It’s been a while since I blogged and there are several reasons for that. One good reason was because I was on vacation with my family to Disney for Spring break and also to run the runDisney Star Wars Dark Side Challenge. I’ll have more on the race specifics in a future post. I have also been recovering from my recent bout with patellar tendonitis. I had been very good about resting it, icing it and doing various PT exercises to strengthen it. I did not run at all prior to the race; but wasn’t too concerned about conditioning for the race. I was able to walk around the parks at Disney with the family just fine and had my knee taped by my friend Merle while at the expo for the race.
That was great support for me while I visited the parks the two days prior to the actual races. I also took the advice of my chiropractor and purchased a knee strap for support to use when I run.
Once it was time to run the races, I felt good about the 10K. My plan was to run my intervals and see what happens. If things weren’t better, then I was going to walk the half the next day if necessary. I was running with Diana and Mandy and they were supportive of my needs. I ran the 10K with a few issues; but what I noticed with this race was that instead of doing my intervals, I kept running through them. I didn’t want to stop every 30 seconds. Part of the reason for that was because it was crowded and the second part was because I was feeling so good. I hadn’t run in three weeks and my legs felt fresh to run almost a mile without stopping for a walk break.
It’s when i stopped for the intervals that I was starting to feel the twinges. I also noticed it when I ran downhill. So I was very careful. All in all, I was very happy with my recovery and knew that I would be ok for the half marathon. I felt good the entire day after the race (despite the fatigue from being awake since 2:30 a.m.) and went to the Magic Kingdom with my family and met up with Diana and Mandy for pictures of us together for Dapper Day.
The next morning was the half marathon and I was going to take the same approach for that race. My legs were a little bit sore from running continuously but my knee felt ok. However, I had quickly gotten sick with some type of respiratory issue. I don’t know if it was allergies, or not having my oil diffuser with my in our hotel room; but I lost my voice and my lungs were very heavy. Once the race started I did ok for the first section and my knee survived it very well also; but by mile 6 I was deteriorating. I was very tired, I had trouble with my breathing and my throat and chest was burning from the illness I was fighting off.
I was not happy with my race results, and I am still processing this race mentally; but that will be left for a future blog post.
What I plan to do now that I am back home again and was able to go on a few runs with no knee issue is to put together my plan for the year going forward. I am signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon. I thought about my successes in the past and what I did to be successful with my races. The answer is to have a plan. So I went to my favorite website, www.jeffgalloway.com and printed out his marathon training plan and penciled in the dates from the Marine Corps Marathon date back. So now I have a plan. When I was successful with my races, it was because I used that plan religiously. I want to get back to that.
I am also exploring Heart Rate Training. I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Another Mother Runner and Dimity and Sarah were talking about Heart Rate Training, which Dimity has been doing a lot of because she is training for an ultra. They talked about Heart Rate training having benefits of better aerobic training, reduction in the risk of injury and an increase in your speed. They offer a heart rate training plan which I am going to join and give it a fair shot in addition to my Jeff Galloway training plan.
That’s where things are as of now, I’ll dig deeper into my race recaps, training plans and Disney vacation recap as soon as I can. Stay tuned!
Well, I haven’t run since March 30 and that feels like an eternity for me. I haven’t even substituted my runs with a walk because I am being diligent about healing my tendinitis in my knee as fast and best as I can. This has been very hard for me. I need my fresh air fix and Vitamin D exposure. But I also need to be able to run the Star Wars Dark Side Challenge a week from this weekend.
So what happens when you get tendinitis of the patella? I didn’t go to an orthopedic doctor for a prescription for PT; but my chiropractor did tell me that is what I was battling. So I have been icing my knee often. I also went to my online doctor, YouTube, to learn the proper way to tape my knee. I also experimented with taping the tendon earlier in the week to see what my options will be so I can make it through the races. I am hoping that I won’t have to walk the entire races.
I have also been using my Deep Blue essential oils to massage the tendon and doing leg lifts, squats and some mild physical therapy exercises to strengthen the quads and IT band. I plan to visit the expo prior to the races and am hoping the line for the KT tape booth won’t be too long and I can get professionally taped prior to the races. If I can’t, I feel pretty confident with the methods I tried.
Per the advice of my chiropractor, I am going for a massage today to help with my body’s recovery from all of the running that I do and have done in the past with little reprieve or recovery and pampering to help my body remove the lactic acid and loosen up the tightness.
My yoga class was cancelled last Monday because of the SNOW, yes snow in April. But I am kind of glad because I didn’t want to make any movements or do any poses that would cause strain on my knee. So as I have 7 days until these races, I am going to be very diligent to take it easy and not do anything to jeopardize my ability to run next weekend.
