I am down in Anaheim for the Tinkerbell Half marathon and over to Orlando for a short Universal trip with my family! 
Follow along on Social Media with my Adventure: Facebook , Twitter, Instagram, Periscope (Juliana@4 Well Rules)

I finally made it the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Hollywood (or Wizarding World of the West or WWW). It started soft openings in February but I was always terrified that it wouldn't be opened and I would miss getting to see it. I bought an Annual Pass (so many more trips are planned)  and it has a lot of blackout dates so I decided to hold out until opening weekend. 

We were concerned it would be busy but we figured we already had robes and wands so I just wanted to do the spells and ride the rides and eat. 

Early entry was at 7am (you get early entry if you buy your ticket online) so we got up at 5:45 (!!) so we could leave the house at6:15 to get down there, park, get through security and get in line at 6:45. We did all of that by 6:40 and were in the park at 6:45 and walked back to Hogsmeade at 6:55. 

Not going to lie, I've been excited but since I've gone to Orlando a lot (5 times last year, should get in 4 trips this year) I didn't know how I would feel. However walking in there, especially when it was empty, I screamed like a school girl. So much love and excitement! 

We did Forbidden Journey and walked right on, did Hippogriff and walked right on, shopped, did all the spells, had breakfast at 3 Broomsticks (the breakfast comes with a drink. The kids meal had plenty of food so I recommend it. Or splitting an adult meal), did more spells and shopped more all before 9:05. We grabbed a drink (they don't have have hot butterbeer or fire whisky yet)-mal and I got hogs tea and Ralph got a hogs bite (he's super into Snakebites lately). 
The rest of the park was dead! The longest posted wait was 20 min for Simpsons which we didn't do. We headed to the Lower Lot and finished our drinks and did Transformers and Mummy walking straight on before heading back to the upper lot for the studio tour which we also walked on! 

By this time it was 10:30 so we went back to Hogsmeade (when it's busier, you will need to get a return ticket to enter Hogsmeade. With all of the rain we had it really wasn't busy) and grabbed another butterbeer and rode forbidden journey again but though the single rider line. 
​
Forbidden journey is the exact same-queue and everything-but the ride is in 3D which was awesome. The first effect was a little blurry but everything else was crisp and none of us felt sick! Make sure when you ride it, you keep your head back and support it. You bounce a lot and can get nauseous and a headache. 
We headed out at 11:15. So crazy how much we got done! 

Overall, I love Hogsmeade in WWW and I'm so happy I'm 20 min away from butterbeer! Even though it's definitely a work in progress, the sight lines were jarring. Truly my love for the wizarding world started In Hogsmeade but resides in Diagon Alley. And if rumors are true, we should have a Diagon opening soon. 

If you haven't gone to WWW, definitely go and don't forget to check out the annual passes. A 1-day ticket will set you back 99-119 dollars while an AP starts around 120 and goes up. Just remember, parking is 18 dollars and only the most expensive pass (500+) includes parking! 

Anyone else been to Wizarding World of the West yet? 

Another Tuesday, another Tuesday on the Run hosted by our favorites: 
Erika from MCM Mama Runs, Marcia from Marcia's Healthy Slice and Patty from No-Guilt Life.This week's topic is Brands I I like and where I shop to get them. 

When it comes to gear, I'm pretty easy. Once I find a brand and it works, I stick with that!

• I train in my race shirts so I get those from my races mainly rundisney. 
• Target C9 by champion is a huge one for me. I buy my sport bras, shorts, along with my go to for shirts for costume. 
• I often race in Sparkle Athletic skirts and order them online. They just started a flash Friday sale where their skirts are half off! I also order their visors because they work well and are so cute! 
• I often wear ProCompression socks that I buy when they are on sale online but also buy them at expos as they usually have different ones in person! 
• My go to shoe is Skechers and I love to get special edition ones like I've gotten at the NYCM and LAM expo. I can usually get them on discount online as well so I will order them too! 
• My fuel-Ucan, Clif, vega and honey stinger waffles-I get both on and off line. I usually buy Clif from expos because it's the cheapest price. I have recently switched to Ucan and I love it. I bought a starter pack at the LAM expo and just bought some from Sprouts. I order vega and honey stinger from Amazon which is great because it's cheaper there than anywhere else! 

