This past Saturday was the Tower of Terror 13K race in Walt Disney World.  On Friday I made my way to Downtown Disney to pick up my race packet.  The line was pretty long by the time the opened the doors to the Motions nightclub, but they had monitors visible outside the club that had the race logo rotating on them.  The doors opened a little late and when we got inside I went straight to the line for my race number. 

The numbers appeared to be assigned by order in which we signed up for the race.  I got number 60.  The longest line for the packet pick-up was for number 1-500.  It appeared the those of us that signed up first also picked up our packets first.  ;)  The bar was filled with smoke from a smoke machine and the race logo was visible on screens throughout the bar.  While I waited in line my parents headed off to see about volunteering the following night so they could see me at the finish.  By the time I got my packet the line for the race merchandise was humungous, so I decided to skip it and left.  In this thought process I completely forgot to pick up my pre-purchased pins.

The next day I was meeting my friend Andi for dinner and we were meeting at the packet pick-up so I took advantage of that time to get my pins and even purchase a nice sweat shirt for running this winter.  We then made our way to Olive Garden for my usual pre-race dish.  Unfortunately the changed the menu and my favorite dish, chicken giardino, was no longer available.  I opted for a herb chicken and replaced the usul garlic cream sauce with pomodoro.  We dropped Andi off at her hotel with plans to pick her up later and headed home to get ready for the race.

Mom and Dad needed to be there at 7:30, so we picked Andi back up at 7 and headed to MGM.  She and I left Mom at the volunteer check-in and headed out to find the start line.  We followed a few people with glow-in-the-dark race numbers and they led us right to the start.  Then we waited around…and waited and waited.  The race start time came and went and still we stood.  They finally came on at 9:33 and announced that they race start was being delayed by 20 minutes.  Boos issued from the crowd.  I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed.  We were already past my bedtime and all I wanted to do was get going. 

Finally 9:50 came and after a few White Zombie and Rihanna videos and an extremely inappropriate Snoop video the race started.  The 13K people started first and the 6.5K was to follow us.  Originally they were supposed to start 30 minute after us, but they ended up following us by only about 6 minute.  We started out running across the back of the part and then headed out onto the street.  We made a little loop and then came to a sign that sent the 6.5K people back into the park and us off on exit ramp towards Wide World of Sports.  

A short time later we made a turn onto a dirt and rock path.  Since it had rained most of the day it was more of a dirt, rock and mud path.  Most people were gracious enough to take their time and allow everyone to avoid the puddles.  Then there was one guy in particular who came barrelling through and splashed us all with mud.  Needless to say he left a few unhappy runners in his wake.

In Wide World of Sports we crossed every terrain imaginable.  After the rock, dirt, and mud we also crossed concrete, asphalt, grass and a track.  The grounds were also litterred with cast members pretending to be escaped patient from an asylum.  They tried to be scarey, but most were funny and some pathetic.  The time went by fast and then we were back in MGM.  Unfortunately it was a slipperty journey because the went asphalt did little to provide our shoes with traction.

Once back in MGM we headed back all around the park.  Making a quick trip through Lights, Motors, Action where we were projected on the jumbotron.  Then we headed towards the Tower of Terror for the big finish.  There were lots of photographers in the park, so I am hoping they got a really good shot.  I saw Andi waiting for me at the finish since we parted ways at about mile 5. 

I got my medal and rounded the corner to find my parents directing traffic.  Dad took a quick photo and we walked off to get some water and a banana.  Our first stop was the bathroom.  Andi then hopped on the Rock-n-Roller coaster.  We walked over to the Great Movie ride and hopped on it and by the time we got off Mom and Dad were done volunteering and the part was almost over.  If the race hadn’t had been delayed we may have been able to get one more ride in. 

My dinner proved to be a bad choice during the race.  I was suffering from some acid reflux and the garlic was making me really thirsty.  After the run a felt slightly nausated.  When we returned home I took a shower and went straight to bed.

Overall the race was a fun experience.  There are a few things I would have liked to have seen.  I would like to have had the race start a little earlier so that I could have at least also gotten to ride Star Tours.  They gave us lots of glow-in-the-dark stuff, but the race course was never dark enough to see the glowing.  Some black lights could have helped with that.  I also would have liked to have seen something different to signify those of us that ran 13K.  We got the same shirts, numbers and medals. 

The medal is really cool.  It is the tower of terror with a spring loaded elevator that goes up and down. 

