Busy Bee

No, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth! In the matter of 3 days, I got 3 orders for different paintings, so I've been a busy little bee.

Add in a painting for a fall art show, extra hours at work and family stuff, and I've got a lot on my plate! But the good news is, the paintings are coming along quite nicely, the running is cruising and, ahhhhhhhhh, a vacation is just around the corner. Well, around the block, but I'll take it!

I will update you with paintings as soon as I finish up!



Let the vacation countdown begin!

Run for Pierogies 5k

Run for pierogies! Is there a better reason to run? Yes, running for pierogi medals!

Last Saturday was the R for P 5k and I was soooo excited for it because not only was my mom and brother racing, but it was my sister in-law's first. race. ever! It was a family affair and I couldn't wait!

You know you want one

The morning started with my mom discovering shot bloks......My mom can't even handle pepsi. She had four, FOUR, FOUR shot bloks (does she not have taste buds?!). Needless to say, the normal slap happiness that follow us to every race, started before we even got a mile from the house.

She was in rare form

We got to the race, which was on the community college campus, grabbed our gear and waited for the race to start. Moondog, the Cleveland Cavs' mascot, gave us a pre-race pep talk before the start.

Moondog says, "Do it for the pierogies!"

This wasn't a chip-timed race (grrr), so I was sure to set myself up at the very front of the pack. And then I was reminded why I hate 5ks (other than its a 3 mile sprint)...high school kids. The track and x-country stars were all lined up next to me, comparing notes of which races they've already won this year. Well, yeah. I could win 5ks every other weekend too if I had a coach and didn't have anything to do but go to school and train. Bah.

I'm the glowing-blond head to the right of the orange tanktop guy

The first mile went by in 6:30, and I passed my family as I headed off to the rest of the course. There was a lot of looping around and criss-crossing to the course, and of course, running thru the finish line (this is becoming a nasty little trend).

  

I passed by my family one more time and then headed toward the finish, I was flying and felt great!

3/4 of a mile to go!

After crossing the finish at 20:58, I turned around and headed back to find my mom. She'd been really worrying about how her Achille's would hold up for the race, so I wanted to help her cross the line. Plus the ham in me couldn't help but think what an awesome picture my mom and I crossing the line together would be....

I was right!

I was so proud of all of my family for how well they did! My brother hadn't run a race since 2005, my mom's Achille's was killing her, and my sister in-law came in 2 minutes under her goal!

And best yet, Mom AND daughter got the coolest medals ever......

1st & 2nd in our divisions!

Now you know where I get my speed :-)

Birthday Running

Nothing rings in a birthday like 23 miles! I went up to Cleveland to celebrate my birthday, my neice's birthday and a bridal shower....whoow, that's a lot! It was a jam-packed weekend that included running every day, and it was awesome!

First up, running (swimming?) 10 miles on the Buckeye Trail, including the infamous Puke Hill. RRB and I could barely breathe, and I was sure to remind him how much I hated him every step of the way...until he bought me a coconut popsicle... then all was forgiven!

Best popsicle of my entire life

Then, after celebrating the birthdays, I ran with my sister in-law from the party back to her house, and my 8 year old nephew came along too! I mentioned back in the winter that my sister in-law was just entering the crazy world of running, and now she's signed up for her very first 5k this Saturday, the Run for Pierogies (absolutely appropriate for us Polaks!). We're all going to do it as a family, I'm so excited! Hopefully, my mom's achille's issues will let her join us as well, she can always recover after ;-)

Then, for my actual birthday I dragged my mom out of bed for an early morning 9 miler. It was swampy again, but I managed a 7:19 pace, which is my best non-racing pace of the season, so I was thrilled...no wonder I felt like crap!

Make way for the crazy girls!!!!!!!!

The weekend was so much fun, and I can't wait to go back up for an extended weekend for the 4th of July. Hope everyone has a great 4th!

Who needs birthday cake when you can have pie!?

29 and still asking for stuffed animals!

 

Disney, How Do I Love Thee?

A fellow blogger wrote a post about their love of Disney, and it made me stop and go "WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT!?!?!"

So, Disney fans, enjoy some Disney memories, and Disney Fans of the Future, be prepared to drink the kool-aid!

Favorite RunDisney Race
First off, RunDisney is the name of the team in Disney that takes care of all their races, running, etc. I've only run 2 Disney races, the 2010 & 2012 Walt Disney World Half Marathon, and I'm signed up for the 2014. I'd have to say my first one was my favorite for sooo many reasons. I didn't know what to expect and everything seemed so much more magical. To start with, Florida was experiencing a record-breaking cold spurt and it was snowing, yes snowing, as we walked at 3am towards the starting corrals.

The night before we'd scoured the stores for ski caps which I cut the top off to make into a makeshift face mask/scarf (it worked wonderfully!). But for some reason, the cold made the magic more amplified. It seemed like every step of the race I was saying to myself, "I can't believe I'm RUNNING past the Contemporary! I can't believe I'm RUNNING down Main Street! I can't believe I'm RUNNING through the Castle! I can't believe I'm RUNNING past, insert Disney landmark here."

