Open Mouth, Insert Foot

That's about the fifth title I have come up with for this post. I initially started out with "Forgiving The Distance", an apology for badmouthing the 15k distance for so long, but I think it has once again betrayed me. So, to the Gods of Running Karma, I have to sacrifice my ankle.

It started out a pretty great race - I felt awesome as the Disney Women Run The World 15k started out. I hated running the off- and on-ramps due to hip issues, but they were short and I plowed through them. I was never horribly tired, and per my trusty Timex I finished in 2:00:51, about a good 7:01 faster than the Gate River Run! (My official time of 2:03:10 includes a bathroom stop). Afterwards, I felt pretty good, well enough to fight my way through the Epcot crowds to ride Soarin' (which, due to said crowds, we only end up riding about once a year.) Then, we headed to the hotel to check out, and off to Magic Kingdom.

That's where the distance decided it wanted revenge.

I will admit I am the world's worst about stretching. I know my calves get tight and I do very little to prevent or treat that. (Save for my amazing massage therapist and my Marathon Stick!) Well, this time, I am mega-tight in the lower calf area. I walked towards T'n'T (Ticketing and Transportation, for you non-Disney addicts out there) and I felt some soreness in the ankle and kind of going down into my foot around the side.


I have plantar fasciitis to beat the band, but it more manifests itself in my mid-foot, right down the middle (most people have heel pain - I can't decide if they're luckier or not). This was kind of on the side, so I didn't really think it was related. After trekking it around the MK, I ended up at First Aid getting Tylenol, ice, and an Ace bandage. I put the ice on my ankle, but it didn't seem that it was helping there. So, I put it further down on my foot. That hit the spot. Throughout the rest of the day I noticed that the more weight I put on it, the worse it got. This morning I decide to hit Google and I think this is it: Peroneal Tendon...sprain? Maybe? (Another site with this info here.)

So I am going to start my Marathon training two weeks late, while I take a nice (gag) two weeks off to R.I.C.E. the heck out of this thing, get an ankle brace, hit the anti-inflammatories, STAY OFF MY ANKLE, and, if it comes to that, pay a visit to the sports medicine doc. (Yippee! Not.)

This, however, is so not stopping me from registering for the inaugural Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon. But it might keep me out of 15ks for a pretty long while... How come I can do 13.1 miles without any problem but 9.3 miles just gives me fits every time?

There She Goes Again...

I am always coming and going, as my friend Mike likes to point out.

The cruise was AWESOME! I'll take any excuse to be in Key West, even for a little while, and it was so worth it (see the pineapple pancake and the stretchy cat below - I wanna be that cat!) Of course, all it did was make me want to go back for a few more days. And I did get Michael McCloud to play "She Gotta Butt" for the low low price of 2 cds and a $10 tip.

Cozumel was super fun, too - I actually did an adventure park! Climbing, rappelling, bridges, ziplining... and, okay, my butt hanging out in a Bridget Jones kind of way (If you've seen it, you get that) so I'll spare you the pics and link you to Flickr when they're ready - you can check them at your own risk! We also finally found the coolest, non-touristy bar in Cozumel - appropriately named, No Name Bar. It sure beat watching the 50-something year old ladies embarass themselves at Carlos'N'Charlies.

On the boat, I didn't eat too badly (not TOO TOO badly) or drink too much, but still somehow managed to gain about 6 pounds. So, since I feel "heavy in my running shoes" (read: sluggish and huge), I tried a detox cleanse I found at the natural foods store. It's not the nightmare people always tell you it is, and when you're coming off a massive food binge it might not be a bad idea. Just do your homework and know what your body can handle.

Enough with the overshare. (Sorry, I come from a genetic line of oversharers. My mother and brother are the worst!) ((Blogger's note: Sorry, Mom, but you know it's true.))

Oh... did I mention I got a PR? Oh yes I did! In fact, Billy, Mike, and I *all* got PR's at the Corporate Run! I was beginning to wonder how well they measured the course, but my mom seems to think we all PR'd because we're so good! (See? Momma said Nikes were my magic shoes...) I realize 37:11 isn't most people's idea of a great 5K, and that the guys came in a full 10 minutes ahead of me, but you know what? PR's make me happy, and y'all I am happy about this one! A full two minutes and change ahead of my time from the Race for the Cure in October. (Billy has a great write up on his blog about the run - and even though this is a running blog, he's a better blogging runner).

So, on to two more running-related topics: The Minnie Marathon and the Vegas Marathon.

I don't know why they call it a Minnie Marathon - it's a 15K, folks. But this is the last year they are doing it, and the last chance for a Minnie medal. Someday I want to have all of the Big 4 Disney World Running medals - I already have Donald, and I need Mickey and Goofy. Maybe in, say, 2010. Leana has all 4 now and is getting her second Minnie this year - and I hope I run into her at Disney! If not - GOOD LUCK, GIRL!!! (And good luck to Billy, who is running the Go Red For Women 5K - supporting the fight against heart disease in women!)

And when I come back from the Happiest Place on Earth, it's time to start training for Vegas. Oh boy! (say that in a Mickey Mouse voice). I have slacked off a little lately, I confess - the week of the cruise, I lifted weights once in the gym, once on the cruise, and ran and took a spin class on the boat (see? I did good on my vacation! Else I would have gained like 10 lbs...) But even with that, a PR, a 7 mile run this weekend, and a 1.5 rain-out run last night, I still feel like I need to REALLY get myself in gear for training. It's going to be a little more difficult than training was last year with the Galloway group - it was great to be surrounded by motivated people, even a few experienced marathon runners, at an organized place and time, with a map, water stops, and all the encouragement. Instead, I have B, Mike (who has been kidnapped into training for the Jax Bank Marathon and just doesn't know it yet), and Darcey and Rhonda by remote. However, I like challenges, you get to show just how tough you really are. Am I tough enough for 26.2 miles of potentially boring, dry-heat running through the desert? Can I turn down In-N-Out burger the first two days I am in Vegas? Can I run 20 miles in Auburn on my birthday when I'd rather start the tailgating at the crack of dawn?

Abso-freaking-lutely.

Here's my Galloway-inspired training plan, complete with my "extra curricular runs" I'm doing this summer:


This shouldn't be so hard after all...

Playing Dress Up

I have always liked to dress up, except, strangely, on Halloween. I can be creative 364 (or, this year 365) days a year, but I can't get it right on that one day. That might be why I like hash runs where there's a theme (Red Dress, Green Dress, Toga, Redneck) that I can try to comply with. I've done the red Goth Girl thing, green tube dress with cowboy boots and Elvis glasses, and a Princess Leia toga... I can accessorize for sure.


However it is time to take on an actual character instead of an idea...


Minnie Mouse.


For the Minnie Marathon (it's a 15k, I don't know why they call it a marathon...?) I am going to do like probably a hundred or so other women and dress up as Minnie Mouse. I think it'll be more fun and besides, I have some killer red and black Nike+ shoes that I designed over on NikeID. I already have the sequined ears, and I think I found a black top I like at Dicks, both of which will go GREAT with this running skirt:

Thoughts?