July 2011 Wrap Up

Weight Watch: -5.0 pounds
Frustrating - to me that number is frustrating.  I know it's down and I am happy about that, but it just seems like it should be coming off faster than this.  There have been a lot of ups and downs in terms of weigh this year and this is the third month in a row that I'm down so I am pleased with that.

Mileage Watch:
Run/Walk: 153.27 miles
Bike: 80.00 miles
Elliptical: 1.15 miles
Total Miles: 234.42 miles

This is the third month in a row that I've hit a new run/walk milestone. This month is almost 16 miles further than my next highest month.  I am super proud of this number, if you would have asked me at the beginning of the year if I would ever run/walk 150 miles in one month, I would have laughed and said, no way.  I'm re-learning that I'm capable of whatever I set my mind to and my body is up to the challenge as well.

Goal Review
I completed one event in July -  a 5K.  I am glad I did the event, but I can't say that I did as well as I would have liked.  I finished with a pace of 12:22 per mi and I suffered through the whole race.  Not sure what is causing me to have such issues at races.  I think I'm putting too much pressure on myself to go faster than I'm really capable of - I'm working on this.

My run/walk miles were my highest yet, which means I killed the 80-100 run/walk miles per month goal!  I feel like I have such an amazing base right now.  I am just completely amazed that I can do a dress rehearsal of the Dopey, shave time off all three distances compared to January and not have pain afterwards.  I still need to work on improving my pace even more - that's a big one for me.

August 2011
I will be doing another 5K in a new location and I think it may have some hills which are still my weak spots.  It will also be very hot, even at 6:30am.  I will push, but not too hard as I don't want to end up injured before the Disneyland Half.

I am very concerned about getting some outside miles in August.  I have been relegated to the treadmill for the entire month of July and I'm afraid that's going to hurt my effort at the Disneyland Half.  I'm sure all you runners are aware of the differences between running on a treadmill and running outside.

I will continue to track food, keep a rein on the food as much as I can, and hopefully some more weight will come off.  Right now, I am 26.8 pounds less than I was before last year's Disneyland Half Marathon - I am sincerely hoping that will help me to do better in terms of finishing time.

Let's be safe in the heat, keep the miles up and push towards all of our goals!

Weekly Review: July 25 - 31

Goals for workouts this year:
1. 80-100 miles run/walk per month
2. One day of Pilates per week
3. One day of Strength Training per week
4. One day of Bike or Elliptical per week
5. One Incline Workout on the Treadmill per week

Here's this week's recap
Monday
PM Workout: Treadmill walk 2.82mi @ 15:47 per mi
Notes: Starving all day today - which is typical for me after a full marathon distance, but it did cause me to eat more than I probably should have today.  The only thing that I've noticed in terms of discomfort after the Dopey is a sore tendon behind my right knee, but I didn't have any trouble with the walk tonight.

Tuesday
PM Workout: Treadmill walk 3.13mi @ 15:00 per mi
Notes: No more pain behind my right knee, so I feel fully recovered from the Dopey.  I am amazed at the progress so far this year.

Wednesday
PM Workout:  Treadmill incline workout #1 - 30mins, up to 10% incline, progressed to the next difficulty level
Notes: The new difficulty level for the incline workout is more of a challenge which I think is a good thing.  My legs are very swollen today, but I have no pain or issues that I would think would cause the swelling.

Thursday
PM Workout: Bike - 25mi, 1hr 43mins, 14.5mph avg, resistance level 2
Notes: Got in a super good ride tonight.  Still have some swelling in my legs, but I still feel amazing.

Friday
PM Workout:  Treadmill walk 3.30mi @ 14:38 per mi
Notes: Legs are much better today, almost all the swelling is gone.  I've really been battling with hunger all week.  Got a really good walk in tonight.

Saturday
AM Workout:  Treadmill run/walk - 10.58mi, .32mi warm up walk, 10mi @ 13:25 per mi, .26mi cool down walk
Notes: I really wanted to get outside for my run/walk today, but the heat was unbearable so I ended up on the treadmill again.  I was feeling a bit of tiredness today, so my pace was slower than I would have liked.  Regardless, I got the miles in and I feel good about that.

Sunday
AM Workout: Treadmill walk - 2.10mi @ 14:38 per mi
Elliptical - 1.15mi, 30 min, program #6 up to resistance level 6
Notes: Got a nice walk and elliptical workout in this morning.  A satisfying end to a great month.

