running, biking & even swimming

confession time…

while i still haven’t developed a fondness for 5K’s in particular – i’m kind of falling in love with runDisney 5K’s… and the mickey & minnie mouse royal family 5K is no exception.

this is one of the few races where the entire family can actually run/ walk/ even stroll together. so it’s not surprising that that race corrals were filled with families, sometimes even multiple generations, often times everyone dressed in costume.

considering that it’s not so much a race, as it is a run – this is the perfect first race, for everyone & anyone (of all ages).

being un-chipped & un-timed (although, there is a clock at every mile & at the finish , runner’s don’t receive an official time), runners can really just concentrate on having fun while running around epcot.

which is perfect, because it’s not everyday, or every race that has you lining up at the race start with princesses & princes of literally all ages, including the most royal couple i know.

seeing how excited all the runners were, especially the kids, reminded me what an amazing effect running (& especially runDisney events) can have on one’s life.

in fact i think each & every runDisney event reminds participants & spectators alike that…

i have to say – their excitement was contagious. i don’t think i’ve been this excited for a race to start in a long, long time.

or maybe it’s just because redheads have more fun?!

whatever the reason – the mickey & minnie mouse royal family 5K was pure magic.

as we wound our way in, through & around epcot, the miles literally flew by.

and everywhere we ran, the crowds went wild, cheering & chanting my name.

okay – that isn’t exactly true, although my little mermaid running costume did make quite a “splash,” although my legs did feel quite wobbly – this being their inaugural race after all.

by the way, do you know why the little mermaid wore “c shells?”

because the “d shells” were too big.

unfortunately, like all good things, the mickey & minnie mouse royal family 5K ultimately came to an end.

luckily there was pretty sweet bling waiting for me at the finish.

and we all know, that in the end, it really is all about the bling – & runDisney races (even the 5Ks) always seem to have the very best medals.

please tell me i’m not the only one who feels this way about race bling?!

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 out-of-this-world animal kingdom lodge & meals.

of course – all thoughts & opinions are 100% my own, because as you already know… i absolutely, totally & completely LOVE runDisney events.

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over the past year, runDisney’s {amazing} pre-race meetups have become the hot ticket, & the 2013 princess half meetup was no exception…

securing your spot in the official pre-race meetup is much like finding an allusive golden ticket, or getting a reservation at the famed & ultra-private club 33.

prior to the #princesshalfmeetup announcement, twitter was all aflutter.

with eager attendee hopefuls stalking the @runDisney twitter feed, while constantly hitting refresh on the disney parks blog, waiting for their fairtytale dreams to come true.

having finally received my “invitation to the ball,” i of course had to find the perfect dress…

luckily, my fairy god mother had the perfect sparkle athletic skirt, & with a wave of her magic wand & a little bippidi-bobbidi-boo – i was ready to run.

(& fyi – a tiara is the newest must-have running accesory).

dressed (& in very un-cinderella-like fashion, wearing both shoes), i gathered with the other princesses (& even a few princes) under the shadow of space ship earth, as an empty epcot awaited us.

running through a desserted disney park, is always a surreal and magical experience. especially when you “run” into old friends along the way…

after a quick 3 miles through & around epcot and disney’s boardwalk, we headed into biergarten restaurant in the germany pavilion for breakfast and some truly amazing words of inspiration.

training guru jeff galloway, runDisney nutritionist tara gidus, defending princess half champion and back-to-back disneyland half winner rachel booth, two-time paralympic track and field medalist april holmes, and the first female winner of “the biggest loser,” ali vincent were all on hand to inspire & motivate.

which is exactly what they did… i walked away feeling re-newed, re-energized & re-motivated.

when you are surrounded by people who know, understand, & appreciate your love of running – it’s hard not to be inspired. especially when such strong & empowered women are involved. rachel booth, ali vincent & april holmes are the epitome of what the runDisney experience is all about… “runDisney wants you to believe in yourself, believe it CAN happen.”

a few of my favorite princesses, actor sean astin, the ultimate mother runners sarah bowen shea & dimity mcdowell and the fine folks from the new senses – a disney spa were also on hand to make the morning complete .did you know that frozen water bottles, tennis balls, foam rollers & golf balls are ideal for “self-massage?”

as always, runDisney definitely outdid themselves this time.

princesses, fairy godmothers AND sean astin? oh my!

it was the perfect beginning to a fairytale weekend, the perfect once upon a time…

princess half meetup aka #princesshalfmeetup

want to read princess half meetup recaps from other #princesshalf attendees? check out these posts:

* a mom on the run

* disneyeveryday.com

* disney with children

* laurel dawn

* live. do. grow.

