2016 Disney Princess Half Marathon

I did my first half marathon, the Disney Princess Half, back in 2012.  My friend V ran with me the whole way.  So when my friend Anna set her sights on doing a half, we registered last year for the Princess.  Even registration was a whole different ballgame from my first RunDisney race just a few years ago; if you want to run, you have to be ready to register online the minute the race opens (6+ months before the event!) because these events sell out quickly.  It's like trying to buy Adele concert tickets, but for masochists who want to run all over Disney creation.

At the Expo

We drove in from Tampa the Friday before the race, and the following morning we picked up our race packets first thing.  I love the RunDisney expos because the shopping, while expensive, is awesome!  My favorite booth this time was Raw Threads, which had some adorable Disney-themed shirts.

And, like any RunDisney race...  we started in the dark with an obscenely early wakeup.

That said, it was fun to run this stretch of land again.  It was my 3rd time completing the run from the start near Epcot, to the Magic Kingdom, as you also cover that stretch during the full marathon.  We grabbed a quick selfie on Main Street, because it's one of the best parts about running these races.  If you do a RunDisney race, I highly recommend submitting a proof of time that allows you to start in earlier race corrals; if you start further back, I noticed it gets a lot more congested, and at some points you really can't even weave in between folks!

Overall, we were successful!!!  We pushed through those 13.1 miles, and we triumphantly earned those beautiful medals.  It was warmer than past Disney races I've done, but no big surprises really.

I don't know if I will do the Princess again... it has gotten to be a very congested race, and there were some catty folks out there on the course.  (Where was their Disney spirit?)  I think if I do another half, it would be something different, like a Disneyland race of the Indianapolis Mini.  RunDisney puts on a great race, but the masses (15,000 26,000+!) make it a bit chaotic and planning-heavy.

I did get to see some other friends during the weekend!  I caught brunch at Epcot after the race with my friend M and her crew.  Check out the picture below, what a great group of people!  THAT is how you do a RunDisney race right.  Anna and I had her boyfriend to cheer us on too, and the more the merrier definitely held true.

Do you have any questions about running a RunDisney race?

Walt Disney World Marathon

Perhaps I should call this, "How I survived my first marathon in spite of myself" or something like that. You see, last spring I registered for the Walt Disney World Marathon, because I'd gotten this wild hair at some point that told me I needed to run a full marathon before I turned 30... and this race would take place just a couple of months before my self-imposed deadline.  WOOF.  Thankfully, my parents jumped on board right away and committed to going with me.  Here's how it all went down.

At the Race Expo, and a photo of my race bib!

BEFORE THE MARATHON

• Training:  I didn't train like I should have.  I'd planned to follow the Disney Marathon "finish upright" training plan, and I completed three half marathons during my training months.  But I never built up to a distance beyond 13.1 miles, truthfully because ain't nobody (okay, ain't many people) got the time/motivation to run 3-5 hours straight on a weekend.  Yikes.  I effed up training.  And it made me a nervous wreck going into the holidays and Disney.
• Diet:  I let myself off the hook diet-wise the week leading up to the marathon, taking the online reco to carb-load and reduce fiber and protein.  I really think this helped a lot.  Seriously.  I didn't eat like a 3rd grader, but I did eat a good deal of pasta and baked potatoes.  I also focused on hydration, reasonable.  It helped me stay fueled during the race.
• Gear:  I am used to running with a Fitletic Ultimate II running belt, with whatever hydration and sunglass pouches attached that I choose.  I need something to keep my phone and inhaler, and this fits the bill.  For the marathon, I stocked my belt with Clif/Gu to eat about every hour (I only eat vanilla, Gu has caffeine but Clif tastes better to me), one hydration pouch, a pouch for sunglasses/chafing gel/chapstick, and my phone/headphones.  I wore my Garmin Forerunner 10 to keep pace, and the battery actually lasted up until my final mile.  I also wore Swiftwick Aspire Twelve compression socks.  All of this gear I was used to wearing during my long runs and half marathons, so I knew that I would be fine with them.  I chose to wear a Sweatyband I bought at the Expo in my hair for the race, similar to ones I wore before too.
• PANIC:  The number one best thing I did was digest this 6 1/2 Hour Marathon Survivor Race Strategy.  Because I was using a run/walk strategy to prevent injury (again, because I effed up training) I knew this would work for me.  I even made a little piece of paper with the times to hit and "laminated" it between some clear tape.  This little guideline became my security blanket, which I felt I needed to avoid being swept off the course for not meeting cutoff times.

