where have i been?

Hello my friends! It's been a hot minute — NINE months! — since I last posted here on my blog. Some may wonder where I've been, but I doubt too many 😂 I was never really great at keeping up with a weekly training recap, and my posts were sporadic to begin with. I rarely got in a recap of all of the races I did, which were just too many with too little time (if you remember, I'm very wordy) — and so the thought of giving up time with family or being on a computer longer than the work day wasn't appealing. 

Oiselle Volée summer picnic – I biked next to the gals and
then we ate donuts and ice cream and cuties and muffins...

Anyway, a bit of a recap of the past nine months: I work really long hours. Training this year has been sh*t. I ran Dopey in January which was a total blast, but ended in a whole lot of pain in my heels, which I had been dealing with since mid-summer with Chicago Marathon training/race. I took a month off after another January race to try and recover/heal... and it timed out well with what I thought was a busy season at work, but really is just now my life. I dropped from the Illinois Marathon to the half, not being able to fully train with my foot problems and knowing I likely wouldn't make it the whole 26 miles without a lot of tears from pain. I knew it wasn't worth pushing it (though I knew I could finish if I wanted), risking being out of the game longer because of it. So, I continued to run no longer than a half marathon, dealing with the pain.

First ride on the trainer.

I switched shoes – stability to neutral – after going for a fitting. I think my foot and/or gait changed since the year I started running and got officially fit last. I went to see a massage therapist (who was amazing and helped a ton, but then I went to Lollapalooza and undid it all... but I made it all four days with minimal pain, being on my feet all day long, so win!). I'm keeping her in my routine and wonder why I waited so long to do so – it was my first ever massage, and I was nervous that I would be ticklish or uncomfortable, but she was amazing as promised by my running friends that recommended her, and so now I've gone twice with two more sessions on the schedule before the marathon in hopes that I might make it to the start line.

Got the bike into and out of and back into the car
all by myself. Win.

I've gone to the podiatrist, who confirmed that it is indeed Plantar Fasciitis. It's nice to have a diagnosis and not just be guessing. I took some steroids to help with the inflammation. I am currently on week three of no running (he said 2–4 weeks from the date I saw him, which was a little over a week ago). I go back on the 10th to see how things are going. I've been doing all of my rolling, exercises, stretching and icing. I got shoe inserts in hopes they work so I don't have to go orthotics (which he said are very expensive, so to try the ones he recommended first, as he thinks they work great). I've been wearing inserts in gym shoes for work, despite the fact that we aren't supposed to wear gym shoes. No one has said anything yet, but I'm prepared to have a doctor's note if needed haha.

I cheered and helped direct runners
at Fort 2 Base.

Met up with friends for a post-race lunch.

Anyway, I was prepared for a 12 week no running, so to be told 2–4 was a relief. And that it wasn't stress fractures. He knows I want to run the marathon, and said he'd get me back out there as soon as he could, but I also know that it's not worth risking further injury and if he thinks I'm not ready for it (along with my coach and my own feelings), I will go and cheer everyone on instead. It's all up in the air, and I am ready for whichever way the quarter lands. Obviously I'll be disappointed, but my brain and body know what's best, and sometimes you have to quiet your heart and listen. This way, there can be other marathons. I am also aware that I have two race cations planned after the marathon, and so getting to those start lines is VERY important to me, having paid all the money for the trips, so that's also in my mind. 

Second ride on the trainer. Getting the hang of things.

For the time being, I am working on my strength training, stretching, and have been doing more cycling to make up for the no running to keep the cardio there in hopes I won't lose toooo much endurance or muscle during my time off. I also find it extremely challenging mentally, especially when I'm on the trainer... it's worse than treadmill running for me. Woof, those minutes go by sloooooow. And because of that, I think it'll up my game for running. Lucky for my husband, I'm starting to like it, and so he might just get me registered for a duathlon or triathlon next year, like he's been trying to do this past year :)

Disney with mom. We hit the last day of the Food and Wine Festival,
 and then the beginning of Pixar Fest.

I've been going to semi-weekly meetups with my Oiselle Volée teammates all year long (it's one of the things that gets me to leave work on time). They keep me motivated, happy, feeling supported, and are just a great crew to have in my life. I feel lucky to be a part of it. I've had plenty of races. Took a trip to Disneyland with my mom to use our Annual Passes one last time before they expired (and with no runDisney trips out there for the forseeable future, we won't be back for some time). 

