Heather's Spin: sunrise

Showing posts with label sunrise. Show all posts

Friday, October 19, 2018

Random Five (Friday Five Edition)

It's been quite awhile since I have posted. It's been a very busy couple of weeks for me which included training all week last week, which meant catching up on everything this week. So I thought I would post some random things that have been happening.

1 - Since about May I have had a sore throat on and off. Never with a fever and never anything that was a big deal. When I had my yearly physical last month, I mentioned it to her. She wanted me to go see an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctor. Again, since I didn't think it was a huge deal it took me awhile to get around to make an appointment. The funny thing about the practice she referred me to was I called and expected that it would be 3-4 weeks at a minimum to get an appointment, and they had one for the next day. That never happens. I saw one of the ENTs on Monday and he put an optical fiber endoscopy down my nose to look at the back of my throat. It turns out that I have Adenoiditis. It just means that my adenoids are infected and he gave me these HUGE antibiotic pills to take. If it doesn't clear up, I'm to go back in a couple of weeks.

2 - Just these past few days, it is now starting to feel like fall. I've never really like fall as this time of year is when I get most of my anxiety due to darker and colder days. Even though it's the same 24 hours, because it's darker early, I feel like I have less time to get things done, which causes most of my anxiety. Once I get used to it, the anxiety tends to alleviate for the most part. But I am very thankful to have the few extra weeks this year.

3 - I only play the Mega Millions and Powerball when the jackpot gets really high like it is now. I know I will never win, but I enjoy thinking of what I would do if I did. Paying off my house and car and paying off any debts that my parents have and then traveling. I've only won a dollar a couple of times, but I played the Mega Millions last Wednesday and I matched 3 numbers and won $10! I know that's not a huge deal, but it was exciting for me. And I'll be reinvesting that money into my dreams for tonight's drawing. :)

4 - I'm a bit embarrassed on how long I have owned my couch, but I've had it forever. It is a loveseat that rocks and reclines. I've had it forever because it's very comfortable and it fits perfectly in my awkwardly long and narrow living room. I always sit on the right hand side because it's closest to the end table and the past month I have noticed that the cushioning (or lack of) on that side is probably causing me issues with my glutes (and therefore my knee). So I have moved the couch around so that the end table is on the left side. I have to say it is awkward. I am right handed and it's weird to have everything on the left side. But I either have to get used to it or go shopping for a new couch, which fills me with anxiety. For big purchases that will be daily use, I have to know everything about every option and I have to analyze it all to make sure I am making the right choice. I swear as the item for purchase gets bigger, the time I analyze it goes up 100 times. It's ridiculous. So for now we will see how this works.

5 - I never hum. I never whistle (while I work). I never sing. But I noticed over the last few months that I have started humming. It's so weird, I don't know why I all of the sudden started. And the weirder part, it's always the same song. Not only that, it's always the same Christmas song. I might understand it some if I started it now, but it's been happening all summer long. In June out of nowhere I'll realize that I'm humming a Christmas song.

And a bonus - I had to share this as it's probably one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen. It was on a sunrise ride I did last weekend.

I'm hoping to get a few posts prepped, so when I do have a busy couple weeks, I'll still have something to post when I don't have time to sit down and write something out. Till next time. :)

How have you been? Anything random happen to you this week?

I'm linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for Friday Five 2.0

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Pony Pasture 5k 2018 (Tuesdays on the Run Edition)

As I was doing all of my recaps for the last few races I participated in, I realized that as of June, I had done at least one race a month. Being half way through the year, I decided to see if I could finish the year doing at least one race a month. I signed up for the Pony Pasture 5k that was on July 28th. It was down by the river and after looking at the race results from last year, I knew that I would be able to finish before they packed up the finish line.

Pony Pasture is a popular hangout on the James River. It is where people come to walk some of the trails, put their kayak/canoe/tubes in to ride down the river, or swim. I was down there a few weeks ago with my photography workshop taking pictures. The race was to start at 7:30 and while you could pick up your packet the night before, there was also packet pickup before the start of the race. While the parking lot there is big, it would not accommodate all of the people expected, so they set up a shuttle from a shopping center which was close.

I had decided that I would pick up my packet before the race. And since I knew the parking situation was not great, especially if I want to bring my shirt back to my car, I decided to get there a little before sunrise and take pictures as the sun rose. I got there about 5:50 and brought my camera and tripod down to the river. For the next 30 minutes or so, I just took different pictures as the sun came up.

By 6:30 I was packed up and ready to find the table where I could pick up my bib and shirt. There was only one person in front of me and they just asked for our name, no ID needed. The bibs were not chip timed, so I got the next bib on the stack. They gave me my shirt and that was it. The shirt is one of those soft cotton ones, which I like to wear around the house.

