Blurry, before-the-sunrise race morning picture in Central Park.

Because the course in Central Park is one big loop, I was able to catch the elite runners around Mile 6ish… Olympic athlete Kara Goucher!

The first few miles weren’t too bad, but I was honestly ready to quit at Mile 3. I was coughing and feeling dizzy. I knew my body wanted to just shut itself off, but I didn’t come all the way to NYC to quit (please don’t follow my behavior… ever!). The hills in Central Park were either worse than I remembered or worse because I was sick.

I also wanted to quit around Miles 4, 5, and 8, but I knew they changed the course to go right by the World Trade Center, and I wanted to feel the emotion of running by something so significant in our history, despite its sadness.

I kept moving forward and eventually saw Alison in Times Square around Mile 8. Seeing someone I knew spurred me on for a few more miles, and then out of the fog, the new World Trade Center appeared.

I knew the building was close to the finish, so I kept my eye on it and kept moving, despite feeling like I might pass out at any second. One foot in the front of the other.

I had never seen Ground Zero or the memorial, and once I did, the tears and the emotions flooded over me. I was stepping in the footsteps of where the buildings fell. Where many lives were taken. And now the NYPD was there again, but cheering us on instead. That was all I needed to keep moving.

After 13.1 miles of feeling the worst I’ve ever felt during a race, I was done.

The medal was mine.

I finished in just under 3 hours, 20 minutes slower than I had trained. I trained for several long months to PR, and my training was on pace to do so. Note to self- don’t ever run with pneumonia ever again! 

Our first stop was Union Square to check out lululemon and grab some brunch.

I was able to pick up a new running tech shirt. I miss the discount!

We then grabbed a table at Steak Frites for their delicious brunch with unlimited mimosas and Bloody Marys.

I ordered the Brioche French Toast with berries and sausage. It was one of the best breakfasts I have ever had!

Next up was the expo to grab my bib and swag bag!

There weren’t any vendors there that I absolutely needed to see, so we were in and out and on our way to Chelsea Square Market. I had never been there before, so I had no idea what to expect, but I loved it!

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Our first stop in Chelsea Market was Anthropologie, where I splurged on this lovely smelling candle. I’ve been burning it ever since I returned home.

We also stopped in a grocery store selling the largest Nutella I’ve ever seen. I believe it was over $70. Chelsea Market is full of cute little shops and adorable places to eat. I can’t wait to go back with an emptier stomach so I can try some more things.

Alison and I then headed over to the High Line, a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side.

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I would love to work in the city and just take my lunch up to the High Line and enjoy the scenery, the view, and people-watching.

It has a little bit of a view of the Statue of Liberty.

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After all of that sight-seeing, we went back to Alison’s for a big ol’ nap, followed by dinner from a local Brooklyn place. I forget the name now!

I’m so glad Alison allowed me to stay with her over the NYC Half weekend. She was a great tour guide!

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I left semi-early from Orlando to catch my flight to JFK via JetBlue. It was my first flight with JetBlue, and I don’t think I’ll be flying with anyone else anytime soon. Free first checked bag, individual TVs for everyone, and unlimited snacks and beverages!

Seriously, when Criminal Minds came on, I was in flight heaven!

When I awoke from a nap, I realized I missed out on my snack opportunity and summoned the flight attendant to bring me some cookies

So much better than a little packet of stale biscotti, right?

When I arrived at the airport, it was fairly easy to find my way to the Go Shuttle I was scheduled to take into the city. If you’re looking for transportation to and from the NYC airports, check them out. They were very efficient, and they drop you off wherever you need to go in Manhattan, and it was fairly inexpensive.

I asked to be dropped off in Midtown at the public library.

I had plans to sit and read in Bryant Park, which is adjacent to the library, but it was a dreary, rainy day.

I decided to grab lunch at Cosi instead since we don’t have any in Orlando, and it had been a really long time since I enjoyed one of their sandwiches.

The eating area was quite cramped, and I still had an hour or 2 before Alison would be picking me up to take me to her place, so I decided to leave Cosi so other people could have my table. After a few minutes on Yelp, I found a Chipotle right down the street and grabbed a seat there and read some of “Skinny Bitch” until Alison came to get me.

I was so excited to see her, and I was so ecstatic to have a New Yorker tour guide for the weekend. We headed straight to Brooklyn’s Trader Joe’s for some snacks for the weekend.

We also walked around Brooklyn for a bit, and I picked out my next abode. A nice, little, contemporary brownstone. I’m sure it’s moderately priced

I love streets like this. Makes me think I’ll see Carrie Bradshaw pop out at any minute.

That evening, we laid low and caught dinner at Henry Street Ale House, where we shared the chips and salsa, and I ordered the mushroom, onion, and Swiss burger. So tasty!

I loved the quaint atmosphere and low lighting.

Afterwards, Alison suggested we catch a movie at the cutest little movie theater ever. It only had 2 theaters and 2 employees. We saw Friends with Kids, which was just the right of humor mixed with drama. A majority of the cast was from Bridesmaids, but the comedy in this movie was not over-the-top, unrealistic, and ridiculous like in Bridesmaids. I loved it!

It was a fabulous, low-key evening, and I loved it!

Stay tuned for more NYC recaps.

