A Peek in Our Week and Last Call For Skirts

Welcome to another edition of a Peek in our Week!

I had a relaxing week/weekend visiting family. I had a doctor, dentist, and chiropractor appointment.-L

I refrained from running  all week because of my knee pain. I finally did a short run today and with a lot of Tiger Balm on my knee it went okay. -L

The most exciting thing was probably getting a friend signed up for their very first half marathon!-L

My mom, sister, and I got all our bits and pieces around for our Princess races this month. We had some skirt problems so some things got re-arranged. We hope to post some pics of the final outfit decisions once we get everything we need. -L

Speaking of Skirts........ If you want a fabulous Skirt for any of the Disney races, contact Amy from RockCitySkirts.com.  She can make any character design.  She's pretty busy right now making skirts for the Princess half marathon weekend, but if you order by tomorrow, you should still be able to get the skirt delivered to you before you leave for PHM ( of course this depends when you are leaving for the race).

But if you already have costumes planned for PHM, you can always keep these in mind for a future Disney race!

 

Oh, and one more thing. We apologize for the random blog posts this week. As I was playing around on the Polyvore website, every item I selected seem to want to publish itself to the blog right away. I'm working on trying to fix that. Also, Lacey got a new phone this week and her comments are not exactly linking back up to our blog. As you know we are not "techy" people so it may take us a while to figure these things out.   -M

We hope you all had a fabulous weekend. What did you this weekend?

Supposedly I'm too OLD!

This week's Friday 5 is "Fitness Snapshots" but since neither of us have been doing much Fitness since the marathon we are going to have to deviate from the theme a bit.

1. After today, we are both going to try NOT to talk about our pain. We don't want this blog to turn into a "poor us"  complain session each time. Everyone has had pain at one point or another so we just need to do what we can to take care of it and move on. We  ( and I mean ME) are not even going to complain about not being able to run the race I want to at Princess. (This seems to be a theme with me and Disney races so I'm not even surprised...It is what it is).

 2. I did have my Ortho appointment this week. Even after my primary care doctor told me there was nothing that would help me except for rest, she still INSISTED that I go to the Ortho.  I was to this same Ortho last July and didn't really get any different answers so I really wasn't excited about spending more time and $ to hear there is nothing more I can do.

3. Although I didn't hear any different news about my diagnosis, I did hear something that I never heard from any of the medical professionals that I've seen before. This Ortho told me I WAS TOO OLD TO BE RUNNING! Can you believe this? I am obviously not a teenager but I'm in pretty good health but yet he thinks I am too old. I hate to break it to you ladies that are older then me, but I guess we're done. Hang up your running shoes!  I pretty much told him he was a Debbie Downer and he could have been a little more encouraging! My sister was in the room with me and I LOVE that she came to my defense and asked the doctor " Are you a Runner?"  #MyProtector :)  I know she was thinking in her mind that if this doctor is not a runner, he really just doesn't get it. ( Later in the car she told me that was exactly what she was thinking) And P.S he doesn't run. He said he use to but now he just bikes.

4. The result, you guessed it. More cortisone shots. I told the doctor that I just got one on New Years Eve ( I thought you were only suppose to get them every 3 or 4 months and quite honestly I know it is not good for my body to keep getting them at all).  He told me that it was okay.  At least this time he actually gave me the shots on the side of my knee where the actual pain was ( unlike my primary care doctor who gave me the shot in my lower back).  I was glad to have my sister in there with me because I was squeezing her hand tight the entire time. I think getting the shot on the side of my knee was even more painful then getting it in the hip. The stuff they spray on your skin to numb it literally feels like your skin is being freezer burnt and it is painful (but tolerable).

5. I understand that not everybody has answers for everything but one thing I HATE is when doctors use the phrase "I don't know".  I was trying to ask questions about the pain and trying to learn a little bit more. I have a really hard time believing that this particular pain I have is so uncommon that these doctors don't have any experience with it. Heck, my sister is going through the same thing ( that's sort of why she came with me to the appointment so she could see what the doctor had to say). The doctor was kind of rushing too because he had a patient he had to see that had an emergency which I totally understand, but dang it, the same thing happened to me during my last doctor's appointment on New Years Eve.  I guess it's so much easier for the doctor to just print off a page from the internet and say "read this" to learn about your problem then to actually sit down and have a conversation with you.