* ndeckerrunner

* race every step

* running at disney

* runDisney

* running princess

* sean astin fan

* this runner’s trials

* through heather’s looking glass

* toenails are so overrated

* we run disney

* 2 princesses on the run

did YOU attend the #princesshalfmeetup? let me know! i’ll add your meetup recap to the ever-growing list!

ready to attend the next runDisney race meetup? pay extra special attention to the runDisney facebook page, runDisney twitter account, & disney parks blog a week or two before the next runDisney race. in the past, that’s where they’ve announced the meetups.

my only question is – which disney park would you love to spend the morning running? disneyland? california adventure? epcot? magic kingdom? hollywood studioes? animal kingdom? or what about disneyland paris, tokoyo, or hong kong?

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 out-of-this-world animal kingdom lodge & meals.

of course – all thoughts & opinions are 100% my own, because as you already know… i absolutely, totally & completely LOVE runDisney events (especially the princess half meetup).

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i’ve often heard if said that runDisney races aren’t where you go to PR (or set a personal record).runDisney races are where you go to create magical memories, running through castles & down main streets at walt disney world & disneyland.

well i’m hear to tell you that you can “have your cake & eat it too.”

you can have magic in every mile AND run your fastest race yet – the two things don’t have to be independent of each other.

what makes me so confident on this fact? i’ve PRed at nearly every runDisney race i’ve ever run.

the 2009 disneyland half was my first race ever, which resulted in an automatic-by-default PR.

the 2010 disneyland half i raced wearing wings, & once again PRed by 13 minutes.

the 2011 disneyland half i raced wearing wings again, & once again PRed. this time by about 17 minutes.

the 2012 tinkerbell half, i PRed, despite by hook, but about 2 minutes.

the 2012 wine & dine half i unknowingly PRed by 2 minutes, even earning myself a fancy 4th place plaque.

& most recently at the 2013 tinkerbell half marathon, where i PRed once again, crossing the finish line at 1:39ish, finally coming in UNDER 1 hour & 40 minutes.

2013 tinkerbell half marathon

exactly one week after running the final step in my 39.3 mile “goofy challenge,” the disney world full marathon, i found myself getting ready to run the 2013 tinkerbell half marathon.

i’m the first to admit that my race prep wasn’t exactly ideal. i don’t think too many “training plans” would include a 39.3 mile race in the taper, working the expo, or having the flu the day before the race.

& yet that’s exactly how i prepared to run the tinkerbell half marathon.

suffice it to say, i didn’t exactly have big expectations for the race. but linda (my goofy challenge running partner) had promised to run the entire race with me – so i knew that we’d have fun (& take pictures), at the very least.

at the starting line i once again “ran into” sean astin…

have i told you what a truly nice guy he is? completely down-to-earth, super-friendly, & such a proud papa (you should have seen how excited he was to show angry julie & i a video of he’s daughters race the day before). i guess it’s true, celebrities really are “just like us.”

after a little pre-race dance party & a photo shoot with my partners in crime carrie & elise, it was time to run…

i have to be honest – considering that the disneyland half was my first race ever, i might be a bit biased, but i’m kind of partial to the disneyland half marathon course (running through angel stadium always overwhelms me with emotion & brings tears to my eyes).

but, the tinkerbell course is definitely special in it’s own little way – & has quickly become another favorite.

the first couple of miles through the parks are always fun. the race starts on disneyland Drive & almost immediately we enter disney’s california adventure. we ran through the hollywood backlot along hollywood boulevard, raced down route 66 into cars land, and wound around paradise bay.

entering disneyland, we ran down main street U.S.A. (which was filled with spectators & cheering squads), passing sleeping beauty’s castle, pixie hollow, before we made our way around the rivers of america. after exiting the disneyland park, we ran through downtown disney, by the disneyland hotel (& the always-fabulous red hat society cheer squad).

just about mile 6, we left the disneyland resort area & headed out to explore the city of anaheim.  runDisney describes the remainder of the course saying ”runners will race through the enchanting, historic neighborhoods of downtown anaheim, down the anaheim center street promenade and past anaheim ice on their way towards city hall. before returning to the disneyland resort runners make their way past the anaheim gardenwalk, and then it’s time for their “fairy”-tale finish near disney’s paradise pier hotel.”

