But since I’m working on catching up on all of your blogs, I thought I’d offer a quick recap before we go into the *real* reason for this post.

Which is, of course, revealing our costumes for this weekend’s Walt Disney World Marathon!

So, Christmas was good. Lots of holly jolly fun and whatnot. And LOTS of dressing up my four-legged son and making him pose for corny Christmas pictures. Hahaha.

In terms of our training for the Goofy Challenge. Well…let’s just say it didn’t go EXACTLY as planned. Then again, does it ever? After my brief hiatus after the Richmond Marathon (which I STILL owe you guys a recap for, sad to say) we jumped right back into training. My goal was to do a few long runs and at least a handful of shorter runs each week to get myself back in “marathon shape” as quickly as possible. And, of course, complete some few back-to-backs so I could prepare myself for Goofy.

I literally do run on Dunkin’….

Long story short, we only made it up to 16 miles. This is the least prepared I’ve ever been for a marathon, and I don’t like it. I can honestly say we did the best we could given the time constraints. We were also careful not to ramp up so quickly that either of us risked an injury (let’s just say I considered jumping from a 13-miler to an 18-miler because we ran out of time, and Todd put the kibosh on that one, LOL).

After our last long run…and enjoying a new festive (and super sparkly) Christmas gift from Todd.

Do I think we’ll be okay? Yes. All of our runs went quite well, and I’m actually feeling a lot stronger than I thought I would. But I know it’s not going to be pretty, and we’ll probably have to do a fair amount of walking towards the end of the marathon.  I wish we had gotten up to say, 18 miles, but I’m still pretty proud of the fact that we ran two marathons in November and then went immediately into another round of training for Goofy. I’m obviously not there to PR, so I think as long as we run smart, we’ll be fine. It was sort of a last-minute decision to do the marathon in the first place, so time was not on our side…but I know we’re going to earn those medals.

Plus it’s Todd’s first “challenge,” so I’m excited for him to have the experience of “going Goofy.”

Okay, so without further ado, I wanted to share a preview of our (still not entirely finished, lol) costumes for this weekend! Especially since runDisney costumes are such a hot button issue right now thanks to the “new” rules released yesterday…which, to me, seem like common sense. Probably nobody should be running in Jedi robes, no? I do think the timing of the announcement was pretty horrendous and really unfair given that some runners are already IN Florida with their costumes. And they definitely could have been just a teensy bit clearer on their choice of words (now people are thinking SparkleSkirts are forbidden because it’s a skirt “layered” over shorts…).

Fortunately, since I like to focus more on altering actual running clothes to look like a costume, I’m thinking we should be fine. And by “I,” what I actually mean is “Nancy”…because Todd’s mom once again saved our butts and helped us pull together what I think are going to be FABULOUS race costumes at the last minute!

For the half marathon, we will be channeling our favorite parrot and rooster, lol. We’re both obsessed with The Three Caballeros, and since it’s technically the Donald Half Marathon, we figured it was appropriate.

And just in case you were wondering where the third Caballero will be…

Found this bad boy on eBay. And, yes, my crazy ass will be carrying him through 13 miles.

For the marathon, I wanted to go along with our costume theme from last year and go as another one of my favorite princesses — since I don’t think it’s likely I’ll get Todd to run the Princess Half Marathon anytime soon. Guess who…?!?!

I have a few more bits and pieces I’m still pulling together, but I’m beyond excited to head to Florida tomorrow and conquer another Goofy Challenge!

Sooooo…what will you be wearing this weekend?! If you see us, PLEASE do say “hi” — hoping to catch up with some of you this weekend!

Have you ever gone into a race feeling under-trained/unprepared?

This weekend is my birthday, and I’ll be turning the big 3-0. *GASP*

Yes, that’s right, ladies and gentlemen. On Sunday, I will no longer be a twenty-something. I will be 30.

For the past couple of years, the prospect of turning 30 has given me all kinds of anxiety. Truth be told, I’ve been terrified of it. Ever since I turned 25, I’ve had the same thought on my birthday every single year — “okay, I’m only 27, I’m not 30 yet…okay, I’m 28 now, but I’m still 2 whole years away from 30…”

Celebrating my 25th in my favorite place on Earth.

It wasn’t until the last few months that I decided that I’m okay with turning 30. And I’ll tell you why. (Other than the fact that there’s not a whole hell of a lot I can do about it, haha.)

It’s because I am in a better place now than I was at ANY point in my 20s. I am happier, healthier, and more self-confident that I have been EVER. In my whole life. There is absolutely no question about that.

A whole lot of things happened to me in my 20s. Some of those things were good – like, you know, running a marathon. But there was also plenty of not-so-good – like having an 11-year relationship with my high school sweetheart completely fall to pieces, finding myself alone for the first time since I was a teenager, not being able to afford my rent after he moved out of our crappy apartment, and digging myself into all kinds of debt. Good times, right?

But despite all of the typical 20-something drama, I can’t stop thinking about how, in so many ways, I am a completely different person now than I was 10 years ago.

My 21st birthday

I didn’t intend for this post to be all about my weight loss, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that it was, by far, the greatest accomplishment of my 20s. It changed my life forever. I began my 20s weighing well over 260 pounds, and I was MISERABLE.

Though this blog has lately become more of a running blog than anything else, it all started as a weight loss diary to chronicle just how freakin’ hard it is to lose weight…and actually keep it off.

My first progress photo…20 pounds down.

I spent my entire life as an obese person. Not overweight, not chunky, but obese. But when I was 22, I stepped on a scale for the first time in I couldn’t even tell you how many years, and a little lightbulb went off. I realized that if I didn’t change my life, that I could easily be 300 pounds by the time I was 30 – if not sooner.

So, I did it. After countless years of yo-yo dieting and eating my feelings and gaining weight and losing weight and gaining it back again, I promised myself that I was going to do it the right way and keep the weight off once and for all.

My last progress photo…90 pounds down.

