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runDisney Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon

runDisney Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon

runDisney has created a new race this Spring called the Star Wars  Virtual Half Marathon Challenge.  Registration is open from now until February 28, 2018.  Your half marathon run must be completed between January 3, 2018 – March 31, 2018.

What Is The Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon?

The Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon lets you run at your own pace, on your own course!  Meaning, you don’t have to be at an “official race” or in Walt Disney World to participate in the race.  You can use a training run, or even your treadmill as your virtual half marathon.  While out on your run, you can share your experience with photographs and use #StarWarsVirtualHalf.

Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon Participants Receive:

Commemorative Star Wars Finisher Medal*
Downloadable Race Bib
Downloadable Finisher Certificate

Registration Dates: January 3 – February 28, 2018
Completion Timeframe: January 3 – March 31, 2018

The Kessel Run Challenge

Star Wars Virtual Half MarathonIf you participate in the Star Wars  Virtual Half Marathon AND run the Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon at Walt Disney World®Resort  OR Star Wars First Order Challenge you can participate in the runDisney Kessel Run Challenge.

runDisney Kessel Run Challenge Participants Receive:

  • Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon Medal, runDisney Kessel Run Challenge Medal* and Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side race entitlements
    Downloadable Race Bib for Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon
    Star Wars-themed keepsake

runDisney Kessel Run Challenge Important Details:

  • Kessel Run Challenge participants will receive their Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon medal and Star Wars-themed keepsake at the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo during the Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side race weekend.
  • Upon completion of the Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon within the pacing requirements, participants will be awarded the coveted Kessel Run Challenge medal in addition to their Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon medal.

 

  • Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon Medal, runDisney Kessel Run Challenge Medal* and Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side race entitlements
  • Downloadable Race Bib for Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon
  • Star Wars-themed keepsake

 

runDisney Kessel Run Challenge Important Details:

  • Kessel Run Challenge participants will receive their Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon medal and Star Wars-themed keepsake at the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo during the Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side race weekend.
  • Upon completion of the Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon within the pacing requirements, participants will be awarded the coveted Kessel Run Challenge medal in addition to their Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon medal.

Registration Costs

    • Please note you must already be registered for either Star Wars First Order Challenge OR Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon in order to register for the runDisney Kessel Run Challenge.
  • Choose one of two bundle options below:

Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon – ONLY
$59

runDisney Kessel Run Challenge* – ONLY
$69

runDisney Kessel Run Challenge Bundles
$399 – Star Wars First Order Challenge PLUS runDisney Kessel Run Challenge
$254 – Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon PLUS runDisney Kessel Run Challenge

*In order to participate in the runDisney Kessel Run Challenge, runners must be registered for either the Star Wars First Order Challenge OR Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon PLUS the runDisney Kessel Run Challenge. The Star Wars First Order Challenge and Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon are subject to a separate registration fee, eligibility requirements and capacity limits.

Dates, times, prices and inclusions subject to change. All races are subject to capacity limits and may close at any time.

Merchandise

you can commemorate your Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon run with special merchandise like the shirts below available at shopDisney.com!

Start Wars Virtual Half Marathon

I Was In A Wrinkle In Time

I Was In My Own Wrinkle In Time

Many things that have been happening in my life lately are wishes and dreams that I have added to my vision board.  I look at that board every day, and I try to view it before bed so that the ideas and dreams can manifest in my subconscious while I am sleeping.  When I first created the vision board at the beginning of the year, I did not realize the power that it has.  When my friend mentioned to me that it makes her emotional, I didn’t understand that.  Now I get it.  This is an amazing activity that should be done every year.

How Does This Relate to A Wrinkle In Time?

I took the family to see A Wrinkle In Time and was blown away by the similarities of the movie to what I was experiencing in my life right now.  The father, who is a scientist, had “tessered” into a place in time (a fifth dimension), and was missing for four years.  The family missed him dearly and it was affecting them through all the areas in their life.

They went on a quest to find him.  While on this quest they met three women referred to as the “Missus”.  Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which.  They were guardian angels to Meg, her little brother Charles Wallace, and her friend Calvin.  The children discovered the “tesseract” that provides them the ability to travel in time thanks to her little brother.

You have to find the right frequency in order to get to that place.  Similar to them finding the right frequency to get to that special place, I had to find the right frequency in my life to get to where I am today.

Letting Go

Meg was always facing challenges and dealing with negativity from others that was bringing darkness and doubt to her thinking.  She questioned herself and her abilities.  The kids and staff at the school mocked and made fun of Meg and her brother about their father.  Those thoughts bothered Meg and she carried that with her when she was tessering but she had to learn how to let that go.  The negativity caused pain.

