Disney Here I Come!

Plane tickets are purchased.  The hotel is booked.  I'm all ready to head to Disney in February!!  I'm so excited, but really nervous for the half.  I definitely need this vacation, though (it's only been about 5 years since I've been on a vacation)!

Last Friday night I went to my parents neighborhood and ran 3.1 miles and then went for a 15 minute swim.  I did my first mile faster than I intended, and that's something I really need to work on.  It was a 9:16, which is awesome for me, but at the same time I need to think about longer runs and I can't start that fast when I'm increasing my mileage.

Field hockey on Tuesday was good, scored my second goal in outdoor!!  As long as we have the subs, I really don't mind being a back/middie now.  I get an awesome workout doing that!  I'm thinking I may count my games as my runs.  I only have like one left unless we make playoffs.  Then indoor will start in September, and I've heard talks of another outdoor league in the fall.  If that happens then I'll have two games a week which means two awesome workouts!

I really need to get back on track with my running, though.  I'm just really struggling with the idea of getting up before work to run, but it's finally starting to cool down so I think I'll be okay.  I'm thinking of skipping the gym tonight for a run and swim.

I also think I'm trying those green smoothies.  My friend started because her neighbor did really well with them.  She told our other friend about it and now she wants to try them.  So I think we're going grocery shopping today after work.  I've been at such a plateau lately that I just need something to work.

Today's the Day!!

Well it is registration day for the Princess half, a day I know a lot of us have been waiting for!

I am so thankful to have a wonderful, amazing, and awesome mother who has graciously decided to pay for my registration for both the half and the 5K!  My grandma was in town for a week and she's been in and out (mostly out) of work and knows that it was hard on me.  Once worked calmed down from all the usual morning craziness, she told me that she had talked to my dad and they decided that she was going to do this for me.  I love her with all my heart and I'm so happy that she's going to Florida with me and participating in the 5K!

I've been debating with the idea of doing a race beforehand.  Not only is there the possibility I could be bumped up to a different corral because of the time, I also think it'll help the nerves subside a bit.  As much as I would love to do the Hershey half in October, it's not practical because of the travel distance.  So right now I'm really considering the Atlantic City marathon race series in October.  It still gives me plenty of time to train.  Now the question is whether to just go for the 10K or try the half!

This is also the first week of my training!  I'm going to try and follow it the best I can!  I love Jeff Galloway, but I'm going with Hal Higdon's training program.  12 weeks.  I can do this!
Yesterday was a Stretch & Strengthen day so I went to Kickboxing.  Amy and I also inquired about getting a personal trainer, so we'll see the cost of that.
Today was a 3 mile run which I did this morning!  I have my first field hockey game of the season tonight.

Back to Reality

So I had a nice Fourth of July.  I went for a late morning run, I didn't expect to do well since I haven't run in a couple of weeks, but it wasn't too bad.  I just wish I had brought something to drink because it was hot outside!  I went 2.21 miles and walked about a mile home because I couldn't take the heat, but it was something, right?  I went over to my parent's house and laid in their pool for about an hour.  Then showered and went back over for dinner.  This morning feels like Monday morning all over again.

I've looked through a couple of training plans since I've decided to run the half, and I think I finally found one I like.  The main thing is, I don't want to give up kickboxing for running, I want to be able to do both.  This one happens to have cross training or strength days on the same days when I take kickboxing!

I've been really good this week with my diet and exercise, so tell me how I've gained weight, and 2 pounds at that!?  I'm going to tell myself it's muscle.  Tomorrow is the weigh in for my work's Biggest Loser, part of me is hoping that number today is wrong and tomorrow will be back to normal.
I'm trying to eat much healthier than I was before, shooting for close to clean eating.  Do you think that could make my body act weird and retain excess shenanigans?

But in better news - less than a week until the sign up for the Princess half!!  I was talking about it with a friend yesterday, I'm just hoping she can come up with the money for the trip (she's in grad school).  At dinner my mom and I were discussing it as well.  We're deciding on what days to go down there because she hasn't been in about 15 years, so we definitely want 3 or 4 days for the parks.  Would you guys suggest going to the parks before or after the race?

It's the Little Things in Life

It amazes me how much weather can affect my mood.  Yesterday, I thought it was supposed to be sunny, I planned on a little run and kickboxing.  But it ended up being cloudy and a little rainy.  So needless to say, all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch and watch TV.  I let the bad side win.  I started to e-mail someone back, but decided to give up because I didn't have the energy to think.  I knew, then, that even if I had gone to the gym, the workout wouldn't have been great.  So I guess I made the right decision.

