Category Archives: RunDisney

ASICS Studio App Review

Posted on by

ASICS Studio App Review

Now that the Fairy Tale Challenge is behind us, I’ve been having issues with motivation. I don’t want to get on the treadmill.  Not even a little bit.  I had been lifting weights twice a week, pre-Princess weekend, and I don’t want to do that either.  Not doing anything is not a viable option as Raymond has registered us for a 60-mile cycling event in May and I need to be ready.  Plus, I’m certain I’ll have another runDisney event in my future…just have to decide on one.

Enter the ASICS Studio AppASICS Studio App Review

I’m pretty sure it was an ad in my Facebook feed that sent me to the app store to check out ASICS Studio. I knew ASICS owned the Runkeeper app I’ve been using to track my outdoor runs for years, so I figured I might like this new offering.  What I wasn’t expecting was that I’d like it enough to pay the subscription price for access the entire contents.

What does the app offer?

Audio Workout Coaching.  Choose from Strength Training, Treadmill, Fusion (strength + cardio), Outdoor Running, Indoor Cycling, and Elliptical workouts.  Within the Strength Training and Fusion categories, you can choose what (if any) equipment you’d like to use.

What I loveASICS Studio App Review

The trainers are very motivational.  So far, I’ve completed ten workouts:  Seven running, two strength-training and one indoor cycling workout.  I feel the trainers do an outstanding job of helping me stay focused, use good form, and push harder than I would if left to my own devices.  For example – I rarely run on an incline on my treadmill because my outdoor runs are almost always on hilly terrain.  I completed (barely) a 40-minute treadmill workout called “Hill Yes” with Coach Erin and it was brutal!  It made me realize that I can (and should) get an awesome hill run in on my treadmill from time to time.ASICS Studio App Review

If you need a new challenge or motivation to push harder to improve speed or endurance (or both), these workouts may be just the ticket.  As an added bonus, you can tell the app what you’re trying to accomplish (run faster, lose weight, build muscle, etc.) and it will recommend workouts to you, making the ASICS Studio experience more personalized.

What I’d change

While there are currently 26 classes available for treadmill workouts, there are only 8 classes for indoor cycling.  The longest cycling workout is 24 minutes.  I’d like to see more and longer options for indoor cycling. (I do see new classes added all the time.)

There are (today) 61 classes for strength training of all different lengths.  Some use only body weight and some require simple equipment like dumbbells, bench, yoga mat and/or kettle bells.  While I’ve only tried a couple short strength classes after running, I wish the trainers would allow about 5 seconds to change positions between exercises.  I’m no spring chicken, so for example, getting from laying on the ground to standing up and grabbing weights for the next exercise sometimes uses up a chunk of the time I’m supposed to be doing that next exercise.

Final Thoughts

From what I can tell, subscription prices vary depending on the length of time purchased.  I went for the one-year plan which ends up being about $8/month.  This is way less than a gym membership would be and I can exercise anywhere with this app, including when I travel.  Post-workout, those encouraging emails from ASICS Studios are great and help keep me motivated. So far, the app has exceeded my expectations and is not only getting me back on track with my workouts, I’m quickly improving both my running speed and endurance.  Now, if it’ll just stop raining every weekend, I can get those much-needed cycling miles in!

What’s your favorite workout app?

runDisney Training Tips (While Expecting)

Posted on by

What do you do if you’re registered for runDisney events and then find out you’re pregnant?  I just found out the answer and I’m here today to share everything I learned!

Megan’s Top 7 runDisney Training Tips (While Expecting)

