October Running Recap

After two great races in September, I was really looking forward to a "slow" month in October. Famous last words! My back to back Wine and Dine Challenge training runs really picked up and we started up with a big one!

I started out the month trying to really clean up my diet. I took a nutrition break over the summer to just enjoy eating more of the things I don't eat as much during running season because they just aren't great running fuel for me. But I really wanted to reset before Wine and Dine. I definitely felt the effects of switching up my diet on my 4 mile and 12.5 mile runs the first weekend in October. It was still hot and humid so my runs were slow. My legs were still getting used to my new zero drop Altras but it was a successful weekend.

For my next weekend, I only had a 4 mile run and it was a glorious 69F when I started running! It's been a long, hot summer so I really enjoyed getting to run in this cool weather. Too bad it didn't stick around for long!

Then came my longest run before taper! I did a very soggy 5 miles in my Vibrams. I'd never run that far in them before and I wanted to see if I could use my Vibrams as a back up for the 10k during Wine and Dine weekend in case it was raining. I did fine for the five miles and think I could definitely do a 10k in them. Unfortunately, the 14 miles the next day did not go as well. Part of it was that it was >90% humidity and a high of 90F. But part of it was that my calves and arches were really sore from running in my Vibrams the day before. I ended up walking the last two miles.

But after that, it was into taper and I focused on fueling well and doing proper recovery! And it is good to know that a 10k in my Vibrams is not a good plan A for Wine and Dine weekend. I doubt I'll be running for a PR given the weather predictions but I think my feet will be much better off in my Altras. Fingers crossed for no rain race weekend!

This past weekend also was not great running wise. I got a migraine Saturday night and it was still in full force Sunday morning so I went back to bed and skipped my run. Being that it's taper week and my body obviously was screaming for rest, I think that was the best option. I did get to do some yoga Saturday morning which felt really great after a very high milage month. I really want to do more yoga going forward. I did allow myself some vegan chocolate cake because chocolate makes things better.

Wine and Dine is coming up this weekend so I'm going to go and start packing. Expect to see race weekend posts next week and be sure to follow me on Instagram @stephandless if you want to follow along this weekend. Until then, check out some of my 2019 runDisney race recaps.

5 Last Minute Tips for Wine and Dine Weekend

Wine and Dine weekend is almost here! If you are running the half or the challenge, we've got our longest long run this weekend and then it's taper time. At this point in the training cycle, there's not much more we can do on the training front but I've got a round up of five last minute tips you still have time to implement before race weekend.

1. Bring a folder for your bib at the expo.

The expo is most people's first stop of race weekend and there is a lot to see and do. The most important thing you'll do is pick up your race bib. You will get a gEAR bag that you can shove your bib in but I'm always worried about mine getting all bent up in all of the hustle and bustle of the expo. I always bring a folder to stow my bib in. It's nice and light and will keep your bib safe as you do your shopping. Plus it's a great place to keep your waivers on your way to the expo.

2. Start a packing list and start packing early.

I know not every one is big on planning for packing but a runDisney weekend isn't your typical race or your typical vacation. There's nothing worse then arriving to a race weekend and realizing you've forgotten something important! Or that there is not coffee maker in your hotel room.... I recommend making a list early so you can add things on as you go along. I also like to pack each of my running costumes in a zip lock bag so that I'm not digging around in my bag trying to find all of the costume pieces.

Bonus tip: I always make notes after each race weekend if there was something I wish I had packed or something I brought that ended up being totally unnecessary.

3. Make sure your FastPass+ and Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) are ready to go.

If you haven't grabbed Fastpasses or ADRs, there is still time! I like to write mine out or type them on my phone so I can have them all at a glance in case I need them during the weekend. I find the Disney app a bit sketchy sometimes so it's really nice not having to look any of this info up on the app. If you are attending any meet ups, make sure to add those to your schedule. (You may also want to remind yourself to go to bed early like I did. lol)

4. Budget more for food than you think.

Speaking of food, it's Food and Wine Festival time! I know the festival is a huge draw for this race weekend specifically for many people so after your run, you're probably going to want to eat and drink all the things! It is super easy to go way over budget as you enjoy your culinary adventure around the world showcase so I recommend budgeting more for food on this weekend than a normal race weekend. I like to load up a gift card to use each day I attend the Food and Wine Festival so I can keep track of how much I've already spent on food for that day. You can get a festival specific wristlet gift card in Epcot which is always really cute.

5. Prepare for summer (and all other weather conditions too)

Much of the US is already enjoying fall (or even a bit of snow) but it can definitely be plenty hot and humid in Florida for this race weekend. I'm local so I'm already physically and mentally prepared for the weather but many runners don't have the advantage of being acclimated to Florida weather. Make sure when you are planning your nutrition and hydration need for the race, bring as much as you'd need for a hot summer race. And plan your running outfit appropriately! Conversely, Florida could always get a cold spell so bring layers for your running and park wear too. And it's always a good idea to bring a poncho with you to the parks.

runDisney Tag

Disneyland Paris weekend recently wrapping up and Wine and Dine weekend just around the corner, all of us runDisney runners are so excited for the start of runDisney season! There's a runDisney tag going around and I thought it would be fun to share my answers as we're waiting for our next race!

How did you first hear about runDisney?

