2019 Goals and Word of the Year

Training Safely with AfterShokz Trekz Air

2018 Year in Review

I had big plans in 2018, namely to finish a 70.3.

Well, we all know how those plans went. 2018 quickly went off the rails, but I did my best to regroup and reframe my goals. One of my goals was to get healthy and I can successfully say that I did that by rehabbing my hip. I’m back to running pain free, so I consider that a huge win.

January

January was definitely a month of discovery. I started the month with an awesome trip to Disney to cheer for the marathon, but ended the month with a diagnosed labral tear as well as MRI findings showing some sort of mass on my ovary. Unexpected, for sure.

Though I had been working with my PT prior to this (she’s the one who initially suspected the labral tear), at this point, we started doing focused work on my hip.

February

In February I saw an amazing doc who confirmed my super cool ovarian cyst and told me she was going to take it out at the beginning of March. I really appreciated her no-nonsense attitude.

This also began the month of cancelled plans. With the labral tear, racing the Donna half was out. Given that I wasn’t sure what surgery was going to cost me after insurance, I opted to cancel that trip to conserve expenses. Thanks to Southwest’s awesome policies, I transferred that flight to a trip to my parents’ house to see family. Always worth it (and much cheaper lodging too).

March

I started March with surgery. It was not as bad as I feared, save for the fact that we discovered that hydrocodone doesn’t have an effect on me. After surgery, my heart rate was elevated, and when the nurses asked if I was in pain, I said yes, but it wasn’t awful. They gave me more pain meds, which didn’t really help. I just figured the pain made sense. I had just been cut open. It was bearable after all. Turns out with the drugs I had been given, I shouldn’t have been feeling anything. Whoops. I discovered this later, when at home and alternating hydrocodone and ibuprofen, I realized that the ibuprofen helped and the hydrocodone did nothing. (Turns out this is a fun family trait. Thanks, Dad.)

Because of my surgery, I had to step back on some of my PT exercises. My surgeon was great and told me which of my exercises I could do, but it turns out that when your abdomen has been sliced open, you don’t want to do anything where you are leaning or laying such that the weight of your organs is pushing towards those incisions. So I lost a bit of recovery time here.

This was also the second cancelled trip, as I missed out on BDR New Orleans. This month, I also officially pulled out of 70.3 Chattanooga. I didn’t cancel my trip – I was way too excited to spend time with my Coeur teammates. I just knew I wouldn’t be racing.

April

This month, I started easing back into training. All self-guided, but it felt good to be back. I also started pushing my hip rehab now that my incisions were mostly healed.

This was the third missed race of the year – the local National Women’s Half. This one didn’t feel like as much of a loss, since it was a local race.

In April, I also got to see Hamilton with my family! It was even better than I thought it would be, seeing as I knew the soundtrack inside and out.

May

May was a big month. Though I wasn’t racing (fourth missed race of the year), I still traveled to 70.3 Chattanooga with some friends and it was worth every single minute. I don’t know that I could have had more fun. It was awesome to cheer for friends and strangers, help out where needed, and just enjoy the company of friends and my Coeur teammates. I’m so very glad I went and didn’t sit at home feeling sorry for myself.

I also went to see Harry Potter & the Cursed Child with my sister and my cousins – our first of two trips for the year. I wasn’t the biggest Harry Potter fan – I liked the books and movies, but wasn’t into it as much as some of them, but I really loved the play. We saw both parts in one day, and that’s a lot of time in a theater, but it never dragged. Definitely worth the trip.

Finally, in May, I started working with a new coach. Nothing against my old coach, but after a few years of working together, we just weren’t fitting as well as we had been, so I took the opportunity for a new start, knowing that I was spending the year rebuilding.

June

June was a bit of a quiet month, but it was also a month of a lot of training. This was my big push back to running, my big push towards racing. It was a month of a lot of hard work.

July

This was the month I had been working towards. Finally, my first race of the year. I’m so glad that it was Rev3 Williamsburg, a great way to start my season (and sadly, say goodbye to one of my favorite races). I was nervous, since I was still recovering, but it went so incredibly well and proved that all my training and PT was working.

August

Obviously, the Baltic Cruise was the highlight of August. I still can’t believe all of the things we got to see on that trip. I’m still trying to put together a photo book from the trip. Of course, I didn’t even get it close to finished by Christmas! It was worth every single penny spent, and I hope my sister and my cousins and I all get to travel together again in the next few years.

September

Choir started back up this month with our new conductor following two seasons of guest conductors. It was absolutely a change, but a welcome change. I appreciate someone who insists on hard work, but doesn’t ask more than you can give.

This month was also the end of my triathlon season with the Giant Acorn Oly. I had goals for this race, and was really happy with my finish. I managed to PR the course! All my work had paid off. It was a great race that felt incredibly good, and I was sad that my triathlon season was so short, but glad that it was a successful season.

October

October was a bit of a blur. I raced my 11th Army Ten Miler. It certainly wasn’t a fast race, but I raced without pain, which was the whole goal.

We also had a huge choir concert this month, premiering a work that was written in 1917 and had never been performed. It was absolutely exhausting. So many hours spent rehearsing. But when it was all said and done, it was a very cool thing to be a part of, and I’m looking forward to hearing the recordings once they’re complete.

November

I finally made it back to book club (then promptly missed the December meeting). I need to find a way to prioritize this in my schedule – I really like spending time with these ladies!

The month ended with a triumphant return to half marathon racing, nearly a full year since my last 13.1. It was like I wrapped up the past year in a nice bow when I finished that race. The previous year, I was struggling with my hip, and this year, I finished strong.

That was followed by an amazing whirlwind trip to Disney World to see the decorations. It was exhausting and so much fun. Anyone who thinks Disney isn’t for adults is wrong.

December

Finally, a relatively easy month. It’s a month of rest and recovery from an intense year of training. I sang three holiday concerts (still less work than October’s premiere) and am currently spending Christmas with my family, which is the best way to end a great year.

The post 2018 Year in Review appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Whirlwind

Running with Zwift

Race Report: 2018 Space Coast Half Marathon

November Mileage Recap

ImageParty / Pixabay

Okay, so I can’t believe November is already ending.  Yes, I have probably said this every month, but seriously, where is the time going?

November was a great month!  I finally, finally got to race a half marathon and it went so well!  I’m still working on my recap, but in sum, it wasn’t my fastest, but it wasn’t my slowest, and it didn’t hurt.  I feel like I’m finally back.

However, in November, I also did my best to avoid going to the pool.  I don’t mind swimming.  It’s a good workout and I always feel great having done it.  But I just don’t like going to the pool.  Swimming is my only AM workout – all the rest happen after work, so I suspect it’s simply that I don’t want to drag myself out of bed and head out into the dark, cold morning.  Summer swimming is nowhere near as bad.

November Totals
Swim: 2.5 miles
Bike: 74 miles
Run: 77 miles

Yes.  I went to the pool twice.  Two times all month (and one time was today).