I recently bought some new hair tools and products from L'ANGE (blow dryer, 32mm wand, and a bunch of hair care) to try and figure out how to make my hair look more presentable and adult-like for work, instead of the big frizzy mess it usually is. Something about having hair that looks good makes you feel good, too... what a concept haha. The good thing is, most of the tools allow me to get my hair done in 30 minutes or less, which is what  I need. I have a hard time waking up in the morning, so I usually don't leave myself a whole lot of time to get to work when I'm supposed to. Also, you can get 50% off your order with this link if you're interested in anything. Who doesn't enjoy a good discount?

End of the day, but love the waves. Just need a little
more practice and I'll be able to do both sides the same.
I used L'ANGE titanium Ondule 32 mm.

Also in the arena of looking nice for work, I finally decided to buy some (a lot) of Glossier products. I have been eyeing them for a while, and one of my instagram pals, Brit, told me how much she likes them, so I figured it was time to give it a whirl. I'm also fighting some blemishes right now, and thought a new skincare routine would be a good idea. Not to mention, I'll be having a new boss coming into the company in a week, and so I probably should start off on the right foot (aka not looking like a hot mess). Unfortunately looks do matter, and at least while I'm "proving" myself as an amazing worker and designer, better look the part haha. Anywho, if you are interested in Glossier as well, use this link for 10% off your first purchase. I'm hoping to get a review of the products I purchased and my thoughts after a few weeks of using them, if that helps others decide what they might want to try. 

So, that's a quick recap of what's been going on in my world. I've been busy. I'm sure you at least noticed I'm still active on social media, so I haven't been too missed, I don't think ;) I will actively try to get more posts up, if for no one else, for myself. I do miss taking the time out to write down my thoughts on events and daily living, and can be fun to go back and read. For now, I'm sorry if you missed me, and I hope to be back again soon (to blogging AND running!).

rundisney wine and dine half marathon weekend

You guys! It's here! One of my favorite race weekends of the year. The 2017 Wine and Dine Half Marathon will be my sixth year here, AND, it's the race that got me into running and runDisney (and honestly, Disney too – yes, I loved the movies when I was a kid, but I was too busy traveling for Irish Dancing to go to Disney as a kid, so now I'm feeling like a kid when I'm here to make up for it haha).

While I'm still sad it isn't a 5k and half marathon all in one day, with the half marathon at night (I LOVE night running. It's my favorite.), I do enjoy that there is a challenge and I can earn an extra two medals now. Now that I'm older, I really need my naps post-races with those super early morning wake up calls, so having to do that three days in a row really eats into my park time. It used to be just one day 'wasted'  – wake up early, run the 5k, nap and rest all day, run half marathon, party, sleep in Sunday, and rock out the rest of the days. Now it's wake up early, run, nap, park time, bed early. Repeat. Repeat. So I feel like I spend too much time napping rather than having fun at the parks. I'm just so tired these days haha.

Anyway, the expo starts tomorrow and I'm excited to see what all of the merchandise is; runDisney just revealed the race shirts. I really want the kids one with Figment on it! How cute. I like Mickey and all, but I wish the 5k, 10k, and half marathon shirts had just a little more variety to them. I'll make my final decision on them when I see them in person. I'm really hoping that orange is more neon than it seems, but I really like the other colors.



Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (remember to print, sign, and bring your waivers):
Thursday, November 2, 2017 - 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Friday, November 3, 2017 - 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 4, 2017 - 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Check out the event guide here for all the information you need.

The courses look interesting too. Different than last year. I'm a little nervous about the 10k and half you don't get to anything good until mile 4 or so. Plus, starting so close to Magic Kingdom, but not actually running through it kind of stinks. I know this race never has, but with the course changes, and starting in a MK parking lot, it's like why not? haha. I'm really glad the 5k is back at Animal Kingdom and that the half goes through AK, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot like the good old days (though I'll be missing the dancing lights!). 







Regardless of good course or bad course, runDisney races are always a ton of fun, and I'm sure this year will be no different. Who else will be here? Any fun costumes? What are you most excited for? Any social meet ups happening that I'm unaware of and should go to?

my spring goal race is over - now what?

