Disney Expedition Everest 5K Challenge Review

This May I took part in my first race at Disney.  I love to visit theme parks, its a special place where you get to spend with friends and family and the whole focus is to escape reality just have a blast zipping along on roller coasters and rides.  There's no one who does theme parks better than Disney.  With its diverse cast of lovable characters and the extra attention to detail, Disney has created some of the best parks in the world.

What's not great about theme parks is the heat.  In Florida, it is pretty much hot all the time, be prepared to sweat...A LOT.  Also it takes all day or multiple days because you're usually waiting in line for rides anywhere from 30mins to 2 hours and during peak vacation season it can be unbearably crowded.

Not many people, outside of runners, may know that Disney actually offers races in their theme parks after hours.  The distances range from 1 miles, 5Ks, to half and full marathons. Imagine having a big park to yourself and your fellow runners and having Mickey and Goofy cheer you on.  There's the Tinkerbell Half-marathon, Tower of Terror 10 Miler, Disney Marathon, and the Expedition Everest Challenge. There is really something for everyone and you can check them all out at RunDisney but I'm going to give my experience of the Expedition Everest 5K Challenge.

We're ready for the challenge!

Packet Pickup + Pre-meeting

The packet pick-up was in the morning of the race at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.  There were a lot of events going on there(a massive cheerleading competition?) but they had clear signs on that directed you where you needed to be.  It was very well organized and streamlined with plenty of staff/volunteers that directed you where to go.  They also put in those little touches like the photo op that was really well detailed.  There was the typical running swag in the packet.  What what something that was useful during the race was a sample clue.  If it is your first time at this race, I recommend attending the little overview they have where they explain how the race works and answer any questions you may have.

Parking

Parking was a bit trickier than I thought it would be.  Since it's after hours, parking is free and open to anyone.  Also, the race starts and ends in the Butterfly Lot so you can bring friends and family to cheer you on without entering the park.  Animal Kingdom obviously has a gigantic parking lot but the problem is that thousands of people are all trying to enter at the same time.  I would definitely try to arrive at the park at least 2 hours ahead of time due to traffic.  I got into the park around 8:45pm but with traffic and parking I didn't get to the starting line until about 9:45pm for the 10:00pm.

Race

This is a unique race that consists of two parts.  A 5K course through Animal Kingdom with several obstacles and also a scavenger hunt where you must solve the clues to find your next location.  This is a very big race with thousands of people and it was crowded.  They stagger the start time for each heat every 10 mins or so.  I'm not sure if they try to separate by finishing times but I was in the first heat...just saying.  Even with the heats there are so many people, I was weaving in and out and around people, it was really hard to set a pace in the beginning and I ended up starting off too fast.  About a mile in, you come across the first obstacle.

Bales of Hay - This was the easiest of the group of obstacles.  You don't even really have to slow down as they were maybe a foot or two tall.

Tire Run - This showed up around the 2 mile mark and was the most challenging for me.  There were two rows of tires and you have run through doing high knees hitting the center of the tires.  If you haven't done this before, it can be exhausting.  I was a little winded and ended up slowing down and basically was walking through this.  I needed to take a little walk break after this to recover.  

Crawling -  This was at the very end of the race.  There was a net set up about a foot high and you can to crawl on you hands and knees as fast and low as you can.  They were pretty nice about it and covered the dirt with artificial grass so you weren't crawling through the mud.  After this one, its time to sprint to the finish line.

Clues

Sample clue from packet with race clues.

The clues were not as tough as the sample clue and some may take some time.  It consists of a riddle which is a tip on how to solve the clue and puzzle itself. After you finish the 5K portion, there's no stopping.  There will be someone there to hand you a park map, your first clue card and a mini-flash light to help you see at night.  Don't do what I did and try to look at the map and trying to figure out the clue on the card with the flashlight all while running in the dark.  There are stations set up around the park that you have to find and there will be volunteers there to give you the next clue, provided you solve the previous clue.  And if you're really struggling, they will help/hint/guide you to the answer.  Also, it is a good idea to make sure you know where you are going as the scavenger hunt follows the same route as the race, so in my case I was running along with racers during the scavenger hunt.  At one point I had gotten lost and had to back track and wasted a lot of time.  

