runDisney Princess Half Marathon 2013

This was a special race for me because one year ago, the runDisney Princess Half Marathon was my first ever half marathon.  I trained for over a year for the 2012 runDisney Princess Half Marathon.  I worked so hard to achieve that goal, it was so cool to go back as a runDisney four time veteran.  I did not have to deal with any of the first timer worries--would I be able to find my corral, would I be fast enough, on no--what about the sweeper, ect.  This time, I got to just take it all in an enjoy the experience.

I stayed at the Beach Club this trip.  I woke up at 3 am and tip toed around my room so I would not wake my husband or my kids up.  I put on my Cinderella inspired race day outfit, got all of my gear and I was off to catch the bus.  It was not until I was on the bus that I noticed I left my breakfast on the bathroom counter in the room...huge bummer!  I texted all my running friends but no one had anything extra.  Oh well, I would have to make the best of it.  I got off the bus at the Epcot parking lot and meet up with a few friends.  We walked to the corrals together.  After no time, it was time for the race to start!

In true runDisney style, each corral got there very own Ready! Set! Go! followed by fireworks.  Cinderella's Fairy Godmother gave each corral their very own "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo"!  I started in corral C, so I did not have to wait very long to start running.  For the first mile, I could hear the corrals behind me set off.  Their fireworks lite the sky.  After no time, I could see the arch way to the Magic Kingdom!  That is one of my favorites parts of the race.

Race day was so hot!  For those of us from up North, the heat was a huge change from what we were used to training in.  Combined with the 97% humidity, this was one of toughest race for me yet.  With no breakfast, combined with the heat and humidity--I knew I would have to take this one easy.  At a runDisney race--this means lots of pictures!!!

The first place on the course we had a lot of spectators was at the Ticket and Transportation Center.  There were so many people there!  This was mile 4, but I was having a tough time.  It was so great to have all the spectators there cheering us on.  It was just what I needed to keep me going.  After the TTC, we ran under the water bridge.  This always fascinates my kids--cars go underneath a water way for boats.  There was a really fun DJ on top of the water bridge with HUGE mickey hands on.  He was so funny and a great distraction!

It was time!  Time to run through the Magic Kingdom!  We entered the MK from a backstage area, then turned a corner onto Main Street USA.  I glanced up, and there it was--Cinderella's castle!  I always get a little emotional when I see the castle.  At the top of Main Street, we made a right into Tomorrowland.  I was hoping we would run through the new Fantasyland  but we did not.  One more turn and I was at the castle!  This year, they had trumpet players standing on the castle balcony.  This was a really cool touch.  Everyone was so busy taking pictures and videos that we came to a standstill and then walk inside the castle.  Of course I stopped for several pictures at the end of the bridge.  After I was sure I had enough castle shots, we ran toward Frontierland.  This is where I ran into my friend Malina.  We did alot of training runs together, so it was great to see her on the course.

After a few more picture stops in the MK, it was time to be on my way.  We exited the Magic Kingdom and headed back toward Epcot to the finish.  There were lots of spectators as we passed the Grand Floridian, the Polynesian and Shades of Green resorts.  After this is the toughest part of the course for me--the two miles of highway before we get near Epcot.  Disney did a great job at keeping us entertained with some characters, a huge princess balloon and music.  Before I knew it, I was at the dreaded overpass.  This is the part of the course most people consider the toughest.  For me, its not that bad. The hills is my neighborhood at tougher, but if you are not used to hills I can see it being tough.  Sarge from Toy Story was there, along with his soldiers to "motivate" runners.

After the overpass, I could see it--I could see the big "golf ball" inside Epcot.  It was about mile 10, but knowing the end was getting close always gives me a second wind.  It was getting very hot and sunny by this time, so I was ready to be done.  We entered Epcot from a back stage area, then we ran right past the big ball.  I knew the only thing between me and the finish was a jog to the entrance to World's Showcase and back.  I usually hate the word jog, but that is really all I had left in me.  The last half mile felt like forever!  I left Epcot and could hear the choir singing.  At the PHM that means you are almost done!