I’m actually blown away that my run miles topped my bike miles, but this was a very run focused month.  So many long runs.  But they were absolutely worth it.  I even did a 13.1 mile training run, which is the longest training run I’ve done since I was marathon training years ago – usually I top out at 12.  But I trusted my coach on this one and she was right.  I probably didn’t need that extra 1.1 miles (actually the plan only required 13, but I was getting that last .1), but it absolutely gave me the confidence I needed going into my race.  I knew that I could cover the distance without pain and not having that stress on race day was huge.  It also gave me an idea of what my finishing time might be, which removed that stress.  I know I’ve lost speed this year, and while I know it will come back, that doesn’t mean that I don’t feel a twinge of disappointment that I’m not immediately fast again (“fast” being a relative term – I am very much a party in the back kind of racer).

My next race isn’t until April, so I’m looking forward to a few months of rebuilding and getting into shape.  I have big plans for 2019!

2018 Totals
Swim: 54.6 miles
Bike: 1504 miles
Run: 286 miles

The post November Mileage Recap appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Strong & Slim Thighs Workout: 10 Min Solutions- Jessica Smith

Pilates for Abs Workout: 10 Min Solution- Lara Hudson

Staying Safe While Running with Sabre

“Disclaimer: I received Sabre Pepper Gel to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!”

I love running outdoors.  I live near an awesome trail, and I love putting on my headphones (in only one ear, of course) and listening to an audiobook or podcast.  Sometimes I run without any sound, especially when I’m turning over a problem in my head.  Running solo is a great time to do some thinking.

But running solo can also be a little scary.  It seems like every time you turn around, there is another story of a female runner who was attacked while out for a run, and in the worst case scenarios, killed by her attacker.  I can’t say that this fear is on my mind when I head out for a run, but I always make a point to be aware of my surroundings, to only run during daylight, and only on days when I know the trail will be well populated.

A number of years ago, I also started carrying pepper spray when I run.  After doing some research, I opted to use Sabre, so when the opportunity came up to do a review of the product, I quickly accepted, as this is a product that I know and recommend.  In fact, the photos of the pepper spray here are of the handheld I’ve been carrying all year (well, half a year, thanks to injury) – the spray I was sent for review was gifted to a friend to keep her safe as well.

What do I like about Sabre?  Well, I have to admit, I can’t vouch for the strength of the pepper spray.  Thankfully, I’ve never had to use it, and I wasn’t about to test it on myself for this review.  Really, what I like about this particular spray is how easy it is to carry.  The little canister comes in a little elastic holder with a velcro strap that goes around your hand and can be adjusted to fit many different sized hands.  Additionally, the trigger at the top has a locking mechanism, so you’re less likely to accidentally spray it, but a quick slide of your thumb will unlock and have it ready to spray in a split second.

The pepper spray itself has some unique features.  It’s actually a gel, so it’s less likely to blow back in your face, which is a definite plus.  It also has UV marking dye in it, so if you spray someone and they run off, the police will still easily be able to identify them.  Each can has 35 sprays, so there’s no worry about running out after one blast, and if you want to test it in your backyard before you take it out on a run, there’s no concern that you’re going to empty the can.

On Instagram, a fellow Bib Rave Pro got called out for essentially being a wimp for running with pepper spray, saying it was an over-reaction and that running was perfectly safe.  And yes, in the 13+ years I’ve been running, I’ve never been attacked while out on a run.  But I would rather be safe than sorry.  I also always run with identification, money, and my asthma inhaler, and typically don’t need any of those either, but I’m not about to run without them.

Peace of mind is worth a lot, and many of us go out for a run to help clear our heads.  Take Sabre Pepper Gel with you for that added peace of mind and enjoy your run!

(Note that a few states do have restrictions on pepper sprays, so check out Sabre’s site to learn more.)

The post Staying Safe While Running with Sabre appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Core Power Yoga: Element- Ashley Turner

Next Up: Space Coast Half Marathon

Free-Photos / Pixabay

As I continue to make my triumphant return to running, I have my next big goal coming up next weekend – the Space Coast Half Marathon.

This will be my sixth year running this race, and I always look forward to a weekend of spending time with friends, running a great race, and getting into the Christmas spirit.

This year’s race is big for a couple of reasons.  It’s my first half marathon of the year.  I haven’t raced a half marathon since last year’s Space Coast (and technically, I had to walk the last chunk of it because I pulled my soleus).  So this is sort of the last big hurdle in my recovery.

Am I ready?  You bet.  I’ve been doing a ton of PT, and my coach made me run a 13 mile training run, so I know I can cover the distance.  Will it be fast?  Nope.  Though it probably won’t be my slowest Space Coast either – that honor goes to the first year I ran it, when I woke up with a crushing headache but refused to not at least try.  But I’m not letting myself look back at my previous race times.  I don’t want to know how much slower I’ve gotten because it doesn’t matter.  I don’t want that to be on my mind while I run – I just want to have fun.

Do I have a race plan?  Basically, don’t get hurt and have fun.  I think my sister may run with me, and I may also end up with some friends.  I’m certainly not planning to push myself.  The course has a time limit such that I could get lost, have a picnic, get back on the course, and still finish with time to spare, so it’s nice to not have that worry.

I am really hoping to end the year on a high note, since this time last year, I was struggling with hip pain and it was a frustrating way to end the season.  But really, finishing at all will be a win in my book.  And I’m confident I can accomplish that.  It’s been a long road to get here, but it’s been worth all the work.

 

 

The post Next Up: Space Coast Half Marathon appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Sizzling Samba Cardio Dance: Dance off the Inches- Emily Naim

Coeur Team 2019!

As many of you have probably seen on my social media, I’m super excited to be back on the Coeur Ambassador Team for the fifth year!

This team has truly become a family to me.  I love all of these ladies and I’m excited to get to know all the new members on the team as well.  Every single one of these people is amazing, and if you see any of us out there training or racing, don’t hesitate to say hi.  Need advice?  Just ask?  Just need a friendly face?  You’ve got it.

Seriously, just knowing these people has made me a better athlete and a better person.  They’ve helped me push out of my comfort zone and do things I never thought I could.  They supported me through my frustrating recovery, and I’d like to think I was able to support some of my fellow team members in the same way.

This is always a tough time of year when triathlon teams are announced, as there is excitement and hurt feelings all at once.  It’s so tough when a friend doesn’t make a team they were hoping to join.  I’ve definitely had my fair share of rejections over the years.

But the thing is, there are great groups out there.  So many great groups.  Awesome Facebook groups, various forums online, and groups like The Collective Beat, which is Coeur’s community team.  I joined this team last year and met so many awesome ladies, and will be joining up again for 2019.  Definitely check it out and see if it’s right for you.  It’s filled with very uplifting ladies who have created a phenomenal community.

If you prefer in person, check out your local triathlon club or clubs.  Can’t find one?  Make one!  Or at least see if you can’t find some local folks to bike or run with.  Create a Facebook run event and see who shows up.  It sounds intimidating, but it’s really super easy, and who knows who you might meet!

