Big Hairy Audacious Goal (Tuesdays on the Run Edition)

Currently I don't have any Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG) for running.  Or really anything grand like that.  Well except for retirement, but I don't think that was the intended for this topic.  I have done most everything running wise that is on my bucket list.  Except I'd maybe like to do a 70.3 or commonly known as a half Ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run).  I don't see that happening any time soon.  So I thought I would recap some of my BHAGs from the past.

My First 10k
When I first started running, thoughts of running anything more then a 5k was something I never thought I would do.  While I had walked the Ukrop's 10k a few years in the past, running it was nothing I thought I wanted to do.  In 2011 I joined the training team and each week I surprised myself and ran the whole long run.  And three months later I ran my first 10k.  It's funny reading back at that post as I said that I didn't think I would want to do something that long again.  I love the 10k distance now.  In fact I do the Ukrop's 10k almost every year now.

My First Half
I actually had a different blog when I wrote up my recap of my first half marathon in 2012, the Richmond Half Marathon.  I honestly don't remember what made me want to run a half marathon, but I joined the training team and stuck to the plan.  The funny thing about that is I didn't think I would want to do that distance more then once a year.  Since 2014 I don't think I've done less then 2 half marathons a year.

My First Tri
The next year, in 2013, I did my first triathlon.  It was the Pink Power Sprint, which was an all women pool tri, which is very first timer friendly.  This is another one that I don't remember why I made it my big goal.  I just knew that I had been swimming and biking since I was little and now that I had been running for a couple years putting all three together might actually be fun.  While I could run, bike, and swim with no problem, putting all three together was something I just knew nothing about.  I joined a local tri training group which helped conqueror my fear of doing something so daunting.  I was glad to have the training group as they showed us things that we would need to know, I also still have great friends that I met through it.

My First Marathon
In 2014 I had run a couple runDisney half marathons and started eyeing a new challenge.  I was one of those that said I would never run a marathon.  Never say never!  I had signed up to run the 2015 WDW Marathon as my first.  Despite having food poisoning and going to the ER the day before, it actually was a great race.  I followed my training closely and that really paid off.  Should probably remember that next time.  lol

First (and only) Dopey
In 2014 runDisney announced a new challenge, run the 5k, 10k, half, and full in one weekend.  They called this the Dopey Challenge, because you have to be, well, Dopey to do it.  I had always been intrigued with Dopey and after I ran my first marathon I knew it was something I wanted to do.  And in 2016 I did.  Luckily I am a stubborn person.  Training for this race was long and it was hard.  It was the hardest weekend I had ever experienced running.  By Sunday I was done.  I had pain in my calf before I started the marathon and just did everything I could to finish.  This is one that I don't think I want to do again.  I'm glad I did it cause now I know I can do anything as long as I put in the training and commitment.  


And then of course I went to Disneyland the next weekend to participate in the Inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend.  Yes, I did 7 races in 11 days covering 71 miles.  I didn't plan it that way.  They had announced the Star Wars Weekend after I signed up for Dopey and I didn't want to miss the opportunity to be part of the inaugural race and well it's Star Wars.  The funny thing is the Star Wars Half was the most fun race of all of them. 


Back to Back Marathons
After I finished Dopey, I knew the next marathon I wanted to run was the Marine Corps Marathon.  Since the Richmond Marathon is just two weeks after MCM I decided to join the Richmond Marathon training team.  This would be the first time since my first Half Marathon that I would be training with a group.  I was very excited to not have to worry about fuel since they would have SAGs.  And I would have the chance to run with others.  I knew that I would probably change my race distance at the Expo and just run the half or 8k.

The MCM was HOT and the last 8 miles were miserable as we were out of the fun part of DC and there was no shade.  While I am very proud of that race and did PR, I knew with the great training I had had, I could have done better if it weren't for the heat.  I left changing the race distance for Richmond at the Expo.  By then I felt great.  So I decided to run the Richmond Marathon 2 weeks later. I am now a Marathon Maniac. 

MCM Accomplished

Richmond Accomplished

We will see if I have any other crazy goals at some point.  You guys will be the first to know!

What have been some of your BHAG?  Do you have any coming up?

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.

