Destination Friday: Where would you go?

You go to your mailbox and there is a envelope marked with your name on it that says "OPEN IMMEDIATELY". You open it to find that is a note addressed to you that says..

Dear ____,

Surprise you are going on a dream vacation! Here are your details for the trip...

*You MUST use these airline vouchers starting this weekend 

*The trip will can last any amount of days

*You can bring anyone with you 

*Money is no option you will be give a credit card that you don't have to pay back

*Your work has already been notifies and cleared for you to take off with pay.

Start packing!

Anonymous 

 So...where do you choose you go? 

Do you have a top 3 destinations that you would love to go to if money was no object? Share yours!

Mine:

#1 Bora Bora 

#2 Italy

#3 Hawaii 

Chasing a PR on a Wed night

It had been almost 2 weeks since I ran in the 2013 runDisney's Wine and Dine Half and it seemed like forever since my feet hit that pavement. 

Since the Florida weather was stormy and it was humid outside I decided to go to the gym and hit the dreadmill in my new runDisney meet up shirt and see if  "Every mile is magical" 

With a January 10k on my horizon I wanted to train to run and beat my PR time of 1:12 which was set last March.

This is usually how my runs go and tonight was no different:

Mile 1 is always a warm up

Mile 2 is breaks my mood in

Mile 3 I hate you mile 3!!!

Mile 4 I always start to make a come back and find my groove. 

And at Mile 6... I GOT THIS!  

After running about 2 miles, the stomach kicked in & of course I had to stop, leave everything in the treadmill and take a potty break. 

Ok back on! If you know me, this drives me crazy because I like to see the numbers on the screen and see how I am doing but now I would have to do simple math and keep logging the numbers in my head~ ugh!

The first recorded time I took as a warm up and thought "ok let's try this again!" 

But then passing that 6 mile mark and setting a new PR for myself I felt great and wanted to keep going. With a little motivation from some other runners posting their mileage of the night I thought to myself "Let's see what I can do tonight?"

But of course leg cramps started to cramp my style literally and I had to start to slow down and walk the last part left of the mile that I was at.
( By the looks of my heart rate... I wasn't working for this PR was I?)

With a total of 11.78 miles in, it was a great night despite the potty stop and the leg cramps.
 I PR'd and felt great!
Now if this could happen again and I could kick that 10k's booty in January I'd be happy! 

My visit to Club Cool

For years I always heard of everyone going to this place in EPCOT and I had walked by it a million times or forgot to walk by, but never stopped in. It's located on the right hand side as you are walking towards the International Gateway to the countries past pin trading and Innovations. 

On my last trip I was walking by and I mentioned that I had never gone in so a friend and I decided to go in for my first time. This was going to be interesting! 

The inside was not what I expected it was a lot more modern and colorful than I imagined. I thought it would be dull but nope, I was wrong.

We headed over to the machines and stated to taste test all of the flavors. Making tons of facial expressions I laughed... UGH! Some of these were terrible, and a few others not to bad. 

New flavors added to the sample station are:

• VegitaBeta – This Japanese beverage combines apricot and passion fruit flavors.
• Fanta (Melon Frosty) – This melon-flavored soda is number one in Thailand.
• Bibo – This fruit-flavored juice drink originates from South Africa.
• Sparberry – This raspberry cream-flavored soda has been a favorite in Africa since 1955.
• Guarana Kuat – This drink, flavored after the guarana berry, is popular in Brazil.
• Inca Kola – This Peruvian favorite offers a sweet, almost bubblegum-like taste.
• And of course, I had to try the Italian beverage, Beverly! UUUUGH!
  Beverly: With its bitter flavor, this drink is a popular non-alcoholic aperitif. (Though many visitors to Italy claim that nobody knows about it there!)
  Have you ever been to Club Cool? If you haven't it's a fun spot so go on over and make some faces for yourself! 

2013 runDisney #WineDineHalf Meet Up

On Nov. 7,2013 I was honored to attend my first runDisney meet up during the Wine and Dine half marathon weekend.

