Things Can Only Get Better!

So true!

I had so many goals for the year 2013. None of which I was able to accomplish "as is". Unforeseen injuries will do that to a person. So what do you do when goals can not be completed because of circumstances beyond your control? You let those goals evolve into something new. And so my goals evolved into simply completing the races I had signed up for. But even that had to change to finishing the races that I ran in and not quitting. I can honestly say I did my best and finished those races I ran in. Does this make for a successful year or a year of failure?

I believe it was a year of success. Why? Because I learned some lessons that in the end will make me a better person and eventually a better runner. And just what lessons did you learn, Cristina? Well, I am glad you asked.

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that what I tell you now is my own experience and should be taken as such. If you are injured by all means see a doctor!

Lesson #1 Get a second opinion!
At one point in our lives we will put in the training and then get injured. We will be told to either a) Hang up your running shoes forever (see another doctor) or b) Heal up and then start to slowly get back out there.

When I first got injured after the Walt Disney World Half Marathon my podiatrist told me to just quit running and then he slapped a boot on my foot. I quickly figured out that this man was not a runner and just didn't understand. But I did take his advice, I transferred my bib for a foam race to my niece, and then sought out some knowledge from the internet. I slowly got better. But I wasn't healed when I did the Expedition Everest Challenge in May and I paid for it with pain. Would I run again? I had to get some answers and some help! 

This time it was in the form of a sports medicine/chiropractor. It did help... a ton. He assured me that I didn't need to give up running and that we could get me back out there on the trail. Then he electrocuted me, used medieval torture devices, and basically helped me to begin to heal. Note: I have a high pain threshold so it isn't his fault that we didn't know I wasn't ready for the Tower of Terror Ten Miler. But I felt great! I didn't feel 100% but not many people do before a race, right? Someone is always battling some injury. I felt way better (although I had a little bit of pain still) and I thought if I toughed it out I could finish but I wouldn't be setting a new PR. Little did I know I would be setting a new PR in my pain threshold! Which leads to...

Lesson #2 Never give up...but be smart about it!
If you clicked on the Tower of Terror Ten Miler link then you know what happened. I pushed and did not quit the race! But the next month I was getting more treatments , not running, yet healing. I did make the decision to transfer my Thanksgiving day Run 4 the Pies Race bib to my niece again. You have to be smart about your injuries and like Kenny Rogers says in "The Gambler"..."know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.". During the race I knew I wasn't injuring myself any further and that I could push and so I did. However, I didn't want to go into a race knowing I may have to quit halfway in because I was permanently damaging myself.That is why I transferred my bib. I knew I had to heal and so I am. I had to re-evaluate what the causes could be and what to do to prevent that pain again. So, in my opinion, it is better to not start a race because you are being smart about what you know you are ready for rather than dropping out mid-race because you were an idiot and disregarded all of the warning signs that you shouldn't have run that race in the first place. Healing time is our friend. Which leads me to...

First run with no foot pain!
3 miles, baby!

Lesson #3 Time is both a friend and an enemy in a runner's life!
Why is time an enemy in a runner's life? Because it can both try your patience (when healing) and your nerves (when the balloon ladies are breathing down your neck). Right now I think time has been my friend. I have taken the time to do some physical therapy. It has helped me heal so much. I think at this point I am at 85% ready for my 10k in two weeks. My foot feels good...very good (knock on wood) but my lungs are bad...very bad. I have lost my endurance. But I kind of don't care about that. I know I will get it back. I am just jazzed about my feet. On Saturday I ran/walked 3 miles with no foot pain and no numbness. This is the first time that has happened in almost a year! If the only thing that bothers me during the 10k is lack of endurance and lung power then I am okay with that. I would rather have a tough race than a painful one.

