How to Bounce Back After the Holidays

What we eat in between Christmas and New Year's is much less important as what we eat between New Year's and Christmas.  While the holidays can be somewhat damaging to your progress, it's not enough to completely ruin all the hard work you've put in this year.  All you babes shouldn't feel guilty about indulging in holiday traditions!  It's only once a year that we get to surround ourselves with friends and family while feasting on all the food in sight.  If you're feeling a little off track and don't want to throw all motivation out the window, I'm here to help you reverse the impact of the holidays on your waistline!

I whipped up some sugary Cranberry-Rosemary Sangria and had extra helpings of mashed potatoes and I'm not afraid to admit it.  After my pants were feeling a little tight I realized I need to bounce back before I let this "winter body" get the best of me.  Fully focused on getting back into the healthy lifestyle, I've got some tips on how to bounce back after the holidays.  You'll feel totally refreshed- just in time to rock a cocktail dress on New Year's Eve!

1. Stay Away from Leftovers
When you live an active lifestyle, it's perfectly normal to eat a large plate of food (or two) on Christmas Day.  I like to call that balance.  It's even OK to have leftovers the day after Christmas.  At this point in the game, you may want to cut your losses and walk away from the remaining leftovers. 

Don't get me wrong- you shouldn't regret any of the foods you ate over the holidays.  Keeping unhealthy food around post-holidays makes it more tempting to continue with the unhealthy eating habits, though. Set your (non-refrigerated) ingredients for your morning shake out the night before to make it easier on yourself for breakfast.  You'll think twice before grabbing leftover cookies on your way to work when your normal healthy options are readily available.  Anything else you can do to avoid holiday eating will encourage your body to bounce back quickly!

2. Drink Plenty of Water
If you're feeling bloated or dehydrated from the holidays, the best trick is to replenish your body with ample amounts of water.  Remember the general rule of thumb: drink half your body weight in ounces.  For example, if you weigh 160 lb. you should be drinking 80 oz. of water daily.  You can sneak this into your protein shakes or fill up your water bottle several times throughout the day.  Whatever you do, just make sure you're getting the H2O your body needs! 

3. Clean up your Diet
Now is the time to especially focus on lean meats and raw vegetables. Remember when I said to avoid leftovers? There's one exception: turkey. I sliced up some leftover turkey breast and added raw broccoli to my salad last night and it was delicious! Focus on clean eating more particularly than usual for the next few days to help shred any weight put on over the holidays. Stay away from highly processed foods and foods high in sugar, too. These foods are OK in moderation, but for right now you want to cleanse your system of holiday indulgences.  Getting them out of your system will keep you from craving all the wrong foods. 

4. Kick up the Cardio 
In addition to any weight training you may be doing now, you'll want to sweat it out with a little extra cardio after the holidays. Sign up for a few calorie-blasting classes to help burn off any extra weight. Kickboxing is my favorite, but other options such as Spin and Zumba can be nearly as effective.  You may even want to run a few extra miles.  Not only will it help your metabolism, you'll feel more accomplished and ready for the new year! 

5. Avoid Alcohol 
With New Year's Eve approaching, this one may be a little difficult.  I plan on drinking champagne when 2016 hits, but I'm cutting alcohol out of my diet until then.  Alcohol can sneak hundreds of extra calories into your day if you're not careful.  It also tends to make us feel sluggish during our workouts.  If you want to be your absolute best in the new year, cutting down your alcohol intake for the next few days will help wonders!  Trust me, when the bloating from Christmas goes away you'll hardly even miss the alcohol. 

I am so excited for the new year.  I hope my tips have put you in the same mindset, too.  We are going to rock these next few days!  Bouncing back from holiday eating will be a breeze and now you can focus on conquering those New Year's resolutions!  Now I'm ready to watch the ball drop- how about you?!

xoxo, 
Amanda

2015 Wine and Dine (Half of a) Half Marathon Recap

It's taken me a while to get around to it, but I am FINALLY sharing my experience on the 2015 Wine and Dine Half Marathon at Walt Disney World.  I debated on whether or not I would ever participate in this race weekend again because of how miserable the weather was for the 2014 Wine and Dine Half Marathon.  I ultimately decided to register because the weather of a race shouldn't determine how fun it is. Because of that mentality, I STILL had a blast during the 2015 Wine and Dine Half Marathon weekend!  The heat/lightning/humidity never bothered me anyway!

