This year, we decided to visit the place where it all began, Disneyland in
Anaheim California.

Disneyland is personally our favorite park.
It is the original, Walt‚’s
park.
There is just something special and charming about Disneyland.
Just
like last year, we decided to go during the holidays.

This year, the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort run from November 9, 2018-
January 6, 2019.
We went during the first weekend, and had a blast!
The Food
Disneyland Resort went all out with their special holiday food and even
prepared a Foodie Guide to 2018 Holidays at Disney Resort! I couldn‚’t believe my eyes when I saw all the options the resort was
offering in 2018.
They also have the Festival of Holidays at Disney
California Adventure and prepared yet another Foodie Guide to 2018 Festival of Holidays.
There was honestly no way for us to eat everything in two days, so we
just enjoyed a few.
Here‚’s a list of what we had:
Disneyland Park
Peppermint Holiday Sundae at Gibson Girl Ice Cream ParlorGingerbread Creme Brulee at Blue BayouChurro with crushed pretzel and peppermint at the churro cart near Big
Thunder MountainCandy Cane Beignets – Mint Julep BarLumps of Coal Beignets – Cafe Orleans
California Adventure
Peppermint Churro at the churro cart near the Redwood Creek Trail
Festival of Holidays
Reuben Potato Tots with Russian Dressing and Rye Toast at Favorite Things
Our ultimate favorites that we would definitely eat again are the
peppermint holiday sundae, gingerbread creme brulee, candy cane beignets,
and the peppermint churro.

The Decor
I‚’ve said it before and I‚’ll say it again‚Äö√Ѭ∂holidays plus Disney is the best
combination.
We simply can‚’t get enough.

I wish we had more time to take it all in.
Disney does it best! I mean just
look at how magical the castle and it‚’s a small world look.
The rest of the
park is decked out too!
If you can, try to visit the parks during the holiday season.
It can get
really crowded, but if you utilize MaxPass and take some time to relax or sit down for a meal, the crowds don‚’t seem
too bad.
Trust us, you won‚’t regret it!
I‚’ll do another post in the coming weeks that shows everything we did eachday! There‚’s simply nothing like walking down Main Street USA toward Sleeping
Beauty Castle during the holidays.
It might even snow on you!

The post Holidays At The Disneyland Resort 2018 appeared first on Aj in the Life.

Festive Preparations at Home At home, the Christmas tree is up, and I’ve noticed my pawrents bringing home intriguing boxes and packages. Naturally, I assume they’re filled with treats for me, their spoiled princess. I’ve been nosily investigating because, after all, Christmas is nearing!

Last Year’s Christmas Memories In anticipation of the upcoming celebrations, let me share what I got last Christmas. There was an attempt to dress me up as a reindeer – quite a mismatch, given that I’m a proud dog. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for the reindeer look, I played along for the sake of more gifts.

Gifts Galore I uncovered a festive collar, a cozy new nap blanket, and a fun toy from my gift bag. Nap blankets are my absolute favorite, especially for nibbling! Then came the posing session – I must say, I’m quite the professional.

Post-Reindeer Joy Once freed from the reindeer attire, I thoroughly enjoyed my gifts. My soft penguin blanket remains a favorite, and the reindeer toy survives in my toy box, albeit with one ear missing. As for the reindeer ears and collar, their whereabouts are unknown, and I hope they stay that way. But, with Christmas approaching, I’m bracing myself for their possible return. I’ll keep you all updated, friends!

The post Doras Corner Week 4 appeared first on Aj in the Life.

The post Doras Corner Week 1 appeared first on Aj in the Life.

My daily routine is all thrown out of whack! Gone are my midmorning naps,
noon naps, and afternoon naps in peace.
I keep getting bothered with
snuggles.
What is happening? I am SO tired!
But, there are a few pawsitives to this situation‚

1.I get to enjoy the air conditioning all day long! Sometimes I just hang
out under Mom‚’s desk (aka the dining table).

I still go outside as I please, of course.