downtown anaheim  really is enchanting & the historic neighborhoods are charming  – although there didn’t seem to be as many  spectators, or entertainment that i’ve come to know & love from a typical runDisney event (but considering how cold it was – had i not been racing, i don’t think i would have gotten out of my warm & cozy bed either).

crossing that finish line sub 1:40, i couldn’t help but jump in the air – i was filled with so much joy. hanging the tinkerbell medal, & then the coast to coast medal around my neck was an emotionally overwhelming experience – i couldn’t help but hug the volunteer.

knowing that i had just ran my personal best, one week after completing the 39.3 goofy challenge during wdw marathon weekend was literally a dream come true.

all i can say is… i really & truly loved every single minute of the race, & will definitely be racing once again next year

the truly magical 6 miles we ran inside the parks, exploring the charming streets of downtown anaheim, & the super-fabulous-totally-amazing-bright-and-shiny bling definitely makes this a race to remember.

plus, there is always something special & empowering about running a race with 12,000 other women.
  

2013 tinkerbell half marathon by the numbers:

* total chip time 1:39:43, with a pace of 7:36 minutes per mile (new PR)
* 8th place out of 1.925  women in my age group
* 41st place out of  10,558 women
* 5K split time 23:38
* 10K split 47:13
* 15K split 1:11:30
* runDisney “coast to coast” medal achieved in just one week

i don’t know what it is – the energy, the spectators, the entertainment, the pixie dust? somehow runDisney races always prove to be the most fun & often time my fastest races i run all year. i’d definitely say that runDisney races bring out the “best” in everyone.

i guess it’s true what they say, there is something truly magical about running through castles & down main streets at walt disney world & disneyland.

so if you haven’t run disney yet – do it. whether it’s your first race, or your tenth, you’re sure to have a magical time.

want to read more about my runDisney tinkerbell half  marathon weekend adventures? be sure to check out my #tinkhalfmeetup & neverland 5K recaps.

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 grand californian.

of course – all thoughts & opinions are 100% my own, because as you already know… i absolutely, totally & completely LOVE runDisney events.

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one week after running the walt disney world half marathon, i found myself “toeing” the start line of the runDisney neverland 5K inside disneyland.

now typically i’m not a huge fan of 5K’s – the thought of an all-out-sprint for 3.1 miles just isn’t my idea of a good time. trust me when i say, given the choice i’d run a half marathon over a 5K any day of the week. but the neverland 5K is one of the few exceptions to that rule.

first of all it’s un-timed. yes! you read that correctly… all runDisney 5K’s are un-timed “fun runs.”  don’t get me wrong – there is a clock at the finish line, but there aren’t any official “timing chips” or results.

it’s a “family” race  - meaning the entire family can “run,” or at least pushed in a stroller, no matter their age.

while some might “scoff” at the idea of an un-time “race,” i for one LOVED it!  knowing that it was un-timed, the stress of having to sprint  or race the entire run is lifted off my shoulders, & i can just enjoy the race – not something i do very often.

& enjoy it i did. the neverland 5K was the perfect excuse to break out my red & white polka dot sparkle athletic/ team sparkle skirt, my sparkle minnie ears, & my brand-spanking-new-limited-edition-runDisney-minnie-mouse-inspired-new-balance-shoes.

anyways, i digressed… so let’s talk about the second reason why the neverland 5K is one of the few exceptions to my “5K rule” – pure race enjoyment.

the entire race, all 3.1 miles are ran entirely inside disneyland & disney’s california adventure parks.

the race appropriately started just outside of pixie hollow, after a tink fly-by & a sprinkling of pixie dust on the racers.

we ran past the matterhorn & it’s a small world, through the disneyland back lots, toon town, right past fantasy land, big thunder mountain, on thru new orleans square & even more disneyland back lots, before heading into disney’s california adventure.

there we ran past the hollywood tower or terror, the carthay circle restaurant & lounge, through bug’s land, cars land,  around the “lagoon” and past california screamin’ before crossing the finish line.

while i always love running through any part of the disney parks, i have to admit that entering cars land always makes me tear up – the neon is just so incredibly beautiful.

but, most of all – i enjoy the back lots. maybe it’s the disney nerd in me, but i get a kick of seeing what happens “behind the scenes.”

have i mentioned yet that i may have “run” into sean astin along the way?

