RunDisney

During my recovery time from NZ, I started thinking about the next race I would do.  I wanted to give myself plenty of time to really start from scratch.  I had injured myself pretty bad and chose to run through those injuries in order to finish the race in NZ, but I knew I could do better and FEEL better while I was doing it.

In doing some research I found the RunDinsey series and every review I read about the Disney Marathon was incredible.  So, on April 6th of last year, I signed up for the 2013 Disney World Marathon, which was really the turning point of my running life.

Training started slow.  Since I had 10 months to prepare I didn't want to rush and get injured again.  Lots of 5k distances to get my legs and lungs back in working condition. Once May came around, I was feeling good and wasn't having the continuous problems with my IT band that I was having before.  I had to switched over to gravel and concrete, rather than solid trail running.  To this day, I believe the only reason I finished in NZ was because it was trail.  When June hit, I started having some issues with shin splints so I lowered the miles per week again and then July gave me an unexpected turn.

Insert: Heart Arrhythmia and a randomly Fluttering Atria

When you work your body to its' limits, you start to find its' breaking point.  Add a bunch of stress from school and you get my Heart Arrhythmia.  After a month of being wired and monitored, I was cleared to continue training.  The Arrhythmia was considered 'non-threatening' and though it does have a some affect on my activity, it is more of an annoyance than a hindrance, but I still run with my dog in case I pass out...

I like to tell people that running any distance is more mental than physical.  If you convince yourself you can finish, and you're stubborn like me, there is almost nothing that can stop you. 

Needless to say, between my new position at school as the Head Tennis Coach and the multitude of classes I was in to teach myself how to be the head Tennis Coach, I didn't get much training started until after the Fall Tennis Season was over.  I got a few runs in every now and then, but nothing significant.  I completed two 10 mile runs, but nothing more.  I was depressed and frustrated with myself and also in a state of denial.  I had been so excited about the Disney Marathon and now I needed to decide whether I should even go.

So, here I am, completely unprepared, again, thinking I am the worst example of someone who wants to run a marathon-ever-and what does stubborn me do?...book hotel and airfare....no turning back now.

 What's that Kelly Clarkson song..What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger?