Marci Darling

So I hope I’m not boring you guys with all my running/training talk but really, until I run the Happy Haunted 5k at Disney, it’s one of the main priorities on my mind!  Honestly, even after I finish the run I’m going to keep up with running and trying to improve my speed/endurance.  I’m really happy to report that I love running (for the most part) and could see myself someday saying I’m a “real” runner!  I’ve been trying to get up at 5 am all this week so that I can get in the habit of waking up early and doing my run in the morning, and this morning I actually did it.  The run wasn’t that great.  To be honest, I started out good but seemed to lose my stamina half way in and had some shin splints kick in as well.  Last weekend I bought a foam roller in order to get rid of my shin splints and so far it’s not working, but I just started with it so I’m going to keep trying!  Here’s a great video from YouTube that shows how to use a foam roller properly.  There are a lot of different techniques but I really loved the way this woman used her roller, it’s easy but effective!

As I mentioned before, the 5k I’m running is called the “Happy Haunted 5k“… Disney likes to make things a little spooky for Halloween but not TOO spooky.  Well, speaking of all things spooky, Disney has unveiled a new line of dolls, apparel, jewelry, and more called the “Villains Designer Collection” and there are more than a few things here I would love to buy!  Disney artist Steve Thompson designed the new glam look for the villains that the dolls are based on and you can read an interview with him here.  Keep an eye out for this new collection at a Disney store near you.

And lastly, I want to talk about one of my favorite reasons for going to Walt Disney World, The Epcot Food and Wine festival!!  Every year Epcot hosts an amazing food and wine festival around the lagoon at World Showcase.  I went once in 2001 and again in 2010 when I was pregnant (what a perfect time to go, right!?).  Not only will I be running a 5k when I travel to Disney World in late September but I also happen to be there when the F&W fest is starting… Bonus!  When I was there in 2010 one of my favorite dishes was the Fisherman’s pie.  Oh lordy, I could have eaten three or four servings of this dish!  If you are going to be attending the Food and Wine festival the best resource for everything going on there is the Disney Food Blog Food and Wine Festival Page.   I know I have been browsing this page a lot daydreaming about what I’m going to be eating while I’m there.

Are you going to attend the Food and Wine festival this year?  What will you be eating while you’re there or is there something I simply cannot miss?  Let me know in the comments below and thanks for reading!