Aloha!

Just got back from a weeks vacation on the Big Island - Hawaii.

My sweetie and I took our road bikes and did many KM's on the island (including part of the Ironman route - wow!). You need to be sure you know how to change your tire if your biking on the Big Island, the roads are not that clear, tons of debris and we managed to get a flat while we were biking the Ironman route.

Did a few runs while I was there - one thru an old lava field which was pretty incredible (see photo).

Our last night there we watched the sunset on Alii Drive (you guessed it - where the Ironman starts and finishes - see photo). I saw where they start the swim, the bike and where they finish the run. A local there told me that regular people can do the Kona Ironman, if they want to pay a larger entry fee of $1000.00, so over several glasses of wine my sweetie and I decided that I would try, in 2015 to enter the Kona Ironman (yahoo!!). For now I have been given the go ahead to sign up for the Pentiction Ironman in 2013-2014. This is a big deal - I can't believe I got the ok from my other half!

Another Goofy Done

I am back from Orlando where the 2012 Goofy was held this past weekend. Most of you are familiar with the small gang of us who have been training for the Goofy for the past 7 months, finally the day came when we had to put that training to the test. We arrived last Thursday in Orlando ready to run but first we had to pickup our race packages at the World Wide of Sports a large complex at Disney World and a very busy one. The expo provided was a really good but so busy that getting around was difficult and if you did not like enclosed spaces and large crowds you were in trouble.

That evening we ate our dinner early and prepared ourselves for our event that weekend.

Saturday Morning - Donald Duck 1/2 Marathon (Approx. 16,500 people)

We had to get up to catch the 3:15 a.m. bus to Epcot Centre where we gathered in a holding area (concrete) until it was time to start the race. Once we were given the go ahead, we walked about 1 km to the start line which took a good 1/2 hour or more where we all got into our corrals (I was in H last one) everyone else was in a corral ahead of me.

The race for me started at about 6:30 a.m. and I ran this one by myself. I kept my throw away clothes on for about 5K as it was really cold that early in the morning. The race course was flat and took us thru the Magic Kingdom where we had a chance to run thru Sleeping Beauty's castle and stop for photos with various characters.

I ran using my heart rate monitor so my pace was pretty slow, but that was ok cause I did not wish to run the half marathon fast if I had to run the full the next day. It was a tougher half than most due to the amount of walkers and congestion on this run. You were always weaving in and out of people.

There was plenty of entertainment along the half marathon route but I made the mistake of keeping my music on the whole route so I missed some of it. There were tons of spectators along the route right up to the finish line. Once I got the finish line I took out my head phones so I could hear the cheering crowds, I looked for my special cheerleader (my hubbie) and sure enough there he was in the stands waiting for me. It is always a great feeling to cross that finish line with him cheering me on!

I finished the half marathon in about 3:10 and was glad it was over. However, I have to admit that when Jeff found me with me with my friends I confided to him that I was not looking forward to doing the full the next day.

Sunday Morning - Mickey Mouse Marathon (Approx. 11,000 people)

Got up at 2:45 a.m. again for the marathon, wasn't nervous or excited just knew I had to get it done and over with and I also knew I had done it before so for sure I could do it. Again we were held in the holding area and then did the 1k walk to the start line. I was in corral H but snuck into corral G so I could start with everyone. It was not as cold as it was Saturday so a little more bearable waiting to start. The American National Anthem was sung then a moment later our group starting belting out Oh Canada - it felt good.

About 15 minutes went by and the next thing you know we were underway. My legs felt pretty good, mind was clear and I knew I had made the right choice and was glad I was there.

The marathon was great, this time I did not listen to my music instead I paid attention to what was happening around me, music, characters, spectators, other runners, the road and my running buddy, Warren.

I was loving this marathon, I will not say it was easy but it certainly wasn't hard. Everything worked and nothing was shutting down. 21k came and went and I only had 21k more to do (I know only 21k more) but I had a great running buddy and we stuck together like glue (well except for the 4k that i lost him when he went to the washroom, but we found each other).

At about 41k Warren and I decided to walk 1k then run the rest in. Once we hit Epcot we started running and the next thing we knew there was the finish line. Again I looked into the stands for my special cheer leader and there he way waving his hat waiting for me. I crossed the finish line holding Warren's hand and that was that - another Goofy under my belt.

Our group was waiting for us when we were done and had received our medals (yes I said medals - 3 of them) and then we went back to the finish line to cheer in one more of our team before we went back to the hotel for some rest before our celebration dinner that evening.

So, you ask will I do it again. Well I said that this would be my last marathon but on the plane home one of my co-runners suggested the Niagara Falls Marathon...my hubbie looked at me and said "so it starts".

Am now back home, tired, sick and have to work in the morning. I am glad marathon training, I'll miss running with my buds but I am looking forward to putting 100% into iron man training.

Wish Me Luck

This weekend I am running Goofy, this is goal #1 for 2012.

This will be the 2nd time I have done this race, hoping to do a bit better than last time, but I'll just be happy to finish and get those wonderful medals (yes medals you get three of them). I plan on doing my race running with my heart rate monitor on so when it beeps, and it will beep, I'll be slowing down.

I am pretty relaxed about this race, to be honest I am just happy the training is over and the race is here. I always dislike training for a marathon - seems so long. But no longer! Race day is just around the corner.

So, wish me luck.