tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47764469115887494862024-03-13T21:04:21.448-07:00Running Through LifeKellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-12510171200932426442016-04-27T12:31:00.000-07:002016-04-27T12:31:36.358-07:00RunDisney's Princess 5K RecapOn February 19, I was up before the sun to kick off runDisney's Princess Half Marathon weekend with the Princess 5K. While runDisney races have exceptionally early wake-up calls, they also have exceptional race excitement. There's nothing like stumbling to the buses knowing that you're surrounded by others who are just as Disney crazy as you! <br />
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I wasn't planning on running the 5K on this trip, but once my cousin signed up, I knew I would be there anyway to cheer her on, so I thought I might as well join in on the fun. For this race, I was dressed up like Ariel from <i>The Little Mermaid</i> in the "Kiss the Girl" scene and Ann was Rapunzel.<br />
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(We were dressed in our princess-y best)</div>
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(A great start to Princess Weekend)</div>
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We were about to grab coffee from the concession stand when we noticed that the characters had come out. We immediately hopped in line to take our picture with Sebastian!</div>
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Before long, it was time to say goodbye to each other and head to our corrals. Luckily, I was in "A" corral for this race, so I was able to get up close to the start line.</div>
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(I love that Ariel was the focus princess for this race!)</div>
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Before long, it was time for the race to begin. My foot and knee were bothering me a few days before the races, so I had no idea what kind of pace I would be running, so I decided to run whatever was comfortable for me and to stop for characters if I felt so inclined. I was able to stop for lots of character pictures!</div>
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(Please ignore the crazy eyes, it was super early in the morning!)</div>
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(Vacation Genie was at all 3 races)</div>
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I ended up making great time with minimal knee time. Even though the race wasn't timed, I was still pleased with my time, even with the character stops! My family who came to cheer us on told me that I finished in the top 10 women!</div>
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(My mom and I while we waited for Ann)</div>
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Ann did great as well, and now she has the runDisney bug too! </div>
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After the race, we were off to Disney's Hollywood Studios for the day!</div>
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(Some bling to wear around the park)</div>
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KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-21195949520869276872016-03-07T07:47:00.000-08:002016-03-07T07:47:55.754-08:00RunDisney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend Recap -Part 1: The Arrival and the ExpoOn Thursday, with all my bags packed and ready to go I sat watching the clock waiting for 11:30AM to roll around so I could head to the airport and begin vacation! My aunt and cousins arrived on Wednesday night and were heading to the expo that afternoon. I was worried they would get caught in the melee I kept hearing about on Facebook. I heard lots of horror stories about long lines and mobs of people slamming the runDisney official merchandise booths.<br />
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I had worries of my own... was I going to be able to make it to the expo on time?! My flight landed at 5:00PM and I need to meet up with my mom in the airport, make our way on the magical express to Port Orleans: French Quarter, get an expo bus, and pick up our packets and shirts all before the expo closed at 8:00PM.<br />
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Luckily, both of our flights landed half an hour early and we were quickly able to catch a magical express bus!<br />
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(On our way to Port Orleans)</div>
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Once we got off the bus, we didn't even check into the hotel. We just headed to where the expo buses were picking up people. One of my favorite perks of the Magical Express is that you don't have to worry about your checked luggage. We hadn't even waited five minutes and we were on our way to the expo. We had a plan: divide and conquer and meet at the official merchandise booth.</div>
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I had to pick up my 5K bib and shirt as well as all the stuff that comes with the Glass Slipper Challenge. This was my first challenge weekend so I was pleasantly surprised that all your Glass Slipper shirts come in one bag together. I thought that was super awesome customer service. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the lines at the expo were almost non-existent and most of the official merchandise was still in stock. I was able to score the glass slipper challenge "I Did It!" shirt, the "Powered by Disney Magic" Princess Half Marathon shirt, the 10K "I Did It!" shirt for my mom, a glass slipper challenge sweaty band and the coffee travel mug!</div>
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(My new favorite coffee mug)</div>
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After the expo, we headed back to French Quarter and finally checked into our room. I had faxed over the room request and had participated in online check-in so I was pleasantly surprised to find we were super close to the food court and the bus stop!</div>
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(Also that Mousekeeping had been there)</div>