The post Coeur Team 2019! appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Pilates Perfect Arms Workout: 10 Min Solution- Suzanne Bowen

Hip Hop Basics Dance Workout: 10 Min Solution- Kristin Jacobs

Yoga for Stress Relief: Vinyasa 1 | Element- Ashley Turner

October Mileage Recap

I’d say I’m officially back to running.  With the Army Ten Miler under my belt and some more double digit runs on the way, it feels good to finally be able to train again.  I’m still working to bring the speed back as well and I am so stiff the day after a long run, but that will all improve with time.

I’m also starting to think about my 2019 race season.  I’m still going to be doing quite a bit of rebuilding, but I’m hoping for some big things come mid-year.  I’m not sure that I’ve mentioned it here, but next year, I’m tackling 70.3 Ohio!  I haven’t done a 70.3 since 2016, so this is going to be real test of my recovery.   Mostly, I’m just excited to race with a whole bunch of friends and do a bunch of stupidly long training rides.

October
Swim: 3.8 miles
Bike: 117 miles
Run: 54 miles

Not too shabby!  Considering I had a choir concert in there with a ton of hours of rehearsal, this is some pretty decent mileage.  Of course, as it’s getting cold, it’s getting harder and harder to go to the pool in the mornings.  I read somewhere that even Olympic swimmers loathe the moment they have to get into the pool on a cold winter morning, so it’s good to know that feeling’s never gonna fade.

2018 Totals
Swim: 52.1 miles
Bike: 1430 miles
Run: 209 miles

The post October Mileage Recap appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Fat Burning Sports Drills Workout: 10 Min Solution- Cat Chiarelli

Country Line Dancing Party Workout: Cardio Fat Burner- Amy Blackburn

Random Updates and Link Love

Life has been pretty busy as of late.  This past weekend was our big fall choir concert, and it was absolutely a success – even the Washington Post review was good!  But it basically meant a week of very few scheduled workouts (though don’t let anyone tell you that 4 hours of choir isn’t a workout – my whole body hurts after that).

I’m back to it now, with the Space Coast Half Marathon up next.  It doesn’t seem like that long ago that I could bust out a half marathon with no trouble since I was running so regularly.  Now it’s definitely an effort – or so I assume, since I haven’t run a half marathon in almost a year!  The 2017 Space Coast Half was my last, so this is certainly a comeback.  And it’s probably gonna hurt.  But it’s also gonna be worth it.

And now, some links I have saved to share.  In no particular order:

Working the Program from The Bloggess.  She also acknowledges that everything’s gonna be okay.  Seriously, if you’re not just reading everything she writes, why not?

EPBOT made the COOLEST Harry Potter themed cat tree.  And a super cool Harry Potter room.  And photographed some hilarious pun-themed costumes at DragonCon.

Kecia is amazing and conquered IM Louisville, which looked horrible.  Not gonna lie.

Steena did IM Wisconsin, which looked less horrible, but I still don’t want to race 140.6.  More power to you, ladies.

Did you follow Katmai National Park and Preserve’s Fattest Bear competition?  The pictures were amazing.  Those bears got BIG.  Good job, nature.

Jenn acknowledges that sometimes everything is terrible, but you can still find the good.

Chrissy went to Scotland, because sometimes she does things other than cook, and I’m still pretty jealous.

Lauren is running and blogging again and I am very excited for her.

Michaela shows just how rough it is to try to workout with cats.  Cats are jerks.  Furry, loveable jerks.  And I should try to pet mine more this weekend after barely seeing them last weekend.

The post Random Updates and Link Love appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Hot Body Cardio Boot Camp Workout: 10 Min Solution- Amy Bento

Prenatal Standing Pilates Routine: 10 Min Solution- Lizbeth Garcia

Why you shouldn’t run streak

madzArt / Pixabay

You see people posting all the time about their run streaks – they make it a goal to run at least a mile every single day.  They tally their running streaks – aiming for 100 days or 1000 days or simply aiming to never break their streak.  Now, in a perfect world, this would be fine.

I hate to break it to you, but we don’t live in a perfect world.  Life happens.  We get sick.  We get injured.  And you know what you should do when you’re sick or injured? Rest.

And yet people proudly proclaim how even though their knee really hurt or they had a fever of 102 degrees, they still managed to keep up their run streak.  This is not something to be proud of.  I’ve seen people talking about running through major injury, against doctor’s orders.  Just because they want to keep up their streak.

For some, the argument is “If I break my streak, it’s over and I won’t go back out for a run.”  And on some level I understand that.  But maybe it’s time to find something different to motivate you.  Maybe instead of a run streak, you make it a goal to do something active every day. If you have a sick day or an injured day, maybe you do some easy stretching or some very gentle yoga.  You’re moving your body but not putting yourself at risk.

On Twitter, you will see the hashtag #restdaybrags.  I love this hashtag.  It was created to counter the run streak and to emphasize that rest days are good.  Resting is good for your body. Recovery is a huge element in training, one I think too many people ignore.

I admit, I don’t love when I miss a workout either because I’m sick or injured or plain exhausted.  But listening to my body is a hugely important part of my racing plan.

I’m sure a number of my friends will disagree with this post.  I’m sure that there are plenty of people who have seen quality results from run streaking.  But there are plenty of people who have run through illness and injury as well.

While I think everyone should take rest days, if you’re absolutely stuck on the run streak, maybe you shorten the interval.  Instead of just going for the maximum number of days, how about a 10 day run streak?  You aim to accumulate 10 day run streaks.  So the 11th day starts a new streak.  Or maybe you take a rest day and start over.  This way, if on day 4, you’re sick in bed, no big deal, just take a rest day and start the ten day streak over.  You can still count the streaks.  “I’ve done 50 10 day run streaks!”  But you are also allowing yourself to listen to your body.

I think most runners have heard from non-runners “Why do you do that? You’re going to destroy your body.”  And we all deny that and talk about how running has made us healthier.  But if we don’t listen to our bodies, those non-runners are going to be right.

The post Why you shouldn’t run streak appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Lower Body HIIT Workout: 10 Min Solution- Lisa Kinder

Beautiful Butt & Thighs Workout: 10 Min Solution- Christine Bullock

Ab Ripper Workout: 10 Min Solution- Suzanne Bowen

Yum! Luvo Meals Review

Disclaimer: I received a Luvo Bundle to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I really want to be that person who is great at meal prepping on the weekend.  I am so impressed by people who put up Instagram posts on Sundays showing the lunches they have made and packed for the week.

I am very much not that person.  Sure, sometimes I manage to make some soup or a casserole and portion it out into single serving portions and toss them in the freezer.  But most of the time, I eat frozen meals (since I try to avoid going out to lunch, both to save money and calories).

Enter Luvo.  A lot of the frozen meals I have found are either unsatisfying or not the healthiest option.  What I love about Luvo meals is that they’re not only delicious, but they’re filled with protein, whole grains, and at least one serving of vegetables.  That means they’re good for me, but more importantly, they’re filling.  I don’t end up hungry right after I eat.