Hello friends! My big goal race of the first half of the year is over and I've finally written all of my posts recapping the experience. If you're interested it's the Illinois Marathon expo + pasta feed, Illinois 5k, and Illinois Marathon. I was extremely pleased with how I did at the marathon – I beat my main goal by over 3 minutes when I wasn't sure I'd even hit my goal during the first half of the race (it was very windy and I just had a lot of doubts rolling through the brain). 

I'm not even sure I've fully processed it yet, as it's been a whirlwind since. The day after I 'ran' another half marathon (with shin pain half way through I pretty much walked the second half... slowly I might add), took a week off, and then was back at it with a half marathon the next weekend, and then a few days later I flew out to California for runDisney Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend, where I spent a lot of time on my feet at the expo, parks, running all three races, and what seems like hours spent in line for everything (purchases at expo, corrals, security, to get into parks, and then waiting for all of the rides). I had some sore feet, let me tell you.

Anyway, I have three more weekends of races and then will have a bit of a break in the summer (it gets too hot here, and with humidity (I get sick in that kind of weather) I only do a few races throughout the months rather than every weekend haha).

Upcoming races include:
Chicago Spring Half Marathon on 5/21 (use code BRCHI17 for $10 off) 
Soldier Field 10 Mile on 5/27 (use code BibRaveSF1017 for a free water bottle)
Ridge Run 5k on 5/29
North Shore Classic Half Marathon on 6/4 (use code BibRaveNSC17 for a free water bottle)
Chicago Bears 5k on 6/24
Rock n Roll Chicago 5k on 7/15 
Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon on 7/16 (use code BIBRAVE15 for $15 off half valid until 7/9)
Burgers and Beer 5k on 7/17
BTN Big 10k on 7/23 (use code BibRaveBTN17 for a free water bottle)
Chicago Half Marathon on 9/24

Ok, so maybe more races than I let on haha, but it's not EVERY weekend like this past month has been so it seems like less to me.

Those races will be for fun. I never push too hard during RnR weekend because it's usually 90 degrees and 100% humidity. Ick. I'm supposed to be in recovery mode, and instead of short miles on the weekend, I'm running half marathons. So far my body is holding up, but I think not pushing too much is the key. Not running for PRs here, and for runDisney I ran with my mom and we stopped for photos.

So other than these fun races I'll be doing, what else is on the agenda? Well, my next big goal race is Chicago Marathon. I'd REALLY like to get under 6 hours. I'll have to shave off 6 minutes from my current PR, and about 16 minutes from last year's finish time. I think it's doable, but closer to race day I'll talk strategy and finish times with my coach and see what he thinks is realistic. Training should start up next month I think.

I wasn't great about keeping up with my hydration game during vacation (I mean, I can only buy so many bottles of $3 waters), so my goal for the rest of the month is to get back to where I was before the marathon and drinking at least 64oz of water a day. I should be drinking more based on my weight, however, getting to 64 is a big deal for me, as I used to probably only drink 20oz a day. Once I can hit 64 consistently, I'll try upping it. 

Another thing I need to start focusing on again is strength training. I haven't been doing a great job with that in a while, and I need to get back in the habit. Not only to strengthen the muscles I need for running and to stay injury-free, but I also would love to lose some body fat. Going along with this, I want to focus more on my nutrition. I need to get back in the habit of weighing and tracking all of my food to make sure I'm getting the nutrients I need and not too much sugar/unhealthy fats. This is tough for me, as I absolutely love unhealthy foods. I don't drink as much beer as I used to, but I certainly enjoy it so that can add up to. I hate tracking it all, but I know it's the best way to be conscious of what I'm putting in my body and how much of it.

Do you set different goals throughout the year or have a few that you maintain all year round? I tend to need to re-evalutate throughout the year to help keep me focused. What are you hoping to achieve the second half of 2017? I know we are still in May, but with my goal race over, it was time to look again and see what I wanted to do for the rest of the year (besides having fun, of course).

tinker bell half marathon weekend

Can you believe it's already Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend? This trip really came up fast for me. I was so preoccupied with the Illinois Marathon and then being swamped with work I barely had time to get my packing done! Of course I did, and hopefully I have everything I need.

I figured I'd post a few last minute reminders for anyone coming to Disneyland for the weekend.

You can find the event guide here.

