Sunday, March 24, 2013

You only live once. Some more than others.

My first thought of the day needs no introduction:


After spending three years drooling over the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon, I finally, finally, finally signed up for it this year.

Despite the three years of droolage, I still spent some time going back and forth on whether or not to pull the trigger.  This was for the sake of my pocketbook.  The race registration fee was $175, which already made me take a deep breath.  But then, add another $13.85 of those stupid Active.com registration fees, and also add another $74 for Adam to attend the post-race party.  I'm not even ready yet to think about the cost of airfare, lodging, and everything else.

All of this just to run a half marathon.  For fun!



I am definitely still experiencing some sticker shock even now.  But I know it'll be worth it once I get to Florida as I really do love Disney.  It'll be awesome to combine my love of running, food, and Disney within the span of one evening.

I'm already starting to keep an eye out for a picture of the 2013 medal, too.  Here's a picture of the medal they gave out last year:

Can't wait to get the 2013 edition for myself!


I am also excited to add Florida to my list of states raced in.  Right now there's a grand total of two (2) states on the list!  (Thank you, thank you, please hold applause.)

On a related note, I think I actually scared Adam the last time we went to Disney.  This is because I take my park visitation strategy very seriously.  Thou shalt never let a good Fastpass go to waste.  Even if it means darting through the crowds while doing my best impression of an NFL running back fueled by speed, agility, and physicality.  And leaving him behind to deal with the blockers.  (Purely hypothetically, of course.)  But that's another story.

"Go wide!!!"

On another related note, and also speaking of running insanity and Disney.  I just heard about the new Dopey Challenge that Disney will be offering in 2014.  As if their Goofy Challenge wasn't enough (running the half marathon on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday).  The Dopey Challenge entails running a 5K on Thursday, a 10K on Friday, the half marathon on Saturday, and the full marathon on Sunday.  That's 48.6 miles in 4 days.

Good lord.  During the peak of my marathon training, I think there were only two months where I ran more than 50 miles within the month.

Too bad they've already created the Dumbo Double Dare at Disneyland (a 10K and a half marathon in the same weekend) because I think the 48.6-mile challenge is much more aptly named Dumbo.  But kudos to whoever out there will be able to achieve Dopeyness!  When I said above that we should keep crazy because we only live once?  I guess everyone has a different interpretation of what constitutes crazy.  =)

OK, going back to all of the non-Dopey, non-Goofy, and non-Dumbo peons such as myself!  Unless I sign up for any other halves in 2013 (I'm looking at you, Prairie State), Wine and Dine will be my fifth half marathon in 2013 and my eleventh overall.

Cheers to that!

26 comments:

  1. WHOO HOO! You are going to have a fabulous time! It will be a wonderful vacation to escape Chicagoland :) Those Disney races look so cool.

    Wait?!? This will be your 5th half of 2013?

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    1. Thanks, Xaar! Once I get past the pocketbook shock, it should be a really fun time. =)

      Ah yes, this will be my fifth half! A little scary how that happened. Here are my halves:

      1) Wisconsin Half (May)
      2) Chicago 13.1 (June)
      3) Rock N Roll Chicago (July)
      4) Rock N Roll Pittsburgh (August)
      5) Disney Wine and Dine (November)

      I'm contemplating the Prairie State Half in October. Then I guess I at that point I should find a half in September and in December to complete the streak of one half per month from May-December, LOL.

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    2. Looks like a fun lineup! :)

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    3. Thanks, Xaar! You have quite the lineup of marathons coming up, yourself! :)

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    4. Hehe just 2 in the fall. Need to stay healthy for the next 8 months!

      When are we going to start smashing your running goals this year? Sub 2:00 half, 5k, ... :) (my enthusiasm for running is waning and running with friends sounds more exciting than anything ;)

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    5. You're signed up for Naperville and Chicago, yes? Are you still planning on Fox Valley?

      I am excited to see how the CARA Lakefront 10-Miler and the Wisconsin Half go - those will be my gauges for identifying target races. And thank you for mentioning a sub-2:00 half in the same sentence as me, but I think that goal will take another few years to achieve. =P Right now I'll just be happy to break my half PR, which is a 2:16:37 from 2002!!! But your support is tremendously appreciated, as always!!!

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  2. You will have so much fun!! Wine and Dine is on my to do list but definitely have to space out the trips to Disney since everything adds up so fast!! It is crazy that they added Dopey! I did actually think about it for 1/2 a second since I'm already planning on Goofy but that just seems like too much time off work etc.