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We headed to the food court and met up with my aunt and cousins and I finally got to try the beignets that are on the Disney food crawl. They were amazing!!!!</div>
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Finally, it was off to bed. We had an early wake up call for the Princess 5K in the morning!</div>
KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-29444278183429261182015-03-25T17:36:00.000-07:002015-03-25T17:36:33.269-07:00My thoughts on the runDisney Registration MadnessAfter the intense registration process that was Wine and Dine last week, I've taken a week to process and think about it. Particularly, the reaction on Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media regarding the event.<br />
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First, let me say that I was one of the lucky ones. Not only was I able to secure registration for runDisney's Wine and Dine Half Marathon for the third year in a row, my mom, my dad, and I were all able to get registrations for the Jingle Jungle 5k (the first time running this event for all of us!). We were all working on separate computers and entered the queue right at noon. Each one of us had to wait anywhere from 7-12 minutes to complete our registrations. My mom got through for the 5K first, then I got into the half. I quickly also registered for the 5K and finally my dad got into the 5K as well. It took us all about 15 minutes to all complete our registration processes. I was flabbergasted when the registration filled up in a little over half an hour. I thought my insistence that we all register at noon was my own special brand of runDisney crazy. Nope!<br />
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The start line of the Wine and Dine Half Marathon last year</div>
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Having participated in runDisney the past couple of years, it definitely is true that "every mile is magic." One of the most special aspects of runDisney is all of the other participants. runDisney events are possibly the most beginner friendly races I have ever seen. runDisney is often the motivation for people to take up running and feel that sense of accomplishment crossing the finish line. Last year, I had to line up in my corral by myself. I was immediately making new friends and talking to other runners. It is just an awesome experience.</div>
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Which is why it's so sad to hear all the negative things people have to say on social media. Yes. The registration process was STRESSFUL. Yes, it's awful to only have some family members get in. Yes, it's awful to be shut out entirely. I also recognize that I'm writing from the place of all of us getting into our desired races. HOWEVER...</div>
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runDisney is supposed to be fun. It is not a place to complain about others. So what if people walk the races. So what if people run the whole way. I've seen so much complaining from front of the packers about back of the packers and the same from the other way around. First of all, we should be encouraging everyone to get fit and healthy, and if runDisney is the thing that does it, that's fantastic! Second, I really feel if you are running a Disney race for time, you're missing out on the fun. I worked very hard last year for a good proof of time to end up in Corral A, just for the sake of better pictures (foiled of course by Splash 'n' Dash). Finally, I've heard people complain about people that get swept. ANYTHING can happen during the training for a race or during the race itself. You have to respect the distance. How about we show a little compassion and a little kindness to others? Just some food for thought.</div>
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Here's some FUN pictures from the past couple of years (last year's recap will be up soon...or at least before this year's Wine and Dine) :)</div>
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My dad and I during the Animal Kingdom portion of Wine and Dine in 2013</div>
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Hanging out with Buzz & Woody in the Studios (and happy to get out of the rain) at Splash N Dash 2014</div>
<br />KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-44464357804867775872015-03-17T10:03:00.001-07:002015-03-17T10:07:44.286-07:00Wine and Dine 2015 -And Here We Go Again!It's official. Lots of stress later, and some yelling at the computer, but I'm IN for Wine and Dine 2015. For the first time ever, I'm also running the Jingle Jungle 5k with my parents!<br />
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Yup, mom and dad are also in! Both races sold out in about 35 minutes, which is the fastest I've ever seen. I remember 2 years ago, my dad and I registered at the end of April for Wine and Dine. I don't think we'll ever see those days again.<br />
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233 days isn't too soon to start planning right?KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-18345564297688013372015-01-28T12:08:00.000-08:002015-01-28T12:08:10.547-08:00A New Love for the 'MillI have never really been a fan of treadmill running. Part of the joy of running is being outside and taking in my surroundings and actually, you know, going places. I never much understood the point of running in place for miles. I've always been a winter warrior, running outside in all temperatures and weather. I've run in 100 degree summers and run during the polar vortex last year, when I had icicles form on my eyelashes. <br />
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While, I still prefer to run outside for all the reasons I just mentioned, I am discovering a new found love of the treadmill. I recently joined a gym and for the first time in ages, I have access to a treadmill for the coldest and snowiest of days (and in Rochester, that can be pretty cold and snowy). I can't believe the difference that it makes. I find myself enjoying my runs inside on the treadmill. It's not hard to enjoy <b><u>not</u></b> running in below zero temperatures.<br />
