Hot summer training

Well, some how the summer has drifted along and I go back to school in a little over a week.  One week of training and staff only days, then it's bring on the kids!  Yikes!

This summer was very different for me.  First of all I didn't spend it filling out applications and interviewing.  That was a refreshing change after all the interviews I had last year.  I also did not pick up a full time job.  I only coached gymnastics two evenings a week for a total of four hours a week.  It's definitely been nice to have most of two months to myself.  

Now normally when I have extra time I run more, but I'm training with a new coach who has me doing lower mileage than I'm used to doing.  That's been a little weird, but with the rut I was in, I decided to give it a try.  I've been following her training plan almost perfectly- only a few days flopped around and four days of training out of state for school where I just did what I could.  

But my times were not responding.  Why, you might ask.  I'm following a training plan, doing a weekly strength work out, plenty of recovery and relaxation time- yet my times were were way off where I want them to be. 

This summer has really emphasized something I kind of already knew- I'm not a warm weather runner.  I've always known that I like racing in colder weather- I love high 40s at race start!  So this constant high 80s or 90s with a fair amount of humidity has kicked my butt.  I've struggled to hit paces.  While that may not sound hot to some parts of the country, this upstate NY girl hasn't had summers quite like this before.  

So when temps were a TAD cooler last weekend I watched my 5k time drop by 30 seconds in less than a week on what I would consider a harder course.  I also experienced better pacing on a long run the following day.  These things have shown me that my training IS doing something... Even if I can't see it because I'm drowning in sweat.

I will say I have been mental lately, too, in my head and doubting myself.  But last weekend has helped with that too.  I'm seeing that all this work isn't just for nothing, that I can still run decently and I just need to trust my ability.  

I have started hitting the treadmill more

In the last week or two as well.  It's come to struggling in the heat outside, or running where it's a little cooler and actually hitting paces I want, like a tempo run I moved to inside and hit and maintained paces I haven't run in awhile. I know some people claim treadmills are easier and what not, but I put the incline up to 1.5-2% and enjoy the ability to practice pacing.  I usually have good success translating treadmill training to outdoor racing.

This weekend was supposed to be two big races for me.  Originally a cold front was supposed to go through, but the forecast seems to have changed and they are calling for warmer temps and rain (perfect timing since we are in a drought) for both races I'm doing.  We will see how these races go!

This summer girl is ALMOST looking forward to the fall to see what cooler temps will do to my race times, but I'm not quite ready for that yet!

 

Tink 10k and Tink Half!

Life has been so crazy (end of the school year insanity) and today is my first full day of summer vacation, so what better way to start it off than get my delayed race review done?

Tink weekend is definitely one of my favorite race weekends.  I absolutely love the courses, particularly the 10k course.  You spend so much time in the park, vs running down random highways like you do in the world.  I haven't done Tink since 2013, so the start line and course was a little different, but I still enjoyed it.

One thing I love about Tink weekend is being able to walk from the hotel to the race.  No annoying 3am bus rides.  Plus, being from the East, I don't feel like the race is overly early.  The 10k morning started with a chance of rain, and of course it started to pour RIGHT AFTER I checked my gear.  I hid under a tent, trying to wait it out.  Of course I was wearing my new RunDisney Tink shoes, so I was kicking myself as I didn't want to destroy them the first day.  Eventually the rain slowed and I made my way to the start line.

The first mile of the race has some overpasses and such before you enter the parks to loop around, so it's definitely my least favorite part of the race.  And my shoe came untied!  That never happens.  Guess this is why you never wear something new on race day.  I tied it and got back in my groove, entering the backstage area of the park.  Less than a mile later the same shoe came undone again!  I knotted it like four times and hurried along, knowing the PR I was eying had drifted out of reach.

The hubs ended up coming to the race unexpectedly, so he got a pic of my running through Downtown Disney.  I loved how many people were out cheering us along.  

After the race we changed and wandered back to the expo for a bit and then spent the afternoon in California Adventure.  Needless to say, with all the walking, I was not anticipating a half PR.

The staging for the half was much more chaotic than the 10k.  They had a narrow walkway to the start line area lined with not nearly enough portapotties... So you A.) walked into a brick wall of people waiting in line and B.) likely didn't have a chance to get through the lines if you were in a front corral.  I found it very stressful.  I eventually made it to corral A, with little time to spare.