I first heard about runDisney when, as a passholder, I accidentally went to Epcot during a race weekend and I saw all of the runners. I didn't think much of it at that point. After my husband got into running and was looking into other fun races to do, he found RezRuns on youtube and we really discovered the magic of runDisney races from there. 

How many runDisney races have you done?

I have run 5 runDisney races on Disney property, 4 virtual races and completed 4 challenges. My first race was the WDW Marathon Weekend half marathon in January of 2019 so I jumped in the deep end of runDisney and did all of the weekends this year. (I'm coming for you Wine and Dine!)

What is your favorite runDisney race or weekend?

I have to reserve my final judgement until after Wine and Dine but WDW Marathon Weekend is my favorite so far. It's the biggest weekend and there are always so many more people at this weekend. It's like a big runDisney family reunion. I also adored getting to cheer for the marathon runners! Since I usually do the half marathon, the other race weekends don't offer that opportunity. It's really a magical experience cheering on the amazing marathon athletes.

What is your favorite park to run through?

It's so hard to choose! I really love running through the parks in the dark because they are so beautiful all lit up! So I guess that would make Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom my favorite.

What is your favorite runDisney medal?

I absolutely adore my Donald medal from WDW Marathon Weekend 2019. It's beautiful plus I have such an emotional attachment to it because it was my first runDisney race and my first half marathon. The runner up has to be my Kessel Run medal. The Millennium Falcon is hard to beat!

What is your favorite runDisney t-shirt?

I'm not a big running shirt person. I actually donate most of my shirts from local races! I want bling not shirts. lol I do really love the Mulan shirt from the 2019 Princess 10k. I love the bright green color and it feels really fun to me.

What are three songs on your runDisney playlist?

I'm a weird runner because I almost never listen to music while running. I'll run with silence for shorter runs or podcasts on longer runs. And I never listen to anything on races. But if I did listen, Go the Distance from Hercules, How Far I'll Go from Moana and Almost There from Princess and the Frog.

Do you go for a PR at runDisney races?

It depends. Sometimes, I just run slowly and enjoy the whole race. Sometimes, I run for time. And sometimes, I go fast just to get as much race done before the weather gets awful!

Which characters do you always stop for?

If there's a character that goes with the costume I'm wearing, I'll stop for them. If I'm doing a challenge, I'll usually stop for loads of characters on the 10k and stop for fewer on the half. I'm not a huge character person so I don't have a lot of must sees.

What is your favorite pre/post race meal?

Such a hard question! I am a fat adapted runner so I don't need to carb load. The day before a race, I try to eat similarly to how I eat at home with a focus on making sure I'm getting all my veggies. The morning of, I need tea and maybe a banana but I do run fasted a lot. After the last race of the weekend, I'm all about treating myself! I love saltly snacks immediately after the race and Dole Whip later on in the day.

What is your favorite costume you've run in?

I love my Cinderella costume from WDW Half Marathon! It was so magical to run as Cindy through her castle! 

Which costume are you most excited about running in?

I'm planning on running as Lady Tremaine for Princess Weekend 2020. It'll be cool to have the Cinderella and the Lady Tremaine photos side by side.

Red Carpet Run 10k Race Recap

My first road race of the season was the Red Carpet Run 10k. Last year, this race was my very first 10k so I was very excited to run it again and see how much progress I had made. This year, they relocated the entire race to a different town so the course was brand new to me. Will and my friend Melissa ran this race with me although they both opted for the 15k distance. September is definitely still summer in Florida and I was glad to opt for the shorter distance!

The course started in a cute historic downtown area although I couldn't see much of it at the race start since it was still dark out. This year, the race organizers decided to start the 15k, 10k and 5k all at the same time which meant the first 1.5 miles or so were quite crowded! The course was an out and back with three turn arounds, one for each distance. After the 5k turn around, there was plenty of space to run even while doing my intervals.

There were pacers for the 15k so I decided to try and keep up with the 12:00 min/mi pacer until the 10k turn around where I would be on my own. It had been a long time since I have run at that pace since I really slowed down my training run pace for the summer. I know that I had been doing a good job keeping up my fitness over the summer but there's always that niggling doubt that you've some how lost it! While I was definitely pushing myself, I was able to keep up with or ahead of the pacer for the first half of the race.

The course itself ran along the river in a mostly residential area. It made for a very pretty run as the sun was coming up. I was very happy that this course did not include running over a causeway but there were some baby Florida hills. The area where I do my training is super flat so I notice any little hill! All of the volunteers along the course were dressed in movie themed costumes and they had movie trivia along the route too.

I started out running a 45 45 interval which is what I have been using for my long runs all summer. But I started losing a bit of steam after mile four so I switched to a 30 30 interval. As I learned during the Star Wars Half Marathon, switching to a shorter interval is a great way to maintain pace while giving your body a break. Now I always keep a back up set of intervals programed into my phone in case I need them.

In the end, I still had enough energy to sprint to the finish for a final time of 1:14:01 which is over 5 minutes faster than my time from last year! And I came in at an 11:56 min/mi average pace. I was really happy with my performance.

After the finish line, I got to hang out with the other 5k and 10k racers while I waited for Will and Melissa to finish. They both also had great runs and it was fun to get to do a race together after such a long running break.

I love running in costume so I decided to wear the Cinderella running costume from WDW Marathon Weekend. The top and headband are by Crowned Athletics and the skirt is by Sparkle Athletic. There weren't a whole lot of other runners dressed up for this race but I did get some complements on my outfit!