Race Recap & Review: Castaway Cay 5k

Hello, friends!

Just a few days ago Matthew and I returned from my 30th birthday trip to Disney. I am just now getting caught up on laundry, social media, blogging, work, etc. Wow, what a trip it was! :-)

We spent four days and three nights aboard the Disney Dream and sailed to Nassau and Castaway Cay in the Bahamas. Once we disembarked, we then spent three days and two nights in Walt Disney World at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It truly was one of the greatest vacations I've ever been on. I think I speak for both Matthew and myself when I say there will probably be more Disney cruises in our future.

In the next few days, I'll be publishing posts detailing the trip- including thoughts about Disney Cruise Line and experiences staying at a deluxe WDW resort. But for now, I'm really excited to recap the Castaway Cay 5k.

On Saturday, day three of the cruise, we got to participate in the Castaway Cay 5k. For those of you that don't know, Disney owns their own Bahamian island- Castaway Cay (pronounced Key). A few years ago, runDisney started offering a 5k every time one of their cruise ships docks at the island.

Matthew and I knew that we wanted to run this event, so as soon as we boarded the ship we went to Guest Services and signed up. We received our bibs and were told to meet up in Evolution (one of the ship's bars) at 8:15 am on Saturday.



Dumbo Double Dare represent!

 

Our awesome 5k guide, Jamezy explaining the course to us.

We had two wonderful cast members, Jamezy and Mia, checking us in and handing us safety pins to put on the bibs. They explained how we would all walk off the ship together, walk to the start line together, and then start the race.

When we got off the boat, it was really, really windy and overcast. However, it was still quite warm and I was grateful for the respite from the sun. I'd heard that this race could be very hot because most of the course was not shaded and we were in the tropics, after all.

Anyway, we made the trek to the start line- I was taking tons of pictures- imagine that! We also got to meet Christl and her boyfriend- she and I had "met" each other on the Team #runDisney facebook page on a thread chatting about the Castaway Cay 5k. It was super cool to chat with another runDisney enthusiast, especially in the Bahamas!

At the start line, Jamezy once again explained the course to us. Then he jumped on a bike, counted us down, and rode out to the water stop. The course was really simple: a quick loop around the bike path, an out and back on the old airstrip, and then another loop on the bike path.

Lots of wind on the island!

Listening intently to Jamezy.

Using his pom-pom as a pointer!

Super cute starting line.

Matthew and I were off! Since I lost my Gymboss timer after Pittsburgh (so sad!), Matthew was keeping our intervals- 2:30/1. Neither of us brought ipods so we just trotted along, chatting during the walk breaks. When we got to the water stop, Jamezy was handing out water, cheering with his pom-poms, and yelling "I believe in you!"- he had us cracking up!

Before I knew it, we were headed for the finish. Despite it being overcast, I was really hot. Matthew was keeping the pace and I was struggling slightly to keep up. As we finished the last quarter mile, he asked me what my PR was- it was 33:32. We crossed the finish line in 33:17- a new PR for me :-)

Looking strong!

All smiles!

Jamezy working the water station.

Proud finisher with a new PR!



I'm a winner because my Disney Cruise Line lanyard says so. 

Happy finishers.

Christl and me.

He's so cool I can't even keep my eyes open :-)

After the 5k, we went out to the "Adults Only" beach and snapped a few photos. It was incredibly windy- so much so that people were sitting on their beach chairs wrapped in towels. We thought it was less windy at the "Family Beach" so we headed back there. I'll recap the rest of the day in a future post :-) But in short, we hung out on the beach, went snorkeling, and got to meet some cool new friends:

"But why is all the rum gone?!"

Overall, it was a great little Bahamian 5k. There are no frills with this race- just the opportunity to run an international 5k on Disney property. There was no extra cost to participate in the race, it's included in the cruise cost. I did purchase a shirt for $21.95- it's probably one of my favorite race shirts.

Love this design! And it's a women's cut, too.

But really, how beautiful is that water? :-)

Don't let this little bit of sun fool you- it was overcast and rainy the rest of the day!

QOTD: Have you run the Castaway Cay 5k? If so, what did you think about it? If not, would you want to run a 5k during a cruise?

Meet the #runAkron Team: Steff

Welcome to the first of four "Meet the #runAkron Team!" guest posts! My Akron Marathon Relay teammates have graciously agreed to contribute some of their running story to my blog. Today, you'll get to know Steff, or as I like to call her, speed racer :-) Enjoy!

