WDW Marathon Weekend | BoxerRunner

613 miles from Orlando, I shared in the joy and excitement of my sister Laury’s REDEMPTION RUN at the Disney Half Marathon! She finally got it done! Whoo Hooo!

Her quest started with the 2011 Disney Half Marathon, which she missed due to being extremely anemic. It was to be a family event, between all of us, we would cover participation the 5k, half and full marathons. Unfortunately, I, registered for the marathon, feel ill to a HORRIBLE upper respiratory infection and could not even make the trip. The 2011 Disney running weekend did not happen for either of us! Laury recovered enough to make the trip as a spectator and cheered on the rest of the family (Sister Amy’s 1st Marathon)

Dinner Animal Kingdom Rain Forest Cafe after 2012 Disney Half Marathon/Goofy Challenge

Back with vengeance, we registered for 2012 determined to make it happen. I registered for the Goofy Challenge ( half and full marathons) and Laury for her first marathon! We were going to make it happen in 2012! Even if it meant wearing rubber gloves and surgical mask to fend off germs. Fortunately, it never came to that. But Unfortunately, Laury fell victim to the dreaded IT BAND aggravation. UGGGGG! Once again, Laury traveled to Orlando as a spectator…two years in a row! The good news in all of this is she was able to speak with a wonderful Run Disney representative who after hearing her story and clearly feeling sorry for her deferred her 2012 marathon entry to 2013! This was so awesome considering the deferral period was long gone. She was not giving up!

My Fav picture 2012 Disney Marathon/Goofy Challenge!

Bummed not able to pace my sister in her first marathon, I was thrilled to take on the challenge of pacing my brother-in-law Jon in his 1st 26.2. We had a great run and Laury…once again a spectator happily greeted us at the finish line!

2013 was to be Laury’s year! She was not going to miss this race again! She was feeling great, injury free and then…the fever, raspy voice, labored breathing, tightness in the chest started 6 days before her THIRD attempt at a Disney race. Monday, she called me and delivered the news she was not well. Of all things chest congestion a runners nightmare…you need your lung capacity. Having just run/attempted (whatever you want to call it) the PineMountain40 (My PineMountain BEATDOWN) with compromised lung capacity I URGED her to go to the Dr and NOT make the same mistake I had. She heeded my advise (major win for me since those whom work in the medical profession love to self diagnose and think they are fine) and went to the Dr. The Doc diagnosed an upper respiratory infection and prescribed meds that in turn got her TO and ACROSS the finish line. FINALLY! SHE DID IT! A Disney Half Marathoner Finisher. Third time is a charm:)

Disney Curse BROKEN! REDEMPTION run complete! 2013

She was elated and so was I… many miles away! I only wish I could have been there for her, as she has been for me, to hug her sweaty neck! Way to go Laury! You did it!

For me, one of the greatest joys of running is sharing in others milestones and victories! I glean energy and motivation from others conquest and successes. Today was no different, my excitement was such you would have thought I had completed the race myself.

Laury’s REDEMPTION run was DONE! The irony in it all, is that just this morning (while Laury was making her way to the 5:30am start) “I” received notification at 4:46am that I had been “un-wait listed” and moved to a participant in my own personal REDEMPTION run ..The North Carolina Fat ASS 50K. (Thanks Nathan @SocialShark for telling me about #FatASS50k) Wow! Irony, coincidence, Divine intervention…I am not exactly sure. I will take this as a sign that my quest for a personally satisfying ultra distance was meant to be!

Cheers to you Laury, for a long overdue, job well done and well wishes to those seeking REDEMPTION in 2013!

Sargeant Laury!

I cannot think of a better way to kick off an awesome weekend than attending a Another Mother Runner Mother House Party! In case you did not know I am a HUGE fan of the wonderfully talented, insightful, witty, and vertically blessed ladies behind the AnotherMotherRunner.com community -Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell. I potentially could be considered a “stalker” but I much prefer to refer to myself as a “Super Fan”.

I came to adore these ladies after picking up their first book Run Like a Mother How to Get Moving and Not lose Your Family, job, or Sanity. Naturally, that title spoke to this full time working mother of two. I loved the book so much, I read it very slowly in bits and pieces cause I did not want it to end. I would laugh myself silly on a nightly basis, while at the same time gain tremendous insight into my new found passion of running.