THE MARATHON

Course Map, through all four parks at WDW!

I woke up at 3 am (blergh!) in order to get to the gear check and starting corrals on time.  There were literally 20,000 people running, so they had start corrals A through P.  Since the race started at 5:30, they wanted you in corrals by 5 am.  I wore a garbage bag over my clothes to stay warm, and many people wore "throw away" clothes that they tossed off at the start; Disney donates these to Goodwill or something.  There were portapotties, many with super long lines.   I was in Corral M, so I actually didn't start until almost an hour after the first runners!  They move you up like cattle as each group begins.

These are some Start photos Disney gave me when I purchased my marathon pictures. :)

MILES 0-5:

By the time we started (every corral got fireworks!), I had to pee within the first couple of miles; I felt funny joining portapotty lines so early on, but I am glad I did it.  I kept to a 14-minute per mile pace (4 minutes running, 1 minute walking) consistently to start, knowing I'd need my energy later.  I felt like I had to hold myself back in those first miles, because the energy is so high.  Every mile marker has a display with different Disney character images, which is cool.  There are also bands, cheerleaders, and ALL THE DISNEY CHARACTERS along the way.  For real, people queue up to take photos with characters.  I was too nervous to wait in lines, but I did run by the characters to sneak a peek when I saw them.  So cool!

MILES 6-11:

This was probably my favorite part of the race.  Much like in the Disney Princess Marathon, we run up Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, then through Tomorrowland and through the back of the castle.  It's super magical! You don't even realize you're running!  I knew that my parents were waiting for me in the Magic Kingdom, and I searched the crowd for Dad's bright orange hat.  I was honestly so happy and emotional to see them; Mom gave me a clementine and I left on my way.  I was bummed it wasn't still dark (they'd done up the castle in a Frozen lighting scheme at night) but I did get to see Elsa and Anna as I entered the castle!

I saw my parents once more coming out of the castle and heading to the Speedway.  We actually got to run around the race track, and there were race cars and the Florida Corvette Club displaying cars.  Then we had to hit a long road with not much going on for a while.

MILES 12-17:

As we got closer to Animal Kingdom, there were actually some animals there to see us, plus cast members.  I have to say, it's awesome how many cast members come out to cheer on the race.  Your race number has your name on it, so people call to you by name.  The water and fuel point volunteers were amazing too!  By the time we got to Animal Kingdom, the park was open, so a lot of runners detour to ride the Expedition Everest roller coaster.  I get motion sick, so I didn't go, but it was fun to see people do that.  At some point we ran by a stinky water treatment facility (I think before reaching AK) and that was my least favorite part.  It also started a lightly rain around mile 17 for me, but it wasn't too bad as it had warmed up a little.

MILES 18-22:

These miles were the most boring.  Once we left Animal Kingdom, we headed for Wide World of Sports (where the Expo had been) and had to weave in and out of a track, soccer/baseball fields, etc.  We even ran around inside a baseball stadium.  The plus side to this chunk of the race is based on my strategy, I slowed down just slightly for each mile, and at mile 20 I switched to survival mode.  The best part of WWoS was that my Mom was there waiting for me!  She had orange juice and more clementines for me to eat.  I also grabbed an acetaminophen from a medical tent during this time.  I remember that this is where it all started to hurt.  The bottom of my feet hurt the most, from pounding pavement.  An experienced marathoner later told me she thinks Florida/Disney puts a lot of shells in their pavement or something that makes it feel even harder.  Well, I felt it.  Tons of people around me were walking a lot at this point, but I knew I was safely ahead of the sweepers by almost an hour.

MILES 23-26.2:

This is where we went through Hollywood Studios (the hat was still there, though fenced off for removal) to the Boardwalk resort to Epcot for the finish.  Hollywood Studios is where I burst into tears.  I just felt so emotional, and even though I had such a relatively little distance to go, I was just so distraught for some reason.  A gal from Texas named Misty (wearing a Team RWB shirt like me) stopped to pat me on the shoulder and tell me I was going to be just fine and finish strong.  Tons of other Team RWB people came up to me during and after the race, so I was happy I'd worn the Eagle shirt (instead of my original plan to wear a costume) for the extra encouragement!