I changed my relationship with food and I fell in love with working out (and, eventually, running). And I didn’t just become another weight loss success story. I became an athlete.

Of course, I did some other pretty awesome stuff in my 20s, too.

Like…

I studied abroad in England for a semester in college.

Oh, Wroxton, how I miss you.

And I saw some of the most AMAZINGLY beautiful places.

Ahhh, Venice…

I graduated from college (Fairleigh Dickinson, woot woot).

(Plus, I was a super huge nerd and was the features editor for the campus newspaper and won all kinds of geeky academic awards, haha.)

After a one-year paid insternship at New Jersey Monthly right after graduation, I had (many) unsuccessful attempts at landing a full-time job in the magazine industry. I was stupid enough to work for free as a peon intern at several different magazines for a year or two before I decided to stop kidding myself and follow my dream. I wanted to be a freelance writer.

The idea of going into business for myself was scary as hell, but it’s something I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I wanted to do. And, you know what? I actually friggin’ did it. I won’t be on the Fortune 500 list anytime soon, but I love what I do and I love working from home (in my jammies, lol), and I know the possibilities are endless. Meanwhile, I built my piano teaching business from 2 students to 20+ students, so I get to take a break from staring at my computer screen and hang out with kids every afternoon…and teach them how to play Disney songs.

My first byline, for New Jersey Business magazine — still write for them!

I made friends that are still some of my best buds today.

I also made some four-legged friends.

Riley as a puppy!

My little baby, Miles. <3

And I became best friends with my little sister. We pretty much hated each other for most of our young lives, and now I can’t imagine what I’d do without her.

Nothing says sisterly love like a little Frozen.

I earned my bo-black belt in Thai Kickboxing. I remember how intimidating it was at first — even though I had lost the weight, I still saw myself as “the fat girl” who didn’t belong in any sort of fitness class, let alone martial arts! But I faced my fear of being laughed out of the place, I fell in love with it, and I can’t believe how far I’ve come over the past 5 years.

I earned my black belt in Thai Kickboxing (and got to learn how to fight *real* people for the first time, lol).

I decided to give Taekwondo a try, even though I had pretty much convinced myself that I would NEVER be able to do it. And now I’m dangerously close to testing for my black belt.

I faced an entirely different fear and decided to sign up for my first 5K. It was that day that I realized that nobody was going to point and laugh at me and tell me that I should go back to the treadmill. I felt like a “real” runner for the first time.

I ran my first 10K. And almost cried. I couldn’t believe that I ran 6 WHOLE MILES!

I ran my first half marathon. It still amazes me to think of how terrified I was of not finishing. Even after all those months of training, I had no confidence in myself. I was sure I’d never see that finish line.

There are no words…

And then I REALLY did the impossible. Me, this former fat girl, attempting to run a marathon? There are some days I still can’t believe I did it…and as part of the insane Dopey Challenge, no less!

Now I’m training for my sixth marathon. So that I can have this experience again. Running NYCM was a MAJOR highlight of the last decade, that’s for sure.

Last but certainly not least :::drumroll, please::: I met this guy.

Our first race.

A year later, we moved in together. We’ve already had so many adventures over the past two years, and I didn’t even know it was possible to be this happy. <3

The moral of the story? If there’s one lesson I’m taking with me as I say good-bye to my 20s, it’s that I am so, SO much stronger than I ever thought possible. I am a fighter, and I am capable of absolutely anything. I don’t have to be afraid anymore, because no matter what it is…I know I can do it. Period.

It’s incredible to think about where I was — physically and mentally — in my early 20s to where I am now. It’s honestly hard for me to remember what it was like living life as “the old me,” but I know she is always with me. She likes to come back and haunt me when I find myself struggling the most…like, say, that last 10K of a marathon, haha.

I still have my own personal battles with body image, and it’s an ongoing journey to accept my body the way it is now — loose skin, stretch marks, and all — after so many years of abusing it with yo-yo dieting and being completely sedentary. But I’m closer now than I’ve ever been to being truly comfortable in my own skin, and that’s something I never, EVER thought would happen.

Posing for photos in a bathing suit? UNHEARD OF.

Now that I’m (almost!) 30, I have to admit that, despite all of the mistakes I’ve made along the way, I am proud of myself. I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished, and everything I’ve learned along the way. I’m proud that the big thighs I once hated and tried so hard to hide have carried me over countless finish lines and kicked my way through years of intense martial arts training. I’m proud that I managed to break a lifetime of poor eating habits and completely transform my relationship with food.

I’m a runner now, so that means I can lots and lots of pizza.

Most of all, I’m proud that even when things get hard, I know I can count on myself to never, EVER give up.

One of the hardest things I’ve ever done!

I am so appreciative of my health and my fitness and my career and my relationships, and looking back, I can honestly say I’m happy with the way things have turned out so far. I can’t wait to see what my 30s have in store for me.

Did you freak out/are you freaked out about turning 30?

Congrats, Ken! Please shoot me an e-mail at thefinalforty at gmail dot com with your mailing address and shoe size.

In other excellent news, I mentioned in my recap of last weekend’s St. Paddy’s Day 10-Miler that Todd and I will both be running the Wine & Dine Half Marathon this year!

I ran the Wine & Dine Half Marathon on my own in 2013, and I have been DYING to do it again. I ran that year’s race as part of a family trip to The World to celebrate my parents’ wedding anniversary…because it just so happens that their anniversary fell on the same weekend as the race. Oh, what a shame that was.

I also ran the Jingle Jungle 5K that morning with my sister (a.k.a. Eeyore) — it was her first 5K, and we had an awesome time!

This year’s half marathon sold out in an unprecedented 35 minutes, and I was honestly surprised by all of the posts on Facebook/Twitter in the days leading up to registration by runners who were worried about not getting in. I’ve never had trouble registering for a runDisney race before, so whenever that happens, I assume it’s passionate runDisney fans such as myself just getting themselves worked up over nothing.