Week 11 Recap (March 16-22)

Activity- ran/walked the NYC Half

I was sick this week, so that’s the only activity I did. I also lost most of my appetite and spent 2 evenings in the ER with pneumonia.

Results- Gained 0.6 for a total loss of 9.4. I don’t know how I gained since I hardly ate anything. I guess my metabolism screeched to a halt.

Week 12 Recap (March 23-29)

No activity or appetite as I was still recovering from being sick. But as soon as I’m feeling 100%, I’m heading back to the yoga studio at least once a week. And I’m going to start implementing a 5-mile walk or walk/run at least 3 times a week.

Results- Lost 3 pounds for a total loss of 12.4

Photo

One of my friends from home and I have challenged each other to each lose 30 pounds by September 7th. So excited to be challenged! It’s the extra motivation I’ve been needing!

Back in the days of dial-up internet, I did a search for "Disney University" not even thinking something would come up. I was just simply hoping there was a school for people who loved Disney. Thankfully, I came across the Walt Disney World College Program. I spent hours upon hours researching the program online. I found loads of Geocities websites filled with personal stories and pictures from WDWCP alumni. I was getting more anxious with every page view. I knew that this is what I would do when I got to college.

Knowing I wanted to work for Disney, I majored in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management. I only wanted to work at Disney. I didn’t have any aspirations to use my degree to work for Marriott, Hilton, Aramark, or hundreds of other companies. I even passed up an opportunity to work at the Plaza in New York City.

After a few bumps in the road throughout college, I eventually interviewed for the WDWCP during my senior year. I will never forget the day I opened the letter inviting me to join the Walt Disney World Company. I moved to Orlando the day after college graduation and became a front desk hostess at Coronado Springs Resort. I was finally a cast member!

I spent a few months on the college program before I had to go home for medical reasons. Although my move home was necessary, I spent the next few months absolutely miserable and depressed. Thankfully, my CP roommate Ashley had the brilliant idea to move back to Orlando together. And there I was again… a cast member!

I worked at the All Star Cafe and 1900 Park Fare, both as a server, from May 2004-January 2006. I really wanted to move up to management, but the money from serving was so much better than that of a manager’s salary. I was in a long distance relationship the whole time and made the decision to change my employment to Seasonal and move to Pennsylvania to be with my boyfriend at the time. Throughout the next few years, I felt like a part of me was missing. Disney is a part of my soul, as stupid and cliche as that sounds.

Now, you all know I moved to Orlando in July of last year. I had started re-applying to Disney in May of last year. I re-applied and re-applied. I finally got an interview at the end of January.

It went extremely well, but I was put on a waiting list for a server position. I really thought it would be 6 months to a year before I’d hear anything, but on March 9, I got the call. The “Welcome to the Company” call! As soon as the recruiter told me they had a position for me, I felt like that part of me that was missing came back.

As you can probably suspect, I celebrated that evening with a night out at Hollywood Studios!

A few days later, I had another appointment at Casting to fill out paperwork.

Eeeek!

I will be spending all day tomorrow at Orientation, otherwise known as Traditions. I couldn’t be happier!

Activity- absolutely nothing because I felt so sick, and I was resting in hopes of improving my plantar fasciitis situation.

Results- Lost 1.8 pounds this week for a total of 10 pounds, which is also my 5% goal. Yay!

Photo from this week:

This shirt obviously does me no favors and wrinkles really easy, but it was the only photo I took of myself this week.

Here’s to a healthier week!

Unfortunately, I made a really idiotic decision to run sick and injured, so it was not my best time. And now I’ve learned that I ran that race with pneumonia. Don’t try this at home, kids. So now I’m taking a break from running, and I might not be back to blogging for a few days. But I have a slew of posts I need to write- the rest of the Gasparilla weekend, Week 10 of Weight Watchers, my NYC vacation with Alison, and the NYC Half recap. I promise I’ll get to those soon.

But for now, I’m asking for some positive thoughts, prayers, whatever it is that you may do. Besides pneumonia, there are a few other things that require further tests. I’m not talking about them yet, but I would appreciate all of the good thoughts you can send my way.

Thank you, friends!

In my eight or so attempts at WW since then, I’ve never gone to that extreme, but the negative self-talk overwhelms me. I resume habits I’m not comfortable with. I start eating foods just because they’re low in calories but may not be nutritionally beneficial. Also, if my meetings are on Friday, I’d splurge all day Friday and most of Saturday thinking I had all week to fix my mistakes. I can no longer do this.

It’s not Weight Watchers, it’s me. I do not like the person I become when I’m on the program.

Because I have 5 friends on Weight Watchers, I know that I’m accountable to someone. We can text each other anytime to talk through a craving or motivate one another to go to the gym. I also have this blog, and I know I have to report to all of you each week. So, the accountability of the meetings, which I thought I needed, isn’t needed after all. I’m going to miss my leader though. Kerri, if you’re reading this, I’m so sorry!

RECAP:

Activity:

Sunday- Ran/walked Gasparilla 15K

Food:

Still not tracking, and I don’t plan on tracking now. I will eat healthy foods when I’m hungry, and I will eat the right foods to properly fuel my body for long distance runs. It really should be that easy, right?

Results:

Lost 1.4 pounds for a total loss of 8.2 pounds

5 days until I leave for the NYC Half Marathon!