I drove directly to EPCOT, where the meet was held, from work and after picking up my friend Kim at our hotel. As we walked through the gates we were approached with a smile from a rundisney coordinator clearing the way to a sign in table. There we were given clear bags to put our personal belongings in, a park ticket into the park, a fast pass to Test Track, and the best gift of all... The glorious runDisney shirt we've all been waiting to wear!

We ran into some other runners and introduced each other as we walked to Test Track for a group ride before we had to meet in out designated area. We all boarded our vehicles and off we went laughing hysterically and having so much fun! 

Next, we headed over to a VIP area to watch Illuminations with 125 other runners attending the meet up. As we waited for the fireworks to start we saw many of our running friends. Some of us were finally meeting for the first time after talking over Twiitter and on group pages. We took pictures together and shared stories of excitement about the event. 

It was time for the fireworks show and the night to begin. Using hashtag #WineDineHalfmeetup we all started to snap shots and tweet about the event. 

After Illuminations was over we all started to make our way to the second part of the meet up... The Food and Wine!! 

The next part of the event would be held over at the American Pavillion stage. As expected, runDisney did a fabulous job with decorating the stage, and setting the  atmosphere that night for all runners. 

Food tables were plentiful of wine, fruits, vegetables, pita, cookies, and a sampler from the Terra kiosk of a spicy vegan dish with rice, and more. Very yummy! 

As we were eating runners could mingle with each other and then stand in line to take a photo op with our pal Mickey! This is the picture that everyone always dreams of taking when you go to a meet up. You, Mickey, and the shirt!! 

As we finished our snacks our event speakers started taking the stage. Diet Diva, Faron Kelly, and our friend Jeff Galloway. Each one cracking jokes and giving us a little info about the night and how special RunDisney is... As if we didn't know it already :)

Our special speakers of the night were chefs that introduced us to a new vegan wine that premiered this year and spoke about some of the dishes and happenings at the food festival this year. 

New Balanced talked about the new design & enhancements of the 2014 runDisney shoe that is made exclusively for us Disney fanatics. The shoe will be premiering at the 2014 Walt Disney Marathon Weekend this year along with a new product, insoles made for each and every race for collectors or people like myself that may think they might be our next good luck charm during that race! 

We may or may not have seen the new shoes and insoles that night....and if we did ...well, only the mouse and me know! 

Giveaways were of course were in store that night from New Balance RunDisney shoes to the newNew Balance shoes the NYC marathon winner wore & a snazzy orange NB jacket (seen on everyone) that

my friend Kim Requa won to a free entry in to a runDisney race. Oh! How I wish I got that one, but my lovely friend Kimberly Markey one that one! 

But then the moment of the night fell upon us... IT WAS FUN RUN time!!

There were two groups. The straight run group and the wak/run group with Jeff Galloway, of course I took Jeff's group but first I had to get my picture with him again in my shirt! 

Friends and I made way over to Jeff's group and wished for "the photo op" we all dream about in the front of the line running with him, but this picture was even better!! Can ou tell by the looks on Nina's and my face that we were excited? 

Jeff did a a 20/20 2 mile run around the World Showcase which ended up meeting the other group later in the front just infront of the big ball. 

As we ran we could ask Jeff questions and he kindly responded back with answers. I will have to say that the 20/20 was not my favorite. I am not used to such short paces and frankly I didn't like it but who's to argue with a man that is an Olympian & marathoner! 

As the night ended both groups merged again into one for a big group picture. 

Then before we headed out Faron Kelly

gave a fabulous toast to all of the runners and thanked them for coming out to the event. 

Still floating in cloud 9 we all said our goodbyes, good lucks to everyone running , took some more last pictures, and made plans for more personal meet ups later.  It was a a night to remember for sure! 

Enter my wine and dine giveaway 

Below from that weekend...

(Giveaway has been removed) winner was Gregg Plonisch.. 

Until next time... See Ya Rea Soon!

Friendship in Many Ways

Have you ever sat and thought about friendship and all the different ways it comes in?

Recently, I had the chance to sit and think about this powerful topic and how it changes over the years from life's little experiences.