With a few Team RWB shoutouts in that last chunk, I braced myself and could see the Eiffel Tower in the World Showcase in the distance.  Once I got into the showcase, I powered through as much as possible.  They had all kinds of princesses (Jasmine, Mulan, etc.) out but I just wanted to be done.  I pushed until we ran past Spaceship Earth and towards the finish.  Some people stopped for beer in Germany and margaritas in Mexico, which they ran with to the end!

I heard (and saw) my parents cheering, and I knew I was almost done.  As I ran across the finish line, I raised my arms up because everyone else was doing it.  I did it!  I finished in 6 hours, 6 minutes, right where I'd planned to be.  I'm not as fast as I once was as a college runner, but I was incredibly proud and felt so accomplished when I earned that Mickey Mouse medal.

I don't know that I'll ever do a full marathon again.  It was a significant emotional event.  It hurt for days afterward.  It takes a lot of freaking time.  It makes me almost start to cry thinking about how it made me feel, good and bad.  But I sure picked the right one to do...  the Walt Disney World Marathon says that "every mile is magic", and I think they're right.  You're never alone, you're taken care of, and you feel like thousands of people want you to succeed.  It was definitely a magical day, one I won't soon forget.

Santa Hustle Half Marathon Recap (Indianapolis)

During my visit to Indiana, I completed my 4th half marathon, my last before the Disney Marathon in January.  I registered for the Santa Hustle in Indianapolis, to ensure I got a good long run during my time at home.

The weather was cold, but the mood was festive, it was pretty cool to see people dressed as Santa and elves running all in a big group.  The wind and cold definitely impacted me on the run; the first 7 miles felt great (I was on PR pace!) then I hit a bit of a wall as the course got a little hillier and less interesting.  Blah.   But I still managed to squeeze out my best half marathon time anyways!

There was a particularly awesome sign along the way that I loved... RYAN GOSLING!

There were also M&Ms and cookies along the way that were good energy stops.  I didn't eat candy, but towards the end I did eat a cookie to keep myself going.  I learned that I can run and eat a cookie at the same time!  LOL
I'd say the best part was having Mom & Dad there to support me.  It was a nice training run, and I loved the sweatshirt I got from it.  Now I'm a nervous wreck thinking about doubling the distance for Disney!

Nashville Half Marathon

On November 8th, I completed the Nashville Half Marathon, benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  I'd been off my training game for two weeks due to bad congestion in my chest (and a horrid cough) but I still went through with it!

There were about 1000 less runners than the previous half marathon I ran, but there were still plenty of people around me to be able to push myself.  I also had both Mom and Dad there to cheer me on!  They helped me ditch my long sleeves AND provided some iced green tea around Mile 5/6 to give me an energy push.

Overall, I felt pretty good.  I did a run/walk like last time, but I missed a bunch of my walking minutes just getting into the groove running.  Not too bad!  This was also my first long distance in newer shoes (check out that neon!) but using the same inserts.  No blisters, no real hot spots either.  I wore compression tall socks again too.

My Mile 11, I knew I was on track to a PR, except I thought it would be over sooner than it was...  there were KILLER HILLS in the last 1.5 miles, so I definitely was sucking over that last bit.  I ended up beating my previous time by 3 minutes, which I can't complain about, especially having been sick.  We covered some similar ground as the other course (Music Row, the Gulch) but also crossed over around LP Field and all the way to Shelby Bottoms park.

My real (chip) time was a minute faster than the clock!

I preferred the Women's Running Half Marathon given all of the fellow women participating, more frequent water stops, and a little more everything in general... big expo, lots of activities, blingier medal.  But this was another good checkpoint for my marathon training, and I felt better than I have after previous long runs.  Overall, I experienced some stiffness in the days following, but by Tuesday I felt great.
Gotta keep on keeping on...

Wounded Warrior Project 8K

The Wounded Warrior Project 8K series came to Franklin, and I had to participate in honor of those who continue to serve and those who've sacrificed even more.  I was terribly sick, so I took it easy, but it was a great fall day for a run.  They kicked off a Soldier Ride bicycle group, had a great live band, and even provided a photo booth so you can have a souvenir.

