Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Letter to Future Me & final PHM plans!

I was going to post this on Thursday, but realized that a lot of my readers will already be in Orlando by then, so I decided to post it today. 

I've been dreaming of this race and planning for a LONG time.  Three years now, to be exact.  I ran across information about the Princess Half Marathon right before the 2011 race.  I was financially not in a spot to do it but the seed was planted.  In 2012 while injured, I thought for sure I would be able to pull it off by 2013.  I had started back up running but then found myself set back by Plantar Fasciitis for ten months.  As I read all the race reports from 2013, I decided that I was not going to let another year go by without running this race.  I had set the goal of running a half marathon by my 40th birthday and I realized that even though I couldn't do it before turning 40, I could still do it during my 40th year! (less than 2 weeks before turning 41). 
My 40th bday, March 5th, 2013:


As I started training for the half and reading everything I could get my hands on, I came across Futureme.org   It's a site where you can write your future self a letter and they email it to you on the date you set.  I loved this idea and immediately wrote myself a letter to be delivered in February 2014, before the race.  

I've been waiting.  I didn't remember the exact date it was to be sent, I thought two weeks out...when it didn't come, I thought maybe a week out...but that passed as well.  When I had my little freakout last week, I wished and wished for it to come.  I needed that boost from my past-self!  I even tried to login and find it but it looks like I never created an account so there's no way to retrieve it.  I searched my spam but didn't find it either.  It's lost out there in cyberspace.  I was so looking forward to that letter and reading what I had written before this long year of training.  There are little bits I remember and I realized yesterday when it didn't arrive, that it was from ME.  I have all that inside me, I just need to rewrite it.  So, that's what I'm doing.  Without further ado, my letter to my future self...written by my current self! 

Dear me,
        You are about to run your first half marathon!  I cannot begin to imagine what this year has brought to you.  It's never the way we think it's going to be, is it?  I'm sure there have been struggles, tears, and pain.  I doubt you have gone without injury and have stressed about not only running a half marathon, but paying for a trip to Disney.  This kind of comes with the territory, you should be used to this by now!  Let that all go now.
      By now you have finished those long runs and even though I cannot imagine what they were like, I know you have found strength inside yourself.  It's why you love to run.  I hope you haven't forgotten that.  No matter what this year has brought, you are going to finish this race.  If you have to walk the whole thing, you will!  The work is done now and you can get excited!  You are going to your favorite place in the world to do one of your favorite things.  ENJOY this. SAVOR it. You will only have your first half marathon once.  
      I know you have it in you and I know that our future future self will want to remember every moment of magic and fun, so relax and soak it all in.  You made it!!
                                          Love,
                                               Your Past Self

We are headed out very early Friday morning.  Rey will drive us to the airport and then he and the boys plan to have a wild week at home, no doubt playing computer games all night, every night.  Hopefully they remember to scoop the litterbox.  

Our plans for the week include:
-Staying at Pop for 4 nights, then Beach Club Villas for 2 nights!
-2 special days with one of my dearest friends I have not seen for 5 years!  Kim is coming up for the race. love this girl. 
-ADR's at Crystal Palace, Boma, Cinderella's Castle, Tusker House, and 1900 Park Fare 
-The #Runnerslove meetup at The Polynesian
-Numerous people I'm meeting before the race for photos and pre-race fun (I seriously have a list going. LOL)
-and last but not least, running my first half marathon! 

Mainstreet, here I come!  
(the only thing that would make it better would be if Rey was actually there watching me)


I will be posting one last WAW tomorrow and then you'll have to follow me on twitter because I'm such a babyblogger that I really have no idea how to do a blog post from my phone! I'm also unsure I would have time.  I'm kind of commando at Disney!  I'm sure to be back on the 28th posting hundreds of photos and pages of race/trip report stuff!  If you want to follow me on twitter, you can find me at @twoboysnmygirl

Thank you so much for being a part of this journey with me.  I don't know where I would be without all of the support and advice that my fellow runners and friends have given me.  I really can't believe how fast the time has gone, I started this blog to document this journey and here it has arrived! I cannot wait to run! ~Karen



 

33 comments:

  1. You've got this girl! See you at the finish line...and hopefully before then too!!!

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    1. Thanks Heather! Will you be at the meetup? If not, are you in any of the groups (Pacebook, TeamRunDisney) that are meeting before the 1/2 for photos?