For this review, I tried Luvo’s Hint of Spice Sampler.  This sampler included two each of the following meals:

• Mighty Masala and Greens
• Great Karma Coconut Curry
• Chana Masala
• Thai-Style Green Curry Chicken

Yes, that is my keyboard in the background.

“Hint” of spice is definitely a good descriptor for these meals.  I love spicy foods, and definitely appreciated the spice in these meals.  They were so incredibly flavorful.  I didn’t want the meals to end – but I certainly wasn’t hungry after finishing either.  If you’re not into spicy foods, they might not be for you, but don’t worry, Luvo has other good options as well.

I’m not sure which of the meals was my favorite.  It’s probably a tie between the Great Karma Coconut Curry and the Chana Masala.  While eating the Coconut Curry, my boss actually walked into my office and said “That smells amazing.  What is it?”  If that’s not a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is.

Yes, I would also like to be that person who puts their microwave meal into a fancy bowl before eating, but ain’t nobody got time for that.

These Luvo meals were all super easy to heat.  You know how some microwave meals have all sorts of weird instructions?  Poke three equidistant holes, microwave at 72% power for 3 minutes and then 45% power for 2 minutes?  None of that here.  Pop the meal in, microwave for the set amount of time at full power, and boom, you have lunch.

I have a crazy week coming up and will likely be eating Luvo meals for lunch every day.  It’s so nice to know that I don’t have to worry about meal planning and will have something tasty and healthy available to me.  And I will probably be stocking up on additional meals as well.

You can find Luvo meals in your local stores (use the store finder here) or purchase online.  From now through October 23, use the code BRPFREESHIP for free shipping.

 

The post Yum! Luvo Meals Review appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Race Report – 2018 Army Ten Miler

Ten years.  I’ve been running this race for ten years.  That still feels absolutely insane to me.  I guess this running thing has become a bit of a lifestyle.

For much of the year, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to run this race.  With my labral tear, I had two big race goals.  I wanted to be able to complete Rev 3 Williamsburg and I wanted to be able to complete the Army Ten Miler.  Honestly, I thought ATM was an even more remote chance, not only because of the distance but because of the time limit.  ATM has a 15 minute mile pace limit.

Unlike with Rev3 Williamsburg, when I registered for this race, I knew I was injured.  So as I prepared for the race, I really only had one goal – finish.  Sure, I wanted to be magically fast, but mostly, I just wanted to finish.  And that meant keeping a sub-15 pace.

Race morning came as normal.  I will admit, I wasn’t super motivated to run.  As has become my routine, I planned to arrive at a local parking garage by 6 am.  Definitely earlier than I needed to be there, but as roads are shut down, it’s just easier to get there and be ready to go.

Things were a bit different for the race this year due to some road construction.  It meant that the course was different and the start was a bit different.  They added two additional start waves to help thin out the crowds.  Typically, we would have gathered in grouped corrals in the Pentagon parking lot, and then led to the start.  Due to the construction, the corrals were lined up in a straight line from the start.  Since I was in the 9th wave, the brand new pink wave, that meant the start was a hike away.  Some people opted to not go to the corral and instead wait for the corral to come past them, but we opted to go to the corral and wait.

As per usual, the wheelchair racers were finishing before we started, and just as we got to race start, the race winners were coming in to the finish as well.  That’s aways a bit funny and a bit demoralizing.  Mostly, I was jealous they were done.

While this year’s race wasn’t as hot as last year’s, the humidity was ridiculous.  My weather app said the humidity was 90%; the race announcer said it was 100%.  Either way, it was disgusting.  The race started and I started my intervals and within ten minutes, I was dripping sweat.

I opted to run with a handheld water bottle for this race.  Nowhere near enough fluid to get me through the race, but more than enough to get me between water stops.  And I was definitely glad I had it.  The first water stop was around the two mile mark and they were out of water cups (though I believe they had cups of Gatorade).  Volunteers were pouring water into mouths, into cupped hands, and in my case, into my water bottle.  Due to the heat, people were taking multiple cups (not blaming them – it’s just what happened) which meant they ran out by the late corrals.  I had my bottle refilled and went on my way.

Due to the rerouted course, there was one spot where the race came to an absolute standstill.  I’ve never had that happen in this race before, even with 35,000 racers.  It didn’t last long, but it was certainly a surprise.

At one point, I ended up running alongside a vision impaired runner and his guides.  I was so impressed with their process.  The runner and one guide were each holding onto a large ring, and it was seamless how the guide would call out directions.  The second guide ran right behind them, blocking anyone from attempting to cut between them.  They moved as this tight little pack and it was so cool to see.

This race is always so organized, thanks to the amazing volunteers and the organization of the Army.  So I was really surprised when we got to mile 7 and there was no more Gatorade at the stop.  I don’t typically use it, but  was shocked that they were out.  That said, there was plenty of water everywhere, which was great since by that point, I was ready to pour it on myself.  Which I did.

This year, I was slow enough that I saw the cutoff after it was closed.  Around mile 5 or so, if you’re behind required pace, they divert the course because of roads that have to be re-opened.  This only cuts about two miles off of the race.  I’m usually enough ahead of it that I don’t see it, but this year, the diversion was in place by the time I looped back to that spot.  This unfortunately had an impact on my race.  At the beginning of a race, you’re always passing people and being passed, but by midway or so, things have usually settled out.  Sure, you are still being passed or passing, but not to a great extent.  However, when a group of slower people is diverted, that whole process has to start over.  For the most part, it wasn’t problematic, but I definitely got caught behind a few packs of walkers who didn’t realize they shouldn’t take up the whole course.

The hardest part of this race for a lot of people is the bridge near the end.  It’s the same bridge that destroys people at Marine Corps Marathon.  I don’t usually have an issue with this bridge.  Not so this year.  I was starting to get fatigued and I was just mentally tired of running, so this bridge felt so very long.  It felt great to get off the bridge.

I got my second wind sometime around mile 8.5, mostly because I knew I was getting close to being done.  Plus by that point, you’re back with the crowds again, which definitely helps motivate.

Finally, I made the turn to the finish line.  I really had hoped to have a sub-14 finish, but I just didn’t have it in me as I came to the finish and ended with a total time of 2:20:07.  Certainly my slowest Army Ten Miler, but also a finish I’m super proud of.  This was the longest distance I’ve covered since before my injury.  Six months ago, I couldn’t run a single mile.  So being able to race and cover the distance was so incredibly rewarding.  And I managed to do it without any pain from my labral tear.

 

The post Race Report – 2018 Army Ten Miler appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Belly Dance Workout: Cleopatra Cardio Combo- Kili Marti

September Mileage Update

USA-Reiseblogger / Pixabay

September was an amazing month mileage wise.  So much so that I even went back and double checked the numbers.  This was a pretty big month, training wise.  Not only was I pushing towards Giant Acorn, but I also needed to get my mileage up for this weekend’s Army Ten Miler.

I can’t say that I felt like I was putting in a lot of miles. I was just making sure to put in the time and get in my workouts.  Clearly those small things add up.