Race Results

I finished the 5K portion of the race in 24:43 which is a pretty good time for me.  However, the final results include your 5K time and the scavenger hunt time.  My final time was 1:01:49.  Getting lost in the scavenger hunt really threw me off and my GPS ended up with over 6 miles.  I think if I hadn't gotten lost, it should have taken me to around 4.5 miles, but you need brawn and brains for this challenge.  Your race entry includes a ticket into the after party.  They open up the park until 3 am with select rides available(YETI coaster!).  They also had the carnival area open and lots of photo ops with costumed characters.  In the middle they had a DJ with dancing and lots of good times.  

Final Thoughts

Quite a collection of medals, I hope to earn them all someday.

This was a really fun race and overall just a great experience.  It is definitely different from the races that I ran before, just the little touches were really nice like the YETI growling at you in the bushes as you ran by and the staff and volunteer and Mickey cheering you on throughout the park.  I recommend this to any Disney fan or anybody who wants to run a race that was focused on fun and a good time.  I think if I were to do it again, I wouldn't even be concerned about my time and really take in the experience, stop and take pictures with the characters, treat it like a big running party. 

Medal

This is definitely the nicest running medal I have gotten.  It is well constructed and fairly heavy and opens up into like a compass.  Unfortunately, it is not a real compass and doesn't point north.  It is on the small side compared to the other Disney Race medals but it's definitely unique.

Thoughts on the Boston Marathon Tragedy

Boston Medal (taken from Facebook)

As a runner, the news of the attacks on the Boston marathon hit a very personal note for me.  On April 15, at approximately 2:50pm, the Boston Marathon would be changed forever in a span of seconds.  Running and races have always been known as a place of support.  Many times proceeds from races go to charities, its about the community coming together and cheering on each other while accomplishing goals.  It makes me very sick to think that someone could intentionally inflict that harm with such malice and disregard.  On what should have been a happy and commemorative day for many people, was turned into a war-zone of unimaginable horror in an instant.  I am in shock and awe as more details and reports about what transpired that day are revealed. 

I take solace in the overwhelming compassion and support in response to the attack.  Reports of runners finishing the race and immediately running to the nearest hospital to give blood, strangers and volunteers facing the horror and having the courage of those overcoming fears to help the fallen and wounded, and all the generosity of the people who opened their homes to help the runners and people displaced from the race.

It doesn't surprise me one bit.  These characteristics and quality are embodied by the running community and the sport of running itself.  Running itself is one of the few sports where there aren't any losers.  Runners are everyday people from all walks of life.  Few people run the race to actually "win" but every single person who crosses that finish is a winner.  The elite, professional, recreational and amateur all run together the same course and the same race.  We are all united together and offer support and cheer each other success. 

The events at the Boston marathon had larger goals than just harming the people at the race.  It was intended to poison our minds and hearts with fear, to corrode our faith in humanity, to break the spirits of runners, Bostonian, and the all of American people.  Running has always been a sanctuary from the craziness of the world, where it is just you and the road.  That ideal has also shaken by these events.  I think the overpowering consensus among runners is that we will not be held down.  I agree 100 percent with this sentiment.  The malignant attacks make us angry and sick but we runners are a resilient group and the american people harbor an unsinkable spirit.  Try to push and hold us down and we will come back stronger and then come kick your ass! 

Although I can probably never look at races with the same innocence again, I won't let fear or terror deter me.  If anything, I am more emboldened and determined to accomplish running a marathon someday.  Run for those who are hurting right now, run for those who may never run again.  Don't let fear rule your life, acknowledge and move past it.  Take a moment to contemplate what is really important in life and go live it to the fullest every single day. 

Suncoast Classic 10K Race 2013

Race Time

I completed my first race of the year, a 10K, early this morning.  The weather was a little uncooperative, it starting drizzling 10 mins before the race and turned into a full on rain during the race.    The combination of rain, cold, and wind made for challenging conditions.  I usually avoid running in the rain like the plague but I wasn't going to let it ruin my race.  I still managed a great time.  Race days are always just a fun environment and a good time and keeps me coming back.  The 10K was first, then the 5K and a mile and some fun run for the kids.

New FIT2RUN downtown. The new headquarters for many more races.

How nice of the weather to clear up after the race!

What time would you get in the 10K with this ride?

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After 6 miles in the rain, a sight for sore eyes!

Results

Total Time:  49:06

Splits
Mile 1: 7:28

Mile 2: 7:52

Mile 3: 8:19

Mile 4: 8:20

Mile 5: 8:12

Mile 6: 7:53

Its colder than it looks, I couldn't squeeze cream cheese onto
my bagel after the race because my fingers didn't work.