Make sure to print out your waiver(s) for your races – 5k, 10k, half marathon, and/or Pixie Dust Challenge.

Once you know your bib number, you can check out the corrals: Pixie Dust Challenge or Half Marathon.

Are you running the challenge? Make sure to get a photo at the expo with your bib (that's usually right next to where you pick your bib up).

Expo Hours are in this great graphic posted by runDisney

Looking for course maps?
5k
10k
half marathon

Remember to grab your bib numbers, shirts, and any pre-purchased merchandise while you're at the expo – Dooney purses, weekend jackets, pins, etc.

I plan on attending the Sparkle Athletic meet up on Friday at 10:30 am in Downtown Disney (near Rainforest Cafe) and the We Run Social meet up on Saturday at 12pm (details in graphic below). Anyone else going? Please say hi to me if you see me and recognize me. I can be really shy, but I'm trying to come out of my shell!

I'm thrilled to be running my fourth Tinker Bell Half Marathon! Who else will be here? What are you most looking forward to?

spring marathon training: week 2

Monday, October 31: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Tuesday, November 1: 6 miles (50/30) --> Skipped
Wednesday, November 2: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Thursday, November 3: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Friday, November 4: Mickey's Holiday 5k (3.16)
Saturday, November 5: Wine and Dine 10k (6.44)
Sunday, November 6: Wine and Dine Half Marathon (13.03)

Total Miles for Spring Marathon Training: 48.53 miles

It was another strange week for training as I was traveling to Florida for Wine and Dine weekend at Disney World. I ended up skipping my run on Tuesday because when I got home from work the rest of the night was spent packing. The usual. I knew I'd be walking around a ton at WDW, so I wasn't too concerned. I have my spring marathon narrowed down, but still deciding between two. I'll keep you posted.

Friday was the 5k, I think my mom and I ran 45/30 intervals. We had plenty of time to rest when we stopped for photo ops. I tried to remember to pause and un-pause my watch at each stop to get an accurate reading of what the time we were running was. I meant to compare to my mom's watch (since 5k isn't timed) to see how much of our time was spent waiting for photos. My watch had us at 43:55, which for a crowded Disney race isn't too bad. The one problem with the course is the out and back towards the end, where it's so narrow that you get caught behind a wall of people and can't go anywhere. I doubt there is any way for that to be changed, but it did get frustrating, especially if you are starting farther back in the corrals (I went back to D with my mom and we were near the front of the corral, and even at the start, we got caught by people just walking from the get go... not even an attempt at running through for a minute or two. Oy.), when you stop for photos, you just get farther and farther back with more walkers which makes it hard to navigate. Nothing against walkers of course, as part of my routine is walking, just saying it can be tough to get back up to the pace you want. 

Saturday was the 10k. Early morning number 2. I definitely missed just the 1 early morning and then the late night. Much easier for me to handle than 3 early mornings. Woof. I do believe at this race I forgot to pause my watch for one of the stops, as our 10k is usually around a 1:20 lately. My watch had me at 1:29:57 with 6.44 miles. I think we tried the 45/30 intervals again.

Sunday was our last early morning. Again I tried to pause and start my watch, but I think there was one stop I forgot to pause, and one other one I forgot to re-start after going, so my watch only had me at 13.03 miles, but we all know it is over that from the weaving.

Anyway, Disney was a ton of fun, though I was extremely tired with having to wake up so early three days in a row. I had to take naps in the afternoon to try and make up for it. Woof. I'll hopefully have a fun recap of each race (though don't hold your breath as I generally get so backed up on race recaps that I never get to them haha). Some fun photos at least ;)

What are you currently training for?

prepping for rundisney wine and dine weekend

AHHHHH! Can you believe that it's runDisney Wine and Dine THIS weekend? It seems like yesterday that I was sweating trying to get registered before it closed haha.

This is my 5th year running (and was my first runDisney race ever... the one that got me hooked on not just Disney but running half marathons in general). I've learned a few things about runDisney along the way, and here are a few reminders while you're packing up and heading out. A lot of this was sent in an email about a week ago, but it bears repeating :)

Print your race waiver(s) before leaving & put them into your luggage. You can go here if you haven't done so already.

Are you staying at a Disney resort? Did you get a Magic Band in the mail? If the answer is yes - make sure you have it in your carry on luggage with you. If you are taking the Magical Express, you'll scan your Magic Band at the airport down in the ME area.

