I Ran Like a Princess...Sort of.

This past weekend I got on a plane to Orlando with two good friends and met up with five others. Our big plans did not include lounging by a pool and sipping drinks all weekend, but to complete the lofty goal we individually (though peer pressure may have played a part) set for ourselves: to run the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon.

For several days leading up to our race weekend, our group shared tips on hydration, pre- and post-race nutrition, and the benefits of electrolytes, all in the hopes that this new found knowledge would help us cross the finish line. We were, for the most part, novices still in disbelief that we signed up for this race to begin with, and finally here it was, about to begin.

The crazy thing about running a Disney race is that it all takes place before the parks open to the public. Even crazier, 26,000 people actually willingly agree to get up at 2:00 in the morning, board buses in the dark, and make their way to the corrals where the nerves start to kick in full force. (Our alarm clock, pictured here.)

One thing's for sure. Disney knows how to pull off an event of this magnitude, complete with jumbo trons, celebrity sightings (Ali Vincent from The Biggest Loser and Sean Astin from The Goonies to name a couple), and fireworks.

I knew I was in for a greater challenge because I'd been running with an undiagnosed hip injury for ten days leading up to the race and it was bothering me even prior to the start.

Yet there's something about watching the Fairy Godmother wave her magic wand, casting a good luck spell over all the runners, and then hearing a blast of fireworks to signal the start of the race to make a gal forget her aches and pains!

Although the sun had not yet risen, it was 70 degrees and nearly 100% humidity with heat warnings posted on the race website. These warnings didn't mean much to us as we awaited the start of the race at 5:45 am but a few miles into the race I started to understand the toll humidity can take on a runner. (Can you say, "waaaaaaatttter"??)

I have to admit, once the race got going, I used nearly everything available on the course to help propel me through. This included water and/or Powerade about every mile and a half or so, Tylenol when I developed a headache at mile four, BioFreeze on my knees when they started to ache around mile five, and again later on for each my calves and quads. Aching hip and knees aside I was feeling pretty good. Turns out, running into the Magic Kingdom, down Main Street, and through Cinderella's Castle -- all while spectators and Disney employees cheer you on along the way -- is a great motivator.

There are many opinions about stopping for the many character photos available during the race, but I had decided upfront not to run with my phone so I wouldn't be tempted. I didn't stop for a single photo opp and it felt good to pass those who stopped to stand in line for pictures. Granted, a great many of them probably run at a faster pace and still reached the finish line ahead of me, but I couldn't imagine slowing my time down any further by stopping. That's just me.

Along the thirteen-point-one-mile route there were tons of spectators, family members and friends of runners, many of whom either clapped, cheered, or waved signs of support. Here are a few of my favorite signs:

"I See a Pedicure in Your Future"
&
"Mind over Muscles"
(from the Luna bar company)

"Like I Good Sports Bra, I Support You"

"I Got Up at 3am Just to Hold This Sign!"

and perhaps my favorite of all, "Hello Complete Stranger, I'm Proud of You Too!"
Thank you, Peggy Sue, for the added inspiration as we made our way into Epcot.

Along with signs I greatly enjoyed the Green Army Sergeant from Toy Story who barked out commands like, "Get Moving Up That Hill, Princess!" to push us farther along our journey,

I had been warned in advance the loneliest stretch of the race would be between miles seven and ten, outside the Disney Parks, but by that point my legs were not only on fire (sung in my head to the tune of Alicia Keys) but on auto pilot. I took in the sights and sounds around me to keep me moving. All in all my pace did suffer, due to my hip and knee pain, but I did the best that I could under the circumstances.

Much to my surprise ('dismay' may be the more appropriate word), the Disney Princess Half Marathon didn't end at mile marker 13.1 but a bit beyond in the parking lot behind Epcot. I'm not sure of the official distance but my Garmin watch told me I ran 13.24. (What the hell?! Don't you people see me limping?) Either way, I did it. I REALLY DID IT!

I ran like a princess (sort of) limping across the finish line, grateful to be done, and thrilled with my accomplishment.


I was exhausted yet thoroughly elated when the sparkly pink jeweled race medal was placed around my neck. As were all my other Princess running friends. We each ran our race with no regrets and have already vowed to run another half marathon in our future. (As my 12-year-old son would say, "no take backs!")

Princesses, we've come a long way and I'm proud of each and every one of us! I went to the airport with two good friends and left Orlando with five more, along with enough laughs and memories to last a lifetime. Thank you, my friends, and thank you, too, Disney for an amazing experience!

Two Weeks.

Two weeks from now I'll be getting off an airplane and beginning what will surely be a weekend of a lifetime.  You see on February 24 2013, two of my good friends, five new friends, and myself will be running alongside 26,000 others (most of whom will be donned in tutus and tiaras) at the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon.

This has been a miracle in the making considering two years ago at this time I was attempting to train for my very first 5K run and wasn't feeling particularly optomistic about being able to accomplish that goal.

It's a funny thing about goals, however. Once you set your mind to something, physical and/or medical limitations aside, the seemingly impossible becomes, well, possible.  I've now been training for the Princess 1/2 for the past 14 weeks, beginning after recovering from a frustrating ankle sprain with three and four-mile runs where I was be huffing and puffing, forcing my legs to move under me, until my iPhone app told me I could stop; and working my way up to a recent and surprising ten-mile run, which I not only completed in a respectable timeframe but found myself being able to hold a conversation throughout -- something I'd not been able to do a relatively short time before.  Despite the many weeks of training beforehand, it wasn't until I hit the stop button on my watch officially completing that ten mile run, when it became clear I would actually be able to pull off the Princess 1/2.

Self doubt was replaced by self confidence. And it only took 10 miles to get me there.

To anyone who says they can't do what I am doing, I can only reply with a resounding, "YES YOU CAN!"  I've said it before and I'll say it again: I was never a runner, I never liked to run (hated it even), but with each passing mile I now am starting to truly appreciate the feeling of my sneaks hitting the pavement.  And believe me, THAT is something I never thought I'd hear myself say. But the fact is, it's become MY time.  Time for myself to go as slow or as fast as I please, to let my mind wander or to concentrate on my favorite tunes. And with each new mile marker behind me, it's one more pat on the back I give to myself for reaching a new goal.  The Couch-to-5K and RunKeeper app programs should seriously consider adding a cheering sound bite at the end of each run for runners...but lucky for me I have an amazing group of friends and fellow princesses with which to share and congratulate each other on our accomplishments.

In two weeks I'll have reached the greatest of my goals to date: 13.1 miles.  Yes, 1/2 marathoners proudly include that last tenth of a mile where they push themselves to their limits to cross the finish line.  I look forward to that moment with equal parts excitement and trepidation.  Knowing I'll be meeting my seven special friends to share that moment afterward will make it all beyond my wildest dreams.  Where better for it all to happen than Walt Disney World, the place where dreams come true!