I had been facing challenges for a space of time like Meg had been.  I too, was experiencing a lot of self-doubt, lack of confidence, and emotional pain.  I was depressed, losing my joy, and struggling to find what makes me happy in my work.

I love my family and I am very grateful that they have always been here to support me.  But when you have a job, your children, or spouse, or immediate family can’t perform that job for you.  You have to be independent.

I had to heal from things that were holding me back.  Those things that were holding me back and causing me self doubt were represented by the dark place in the movie that was creeping into the character’s minds.  It’s hard enough to believe in ourselves, we don’t need others who are negative to make us second guess ourselves.

Believe In Yourself

If you don’t believe all the way, it will hurt.  Meg, the daughter in the movie who was looking for her father was lacking in belief so when she was tessering, it hurt her.

You have to be courageous to make hard decisions for yourself.  I had some decisions for my life made for me; but that life event caused me the opportunity to make a decision to take my next steps for my business plan.

Meg had to be the person in the movie who was ready to trust herself and believe in herself to do what she needed to do to save her father and bring everyone back home.  As they journey through time, Meg learned a lot about herself from the “Missus”.

Living For Today

Spoiler alert!  The last part of the movie was the stab to my heart.  When everyone returned back to earth and their home Meg’s father told her “I wanted to shake hands with the universe… when the hand I should’ve been holding was yours.”

THIS is my moment to embrace my children now. When the father said that to Meg I felt extremely guilty.  I am a working parent and my son has said to me several times recently that I am working too much and he doesn’t get to see me as much.  I had to remind him that I was trying real hard to do a good job so that we can do the fun things that we enjoy doing and so that maybe one day I can be my own boss and have more time.

I don’t blame the father for trying to reach the stars, he is an adult who had dreams and aspirations.  I think it is important for our children to see us work hard and try to achieve our dreams.  But there is also that fine balance of putting work aside to make time for what is most important – your family.

Now I have a chance to manage my time more efficiently to set my own hours and be around for my children, to play with them again and to also show them that sometimes when something doesn’t work out, it is because something better is waiting for you.

Savor The Time

Time is passing far too quickly than I want.  I have been feeling it a lot on my heart lately as my son’s eyes are getting closer and closer to being at the same level as mine.  Before long I will be looking up at him.

My daughter is becoming more and more like a tween than my little baby girl.  I’m trying so hard to keep them little; but I know they need to start growing up and experiencing the things that they should be at their age.  Even if some of those experiences are going to be hard for them.  I can’t always protect them and go to their rescue.  They are going to need to find it within themselves to find their strength, their voice, and the light in themselves.

Have you seen A Wrinkle In Time yet?  I’d love to hear what you though of it!  Share your thoughts in the comments area.

Losing My Job

What’s Next After Losing My Job

I just got back from the Social Media Marketing World 2018 Conference in San Diego on Saturday.  During the flight home, I kept thinking of how I was going to find a way to break out on my own doing what I love.  Well, that choice was made for me on Monday afternoon when I found out I lost my job.

Social Media Marketing World 2018

The conference was a gift to me.  I was approached to volunteer at the conference after reaching out to Michael Stelzner.  I didn’t know that being a volunteer was an option.  What an AMAZING gift!!!  The experience was life changing.  That’s not just an expression.  I really felt that way.  I met such great people, the volunteers are reaching out to me to help me collaborate and come up with a strategy for my business, and I also made some wonderful friendships in such a short amount of time.

Losing My Job

I had the chance to meet some of the biggest names in the Social Medial business world:

I didn’t realize how many amazing people I met until I actually listed them all out.  I listen to these people in my car, on my long training runs, or when I am working.  I feel like I already know them!  To actually meet them in person made me feel like I was meeting celebrities at a red carpet event!  But they were all so approachable, down to earth, friendly, and eager to help!

On the last night of the event when everyone left; those of us who were travelling home the next day all met up at the Hyatt for dinner and drinks.  I got to meet several more great people from the volunteer team as well as the conference attendees.  While there I was on a mission to have my “Scout” mascot signed by all of the members of Social Media Examiner, along with the guest speakers that were there.  I was blown away by the excitement everyone had about my idea.  This is a treasured item that I have in my office now as a reminder of how and when my life had changed.