DFL > DNF > DNS (Tuesdays on the Run Edition)

I don't know when the first time I had seen the acronyms of DFL (Dead F*ing Last), DNF (Did Not Finish), and DNS (Did Not Start), but the first time it really meant something to me was when I did my first marathon.  I got this bib holder shortly after as I truly believe that it is better to come in last then not finishing which is better then not starting.


I was to do my first marathon January of 2015 at Walt Disney World.  I was very excited for this race and trained for it very well.  My parents were even coming down with me to celebrate this next step in my running adventure and we made a whole weekend of it.

Along with the marathon, I had planned on volunteering for the 5k and running the 10k, so my parents and I got down there on Wednesday to go to the Expo.

Thursday was a COLD morning, just like it was cold this year for marathon weekend.  I had to buy an extra jacket, hats and gloves to volunteer for the 5k.  After that, we spent the rest of the day at Universal.  If you have never been, go!  They have two really fun parks and the Harry Potter section is beyond amazing.

Friday I got up and ran the 10k.  After the race I showered, changed, and headed back to the expo.  For the life of me I can't remember why, but I have photos from there.  I got back to the hotel I grabbed a Chicken Quesadilla for lunch.  We really didn't hadn't planned much for the day.  Maybe Downtown Disney or something.


By dinner time I was really starting to feel sick.  Very nauseous and tired.  I told my parents that I'd like to skip dinner.  All night long I was in the bathroom with vomiting and diarrhea.  I couldn't sleep.

I got up early on Saturday because I actually had to work.  We had a major release that got pushed back to that day and since I already had my trip scheduled, I had to give up part of my trip to work.  I was starting to feel better, but still felt sick.  And by this point I was dehydrated, like really dehydrated.  I was so worried about the marathon the next day.

After I was done with my work I talked to my parents and we decided that I should at least talk to a doctor.  I had noticed that one of the pre-dialed buttons on the phone was to a doctor.  When that is dialed you talk to a doctor that is on call and explain your situation.  They can send a doctor to your room for medical care.  The doctor on the phone explained to me that with my symptoms I should go to an urgent care facility (transportation would be provided) or the ER.  He said that I most likely needed fluids on top of medication and fluids is something that the urgent care facility could not do, so I would probably have to go to the ER.

Even though I was feeling a little better, I had not eaten or drunk anything in almost 24 hours.  I was very worried about how I was going to get through 26.2 miles.  I had put in so much training and this was my first marathon, I was devastated by this point.  I decided that I would go to the ER.

But how would I get there, we took the Magical Express and we have no car.  Well since I called the on call doctors they wanted me to go via ambulance.  I felt very silly doing that because I could walk.  But that is how they wanted to do it.

Within 30 minutes I had a knock on my door.  The EMTs were there and started taking my vitals.  I had the resort manager come by and see how things were.  Then an EMT went to go get a stretcher.  I kept telling them that I could walk and didn't need it.  But it was the rules and on the stretcher I went.  Everyone that saw me gawked and pointed.  I'm sure they were wondering what was wrong with me and assumed it must be bad, when it was just a little nausea.

I had my first trip in an ambulance.  In route, they started an IV for fluids.  The EMT in the back couldn't be nicer.  He told me he thought I had food poisoning since I didn't have a fever.  I told my parents that they didn't need to come as I didn't want them sitting around a waiting room.  My mom felt bad that I had said that as even though she couldn't do anything, she wanted to be there anyway.  So the resort manager got them a cab (which Disney paid for) and they met me there.

I was brought back and evaluated some more.  I kept telling them that if I didn't have a marathon the next day everything would be fine.  I was just worried that I won't be able to run it.  They gave me some medicine through the IV and wanted me to stay there while I got more fluids through the IV.  I was there for about 4 hours and just laid there and watched Storage Wars the whole time.  The doctor that I finally saw told me that I wouldn't be able to run.  I was devastated and just cried.

I was glad that my parents did come.  Once they released me they gave me a couple of prescriptions.  Thankfully there was a pharmacy in the hospital.  My mom told me that they were given a voucher for the cab and when we were done we just needed to call to get a ride back to the resort.

The fluids and medicine helped, but I knew I had to keep drinking and eat something.  I got some plain spaghetti from the cafe and ate what I could.  I truly was feeling better, but I didn't know if I felt good enough to run for 26.2 miles the next day.  I told my parents that I would make the decision in the morning.