by Megan Edwards

  1. Listen to your doctor – First and most importantly…your doctor has to be onboard or it’s a no-go.  I was already running for a couple of years and was training for four future races when I found out Grant and I were expecting.  My doctor has enthusiastically encouraged me to continue running as long as everything is progressing normally.  She’s a firm believer that fitness = easier delivery.  I’m all for that!
  2. Listen to your body – I was expecting changes in a nebulous non-specific way and at first, everything was great.  Then I began to suffer from nearly daily morning sickness, but could usually shake it off with some crackers or dry toast.  I started being better prepared and kept something by the bed to munch on first thing in the morning, which really helped.  When lower back pain and/or abdominal ligament pain started bothering me while running, I added plenty of walk breaks as necessary.  Sometimes I shortened a run, but never cancelled one…which brings me to…
  3. Stick to the plan – There were plenty of days when I was so tired after work, I just wanted to go home and go to sleep.  On those days it took a lot to talk myself into going to the gym.  I never once regretted going and always felt much more energetic after a workout.  I’m not going to lie – making excuses and indulging in the occasional pity-party was almost too tempting to resist, but I did it and you can too.
  4. Comfort takes practice – Changes happened so fast leading up to the Fairy Tale Challenge (I was exactly 20 weeks along for the races), I had a hard time figuring out how to be comfortable.  I ordered knit belly bands and while they’d feel great on short runs, they’d feel hot and restrictive on long run days.  I started having to pay close attention to my running form to minimize lower back issues.  As race weekend approached, I finally decided on KT Tape as the best solution and it worked unbelievably well!  I followed YouTube tutorials for taping both under my baby bump and lower back – made all the difference in the world.  Try different things and when you find what works best for you, go with it!
  5. Find running wear through trial and error – Without going into too much detail here, almost all my usual running wear got uncomfortable as the weeks passed.  Running capris that felt great when I put them on would cut into my waist after a couple of miles.  I needed different running bras and roomier shirts.  I sometimes wore too many layers on cold days and got overheated before I realized what was happening.  When I found a super-comfortable running skirt at the very last minute while checking out the booths at the runDisney race expo, it was a miracle!  I hadn’t been so comfortable in months.  Keep searching, try lots of different things, and don’t give up.
  6. Fuel and hydration are more important than ever – It’s hard when you feel nauseous to keep sipping water, but staying hydrated while pregnant is critical even if you’re not running in warm weather.  Prior to the Fairy Tale Challenge, I ran both a 10K and half-marathon at home.  Avoiding heavy foods before a run was imperative (I used to enjoy a big breakfast!).  I found that eating something like a Cliff Bar about an hour before race-time worked well (and stayed down).  I also took a couple of packets of GU Energy Gel along with me, then alternated between PowerAde and water along the race course.  In my case, low blood sugar brought nausea on quickly, so preparing ahead of time to avoid that was important.  Disney passed out Sport Beans on the half-marathon course.  They were delicious and provided a welcome boost of energy.
  7. Making magical memories is worth the effort – I wouldn’t change a thing!  My mom and my brother had both completed runDisney events before I had the chance to join in the fun.  I’ll be a mom myself before I do my next runDisney races, which made this such a special time for me.  The volunteers on the race course, the Disney characters, the cheering spectators – it was all exactly as I hoped it would be.  Running down Main Street U.S.A. in the early morning light was unforgettable and hearing the announcer call out my name as I crossed the finish line made me feel like a rock star.  I’m looking forward to telling my daughter someday how she was with me when I took on the Fairy Tale Challenge and we completed it together.

I’ll be looking for a good jogging stroller this summer – if you have any suggestions, I’d love the advice! – Megan

 

2018 Will Be One for the Books – All the News at Once

Posted on by

This empty nesting business is not at all what we’d been warned to expect.  We’d heard scary stories about sadness, boredom, loneliness, marital discord even.  I’m pleased to report that none of that stuff has happened.  We’re spending our time on more adventures than ever and while it may only be January, I’m happy to say…

2018 Will Be One for the Books – All the News at Once

First, a little back story.  As it happens for many people like us, our nest didn’t stay empty.  Joseph moved home last summer to save money and knock out another semester of school, but he was keeping a secret.  We soon learned that having him home would be very temporary.  Joe’s been accepted into the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World and will be reporting for duty next week!  We’re incredibly excited and proud for him.  He’s wanted to apply since he first learned about the program several years ago and the timing is perfect right now for him to make this dream a reality.

Whatever will we do to fill the time while he’s away?  I’ll tell you exactly what we’ll be doing…getting ready to be grandparents!  Megan and Grant will be welcoming a baby girl this summer and Raymond and I are over the moon!  Our lives have been full of joyful surprises lately and we feel blessed beyond measure.