I carried my phone in my hand for the race, which I don't normally do, but I had bought a RooSport pouch to carry my 10k medal in so I'd have it for finish line pictures.  The RooSport worked really well.  I liked how it was magnetic, so no belt, and it didn't move.  Usually I'm messing with my belt every mile or so.  It was also nice to have my phone in my hand because I kept getting text updates about how my husband was doing behind me, which motivated me to run a little faster at times.  

We decided to do the photopass option for the day of the half.  For $40 per day, we were able to link our bibs to the same account and get all our pics from the day.  SO much better than their old system!  Plus, I actually got decent castle shots for once.

I did stop for pictures with Goofy and at the water.  I am not usually a big stopper, but I couldn't resist those two shots and there was no wait.

The roads of Anaheim were a little boring, but I knew the Red Hat Ladies were coming around mile 8.  Talk about an energy boost!  These women are amazing, sitting outside so early and cheering us along- I can't even describe it.  They make you feel awesome, like you are famous or something.

Biggest complaint about the course was where mile 5 and mile 12 ran parallel to each other.  As I was nearing the end I had to dodge walkers from mile 5 who decided to walk in the mile 12 area.  I found that frustrating.  Later, in the results, I also saw that so e women actually ended up cutting the course there and just finishing the race.  Some even supposedly took some of the top places.  RunDisney quickly altered the results, but behavior like this angers me.  If you are going to sign up for a half then TRAIN.  Don't cut the course, parade around in your medal, and live a lie.  This may upset people, but I'm about integrity.  If you can't earn it this time, try again next year.  That's the end of my rant.

For some reason I really struggled in mile 11, but I finished strong, highfiving Mickey at the end.  I then hovered, knowing my husband was only a few minutes behind.  I walked as slow as possible and kept stopping in inconspicuous areas until someone would tell me to keep moving, then I would find another discreet spot to wait in.  He eventually caught up and we got our pic together.  

We got our medals engraved and hung out at the finish area for a bit before heading back to the hotel. That's when I realized I had checked all of my Glass Slipper Medals to do a full pink coast to coast picture.  My husband helped me stage a nice picture, which had many people looking at me funny as I laid In he walkway with medals spread out all around me.  

Tink is definitely a race weekend I can recommend to anyone who can make the trek out to California. I love how it is so much more relaxed than the World races.  Starting from the expo, where there was no extreme chaos or nasty people, to being able to wander leisurely from the hotels to the start and enjoy the race courses.  A few small issues didn't ruin the awesome experience and I hope I can save up enough money to do this race again sometime.

Tink Half Marathon Weekend: getting there and expo!

Being from New York, travelling to California took nearly 12 hours.  We were up at 3-3:30 am on Wednesday morning and didn't arrive in Cali until after 11:00, which would correlate to 2pm our time.  It was a long morning and was quite a relief when we landed at SNA.  We will always try to fly to SNA from now on.  Last time we did LAX, and it was a nightmare trying to get to Anaheim from there.  SNA was an easy airport to get through and an easy drive.

We decided to rent a car as the hubs found a cheap deal online.  We got stuck in a little traffic, which was easy to reroute around, and soon we were at the Tropicana.

We booked there through Jim and Pat Stone (Acclaim Travel) and got a great deal.  It is on South Harbor, pretty much across the street from the pedestrian walkway to Disney.  It's location was ideal- it was a 10-15 minute walk to the downtown area, with a few restaurants around so we didn't have to drive anywhere.  

The rooms were decent for the cost and had a fridge and microwave, a major plus.  There was a nice pool and hot tub area.  There was parking, which you paid a nightly fee for, and if it was full there was valet who helped out, all of whom were very friendly and greeted us whenever we came back.  The only thing I wished it had was a continental breakfast, but that is a small flaw for us.

For the expo I started to hear that people would be getting there around seven AM.  I was shocked.  I was thinking 8 or 8:30, an hour and a half or so before the doors opened, but apparently that would be too late.  I got up around 6:15, did a quick run, then headed over and got there around 7:15.  A bunch of people were already there.

DLand has it right as far as expos.  They took us to the basement of the hotel where they had lines taped down.  I was given an orange wristband and put in the third row.  I sat down and prepared for a long wait, which wasn't too bad as I had some good conversations with people around me.  Around 9 they started moving people.  They took the first two lines upstairs and shifted everyone over.   About 10 minutes later we also went upstairs and joined them in more lines outside of the expo.  When 9:30 hit we went inside and found more lines outside the official merchandise area.  They let a few people in at a time, but we were moving fairly well.  When I got in it was very relaxed in there, unlike the Princess mayhem.  I was able to look over everything and didn't have to rush for everything.  There were no ladies fighting over wineglasses, but sadly there was no Tinkerbell Tervis.  I grabbed capris, the blue jacket, a hoodie for the hubs, the wineglass, a tank, and a water bottle.  Check out was easy, but expensive (thank god for the VISA discount), and I went back downstairs for my bib.