So that's it. That's how things are going. If you read the entire post, Thank you. I know it was a long one today  -M

Pre-Ordered Race Merchandise

I wrote this post because I was very curious about the pre-order race merchandise and I thought if I had questions about it that maybe other runners have questions about it too.

Much of this information I received right from the manager of merchandising while at the Disney race expo.

1.The pre-orders were done during the time of race registration. They were called "blind orders", because you had to order and pay for them without even seeing what they looked like until expo day.  My sister and I did a "blind order" for the Marathon jacket this year.

2.This year (2015) was the first time that a pre-order has been an option ( I was unsure of this fact but this info came right from the manager).  There was not a pre-order for Princess Half Marathon last year (2014). Some people were speculating that the White Jacket was the "pre-order" jacket, but it was not.  This white tech jacket was bought at the expo.

3.If you pre-ordered (or blind ordered) a jacket for an upcoming Disney race you will pick this up in the same building where you will go for packet pick -up ( race bib), not at the expo building.

4.Note: The pre-order jackets will not be available for purchase at the expo.  The expo will have a variety of other jackets, but not the pre-order ones.

5.If you are not pleased with your pre-ordered jacket ( or other pre-order items), you can return it. After seeing the design of the marathon jacket this year, I decided that I didn't really care for it. It wasn't a problem for me to return it. Just make sure that you have your receipt ( this will be on your registration form). Returns are made at the same place you picked it up.

6. If you are REALLY loving the pre-ordered jacket and you wished that you would have pre-ordered one too there may possibly be a chance you could get your hands on one. We were told that all the left over jackets ( or returned ones) are taken to the merchandise tent at the finish line.

Have you ever "blind ordered" anything?

Put it in Your Pocket for Princess: Items that are helpful on race day

After running the Goofy Challenge at Disney world, I realized there were a few things that were helpful to have and other things that I wish I would have brought with me during the race. When I run longer distance, I like to wear skirts that have pockets in them or I wear a running belt, like the flip belt.

I continue to be amazed at how much I can fit in my pockets of my running skirts. Not only would I carry my GU's, Honeystingers, and phone but here are a few other items I'll consider.

1. The trash bag. I talked about this once before but since I wrote the previous post on it, I have since discovered a new use for it. Not only will it be useful to sit on before you head to your corral, or to cover up with if you get a chill, but if you fold it back up and put it back in your pocket you can use it at the end of the race when you gather up all your goodies. At the end of the race you will be getting water bottles, bananas, snack boxes, etc. We used our trash bag to stash all this stuff in after the Disney World Half Marathon and we didn't have to worry about holding all those items once it was time to get some pictures done.

2. A Flash Light.  If you can bring a mini key chain flash light that will be super helpful when you want to use the port-o-potties before you get into your corral in the morning. It will be dark in there.

3. Pack a few tissues in your pocket as well. Port-o-potties have been known to run out of TP.

4. Pocket size hand sanitizer. Yup, the port-o-potties run out of this too. If the pocket size squeeze containers of sanitizers are too bulky, bring one of those packs of Wet Naps, (you know the ones that you would get with a To Go meal at a fast food restaurant).

5. Another thing that might be helpful is if you bring those really thin disposable plastic gloves, like the ones people use for food service. This way you can just slip the gloves on and off and you won't have to even worry about washing your hands. This is great for all those runners who are going for a PR but find themselves having to stop along the course to use he restroom!

6.  Bring Cash: At the end of the race there will be a massage tent. Massages are $1 per minute and generally can be bought in increments of ten minutes. In years past we would get a 20 minute massage for $20. During marathon weekend last month they were so busy that the maximum time we could get was only 10 minutes! They only accept CASH. No credit cards or magic bands will be accepted.

                                What is something you also put in your pocket during a race?

Don't forget these tips can also apply to the Tinkerbell half marathon as well.

Run All The Races and Look Pretty: Discounts Ahead!

Good news folks! There was actually a cancelation at the Ortho office this week so I get to go tomorrow instead of on the 11th! I know it's only a week earlier but hey, that's one more week before the princess half marathon that I have to hopefully get this problem under control.

And speaking of half marathons, as you may know, we are Rock n bloggers for the Rock n Roll Race series. Besides Disney races the Rock n Roll races are our favorites! I'm sure you have read our multiple posts praising RnR VA Beach, or you may have followed us on social media as we rocked Las Vegas last year.   Our race calendar is pretty full this spring so we are looking for RnR races to do the later half of the year.  Here is our list so far:

For Sure: VA Beach

Short List : Philly

Maybes: Savannah, ST. Louis, Raleigh

But who knows, anything can change.