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    1. OMG, the prices to Disney really do add up fast! I think the cost of running Dopey would be like $800 in race fees alone. But I guess anything worth doing is worth going crazy with, right?!? Are you for sure doing Goofy? I am starting to lean towards not doing the Disney full marathon in 2014...

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    2. They have dopey listed as $495 but then you also need to be there from Wednesday-Sunday, which if I go I will want to be there almost that long anyways but will want to spend SOME of the time not worrying about races and getting up at 3/4 am. As for Goofy, as long as I find a job that allows it...it will be happening :) Still waiting to hear back so hopefully soon. I have a couple friends who want to come and run the half too so it would be a fun little vacation!

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    3. OK, $495 is not as bad as I had envisioned... but it's still a lot! And I agree with you - it would be a shame to go to Disney and spend the whole week getting up at those ungodly hours of the morning, then spend all your days resting, foam rolling, and in compression gear. I am so excited to hear about your next steps with your career - can't believe that your graduation is coming up so soon!!! You must be so proud and deservedly so!!!

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  3. 5 halfs this year?! WOW! I think the Disney sounds fun! I'm sure you'll be glad you signed up once you get over the sticker shock :)

    I've only raced in two states too (IL and IN), but I'm hoping to add more to that. My husband is really close to signing up for the Michigan Wine Half, and wants me to do it too (they just added a 5k, so I may just do that instead), and I might be in California this summer, so I should probably add in a race there too.

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    1. It's funny because right after I wrote that I had five halves this year, I started thinking that I might be jinxing myself. I am praying now that I can stay healthy enough to actually do all five of them! Knock on wood and fingers crossed!

      So exciting that your husband is close to signing up for the Michigan Wine Trail Half, and also awesome that they have a 5K option now, too! Sadly I will probably not be doing that race now - I saw that the registration fees went up a few weeks ago and it's probably too much of a splurge for me at this point. I wish it was taking place over Labor Day Weekend, too, instead of the weekend before. But I know that you'll have a great time and you'll have a fantastic celebration to partake in upon your husband's crossing the finish line!

      Oh yeah, definitely add a California race this summer! I bet there are a ton of options!!!

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    2. Yeah, I think me training for and doing a half has pushed him to do one too. Which is kind of funny, since he's been running a lot longer than I have! I did see that the price went up :( I don't think he minds since he doesn't generally do a ton of races, but that'd be a lot for your SIXTH half!

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    3. It's so awesome that you've been inspiring Bob to run a half! Maybe if both of your half marathons go well, you can pick a half to run together sometime in the future!!!

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  4. Wine & Dine would be fun, but yes - I have sticker shock on some races! Although some of my favorite experiences have been the travel races. You'll have a great time!

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    1. Thanks, Lauren! I know you had a great time when you ran the Disney Princess Half and I really enjoyed reading about your experience there! And I can't wait to hear about all of your triathalons coming up in combination with your travels to Austin, et al!!!

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  5. YES! I am so happy you are doing it! That medal from last year is SO cool. I wonder what this year's will be like!

    And that other challenge sounds awesome too! I wish some races up here would do stuff like that! Maybe IL can move the marathon to Sunday and do a 5K or 10K then HM then M challenge! :)

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    1. Thanks, Kim! I am curious what the medal will look like too because it seems the last three years' medals were basically the same design. Maybe they'll mix it up a bit this year?

      You know, I was thinking that if there was anyone out there who had the endurance and the physical/mental fortitude to complete a Dopey-like challenge, it would be you! =) That is a great idea for IL to do a similar challenge - they've already got all four distances set up, so why not, right?

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    2. Of course! You are the only person I personally know who can just go out and run marathons at the drop of a hat. Amazing!!!

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  6. OMG, so jealous...you are going to love it, I am sure! I have never been to Florida but I hear Disney is a blast! Have I told you your my hero lately? lol, blessings girl!

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    1. Awww, Shannon - you are MY hero! You have the most upbeat attitude all the time, no matter what challenges life throws at you. Blessings and big hugs to you!

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  7. How fun!!!! I think if I was ever going to do a Disney race it would be that one. I am really looking forward to hearing all about it. Plus, so many halfs this year! What a great way to challenge yourself without the craziness of full marathon training.

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    1. Thanks, Erin! I keep thinking about your post on Kelly's blog about how you enjoyed your year without hard-core racing. I totally understand now. =) How is your marathon training coming along!?!?!? We're in the final stretch now!!!

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