So, in my opinion I have had a successful year of lessons learned. Yes, my original goals went down the proverbial crapper. Who cares about the original goals when the trials you endured give you new insight into yourself? I have a whole new year to make entirely new goals and have those goals evolve into something else. The point is I HAVE GOALS and I intend to always strive to accomplish them. Therefore, I will always be successful because I will never give up trying to become a better me. So was my year a failure or a success? I have indeed had a very successful year. Here's to the new one!

Walt Disney World Half Marathon 2013 Part 1...All things pre-race!

Yes, I did it! Resolution #1 (completing a half marathon) accomplished and bucket list item checked off! It was fantastic and so worth every mile. Where to begin? We can begin with the expo.I will try to make this part of the journey short so we can get to the good stuff. 

For anyone who has never been to a Disney race they always have an expo. That is where you pick up your race bib and goodies. This time it was in two different buildings at The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. I helped my family find the packets they needed to officially "chEAR" me on, picked up my own bib, and then we said goodbye. Karen (my fartlek buddy and friend) wanted to listen to one of the speakers talk about GU. I grabbed Caitlin (my 14 year old niece) to head over to the other building to get our bags with our shirts. Holy line Batman! It circled a field and then went into the building! We got into the line and chatted with a few people while we slowly made our way around the field. I wish I had had my camera with me. It was a sight.

I texted Karen to ditch the lecture and join us in line or forever endure the consequences. It took us about 20 minutes to get into the building.We got our bags and went exploring.

Mutant Minnie cheers our future victory!

The expo had some really fun things to see, do, and buy. One of the "things to do" was the Cigna booth that let you put on the medals and pose like you finished your race. We did it but were afraid to wear the medals. Bad mojo in our minds. New Balance also had a picture op that was crazy and lots of fun to do. Unfortunately, after exploring and shopping we were too late to listen to any of the speakers. Man, was that expo crowded!

More free pictures!

I ended up buying two things at the expo...one was an iFitness hydration belt and the other was the new runDisney vinylmation Mickey with a Donald Half Marathon medal. My own Nathan belt was hard and cumbersome. The new belt was soft and snug. The Mickey was just too cute to pass up. My idea is to bring him along on any trips I take in the future. Plus, he was just too awesome to pass up.

Awwwww yeah!

Time just kind of flashes by at that place. We ended up exploring, sampling, and shopping for a few hours before making our way back to the hotel. I had been given a huge gift (Christmas/birthday) from my parents...Disney's Art of Animation Resort! This is a cartoonist's dream hotel. I absolutely loved it and will definitely stay there off season in the future. Animation sketches are everywhere...inside walls, outside walls, ceilings, and in your room. We were at the Lion King section so the property had life size versions of the characters positioned in a winding "jungle". They even had the elephant graveyard!


But I digress. We were starving by the time we made it back to the hotel. I had a really hard time trying to figure out what to eat. Do I go vegetarian so my stomach doesn't feel like lead? Meat like hamburger so I have protein to burn? I ended up getting a pulled pork sandwich with some coleslaw. The coleslaw was gross but the sandwich was good. Ended up just eating the meat though. Then I had a chocolate chip cookie. I really need to bone up on what to eat pre-race. Is it confusing for you guys or do you have a planned eating schedule? Advice will be well received in the comment section below.

Fish are friends...not food!

So now it was time to sleep. I made my way to my room and noticed they were showing "Finding Nemo" right outside my window. Greeeaaaat. Normally I would have been thrilled but I wanted to make sure I could sleep. Now I was going to have to use my ear plugs and I was afraid I would sleep through the alarm. My nerves got the better of me and I over compensated. I set my chicken alarm (no one sleeps through that thing) to 2 a.m., my cell alarm to 2:15 a.m., and I scheduled a wake up call at 2:30 a.m.. 

The most comfortable Murphy
bed I have ever slept in!

Nothing was going to make me and my niece miss this race. Not even Nemo. I laid out everything for the race, made sure my tunes were fully charged, and crawled into bed.By 8 p.m. I was sound asleep and dreaming of lining up at my first half marathon in just a few short hours.





Click here for Part Two The Race!