I arrived on Disney property around 4:00 pm on Friday and headed straight the the expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports.  I picked up my packet, shirt, and Coast to Coast Challenge bracelet.  I did a little bit of browsing through the expo too!  I stopped to talk to Olympic runner Jeff Galloway, bought a Castle to Castle tank from Raw Threads (which is the tank I wore during the race), and admired the Marathon weekend medal display.  I can't wait to receive the six medals for Dopey Challenge next month!  I then headed to Epcot to get my first stamp in my passport towards earning the Annual Passholder wine glass!  Speaking of wine glasses- I had a hunch the Wine and Dine Half Marathon wine glasses would be sold out by the time I arrived at the expo, especially since I arrived on day two.  What do ya know?  They were long gone by the time I got there.  Luckily a friend of mine picked one up for me.  I am now 2 for 5 on snatching wine glasses for the runDisney events I've ran.  I could complain for hours about the wine glass situation but I just won't go there this time.  At least I got one!

We spent the rest of the night walking around Disney's Boardwalk and Downtown Disney.  I also carbo-loaded up on pizza.  I say you can never go wrong with pizza, pre or post-race.  

The day of the race, I headed to Magic Kingdom with my boyfriend and cousin.  We woke up around 8:00 am and planned to spend the entire day there.  Not the smartest thing I've done...  The best piece of advice I can give to you when participating in a runDisney night race is to take it easy during the day.  More specifically: avoid the parks.  I logged an extra six miles just casually walking around MK that day.  Plus, it was HOT.  Record-breaking hot.  I mean, it was in the 80's.  Splash Mountain would have seemed like a great idea if there wasn't a 50 minute wait- that's how hot it was.  Moral of the story: save the parks for after your race.

The race takes off at ESPN Wide World of Sports and ends at Epcot.  Runners can park at Epcot and take a ride to ESPN on one of the many buses, so that's what I did.  I rode with several other runners, some anxiously talking about their excitement for their FIRST EVER runDisney race or half marathon.  I remember how excited I was for my first half marathon, The 2014 Disney Princess Half Marathon so I LOVE seeing people experience it for the first time.

When our bus arrived at ESPN, the driver announced we would be staying on the bus until further notice and that runners were being "evacuated" from the starting area due to weather.  We saw lightning on the way from Epcot so none of us were really surprised at the decision.  After approximately 30 minutes, they allowed us off the bus but instructed us to take cover at The HP Field House.  I headed upstairs to sit and charge my iPhone while we waited for the weather to pass.  At this point, runners were either getting anxious because they were eager to start or they were getting tired because, like me, they had walked all over the parks that day.  I was a combination of both with a mix of FOMO that the delay would take away from the post-race party at Epcot.

I never heard an official announcement but everyone suddenly stood up and made their way to the starting line.  When heading up to corral G, I heard several announcements being made about changes to the race.  I was on Twitter so I had already seen the tweet about a shortened course.  They announced that approximately five miles were being cut from the course.  After running the course, it was apparent that 6+ miles were actually cut.  No changes were being made to the end time for the after party!  I went from mile marker 1 to mile marker 8 with approximately 3/4 of a mile in between.  I'm totally NOT complaining there! Corrals started approximately two minutes apart.  In my experience, corrals are five minutes apart on average.  I believe runDisney did whatever they could to ensure we took off as soon as possible.  With all the commotion, the race was only delayed just under 60 minutes. 

Although it never rained during our evacuation, there were rumors of fallen branches and debris on the course.  Either Disney did an exceptional job clearing everything out or the affected areas were cut out of the course because I luckily did not run into any problems.  The course was clear and although it was humid, there was no rain.  The only extreme weather condition that posed a threat to our safety was the heat.  I think runDisney communicated the dangers of the unusually high temperatures well, also reminding us to hydrate appropriately.  I definitely stopped at every Powerade/water table to stay hydrated.

The best part of this course for me has always been The Osbourne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.  It was announced earlier this year that 2015 would be the last year the light show was featured at Hollywood Studios.  I think all runners were really anticipating this part of the race.  The music was blaring and the lights were twinkling as I turned into Hollywood Studios to see the lights one last time.  Every step was bright and cheerful.  Despite the unusually warm temperatures, it actually felt like the holiday season.

