Weekend Getaway

Over the weekend Luke and I headed to Albany to meet up with my best friend Miss D (Dani) and her husband Greg plus their almost 9 month old Michael.  Luke and I arrived at the hotel early Friday night and they would arrive much later so we'd meet up for an early breakfast and head out for our Saturday adventure.

 Dani had asked me if I'd be interested in doing the Spartan race.  I didn't hesitate and said yes thinking it would be like some of the other races I've seen advertised with just lots of mud.  I should have read up on the race before making the decision.  The boys dumped us off at Killington Ski Resort in Vermont and had their own adventure for the day.  Photos in this post are what the boys did. When I get the photos from our race I'll do a re-cap of that.

 The boys went to a pancake breakfast at a nearby local restaurant.  Apparently they went to pay and there was no one there with a note to call a guy.  They called the number and the guy said to leave some $ on the table and have a great day.

 All around town were these hay sculptures.  The boys liked the abominable snowman from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

 After their breakfast they went to a local gift shop and took turns going in since Michael was sleeping in the car.  Greg bought Dani and I matching coffee mugs.  Mine is a blue green color and Dani's is purple.  They are really cool with a "nook" for your hand to hold the cup instead of a handle.  Hand crafted pottery.

 Shopping completed they spent the rest of their time hanging out at a place called Liquid Art.  It was basically a coffee house/bar combo with lots of art on the walls.  They just waited there and drank until Dani and I called to let them know we were not dead from our "race."

 Why would we be dead?  These are just the start of some bruises beginning to show on my knees and some scrapes acquired from the adventure race.  It was supposedly just over 4 miles and it took us about 2 1/2 hours so that should give you some indication of the difficulty.

 Photos of us racing will be available later this week or early next week according to the site.  There was no way I could have had my camera survive the course.  Despite the difficulty we are already in talks of getting together for the longer version of the Spartan Sprint called the Super Spartan (8+ miles of obstacles and such nonsense).

Cottage Weekend

Jen's last weekend in town she wanted to go to the cottage fishing and just to relax.  I went down to the cottage Saturday afternoon since I knew Bob was going to the Bills game and was going up the night before to chill with friends.  We went fishing with Papa Bear while Momma babysat the little dude.  We all caught a fish and Bob lost 3 lures.  After Bob left the crazy shenanigans of the cottage and vacations past began.

 Most families will play cards for money.  We prefer to play for candy.  Not just any candy but regular, full-size bars.  None of those snack size items here folks.  And our rule is that the winner has to dance on the table.  This was all started by Mr. Lucky (my dad) while camping one year and he jumped on the table and moon walked.

 Mom was the winner but due to a ceiling (not picnic table camping this time) she danced on the chair.  Makes you want to hook an ankle.  She then let each of us pick one piece of candy and the rest was her's to keep.

 We proceeded to socialize and eat candy that was already there... or in mom's case she worked on her tan using some candy disc things to protect her eyes.  As if we hadn't gotten enough sugar for the day we went for ice cream at Brooks.

 Was it chilly out?  You bet but that didn't stop us from getting ice cream or snuggling extra with the little dude.  He told Jen he wanted chocolate with extra sprinkles.

 That evening we fed and burped him.  It was a team effort and last minute snuggles before he was going to be leaving in a few days.

We had a nice relaxing weekend at the cottage and went shopping at an outlet center on the way home. Little Dude did not like that at all.  Every time we went in a store he'd start to cry.  He was pretty much ok as long as he wasn't in a store.  So young and already hates shopping.

Half Marathon Day

Last day at Disneyland and it was Dumbo Day!  Best day of the trip (well, I don't know about that but it was the most Dumbo happy).  Photos are still on my moms camera from the race but after we went to Trader Sam's for lunch and to relax.  No drinks this time and it was very crowded with lots of runners celebrating their accomplishments.

 We were hoping to sit at the bar so that my moms friend Timmy G. would have the sinking chair but no luck.  Anyways, the bar was so crowded the chairs weren't sinking this time but at the volcano's and sinking ships needing lifeboats were.

 My mom and I shared the burger and Timmy got the chicken at my recommendation from the other day.  On the way back we walked through the shops to keep cool and stopped for some beignets.  Not as good from the Jazz Kitchen as the ones in the Disneyland park.  Disney must do something to their food to make it yummy goodness.

 My mom treated herself to a Dumbo zip up hoodie just like mine.  I like when she wears it so I can spot her, plus green looks good on her.

Of course we wouldn't be running Disney if it wasn't for the bling.  That is partially true but mostly a lie.  I just love Disney so I would go even if it was just a piece of plastic when what I really wanted was a medal (medallion is abbreviated as medal mom he-hee).

Disneyland Day 3

Part 3 of our Disneyland adventure took place after the 10K.  It was hot out and once again soared into the triple digits with the heat index.  Mom and I took a little nap before going to the parks.  We headed into California Adventure first for Cars Land and the Pixar Play Parade along with lunch.

 Before heading out the door I put on sunblock and hoped for the best since I had a touch of a headache.  Figured food would take care of that situation.  We had a bite to eat and I felt like I was on fire.  My face was burning up since I wasn't really "sweating" with the sunblock on so I wasn't cooling well.  I went to the bathroom and washed off what I could but I still felt really awful.  Mom held our parade spot while I continued to sit with a bag of ice on my neck, wrists, face and such.  I headed over to watch the parade after having sat at our lunch table for just over an hour after we finished eating.

