection to something again. I'm debating whether to do yoga tonight, or go to Game Night at SCG.
Spectating the Pro Tour in Vancouver this weekend has made me really want to up my MtG game.  I've been saying I want to get more competitive again, but I want to make the pro tour and day two it within two years.  I also want to day two some Opens, but that could be tricky as my current model for going to them involves me working one day so I can stay in the staff hotel with Riki.  I dunno.  I've got my modern deck all on MtGO now so I can practice at home, but a desk space would make that a lot easier.  And a clean apartment would make fitting a desk in here easier... and make me happier.  All the boxes lying around, the lack of furniture, everything just tossed wherever there's empty space, it's not making this place feel like home. That disconnect is really throwing me.  I guess just one thing at a time - running, cleaning, MtG.
I don't feel great after running.  Last night I PB'd and wanted to cry.  I think it's because I know I've got to come back here when I'm done.  Right now, the reward for me finishing running is me finishing running.  Gotta change that.  Gotta create a nice space to live in, and pin up the Disneyland tickets somewhere easy to spot.



28 days.

Whhhyyyy?

I've definitely hit the "what the heck was I thinking?!" phase of training. I'm not sticking with the training program, and every workout feels like a struggle. A big heaping spoonful of "you're not good enough. You're not fast enough. You're going to fail." It sucks. I'm supposed to be doing 'easy runs' for three miles now instead of the 'run/walks' I was doing, but I just can't manage it. They say you're supposed to be able to carry on a conversation while running your 'easy run' pace, but I don't even think I could do that if I was just walking quickly. I don't know what to do...

Start yoga classes, I suppose. It's one of the recommended cross-training methods, and it'll hopefully help my knee/hip/back feel better, and maybe help me run straight.

I feel so down on myself. I wasn't expecting to be fantastic or anything, but I was hoping I'd at least feel better. Like I was improving. Like I'd actually have a hope of finishing a half marathon.



55 days.

Gotta keep on keepin' on.

I found a training program online entitled "Couch to Half-Marathon" and only required 98 training days.  Pretty perfect, since I was at 102 when I found the thing, and have already been training off and on for several months.  Now it's go time.  No more missed days, no more excuses.  It's going to be tough, especially since I'm moving across the country in two weeks (okay, maybe one or two missed days. Ugh.) and because I can't really seem to keep to a normal sleeping pattern when left to my own devices.  Running in the morning seems to be key.  The gym gets really hot, even on cool days, and it's been hitting the 30s lately so here I am at midnight, about to go run 3 miles.
My diet also tends to go to shit when I'm cooking for one trying desperately to use up all the obscure groceries that remain.  I think another grocery run or two will be needed before moving anyway, but it's still less than ideal.  I can't afford to procrastinate until I get to Virginia (but knowing me, I probably will. Sigh!).  Anyway, time to suit up and run three miles.  I always hate the idea of running until I actually start running... Disneyland... Disneyland... Disneyland...


94 days.