Name: Steffany Rubel
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Favorite Race Distance: 10K
Races on your “Bucket List”: Marine Corps, Niagara Falls, Chicago (Top 3)

How did you start running? 
I’ve always been a runner. I would love to run up and down the street as fast as I could. I was a track and cross country runner in high school. I got injured in high school and took time off during college. I say I started “adult running” in 2012 when a friend of mine challenged me to the Pittsburgh Marathon 5K.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to you/weirdest thing you've seen while out on the road?
When I ran track in high school, I was running the two mile and the girl in front of me peed herself. I didn’t know what to do! I told my coach as I passed him and he told me to get around her. It blew my mind. It was only eight laps around the track!

I can’t run without... 
Music.

What’s the best piece of running advice you've been given?
The first thing to fail you during a race is your mind. Always think positively, your legs will follow!

In the starting corral for a race you can find me...
Big race, probably eyes closed listening to music trying not to cry.
Small/fun race, chatting with everyone around me getting them excited for the race!

If you could go back in time, what’s one thing you wish you’d known before you started running?
The right shoes are the root of your success. If there is a new model coming out, BUY ALL THE SHOES YOU CAN!

When I’m not running, I’m...
Trying yoga, traveling and watching/playing sports.

What’s your favorite post-race food?
I’m usually so nervous through a race that it will take me hours before I can eat. A month before a big race I give up alcohol. I would grab a beer for sure first!

My running mantra is...
It’s not all about the race, it’s about the journey.

If you could run with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
There are two answers to this question. The first would be Shalane Flanagan. She is my running hero. I would love to pick her brain for a little bit. The second is a friend of mine from high school named Jess. She is an amazing marathoner (3:04). We don’t live near each other anymore and don’t seem to race in the same places very often. It would be fun to get to do a race together.

You can keep up with Steff here:

Blog: http://sasrubel.blogspot.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runsteffrun
Twitter: @sas_rubel 
Instagram: sas_rubel 

Running Naked

Have you ever just wanted to run in the buff? Without anything holding you back? Completely free and natural?

I think all runners should try running naked once in a while! And by naked, I mean without technology :-) But if you really want to run without clothes, you can see a calendar of nude runs here. Seriously.

Most of my training (like many others) is all about statistics- pace, distance, heart rate, etc. And the one of the best ways to measure those functions is with technology. With GPS watches and multiple apps on smartphones, it's easy to get caught up in the data. That's not necessarily a bad thing; after all, if you want to get faster or run longer distances, you have to keep track of it somehow.

However, sometimes we [me] can become preoccupied [obsessed] with what that data is telling us. For example, if you have a five mile run where you feel great but you didn't hit your "goal pace," it's easy to feel like that was a "bad run" even if you felt awesome completing it. For some of us, this can lead to a lot of self-criticism and self-doubt that I can't help but think we would be better off without.

A few weeks ago, I decided that I wasn't going to race or train with a watch anymore. I was going to simply try to run based on effort. I'd read an article in Runner's World that gave a plan for doing that and I've been following it pretty successfully for the last three weeks. While I haven't been achieving super speed, I have noticed that I simply enjoy my run much more when I am not focused on time, pace, or distance. I have time to slow down (figuratively) and enjoy the moment- think about everything and nothing at the same time. It's actually quite relaxing mentally while being challenging physically. And because I believe that every run makes you stronger in some way, I don't worry so much if I've hit the target pace that I had in mind. In some ways, it's allowed me to train without a lot of self-imposed pressure.

In Weight Watchers, we celebrate "non-scale victories" or NSV's. These are weight loss related things that we are proud of that aren't tied to the scale. Losing weight isn't just about the actual weight lost- it's about gaining confidence, learning to listen to your body's signals, wearing a smaller size, or doing things you once thought impossible. I think running is the same way. It's not always about the pace, distance, and intensity. Sometimes your success comes in the form of enjoying your run, trying out a new route, or relying on effort to pace yourself appropriately. Numbers are important, but they don't have to be on every single run.

To take it one step further, I'd also encourage runners to run at least once a week with absolutely NO technology- ipods, phones, Galloway timers, watches, etc. if it's safe for you to do so. It's amazing how freeing it can be to just run- nothing distracting you from listening to the inside and outside world. I find these "naked" runs to be the ones where I get much stronger mentally.

So, get out there, get naked, and enjoy your run! :-)

QOTD: Do you ever run "naked?" Why or why not?