he was insistent on taking lots of pictures with me, so i agreed to run the entire 5K with him. thanks to the on-course photographers he now has lots of photographic memories of our “time” together.

did you notice? sean astin is rocking a sparkle athletic/ team sparkle skirt & racing wings. i have to admit i’m pretty dang excited that he “joined” the team.

speaking of  sean astin… if you’re wondering why he joined nearly 12,000 mostly women runners for the tinkerbell half marathon weekend, why don’t you let him tell you in his own words in this runDisney video. (& considering he’s happily married with 3 daughters of his own, i’m guessing it sin’t to “pick up on chicks.”) i’m guessing he’s realized the truth to the statement “why run when you can fly.”

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 grand californian.

of course – all thoughts & opinions are 100% my own, because as you already know… i absolutely, totally & completely LOVE runDisney events.

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the runDisney goofy challenge is perfectly named… only someone (or make that 10,000 someone’s) would be crazy enough, or rather goofy enough, to take on this insane adventure.

running a half marathon, 13.1 miles, is exhausting enough on it’s own. but, when you are running the goofy challenge, that’s just the warmup.

after running the walt disney world half marathon on saturday, i had only completed 1/3 of the runDisney goofy challenge.

24 hours later, i was back at the starting line, this time ready to run the walt disney world marathon.

yep! you read that correctly. after running 13.1 miles on saturday, the very next day i ran a full marathon – all 26.2 miles of it.

goofy challenge {part two), walt disney world marathon

just like the day before, linda & i were dressed to impressed.

wearing our sparkle athletic/ team sparkle skirts & goofy-inspired running costumes two days in a row, made sure that people recognized & remembered us all along the course.

once again, linda & i had only one thing on our game plan – stop for each & every photo opportunity.

considering i had left my garmin in the hotel room, it was probably a good thing we didn’t have a time goal.

after an amazing rendition of the national anthem, which i’ll admit brought tears to my eyes, linda, i & 25,000 other soon-to-be-half-marathon-finishers were off & running (literally).

this year’s marathon course had us running through all four walt Disney world theme parks (epcot, magic kingdom, disney’s animal kingdom park, & disney’s hollywood studios),  the high-banked walk disney world speedway where stock, indy & fancy sports cars typically race, the espn wide world of sports complex & through champion stadium ballpark (home to the atlanta braves’ spring training), before finally crossing the finish line back at epcot.

hands down – the walt disney world marathon is most definitely the happiest race on earth.

with characters, entertainment & literally thousands of people cheering us on – there truly was magic in every mile.

heck! there was magic in every single footstep!

disney characters & photo opportunities at every turn, running through deserted disney parks & back stage areas, marching bands & cheer squads. parade floats, hot air balloons & so much more.

there was so much to see & take it – i can’t even remember all of the details. all i can tell you is that miles 1-5 we made our way to the magic kingdom, miles 5-6 we spent exploring the main st. of the magic kingdom, tomorrowland, running through cinderella’s castle (still decked out in holiday glory), & liberty square.

miles. 6-10 we ran to & around the speedway (& yes! vintage cars, race cars, stock cars & all of your favorite characters for the movie cars lined the track – it was awesome!). miles 10-13 found us in disney’s animal kingdom running past expedition everest (my all-time favorite ride ever), discovery island & dinoland. miles.

13-17 brought us to the amazing & beautiful espn wide world of sports complex where we ran past soccer fields, baseball fields, on the track & ultimately rounded the bases in chapmion stadium.

miles 20-23 we ran through the celebratory mile 20 marker (in honor of it being the 20th year of the walt disney world marathon, they had lined the street with these giant-stilt-walker-puppet-like-disney-characters who cheered us on) and on through hollywood studios which was filled with people cheering us on & aid stations passing out chocolate!

miles 23-26 we ran on the boardwalk, eventually entering  the world showcase at epcot. we ran through all the countries of the world including france, morocco, china, germany before rounding spaceship earth, being serenaded by the gospel choir & crossing the finish line!

all i know, is that crossing the finish line & being congratulated on completing the goofy challenge was one of the happiest moments of my life… it was honestly the best day ever!

& i wouldn’t be lying if i said i was immediately ready to run it all again. who wouldn’t?! it was the most entertaining, the most fun i have ever had running.

not to mention the bling isn’t half bad.

honestly though, reading about this amazing marathon course just doesn’t do it justice.

what you really need to do is tour the course with mr. bart yasso himeself (chief running officer of runner’s world magazine) thanks to this awesome runDisney video.