Mom & Dad are my personal door openers at my beck and
call.

2.I am now Dad‚’s supervisor.
I look over his work and make sure he is doing
everything properly.
I also realized that I enjoy being a lap dog!

3. I feel more attached to Mom & Dad than ever! Literally attached.
This way
if they move, I KNOW!

4. We are spending a lot of time in our backyard.
I‚’ve always loved yard
time and sunbathing and now we enjoy it several times a week!
Rolling in the grass is so satisfying!
I don‚’t mind posing for photoshoots as long as I can sunbathe.
Get all my
angles Mom!
Alright, telling Mom what to type is exhausting.
Time for me to take my nap.
Please don‚’t wake me up Dad!
I‚’ll try to keep my posts coming.
Keep bothering Mom to do my typing!
Until next time, friends!

The post Doras Corner Home All Day appeared first on Aj in the Life.

Our adventure started in the back of the shop, where we put on official
Chocole‚’a aprons, learned a bit more about Chocole‚’a and sipped on some
coffee accompanied with dark chocolate beans.

I was very excited to wear an official Chocole‚’a apron!
Then we made our way over to the kitchen where the real fun began.
The
kitchen is usually closed to the public, so if you want to go inside,
you‚’ll have to book a private workshop.
The first portion of the workshop was spent decorating our own chocolate
bars.
A full chocolate bar of Chocole‚’a chocolate? Am I dreaming?
You pick your toppings for your bar and then head over to the warm
chocolate station where you get to pour chocolate into the mold.

First, heat the mold.
Then ladle in the chocolate, and tap out any air bubbles.
Next, decorate your personal chocolate bar to your hearts content! Hurry!
You don‚’t have too much time before the chocolate starts to set.

My bar (left) has macadamia nuts & dried raspberry, marshmallows and
sprinkles and ginger candy & lavender.
Aaron who only has his upcoming
Ironman race on his mind, made a triathlon inspired bar with gummy bears
that are swimming, biking and running!
Once you‚’re done, your bars head to the refrigerator to set.

Time for the DIP portion of the workshop!
We each got our own large Chocole‚’a boxes to fill with our choice of items
to dip (or dunk) into chocolate.
Dip all your items into a personal cup of melted dark chocolate.

And lay them on a sheet to dry.
I also decorated a few of mine with
additional toppings because, why not?
After your tray of dipped goodies go into the refrigerator to set, you get
to indulge in more sweet treats! Hot chocolate! Yes, the seasonal treat
that is usually reserved for the holidays.
Yum!
In between sipping chocolate, you can also decorate your custom box label
if you wish.

Once everything is set, you package them up to take home and share (or not
share)!
We had a blast at Chocole‚’a Dip & Decorate workshop.
We were both smiling
ear to ear the entire time and had a lot of fun with our fellow chocolate
loving participants.

Before leaving Chocole‚’a I just had to get a limited Unicorn Pop! One of my
favorite things about Chocole‚’a is their speciality items! Isn‚’t it just so
cute?
If you‚’re looking for something fun and unique to do for a celebration,
special occasion or triple date night, check out Chocole‚’a Dip & Decorate
Workshop! The workshop will open to the public in May, so stay tuned to Chocole‚’a website and Instagram for more information and updates!

The post Sneak Peek Dip And Decorate Workshop At Chocolea Hawaii appeared first on Aj in the Life.

I woke up today with a continued sense of purpose.
I had a great sleep,
with some weird dreams that included a dinosaur made out of a cloud that
screamed and then exploded into rain…glad I survived the dream.
On our morning walk, I paid close attention to some new aches and pains.

Mainly I had some tenderness from my trail run.
What a grand idea that was.

By the end of the walk, my body had woken up a bit and I was ready to go.
The weather was a few degrees warmer than yesterday with a little more
humidity.
I could feel it.
But this is Hawaii, so I just learn to deal with
it.
I got my Tailwind ready to go, and gulped down a SIS gel for good
measure.
If you haven‚’t had one of these gels, they are my personal
favorite, and what I use for all marathons.

