Monthly Archives: August 2013

(self induced) stress.

29 Thursday Aug 2013

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I am no veteran to runDisney races.  I only have two under my belt.  After this weekend I will have added two more.  I love Disneyland and I love to run.  For my first experience, I didn’t know what to expect.  And since I had no preconceived notions or expectations, it was awesome.  Now that I have (limited) experience, I feel so much pressure and stress! (All brought on by myself of course).  First, there’s the “putting together of the costume”.  I mean, you don’t have to run in costume, but what the heck, right?  You choose your favorite Disney character or your favorite super hero or whatever and you can get away with it for these races.  (Themed races seem to be all the rage these days, but that’s another post for another day.)

So I’ve been planning my costume ideas for months only to find that my original idea is not working out so well.  So I’m trying to come up with another solution, but I really only have 2 working days left.  Anyway…..

Then there’s the “GET TO THE EXPO VERY EARLY SO THAT YOU CAN GET THE MERCHANDISE THAT YOU WANT!!!!” threats.  I had early access to the expo for my last experience and it was really nice.  This time I’m not so lucky, so now I’m stressing about that.  And the lines and the crowds.  You might say “well why in the h*ll did you sign up for the races in the first place then?!?!?”.  Well it’s because….

I love Disneyland and I love to run.

I realized that the less I know about something, the less I stress about it.  When you lop on all sorts of information?  That’s when I start to get information overload and start to stress out.  Take my virgin experience.  I wasn’t worried about lines or sweeper vans or the dreaded balloon ladies that keep the 16 min/mile pace after the last corral starts (gulp!).  But now, all of this social networking has me in a tizzy with peoples’ posts about this and that and where meetups are and who’s wearing what and what they’re buying.

The other thing that I realized about myself…. Is that I love the thought of Disney.  I know it sounds stupid.  That’s okay.  But I honestly tear up every time I see that famed castle at the beginning of every Disney movie.  I get a lump in my throat whenever I hear When You Wish Upon a Star.  I have a mouse ear necklace that I try to wear every day (except when I’m running so that I don’t ruin it) so that I can keep that magic with me wherever I go.

So my new plan is (at least for the next 4 days) is to just keep on believing in that magic.  To not stress about what I can’t control and just have fun!  Because that’s really what it’s all about right?  And life should be fun.

I’m gonna kick a$$ at this Dumbo Double Dare and it’s gonna be fun and awesome.

mind over matter.

21 Wednesday Aug 2013

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Per the Dumbo Double Dare training schedule, I was slated to run 14 miles this past weekend.  I researched different routes to take near my home and I was actually looking forward to it.  The longest distance I have ever run is a Half, so I was somewhat intimidated, but still up for the challenge.

So I found a route that would be just a little over 14 miles, from my house to my friend’s house and then back.  Lots of flat, and then a big hill.  And then I figured that I could take a rest at my friends house and make the trip back.

I started out and then at mile 2, I got uncomfortable.  You know, that feeling you get when your stomach is bothering you a little and you wonder if going out for a long run was such a good idea.  I had prepped myself with a small breakfast, because I know what works for me, but something was still bothering me.

And then I made up my mind to just feel better.

Now I know that it’s not possible to have this attitude toward infectious diseases, cancer or the like, but for minor, piddly little stomach issues, I found that it works.  By mile 3 I had hit my stride and I enjoyed the run.  All the way (almost 8 miles) to my friend’s house.

Now as it turns out, I did not run back.  I started out too late and it got way too hot for me to continue.  But I don’t feel like a failure.  I feel good for knowing that with the right attitude, I can tackle anything.  The fact that I was looking forward to a 14 mile run speaks volumes for someone who a year ago had no intention of running a half marathon.

So if it works for me with running, what else can I accomplish?!??!

you’ll never be done.

08 Thursday Aug 2013

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As a stay at home mom, as with any job, there are ALWAYS things that need to be done.  The dishes in the dishwasher are in constant rotation, the floors need to be constantly vacuumed because of the accumulation of cat fur, laundry piles up, food gets eaten and needs to be restocked…. but I remember when I had a paying job, there was always a sense of accomplishment because I could actually complete projects (getting a pay check didn’t help either).  One building was built and then it was on to the next one.  Got the permit for that restaurant? Ok now it’s time to move forward on construction.  But as a stay at home mom, the same jobs, day after day, never stop.  And then I thought about all of the other things that I need to do… price items for a yard sale that I need to have, finish putting together the pieces for my upcoming Run Disney races, clean out the garage, clean up the guest room so that someone can actually stay in there.  The list keeps on getting bigger and bigger.  And the weight of it stresses me out.  But then I realized that when I complete those things, there will always be something to take it’s place.  I will have another task to complete because as long as we’re alive…

you’ll never be done.

You’ll never be done learning or striving or practicing.  You’ll never be done eating or playing or having stress.  You’ll always have goals that you’ll want to fulfill so you’ll have to work hard to get there, whether it’s researching items for a camping trip or trying to find that perfect dry wick tank top to go with your latest run costume idea.  There will always be something.

So I guess when I look at it like that (or at least try to remind myself to), my list doesn’t seem so stressful.  Old things can be checked off but new things will be added as I live and grow and think up new dreams.