It’s finally summer break for us around here which means a quiet morning as all three of the teenagers sleep their lives away (and grow inches and inches every day – did I mention everybody is taller than me now? It’s weird). But also means a little more margin in my days, so more blogging! And odd ponderings that may truly only be interesting to me. So here goes.

Before I was a runner I was always seeing these stickers on runner’s cars that made no sense to me. I’m not even sure I knew they were runner’s cars, I just saw all these various stickers with weird numbers or symbols and was curious. So, I though I’d clear up some confusion and decode all those stickers that runner’s feel necessary to display to be sure you’re aware of what they’ve accomplished if you are sitting behind them at a red light. Because if you’re behind someone without a sticker, you’ll be thinking “wow, this red light would go by a lot faster if only I was behind a runner’s car with one of those stickers on it.” Or not.

Let’s start with the basics. Most of you will know these, but I like to be thorough so we will go in order of distance and insanity.

13.1 –  Half Marathon
26.2 – Full Marathon

Ok, those are easy. But then it gets kind of tricky and I feel some of these should have a little paragraph underneath that explains them so people don’t feel stupid for not knowing. But then those people might get rear-ended a lot because it’s hard to read a paragraph while you’re driving. So maybe that’s not a good idea. Here we go:

39.3  – (frequently found on a Disney shaped decal) this is the Goofy Challenge distance (a half marathon on Saturday followed by a full marathon on Sunday at the WDW Marathon weekend)

70.3  – Half Iron Man

140.6 –  Full Ironman

This little beauty

(which I thought was something from Monster’s, Inc. for the longest time I swear) is used frequently by those currently in training for an iron man. And I actually think this one is a good idea because people training for a full ironman are usually really tired and you should be careful when driving around them, so it serves as both bragging rights and as a warning.

The bottom line with these little beauties is that they mean something to the person who put it on their car. And they mean something to runners who see that car. And maybe they mean something to people who want to be runners. I like to think that when they see the 26.2 sticker on my very suburbanesque Chevy Traverse mom mobile they might think “wow, if she could do that, maybe I could, too!” And if that means they try something they wouldn’t otherwise, I’m loving it.

For all non-runners, however, these are just obnoxious. And for some ridiculous haters, downright offensive. So then you see this sticker (which I personally think is slightly juvenille and yet it makes me laugh at the same time)

0.0 – (I even found one on Amazon that said “0.0 I Don’t Run”)

I will say although that’s a little snarky, that’s most likely a non-runner I would be friends with so it’s all good. Because I actually minored in snarky at Arizona State University, so . . . .

In other news, in spite of my insistence that I WASN’T going to run the WDW Princess Half Marathon this year, the Glass Slipper Challenge proved too big of a temptation for me to overcome so not only did I already register, but I’ve already purchased my airfare and my friend, Sara, and I are busy making our plans for accommodations. So I went from not at all, to “totally in” in the space of one day. I am PATHETIC. And my darling husband was NO HELP at all here. I emailed him all the numbers (airfare, registration, hotel, food, even factoring in the $100 or so dollars I will most likely spend at the Expo) and his response? “You HAVE to go! It won’t be the same if you’re not there!” He’s no help at all! And although yes, I am quite fun at these weekends (and somewhat delusional like the time I was sure the Photopass guy had stolen money out of my purse – my friends still find this hysterical. The money was in my other bag in the rental car), I actually think it WOULD be the same without me but I would be sad and mopey while everyone else was there. He’s good people, that husband of mine, but decisions like these are why we will never be rich. But we’ll be happy, so that’s something, right?? Here’s a video if you’re thinking about it. But don’t watch it if you’re sure you don’t want to run. Because . . well, just don’t.

Registration for DVC members and Annual Pass holders is already open, and it opens for everybody else on June 11. And if you’re even THINKING about the Glass Slipper Challenge I would register as soon as you possibly can as I think it will sell out very quickly. Oh, and of course I had to also purchase the pins that go with each medal (at $15.95 a piece!) because I have the pin that goes with every other medal I’ve ever earned from Run Disney and couldn’t stand the thought of running on my treadmill and looking at my medal wall hanging deal with naked medals with no matching pin . . . this makes NO SENSE. Again, PATHETIC.

So in case you’ve lost count, August 30th I’ll be headed to Anaheim to run the Dumbo Double Dare at Disneyland, rooming with Tonja and she’s even crazier and funnier than me so there will be some great moments there, I have no doubt. (wait, maybe that’s too much pressure. Tonja you can be totally boring and not funny and I won’t even care. It’s like when people introduce me and say “this is Jennifer. She’s the funniest person I know.” and I feel the need to tell a joke. It’s really awkward for everyone involved.)

In September, Scotty and I will be headed to bustling Dayton, OH, to run the Air Force Half Marathon.

In January, for WDW Marathon Weekend, Scott will be doing the Goofy Challenge and I will be running the half, and both of us are fundraising for The Rally Foundation (hoping to get our page up and running by Monday so please consider donating to this great organization!!)

In February, it’s off to Orlando again for the Glass Slipper Challenge (see above;).

And in March? Nothing planned. But I will definitely be seeing my massage therapist.

Happy Weekend and Happy Running!!

Jen