I will say that even though i miss my outside fix, the weather has been helping me not feel as guilty because we have been suffering through rain and snow for the the past week. Random snow showers and downpours or rain with 50 mph winds have been hammering since last week. It’s been raw and cold so it’s helping me mentally give myself the OK to stay inside and workout indoors instead with weights and my PT exercises.
Animal Kingdom, which used to be considered a “half day” park day at Walt Disney World is expanding its entertainment offerings with a new show. The best part about this show is that it takes place AT NIGHT! I am so excited that we will be there during it’s debut. The show is scheduled to open for the first time to guests on April 22 – Earth Day. That is our last night on vacation before we return home. I am hoping that the rumors I have been hearing about a DVC member sneak preview is true so we can see it prior to that, since we have an early flight home the day after its public debut.
Concept Art by Disney
We have only visited the Animal Kingdom during the day and it was usually quite hot. This past January, during marathon weekend, we had a great time in the park because it was a cooler temperature and we could enjoy more of the attractions in the park. We also took advantage of the Wilderness Explorers program and began our journey to hunt for challenges and missions.
Having the Rivers of Light available and opening the park during the night will also expose us to animals at night as well. I heard that the Tree of Life comes alive in a whole different way and that there is a special ambiance to the park at night. I can’t wait to experience this event and report back with what I discover.
Here are some videos to give you the back story behind its creation and a sneak peek at what they will be offering!
Watch a video of a Live Chat Q&A with Michael Jung and , two of the creative team members behind Rivers of Light.
Recently I have been seeing a lot of fun posts from a fellow BOGP Lizard team-mate in the BOGP Lizard Facebook group. Steve Hood had moved to Florida from Indiana and started his job with Disney just a few weeks ago. His posts were showing him smiling as he was entering his training classes and then him in uniform with his Cast Member name tag as he started his new job as Security Officer in the Disney Parks. I reached out to Steve to ask him more about this huge change in his life.
It’s been a thought in the back of my mind that maybe my family and I will move to a warmer climate one day; but as the kids are getting older and more adjusted to school, I don’t know if it will happen, but it is a dream. So I wanted to know what is involved in pursuing such a dream. Here is what I asked Steve and his responses.
You recently left your job at General Motors in (insert city and state) to move to Florida and work at Disney. How did that whole concept start? What made you decide to move to Florida?
I worked at General Motors in Marion, Indiana for 12 years. I was the Chief of Emergency Services. The Security, Fire, and Emergency Medical response all reported to me. Prior to that, I was a Fire Marshal for a fire department in Central Indiana. As the Fire Marshal I was a Division Chief of the Fire Department responsible for all fire investigations, inspections, and fire prevention for our district. I also was the Chief K-9 handler for our department and had an arson K-9 who did accelerant detection and fire prevention demonstrations. Before that, I was a firefighter, EMT, and Police Officer for a combined total of 28 years of emergency service work in Indiana.
My grandparents moved to Orlando when I was a little boy in the 1970’s. Needless to say, we visited them as much as possible and went to Disney many times. When I first went to Disney World, Magic Kingdom was the only park. I watched EPCOT being built and all the other parks since. My grandparents knew all the tricks and how to visit the parks and resorts as much as possible and keep the cost down. Sometimes we would spend the entire summers in Orlando with our grandparents. We visited many places, not just Disney, in those days. We went to most of the theme parks back then. I remember going to one several times not many people remember called Circus World. My grandparents must have liked it or had cheap tickets, because it seemed like we went there a lot. We also did things other than theme parks, like visit many state parks and springs in the area. I developed a love for Florida, and all my life have visited at least once a year. In 2015, we came down 5 times; driving from Indiana, a 16 hour drive, each way. We have many friends in this area, and we have always planned on moving to this area eventually. Every time we would visit, it became harder to leave.
One very big part of our decision to move was a very severe motorcycle accident I had in 2005 where I wrapped my body around a pole and broke almost everything in my chest cavity. I came very close to the end of my life that day. I was flown to a trauma center in Indianapolis where I was in a coma for a month. The injuries I sustained were pretty extensive and took a long time to get back to a new normal. The accident and story are a whole story in itself, and I won’t go on here about it. I will say, however, without the help of the BOGP Lizards and Mike Bankhead, the team captain, I would probably never have been able to make this move and take this job with Disney. I was pretty much in a wheelchair and had to visit the parks with it before I joined the Lizards and put my mind to not letting this accident take away my mobility. I lost almost 100 lbs and was able to start running with everyone’s help. This made it where I am able to stand and walk for long periods, which is an absolute for this job.