 My mom was chatting up a few cast members while she was waiting and one of them happened to be somewhat important because she issued my mom what is basically a fast pass for a ride she talked about going to after the parade.  My mom also wanted to let the important one know what an awesome job the other member was doing and how nice she was.  Due to the weather the parade performers were going to be a little faster in their routines... meaning they were going to walk and stop less often for mini performances due to the heat.

 I still feel totally awful but we go over to Disneyland.   We stopped at first aid over  at Cali-Adventure for her to get a band aid for a spot on her foot that is rubbing.  At Disneyland we ride Pirates of the Carribean 2x in a row since the audio was not working for the first half of our first adventure.  Interesting experience and it makes you really appreciate how much the music adds to the experience.  Still amazing though all the other stuff without the music.   I am practically in tears by this point from not feeling well so we were going to go back to the room for some excedrin.  Mom asks a cast member about aspring and we head to first aid at Disneyland for me to hopefully kick the headache.  By now I've eaten and drank plenty of water and had ice/cold wraps on my face for about 2 hours and still feel like I can't cool off enough.

We sat in first-aid for about 30 minutes so I could cool off and since it was quiet.  I decide to try and suck it up so we venture into the park.  I was feeling better and wanted some Mickey beignets.  We sit at the French Market for about an hour waiting for them and munching.  After that we ended up back at our hotel room where I took a shower and went to bed with the intention of getting up to watch fireworks.  Didn't happen and I slept from about 6:30 that night until it was time to get up for the half marathon.
Not feeling well when it is hot at Disney is awful.  For me to call it a day when I am at Disney it was bad since I suck up an awful lot of exhaustion and such while I am there.  Don't be sick at Disney cause it isn't fun.

10K at Disneyland

So we wake up at like 4:00am to get to the start of our race that will be at 6:15 (the 5K was at 5:30).  I will not provide details of how poorly thought out/designed the start was since it used the same area as the 5K and there were issues with getting to corrals.

  After breakfast in the room (Frosted Flakes with milk) we headed to the start and stopped at the mile 6 marker for a photo op so I wouldn't have to stop later.

I was lucky to be in corral A.  This meant that there weren't a ton of people in front of me stopping for characters so the lines weren't super long... but they were long enough.  Let's just say my half marathon time is only about 40 minutes more than my 10K for the weekend and it was double the distance.

 The temperature was in the upper 70's with high humidity.  I was very toasty and as you know the temps once again reached triple digit heat index that afternoon.  

 I have no idea what I was thinking stopping to get my picture with flowers.  I hate flowers.  I must have been delirious from the heat and this was only about mile 2.

 See that guy there on the far left.  That's Joey Fatone from *NSync.  I give him major kuddos for his racing efforts at runDisney events.  He was also at the Goofy Challenge in January and taking on the Dumbo Double to get that Coast to Coast.  He is the real deal with running and very humble about the whole thing.  His amazing wife was with him and got him started with running when she was injured so he ran for her.

We are all mad here.  Who runs when it's this hot out?  Not me when I am at home.  It becomes an elliptical day.

 Spotting my Momma in the bleachers at the finish line.  She said she kept looking for me in my Tink outfit.  Don't worry, Tink will be back in January.

Disneyland Day 2

So we didn't do as much at the parks this day since we had to go to the race expo and pick up my race number and such to be ready the next day to run.  The expo was horrendous... mom waited in line for almost 2 hours or more just to purchase some runDisney Dumbo Double Dare items for me.  I went and got a snack for her and also wandered the other vendors before sitting outside for a bit to "stay off my feet."  It was another hot day.  After the ordeal at the expo and the extreme heat of the day we stayed at the hotel until around 2:30 for the parade at 4:00.  Temps again reached into the 100 degree heat index.

 Before the parade we ventured into Jungle on the world famous Jungle Cruise.  A personal favorite of mine after having the opportunity to be an honorary Skipper as part of the year of a million dreams.

 We made sure to pick up our free case of malaria after the cruise entered the pair a docks.  I was roasting so we ventured to the Enchanted Tiki-Room for a delightful Pineapple Dole-whip float and some AC.  Dole whips are a must have any time you visit Disney.  Plus I love the Tiki birds.

 We snagged a good spot in the shade for the parade.  Prior to this I sat on a bench where a lady not so nicely informed me that someone was sitting there.  I informed her that yes, someone was sitting there... me!  She was not amused.  I just can't sit on a curb for that long without my hips hurting but her attitude made me want to torture her poor attempt at saving the bench (not putting anything there to indicate "saved.")

 I read how they light up Cars Land each night.  It was just like walking into Radiator Springs.  Very beautiful with all the neon lights along Route 66.  Of course we had to also ride the Car Racers again.

 Next it was back to Disneyland to share our traditional hotdog from Casey's Corner.  Mom also surprised me with a Mickey pretzel to share for the salt since we'd been sweating all day.  Yum.

 Fireworks again.  How I love them but loved them more the night before when everyone sat in the street to watch.  Some cast member took it upon himself to get everyone to stand up and then left.  We were all better sitting so we could all see.  Oh well.

 Tink and Dumbo... best that they fly all around the castle instead of a zip and done.

Time for bed. I have that 10K to run tomorrow.