Okay, kids, here’s my hot take: Universal Studios Florida’s culinary scene is not that great. Listen! You know how everyone used to complain about how Walt Disney World food is just burgers and nuggets, and how over the last decade or so it’s experienced a culinary Renaissance? Yeah, that hasn’t happened at Universal Studios. I mean, sure, there’s some...
Continue readingWhat I Found Odd About Velocicoaster & Other Universal Observations
I decided not to do a proper trip report for my single Universal Studios Florida day. By the combined powers of Universal’s Express Pass and the touring style of my trip group, it was all very ride-to-ride-to-ride (and Velocicoaster three times!). Efficient, yes, but hardly entertaining when rendered in prose. Still, you know I can’t go to a theme...
Continue readingKate The Great Takes Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
Hello runDisney friends! I know, I know, I famously did not run the 2024 Wine & Dine Half Marathon. Luckily, someone simultaneously much cooler AND hotter than me did. Enter my cousin-in-law (that’s a real term; I checked) Kate, the only member of my family who loves Disney parks as much as I do. She recently came over to...
Continue readingA Neurodivergent Tackles Horror Nights: I Escaped The Further!
Universal Studios Florida's 2024 Halloween Horror Nights event is over for the year, but I can't resist doing a debrief anyway. After all, I was a VERY brave girl. 😅 I will be approaching this post with a light overlay of the point of view of someone with neurodivergence. One thing many neurodivergent individuals love is INFORMATION; I am one...
Continue readingHow To Recover From A Marathon: Run Around A Theme Park
“Jenn, you just completed your fifth Marine Corps Marathon and twentieth marathon overall – what are you gonna do next?” Baby, I’m going to Universal Studios Florida for Halloween Horror Nights! You know I’m all about theme park life. That’s right – while the rest of you lucky suckers are running Wine & Dine Weekend races, I’ll be getting...
Continue readingHow Slow Can I Go? Marine Corps Marathon 2024 Recap
I set out with a unique goal as I approached the 2024 Marine Corps Marathon: my aim was to run the slowest non-runDisney marathon I’d ever clocked. Huh? Why would anyone want to do that? Isn’t the whole point of races trying to improve upon your time? Well, yes, but then again, no. In light of my lingering knee...
Continue readingAm I About To Achieve Marathon #20? Or DNF #1?
I’m not gonna lie to you guys – I’m feeling a bit nervous about the Marine Corps Marathon. WHY THIS MIGHT BE MY FIRST DNF Hey, remember that knee trouble I reported back in frickin’ APRIL? I never managed to quite get rid of it. I think it’s patellar tendinitis. It’s been waxing and waning, and I wasn’t able...
Continue readingJack Skellington: Pumpkin King & A Great Guy To Work For
Since the dawn of October 1993, mankind has struggled with this question: is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? I don’t know why, though; the answer is obviously both. But here’s something to ponder on your next viewing, to occur any time between now and the end of the year: have you ever noticed...
Continue readingResurrecting Ravenna: Bringing My Favorite Running Shoes Back To Life
I’ve done a lot of oddball things in the course of my running career, but this is hands-down the most quixotic. I attempted to go back in time. Just call me the Running Shoes Reanimator. RUNNING SHOES LOVED AND LOST Oh, we’ve all thought about it. Don’t tell me you’ve never found your perfect running shoe only to have...
Continue readingIs Sparkle Athletic’s Sparkle Squad (Still) Worth It?
And I’m back! I first joined Sparkle Athletic’s Sparkle Squad in 2020, and while I felt the program had merit I’ve skipped the last couple of years. Yet here I stand confessing that for 2024 they convinced me to splurge again – not necessarily because of the Squad perks themselves, but because the limited edition skirt and visor print...
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