September Totals:
Swim – 8.3 miles
Bike – 124 miles
Run – 63 miles

63 miles on the run!  That’s insane!  That’s higher mileage than I’ve had in so long.  I used to aim for 50 mile months, so 63 miles feels crazy.  I did go through a bit of a struggle where my quad started to knot up again, but that has been pretty easily resolved with some regular work on the foam roller.  Almost every day, I spend about 20-30 minutes on the foam roller, focusing only on my lower body and mainly on my left side.  It’s my excuse to play on my phone.

2018 Totals:
Swim – 48.3 miles
Bike – 1313 miles
Run – 155 miles

The post September Mileage Update appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Full Body Pilates Workout: Element- Kara Wily

Sultry Salsa Dance Routine: Cardio- Dance off the Inches

Protect Yourself with Nuun Immunity

Disclaimer: I received two tubes of Nuun Immunity to review as part of being a BibRave Pro.  Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews!

I have been a fan of Nuun for years.  I’m one of those people who sweats like a fiend during workouts (and sometimes not during workouts – I’m gross like that), and so I like being able to add electrolytes to my water without adding a bunch of calories.  So when the chance to try out Nuun Immunity popped up, I jumped on the opportunity.

Like traditional Nuun Hydration, Nuun Immunity comes in a tube of tablets that you add to water.  Nuun Immunity is described as

a propriety mix of botanicals and electrolytes to aid in the protection of your immune system, with a balance of anti-inflammatories (including turmeric & ginger) and free-radical fighting antioxidants (such as elderberry & echinacea).

It comes in two flavors – orange citrus and blueberry tangerine.  I had the opportunity to try both, and I honestly can’t tell you which one I prefer.  Both are pretty tasty.  I think blueberry tangerine might have a slight edge, but it’s really hard to say.  One of my fellow Bibrave Pros even suggested using a 32 ounce bottle and mixing two tablets together.  I haven’t tried that yet.

I started drinking Nuun Immunity first thing in the morning with my coffee and breakfast.  I liked it so much that I ended up buying four more tubes (two of each flavor).  I always started my day with a big glass of water, and I’ve found it even easier to drink down a big glass of Nuun Immunity.

Because it contains turmeric, the color is a bit… interesting.  It’s a very bright yellowy orange.  If you’ve used turmeric in cooking or supplements, this won’t surprise you at all.  I was expecting blueberry tangerine to be more blue and it’s still pretty darn orange.

Now, what does it do for me?  Well, that’s obviously hard to predict, but I can say that my entire office has been down with some sort of upper respiratory ailment.  Lots of coughing and sniffles, and most of the team has been out sick at least one day.  They seem to be recovering and I seem to have made it through without catching it (knock on wood).

Honestly, I thought I would get sick after my race last weekend, since it’s not uncommon for me to come down with a cold virus after racing.  But one week out and I’m still feeling good.  Is it entirely due to the Nuun Immunity?  I can’t say, but I’m sure it has helped!

You can take up to six servings a day, so if I did start to feel under the weather, I would certainly be upping my servings to help protect my immune system.  I know a lot of people use various vitamin C supplements during cold and flu season, and Nuun Immunity provides you with the vitamin C you need, plus other immune boosting ingredients.

While I got to try it for free, I’m definitely a believer and will be keeping Nuun Immunity as part of my diet at least through cold and flu season.

A single tube costs $7.00 and contains 10 tablets (note – traditional Nuun has 12 tablets per tube, so these are a bit larger), and you can use the code HYDRATEBIBPRO for 20% off through the end of October.

 

The post Protect Yourself with Nuun Immunity appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Yoga for Weight Loss: Section 2 | Element- Ashley Turner

Race Report: 2018 Giant Acorn Olympic Tri

This weekend was my second and last triathlon of the year, the Giant Acorn Olympic Tri.  Giant Acorn was my very first olympic distance triathlon back in 2014, and I love the races put on by Kinetic Multisports, so I was looking forward to the race.

I was also relatively unsure of how it was going to go.  My left leg has been bothering me lately, thanks to my pesky labral tear (though after a week of some solid foam rolling, things were feeling better), and I’m well aware that I’m still not back to full strength.

I haven’t done this particular race since 2015, though I did a different race on the same course in 2016.  I had glanced at my previous race results, but really hadn’t focused on how I had done specifically on each leg.  I just wanted to get an idea of how I felt about the course.  I was also aware that depending on how I felt, there was a slight chance I wouldn’t be able to finish the race.  So going in, my only real goal was to try to finish.  Of course, I also wanted to finish and feel like I had crushed it, regardless of finish times.

Rather than stay close to the race site, I opted to drive down race morning.  At that hour, it’s about a 1:45 drive from my house, so it’s not insignificant, but much better than trying to sit on I-95 after work.  I got to the race site in plenty of time to check in, setup transition, drag stuff back to my car, and not stress.  I wasn’t too nervous about the race, and my leg was feeling pretty good, so I was ready to go.

The swim for this race is a giant rectangle in Lake Anna.  It looks deceptively short from the shoreline.  Typically, this race is wetsuit legal, but thanks to our recent weather, not only was the water very high, it was also very warm.  Just over 80 degrees.  Clearly no wetsuits.

While I was expecting some chop from the boats, I swear there was more of a current than I was anticipating.  I felt like the last bit of the swim out to the turn buoy took much longer than it should have, and I swear I was being pushed towards the shore on the swim back.  Maybe I’m just crazy.  Ether way, it was nice to feel like I was being pushed in the right direction.

I was expecting a swim somewhere around 40 minutes based on past swims at this course.  I was pretty spot on.

Swim: 40:03

There is a lovely long run up to transition for this race.  It’s mostly on a sidewalk, which is nice, but you have to watch for rocks.  I jogged up, got to my bike, hosed off my feet and got ready to ride.  I felt like I was really wasting time here, but based on previous results, I did pretty well.

T1: 3:12

I started the ride by shoveling a cookie in my mouth, something I reminded myself to do in my last race report.  Thanks for the heads up, past self.

One thing I did not do before this race is look at the bike elevation chart.  Because I had completely blocked out some of the hills on this course.  While I have been training like crazy on the bike, I haven’t been doing a lot of outdoor riding, just a lot of indoor riding with power.  Not that I haven’t TRIED to ride outside, but weather kept thwarting my plans.  That said, a power based workout is no joke, so I was certainly feeling strong.

I felt pretty good climbing the hills and even made the drastic and often terrible decision to pass people on the uphills.  Later on the run, a woman commented to me that she was impressed by my hill climbing – apparently she was chasing me and I kept dropping her on the uphills.  That was a huge compliment.

One big thing I’ve been working on is not just coasting down the hills, but actually pushing through them so that I’m getting as much speed as possible.  This certainly worked in my favor during the rolling sections of the course.

I didn’t glance at my watch to see my final bike time, but I thought it was probably somewhere around 1:40, which was my goal.  Turns out, I was actually way faster than I thought.  I definitely crushed this bike course and cut off 7 minutes from my previous time.