I also brought out some new shoes.
It is important to cycle through shoes
when you are running long distances.
I rotate between 7-8 pairs.
It keeps
the foam cushion from getting compressed too much, so they last longer.
At
least that is what I tell Janell.

Music of choice today was Taylor Swift radio, starting with “Blank Space”.

With my headphones on, I was ready to go.
As mentioned, it was warmer today than on day 1.
So I had every intention
to take it easy.
But after doing a new activation drill from Purple Patch
(my new triathlon program), I actually started hot out the gates.
In fact,
I ran today‚’s 10 miles over 2 minutes faster than yesterday‚’s! Whoops.
I did take the same number of breaks, and my heart rate was only 1 bpm
higher on average, but my stride was a little longer (perhaps from the
activation drills).
I guess we will see how bad an idea it was tomorrow.
26 down.
74 to go.
For my second run of the day, I decided to stay on the road vice the
trails.
As much as I would have loved to be back in the mountains, my
ankles were a little stiff today from all the rock and rolls, so I gave
them a rest.
Despite the weather app saying it felt like 72 degrees, the humidity in the
afternoon made it feel like it was 85 degrees.
I got out another new pair
of shoes, or lightly used pair rather, and put on my cool kid glasses.
I
figured that if nothing else, at least I would be running in style.

Since I listened to only Tay Tay this morning, I switched it up with some
old school (for me) All out 90‚’s.
Nothing like running to the beat of “My
Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion…
After another round of activation drills, I was on my way.
Surprisingly, my
legs weren‚’t heavy feeling at this point.
I was however still running a bit
quicker than I planned, so my walk breaks were important.

I was getting more and more drenched in sweat, and tried not to think about
the smells that were going to be ingrained in my shirt after this run.

Again my run was quicker than the previous day, granted, it was an “easier”
run with half the elevation gain.

32 down.
68 to go.
I made sure to have a post run recovery shake, treat, and hydration (Liquid
IV).
That GF banana bread was surely pushing me to finish today!
All in all, I was happy with another day completed.
With some aches from
day 1, it will be interesting how long I last tomorrow on my long 15 mile
run.
I think I will still wake up motivated, knowing that I will be half
way through once it is done.
However, I will probably start to feel the
previous 32 miles with each step.
Some of the tools I have been using for a while now for recovery include
the Hyperice Vyper vibrating roller and the Hyperice Hypervolt massager.

After a good 20 minute session with these bad boys, I am usually feeling a
lot better.
Time will tell.
Two days down.
Four more to go.

Thanks for reading!
PrefaceDay 1: Miles 0-16Day 3: Miles 33-47Day 4: Miles 48-63Day 5: Miles 64-73Day 6: Miles 74-100

The post My First 100 Mile Week Day 2 appeared first on Aj in the Life.

What started with so much promise, 2020 was going to be my year. I ended 2019 with a few great race results, and was primed for success to start 2020.

I had a mediocre race (A REAL ONE!) in January at the Maui Oceanfront Marathon. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, and didn’t push very hard halfway through, when I knew my “goal” time was slipping.

I enjoyed the race 100%, but I didn’t have any real goals or motivation going into the race. Partly, because my previous marathon was such a success (Big Bear Marathon), and partly because I was distracted by all those gorgeous views! What was planned as an early season A race, quickly turned into a B and then C race.

At the time, I knew I had 3 Ironman 70.3 races lined up, a NYC Marathon in the fall, and a few other local triathlons that I would hopefully do well in. So it wasn’t that big a deal to lose my focus during the race. Boy was I wrong.

It was a harsh lesson for me to truly appreciate each race I line up for, and not to take anything for granted. Something we have probably all learned in 2020.

A month later, as I was prepping diligently for my first triathlon of the season, the Lavaman, we started getting all the COVID news. I fought off a cold on a trip in early February, and shrugged it off as my annual 24hr bug. Who knows what it was, as “COVID” wasn’t a thing at that time. By the time March came around, I was ready to race again, but everything was flipped upside down just 2 weeks before the race.

It was a bit of a shock at the time, but seeing how it was affecting the rest of the world, I was actually not too upset. In fact, as each race started to get cancelled, I never once felt sorry for myself. Rather I felt empathy for all those in the world who were affected on a much deeper level.

In order to keep myself sane during this time, I thought I would realign my focus of 2020 to better training, rather than more racing. The past 3 years have been almost non-stop racing, so it was going to be a nice change to get in some serious training blocks.

But first, I decided to use my fitness I had built up, to tackle my first 100 mile running week. That was an interesting experience, and taught me a lot about my body and how strong it had become. That distance sounded crazy far, but because I have been putting in so much work, I was able to enjoy each step! Now I just have to figure out how I will do that in one day.

After a little bit of recovery, I joined the Purple Patch Fitness squad for some disciplined training blocks. With so much uncertainty going forward, I wanted to make sure I had a good training path so my time wasn’t wasted. I ended up with some of the biggest training weeks I have ever done, and felt great!

I also started participating in a few of Ironman’s virtual races (VR series). After the first 70.3 distance one however, I realized that it just wasn’t the same as real racing, and I didn’t want to get stuck in a VR every weekend. So despite setting some PR’s, I decided it was best to get focused again on training.

Perhaps the sport I needed the most help with was swimming. Unfortunately, due to COVID, that has been the hardest sport to train for. Whether it was beaches closing or pools closing/limited hours, getting in the water consistently has been tough. But, using swim bands multiple times a week as part of my training program, along with strength work, has helped me to maintain some of my speed when I have gotten back in the water. Let’s be honest, I didn’t have very far to fall. But I am hopeful that once we get back to a more consistent schedule, this time away from swimming will spark more motivation for me to swim harder than ever.

When it came to biking and running however, I started hitting some new numbers and personal bests. All the hard work started to pay off, as I could see my continued growth each month.

Most my races were deferred to 2021, but a few of the marathons were also having virtual races this year. Since running is easier to do logistically compared to a triathlon, I signed up for two virtual marathons.

The first one was treated like a C race, with no race build, just the same base training plan I was on. I was able to run the first half comfortably, but after mile 17, I started to fade, and motivation quickly dissipated. Self supported races are so tough mentally to stay engaged. I also chose a 7 loop flat course, that was very boring. I thought it was going to be easier, but the monotony was one of the contributing factors to me backing off and cruising in the last third of the race. My finish time was 3:27, which is by no means bad, but it was far from the best I could have done.

And so, I shook it off, and later that day added an 8 week marathon race build to my training calendar in Purple Patch. I knew I had good base fitness, but needed some marathon specific training. I was also curious to see how their marathon specific plan would work.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the PPF marathon plan, but it was nice to see the inclusion of biking and swimming each week. The intensity and duration was much less than normal, but it served as good recovery and a change from the constant pounding of running.

This time, I decided to race the Honolulu Marathon course for my NYC virtual marathon. The last time I ran it was in 2017, and this time I was able to post a Hawaii PR at 3:10 even! I still can’t believe I have run 10 marathons in my life, with 3 self supported marathons this year alone.

It was interesting to me that this race felt like a real race. Perhaps it was because I have experienced this course in a race environment and could visualize it very clearly. Perhaps it was because I was well prepared for the race, and was able to finish strong. Either way, it was one of my best races I have ever run (in terms of plan and execution), and it felt amazing to finish.

Funny story, as I was ending the race, I looked at my watch and saw I could get under 3:10 if I sprinted. I had a few tenths of a mile left, and gave it all I had. I also knew I didnt want to run too far over the 26.2 mile distance, so I was locked into my watch and barely noticed passing a lady who was minding her own business and walking like a normal person. And then I hit 3:10 and immediately stopped my watch, stopped running, and bent over dry heaving. I am sure it was quite a sight to see, and I apologize if I scared her. That is what virtual races are all about I guess!