Many years ago when you were in high school didn't you think that your best friend would be there with you forever? For some lucky people that still holds true, but if you moved away or went to college most of us drifted apart from that person over time and before you know it you don't speak except for at reunions or meet ups when your in town visiting for a weekend. Tastes in things change, jealous rises from the past, and it seems that you have nothing to catch up on because you have both grown but have gone on different life paths. Some of us become parents, and that life seems to have little or no time for our single friends and we grow apart. 

Then there are the marriage friendships. These are when you marry someone and couples bring their friends into the picture. Either you hit it off or you just play nice when you get together. You do things "as couples", but they're not really the person who you would confide in or go on a solo outing with if asked because  you really don't have anything in common  with them. 

There's also the working friendships. Those are the people that you see every day and you are selective on telling certain stories to because you never know if it will be used against you or not someday. You exchange birthday gifts, go on luncheons with and gossip to about "things" but again... it all stops when you walk out the door. 

But then there are the surprise friends. They're the ones that start off as strangers but then end up to be your rock and support system. When you least expect it and think you have nothing in common with these people they become some of the best friends you will ever have. Why? These people know nothing about your past, nothing about your job, kids, family life, or the amount of money you make, they like you for just being you. You can meet them doing a hobby you both like, meet them in a public place volunteering, or maybe in a sports group. Under these circumstances you tend to forget the outside world and focusing on the moments you spend together. You tend to listen to this person's stories and share your own in return resulting in a relationship that can be supportive, fun, and sometimes uplifting. I think that because you live in the moment you both tend to be more open and and can give no-holds bar advice. 

With the world of social media the word "friendship" has a whole new meaning. It's measured as a popularity status on Facebook and not what the true meaning of friendship should be. 

True friends should be the people you can confide in. The people that you don't worry about spreading your secrets. The people that when you fall or need that extra pick me up are there by your side to lend you a hand and say it will be alright even thought that road you are traveling on is bumpy at the moment. They are the people that you share your happiest moments with and hope there will more of in he future. 

I have been very blessed to have some wonderful friends. I have belly laughed with them, shared joyous moments with, and have received words of encouragement and sent words of encouragement when times were tough medically. Whether it was a cancer diagnoises, a major surgery, a loss of loved one, or a decision that was not easy to make. We are there for each other. 

Each one of you know who you are and have a special place in my heart. I thank you for being my friend! 

2013 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

 

On Friday November 8th, I headed over to Magic Kingdom with some friends Kim and Gregg to the sold out event on it's first night. We decided to go early and meet up with other friends there. As we walked through the gates we all OOOH and AAAAAH'd at the first sights of the Christmas decorations. The streets were lines with wreaths and the garland was swagged over Main Street from the very first shop to the end. The lights glistened and you could feel the excitement in the air. 

My friend Gregg wanted to see the castle light up at 6:15pm so we grabbed some a Nutella waffle at Sleepy Hollow and sat waiting for the show to begin. With Disney glitz and glamor...it finally was lit and beautiful!

We met up with Jim and Brandi and off we went to explore and have some fun.  Story time with Belle, Disney World Speedway, Buzz Lightyear, Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jingle Cruise,were some of the attractions we took in before watching the parade. Along the way we stopped for cocoa and cookies which made us very merry :-)

We decided to watch the first parade so we could do some more later on after the park emptied out of little ones.  As the parade started is started to snow (magic snow) on Main Street. The floats slowly drove past us...each and every float was decorated in true Disney Holiday spirit one more magical then the next.

 

If you are going to be in the Disney World area during the months of November or December I highly recommend going to this with your family and/or friends during the holidays! 

 

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

November: 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 21 & 22, 2013
December: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19 & 20, 2013
Event time: 7:00 pm - 12:00 am

 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party doesn't officially begin until 7:00 p.m., ticket holders can enter the park starting at 4:00 pm with their MVMCP ticket. Once the ticket is swiped, you're issued a wristband. 

(If you're already in the park, you can go back to the main entrance to have your ticket processed or look for the ticket stations that will be set up within the Magic Kingdom.) 