Bib pick up was uncrowded and easy as well.  I was surprised when they put two C2C bands on my wrist.  I had thought I would get my blue one when I return to DWorld for Wine and Dine, but something was up and we got them there.  I took mine then, but plan on bringing it to Wine and Dine because I feel that is where I will have earned it.

ANYWAYS, there was another line for preordered merchandise and that is where I picked up my first preorder jacket that I absolutely LOVE.  Hopefully RunDisney keeps going in this direction and makes nice preorder stuff.

I finally was able to go back upstairs to meet the hubs in the expo area.  He had already paid to get the back of our medals engraved with our times so we just wandered a bit.  We had time to kill because I had randomly signed up for the RunDisney NB virtual que and got 10:30 and 11:00 slots.  My time came late and I went in and tried on the Tink shoes.  I had always loved them and had heard this might be the last chance for them.  I ended up liking the feel of them and bought them.  The hubs passed when he tried on.  He liked the Mickey shoes, but they were too supportive for him.

After that we found the RunDisney beer cups that a bartender had and both enjoyed a Pixie Hollow drink.  The hubs was happy because he had gotten a few at our last few DWorld races and was hoping to get a Dland one.  It was nice to sit on a comfy couch, put my feet up, and actually enjoy a relaxing moment at an expo.  So different from the insanity at Princess, where we rushed out after getting through the merchandise lines because it was just so frustrating.

One week freak out

I used to always question football players when I heard they weren't playing due to turf toe.  Really?  You're making mega bucks and can't play because of a TOE? Toughen up, Buttercup!  

Cue the big toe pain...

I don't know what happened. 

I finished the Flower City Half feeling good.  Confident for Tink weekend.  I did 1 mile Monday and Tuesday to keep my streak alive and 2 on Wednesday.  I was noticing a little soreness in my left big toe, but didn't think much of it.

Yesterday it was still sore, but jumped on the treadmill and ROCKED a short tempo run.  I mean, it was the kind of run where I was flying high and felt like I owned the world.  Epic music played as I finished the run and people cheered for its greatness.

Then my night went on.  Slowly I noticed more and more pain in my toe.  I went to bed thinking that staying off of it over night would make me better, but this morning it still hurt.  Just random motions, and very generalized.  I couldn't pinpoint what hurt.  A day on my feet at school teaching didn't help, though when I got home I was at least able to point to two painful regions.  The top of my toe, one that seemed to run the top tendon, and the ball of the foot immediately under the toe.

Now tonight was supposed to be my last 10 miler before race weekend.  It's killing me not to do it.  Especially after my day at school.  Running is my stress release when my students suffer from justendtgeschoolyearalready-itis. 

 I did 1.5 miles on the treadmill and stopped to play it safe.  I hate doing the "right" grown up thing.  I wanted to continue plodding on.  Honestly, it's not overly painful running, but afterwards it hurts like a beast.  I must say, I apologize to all football players who I ever judged for not playing with turf toe.  

Now Pixie Dust Challenge starts in about one week.  I was planning on racing the 10k hard and the half moderately, with my goal half two weeks after that.  Now I'm worried about being able to run, let alone race.  So I guess for now I'll suck it up and do the right thing, taking it easy and icing and such.  Just hoping my stupid toe will be cooperative next week 😡.

The Flower City Challenge

So the Flower City Challenge in Rochester, NY has come and gone.  I had a great time, but it was definitely challenging!  My first du ended up being harder than I thought and that made the half a little more tiring!  Overall I had a great weekend, it was such a well run race, and I highly recommend it!

The Expo

We went to packet pick up Friday night.  It was in a Fleetfeet store in Rochester.  It was neat because they have multiple rooms, so they were still able to set up a small expo in one room.  There were several vendors, some free samples of GU, and some nice volunteers to help you get your bib and shirts.  They also had some race merchandise, but it was pretty limited in sizes when we got there, so I didn't buy anything.

Day One: The Du

5k run 20 mile bike 5k run

I was very anxious for this race.  Since it was my first I didn't really like not being used to prepping a transition and being so new to the logistics.  Of course it was easy.  The hubs and I snagged a spot towards the one end and set up camp.  As I'm such a newbie, I really had nothing to set up, which took some stress off.