{goofy challenge} 2013 walt disney world marathon by the numbers:

* total chip time 3:46:29, with a pace of 8:37 minutes per mile
* 45th place out of 1,833 women in my age group
* 205th place out of 10,628 women
* 5 mile split time 40:42
* 10 mile split time 1:23:49
* half split time: 1:50:37
* 20 mile split time: 2:51:09
* total pictures stops: 75

each & every time i race a runDisney i am reminded that they are my absolute, most favorite running events.

there is something truly magical about running through castles & down main streets at walt disney world & disneyland.

so if you haven’t run disney yet – do it. whether it’s your first race, or your tenth, you’re sure to have a magical time.

want to read more about my runDisney walt disney world marathon weekend adventures? be sure to check out my #WDWMarathonMeetup & walt disney world half marathon recaps.

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 yacht club, 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.

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following the runDisney “great medal reveal” last summer, i immediately signed up for the runDisney goofy’s race & a half challenge.

i couldn’t resist the lure of three bright & shiny medals, even if it meant i had to run the walt disney world half marathon AND the walt disney world marathon (a 39.3 mile adventure) in a single weekend…

goofy challenge {part one), walt disney world half marathon

my goofy challenge didn’t just involve running 39.3 miles – it also included the walt disney world marathon weekend meetup, working at the sparkle athletic/ team sparkle booth all 3 days of the expo & a late night costume crafting session.

luckily, my partner-in-crime {linda} & i were able to finish all the last minute details on our “goofy” costumes. (we figured we were running the goofy challenge, so we might as well run dressed like goofy – duh!).

we paired turquoise sparkle athletic skirts (& matching turquoise kt tape), with a bright orange tech shirt, that we attached/sewed/glued a “goofy” style vest to, with the very appropriate words “kelly is goofy” & “linda is goofy” on the back.

& while we had originally planned to wear green sparkle athletic sparkle visors with attached goofy ears, at 10:55pm i realized i had forgotten mine – so we made a mad dash to the hotel gift shop (which closed at 11pm) to purchase an official goofy hat. linda was so jealous of my new running gear, that we had to make another mad dash to another hotel gift shop to find one for her too.

finally we fell asleep (after carbo-loading on caramel popcorn), & got a total of 3 hours of sleep – definitely the perfect way to prep for a half marathon!

the walt disney half marathon starts at 5:30am. which meant that we had to head to the start line at 3:30am – oy vey!

if i have any complaint about runDisney races – it’s the fact that i have to wake up so dang early for them.

considering i was still on west coast time, my body felt like it was getting ready for a midnight run.

it it weren’t for the bling & the fabulous-ness that is a runDisney race – i definitely wouldn’t be waking up before the crack of dawn.

at exactly 5:30 the fireworks burst into the sky as linda, i & 24,000 other soon-to-be-half-marathon-finishers were off & running.

linda & i had only one thing on our game plan – stop for each & every photo opportunity.

we didn’t have a time goal – we just wanted to have fun & take LOTS of pictures.

and take LOTS of pictures we did! we have pictures with belle & the beast, captain jack sparrow, chip ‘n dale, sally & jack skelington. pictures running through the castle, pictures standing in front of the castle.

pictures with the queen of hearts & alice in wonderland, donald & daisy duck & princess tiana. pictures with cinderella & prince charming, lilo, the genie, phineas & ferb, & stitch, just to name a few.

i think we stopped & took over 50 pictures while running the walt disney world half marathon.

when we ran across the finish line, with confetti covering the ground, the announcers calling out our names, & goofy passing out high-fives, i couldn’t believe we had only completed 1/3 of the goofy challenge!

13.1 miles down, & 26.2 miles to go.

{goofy challenge} 2013 walt disney world half marathon by the numbers:

* total chip time 1:44:33, with a pace of 7:58 minutes per mile
* 27th place out of 2,090 women in my age group
* 138th place out of 13,127 women
* 5K split time 23:33
* 10K split time 48:55
* 15K split time 1:14: 29
* total picture stops: 48

each & every time i race a runDisney i am reminded that they are my absolute, most favorite running events.

there is something truly magical about running through castles & down main streets at walt disney world & disneyland.

so if you haven’t run disney yet – do it. whether it’s your first race, or your tenth, you’re sure to have a magical time.

want to read more about my runDisney walt disney world marathon weekend adventures? be sure to check out my #WDWMarathonMeetup 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 yacht club, 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.