Here’s what will be happening next…

Starting with the tomorrow’s blog post, Joseph and I will begin a series of Disney College Program articles.  For the next few months, we’ll share his adventures and any tips and tricks he discovers for anyone else who dreams about an internship at their favorite vacation destination.

Megan will also have lots to share.  She’s run her first 10K, her first half marathon, and is about to run her second of both race distances (Fairy Tale Challenge), all while expecting.  She’s been a trooper training through quite a bit of morning sickness and I bet she’ll tell us what keeps her motivated.   Because Meg will be visiting Disney World three times between now and the baby’s arrival, I’m sure she’ll have plenty of advice about the do’s and don’ts of park touring while expecting.  There will also be nursery prep with plenty of Disney touches, I’m sure.

Since I believe any age is a great time for a Disney vacation, I can’t wait to start planning our granddaughter’s first trip!  I’m about to learn a lot more about things like Baby Care Centers and kiddie pools, I think.  Oh, the cute baby clothes and princess costumes!  I only thought Disney got all of our money.  We’re about to take this to a whole new level.

In our family, there’s never a dull moment, but this year is shaping up to be extraordinarily exciting…can’t wait to share it with you!

Have you got special plans or events in 2018?  I’d love to hear about it!

The Road to runDisney – Princess 2018

Posted on by

Next month we’ll be on our way to the much-anticipated, long-awaited Princess Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World.  Raymond, Megan, Joseph and I are really looking forward to all the fun and excitement runDisney events hold.  Raymond will be there to cheer us on for what will be Megan’s first runDisney experience.  (Go Meg!)

The Road to runDisney – Princess 2018

When the three of us registered for the Fairy Tale Challenge (10k Saturday, Half Marathon Sunday), I remembered how I felt when Raymond and I flew to Disney World in 2015 for my own first runDisney experience.  We flew from our local airport in Louisiana which is tiny and flights to Orlando always involve a trip west to go east.  So, if memory serves we changed planes in Dallas. Lo and behold, there were a big bunch of other (mostly women) runners headed to Disney World!  How did I know?  They were wearing EarHats,  tiaras, and Disney shirts.  They were carrying Disney tote bags and backpacks – all were as excited as I was and I struck up a conversation (you know me) with a few of the other runDisney people.

Many were repeat runDisney participants, most were as excited as I was.  One lady in particular stood out in my mind and had an impact on how I thought we should prepare for this year’s events.  This particular woman was about to run her very first 10k.  At Disney World!  She wasn’t excited, but super worried instead.  Her apprehension stemmed from the fact that she didn’t know if she could complete the distance.

When it came time for Megan, Joseph and I to make our training plans for Princess 2018, I couldn’t shake the memory of the worried women I’d met in 2015.  I suggested Megan run her first 10k to use for proof of time and then we could run her first half marathon together in December.  That way, she wouldn’t be worried a bit about her ability to complete 13.1 miles and she’d be able to focus instead on the fun and excitement of runDisney events.

So, in early December, we ran the Cajun Country Half in Lafayette, Louisiana.  It was a great course – flat with beautiful scenery and excellent places for Raymond to meet us along the way and cheer us on.  Santa Claus theming created a bit of fun for running wear and the weather was cold and crisp – perfect for Megan’s first half!

We weren’t in a hurry, having already submitted our proof of time to runDisney, so we spent our time along the way enjoying each other’s company and listening to the eclectic music I played out loud for our entertainment.  When we crossed the finish line, I could tell Megan felt great!  We had a wonderful family adventure for the weekend – Lafayette has some of the very best food in the state!  Megan put her first half marathon successfully behind her.

I understand for many Princess Half/Fairy Tale Challenge participants, part of the fun and excitement is participating in a 10k or half marathon (or both) for the first time.  For our family, we believe knowing we can complete the distance comfortably and stress-free will allow us to confidently immerse ourselves in the Disney magic that is especially plentiful in runDisney events.

Are you participating in any Disney Princess runDisney events?  We’d love to hear from you!