The alarm went off nice and early.  I hadn't had any trips to the bathroom since the hospital.  I decided that I might as well try to run.  If I couldn't finish, then at least I know I gave it my best.  I had trained and all I could do was try.

The first 8-9 miles were fine.  I didn't really feel nauseous at all.  I saw my parents at the Contemporary Resort and told them that.  But soon after my stomach felt a bit off.  It wasn't bad enough to stop, but it was bad enough to walk a lot more.  I stopped at every medical tent and picked up the Pepto chews which seemed to help a little, but not for very long.


I kept chugging on and new that if I felt bad enough I could just stop.  But it really never got worse then some nausea.  I was able to get a few Gus in me to keep up my strength.  I kept walking more and more and before I knew it I was on the Boardwalk.  I knew I could finish at that point.


I was so glad that I tried.  I would have felt so miserable if I didn't try.  While it was not the race I imagined (are any ever?), it is a race I am very proud of.  If things had happened 24 hours later, I wouldn't have even started the race.

Do you have a DFL, DNF, or DNS story? 

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.

WDW Marathon Weekend Remembered (Friday Five Edition)

This weekend is the WDW Marathon Weekend.  Two years ago I ran my first marathon there.  Then last year I ran Dopey.  Here are some memories from the Dopey Challenge Last year.

1. Four races in four days is really hard.  It is true when people say that getting up early four mornings in a row (6 if you have early flights getting there and going home).  If you put in the training necessary, the mileage is not too bad, but missing out on the parks so that you can stay off your feet and going to bed super early is the hard part.

2. I signed up for the Runner's World VIP package.  This included the breakfast after the 5k and 10k, Race Retreat for the half and full, Pasta Party the night of the 5k, and a special shorter walk to the start line of the half and full.  I was too tired to take full advantage of everything.  The Pasta Party was fun, with great characters to take pictures with, but I was too tired to stay too long.  And I didn't even make it to the Race Retreat after the half and full as all I wanted to do was get back to my hotel.  Both the breakfasts and Race Retreats had some interesting character photo ops.  And the shorter walk to the start line was fun.  We ended up on a path in the woods.  Getting through the crowds and path in the woods was a bit tricky, so they had us all hold onto a rope.  It was like we were back in kindergarten holding hands so we don't get lost.

At the 5k Breakfast.  I have no clue who they are.

At the Pasta in the Park with Lotso from Toy Story 3.

At the 10k Breakfast.  Again, no clue.

Finally someone I knew at the Race Retreat before the Half.

3. The 10k was rainy through the race.  Most characters were not out to get photos with.  But I decided to stay after the race, even though it was raining.  I knew if I waited it out I would be able to get pictures with Minnie Mouse and Dopey with short lines.  Everyone left right after the race and after about 20 minutes of waiting in the drizzle, the rain let up and I got the photos with almost no line.

Minnie and me.

Love this picture.

4. My right calf started to hurt the night before the marathon.  I was very nervous about the marathon.  I did make it through, with stops at ever medical tent for more bio-freeze.  It was a very slow marathon but it was finished.

5. I did ride Everest.  It's a perfect adrenaline rush half way through the race.

Ready for Everest to start.

Spooky!!

People often ask me if I would do the Dopey Challenge again.  I never will say never, but I don't see me doing it again.  I really wish I had a friend to run with through the races, as doing all races by myself was hard.  But I'm really glad that I was able to do the challenge.  I love telling people how crazy I am by doing the challenge.

Have you done the Dopey Challenge?  Have you ever done any of the extras, like Race Retreat or Pasta in the Park?  What is your favorite character to get a photo with?

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

Race Photobombs (Tuesdays on the Run Edition)

I LOVE photobombing!!  Anytime I can, I'll jump up and be part of some strangers photo.  There was this one race where I jumped in behind the people and the MarathonFoto photographer refused to take the photo till I was far away.  That was a bit disappointing.  I wish I could see some of the pictures that people have gotten that I've tried to jump into, but alas, I never get the chance.

I do have one photo that I love which has someone photobombing us.  This is me and my friend Candace before the WDW 10k (she was doing Dopey and I was going to do my first marathon that weekend).  I love the look on that guys face.  This picture is even on my race wall (more of my race wall to come next week).

Do you have any race photos of me photobombing you?  Do you have a photobombing story?

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.