Race Recap & Review: Pittsburgh Half Marathon

This past Sunday, I had the absolute privilege to run in the sixth annual Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Half Marathon. If you're a regular reader, you know I'd been looking forward to this one for months. All I'd heard about this race was how supportive the city was and that I would be amazed at the amount of crowd support. I'd also heard that it was a challenging course with a killer hill at mile 11. I woke up at 4 am on Sunday absolutely pumped.

Todd and some other friends were also running on Sunday so we all were able to grab breakfast together before heading to the city. We had plans to be parked no later than 5:30. With a 7 am start time, and because we weren't familiar with the city, we wanted to make sure we were settled with plenty of time to get to our corrals. After the Sole of the City 10k parking debacle, we knew to allow ample time to get there and park.

Matthew, Jamie, and Todd.

We had originally planned to park in the garage near Chelsea's apartment- we'd parked there the day before with no issues. However, her street was already closed by 5:25 am. Luckily, we found another parking garage for only $5! We parked, gathered up stuff for our checked bag, and then headed toward the start.

Now, even though the race did a really good job with identifying the corrals, we had a really hard time finding the bag check. Eventually, we dropped off the bag and then started heading back to Matthew's corral- he was in B and I was in D- the last corral. Security was tight getting into corrals- they had high chain link fences and volunteers/race officials guarding each entrance. I had plans to meet up with Lauren, Jeff, and Steff at Lauren's hotel so we said our goodbyes and wished each other a good race.

Ready to race!

B is for Bad-Ass :-)

No corral hopping allowed.

I wandered around until I found the Fairmont Hotel. Thankfully the lobby was warm and had a real bathroom. It was probably around 45 degrees and lightly raining by this point so I was glad for a little respite from the weather. I met up with my friends, chatted, and wished them well. We also figured out where we'd be meeting up after the half to cheer on Jeff and Lauren- they were running the full marathon. Basically, the races follow the same first 11 miles, and then the marathon course turns off to the right and continues for the next 17 miles.

Gloria, Steff, Me, Jeff, and Lauren. Thanks to Lauren for this picture!

I left the hotel lobby and went to find my corral. I got a little lost but saw some awesome signs/spectators along the way. I guess it was about 6:45 when I tried to squeeze into the masses trying to get into D, the last corral. I had been texting another blogger friend whom I'd yet to meet in person, Becca, who was also starting in D with her dad. After probably 10 minutes, I finally made it into the corral. Somehow, among the close to 30,000 runners, we found each other!

This made me LOL.

Lots of signs; still super lost.

It's kind of a big deal.

Thanks to Becca for this awesome pre-race photo!

Chatting with Becca about the race helped to calm my nerves. I don't know why, but we didn't start the race until almost 7:30- there seemed to be a hold up but we were so far back that I couldn't hear whatever they were announcing. Becca warned me to not go out too fast at the beginning of this race- it was easy to get caught up in the energy of the start. She was totally right. This race just felt so... different. Everyone was in a good mood. I always think of the last corral as the "party corral" and this race was no different. People just seemed genuinely excited. It was easy to catch the enthusiasm of the crowd of runners and spectators.

At a little past 7:30, we were off! To be honest, the first few miles of this course were a little bit of a blur. I remember at least three bands in the first two miles. I kept my 2:30/1 intervals and planned on running just around 12 min/miles. After PRing the 5k the day before, my only goal was to finish the half strong.

At this point I think it's important that I let you in on a little secret- from the starting corral until the finisher chute, I took 146 pictures. One hundred and forty six. 146! The only excuse I have is that I was having so much fun that I guess I just really wanted to document it.

I can honestly say this is probably one of the best times I have had while running. I don't know if words can do it justice: Pittsburgh totally rocked my world on Sunday. I have never seen crowds like that out for a race. There were people of all ages out there, five and six deep, just cheering their hearts out- shouting words of encouragement, giving high-fives, ringing cowbells and clapping hands like you were in the front of the pack. It was so unbelievable. I think I cried at least seven times on the course. There was one point, around mile seven, where we ran downhill and there were thousands of people at the bottom of the hill, cheering for us like we were elite runners. I've never seen anything like it before.

Rather than give you a play-by-play of the miles, just take a look:

Forrest and Jenny.

True story.

Loved this.

He was yelling, "nice legs!"

One of my favorite "cheer stations."

These bridges were gorgeous- we ran over 5!

Classic.

City in the background.

