Star Wars Light Side Half 2017 (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

My week has been good.  I have been loving this weather.  The next week will be up and down on cool and warm days.  I got in three mid-week runs and a long run.  I feel like I'm really getting back on track.  This week has been too boring, so I'll finally get around to recapping my Star Wars Half Marathon from last month.  Perfect timing as it's Princess Weekend.  Hope everyone that ran it had a great time.

If you want to catch up on the previous posts, here are the links.

• Expo
• 5k
• Disneyland Park
• 10k

After the 10k I really wasn't sure about the half.  But after getting some sleep, I felt like I could tackle the half.  I was a little worried since I had barely run in the month before.  My last long run was on Christmas Eve and it was only 10 miles.

We ended up standing behind two guys with these shirts on.  It's a saying from the new Star Wars movie, Rouge One.  I ended up seeing them several times on the course.  I took my 5 Hour Energy and I knew I was ready to go.


The race started off heading into Disneyland.  I'm not sure, but it seemed to be a lot of the same course as the 10k.  We made it to the castle and around to Main Street and there were the horses again.

I don't remember his name but he was so cute.

Chad from the 10k was out again.

I got to the beginning of Main Street and they were offering this photo op.


Above the bridge Captain Phasma from The Force Awakens was there again.


We made it through California Adventure and about half way through the 4th mile we headed out of the parks.  While I do enjoy running through the parks, running through Anniheim is just as fun.  There are tons of spectators, a lot of bands and cheerleaders, and of course the Cos Players and the 501st Legion.

About the half way point I found this photo op from Mouse Planet.


I happened to see this street sign, for those non-Star Wars fans, it's the title of the first movie done in 1977.


Here was a fun little car with an R2 unit, like the X-Wing Fighters.


And of course the second cutest robot, BB-8.


My knee was hurting a little, but nothing like it was for the 10k.  I was really starting to enjoy running again.  Especially seeing the 501st Legion.

 

 

 

After the 501st Legion we hit mile 9.  Just 4 more miles to go and I was truly having a blast.  I saw the shirt guys again.


There were more bands and cheerleaders.  I always have a blast high-fiving the cheerleaders.  We turned down Katella Avenue, I knew we were almost done.  I was glad to have the run almost over with, but I knew that it was just as much fun as I had last year.  Running might not be as bad as I thought it had been.

I crossed the finish line and the runs for the weekend were done.  I made my way and got some ice for my knee.  It still was bothering me, but I knew it would be fine in a day or two.  I got back to the hotel and met back up with Kelly.

 

We showered and rested for a little bit.  Kelly had a special surprise of afternoon tea.  At the Steakhouse 55 restaurant at the Disneyland Hotel they started an afternoon tea.  We were served a pot of tea (or more) with scones, tea sandwiches, and deserts.  This is something that I would defiantly do again.  It was the perfect amount of food for the afternoon after a half marathon.


We went back to the hotel room to rest some and for me to finish packing.  I was heading to Universal City so that I could hit Universal Studio first thing in the morning.  For dinner we headed to Catal Restaurant in Downtown Disney where we had a couple of drinks and a great celebration dinner.  We were seated on the balcony and had fun watching the crowds.



Check out my vlog for the Half.

My next day was spent at Universal.

Have you ever had an official afternoon tea?  Did you run Star Wars?  Or Princess this weekend?

Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

First Week of Freedom (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

So this was my first week of no work.  Honestly it has been great.  I've had so much to do this week that I was so glad that I didn't need to go to work on top of everything.  I got all my Christmas shopping done.  All the wrapping done.  Saw Rouge One twice (yes, I'm a Star Wars geek).   I even got my hair cut. 

When I run my midweek runs, 3 or 4 miles, I like to play a game.  Sort of my way of doing speed work.  I run the first mile however I feel.  I don't slow down if I feel I'm going too fast and I don't speed up if I feel like I'm going slow.  Then the second mile has to be faster then the first and then the third has to be faster then the second and the forth faster then the third.  To throw in some fun, I don't look at my pace on my watch, I try to do it by feel.  I need a name for this game.

I was able to get all of my midweek runs in.  Monday I got up early, even though I didn't have to go to work.  I wanted to get out before it started to rain, plus I had an early PT appointment.  The news said that the rain would start around 7, so I was right on time to get out there and back before it started to rain.  Then as I walked out the door, the news changed it's mind and said it would start about 6.  I was out 10 minutes before it started to drizzle then it started to rain 10 minutes after that.  I stuck it out and ran one of my fastest runs in a very long while.  I just wanted to get done and out of the rain.  I really don't mind running in the rain, but when it's cold out I hate it.  I wouldn't have gone out if it started before I ran, but since I was out there already I might as well finish it.  Monday I won my game.

Wednesday was a really good run.  I didn't win my game but I was even faster then Monday without trying.  I couldn't believe that I had two runs this week that were amazingly fast.  Not only that, but no real aches or pains, well for me.

Thursday night I was able to go and see the opening of Rouge One.  I really liked it and loved how it fit right into A New Hope.

 

Friday I really didn't want to go for my run.  It was 22 degrees and COLD.  It took me awhile to get out the door but I was glad I did.  I missed the last mile to beat my game, but even a faster then the other two runs this week.  Woot!  Then I went to see Rouge One in 3D in the afternoon.  I think both 2D and 3D were great.  Loved the movie so much I came home and watched A New Hope to really see how it all fit in together.

Saturday I got my hair cut.  I didn't think it needed it as I'm back and forth on if I want to keep it short or grow it out.  I made my hairdresser pick and she said I should grow it back out.  Though I think she is a bit biased on long hair.  I really didn't care one way or the other and I trust her with my locks.  But the way she trimmed it up made it look really nice and made me realize how much it needed a cut.  Maybe to be washed as well (I only wash it every 2-3 weeks, yes you read that right). 

Then I headed to Virginia Beach for the Surf-n-Santa 5 miler.  I really wasn't looking forward to this race as I was tired and really didn't want to drive all the way to Virginia Beach.  But I went cause the race was trying to beat a Guinness Book of World Records for the most Santas in a race.  I thought being part of that would be fun, no matter my mood.  I'll have more on it in my recap, but Spoiler Alert! - we beat the record (pending Guinness Book of World Records verification).

 

Then I had dinner with Lacey.  We went to a local place and had these really good Tuna Nachos and crab puffs.  I would have never thought about putting Tuna on Nachos and they were so good.  It was really good to catch up with Lacey as we haven't seen each other in ages.  Then I drove all the way home and showered and hit the hay.

Did you see Rouge One yet?  Do you run in the rain (even if it's cold)?  Have you done the Surf-n-Santa?

Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.