Tag: runDisney

Running with Pluto – the 5km

Jess Guth5 Comments

Pluto 1So by now you will have read that I was not entirely honest about my marathon running story and have in fact completed the Dopey Challenge. Or at least I hope I have as I am writing this after the 5km race. I loved this run. I had more fun than I ever thought I would running. It was an early start. We left the hotel about 4.10am on a bus that took us to the starting area. It’s impossible to describe how huge the event is. Around 10000 runners were running today. The pictures I tried to take don’t really do it justice and the quality isn’t great because it was dark but floodlight lit. There may be some on the official photos and if there is I will share, or I may have more luck on one of the other days.

It was cold by Florida standards so once in the pre race area we wandered around a bit, ate our bananas, went to the loo, wandered a bit more and then it was time to move into the corals. We were in D for this race. On our way we went to the loo again. Any race organisers could learn a thing or two from Disney here: around 10000 runners and hardly any queues for toilets!

More standing around but bang on 6am coral A set off and about 25 minutes later we crossed the startline. I had said before we started that I would like to run the entire race so I could say that I ran a full Disney race! As we crossed the startline and plodded our way out of the Epcot parking lot and toward the park itself I wondered if it would be possible. I felt good, it wasn’t hot but the air is different, humidity I think, and even though it really isn’t that humid today I felt it. A tiny sliver of doubt crept in. Just for a second there was a really clear voice saying ‘you can’t do this’. Almost at the same time the running got easier, I’d settled into a rhythm and then suddenly we were at Mile 1 and shortly after we entered Epcot through a back lot. image

Running through Epcot today was like nothing I have ever experienced. I turned the corner into the park and was greated with ‘…I just can’t wait to be King…’. We sang along. We were running and singing! Next was the Mary Poppins song which we also sang along to and did a little silly dance and then we were back on Hakuna Matata and had ‘zoomed’ past Mile 2. I honestly loved every minute of that and I didn’t find it hard at all. I was just running steadily and happily along and I couldn’t stop grinning. Pluto 2I made a beeline for a couple of the official photographers striking silly poses as I ran past (who is this woman running in my kit and number?) and then we went past Mile 3, left Epcot through a back door, turned a corner and saw the finish line. We crossed it holding hands grinning more broadly than the Cheshire Cat.

We walked through the finish area, got our medal, runDisney goodie box, bananas and water and then made our way to the Runners World Challenge breakfast area where we had a little nibble of fruit and yoghurt before heading to the Garden Grill in Epcot to enjoy a proper sit down and breakfast. One of the characters at the Grill was Pluto so of course there had to be pictures.image

We spent the rest of the morning at Epcot but around lunchtime realised that we were walking a deceptive amount. It’s about 5pm now and I am on 20km according to my Fitbit! So we came back to the hotel to rest a bit before heading out again for the Pasta in the Park Part back at Epcot which also include viewing of illuminations. Taking it easy at Disney World is quite hard!

So 5km day has been fantastic. I never thought I would have this much fun running. Bring on the 10k!

The Dopiest thing I ever did do!

Jess Guth10 Comments

So I said I would always be honest about running on this blog but I have to come clean. I wasn’t entirely honest about our marathon efforts. We were actually training for the Rundisney Dopey Challenge.Toy story

The challenge includes a 5km, a 10km, a half marathon and a full marathon on 4 consecutive days. Back when we signed up we were so worried that we wouldn’t be able to get a marathon place because the sell out so fast that we took the opportunity to sign up through the Runners world challenge which was the Dopey. We initially thought we would just run the 5km and then the marathon but as training progressed the idea took hold.

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Well today we completed that challenge by running the marathon. I am a little sore and very tired so I will leave reflections on Dopey for tomorrow or another day but I did write a blog post each day after each race and I will post them here shortly. I apologise now for any dodgy spelling or formatting – I only have the iPad here. Completing the challenge is bloody huge. I couldn’t run 100metres 12 months ago and now

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So that’s it then

Jess Guth4 Comments

Training done. We went for our last training run earlier today. Just over 6 miles and then we walked the 3 miles ish back home after having coffee at the Bingley 5 Rise Locks Cafe with our friend.

I feel a bit lost. The next time I lace up those trainers I will be running Disney! I’ve got a couple of posts lined up for while I’m away  – a couple of review type posts – but the next time I blog and post immediately will be after the marathon on 10th January.

See you on the other side!

Happy New Year

Jess Guth2 Comments

I hope 2016 is a good year for you. I am looking forward to lots of running adventures, to headspace, to me time, to walks along the canal, to giggles and laughter, to cuddles with cats, to conversations, to smiles and hugs. But for now I am pre-occupied with the marathon – my first big adventure of 2016. What’s yours?

Keep calm run disney

There is still time to sponsor us and help us reach our target. Our justgiving page will stay open for a little while after the event, too.

The morning after a taper run

Jess Guth8 Comments

Paranoid much? Yep! It is the day after a 6 mile run and I’m a week and a half away from the Walt Disney World Marathon. Let’s just be clear, I am fine. I can’t feel any after effects from the run and yet with every step that isn’t 100% steady, with every little twist and every time I am aware of a muscle, part of me just freezes and goes ‘was that a tweak, is my hamstring tight, that wasn’t my hip flexor was it, oh goodness, my calf muscle…’ And then it hit me. I am going to have to travel to London on the train, sit in a theatre, get on a flight and spend a few days in the resort with OTHER PEOPLE. Just think of the germs, just think of how much more likely it is that I’ll catch a bug. What if I get ill…

But there’s no time for this paranoid nonsense. It is what it is. Our travel documents arrived.

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This sent me into excitement overdrive which required a little dance round the living room and a shriek or two. I know, I know, im a 37 year old professional woman…. Who cares, I’m excited. I have basically packed – couple of bits and pieces still need washing/ironing- and I am probably taking too much. I have loaded my iPad with books although I am not sure when I am going to read them. We have so much fun stuff planned that with all of that and the running I can’t see myself spending much time just lounging about!

Breakfasts and Dinners are booked, various lists of lunch locations, rides, activities etc we want to do have been made, US dollars have arrived, credit card companies notified we will be abroad, mothers are primed to look after the house and all our critters (they just move in so the cats have company!) all the pre travel stuff  for the US is done and I even know where my passport is. I am good to go!

Again today I am more excited than terrified. I think it might be because I am beginning to realise that this is really happening and it is happening now. I am going to do this thing and all that I can do now is trust in the training I’ve done. It’s too late to do anything else. Fuelling sort of starts now, the focus is on making a conscious effort to drink more water and on eating healthily to make sure we don’t put on any weight – 26.2 miles is a long way to carry an extra pound or two.

Anyway, I have more lists to write and a suitcase to re-pack several more times over the next few days and I need to do some yoga to make sure that really isn’t my hip flexor niggling…. Oh and the weather forecast is predicting marathon day to be the hottest of our trip. Lovely.