Completely Geeky Weekend

This coming weekend, May 2-3, 2015, you can join me in celebrating 3 amazing events: Free Comic Book Day, National Lemonade Day AND Star Wars Day!

Free Comic Book Day will be Saturday, May 2rd at local participating comic book stores!  Free Comic Book Day is like a mini Comic Con with cosplay, artitsts, authors and parties national wide:  Meet the artists and authors in person, pick up Free Comics and other Free Gifts!  

Everyone Will Be At FREE Comic Book Day!

Comic books are an awesome tool to build curiosity, imagination and promote reading, and there are a wide range of genres to fit every interest and age.  Currently, I'm reading The Walking Dead comics but plan on grabbing a copy of Guardians of the Galaxy or Avatar or relive my childhood and pickup an Archie comic!

Showdown: Jawbone vs Fitbit

We recently began the Virtual Coast to Coast Challenge where we are walking/running from Disneyland to Walt Disney World.   We are using a variety of fitness trackers from FitBit, Jawbone, Nike, Garmin, and various phone Apps.  The 2 largest user groups are FitBit and Jawbone, and we've gone head to head on who is better:  the #upsters or #teamfitbit.

So several weeks ago,  I decided to buy a Jawbone Up and wear the UP and FitBit Charge HR simultaneously to get a personal perspective on which one really was "the best".


For starters, I listed the general features that I wanted in a tracker and how each stood up.   

The Force Awakens Panel at Star Wars Celebration

Star Wars Celebration is now officially open in Anaheim, California!

The Force Awakens Panel kicked off Star Wars Celebration today, and I watched it via StarWars.com !

We saw appearances from JJ Abrams, R2D2, BB-8, the new cast and finally the original cast!

Of course, no super secrets were revealed but everyone was obviously excited to be a part of the project and to feel the excitement of the fans.

Here are some fun things I took away from the panel:

- new technology was incorporated throughout the movie: including the amazing BB-8
- we will be introduced to a new planet called Jakku
- the Stormtroopers have an updated look
- the classic Princess Leia's buns will be gone
- look out for new designs in astromech droids!
- and of course, the newest trailer!


It was good see the new cast, but chilling to see our original favorites.   And to see that the cast truly appreciates the ultra-passionate fans (UPFs) was heartwarming.  Mark Hamill said it best, we were "more than fans, we were family".

Everyone has a Star Wars Story... I watched a New Hope with my dad and cherish those memories.  And I'm looking forward to the new movies and many more memories to come!

What is your Star Wars Story?
www.kesselrunner77@gmail.com

Star Wars has invaded Los Angeles!

Star Wars has invaded Los Angeles!  How awesome this would be...
Are you going to Star Wars Celebration?

Whose autograph would be on your list?  Would you dress up?

I'd love to hear kesselrunner77@gmail.com

Crescent City Classic 10K 2015 Recap

The Crescent City Classic is New Orleans' largest 10K and a premier race attracting runners from across the world, the country and the region running 6.2 miles from the Superdome, through the CBD and historic French Quarter and ending at City Park.  Years ago, it was my very first race to run, and it sold me on this amazing sport!  I was so excited that Jonathan would be running it with me this year: New Orleans is his favorite City and  it would be his first CCC!

We headed out the door at 5:30 am on our way to City Park.  The race has a traditional party at the end in City Park, so we always leave our cars there and take complimentary bus rides to the start.

It was a dreary, rainy, chilly day but the love for the race and this city created contagious enthusiasm. Being in Downtown and hanging out at Champions Square was very exciting!  It was a gathering place where families and friends could meet up before heading to their corrals.

Even though this race attracts elite runners from around the globe, this is a race for all fitness levels: from walkers, to running clubs, to families with strollers and young runners, to charity groups!  Everyone is welcome here, and New Orleans is such a beautiful city to bring your family to enjoy!  It is privilege to run through the oak-lined streets, to see gorgeous homes and to run with so many colorful people!

And you will feel the Southern charm and hospitality all along the way: the residence pour out along the streets to cheer you on, providing music, handing out "refreshments", donuts, hotdogs and more!  We even found Ole Miss fans, too!  At one point we had a whole block yelling and screaming "Hotty Toddy"!  It's an awesome experience!

