Wife Mother Runner Tower Of Terror Archives

In Memory of the Tower of Terror 10 Miler

October 3, 2015

The first weekend of October used to be the weekend for the runDisney Tower of Terror 10 miler in Walt Disney World. But rumor has it, they will no longer be running the Tower of Terror 10 miler. That was one of my favorite races. I was lucky enough to run it in 2013 and 2014. It feels weird to know that this is the weekend of the event, yet it isn’t happening this year.

Most runDisney race weekends I don’t participate in the 5K because I travel in as late as possible so that I don’t miss too much time from work and my family. Sometimes that means I can’t participate in the 5K because they happen on the day I am flying in. With the Tower of Terror and Wine & Dine races the longer distance races take place at night and the 5K is the morning of the same day. I didn’t register for the Tower of Terror 5K race last year but I did go to the race with Kim, Gail and Becca.

If you all know Kim, Gail and Becca they don’t hold back when putting together their race costumes. I can’t even say that I wear a costume, when compared to them. Their race weekend involves prepping for the race with various trips to costume shops, home improvement stores and craft supply stores. They put a lot of work into their designs, and the end result is worth it. But the harder part is, they still have to RUN in those costumes!

For the 5K they were dressed as the hitch hiking ghosts from the Haunted Mansion. I went with them to the 5K and loved the atmosphere of that race! It was a rainy morning but just when it was time to leave the car and walk to the starting line, the rain has pushed away and there was a low ceiling of clouds with the sun just beyond it that really set the stage for a haunted 5K trail run through the ESPN Wide World of Sports.

The best part of that whole even was the headless horseman that makes his appearance just before the race. Check it out. I had an incredible viewing location for this!

The Tower of Terror 10 miler race takes place the night of the 5K race. This year after the race I also participated in the after party. The first year of the race, I did not participate in the after party because I had to fly home very early the same morning. Last year I attended the after party, showered, and then hopped in the car to the airport to fly home and attend a family event. I only napped while on the plane. That was crazy but worth it!

The 10 miler race ran from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, down Osceola Parkway to Animal Kingdom, back up Osceola Parkway to a trail leading to ESPN Wide World of Sports and ended back in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In previous years the weather had been very hot and muggy for this race. Last year it was perfect. The air was dry for a Florida night in October and the temperature was perfect for a night run. The race course has a lot of character stops and the after party takes place in Disney’s Hollywood Studios with food (for purchase), some rides are open like the Tower of Terror and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and also some characters. We stayed at the party until around 3 a.m. It was a long day and I had a flight to catch in a few hours. But it was a very fun event.

I am still hoping that the rumor is just that, according to runDisney Faith Dority the race is in the vault for now. I am hoping they will bring it back at some point. I do enjoy this race weekend with the Villains and the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party held in Magic Kingdom that weekend as well. In 2013 it was my first runDisney night race and I really enjoy the night races.

One of the reasons why I love runDisney races, is because at just about every race I make a new friend. I had the chance to meet two more Connecticut runDisney fanatics, Bob and Mary Perrotti when I got on the plane last October. I sat with them on the plane and now I visit them at their local shop in Perrotti’s Country Barn in Middlefield and see them at local races in Connecticut! My whole family has met Bob and Mary and I have also met most of Bob and Mary’s kids! It’s so awesome how running can bring people together for more reasons than just races.

Be Our Guest Mike Rahlmann runDisney Marathon Training Follow Up Interview

December 10, 2014

Earlier in the year I interviewed Mike Rahlmann from the Be Our Guest podcast. He is training for the runDisney full marathon. He NEVER thought he’d be running a marathon and here he is, just one long run away from doing it in less than a month! Here’s the interview, enjoy it! I ran into Mike on the bus at the Tower of Terror weekend and we took some pictures together before the race!

Mike and I at the Tower of Terror 10 Miler – October, 2014

How is your training going! I see your training stats when you finish and they look awesome!

My training is going pretty well! I think I’m starting to become a bit of a “runner!” I make sure to schedule my days and weeks not to miss my 4 “run days!” I feel so much better when I get out there and get in my miles!

How are you feeling mentally, physically and emotionally about the race?

I’m very excited about this all! Once I completed my 24 mile training run last Saturday, I started finally feeling like I can actually do this marathon! I realize after running many runDisney events that the excitment of the race and being with “running friends” does carry you a bit, so I know if I can get close, I can get to that finish line!

Now that you are one more long run away from race day (and I know you said you are saving the .2 for marathon day), do you feel ready?

