Wife Mother Runner Races Archives - Page 5 of 15

More Inspiration For runDisney Marathon Weekend 2017 – Mike Green

January 3, 2017

The next inspirational athlete who will be running the runDisney Marathon Weekend 5K is Mike Green from Houston TX.

Mike is a U.S.military veteran and retired police officer of 25 years who recently found a new, rewarding way to serve his community and stay healthy at the same time. By participating in the YMCA’s Enhance®Fitness program made possible by a Cigna Foundation grant, Mike has improved his health, increased his strength and endurance which opened the door for him to discover and achieve new goals. In recognition of Mike’s milestone, this January, Mike will participate on Team Cigna in the Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend 5K. As part of Cigna’s commitment to the health and well being of people at every stage and phase of life, Cigna is sending Mike and his wife to the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, an annual 4-day event that combines family, fun and physical activity, to be an ambassador for the EnhanceFitness program.

“After I retired, without a way to serve my community I felt lost. My health was also not at an optimum which added to my challenges.” Mike took three different blood pressure medications to manage high blood pressure and manages post-traumatic stress disorder, a disability from war. That’s when Mike, a longtime member of his local YMCA, decided to make his health a priority and turned to his community at the YMCA and friend, YMCA associate director, Lharrisa Jacobs, for support and ideas how to achieve his health goals.

“Earlier this year I joined the EnhanceFitness program at my YMCA provided through a Cigna Foundation grant. By keeping myself healthy, increasing my strength and endurance in the EnhanceFitness program, I’m now able to compete in community 5K runs for charity to help raise money for education scholarships and other community causes,” said Mike. He also mentors other participants in the program as a way to give back.

“Through EnhanceFitness, I feel better, have more energy and have new and rewarding ways that I am able to continue serving my community.”EnhanceFitness is a proven community-based senior fitness and arthritis management program designed to help improve health of older adults through increased physical activity and strength exercises in a fun, social environment. EnhanceFitness is nationally recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Council on Aging and several other federal agencies.

Measurable health improvements like reduced risk of chronic disease and falls are benchmarks tracked and results of the EnhanceFitness program. Mike is one of 13,569 EnhanceFitness participants.As a result of participating in the EnhanceFitness program at the Greater Houston YMCA, Mike’s blood pressure is now within a normal, healthy range; his doctor reduced his blood pressure medication from three pills to one and Mike is no longer pre-diabetic. Mike’s improved core strength and balance empowers his independence and enables him to walk with stability and confidence across uneven ground and sidewalks without his cane, and he no longer needs to wear a brace on his left ankle. Since joining the program, he reports no falls—a marked improvement.

“The Cigna Foundation has been the stronghold for the EnhanceFitness program at the YMCA. Cigna Foundation’s support of the EnhanceFitness program along with the dedication of the YMCA instructors have helped me get to this point,” said Mike. The Greater Houston YMCA is one of two YMCA’s in the U.S. to launch the EnhanceFitness program earlier this year as a result of a Cigna Foundation World of Difference grant. The classes are specially tailored to support health and well being for older adults. This isn’t one-size-fits-all. Members are encouraged to participate at their level, and the instructors are trained to know how to support individuals’ ability levels and meet them where they are.

“The Cigna Foundation is dedicated to helping individuals live healthier, more secure lives; and for our seniors that means healthy aging through physical, mental and social well-being,” said David Figliuzzi, executive director of the Cigna Foundation. “We’re proud to partner with the ‘Y’ to help seniors in Philadelphia and Houston become more active, energized and empowered for independent living through the EnhanceFitness program.”Mike shared, “When Lharissa invited me to participate in the 5K at Disney World on Team Cigna,I was very excited to have this opportunity. I’m looking forward to representing the YMCA and hopefully inspiring others to keep achieving your goals and discover new ones.”

Mike supports other EnhanceFitness members along their journey to success.“I tell other members, be dedicated to the program and it will be dedicated to you. Do what you can, and you will get there.”After Mike crosses the 5K finish line in Walt Disney World, he looks forward to accomplishing new goals like running in community 5Ks to raise money for educational scholarships, and mentor other members in the EnhanceFitness program along their road to health and wellness.