Weekly Numbers:
Weight Watch: +.6 pounds

Run/Walk Miles: 23.97
Bike Miles: 25.00
Elliptical Miles: 1.15
TOTAL MILES: 50.12

Pilates: MISSED 
Strength: MISSED
Incline: 1 30 minute incline workout

Monthly Numbers
Run/Walk Miles: 153.27
Bike Miles: 80.00
Elliptical Miles: 1.15
TOTAL MILES: 234.42

Goofy's Weekly Training Challenge Results

A nice easy week to end a very successful month.  I'm pretty happy with how things went this week.  I was able to do all the miles I planned for the week even though I did the Dopey Challenge the week before.  That really make me feel how much I've progressed so far this year.

The diet was very difficult this week.  I battled with hunger all week.  I have just wanted to eat and for some reason I have been craving - well, everything.  My weight was up this week and I think some of that had to do with doing all those miles over the weekend.  I am confident that what I've been doing is working because my clothes are definitely feeling more comfortable.  It just feels like the weight isn't coming off like it should, but I'll keep working on it.

Another great month has past and now we head in to August and a month left to the Disneyland Half!

Animal Kingdom White Rhinos from Safari

These photos were taken in 2009.

Hollywood Studio's Exterior of Voyage of the Little Mermaid

These photos were taken at night in 2009.

Polynesian Resort in Pictures

These pictures were taken in 2009.












The grounds






Pool and Beach

runDisney Race Updates

2011 Disneyland Half Marathon
September 2-4, 2011

Disneyland Half Marathon - Sold Out
*Wait list closed, contact charity groups or travel partners for potential registration
View the 2011 Half Marathon course map here
Disneyland Family Fun Run 5K -  Sold Out
View the 2011 Star Tours 5K course map here
Disneyland Kids' Races - Sold Out
Check out this year's race program.

2011 Wine and Dine Half Marathon
September 30 - October 1, 2011

Wine and Dine Half Marathon - Sold Out
Wine and Dine Half Marathon Relay - 97% Full
View 2011 Half Marathon course map here
Halloween 5K  - 52% Full
View 2011 Halloween 5K course here
Kids' Races - 92% Full
Check out this year's race program.

2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
January 5 - 8, 2012

Walt Disney World Marathon - 55% Full
Walt Disney World Marathon Relay - No percentages
View 2012 Full Marathon course map here
Walt Disney World Half Marathon - 53% Full
View 2012 Half Marathon Half course map here
Goofy's Race and Half Challenge - 80% Full
Disney's Family Fun Run 5K - No percentages
Disney's Kids' Races - No percentages

2012 Tinker Bell Half Marathon
January 27 - 29, 2012

Tinker Bell Half Marathon - 73% Full
Tinker Bell Half Marathon - 2 person teams - No percentages
View 2012 Half course map here
Never Land Family Fun Run 5K - No percentages
Disney Kids' Races - No percentages

2012 Princess Half Marathon
February 24-26, 2012

Registration opened July 5, 2011

Princess Half Marathon - No percentages
Princess Half Marathon 2 Person Team - No percentages
Royal Family 5K - No percentages
Royal Family Kids' Races - No percentages

runDisney Merchandise Now Available

From the runDisney Facebook Wall: 
runDisney merchandise is finally here! You can find it in select retail locations at WALT DISNEY WORLD including the ESPN Clubhouse Store at ESPN Wide World of Sports and TEAM Mickey at Downtown Disney. And select items will be available for purchase online at disneystore.com soon! We'll keep you posted.

2011 Wine and Dine Half Marathon Medal Photos - UPDATED

The runDisney Facebook Wall now has a NEW picture of the 2011 Wine and Dine Medal and Relay Medal (check it out here).

The medals are gold this year - the medals are not gold but the same silver as last year.  What are your thoughts about the color change from the silver of last year?

I really liked the silver medals last year because most of my Disney medals are gold.  I still think these are sharp looking medals though.  The medals are still silver.

Original photo


Posted today on runDisney's Facebook page - the medals are silver

Weekly Review: July 18 - 24

Goals for workouts this year:
1. 80-100 miles run/walk per month
2. One day of Pilates per week
3. One day of Strength Training per week
4. One day of Bike or Elliptical per week
5. One Incline Workout on the Treadmill per week

Here's this week's recap
Monday
PM Workout: Treadmill run\walk - 2.84mi, .27mi warm up walk, 2mi @ 12:14 per mi, .56mi cool down walk
Notes: Started breaking in the first new pair of shoes tonight.  It was a nice run and I can already tell the new shoes are going to be quite nice - no hot spots and nothing hurt tonight.

Tuesday
PM Workout: Treadmill incline workout #24 - 2.04mi, 30mins, up to 9% incline
Treadmill walk 3.10mi @ 14:38 per mi
Notes: Started breaking second pair of shoes tonight.  It was a good incline workout and a great walk on the treadmill tonight.  I noticed a little rubbing on my left heel, but didn't blister or cause any problems.