Losing My Job

My Life Just Took A Rapid Shift

Life can throw curve balls at us.  It’s a matter of what we do when we get those unexpected curve balls.  I wanted this.  I wanted it really bad.  I didn’t want it to happen the way it did; but it was a gift.  I wasn’t happy to hear the news that I was no longer going to be working in sales at Slalom.  It was a surprise coming on the day that it came; but this field wasn’t the right fit for me.  To be honest, not matter how I tried, it was never good enough.

I went to Seattle in January to get trained on Sales; but didn’t have much of a chance to implement what I learned in my training.  There were aggressive goals set for me and I wasn’t meeting those goals.  Not for the lack of trying.  Sales is a difficult field to be in.  I have many qualities that make me successful in this field, such as my ability to network and creating and fostering relationships.  I will still use those traits in my future endeavors.

What’s Next After Losing My Job?

I am not afraid.  I went through several emotions since Monday afternoon; but sadness didn’t linger for very long at all.  If anything, I was angry and disappointed.  I am relieved and happy right now.  I feel like I have a weight lifted from me.  I am no longer living in fear of not being good enough or losing my job.

During the last hour of the conference, Pat Flynn was the closing keynote.  I felt like every word he spoke during that presentation was aimed to me directly.  At the time I didn’t know I was going to go through the same thing Pat went through; but when he was working in the architect industry he lost his job just a few months before his wedding.  He said it could have been a terrible time in his life, but it wasn’t.  That was because he built a website and used that website to create a study guide for an architectural exam and that became a stream of income for him.  I spoke to him after the conference was over and told him I felt like he was speaking directly to me.  I saw the emotion in his eyes and I was getting emotional as well.

Losing My Job

This is why I am not afraid.  I also have dreams and goals and have been working on my blog over the past year to grow it as well as my social media following.  Now is my time to really focus on that growth.  I can be home for my children, I can set my own schedule and I can be my own boss!  I am happy.  I feel like I have a clean calendar and now is my time to find all the things that bring me joy.  When God closes one door, he opens another.  I truly have always believed this.

I feel like my old self is coming back.  A weight has been lifted.  The fear is gone.  I made it a point to take some time to myself on Tuesday, I had lunch with my husband, went for a run and took some time to breathe.  Now it’s time to plan for my future!  I hope you’ll stick around and follow me and support me on this journey as new and great things will come my way!

Are You Stuck In A Rut?

Are You Stuck In A Rut?

Do you feel like you are swimming upstream lately?  Not making any progress on your goals?  This is the time of year when many people who made a new year’s resolution tend to fall off the wagon.  Have you reached that point?  Are you stuck in a rut?

Am I Stuck In A Rut?

I have had an extremely busy start to my year.  I ran the Walt Disney World Dopey Challenge in Florida January 3-10.  Then I was in Seattle for Sales Immersion training for work.  That was an incredible, fast-paced week with a lot of learning, socializing and traveling all squeezed between Monday and Friday.  I loved it and want to implement everything I learned right away to produce 100% results immediately….. but it doesn’t work that way.

New Experiences At Work

Working in sales is something new for me and I had an epiphany this past weekend.  I am used to project work.  I build a website from a spec, have a deadline to get the work done, do it, and it’s done.  That’s not the case with sales.  Sales is like planting a garden.  You have to prepare the soil, plant the seeds, water and feed the plants, then they will provide you with a consumable product after several months of care and attention.  So while I thought I was stuck in a rut, I realized it may feel like I am; but a lot of it has to do with learning how to find milestones in this type of work that I am doing.

Physical Fitness

In the physical fitness portion of my life, yes, I am stuck in a rut.  After I got back from the Dopey challenge, I continued to run for pleasure 3-4 miles at a time, several times a week.  I also got back into my strength training routine in a more regular basis.  But then I hurt my back.  I have not been able to run for 2 weeks and I’m starting to stress out.  I have the Walt Disney World Princess Fairytale Challenge this coming weekend.  I’m not going to freak out about it though.  After a few more visits to the chiropractor the pain will be gone and I view it as an opportunity to run on fresh legs for these races.

I will be running with my good Disney running friend Mandy; and this year PK and his daughter are running the half with us.  Since PK has trouble with his knee right now we figure we will get through the race, no matter how long it takes.  Heck, it’s not like I’ve never chased down the balloon ladies before!

How To Get Out Of The Rut

This past week I started to come out of what I felt was a mental rut with the help of Chalene Johnson’s podcast.  Here are a few points that I found useful:

Movement creates momentum – I used that approach to keep myself accountable for doing my strength training (even during my injury) as long as I did the modified movements and knew my limitations with my back.  I know running was out of the question and I needed to do my workouts to keep my head clear and to avoid going crazy.

