Sunday, April 28, 2013

RunDisney: Will you earn your "Glass Slipper"?

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Have you heard the news!
RunDisney has announced via twitter a new change and addition to the 2014 Disney Princess 1/2 weekend. They have added a 10k, referred to as the Glass Slipper Challenge!


We now decree that there will be an Enchanted 10K and Glass Slipper Challenge for Princesses looking to make their running dreams come true. We are pleased to announce that the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World® Resort will be adding a 10K and a new two-race challenge!

The Disney Princess Enchanted 10K will give you a new opportunity to participate in a timed run during the Princess Half Marathon Weekend. And if you're looking for an even bigger challenge, sign up for the 10K on Saturday and the Half Marathon on Sunday (19.3 miles total) to earn the inaugural Disney Glass Slipper Challenge Medal, accompanied by each of the medals from the individual races.  New for 2014, the Princess Half Marathon Weekend will expand to February 20-23 and include an additional day for the Expo.



Will you be up to this challenge in 2014? I know I would be if I were able to attend! Maybe in 2019 for their 10 year anniversary!

Registration opens on June 11 2013 for the Princess 1/2 Marathon weekend. This is not a 1/2 Marathon you want to miss, especially if you are a Disney lover, it doesn't really matter if you are a "runner", just as long as you can maintain a 16-minute mile pace, which can be achieved with a fast walk, then you can accomplish this Fantastic and Magical challenge!

-Stephanie
A dream is a wish your heart makes

Friday, April 19, 2013

Dont Mess with Boston

"CAPTURED!!! The hunt is over. The search is done. The terror is over. And justice has won. Suspect in custody." -- From the Boston Police Department on Twitter

At approximately 8:42pm on Friday, April 29th the police and FBI captured the 2nd suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing. What a big relief for the state of Massachusetts and especially for the residents of Watertown where he was found and captured.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/19/suspect-in-custody-newspaper-says/2095845/

Thank you to first responders, police, fbi, hostage negotiator, reports, media and everyone involved in the capture of this young man.

-Stephanie

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Run for Boston

It has been three days since the tragic terror attack in Boston at the Boston Marathon.
I had yet to make a run out for Boston. I was ready to join a group in a nearby town doing a "Run for Boston" but I didn't make it, I have no excuse for missing out on it, but I just didn't end up going and now I wish I had.

Well today was the day. Over the past couple days I have been cleaning our apartment, running errands, spending some time with family, etc. I ran a couple errands today and was home by 2. I really was not ready or motivated to run today. But I told myself that this isn't for me, this for them. This is for all the runners, the family, first responders, police, national guard, by-standers, EMT, nurses, doctors, the list goes on and on. I had to tell myself that this was for those who just lost a family member, a limb and their spirit.

 
So I strapped on my shoes and out the door I went. I was set on running 5 miles, that was the only thing I did for me, was setting a distance goal. Everything else I put into it was for everyone else.

Yesterday I even felt the need to put together a Facebook group, Runners for Peace. It is a place for everyone to share, reflect, support and say whatever is on their minds and in their hearts.

I hope to continue to run for Boston. Every race I have is running for Boston. I want to put together some sort of bib that I can wear on the back of my shirt that wont be easily torn, and show my pride of being from Massachusetts, my support for all who was affected, and show others that we will not be deterred from doing what we love.

-Stephanie

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

There is no Finish Line

This was the title of an article one of my friends shared on facebook.

Monday, Patriot's Day in Massachusetts...the 117th annual Boston Marathon.
A day of cheers, runners, support, laughter, family, pride...and so many other words.

Four hours and nine minutes after the start. BOOM x 2.
All I could think of was a million different things: Who could do this? Why would they do this...what are they getting out of this!? Who is hurt? Did anyone die? What about the runners? What is going to happen next?

As many others before have written on their blogs yesterday and today, we are all deeply saddened for those in Boston. It is a tragedy. There are so many stories that have been shared on facebook, including those from a runners point of view. Many of them from those who were only feet away from the blast, and those a few miles away from the finish line....that they would not be able to get to.
That's the unfortunate thing, but very minor. I think constantly about those injured, the 170+ in hospitals and 3 dead.
But being a runner (that's right I am calling myself a runner) and knowing how hard it can be to train and look forward to that first race no matter how long or short, and being able to cross the finish line...what a feeling that is! And for some reason, someone(s) took that away from so many, even if this wasn't their first Marathon!

They are all finishers in my eyes. Finishing is not the hard part, it is the courage to get started.

The trend of the day was for all runners out there to wear a race day event shirt that they have from past races in support of those from the Boston Marathon. I had the perfect one, it was blue and yellow, just like the BM colors. It was my Holden Road Race 5k shirt.
The picture to the right is from the race this past Thanksgiving 2012.

I watched the news majority of the evening but had to change the channel to take a break, it was so heartbreaking. My hubby ended up getting in a fight about it, and we weren't even mad at each other, but just so caught up in emotion about our feelings about the event that voices raised and so did the tension. I ended up doing the dishes at 1215am and waiting for my tension to ease up before going to bed. We ended up talking it out some more and ended the night with some kisses and sleep. But how ridiculous is that.

He said to me that it was about time. I didn't get what he meant by that. He said that I didn't really have a reaction (that he thought I would have had) during the Sandy Hook shooting. And when I thought about it, I guess he was right. I held some of that in, but there were also times when I was alone and crying while watching tv. But I don't know what else to do, it just made me feel better to go for a run. How about that!? A run to make me feel better, what a great feeling.

That is what I think set me off. I have this new passion ( I may not always feel this passion) for running, and this annual Marathon in Boston for runners, old and new was taken away from many! So I guess it all kind of triggered. I love children, I love running.

I could go on and on, but I think you who are reading this get how I feel and what I am getting at.

Prayers to all those at the Boston Marathon. Prayers to the families. Prayers to the injured. Prayers to the runners. Prayers to the spectators. Prayers for Boston.

-Stephanie





Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Picking up the slack

I am slowly but surely getting back into the groove of things. I don't have an excuse of being out of it, but I am getting myself back in. Not only because I have been noticing some weight, very little, coming back on, but also because I do have some 5ks coming up that I am going to sign up for. I am also trying to get a friend to do a half marathon with me in Maine in July!

So last week my sister came home for the week, and went for a run with me! It was a little over 2 miles, but that was fine with the both of us. She is not much of a runner, but has shown interest in doing more 5ks, and hopefully will do so when she moves back to MA at the end of June.

So I got two runs (both outside!) in last week. I did 4 miles on the treadmill today. I had some trouble today. I felt better once I got started, but around the last 25 minutes, I started to feel a pain almost cramp in my side. I probably should have stopped, but I really wanted to get this run in!

I am pretty proud of myself for not only running, but doing some lifting and core strengthening! After the bit of cramping I thought I would be ready to go home, but I stretched a little and was able to move on!

What is also going to be motivating is having a running buddy! One of the teachers I work with is looking for someone to go running with when the weather gets nice. So that will be great! I cant wait!

What I think is going to be hard is getting back into "long runs" for training for the next 1/2 marathon! But I know if I have done it once, I can do it again! So here it goes!

Q: What was it like for you after your 1st 1/2 marathon? Did you keep up with a routine, or did you fall backwards?

-Stephanie
"A Dream is a wish your heart makes'