LOL photo

I was a great course with a few Tennessee hills (of course), plenty of water points, and a good group of supporters along the way.  Lots of signs on the course too!  I ran in honor of my friend from West Point, Sal Corma, who died in Afghanistan in 2010.  He was one of the best guys...  and you should read more about him.
If this series comes to you, you need to check it out!  They're in Phoenix next month.

Women's Running Half Marathon in Nashville

Since I am training for the Disney Marathon in January, I figured that running a half marathon or two would be a good way to hold myself accountable in the meantime.  So why not run in the Women's Running Half downtown with 2000+ other ladies?  It seemed like a good idea at the time!

Pretty awesome course, right?

The course was hilly, but pretty incredible.  We started and finished at the Country Music Hall of Fame (soooo Nashville, right?) and the course included running on Broadway, through Midtown, Centennial Park, Music Row, and more.  I noticed so much about the city that I hadn't seen before.  And I actually ran about 15 minutes faster than I'd hoped to, in spite of warm weather and hills!  It was a fun race for sure, and I even ran into a coworker and two fellow West Pointers that I knew; the running world is a small world.  As it turns out, I knew about half a dozen of the women running!
There were junior cheerleaders, sororities, students, police, and even IHOP employees out on the course cheering us on.  There were creative signs and costumes too.

Running photos aren't glam... but I'm proud of this!

And the medal?  Sooooo blingy and Nashville!  I loved it!  They even had post-race mimosas.  I felt pretty wiped out afterwards, but the next few days weren't as bad for recovery as my ill-prepared half in 2012.  I have been wearing tall compression socks on my long runs, and I think they do help me recover faster.  I also ran with some goo and water at my disposal, which was helpful even though the water stops were plentiful.

I know my "fanny pack" belt is dorky, but it keeps my inhaler, phone, and more close at hand.

After those 13.1 miles, I was pretty much starving... so my friends Lindsey and AB picked me up and took me out to the original Puckett's in Leiper's Fork.  Back in 2008, it split from the rest of the restaurant group, so the concept is very different.  It's truly a Meat & Three, more casual, and sticks to the basics.  You eat, and then you pay on the way out!  The food is solid Southern fare, not as upscale as the rest of the restaurants, but still pretty good.  I had a breakfast platter that really hit the spot after my race.

AB, Lindsey, and me!

After all, *real* girlfriends pick you up from your half marathon and feed you biscuits.  Of course!  :)

USO Ten Miler at Fort Campbell

I have a goal of running the Disney Marathon next January, but I wanted to make sure I had a good record time for corral placement.  I needed one that was more recent than my Disney Princess Half Marathon in 2012.   So I signed up to run the USO Ten Miler at Fort Campbell.

I'll be honest; I wasn't properly trained for this one.  In fact, my parents volunteered to come down and drive me to/from and support me, because I think they were both afraid that I wouldn't finish.  I had a goal of completion in two hours, clocking in a 12-minute mile pace that would give me a decent position on the marathon. The course was hilly (Dad was shocked!), but the weather was perfect.  I honestly felt pretty good until about mile 8, when a big old hill caused me to walk a bit.  I ran 95% of the time, very little walking.  It was nice having Mom & Dad out on the course cheering me on like the old days.  There were plenty of water spots, and I used my new fitness belt for water and music from my iPhone.  I also stopped and had a GU Energy Gel around mile 7 to give myself a boost.  I think that helped a little.

Mom & Dad created an extra pit stop for me along the way!

As I was on the finishing stretch, Sissy happened to call me!  She talked to me almost until the very end, where I saw Mom & Dad.  It was kind of like my whole family was there together rooting me on.  I finished under two hours (faster than I hoped!) despite not being in the best shape.  I'm definitely SUPER sore (knees and shoulders, strangely enough) and being a bit of a wimp, but I'm proud that I did it.

Running that painful 10 miles made me think really long and hard about attempting 26.2.  The physical and mental preparedness ahead is a tough pill to swallow right now.  I know I was not in any kind of good shape to do this race, but I am still not going to take registering for a full marathon lightly!  I'll keep you posted as I continue this masochistic journey.

The Color Run: The Happiest 5K on the Planet

Most likely thanks to Facebook and Instagram, I got it in my head that it would be fun to try one of those Color Run events.  It definitely looked messy, but kind of unique for a fun run!