2017 runDisney Marathon Weekend Race Inspiration – Nicole Gaines

January 2, 2017

This year, as in several years past, Cigna is the sponsor for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. I had the pleasure of being invited to the blogger meetup event taking place this weekend. Prior to the races this year, I want to share some inspirational stories with you to give you some encouragement if this is your first race, or maybe your 50th race. Nicole is part of Team Achilles, which I also volunteer for. I hope to meet Nicole in person this weekend.

Nicole hiking Mt Ellinor after concussion

The first story I will share with you this week is of Nicole Gaines. Nicole is a Cigna customer and Achilles athlete participating in the Walt Disney® World Marathon 5K. Nicole Gaines, 33 years old from Troutdale, Oregon, is an active mother, wife, and registered nurse whose passion is caring for infant patients in the NICU and family birth centers patients. When she isn’t caring for patients or spending time with her family, you’ll find Nicole on the mountain slopes volunteering on ski patrol or teaching wilderness medicine to mountaineers and skiers.

But, on January 8, 2016 her active lifestyle came to a halt when she suffered a traumatic brain injury during a skiing accident. Nicole was also left with sustained injuries to her (left/right) shoulder and bicep tendon. In the days following, she went to an Urgent Care center and started physical therapy, but six weeks later when her symptoms of not being able to keep her balance, stay focused or have a coherent conversation persisted, she saw a concussion specialist who did an MRI and diagnosed her with post-concussion syndrome.

At work, Nicole’s injuries limited her ability to perform regular duties. Her main barriers to returning to work were vision challenges, memory issues, and fatigue as a result of her head injury. She took time off work to recover. Nicole continued with physical, occupational and speech therapy for eight months. During recovery, her husband and daughter were a huge support—driving her to and from her appointments and helping her with simple tasks at home such as cooking and cleaning.

By April, Nicole felt ready to return to work part-time doing back-office tasks and following up with patients over the phone. But, she was still unable to meet the cognitive demands of the shift, so Nicole was asked to take more time off work. That’s when in mid-June Nicole met Cigna vocational coach, Robin Randol, and the two teamed up to help Nicole reach her health and return to work goals.

Nicole vision therapy

Robin provided Nicole with screen magnifiers and screen readers to assist with vision issues, coached Nicole with nutritional and sleep hygiene best practices as well as computer use best practices to alleviate concussion syndrome triggers and fatigue, and provided cognitive strengthening strategies. “Robin has a deep background in working with people who have had brain injury,” said Nicole. “Robin’s expertise and the resources she’s provided helped normalize my struggle so I can worry less and stay focused on getting healthier and stronger.”

Robin also provided job placement and resume assistance to help Nicole connect with other RN opportunities, not 12-hour shifts, to help with her recovery. This September Nicole started a new RN position in employee health at a local hospital where she’s much happier working with patients again, has better hours and a better commute which support her while her brain continues to heal. To help Nicole strengthen her physical and cognitive stamina, Robin introduced Nicole to Achilles International, a non-profit organization Cigna partners with to help people with disabilities achieve their goals. Nicole worked with an Achilles personal trainer who provided a customized exercise program to help her increase physical activity gradually.

“Increasing physical stamina has made a big difference in my cognitive stamina,” Nicole said. “By doing my Achilles walk/run exercise program, I have more energy throughout the day which helps my cognitive stamina as well. I wasn’t a runner before my accident, but I love running and am making long-term health improvements.

”In recognition of Nicole’s desire and dedication to regain her health, Robin invited Nicole to participate as a sponsored Achilles athlete in the Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend 5K in Orlando this January.“When Robin invited me to participate in the Walt Disney World 5K, I was excited to join Team Cigna with other Achilles athletes whose stories have motivated me along my health journey. I hope my story can motivate others too.”