I was honored and star struck to meet Sarah and Dimity at the Country Music Marathon- Nashville, TN in May 2011. (Rebecca, Dimity is holding your signed book!). They were the highlight of my trip since the Nashville Marathon remains as my #1 personal worst finish ( so bad I thought my marathoning days were over) Back to the book….. I finally finished it, and was thrilled to continued my Run Like a Mother (RLAM) daily fix on the Run Like a Mother, facebook community, AnotherMotherRunner.com and twitter. Take it from a true “Super Fan” if you are not following you are missing out! No kids needed you just need to have ovulated at some point in your life. These ladies cover topics you are sure not to find in-between the covers of any running magazine. 🙂

How is it possible these BRF’s have un-revealed skeletons 🙂

So…..Friday night I loaded up the Honda Odyssey Mini Van, with some gal pals, and we headed to Chapel Hill for the House Party! My gosh we laughed all the way there and back. The perplexing thing about our evening is how on earth have I logged hundreds upon hundreds of miles with two of these ladies, yet only that night were some of their deepest , darkest secrets revealed. How can this happen? Running partners know EVERYTHING! Let me tell you……they are good ones too! We had a great time! I “Super Fan” was star struck by meeting Sarah and Dimity again. The picture is really bad, I swear it looks like I have hives.

Another Mother Runner House Party! May 2012

It was so awesome they were in my own backyard (20 miles away….but close enough). They read from their newest book Train Like a Mother…How to Get Across Any Finishing Line and – Not lose your Family, Job, and Sanity. They had some great give aways and the BEST swag bags ever! We all had a great time! We were like kids at Christmas when we got in the car investigating the contents of the swag bag! Sweeeeet!

AMR Party!

Jill (the newest addition to the Another Mother Runner club) , who jokes all my running will kill me one day, finally agreed to joined me on one of my endorphin journeys. She signed up for her first triathlon and major event. I was soooooooo excited. Finally, I got her talked into to doing something with me! Saturday night, I emailed Jill her detailed packing list and instructions to pack her bag, put her bike in the car, lay out her clothes, go to bed, and be at my house at 5:30am. She follows and takes instructions well (still working on my kids)

Sunday…arrived way too early with a 4:30am wake up! Jill and I headed up to North Raleigh for the Rambling Rose Women’s Triathlon. The day was finally here and we were both ready……………or so I thought. We arrived with plenty of time to spare. Bikes racked, bodies marked, we were ready! The outdoor swim was chilly. I was thrilled to shave some major time off my March swim. The 10 mile bike was hilly, but really very beautiful through a residential neighborhood. I was thrilled to complete the ride without any major bike malfunctions. (2010- I rode in on the swag wag when my headset came loose…. and as a newbie had no tools). I saw Jill in transition and gave her my hoot and hollering support while I quickly attempted to transition from my bike shoes to my running shoes……….

Woooooooops!

Failed attempt! Two rights and no left. Duh! Nice!

Well, there was only one thing to do since DNF in not in my vocabulary ………..Barefoot! Off I took, with my tender pedicured skin on the pavement. Thanks! Mr. red shirt volunteer who yelled “less heel, get on the balls of your feet.” Much appreciated, advice for this virgin Bare-footer. I heard a range of comments from “Where are your shoes?” “Look Mom that lady does not have on shoes.” “Go Barefoot Lady!” to “Barefoot…….NICE!”. I felt like some renegade showboating my barefoot skills at a beginner friendly event. SO NOT the case! Who cares what anyone thinks? Not me! I embraced my situation and PROUDLY funneled my inner Bad-Ass and enjoyed every minute and mile of my barefoot debut. I proved there is a little Kenyon in this white girl from eastern North Carolina. Interesting fact- I ran faster barefoot than I did in my tri in March.

As promised,I jumped back in the race and ran the last mile with Jill!

I am beyond proud of my buddy Jill for:

#1-signing up after my subliminal hints

#2- enduring my training and crazed enthusiasm

#3-finishing strong!

She lived….(despite her prior advice to me) to tell the world she is a Triathlete! Yea Jill! Oh and a shout out to Jennifer, Mary, and Sarah for their amazing finishes!

For me personally, I am proud,of overcoming a race day obstacle and making the best of it. Luckily, for me the barefoot thing worked and was not too uncomfortable. I only it knew that because I tried!

Race day obstacles seems to be a 2012 pattern .

I left more than my mini mouse dots on the pavement

In January, at Walt Disney World Goofy’s Race (half marathon & full marathon in the same weekend) I busted my a$% on a street reflector in mile 11 of the half marathon with 2.1 miles to go…not to mention the 26.2 I had in less than 24 hours. I knocked myself silly, but was swiftly picked up by some faceless knight and shining armor behind me. I can still hear the ” awwww’s” and “oh craps” of my fellow runners as they watched me drop, skid, and roll on the concrete.(BRF Laura applauded me on how quickly I put my mini mouse ears back on)

Luckily, it was just road rash and not whiplash or knocked out teeth. After a little clean up, I endured and finished both races with battle wounds! ( Laura will tell you…as gross and painful as they were.. I was sickly proud of them)

So what does this pattern of race day mishaps mean for the remainder of my 2012 events? I am not sure ….Just bring it! I will tackle it! One event at a time!

I have come to know, my drive and motivation comes from the accomplishment of pushing through mental and physical barriers. It’s these challenges and accomplishments that keep me logging the miles!