Disney's Half Marathon Training

So about a week ago, I was conned, tricked, and bamboozled. After all that, then I was asked if I wanted to run in the 2010 Half Marathon. Being one that can never really turn down a request, unless I really don't want to do it, I said "yes."

And so then the training began. I recently ran the Race for the Taste 10K and the Expedition Everest Challenge, so I think that I am in a good position to at least start to think about training.

I am currently running every day trying to build up miles. I have many more miles to go. However, until I get there I just get encouragement from my friends and family.

I am nervous about the race. I know I will finish though, I will be running with the non-running runner. That helps keep me motivated.

Also, I always look forward to a good trip to Disney. We are planning on going to the Animal Kingdom so we can see Nemo, and Everest. I have never done either of these attractions, and am a little nervous about going on Everest. Not much for roller coasters. I was going to do it at the Everest Challenge, but anyone who was there knows that the monsoons rained the place out and the post-race party was basically cancelled.

On a side note about that. Disney sent me a replacement lanyard for my medal since the original one fell apart due to rain.

Until then, move down. move down. clean cup. clean cup.

Alex's Trip Report

This evening, I had Alex write a trip report for our weekend at Disney. You will find it below.

My trip to Disney

The First day, I went to Epcot. Epcot stands for experimental prototype community of tomorrow. We first rode Soarin’. Soarin’ is a ride where you simulate riding in a hang glider in California, soarin’ is the most popular ride in Epcot. You must get there first thing or right after your first ride.

Next, we rode Test Track. Test track is a ride where you are in a car where you are testing a car’s equipment. This is the second most popular ride in Epcot. This should be one of the rides you get early to or you will have to wait an extensive time.

After Test Track, my dad and I split ways because he went to a wine seminar that is only available during the food and wine festival. I went to mission space since my dad is prone to motion sickness. Mission space is a ride that is kind of like a simulator. You fly to Mars in a high tech space shuttle. Each person in the ride has a certain job for the mission. They have two levels called more and less intense. After Mission space I rode test track again. I met my dad back up in a place called world showcase. World Showcase is like going around the world in a day. Most countries have some sort of attraction, like a ride or movie. Afterword, we went back to the hotel for the night.

The next morning we went to Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom is a park where they have exotic animals and a few rides here and there. They close early because of the animals. You may want to get there early because, the animals aren’t very active in the afternoon. We went on a tour and saw some animals from South America. Next, We went to Kali River Rapids. It is a water ride. You will get wet. Next, we got on Kilimanjaro Safaris. It is a ride where you are on a 2-week safari and see many animals and you must find poachers. After that we rode Dinosaur. In this ride you must go into the past, find a certain dinosaur, and bring it back before The Giant Asteroid collides with Earth.

After this we headed to Blizzard Beach. Blizzard Beach is a water park that has many slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool. I do not recommend this for your first visit. We only went to two of the four parks that weekend.

This is what I did over the weekend of September26-27 of 2009

Expedition Everest Challenge

I have not updated this blog in quite awhile. I think the reason is that I have not really come up with what I want to talk about. I will have to work on this more now though. Especially now, that I have doubled my readership. You know when you double your readers from 2 to 4 that is like a big deal. Kind of like being Robot Chicken on cartoon Network.

I think shorter updates are the better way to go.

This past weekend, Alex and I went to Walt Disney. We stayed at Pop Century. It was a decent hotel with nice amenities but definitely a step below the Polynesian. Thankfully, we will be at the Boardwalk Inn in 2 weeks.

On Saturday night was the Expedition Everest Challenge. It was quite an event. We started at 7:35 and ran a 5k. After finishing the 5k, we did four obstacles. They were four marine hurdles, a cargo net climb, a balance beam, and a cargo net crawl. After we completed those obstacles, we then had four clues on our scavenger hunt. We were about 2 clues into the event, and the heavens opened up. So we had to finish the challenge in the pouring rain. I later found out that he officials closed the course prior to everyone finishing due to lightning. I hope everyone at least got his or her medal. They are outstanding.

Most of the after party was closed down due to weather, so Alex and I left the Animal Kingdom. For the first time in my life, I did not know where I parked. Not like I forgot which row, but I didn’t even know which parking lot. I was so excited about the race, I completely forgot to look. So for 20 minutes, Alex and I had to walk up and down rows in the rain looking for our car. For the record, there were three other Prius’ in the parking lot. Oh ,well it was a fun event, and I will probably try and do it again next year. Although it will be in June.

On another note, I saw Lori Burke from http://www.wewantstheredhead.blogspot.com while we were competing. I met her the day prior at the Food and Wine Festival. You should check out her blog. It is fantastic. Even if she thinks it not all that great.

Abridged Vacation

So let us begin. This blog seemed like such a good idea at the time. However, I am finding that updating Facebook is so much easier, because I can do it from my phone or my iTouch. I haven’t updated it in the past two months.

Betsey’s mom came down a week before we went on leave. She was able to see the kids one more time prior to them spending the summer with their mother.

We left for leave on a Friday morning, and stopped just North of JR’s in North Carolina. We met Jennifer. The kids were happy to see her. They left with her, and we checked into a hotel. The next morning, we finished the trip up North.

While we were on leave, I had the opprortunity to see two baseball games. One at D.C. vs. Toronto, and the second was in Baltimore vs. D.C. Both games were good, and it was nice to see the stadiums. For the record, the Nationals lost both.