The finish felt so surreal this time.  I was so ready for it to be over, but I wanted to take it all in.  The first time I was so proud I had actually done it.  This time, I just wanted to hear the crowd, feel the excitement.  I looked around and could see huge smiles.  I saw lots of women crying.  It was amazing to be part of something like this.  I crossed the finish and went for my medal!  This years medal is so pretty--I could not wait to have one in my hands that was all mine.  After getting my PHM medal, I went to get my Coast to Coast medal (for doing a runDisney half on each coast in one calendar year.)  After getting my medals, I got some water, some snacks and meet up with some friends.

My second runDisney Princess Half Marathon was everything I had hoped it would be.  I was afraid that this being my second, it would some how lose some of it's magic.  I am so glad I was wrong! All the Disney magic was still there.  I can't wait to run the Princess Half Marathon again next year.

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

runDisney Princess Half Marathon Expo 2013

On Friday, I went to the runDisney Princess Half Marathon expo.  I had been to a few runDisney expos, but I knew this one would be different because it was at a different location.  Thanks to opening day for the Atlanta Brave's baseball, we could not have our expo at the usual ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.  This year's expo was held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.

I caught the runDisney transportation bus outside the resort.  I was excited to see Coronado Springs because it's one of the few Disney resorts I have not been to.  The resort looks like what you would expect to see on the Mexican Rivera.  It is Spanish style, like a different world. After I got off the bus I meet up with my friends.  We got in line to pick up our bibs.  The lines were not too bad.  In little time, I had my half bib and my 5k bib.

 New Balance runDisney shoes!

Then the shock--we were astounded in how packed the expo was!  To me, the building did not feel any smaller than the WWoS building, but it felt SO much more crowded.  I am guessing that the 10K+ more runners this year what what made it feel so much more crowded.  The tables to pick up race shirts and goody bags was on the opposite side of the building as bib pick up.  As we made our way through the expo, we could believe how packed it was.

The lines at shirt pick up was unbelievable.  We waited quite a while, but we eventually got them.  As all the runDisney races in the past, the "goody bag" was pretty empty.  We got our shirt, a Luna Bar sample, and a really cool mesh Princess Half logo mesh bag.  Instead of the usual flyers and samples, runDisney emails race participants a "virtual" goody bad.  runDisney outdid themselves on the shirt this year!  I love it! It's a royal purple color with a castle printed on it.  The fit is perfect.  I just love it!

runDisney Princess Half shirt and goody bag

After packet pick up, it was time to shop!  My friends and I very quickly got overwhelmed with how crowded each booth was.  They went to get in the 1+ hour official merchandise booth line, while I went to get the scoop in the highly coveted New Balance runDisney shoes.  The shoe line was crazy, but I hear it was so much worse a few hours earlier.  A sort of hoovered around to hear what sizes were left.  Why wait in line if my size was sold out?  I heard a NB rep tell someone that they had over two thousand pairs, so I figured I would take the chance.  After about 20 minutes, it was my turn.  I asked for a size 9.5, but all they had left was a 9.  I put them on and walked around in them for a few minutes.  Sadly, they were to tight.  The stars aligned for me because just as I was going to give the shoes back to the NB rep, another runner gave her a 9.5, asking for a 9.  We quickly traded.  The 9.5 fit me perfectly!

Royal Family 5k shirt and pin

After all the shoe drama, my friends were still in line for the official merchandise.   They were after the "I did it" shirts.  I had one of them pick me up a pin that looks like the medal.  After that, we planned to walk around again, but it was just to crowded.  We decided to go back to the resort for lunch instead.

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

runDisney Princess Half Marathon Update

The big reveal has been made!  Here is the new 5th Anniversary 2013 runDisney Princess Half Marathon medal!

Honestly, this medal is not what I expected.  I was expecting something completely different--maybe a glass slipper or a castle.  I was really not expecting an updated version of the old medal.  Considering how different and updated the Mickey Marathon medal is from the old Mickey medal, I was expecting something totally fresh and different for the Princess 5th anniversary.   It's not at all that I don't like the medal because I do.  I like it a lot, its just not that different from the one I earned eight months ago.  I really like that the tiara is an offsetting color than the rest of the medal, and I LOVE the five pink stones.

A new course map was released too.  It does not look that different.  The course is basically the same, but I am hoping we will get to spend a lot of time in the brand new Fantasyland!  All of the pictures of the new Fantasyland look amazing!  I can not wait to see it myself!  To check out the course, click here.

What do you think about he new medal?

