Y’all, I’ve been a total slacker. When I started writing at the start of June, I thought that would be enough to motivate me to get back to running. I was wrong. I’ve only finished 1 run since the start of June and that ain’t going to cut it. So, I’ve got this idea…

Next week, I hope to sign up for the 2022 WDW 10K Virtual Race! Okay, I won’t be running down Main Street USA at WDW. But, I’m seriously thinking about signing up for the Virtual WDW 10K. The price is a little steep for a virtual race at $99. But, check out the graphic on the race shirt…

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I don’t have any Oswald shirts and I’m sure the medal is going to be cool. So, that’s why I wanted to choose the 10K over the 5K. The difference in race price is only $20. So, I totally feel like it’s worth the extra $20 to get the Oswald shirt/medal over the Pluto one. You know what I mean?

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So, here’s the plan…I’m going to register for the Aquarium of the Pacific 5K in Long Beach that will happen this October. Starting next week, my goal is to be ready to do a 5K by the start of October. I’ve got a little more than 3 months to get ready. But, I will be entering this 5K with absolutely no time goals in mind. The Aquarium of the Pacific 5K is a fun race. However, there is one big climb up part of a road that heads up and over the water to the Queen Mary. I’m not gonna lie. It’s not a fun climb. However, that is the only part of this race that’s hard. The scenery is awesome and you get to finish by running through the lobby of the Aquarium of the Pacific. While I would love to have more time to prepare, I also need a race to get ready for in order to motivate me. So, the Aquarium of the Pacific 5K will hopefully do just that.

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After this race, I’ll have around 3 months to get myself ready for the Virtual WDW 10K. Most likely, I’ll do this virtual race running around the Rose Bowl loop. I would love to be able to run this race on the same day as the actual WDW 10K in January 2022. However, I’m pretty sure that I’ll be running my 10K the day after the actual race in WDW. I have always loved running the Rose Bowl loop as there are no stop lights and the elevation of the course isn’t too difficult. So, it will make for an awesome place for my first 10K in many years.

All of these plans are contingent on something I’ll know by the end of the week. On Friday, it will be 89 days since I started my current job as a Paralegal at a small law firm in the Los Angeles area. Yep, as I mentioned in June, I’m no longer working for Disney. There’s a long story behind that (and not a story I’m ready to share just yet as it involves workplace bullying). The past nearly 3 months have been a roller coaster ride of trying to regain confidence in my work product while learning what it’s like to work at a litigation paralegal. It’s very different than my Copyright Paralegal job I had with Disney. I think that part of the reason I haven’t been running is this roller coaster. After 90 days, I’ll no longer be on the probationary period with my current employer which should give me a nice burst of confidence (and a pay raise and health benefits, etc.).

As the song says, “There’s always gonna be a mountain. I’m always gonna want to make it move. It’s always gonna be an uphill battle. Sometimes I’m going to have to lose. Ain’t about how fast I get there. Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb.” This song, in many ways is the story of my life. I’m hoping that I won’t lose this job I have so I can move forward with my plans. However, unemployment will derail these plans at least a little. So, I’m hoping that this mountain won’t pop up on Friday. I miss running and pursuing the running goals I have.

Life has knocked me down a lot over the past few years. The big goals I have for 2023 are all about showing myself that I can still do really hard things. I’ll never forget how amazing it felt to cross that finish line at the 2014 WDW Marathon. I couldn’t believe it. I made it all 26.2 miles. Now, I want to do it again and do it faster. In 2023, I want to do 3 full marathons. Hopefully, one of those marathons will be my first sub 6 hour marathon. As much as I want it to happen, I know that it won’t if I don’t do the work. That’s why I need to begin running again next week. Right now, as I write this, I’d be shocked if that sub 6 hour marathon happened at Dopey 2023. It doesn’t have to happen at Dopey 2023 because that is about being able to complete all 4 races with a smile on my face. If any PR’s happen, awesome. But, I don’t expect that. When I run the LA Marathon in 2023, maybe that sub 6 hour marathon will happen. Who knows? I just know that I need to start training soon or it won’t happen.