100 Days until Walt Disney World Marathon

100 Days Until the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 11, 2015.

I'm ready to earn these medals.

All of the 2015 runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend medals.

Photo from http://www.instagram.com/ashleypr156

Walt Disney World 10K medal.

Photo from http://www.instagram.com/snorris49

Walt Disney World Marathon medal.

Photo from http://www.instagram.com/tmsanders316

2015 10th Anniversary Goofy Challenge medal.

Photo from http://www.instagram.com/runkat13

2015 Dopey Challenge medal.

Photo from http://www.instagram.com/bamagirlruns

Hello October

Hello October.

It's one month until Spartan Race Dallas Beast. This will be my first race since I had knee surgery on July 31 to take care of a meniscus tear. It will also jump start my crazy run schedule to prepare me for runDisney's Dopey Challenge.

More importantly, the Dallas Beast will complete the Texas Trifecta. I completed the Austin Super and Sprint on May 17 and 18.

In order to condition my body to handle the 13-16 miles of the Beast, I set my goal to complete 100+ miles in October by running, rucking, hiking, and walking.

5 Months Until My First Marathon

In 5 months, I'll be running my first marathon at Walt Disney World Marathon on January 11, 2015. It will be the final race of the Dopey Challenge. The Dopey Challenge is a 48.6 miles run spread out over 4 days.

Disney Family Fun Run 5K on January 8, 2015
Walt Disney World 10K on January 9, 2015
Walt Disney World Half-Marathon on January 10, 2015
Walt Disney World Marathon on January 11, 2015

I first learned of the Dopey Challenge in 2013 while researching half marathons and marathons. Unfortunately, the 2014 Dopey Challenge was sold out. I made it a goal to register for the 2015 Dopey Challenge. I wanted my first marathon to be memorable. The thought of earning 6 medals was the cherry on top of completing my first marathon.

The 6 medals 2014 Dopey Challenge participants earned.

On April 22, 2014, I successfully registered for the 2015 Dopey Challenge. I am unsure how many runners will take on 2015 Dopey Challenge, but there were 7000 participants in 2014.

There are several Dopey Challenge Training Guides:

• Official 28 week guide from RunDisney and Jeff Galloway
http://as1.wdpromedia.com/media/rundisney/training/running/plans/2014/Marathon/Marathon15_Dopey.pdf 
• 18 week guide from Hal Higdon
http://www.halhigdon.com/writing/57107/Dopey%20Challenge%20Training%20Guide
• Runner's World: http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/how-to-train-for-the-dopey-challenge?page=single
• 16 week guide from Lee Hoedl http://www.hoedlshaven.com/DISNEYMARATHON/goofychallenge.html

How do you plan to train for the Dopey Challenge? What are your tips and strategies for marathon running?

Reacher-Settler

After I watched last week's episode of How I Met Your Mother a relationship topic arose:

Robin: "Every good relationship has a reacher and a settler."
Ted: "Exactly, one person reaches for someone out of their league, the other one settles for someone below theirs."

I analyzed every relationship Or girl I ever dated. I came to the conclusion: I'm a Reacher.

I'll admit, I have high expectations of what I want in a woman. I didn't realize I had high expectations until several people asked me what I was seeking in a relationship. I had the list in my mind, but never wrote it down on paper. When I put it on paper, the list had about 20-30 expectations.

When these people saw the list, I received negative feedback. I was told "Good Luck", "Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are more realistic than this dream girl", and a few told me to get rid of my list.

Why should I give up on my list? I found my expectations to be sensible. I don't want to settle for something less. I don't expect anyone to settle for something less than what they desire. I understand there are some compromises to be made in a relationship, but there are somethings I will not budge. Have I let my expectations get in the way of a possible great relationship with a great woman? Yes. I'm sure they are happier with whomever they are with today.

I'll continue to live my own life and be a reacher until I find the right person where we can share in each others' happiness.

Hello World!

I am beginning to venture into the blogging world at the beginning of this new year/decade. I used to write blogs on my personal website, but at the time I don't think "blog" was a word. It was more of a personal journal which I called "The Grind."

I'm ready for a new me to grow and accomplish more than I have done in the previous years. I can't wait to share my experiences with you. I'm ready to accept all constructive criticism as I write on various topics regarding sports, traveling, love, movies, technology, wellness, literature, current events, and things I learn in life.

I will conclude with the first lesson computer programers learn to write when learning a new programming language..."Hello world!"