The race started across the streets and guys and girls started separately so I started before the hubs, which meant we raced alone.  I started fast, but the legs felt heavy, so I toned it down.  It was a nice route along the river and my watch had it a little shorter than a 5k, but I was near the front as far as female competitors and was feeling optimistic.

Then I got on my bike.

I don't have a road bike and this race showed me how much harder it is for hybrid bikes out there.  Everyone was flying by me on the course.  I'll admit I was rather under trained, but even at the beginning I knew it was going to be rough.  Then I hit the hills.  

Having trained on flat ground, a few colorful words may have escaped my mouth during some of the climbs.  I would watch people fly by on their nice bikes while I just prayed to get to the top.    

It probably doesn't look too bad, especially if you are a seasoned cyclist, but I swore to someone I'd rather run those hills than bike any day.  

After the bike I was definitely near the back of the pack and it was so cold my feet were numb.  As I started running I felt like a pirate on peg legs, like I was stumping along.  It took nearly two miles to warm up.  I focused on just trying to pick people off and successfully passed some as we went back around the river.  I was so happy crossing the finish line.  They announced that I was going to do the half as I crossed the line, which I thought was a nice touch.

I ended up placing by default, with only two in my age group, and we received nice beer steins with the race logo.  Once I got the award we left, we were both so cold and exhausted from the race.

We kept our bikes up in our hotel room.  It was quite interesting getting them from the parking garage, up some stairs, on the elevator, and to our room on the eleventh floor.  

Our hotel was only a few minutes from the du by car and a five minute walk to the half start, so it was a great location.  Plus it had some spectacular views!

Day Two: The Half Marathon

I love this half.  The volunteers are always super supportive, and it starts next to an arena, so you can hide from the cold and use the restrooms up to pretty close to the start of the race.

This year it was crisp and sunny, perfect running weather.  The sun made it feel so much better than the day before.

I lined up with the 2:00 pacer.  It felt weird.  I'm used to running farther up, but as I was using this as my final long run before Tink and my legs were already tired, I was trying to hold back.  I also didn't run with my water belt- the first half in a long time that I didn't use it.  I walked through water stations, accidentally taking the GU water (which was yummy) a few times.  

The course is nice, lots to look at, and they have neighborhood spirit competitions so there are a lot of spectators out cheering you on.  It gets hilly in the middle, which I wanted since we don't have loads of hills around my house.

At the 8 or so mile mark you get to the Mt Hope cemetery, which is really pretty.  

Shortly after you leave the cemetery you see this.  It made me happy.

You then hit up some bike path until you return to the streets, being greeted by lots of spectators and finishing right near where you started.

They had some chiropractors, pizza and other food, and some merchandise inside the arena.  I took advantage of the chiropractors, who were really nice and thorough, despite all the people.  

The Flower City Challenge is really a great race.  It's well run with awesome volunteers on the courses, great medals and shirts, and a positive and inciting atmosphere all the way though.  I recommend either race!

Sunny skies= renewed spirits

Throw back to my first Tink in 2013

It's about time... We are finally going to have a whole weekend with temps into the 60s and sun.  After having such a mild winter, our spring has truly been hiding this year, but waking to the sun shining brightly has put me in a good mood to train.  I've got A LOT to train for, too!

One week from today I will be attempting my first duathalon.  I managed to get out on my hybrid bike (yup, don't even have a road bike) for the first time since last summer on Wednesday.  First I did a 9.3 mile fartlek run since running is still my top priority.  Then I layered up (it was only 45) and went out.  My first 5 miles were into a headwind and made me doubt my ability to do this.  I was struggling through 5, how was I going to hit 20?? My legs felt like lead and I wanted to give up.  Luckily I did a out and back route, so the wind was with me on the way back and I finished my 10.25 with a little more optimism than I started with.  All night my legs felt exhausted, but I never was actually sore, which surprised me. I guess the 10 mile rides I did on my exercise bike really did help.  Heading out for 15 miles today.  I figure if I can get through that, I'll survive next weekend.

Next Sunday is a hilly half marathon.  Yup, following my first du with a half the next day.  All part of the Flower City Challenge in Rochester, NY.  I'm not planning on racing this half at all.  It's just my final long run for Tink.

Three weeks from now is Tink weekend at Disneyland.  I'll be just getting ready to start the 10k.  I was hesitant about my ability to race this event, but my work out last night made me feel better.  I like doing pace work in the treadmill, so I warmed up with 1.25 miles, then did 1 mile at 7:09 pace, followed by .25 at 8:00 pace.  I repeated that four times on an incline of 2% and felt pretty good.  If I could keep near that pace for the 10k I could get a pretty big PR!  

