Tag: challenges

fitness and nutrition, travel

Same. Same (But Different)

2chicksandapen

Racecation Season kicked back into full swing with the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon. If you’ve been following along my year of amazing races, you know I did a 10 mile race in Disney World in April. The Halloween Half took me across the country to California, to run at the original Disney. Like my Florida race, I also spent a day at the parks so I’ll break this story into two posts…one, the parks / resort and two, the race.

I’ve been to Disney World in Florida many times. I’ve taken my kids at numerous stages, and now I’ve also had the fun of going solo as an adult. This trip would be my very first time at Disneyland in California. I decided to spring for the park hopper, Lightning Lanes, etc. since it was just for one day. Who knows when I will make it back again, if ever. I wanted to cram in as much as I could.

I studied park maps, touring plans, watched videos and read posts, but still didn’t feel prepared enough to have much confidence in my rough outline of the day. Add to that an unseasonal heat wave and I was feeling a little wary that I would accomplish much.

I made the four-and-a-half hour flight on a Friday. I landed around noon and took an uber to my hotel. Friday was my day to pick up my bib and visit the race expo. I made my way to the Disneyland hotel. The scope of Disneyland is so much smaller. Everything is in about a dozen blocks. You aren’t catching buses from resorts to the parks. For the most part, you can walk places. (But to be fair, I did use uber a number of times to preserve my legs and avoid the heat.)

I spent the first afternoon walking through the three resort hotels. I grabbed my race gear, walked the expo, then enjoyed all the Disney magic in the hotels and Downtown Disney. Much of it was decked out for the race and Halloween. (For Disney, Halloween starts in late August. I am not really into Halloween as a holiday, so it amazed me how over-the-top the decorations were. Especially in 100+ degree heat!)

Each hotel had its own vibe. From classic Disneyland at the Disneyland hotel, to woodsy opulence at the Grand Californian, to quirky cartoon chic at Pixar Place, they were fun to explore. I ended up eating a steak salad at the Grand Californian which was simply gorgeous inside. The 5 story lobby was full of people, a live pianist, and a gingerbread display of the wicked witch from Snow White. The restaurant there had one of the best sugar cookies I had ever eaten in my life.

After a short night’s sleep (at a local non-Disney hotel), I was up and off to the parks. I waited in line for park open with a group that was clearly more experienced than me. They were in town for the race from Oregon, but they knew tons of secrets I had no idea about. They were racing to a pickle cart in the middle of the park…apparently you get some sort of special prize if you get the first pickle of the day. I love this kind of trivia and little Disney secrets. I was sort of sad that I didn’t even know about this…again with the feeling of being unprepared.

After open and a short walk down Main Street, I waited to get on Space Mountain. This familiar ride from Disney in Florida turned out to be dramatically different (and better!) in California. Yes, it was still a dark roller coaster, but the California version was smoother, had better cars, and had a good soundtrack. Thus, my day of tracking the Florida v. California Disney began.

Disneyland’s comparatively tiny Sleeping Beauty Castle was no match for Florida’s Cinderella Castle. (Still, I was grateful that California routed our race through the castle! Something that most Florida races don’t do.) Pirates of the Caribbean was much longer and more dramatic on the west coast. Big Thunder Mountain broke down on the ride before us so I never got to experience that.

Haunted Mansion really couldn’t compare because it had a special Nightmare Before Christmas overlay in California. It was wonderful but strange. I hopped over to California Adventure for some other rides. The Indiana Jones and Monsters., Inc. rides are unique to California, as is the awesome Incredicoaster and the amazing Radiator Springs Racers. I loved all these attractions and the delicious meals and snacks I enjoyed between them in Avengers Campus and San Fransokyo Square. The theming of each land in California Adventure was so well done. Cars Land was spectacular!

What was missing? Well, lots of things…no Animal Kingdom. No Epcot countries or Moana or Living with the Land. Fewer resorts, fewer snacks to try. The Mickey waffles I found were terrible but the Mickey ice cream bar still hit the spot on a blazing day.

Downtown Disney was a fraction of Florida’s Disney Springs. I did love the holiday decorations that were there, and enjoyed some ice cream at Salt and Straw.