Apparently, I was VERY wrong. Lots of runners were shut-out of the race because it seems there may be some sort of new(ish) system in place that throws registrants into a “queue” based upon when they begin the registration process…so by the time it’s your turn in line, all of the available slots could be sold out. There were apparently a bunch of people who could only register themselves but not their spouses, or only one of their children, etc., before all of the slots for the half marathon, 5K, and kids’ races were filled up. So, needless to say, there has been a bit of drama on social media about the registration process this time around.

I was already set because I deferred my Tower of Terror 2014 registration (which was cancelled for this year…BOO) to this year’s Wine and Dine, so luckily, I only had to worry about getting Todd signed up. We had both of our laptops ready to go, and I started refreshing the Active link about 8 minutes before 12pm. I got right in when registration opened up early (by 11:55) with no problem, and he had his confirmation e-mail by 12:02.

In any case, I don’t know if it’s just because I started refreshing early (I always do!), or we’re just lucky, because we didn’t have any problems at all. I can completely understand why these races are so popular, but I hate that registering becomes more and more difficult (and stressful!) every year. When I registered for my first half marathon and runDisney race — the Princess Half Marathon 2013 — I didn’t sign up until the end of July…and there were still plenty of spots open! Ah, those were the days.

Anyways, I am SOOO excited to run Wine & Dine with Todd this year! I know he will enjoy it very much; our two favorite things are running and eating, so what’s not to love?!

This Polish girl looooooves her some kielbasa/pierogies!

We’ll be spending lots of time at the Food & Wine Festival, of course, but best of all, I already have a Little Mermaid room booked at Art of Animation! I may or may not have gone ahead and booked a room “just in case” as soon as we came back from our trip in January for WDW Marathon Weekend, lol. I’ve never stayed there before, and The Little Mermaid is my FAVORITE.

We also plan to get tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for the next night! I ask you…is there ANYTHING more magical than Disney World at Christmas?!

What can I say…we’re one of those strange Disney families.

Granted, the Wine and Dine Half Marathon will be the weekend after the New York City Marathon…so it should make for an interesting race experience for both of us. I’m sure it will not be our finest performance, that’s for sure. But, either way, November is going to be pretty freakin’ awesome!

Who else will I be seeing this November?!

What’s your favorite part of the Wine & Dine Half Marathon? The course, the entertainment, THE FOOD?

Back in 2013 (which seems SO long ago), Princess was my very first half marathon. And there are no words that could ever even begin to describe the feeling of crossing that finish line.

It really was the race that started at all. Dozens of half marathons and four full marathons later, who knows where I’d be right now if I hadn’t had the courage to randomly sign up for a 13.1-mile race in 2012. It was one of the first times in my life that I had taken such a giant leap of faith…and good lord was I TERRIFIED that I wouldn’t be able to do it! Seems crazy to think about now.

This race will always hold a special place in my heart. But in honor of my fellow princesses, I thought I’d share some other reasons why I think this particular race weekend ROCKS! And if you’re running this weekend…have a magical race!

The Girlishness

The Princess Half Marathon may share the same course as, say, the Walt Disney World Half Marathon…but, to me, the experience feels completely different.

It starts from the moment you walk into the “Fit for a Princess” expo and see nothing but rows and rows of sparkly skirts and headbands and jewelry and all sorts of other girly things.

Then there’s the middle of the race, when you see countless mothers and daughters, sisters, and friends running together, many in matching sparkly costumes.

Afterwards, you hear nothing but “congratulations” all day from your fellow runner ladies in the parks — most of whom are still wearing their tiaras and tutus, just like you.

It’s just…a special race. I don’t know how else to say it.

The Costumes

Of course, you’ll see people in costume for any of the runDisney races. But I find it especially cool that so many women channel their favorite princess during this race experience.

All weekend, everyone is decked out in flouncy tutus and sparkly tiaras, and racing in costumes inspired by the female heroines from classics like Cinderella all the way up to Disney’s newest princesses.

The Royal Treatment

At the Princess Half Marathon, you really are made to feel like royalty. You might even be escorted into the expo by these fine gentlemen.

Everyone calls you “princess” all weekend long. Plus, it’s kind of hard not to feel royal when you’re wearing a tiara.

The Photo Opps

Again, all runDisney races have the BEST photo opportunities. But where else can you get a picture with a group of these handsome fellows?

The Princess Half Marathon shares a lot of the same characters as the other races, but it’s the only race weekend when you’re likely to score a picture with the Fairy Godmother, or Mickey and Minnie in their royal costumes.

Plus, if you’re dressed as your favorite princess, you might just spot her after the finish line! (Totally worth the 45+ minute wait.)

The Medals

Need I say more?

What girl doesn’t like a little extra *BLING*?

 The Girl Power

Yeah, so, it may be cheesy to say…but I LOVE how this race weekend really is the perfect opportunity for women to prove that we can be girly and feminine but also strong and athletic. You can’t help but feel like a total badass…yes, even in costume.

It’s always especially fun to see so many women taking on their first 5K, 10K, or half marathon during the Princess…and kicking ass on the race course.

If anyone is running this weekend and interested in checking out some recaps from 2013 and 2014, here are mine!

Glass Slipper Challenge 2014

Enchanted 10K 2014

“Fit for a Princess” Expo 2014

Princess Half Marathon 2013 (part one, part two)

“Fit for a Princess” Expo 2013

 My First Half Marathon

Have you/would you run the Princess Half Marathon?

What was your first half marathon?

What’s your favorite runDisney race?

After last year’s 10K…totally worth the 3.5 hour wait.

I’m sure there will be others added to the list, but here’s what’s on the horizon for 2015 so far!

St. Paddy’s Day 10-Miler

I’m ALWAYS fan of holiday-themed races. And since I’m part Irish — and the starting line is, like, 20 minutes away — it looks like we’ll be giving this one a go this year. I ran it back in 2013, and remember it being a rather hilly course, so I don’t have high hopes for any sort of amazing performance…but it should be fun.

The Love Run

It looks like Todd and I will more than likely be doing The Love Run in Philadelphia this year. I wanted to do it last year, but am a little relieved we didn’t since I heard it poured the entire time. Fingers crossed for better weather this year!

The goal of this race? To get a time that’s even remotely close to the half marathons I was running in 2013. It’s been longer than I care to admit since I ran anything under a 2:20, and now I have the added incentive of needing a new time to submit for corral placement for my next runDisney race. Which is a MAJOR incentive for me, might I add!

My old PR from 2013 has officially expired in the eyes of runDisney, so now it’s time to get serious and focus on getting back to where I was…and maybe even setting a NEW PR. Anything can happen, right?

New Jersey Marathon

I talked about this a little bit in my last post, but, yes, I am officially in marathon training YET AGAIN. I’m pretty much starting from scratch — our “long” run this weekend was 6 miles — because I want to try something different this time around. I’m hoping this will be the marathon that I finally run under five hours, and I’m DETERMINED to see improvement this year — both in my half marathon times as well as the full 26.2!

I am absolutely going to focus more on consistent pacing this time (as opposed to just logging the miles and “getting it over with”), and I’m trying to push myself a little harder on shorter runs. So far, I’ve been surprising myself a little bit…running a 9ish-minute mile still isn’t “comfortable” the way it once was, but I was very pleased to discover that I could pull off a 6-miler in under an hour this weekend with only a little bit of discomfort. Plus, I didn’t pass out or anything, which is always good.

Wild Half

I love the beach, and we both appreciate any opportunity for a “race-cation,” so a half marathon in Wildwood seemed like a fine idea. We spent a couple of hours in Wildwood for my birthday last year and saw only part of the massive boardwalk, so I thought this could be a fun way to kick off the summer.

I don’t anticipate doing a lot of racing throughout the rest of the summer. (Ya’ll know how I feel about running the heat). But I hope to do some local smaller races, like my annual 4-mile jaunt at the Cranford Jaycees Firecracker race and/or the Downtown Westfield Pizza 5K.

Like I’m really going to pass up an opportunity to run for free pizza and/or ice cream…

Halloween Half

So Superhero Racing just announced that they’d be offering a Halloween-themed half marathon this October. I’ve done a couple of their races in the past, including the Superhero Half Marathon as well as shorter races like the Super Santa 5K. A perfectly legitimate excuse to run a half marathon in costume? PLUS there’s a costume contest?! This one’s a no-brainer.

Last year’s Superhero Half Marathon

Wine and Dine Half Marathon

This hasn’t officially been confirmed yet, but I’ve been begging asking Todd to head back to Disney for a long weekend this fall so we can do Wine and Dine. I ran it in 2013 and it was an absolute blast — I’m DYING to do it again! It is, by far, the best overall half marathon course at The World…and I say that even despite the fact that we don’t run through the castle in Magic Kingdom.

Plus, believe it or not, I had registered for last year’s Tower of Terror — which I had to defer — and then it ended up being cancelled. So I have some magical runDisney race money floating around that I get to apply to a race of my choice. I may or may not have booked a room at Art of Animation (this would be my first time staying there)! You know…just in case.

New York City Marathon…or some other fall marathon

Yep. I did it again. I entered the lottery for the New York City Marathon. I know I got RIDICULOUSLY lucky year by getting in on my first try, and I know it’s highly unlikely to happen again. But, hey, you never know. This year, Todd entered too, so I’m crossing all of my fingers and toes and anything else that could possibly be crossed that we both get in.

I’d kill for the chance to run it again. Not only because it was AMAZING, but I’d also like the opportunity to redeem myself after the disaster that was the second half of the marathon last year. As an extra special bonus, I would be beyond thrilled to run it together this time. So, we’ll see.

Of course, we’re both realistic and do have some back-up plans. We’re looking at alternate marathons now, like the Baltimore Marathon or Hartford Marathon. If neither of us gets into New York, we may also try our luck in the Marine Corps Marathon lottery.

(Have I mentioned how much I hate lotteries? It makes it SO hard to plan a race schedule, especially when there are two of us trying to get into the same race. Oh, the problems I have in life.)

What are some of the races you’re looking forward to in 2015?

Have you run any of these races?

Who has other race recommendations for me?!

Better late than never, right?

I usually spend the majority of January prepping for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (half recap HERE, full recap HERE, in case you missed ‘em!) and the following weeks basking in all the post-Disney happiness.

WDW Marathon Weekend = A SUCCESS
(P.S. Anyone else heartbroken that the hat is almost completely gone?!)

It’s always nice to kick off a new year with a marathon, but now that January is over, I thought it was time to get serious about the rest of my goals for this year.

And I am happy to announce that I am officially registered for yet another marathon.

Marathon #5 will be…

::::::::::::::::::::drumroll, please::::::::::::::::::::

www.thenewjerseymarathon.com

(And, just for the record, this was all Todd’s idea…so if anything goes horribly wrong, it’s my full intention to blame him.)

Honestly, I wasn’t planning to run another marathon this soon. I figured I’d take a little bit of a breather, maybe do some half marathons, and gear up for another bout of marathon training in the late summer/fall.

But I’ve already done the New York Marathon…might as well run one that takes place literally 20 minutes from our house.

One of my first half marathons was the Long Branch Half Marathon back in 2013, which is part of the New Jersey Marathon — so it’ll be kind of cool to return and “go all the way” this time. And to be honest, I have a hard time finding the motivation to get out there and run if I don’t have a goal, so I think a spring marathon is probably the best way to keep my momentum going!

2013 Long Branch Half…seems SO long ago.

Also? I want a sub-five. BAD.

I KNOW I could have done better in New York. I KNOW I could have pushed harder in my training…and I definitely KNOW that I wasn’t properly prepared for the course/conditions. I am positive that I can do better, and seeing how this course is supposedly pretty pancake-like (and it will hopefully still be fairly cool in April), I’m hoping I can finally see a “4″ in front of my marathon time!

But in addition to training for a marathon — AGAIN — I’ve also set my sights on some other health/fitness/running goals I hope to accomplish this year. And what better way to stay accountable than to announce them to the world?

1.) Get Fast Again. Okay, so I was never really “fast,” per se’. But ever since I started focusing on marathons, my average pace has climbed from somewhere in the 9:15 area to more like a 10:30. My half marathon times have jumped from around a 2:05 to a 2:25. And for the past several months, I’ve felt nothing but discouraged and sluggish. It’s hard to feel motivated to run when you feel like you’re running through molasses all the time. My legs are always tired, and I couldn’t/wouldn’t find the energy to do any sort of speedwork.

I want my “old” paces back, and I want them back NOW.

Here’s the thing, though…I kinda sorta have no flippin’ clue how to go about this. I used to just naturally run a 10ish-minute/mile, and my pace just improved with consistency alone. And that was that. I have to be honest and say I haven’t done a whole lot of speedwork. And definitely not in conjunction with training for a marathon.

This past weekend, I thought I’d push myself a little harder on some shorter distances, just to see what I could do…and what it would feel like to try to run faster again. And for the first time in forever (*cue Frozen song*) I managed to run a 3-miler in 30 minutes, and then the next day, I challenged myself a little harder to run 4 miles in under 40 minutes.

I was right around a 9:10 for the first mile, then a 9:20, then a 9:30, and a 9:40. I haven’t seen those kinds of paces in probably a year. Granted, it was not easy…those paces used to feel completely comfortable to me, and this time, I was sucking some serious wind. But I surprised myself. I CAN do it. It’s not going to be easy, but I hope that if I start pushing myself a little harder again, I can get back to where I was.

2.) Set a New Half PR. So, I have a confession. My half marathon PR? It’s 2:03, and it’s from my very first half marathon (I’m not counting the Princess Half, because I did NOT run that one for time). It was way back in April 2013.

And that is just SAD.

“Runapalooza” in Asbury Park: my half marathon PR. TWO YEARS AGO.

Since then, I’ve come close (that year I ran a bunch of halfs in 2:04, 2:07, 2:10…) but never actually beat it. This infuriates me to no end because you’d think that with all the finish lines I’ve crossed since then, I should have seen some improvement from my first race EVER, right?!

You know how I said I wanted a sub-five marathon? Well, I want a sub-two half marathon just as badly.

Clearly, I’m not training properly — and I will be the FIRST to admit that — and that’s something that needs to change pronto. I’m proud of all of my accomplishments, don’t get me wrong…but at the same time, I’m tired of “just” being happy to finish. I want to get better. I want to know that all the hours I pour into running are actually paying off.

In other news, I just realized that my half PR will no longer be useable when I apply for corral placement in Disney races. We *MAY* be running the Wine & Dine Half Marathon this year, and proof of time has to be from a race after November 2013. And I really don’t have any times from last year that are even remotely close to 2 hours. *Insert panic here.* You know I don’t run Disney race for time, but I DO want the best corral placement I can have…mainly so I can get to the characters (and the post-race PARTAY) a little faster.

Which means I have no choice but to stop resting on my laurels and actually get out there and RACE again. The plan is to take this month to start slowly building up some mileage (I’m using a beginner marathon plan for now), but mainly focus on speed for the shorter runs and trying to improve my longer run performance (more consistent paces, etc.). I hope to run a race or two in March to see what I can do…since I’m going to need the flattest course possible and cooler temperatures if I have any hopes of performing well.

Getting our marathon training started…on snow and ice. Gotta love it.

We’re thinking of possibly doing The Love Run in Philadelphia, and there’s also a local 10-miler for St. Patrick’s Day (which I’ve also done in the past) but I recall it being nothing but hills…which is no bueno for me.

I’m realistic enough to know that my next half isn’t going to be a PR, but I’d like to get a little bit closer to 2:00. That way, I can take most of March and April to continue training for the marathon…and then maybe try another half or two (any of you New Jerseyans ever run the Wildwood Half?!) afterwards.

3.) Tackle a Tri. I’ve been talking about this one for, like, ever. I’d love to see what I can do in a multi-sport race. I love cycling, but between running and karate, I never feel like I can squeeze it into my weekly training regimen. And because of my fear of the swimming portion — I CAN swim, but I’m definitely not the strongest swimmer — I keep putting it off.

But I looked into a few local triathlons, like the Jersey Girl Triathlon, which seems perfect for a beginner like me. It’s a 3-mile run, 11-mile bike ride, and 300-yard swim. I haven’t signed up yet, so nothing is official. But I figure I’d already be well trained to take on a 3-mile run (duh), and whenever I do cycle it’s always for at least 10 miles, so I’d just have to become a little more consistent.

As for the swimming…well…I figure it’s a great form of cross-training, and I won’t be racing in the late spring/early summer (TOO HOT), so I can focus on improving my performance in the water.

4.) Drop a Few Lbs. I haven’t really written about this here yet. But I’m sure ya’ll can see that I don’t look quite the same as the picture in my blog header, which was taken two years ago. Ever since I started running marathons, I’ve watched my body change. I’m still wearing the same size and everything, but jeans that used to be loose just fit me now, some of my old running shorts are a little too tight for comfort, and some of my dresses are showing a bit more in my mid-section than I’d care to see. I’ve watched my legs and arms continue to get a little bulkier, which I do attribute partially to the Thai/Taekwondo and running — and that’s fine — but I find myself feeling self-conscious about my body again. And I hate it.

I had finally reached a point where I felt good about my body. Then I become more physically active than I’ve ever been, run a couple of marathons…and start to put weight back on? Where’s the fairness in THAT?!

I’ve been struggling to strike the balance between eating what my body needs to fuel my running — particularly for marathon training — and yet not overdoing it. I struggle with the “rungries” constantly, and that assumption that because I ran for 2 or 3 or 4 hours on a Sunday, that I can eat whatever I want. I haven’t weighed myself in more than 2 years, nor do I even a little bit care what my current weight is. I spent my entire life chained to that scale, and allowed a stupid little plastic box to crush my self-esteem time and time again.

All I care about is feeling comfortable in my own skin again, so my goal for this year is to get back to where I was, mentally speaking. I don’t plan to go back to counting POINTs again, but I know enough about portion sizes and how much I was eating when I lost the weight to simply tighten things up a bit and be more careful about what I’m putting into my body.

5.) Cook More. To that end, we’ve been making a more serious effort to cook in this house. Both of us pretty much suck at it, and I have absolutely no patience whatsoever in the kitchen. Truth be told, I really don’t enjoy cooking AT ALL. I know how to read nutrition labels, so I’ve always tried to pick the healthiest, most “natural” stuff to stock the kitchen…but we’ve been relying on frozen conveniences just a tad too often.

So I’ve turned back to Weight Watchers, so to speak, and we’re making an effort to try at least 2-3 new recipes a week from their database (my mom still has an active membership, so I just log-in under her name…shhhhhhh). I like it because the recipes are genuinely good (and good-for-you!) and you can filter them by prep time, difficulty level, etc…and there’s no shortage of main meal options that even an idiot like me can put together. And I’ve ordered a few cookbooks from Amazon. So, we’ll see what happens.

20 minutes ’til dinner? That’s what I’m talkin’ about…

6.) Become a brown belt. I’m still plugging away at Taekwondo. Now that I’m no longer considered a beginner, the higher belt level classes tend to be a little later in the evening — which means I can squeeze more of them into my weekly schedule.

I’m still way behind the other adults I joined with (who can make several classes per week), and that can be discouraging sometimes. And as much as I love martial arts, I know the wear-and-tear it puts on my legs isn’t always ideal for marathon training! But I’m doing the best I can to make it to class and work on mastering my curriculum for each belt…so, hopefully, I’ll be testing for my red belt soon, and maybe even my brown belt by the end of 2015! Patience is a virtue, right?

How are you doing on your 2015 goals?

Who has tips on speedwork for me?!

Northeast peeps…what are some of your favorite local half marathons?

Before we get on the plane to my most favorite place in the world — WALT DISNEY WORLD! — I wanted to share this weekend’s costumes! Which, of course, were once again made by Todd’s mom. (Hi, Nancy!)

She puts up with a lot of my nonsense when it comes to making my race costume visions a reality, and I am SO happy with how they turned out!

For the half, I decided to continue my Frozen obsession and go as Olaf. Which is quite possibly the easiest costume ever — once you have the appropriate headwear, of course. Gotta love Amazon.

I’m far more excited about my marathon costume. Since it’s the first time Todd and I will be running the Walt Disney World Marathon together, I had to go with an extra special costume.

As many of you know, I am obsessed with The Little Mermaid. I ran my first ever half marathon (Princess 2013!) as Ariel. So I found it only appropriate to return as my favorite princess yet again. But, this time, I’ll be “land” Ariel, and Todd kindly agreed to run as Prince Eric.

(And, yes, we will somehow be running with Ariel’s favorite sidekicks. I figured I already ran 26.2 miles carrying a freakin’ torch, so what’s a silly little stuffed animal?)

Meanwhile, it’s supposed to be nice and cool all week EXCEPT the day of the marathon — of course — so I’ll probably drop dead from heat exhaustion from the felt corset. But it’s all for a good cause.

As far as, you know, the actual RUNNING of the races…well…I guess we’ll see what happens. As terrified as I was to run Dopey last year, I KNEW I was trained for it, and that I had done everything I could possibly do. But, still, I doubted myself up until the very second I crossed that final finish line. There was a part of me that was convinced that I couldn’t do it.

Am I under-trained this time around? Yes. Am I little concerned about the physical agony I’ll likely be in this weekend? You bet.

But what’s cool about going into the Goofy Challenge this time around is the confidence of knowing that I can do this. It’s a really amazing feeling to finally — FINALLY — have some semblance of confidence in myself. And if running 39.3 or 48.6 miles in a weekend is what it takes to get me to this point, then so be it.

So, if you see me/us, PLEASE say “hi!” I hope to get the chance to meet some of you guys this weekend!

Okay, who else is running this weekend?! And please share costumes so I can be sure to look for you!

Mon., Aug. 11: 9 miles (counted in last week’s totals)

Tue., Aug. 12: Thai kickboxing class

Wed., Aug. 13: 4 miles

Thur., Aug. 14: Rest

Fri., Aug. 15: 4 miles and Taekwondo class

Sat., Aug 16: Rest

Sun., Aug. 17: 14 miles

Total weekly mileage: 22 miles

I missed one 7-mile run last week because I pushed back my 9-miler due to birthday festivities, but other than that, I got all my runs in…and, more importantly, am feeling about a MILLION times better than I was in the first couple weeks of training.

It’s still hot and humid and GROSS most days, but waking up at the buttcrack of dawn on weekends for long runs and/or waiting until the sun is setting on weeknights for my 3- and 4-milers has made a big difference. Plus, it feels like my body is finally adapting to running longer distances again. I guess there’s something to be said for this whole marathon training concept…?

Once again, I was blessed with some FANTABULOUS long-run weather this past weekend. I started my 14-miler on a cloudy, cool, drizzly morning in the upper 60′s — which felt heavenly — but then even when the sun came out in the later miles, there was still a nice breeze and it never broke 80 degrees. Todd joined me for the last 8 miles of my run, since he’s officially in training for the Philadelphia Marathon now! (Sucks for him that I’ll be enjoying my taper when he’s suffering through his 19- and 20-milers, HA).

I was enjoying the park and felt pretty strong up until the last mile or two, which seemed to drag on and on and ON…but I guess that’s how it’s supposed to be, right? I seem to be averaging an 11-minute/mile, tops, for pretty much my entire long run as of late…and in 75-80+ degree temperatures, I am MORE than happy with that!

I’ve also got some new stuff that’s helping me along the way. One lifesaver these past couple of weeks? Todd got me a new Nathan hydration belt with 4 bottles for my birthday! (What can I say, the man knows what I like, LOL). Also, I think he was getting tired of me complaining that I was constantly running out of water on longer runs (I’ve been using a two-bottle belt).

Also, last weekend Todd and I went to replace our sneakers — I’ve been running in the same pair since the Princess Half Marathon way back in February, and that is clearly just NOT acceptable. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve had mysterious knee pain and back pain and calf pain and foot pain and basically every other kind of lower-body pain you can imagine, and I know it was related to my poor, sad, beaten-up shoes.

I was fitted at a local running store, Westfield Running Company, before I began training for my first half marathon, and since then I’ve exclusively bought the same pair of sneakers over and over again. I have a wide foot (and I’m a size 10, for cryin’ out loud) so I can’t really fit in women’s shoes. I have to run in men’s models — and, for me, it’s Brooks Glycerin all the way.

The guy at the store showed me the same model in a women’s and tried to get me to try on the women’s pair — and, mind you, it was tempting because the women’s sneakers are SO much prettier — but am I the only one who’s weird and won’t even CONSIDER switching sneakers? Like, EVER? These bad boys got me through every single race thus far, including the Dopey Challenge. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? Fortunately for me, though, the latest model came in colors that aren’t QUITE as masculine, so I’m loving my new sneakers.

(Also, does it make me a super huge dork that I’m excited that these are the shoes I’ll be running the New York City Marathon in?!)

Have you ever switched your running sneaker brand/model?

What’s been your must-have running gear this summer?

So now that I’ve survived marathon #2, I thought I’d drop in and share some post-marathon recovery updates with you and fill you in on my upcoming races for 2014 — and ask for opinions on some other half/full marathons I’m considering for this year!

I know it’s already the end of March, but I feel like I’m just now getting a chance to breathe and think about my future running-related plans…thus far, my life in 2014 has been completely absorbed in running my first marathon as part of the Dopey Challenge, and then taking on the Glass Slipper Challenge, and then my drama-filled training for the Rock N’ Roll USA Marathon, and now I feel like I can finally relax a little bit and start running FOR FUN again. And, of course, that means starting to finalize my race calendar for the rest of this year.

In two weeks, Todd and I will be running the April Fools Half Marathon in Atlantic City. I love the beach, and I know it won’t be quite warm enough to lounge around on the sand in swimsuits just yet (and with the way temperatures have been here, it could be 20 degrees that day for all I know), but I’m definitely looking forward to a weekend trip down the shore and running (and playing) in AC!

We’ll then be running the Unite Half Marathon at Rutgers University. Todd actually went to Rutgers, so I know he’s especially excited for this race and to show me around the campus afterwards.

Then we’ll be taking on the Superhero Half Marathon in Morristown in May. I ran the race last year, but it was a disgusting, miserable rainy day and the course was a KILLER — a double loop with an insane hill. But this year they’ve apparently changed the course completely, so I’m hoping for a better experience this time around. Especially since I’ll have my partner-in-crime to run it with this year, and you know I just want any excuse to wear matching costumes…

I know that’s a lot of races to run in such a short period of time, so I’m not going into any of these with big hopes for a PR. Bottom line: these are “for fun” races, and I’m going to enjoy the experience and have a good time and, hopefully, reignite my passion for running again. Truth be told, I’m still TIRED, and I’m definitely still feeling a little burnt out. It seems to be getting better now that the weight of running my second marathon is no longer on my shoulders, and I’m now 99.9% sure that was the cause of all my anxiety and the drama and the reason I was struggling so much to get back into the swing of things after Dopey.

There is a part of me that is disappointed that my half marathon PR is STILL from a race that happened a year ago, and that I didn’t end up running “for time” at either of the marathons I ran this year, but I know it’s probably to be expected that I can’t always perform the way I want to when I’m running half marathons every five minutes and completing back-to-back race “challenges” constantly and not giving my legs and my body any time to recover.

I’m definitely not back to a point where I’m looking forward to going for a run, and I know I need a bit more recovery time. Todd and I attempted 3 miles this weekend — our first run since the marathon last weekend — and let’s just say that it turned into more of a leisurely afternoon stroll than anything else. I’m giving myself a training plan break and just taking it one day at a time, and if I want to run, then I will…and if I don’t, then I’ll do something else. I’m making a concentrated effort to make it to either Thai Kickboxing or Taekwondo at least 3-4 times a week, and I’m going to start sparring — it took me forever, but I finally bought all my gear. And if the weather ever warms up, I look forward to doing some cycling again.

Over the summer, I’m going to scale my running quite a bit. I know I’ll need to train for my next big destination race — our trip to California for Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend (I’m doing the Dumbo Double Dare, and Todd is running the half) — but since I always run Disney races for fun, and I’ve already conquered this particular challenge, I’m not looking to put in any hardcore training for this one. I HATE running in the summer, so I’ll get my long runs in and a shorter weekly run or two, and just focus on having fun and taking another trip to Disneyland.

I’ll also do some other local 5Ks and shorter races in the late spring and summer, like the Westfield Pizza 5K and Firecracker 4-Miler that I do every year, but no other major races are on the schedule!

As far as fall races, I’m happy to announce that I officially signed up for the runDisney Tower of Terror 10-Miler (shortly before it sold out) which I will be running with…my sister!

Photo credit: runDisney

Mind you, I know that a large part of the reason that she agreed to run this race with me is because I promised her that we could take a detour to see the new goings-on at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal, but I’m still excited that she has officially agreed to take on yet another big race. I’m still hoping she ends up being bitten by the running bug.