How about you? Do you usually but your running gear online or in person? 

The expo was a bit enhanced this time. We got there around 2:30 after a fun day at Universal! We went straight to get our bibs, check out the small merchandise area and then head into Jostens. Since I was doing the 5k and challenge, I was able to get my shirts by the bib pickup. And imagine my surprise when I had a OM (other merchandise) card and turned out I pre-ordered a jacket! I'm so glad I did as I love the jacket.  When we left, Stormtroopers were walking around outside and BB8 was open for a meet n Greet as long as you had a bib. 

We got into the expo and there was a good amount of merchandise left. They didn't have the follow your dark side sweatyband I wanted but I got 2 other ones and the half marathon jacket. They also were out of magnets! We walked a bit around the expo and I got some buff pads, a black headband, and free good sense and then we were out to head to Epcot for Flower and Garden!
​
Overall, this expo was good and I like easy it was to get in and out. And I love the race shirts we got too!! 

Anyone else go to the Star Wars: Dark Side Expo?? 

Time to recap the Derby Day 5k!
Mallory decided to just come early which worked out well. She picked me up about 7 and we headed to the race. It was raining all the day before but had actually stopped. I was hoping unlike the Coaster Run, there wouldn't be puddles everywhere.

We parked with no problem, prepped our stuff and walked over to bib pickup. the area was busy but it was for people registering on site so the actually bib pickup was easy. We went to get shirts and the lines were long and they were out of Smalls. After the race, there was an area to pick up shirts so I decided just to wait. We went back to the car to finish getting ready and used the porto before getting In a quick warmup (.84 miles for 11 minutes).

I was able to get in about 10 min with some quick sprints. As I finished, the national anthem was starting. After that I tucked into the back of the 8-8:59/mile as I needed to try and stay under 9 min pace to secure a PR. The self placement/wave start is one thing I love about this race but some people don't get it. Luckily I didn't end up with any strollers or walkers in front of me.

The start of this race is the best! They had the bugle person from the track come and play us off. Even cooler was Victor Espinoza (yes the jockey that rode American Pharaoh to the Triple Crown!) ran with us!

I was the second wave and it started without hassle. I settled into my 1:30/:30 intervals and stuck with an easy pace. People were flying and I knew they would slow down so I stuck to my pace. We head out the parking lot and head over to the Arboretum. Basically the Arboretum is super gorgeous and peaceful. Random fact: the opening of the show Fantasy Island was filmed there. Even though the path was more narrow, I never felt boxed in or I couldn't run. I tried to stay towards the side as people would pass.
MILE 1: 8:58 pace

I noticed my breathing was heavier than I would have liked and realized that the course was semi-hilly (minimum was 471 feet, max was 547). I knew I would have to dig deep as my PR was set on a flat course. We hit the only water stop exiting the Arboretum and I took 2 cups as the air was heavy. I was just hoping the rain would hold off.
MILE 2: 9:08 pace

Heading back to the race track is mostly downhill. We went backstage and saw where the horses are stored and came into the track from the back. We did a loop before hitting the track. You mean the sand track that basically turned to mud? Basically we had to single file it. I was able to pass a few people but running in a single file line is basically the definition of being boxed in. I passed one person and my feet were sinking in the mud, I knew I would just try and hold on. I ran the rest of the race without stopping.
MILE 3: 8:47 pace

As we hit mile 3 we had to move off the rail to hit the timing mat and I moved back over and kicked it into gear. I knew I had run long and that the sand/mud was hard to run in.
last .14: 8:23

Final time: 28:03! NEW PR! And I'll take it after being so close the week before and running in the mud. Even better, this is the first race I've ever done where I averaged a sub 9min mile pace!