Of course, it wouldn't be New Orleans without a party!  And the festival in City Park makes the miles worth it!  City Park holds precious memories for me, because my mom took me to City Park almost every weekend growing up.  I love ending the race here:  seeing good friends, grabbing some cheewees, listening to great music and enjoying lots of cheerful people!

But City Park wasn't the end of the day for us!  Our CCC run wouldn't be complete if we didn't stop at Lakeside Harbor!  We love their fried mushrooms, delicious hamburgers with shredded cheese and their mouth-watering, loaded baked potatoes!   An all around enjoyable way to spend a Saturday!

You can definitely count on the Running Rebels coming back next year!  Want to Join us?

kesselrunner77@gmail.com

Crescent City Classic Expo 2015

I went to the Crescent City Classic Expo today to pick up my race bib and T shirt and was able to get last minute information for you!

Didn't Register? Good News!  There is still time to register for the Crescent City Classic 10K!  Late registration will be going on through tomorrow from 10am - 8pm at the Hyatt in New Orleans.

Next up, Corrals:  Once you receive your bib, you will notice that it is brightly colored.  The color will match to your corral at the start of the race.  There will be strict enforcement of the color codes - so beware.

Tip: If you are pulling a cart or pushing a stroller, you will be forced to line up in Yellow regardless of your bib color.

You can start catching race day buses at 5:30am at City Park.  The last bus will be at 7:45.

Tip: Buses back to downtown from City Park will start at 10 am, with the last bus leaving at 1pm.

The Weather for Saturday will be a low of 63 with a high of 71.  It will probably be humid, but otherwise nice running weather!

The course will be the normal path from downtown to City Park.

And the Michelob Race Fest will be held near the Practice Field, as usual.
The party begins at 10am: free to all runners and a $10 charge to the public.

If you came along with family or live locally, don't pass up this opportunity to run in this amazing race through historic New Orleans: the atmosphere is one you can't have anywhere else in the world!
This race holds very fond memories for me, and I hope that you will be there to share it with me!

Need more info?  let me know kesselrunner77@gmail.com

5 Reasons to Run the Happiest Races on Earth!

Are you wondering... "why should I do a runDinsey race"? There are a lot of excuses not to - but there are many reasons why running Disney can be a fun, magical experience!

Here are My Top 5 Reasons to take the right steps, move forward and runDisney!

1.  You are a Winner!
Whether you just ran a 5K or the WDW Goofy Challenge, finished first or last, Disney makes you feel like you just won the Olympics!  From the awesome medal, to the extra Disney care, to all of the encouragement along the way, you will be treated like Royalty!  

2. Organization
There is nothing worse that being in a race that runs out of water:  it's very discouraging.  But Disney has the experience of moving large groups each day through their parks, providing services and protection to their park goers, and being organized and on time.  They take this knowledge and put it to use at runDinsey:  You will always have water, snacks, first aid, and cast members at your service all along the way!

3. Running Through The Parks
There is no other race on Earth that will let you run through Cinderella's Castle, or through the World Showcase, or by Mount Everest, or get pictures with your favorite Disney characters!  All of the excitement generates enthusiasm and you can't wait to see what awaits you at the next turn.

4. It's About Family and Vacation
You may be running the big race, but a runDisney race is a family race.  With a family 5K and kids races, the whole family gets involved.   And while you are running, they can be a part of the Cheer Squads and cheer you on!  It's so much fun to see a familiar face on a challenging race - it helps you remember who you are running for!  And you are all together is a Magical Vacation spot - Disney!

5. It's Your Race!
Disney races are available throughout the year.  It is easy to find one that fits your schedule.  Once you pick a race, you will have plenty of time to budget and train.  This added flexibility helps you find the Disney race and vacation that is right for your!  Best of all, as a Disney Destination Specialist, I'll take all the worry of planning off your mind so you can focus on training for Your Happiest Race on Earth!

Ready to Register?
Be sure to Check These Tips First!

 kesselrunner77@gmail.com

5 Things to Think About When Starting a Fitness Program

I am Extremely busy, and I know y'all are, too!  I hear from many of my friends that it's just hard to fit your health needs in with everything else going on; and with all the different DVDs, classes, and plans available, it's confusing!  The toughest part with all these programs is that many times you start and stop before you can realize the promised results.    More than likely, you are just doing something "popular" instead of thinking what is best for you, your schedule, your family and your lifestyle.

So, before you start your next program, think about these 5 things first: