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  • Six Ravens Is Now Open at Disney Springs: Our First Look and Review
    Disney Springs

    Six Ravens Is Now Open at Disney Springs: Our First Look and Review

    ByLisa August 3, 2026August 3, 2026

    Six Ravens is now open at Disney Springs, bringing savory “Coffyn” hand-held sandwiches, smashed potatoes, sweets, and exclusive drinks to The Landing. My family and I had the chance to preview it earlier this week, spend time inside the detailed, Gothic space, and try several items from the opening menu. I have been dying to…

    Read More Six Ravens Is Now Open at Disney Springs: Our First Look and ReviewContinue

  • Everglazed Opens in Disney Springs – And Has One of the Best Sandwiches On Property
    Disney | Disney Springs

    Everglazed Opens in Disney Springs – And Has One of the Best Sandwiches On Property

    ByLisa January 7, 2021January 11, 2021

    As if sensing the needs of carb loading virtual runDisney marathoners everywhere, Everglazed has opened its doors in Disney Springs. You’ll find it just outside the second/side entrance to the Orange Garage, near AMC and Splitsville. The menu is loaded with Instagram eye candy – over the top cold brews and donuts…not to mention some…

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  • Gideon’s Bakehouse to Open in Disney Springs!!
    Disney | Disney Springs

    Gideon’s Bakehouse to Open in Disney Springs!!

    ByLisa June 17, 2020June 17, 2020

    Award winning shop to open a new flagship location in the heart of Disney Springs.

    Read More Gideon’s Bakehouse to Open in Disney Springs!!Continue

  • Disney Springs: Temperature Checks and More – What you need to know to visit upon reopening
    Disney | Disney Springs

    Disney Springs: Temperature Checks and More – What you need to know to visit upon reopening

    ByLisa May 16, 2020May 16, 2020

    What you need to know before visiting Disney Springs when it initially reopens.

    Read More Disney Springs: Temperature Checks and More – What you need to know to visit upon reopeningContinue

  • This Is Not A Drill: The Boathouse Will Open on May 20th!!
    Disney | Disney Springs

    This Is Not A Drill: The Boathouse Will Open on May 20th!!

    ByLisa May 15, 2020May 15, 2020

    The Boathouse in Disney Springs announces that it will Reopen on March 20th!!

    Read More This Is Not A Drill: The Boathouse Will Open on May 20th!!Continue

  • Disney Springs Begins Phased Reopening
    Disney | Disney Springs

    Disney Springs Begins Phased Reopening

    ByLisa May 7, 2020May 7, 2020

    Disney Springs to begin phased reopening on May 20th.

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  • Disney Holidays: Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar at Disney Springs
    Disney | Disney Springs

    Disney Holidays: Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar at Disney Springs

    ByLisa December 19, 2019December 19, 2019

    Jock Lindsey’s Hanger Bar becomes Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar for the 2019 Christmas Season.

    Read More Disney Holidays: Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar at Disney SpringsContinue

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thecastlerunner

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Sunday morning run + after. Sunday morning run + after.
My watch lied to me this morning. The first mile My watch lied to me this morning.

The first mile buzzed early. So did the next two. My Garmin had decided that I’d run farther than I had. And if you know Garmin, you know it doesn’t just throw around kindnesses.

For half a second, if I’m being totally honest, I almost took it.

But then I took a beat and thought—why? I’m not doing this run for anybody but myself. Why cut it short for a tech error?

So I ran the full five miles anyway. Tacked the “extra” on at the end, in the heat, to make up the gifted distance I hadn’t actually covered.

I know I’m probably overthinking this, but this little act stayed with me. I’m coming back to a strict running schedule after many months of downtime with my head buried in writing and publishing my book. And it’s amazing how fast I’ve switched back to this version of myself that would finish the actual mileage without a second thought.

No one was auditing my tracking data. The only person who would ever know whether those miles were real was me—and I ran them anyway. My legs decided before my brain had the chance to weigh in. My inner negotiator didn’t even get to start talking.

I should be clear that this wasn’t willpower. Willpower is exhausting and sometimes I don’t have that much of it. It’s something quieter that training builds in you over time: the habit of keeping a promise that you made only to yourself.

You practice it in small, almost silly ways—four-tenths of a mile in the Florida heat. Doing laps in front of your house because it has to end at an even 3.1 or 6.2 or 10 or 20. And then one day you notice it’s followed you home. You stand up a little taller because you’re somebody worth keeping promises to. And you start doing the other, non-running things. The work you kept saying you’d do. The version of your life you kept promising yourself you’d build. It’s sort of my original story, I guess—harnessing running like this—but it’s very much still happening now and it’s hardly unique to me.

If any of this sounds familiar, or appealing, it’s the thread running through Chapter 17 of The runDisney Companion. That chapter was always the seed of something big
Scrapbook from the first day of Food & Wine: 1. Scrapbook from the first day of Food & Wine: 

1. Entrance

#TasteEpcot

2. Seoul, South Korea Bo Ssam Pork Poutine (La Poutinerie)

3. Cinnamon Pretzel Cold Brew (Sommerfest 🇩🇪)

4. Cute new train set details 🇩🇪

5. Spicy Temaki Hand Roll - This and the Wagyu were both excellent. 🇯🇵

6. Wasabi-Soy Sauce-flavored Potato Chips 🇯🇵

7. Before it rained.

8. Katsura

9. Dumplings Trio 🇨🇳

10. Exit

11. Almost home
Update: This contest is closed. 🐊 GIVEAWAY: I’m Update: This contest is closed. 

🐊 GIVEAWAY: I’m teaming up with Wild Florida to give one of you 4 passes, valued at a total of $980, to their Ultimate Wild Florida Experience—a full day exploring a completely different side of Central Florida.

TO ENTER:

✨ Follow @thecastlerunner and @wildfloridairboats
✨ Tag a friend you’d bring
✨ Tell me: which animals are you most excited to meet—the sloths, porcupines, lemurs or capybaras?

Enter up to 3 times with separate comments.

You’ll arrive at 8:30 a.m. and spend the morning getting up close with sloths, porcupines, lemurs AND capybaras with their trainers. Then you’ll break for lunch, followed by a one-hour airboat tour through the headwaters of the Everglades.

After that, you’ll have the rest of the day to explore Wild Florida’s Drive-thru Safari Park and Gator Park, including exhibits, shows, an aviary, and more.

The boys and I did it a few weeks ago and had the best day. My favorites were the airboat tour and hand-feeding a lemur. The boys were huge fans of feeding the birds in the aviary.

Giveaway closes Monday, August 24 at 6pm ET. One winner will be selected at random and contacted first by DM from @thecastlerunner. Once confirmed, the winner will be announced in a pinned comment here. Watch for impersonator accounts. I will never ask you for payment or CC info.

Details: Prize includes 4 Ultimate Wild Florida Experience passes ($980 value). Participants in the Ultimate Experience must be at least 12. All 4 guests must redeem their passes together. Reservations required. Transportation not included. Experiences subject to weather & animal availability. Passes are valid for 12 months.

Open to residents of the 50 United States and D.C., age 18+. Entrants must be following both @thecastlerunner and @wildfloridairboats when the winner is selected. Void where prohibited.

By entering, entrants release Instagram from responsibility relating to this promotion. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.
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