As you probably know if you read my blog, I have been on vacation for the past week. I spent my birthday in Disneyland which meant that temptations were everywhere. Despite my best efforts I succumbed. I know, I suck.
Me and my daughter playing princess
I had my running routine all mapped out in my mind before I left. I was going to run 3 miles at least 2 days while I was gone. If I were home I would have run 14 miles while I was away so I figured this very modest schedule was totally doable. I was going to wake up at the butt crack of dawn to run before the kids woke up and we’d still have plenty of time to be to the park by rope drop. I was going to splurge on indulgence foods one meal per day and try to eat healthy-ish (it is a vacation after all!) the rest of the time. I failed on all accounts.
We arrived in Anaheim on Tuesday evening, went to dinner, walked around downtown Disney and got back to our hotel around 9:00pm. I set my alarm for 5:15am and laid out my running attire on the dresser. I got my yurbuds and shoes out and everything was ready to go. I was so dog tired from the long day (which started at 5:00am) that I was in bed and fast asleep by 10:30pm.
When my alarm blared the next morning, I hit snooze, but only once. I actually managed to haul my butt out of bed by 5:25am on Wednesday and I am glad I did. It was already 75 degrees in Anaheim at that time and the humidity did not help (I hate running in the heat!). I ran a 5k loop which took me down Harbor, turned on Katella, then Disneyland Drive, Ball Road and back on Harbor.
FUBAR post-run picture in front of Tower of Terror
I was even able to stop to take a not so flattering picture with Tower of Terror in the background. I really looked like s***, but I deserve a break – it was before 6:00am, hot and humid. Overall I’d say I looked damn good.
That 5k was it for my running adventures in Anaheim. The next three days were spent walking everywhere and eating, then eating some more and finally eating some more. I basically ate everything and anything I wanted and did not feel one ounce of guilt for it while I was eating it, but I am definitely feeling it now. I am fairly certain I gained 10 pounds on that trip. In case you’re wondering I ate bananas foster on Tuesday, Mexican food on Wednesday, corn dogs and all-you-can-eat BBQ ribs and chicken on Thursday (best meal there) and red beans and rice on Friday. I am not even mentioning the fast food I ate while driving to and from Disneyland because quite honestly, I am embarrassed and fast food barely qualifies as food.
Anaheim (and perhaps the area surrounding the Disneyland resort) seems to be a popular place to run. Throughout my stay I saw numerous people out running at all hours of the day. There were at least a handful of times when I saw someone running and I felt like joining them. Don’t think my husband would have been too pleased had I run off with some random stranger and left him with both kids. Good thing I restrained myself and stayed with them.
My son with a Mickey ears hat
When we finally got home on Saturday night (after more than 8 hours on the road), I was so exhausted that the idea of a run the next morning was abhorrent to me. That being said, having just 3 weeks until my first half marathon I knew I had to get in one last long run before my tapering weeks so I sucked it up and set the alarm clock for 5:15am. I planned 12 miles.
When the alarm went off I snoozed it and then decided to get up at 6:30am for my run. When that alarm beeped I turned it off and decided sleep was more important than running. I slept until 8:00am. I have a one year old. 8:00am is late.
When I woke up I was wracked with guilt. I knew I had to run. I had to get my body and my head back in the game. I told myself “run at least 5 miles and you’ll feel all right.” When I responded “I don’t want to run, I want to sit on my butt all day” I finally convinced myself that the hardest part of getting back in the game was getting dressed, lacing up and walking out the door. I was right. I don’t think I have ever dawdled so much in my life. It took me a good 10 minutes to get dressed when it should have taken all of two.
Of course my luck being what it is the temperature at 11:00am was already 70 degrees and the sun was beating down on me for the better part of my run. I ended up running 10 miles in my neighborhood which is very hilly. I could not do the full 12 I planned, but I figured all of the hills made up for those two miles because I’d take 12 miles of flat over 10 miles of hills any day and twice on Sunday! I took a lot of walk breaks and drank 24 ounces of water (on a long run I usually drink maybe 8-12 ounces). I really felt like my legs were made of lead and my heart just was not in it, but I banged it out.
I’ve learned 2 things from my mini-break from running: 1) I have to run early in the day during the summer. Me + heat = bad times; and 2) No matter what, I have to get my runs in during the week, even if I am on vacation. I feel like not running for three days made a huge difference physically and mentally.
My new Kayanos. Aren’t they pretty????
On a related note – I finally got to break in my new Asics Kayano 19s – this is my second pair. I actually wore my old (now retired) pair when running in Anaheim. Crazy the difference new shoes can make. My knees actually hurt a little after my 5k on Wednesday, but not so much as a tingle today after 10. Word to the wise: out with the old and in with the new is a great rule for running shoes when you start to feel new aches and pains.
Xoxo,
Mimi
Run with Mimi 