Disappointment....

Source: phonezoo.com viaStephanie on Pinterest

I am so disappointed.

I have been planning on racing my second 70.3 at the Patriot Half in Freetown, MA in June. Yesterday, I went to sign up...

SOLD OUT.

Whaaaaaat?

Totally not expected. Now I am forced to make some decisions and weigh the options.

Option 1: Race a ridiculously hilly 70.3 (Rev 3 Quassy, HITS Lake George, or White Mountain Tri)

Option 2: Race Pumpkinman 70.3 the weekend I get back from my Honeymoon

Option 3: Find a race a distance away... 70.3 Miami, Rev3 Maryland, or Rev 3 FL

Option 4: Skip 70.3, focus on Olympic & sprint distances.

Source: tumblr.com viaStephanie on Pinterest

I'm trying to decide what my best opportunity is...

What option would you chose?

Have any race ideas for me?

I've been naughty...

How do you stay on track nutritionally?

You see... I'm having some trouble.

I was excellant the first month of Jillian's program, then month 2 my nutrition kind of fell apart, and I'm really hoping to get back on track for month 3. 

The problem??

Umm....

The Holidays?!!

I 

Have not

been good with food.

The treats (white chocolate peppermint hugs?!), the booze, the parties. I really need to get a grip on this stuff.  How am I supposed to avoid all this??

I'm trying to picture my wedding, the dress, the parties, the vacations coming up. oh my. Plus I need to get on my racing schedule and plan for the upcoming months. I'm thinking sprint tri in late april, half in late may, and another 70.3 in june.

I need to keep space on my schedule for a Team Tough Chik race...

September 28, 2013

Who want to join Team Tough Chik??

Don't miss my latest giveaway HERE

or

Check to see if you won my birthday giveaway HERE

How do you avoid food/drink temptations?

Whats on your calendar so far?

Whats on my summer agenda!

My race schedule for the summer is starting to come together...

The Sheriff Sprint Tri 4/29

Shamrock Duathlon 5/20 5K run, 18 mile bike, 5K run

(I'm working on getting Kevin to sign up with me for this one!)

Litchfield Hills Olympic Triathlon 6/24

and then....

Pumpkin head Half Iron 9/9

I officially signed up today!!

Most likely I will have a couple sprint races or 5Ks or maybe even a half marathon or 2 scheduled in there as well. I'm getting excited about the upcoming season, I even renewed my USAT license and signed up to attend the Multisport Conference in Boston (its FREE!). Interested in joining me? Check it out HERE.

How are your summer race plans coming?

Which is exactly why I need to get back on track with my workouts and nutrition.

I know, I know.

I've said this a million times in the last couple weeks, but this time I REALLY mean it!

I'm going to eat clean.

I'm going to count points.

I'm going to to get my workouts in.

(after tonight's skipped yoga class)

(And the ice cream I just ate)

I'm going to run outdoors sunday, no mater how cold it is.

Please.

Hold me accountable.

First or last?

My Tri top!

2 different feelings today on racing. This weekend's race I am pumped about, so excited to get out there. To top it off, the triathlon top I bought last year fits a little better and I think I'm going to wear it Sunday! I guess I got all worked up over a red top for nothing. While boosting my confidence looking at last years race results, I went to check out last year's results for the tri I was planning on in June. I am pretty sure I may come in last place! How depressing! They have a super sprint category as well, but I/m kinda bummed out now. I certainly don't want to finish a race in last place!

This morning I headed over to my alma matter to help with student practical exams, before they all head out on their PT affiliations. I had been creeping on the local triathlon club's website, and saw that one of the PT professors leads the Monday night ride. I have been super anxious about joining the club, because I hate meeting new people (anxiety about being liked), and I have no idea how to ride with a group. She assured me that it wasn't a tough ride, and that they could probably teach me a lot. So I think I'm gonna go for it!

I also have a patient who is a cyclist. So in exchange for my fabulous treatment skills, he is giving me cycling advice. Today we were talking about cadence. I recently got a cadence sensor to go with my garmin, so he told me after my ride last night, to check what my cadence was and we'd talk. I was at an average of 70ish, which I had no idea was good or bad. I was always under the assumption that you wanted to have a good amount of resistance as you pedal because it would take you further. He explained to me that actually increasing my cadence at a lower resistance will keep my legs from tiring and help me go faster. Add it to the list of things I don't know, since I taught myself! I'm always looking to learn...