The park had real bathrooms, so I went to use them. I then walked around some, stretched, and played on my phone till the race was ready to start. At the start it was 72 degrees with 100% humidity. I was drenched before we even started. I debated on carrying a water bottle with me, but in the end I decided it was too much trouble.

The race was an out and back and everyone lined up on River Road for the start. They played the national anthem and then we were off. Not knowing how my knee would be, I decided on a 30/45 run/walk. Soon enough the runners were ahead and there was a good little group around me doing different run/walk intervals.

River Road is very pretty with the river very close. There were plenty of trees which provided plenty of shade, even though it was overcast through the first part of the morning. They did not close the road from traffic, but since it was 7:30 on a Saturday, there were not a lot of cars out yet.

There was a water stop just after the first mile marker. Just in time as I was getting thirsty. Soon after that I could tell my knee was going to act up. It wasn't hurting yet, but it was tight. We continued down the road to the turn around.

Since it was an out and back, we had the same water stop again a little after the second mile. On hot days like that, I am glad we had a second water stop. By the second mile, my knee started to officially hurt. I continued on, running slowly and making sure I took all of my walk breaks. It wasn't bad like it was for the Star Wars Half, but it did hurt some.

Before I knew it, I had hit the 3 mile marker. I couldn't believe that I was almost done. Despite the humidity and a little bit of knee pain, it felt like I was only out there for a mile. The finish line was a turn into the parking lot and down a small hill. There were still tons of people there cheering the finishers on. Since it was not chip timed, several people were calling out the bib numbers and the time as we ran down the chute.

This being a small race, there was no medal. I kinda wished we got a medal instead of a shirt, but that's OK, I did only have to spend $20 for registration, so it's a win either way. The only thing I didn't like was that I didn't see any water or fuel for after the race. I didn't look very hard, as I had water at my car, but I did think that was odd.

I walked down to the water and got a finisher picture with the river. I stretched some and headed home. The good news was by the time I got home, my knee felt good. So maybe I am on my way to recovery with it <knock on wood>. Overall, I really enjoyed this race. While it wasn't as exciting as the Run and Ride 5k from last month, it was just peaceful. Everyone was super nice and encouraging and being down by the river was the icing on the cake. I would do this race again.

Would you rather have a shirt or medal?

I’m linking up with with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.

Friday, July 6, 2018

Star Wars Dark Side 10k 2018 (Friday Five Edition)

I'm finally getting to my Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon Weekend recaps from April.

In case you missed previous posts from the Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon Weekend:

Just like the morning before for the 5k, I got up early so that I could meet Kelly and Franklin by 3:30 at the buses. The start of the 10k was in the parking lot of Magic Kingdom. Of the three races, I think I have the hardest time with the 10k as I am the most tired. Two days of non stop and then yet another early morning makes me a bit cranky.

We got there and got another photo with Phasma.

Kelly and I were in Coral C while Franklin was in Coral B. This was a race that we all were on our own for. Franklin wanted to race this one, while I wanted to walk as much as I could and Kelly was somewhere in the middle.

The race started off in Magic Kingdom and made its way down through Hollywood Studios and then to the Finish at Epcot. It was much like the course last year.

For the first three miles there was nothing to look at and with the lack of sleep, I was really in a bad mood. I didn't bring my earphones, so I was just stuck with the thoughts in my head, which really didn't help my mood. It was in the mid-60's, not too bad for Florida.

About mile 3 we got close to Hollywood Studios. The 501st Legion was there again. It is always fun to see all the different Star Wars characters, especially those that Disney does not highlight.

We entered right behind Tower of Terror. As we came around the front, I saw a photo op with a bell hop from Tower of Terror. Never seen that, and there was basically no line, so I went on over.

We quickly headed out of Hollywood Studios. I can't wait till more of that park is open, maybe they might let us run more through it then the little we do now. But as we left, there was this beautiful sunrise.

And then a picture with The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

As I was heading to the path to Epcot there was a man with his dog and man, did I need the puppy love. I stopped and snuggled and played with the pup for a little bit and that just lifted my spirits.

On the path to the Boardwalk, there was the speeder bikes. I pretended that it was going too fast for me.

We finally got to the Boardwalk. The Boardwalk is one of my favorite places to run. The crowds are amazing and just what I need by the time I get there in any race.

Around the Boardwalk and into Epcot. The sunrise continued to be amazing.

Around to Spaceship Earth. The Storm Troopers were there again. The last couple of miles really perked my mood, so I thought I would have some fun with this photo too.

More of the 501st Legion was there at Mile 6. Love the purple of this R2 unit.