In a lot of ways, just making it to race day is already an accomplishment, no matter what time you get or where you place.  It means you put in the time and preparation  to become healthier and improve your life to be ready to let the running shoes hit the road.  I'm pretty happy with the results.  I was aiming for under 50 mins and I beat it by almost a minute.  Its probably 2-3 mins faster than my previous unoffical 10K time.  I slowed down a bit during the middle in mile 3-4, I think I started off too fast but I was able to recover at the end.

Running during the race is kind of a miserable experience, besides the weather.  You're pushing yourself close to your physical limit, but not over the limit.  Its all managed chaos.  Somehow you have energy to sprint and kick it at the end.  Sometimes during the race I think I am crazy to voluntarily wake up early and put myself through this.  But afterwards, I catch my breathe and my lungs don't feel like bursting and my heart rate calms down, I feel really good.  It's just a satisfying feeling when all those days you didn't feel like running or working out but did anyways, pay off into tangible results.  You would be amazed what you can do when it counts and it is worth the experience.  By the way, I'm so glad I invested into those arm sleeves above!  Living in Florida, I felt stupid for buying them thinking I would never used it.  The few times I did, I was really glad I had them...like today.  

Superhero alert, good to see Marvel and DC getting along.

What to do Post Race

Grab some water, a banana and a bagel to hydrate and re-energize yourself.  Enjoy the festivities.  Give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done!   If there was ever a time to treat yourself, it would be now.  Just make sure to eat it AFTER the race and not before the race!

Post Race Treat.  Very Important.

Prep for Race Weekend

Another beautiful day in Florida...in January!

I have my first race of the year this weekend.  I  am doing the Suncoast Classic 10k race.  It's an exciting time, being out on the race course on a fresh early morning with a few hundred fellow racers.  The weather should be perfect for running this weekend, bright and sunny with highs in the 60's and a slight breeze all along a beautiful downtown Florida waterfront.    

Signing up for a race can be the perfect commitment to motivate you to stay on track.  It provides a measurable distance and deadline date and allows you to put all that training to the test.  And really wouldn't you study harder if you had a test on the line?

Race Week Preparation

If you're like me then you've majored in procrastinating in college and mastered putting off studying until the last minute while still somehow passing.  Unfortunately, that tactic won't help you very much in running.  You can't 'cram' training into the week before and expect good results on race day. If you haven't been putting in your time training, increasing your mileage come race week won't help you very much; in fact, it will probably tire you out and hurt your performance.

There’s nothing you can do in the week before a race to help yourself. You can only do things that hurt yourself.

This refers mostly to training, as there's plenty you can do to help yourself perform your best come race time and its easy and you'll most likely enjoy it.  Hopefully, if you're competitive like myself, the drive to do your best has kept you training hard through the weeks and month before.  The main goal the week  is to get refreshed, relaxed, and enough rest to be in peak condition.  I've been dealing with some knee issues lately, it hasn't affected my running or mobility but I will use this week to nurse it.  Below are a few tips for to help get ready for a strong performance on race day.

1. Reduce your mileage.
I did my last speed workout on Monday  about 5 days before my race.  I might do a really really easy 3-4 miles on Wednesday but the key here is listen to your body and rest up as much as you can.

2. Get plenty of sleep.
Sleep is such an important part of training, it is when your body gets a chance to repair itself and get stronger so make sure to rest up well and take a nap the day before the race, especially if it in the early morning.

3. Hydrate and eat right.

I can't get enough running gadgets

Just because you're not training hard doesn't mean your body doesn't need proper nutrients to repair itself and become stronger and well balanced.

4. Stretch and massage muscles.
This will definitely help alleviate sore muscles and keep those legs fresh.  If you feel antsy not running, go for a walk. Also, don't decide this is the week you start that Insanity or P90X workout!

5. Map out race course.  
It can be pretty hectic during the race, so familiarity with the course will help you know when that tough curve or hill is coming up is a big mental boost.

6. Get all your gear together. 
Set aside all your race day gear, shirts, shorts, racing bibs, shoes, and any other gadgets, like GPS watches or putting together a race day playlist.  Note: Do not break in new shoes during a race!

Food is Fuel

I got home a little early from work and had some time before my run.  I was a little hungry and I usually have a banana or some nuts before a run.  However, I decided to indulge on some cookies and leftover Valentine chocolates and it turns out that isn't exactly the best pre-workout snack.

I've never felt so sluggish and bloated.  Every minute and every mile was a struggle to push through and I had to call it quits after only 3 miles because I was getting nauseated.  I don't think I enjoyed any moment of that run.  I had just ran the day before so I wasn't out of shape or incredibly sore.  It got me thinking, what is going on!?!

