Training Tuesday: Longest Run before the WDW Marathon

The final countdown has begun! We are less than 3 weeks away from the WDW Marathon weekend!

I will be attempting the full marathon and I say "attempting" because my training has been less than stellar and whether I'll finish it or not is up in the air. I've been battling hip pain and now what I'm assuming is ITBS. All from a lack of gradual consistent training.

But all hope is not lost! I've been doing a lot of stretching, strength training, and yoga during the week and running only once for my long run. On the long run, I take it slow and do 1/2 mile intervals for the first couple miles. My leg seems to do better when it gets a little warm up first. This weekend I completed my longest run- 17.8 miles (I was too hungry by the end to bother with that last .2) !

I took a new path today- this is the Bay Trail that runs along the inside of the SF Bay.

Motivation found along the way.

A bridge and a fluffy cat!

This was around mile 13. Definitely needed!

I did a double take reading the second sign. :)

All in all, it was a good run and I'm happy with it. I finished pain-free, aside from the usual soreness of a run of that distance. I taped my knee with KT tape and it really helped. With the pace I had for this long run, I know I could potentially walk the rest of it and still be within the time limit. That said, if my knee starts really hurting, I physically won't be able to walk another 8 miles. So until then, lots and lots of stretching!

Will you be at the WDW Marathon weekend? How is your training going?

Training Tuesday: Marathon on my Mind

Now that I've completed both the Wine & Dine half and the Avengers half, the next race on my schedule is the full marathon at WDW in January. And I just realized I have less than 5 weeks left until the big race.

WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?!??!

According to my training schedule, I should be up to 20 mile long run... That has not happened yet. At this point, I am genuinely concerned that I'll DNF the full. :/

Not prioritizing my training has really come back to bite me in the butt. Or rather my hip. It all started after I came home from Disneyland after running the Avengers Half. I woke up in the middle of the night with this intense burning pain in my hip. It radiated down my leg to my knee and even up to my shoulder. After writhing in pain for a couple hours, I finally took some Motrin and was able to sleep. 

I've had hip pain before, on the outside right near the joint, and it would flare up when I was running much more frequently. I'm guessing that running W&D and Avengers only a week apart with poor training beforehand, put too much stress and overuse on my hip. 

With the full marathon just around the corner, I've been trying to jump back on the training bandwagon. I did 9 miles the week after Avengers, but had to call it quits the following weekend after just 4 miles. 

A very wet and rainy 9 miles. Fitting since I wore my Wine & Dine shirt.

I did a little research and after a some self-diagnosis, I think I may have hip bursitis or hip tendonitis. I wouldn't be surprised by tendonitis since I also get it in my wrists from overuse. 

This past weekend I took a different approach to the long run. I started off at a slower pace and walked the moment my hip tightened up and started to hurt. About 3 miles in, I was able to run non-stop with no pain and I did a total of 11 miles! I know the 22 miler I have scheduled this weekend is out of the question; at this point I'm just going to go as far as I can and see what happens.

Views along the 11 mile run.

This isn't how I planned to prepare for the full and I'll be honest- I just didn't make the time to train for it. But I'm still going to go out there and do what I can.

Has your training every gone completely south? Were you able to get back on track?

A Thankful Update

Lots has been happening these past few weeks!

We found a new place (more on that later), Thanksgiving festivities came around, all our belongings from Texas got delivered from storage, and we got a new car! We've been in our new apartment for almost a week and I just finally got my computer hooked up to the wifi. That's how hectic it's been. But all in a good way. :)

My husband had an appointment in the town where we used to live, so I took the opportunity to visit near our old apartment. Such a beautiful place. Makes me miss it so much.

I got to enjoy my favorite meal of the year- Thanksgiving dinner!

Lots to be thankful for this year- finding a great apartment, being back "home" and closer to family, and so much more.

We got a new car! My husband had to get a new car for work and he decided on a Subaru. We're not total outdoorsy people, but it's good for trail running and trips to the snow.

And for hauling furniture home!

I've spent the last few days building furniture and unpacking. Hopefully I'll be done by the end of this week. But it feels great to settle down. And with all our belongings in one state! ;)

Port Orleans Riverside: Royal Room

During my trip to Walt Disney World, we stayed the first few nights at the Art of Animation resort, then a couple nights at Port Orleans Riverside. We opted for a Royal room and I am so glad we did. The room was beautiful! The perfect place to spend our last couple nights at WDW.

I can't get over how pretty the Port Orleans Riverside resort is!

Little touches of Mickey

Inside the room:

I seriously love how Disney puts curtains between the sink area and the sleeping area of the room. This came in handy so many times, whether it was one of us getting up earlier or the fact that it created three separate areas for us to get ready.

Genie!

The wall paper had a bunch of the sidekicks from the different princess movies.

Recognize this?

A welcome letter from Tiana

Look familiar? Do you know what movie this is from?

The headboard lights up with fireworks!

Hidden Mickey!

Various princess crowns

Another hidden Mickey!

View from just outside our room.

I'd like to add that I booked this room, as well as my Little Mermaid room at the Art of Animation resort through Disney travel agent and fellow running blogger, Meranda, from Fairytales and Fitness. I highly recommend her!

Have you stayed at Port Orleans Riverside before? Do you have a favorite resort that you recommend?

Art of Animation: Little Mermaid Room

On my first trip to Walt Disney World, I stayed a few nights at the Art of Animation resort in one of the Little Mermaid rooms.

The room was great and I loved all the little touches of detail. Only downside is that the resort itself is pretty large and it was a decent walk to get to the buses and main hotel area. Still, I'd stay here again!

Love the seagulls in the Nemo area of the resort.

Heading through the pride lands...

King Triton!

Inside the room:

Even the inside of the shower fits the theme!

I forgot to take a picture (photo from tripadvisor.com)

A few more photos from around the resort

Oh, Prince Eric! ;)

The bridge connecting Art of Animation to Pop Century

Beautiful view along the jogging path around the resort.

I'd like to add that I booked this room, as well as my Port Orleans Riverside Royal room through Disney travel agent and fellow running blogger, Meranda, from Fairytales and Fitness. I highly recommend her!

Have you stayed in a Little Mermaid room? Do you have a favorite resort at WDW?