This week is the Week of the Young Child.  Every day there's a different "dress up" day at work.  Today is dress like your favorite cartoon character.  And even though Minnie is my favorite, I went with Buzz Lightyear!  Any excuse to wear sweats to work, right?

Bows Galore!

Yesterday was just an off day for me.  I tried something different with when and how I eat during the day and it did not work.  It made me eat way more than I usually do - no bueno.  So I laced up my shoes and went for a run, after I was stuck at work for an extra hour - again no bueno.  I thought I was going to do my 4.5 mile route, but I was wrong.  I finished my first mile under 10 minutes, which I've never done while recording time.  So I know I pushed myself too hard for that first mile and I was burnt out.  I knew I was going to kickboxing later, so I was okay with a lighter run.

I have to share this shop on Esty - JollyHolidayBowtique.  She makes such cute Disney inspired bows, I wish I could buy them all!  They would definitely be cute to wear on race day! :)

Pretty, Pretty Princess

Yesterday was my first day running with someone since I've played sports.  My friend is considering running the Princess half with me, so we figured we may as well see where each other are, running wise.  Going into it, we both kind of knew I am faster and have more endurance.  So this run was much more leisurely than I would have done on my own.  It was kind of fun being her "trainer" and pushing her.  I carried a little water bottle that I had, and it wasn't too bad.
During our run and afterwards, we were discussing our princesses and what we would dress up like for the half marathon. I was set on picking Belle as my princess, but at the time I was only thinking of the "original" princesses that I knew as a kid.  I never even considered the newer princesses, like Rapunzel.

RAPUNZEL

She is smart, since she's stuck in the tower she made the best of her time and educated herself.  She has a dream and the courage to pursue it.  Although she is a little scared when first leaving the tower, her adventurous and confident side take over.  She has the confidence to stand up for herself.
What I don't like about Rapunzel:  She lets her 'mother' control her life, but I guess when that's all you know, you just assume what's happening is normal.



And here was what I originally said about Belle:

BELLE
She is intelligent.  She loves to read and follow her imagination.  She'll do anything for her family (her father).  She's not afraid to speak her mind.  She'll stand up for what is right.  She can be stubborn, but also compassionate.  She can see inner beauty in others.  What I don't like about Belle:  I could not think of a con for Belle, so I did a little research to see what other people had to say.  Some people say that she broke her promise to the beast to stay forever.  When he was treating her that way, would you stay?  She went back when the situation presented itself.

I think, as of now, I don't necessarily have a "favorite" princess, because both of them are pretty awesome.  I suppose I'll decide which one to choose when the time comes.  But as for an outfit, I think I'm leaning towards Rapunzel, I just look better in purple than yellow. :)

Which Princess...

I had a relaxing night watching Disney movies, Beauty and the Beast followed by The Little Mermaid.  I was never big into the princesses, since I was a tomboy.  When asked who my favorite was I always said Cinderella because she was the first one I knew and I thought I could at least resemble her with blonde hair and all.  So lately I have been questioning who would I pick as my favorite Disney princess.  I narrowed it down to Belle, Ariel, and Cinderella.

BELLE
She is intelligent.  She loves to read and follow her imagination.  She'll do anything for her family (her father).  She's not afraid to speak her mind.  She'll stand up for what is right.  She can be stubborn, but also compassionate.  She can see inner beauty in others.  What I don't like about Belle:  I could not think of a con for Belle, so I did a little research to see what other people had to say.  Some people say that she broke her promise to the beast to stay forever.  When he was treating her that way, would you stay?  She went back when the situation presented itself.




ARIEL
She is adventurous and out going, which some people say leads to her being disobedient.  She loves her family, but knows that she has to do what's right for herself even if it goes against her father's wishes..  She's loves learning about new things.  She has Flounder!  She follows her heart.  What I don't like about Ariel:  She's selfish.  She makes decisions without thinking on how it could effect others.  She's 'obsessed' with a guy.  Although it was for love, she chose the land and a man over her family.

CINDERELLA

She is very kind.  She does a lot for other but never expects anything in return.  She is always happy and believes that good things will come to her.  She is very patient.  She works hard in hopes that one day all her dreams will come true. What I don't like about Cinderella:   She can be too kind.  She stays in a bad situation with her step mother and sisters.  Why didn't she just leave and try and make it on her own?  Her fairy godmother basically hands her everything, instead of going out and pursuing her dreams on her own.

All the princesses are great role models.  From what I hear, you need to choose your favorite princess when registering for the half marathon.  So who would I choose?


Belle.