Another selfie with the Storm Trooper at the finish. I might have accidentally elbowed someone as I did that. Opps. Sorry!!

And finish.

I got ice for my knee again. Even though it was OK, I still wanted to preempt any pain. Got my snacks, water, and took some more beautiful pictures of the sunrise. While the first 3 miles were really horrible, the last 3 miles really made up for it.

After I got back to my room, I showered and stretched. I ended up taking like a 3 hour nap I was so tired. I stayed off my feet as much as I could cause I knew that the half the next day was going to be a doosie.

Continue reading about my Star Wars Dark Side with the half.

Do you have a favorite park to run through during a runDisney race? Do you ever stop to pet the dogs that come out to cheer? Have you ever smacked someone while trying to take a selfie (in a race or not in a race)?

I'm linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for Friday Five 2.0

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Princess Half Marathon 2018

After getting a day of rest, I was ready to get the half marathon done.

In case you missed previous posts from the Princess Half Marathon Weekend:

We had to wake up earlier due to having to be on bus earlier. When I woke up I realized that I slept hard and through the night. And even though I had slept through the night, I was in a very deep sleep when the alarm went off. So I was tired again...

I wore my new Running Skirt (tri version with my own shorts) and it had pockets. I haven't had a skirt with pockets, so I decided to try the race without my big belt with water bottles. I had two pockets and a small race belt that I put my Gu in. I then carried a throw away water bottle. The combination actually worked out very well.

We got on the bus and headed to the start. Once there we headed towards the mile long walk to the corals. As we were were walking we both noticed that the path was paved. We both remember a gravel path when we did it 4 years before. Either they paved it or we were taking a different way there.

I decided to hit the port-a-potties one last time and Candace went to our coral to get us a spot. I was glad that she did get us a spot as by the time I got there I couldn't even find her. I had to call and have her talk me through where she was. I finally found her and we relaxed till it was ready to star moving forward.

As we moved forward we ended up standing next to a guy dressed as Prince Charming. We asked where his Princess was and he said that she was in the coral before us. He didn't want to slow her down so he didn't ask her to stay back a coral. That is a Prince Charming.

Before we knew it we were off. My plan was to keep up with Candace as long as I could and then let her go as she is much faster then I am. No matter how many people say they want to stay with me, they always stay a few steps in front cause they don't like how slow I am. I hate feeling like I'm keeping people back.

The first couple of miles were slow as the crowds were thick. We couldn't go much faster then we were, but Candace mentioned how her shins were hurting already. As we came up to Magic Kingdom, there was such a beautiful sunrise.

We came around the parking lot and there was the Evil Witch from Snow White with her cauldron. The second time that weekend I wish the line wasn't as long as it was as that was a great character picture. But I knew I was running against the clock and I didn't have that time to spare.

The sunrise just kept impressing us.

As we came into Magic Kingdom, there were a slew of characters and staff to welcome us. That was cool to see.

It was now time to head down main street of Magic Kingdom. This is probably the most fun place to run. To have such huge crowds cheering is just an amazing feeling. And it was such a beautiful morning to see the castle.

We continued on through Tomorrowland at a good pace but it was slow due to such crowds. We came around the back of the castle and noticed that Princess Minnie wasn't there like she usually is.

The Bell castle was a sight to see with the beautiful sky.

We ran through the castle and got a couple of pictures in front of it.

We went through Adventureland and out of Magic Kingdom. I noticed that Candace needed to walk a lot more then we were, but I left the pace to her. It was a girls weekend and I was having fun being with my friend that I rarely get to see.

Candace said that now that we were over half way, we were fine with time and she wanted to walk. I was fine with that, but my quads were cramping up. My legs are used to the combination of running and walking and I was having issues with all of the walking. Candace told me to go on, but I didn't want to as it was a girls weekend and I wanted to have fun with her. She said the weekend was also about the bling.

We went by this beautiful lake. There was truly some beautiful sights that day.

Since my quads were cramping up, every so often I would stop to stretch and have Candace keep walking. And then I'd run to catch up with her. That seemed to be helping a lot. As we were coming to mile 10 it was getting so hot. I knew I was getting burned as I don't wear sunscreen when I run cause it just gets in my eyes with the sweat. As we came up and around the exit ramp after mile 10, you could see the tons of people behind us. I knew there was no way we would get swept even if we continued walking, but I really wanted to get done. It was hot, I was tired, and my quads just kept cramping up.

The last few miles I really had to pee. I didn't really want to use a port-a-potty, not that I saw any. But also the thought of trying to pull up sweaty pants just wasn't what I was in the mood for.

We finally came into Epcot. I don't think I have ever been happier to see the Epcot ball and know we were almost done. We saw and heard the beautiful choir and they were wonderful as usual.