But the biggest difference…honestly, it didn’t feel as “magical” from cast members. This seems kind of intangible, but many of the cast members just didn’t seem very happy. Granted it was hot, but even the cast members indoors seemed flat at best. There weren’t many character stops, either. Characters seemed to roam around more. Daisy Duck and Genie and Aladdin were just randomly walking around. Mary Poppins was riding the carousel! They would stop at times but then move on. No line for photos. If you wanted to meet them, you just had to hope they picked you from the crowd. Given my enchantment from the characters earlier this year in Florida, this took away a bit of the magic.

I went back to the Grand Californian for that Mickey bar and another sugar cookie. I was in bed pretty early for race day. All in all, Florida still wins for parks and resorts, but I’m glad I got to see the California version. There are some things here that you don’t get in Florida!

dare to be different

Retirement 101a

2chicksandapen

What age does one think about retiring?

Does everyone think about retiring?

Is there a set age?

Should you have a set dollar amount tucked away?

Should you work part-time after retiring from your career?

Should you start a hobby business?

Should you…..

I don’t know that there is a right or wrong answer to the retirement question(s). Everyone’s situation is different. Maybe you can work part time or have hobby income. Maybe you can spend half your year at home and the other half in a sunshine state for example. Options are plentiful. 

The big thing is you need a plan. You need to visualize where you want to be and find a way to get there. Maybe it’s to live the carefree life in an RV or on a cruise ship. Maybe it’s just a smaller footprint/maintenance free home closer to family. Maybe today it’s this, tomorrow it’s something different. When you retire you choose what makes you happy and you live within the means slotted.

My road to retirement will be less traveled. Off grid in a way yet a hop skip and a jump from anything I really need. I may start the process sooner rather than later. Why? Well there the answer is more of why not!

This summer when I travelled I felt good moving and exploring. However I saw many say 70 year old retirees attempting to enjoy the surroundings but had challenges. Physically weaker. Frail in stature. Maybe losing sight or hearing. Travelling is a lot on one’s body. If you wait too long, you won’t enjoy it. I don’t want to be the one who waits. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed for anyone!

Today life goes by in an instant. If you wait too long life’s opportunities may pass you by. I don’t want to take the trip of a lifetime at 75 years old because I finally have time to go. Heck some people don’t even make it to 75!

As I write today I’m 52 years old. In 20 years I’d like to look back at this post and be in awe of my foresight. My ability to dream and my desire to dare myself to do. 

Here’s to dreaming ahead. Paving the way and enjoying the views. It is my hope that I will write retirement updates each year. Who knows if I will. What I do know is I have starting thinking about my retirement. Nothing is etched in stone but I’m moving the dial. 

adventure

Time Away

2chicksandapen

Recently I took some time to myself.

A quick getaway.

A solo trip.

I took a plane. I rode a train. I drove a car. I maneuvered an electric scooter. I used a new camera to snap some scenery pictures. I visited some new areas. I scoped out restaurants. I stayed at 3 different places each with unique accommodations.

My adventure was full of new experiences and memories. I had moments to reflect. I had time to read. I slept well without life’s distractions. It was a peaceful break from the chaos and mundane tasks of everyday life.

My time away made me appreciate what I have now while allowing me to drift into the mindset of what’s next for me. What’s on the horizon. What changes can and/or should I make? Oh how I love the curiosity around each corner of life. My road below was to somewhere? Or was it nowhere? Was it planned? Could it have been an accidental detour? I saw the beauty of the open road that day. Just me and the wide open spaces. This is the perfect vision for me. A blank canvas on earth. Where to explore. What to do. So much adventure just beyond….

Growth always happens whenever you step outside your comfort zone. Home is a comfort zone for many. It is for me. Leaving home opens up your mind and broadens your horizon. Traveling to another country and immersing in the culture is a form of growth. Traveling solo and navigating new areas is growth. Trying a new activity like photography is growth. 

Stepping out for coffee can also foster creativity and growth. Observing others. Maybe interacting with new faces. Meeting a friend to catch up on life while enjoying the warmth of a cup of joe. Visiting a coffee shop in a new area may peak your interest too. Stepping out of your normal. Getting off the hamster wheel of life to try something new: it’s so important!

With each opportunity to grow in front of you, the depth of your growth coincides with your ability to take a chance and embrace what is hidden around the corner. The so called surprises in life. If you are able to dive deep into these growth stages I do believe you will

See rewards for your efforts. If you sit and watch or wait for the perfect time life may just pass you by.

Fortune favors the bold.

Have you been bold lately?

If you wanted to make a bold action today, what would it be?

I live boldly.

I take chances.

I risk the immediate gain for the long term rewards. Life is what you make of it.