I prepared for my “new” career while I was home. I want to spread pixie dust for the tilt-a-whirl, or bark for the Yak Woman. But it didn’t work out. Instead, I made funnel cakes, and fresh squeezed lemonaid. Thinking about it, have you ever met the Yak Woman? Ugly as sin, but a nice woman, and she sure can cook.
My brother Jerrod flew North, and my mom drove up and we had a mini-reunion and spent the 4th of July with family and friends.

After the vacation up North, Betsey and I decided to go South for the weekend. We went back to Disney. We stayed at All-Star Sports. It was a nice place. We did Tea at the Garden View Lounge. He had dinner at Yachtman Steakhouse. On Saturday, we went to Hollywood Studios, and had a great time. We had lunch at Mama Melrose’s, and dinner at Jiko. All four places were fantastic, and I highly recommend them.

Well, that’s all I have to say now, but with some luck, I will have Betsey update with some of her stuff.

The New Job and New Movie

So today, is Friday, and it is about 4:39 p.m.

I started my new job this week. It seems to be going well. I think as time goes on, it will become better. With the exception of two Soldiers, and two SSGs, I am the most junior person out of about 25 people. Oh, Joy.

I went and saw Star Trek last night with Alex and my neighbor, Scott. It was fantastic. I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a good movie. You could know nothing about Star Trek and still have a great time. It also has the G.I. Joe, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and some other cool trailers. Go see it. You will like it.

Until next time, Strength and Honor.

I Got To Get Better At This

I have realized that I have to get better at updating this blog.  There is just so much going on, and I am not writing about it.  It could be because I hype it up in my head, and when I put it to paper, there is nothing really there.

So let us see.  Alex and I went to the Atlanta Braves Home Opener vs. the Washington Nationals.  We left our house at noon and the game was at 7:35 p.m.  Plenty of time, right?  Nope.  We got to Turner Field at 5:30 p.m. and then spent the next 2 hours 30 minutes trying to get to our parking spot.  We missed the National Anthem, the first pitch, and Flyover by the Air Force.  Everything.  By the time we got into the field it was the middle of the 2^nd inning.  At the top of the 4^th inning, they had a rain delay.  After about 20 minutes, we decided that we should go ahead and leave, because I had to work the next day.  Needless to say, after the rain delay was finally over, and they finished the game, we were already home.  Good thing we didn’t stay for the whole game, or that would have been some drive home. 

 

Alex was confirmed on Easter Sunday.  That weekend, Alex’s mom, stepdad, half brother, my mom, dad, brother Jerrod, and his two girls came to support him.  It was a nice weekend.  MacKenzie went back to North Carolina for the week with her mom.  Alex was set to go on a Spring Break retreat, but it was cancelled at the last minute.  The Youth Minister resigned the evening of Easter.  The parents rallied around the Youth Group, and were able to make many things happen that week, that helped soften the reactions that everyone felt.

 

On 30 April, I was bouting with one of my students in hand-to-hand combat.  I caught some Velcro to the face.  Not a big deal, but I mention it only because of the next day.  I was promoted to SFC on 1 May 2009.  I have some great photo’s because I have a black guy, and a busted chin.  Good times.

 

 

This past weekend, we went to the Jacksonville Zoo.  It was a fun time had by all.  The kids decided that they wanted to go to Cheeburger Cheeburger for lunch.  So I pull out my trusty Garmin and type in the name looking for the closest one.  SCORE!  There is one only 20 minutes South of the Zoo.  Actually, about 40 minutes with traffic.  Let me tell you how it was.  I wouldn’t know, because it closed down six months ago.  Sheesh.  Oh, well.  We know that there is one somewhere. J 

 

We will see where this goes in the future, but in the mean time, Strength and Honor!

It is time…

So I was sent an e-mail today saying that it was past my birthday and that I have to update the blog.

 

Okay, on Monday, 30 March, Betsey had her Ultrasound. We found out the we are indeed only having one baby, and it's going to be a boy. I think this is great. So now comes the drama of which I can help eliminate right now. Yes, we may know what we want to name him, and No, you can't find out. Nor will recommendations for names be taken. We have decided that the baby will be not named after anyone. So now that's being said, let's see what else is going on.

Last Wednesday, Alex and I signed up for our next running event. The 24-27^th of September, we will be down at Disney once again to participate in the Expedition Everest Challenge. We will be staying at Pop Century Resort. It is definitely a step down from the Polynesian, but as a consolation, we will be at the Beach Club Resort in October. Plus us it is only us guys, we don't need a lot of room.

This weekend, is going to be full of events. On Friday, Alex and I are going to the Braves home opener. They are playing the Washington Nationals. This is Alex's first Major League Game. It should be fun. Friday night, a lot of my family is also coming into town. On Sunday, Alex is being confirmed at Richmond Hill United Methodist Church. I know this is important to him. The following day, he is going on his Spring Break Mission Trip to Orlando. He will be working with "Give Kids The World." I hope he has a great time.

MacKenzie is also doing well. She hasn't been mentioned much in this blog, because she is just going right along with the flow. She scored a 100% on her Math test today, which she is extremely proud of, so I mention it here. She is also excited that her cousins are coming up this weekend, so she has more girls to play with. She will be spending Spring Break up in North Carolina. Hopefully she has a great time as well.

 

That's it for now. Have a great night.