Bike: 1:34:41

The bike mount is on an uphill, which means that the dismount is on a downhill.  Both are equally cruel, and I wonder how many people completely wipe out at the dismount line.

T2: 1:53

On to the run.  In training, I had run a max of about 5.5 miles.  I had run 10k once before this year – at Rev 3 Williamsburg.  So this whole run was a big question mark.  It’s a two loop run course, with a giant uphill at the beginning.  My plan was to walk that hill, because hills are what gives my leg the most frustration, plus I can probably walk the hill faster than I can run it.  For the first loop, I was going to stick to the two minute walk, one minute run pattern that I’ve been training at (my goal is to build up distance, then work on speed and cutting down that walk).  Then, if I was feeling good, I would drop to a 1:1 pattern for the second loop.

The run starts with an uphill, but it’s basically all a slight incline for the first 1.5 miles, then a decline for the second half.  I really enjoy the run course.  It loops and doubles back on itself so you get to see a lot of people, and this means a lot of cheering for strangers.  I got tons of compliments on my Coeur Sports kit, and let’s be honest – I did look fabulous.  I’m pretty sure that I had a smile on my face for most of this run.  There was even a guy at one of the turns giving power-up fist bumps to everyone.  That volunteer was awesome.  As were most of the volunteers.

I did have a not so great moment with a volunteer though.  There was a teenager out volunteering and she was doing her best to pump people up, but probably doing it in the worst way.  She was getting up in people’s faces and telling them to run, not to walk, and that if she could do it, they could do it too.  I watched a couple of people brush her off, and when she tried it on me, I told her that I was following my plan, and that not everyone was going to be running.  She kept pestering, and I tried to kindly tell her that she should just tell people to keep going, not try to make them run, because she couldn’t know what they were going through.  It didn’t help, and honestly, it was kind of a dark spot on an otherwise great race.  I know she meant well, but I think people don’t realize how crushing it can be to hear things like “Come on, keep running, don’t walk!” when they’re just following their plan and really having a great race.

Somewhere around mile 2, I looked at my total race time on my watch and started doing race math.  I was pretty sure my fastest running of this race was just under 3:50, and I realized that if I could keep to a sub-15 minute mile, I had that in the bag.

Loop two, I was feeling good, so I dropped to a 1:1 pace without any trouble.  My left leg started to stiffen up, but I realized during Williamsburg that this was a familiar issue, and probably an indication that I had been dealing with this labral tear for much longer than I realized.  It didn’t hurt though, mostly just an annoyance.  And my pace was great – I wanted a sub-15 for this race (since that’s what I’ll need for Army Ten Miler in two weeks) and averaged sub-14.  No, I’m not breaking any speed records, but given that just a few months ago, I couldn’t run one step without pain, I’m so excited to be out there and making progress.

Run: 1:22:32

Keely caught me just as I was heading to the finish.

My run was faster than Williamsburg, even with the hills (though Wburg was super hot), so I’d say that’s progress!

Total: 3:42:20

When I finally saw my watch, I knew this was a HUGE course PR for me.  My previous PR on this course was 3:49.  It was basically all progress on the bike, which is a great feeling.

I went to check out the results, not expecting much and it turns out that I had also won the Athena category!  Completely unexpected, but ending the season on the podium always feels incredible.

This definitely wasn’t the season I planned for next year, but I can’t complain one bit.  I had two phenomenal races.  I’m clearly showing progress in rehabbing my injury, but I’m also showing improvements on the bike (and somewhat on the swim too).  It makes me very hopeful for the 2019 season.  Now what races should I choose?

The post Race Report: 2018 Giant Acorn Olympic Tri appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Pilates Mat Workout for Beginners: Weight Loss | Element- Brooke Siler

Ballet Conditioning Workout: Lower Body | 10 Min Solution- Elise Gulan

Labral Tear Recovery Update

Clker-Free-Vector-Images / Pixabay

I’m now 8 months out from my labral tear diagnosis and about 6 months into rehab (thanks, ovarian cyst).  And it’s going… okay.  Not great, not bad, but definitely okay.

Leading into my August vacation, I was feeling pretty great.  For the most part, I wasn’t dealing with daily pain.  I was doing my PT exercises 6 days a week (though my PT said I didn’t have to do them that often – the routine was good for me) and I made it through my first race of the year with no issues.

Vacation went great!  Lots of walking and zero issues.  It definitely felt like a victory.

But once I was back from vacation and really increasing mileage, I started to notice some familiar twinges coming back.  My quad started tightening up more and more.  I just assumed it was the mileage.  But then I realized it’s also my own doing.

I’ve dropped my PT visits back from weekly to every 2-3 weeks.  My PT does a ton of table work, so I was getting regular work on the knots in my leg.  Sure, there may not have been too many, but they were getting worked out before they had a chance to take hold.

I wasn’t doing my PT exercises quite as much as I had been. Maybe down to four days a week instead of six.  And I certainly wasn’t spending much time on the foam roller, which is probably the biggest mistake I made.  Increasing my mileage and not foam rolling is just stupid.

So I’m paying the price for it now.  My leg has all sorts of fun knots, which means I’m spending more time on my foam roller and also going back to weekly PT.  At my last session, I was lucky enough to get Graston and dry needling.  Worth it.  I’m lucky that my insurance covers more than enough visits for me to go weekly through the end of the year and I will only have to pay my copay.

Lesson learned.  Just because I’m feeling good doesn’t mean I can step back.  This is an injury that won’t heal.  I will have to constantly be doing strength work and proper stretching, especially when I’m doing things like increasing mileage.

I still don’t regret not going the surgical route, though I totally support anyone who makes that choice.  Each hip labral tear is different, and recovery will look different for everyone.  As the research improves, I may consider stem cell injections at some point (especially if insurance ever covers them, because right now, I’m not sure if it’s the idea of a giant needle in my groin or the ridiculous cost of the injections that’s keeping me from even considering it at this point).

 

The post Labral Tear Recovery Update appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Weekly Workout Recap

Guys, getting back into shape is hard.

No really.  It’s hard.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.  It’s absolutely definitely worth it.  But getting back to running real distances is certainly a challenge.

On to last week’s workouts.

Monday – Pool was closed for the holiday, so I did a four mile run.

Tuesday – Choir practice started up today (normally, it’s on Mondays) so I sucked it up and got up early to ride my bike for a little over an hour.  Crushed it.  Then stiffened up as the day went on.

Wednesday – More trainer work, plus some strength work.  That I am terrible about doing.

Thursday – And the wheels fell off.  I’m not sure why, but my hip was sore today when I tried to run.  Not the pain of before, but it just didn’t feel great, so I only ran a mile and then went to foam roll.  I’m pretty sure that I was just overly tight and so my stride was off, but it’s another reminder that just getting in the workouts isn’t enough – I need to prioritize rest and recovery too.

Friday – Off to the pool.  Plus strength work with noodle arms.