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What changed? I think it's the ability to have extreme control over my workout. If I want to run hills, I can. If I want to run reverse splits I can. If I want to listen to music <b>and</b> watch the food network on mute while I run, I can. It's making for a nice change.<br />
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While I think I will always prefer the pure joy of a 10 miler outside, I'm no longer as anti-mill as I have been. ...Not falling on the ice is also a nice bonus :) KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-9435831474715982862015-01-20T18:25:00.000-08:002015-03-25T17:40:37.990-07:00Splash N Dash Racecation at Walt Disney World -Day 1 (Animal Kingdom)Let me start by saying I have total race envy right now of everyone who got to complete the Dopey Challenge at WDW Marathon Weekend (or any of the races really) or the Rebel Challenge at Disneyland. Both of those challenges are on my runDisney bucket list. Seriously though, congratulations to all those who completed them.<br />
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In order to make me feel less FOMO about not being at the events these past two weekends, it's finally time for some more Splash N Dash Recap. I left off after the expo.<br />
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After the Expo, Andrew and I returned to our room at Saratoga Springs and dropped off our race stuff. I also had to grab my Donald Mickey ears for our afternoon in Disney's Animal Kingdom. I definitely wish I had more pictures for this one.<br />
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Since we had to wait forever for a bus back to Saratoga (seriously, every other hotel had 2 buses show up before ours did), I had to push back our Fastpass+ for Kilamanjaro Safaris. Fortunately, I was able to do so and before long we were off on our first attraction in Disney World.<br />
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Confession: I have never been a <b>huge</b> fan of the safari. I love animals, but I don't often get to spot them. This time however, one of the giraffes must have known it was half marathon weekend because he was running all over the place! This picture is him stopping for a snack:<br />
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We were starving after our safari ended, but our Expedition Everest window was about to open. We headed over to Asia and rode Everest. Disco Yeti was actually working! I don't think I've ever been on the ride when the audio anamatronic was working but it is truly wonderful. The stand by wait was only 10 minutes at that time, so we obviously rode again.<br />
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We finally had time to stop to eat before our next Fastpass+ at Dinosaur (but really, Countdown to Extinction). Andrew got his lunch at Flame Tree BBQ, however they don't have any vegetarian options on the menu, so I was out of luck. Luckily, I was able to get a quick-service veggie burger not too far away. It was spicy, but pretty tasty.<br />
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After lunch, we still had about fifteen minutes before our Fastpass+ window opened. Who do we see walking by, but Safari Donald. Donald is both mine and Andrew's favorite character so we obviously had to stop for a picture:<br />
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Donald Duck is #1! (He was also a big fan of my ears)</div>
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After riding Dinosaur, which is actually one of my favorite attractions, we had one final stop to make... I had to meet Dug!</div>
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I absolutely LOVE <i>Up</i>. And I wore my "Adventure is out there shirt for this occasion!<br />
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I really enjoy Animal Kingdom...but it was time to park hop to Epcot!<br />
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<br />KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-60903247250499190112015-01-15T10:04:00.001-08:002015-01-15T10:04:33.215-08:00NYC Marathon LotteryI know everyone is buzzing with the excitement of runDisney's marathon weekend this past weekend and Star Wars this upcoming weekend! I've been following everyone's blogs and Instagrams and Facebook updates with jealousy! The Dopey Challenge has been number 1 on my running bucket list from the moment it was announced.<br />
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However, number 2 on that running bucket list is the NYC marathon. My dad, uncle, and cousin have all completed the NYC marathon and I want to join in the family tradition! The lottery to get in opened at noon today and I signed up immediately. Now it's wait and see! March 3 cannot get here soon enough.<br />
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Fingers crossed for all who wish to get in!<br />
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Interested? Here's the link to the website: <a href="http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/" target="_blank">http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/</a>KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-7994656572018230452014-12-10T16:16:00.000-08:002014-12-10T16:16:32.422-08:00Wine & Dine Half Marathon (Splash & Dash) 2014 -The ExpoLife has been absolutely nuts with the holidays sneaking up on me so quickly and getting out of my routine. Things are finally calming down, just in time for Christmas to make everything busy again!<br />
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About a month ago I ran rundisney's Wine and DIne Half Marathon which has been renamed the "Splash and Dash" half marathon. I'll recap that race soon, but I'll start at the beginning with this post...the EXPO!<br />
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It was so much fun to spend this weekend with my BFF from college, Andrew. About a year ago, I convinced him that running a half marathon was an excellent idea and that we should go to Disney to do it. Luckily for me he agreed, and we spent the better part of the last year texting each other (we live 11 hours apart) conversations like this:<br />
