Merry Christmas Disney Style and another Half Marathon

Merry Christmas Everybody!! Brian and I just got back from Walt Disney World and we had the most amazing time. The last time we went in May 2009 it rained the ENTIRE time. It would be clear while we were sleeping and as soon as we would wake up it would start raining. This was our honeymoon when we went so it was a great trip, but kind of miserable because of the rain.
Needless to say when we went this time, it was INCREDIBLE! We went during Christmas time and went to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and the Osborne Spectacle of Lights and so much more. I promise I will load more pictures then the one I am about to put up here, but I just finished uploading all of my pictures on my computer and need to go through them all. Here is a sneak peak of the Osborne Christmas Lights in Hollywood Studios at Disney.....

This was only part of the lights on this street. It was incredible. They danced to all kinds of music. It is something that I have never seen anywhere before.

**********************************************************************************
Half Marathon Training

I decided to take a little bit of time off from running because the last half marathon that I ran really took a lot out of me and my knees. Also, I have been super busy teaching school and usually would not get in until late in the evening, so I really did not have that much time to train. I started yesterday training for my 2nd half marathon. I am going to be running the Rock N Roll Mardi Gras race and am super excited about it. I only have 9 weeks to train for it, so I am a little bit nervous about that, but I have tweeked my schedule and I am going to be doing a lot of running during the week. I am probably going to be running 4 days during the week and then one day on the weekends. So that means I will only have 2 days off, but I want to be ready for this race.
I ran 2 miles yesterday and I am a little sore today, but it is not to bad. I am ready to run this race and can not wait for it. I do not have any races between my half marathon and now, so I will have plenty of time to train.
I am going to be following 2 different kinds of plans. One is from a family member and the other is from Runners World. So hopefully I will be good and ready for this race.



"Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts."


"I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs."Jesse Owens


When I read these two quotes from above, I found it very inspiring and very true. Many people run for competition, WHICH IS FINE, but I run for myself, for my body, for my time, for ME! I have seen tons of people compete against each other just to say that they got one more minute faster then the other person and then they kill themself to finish faster than the other person. I do not think you have to compete against anybody but yourself and the goal that you have placed in front of you. 
Just like the quote above says, running is something you can do by yourself (if you choose too), under your own power. You can go as fast or as slow as you want to, finding the strength to finish the goal you have put in front of yourself to accomplish! 
What exactly is it going to prove if you run a race just to beat somebody else? Nothing! As long as you have accomplished your goal.