Nicole and daughter Kaytlin will participate in the 5K together. After completing her 5K, Nicole looks forward to her next goals: returning to work without restrictions, volunteering and being back on the mountain slopes. “My dream is to be fit and recovered enough to climb Mt. Rainier next year. Doing this 5K is a great start in making that a reality.”

Nicole 11-2015 Mt. Hood

2016 runDisney Dopey Challenge – Full Marathon

December 30, 2016

This post may seem a little late since the Dopey Challenge for 2017 is just less than a week away; but this post may just get you excited for what you have to look forward to if it is your first Dopey Challenge. If it is not your first Dopey Challenge, then it will help you refresh your memory of the course and picture locations and also get you psyched up for the final race of the challenge.

The full marathon is the final race of the four race challenge. It takes place on Sunday and begins at the early hour of 5:30 a.m. I believe I woke up for this race at 3:00 a.m. and was on the road and entering Epcot just as they were closing the roads for the race at 4:30 a.m. Once I arrived and parked I had to track down my friend Diana so we could meet Mandy at the corrals. Once I located her we walked straight to the corrals with very little wiggle room for hanging around in the corrals before the fireworks were going off and the wheelchair races were being released. I didn’t mind though. It meant less standing around waiting for the race to start. However, I don’t recommend cutting it that close to race start. But this was my second Dopey Challenge and 4th Walt Disney World marathon so I was familiar with the process.

Here is a video recap of the 26.2 miles and the ending of the 48.6 mile challenge.

Are you doing the Dopey Challenge this year? Is it your first time? Let me know if you have any questions!

2016 Hartford Half Marathon

October 11, 2016

This year for the Hartford Marathon weekend I ran the half marathon. I had been training for the Marine Corps marathon but deferred that race; but was confident that I had enough miles under my feet to have a decent half marathon finish time for this race. Diana and I were planning on running it together with a race goal in mind so we would have a decent finish time to use for runDisney corral placement for future races.

This was my friend, Portia’s first half marathon so I told her I would drive her up to the race so she wouldn’t have to worry about parking, finding where to go, and the best part is, my office is located just a block away from Bushnell Park so we could go there prior to the race to stay warm and use real bathrooms!

The morning of the race I got ready exceptionally fast and was actually on time to meet Portia in my driveway. I had oatmeal and two pieces of cinnamon bread with my tea for my pre-race meal and brought a banana to eat just prior to the start. Portia and I drove up around 6:20 and got to the parking lot a little before 7:00. I found Diana and then we went over to the carousel to meet up with some Mickey Milers to get a photo before the race and then I invited everyone up to my office to get warm and to get ready for the race.

At 7:30 we left the building to head back over to Bushnell Park where we could drop off Portia’s bag at gear check and head to the starting line. It was the perfect morning for the race with temps in the 50’s and overcast skies. We were at the start line with a few minutes of time to shake out the jitters and take some photos to commemorate Portia’s first half marathon.

When it was time to run Portia stuck with us for the first half mile and then we sent her off on her way. The crowd opened up at that point and Diana and I started our 30/15 intervals. I was feeling strong and we continued these intervals throughout the entire race except two small sections where the hills were steeper and we needed to keep a brisk walk instead.

Overall, we kept a great average pace of 11:49 minutes per mile with a finish time of 2:34:46. I am very pleased with that. I had been working on shorter, faster runs during my weekly short runs to try to increase my pace a little bit. That in conjunction with doing leg exercises have contributed to my success this race.

After the race I met up with my friend Anne at the park where we enjoyed our Harpoon UFO beer at the beer garden to celebrate a good race finish. The Hartford Marathon Foundation also had a special offer for race finishers to visit area restaurants and present your medal and get a free beer. So Anne and I went to the finish line to watch for some friends from the Be Our Guest Podcast relay team finish under the arch, and then we visited the restaurants offering these specials.

I was very happy with this race and my results and plan to continue to use this race for a PR course or training run towards a marathon in the future. I am also so excited for Portia. It all started with mojitos on Memorial Day on our back deck. From there she started her first journey towards a half marathon and accomplished her mission!