I do! Thanks to the encouragement of so many of our podcast teammates and others from the Disney Community, I’m starting to believe in myself. It is great having this shared experience with so many friends. I know that I won’t be the only one in those corrals on January 11 going for 26.2 for the first time! Also, I know that every mile of the race, there will be smiles, friends, and encouraging words to get me to that finish!

What was the hardest training run for you so far?

I think some of the hardest training runs have been on the coldest days so far this winter. I run every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and on Tuesday and Thursday, I have to run before school. It’s still dark when I get my run in, so it is tough to leave that bed in what feels like the middle of the night knowing how cold it is going to be out there. However, I know others are doing the same and it will all be worth it when I get to the race!

How do you feel the day of and the days after your long runs?

I’m always a bit anxious to just get out there when it is my “run day!” Also, when I know I have a long run coming up on Saturday, I’m at bit on-edge that entire week. I actually feel good knowing that I only have one long run left before Marathon Weekend. I do love the training, but the nervousness that I feel before the weekend of my long runs is a bit crazy! After I get in those long runs, I reward myself with a nice Saturday afternoon nap on the couch watching college football, unless it is my beloved Mizzou Tigers! Then, who could sleep?

Now that you have seen how much work goes into training a marathon will you do another after this one?

I’ve heard my great friend Adam mention that this might be his only marathon due to these long runs during the training and I really can see where he is coming from. There are many days I feel exactly the same. However, I’m the kind of person that never says never. I NEVER thought I would run a Half-Marathon, and now I’m nuts enough to get out there and shoot for 26.2. Who knows, Dopey anyone?

Your times are very fast, have you considered trying to qualify for Boston?

Not a chance. That actually cracks me up! I heard someone mention that one day on Twitter about my times. I use the Jeff Galloway Run-Walk-Run method in 1:1 intervals, so I don’t consider myself at all fast since I walk half of the time. Also, I see Boston as an elite athletic event, and I’m just out there to have fun with some buddies and get a great Walt Disney World Vacation at the same time!

Are you staying healthy and injury free during this time?

Actually, the day I’m writing this, I’m fighting a tough stomach bug that caused me to miss my first “run day” in over a year. However, I feel like I am a “real” runner now because while I was laying in bed, I was worried about not getting in my miles. As soon as I got up and ate some breakfast the next day having had to stay home from school, I made sure to head downstairs and get in at least 6 miles of walking on the treadmill.

Are you hungrier?

Yes, I can eat just about anything these days. Before I started this journey, I ate a ton of fast food. It was almost my exclusive diet. Now I tend to eat out just about as much, but we go more to sit-down restaurants where there are slightly better choices. I enjoy fajitas from my favorite Mexican restaurant about 3 times a week and watch what I eat for breakfast and lunch and enjoy a healthy-sized dinner.

Do you have a goal time in mind or do you just want to finish? Is your daughter still running it? How has her training been?

I would love to finish the Marathon in about 4:20 or so, seeing as I have run about that pace here in Missouri where it is rather hilly, but I’m in a dilemma here. I want to make sure I enjoy this experience. I’ve been working on this goal since July 30, 2013 when I took my first 1 mile run. I want to be able to stop for pictures on the course, take pictures of other running and inspiring signs and scenes along the way, ride Expedition Everest, and more! Life is about the journey, right? It’s not about who gets done first. Being competitive, that’s going to be hard for me, but I think I will slow down and enjoy one of (hopefully) the best mornings of my life!

Paige is still running the Marathon with me, but hasn’t done much training. She was injured for about half of her Cross Country season this year with a stress fracture so she needed to stay away from running for a bit. I have been getting on her for the past month about getting out there and training, but do you think an 18-year old girl is going to listen to her step-dad? I think she will do fine. She is very athletic. I just want her to have an amazing time too.

What do you listen to on your long runs?

Let’s see if this surprises you – podcasts. I really do enjoy hearing “friends” while I am out there on the road. I always “screen” our upcoming Be Our Guest Podcasts, but also love hearing WDW Today, The Disney Dish Podcast, RFF Radio, MacBreak Weekly, This Week in Tech, Mickey Miles Podcast, Resort Loop, and more. Also, on Saturday mornings with my long runs, I listen to College Gameday on the ESPN Radio App. What can I say? I’m just not a music guy!

Do you have a mantra to help you through the tough times?

Luckily (knock on wood), I haven’t had too many tough times. I see friends out there thousands of miles away who are on this journey with me. We keep each other motivated. I have friends like Mike Bankhead and Stan Harris who will post just the right motivational message on Facebook when I need it. Social Media is more powerful that I think most people give it credit – it has helped shape me as a runner and changed my life for the better.