LP Field

The Color Run happens twice a year in Nashville (and all over the country), and I got my friend BD to sign up with me for the run.  We showed up super early to beat the crowds (12,000 people, to be more precise) and got to enjoy a bit of the pre-run festivities while still sparkling clean.  We even did a Zumba workout with the crowd to get warmed up!

BEFORE

As our start time approached, we were corralled (a lot like cattle) to the starting line.  I had my Garmin watch ready to track our pace and distance, and we were OFF!  The frustrating thing about The Color Run?  I know it's just a fun run, but they don't try to put you into corrals by pace like other larger races.  So for about a half mile, all we could do was weave around walkers.  Thankfully (and painfully) the race started with a climb over Shelby Pedestrian bridge.  The uphill climb helped us wade through the crowds, though we were a bit exhausted after rushing through everyone.

AFTER

I must admit it was pretty cool to run through downtown Nashville.  The weather was perfect!  I am way out of shape, so the run itself was pretty slow for me, but I did speed up running through the color points!  They douse you with wet or dry color powder at different points on the course, so by the end of it all you're a big colorful mess.  But it's FUN!  (One gripe from a retired road runner: the course was, according to my Garmin, HALF A MILE short.  I timed from Start to Finish arches, though the corral walk to the start was probably half a mile.)

Once we finished, there was a big area for an afterparty and celebration.  There were food trucks too, as well as free Kind bars as part of a sponsorship.  We were pretty tired though (hilly course!), and since we ran in the very first group, we didn't feel the need to wait for another 12,000 friends to come through and finish!  So we headed home to shower up and scrub off the color.

Check out that Nashville skyline!

Still, it was super fun to run the race with BD; since running a good time was nearly impossible, we did it for fun and had a conversation the whole way.  It was the perfect way to catch up and get a workout in at the same time.  I don't think I'll be doing a Color Run again, but it was fun to try it once!

Thompson's Station Dog & Pony Show (and 5K)

Despite not running since like February, I decided that since my friend BD wanted to check out the Thompson's Station Dog & Pony Show with me, we might as well run the 5K beforehand.  Right?

Before the race... did not look this cute after!

OMG.  No one told me it would be on super-steep Tennessee hiking trails.  As in, so steep that everyone had to walk up them.  So steep it was worse than a stairmaster.  So steep I finished 10 minutes slower than usually, but still ranked 3rd in my age group.  Yeah, that rough.  Ugh.  I limped around for days.

But after the run, we got to enjoy TONS of great booths!  There were crafts, snacks, pet vendors, and tons of adoptable animals.  Sweet!  I bought some strawberry & peach jam that was delish (and only $5, I mean come on WINNING) and some felted wool catnip toys for Bear.  (Sidenote: he loved them so much!  Like crazy cat destroying them love.)

Main Stage

There were tons of freebies, fun events like a dog costume contest, and so much to see and do.  They even had a pumpkin slingshot you could use.  Ha!  I was surprised how close I live to Thompson's Station; it was a  quick drive from Franklin.  There was also free parking and tons of volunteers to help out.  Great job, Thompson's Station!

With the 1st Place Costume Winner

BD's friend E who joined us isn't from the Franklin area, so we took a walk around Main Street after the festival.  We ended up at 55 South for brunch.  What was interesting is that we were actually seated in the adjoining Cork & Cow restaurant, a steakhouse that only serves dinner.  I guess during busy daytime hours, it also accomodates the 55 South overflow.

We indulged in some well-earned mimosas, and I ordered an indulgent Chicken & Waffles.  While it was yummy, I wish I'd ordered something eggy instead; I've had the same dish at Puckett's and it kind of set my bar pretty high for fried chicken on waffles.  This was a good dish, but a bit overpriced for what you got.  I'd recommend the ones at Puckett's over these, but everything else on the table looked amazing.

Presentation lacking, but it tasted good.

I liked the vibe as we dined, a real mix of the post-church crowd and day trip tourists, plus locals.  All in all, not a bad way to toast a hellish 5K race!  I promptly went home, took a bubble bath, and passed out for an epic nap.



Oh, and then we all cleaned up (including Duke) and met on Tuesday for BD's birthday at JJ's Wine Bar... just had to stick that fun photo in here!  It is so nice having her close by, after we worked together at Army.  LOL

JJ's Wine Bar

I absolutely love JJ's.  Great wine and cocktails, plus small plates.  Their dips are the best, and their hummus is something I order every time I visit.