Giving Back To The Sport I Love

October 9, 2016

This Fall I signed up to volunteer for several race events with the Hartford Marathon Foundation. For the Hartford Marathon I volunteered to work the merchandise area of the expo at the XL Center. I worked on Thursday from 2:15 – 7:30.

I arrived to the expo on time and checked in at the volunteer check-in area. From there I was given a t-shirt and a swag bag and was instructed to head to the merchandise area where I met up with the other volunteers working there.

The expo was set up a different way this year. When you arrive, you met with the volunteers to give you your bib and race information. After that you went around a corner to the shirt area where you received your shirt, then the gear bag for race day check-in of your gear. Then you went around another corner to the RunHMF merchandise area where there was a great selection of RunHMF shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, tanks, hats, beanies, glasses, mugs, magnets and much more. The organization of the layout of the expo was perfect to weave the people from the registration desk, to the shirts, to the merchandise, forcing them to walk through that large area of Hartford specific merchandise, giving it a lot of visibility.

I stationed myself at the T-shirt bar and helped people find shirt sizes they liked along with any additional help they had with merchandise on the floor. It was a lot of fun to watch people come around the corner and see all of the items for sale and the looks on the faces of first timers at a race expo. I had the pleasure of talking with one runner named Sara. She was shopping specifically for half marathon merchandise. This race was going to be her first half marathon, and I completely related to how she felt about wanted to wear something proud about having run a half marathon. So I helped her decide on purchasing the 13.1 grey and white sweatshirt. She was aiming for a 2:30 finish time and I told her I was as well so I was hoping I’d see her at the race.

I saw a few friends come through to shop like Kimberly Markey and Lori Connelly so we talked and then they continued on to shop the rest of the expo. I also made it a point to Face Book live stream so others could see the merchandise that was being sold for when they pick up their packets the following day. It was a good way to give people a preview of what they wanted to purchase.

I had a great time volunteering and look forward to doing more things like this in the future. I plan to volunteer and pass out medals for the kid races at the Movember races in Middletown. My kids are interested in running the mile run so that I could pass out their medals to them. It was a great experience to be on the other side of the experience and give back to the sport that I love so much. I also enjoyed talking to the runners and interfacing with them, discussing their expectations for the race and what they have run in the past.

Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend 10K – Day 2

September 23, 2016

When I write my recaps for the races I like to include the time I woke up so that I can refer back to it the next year when I am making my plans for race mornings. I do remember that I set my alarm for 4:00 for the 10K because I figured the latest that I would leave my room would be 4:45 or 4:50 and I could arrive to the staging area close to 5:00. The hotel that I stayed at is close to a mile away from the start line. So it’s about a 15 minute slow walk. The race starts at 5:30 and I am never in the first corral. So sure, it may be cutting it close; but I like to sleep as much as I can!

I met Susana Cruz and Jennifer and Bill Taylor in my corral. I was going to meet Dale Martin; but she was in Corral F and was with Jennifer Leisten so I knew she had someone with her. I wanted to get as many pictures as possible with Susana because we were dressed as Jasmine and Vacation Avenie for the 10K theme of Aladdin. We were also hoping that with all of our picture stops we would eventually hook back up with Dale and Jennifer.

We took off from our corral at 5:40 a.m. and ran most of the beginning section of the race. Like previous years, we started off on some of the city streets and then entered backstage into Cars Land. I was fortunate enough this year to get into this area when the sky was still darker and it looked amazing!!! We HAD to stop for pictures there for sure. Then Susana did her 22 push ups for the 22 push up challenge, where I knew what was coming next…she nominated me. So I did my 22 push ups on the main street of Cars Land while a cast member recorded a video of it for us!

Instead of doing intervals for this race we pretty much ran, took pictures, then ran again to the next picture stop and continued this for the entire 6.2 miles. But this course had a LOT of picture opportunities. If it wasn’t a character stop that you can pose with the characters, there were selfie-spots where you could take a selfie with the characters on an elevated platform or on a park vehicle. I was very impressed with how many characters we were able to get photographs with and the rare characters that you don’t typically see out in the parks.

