Post Run Blues

I've been in a real funk lately and I realized that now my Half Marathon is over I'm feeling like something a drift at sea.  Like, okay that's over...now what?  I know I should just sign up for more races to keep me going, but I'm feeling like I need some downtime and also I'm discovering what it means to be a 'seasonal runner'.  I've heard the expression, but I've never lived anywhere with REAL seasons.  Here in Jersey though it's been cold and even snowing! I can't take my girls out in the stroller in this weather and I'm afraid to go alone because of the ice on the roads.  I could slip and bust my head open! I've been inside the majority of us being home from our trip to Florida, and I think I'm getting a little case of cabin fever.  But for some reason or another I feel like my soul is starting to stir and I'm ready to stretch! I had a powerful urge to get on my blog and start writing!  I've been wanting to write about our trip ever since we got back, but I just couldn't muster up the energy to do it.  Just thinking about all the pictures I have to go through made me want to take a nap!  But I'm ready now, so get ready for a plethora of pictures!

We started our vacation at Universal Studios.  I was really nervous about wearing my legs out with all the walking around, but we planned the day before the race as a rest day.  It was super fun, but next time I'm going to insist that we plan the theme parks for AFTER the race.  I was so stressed the whole time, and during the run I did get tired sooner than usual, but I managed to dig deep and sprint the last mile to the finish, so I guess I wasn't too bad off.

Spongebob was a MUST on our list of things to do.  Charlotte absolutely loves Spongebob!  Her first words were Mama, Dada and Spongebob..I kid you not!

 This was Theo's MUST see, Ha! He loves the Simpson!  In fact his first words were Mama, Dada and DOH! Just kidding, but pretty darn close!  I teased him that when this show came out he could relate to Bart, getting into trouble just being a rebellious boy, but now that he is grown and a father he's more sympathetic to Homer!  Hahaha!  How life changes!

 Now that's a big fish...

 We also got to meet the Grinch...

 and the Cat in the Hat.  We had just gone on a fish ride reminiscent of the Dumbo ride at Disney World, but this ride the fish spit water at you, so that's why I look like a drowned cat!

 This was my MUST see!  I couldn't wait to get to Harry Potter World, and it didn't disappoint.  Unfortunately it didn't disappoint the thousands of other people trying to pack themselves in there!

 It was a frigid 81 degrees, hence the snow capped stores....*cough* sarcasm *cough*.  It was flipping hot! I wish the snow was for real.

 BUTTERBEER!!!

 I finally got my Butterbeer!  We got it icy, and boy was it gooooooood!  It almost reminded me of Cream Soda with some kind of vanilla-y foam on top.  Dang it, my mouth just started watering...guess it's time to go back for some more Butterbeer! ;)

 Hogwarts, what an impressive castle and the ride was amazing!  We didn't get to do the ride the first day because the line was already over an hour wait.  The next day when we arrived we went straight to Harry Potter World and got in line with only a 20 minute wait. By the time we came out it was already over an hour wait again.  It was too bad because I wanted to do it again, but it will have to wait until the next visit.

 We got to met Super heroes! Captain America was awesome, he was HUGE! But super friendly!

 We posed with Spiderman, they had a superficial backdrop which is why we are in the green.  The kids couldn't seem to get which camera to look at for some reason, this is the best pose out of 3.

 Finally to the race!  This is my corral coming up to the starting line, the blinding lights is the actual start.  There were tens of thousands of people there, it was crazy! But of course Disney made it great!

Here I am posing in front of the castle about to go through.  My time wasn't the best I'd done, like I said before we did a lot of walking so I was very conservative with my running.  But I know I could have done better because seriously, the last mile I just took off!  I felt so good at the end, like I could have kept going.  I've never felt that way after a Half.  Now I'm looking into doing more and even branching out from just doing Disney, but I have really let myself go this past month and this weather is not helping out one bit.  Come on warm weather!!!