Runner Leana

...sometimes with a little swimming and biking thrown in...

Tinker Bell Pixie Dust Challenge: goals and strategies

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Tinker Bell Half Marathon goals and strategies

Nearly there!  The Tinker Bell Half Marathon weekend is a few short days away!Tinker Bell Half Marathon

I’m running the Pixie Dust Challenge – a 10K on Saturday morning followed by the half marathon on Sunday.  This little adventure will net me two race medals, a Pixie Dust Challenge medal and a Coast to Coast medal for completing at least a half marathon at both Disney World and Disneyland in the same calendar year.

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coast-to-coast-medals

I will admit to being a bit nervous about the race weekend.  I trained hard for the Goofy Challenge and felt well prepared to run back to back races.  Since coming back from patellar tendonitis in February I’ve been building time on my feet slowly to get me ready for the half marathon distance.  I haven’t done any back to back runs though so I’m not sure how that 10K will affect my half marathon.  I am also a little nervous about how much warmer it is in Anaheim than Calgary at the moment.  The heat is definitely a factor on race day!

My goal for the 10K is to run at an easy pace and stop for as many character photos as I can.  I just have to make sure I keep under a 16:00/mile pace (<1:39) with my photo stops though!

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As for the half marathon, I plan to run a little bit faster to see where my fitness is at.

  • A goal: beat my 2014 BMO Vancouver Half Marathon time of 2:08:25 (9:48/mi pace)
  • B goal: under 2:15 (10:18/mi)
  • C goal: to finish with a smile on my face

Because I run 9:1 intervals I used this handy dandy calculator to see what my run pace needs to be to hit my overall pace target.  I’d like to start off a touch conservatively with the goal of picking it up later in the race.  And because I want to be ready to run as soon as I cross the start line I will try to see if I can do a dynamic warm up in the corral.

As for nutrition I’ll take a gel shortly before the race starts, then aim for two gels along the race course.  I’ve studied the course map to figure out where I’ll need to take my gel to make it line up with the water stations on course.

Tinker Bell Half Marathon Course Map 2015

I’ll have a playlist ready with some of my favourite running tunes.  With any luck I will be crossing the finish line with high fives and a smile on my face on Sunday morning!

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Are you running the Tinker Bell half marathon?  If so have a great race!

I am linking up with MCM Mama, My No Guilt Life and Run the Great Wide Somewhere for Tuesdays on the Run.

Tuesdays on the Run

more from Runner Leana

Comments

  2. 3

    We will be going to Disneyland as well. It would be great to see each other while we are out there. We also plan on taking our time for both the 5k and 10k for pictures.

  3. 5

    Best of luck at your upcoming races! I think you have a solid plan in place for both races. Love that you’ll get to enjoy the 10k and then work hard during the half. Those sound like good goals – I’ll be rooting for you!
    Sun recently posted…Nicolet Bay 5k Race RecapMy Profile

  5. 9

    Good luck!! Running the Disneyland races are so fun! When I ran the Star Wars Rebel Challenge a few months ago there were high school bands and tons of spectators. It was very energazing.

  7. 11

    Love your running skirt…perfect for the Tinker Bell Marathon! I always judge a marathon off of the medals (really important, I know!), and the Disney medals are always super cute. 🙂
    Valerie recently posted…7 Great Benefits of RunningMy Profile

  9. 13

    Good luck on your race! Love those pictures – I would love to do a Disney race one day, because the medals are amazing! I did a 5K and half marathon on the same weekend and I wasn’t a big fan. It’s hard to do great on both races. I hope you meet that A goal!
    Janelle recently posted…My Best Race Ever – Rock & Roll Philly 2011My Profile

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