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K: Remember that time we're going to Disney World?<br />
A: I know!!!<br />
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I arrived in Orlando late Thursday night and then eagerly and impatiently waited for Andrew's flight to arrive. Finally, I saw him heading toward the Magical Express terminal, our designated meeting place!<br />
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Soon we were on our way to Saratoga Springs. Andrew is DVC so we booked through his membership, and Saratoga was a host resort. Having run this race last year, that was a relief for me.<br />
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After getting lost in the dark trying to find the room, we finally arrived. One of my favorite touches is the mouse ears left by Mousekeeping! <br />
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Having never stayed at Saratoga Springs before, I took pictures of everything, including the room number!<br />
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We were in the Carousel building.</div>
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Such a pretty resort, just after sunrise.</div>
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We planned to get to the expo as soon as it opened at 10:00AM on Friday. I absolutely require breakfast in the morning and I was so excited for some Mickey waffles. I loved that there were three small waffles rather than one big one, everyone knows the ears are the best part!</div>
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Everything tastes better when shaped like Mickey, am I right?</div>
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After breakfast, we headed over to the bus stop and waited in the first line of our trip:</div>
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Race weekend transportation is the number one reason to stay at a host resort.</div>
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Before long, we were on our way to the expo. Once the bus arrived, the line moved rather quickly and we arrived at Wide World of Sports just before the expo opened.</div>
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One thing to know about the Wine & Dine Expo is that packet pick up is in a separate location from shirt pick up, vendors and the rest of the expo. While it initially sounds like a pain, it really helps to dissipate some of the crowding. We headed to packet pick up first. I didn't have much of a line to pick up my packet:</div>
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I'm still so proud of myself for being in Corral A!</div>
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I was very excited for the countdown...Andrew, not so much!</div>
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When we headed to the shirt pick up location, I was surprised that it wasn't that crowded. Bonus points for having women's sizes this year...my shirt actually fits me! It was then that I realized where all the crowds were: at the official merchandise booth! What a zoo! I fought through the crowds and decided to tempt fate by buying the I Did It! shirt. Yes, I was one of those souls that bought the shirt with the backwards arrows...not going to lie, it makes me love it that much more!</div>
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Finally we left the expo because we had Fastpass reservations at Disney's Animal Kingdom to be getting to. But not before taking a quick picture:</div>
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I loved these backdrops! Thanks for taking the picture kind stranger!</div>
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If you're here, thanks for reading this long post! More recaps of this trip will be coming your way soon!</div>
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KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-21566566462220918512014-11-11T04:50:00.001-08:002014-11-11T04:50:40.674-08:00Home AgainI got home late last night from a whirlwind trip to Walt Disney World for the Wine & Dine Half Marathon. Updates are to come, but for now:<br />
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* I did it!<br />
* Andrew did it!<br />
* It was a blast!KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-56826215946569289182014-11-05T05:28:00.000-08:002014-11-05T05:28:26.519-08:00Wine & Dine Packing ListTomorrow, I'm Disney bound! I have to confess, I've been thinking about packing for this race for weeks. I'm definitely an over-packer and I like to be prepared for all eventualities. For most vacations, that can be unnecessary. However, for a "race-cation" it's best to be prepared. Here's my packing list.<br />
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<u>Wearing on the plane:</u><br />
* running sneakers<br />
* Garmin<br />
* baseball hat<br />
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<u>Running Gear for the Race:</u><u> </u><br />
* socks<br />
* extra set of sneakers<br />
* sports bras<br />
* shorts<br />
* capris<br />
* running shirt<br />
* sweatyband (minnie themed, of course)<br />
* sweat armband<br />
* throwaway clothes<br />
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<u>4 Days in the Parks</u><br />
* socks<br />
* swimsuit<br />
* pj bottoms and t shirt<br />
* easy run clothes<br />
* disney t shirts (3)<br />
* disney sweater<br />
* last years W&D shirt and hoodie<br />
* yoga pants<br />
* jeans<br />
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<u>Other</u><br />
* ponchos<br />
* safety pins (usually provided, but I like to be prepared)<br />
* watch charger<br />
* phone charger<br />
* race waivers<br />
* expo coupons<br />
* cereal<br />
* ID/travel documents<br />
* Magic Express ticket<br />
* Magicband<br />
* Cash<br />
* wallet<br />
* vera clutch<br />
* string backpack<br />
* sunglasses<br />
* mousse, lotion, hairspray<br />
* hair ties & clips<br />
* deoderant<br />
* toothbrush/paste<br />
* CHI<br />
* makeup<br />