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they said the walt disney world marathon meetup (aka #WDWMarathonMeetup) was going to be the biggest & best yet. or at least that’s what runDisney promised on twitter (& if it’s on twitter, it must be true).

& as always, runDisney didn’t disappoint.

being lucky enough to have already attended the wine & dine half meetup, disneyland half meetup, the princess half meetup, & the tinkerbell half meetup, i was giddy with excitement to once again be invited to the recent runDisney walt disney world marathon weekend meetup (aka #WDWMarathonmeetup on twitter).

early friday morning, i donned my team sparkle skirt & wings, and joined the other 150+ excited runDisney enthusiasts, well-known former endurance stars, famous hollywood celebs, not to mention everyone’s favorite disney characters (mickey, donald & goofy looked spiffy in their track suits), for a very early morning run through disney’s hollywood studios.

i get goosebumps just thinking about it. it’s not often you get a chance to run alongside jeff galloway (american olympian & creator of the galloway run-walk method), bart yasso (runner’s world CRO – chief running officer), bill rodgers (running legend), dick beardsley (american long distance runner, motivational speaker), desiree davila (an elite US marathoner), adriano bastos (8 time WDW marathon winner), & joan benoit samuelson (the first-ever women’s olympic marathon champion).

walt disney world marathon meetup, aka #WDWMarathonMeetup

we spent the morning weaving up & down the streets of hollywood studios – it truly was a once in a lifetime experience.

the quiet of the park only interrupted occasionally by park employees cheering us on, and the occasional character siting.

we finally concluded our tour of disney’s hollywood studios in the stadium (home of lights, motors, action) where runDisney had hot chocolate, coffee, orange juice & the espn wide world of sports grill food truck waiting just for us!

after we had a moment or two to catch our breath, we all took a seat for the “program” to begin.

in typical runDisney fashion, they had lined up an impressive & informative group of speakers…

joey fatone (of N*SYNC fame) made a grand entrance cruising in on the lights, motors, action “director’s truck.”

he chatted with us about his training (or rather lack of training) for his first goofy challenge (originally he had signed up to run the 5K & had planned to cheer on his wife. but when she broke her foot, he volunteered to complete the goofy challenge in her place – what a guy!), what’s on his running play list (the black eyed peas), & he even agreed to sign a yearbook.

following joey (that’s right, i’m on a first-name basis with him), the good folks at new balance taught us about fitting yourself for the right shoe & we got the inside scoop on the new runDisney new balance shoe.

next up? a runners panel of some of the most influential & inspiring people… jeff galloway, bart yasso, dick beardsley, bill rodgers, joan benoit samuelson & desiree davila.

& while i was practically in awe the entire discussion, here are a few of my favorite “words of wisdom.”

“three aspects that need focus in your life: mind, body, and spirit. life is all about balance.” – joan benoit samuelson

“disney is the only place in the world where you hear someone say ‘i’m “only” doing a marathon.” – desiree davila

“rest is just as important as work.” – joan benoit Ssmuelson

“we need to inspire each other!” ~ joan benoit samuelson

“i split life into two categories: BC & AD. BC is before children where i use to schedule my day around running. AD is after baby diapers, now I schedule my running around my day.” ~ joan benoit samuelson

following the panel, former NFL linebacker eddie mason, comedian drew carey, & 7-time walt disney world marathon winner adriano bastos (who gets a new mickey tattoo every time he wins) all stopped by too.

as always the walt disney world marathon weekend meetup was a truly fabulous event, filled with surprises, amazing people, & in true runDisney fashion – magic in every mile.

a huge thanks to the entire runDisney team for making this incredible morning happen – especially bob hithcock, tony morreale, tammy jacobson, darrell fry & jeff galloway,

want to read walt disney world marathon weekend meetup recaps from other #WDWMarathonMeetup attendees? check out these posts:

* disney sports news
* bama girl runs
* black girls run
* dad runs disney
* elbow glitter
* half crazy mama
* happy mother runner
* healthy disney guide
* msp run
* run fast mama
* runner’s tales
* running at disney
* running with sass
* twins run in our family
* we run disney

did YOU attend the #WDWMarathonMeetup? let me know! i’ll add your meetup recap to the ever-growing list!

ready to attend the next runDisney race meetup? pay extra special attention to the runDisney facebook page, runDisney twitter account, & disney parks blog a week or two before the next runDisney race. in the past, that’s where they’ve announced the meetups.