We were finally done. I actually like the medals more then the pictures I saw before the weekend. My quads and feet were killing me.

We got back to the hotel and showered. Candace was leaving with her family as they were driving home to Boston. I took the afternoon to soak in the pool and take a nap.

That evening I had a nice dinner at Narcoossee's with my friend Kelly and a few of her friends to celebrate an end to the weekend. Dinner was so good and we could see the castle at Magic Kingdom from there. Apparently you could see the fireworks from Magic Kingdom there, but our dinner was early.

As the dinner went on, it was taking awhile. I was actually glad it was as it might allow us to see the fireworks. The waiter was very nice and knowing we were celebrating the weekend, he brought us a glass of champagne.

It turned out that as we finished up desert, it was time to see the fireworks. Because I have only been going to Disney for runDisney, I had never had a chance to see the fireworks as it usually means going to bed early to be able to get up early. So this was a treat. It turned out that someone on the other side got engaged. It was sweet. The night came to a close. It was time for me to get back to the hotel so that I could pack for my flight in the morning.

A funny story from my trip home the next day. My flight landed mid-morning and I got a text from Candace. She said that they were in Richmond and she was waving to me. I happened to be driving home from the airport. I called her and asked where they were. It turned out that they were a mile or two behind me on the interstate. How funny.

You can also catch up on my vlogs from the Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

I’m linking up with with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.

Monday, June 4, 2018

Princess 10k 2018 (Tuesdays on the Run Edition)

Saturday came by really quickly. I didn't sleep well and I was exhausted from the day before.

In case you missed previous posts from the Princess Half Marathon Weekend:

We got ready and headed to the bus stop around 3:45 AM. There was a huge line with no buses in sight. Thankfully after about 5-10 minutes several buses came up and we boarded one.

Candace and I were in different corrals for this race, so when we got there we parted ways and waited for the race to start. My quad that bothered me the day before didn't bother me, but the one that was fine was bothering me while we waited.

After waiting for what it felt like forever the corals started to move to the start. It felt like it got chillier so while we walked I found a jacket that someone ditched and put it on. I really liked it a lot and ended up keeping it through the race.

We were soon off. The course has a boring 3 miles before it gets into Epcot. The roads are narrow with way too many people. The course was just so crowded that it was just so frustrating to run more then here and there. But at that point it really didn't matter as I was trying to walk as much as I could.

We finally made it into the park. There was such a beautiful sunrise.

I noticed a few ladies out that had made skirts from all of their Dopey shirts. They were kinda cute.

We went around the world and into the Boardwalk. I totally love running the Boardwalk as there are just so many people out cheering. It really is just heart lifting.

Heading back into Epcot, there was a lot of construction going on. It looked like it was part of the new Skylift that they are putting in. I think it will be a fun way to get to one area to the other. Hopefully some great views.

I didn't stop at any of the character stops, but some of them included: Mulan, Lilo, Pocahontas & her racoon friend. Pinocchio, stilt people, Marie from Aristicats, and baseball Goofy. I really wish that the line for baseball Goofy wasn't so long as I would have loved a picture with him.

I did stop and got a few pictures with the Flower and Garden Festival.

And Spaceship Earth.

Finished the race and got my medal, water, and food. I also got some ice for my knee. It really wasn't hurting, I just wanted to preempt anything.

Even though Candace started in the coral behind me, she still finished at the same time. We chatted for a bit and then she went strait to meet her family for breakfast and another park. I headed back to the hotel and hung out at the hotel. I spent the rest of the day just relaxing and spending some time by the pool.

Continue reading on to the Half Marathon.

You can also catch up on my vlogs from the Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

I’m linking up with with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.

Friday, May 18, 2018

Favorite Pictures (Friday Five Edition)

I usually go through freeprints.com to print my photos. They print up to 85 photos per month for free. You do have to pay for shipping, so I found that it only makes it as cheap as going to a drug store or Target if you order 85 of them. So I haven't done any in a couple of years and thought it might be time to see what I have. In the last week I have been going through the last few years of photos on my phone and putting them in an album so that I can easily find them and send them out. Going through a ton of photos made me want to share some. Most of my photos have to do with my cats, races, or beautiful sunrises/sunsets. I will hang some of the, give some of them to friends or family, but most of them will probably sit in a box. But I love having photos that I can change out when I feel like it. I know I can get a digital frame, but I'm still looking for a good one that I can hang on the wall with no wires - meaning wifi and battery operated. I haven't found one that has that and is good quality. Here are a few of them.

One of my boys, Riley. If you can't tell he is in the hallway upstairs and I'm on the stairs. He hangs off like that all the time.