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Am I forgetting anything? What do you pack for a night race?KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-78164129584679754972014-11-02T15:55:00.000-08:002014-11-02T15:55:15.523-08:00Last Week Before Wine & DineI can't believe it's less than one week until RunDisney's 2014 Wine and Dine Half Marathon at the Walt Disney World Resort! I'm so excited and time is moving at a <i>glacial pace.</i><br />
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However, all this nervous energy was great for my running and I had a strong week:<br />
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Monday: 3.22 Miles (9:23 pace)<br />
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Tuesday: 9.6 Miles (8:40 pace)<br />
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Wednesday: 7.24 Miles (8:40 pace)<br />
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Thursday: 1.1 Miles (9:35 pace)<br />
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Friday: 10.14 Miles (8:52 pace)<br />
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Saturday: 7.11 Miles (9:23 pace)<br />
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Sunday: 9.23 Miles (8:37 pace)<br />
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Total Weekly Mileage: 47.5 Miles<br />
Run Streak: 188<br />
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(I'm clearly very excited about 4 days until Orlando)</div>
KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-60924452614182172832014-11-01T14:37:00.000-07:002015-03-25T17:44:55.427-07:00My First Trip to Walt Disney WorldAs I keep counting down the days to my next trip to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida (5 days!), I decided to look for some pictures from prior trips.<br />
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I'm pretty sure my first trip to Disney World was in 1991. I don't remember much of it, as I was a toddler at the time, but the pictures are classic.<br />
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(I'm pretty sure this picture was taken on Main Street U.S.A.)</div>
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This was the legendary Disney trip that had to be cut short because the last night of our stay, I broke out in chicken pox. Apparently, most of my pre-school got it at the same time I did, but we had no way of knowing that. I wonder how many kids got the chicken pox because of interactions like this:</div>
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(This was taken in MGM Studios)</div>
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It was also the first family experience with the Prime Time Cafe. We would later dine there on two subsequent trips:</div>
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(I clearly do not like being told to eat my vegetables)</div>
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My parents still tell the story about driving 22 hours straight home when they discovered I had the chicken pox. I think this is where the family vacation curse started. On almost every family vacation, someone gets sick or injured. We've survived poison ivy, stomachaches, and hives. This was the only time I was the dark cloud ---but it's where it all started.</div>
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<br />KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-56129470071148747032014-10-26T14:44:00.002-07:002014-10-26T14:44:54.234-07:00Back to Back Double DigitsI can't believe that I am less that two weeks away from RunDisney's Wine and Dine Half Marathon at the Walt Disney World Resort. I'm officially 11 days away from boarding an Orlando-bound plane and time is moving like molasses. I just want the weekend to get here already!<br />
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I've been on call this week for work so getting runs in has required a lot of planning and some very early morning runs. Normally, I'm not a fan of "fall back" time because of how early it gets dark. However, a sunrise around 7:30AM is equally depressing. I might be in the minority here, but can I have summer back now, please?<br />
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My challenge this weekend was back to back double digit running days. At this point, I'm not <i>especially</i> worried about finishing 13.1 (although on race day ANYTHING can happen and you have to respect the distance). My big concern is being able to enjoy the after party at the Food and Wine Festival with minimal pain and soreness. I'm pushing my training beyond what I would normally train for a half marathon with this in mind. In order to mimic fatigue and soreness that I might feel in the last few miles of the race and after the race at the party and touring the parks, I decided to attempt back to backs. Back to backs can be a great training tool as long as you are conscious of how your body is responding and don't push your pace too hard.<br />
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I'm glad to say I felt great running on both days. I think I can categorically say that I am ready for Wine and Dine. BONUS: My running streak surpassed the 180 mark this weekend. Today was day 181 in a row that I have run at least a mile. I think I'm definitely going to run in Disney before and after the race so I can make it to 200!!!<br />
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<u>The Week in Review:</u><br />
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Monday: 2.4 miles (9:38 pace)<br />
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Tuesday: 5.5 miles (9:02 pace)<br />
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Wednesday: 2.5 miles (9:29 pace)<br />
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Thursday: 8.3 miles (9:00 pace)<br />
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Friday: 5.4 miles (9:02 pace)<br />
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Saturday: 10.2 miles (9:05 pace)<br />
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Sunday: 10.6 miles (8:58 pace)<br />
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Weekly Total: 44.9 miles KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-20591660673407614482014-10-18T18:55:00.001-07:002014-10-18T18:55:58.620-07:00Wine & Dine Tune UpThis morning I was able to participate in the inaugural Finish Strong 15k.<br />
