So, it’s been a hot minute since I last wrote on this blog. How have y’all been? Life has been crazy since my last post. I’ve got to say that it’s nice to see society coming back to life after COVID literally shut the entire World down for more than a year. I am still a little bummed that my planned trip to Walt Disney World to run in the last Star Wars Rival Run Half Marathon Weekend got cancelled due to the virus. But, if I’m being honest, I’m not sure if my training was where it needed to be for that race.

As I looked back over this blog and tried to think about where I want to go and if I should bring it back, it got me thinking about my own life and where I’m heading. Since my last post (way back in October of 2020), a lot has happened. The good news? I’m working again! The bad news? In April, my dad passed away. So, life looks different right now. One of the things that made me sad was listenning to this….

I was in tears as I listened to this amazing song by the late, great, Whitney Houston. On YouTube, I’ve created this list of songs that inspire me. Each and every song kept those tears going. I’ve realized that in the past couple years, I’ve been living in survival mode and not dreaming of those next “One Moment in Time” experiences. I’ve stopped dreaming to deal with all that life has thrown my way.

So, I’ve started dreaming again. With those dreams came the desire to blog again. So, Here I Am… The Why I runDisney Blog 2.0! Or it is 3.0, 4.0? I can’t remember how many times I’ve decided to revive the blog. So, I hope this time I hope it takes.

It all starts with Dopey. A few years back, I had this blog post about running the Dopey Challenge in 2023. Back then, the dream was a bit bigger. I wanted to run a Boston Marathon qualifying time at the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon at the end of the Dopey Challenge. Well, if I had followed the plan back then until now, I believe that would still be the goal. However, life had messed that up a little bit. So, part of this new, 2021 dream is to merely finish the 2023 Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World. Of course, this all assumes that runDisney keeps races going.

We all know that the runDisney races at Disneyland took a hiatus at the end of 2017 and has not returned. There has not been any anouncements about the 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon weekend just yet. However, as more and more races begin coming back to life with live, in person racing happening, I’m hopeful that there will be a runDisney announcement coming soon.

Dreaming of running the Dopey Challenge is big. However, my dreams aren’t ending there. What will most likely be two months after the Dopey Challenge, I want to run the 2023 Los Angeles Marathon. I want 2023 to be the year of the marathon for me. So, why not run 2 marathons in 3 months? I ran in the 2015 Los Angeles Marathon and had my worst finish time of the 4 marathons I’ve run. Part of that was it was also the hottest Los Angeles Marathon ever. I still remember being in mile 23 and passing a bank that showed the temperature to be 91 degrees. The course for the Los Angeles Marathon has changed from the Stadium to the Sea one I ran in 2015. So, it would be a great chance to avenge my slowest marathon to date.

As if running 2 marathons in one year isn’t enough, I want to run at least 3. So, I’m going to put my name in the lottery for both the 2023 Chicago Marathon and the 2023 NYC Marathon and see if I get in. My preference would be to run Chicago if I had to choose because it would be fantastic to take Colton to Chicago and I would love to see if I could set a new PR at that race. In 2015, I was on pace for a sub 6 hour marathon when I cramped up really bad in mile 22. It was heartbreaking to loose the PR and my first sub 6 hour marathon so quickly and so close to the finish. I walked most of the last 4 miles of that race and it was sad. Even sadder?

Yep. They had closed off the finish line when I got there. I did complete the entire 26.2 miles in Chicago. But, I didn’t get to cross the official finish line. It still irks me that I didn’t get to do that. My finish time was just 6 minutes and 36 seconds off the max time allowed to be an official finisher. I have always wondered when they shut the finish line down. After all, my corral started almost 20 minutes after we where scheduled to start. So, I wonder if I would have been allowed to cross the finish line even if I had been 7 minutes quicker. If I go back, it will be to run a sub 6 hour marathon and get to cross that finish line.

Don’t be too sad. I did still get a finishers medal.

Those are the big running goals that I’m going be chasing for the next 2 and a half years. Outside of that, I’ve got some others. For example, less glorious, I want to continue to find a better way at handling the ever elusive life balance dance we all do.

Another dream I’m pursuing is that of becoming my own boss. When I was let go from Disney, I have started this little print on demand business. I have made designs like the t-shirt above and am selling them on Amazon and Red Bubble currently. I’m made mention of this little business before. However, this business has grown since I last posted. However, I’m nowhere near ready to make this my full time job. So, I’ll get into this business in a separate post. If you want to check out my Red Bubble store, click here to see all the designs I have. On Red Bubble, I have the most items to choose from to have my designs printed on. On Red Bubble, you’ll be able to put my designs on t-shirts, active t-shirts, tanks, hoodies, and long sleeved shirts. In addition to that, you can have the designs put on cell phone cases, masks (if you’re still wearing them), throw pillows, bathroom mats, stickers, magnets, and a whole lot more. So, check out the store and see if there is anything you are interested in. I’ve got designs for runners, musicians, teachers, sports lovers, and much much more.

The last goal to share on this post is that I want to get back to looking more like this. I’m not sure how long it will take. But, I want to be in pursuit of a goal weight of 160lbs. So, starting this month, I’ll be working on that. I’d like to be under 200lbs when I run the Dopey Challenge and as close as I can to the goal of 160lbs by the time I run either the 2023 Chicago or 2023 NYC Marathon. This is part of why my races are so spaced out. For the rest of the year, I can focus on running small distances and adding whatever other exercises I can do at home in an effort to loose weight. Also, I’ll be working on my diet to reduce calories and eat healthier. My first really long race will be the 2022 Rock N Roll San Diego Half Marathon. Training for that race starts January 31st, 2022. My current weight is 260.8lbs. and 49.5% Body Fat. My goal is to be weighing 230.8lbs. by the time I start training for RnR SD. This blog will be a way of chronicling my journey to all of these goals. Wish me luck!