So as I reflect on this year, the year of COVID, I think I have met and exceeded all I could have achieved. I pushed when I could have, I learned important lessons about racing, and I’ve learned about what truly motivates me.

I look forward to a new beginning in 2021, and am hopeful that all of us, not just athletes, will be stronger because of all that was endured. I know this year has taught our family how important perspective is on life and has showed us what is truly important.

The post 2024: A Year of Virtual Racing appeared first on Aj in the Life.

It was my first triathlon, and the race that hooked me into the sport.
I
will try to capture as many parts of it as I can, so that you can learn
something perhaps you didn‚’t know before!
Travel to the Big Island
There are two airports to fly into on the Big Island (aka Hawai‚’i).
The
closest one to the race venue is Kona International Airport (KOA).
From
there, it is about a 45 min drive (usually with no traffic), to the
Fairmont Orchid (where the pre-race festivities take place).

PRO TIP: When in Kona, stop by Walmart, Costco, or Longs before heading to your
hotel, so you can load up on your essentials (water, sun screen, snacks,
post race drinks).
Otherwise you end up paying resort prices for everything
once you are in that area.
You might even want to stop somewhere to get
food if it is meal time.
If you are not as serious a racer, or don‚’t want to ship your bike for the
race, I recommend renting your bike from Bike Works in Kona.
That is THE bike shop for all your race needs, and bike rentals.

In 2017 I rented a road disc bike for $140 for the race weekend, and in
2018 I put my bike together in their parking lot, almost broke it, and they
helped me before I over torqued my stem!
Bike Works is also a great place to get CO2 cartridges, because you can
return them for store credit if you don‚’t use them! Make sure you also put
in your request for rental as early as possible.
If they run out of
rentals, they will even put you on a wait list!
Accommodations
In both 2017 and 2018 we chose to stay at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
(formerly known as the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel).
Personally I love making
race morning as easy as possible.
The Westin hotel is only a 10-15 min walk
from the room to the race start, so there is no waiting or shuttles to deal
with.
Westin Hapuna Beach Room
Westin Hapuna Beach Bath
The hotel itself just went under a renovation, and the pools are great for
post race relaxing!
You can even walk (ride) your bike to T-1 the day before the race, through
a side road, and avoid the traffic of the other racers!
There aren‚’t many Airbnbs near the race start or finish, but there is a
dirt parking lot at the Fairmont Orchid and shuttles to the start for
racers/spectators.
The Fairmont Orchid is a very nice hotel, and is very
convenient post race, but I prefer the post race bike ride back to the
hotel instead.
Pre-Race Festivities
The pre-race environment for Ironman events are always full of fun and
energy.

Many racers get caught up in the atmosphere, visiting all the vendors,
walking around a lot, sightseeing, over training, etc.
This venue is no
different, but the actual pre-race areas are relatively small.
However, you
end up walking more than you would expect so don‚’t waste steps.
The pre-race brief is usually crowded, and held in a very large ballroom
(so it‚’s AC!).
There are sign-in sheets at the front, so it is technically
honor system, but your signature needs to be down there.

The brief is about an hour long (standard), and does a good job covering
the main points and scaring people into not drafting.
Next door to that is the bike shop and merchandise store, again in a
ballroom, and also AC.
That place can get very crowded, so don‚’t go before
or after the athlete briefing if you can help it.

Next door to that is the athlete check in, which is again in a ballroom,
and takes roughly 5-10 minutes.

At athlete check in, you receive a draw string bag, filled with a schedule,
swim cap, tri-tat race number, bike stickers, a T-1 bag and a T-2 bag.
You
will need to leave your T-2 bag at the Fairmont Orchid the day before the
race (location for drop changed each year).
I think they leave it in the
sun, so keep that in mind for nutrition.
PSA: If you do what is recommended and put on the tri-tat the night before, you
will be in pain if you sleep shirtless and the tat gets stuck to the
sheets.
Trust me.
Morning of the race is fine.
I recommend doing the Friday 10:45 AM Athlete check-in, 11 AM Race Brief,
12 PM T-2 bag drop, and then rushing over to the Hapuna Beach State Park
for the 1 PM T-1 bike drop.