The next day will be Tink half, which is one of my fav Disney races.  Still would like a PR there, but probably not as big as I originally hoped as I am now planning on going hard in the 10k.  I am super pumped about the race now, though, as we just received our bib and corral assignments for the race!  I get to be in corral A!  I've heard a bunch of people in different Facebook groups discussing how they got put in the wrong corral, so I always get worried I will end up that way at some point.  My husband is happy that he will be in B, since no men are allowed in the first corral.  He's hoping to get a PR at this race as well, and since it's only his second half, he definitely has a shot!

So as I type this I've eaten my breakfast and am getting ready to run.  I think I'm staying on the treadmill this morning again for my 15k, despite the sun, in order to minimize the pounding on my legs.  Planning on 10 or so miles outside tomorrow, so not sure my legs can handle that much stress two days in a row.  I like to be extra careful to avoid possible injury.  Now that nice weather is here I need to ease back outside, since I hate running in the cold and hide on my treadmill most of the winter.  

After my run I'll be heading out for my 15 mile ride, then plan on actually relaxing outside with a book.  Here's to good weather and sunny afternoons!

4 weeks to go...

(Picture from RunDisney)

So Tinkerbell Weekend is just 4 weeks away... Time for the second guessing to begin!  Like most runners, I'm now wondering if what I've done since Princess has been enough to achieve my goals.

I didn't follow a full out written training plan.  I decided one of my major issues after my A1A Half and Princess weekend experiences was endurance and lack of long miles in training.  So I've thrown down more double digit runs at this point in my training than I did for my entire Princess cycle, sometimes getting in two a week, hitting 15 twice.  I've also done tempo runs and have quickened my interval pace, but was all this enough?

I've got a 14-15 miler planned for today, but it'll be on the treadmill since its 27F and I've been fighting something the past few days.  Next weekend will be a 13 miler, then the following weekend I'm doing my first duathalon on Saturday, which I'm totally not ready for.  I haven't been out on my bike since last year, and there's a twenty mile bike portion.  I've done a couple 10 milers on my exercise bike, so hopefully that helps!  Oh, and should I add that I have a hilly half the next day?  😮 Should be a fun weekend... Lol.

ANYWAYS...

I really want to PR at both the 10k and half at Tink, which is stupid, I know.  I just really want some more recent times for those distances.  I have another half, the Buffalo Half Marathon, at the end of May, so I have a back up race for that goal, so I guess I should really focus on the 10k.  Plus, if I race the 10k at my best, I have an outside chance of placing in my age group.  

On that note, I guess I should go stop being a bum and hit the treadmill... Here we go!

Goals check in!

So scarily enough we are a quarter of the way through 2016, so I figured I'd take a moment to check in on my goals and see where I stand.  

1.) 2016 miles in 2016.  I'm doing pretty well with this goal, especially since I had a lot of race miles, so fewer weekly miles, in February.  I'm currently at 513, which is just 4.1 miles off of where I should be.  On the positive side, I'm running injury free and have been much better about throwing down some consistent miles.  I'd like to start banking some miles to help with some tapers and recovery weeks through out the year.  But at least I'm currently on track.  

2.) Sub 1:40 half.  I haven't raced a half since Feb, where I fell short, but I've regrouped and realized I wasn't running long consistently enough.  So since the end of February I've done seven 10+ mile runs, two of which were 15 miles, some on consecutive days.  Tinkerbell is in the beginning of May, so I plan on at least three more double digit runs prior to them and we shall see where I stand.

3.) Sub 21:00 5k.  This hasn't been my focus yet, this will be my main goal through early summer, but I have been doing various length repeats st 6:40 and more recently 6:00 pace.  I think this is one of my harder goals to achieve.

4.) place at a Disney race.  I was shut down at Princess.  A fast field and rough day for me didn't go well.  Still have Pixie Dust and Wine and Dine.

5.) Qualify to Boston.  I'm working towards this by building a base and running more double digit runs. I've also begun looking at which marathon(s?) to attempt at.  I'm thinking of trying two... To have a back up just in case.

So with three months already gone I feel like I'm working towards my goals.  February gave me some feedback through racing and I've really been able to make some adjustments that should be able to help.