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 yacht club, 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.

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from the very beginning, the runDisney wine & dine half marathon was going to be a “fun run.” my biggest dilemma involving WHICH runDisney running costume to wear.

considering the 10pm start time was long past my usual bedtime, i had 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 have high expectations.

but dressed in my donald duck running costume, i knew i was bound to have a fabulous time. i was after all running disney, isn’t magic in every mile pretty much guaranteed?

after carbo-loading on pizza, angry julie & i headed for the start line… or should i should i say pre-party?!

i have to admit, i was a little worried when i realized we would have to leave at 7pm for the 10pm start. 3 hours of waiting around at the starting line didn’t sound exciting. but, boy was i wrong!

looking back, i can’t believe i ever doubted runDisney – they definitely know how to throw a party. characters were available for photo opps, food & water, but of course angry julie & i gravitated towards the stage & jumbo-tron for the ultimate pre-race dance party.

when it finally time to move towards the corrals & the actual starting line i knew the party was just getting started.

at the starting line i ran into my race crush anton van zyl (then 2-time wine & dine half marathon winner), where we made a friendly little wager regarding who would take the most pictures while racing.

unfortunately, i lost the bet.

amazingly, anton van zyl managed to run & WIN (for the third time in a row) the wine & dine half marathon. he crossed the finish line in 1 hour & 14 minutes, while managing to stop & take 17 pictures along the way.

how would you like to be the guy who came in second place, knowing that the guy who beat you, stopped to take pictures?!

it wasn’t long after we moved into corrals (& i made a bet that i would ultimately lose) that we were off & running.

from the espn wide world of sports complex we ran down victory way & then onto osceola parkway toward disney’s animal kingdom. just like earlier in the day (during the jingle jungle 5K) i ran past the always-beautiful-always-awe-inspiring tree of life, “racing” towards expedition everest (which looked amazing in the moonlight).

after leaving disney’s animal kingdom, i found myself back on osceola parkway, this time running towards disney’s hollywood studios. i entered the park under the shadow of the twilight zone tower or terror, & then ran down sunset blvd. past toy story mania!, past the streets of america & the breath-taking osborne family spectacle of dancing lights.

from there the wine & dine half marathon course had us running in & around the the disney’s yacht & beach club resort, before arriving at the laser-show spectacle-finish-line, just outside of epcot.

when i finally crossed the finish line, i couldn’t believe the race was already over!

i had run the entire race without checking my garmin once (cross my heart & hope to die – i ran this race totally & completely “blind”).

so you can imagine my total & complete surprise when i looked at my garmin & saw that my time was 1:38.

it never even occurred to me that i might be able to PR (set a personal record) while running the runDisney wine & dine half marathon. & yet, i did.

there had been so much on-course entertainment & character sitings, i never once was bored. not to mention, seeing everything under the light of the moon – was such a fun experience.

although my absolute favorite memories of the race were definitely the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights at disney’s hollywood studios & the laser-show spectacle at the finish line. holy cow – words can’t even describe how cool it was.

& we haven’t even talked about the after-party yet! yep! yep! yep! the wine & dine half marathon experience isn’t complete until you party like a rock star at the finish line party inside epcot at the international food & wine festival…. more character meet & greets, musical performances, entertainment & live DJs, lots of food & even a few of your favorite epcot attractions.

although it was open until 4am, i have to admit that angry julie & i didn’t last long… after running 13.1 miles our beds were calling our names!

2012 disney wine & dine half marathon by the numbers:

* total chip time 1:40:18, with a pace of 7:39 minutes per mile (new PR,
* 4th place out of 1,502 women in my age group
* 31st place out of 7,670 women
* 168th  place overall, out of 11,617 participants
* 5K split time 22:49
* 10K split time 46:42
* 15K split time 1:10: 49

if i’ve said it once, i’ve said it a zillion times – runDisney races are by & far my absolute, most favorite running events. there is something truly magical about running through castles & down main streets at walt disney world & disneyland. so if you haven’t run disney yet – do it. whether it’s your first race, or your tenth, you’re sure to have a magical time.

want to read more about my runDisney wine & dine half marathon adventures? be sure to check out my mickey’s jingle jungle 5K race recap, as well as 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.

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