Plus, I was certain the Turtle was going to propose sometime on this trip so I had that excitement to boot!

Night before race with my makeshift mask and his real one

Yippeeeee!

I'm surprised they didn't mistake him for a terrorist..this was also his very first half marathon!

Oh yeah, and look at our finishing times...that means I waited, sweaty and cold in the freezing rain for him to finish...and it was actually a lot longer than the time listed above, as I was in the first corral and he was in the last. I was sure I had frostbite!


Favorite Disney Movie
Hands down, Sleeping Beauty. I love all the movies from that era! There's something about the way they're drawn that really appeals to me. Plus, back then, the bad guys were bad. Just pure evil, not an ounce of humor to soften them up, the way they should be!


Favorite Disney Song
When You Wish Upon a Star always gets me. Every. Single. Time. I have countless versions of it on my iPod. A close second has got to be "Oo-De-Lally" from Robin Hood. That thing will get stuck in your head!


Favorite Disney Park
The Magic Kingdom, naturally. I still get goosebumps every time I walk out of the tunnel and onto Main Street on the first visit of each trip. I let out a deep breath and feel like 'ahhhhhh, I'm home'. Oddly enough, I don't really enjoy MK during the day. For me, its just one of those parks that has to be experienced at night, with all the lights that makes it seem like you're in a fairy tale land. We end up here most nights on our trip.

Favorite Disney Restaurant
This is such a tough one. For food, I'd say Beaches N' Cream, cuz you canNOT beat a No Way Jose sundae (with extra pb sauce of course!), but for overall experience, nothing beats an evening at Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue. NOTHING. Any given night anywhere in the world, I'd trade for a night with friends, endless sangria, and Hoop Dee Doo.



The best can-can dancer Disney ever met!

Favorite Disney Character
Tinkerbell of course, my twin!


Have You Ever Dressed As a Disney Character?
When am I not dressed as a Disney character?! But, the first time I donned my wings was at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in 2006

Favorite Disney Memory
Getting engaged on the Polynesian's Beach. Who gets to say they got engaged at the most magical place on earth!? It was perfect, and yes it was just 2 days after the Half Marathon, so I was right :-)

But coming in a close second is being a bridesmaid in my friends' Jeff & Morgan's wedding there. It was absolutely amazing. The entire experience, from sharing a villa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge with the bridal party (we're all a big group of friends), a rehearsal dinner at Hoop Dee Doo, an Alice-themed bridal shower at the Grand Floridian, the ceremony at the Wedding Pavillion and reception at the California Grill...and trashing my bridesmaid dress on Splash Mt., it was a memory that will last forever.



I don't remember a word he said!



Rehearsal dinner



Bridal Shower: Me and the Bride



Bridesmaids!



What a handsome looking couple!



Poland makes the best blondes!



Wouldn't you know, this is the most soaked I've gotten on this ride!

These are just some of my favorite Disney moments. I could honestly talk about Disney forever, it never gets old! I hope you enjoyed, and for the rest of you new converts, you're welcome!

Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

 

I've told you about my absolute favorite Walt Disney World Resort, the Boardwalk, and now it's time to talk about it's neighbors, the Yacht & Beach Clubs. Just across the pond (Crescent Lake) from the Boardwalk, are the Y&B Resorts. I've spent countless evenings staring out at the Yacht Club (while waiting for the Turtle to hurry up already so we can go to the parks!). It's lighthouse is one of my favorite things about it, and I can't seem to take enough photos of it, like the one below:

After I made my Boardwalk painting, I decided to turn it into a huge multi-canvas piece that will include all of the Resorts along Cescent Lake. In fact,  I may even turn this into an project of ALL the Disney Resorts, so stay tuned! So, for the 2nd installment, here is the Yacht & Beach Club Resorts:

 



 I was really happy when the sketching went a lot faster for this one than the Boardwalk. I think I was still in my groove from doing that one, which is so similar in style.

 

 

And once again, I had to get creative with my painting locations. After taking a step back I noticed my lighthouse was totally off...and I didn't feel like putting my drop cloth (old shower curtain) back on the table and setting up my workshop all over again...so I just plopped on the floor to touch it up!

 

I always get so nervous in the paint drying period between doing the colors for the water and then adding the black shadowing. As the water is above, in its raw un-shadowed state, it just looks so unpolished and its hard for me to see if it will come together or not. And just to torture myself more, I didn't get to add the black for days...so I had to stare at it propped up against the living room wall every. single. night.

But, I'm happy to say, it all came together!

"Disney's Yacht Club Resort"
12" x 36" original acrylic on canvas

Next up, the Dolphin Hotel!

Oh, Yes. I Did.

Towpath 10-10

I was oddly calm about yesterday's race, the Towpath 10-10, the 2nd part of the Towpath Trilogy.

Other than freaking out about whether or not it would be cancelled due to lightning, my usual butterflies only came on race day, not days before like normal. This really freaked me out because I was afraid I wouldn't run as hard. Thank goodness that wasn't the case!

So, here's the rundown:

The Turtle & I had a wedding reception to attend the night before the race, which made hydrating interesting (I made those hall attendants earn their pay refilling our table's water pitcher!)