Study the Digital Guide (they are no longer printing programs and handing them out at the expo). While I'm glad for the environment, I will miss the printed copy. I used it OFTEN on my trips, and the digital guide is a bit difficult to access/navigate on my phone. I wish they had a version that you could at least create a PDF of or print on your own at home if you wanted (like of the race times/transportation times... I like to check on these things often as I'm paranoid I have the info wrong and need to confirm).

If you are participating in Lumiere's Challenge or Coast to Coast (or Chateau), you'll want to get your photo taken with your bib at the expo. It's usually in the Field House, so just look for signs (it's usually pretty obvious where to go). They've been doing the photos instead of wristbands, so at the end of the half, go through the tent for your challenge to receive your medal (they verify times/photo/bib in the tent).

Put your After Party card in your luggage (you should have received this in the mail within the past couple of days).

runDisney has cracked down a bit on running costumes - check out the event guide for the rules to make sure your outfit will pass the test.

Sign up for runner tracking here.

Weekend Itinerary:

Thursday, November 3
10am – 7pm: runDisney Health and Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports

Friday, November 4
6:30am start: Mickey's Holiday 5k at Disney's Animal Kingdom
10am – 7pm: runDisney Health and Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports

Saturday, November 5

5:30am start: Wine and Dine 10k at Epcot

10am – 4pm: runDisney Health and Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports

Sunday, November 5

5:30am start: Wine and Dine Half Marathon at ESPN WWoS (finish at Epcot)

10pm – 1am (Novemebr 6): Post-Race Party at Epcot! Early entry begins at 8pm

I feel those are the main points, and that any other information needed can be found in the digital event guide. Feel free to leave a question in the comments and I can try my best to answer for you :)

Can't wait to be in the Most Magical Place on Earth! I'm also super excited to eat my way around the world at Epcot Food and Wine Festival. YUM. 

Who else is going? I love meeting new runners - so please say hi if you see me! I'm going to try and stop by the We Run Social meet up at Disney Springs Saturday at 1pm.

final rundisney tinker bell half marathon weekend preparations

Which one of these will you be earning?
I'll be grabbing the first four on the left. Boom!

It seemed like runDisney Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend was so far away! It's hard to believe it's this weekend! Have you started packing and getting everything gathered? A few last minute prep ideas for you...

Source: Disney Parks Twitter

Print out your waivers before leaving. You can do that here. Forget to do this? Don't freak out - they usually have computers/printers set up at the expo (don't take my word for it though, you never know what changes might be made). I'm sure if you are at a hotel, they wouldn't mind helping you out if you needed it.

What corral are you in?

Source: runDisney

Source: runDisney

Give the Official Event Guide a read. You'll find just about anything you need to know in there. Event start times, locations, courses, road closures, etc.

Are you doing the Pixie Dust Challenge? Make sure you get your photo taken with your race bib before leaving the expo on Thursday or Friday. There's usually some signage and plenty of workers/volunteers to help you find where to go if you are lost. After you finish the half marathon, check in at the Challenge tent located at the Finish Line to receive your Pixie Dust Challenge medal.  Yay!

Make sure you get to the expo to pick up your packet – only you can do this, no friends or family can pickup for you! Here are the expo hours:

A little bit of racing etiquette to keep in mind (helpful tips for a happy race for all):

• Walk no more than two abreast.
• If you are walking, try to stay to the right so that runners can pass on the left. Give a hand signal or shout 'Walking' so others around you know you are going to be going from a run to a walk (also helps to look behind you to make sure you aren't stopping right in front of someone else).
• If you have to squeeze through, say 'excuse me'.
• Accidentally knock in to or shove someone? Say sorry.
• See a photographer on course while running? Try not to just stop and pose - they can capture you while running, and an abrupt stop can cause accidents, falls, trips, etc.
• Speaking of abrupt stops – if you need to tie or shoe or are waiting for someone to catch up, step to the side of the course so no one trips over you.
• If you want to run with a friend who is in a different corral, the faster of the two will move back to the slower corral.
• Be kind to your fellow runners and encourage one another!
• Have fun!

