i'm back! a recap of the past few weeks.

I DID IT! Dopey Challenge Complete!

Hi guys! Just wanted to write a post and apologize for my absence. I've been a busy lady these past two weeks, and honestly, writing up blog posts was the last thing on my mind, and I'm ok with that. I had such a great time meeting up with friends, and making some new ones, along with all of the fun races.

Anyway, I am back and hope to play catch up the remainder of the month with blog posts and reading all of my friends posts as well. Hope you have all been great and have been having some wonderful runs and races. 

Here's a little recap of the past few weeks since my last week in review December 22–28.

Dopey Challenge Training: Week 27

Monday, December 29: rest day

Tuesday, December 30: rest day

Wednesday, December 31: rest day

Thursday, January 1: rest day

Friday, January 2: rest day

Saturday, January 3: rest day 

Sunday, January 4: hike at Bullfrog Lake in the snow

Weekly mileage: 0 miles

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: 370.26 miles

So, I was still battling the cough and sinus infection this week and just continued to rest/sleep the best I could. I figured at this point it was the best thing I could do for myself before the big races in Florida. On Wednesday we had a wedding to celebrate, along with NYE, so that was really fun, though a late evening. January 1 we went to my in-laws to hang out with the family and my sister-in-law and her family for the last time before they headed back home to AZ. 

Other than that, not much to report. I started to get my gear and packing list ready for the next week.

Dopey Challenge Training (RACE WEEK): Week 28

Monday, January 5: rest day

Tuesday, January 6 fly to Orlando!

Wednesday, January 7: WDW Expo

Thursday, January 8: WDW 5K (3.21 miles)

Friday, January 9: WDW 10K (6.34 miles)

Saturday, January 10: WDW Half Marathon (13.35 miles) 

Sunday, January 11: WDW Marathon (26.84 miles)

Weekly mileage: 49.74 miles

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: 420 miles

What a whirlwind of a week! It snowed the night before we left, and a little in the morning, so I was concerned with getting out on time, but other than having to wait for our pilots/crew from another flight, there weren't any other issues. We left about 30 minutes late, but were only about 10 minutes late landing thanks to some tailwind. We checked in to the hotel, unpacked a little, and headed to Magic Kingdom for some rides and fun.

Fun at Animal Kingdom.

On Wednesday I woke up early to sign up for the NB Virtual Queue and then hit up the expo when it opened so I could ensure I got the Dopey merchandise that I wanted in the correct size. It was a bit of a madhouse, but I managed to get everything I had my eye on. I'll speak more in detail about the expo in another post, and each race will probably also get their own post as well.

I will say that the Dopey Challenge was very tough, but very rewarding. There were tears, as predicted, for many reasons – pain, exhaustion, relief, pride. Basically, there were a whole lot emotions running through me the entire race. I still can't believe that it's over! All the hard work and 29 weeks of training DONE. It's like... now what?! Haha. I actually have a half marathon this upcoming Saturday, so obviously I still have plenty on my plate, but I don't have a training schedule put in place yet, so that's weird. It was something on my calendar that I followed almost religiously, so to not have that feels like something is missing.

Dopey Challenge Training: Week 29

Monday, January 5: rest day - head to Disney Dream Cruise!

Tuesday, January 6 Nassau

Wednesday, January 7: Castaway Cay 5K (3.1 miles)

Thursday, January 8: rest day

Friday, January 9: debark, spend a lot of time at the airport, fly home

Saturday, January 10: rest day 

Sunday, January 11: rest day

Weekly mileage: 3.1 miles

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: XXX miles

The day after successfully completing the Dopey Challenge, I went on a Disney Cruise to run the Castaway Cay 5K and received the Castaway Cay Challenge medal :) I didn't have any cell service (except briefly when I turned it on in port in the Bahamas so I could email my husband) and I wasn't going to pay for internet access on the ship, hence why my week in review posts have been missing and why I am now trying to catch up... did anyone actually miss me or my posts? Haha.

Enjoying some sun, beach, ocean, and beer at Castaway Cay.