What's the best cycling advice you have for me?

(or running or swimming)

This morning I slept through the alarm & missed my workout, and again today I am feeling drained by afternoon. What is my deal lately. Off to lounge and do a little stretching!!

Disney Medal Envy

today while looking for a quote to post, I found this page in my inspiration notebook.

From 2008, with my Disney Marathon Logo. My ultimate goal.

Did I ever tell you the story of how I signed up for the Disney Half Marathon in 2010?

Well, we all remember why I became a runner right? To earn the Mickey Mouse medal. After visiting the park in 2006, beginning running shortly after, and eventually completing my first half marathon in June 2008, I decided I was ready. I managed to successfully convince a bunch of my "6 flags friends", all old co-workers from my college days, that running the Disney Half Marathon would be awesome. Most of them had never run a road race, let alone a half marathon. My brother jumped on board. So did my friend "A" (the same one that passed out at Disney Princess), she decided to go for the full. 

I will always remember the day I signed up. I was so excited that I was going to earn my Mickey medal!! I posted about signing up on facebook, and an old coworker, who had run Disney a few times messaged me. Thats when he broke the news to me...

"Um.... Steph, you know you get a Donald medal for finishing the half right?"

What the F***!!!

Seriously??? I have to run an ENTIRE Marathon to get the medal I was dreaming of??

After laughing at me while I practically cried at my misfortune, he told me, "Well, I guess that just means you'll have to go back and do it."

And going back I am. My 3rd Run Disney Event. My first full marathon. My Mickey Medal. I seriously cannot wait to earn that silly mouse!

266 days!

p.s. how ironic that as I was posting this, Run Disney sent an email reminding that race fees increase April 24th! So sign up if you're thinking about it!

I forgot to mention....

I signed up for my first marathon.

Disney 2012.

The race that I became a runner for, I will complete on January 8, 2012.

I had a $20 coupon from Disney Princess, and prices will rise soon, so I figured what the hell.

yikes!

(Not) Working for the weekends!

Yesterday I got word from my boss that he was able to accommodate my weekend racing schedule.

wicked awesome.

Working at a hospital means weekends are required for me, and with 2 therapists leaving, and only 3 of us left, I was nervous. I decided on a whim to give him a list of my weekends I have plans for (one wedding, a few sox games, spectating my brother's first marathon, and a bunch of races for myself), and to my surprise, he was able to do it!

i wish!

Maybe its because I am being super flexible with my vacation week this summer. I am letting everyone else pick first, then picking from what is left. Maybe its because I told him I wouldn't work my per diem job so I could work when I'm free there (now that my pay rate is the same I really don't care where I work). This year we didn't have any solid vacation plans, but my weekends were most important to me. So I'm happy I got what I wanted.

So you know what that means??

I took out that race calender and started some planning. I registered for Susan G Komen 5K at Bushnell Park in CT that I run every year (although I'm disappointed that they are now charging $4 extra to get a D-tag & have your race timed). I reserved a hotel for Rock N Roll Providence (did I ever mention running that one?) at the Marriott downtown. The race I really am itching to sign up for is my first triathlon of the year, but I need my estimated finish time for the swim since that determines the order we start in. I want a little more practice before committing to that (skipping my swim workouts does not help).

My eating has been great, completely on plan with WW, but I have been so exhausted my workouts have been lacking. I was completely unable to get out of bed for a swim this morning, and could barely drag myself to work. I tried eating a little more protein today to maybe pep me up, hopefully it will work, if I keep it up. I got a fabulous shipment on my doorstep to help me with that, which means an awesome giveaway in the works for you!

Another early night to bed? I have a run I need to aim for in the morning!

Disney Princess here I come!

I leave for Disney saturday morning and I couldn't be more excited!

I've been thinking a lot about this race. My legs feel much better after New Orleans than I anticipated they would. I thought to myself, should I push it and try for another PR, or just have fun?

Then I thought about all the fun photo ops I missed last year at Disney as we plowed through the first 9 miles in the sleet and rain, to my brother's almost defeat. I also thought about the last killer hill up to the Disney highway on the stretch back to Epcot. Lesley @ Racing it Off invited me to join her for a 2:20 finish. I would love a 2:20 finish, but 2:25 on a perfectly flat course really pushed me in New Orleans. 

Freezing and almost to the finish, I convinced my bro to stop for 1 pic!