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The plan was to treat it like a low-key tune up before RunDisney's Wine & Dine Half Marathon. I hoped to run somewhere between 8:00 and 8:30 splits and take my time. Of course, by the time the race starts,<i> I can get a little competitive</i>. Judging from my watch, that's exactly what happened:<br />
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The race itself was definitely a challenge. Rochester is pretty hilly and this course definitely had enough hills to be getting on with. Normally, hills don't throw me. However, when the hills are combined with some rain and the first truly chilly day of the year, and a not insignificant headwind, it becomes quite an adventure. It was definitely a race I had to power through. I ran strong and finished strong as well:<br />
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Me after the finish!</div>
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After bundling up to stay warm, I waited for the race results to be posted. I was surprised to see that I finished first in my age group. I even got a medal:</div>
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I'm going to go ahead and call it a GREAT tune-up race. 19 days until I'm bound for Walt Disney World!</div>
KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-83763516794818294272014-10-10T10:28:00.002-07:002014-10-10T10:28:39.269-07:00Wine and Dine Corral Assignments ReleasedWhen I ran last year's Wine and Dine half marathon with my dad I was stoked to discover that my first half marathon time had placed me into Corral B. I didn't end up running out of this corral, instead choosing to run with my dad, but it was exciting to know that I could have been in that corral. It was exciting UNTIL I discovered that I had <i>just</i> missed the cutoff for getting into Corral A. <br />
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Since then, I have been working very hard to have a faster half marathon time, not just for the new PR satisfaction but also to get into the elusive A Corral. This July, I ran the Shoreline Multisport Festival Half Marathon with the goal of getting a time to submit. I'm so happy I did because the 1:41:39 I turned in gave me my Corral A ticket.<br />
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When the Corral information was released and I realized I got into Corral A, I practically skipped around my office. I was so happy!!! <br />
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Now it's just time to count down the days. 27 days until I'm on my way to Walt Disney World for the 2014 RunDisney Wine and Dine half marathon!<br />
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You can check your corral placement here: <a href="http://as1.wdpromedia.com/media/rundisney/pdf/wine-dine/2014/2014CorralAssignmentsHalfMarathon-2.pdf" target="_blank">Wine and Dine 2014 Corrals</a>KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-66373648563101071172014-10-07T12:15:00.000-07:002014-10-07T12:15:36.005-07:00Wine & Dine 2014 -Event Guide ReleasedIn less than one month, I will be on my way to Walt Disney World for the 2014 Wine & Dine Half Marathon. Now that the countdown clock is showing a lower number, I can't even begin to say how excited I am. The trip comes at the end of my busiest week of the semester at work, and I'll definitely be ready for this mini-cation. <br />
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I've been counting the days since the countdown number was in the triple digits, and when the number got to 30 today, I was so excited (I'm obviously counting down the days until I enter the world, not the race). I was even more excited to see that the event guide was released!!!<br />
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You can find it here: <a href="http://as1.wdpromedia.com/media/rundisney/pdf/wine-dine/2014/W&D14_Program_Print.pdf" target="_blank">2014 Wine and Dine Event Guide</a><br />
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I already have read the whole guide *almost* cover to cover and will likely do so many more times before the race on November 8. I'm an obsessive planner, so I like to have all the information at my fingertips. <br />
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One thing I did notice was that the expo started at 10:00AM on Friday. For some reason I was working under the assumption that it started at 9:00AM. I was worried about the Fastpass reservations I had previously made. But even with transportation to and from the expo, hopefully we can make it to Animal Kingdom by 12:05 for our 11:05-12:05 Kilimanjaro Safaris fastpass!!! Honestly, as long as I get to ride Everest and Dinosaur, I'm happy!<br />
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What are your must do attractions in Disney's Animal Kingdom? KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-13505646358124784442014-09-22T18:27:00.001-07:002014-10-07T12:24:51.938-07:00MVP Health Care Rochester MarathonI did it!!!! I completed the MVP Health Care Rochester Marathon yesterday with a PR time of 3:41:39!<br />
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There was a lot to like about this race and I always enjoy running in familiar places. I'll share my pros and cons later this week.<br />
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The weather called for a 70% chance of rain so I made a game-time decision and decided to race in a baseball cap. Normally, I don't really like running wearing hats, but I hate having rain beat down on my face more. It was the lesser of the proverbial two evils. This is a hat i got back in 2009 at the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City.<br />
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One of my favorite things about running locally is knowing exactly where I'm going. My parents who were staying at a hotel in a neighboring town (there's just not enough room at my place) picked me up around 6:15 in the morning. At that point, I had already been awake for two hours. I woke up early to have my normal breakfast of cereal before the race.<br />