General Pricing

November 8, 11, 14, 15, 17 & 21, 2013

• Advance Purchase:
  Adult: $62.00 + tax, Child: $57.00 + tax
• Same Day Purchase:
  Adult: $67.00 + tax, Child: $62.00 + tax
• Passholder/DVC Discount (Advance):
  Adult: $58.00 + tax, Child: $53.00 + tax
• Military Discount (Advance):
  Adult: $43.40 + tax, Child: $39.90 + tax

December 1, 3, 5 & 10, 2013

• Advance Purchase:
  Adult: $62.00 + tax, Child: $57.00 + tax
• Same Day Purchase:
  Adult: $67.00 + tax, Child: $62.00 + tax
• Passholder/DVC Discount (Advance):
  Adult: $58.00 + tax, Child: $53.00 + tax

December 8, 12, 15, 17, & 19 2013

• Advance Purchase:
  Adult: $62.00 + tax, Child: $57.00 + tax
• Same Day Purchase:
  Adult: $67.00 + tax, Child: $62.00 + tax

December 20, 2013

• Advance Purchase:
  Adult: $71.00 + tax, Child: $66.00 + tax
• Same Day Purchase:
  

• Adult: $71.00 + tax, , Child: $66.00 + tax

Help Me Meet My Goal by Thurs: Compression Sock Giveaway

I have just a few days left until I run in the 2013 Wine and Dine Half and my fundraising has fell short...now every dollar matters at this point. 

If you are able to donate even $5 or $10 that would be appreciated!

In return for donating I am giving away a free pair of Adidas Compression calve sleeves in black (L/XL) or Compression socks in white (knee length/ M)
The winner will be able to choose which pair they would like. I will be running in a pair of sleeves myself. I love these!

Please go to the link below and donate.
Then afterwards, come back here and enter the giveaway below. 

Giveaway ends Thurs.at midnight.

If anyone is running the Wine and Dine I am bringing these with me incase one of you win them and would like them for the race. I can exchange them at the expo on Friday or meet up with you around the resort  before the race

http://fundly.com/m2/jen-lombardi-christopher-deremer-memorial-fund-walt-disney-wine-dine-2013

Thank you all!

Jen

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Race Week/Day Diet Rituals

I saw this interesting article in Runner's World and it made me think of my own race rituals during the week and on race day for races at night. 

Here is the link: 

http://m.runnersworld.com/weight-loss/race-day-diet-dos-and-donts?page=single

So on Saturday night I will be running in the 2013 runDisney Wine and Dine Half which means all this week I will be watching my diet and trying not eat anything that makes me dehydrated or sick 

Since I was diagnosed with Chrohn's, it has been harder to plan AND get all my nutrition in, but a few things have been on my "must have list".

1- Chicken. 

Chicken has been a huge protein factor for me and I know when I crave it, must eat it. I try to find some to eat during the day to eat for lunch if it's a night run 

2- Water, lots and lots of water. 

This is the week that I usually feel like a goldfish. I also always bring a case of water with me to share with my friends. If they are drinking it makes me drink. (Funny how that works with alcohol too!)

3- Alcohol. 

While my friend the beer has been yanked from my diet all togther, I still do not have any drinks until after a race. I can assure you that France will be one if my first stops after the Wine and Dine finish line for a Grand Marnier Orange Slush!

4- Salt. 

Chrohnies loose a lot of salt due to malabsorption and stomach issues. Drinking water hydrates but it also depletes my system of all salt. So I try to incorporate a little extra in my diet and I also keep a salt packet in my runners belt for when I feel like my hands are starting to swell during the race.

5- B12. 

I use sublinguals and just recently started I use them for energy and health... it works for me. 

6- Potassium. 

At my doctors visit last Monday we talked about this. I don't use it all the time, but again when I start getting leg cramps and have had a rough flare up week I take one a day. My doctor said that for the regular person running depending on how much they swear and train during the week a Gatorade would be plenty to replenish all of that salt and potassium but for me I need a little more (not to mention I can't have Gatorade- it's makes me sick to my stomach -and gives me acid reflux) 

7- Coconut water.