I lost almost 50% of my lung capacity due to the accident damage and have several scars and implanted metal devices to help me live a fairly normal life. With all those injuries, the cold Indiana winter is very hard on me, and as I age it only gets harder. The cold winters are what really drove us to try to make a move to Florida when possible. After one of our trips in early 2015 my wife and I put together a 5 year plan to move to Florida. Towards the end of 2015 I was contacted about a Security opening for Disney. This was not normal, as they had not been hiring previously, and it piqued my interest. This was a possible way to get a job working for the Disney company using my experience and move to Florida at the same time. I mean we figured I would just get a job around central Florida. I never thought I would be able to land a job with Disney where I can make magic for others and be surrounded by the magic every day while I’m working. I tell several guests daily how lucky am I to get to work here and be here every day. When they tell me it’s their last day I remember the feeling and smile inside knowing I don’t have a last day of the magic or my vacation here. It’s like I’m on a never-ending vacation and am able to make money while doing it. I tell people all the time I finally figured out a way to get Disney to pay me to come here.
How hard/easy was it to find a job in Disney?
Finding the job at Disney was not as easy as I had hoped. They rarely start anyone out above entry-level, which is hard to deal with when you have been the head of a large organization for a long time. I know many former Police officers, FBI, Fire Department, and Security managers who are doing security host jobs hoping to get the chance to move up quickly. Disney has a very talented security force. According the policy we have to work six months before we are eligible to move up or to another post than Security Host, which is mostly bag check and metal detector work. They make very few exceptions from what I have noticed.
I put in for the job and was quickly contacted by Disney. They didn’t have any management openings at the time and were afraid with my qualifications I wouldn’t want to start as a security host or what most people call officers or guards. They did feel with my background I would quickly be able move into other openings as they became available. My wife and I had a lot of long hard prayerful discussions and decided to make the leap.
What was the process you had to go through to line all of the details up, job interviews, finding a place to live, etc.?
Disney offered me a job with one condition. I had to obtain a FL driver’s license. Once the decision was made to take the job my daughter and I headed out in the car on a Saturday to FL with one mission: to secure a place for me to live and obtain a FL driver’s license. So many things could have gone wrong, but I felt the Lord opened the door at every challenge and it all went very smoothly. After a very long drive to FL and back in just a couple of days, I was able to call Disney and tell them I had obtained my FL driver’s license. They immediately moved my process forward and scheduled me for Traditions. I had to fly to Orlando one more time for a day for my on boarding to get my fingerprints for the background check.
How hard/easy was it to move? Are you married and do you have children? Did they move with you?
The move was and is still challenging with the most challenging part still to come. The move at first will be just me with my family coming to see me every break they get from school. At first I loaded up all I could bring in my truck and moved into a room with our friends who live directly behind the Magic Kingdom. Another bit of kindness that was extended to help us make this huge life change. Without our friends I really don’t know how I would have done it. I lived with them for a few weeks until I could find an apartment. The rest of my family will not be able to make the move for a little over a year due to prior obligations. This also happened so fast we didn’t have time to prepare and sell our house and property and prepare for a move before I needed to be down here. With being a new employee, I don’t have any vacation or time to take off, so we will need to wait on the final move till I have some time to take off. My wife is a teacher, so she will also need some time to find a job here in FL and transfer her teaching license here. In the meantime, they will come to see me every chance they can. They were just here for spring break and will be back for the summer. We call this our Florida home and the one in Indiana our Indiana home. I found another Security cast member who was willing to move into the apartment with me, so we were able to keep the cost down.
It is definitely hard, and I do get lonely. For that reason, I like to meet up with people in the parks and hang out when they are here. It keeps me company, and I get to meet so many awesome people. I have five kids in all; three boys who are on their own and our two daughters at home. It will be really hard not seeing them as much, but they help my wife and girls at home, and they will come down when they can, as well. Not seeing my grandson is also really hard. I hope they can get down a lot. Having the ability to get them in the parks should help entice them down here, hopefully.
One thing that has proven to be a challenge with Security has been working at all the parks. Most people who work for Disney have a specific location or park they work, for the most part. For us in security, we can get moved around a lot. There are times where I will be at one park for three weeks then in the middle of that I have one day at another park. My schedule so far has had me moving to a new park about every two weeks or so. I’m sure once I have been here for a while that may be nice to move around, but being new it is very hard to find everything behind scenes and where you need to park and go. Once you have it figured out they move you to another park which is like being the new guy again. Imagine your first day at a job happening every couple of weeks. Everyone you work with and the managers are different.
I also have a little trouble with guest who are not happy no matter what I try to do. I usually have a couple per shift who are so nasty to me it is hard to not lose my groove. I tend to take that too personally and just be quite for a while. They seem to poison the other guest around them and the mood gets very poor no matter what I do. I found I have to just check bags or whatever I’m doing and smile.
Do you have any regrets? Would you have done anything differently?