I finished this "half marathon" with my first sub-2 hour time!  LOL.  I knew there was no chance at a PR on this run because of the odd distance, so I just had fun with it.  I stopped to take pictures and recorded a video while running through the lights show.  I took my time because of the humidity, but I didn't take TOO MUCH time.  I was ready to drink around the world at Epcot! I quickly accepted my finisher's medal and proceeded to the Coast to Coast tent.  Beside it was the Perfect tent for Legacy Wine and Dine Half Marathon runners.  Both tents were small, as there weren't many participants running for the Coast to Coast Challenge or legacy status. 

Upon crossing the finish line, runners can accept a glass of wine or a beer.  I absolutely love wine so I went with the wine.  Lesson learned- it was Chardonnay and it was nasty and I should have gone with a Michelob Ultra.  I don't think I'm the only one who disliked the wine because I saw many full glasses overflowing the trash cans outside the entrance to Epcot.  Next year, I'll run for beer.

We entered the park and hopped right on Spaceship Earth without a wait.  All of the rides had short lines so it was a great opportunity to get on park favorites like Test Track and Soarin'.  We then proceeded to "drink around the World" with our first stop in Dominican Republic.  After getting over his disappointment that they weren't serving Brahma, my boyfriend and I drank a Presidente.  I was on the search for food after that and headed to Ireland for the Lobster & Scallop Fisherman's pie.  OMG.  It was worth every hair-frizzing mile to get to enjoy that delicious dish.  Other options that caught my eye were the Reisling flight in Germany, the lobster roll in Hops & Barley and the DOLE WHIP SOFT-SERVE WITH BACARDI COCONUT RUM.  To my disappointment, the Dole whip machine was out of service when I went to order this long-awaited frozen concoction.  I guess that means I HAVE to run Wine and Dine again in 2016... We didn't leave the parking lot until around 4:30am.  You could definitely say we got our money's worth out of the race and after party.

I know there was a lot of negativity surrounded by this race, but I had a blast.  It's not every day you get to run around Disney and drink around the world.  For me, half the course still delivered all the fun.  I'm actually kind of relieved it was a 7-miler because I got more time to experience Epcot with my boyfriend.  We rode Test Track, drank around the world and celebrated the holidays early.  I also want to remind everyone that this race sold out in under 30 minutes.  If you're looking to run it in 2016, good luck with registration!  As an annual passholder, I couldn't get in during early registration and had to wait for it to open up to the public.  I really learned how to avoid letting weather ruin a race for me and I can't wait to experience many more Wine & Dine Half Marathons at Walt Disney World! 

Running of The Balls 2015 Recap

On December 12th 2015, I had the pleasure of running my second Running of the Balls race here in Greensboro, NC.  I've gotta tell you- it's my favorite 5k(ish) in the world.  The best way I could describe it last year was "Last nights Running of the Balls race definitely put me in the holiday spirit!  There were carolers, lights, a middle school band playing "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel."  Did I mention there were TONS of lights? It was pretty spectacular!"  Well, there was all that and then some this year. 


For the first time ever, I got to experience a race with my Mom.  Yes, Mama Donnelly participated in the Running of the Balls with the walkers!  The company she works for, Premier Federal Credit Union, was the official sponsor of the race.  Because of this we both received free registration.  I've paid for this race in the past and I would pay to participate again so as always, you're getting my genuine opinion.


The Running of the Balls race takes place in the neighborhood of Sunset Hills off W. Market Street in Greensboro, North Carolina.  It's called the Greatest 5k(ish) on Earth, measuring in at approximately 3.3 miles.  Put on by Jones Racing Company, this race is not officially timed. 


For locals in the area, this neighborhood is known for the balls of lights hanging in the trees and dangling across the street.  Vehicles drive by nightly to look at the spectacle every year.  Runners and walkers alike have the pleasure of putting on their holiday gear and parading through the streets as carolers sing and residents pull up a chair to cheer them on.  With the unusually warm temperatures (the race started in the mid 60's) there were even more spectators than usual this year.  The course wraps around the neighborhood three times, but each lap runners can catch a different soundtrack so the experience feels fresh and new.