Are you in a rut?

Say it out loud – I had to remind myself of my goals.  I had to tell myself that I was going to go workout, put on my clothes and make it an intention that it was still part of my day.  I wasn’t going to throw in the towel and let myself off the hook.

Don’t make excuses and focusing on the obstacles.  Yes, my back was hurt and I couldn’t run.  But I still kept moving and working out.  My upper body could still benefit from the strength training.  Doing lower body work for my legs will just help me later when I can run again and I won’t lose muscle strength in my legs.

Why Am I In A Rut?

This time of year is a real challenge for me.  But it’s been harder this year because we don’t have as much snow on the ground.  In December and early January it was bitterly, frigid cold.  The kids didn’t want to go outside with it being that cold, and frankly I didn’t either.  Then after Dopey I was suffering from post Dopey depression.  I was also worried about leaving the kids for a week to go to Seattle, but they were great while I was gone.

Now, I am longing for the warmer longer days, and the sprouting signs of Spring.  I saw it happen this past weekend.  We had a snow storm Saturday night.  Then Sunday was a very warm day that melted most of the snow.  We played outside and it was light out until almost 6:00!  I’m so glad that change is soon coming where we can play outside or go for walks after dinner.

Are You Stuck In A Rut? I also haven’t set any race goals for 2018.  Usually by now I have my race plan all figured out.  Since I haven’t done that yet, I need to see where and what races I want to participate in.  I did put in for the NYC lottery at the last-minute.  I’ll see what comes of that.  But I need to take some time to think about my running intentions for this year.

If you are ever in a rut, follow those steps I mentioned above.  You have to put the effort in.  No one will do it for you.  You may have a friend or a spouse who can encourage you to do what you should do; but it’s up to you to lace up the shoes and get moving.

Are You Stuck In A Rut?

I found that what is helping me is when I make a To Do List in my weekly planner.  I need to see what I have in front of me and then cross those items off.  I work better with a defined list.

Black Panther Movie Giveaway

Black Panther Giveaway!

My family and I have hopped onto the Marvel band wagon last year and are catching up on as many of the movies that we can fit it before the newer movies are being released.  The last Marvel movie we went to see in the theater was Thor Ragnarok and we loved it!  We saw the preview for Avengers: Infinity War and we loved it but had so many questions!  So we have a lot of catching up to do.

The Black Panther

The highly anticipated latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther, is finally almost out in theaters! On February 16th, travel to Wakanda as you get to know T’Challa, the King of Wakanda. To help celebrate this release, The Hopping Bloggers have come together to bring our readers a Black Panther prize pack worth $150 that everyone will want to win!

Black Panther Prize Pack Includes:

Products subject to change based upon availability.  List contain affiliate links.

About Black Panther

After the death of his father, T’Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. When a powerful enemy suddenly reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king – and as Black Panther – gets tested when he’s drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people.

See Black Panther in Theaters 2/16!

Connect with Black Panther on Social

Like BLACK PANTHER on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackPantherMovie
Follow BLACK PANTHER on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theblackpanther
#BlackPanther

Enter to win this Black Panther Prize Pack using the form below. GOOD LUCK!

If you’re a blogger looking to connect with brands: Join The Hopping Bloggers database and get started today!
If you’re a brand looking to work with a network of professional bloggers: Check out the creative campaigns The Hopping Bloggers has to offer!

LG Twin Wash System

LG Twin Wash System At Best Buy

Disclaimer:  I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

LG Twin Wash System

Best Buy now offers the LG Twin Wash system which includes LG Front Load laundry paired with LG’s SideKick Pedestal Washer.  I saw this product during a conference and love the flexibility of being able to wash a small load of clothes in a separate pedestal washer.  So if I went out for a run and wanted to get my sweaty running clothes clean fast, I could toss them in the pedestal washer as a separate small load.  Or, if I wanted to wash my sweaty workout clothes separate from my family’s clothes I could wash them simultaneously while you do a bigger load up top on your LG Front load washer.

Customers are now saying that they can’t live without the pedestal washer.  What was first thought of as an excessive add on is becoming quite a popular accessory to their laundry room!  It’s perfect for washing swim suits, table cloths and work clothes!

Not only do these washers have mega capacity to tackle any size load, they are energy efficient while giving you the best cleaning performance. No wonder more households have chosen LG laundry over any other brand!

Special Offer From Best Buy

From 1/11-4/25 receive up to $500 off a LG laundry solution for your home.

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