I don’t have many regrets so far. I do miss my family and will constantly look for ways to keep busy. Also I don’t cook at all, so that has been more of a challenge than I thought. I have some friends who invite me over for a meal, and I quickly accept. I have also had a few people ask me to join them when they are eating at the parks when they are here which is nice. I see lots of people but miss the human touch like a hug. I’m sure I’ll get used to it, but it’s new to me right now, and I am still figuring it all out. I try to post on Facebook every day where I am, so anyone who knows me can come say hi or contact me about meeting up.
I absolutely love the magical moments. Like the little girl who came up to me and gave me a hug when I was explaining what to do if they get lost. I love interaction with the guest and hope I can continue having guest interaction whatever I end up doing. Every day I try to remember it’s someone’s vacation and I want to make it special. Sometimes, that is in ways people don’t see or notice, like checking their bags well. We never want something to happen in the parks like we have been seeing around the world lately. Even though bag checks may be long, we are really trying to keep everyone safe in the park. People don’t realize the extent Disney goes to in making sure everything is safe. The new security features like metal detectors, bag checks, K-9s, and many other things are to keep Disney a magical place to visit.
There you have it, one man’s dream that became a reality for him with the support of his loving family and friends! Next time you are going into the parks look for Steve! He would love to visit with you. Friend him on Facebook so you know where to find him when visiting that day! I know that when we are on our upcoming trip I will be checking each day to know when I will find a “friend” in the park to greet me before we have our fun for the day! Thanks Steve for sharing your story and maybe it will give someone the courage to pursue a dream they had been considering but was apprehensive about making the next move!
This past Wednesday was my 44th birthday and it was a nice day. The night before I went out with my girlfriends Heidi and Karen for dinner and we had a great time! I could have stayed there all night to catch up! To start off the day my family gave me my card. It was very appropriate for me!
It got the kids off to school, worked, renewed my driver’s license and became a member of AAA. I wasn’t planning on joining AAA but when I was at the desk and she asked me I decided, why not?! I’m getting older, maybe the benefits it provides can be useful for us in our plans to try different things.
After working, I decided to take my run break later in the day. I wanted to run during the actual time that I was going to turn 44. I wanted to participate in the activity that I love doing most, my birthday run. I go for a birthday run every year now. It was the perfect afternoon for it. The sky was blue and the temperature was just right. I even wore my crown visor in honor of my birthday.
After my run, I finished up what I had to get done for work and piled up the kids and my husband in the car to head to my daughter’s Festival of Arts and Musics night at her school. She was performing her songs in a concert and her artwork was on display at the school. It was a great way to celebrate my day watching my daughter engaging with her friends and enjoying singing with her classmates.
Adrienne’s is the top right
Adrienne (right) with her friends Aubrey (left) and Emma (middle)
After the concert my family took me to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. We were all so hungry and looking forward to having a fun night there! It was fun and I couldn’t wait to get home and open my gifts!
My gifts were just what I wanted! A Bosu ball to help me work on balance and stability, trail running sneakers, a mirror for when I ride bikes with the kids and another greenhouse and seeds so I can plant my vegetables in late April to plant in our garden! All good things to help me live a healthy and happy life, which I have been working on lately. Finding balance not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. I had a great birthday and am looking forward to using my new gifts!
I had a great birthday and am looking forward to using my new gifts!
When we go on our vacation this year we will be going during the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. I participated in a Twitter party recently that talked about all of the events that your kids can participate in at the Flower and Garden Festival and I am looking forward to doing many of them with our kids.
We recently started to grow our own garden by planting seeds in a little greenhouse a few days ago. We just planted them on Tuesday and the are already sprouting! At the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival we always enjoy going to the Butterfly Garden. I learned from the Disney web site that the Audubon Florida will have Purple Martins which migrated 3,000 miles from the Amazon. At the Nature Conservancy, kids will learn how to create gardens to filter water, provide welcoming habitats and improves soil quality.
We have visited the Epcot during the Flower and Garden Festival in past years and also enjoyed the interactive play areas. This year is a new Music Garden Melodies Playground along the walkway between Future World and World Showcase. Children can play drums, chimes and xylophones. There is also a climbing net for the children to play on.
The second interactive play area is called Cactus Road Rally along the Test Track Walkway. Mater and Lightning McQueen are featured at a canopied jungle gym and mini park. You can also play “I Spy” to search for various auto parts scattered among the flower beds.
Like Wine and Dine, the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival offers outdoor kitchens with great samplings of food and drinks from different countries. The DIS Unplugged has a great listing of all of the food offerings and prices for the outdoor kitchens. One of my favorites that they serve at Flower and Garden is the Watermelon salad from Urban Farm Eats and the Kale Salad from Florida Fresh. I am looking forward to picking up some of my favorite eats during this event.
I also plan on participating in Kidcot Fun Spot activities with my kids and have cast members from each country write their names from their country in the kids’ special books. I can’t wait to pick up my Flower & Garden passport and visiting the booths around Epcot and getting many great photographs of the topiaries around one of my favorite parks.