I knew I should have brought water bottles in my purse!

My 4:45am wakeup dawned without a drop of rain, so I was very optimistic that the weathermen were wrong.



Teddy did NOT approve of the hour

And the wishful thinking ended as mom and I pulled into the parking lot of Quaker Steak & Lube when the rain began.

About 30 minutes before the race start, I left mom in the car to join the porta-potty line. 10 minutes later, my clothes were completely soaked and I headed off for the 1 mile walk to the start line with the other runners, all of us looking like a line of glazed-eye refugees fleeing a zombie apocalypse (sorry, just started Walking Dead and I have zombie on the brain. I may never sleep again).

Once at the start, the rain came down harder and my teeth started to chatter. I scoped out the crowd and picked out a few girls who looked quick, as well as last year's female winner overall. How do I know which girl won last year? Because the dear old people who put the race together emailed her picture to everyone to let us know that last year's champ was returning. Way to put a target on her back! (Naturally, I checked out her time last year, a 7:06 pace, and immediately lost all hope in coming in 1st overall)

They informed us that the start would be 5 minutes late because 10k and 10mile runners had gone to the wrong race starts. Arrrrgh! But, just when the 30 second countdown began for the bell (yes, they started the race with an old school hand bell), the rain stopped....after all, we wouldn't want to actually benefit from the rain cooling us down during the race! Nay nay.


Mile 1: Feeling good, all the racers are getting into their groove and jockeying for their spot in the lineup to sit at for the rest of the race. And there's mom! Though I hate a lot of back-and-forthing in races, it gave my mom the opportunity to see me 2x before the finish, which was awesome! I pretty much never have supporters out throughout the course, as mom likes to see me at the finish, so this was a really nice bonus! It's amazing how excited you get just to run past someone you know!

Mile 2: FINISH??? What kind of crazy race has you run under the Finish line banner before its over!?!?! And where the heck is mile marker 2? Wait a sec, let's check my Garmin....2.59 mile?! What the..!?! This would be the first of many missing mile markers. 2, 4, 6 and 8 are on a date! (Don't you roll your eyes). Ooh, there's mom again!



Weeeeeeeeee! I hope I can keep this wicked pace up for 8 more miles!

Mile 3-4: I conquered the first pass over the 2 bridges without too much trouble. It didn't sap my energy as I feared it would, so I was pretty relieved. I got into a groove, following the guy in the white tank from the picture above.

Mile 5: As we approach the beginning of the loop that will take us back toward the finish, I look behind me and see....no one. Not a soul. Just like every other race, I always end up running in a little bubble all by myself (which I prefer, so I don't have to hear footsteps of someone dogging me from behind!). Well, minus White Tank Guy (WTG), who I am now pulling ahead of. He looks over at me and grunts out, "I'm dyyyying, have a good run."  

Mile 6-8: I hear grunting approaching. I look to my left and its WTG. "HEY!", I say accusatorily. He looks sheepish as he pulls up next to me and says hi. For about 1/2 a mile we run side by side until he finally asks if I mind him running with me. No prob, I say. And then begin chatting intermittently with him, as he grunts responses...and probably cursing me in his head to just shut the hell up. :-) 

Mile 8: Before we approach the bridges for the 2nd pass, I notice I'm catching up to last year's Top Female winner. I've had her in my sights for the entire race, and I can't believe I am actually going to have to pass her. As I do, I feel like I just stepped into a trap and fear the sprint she may do when we get to the finish. After doing some foggy race math (1+1 is what again?), I figure out that I'm in 5th place for females. But just knowing I was able to overtake last year's champ gives me a boost!

Mile 9: After following WTG's lead and grunting my way up the 2 bridges (it helped! I think he's on to something), I go in for the long home stretch. Where the hell is that finish line!? I notice I'm catching up to another girl and try to decide if I should pick up the pace and try to overtake her. We've still got a ways to get to the finish, and I really don't feel like passing her to just be repassed. Plllleeeease pick up the pace girl, so I don't have to consider this! Damn it, you just slowed down more! Fine, you want me to pass you, you got it!

.25 miles before the finish I'm about to overtake the girl when she looks over, sees me, and takes off like a shot. "F you" I say outloud. Hmph.

Finish Line, I think we've met before

I finish in 1:11:38, only 10 seconds behind the wench who just couldn't let me pass. BUT, that also got me in 4 WHOLE MINUTES sooner than last year's champ! She never did pick it up to beat me! YAY!

Though the race time says I had a 7:10 pace, my Garmin said 7:06 and I'm sticking with that! I had such a great race! I felt good the entire time, I never hit a wall and am so happy! When I had looked up last year's female winner's time and saw that 7:06 pace, I immediately threw out any ideas of coming in top 3 overall...and while I still didn't place in the overall, I did run that pace, which I had no idea I could do for a 10 mile race. I've never run that fast for that long before! I'm ecstatic!

With my award and goosebumps

I ended up placing 2nd in my division, (1st place going to that wench), 5th female overall (257 female runners) and 37th place overall (533 total runners). YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!