What do you use for fuel for the long runs? I used to use Gu but now I use pretzel fish and gummy bears and Nuun because they cause less upset to my stomach.

I will be honest – I don’t fuel on any runs. Before my 24 mile run, I got up and ate a small bagel with some peanut butter and hit the road and I was fine. My mistake was that I didn’t have any water available during this run either. I made it home after the run, but on my last training run, I’m going to ask my wife to meet me around mile 15 with a sports drink or something. I tried a gel years ago at the first Tower of Terror race and it made me sick to my stomach, so I tend to run light and eat when I finish.

Clothing- you are training at home where it is cold. Are you conscious of what gear you will wear in Florida? It’s hard because we don’t have the chance to test out the summer clothing for the long runs in our winter states.

I’m pretty simple – I’m planning on just running in some running shorts and out BOGP Running Lizard Team shirt. However, I ran the “Frozen” WDW Half-Marathon in 2010 and I learned my lesson. I will have my cold-weather running gear with me, but hope that I don’t have to use it. When it is cold here in St. Louis, I run in Nike Combat Hyperwarm undergarments and swear by them. I can run in wind chills down in the single digits and be fine except for my exposed skin.

It sounds to me like Mike is ready to go! And if you ask me he’s a runner!! No doubt about it. Great job Mike! I can’t wait to hear all about your experience and yes, Dopey may be in your future one day! Like I always say, “Never Give Up!” I also say “Never Say Never!”

Check back in January for my recap of my first experience with the Dopey challenge and I will also interview Mike again after he completes his first Full Marathon! I can’t wait to hear what he thinks of running a full marathon, and running the Disney marathon as his first marathon.

A New Beginning Is Coming

September 30, 2014

As I went out for my run this morning, I wanted to start off my week on a good note. I wanted to get my run in early in the day and have a shakeout run from my Dopey training runs that I did last week. I am beginning my new job on Wednesday and I don’t know what my time will look like after work to do any running outdoors. I hate to say it, but I may need to begin using the treadmill indoors in the early morning or in the evening when I get home. I don’t want to use the treadmill. If possible I will try to do a run with lights in the evening, but I am resorting myself to the fact that the treadmill may be my only method of training for some time during the week.

I felt the anticipation setting in during the weekend, but I am not scared of my new job. I realize that it is the place I need to be. What I was mentioning to my husband was that I feel weird that I left a place that seemed safe and comfortable. But he reminded me that they forced out the President of the company, who built the place with his father and ran it for over 30 years. No one is safe there. That eased my mind. I know that I was sought out by my new employer and my skills were very strong and just what they are looking for. I just want to get my hands in the dirt and start doing “real work”. I know that in the beginning sometimes it takes time to do that.

As the day went on today I received an email from my new boss with my agenda for this week and things are going to be fine. I will sit in on a training class my first day and then work with my boss for my schedule for the month and housekeeping issues the following day. Nothing to worry about. I’m looking forward to it.

Lots of change is happening, I had to say goodbye to my old Jeep that I have had for 10 years. I brought my children home from the hospital in that car! It never let me down. But I had to get a new car, mine was 10 years old, and I wasn’t going to be able to use my Honeywell discount anymore, so I needed to take advantage of it now before I lost. it. I am starting my new job, and my husband also just learned that he was chosen for a different position within his company. These are all good things. They are just all happening at once! Then on top of it all, I have to fly out Friday on a 7:30 a.m. flight to Florida for the Tower of Terror Race! I have to admit that what I am feeling most nervous about right now is the early wake up for the flight Friday, the race happening at 10 p.m. Saturday night, and then flying on a 7 a.m. flight back home on Sunday! I have no idea how much sleep I am going to get. I intend to sleep on the plane on both flights. It’s just a little scary doing all this in the first two weeks of a new job. I am making an effort to hydrate myself a lot to prepare for running in the Florida heat and humidity, even at night. I am also working on my hydration because I don’t want to end up with a migraine from flying like I have experience the past 5 other times I have flown. I am looking forward to all my new things, running the Tower of Terror race with my friends, going to the Expo and checking out the merchandise, seeing Jeff Galloway and hopefully bumping into Mike Rahlmann and his BOGP Lizards! Change is good!

Disney Dumbo Double Dare Airport Recommendations

August 13, 2014

Last year was my first time flying to Anaheim to participate in the Inaugural Dumbo Double Dare race weekend. I watched the flights for that race for several months. I chose to fly into John Wayne Airport (SNA) because it was closer to Anaheim and LAX. Considering I was flying there alone and renting a car (for the first time at the age of 41), I didn’t want to have to drive from LA to Anaheim. I was lucky that all of my flights were on time.

