this post is not about malaysia.

so, this blog is most definitely, first and foremost, about my adventures and time spent living in malaysia. that being said, part of living in malaysia is missing out on some pretty big and sentimental things at home. for example, this weekend my dear 30-year-old brother (and that’s to the DAY, people – his birthday is today!) and his sweet-as-pie young lady got married. i could write a book on that topic alone, but, to keep it brief (and because i’ve got other things to talk about), i’ll just say i’m incredibly happy for them. happy he gets to start a new adventure in life with someone genuinely kind and caring, happy our grandparents were able to be there with him, happy two of our four amazing aunts were able to be there with him, and most importantly – happy that my parents were able to be there with him. health-wise, things are not the best at home, and sometimes i’d really rather be there, but my mom continuously reminds me that my place right now is here, in malaysia. a bittersweet realization, but at the same time, it’s comforting. i have really supportive parents.

all of that gushy stuff out of the way, there IS something else happening in america this weekend that i would give my right foot to be at. well, maybe not my right FOOT, considering the topic to follow, but my right something.

in 2010, i decided to start running. i hated running. all throughout my school years, never once did i run a proper mile. physical fitness tests were my least favorite thing, for the mile alone. i just hated it. it continued into college. my dear best friend had to drag me to the gym or the running trail, and i never went happily. fortunately, she was patient enough with me to let me be a grouch about it.

so, in 2010, as a result of i don’t know what – probably a mixture of a major boy issue and needing better ways to release frustration, boredom, and a little bit of wanting to begin a healthier lifestyle - i started running. admittedly, my first 5k was a paws4people 5k (that which i previously spoke about months ago on this blog) – and it was bad. i’ll blame it all on WYATT and his unfortunate bathroom break at the beginning of the race until my last breath, but i MAY have had my own contribution to my slow time. still, it was a start. and when you start something poorly, the only direction to go is up (or down, in the case of run times).

i have no shame in admitting my disney obsession. i’ve traveled all over the world, and still my #1 vacation spot is disney world. so, when i discovered that i could combine disney and my new hobby of running, of COURSE i wasted to time in signing up for my very first half marathon – the 2011 Disney Princess Half Marathon. i had no idea what i was doing, but i was gonna do it. and much to my surprise, my darling 29-year-old (wink, wink) aunt wanted to do it with me! we picked out separate training plans and set in for several months of winter training. i want to say we signed up in about august or september, and the race is held in february. cold runs awaited us!

we did it, and it was done, and we were so ecstatic, we wanted to do it again. when i initially had orders for malaysia, i was supposed to move the weekend of the 2012 race. pixie dust was sprinkled upon me, and i had reason to push back my moving date two weeks – perfect! i was then able to sign up for 2012 and start training again. and then we did that one, and it was done, and we were ecstatic. it’s really an accomplishment. it may not feel like it’s that special when you’re around thousands of people who just accomplished the same thing as you – but then when you’re alone and realize what you’ve just done and what that means to YOURSELF, it’s an accomplishment.

so, if you’re still with me after all of that, this weekend is the 5th anniversary of the WDW Princess Half Marathon. it’s supposed to be amazing and special. how can it be amazing and special if I’M not there?? just kidding. but it is a bit of a bummer – this is another one of those moments that i have to sit down and re-accept that i made the choice to be here, and that includes missing out on some opportunities and fun times in america. the many opportunities i’ve had here and the places i’ve been since moving here have definitely made it crazy amounts of worth it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t miss what you are missing. the PHM trips not only served as running accomplishments, but also some pretty valuable time spent with two of my aunts, one of my cousins, and my sister and nephew.

i actually signed up for a half marathon here, in penang, last fall, but never went through with it. running in malaysia is hard. running outside is nearly impossible due to the heat, humidity, exhaust from cars and busses, etc, and yet that’s my favorite place to run. i can do about 3-4 miles on a treadmill before i become bored to tears. running in the KLCC park is also only good for 3-4 miles, any longer and you’re just running circles. circles are annoying. added to that, i lacked time to actually dedicate to training because i was trying to spend as much time as possible with that boy before he had to leave here.

boyfriend distraction gone, and plenty of free time, i’ve signed up for another half marathon in phuket in june. i’m pretty excited for this one. i’m about 1/3 of the way through training already. i’m forcing myself to do the treadmill runs, and only doing the long runs outside, and so far it’s all good. i’m crossing my fingers that everything will work out for this one and i’ll be able to make it. even if i just go up friday and come back right after the race on sunday, it’s worth it! and hey, maybe without character stops every .5 miles or so, i’ll be able to get a REAL half marathon time!! my time in 2011 was just over three hours, and my time in 2012 was just under three hours. kind of amazing for the 2012 one, considering that i don’t think i did any runs over five miles in the months leading up to it – life was way too busy then.

so, in sum, this is another weekend where i kind of wish i were not here. another weekend where i remind myself this was completely my choice, and it was a choice made with the knowledge that i’d sacrifice some things. from the deeply important, such as my brother’s wedding, to the silly, such as a disney race, i can’t run back to america for everything. at least i know when i return to america for “good,” i have a boyfriend in close proximity to disneyland that i can experience all of THEIR runDisney races as well!!

but really – wouldn’t you miss a run through here? happy weekend ☺

Categories: disney, HOME, just rambling