I picked up our packets on Thursday night at Omega on Battleground.  I only had to wait in line for a few minutes before I took off with our shirts and bibs.  Pre-race packet pickup was much more convenient than having to stand in line prior to the race.  The lines looked preeeeetty long that night.  When we got to the race, we were able to walk up to a VIP tent provided by Premier Federal Credit Union.  There was a fire pit near all the VIP tents although with the warm temperatures, we really didn't need it before the race.  Runners lined up for the 6:00 start time.  The horn signalled for us to take off around 6:08.  Although this is a VERY popular race in the area (it typically sells out a month ahead of time) they try to limit the number of participants to 3,500.  Even with the restricted number of runners, the course felt a little crowded at first.  I don't think anyone minded though.  We were all in the holiday spirit ringing our bells as we strut up the first hill. 


About half a mile in, we encountered a stage with musicians singing an original song, "Running of the Balls."  Prior to that was a middle school band, once again playing my favorite song from last year, "Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel."  Once we wrapped around back to the starting line there was the main stage with a band singing Christmas carols and covers of Top 40 hits all night.  After finishing the race, my Mom and her co-workers from Premier Federal Credit Union took off with the runners.  The course for the runners was one lap and approximately a mile. 


There were tables lined up with volunteers passing out hot chocolate and cookies for race participants.  My favorite part was the frozen yogurt provided by D'lishi in several holiday flavors.  With the temperature still in the 60's, I wasn't really in the mood for hot chocolate.  I think most runners were feeling the same way since most we waiting in line for water. 


After the race, my Mom and I stopped to get a Christmas tree and we went home and baked cookies.  I'm not even kidding.  The race put us in the holiday spirit.  Plus, it fell during Hannukah this year.  Last year's Running of the Balls took place a few days before the first night of Hannukah.


If you live near the area, I highly recommend participating in this race.  Everyone is here for the fun and it's not competitive at all.  With the shirts, refreshments and excitement, it's definitely a good value at around $35 to register.  I'm looking forward to next year's race!  Hope to see some of you there!!


xoxo,
Run Barbie

Post-Race Burnout

We've all been there- We stay disciplined for months to cross the finish line of a big race. After early-morning runs and sacrificing time to put in the miles, it's all worth the sense of accomplishment. But for some reason or another, it's hard to get back into the swing of running after a race. It's that dreaded post-race burnout. Every runner faces it at one point or another. I've definitely experienced it but I am here to tell you I overcame it. You can too! I've put together my ten best tricks at overcoming post-race burnout so you can enjoy runnning again. You may even break a PR!

The first three tips are actions you can do BEFORE your race. You can definitely prepare yourself to avoid crashing before you even get to the starting line.

1. Register for another race 
It sounds silly to register yourself for another race before even completing your next one. Trust me on this. Having another race to look forward to is motivating. It also eliminates a lot of room for excuses. When you invest money into another race, you are more likely to train for it. Set a goal for it, too. You don't have to set a new PR with every race. For example, I've set a goal for a future race that has nothing to do with my time. I want to fit into a pair of size 6 Lilly Pulitzer shorts that have been sitting in my drawer. This goal involves overall fitness and eating well. I may hit a PR because of it, but I'm focusing on the goal itself.

Be realistic when planing your next race. Keep in mind the amount of time it will take to recover. Some runners plan races back to back. It's great to do race weekends back-to-back. Consider how back-to-back races may contribute to burnout, though. Be realistic, too. Another race a week or two apart won't help you in the long term. I suggest committing to a race 2-3 months after. Races in between are even better! Anything to keep you focused will help.

2. Pre-determine how much time you will take off 
It's easy to cross a finish line and decide you won't run again for another month. It's smarter to pre-determine how much time you'll take to rest and STICK TO IT! One or two weeks is a good amount of time to recover from a half marathon or marathon. Make that determination while you're still disciplined and training for your race.

3. Find an accountability partner 
I have formed several friendships with fellow runners from group boards. We text each other about our runs and stay accountable for the miles we need to put in. You could join a running club for support, too. If you're lucky enough to have a local friend with a passion for running, run together! There are so many ways to connect and stay accountable. Your partner doesn't need to run all the same races as you, either.

The next several tips you can take advantage of immediately following your race.

4. Take care of your body 
You just put your body through a lot. Foam rolling, hydrating yourself, and icing joints are all important at this stage in your training. You may even want to do a little bit extra and take a bubble bath or get a massage or pedicure. The hardest run of your training is likely to be your race so make sure your body feels great afterwards. Aches and pains lead to excuses and there's no time for excuses when running!