I have other half marathons on my list for the upcoming months, and I'd really like to get a PR of under 3:00 hours, so that's my next big goal. I know it's feasible as I was getting faster throughout 2014, I just wasn't going for any times during most of my races, I was stayed with my mom and had fun with her for most of them. 

Time to start getting together my next training plan. I think my goal race will be a local half in the beginning of May. It's a fairly flat course with an out and back, so as long as the weather isn't too warm, I think it's the perfect race to set my sights on. 

week in review; april 21–27

This was a bit of a lazy week... I'm a bit embarrassed!

Monday, April 21
rest day
I spent the day at work and then lounged on the couch, our busy weekend and 9.5 mile run on Sunday had worn me out.

Tuesday, April 22
rest day
I woke up with a migraine, so decided to sleep in instead of go for a run. I knew it was going to be a bit of a stressful day, with Walt Disney World Marathon weekend going on sale at 12 EST. I had decided to register for the Dopey Challenge (5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon in four consecutive days). I was a bit nervous to take the plunge, but I did! It was pricey, but I'm hoping worth it. I know that with the proper training, I can accomplish this goal, and cross the challenge off of my bucket list. It's going to be a lot of hard work, and very time consuming, but I'm ready for it. I also know it's going to take a lot of time away from my family and friends, but they are supportive and understanding. I am nervous about going for my first full marathon (though I am in the process of looking for a fall to compete in as a warm-up/trial), but I just have to believe that if I put in the work, I can do it. And as has been the recent trend, most of the events sold out within hours. What's left currently is Goofy and a Half Challenge and the full marathon. Anyway, after work, I headed up to trivia, as usual.

Wednesday, April 23
strength training - arms and abs

Thursday, April 24
2.1 miles on the treadmill

Friday, April 25
rest day
I woke up feeling pretty crappy. I could feel a new sinus infection was working its way in, so I tried to get as much rest, water, and vitamins as possible for the day.

Saturday, April 26
rest day (though it wasn't very restful at all!)
Saturday was spent outside standing for about 12 hours straight. My husband and I (along with some friends) had scored tickets to Dark Lord Day. A little bit about DLD: Dark Lord Day is the only day of the year to buy Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout. It is a festival where participants can meet other beer enthusiasts, sample beers from all over the world, buy Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout, enjoy good food, listen to live music and generally have a great time. It was a really fun day, where we made new friends and got to taste a lot of different beers that we would never have the opportunity to try otherwise, including one from Belgium. Unfortunately, it was freezing! Before I left the house, it seemed warm out, and I was worried I had over-dressed. On the contrary. It was SO windy, that even with the sun out, I was practically shivering. It would warm up for a minute, when the wind had died down, but then it would start back up again. Because we were so cold, we never stopped to think about the fact that the sun was out and we were getting burnt. The next day, I woke up with a pretty bad burn on my entire face (minus where my sunglasses were), and poor DH had it all on his neck and face. My neck was protected by my jacket collar being pulled up all day, thankfully. Anyway, there's our lesson. We didn't get home till late, even though I thought for sure I'd have time to get in a long run either when we got home, or have the energy to run before all of my events for the day Sunday.

Sunday, April 27
rest day
No long run, like I had hoped. I was very tired and sore from standing/walking around all day, and slept in, thinking I'd squeeze one in at night. I should have known better. I met a friend from college for lunch and then headed out to a four year olds birthday party for most of the day. When I got home around 6, I did some laundry, watched tv and went to bed at 9. The sinus infection felt a bit better today, but I am still trying to stay hydrated and get lots of rest. I have a half marathon in a week, and would like to do well and feel good while running it.

Overall, not a great week for me (running wise), but glad I was able to register for Dopey without much hassle (though lots of stress. If you've registered for runDisney events recently, you know what I'm taking about). I'll definitely have to be MUCH better at getting in my runs once that training plan begins in July. I'm not really following anything at the moment, which I think is my downfall. 

How was your week? Did you race or have a long run? Are you a beer enthusiast?