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    2. I will be at the #runnerslove meet up for sure! I'm also a #teamrundisney member, but didn't know we were meeting for photos beforehand. If we are, I'll try to find out where and be there!

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    3. Heather, I have the TeamRunDisney meeting at 4:15am in front of the Race Retreat tent. I wrote it down last week when they had posted it but cannot find the post now and I hope I'm not the only one standing there like a dork! LOL

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  2. What a neat site that Futureme.org is. I wish I had known about that years ago, I could have used it with my students!
    I am just as excited for you to complete the half marathon as I am for myself! Sounds like you have such a magical trip planned. I do hope to be able to see you at some point! Have a safe flight there. Hugs Karen! ~M

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    1. It's really cool. I plan to make an account next time I do something like this so that if there are issues with email, I won't miss out! I'm excited to meet you Meranda! Just 3 days until #runnerslove!!! Wheeeeee!!!!!

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  3. Have a great race! Looking forward to following your progress! Have a safe trip!

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  4. Good luck! Just enjoy the race - it'll be a great day!

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    1. Thank you Sarah! I plan to soak up every ounce of magic!

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  5. You are my hero... I want to do this race so badly... so glad you stepped out to do a fun life memory event!!!!!
    Have a GREAT TIME!!!!

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    1. Rebecca, DO IT! Registration for 2015 will be in June, register! You'll have over a year to plan and train. If I can do this with the myriad of injuries and set backs I have had, anyone can!

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  6. I absolutely love this letter!! What a great motivation tool! Can't wait to see you....SOON!! :D

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  7. I am SO excited for you, Karen! You have put in all the hard work to get this dream of yours accomplished, and you are going to have the time of your life doing it!! Can't wait to see all your photos and read your recaps!! Have a wonderful time!

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    1. Thank you so much Lauren! I wish you were going to be there this year!!

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  8. Good luck from The Cumper's, Jim, Tish, Odin, Gunnar, Thor and Miss Teetee. I can't think of a more amazing place to accomplish a goal! Enjoy, have fun and run your twinkle toes off!!

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  9. Your letter was so sincere and hopeful, please harness that during your experience this weekend. You will have a great time as long as you get out of your own head! I was there too. PHM last year was my first ever half marathon and I psyched myself out in the corral and during the first part of the run, but the moment I got out of my own head and started enjoying the experience it was the best time I'd ever had running 13.1 miles.

    I LOVE reading all of your plans. I'm so happy that you are spending so much time there and SUPER jealous of you staying at the Beach Club as well as your Dining Reservations! I've wanted to go to all of those places but have yet to be able to! I will be expecting LOTS of pictures(Instagram) and tweets during your entire trip!

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    1. There will be many Lena! Thank you so much. I know if I just let go and enjoy that it will be amazing, so that's what I plan to do. I'm usually like this...I stress out really bad BEFORE an event and then since I've worried so much, it's never as bad as I imagine and I end up having a fantastic time! I hope it works that way with this!

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  10. I can't believe your weekend is here! I am so excited for you to finally have your moment! No advice for you because I know you're going to rock it. Enjoy the race- I know you'll be grinning from ear to ear the whole time. :) Can't wait to see your photos/see you on Twitter. :)

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    1. Thanks Kim, I'm glad you have the confidence in me that I seem to be lacking right now! LOL. I'm so excited though and I plan to enjoy it all!

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  11. I love writing letters to myself before race day, I'm so glad you did this! Can you write a hand written copy, so you can read it right before the race to??

    You got this! This is YOUR RACE! Get out there and enjoy every moment you've earned!

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    1. That's a fantastic idea Alicia! I need to hand write that out so I can carry it with me! Thanks and see you soon!

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  12. Best wishes for a successful and satisfying experience! May you have all the stamina you need to complete this life goal!

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  13. I love your letter to yourself! Travel safe on Friday!! Hopefully I'll get to the Runnerslove meetup Friday!

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    1. I hope you get there before I have to head to DTD Jess! I'll be watching for you!

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  14. It was so amazing meeting you this weekend!!! I cannot wait to see you in the future!! :)

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