Running all Fifty: Kissimmee, Florida

Running all Fifty: Kissimmee, Florida

Beautiful Sunny Florida! My husband and I lived in Sarasota, Florida for 5 years and we often visit Florida  as our family and friends live there. Yes, we get asked daily "Why in the world did you move to Illinois?!". It really is a simple answer: It is a great place to raise a family!  I have ran in many Florida cities however, I am going to start my review of Florida running in Kissimmee.

My run there occurred  exactly 1 year ago during Spring Break vacation. I woke up early one morning (7 a.m. is early to me!) and snuck out of the condo before the kids and hubby were up. This entails me acting like a "stealth" as my kids hear everything and never want to miss a thing. My husband on the other hand could have a freight train go through the center of our bedroom and still sleep right through it. That is a gift I wish I had.

As I started my run the first thing I noticed was the high humidity and difficulty breathing, followed by the intense sunshine. Florida bods all of those things. If you are a Florida runner proper hydration and sunscreen are a mandatory component. Special props to all you Florida runners! Your runs are more difficult to me. I bet you could PR in Illinois in a second!

My three mile run stayed at an even 10:45 pace along Avenue of the Stars Blvd. I was distracted by the beautiful lakes, palm trees, and fountains. It was especially neat to think that Mickey and Minnie were right down the road. As my run continued the one thing I loved was the pristine manicured lawns and the variety of bird species. Kissimmee is such a pretty place with an abundance of entertainment and activity! 

My run ended back in our condominium complex viewing a gator in the lake...I am still wondering if it is a tourist decoy as he appeared to not move the rest of the week. Nonetheless, I know they are out there and you must take precautions. Best Part of the Run: Going for a swim after! Boom! Another great run! Kissimmee, Florida-CHECK!

Never take a moment for granted and enjoy the run!

~Danyelle

Have you ran in the Kissimmee/Orlando, Florida?

Do you run on vacation or take the time off?

Running all Fifty: Virginia Beach, VA!

Friends, I have been slacking horribly on my "Running All Fifty" writing. I think it is time I catch up! I thought I would start today with my running review of beach running in Virginia Beach, Virginia!

When I visited Virginia Beach in July of 2011 (has it really been that long ago?!) it was breathtaking and a pleasant surprise! After living in Sarasota, Florida for 5 years I became a "Gulf Coast/Panhandle Ocean Snob".  If you visit the West Coast or Panhandle you know exactly what I mean. The Gulf Coast and Panhandle boast white sugar quartz sands that are cool on your feet and calm waves, however Virginia Beach was a breath of fresh air. Yes, the waves were bigger and the sand more course but the environment made up for that in a second. I loved the hustle and bustle of this little beach! There were people running on the sand and boardwalk. There were people biking and blading, too! There was live music, military aircraft flying overhead, free smells and much eye candy to distract a runner enough to find that you forgot you were running! Before I knew it my run was complete and it was time to enjoy a yummy breakfast and coffee overlooking the ocean.

Virginia Beach, Virginia gets an A+ from me and I can't wait to visit again!

Happy Running!

~Danyelle

Do you have a favorite beach to run on?

Running All Fifty is up!

In September of 2011, while talking with my husband I created this blog called Running All Fifty! We love to travel and thought it would be fun to run in all 50 United States! I shared this idea with my friend, Sexy Mother Runner, Bekah and her husband and they immediately said they were in! As you can see this has been a goal of mine for quite some time as I mentioned it in my "SMR About Me" section and I am very excited to get it started! Between our two families we will be sharing our traveling runs with you. As we make our travel plans we will invite you, Our Follower's to join us! With the warm weather approaching travel plans and races are being planned! Our runs will be posted here and on our Sexy Mother Runner site. Stay tuned!

~Danyelle