it’s not secret that 5k’s aren’t exactly my favorite distance. i’ve said it before, & i’ll say it again… the 5k distance is probably the hardest race, i’ve ever run.
i know, i know – it sounds totally silly. how could a 5k (3.1 miles) be harder than a half marathon or even a full marathon?!
the reason is simple – because running a 5k is usually damn hard, extremely painful, & a full-on-out-sprint for 3.1 miles.
not to mention, that the race is usually over in just a matter of minutes, which often leaves me wondering – was it really worth the race fee?!
well, i’m hear to tell you that the runDisney 5K’s are the exception to the rule – they are all about putting the fun back in your run!
the mickey’s jingle jungle 5k (an un-chipped, un-timed run) was the perfect warm up for the wine dine half marathon, i ran later that night, not to mention a good excuse to let my inner minnie mouse come out to play.
& i have to admit, running in sparkly-holiday themed minnie mouse ears, & a red polka dot team sparkle skirt and sleeves pretty much rocked.
runDisney’s mickey’s jingle jungle 5k
the first mile of the run wound around the parking lot, which i have to admit wasn’t that exciting.
but after just a few minutes, we were soon entering disney’s animal kingdom park & running past the always-beautiful-always-awe-inspiring tree of life.
from there we “raced” towards africa & on into asia, passing flights of wonder, expedition everest , nemo & into dinoland usa, before crossing the finish line.
decorations, characters, photo opps galore, holiday music & even animals lined the course!
which definitely helped the miles literally fly by.
& i loved be able to run in a race that actually encouraged the whole family to participate! they even have a “stroller division!”
i was having so much fun running, i didn’t realize until after i crossed the finish line, that i never started my garmin… although the finish line clock said 23ish minutes.
so if you’re contemplating signing up for a 5K, or thinking you’d like to “run Disney” – i’d definitely suggest any of the runDisney 5K races. they are an absolute blast! they are the perfect race, whether it’s your first or fiftieth – runDisney always makes sure there is magic in every mile.
want to read more about my runDisney wine & dine half marathon adventures? be sure to check out my #winedinehalfmeetup recap.
disclosure: i was invited by runDisney to attend the entire event weekend as media – meaning they were kind enough to cover my hotel expenses at the fabulous boardwalk inn (betcha started singing “under the boardwalk,” because i know i did), meals, and all of my race fees.
of course – all thoughts & opinions are 100% my own, because as you already know… i absolutely, totally & completely LOVE runDisney events.
[...] spent the last several days playing at walt disney world with angry julie, i had already ran the jingle jungle 5k earlier that morning, & my IT band was feeling extremely cranky – i didn’t exactly [...]