Wednesday
PM Workout:  Treadmill run/walk - 3.61mi, .27mi warm up walk, 3mi @ 12:31 per mi, .34mi cool down walk
Notes: Got my miles in, but really not sure why I was so slow.  I felt much faster and really felt I was pushing.  Very frustrating.

Thursday
PM Workout: 20 Minute Pilates Circle Workout
Bike - 10mi, 37mins, 16mph avg, resistance level 3
Notes: Yeah, I did a Pilates workout tonight, then had dinner and jumped on the bike for a nice short pedal.  Looking forward to this weekend.

Friday
PM Workout:  Treadmill run/walk - 3.94mi, .32mi warm up walk, 3.12mi @ 12:45 per mi, .5mi cool down walk
Notes: I woke up this morning with an incredibly sore neck.  I couldn't turn my head or tilt it from side to side all day.  Thankfully, it didn't hurt at all to run and I was able to start my weekend challenge.  This was a great 5K tonight.

Saturday
AM Workout:  Treadmill run/walk - 13.40mi, 13.13mi @ 13:40 per mi, .27mi cool down walk
Notes: Did the Walt Disney World Half Marathon on the treadmill today.  I was feeling really good up to mile 11 and then I just sort of didn't have anything left.  I did include my warm up in the half mileage because I forgot to hit the lap button on the Garmin.  I felt like I was pushing harder than that, but I still didn't do as well as I would have liked.  I felt good after the run/walk though - no aches or pains at all.

Sunday
AM Workout: Treadmill run/walk - 26.50mi @ 14:21 per mi
Notes: Did the Walt Disney World Full Marathon on the treadmill today.  It was a bit rough.  I felt really good up until about mile 15 when I had to do more walking than run/walking.  Still, I managed to get the full distance in which is really what I was after.  The time wasn't terrible, but not as good as I hoped again.

Weekly Numbers:
Weight Watch: -2.4 pounds

Run/Walk Miles: 55.43
Bike Miles: 10.00
Elliptical Miles: 0.0
TOTAL MILES: 65.43

Pilates: 1 20 minute circle workout 
Strength: MISSED
Incline: 1 30 minute incline workout

Monthly Numbers
Run/Walk Miles: 129.30
Bike Miles: 55.00
Elliptical Miles: 00.00
TOTAL MILES: 184.30

Goofy's Weekly Training Challenge Results

In case you didn't notice, I did the Dopey Challenge this weekend.  Yep, 42.4 miles over three days.  Why would anyone choose to do such a dopey thing, you ask?  Well, I am Dopey and it's July and I want to do this multiple times before January and it's a good measurement of where I am and to see if I'm making any progress.

So, how did it shape up?  Have I made any progress?  Let's take a look...

January's 5K Time: 46mins 35secs (14:34 per mi)
July's 5K Time:  39mins 46secs (12:45 per mi) 

Well, that's a marked improvement that I can definitely see and appreciate.  It also didn't cause me any trouble to do this distance in this time - it was a very easy 5K this time and I can tell you that January wasn't quite this easy.

January's Half Marathon Time:  3hrs 13mins (14:44 per mi)
July's Half Marathon Time:  2hrs 59mins (13:40 per mi)

Again, I see a marked improvement.  I didn't run this all out, but I gave it a fair amount of push.  That worries me because I would have thought I would have gained a bit more time using the run/walk method.  Overall, I was pleased though because there were no aches and pains after this run/walk.  January saw me feeling a bit beat up after the half and the knees were definitely feeling it, but this time all was well.

January's Full Marathon Time:  6hrs 42mins (15:21 per mi)
July's Full Marathon Time:  6hrs 20mins (14:21 per mi)

I guess I cannot complain with shaving 22mins off my full marathon time.  It was terribly difficult in January and honestly, it was terribly difficult today.  I only managed to run/walk the first half of the distance and then ended up doing a combination of walking (a lot) and some run/walk intervals.  I still had a enough energy to put in some good running sections during the last 5K so I am quite pleased with that.  I can also admit that by mile 16 I was wondering if I should just stop, but I pushed through and kept going. 

So, there you have it.  I improved all three distance times and I know I'll be doing this a few more times in the coming months as I continue to try to improve my times and get faster.

The diet is still going well.  I cringe at times wondering when the scale will show what I hope to see, and then I have to remember that I have now lost 20 pounds and that's a great thing.  I'm a bit worried about tomorrow's weigh in as I tend to hold some water after these long runs, but I will take whatever it shows and continue on.

So, we're almost at the end of July - how's your month going?

Epcot's Illuminations

These pictures were taken in 2009 from the Morocco Boat Dock (Platinum Package Viewing Location).