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

Let the Mind Run the Body...

Who's idea was it to make all the good half marathon's in the fall?  I have the Disneyland half in four weeks and the Nike Women's Half Marathon in ten weeks.  This means I am in the thick of my miles--at the end of a very hot July.  I saw this saying last week and it really effected me.  

I had a TEAM run on Saturday morning that the Coaches call our hardest course.  It was very hilly and had absolutely no shade.  I keep this phrase in my head when I wanted to quit.  I ran around the track again this evening.  I was hot and my tummy did not feel very well.  I kept telling myself "let the mind run the body".  It worked for me.  I ran my four miles.

Do you have any phrases or sayings that you tell yourself when you run?  Do you think it helps you keep going?

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

I'm Number 8569!

runDisney posted the link yesterday for the 2012 Disneyland Half Marathon waiver and bib numbers!  I am runner number 8569.  As the race gets closer, I get more and more excited.  What is there not to get excited about really?  I get to fly out to one of my favorite places in the world, Southern California, and have a girls weekend with my friends Danielle and Chelsea.  We get to spend a wonderful weekend at Disney's Paradise Pier hotel, check out the new Cars land in California Adventure park, party in Disneyland and run the Disneyland Half Marathon!

I am eagerly waiting for the Disneyland Half Marathon Expo.  I will be working a shift at the SparkleSkirts booth.  Not sure the times yet, I will keep you posted.  Lots of us runDisney enthusiasts are hoping that runDisney will unveil the medals for the 20th anniversary Disney World Marathon and the Disney Princess Half Marathon.  If that happens, I will be sure to let you know right away!

On another note, my runs this week have been tough.  The heat and humidity are slowing me down a bit.  I have also been getting awful side stitches. Prior to this week, I had not gotten a side stitch in like a year.  My mission this week will be to figure out why it is happening and make it stop!

My eating this past week has been mostly clean.  Since the first half of July was so, well not clean, it feels really good to be sticking to a clean eating plan.

My goals this week are to follow my clean eating plan and to stick to my half marathon training plan.  What are your goals for this week?

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

Disney Princess Half Marathon 2013 is Open!

Today registration opened for the 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon!  Did you register?  I did!

2012 Princess Half Marathon

When you register for the race, they ask you a question about your favorite Disney Princess.  I chose Cinderella this year after my blog name, plus I really love her.  Last year, I chose Belle.  She is my all time favorite princess!  Lots of princess runners choose their princess by the color bib they want.  That is really all runDisney uses the choice for.  With Belle, my bib was yellow.  Choosing Cinderella will get me a light blue bib.  Rapunzel will get you a purple bib, Snow White will get you a red bib, Sleeping Beauty will get you a pink bib, and Ariel will get you a green bib. Jasmine had a teal bib.  Which princess did you chose?

With this being the 5th anniversary, lots of speculation is going on about what the theme will be and what the medal will look like.  A few theories about the theme are:

1)  Jasmine will be the featured princess.  This theory is mostly because of the ads that have been running is Runner's World.  They feature Jasmine and  Aladdin.  I am not so sure about this theory.  All of the ads that ran last year for Princess 2013 featured a Princess and the Frog theme, while the race had a Tangled theme. So, the ads do not necessarily correspond with race theme.

My princess 2012 medal

2)  The next theme is the obvious--Brave.  It is the newest Disney movie and Merida is the newest princess. I am not so sure about this one either.  Disney does not always use the newest Princess the first year she is introduced.  Tangled came out in fall 2010, while she was the featured princess in 2012.  Tiana was the honor princess in 2011, while the Princess and the Frog move came out in 2009.  I think for the 5th anniversary, Disney will choose a classic princess.  That brings me to my last theory.

3)  I think they will choose Cinderella.  First, the castle in Walt Disney World is Cinderella's castle.  Also, Disney is re-releasing Cinderella this fall.  They love cross promotion.  They could also choose Sleeping Beauty since her color is pink.  There has not been a pink medal yet, so why not do it for the anniversary.  These are just my thoughts....They may be totally off and no where near what runDisney actually does--but its fun to speculate anyway.

All the princess medals so far, stolen for a FB friend.

What do you think runDisney will choose as the theme for the Disney Princess Half Marathon 2013?

A dream is a wish...

--Amy