 If you want to run a Rock n Roll race, feel free to use our code for $15 off registration for any marathon or half marathon. Unfortunately there is no code available for Las Vegas ( there is a military/government discount available though if you are interest).

And guess what? If you want to rock a skirt at any of the Rock n  Roll races, our friend Amy from Rock City Skirts can make you a skirt suitable for any race. She is also giving Free Shipping with the code SHIPFREE. Check out some of her skirts.

 

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Will you be running a Rock n Roll race this year?

Why Can't You Find Your Race Pictures?

While most of us were glued to our television sets last night watching the super bowl ( except for me, I was working on my articles for the "How To" magazine, although I did take a brief break to watch Katy Perry at half time.), our running friend Lois was busy scrolling through the hundreds of unclaimed photos from Marathon Foto.

 Apparently some of her race photos from marathon weekend in Disney were not showing up in her account.  In any race where Marathon Foto is there taking pictures, if you have photos that are "missing" you are encouraged to look through the "unclaimed" photos file. Believe me there are hundreds and sometimes thousands of "unclaimed" photos of runners. An unclaimed photo is essentially a photo were they can not identify the runner because their race bib may not have been properly showing. This could be because another runner was in front of them ( don't you hate when that happens? Especially when you are running a Disney race and you are going for that perfect shot running through the castle and another runner cuts you off? That is frustrating.), or perhaps your bib just wasn't on straight or Marathon Foto caught you at the wrong angle. What ever the case, you are now considered "Unclaimed" .

After hours of searching through the "unclaimed" folder to see if she could find her lost race pictures  Lois had come to a few conclusions and I thought they were so funny that I asked her to share them here.  Here goes:

Because I am crabby after hours of looking at marathon photo, I have come to a couple conclusions:

 1. Jeans, no matter how cold the temps, should never be worn to a race. It is just wrong on so many levels.

 2. Never in any race should 8 or 9 people be holding hands across the race course. I don't care if you are there with a group, it just shouldn't ever happen.

 3. It was cold at the 5K, but I'm not sure it was parka cold, with a scarf and a hood..

 4. If you are going to dress as Cruella De Vil, do your research. She never got the Dalmatian coat. But if you must add the spots to your costume, make sure they are Dalmatian spots and not a cow print.

 5. If you dress as Donald Duck, orange calf sleeves are just wrong, wrong, wrong. He has yellow legs, yellow feet and a white butt. He doesn't do orange.

Thank you Lois for making us laugh while educating us on proper race attire!

A Peek in our Week

I have been doing a little  Early Spring Cleaning. I worked on a few rooms down in our basement ( a repairman was coming so that kind of gave me the nudge I needed to clean things up a bit), I worked on redecorating my bathroom, cleaning up and re-organizing my dressing room, and re-decorating my living room. You may have recalled in December that I painted the living room, well, now that marathon training is over I've been concentrating on decorating, hanging drapes, buying furnishings, etc. -M

Every night this week I have become in the habit of icing my knees before bed and then taking 2 IBuprofen right before I fall asleep. I can't say I feel great by any means but my legs are not cramping up in the middle of the night anymore. And when I say cramping up, I am using that term loosely as it really feels like there is a knot in my leg and that my leg literally locks up to where I can not move it.-M

On a brighter note I got a new icepack yesterday and it is FABULOUS! Who knew one could get so excited over an ice pack? -M

I've stopped riding my exercise bike for a while. I would ride in the evening and then my legs would hurt worse at night time. I'm going to give it a rest until I go see my Ortho and see what he has to say about it. -M

Speaking of Ortho, I've called everyday this week to see if someone had cancelled. We got some snow this week so I thought perhaps there was a little old lady out there  somewhere that wouldn't be able to make it to her appointment. Turns out, no one cancels because of a little snow.  We are suppose to get more snow tonight and into tomorrow so perhaps someone might cancel then. Fingers crossed! -M

I have SO much work to do this week that it is starting to stress me out. I'm doing work for this new magazine called "How To".  My articles are How to choose a Lawyer, How to choose the right insurance agent, and How to pick a hearing aid, all things I know nothing about. On top of that I have my articles for my regular magazine that I write for and my Fashion column is due in a few days and I don't even have a topic picked out! Ugg!.  Perhaps I should spend less time cleaning and decorating! -M

After having some leg pain, the highlight of my week was finally getting a massage! That is all. -L

What was the highlight of your week?