Saturday – 4.8 mile run today, with none of the pain from Thursday.  All that foam rolling helped a ton.

Sunday – Thanks, rain.  Instead of riding outdoors, I did an indoor brick with 90 minutes on the trainer and a mile on the treadmill.

With a race on the horizon, I’m just about where I need to be, but still pretty far from Army Ten Miler distance, which is where I need to be in October.  I’ll get there, but it’s slow going.

And now, I’m off to foam roll again.

The post Weekly Workout Recap appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Fat Burning Latin Dance Workout: Dance Off the Inches- Michelle Dozois

Tai Chi Postures for Beginners: Element- Samuel Barnes

Adventures by Disney Northern European Cruise (Part 3)

Picking up where we left off…

(Don’t miss Part One and Part Two)

Day 5 – Helsinki, Finland

Thankfully, this was a much later day after the previous day’s late night, and we didn’t meet until 11:00am.  This could have meant I had time to go to the gym.  Instead, we slept in and ate breakfast.

 

We started the day with a boat ride out to Suomenlinna Island.  The boat ride was gorgeous, and we passed through so many gorgeous areas of the city.  We also went past the ice breakers, which were so impressive.  They were all named after different bears. We passed so many saunas (pronounced SOW-na by our guide), and I think I need to check out this relaxing lifestyle.

Suomenlinna Island Fortress is one of the largest sea fortresses in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  It’s built on six islands, and isn’t just a tourist site.  People actually live there.  It was a gorgeous day and a fascinating place to walk around, and the perfect place to be after a day in Russia.

We had a quick lunch at a brewery on the island, and then got back on the boat for the ride back into Helsinki.

We stopped in Senate Square for photos and spent some time walking around the city, just exploring.

Finally we headed to Temppeliaukio Church, known as the Rock Church.  It was excavated out of solid rock and is light through a giant skylight in the ceiling.  The rock walls are all still exposed, and because of that, the acoustics are incredible.

This was a much shorter day – we were only in the city for about 6 hours, but that evening, we were back on the boat for the Frozen Deck Party.  And let me tell you, the weather certainly helped the atmosphere.  It was cold and windy!  But we certainly had fun!

Day 6 – Stockholm, Sweden

Our last port day.  I couldn’t believe it had gone so fast!  I wasn’t as excited to go to Stockholm, because I had been to some of our stops before, but it had been over a decade, so I didn’t remember quite as much.

Our first stop was at the Vasa Museum.  This museum houses the Vasa, an almost completely intact warship that sank in 1628.

Of course, it’s in such great shape because it sank on its maiden voyage due to some mistakes in construction, but their loss is our gain, I suppose.  Its sinking is also a good lesson – the construction was rushed because the King demanded it, and those who suspected the ship may not be seaworthy were too afraid of the King to raise their concerns.

The ship itself is phenomenal.  The decorations are gorgeous, and there is still a ton of research being done on the ship.  There are displays showing the various artifacts that were found on the ship and what paint colors they think were used on the carvings.  The story of how they found the ship, brought it up from the bottom of the harbor, and worked to preserve it and ensure it wouldn’t deteriorate in the air, was fascinating.  We started the trip with a video, which was thankfully subtitled in English, as the voiceover was in Spanish.  Yes, I said that right.  Spanish.  (I suspect that perhaps the voiceovers are done in different languages throughout the day, but we were all very confused to hear Spanish in Sweden.)

Next we went to Coronation Church, known as Storkyrkan.  This church was built in the 13th century, and is the location of coronations, royal weddings, and christenings.

The most famous part of this church is the statue of St. George and the Dragon, created in the 1400s.  This statue supposedly contains relics of St. George as well as six other saints.

According to the legend, there was a dragon who was prevented from attacking the city by sacrifices from the villagers.  These sacrifices started out as sheep, but then the people ran out of sheep, and then they had to begin sacrificing children to the dragon.  The children were chosen by lottery, and the king’s daughter was chosen.  She was sent to be sacrificed, but St. George arrived on horseback and captured the dragon.  He agreed to kill the dragon if the people became Christian. They agreed and the dragon was slain.

The statue is so popular that there is a larger reproduction of it out in the square.

Lunch was, of course, Swedish meatballs, and this whole dish was incredible.  I wanted to lick my plate.  I mean, IKEA meatballs are good, but this was phenomenal.  I need to learn how to cook this dish immediately.

Our last stop was at Stockholm City Hall, which is where the Nobel Prize banquet is held every year.

My first thought was “Okay, this is a nice building.”  Then we went upstairs to the Gold Hall.

This hall is covered with golden mosaics, made of over 18 million tiles, depicting representations of Sweden’s history.  It was overwhelming and a little bewildering.

And with that, our tour was coming to an end, so of course, we stopped for a group photo.  When the trip started, I wasn’t so sure how I would feel about spending time with all of these people, but I grew to really like the group dynamics.  While I didn’t want to be best friends with all of these people, I definitely enjoyed the company of many of them

 

Day 7 – Day at Sea

The last day of the trip was a day at sea, which we desperately needed.  We started the morning with brunch at Palo, which was so good and I want to go back immediately.  For the most part, we relaxed and enjoyed the day.

We had one final meeting with our group, where we all got together to have drinks and snacks and say goodbye.  The guides had put together a fun slideshow of some of the photos from the trip, which was such a fun wrap-up to the trip.  It was sad to be leaving.

Day 8 – Disembark in Copenhagen

Alas, it was time to get off the ship.  We had one last day in Copenhagen planned before leaving the next day.  So we headed to Tivoli Gardens.

Tivoli Gardens was absolutely adorable and definitely worth the trip.  We wandered the streets and the shops and rode a few rides.  There were no lines at the rides, so we figured it was worth it.  We didn’t do any of the crazy rides (except for one that dropped us from an insane height) but mostly stuck to the small charming rides.

I also ate some licorice ice cream, which completely disgusted the rest of the family, but it was delicious.

And as the sun began to set, it was time to go back to the hotel and crash and get ready for the flight home.   This trip was amazing and worth every single penny.  I don’t know that I will ever go back to any of these places again (though seeing as I had already been to Copenhagen and Sweden once, I will never say never).  I am a complete convert to Adventures by Disney trips and before this trip was even over, Caitlin and I were debating where we wanted to go next.

And if you’re wondering, I have something like 700 pictures.  I’m working on putting together some sort of a photo book to try to capture all of these memories in one place.  It’s still a little overwhelming to look back at everything we did and saw.

The post Adventures by Disney Northern European Cruise (Part 3) appeared first on Elbowglitter.

August Mileage Recap

USA-Reiseblogger / Pixabay

A quick break from the vacation recaps (which are almost done!) for a mileage update.

While I am absolutely looking forward to fall weather, I am sad that the summer is over.  Of course, the weather doesn’t seem to know that, as it’s supposed to be in the 90’s all week, but the school busses are out, I’m back to choir practice, and the months of “summer attire” at work (read: slightly less dressy) are over.