5. Don't over-indulge during your post-race meals 
My favorite food to eat after a race is cheese fries. Preferably waffle fries with shredded Monterey Jack and ranch on the side. I limit myself to one order and normally follow it with a salad. Eating pizza and burgers for your next few meals will most likely make your body feel like crap. Just try to enforce a little healthy balance and you'll be fine. Also, keep in mind a half marathon burns approximately 1,500-1,800 calories so you don't want to go overboard.

6. Take an energy supplement 
I don't drink coffee or soda, so I don't get caffeine regularly. I do however, add a booster to my protein shakes occasionally. With long runs I usually feel like I need an energy booster but I don't want something to have a negative impact on my runs. My favorite natural option is Focused Energy. Just one scoop gives me enough energy to tackle a long run or stay focused after working long hours. It prevents me from crashing after a race, too. 

Following these six steps should make the next four steps a piece of cake!  Ahhhh I love cake.

7. Reward yourself for hitting your goal. 
When you set a goal for your race, attach a reward to it.  For example, I decided I would buy myself a new Lilly dress if I beat my PR during the 2015 Wine and Dine Half Marathon.  We all know how that race went...  It doesn't have to be a splurge.  I have made a tradition out of buying a new Disney Alex and Ani bracelet for every runDisney weekend I participate in.  You could make a charm bracelet and add a charm for every race.  There are so many ways to reward yourself for hard work.  Don't allow food to be a reward, though!

8. Show off your pictures/certificate 
In my cube at work, I have a certificate and/or medal hanging for every race I've completed.  It's nice to look at and remind myself what I'm capable of.  You'll be motivated to get back into running when you add a new commemorative piece to your collection.

9. Get new gear 
Sometimes a new pair of running shorts are all I need to get in the miles I need.  I find myself buying a new running item anytime I'm starting to lose motivation.  I bought new socks this week and was able to stick to my runs because I was excited to try them out.  It's the little things.  If running is your passion, spending a few bucks here and there shouldn't make you feel guilty.

10. Schedule runs and STICK TO THEM 
Each week I write down which days I'm going to run and how many miles I'll need to put in.  It makes it easier to break your plan down into weeks.  It's less intimidating and more achievable this way.  When I know I have a run on a busy day, I'll even write down what time I can squeeze in the run.  I did this in college when planning homework and studying and rarely missed a workout.  Most days I'll write out a To-Do list and even though I'll have a run written down in my planner, I'll still add the run to the check list.  There's something rewarding about checking a run off your list.

I hope these tips help you!  Let me know which ones you find most effective and what race you're training for!  I'd love to hear your feedback!

xoxo
runBarbie

2015 Carowinds Run & Ride Race Recap

This past weekend, I experienced my first Run & Ride Race.  If you haven't done one of these races yet, I highly reccommend you put it on your agenda!  It is a race series that currently takes place at five different Cedar Fair parks: Carowinds, Cedar Point, Dorney Island & Wildwater Kingdom, Kings Island, and Valley Fair.  They allow you the opportunity to choose a race distance varying from a 1 mile fun run to a half marathon, run the course, then spend the day riding the coasters.  I love roller coasters and running, so I think this combination is the best thing since beer runs.  It was a fun and rewarding race and I'm so excited I get to share my experience running it.  I will start by saying that my race fee was waived as a blogger but I still want to share my honest opinion with my followers. 

This weekend consisted of a 1 mile/5k run on Saturday, September 12th and a 10k/half marathon on Sunday, September 13th.  I participated in the half marathon and picked up my race packet on Saturday afternoon.  The packet included complimentary tickets to the park for TWO days!  5k and 10k runners received one complimentary ticket.  All runners had access to discounted park tickets for themselves, friends, and family.  I felt like this was a generous gesture and an awesome way for Run & Ride to express their gratitude for supporting this race series.  Packet pickup was Friday and Saturday and runners received an email prior to race weekend outlining available times for packet pickup.  

I have a season pass to Carowinds so I brought a friend on Saturday with one of my complimentary tickets.  We spent about two hours in the park.  The park was pretty crowded, as usual on Saturdays, so I knew I would have the opportunity to ride my favorite coasters the next day with a smaller wait time.  After leaving the park, I of course indluged in a carbo-load.  For those that don't know me, this ritual is my favorite part about running a half marathon.  I'm a bread head so I ate lobster roll for this race. I typically avoid alcohol the entire week leading up to a race,  but we went to a local bar and I couldn't resist one pint of pumpkin ale.  Beer has carbs too, right?  Plus, my college alumna, ECU, was playing in football so I had to cheer on my boys in typical Pirate fashion!