After we ran down Main Street I had to FaceTime my kids because they were heading out for the day with my parents. So I was talking to them via FaceTime and showing them what Sleeping Beauty Castle looked like down Main Street. The funny thing was, they kept asking where the castle was! They are so used to Cinderella’s Castle that they didn’t recognize a smaller castle. As we were exiting the park Mickey Mouse was also waving to us from the Train Station so the kids got to see that as well.

When we were running through Downtown Disney for the last mile, we heard that the balloon ladies were just 90 seconds behind us. We laughed because we took as long as we could to enjoy every minute, character and mile of that race! When we finished we found Dale and Jennifer and they passed us and finished before us!

The Disneyland 10K is still one of my favorite runDisney races. Most of the course is run through the two parks and there are lots of opportunities to take pictures. It also ends early enough so that you have time to enjoy breakfast and the day afterwards. I had an excellent day after the 10K. More on that in my next blog post.

Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Hotel Recommendations

September 20, 2016

I’m starting a new section of my blog which will provide you with hotel recommendations, especially to use for race weekends. Cost is a factor when I travel for race weekends because I am traveling alone and want to do it as cheap as I possibly can because I really just need a bed, shower and coffee maker.

When I went to Disneyland for the past two Dumbo Double Dare Races in 2016 and 2015 I stayed at the Best Western Plus Pavilions. I was very happy with this hotel last year and booked again at the same hotel this year. It is close to the Disneyland Resort area and Downtown Disney and is just about a 15-20 minute walk to the starting area for the races. It is also a more direct route to the races which does not require you to go though security and bag checks like you do in the area between Disneyland Magic Kingdom and California Adventure.

I also booked this hotel for the price. I was able to book it for $135 per night and I use hotels.com so that I can earn free nights. When you book again to the same hotel you also get special pricing. They also offered something great this year that I took advantage of. With their location right next to Denny’s, you are given a voucher for each night you stay there to use for breakfast the following day between 7:00 – 10:00 a.m. And your choices are not just a muffin and coffee. You can choose from eggs, pancakes, toast, tea, coffee, or juice and a side of bacon, sausage or turkey bacon. I made sure to take advantage of this the morning of the 10K since I finished early enough to take a fast shower and head over to the restaurant before 10:00 a.m. I thought this was an excellent addition to their accommodations there.

They are also located on a road that makes my return trip to the airport very easy because there isn’t usually theme park traffic when I depart on Sunday late morning.

I am very happy with the cleanliness, the amenities, the bed and how quiet it is at this hotel. I suits my needs perfectly for a race weekend. Check out my video of the hotel.

Disneyland Half Marathon Day 1 – The Expo

September 19, 2016

My flight out to Disneyland was uneventful and easy. I took a new flight which Southwest never had available before. It left Hartford, CT at noon, stopped in Las Vegas and then I landed in Santa Ana at 5:30 p.m. I had never been to Las Vegas before and this was the closest to the strip that I was going to get.

After I arrived at the airport I got the rental car and drove over to the Disneyland Hotel for the Health and Wellness Expo. I had trouble getting there this year. There was traffic and the parking to Downtown Disney had changed from what I was used to. So I ended up driving through a parking garage and then doing a few u turns before I finally coughed up $18 and just parked at the hotel. Because by this time it was 7:00 and there was only an hour left at the Expo.

I collected my bib and race shirts and the then went straight to the official merchandise area. I was traveling on a tight budget this year so I wasn’t going to get much stuff; but I wanted to get my traditional magnet, sweaty band and Coast to Coast shirt.

I was very impressed with the amount of merchandise at the expo. It appeared that they had everything in stock and everything I wanted was there. They also had a lot of new things there this year. Many different runDisney shirts (not specific to that actual race). As well as accessories.

After I purchased my merchandise, I quickly scanned the expo floor to find Merle with her new company Treadbands, and I also wanted to have Jeff Galloway sign my bib and get my traditional photo with him.

