That’s me winning! Just kidding.

I haven’t actually started packing just sort of setting things aside so I don’t forget them. I’ve decided to check a bag which makes packing somewhat more complicated. I will still put my gear for both races in my carry on – can’t risk the airline loosing my sparkle skirt or my favorite running socks! My friends over at We Run Disney just posted a great post on packing for Disney races – you can find that here. I’ll be using Pam’s list myself!

I’ve made the decision to take a cab to the expo. I don’t rent a car at Disney because I am horribly directionally challenged (so much so that I should wear a bracelet or something with my home address if strangers find me wondering around a strange city muttering to myself). But I also don’t like that sometimes the waits for the buses (particularly for the expos) can be very long. It occurs to me that a cab might help with that – should cost me about $20 but that seems like a small price to pay to minimize stress especially since I don’t arrive until Friday and a long wait for a bus and crowded expo after an already long travel day seems like a prescription for disaster.

I plan on doing a lot of shopping at this expo so that’s new for me. This will be my last Disney race for awhile and I want to buy some stuff. I want to visit with the girls at the Another Mother Runner booth for sure (love their podcast and their books! I’ll try not to scare them;) and am in the market for a new sweaty band. Also on the hunt for some new ear buds that don’t fall out of my ears!

Several of my friends have had challenging training this time out due to weather, illness and injury (yours truly included). So we’ve decided our time goal is “get back to race retreat before they close down the buffet line.” We plan on taking more pictures, having more fun, and enjoying ourselves all along the way. I have a half coming up on April 7th that’s local and flat and PR worthy so I’m just considering this a fun run with friends.

We’ve had some personal stress here that I won’t go into and almost had me re-thinking the trip. But my husband is insisting that I go (and it’s more “incentified” by the amount of money we’ve already paid and can’t get back for this trip!). Maybe you’re in the same boat – wondering if you can really afford to be away from family or work or whatever to make this trip. May all of us feel peace about taking this time and find ourselves refreshed and ready to slay more dragons when we return! And if you’d like to pray for our family, we’d appreciate it. You may not know what’s going on but God does and we would so appreciate your prayers.

Happy Running!

Jen