I stopped and got a pic (they were free but none of them turned out well) and then walked through the expo and got my t-shirt. I waited for Mallory to finish and we got a pic-our only pic together! After Mallory got her shirt, it started to rain! Ahh! We headed out.

Afterwards we went to Target, had breakfast and got dressed and I worked on the final touches to my dark side costumes. Since it was raining, we just wore boots, jeans and our shirts. We went to lunch at Chilis and then over to Santa Anita Derby. We ordered a mint julep and watched the derby: so amazing in the rain! We sadly did not win any money on our bets. We headed back to my place and watched Harry Potter movies, made dinner and went to bed so we could get up early to go to Harry Potter Wizarding World of the West (recap tomorrow!)


Overall this is one of my favorite races and even better it's so close to my place. I think it is well organized and just so much fun. I will definitely be doing it every year as long as I am free!

What is the last 5k you ran? Ever been to a horse race?

​Time for some weekly accountability! I will recapping how I have done on the 4 Well Rules over the last week: Eat Well, Sleep Well, Exercise Well and Be Well New Linkup for Monday! I will linking up with MissSippiPiddlin and HoHo Runs to talk about my week recap! Welcome to the 4 well rules that I try to follow as I go through my week! Let's get to it!

EAT WELL
Eating has been pretty good! I was able to cook almost every meal before I left and saved leftovers to eat for this week. I definitely indulged this weekend but feel good. I have to buy a bit of food but since I will be gone for Tinkerbell and the beginning of next food, I don't need too much food!

SLEEP WELL
I averaged about 7:25 hours of sleep a night. Traveling always messes up my sleep but my goal is to get 8 hours for tonight. If I can get at least 8 hours leading up to Tinkerbell this weekend, I should be in good shape. 

EXERCISE WELL
LAST WEEK:

• Monday: short weight workout
• Tuesday: 2.2 miles + weights 
• Wednesday: Running strength abs 
• Thursday: did 4x800s (was supposed to do 8 x800s but needed to get to work since I had to leave early)
• Friday: rest day as I will be heading to my uncle's wedding
• Saturday: rest day but lots of walking
• Sunday: 4 miles

THIS WEEK: 

• Monday: Yoga in the morning before flying back to LA
• Tuesday: 3 miles + weights 
• Wednesday: Biggest Loser Weight workout 
• Thursday: Rest Day
• Friday: Tinkerbell 5k
• Saturday: Tinkerbell 10k
• Sunday: Tinkerbell Half Marathon

BE WELL
It has really been a great week! I am writing this sitting on the couch next to my dad and eating ice cream! School is wrapping up which has been more than time consuming. I did work on my dissertation the whole flight to Dallas, most of the car ride from Dallas to Galveston and basically on and off all of Sunday. However I turned in my section of my dissertation due tomorrow (51 pages with 130 references!! insanity!!). My group project and paper is due in a few hours and basically all done-woo-hoo! There is no rest so on the plane ride tomorrow I will get to edit my last paper due for the semester along with writing my next section of my dissertation due on May 23rd. so crazy! I just need to get through the summer (more dissertation writing, a dissertation proposal, and 2 classes: creativity is one and assessment is the other) and then just writing. 
​
The reason I am in Texas is because my uncle got married which just makes me so happy! I love getting to see my family and I will be back to Texas in July for another wedding. 

Coming up? Well a mini-break from school if you want to call it that. I have to pack tomororw when I get back for Tinkerbell Half weekend (driving down on Thursday after I grade the finals for the class I am TAing) and excited to do the 5k, 10k, and half and hopefully get good sleep. Even better, on Sunday, I will be flying to Orlando to surprise my siblings! They are getting told on Friday that are going to Orlando to go to Universal. When I found out flights were 195 roundtrip from LA, I decided to go to! I land on Sunday night while they are sleeping so when they wake up, I will be there! I fly back to LA on Wednesday!

How was your week?