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Before I knew it, I was standing at the start line:<br />
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The race had about 600 runners, so no corrals for us. Everyone starts at the same time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyqR5DdKWPDSBeG54xwXS6Lx9yb5YIYhuSxTFRsLmujhTxyLAlq-u_tP9Ln_1PbA8zDzjAbA9DAM7lRIonKx5E4-JAaraEdSB4I076RJfNxmiaJbm6Vm2w_wKZeCt01nt8I8ayXmOoVs/s1600/2014092204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyqR5DdKWPDSBeG54xwXS6Lx9yb5YIYhuSxTFRsLmujhTxyLAlq-u_tP9Ln_1PbA8zDzjAbA9DAM7lRIonKx5E4-JAaraEdSB4I076RJfNxmiaJbm6Vm2w_wKZeCt01nt8I8ayXmOoVs/s1600/2014092204.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I situated myself between the 3:45 and 4:00 pace groups, thinking that with my current training, that would be what I was running. In front of me was one of my favorite race shirts I've ever seen at a distance event:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoihh5_SUI7pXhp4XCKllEGsWF28kl5dcQLds-V3aWQbNSFGDtNQvLNT_O0-UTATxl-u_O7KbzXk9QATLEKP8DF5sG7lRfwPUn6SrfDs21pTFpLDPB7NmCwReUbxv5NsgbfT1NoxGd63M/s1600/2014092203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoihh5_SUI7pXhp4XCKllEGsWF28kl5dcQLds-V3aWQbNSFGDtNQvLNT_O0-UTATxl-u_O7KbzXk9QATLEKP8DF5sG7lRfwPUn6SrfDs21pTFpLDPB7NmCwReUbxv5NsgbfT1NoxGd63M/s1600/2014092203.jpg" height="320" width="240" /> </a></div>
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(And yes, I totally creeped and took this picture)</div>
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Before I knew it, we were off on our 26.2 mile journey through the city and neighboring suburbs of Rochester. We took off around two quick turns in the city and then began to run on East Avenue. This was when I realized that my legs were feeling better than I anticipated and I picked up the pace. I was able to see my friend Brittany at mile 3. It's awesome when your friends cheer you on. It makes the race so much better (and always makes me a little misty).</div>
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A little after mile 6, we approached Fisher and I was able to see two more of my friends Amanda and Kara cheering me on. It was much needed after running up the huge hill approaching campus! </div>
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We ran over rolling hills on East avenue until about mile nine where we turned onto the Erie Canal pathway in Fairport. We would be on the canal for the next twelve miles or so. This was the worst part of the course. I am definitely a city runner and having nothing to look at or have cheer-ers for 12 miles was hard. What made it worse was the very visible quickly approaching dark cloud. We could see the storm coming and there was nothing we could do except run into the darkness.</div>
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And rain it did. I was glad I made the hat decision. In retrospect, it would have been nice to have had a spare pair of socks. Running with soaking wet socks and shoes was not the best situation for my feet and miles 14-15 were a bit of a struggle.</div>
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I broke through that wall and kept going. I didn't end up hitting another wall until mile 21ish. It was at this point that I decided to walk through the few and far between aid stations (more on that in a later post). Even so, I knew I was making good time and tried to pick it up for the finish. Around mile 25, I discovered a burst of energy that I wasn't expecting and I powered through to the finish. Seeing Brittany and my parents cheering for me helped a lot too. And I finished with a PR time! I'm slowly chipping away at a BQ. Maybe next year...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCmZ31l_RVEBBO5_2GF6tTCF4vlmOddUAsStWQWYhXL9CLY6FNU0ozJcaGwPFmxQJFaaFR7FYsiU7GOXc3fn8sPw-pGDcba9HFFtgQE6Z6k2_Ry6AdlRE-9gULqN_82Xrraij7shdS2A/s1600/2014092205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCmZ31l_RVEBBO5_2GF6tTCF4vlmOddUAsStWQWYhXL9CLY6FNU0ozJcaGwPFmxQJFaaFR7FYsiU7GOXc3fn8sPw-pGDcba9HFFtgQE6Z6k2_Ry6AdlRE-9gULqN_82Xrraij7shdS2A/s1600/2014092205.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Here's me at the finish!!!</div>
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Now I'm officially letting myself count down to my next event: the 2014 Wine & Dine Half Marathon at Walt Disney World!</div>
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<br />KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-74447330092036387912014-09-20T19:34:00.001-07:002014-10-07T12:24:31.492-07:00Twas the night before the marathon....I can't believe tomorrow is marathon Sunday. It crept up so fast!<br />
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Today I went for a quick 1.5 mile run just to get the nerves out and keep up the run streak (day 145). I had my normal breakfast and spent the morning compulsively cleaning.<br />
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My parents arrived this afternoon. It's so nice to have them cheering for me at the start and finish of these major races that I do. And you can't beat having your family to care for you when you're all finished! We went to the expo which was...underwhelming.<br />
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<b>The Expo:</b><br />
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The expo was held at a different location this year. Fleet feet is the new owner of the MVP Health Care Rochester marathon. I'm really excited to see what they do with it in the coming years. I was hoping to see new vendors...or at least more of them. Maybe next year.<br />
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The race shirt was pretty cool though:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA1OcWBrxtO4qvDcJj3n5TjfV2WGnA0MCLM3e1yFmP1rZIpRYyL1I7N8ljel-g6APmcpyoAbuW8alPhVbgv1V18itThNcswhkdSrv-szXKeAPPbGNfKGkCMteLae6PwUAPcstMCuBlK8/s1600/Rocmarathonraceshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA1OcWBrxtO4qvDcJj3n5TjfV2WGnA0MCLM3e1yFmP1rZIpRYyL1I7N8ljel-g6APmcpyoAbuW8alPhVbgv1V18itThNcswhkdSrv-szXKeAPPbGNfKGkCMteLae6PwUAPcstMCuBlK8/s1600/Rocmarathonraceshirt.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Bonus points for having a women's extra small that actually will fit me :)<br />