By this point it was 8:00 and I was starving; so I went over to Tangaroa Terrace to get a pulled pork flat bread and then walked over to Downtown Disney to purchase gifts for the kids from World of Disney. I made it to my hotel room by around 9:30 and prepared my gear for the 10K race the next morning. I wanted to be in bed by 10:00 and wasn’t too far off from my goal.

So day one was a success and I was looking forward to the 10K and seeing Dale, Susana, Bill and Jen, and Jennifer. I was also looking forward to my day with Karen to see the sights of Irvine, a vineyard and then dinner at the ocean with a sunset! Stay tuned for a recap of my Day 2 in Disneyland and my California adventure!

CFA Society Hartford Corporate 5K #loveyourfuture

August 7, 2016

I had the opportunity to run my first race as a member of the Slalom running team this past Thursday. I was excited to be a part of this team. Although I am on several running teams for runDisney and Team Chocolate Milk; this team is important to me because it is part of my new work life.

The race took place at Bushnell Park in Hartford and ran along Capitol Avenue and around the park. It was a very warm night and to be honest I wanted to try to race this race. I hadn’t raced a 5K in several years. You would think that with all the running I do, a 5K would be a piece of cake. But to be honest, I am not conditioned for a 5K. I used to be able to run a sub 30-minute 5K but now that I am training for the Marine Corps Marathon and the Dopey Challenge, while using the heart rate training method, my pace is not a sub 30-minute 5K pace.

I tried to push myself since it was a race and I wanted to see how I could do during a race, but it was an extremely hot night. Even though it wasn’t as humid as past races I did during the HMF River Front Scrambles (blog posts to come for those races), it was still 84 degrees with sun. I ignored my intervals in the first loop around the park; but then had to begin my 30/30 intervals because I was afraid I would run out of gas too quickly.

I finished around the 35 minute mark. I stopped for a runner who was having a seizure on the side of the road and asked the girl with him if she needed help; but since I am not a nurse I wasn’t going to be of much assistance to them so I moved along hoping that medical attention was going to show up quickly. It’s so scary to see things like this happen at races of any distance. It was a young man who was down, too. I was feeling the heat of the race. I couldn’t push myself any harder than I was or else I would have gotten sick. I had to realize that I am not fast 5K trained right now. 5K races for me are just for fun. My real important races are my half and full marathons and I will continue to train for them appropriately so that I can finish them in the time frames that I know I can safely handle and will be happy with.

Maybe one day I will go back to running fast 5K’s; but I think I like the challenge of the longer distances and my multi-day races like the Dopey challenge. It took me many years to build up for those challenges and succeed at them so I have to be happy with that.

I stayed to watch our General Manager, Jim Goldschlager and the rest of the team finish the race and then we all went back to the office. My family drove up to meet me after the race and check out my new office. The kids were very impressed with how different it looked compared to what they remember at Honeywell. Of course, it is different because it is Slalom. Everyone on the team had pizza, salad, beer, wine and played some Shuffleboard. Tim and Mohnish taught us how to play and it was a really fun night!

I’m very glad to be part of a company that embraces family and also glad to be part of a team that participates in many activities together. Looking forward to many more races and activities at part of Team Slalom!

runDisney Virtual Running Shorts – Yellow Shoes Race Is Now In Session

May 21, 2016

runDisney announced a new race series available to you while you are at home and NOT in Disney. It’s another opportunity for you to get your family or friends involved in a runDisney races without the expense of travelling to a Disney park, paying for a hotel, flight and meals while you are there. Plus the bling is super cute! So at the very last minute I registered. I didn’t think I was going to do it; but once again, I was enticed by the bling and an “inaugural” event.

The running Shorts is taking places as a series which will run from May 15 – June 30, 2016 or you can participate in one individual race. I registered for the series; but am considering registering my kids for at least one of the races. You will receive a Commemorative Mickey’s Yellow Shoes Finisher Medal, and you can download the Yellow Shoes Digital Race Bib to wear for your virtual race.

The first event in the series is the Yellow Shoes race. It takes place May 15 – June 1, 2016. Proof of time is not required and really these races are low pressure and is just a way for you to bring the runDisney experience to your town or home.

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