Looking to grab yourself a new pair of runDisney New Balance Shoes? Runners get first dibs on them Thursday, while other guests can purchase May 6th or 7th (no virtual queue on these days). If you are running, jump in the virtual queue at 7pm Wednesday evening (May 4th) to try on and purchase footwear on the first day of the expo (May 5th). Once you fill out the form and submit, you'll get a text or email with your group number and return time. On expo day, you'll receive another notice when you're group number is up. You'll want to get there within an hour of your callback notice to ensure access to your requested shoe. Once you're at the booth, check in with an NB associate so they can get your name/confirmation number to get the process started. More information can be found here.

2016 New Balance runDisney Ariel

I plan on attending the We Run Social event at 1pm on Saturday (after the 10k) that's at Trader Sam's. This will be my first social meet-up, so I hope I don't just sit in a corner being shy and instead make the most of it! haha. I should be able to recognize a few faces from social media. Anyone else planning on going?

If you see me at all during Tinker Bell Weekend—whether at the expo, at the parks, on the race course—please don't hesitate to say hi! I understand the whole shy thing, as I'm shy too, but let's be friends :)

Who's all ready to go? I've got some packing to do myself and hoping I remember everything I need. What's on your packing list?

tinker bell half marathon weekend 2016 program guide and courses

Hello all you Tinker Bell runners out there! The Official Event Guide has been posted on runDisney! You can check it out here. You can find just about everything you need to know in there, including Weekend Itinerary, Park Hours, race courses, speakers, road closures, race etiquette, spectator viewing, etc.

Looks like the course ends in a new location near the Disneyland® Hotel/Downtown Disney® this year instead of in the Disney's Paradise Pier parking lot.

Neverland 5k:

Start: Main Street, U.S.A. - Disneyland® Park
Finish: Lilo Parking Lot, near Downtown Disney® District

Tinker Bell 10k:

The course for this race is full of adventure and begins on Disneyland Drive where runners get their first mile on the city streets of Anaheim before flying into Disneyland® Park and getting a peek backstage, arriving at Mickey’s Toontown. While running through Disneyland® Park, participants experience Fantasyland and King Arthur’s Carrousel, Sleeping Beauty Castle and rootin’ tootin’ Frontierland, 999 happy haunts of Haunted Mansion, treacherous jungles of Adventureland, and a touch of Tomorrowland before reaching turn of the century Main Street, U.S.A.. Next, it’s off to Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure® Park, a cruise through Cars Land and shrinking teeny tiny in A Bug’s Land, then winding around the glistening bay of Paradise Pier and into Downtown Disney®. Upon completion of the flight and landing at the finish line, runners finally receive a medal fit for a pixie.

Tinker Bell Half Marathon:

The course for this race is packed with pixie dust, beginning on Disneyland Drive where runners pass under Downtown Disney® on their way into Disneyland® Park. While passing the home of Tinker Bell and her pixie pals at Pixie Hollow, the race continues with a loop around Fantasyland, through Sleeping Beauty Castle, and over to the Rivers of America. Next flying down Main Street U.S.A., it’s off to Disney California Adventure® Park, where racers flitter through each land on their way into the City of Anaheim. Enchanting historic neighborhoods of downtown Anaheim, the new and modern Anaheim Center Street Promenade, and the sights of the town are an ever-entertaining backdrop before it’s back to the Disneyland® Resort for the “Fairy”-tale finish near Downtown Disney®.

Last year was my first year running the Neverland 5k, and I was super excited to learn that it actually started INSIDE Disneyland! It was awesome.

Who is all going? What races are you registered for? Are you getting excited or what? Less than a month away!

2016 tinker bell half marathon weekend: exclusive dooney & bourke purses

The new design for the runDisney Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend Dooney & Bourke purses were released yesterday on the runDisney page. Have you taken a look yet? I'm really digging the colors, personally. Tinker Bell has never really been a favorite Disney character of mine, but she's grown on me over the years, and I've enjoyed running the races during Tinker Bell weekend the past two years. 

Here's a look at the purses:

Prices:
Shopper - $289.44 (middle)
Letter Carrier - $192.24 (left)
Wristlet - $116.64 (right)

What do you think? You can preorder here. Quantities are limited, and remember that you have to pick them up at packet pickup - nothing will be mailed or refunded.

2016 rundisney wine and dine half marathon weekend

As the registration date looms for the 2016 runDisney Wine and Dine Half, I thought I'd do a quick post on the changes that were made this year.