There are no shuttles to T-1, so many racers just ride over (5-6 miles) and
then get picked up.
Kama‚’aina can park free with I.D., otherwise it‚’s $5 I
think.
If you do this plan, MAKE sure you have everything you need for your T-2 bag before you get to the
expo! The T-1 area always opens at least 30 min early, and rack location is
first come first serve.
So don‚’t wait until 5pm!
After all the pre-race stuff, it is time to prep everything for the next
morning, eat some food, and relax.
Race Morning
I usually get up about 3-4 hrs before the race, or 1.5 hrs before I need to
leave my room.
This gives me enough time to eat, drink and empty in my own
privacy.
Being able to walk to the start from the hotel is super awesome
because I get to sleep in a little!
T-1 opens around 5 am, and I try get there around 5:30 am.
If you go too
early, you do a lot of sitting around and anxiously waiting.

At T-1, there are tons of bike pumps, people giving body marking, and
sunscreen.
Music is blaring and there is a lot of open space to swim, run,
or hang out with loved ones.

Don‚’t forget all your bike nutrition/water and T-1 bag (helmet, bikes
shoes, batteries, computers, etc.) Also make sure you adjust your gearing
for that first big hill and pump up those tires!
Race Start/Swim
The swim start is a rolling, self seeded AG start, and usually it is a 4
person send off every 5 seconds.
I‚’ve never done a true mass start, but I
hear they are not fun…so I am a fan of this type of start.

Spectators at swim start
The swim is breathtaking.
The water is clear about 20-30 feet deep, and
often times you can see honu! My goggles fogged the first year, and I was
too busy swimming to notice myself, but from what I heard there are fish as
well.

The last two years were the same, with three right hand turns and a final
left hand turn.
The sky is pretty lit by the time the swim starts, but not
visible until 15 min after swim start.
However, it isn‚’t really ever in
your eyes, at least when my AG is in the water (usually 4-5 group).

PRO TIP: Don‚’t hit the swim buoys! I have a bad left shoulder, and ended up
swimming too close to a buoy on the third turn.
It hit my face, stopped me
still, and my left shoulder ended up dislocating when I started my stroke.

It popped back in after, but it hurt for the rest of the swim.
Aaron 0 –
Buoy 1.
T-1 Area
The run up to T-1 is sand, then concrete with carpet over it.
There are
some water hoses for the sand.

Once you pass that area, the bags are along the path in numerical order
(where you placed it).
The bike racks are categorized by famous
triathletes, something I think is pretty cool.
It makes it easy to
remember, and also pays homage to their hard work.

Once you get past the mount line, there are volunteers there to help you
get on your bike, as it is a steep incline in the first 1/2 mile.
Remember to choose the right gear before you rack your bike one last time!
Bike
There is nothing like biking on the famous Queen Ka‚’ahumanu Highway in a
race (unless you have already done it at THE IRONMAN).
The history of the
course can give you chills, except it is too hot for that.

The bike course is fairly straight forward, except for two U-turns (make
sure to practice those).
The rest of the course isn‚’t technically
challenging, but it is physically taxing with the heat, cross winds, and
rolling hills (about 3,500 ft climbing).

The Hawi climb of 5 miles isn‚’t that bad if you are smart about your
pacing, or have a 30/32 cassette.
I have an 11-32 and didn‚’t run out of
gears up that climb.

The year before I had a 11-28 and was a new rider, so it sucked but was far
from impossible.
It did rain a little both years on that climb.
Remember,
what goes up must come down, so look forward to that.

I also struggle with the U-turn at Hawi, so make sure you are ready for a
tight one, after a climb.
I almost fell both years, of course I ride
indoors 99% of the time.

The aid stations are every 8-10 miles, and are pretty long and well marked.