I made it to bed by 11:00 pm since I would be waking up around 6:00 am.  I arrived at the park at 7:00am for the 7:30am start.  Runners were able to park for free and there was a parking lot reserved just for us.  That lot just so happened to be right next to the starting line, too!  I love how convenient they made everything in this race.  There wasn't much entertainment going on before the race, though.  There was, however, a photo opportunity with Snoopy which I of course took advantage of. 

The course itself was relatively flat which made me super excited.  I HATE HILLS!  We started our first mile and a half in the parking lot.  On the first lap, we went through the park, the water park and Carowinds Campgrounds.  This campgrounds were pretty hilly and I heard other runners complaining about it on the course.  Fortunately, we did not have to run through that area on our second lap.  It was pretty exciting that the entire time we were on Carowinds property, at any given time you could look around and see multiple rides.  The hard-to-miss Fury 325 coaster was visible at pretty much any point on the course.  Side note: This is the most thrilling roller coaster I've ever been on.  If you haven't ridden it yet, the roller coaster itself should be motivation to train for one of next years' races.  There were also plenty of water stations.  And by water, I mean Powerade.  I love it when races offer water AND Powerade.  Water just isn't enough to hydrate me while pushing through 13.1 miles.

I beat my PR on this race by 4:36.  Compared to other races, there was little congestion and the distance was pretty accurate.  My favorite part was the announcer saying my name as I crossed the finish line.  I've never participated in a race that does that!  The medals were also pretty nice.  The ribbon displayed the Carowinds logo for the half marathon and all others had solid blue ribbons.  Every medal displayed the distance, but there was no date or park on the medal.  I'm not a fan of generic medals, so hopefully they'll switch it up for next year. 


After completing the race, runners had access to a table of fruit, bagels and cream cheese, and beverages.  I noticed most runners left the finish line area almost immediately after finishing the race.  I'm a fan of mingling with other runners afterwards.  Maybe a little post-race entertainment would encourage runners to stay a little longer?  Results were available immediately after crossing the finish line.  Photographers were spread throughout the course, and their pictures were made available on Monday FREE OF CHARGE.  I loved not having to pay for pictures from my race.  I also loved riding the coasters with literally no lines on Sunday morning.  The park was not crowded AT ALL that early in the morning.  I walked right up to Intimidator and Fury 325, two of the best roller coasters in the park. 

If you're looking for food after the race, I'm typically not a fan of park food.  BUT Carowinds recently added Harmony Hall and they have healthy choices that taste great!  If you want to eat immediately following a race, you can get fresh salads and fruit bowls in there.  They also serve personal pizzas and beer.  What's the point in running 13.1 miles if you can't enjoy a little pizza and beer afterwards?


The next day I received an email requesting me to complete a survey on my experience.  I appreciate how much they value our feedback, so I gave an honest opinion.  I thought this was a great race, so there was little for me to advise.  I do think the starting time should have been about an hour earlier.  I am by NO MEANS an early-riser but the park opens to the public at 10:00.  There were still runners on the course at this time.  Being a bling-junkie, I of course voiced my opinion about the generic medals.  Hopefully next year we will have a date and park name on the medals.  It would be REALLY cool if the medals featured a ride the park is most known for, but that may be pushing it a little.  I whole-heartedly would reccommend this race to friends (I even had a friend run the 10k with me this year)!  Considering everything you get, it's a great value.  At the time I registered, the half marathon was $110.  For this fee, you not only get to experience an incredible race, but you get park admission for two days.  I can't think of another race that compares to this one in terms of value.


This race series has two more stops for the 2015 year.  Run at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom October 3-4 or at Kings Island October 23-25.  The Kings Island weekend includes a 5k Glow Run on Friday night.  With the half marathon on Sunday morning, I would add the 5k into my race itinerary for the extra miles and the extra bling!  All five locations will host this race weekend in 2016 with the addition of Kings Dominion as their sixth destination!  Living in North Carolina, I'm excited to see a Virginia race added to the series.  It's not too far of a drive for me to go up there for the weekend and it's one of my favorite parks.


Tell me about your experience running at Carowinds, or any Cedar Fair park for that matter!  I can't wait to hear your stories. 