I decided I will have fun.

I will stop at most picture stops.

I will walk through water stops as needed.

I will enjoy myself & cheer others on along the way.

I will look super cute in my race outfit I have planned.

My friend Ash is aiming for a finish under 2 hours, so she may be waiting awhile on me. Hopefully I can keep it under 2:45 or so. This week has been a running wash. I have not gotten in a single mile, maybe I can squeeze in a couple tomorrow morning. Im crossing my fingers to skip out of work early tomorrow to finish packing & running errands, and I'm praying extra hard that the rain/snow scheduled for tomorrow doesn't throw a wrench in my travel plans.

Wish me luck!
Don't forget to Check out my fundraising Raffle to benefit injured war vets HERE
I'll post the first winner tomorrow night!

What I'm grateful for...

After my long run this past weekend I started thinking about how I've changed as a runner since my foot surgery 6 months ago. Before then, I frequently skipped my long runs that I scheduled. In fact, I've skimped on training for every half marathon I've done. I think when I trained for Disney last year, I did maybe 4 or 5 long runs total, 2 of them outside. I don't think I ran more than 9 or 10 miles. I was way undertrained, and it showed based on my decreased ability to walk up stairs or sit on a toilet for about a week after. After I went out for my long run sunday, despite the cold weather & lack of sleep, I was so proud of myself. I feel grateful that I'm able to run.

Years ago, when my podiatrist told me I'd need bunion surgery one day, I had a panic attack when he told me I'd be non-weightbearing for 2 months. I avoided the subject for another year and a half. Finally, my bunion pain got so bad, that after Disney I decided to get a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon. He told me I could heel weight-bear right away, but it would be 5-6 months until I could run again. Slight panic attack. No running for 6 months??!! I imagined all the weight I would gain (and then gained some pre-surgery out of depressing thoughts of no running), the races I would miss, and all the free time I would have. Some of you may remember how stupidly I grinned when I jogged at 4.4 for the first time (READ HERE). My surgeon was impressed that 5 months after surgery I completed my first triathlon, and now 6 months later I am beginning training for 2 Half Marathons!

I am just so happy to be running, and having my foot feel good. I feel like I can really focus on my training, and give it my all. I'm loving the FIRST training program. I'm loving only running 3 days, and being able to cross train. I'm loving having these quality runs where I can really work at it, instead of just running.

In exciting news, I also booked our flights for New Orleans for the Rock N Roll Half! They dropped to $222 & we scooped up the savings. I'm excited several of you are running the Disney Princess Half too! What are your travel plans as far as days your staying or hotels your staying at? I think we are going to do a Vacation club rental at the beachclub or boardwalk resort. Now back to Biggest Loser before bed!

ooo! And I'm wicked excited because I won a giveaway for a Road ID certificate from 5K Rae!

And I'm also grateful for all of you new followers! Thanks for joining me along on my journey!

It's official!!

Just a quick note to share the good news!

I have comitted to running the Disney Princess Half Marathon!! I bought my plane ticket tonight (a total of $110 thanks to the screwup with Delta in August), and after we get a total count of how many of us are going, we're going to figure out the hotel & ticket stuff. Sooo excited & wanted to share the good news!

Now I really have to be on top of my training so I can successfully run 2 half marathons in 2 weeks. yikes!

Off to bed so I can get my speedwork run in tomorrow morning!

Travel Planning

I started peeking at airline prices a few weeks ago for the trip to New Orleans for the Rock N Roll Half Marathon. We are hoping to fly on delta, because we each have a $100 credit to use from the horrible problems we had coming home from cancun in august. Last time I checked they were around $250 & I thought "sweet! only $150 each for our flights!" Now they are up to about $322 on Delta, $290 on a few other carriers. grrrrr. Anyone have any tips? Did I miss the window for a cheaper flight? I thought under 3 months was the best time frame, but maybe I was wrong.

Next I starting searching for hotels. I went to the Rock N Roll site to see the hotels they recommend HERE. I am looking for one that is not too far from the start or finish. Although, I guess a cab back to the hotel from the finish wouldn't be a bad idea. Any recommendations based on places you've stayed? Also wondering if I can get around New Orleans enough without bothering for a car rental. I would LOVE to save some money here, if most of New Orleans is walkable.

What kind of travel tips do you have to save money when traveling for a race?

p.s. stay tuned for some awesome new giveaways in the works!