(Originally posted April 22).
The race was just about two months ago and I still feel like a million bucks. I did not even know it was possible to feel this good for this long!
We arrived on Friday, February 22, 2013 and headed straight to the Disney expo. At the expo we picked up our bibs for the upcomming races, our running packets (t-shirts, snacks, coupons, etc.), and went to the official Princess half souvenior shop. I loved the booths at the expo (KT Tape - which I will never run without again, Sparkle Skirts, Sweaty bands - which I now LOVE, etc). We spent a few hours exploring & Carolyn & I even met Ali Vincent from the biggest
loser! My only complaint about the expo was that they had the packet pickups way to close to the souvenior shop so it was crazy busy!
The race was just about two months ago and I still feel like a million bucks. I did not even know it was possible to feel this good for this long!
We arrived on Friday, February 22, 2013 and headed straight to the Disney expo. At the expo we picked up our bibs for the upcomming races, our running packets (t-shirts, snacks, coupons, etc.), and went to the official Princess half souvenior shop. I loved the booths at the expo (KT Tape - which I will never run without again, Sparkle Skirts, Sweaty bands - which I now LOVE, etc). We spent a few hours exploring & Carolyn & I even met Ali Vincent from the biggest
loser! My only complaint about the expo was that they had the packet pickups way to close to the souvenior shop so it was crazy busy!
Right when we arrived to the expo!
On Saturday, February 23, 2013 Brandie, Carolyn, Elsbeth and I participated in the Disney Royal Family 5k. We woke up at 4:15 in the morning to get ready and get to the race on time. The race started at 6:30 am.
This race was NOT timed which was not a problem for me this time around because:
1. We ran around Epcot. If you've never been to Epcot (and I had never been before this race) it is BEAUTIFUL. On the course there were multiple characters you could take pictures with! I did not stop to take pictures with any characters and I almost wish I did because I was never able to find Mushu - from Mulan - again :-( But that's okay because next year I won't miss him!
2. I was so nervous about the half marathon that I was almost making myself sick. For some reason I wasn't understanding correctly and I thought that the 16 min mile pace started after every corral and I was freaking out! This race was just what I needed to help me feel confident for the half marathon the next morning.
I wanted to use this 5K as a warmup for half day. This is why I did not stop to take pictures with any characters.
This race was NOT timed which was not a problem for me this time around because:
1. We ran around Epcot. If you've never been to Epcot (and I had never been before this race) it is BEAUTIFUL. On the course there were multiple characters you could take pictures with! I did not stop to take pictures with any characters and I almost wish I did because I was never able to find Mushu - from Mulan - again :-( But that's okay because next year I won't miss him!
2. I was so nervous about the half marathon that I was almost making myself sick. For some reason I wasn't understanding correctly and I thought that the 16 min mile pace started after every corral and I was freaking out! This race was just what I needed to help me feel confident for the half marathon the next morning.
I wanted to use this 5K as a warmup for half day. This is why I did not stop to take pictures with any characters.
Carolyn, Elsbeth, Brandie, & I.
Sunday, February 24, 2013 was the Disney Princess Half Marathon! Let me just start by saying that we woke up at 2:30 am. TWO-THIRTY! The excitement and adrenaline was enough to get us all right out of bed!
Around 3:30 am.
We all got ready and ate a breakfast of english muffins with peanut butter. For some reason I thought it was a good idea to eat half of an english muffin and a little bit of peanut butter ... NEVER again will I eat that little before a long
race.
We took a 3:30 am shuttle bus and we arrived at the starting area around 3:50. The area was set up with characters & a DJ so we danced (good pump up) and took a lot of pictures.
race.
We took a 3:30 am shuttle bus and we arrived at the starting area around 3:50. The area was set up with characters & a DJ so we danced (good pump up) and took a lot of pictures.
Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Rapunzel, Pocahontas, Cinderella
Power team! Pumped up and ready to run!
At about 4:30am they asked us to start walking over to the start line. In big races there are different corrals - or start groups - and you are placed in a group based on the time it will take you to complete the race. It took about a good thirty minutes to walk to the corrals. Luckily, we were all able to start in the same corral. The corrals went from A-H, which meant there were about 3,250 people per corral. At 5:30 am we sang the national anthem, and the first corral was sent off my the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella! So magical! And when every corral starts fireworks go off. Like how awesome is that??
Some people arrived late to the race (the later you wait to get on a bus the more traffice there will be) and they were running to try to make their corrals AFTER the first corral had gone off. I was grateful we were not in that boat -- that would have been sooo awful and so stressful. I would not have been able to enjoy the race after that much stress!
By the time the race started I was STARVING. I was so worried I wasn't going to be able to run the entire thing becaues my body was too weak. Per usual - I was being dramatic (about the being too weak to run) - but I was really hungry. Next time I will either A. eat more or B. bring a light snack.
The race felt was the longest and the shortest thing I have ever done in my life. At mile 3 I somehow (I don't even know what the odds are of this ever happening) I hear, from accross the street, someone yelling my name. It was Elsbeth!!!
Some people arrived late to the race (the later you wait to get on a bus the more traffice there will be) and they were running to try to make their corrals AFTER the first corral had gone off. I was grateful we were not in that boat -- that would have been sooo awful and so stressful. I would not have been able to enjoy the race after that much stress!
By the time the race started I was STARVING. I was so worried I wasn't going to be able to run the entire thing becaues my body was too weak. Per usual - I was being dramatic (about the being too weak to run) - but I was really hungry. Next time I will either A. eat more or B. bring a light snack.
The race felt was the longest and the shortest thing I have ever done in my life. At mile 3 I somehow (I don't even know what the odds are of this ever happening) I hear, from accross the street, someone yelling my name. It was Elsbeth!!!
We are the crazy girls jumping up and down in the middle.
Mile 5 you run though Magic Kingdom. The second I ran through the castle I saw my Mom, Dad, and Sister calling my name and waving at me. This was one of the most magical experiences I have ever had at Disney. My parents were so surprised I had so much energy at mile 5.3, which made me laugh because I still had 8 more miles to run! Throughout the course there was music and characters you could stop and take pictures with. Every mile marker looked like a book and had a different movie on it. I dressed up as Jasmine so I took a picture at mile 9:00 with the marker! I also found my dear friend Genie.
A little past mile 9 there was Gu Energy Gel. Although I had never tried it before I took a Vanilla flavored Gu to get me through the rest of the race. I was not as hungry at that point in the race, I was full with water and gatorade, but I figured 100 calories of Gu would not hurt.
Seconds before I crossed the finish line I heard my Dad call my name. I look up into the stands and I see my Dad, Mom, and Siter cheering me on. 26,000 people ran this race. What are the chances that they see me not once - but twice? And in two of the best spots on the course. First - directly in front of Cinderella's castle and the second directly before the finish line. It was just so amazing. One of the best feelings I have ever experienced.
I ran 99.9% of the race with Ryan and Leilannie by my side, which made the race that much more memorable and I crossed the finish line holding Leilannies hand. Not much can beat an experience like that
I ran 99.9% of the race with Ryan and Leilannie by my side, which made the race that much more memorable and I crossed the finish line holding Leilannies hand. Not much can beat an experience like that
Together!
My Cheer Squad
This race was one of the best things I have ever done. I love RunDisney! I cannot wait to do this all over again in January 2014 for the Dopey Challenge!