Always appropriate.

Definitely cried at this one.

Still not sure what "yinz" means...

They can have the I.C. Light :-)

Best sign on the course.

Awesome views of the city- mile 9ish.

Elite fueling station.

The best way to see a city is by foot.

Flattest mile on the course- mile 10.

Hmmm, which way should I go?

On the last bridge! Because this guy told me so! Mile 11.

My thoughts about the hill behind me just after 11.

Last .25 miles of the course; half marathoners on the left, full marathoners on the right.

Yup, this happened. All five bridge selfies. 

If you had any doubt that I was having the time of my life, this is mile 11.

"Runner of Steel" status acquired.

What I loved about this race:

• The crowds- simply the best I've ever seen. They were loud, encouraging, funny, and distracting- all things you want when trying to stay positive and upbeat.  
• The well-marked and well-organized course- There were always signs letting us know when a relay exchange point or water or aid station was coming up. It gave me enough time to get to the correct side of the course.
• Medals/swag- very detailed and intricate medals and pretty awesome long-sleeved tech shirts.
• The course- Not only did we get a very cool and unique tour of the city, but we got to run the last .25 with the marathoners. I finished in 2:41:10 so I was finishing with marathoners in the 3 hour range which was really, really cool.

What could have been better:

• More bathrooms on course! I finally had to stop at mile 8- and wait in line to use a port-a-potty. Every single one had a line.

Overall, I was blown away by this race. The city of Pittsburgh totally stole my heart last Sunday. Though I'll always be part of Raven Nation, I can't hate on the "Steel City" so much anymore. 

After I finished, I called Matthew to find out where he was. He'd actually finished when I was about mile 9 and he called to see how I was- he's so damn sweet. I walked through the finisher chute, collecting Panera bagels, Eat n' Park cookies, bananas, chips, etc. I had my hands full and as I was leaving, this wonderful volunteer handed me a plastic bag to put all my stuff in- what an ingeniously simple idea!

I was super impressed with two things- this cookie and the branded mylar blankets.

I met up with Matthew and we headed back to the car to get freshened up- we had to cheer on the marathoners! We didn't go near the Finish Line Festival because it looked totally mobbed. By the way, Matthew finished in 2:15 which is amazing on this challenging course! He makes me so crazy proud.

We eventually found a comfy little spot on the corner of Smithfeild and Sixth Avenues- just about mile 25 of the marathon. We were keeping track of Jeff and Lauren through Chelsea's twitter updates- after running her marathon leg, she went home, got on her bike, and rode along with our marathoners. 

It was incredibly inspiring to cheer the marathoners in. There were only about 5,000 people doing the full (compared to the nearly 25,000 running the half), so the mid and back of the packers were trickling in. We cheered, clapped, and gave out a ton of high-fives. It was really cool.

Steff eventually found us so we passed the time chatting about the race and watching for our marathoners. Finally, we saw them! Just ahead of the six hour pacer and looking amazing!!! This was Lauren's second marathon in six days and Jeff's 30th marathon- talk about inspiring!

We don't know him. But he ran 26.2 miles with Yoda on his back.

This dude carried four dummies with him for the entire marathon. 

"Life is better... When we run together."

Captain Chelsea in the lead with Lauren and Jeff right behind her!!

All smiles at mile 25!

This picture fills my heart with so much joy :-)

Rock. Stars. 

Jeff was doing circles- he wanted to run his first "ultra."

My heart can't even handle all the love in this picture. Thanks to Lauren for sending it to me!

Could they be any cuter?  Picture courtesy of Lauren aka BAMF.

After seeing our teammates, we walked over to the finish line to welcome them back. They both had a fantastic race and honestly, they both looked great! After saying our goodbyes, Lauren headed back to the hotel to shower and the rest of us headed out for lunch. A few hours later, we had to say the real goodbye- which I'll admit, was hard. This group of people are the most wonderful, encouraging teammates I've ever known- they welcomed Matthew and I with open arms. Though it sucked saying goodbye, it makes us even more excited for Akron Marathon Weekend.

Chelsea, Matthew, and Steff.

Marathon, half, and relay medals. Photo courtesy of Lauren.

In short, this was a race weekend filled with love, joy, and friendship- way more than I thought could be crammed into a few short days. The races were fabulous, and if it's possible, the company was even better. Pittsburgh, you surprised me and made me fall in love with you. We will be back to this race again for sure.

Yinz can bet on it! :-)

Love.