One sneaky hard part is the turn from Kawaihae back to the Queen K.
I hit
my fastest speeds going down that hill, but that means coming up is not
very fun.
I just never expected it to be hard, but I did run out of gearing
there both years and had to push power harder than I wanted.
Again, not the
end of the world, but a segment that can sneak up on you.
The rest of the
rollers are the same ones you already rode, so nothing else to say until
the Fairmont no pass zone and T-2.
PRO TIP: Make sure you are paying attention at all times on the bike.
That goes
without saying at all times, but with the distraction of the beautiful
ocean to your right (or left), and the cross winds, all it takes is one
mistake to fall down a massive hill.
I got distracted for a second and
almost ran into a guardrail which would have probably ended my life…luckily
God was watching and I have since learned my lesson.
Enjoy the ride, but
never get distracted!
T-2
In this race, you must dismount and rack your own bike.
I have twice been
confused as to where my bike was supposed to be and luckily got help from
family to point me in the right direction.

It never crossed my mind to find my spot the day before, but I think you
technically could do that since it is set up (might be next to T-2 bag drop
area if they keep it the same as 2018).

Then you are handed your T-2 bag by volunteers, enter a small changing tent
or just sit in the available chairs, and then leave your bag and start
running.
I think there is water right out of T-2, followed by several aid
stations along the course.
Run
In my opinion, the hardest part of this run course is the rolling hills of
the golf course, not ‚Äö√Ñ√∫Hell‚’s Kitchen‚Äö√Ñ√π as they say.
It is hot and humid
everywhere, and the concrete golf cart paths that go up and down sharply,
followed by soft grass, makes it hard to find a running rhythm.

It is not meant to be a fast run course, but if you are fast then it
doesn‚’t matter where you run.
PRO TIP: Look out for all the goats! I counted 40+ last race, but that also means
goat poop.
But still fun to see them grazing the golf course.
Finish Line and Finish Area
There is nothing like the red carpet of an Ironman event.
However, in
Hawaii, there is no red carpet, but rather grass and a local floral
arrangement arch.
I prefer the red carpet finish, but that is a personal
thing.

The athletes are given three tickets for booze or water, and a meal ticket
for some burgers and such.
Nothing fancy, but better than nothing? I never
eat after races because I am never hungry, but people seem to enjoy
themselves.

There are also some massage areas, and the cool waters of Hawaii just
begging for you to jump in.
I love that feeling (after my Redbull of
course), but be careful not to cut your soft feet on the reef.
I did that
and didn‚’t realize til a few hours later when it started hurting.

The awards are held a few hours after the race, about 4pm, followed by the
roll down.
This is one of the very few 70.3 races with slots to both Kona
and 70.3 WC, but everyone who wins their AG most likely will take the Kona
slot.
The 70.3 WC South Africa slot did get passed up in many age groups to
who ever wanted it.
I was 9th and missed it by one spot! So you never know!
There are no shuttles back to the race start, only to the parking lot from
the hotel (same one used pre-race).
Bikes aren‚’t allowed back on the buses,
so I ended up just riding back to the hotel, picked up the car, and then
picked up Janell at the hotel.

Final Thoughts
This race is highly recommended, and can turn into a great family vacation.

I even met a guy from Europe who convinced his wife that this race was a
good honeymoon idea‚Äö√Ѭ∂she enjoyed a spa day while he raced (don‚’t get any
ideas Janell!).

If you are a healthier eater, I highly recommend Under the Bodhi Tree at
the Shops at Mauna Lani near the Fairmont Orchid.
They even have race week
specials for athletes!
That just about covers it.
If you have any other questions or things I
missed, feel free to comment! Hope you were able to learn something to help
you PR your next Ironman 70.3 Honu!

By Aaron

The post Ironman 703 Hawaii Honu Race Report 2017 2018 appeared first on Aj in the Life.

Compared to the summer time, today was great.
But compared to the last few
months of “cooler” weather, today got warm.

