2 on Tuesday

image via runDisney Facebook page

Late last week, runDisney released the medals for Wine & Dine.  As you know, Wine & Dine is one of my FAVORITE runDisney races.  I have always loved this medal - the iconic Spaceship Earth and running waiter Mickey on it.  The new design this year keeps the waiter Mickey, but loses Spaceship Earth.  I am not sure I like this medal as much as I have in years past.  But in my experience, the runDisney medals are never photographed well.  So, I am keeping my hopes up that it is better in person!

image via runDisney Facebook page

And in some awesome news from runDisney that came today - it is official, there will be a Star Wars race weekend in Disney World!  I mentioned after the Star Wars half in Disneyland, that I had some serious FOMO from this race {and side note from that post, I re-watched all the original Star Wars and now love them (I hadn't seen them since elementary school).  How I went so long without re-watching them is beyond comprehension!  My movie tastes have definitely changed since I was 14.}   Unfortunately, a trip this January to Disneyland was not in the cards, so I was sad I wouldn't be able to do it again.  But a Star Wars race in World?  That I can do!

So, what do you think about the Wine & Dine medals as well as the WDW Star Wars half?  

2 on Tuesday

photo from Disney Parks Blog

photo from Disney Parks Blog

Did you follow anything coming out of the D23 expo this past weekend?  I didn't follow too intensely, but definitely caught the highlights.  The most exciting news to me?  A Star Wars and a Toy Story land are coming to Hollywood Studios!  I am sure it will be years before they are open, but that park is in desperate need of new energy.  I know Disney will do it right, so this makes me soooo excited!

This was the first weekend in a while I was home and I was so excited to be able to do some cooking again.  I am really working on eating clean and healthy this marathon training cycle, so I tried a new recipe from Clean Eating magazine.  It was Beef Quinoa Mini Meatballs with Pomegranate Sauce & Mashed Cauliflower.  It was really good!  I had never made mashed cauliflower before, but it was so easy and yummy.  I wouldn't say it tastes exactly the same as mashed potatoes (mmmm heavy cream and butter), but it's a healthier option (and it's still very yummy).  Any healthy recipes you want to recommend for me?

2 on Tuesday

In this weekends news that shouldn't surprise anyone, Disney officially announced that Maelstrom in Epcot's Norway will be closing and a Frozen ride will be taking its place.  I am not at all surprised by this, but I will miss Maelstrom.  It's always been one of my favorite rides and I'll miss it when it goes away.  But, I have faith in Disney that the Frozen ride will be done right.

I love fall decorations, but my apartment doesn't have a ton of storage space so I don't really have much.  I was at HomeGoods this past weekend and spotted this sign.  I couldn't resist it as I love candy corn (and it was only $4.99!).  I plan on leaving it up all season long.  My one solitary Fall decoration.  I love it!

Let's talk Dopey

We are officially 1 week from Dopey.  At this time next week, I will be 3.1 miles into my 48.6 mile goal.  I can't believe it's here already.

I haven't talked much about Dopey outside of my weekly training recaps.  Partially because I think if I don't talk about it, it's not actually going to happen (denial is my friend, folks) and partially because when I do, I want to go like this:

Image via

I am not going to lie to you, I am pretty terrified about what I am about to undertake.  Seriously, I just want to hashtag everything "whatwasithinking?".  It's a weird feeling.  I am terrified, but it comes and goes.  Really only when I think of the entire thing as one do I really have this reaction.

I just keep telling myself to trust my training.  So far, out of all of my Dopey training, I have only missed 2 runs.  I've had to make some changes and rearranged the schedule at times, but out and out, I've only missed 2 completely.  That alone should be a celebration, because that's a miracle (in my mind).  Being motivated enough to get all but 2 runs in?  Victory.

I've said it before, but I really feel this event is all about the mental game.  Mind over matter.  I know those last 6 miles are going to hurt.  They just are.  I know this is not going to be a PR.  I'm okay with that.  I think going into it with those expectations will really help me manage it.

How am I going to approach it?  One race at a time.  I am not kidding.  I am really trying not to think about the big one (the marathon) until after the half finishes.  There is no need to panic myself way far in advance (I say this, but be fully prepared for the moment when that freak out happens next week).

And race times?  Who knows.  I've always stated this event was never about racing.  It's about finishing and still being able to stand.  Now, that's not to say as I've seen my speed grow this year, I haven't thought about what it would be like to race it.  But I know that's not really feasible because my legs are going to hurt on Sunday.  That's what another marathon at sometime in 2014 is for.  I have no idea what times I am going to be running.  I plan on trying to run slower then usual for the 5K, 10K and Half and then just seeing how my legs feel for the full.  It's anyone's guess on how it is going to go.

I can tell you what I am thinking about so I don't think about Dopey - drinking my way around Epcot on Sunday afternoon (yep, it's happening), eating one of the chocolate macaron ice cream sandwiches in France (we had one at Wine and Dine and it was amazing), how excited I am to eat at California Grill Sunday night post race, eating at Be Our Guest on Monday and plenty of more things (mostly food and booze related).  Let's just hope they are enough to keep me from freaking out!