Not from here.  It is welcome to rain here as much as it wants.  I want it to go away from FL just for the weekend.  :)  I fly out tonight.  The race is Saturday and then Sunday we are going to my favorite restaurant and the Mickey’s No So Scary Halloween party.  People dress up for it, but my plans right now are to just wear my medal and maybe my glow-in-the-dark race shirt.  :)  I will try to post from FL, but it is dial-up, so I am sure you understand if I don’t.  I will be back Monday with a race report. 

Last night I was stuck on the dreadmill because of the weather.  It was wet and I would have run in the rain if I didn’t have to pack my shoes for the flight today.  I got in 3 miles.  Right now I am getting ready to head downstairs for one last FIRM workout before I leave.

I have been very busy this week.  Very short on time.  Did want to check in and say that I did run 13 miles on Sunday.  I had to talk to some friends because I feel like every mileage increase is harder and harder.  Kind of like hitting a wall as I hit my previous high mileage.  Sounds like it is normal.  It’s going to make training for the full marathon tough, but I think I am up for the challenge.

This weekend I am going to FL for the Tower of Terror 13K.  The communication for this race has not been very good.  I am hoping it runs more smoothly than I am prepared for it to.  I will use it as a low mileage long run and then next week I am back to my real long runs with 15 miles.

So I am a Mom trying to deal with someone bullying her child.  I’m sure you are all like, “you don’t have kids!”  To which I respond I have a furbaby and she has a bully.  A bully that is the furbaby of someone that used to bully me in middle school.  Like mother like furbaby. 

I think I have mentioned the bulldog that attacked Tillie in blogs before and yesterday he attacked again while Tillie was out with her walker.  The poor thing is getting too old for this.  Last night before I saw the note from the walker I saw Tillie struggling some getting up from laying down.  Kind of like I look getting out of the recliner after a long run.  When I got home and saw the note I was furious.

This was her third time getting attacked by this particular monster.  I had to call Animal Control this time I had no choice.  Tillie is very good at defending herself, but as she gets older it is going to get harder and harder.  I gave her lots of hugs and kisses last night and told her I wasn’t going to let that big meanie pick on her anymore.  Next time if it happens with me he will be sprayed with pepper spray and it won’t feel good.  If only all parents could spray their kid’s bullies with pepper spray.

I was very aggitated after hanging up with Animal Control so I put on my Heart Rate Monitor and headed for the basement.  I cranked out Total Body Time Crunch from the FIRM.  I thought for sure I would be too sore for my run this morning, but my legs felt really good.  I laced up my shoes and headed out for 5 miles.  This is the best 5 miles I have ran in probalby over a year.  I finished in 1:01 and some change.  Very close to 12 min miles the whole way through, but I need to hook up my GPS to see how my actual pace looked across each mile.  I am VERY pleased with it either way. 

I was craving a cheesesteak today.  One thing I have found about eating healthier is there is almost always a way to feed a craving in a healthier way.  Maybe not a completely healthy way, but you can definitely lower the impact on your wasteline with a little imagination and effort.  I went to Jerry’s Subs and Pizza because they disclose their nutritional info on their site.  I can definitely tell you that places that make their NI known get more patronage from me than places that don’t.  With one exception I will discuss below. 

I ordered the 4 inch Super Grilled Chicken.  Don’t make a face…4 inches is larger than it sounds and is more than enough when you get the thing piled with veggies.  The Super Chicken comes with green peppers, mushrooms, american and provolone cheese.  I asked them to leave the american cheese off to lessen the cheesy load and I got it with onions, tomato and lettuce.  No mayo.  They do offer non-fat mayo packets if you are into that thing, but I prefer the taste of just the veggies.  I did splurge some and got it on the honey wheat bread.  I estimate it overall to be about 300 calories and 4 grams of fat.  I ordered the combo and got the side salad with light italian instead of the fries and a diet Coke.  Since I only used 1/3 of the dressing my WW points total came out to about 8.5 and I certainly fed that cheesesteak craving.  Not bad huh?

So back to that exception of places that offer NI….Outback.  I have a weakness for their Vanilla Bean Mashed Sweet Potatoes which are only available on Wednesday.  The mashed sweet potatoes are only available when you order one particular entree as well.  This season it comes with sirloin, chicken, shrimp, and green beans.  To most this may present a problem because that is a lot of food.  I make it an advantage though.  As soon as the food hits the table or I pull the container out of the carry out bag I get to work cutting everything in half.  In the end I get two sometimes 3 meals out of the one.  I estimate half of the meal to be about 11 pts.  I am probably totally off on that, but I can say that it hasn’t effected my weigh-ins and I get this meal every Wednesday.