I got my belongings together, and chose my running vest today for some
extra storage of water and gels.
I use the UltrAspire Spry 2.5 vest which is perfect for 15-30 mile runs.
I also have a gel tube that can hold 5 gels at once, which makes it easy to consume when needed.
After a careful selection of my music, 5 Seconds of Summer radio again on
Spotify, I was out the door with “Good Girls” playing in my head.

My first few steps were refreshing because I didn‚’t feel the fatigue that I
was half expecting.
In my initial post about running 100 miles, I expected that today would be a hard day for me
physically.
However, to my surprise, I felt strong.

In fact, my moving pace for most of the run was quicker than I had
expected, and even with my 30 second walk breaks, my mile times were
comfortably within my goal time.

The views today were also pretty spectacular.
I love seeing the reflection
of the sky in the water!
Bright Suns! What I meant by that is once the sun rises, it is HOT.

Unfortunately, it is rising earlier and earlier too! I should have done
this in the winter time when it stays dark until 7:00 AM.
Next time.

I might have to start my marathon attempt at 4:00 AM on Saturday.
Yikes.
Things got dicey toward the end of the run, and in the last 4 miles my
heart rate started to climb.
It was partly due to the elevation gain back
to my starting point, and partly due to the temperature being 10 degrees
higher than when I started.

47 down.
53 to go.
I‚’ll be needing another ice bath and some food to replenish my soul after
this run.
I ordered a 12 pack of Red Bull from Target yesterday (curbside
pick up was great!) and have one chilling in the fridge.
This is one of my
favorite post race traditions.
Or in this case, post long run.

I also like to lie upside down for 5-10 minutes to flush the legs.
I think
it helps.
Who knows.
I definitely am happy with how I feel halfway through this.
With only three
days left, I am 100% confident I will finish this.
Ask me again how I feel
in the middle of my marathon in 3 days and we shall see if I change my
answer.
Thanks for following along!
PrefaceDay 1: Miles 0-16Day 2: Miles 17-32Day 4: Miles 48-63Day 5: Miles 64-73Day 6: Miles 74-100

The post My First 100 Mile Week Day 3 appeared first on Aj in the Life.

World of Color Dining Package Experience Last year, we enjoyed the Fantastic Dining Package at Blue Bayou, and this year, we opted for the World of Color dining package at Carthay Circle in Disney’s California Adventure Park. Since our visit was in early November, we were treated to the World of Color Season of Light Holiday Show.

Dining Package Options The World of Color Dining Package includes a multi-course meal and reserved viewing tickets for the show. The participating restaurants in 2019 were:

• Wine Country Trattoria (Lunch/Dinner: $50 for adults, $25 for children)
• Storyteller’s Cafe (Dinner: $50 for adults, $25 for children)
• Carthay Circle Restaurant (Lunch: $56 for adults, Dinner: $74 for adults, $25 for children for both)

We chose the lunch package at Carthay Circle Restaurant for its more affordable pricing and the early show reservation.

Reservations and Menu Reservations are highly recommended and can be made 60 days in advance. The 2019 lunch menu offered a selection of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Our choices included Fairytale pumpkin soup, Baja White Shrimp, Carthay Salad, Pork Chop, and desserts like the Honey Crisp Apple Tart and Triple Chocolate Verrine.

A Relaxing Lunch The meal at Carthay Circle was both delicious and relaxing, providing a nice break during a busy day at the park. They also catered to dietary needs, offering gluten-free bread.

World of Color Viewing Experience For the World of Color Season of Light, we checked into our reserved area at 8:25 PM. Despite being early, we found the central area quite accessible. However, some stage equipment from the Festival of Holidays needed repositioning, slightly affecting our viewing location. Nonetheless, we enjoyed an unobstructed view of the show and got a bit wet due to the wind.

Overall Impressions The World of Color Season of Light show was delightful and definitely got us into the holiday spirit. Though we missed the original World of Color Show, this experience leaves us eager for a return visit. We’re curious to hear from others who’ve experienced the Carthay Circle Dining Package – where was your viewing area?

The post Carthay Circle Lunch World Of Color Dining Package appeared first on Aj in the Life.