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<b>Pre-Race Fuel:</b><br />
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I try and stick to the tried and true when it comes to a race morning. Most runners believe in the power of pasta, but that's not me. My pre-race meal is a veggie burger and sweet potato fries. Today, we went to Hogan's Hideaway, one of my favorite places in Rochester for dinner and it was absolutely delicious. We followed dinner up with ice cream at Pittsford dairy (which might not be the best pre-race food, but oh well)<br />
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<b>Race Outfit:</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHga27QE87fG6L6CZIPHhuWXSe4Abfc_029DnGlgXzKApIAzfeVFPvmaFZrlM5wfCGQziSVBzeREw8JnluO7Rym-pAhOTguZ-LwsDs6FOMf3qrWw8gUTnqIGSuW7I5Bel4xJBAk9Rszw/s1600/ROCmarathonraceoutfit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHga27QE87fG6L6CZIPHhuWXSe4Abfc_029DnGlgXzKApIAzfeVFPvmaFZrlM5wfCGQziSVBzeREw8JnluO7Rym-pAhOTguZ-LwsDs6FOMf3qrWw8gUTnqIGSuW7I5Bel4xJBAk9Rszw/s1600/ROCmarathonraceoutfit.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
I'll be running in an under armor heat gear fitted tee with nike capris. I'll also be wearing my women run the roc sweaty band, pending weather. With a 50% chance of rain tomorrow, I may have to switch to a baseball cap :(<br />
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<br />KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-20327391488719820212014-09-19T19:57:00.001-07:002014-10-07T12:23:06.586-07:00Friday FuelToday after work I ran a quick 1.4 miles. Normally the taper stresses me out more than the training or the race. However, this time around, I'm pretty zen. Even so, going out for a one-ish mile run still feels unnatural. I'm hoping all this taper pays off on Sunday!<br />
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I really struggle to fuel for long races, marathons in particular. I struggle to drink enough before and during a run and I have a hard time digesting fancy race gus and chomps. What works for me is something simple: Gummi Bears. I take a ziplock with me on my runs and fuel with a couple every couple of miles.<br />
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The last time I ran a marathon, the aftermath was not pretty. It was one of the sickest I've ever felt in my life. But...you live and you learn. And I've found I need to get sugars back into my system as soon as possible. My post-race food, especially when I don't feel well enough to eat anything is popsicles.<br />
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Tonight, I took a quick road trip to Wegman's and picked up the last of my pre-race supplies:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOmQa4xpvK3VVsU0Smfi3FCBn7ZPQTgiuGdnG3jukfHE8S7_AgR1M7KoTNvac24SSfINEC7YrtwYF7IeR9VcjAJ3LwF8zWcLN4a2g308np3tnkr9Ydkj2ocEb9kBJ-Ym98TyDK1xHks8/s1600/marathonfuel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOmQa4xpvK3VVsU0Smfi3FCBn7ZPQTgiuGdnG3jukfHE8S7_AgR1M7KoTNvac24SSfINEC7YrtwYF7IeR9VcjAJ3LwF8zWcLN4a2g308np3tnkr9Ydkj2ocEb9kBJ-Ym98TyDK1xHks8/s1600/marathonfuel.jpg" height="320" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Tomorrow, my family comes to town and I get to pick up my packet at the expo! </div>
<br />KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-58808967695040853572014-09-18T06:11:00.000-07:002014-09-18T06:11:22.634-07:00Throwback ThursdayI was able to get 2.4 miles in before the sun came up this morning. It's been my first morning run in a while and I couldn't believe how I could see my breath. I know it's Rochester, famous for its lake effect snow, but it's also <u>SEPTEMBER!</u> I felt good through the whole run, but the taper is <i>finally </i>making me twitchy. I just want to get to marathon day and be done with my 26.2.<br />
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In honor of throwback Thursday:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BE-ZO_idQssQTp-a608G530sGcrt9VBo8CG8vWOBVOUH-g-Di4wkcBHj-MD_iYT0zhhVqAanYjjYoxnni8XaeFaApNClt_hBuNjVnmGM2SJc-Po7XUqEGNLUO8KE-kZhIEa_0DY0Vk0/s1600/rochester+half.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BE-ZO_idQssQTp-a608G530sGcrt9VBo8CG8vWOBVOUH-g-Di4wkcBHj-MD_iYT0zhhVqAanYjjYoxnni8XaeFaApNClt_hBuNjVnmGM2SJc-Po7XUqEGNLUO8KE-kZhIEa_0DY0Vk0/s1600/rochester+half.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Here is me finishing the MVP healthcare Rochester half, last year. I felt great the whole race and set a (at that time) PR. And yes, it was cold, although I probably could have done without the fleece headband. I just hate being cold at the start of a race. You can also tell I was feeling really good at the finish because that's COFFEE in my hand...not typically what you'd find a runner drinking after a race, but oh well.<br />
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If I can look and feel half this good after covering twice this distance on Sunday, I'll call it a win!<br />
<br />KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776446911588749486.post-29633803487634417542014-09-16T17:29:00.001-07:002014-10-07T12:22:24.431-07:00Rochester Marathon Countdown: 5 Days to goI can't believe the countdown stands at <b>5 DAYS</b> until my 2nd marathon, the MVP Health Care Rochester Half Marathon. I have run the half marathon coupled with this event the last two years...but this is my first year taking the plunge and running the full.<br />
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Today was my last tempo run before the big day on Sunday. 4.6 miles at an 8:57/mi pace. Happy final taper week to me.<br />
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For tune in Tuesday, it was this gem that powered my run today:<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fraSpHcKrk" target="_blank">AJR -I'm Ready</a><br />
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Ready or not...26.2 here I come! :)KellPowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04023512062273086808noreply@blogger.com0