Photo from runDisney Facebook page.

I've done the Wine and Dine half every year since 2012. It was my first runDisney event, and I fell in love. I loved running at night, getting to go through Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot. And then enjoyed some special late night time at Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival. Yummy treats.  It was only my second time to Disney World, my first being when I was a teenager and my parents and I only had time to make it to Magic Kingdom for a day. I've become a tad obsessed with runDisney and Disney in general since running there in November 2012.

Photo from runDisney Facebook page.

As most of you know, The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights had its final season in late 2015 to early December, with a final goodbye on January 6, 2016. With no lights in Hollywood Studios and all of the construction going on, it seemed a likely decision that HS would be taken out of the Wine and Dine course. So sad. I'm not sure about you, but I was not expecting the amount of changes they ended up making.

As Annual Passholders began to have anxieties over early registration on March 8, when an announcement came on March 7 that registration would be delayed while they put the final touches on the weekend. Most people were speculating as to what the changes would be. I was pretty annoyed that the registration date had changed, as it takes some special scheduling to make sure I'm able to be at a computer at 11 ready to register. Anyway...

Luckily, we didn't need to wait TOO long to find out. They announced the New Items on the Menu on March 10.

runDisney added a new challenge to the weekend (Lumiere's Two Course Challenge = 10k and half marathon), but with this change came a disappointing news. The Wine and Dine Half would no longer be a night race. Womp womp. I know a lot of people hate night races, but it was one of the things I loved most about this race. I am not a wake up early and run kind of person – I much prefer running at night. But I digress.

Also, with the night race being gone along with Hollywood Studios construction and no more Osborne Lights, there will be a course change. There isn't a map up yet (those come usually pretty close to the event), but it does mentions the 13.1 mile course through ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (does this mean something similar to the marathon? That was my least favorite part of the race... I almost could have managed more highway instead if you can believe it), Animal Kingdom, and Epcot. I imagine the 10k will be similar to the 10k course for Marathon and Princess weekend. 

With the challenge meant that the race weekend would begin on Thursday with the expo, Friday morning would be the 5k, Saturday morning the 10k, and Sunday morning the half. Don't worry – there's still an after party. This is one change that ends up being good for me and I'll explain why.

The After Party now takes place Sunday night from 8pm–1am at Epcot. From what I understand, the After Party was for runners only, and for friends and family that purchase a ticket. On the runDisney website it mentions after-hours at Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, so that's what I'm taking from it. 

Anyway, with your exclusive entry (either from being a half marathon runner or purhcase a ticket) you get early entry into Epcot at 8pm, can purchase indulgent offerings from more than 30 Global Marketplaces at the International Food and Wine Festival, ride select Epcot attractions, enjoy character meet and greets, and listen to musical performances.

Why is the After Party a better deal for me than it was before? Because I'll be able to enjoy it the entire time! Being a slower runner meant quite a bit of my After Party time was spent running, with only maybe 2 hours left to enjoy the party (once taking photos, getting through security, etc). So, though I am very disappointed it's a morning race now, I'm excited to enjoy all 5 hours of the After Party.

Photo from runDisney Facebook page.

Schedule of Events:
Expo: November 3–5 at ESPN WWoS
Mickey's Holiday 5k: Friday, November 4 at Disney's Animal Kingdom. 6:30am
Wine and Dine 10k: Saturday, November 5 at Epcot. 5:30am
Wine and Dine half marathon: Sunday, November 6 at 5:30am. Start at ESPN WWoS, Finish at Epcot. 
Post Race Party: November 6 at Epcot from 8pm–1am

Entry Fees:
Lumiere's Two Course Challenge: $330
Wine and Dine Half Marathon: $190
Wine and Dine 10k: $120
Mickey's Holiday 5k: $70

If you plan on registering, take note that only you can pick up your race packet. 

If you are an Annual Passholder, get ready for early registration beginning Tuesday, March 22 at 11am CT. Regular registration opens a week later on March 29 at 11am CT.

Photo from runDisney Facebook page.

While disappointed with a few changes, generally I'm still excited for this race. Not all the changes are bad, and it is Disney, so it'll still be lots of fun. As long as I can score a registration spot... Keep those fingers crossed for me, would you?

Who's registering for the 2016 Wine and Dine? Which races? Are you disappointed in the changes? Thoughts?