Also in October, Todd and I plan to run the Hershey Half Marathon. I wanted to run it last year but waited too long and it ended up selling out. I love Hersheypark (‘cuz, um, I really like chocolate…) so I know this will be a blast!

As far as committing to any fall marathons, the jury is still out. I entered my name into the lottery for the New York City Marathon on the first day it opened back in December, and we’re supposed to hear back with the drawing results this Wednesday. I know the chances of me getting in are slim to nil, but I’d do ANYTHING to run this race and would be over-the-moon excited if by some chance I’m selected.

Honestly, I can’t seem to set my heart on running any other fall marathon at the moment. Now that I know just what a physical and mental toll the marathon training process took on me, when I DO train for another marathon, I feel strongly that it should be a race that I really want to do.

Todd is considering running the Philadelphia Marathon in November — although I know he is also not quite ready mentally to sign on for another 26.2, haha — but I’m not 100 percent sure I’d want to run that particular race. I’d really like to sign up for a marathon and train my butt off and run it for time, so it’s just a matter of finding the right race for me.

But, most importantly, the last and biggest piece of news is that we are also both strongly considering returning to The World to run the WDW Marathon — TOGETHER — in 2015! That is, of course, also a “for fun” race, so while I hesitate to make the mistake of signing up for two marathons so close together again, the fact that it would be a Disney race would mean that I could, theoretically, take on another 26.2 in the fall and then look forward to running Disney again without the pressure of any time goals in January. There are no words to describe how much I would love running this race together, so, if all goes well then I’ll be back for Marathon Weekend next year!

So, do any of you guys have suggestions for other fall half or full marathons for me?!

What races are you most looking forward to running in 2014?

So, this weekend is also going to be a pretty big deal, because I’ll be taking on my second full marathon. Todd and I are off to Washington, DC to run the Rock N’ Roll USA Marathon.

Photo credit: competitor.com

It seemed more than appropriate because a Rock N’ Roll race (Philly) was Todd’s first half marathon, and our first long-distance race together back in September.

As I’ve discussed here many times in the last several weeks, I’ve been having a tough time since I got back from running the Dopey Challenge. I basically signed on to run the marathon in DC with Todd many, many months ago, long before I crossed the finish line of my first marathon and before I realized just how much of a toll those 26.2 miles can really take on you.

I completed the Dopey Challenge injury-free and ecstatic and so incredibly proud of the accomplishment, but I do feel as though I made a pretty big mistake in agreeing to sign on for another marathon so soon after my first. I underestimated just how much time I would need to recover…not so much physically, but mentally.

The soreness in my legs and feet after Dopey went away within a matter of days, but I think the months and months of marathon training really did have a big effect on my psyche. Over the last few weeks I have struggled. Big time. I am so thankful that I’m not suffering from any injuries and that I physically CAN run…it’s just that I don’t WANT to run. I’m burnt out. Running feels like a chore, and where I used to come home from a run feeling like I was on cloud nine, now I feel defeated and frustrated and just plain exhausted.

Basically, I’ve had no motivation whatsoever, but running a marathon is not something I take lightly, so I have been getting in all of my long runs on the weekend and trying to squeeze in at least two shorter runs during the week. But, as discussed here, I have NOT been following a training plan for my weekday runs, and I’ve been going out sans Garmin quite frequently. I only shortened one long run in my first week back from Dopey, and I skipped the final 20-miler on Todd’s training plan in favor of running the Glass Slipper Challenge.

Trouble is, the runs I HAVE been getting in haven’t exactly been going as well as one might hope. Our most recent 12-miler went okay, but then last weekend’s long run of 8 miles rendered me a big sobbing mess on the floor. The week before the Princess Half, I pretty much had a panic attack during our long run of 19 miles — the miles ahead of me felt endless, and I couldn’t breathe, and then I felt like my body started to fall apart…my legs and then my feet and then my back until I was forced to walk the majority of the final 2 miles.

But no matter what, I haven’t quit. I could have downgraded to run the half this weekend, but I had already put in so much work and there was no way I was going to give up. I may not always make the smartest decisions in the world, but I am NOT a quitter.

At the end of the day, I WANT to run this marathon. Not only to support Todd, but I want to prove to myself that I can run a marathon “for real.” In Disney, I stopped for tons of photo opps and ran through castles and stood in line for pictures and even ran backwards to pick up a piece of my costume that fell off, for crying out loud…and now I face the prospect of a “real” race course without all of the distractions and the excitement of Disney and posing with characters along the way, and I want to see what I can really do.

Granted, I wish my training in these last few weeks had gone a whole lot better. I know I may have to adjust my race-day expectations quite a bit, and I’m okay with that. The most important thing is that no matter what happens to me out there on the race course this Saturday…and no matter what my finish time… I know that I’ve done the best I can. I know I CAN do this, and I know I am READY to do this. Not only that, but I know it’s going to be a blast seeing the sights, whether we end up running together on the race course (he has full permission to ditch me if I have another one of my patented meltdowns, haha) or in exploring the city together afterwards.

Photo credit: competitor.com

I learned something from this experience, and now I know not to bite off more than I can chew and not to let my enthusiasm for running cloud my better judgement ever again. We have spent the majority of our weekends for the past several months knocking out long run after long run after long run, and now we are both long overdue for a BREAK. And that is something I’m very much looking forward to!

Most importantly, I am so, SO incredibly proud of Todd and everything he had accomplished. We are both basically nutcases and we definitely got a little overzealous and ran tons of races together last year. A little over six months after running his first half marathon, he’ll be tackling his first FULL marathon. He has trained so incredibly HARD…he followed his training plan and put in all of the hard work and basically has made me look like a slacker.

There are no words to describe how proud and thrilled I am for him…and I am so excited to see him with his first marathon medal around his neck this weekend!

Photo credit: competitor.com

Have you ever had to adjust your race-day expectations due to training issues?