DIY Family Thanksgiving Fun Run

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If you've been to my blog before, you know I'm a runner.  I enjoy 5Ks the most--they are fast and don't require the weeks of training that 1/2 marathons and marathons do.  I like themed runs the best--and I do like Thanksgiving Fun Runs--helps me justify the 2nd piece of pie.  My extended family is large and has quite a few little kiddos-enough that an organized race is probably more effort than everyone wants  on a holiday (wrangling strollers, babies, toddlers, teenagers)-especially since I know we will try and do a whole family photo this weekend.  Best to save the "be on your best behavior" bribes and threats for that event and not an early morning run.  So I thought it might be fun to have just our family do a run.  It means no traveling to a race early in the morning with little kids, no finding parking or waiting in the cold for the race to start. We'll just start at Grandma's house and run to a nearby park and back.  Cocoa for when we get back. I'm guessing we'll have about 16 people in our group--no bigger than a run club--and we won't be on busy streets, so I'm not worried that we will cause a safety hazard for ourselves or drivers.

The best part about races is usually the t-shirt and the medal--so I made sure to get them for our race too--and they were cheap! For about the cost of 1 registration, I got everything for the entire group (well, I only did t-shirts for kids.  I offered the vinyl decal for any adult who wanted to bring their own shirt).

I ordered some inexpensive finisher's medals from Crown Awards, made a simple design for a t-shirt on my Silhouette SD and designed some race bibs in Word.

Did you know that Dollar Tree has t-shirts?  They are not usually high quality (although I have occasionally found overstocked nice tech shirts).  For a family race, $1 shirts are perfect.





I found a clip art I liked and added some race numbers to the bib, which I printed on cardstock at home.

I'm off to the Dollar Store to find a couple prizes.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

RunDisney: A runner's review

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I like running races--it helps keep me motivated to run regularly and keep up my training.  The 5K is my favorite distance, but a 10K is a nice challenge and I try to do at least one half marathon a year.  My very first half marathon was the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon--which was super fun, but I have to say, not a wise choice for my first 13.1 mile run (it was far from home, had 17,000 or so runners and really threw my training off).  But...it hooked me on the RunDisney races.  I already love Disneyland--so it shouldn't be surprising that the House of Mouse makes even running more fun.

Since that first 1/2 marathon, I've done a few more RunDisney races and I'm scheduled to do another one in May.


Check out all the different races that are available at RunDisney.com



In General, no matter which park  you are running at:

• Registration is usually 9 months out and they don't have deferrments if your plans change.  Sign up for email alerts at RunDisney.com for reminders about registrations (Annual Pass holders can register before the general public). Races sell out quickly.  Shorter races sell out the fastest.  Be online the moment registration opens and be prepared with your credit card.
• Speaking of credit cards, these races are spendy.  5K's are around $85.  The registration does NOT include a park pass--if you want to play after the race, you'll need to buy a park pass. 
• Costumes are encouraged.  Pick your favorite character or quote and wear it while you run.  There are some guidelines like no masks or really long costumes--but I wouldn't want to run in that kind of get up anyway (I like to run in a costume that is a nod to a character, but that won't wobble, rub, slip, jingle, bonk or otherwise annoy me or others while I run).  
• Its one big photo shoot.  If you care about how fast your time is, you'll have to set that aside for a Disney Race (probably).  There are thousands of runners, and you'll get assigned a corral and each corral will start about 5-10 minutes after the previous group.  There are characters and photo ops along the course, so you may want to stop and take advantage.  
• The medals and t-shirts are really fun.  Pay attention when you register to the shirt size options (some are men/women sizing, others will be unisex)--its tricky to change a shirt if you don't like the size you get.  Feel free to wear the shirt and the medal in the park after your race, LOTS of people do and cast members will offer you a congrats (and at my last race, several stores in Disney Springs offered free swag or discounts to runners with their medals).  

• When you cross the finish line, you'll get a snack box.  There will also be stations for water, or bags of ice for any sore spots.  

