First Eighty Degree Day

Spring might not be officially here yet, but you could have fooled me.  Wow!  Today was wicked.  Two things happened today.

1.  In honor of the start of the new running season, I made a major overhaul to my iPod playlist.  The songs from last November that pushed me through the marathon, well, they aren't doing it anymore...I know a lot of people like to workout to music, but for me it is key.  I have analyzed my songs for beats per minute and have tried to put together upbeat music that is also a perfect candence for running.  That's pretty OCD. 

2.  It was the first true day of "spring" running.  My car has it at 80 degrees.  I had nine miles planned for today.  True, I ran 13.1 in this weather two weeks ago at the Princess in Orlando, but racing is different.  I tanked today.  6.5 in it was blisters, dehydration, and overheating.  Having to stop for traffic for a couple of minutes didn't help either...everything just seized up. 

I think the take away from all of this...no spring races for me.  I learned my lesson.  Races are late summer and fall events.

Massages are Scheduled!

I might not have a hotel reservation yet, but I have massages scheduled!  How about that for prioritization?

In my opinion, successfully completing the Dopey is going to require massages.  (Actually, I will use any excuse to get a massage.  This one just happens to be applicable in this situation.)  So despite the fact that the event is still 293 days away, I have a 50 minute massage booked following the half marathon and an 80 minute massage booked following the marathon. 

The best part - since I booked two services I get $50.00 off the total price.  Spending money to save money!  Maybe 9+ months in advance is overkill, but I don't want to risk them booking out.

Now, all I need is that hotel reservation!

Countdown to the Dopey Begins

Registration for the 2012 Disney World Marathon weekend opened yesterday.  I was so excited!  This date has been on my calendar for months.  Being able to register makes the whole thing seem real - even though it is still 294 days away!

A day before registration opened, my husband received an email for a discount on registration.  Being a Disney Visa cardholder certainly has its rewards.  So yesterday morning I signed on to Active.com and registered for the following:
1.  Disney 5k - Friday
2.  Disney Half Marathon - Saturday
3.  Disney Marathon - Sunday

Running 2 and 3 is officially recognized by Disney World as "the Goofy Challenge". However, running all three events is unofficially known by runners as "the Dopey Challenge".  Three days, three races, four medals. 

It has been tough running all winter.  I haven't gotten the miles in January and February that I would have preferred.  Two weeks ago I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Disney World and it was tough.  (Not enough training and too hot.  Forty degrees warmer than it has been at home.  The polyester princess costume didn't help either!)

So I consider today my first REAL day of Spring Training.  Time to get back out there and start logging miles. 

"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."
          - Juma Ikangaa, Tanzania

Nice easy nine miles!  I am back!!