Go make your life great!

family, Uncategorized

Pinch Me!

2chicksandapen

Really, I need to feel the pinch. Now!

I’m really here. The caboose is off to college. Out the door she goes. A little empty feeling floats through the air at home as I wonder how her first sleep will be in a new place with new people. Her new family. Oh how I know the sun is shining on her new horizon which makes me happy and at peace.

Our journey to this point has been long as an athlete. A different decision making process for college in itself. Physical preparations amidst your regular college prep to do list. Maybe even a longer wait for the big day since you commit to your school almost a year or more before traditional students. Lots of shopping for that first apartment. The colors. The materials. The personality of the room. The common space decisions. What budget? She needs it all! I soaked in the whole experience from start to finish.the basic space below must be transformed.

Then the day arrives. A few nerves the night before. A little sweat to move in. Maybe a little stress making the first dorm room a home. Gelling with new housemates. Settling into a routine. A new life. A big future. From the plain dorm shell to a vibrant room ready to make memories in. One semester at a time.

Off she goes.

Off I go.

Two new chapters being written. 

Life is beautiful at each stage. Living the moments with others is cool. Sharing my experience virtually with my mom was a blessing. Having her see her granddaughter launch into a new chapter. So very different than my mom’s chapter back in the 1950’s. Such a great reflection for all.

Smiling big as I close out this post thinking about how my role shifts to cheerleader from a far. A mom and her girl. Grown and flown.

fitness and nutrition

Home Runs

2chicksandapen

My year of running continues…the summer months took the -cation out of racecation. Many of the best long distance races actually don’t happen in these hot summer months for obvious reasons. The few that do were already sold out. So, my summer races were small local runs.

June was the Hometown 10k. I ran this one in Suwanee, GA. As a pretty small race, there was no expo. I just showed up and got my race bib and shirt that morning. There was no new city to explore. I had been on the course, a local greenway, numerous times. So there really were no surprises. (Honestly, the most memorable part of this race was the extremely long bathroom line I stood in. I actually started the race only a couple of minutes before the starting line closed!

So this was all about the running. And to be honest, the first three miles of this race were the fastest miles I’ve done so far in this process. On an out-and-back course, the first half was a bit more downhill. When I turned around at the 3.1 mile mark, I slowed down but not that much. I also managed to get second in my age group at this one, which made me happy.

My July race, the Firecracker 8-miler, was very similar (but even smaller – so no bathroom lines!). It was local, on a familiar course. The weather was overcast. Again, I felt pretty solid even though it was fairly hot. In this race, I had the distinct pleasure of finishing DFL. (Dead F-ing Last). This was a double out-and-back course, and many participants ran the four mile distance. I knew for sure I was last by a number of minutes. But the finish line was still open. People were there to cheer me in. I finished as well as I could. And I smiled when the race worker handed me the “first in age group” medal for the race. Yes, you read that right. I was both absolutely last and first in my age group. I was the only one my age stupid / silly / brave enough to do it!

Third in this summer series was the Summer Sizzler. Another local race, this time 15k. A triple out and back. This course was very hilly. I was thankful to have two friends running this event, too. Even if we didn’t run side by side, it meant something to know they were there and I looked forward to seeing familiar faces each time we passed back and forth. Another age group win! I also had someone ask me if I had done Hot Chocolate in February. They must have remembered my skirt. She said she paced off me then.

Also, at this race, shortly after I began my second of three times taking on this course, a younger girl stopped me and asked me how long I was racing. I told her 15k and she smiled. She was probably 5 minutes behind me after 3 miles. She seemed reassured that someone else was going long distance at a slower pace. I know that feeling and I was so glad she asked me. I knew to give her extra cheers when we passed on our laps. The last time I saw her, she was quite a bit further back than I thought she would be…her pace had fallen off. I slowed down to talk to her (slower than slow)…told her to keep going. And she said “I almost gave up. But because of you, I didn’t give up.” We were able to cheer her in to the finish. What an accomplishment. I was so proud of her and touched that she knew I was waiting for her! Keep going. You never know who you are inspiring.

In the mean time, we are just putting in time 3-4 days a week on our legs. I am leaning on my tribe even if we don’t meet up in person. These truly are the dog days of summer, grueling and relentless. Running as early in the morning as we can manage. Intervals for hours on end, just trying to keep moving. We are in the thick of it, just in time to hit the road again for a pretty exciting set of races, heading toward the end of the year.