 My friend, Lena, introduced it to me to the brand ZICO after my dietician recommended I try it for vitamins, potassium, and salt all in one. It is the most natural way to rehydrate yourself and it works for me! I have tried a few different brands and when people say "Yuk! How do you drink that? I've tried it" try some different kindS and brands. Lena bought us a few to try and I like the plain one. My friend, Kim, love the chocolate one and swears it tastes like Yoo-Hoo! I run with it in my bottle and alternated a few sips of it with the water stations on the course.

8- Sugar/ Sweets.

 While it's not good to have tons of sweets, it is good to have some natural sugars.  I eat fruit and some baked items like bannna bread and maybe a few cookies with icing to keep me happy during the day. 

9- Skittles. 

Yup! You read that right. During the Disneyland 10k I died for something sweet on the course. If there was cotton candy in sight, I probably would have stole it from a baby and ran! So when I threw package of Skittles in my running belt and at every mile I popped one in before a water station. It was great! Try it... You'd be surprised how you don't get that low, tired,cranky feeling half wh through. 

10- Pasta. 

My go-to meal. Being Italian, we eat a lot of pasta and I love it. It is the best pre-race carb up meal because it is light on or stomach and yes full of carbs to throttle you to the finish line. Well, ok maybe not, but it stores in your body for some good running.  Most people if know eat t with some sort of sauce for more vitamins, I tend to just have it with a little Parmesan cheese and butter to play it safe. If you are gluten intolerant you can  usually ask for gluten-free pasta and that will help you.

QOTD: 

What are a few of your "Must-Haves?" 

Share it in the comments so we can all read and maybe pick up a new ritual or two :)

Run Fast~ Have Fun!! 

Fit2Run Grand Opening in Downtown Disney

So if you haven't heard the buzz about Downtown Disney, Orlando getting a brand new running store called Fit2run... Well, you just did. The store will be located next to Curl and in with the new Spiltsville (the old Virgin store).

Downtown Disney® West Side1494 E Buena Vista Dr, #1
Splitsville Building
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 TELEPHONE: 407-560-8333

A few weeks ago news of the store debuted on the Disney blog: 

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/10/fit2run-is-racing-to-a-new-location-at-downtown-disney-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

I have been a Fit2Run ambassador with my home store Coconut Point, Estero here in Florida. 

	ESTERO Coconut Point Mall 23190 Fashion Drive, Suite 109 Estero, FL 33928 TELEPHONE: 239.947.2RUN (2786)

When we heard the great news about the Downtown Disney store we were all excited, but then there was even better news that made the store workers and all of the ambassadors escastic. The new Downtown Disney store's new assistant manager will be our own Jacob Brooks! We all couldn't be more excited for Jacob. He is driven, knowledgable in his job, and most of all one of the friendliest people you will meet.  This new store has a recieved a real gift & you will love him. Make sure when you go to check out the new store you tell him hi from us! 

Tonight after I participated in our weekly fun run, which was Halloween themed, our store manager Kimmie and I were so thrilled about this that we decided to let you in on a little secret you heard first here... The DD store will officially be open during the #WineDineHalf marathon weekend!!!! Yay! 

But I have some more surprises for you...  Please come by the Fit2Run booth at the Wine and Dine expo on Friday and Saturday. There will be a HUGE sale open to all runners. You would normally have to have a Club Fit2Run card in order to receive these prices but they are giving this discount to everyone for the weekend so make sure you stop by and do a little shopping. 

For some extra fun I will be at the expo walking around in my Team Fit2Run shirt from 10am-1pm on Friday. I will have 5 mystery gift cards** that were donated by my home store or some other prizes to choose from. If you find me please come say hi. All you have to do is say "I read your blog about the Fit2run giveaway". Don't worry about being shy, I will probably look at you like a deer in headlights for a few seconds! :)

**These gift cards can only be used in the new DD store, not at the expo. 

So look for me in this shirt and say Hi!

You can also tweet me and stay up to date with me at the expo or around Disney that weekend on Twitter @TRVLGRL25 and at www.facebook.com/travelgirlontherun 

For more information on Fit2Run stores Go to:  http://www.fit2run.com 

And to learn about what they are about visit: http://www.fit2run.com/different.html

Have a GREAT weekend everyone & a fabulous time at the 2013 Wine and Dine Weekend!

Jen