'Could a few pieces of chocolates and cookies really have thrown me in such a funk?  Is this what people on a non-healthy diet feel like when they run? because this sucks!'

So much of being healthy and fit has to do with what you fuel your body with.  If you want to body to perform its best, you have to feed it with the best fuel.  The key is to use nutrient rich natural ingredients to keep you full longer and more active. Also a common misconception is that eating healthy food somehow cancels out all that sugary junk food which is sad to say not the case.

Below is a healthy recipe to fuel all day long full of nutrients and energy.  Makes about 4 servings.

Black Beans and Brown Rice

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 215 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories 478 Calories from Fat 109

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 12.1g 19%

Saturated Fat 2.2g 11%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 5mg 2%

Sodium 699mg 29%

Total Carbohydrates 81.6g 27%

Dietary Fiber 6.2g 25%

Sugars 2.3g

Protein 11.1g

Vitamin A 4% • Vitamin C 66% Calcium 7% • Iron 21%

Nutrition Grade B+

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Ingredients

1 Tsp Salt

1 Tsp Ground black pepper

1 Tbsp Ground Cumin

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 can drained black beans

1/2 cup sliced white mushrooms

2 cups of brown rice

2 Quarts Chicken Stock
2-3 Bell peppers(Green/Red/Yellow) about 1-2 cups

1 Small Onion

2-3 Turkey Sausage Links(half pound)

Directions

Saute the veggies in a large pan until peppers are softened.

Cook the rice per instructions but use the chicken stock instead of water. Dice the bell pepper and onion into half inch cubes. In a medium pan on medium heat, brown the turkey sausage until center is browned, while flipping the sausages every few minutes so that it cooks evenly.  Remove the sausage from pan and set aside to cool and then cut the sausage into half inch slices, if you slice it right away all the juices will flow out.  In a large pan, saute  on medium heat the onions and mushrooms in the olive oil for a few minutes until the onion are transparent.  Add in the diced bell pepper and black beans.  Season with salt, pepper and cumin.  When the bell peppers have softened a just bit, add in the cooked rice and mix thoroughly. Add some chopped fresh parsley on top and serve.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Takes about an hour including prep time.

New Years Resolution 2013

A new year and new opportunities to change those annoying habits for a new you! I personally don't believe in crazy resolutions after one year I swore off chocolate. Temptation was around every corner but I was too stubborn to give in, and in the end I completed it, over an entire year without any brownies, chocolate chip cookies, or even m&m's and Oreos.

Chocolate. Nothing really compares.

Now that I look back, I should have eaten the damn chocolate because I tried to satisfy my sweet tooth with all sorts of sweets, soda and gummy bears, but nothing could quite hit the spot so I just ended up eating even more sugar. Oops, unintended consequences...what started off as a noble goal to eat healthier ended up with the opposite effect because I was so determined to succeed, I missed the big picture completely. Was it a success or failure?

What I do know is that I'm never doing that again. Never. Ever. Again.

I definitely believe in setting goals to strive for because its really the journey of trying to get there is what life is all about. With that in mind, a healthy life is one of my "goals". There really is no destination to it, I mean, can you really ever be too healthy? Another passion of mine is running. It's very goal oriented, you're always striving to beat your old time and distances. It's also filled with unlimited victories every time you PR.

I learned this approach at work to setting goals and it follows the acronym S.M.A.R.T.

S - Specific
What exactly do you want to accomplish?

M - Measureable
How will you know if you reach it or not if you can't measure progress?

A - Attainable
Aim high, but be realistic and don't set yourself up for failure.

R - Relevant
How is this goal REALLY going to make a difference?

T - Time-based
You must have a due date or it is just wishful thinking.

So for 2013 my Heath and Fitness goals are:

1. Run a mile in under 6 minutes. (PR is 6:28)
2. Finish a half marathon race. (My longest race thus far was a 10k)
3. Be able to see my abs. (Seriously, I know they are under there somewhere)
4. Try to cook at least 1 new healthy recipe a month. (you gotta eat)

What do these goals have to do with becoming healthier, you ask? The healthier I become, the faster and farther I can run. The stronger and better that I run, the healthier I become. Boom...synergy! In electrical engineering we call that an infinite feedback loop and it leads to infinite gain. By focusing on something I enjoy I am implicitly becoming healthier. The real question is how can I not succeed?