Booking My Runcation

So I was in training for a 5K.
Training was so tough.

I started with a small route in the park, it wasn't a 5K but you have to start somewhere.
After a while it even became fun because I saw that I was making progress.
Never thought it would be so motivating.
Running even became therapy for me in an extremly difficult year, it kept my head on the right path and the demons away.

My first 5K (run/walk method) was in an hour, that sounds long for many of you but for me it was a victory.
I was so happy.
Weeks of training and I got it to 39 minutes. (that is still my PR in training and on a run/walk method)

Run Disneyland Paris








April came and it was time to book my race package for the RunDisney vacation.
The registration opened around 4pm, but I couldn't get on the website, it was to busy.
That was no fun at all, I was afraid I couldn't get my race bib.
After an hour trying to get on the website, I finally did.
Yes, O No the 5k was sold out.
What now?!?!
I was so bummed, I was at work and I could cry, I was so sad....

After some conversations with colleagues, I put on my big girl pants and ordered the 10K MagicRun.

10K! What did I do?! Wow that is so far and long.
For me it's like a marathon!

My training had to change to more runs in a week.
I also have a fulltime job, so I needed to do some planning, I needed more motivation to do my runs, so I did some research on the net.

What I found was amazing.

There are Virtual Runs.
You can run on your own time and you can do it in your own back yard, if you want to.
The beauty of it is, you get a medal for it and a part of the money you spent goes to a charity.
How Awesome and Motivating is that.
A training race and a medal for your effort.

There are website where you have to upload proof of the run before you get your medal, but
there are also websites where you just order your race and you get the medal.

I got some medals in de mail while I still had to do the run.
But all the medals that I have are earned not given.
I did my runs!!!

Here are my 2 go to Virtual Runs websites:

 


Virtual Runner UK

Race The Distance

 






There are many more all over the globe.

But my 10K training was on!!!

Learning to Run...

Uhhh What did I say ...

Running?
I believe I am losing my mind.
Have I gone mad?
Back from vacation, knowing what I had said and wanted to do.

But how?
I am not a runner, I even dislike it, why did I say I wanted to do this?
Yep, I know why "it's a run through Disney".

Where do I start, how do I start ...
Oh Boy ...

With our great phones and apps, I'll probably find an app, which can help me to learn how to run.
I found an app "RunTrainer".
So that was nice at least I could learn to run.
It has different training programs, also a free trail, don't know if that is still the case but they did when I started running.
There are a lot of running apps to make a start.

Running...
Goal the 5K MagicRun in September of 2018.
For me it seemed like a half marathon.
After a lot of postponing and excuses I started with a little training in February of 2018.
It became really serious in April of 2018 after I booked my RunDisney Race.

Running was so hard to do.
A minute was so heavy.
So my runs were 30 seconds or less and then walk again.
Thought everyone looked at me, I'm sure people looked at me weird.
I also thought I was weird so it made sense that people would look at me that way.

Still after almost a year and a half, I run on a run/walk method, but this time the program is created by the former Olympian Jeff Galloway.
I found his method after my first RunDisney Weekend.

If I can learn to run at the age of 41, anyone can do it.
Everyone can run on this schedule, and if you start running more often, you become better and you can run longer.

Running? Me?

I did a bit of sport but that was only so I could eat anything and everything I wanted.
Later my food choices became more healthier but sport was still for the same reason.

I never had a goal to do a lot of sports and certainly not running, it wasn’t my thing at all.

I was on holiday (roadtrip through France) in September of 2017.

Enjoying the sun on the terrace at sports bar in Disneyland Paris.
So blessed, I love Disney and I love being in Disneyland Paris.

This trip was different, there are always a lot of people in Disney but this time the crowd was just different.
People walked around with transparent bags (you can't get those bags at the stores in Disneyland Paris).

At first, I didn't give it much attention until someone walked very close by the terrace.

And there it was, printed on those bags ....

RunDisney

My world stood still.

I knew about RunDisney but I thought it was only in the States.

So I said to my friend, I want to do a RunDisney run.

This was the start of my running journey.

It is the best start I ever made.

It took me a long time to call myself a runner, but now I know I AM a runner.

I'm not fast and I never cross the finish line first, I might be the last to cross that finish line but that's ok.

I just want to enjoy what I do and that is running.

Running has become so much more than just a training for RunDisney.