Now if Mother Nature would just cooperate.  We had snow last night and a winter storm warning for tonight as well.  I hate running on ice/snow, so I did my ten miles on the treadmill this morning.  Thank God for DVR,

The Enchanted 10k

I wanted this race.  I had trained hard, hoping for a big PR.  The year before I had run the race in just under 47:00 and just missed placing.  This year I had training runs that suggested I could go sub 45:00.  I was flying high and hopeful.

I got on the second bus out of the resort.  I get really nervous about getting to the race on time, so I'm always down at the bus stop and in line pretty early.  Thus, my awful early alarm...

 

The Hubbie snapped a pic before I left.  First time I ever wore a sparkle skirt for a race.  This was my best attempt at a "costume".  I told him he did not have to go to the race and he happily went back to bed while I trekked across the resort to the bus stop. 

There's not much to do before a Disney race, so I stood in line and got some princess character pictures.  

I finally decided it was time to drop my stuff off at bag check and move to the corral.  My nerves were starting to kick in and I wanted to make sure I was somewhere near the front.  

Once we finally started running I felt pretty good.  I passed someone I knew and said hi, but even being close to the front, I still had to do a lot of zigzagging and weaving to find a spot were I could find my own pace and stride.  The first mile was a 7:31.

The second mile starts with a sharp turn and then a run up an overpass.  I took the hill moderately hard, passing people along the way, and then picked up speed down the other side.  I still felt pretty good, but new I wasn't on pace for a sub  45:00.  7:32 second mile.

Mike three is boring.  I hung on but was beginning to feel discouraged.  7:31.  Mile 4 is when you get to finally run into Epcot.  I love running around the world, though it's not completely flat so I find it hard to keep a consistent stride/pace.  Random hills of varying degrees pop up, annoyingly, just to mess with your legs.  7:37.

Going into the boardwalk area is where I really lost it.  I don't know if I just mentally gave up or what, but as I ran apart one of my favorite parts of the course I struggled to keep my pace up.  Once I saw the 7:56 flash on my Garmin I was heartbroken.  I tried to urge myself to go faster, but that's when I realized my goal was out of reach.  

Mile 6 is through some backstage stuff before you get to re-enter Epcot with a great finish past Spaceship Earth and out the the parking lot/finish line.  7:57

I still had something left in my legs and pushed through the last few tenths, finishing with a 6:33 pace as I finished in a 47:10.  I was very disappointed.  I'm not sure if I just peaked early, if the A1A Half I did the week before took more out of me than I thought, or if my vacation in FL tore me down, but I was way off my intended time.  I walked through the finishing area and tried not to be too cranky, but it was hard.  

I returned to my hotel room and at least got to look forward to an excellent buffet breakfast at Beach Club's Cale May.  What better way to recover and refuel for the next day's half than stuffing myself full of delicious food?

 Luckily I tend to have a strong stomach so I am able to enjoy some questionable prerace activities.  And Minnie loved my skirt!

Princess expo take 2

I

We returned to the scene of the craziness again on Friday, missing the opening.  I really just wanted to go back so I could actually see the vendors as we left in a hurry on Thursday, frustrated by the chaos and the crowds.  (Sorry for the blurry pic, but barely any lines!)

The crowds were definitely much more manageable, especially in the RunDisney merchandise areas.  Most items were still in stock, including those pink jackets that caused so much drama.  

The vendors were there in full force

And I loved walking around and looking at them.  A few of my favs were Inspired Endurance, Sparkle Athletic, Sports Hooks, and the New Balance area.

Even the New Balance area was cleared out enough that I could wander in and look at, albeit not try on, shoes.  Definitely love the Minnie and Ariel shoes- but I'm so picky about my footwear that I'm afraid to take the plunge, so for now I'll just admire from afar.

As we were getting ready to leave we noticed Jeff Galloway speaking so we stopped and listened for a bit.  He's always fun to listen to! He gives out great advice and has a great personality that draws you in.

After his talk he said he'd be going back to his booth for pictures and stuff.  My husband and I tailed him back into the expo... A little stalkerish almost as we kept just far enough not to be obvious but close enough not to lose him.  MAN can he weave through a crowd quickly!  But we got there and I was excited to get my pic with an Olympian!  

After this we did leave, checking out the RunDisney medals as we went.  I snapped a pic of all the medals I'll have after Pixie Dust in May (yes, I'm a bling-aholic).  Can't wait until they are all mine! 

Conclusion:  if you don't mind missing out on a few of the most coveted items (this year the tervis and wine glass) then going early the second day is much less stressful than trying to survive the first.  There were great things to see, buy, and do that I enjoyed much more on Friday!