August was an amazing month for me, with the Baltic cruise.  While on the trip, I didn’t focus on training at all.  I did hit the gym on both of our days at sea and spent some time on a recumbent bike (but didn’t bother to log the mileage).  We were also doing a ton of walking while in port.  I did make a point to get in my PT exercises most days, but that was about it.

August Totals:
Swim – 2.6 miles
Bike – 52 miles
Run – 22 miles

So yes, definitely lower totals this month, but even with two weeks off, my run numbers are nearly what they were last month.  It’s slow going, but I’m definitely getting there!

2018 Totals:
Swim – 40 miles
Bike – 1189 miles
Run – 92 miles

The post August Mileage Recap appeared first on Elbowglitter.

Adventures by Disney Northern European Cruise (Part 2)

If you missed part one, you might want to go back and read that first.  Or don’t.  This is your world, you do you.

Day 3 – Tallinn, Estonia

Our first day in port!  I have to admit, I knew NOTHING about Estonia, and though I should have done some research beforehand, I didn’t.  So this was definitely an educational stop.

We started out at Kadorig Palace, which was built for Russian Empress Catherine I.  The Estonians were very proud of this.  (We learned later she visited once, was unimpressed by the small palace, and never visited again.  I know I was impressed, but it was only the second palace of my trip.  I would soon understand her feelings.)  It has since been turned into a museum.

Then we met Old Thomas, the guardian of Tallinn.  I have to admit, I thought this would be corny, but it was really fun.  We got to meet some great characters, have some live entertainment, and play a bunch of games.  Honestly, I think it was even more fun without kids in the group, because it meant the adults got to play all the games.

We ate lunch at a local restaurant, and this was likely my least favorite meal.  We had a sausage dish, which was good, but this day was the last blast of the heat wave hitting the area, and the place was unairconditioned, so it was just warm and uncomfortable.  But it was nice to sit and chat with some of our other tour mates.

Finally, we were able to walk through Tallinn on a guided tour, then had time on our own.  It was really impressive to see the old blended with the new, which I know is the norm in Europe, but is still always impressive to someone who lives in a country as young as the U.S.

Day 4 – St. Petersburg, Russia

This was the day that so many of us were looking forward to.  Russia isn’t the easiest place to get to. Plus, if you didn’t have an official tour with Disney Cruise Line or a personally obtained tourist visa (which I heard aren’t the easiest to get, but I can’t personally verify that), you weren’t allowed off the ship.  Russian customs is serious business.

This was also going to be a long day, and I think we were all wondering how it would go.  We met at 7:45, got off the ship pretty much right away, and weren’t going to be back until 9:30 at night.

Our first adventure of the day was customs.  We had been warned and warned again about Russian customs officials.  Don’t smile.  Don’t chat.  Just hand them your paperwork and go through.  They warned us that previous groups had taken up to 90 minutes to get through customs, and there was nothing that could be done to speed it up.  We were basically told that this was the least “Disney” our trip would be.

Somehow, we lucked out. Our group made it through in 15 minutes.  It was amazing.  It was intense – the customs agent just stared at me for what was probably only 20 seconds but felt like forever.  She looked at my passport under various lighting and examined it with a magnifying glass.  Of course, I had nothing to hide (except a terrible passport photo), so it wasn’t too bad.

Our first stop was Peterhof Palace, which was built by Peter the Great.

The whole space was just incredibly ornate, but this was definitely a place where we felt the difference from being in Estonia and being in Russia.  The stares of the people working in the museum were intense.  Of course, we were trying to be as polite as possible, but it was still unnerving.

Peterhof is known for its crazy fountains that start up every day at 11 with a musical show.  The crowd was amazing – tour groups from all around the world.

Of course, we wedged in for some group photos.

Lunch was Beef Stroganoff, which in Russia, is served with potatoes, not noodles.  It was delicious.  We also had borscht, which I wasn’t sure about, but it was the lightest, tastiest vegetable soup.  It was perfect on a chilly, rainy day.  Of course, the meal also included vodka. When in Russia…

Next, we went to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.  This was built by Tsar Alexander III and dedicated to his father, Alexander II, who was murdered on the site in 1881.  It is located right along a canal.  As the story goes, Alexander II was in a carriage along the canal when a grenade was thrown at him. He got out of the carriage and was attacked and collapsed up against the fence along the canal, and died a few hours later.

It seems weird to write that paragraph and then post a smiley photo, but here we are.

To create the church, the canal was narrowed so that the exact spot where Alexander II was attacked could be enclosed within the church.  You can see the old cobblestones and the fence still on the spot.  The church is filled with mosaics and is absolutely gorgeous and really has to be experienced rather than seen in photographs.

This was the only time on our entire trip where we had any rain.  It absolutely poured for a very short period of time.  Then it was done.  We really lucked out with this weather, because this could have been a long and cold day.

Next, it was time for a boat ride through St. Petersburg, where we were treated to some local musical entertainment.  I have to say, even though Russian customs was intense, the people we met in Russia were amazing.  Our tour guides were two lovely young women, and the three musicians on this boat ride were so friendly.  Apparently, the one singer started learning English when Adventures by Disney started hiring them for this tour, as she is so proud to be working with Disney and wants to be able to better talk with the people who are visiting.

We took another snack break that afternoon for blinis and tea.  We had both sweet and savory, and the only way I can describe the savory blinis is to say that one was filled with Bolognese sauce and one was like a crepe egg roll.  Both were delicious.  The sweet one was served with jam.  And I ate it all.

Finally, we were off to the Hermitage museum.  We had been told that we were getting a private tour of the Hermitage, but I didn’t believe it.  The Hermitage is one of those places where you’re usually shoulder to shoulder with people, shuffling your way through.  I figured that maybe the evening hours were just for tour groups and that it would still be crowded, but less crowded.

I was wrong.

When they said private, they meant private.  Only Disney tours were there.  And we only saw people from our ABD tour and the other ABD tour, so maybe a total of 90 people.  It was insane.  Of course, we were still guided through and watched like crazy, but it was insane to get to see so much.  The museum is huge and we only got to see a tiny part of it, but it was still amazing.

This is a peacock clock. That’s one way to wake up.

Because the setting itself was so amazing, it was easy to forget that the museum holds some amazing works of art, including this unfinished sculpture by Michelangelo entitled Crouching Boy. We also saw pieces by Van Gogh, Renoir, Rembrandt, Titian, and so many other renowned artists that you only read about in books.  It was honestly overwhelming to be surrounded by so many beautiful works.

The collection was all started by Catherine the Great in 1764.  She bought entire collections of work from other collectors, so she amassed a huge number of items.  According to one source, Catherine acquired 4,000 paintings from the old masters, 38,000 books, 10,000 engraved gems, 10,000 drawings, 16,000 coins and medals and a natural history collection during her lifetime.   And we got to see a tiny piece of it, which was completely overwhelming.

Finally, it was back to the ship for very late dinner and sleep.

In the next part, I sleep in, and then go to Finland!

 

 

The post Adventures by Disney Northern European Cruise (Part 2) appeared first on Elbowglitter.