Disney Princess Half Marathon Training Playlist

If you've signed up for The Glass Slipper Challenge and are using The Jeff Galloway running program, you begin your first run on October 20th.  The training program includes 45 minute runs every Tuesday and Thursday.  If you're a runner like myself, you're likely running 45 minutes a few times a week anyways.  I've put together a fun Disney Princess-Inspired playlist for my fellow runners to get you in the spirit for Princess Half Marathon Weekend!  I used a combination of hits directly from Disney movies, as well as energizing songs from artists who got their start through Disney.  I hope my list gets you pumped and brings back some memories!

1. Demi Lovato- Cool for the Summer 3:34
2. Ashley Tisdale- Kiss the Girl 3:24
3. Hilary Duff- Come Clean 3:34
4. Demi Lovato- Let It Go 3:47
5. Britney Spears- I Wanna Go 3:39
6. Hilary Duff- Sparks 3:05
7. Mandy Moore- When Will My Life Begin? 2:32
8. Demi Lovato- I Really Don't Care 3:35
9. Hilary Duff- Why Not 2:59
10. Britney Spears- 'Til the World Ends 3:57
11. Miley Cyrus- See You Again 3:10
12. Demi Lovato- Heart Attack 3:30
13. Kelly Clarkson- Breakaway 3:57
14. Carrie Underwood- Ever Ever After 3:29

Racecation

Racecation. What is it? The insanity of traveling somewhere far away to run an outrageous amount of miles. So what's the point in making a weekend (or weeklong) trip for a race and how does one prepare for one? I'm about to tell you! Plus, I share seven popular races that are on my racecation wishlist.

I experienced my first racecation in February 2014 when I drove to Orlando, Florida for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Traveling from North Carolina, I experienced a race weekend that I never could have imagined in my hometown. Greeted with a Health and Fitness Expo which was fit for a princess, I instantly felt connected to the thousands of women who had traveled to Walt Disney World in order to earn their glass slippers (and right to be called a "half marathoner"). I also got to see Disney World through a runner's eyes. After the race, I proudly wore my finisher medal around Magic Kingdom. Passing other runners in the park sporting their hard-earned medal, we would all smile and congratulate each other.  I also never got tired of hearing Disney cast members say "Congratulations, Princess!"

If you truly want to celebrate your accomplishment, I highly recommend travelling to a large weekend race.  There's something special about spending an entire weekend immersing yourself in race activities and sharing your passion with thousands of other runners.  If you've never ran a half marathon, it definitely keeps you motivated during training to know you will be rewarding yourself with a getaway for your race.

I ended up spending a week in Florida after my race. There's so much to do on Disney property, how could I possibly fit it all into one weekend? If you're going to spend a week at your racecation destination, you have a decision to make. Should you start your racecation with the race or end it with the race? In my experience, starting your trip with the race is best. A week in a new place before a long run could hinder your training. It's also challenging to stay focused and fuel your body with the right foods. Arriving the day before the race, I recommend going on a 20-30 minute run to accommodate yourself to the running conditions and stretch your muscles from traveling.

Here are some other tips I have prepared for planning your first (or next) racecation:

Ask about runner's discounts!  When I was planning for Orlando, several hotels offered discounts to those travelling specifically for the race (one even offered late checkout on the day of the half marathon to allow runners time to shower before checkout out)!  In addition, I shopped at the Lulu Lemon outlet store for some last minute necessities and discovered they offered a 15% discount with proof of race registration.  Not sure if someone will offer you a runner's discount?  Just ask!  Share with me any runner's discounts you have received while taking a racecation so I can feature them!

Don't forget to pack all your necessities.  You can never go wrong with extra socks.  I highly recommend an anti-chaffing stick.  You can even purchase travel size ones small enough to carry on race day.  I bring my own mini-breakfast to the hotel, too.  You don't want to eat anything heavy before the race, but items such as bananas are easy to store without refrigeration and can provide you with extra energy pre-race.

Make a reservation for one of your favorite restaurants the night before your race.  Depending on the time of your race, you may want to make it early in the evening.  Make sure you fuel up on carbs and hydrate yourself with a lot of water.  It's tough to remember to drink water when you're out of town, so bring a fun water bottle to remind yourself!

Now it's time for me to share the racecations I currently have on my wish list!