• You will get crazy enough to do more than one race in one weekend.  Disney even has a name for it--the Dopey Challenge (5K, 10K, 13.1 and 26.2 all in the same week).  I've done two in one weekend.  I'm setting the goal to do the Coast to Coast (a half or full marathon in each of the parks in the same calendar year).

Disneyland Races

• Transportation is a breeze here--stay at a hotel within walking distance and you can arrive at your required 4:30-5:30 am check in time easily. 
• For the 5K and the 10K, your run will be almost entirely within the two parks (a little bit of run around the parking lot and the plaza between the parks).  The Half Marathon is a little less magical with the majority of the race out on the roads of Anaheim--but the run through Angel Stadium was fun. 

Disney World Races

• Stay on a Disney property if you can--all of them provide bus transportation to the race expo and starting line.  There will be road closures, so why add to the stress of running by trying to drive and park (at 3:30 in the morning).  
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• There are tons of volunteers to help you figure out the transportation, how to find the Race Expo, how to pick up your stuff and how to get to your corral.  
• It is humid and the potential for lightening is high.  Races can be cancelled, delayed (or shortened) if lightening is going on. 

It will come-Inspirational printable

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I like a good inspirational quote to hang up where I'm sure to see it around my house.  The bathroom mirror, the door out to the garage, the mantle in the living room.  This quote is from runner Meb Keflezighi, the guy who won the Boston Marathon in 2014 (the first American male to do so in about 30 years, and at age 39 one of the oldest).  No doubt, its a good quote for marathon running inspiration--but I think it works for the day-to-day stuff too.

The link should take you directly to a downloadable file. I generally print mine up to fit an 8x10 frame.

Maybe Tomorrow Quote

No Slip Running Headband

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I have a few weaknesses-that it doesn't seem to matter if I need any more or not (and believe me, I don't NEED any more stuff) lip gloss, black yoga pants, boots and cute exercise accessories.  I suppose I figure that if I can't be the fastest or the most coordinated person out there, at least I can look cute while I'm at it.

I was volunteering at a race expo before a marathon last week (I didn't run this one, but maybe next year)--so I wandered around the booths to see what was out there and there was a booth full of headbands.  They were cute, but I knew I had most of the supplies at home, so I decided to try making my own.

Materials
16 inches of pattern ribbon (1" width)
16 inches of velvet ribbon (1" width)
7-8 inches of braided elastic

(FYI, velvet ribbon is expensive, so use your Hobby Lobby or Joanne's coupon)

1.  Cut each of your ribbons and place them together, wrong sides together.
2.  Fold the ends of the ribbons under and place under the presser foot of the sewing machine.  This is the trickiest part.
3. Sew along the edge of the ribbon as close to the edge as possible (I adjusted the needle on my machine to the far right).

4. When you get about 2 inches from the end, fold those edges under like you did at the other end and sew to the edge.  Do the same thing on the other long side.

5. Slide the elastic into one end of the headband about 1/2" and sew across 3-4 times to secure.  Repeat on the other end (make sure that the elastic is not twisted).

You might want to use another headband or measure your head before you start to make any changes to the length.

Now I'm ready for running...and for an upcoming trip!  

Running Inspiration Printables

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I've taken on a big challenge...running a full marathon.  That is 26.2 miles.  A very long way.  A few years ago I started running when I participated in a 5K benefit run, Fill the Ark.  I had very few excuses since that race set up its finish line pretty much at the end of my driveway.  After completing a couple 5Ks I started to think I could do a 10K.  I signed up, I trained and I worked...and then I got hurt.  I did nothing more than lean over to pick something up, and I was injured and in physical therapy for 6 months.  It was so frustrating.  About a year later, I decided it was time to try again--and I did it with the help of a kind friend who agreed to run super slow on my behalf and coached me along.
 

Many folks told me that running gets addictive, and it does...sort of.  I still don't love it.  I don't look forward to it, but I have learned a lot about myself and the power of setting goals.  I did my first 1/2 marathon last September in Disneyland.  I figured that if I was going to run 13.1 miles, I should do it somewhere I truly love.  It was quite the experience.  I trained and my body felt strong, but I was unprepared for the sheer size of this race...somewhere near 17,000 runners.  In my head I had planned to be back at the hotel resting within 3 hours of the start of the race.  Nope.  I didn't even cross the starting line until about an hour after the starting pistol went off.  Between the crowds, the heat (I thought I'd be done by the time the temperature became a factor) and a headache that just didn't want to let go, it took me MUCH longer than I had planned.  I was thrilled to finish, but felt discouraged that things didn't go well.