I arrived on schedule to California and got off the plane (with carry ons only) and headed down to the car rental area. I learned a few lessons about car rentals. It is best to sign up for the Express check-out where you just have to find a car in your price level and then you can take it from the lot and sign out without having to go to the main car rental desk and the whole process of checking out a car. I also learned that you DON’T need all the extra insurance they offer to you.

Next, when you get into the car, set up your GPS ahead of time so you are all set to hit the road with the navigation system telling you where to go right away. As I drove out of the airport I was sitting on the entrance to a highway and I had NO idea where I was going. I pulled over and fumbled through my papers to get the address of the hotel and get my phone working with the GPS and the car charger and Bluetooth so that I could call home to my family while travelling to my destination. That’s another bad idea. Get settled and comfortable with where you are going before you start making your phone calls! I was sitting there sweating, in a little Fiat with huge airplanes flying over head while I was getting myself oriented.

Once I started driving it was ok, The route to Disneyland is pretty easy and quick. The trip back to the airport was even quicker. It felt more direct and was much less traffic on Sunday of Labor Day weekend as opposed to Friday at 5:00 on a holiday weekend. I planned on returning home the same day as the race so that I could spend the Labor Day holiday with my family. I took a 1:00 flight home so I had to rush back to my off-site hotel to shower, eat and finish packing up the last of my things. I did have enough time and plan on taking a flight home the same day of the race this year as well. I don’t have to rush as much because I will be staying on property at the Disneyland Hotel and my flight is also at 3:00 p.m. I wanted to have time after the race this year to shower and enjoy a meal with my friends before heading out.

I really enjoyed this race. Out of all the Disney races I think this was my favorite so far. I have done the marathon in 2013 as my first marathon, Dumbo Double Dare (2013), Tower of Terror (2013), The 10K and full marathon (2014), Glass Slipper Challenge (2014). Out of all of those races, I liked The Dumbo Race Weekend because of the race course. Out of all the races I did in Disneyland and Disney World these races had the most time in the park. I had awesome photo opportunities at these races and got to see the parks. I hadn’t purchased a park pass for this trip but was totally ok with that. I loved seeing what I had seen while in the parks for the races and enjoyed the races thoroughly (except for the last 4 miles of the half marathon because of the terrible heat and humidity).

Besides the heat, this event was a great time for me. I loved travelling alone to a far off city, having some quiet time to myself, venturing out to Downtown Disney and participating in several meetups. Hooking up with my friends Mandy and Kenn Remo and their two sons for dinners and the races. And I also enjoyed shopping for my family at Downtown Disney. Each runDisney event has its own unique characteristics. I would like to one day participate in the Tink, Avengers, or Star Wars races out West, but for now I’ll stick to Dumbo.

Virtual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Blog Hop Directory

Tower Of Terror 2014 Medals Released

July 1, 2014

runDisney released the medals for this year’s Tower Of Terror races. The Tower of Terror medal looks the same as last year except for the year and the ribbon. It has glow in the dark windows and the elevator goes up and down. The Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run Medal looks awesome! Now I wish I were getting up to run that one! It glows in the dark, too! Kids who run the the diaper dash, 100m, 200m 400m and 1-Mile races will receive the Donald Duck Kid’s Race Medallion.

Disney Tower of Terror Medals

I ran the Tower of Terror race last year for the first time and it was a fun race at night in the dark! Being just a 10-mile race (I say just because it isn’t a half marathon), it is about a 2 hour race that begins at 10:00 p.m. It was lots of fun but I had to plan my eating accordingly last year. This time I will also try harder to get in a nap prior to the race. I’ll be there with friends so it’s hard to say how the day will play out; but I’ll do my best! The expo was fun last year and there are opportunities to listen to the guest speakers at the expo also. This is a nice race because it isn’t super large. People get dressed up and have fun with the night race theme and you can also attend the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party during that weekend. I am hoping to bump into Mike Rahlmann from the Be Our Guest Podcast as well as Mike and Michelle from the Mickey Miles Podcast while I am there, too!

Will you be running the Tower of Terror 10 miler this year? What will you wear for a costume? I need to think of some ideas for my Tower of Terror costume. I didn’t do anything rather exciting last year so I need to be more creative. Do you have any ideas to share?

In a future post I can share with you tips and tricks for training and preparing for this race. Stay tuned!

Tag: Tower Of Terror

In Memory of the Tower of Terror 10 Miler

Be Our Guest Mike Rahlmann runDisney Marathon Training Follow Up Interview

A New Beginning Is Coming

Disney Dumbo Double Dare Airport Recommendations

Tower Of Terror 2014 Medals Released