1) Rock 'n' Roll Marathon series: http://www.runrocknroll.com/
There are two dozen cities that host the RNR Half Marathon & Marathon race weekends.  Of those 24, ten of them offer an endurance challenge allowing runners to receive an extra medal for running a 10k the day before their marathon or half marathon.  In addition, this series offers "heavy medal" race bling for those taking on half marathons in multiple cities in one year.  I'm interested in Chicago, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans and Savannah.  A five-city race tour would earn the coveted "Roadie" heavy medal.  There are also limited edition medals each year with race requirements constantly changing, so check their website for information on qualifying for those medals.  If you love bling like I do, The Rock 'n' Roll race series is definitely the way to fill up your medal rack.  And for $479, you can register for any of the races in 2016.  They also offer a Tour Pass 3-pack that allows you to select any three cities in 2016 for $219.  This is a race series that will allow you to discover new cities while doing what you love!  Where has your tour pass taken you?!?

2) Nike Women's Half Marathon: San Fransisco, CA October 18, 2015 http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/women/events
The most popular women's-themed race in the country, The Nike Women's Half Marathon rewards runners with a Tiffany necklace at the finish line.  What could be better than running the hills of San Fransisco with 20,000 other women and receiving a medal you can wear every day? Not much.  This race has become so popular though, they have a random drawing for selecting participants.  If you're lucky enough to get into this race, it's going to be a memorable one! 

3) Disneyland Paris Half Marathon: Paris, France September 23-25, 2016 http://run.disneylandparis.com/
RunDisney announced the Inaugural Disneyland Paris Half Marathon early this year and ever since they have been building the anticipation for their first international race.  They recently announced the decision to release an additional medal commemorating the "Castle to Chateau Coast race Challenge."  Runners receive this race bling for completing a marathon or half marathon at Disney World or a half marathon at Disneyland and the half marathon at Disneyland Paris.  I've never been to Paris, but a runDisney race seems like a good excuse to go!

4) Run and Ride Half Marathon Series: http://www.runandriderace.com/
In 2015, five Cedar Fair parks in five different cities are offering runners the chance to run through the parks and spend an entire day enjoying the thrilling rides.  You get FREE PARK ADMISSION with your registration fee!  All locations host two day events and include a 1 mile, 5k, 10k, and half marathon distance.  This race series is a great alternative to travelling to larger cities on my list.  For example, Carowinds is slightly over an hour drive from my home.  I can make a day trip, or stay with friends for the weekend since half marathon runners receive TWO day park admission with their registration!!  I will be running this race series for the first time in September with the Carowinds Half Marathon.  Visit www.runandriderace.com and use offer code BARBIERUNS to receive 10% off your registration!  In addition to Carowinds, this race series also visits Cedar Point, Dorney Park, Kings Island and Valley Fair.  Who else is running this race with me?

 

5) New York City Marathon: New York, NY November 1, 2015 http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/
I would be totally lying if I said I wanted to run this race without the expectation of seeing a celebrity.  Ryan Reynolds has finished The New York City Marathon.  I would run 26.2 miles for the chance to see Ryan Reynolds.  This marathon has grown over the last 45 years to become the largest and most popular race in the world.  You can run through the city with over 50,000 other participants!  Plus, imagine how much pizza you could eat guilt-free after the race.  I don't think it would be difficult to find an incredible pizza pie in this city.

6) Key West Half Marathon and 5k: Key West, FL January 17, 2016 http://www.keywesthalfmarathon.com/
This race has been featured in Runner's World as a top race destination.  It's relatively small with roughly 4,000 finishers and features a fast, flat course along The Atlantic Ocean.  You had me at FLAT COURSE.  I would celebrate this one with some oysters and boat drinks afterwards at any of the local beach bars in The Florida Keys.

7) Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: January 6-10, 2016 http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/
This weekend offers something for all levels of runners.  Ranging from a 5k to a marathon, with challenges in between, runners can select various different distances ranging over four days.  They can also, of course, select to run all four races!  That's what I'll be achieving in January and it's called The Dopey Challenge.  It's the runDisney challenge with the longest distance and most amount of races.  Most importantly it awards runners with the most amount of bling: six medals total for the entire weekend.  Although I've never participated in this weekend, you can read about my experience with registration right here to prepare yourself for The Walt Disney Marathon Weekend.  Also, don't forget to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital so I can reach my fundraising goal!  Marathon weekend also hosts two Kids Races events with no age requirements. I don't have children, but when I do they'll be running Disney right there with me!

Have you traveled somewhere for a race?  Tell me your favorite racecation destinations!