I decided to try another 1/2 marathon--I picked one in St. George, in January, which would be smaller and cooler.  My good friend agreed to go with me.  I continued training (including the run that ripped my favorite running tights in my last post) and managed to cut almost 40 minutes off my finish time.  I felt great at the end of the race--no real down time--which got me thinking.  And thinking.  And some more thinking, that MAYBE I could do a full marathon.


I spent another month really considering it...and I decided to sign up for a local race.  I've been training.  Saturdays are pretty much spent doing the long training runs.  This past weekend was my last long training run, 23 miles.  But I didn't make it.  At mile 15 my body was screaming at me and my back was tight and angry-and a migraine was threatening to get out of control.  I stopped.  I waited.  I waited some more.  And I knew I had to try.  I made it another 6.5 miles and I was done for the day.  So--now I have the taper...fewer miles, just maintaining my fitness and letting my body get ready for the real deal in a couple weeks. 

I decided I needed a few more inspirational quotes to hang around my house, in my car, in my gym bag.  Anywhere and everywhere.  Everyone tells me that the marathon distance is a mental game. I was singing in choir on Sunday after my not-quite-23 mile run and we sang the words from Isaiah 40:31 "they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint"...seemed like that was a good place to start my inspirational quotes.  Wish me luck (and good weather!)

If you'd like to print these quotes, click the link and look for the Run Inspiration file. Its sized to print on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper.  I'm even thinking of printing some on tattoo paper to put on my arm for race day.

UPDATE:  I did it!  I finished the Ogden Marathon.  It was exactly as hard as I thought it would be.  Miles 22-26.2 were SO long and so hard.  I appreciated all the wonderful people who cheered on total strangers along the route and the great volunteers who offered up water and encouragement.  

Modern Darning

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I have a pair of running tights that I love.  I had gone for a run in January and was feeling pretty smug about myself...until I hit a patch of black ice and went down on my knee, which hurt--and to add insult to injury, I ended up with a small hole in the pants.  Argh.  The tights were pricey, and I knew that if I didn't fix the hole, it would just get bigger and the pants would be ruined.  So, a lesson in darning, the modern way.  I don't have a fancy sewing machine, just a basic Singer. 

My first step was to stabilize the hole. I grabbed some iron-on Stitch Witchery and some satin ribbon.  I slid the ribbon and fusible webbing into the pants and ironed it flat from the outside of the pants (this let me press all the edges of the tear into the fusible webbing).  After it had cooled, the hole was nearly invisible, but I knew that it wouldn't stand up to the multiple washings that running pants would go through.

 

Next, find a thread that matches the fabric.  I took the pants and my 40% off coupon to JoAnne's and found some thread that was spot-on for a match (no, not that gray, or that gray, or that charcoal, or that slate...ah, that one!)

Get your sewing machine all set with the bobbin and thread all loaded up.  I set the  machine to zig-zag with a short stitch length.  Next time, I would recommend using a chalk pencil to draw a small circle around the area you are going to darn, then just fill in the circle (the dark fabric and good job of ironing the hole up made it hard to see if I had gotten it all covered with stitches).

I slid the pants onto the arm of the sewing machine--it was a bit tricky to get all the fabric bunched up and out of the way, but I managed it.  I sewed on the top side of the pants (just the one layer though, so I didn't sew the pants closed), turned the fabric a bit and sewed again and kept turning and sewing (sometimes using the backstitch mode).  It took about 30 seconds and I had it done!

Took the pants out for another run today, and they work great.  I can't feel the patch and I know it will be fine in the washing machine.  So, for the cost of a $1 spool of thread I saved my favorite running tights.  I have tried this on jeans too--you can buy variegated denim thread that matches very nicely (or you can try using a lighter thread on the bobbin and darker on the spool).