Port to Park 5K Recap

Port to Park 5K Series

Location: Port Richey Waterfront Park, Florida

Date: Friday, May 11^th, 2012

Participants: 61

The Port to Park 5K Series is a little different than 5Ks I’ve done in the past. It’s a small, family-friendly, local event that is run in the evening at 7pm over the course of three evenings. Also happening just before the 5K is a diaper dash and kids 1-miler.

A series like this is a great example of why it’s fantastic to goLocal. While probably one of the cheaper sports to get into, running can start to get expensive the more events you sign up for. Event fees and travel costs add up. By staying local, you cut out most of the travel cost. And many smaller events are very affordable. Port to Park for instance was $25 per race, but only $35 ($45 late registration) if you sign up for the full series of 3 races, each a month apart. It doesn’t get much better than that!

For the most part, you give up all the bells and whistles for the lower entry fee – no overflowing goodie bags, no blinged out finisher medals, no expos or vendor tents, etc. However, I was pleasantly surprised that my $45 entry fee included a pretty nice tech shirt! The winners and category winners got medals (the rest of us got leis), as well as some odd categories like mid-packer, fastest stroller jogger, an dead last!

The course was mostly bike trail and road, but at the start and finish there was some running around the park in the gravel and grass. But it was an average course with police support at the crossing and two passes through a water station. The park is easy to get to, has ample parking, and real bathrooms (bonus!). Upon returning, there was music, fruit, beans and rice, a hula contest and limbo contest for the kids. The only snag was that they ran out of water afterwards.

Participating in a low key 5K keeps you tuned up and motivated without any pressure. The Friday evening timing was perfect for my husband and I so that we could still do our longer Saturday workouts.

So one down, two to go! Next time you’re searching for a race, goLocal!

A Little Appreciation Found After Going A Long Way

A dull hum is in the air from the nearby highway. The rest of the sound track is provided by Mother Nature – wind blowing through the trees, a patterned bird call, the faint rustle of leaves underfoot of a squirrel. With a deep breath, I begin to reach down to my colorful Brooks. With an exhale, my head falls, my tension falls, my legs appreciate the stretch. And behind me, upside down, I see the squirrel running across the trail through sun rays that twinkle down through the leaves. It’s a peaceful way to wrap up a long run with a different perspective.

Lately, I’ve been frustrated and near angry. My injury has me running slowly, with less frequency and it’s more laborious than before. While trying to do the right thing and take it easy, I’m impatient by nature. I feel weak. I feel like I’m losing ground when I should be progressing. But I know it must be done. Continuing to aggravate an injury is a sure way to have a major setback. My head understands, my determined spirit does not.

Enter the long run, where I’m supposed to run slowly, where just getting through the distance is an accomplishment. There’s so much time to think that eventually, I come back to an empty mind - To a place where nature and its subtleties can be appreciated. It reminds me of why I love to goRun.

As I view the world from a point where trees appear to push down into the sky, the data from my run disappears. I don’t feel frustrated anymore. What I feel is air, inhaled and exhaled. I feel the blood surging through my veins. I feel my muscles, they feel powerful. I appreciate that I can run. I appreciate that I can stand, that I have a place to enjoy the earth, that I have changed my life by changing my health and have more changes ahead.

Get out and goAppreciate your life in whatever way speaks to you.

The Mental Race

I vividly remember mile 12 of my first half marathon. Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger was on my iPod as I rounded the globe at Epcot. As I realized how close I was to finishing, to accomplishing my goal, I slowly became overwhelmed with emotion to the edge of tears. The feeling was indescribable. All of the hard work, the anticipation, had built to the moment I was about to experience – the finish.

Fast forward two months. Again I’m at mile 12 of a half marathon, the Iron Girl. But today is different. Today, I don’t know what is playing on my iPod. I don’t know where I am or what views surround me. I’m only wondering “where’s that damn finish line?” I’m beat; no, I’m defeated. But it’s not because my legs hurt, even though they did. It’s not because my stomach ached or my foot cramped, even though they did. It’s because my mind is broken.

Sure, I had a time goal for this race that I did not meet. And while that’s disappointing after two months of hard work, I’m okay with that…now. Injury and bridges alone would have made me lucky to finish even in the same time as my last race. What I’m not okay with, and why this race has haunted me since I ran it, is that my attitude failed me.

I set myself up for failure and then beat myself down when I failed. Going into the race, I had hopes of shaving about three minute from my last time. This was certainly a stretch to begin with considering the elevation of this course, but I felt I was up to the challenge. But when I injured my knee two weeks before race day, I never readjusted my expectations. I was injured to the point I questioned running it at all a mere four days prior, but never reevaluated my goal when I decided to run. Did I think injury didn’t really apply to me? Maybe.

Every mile that ticked by below goal pace set my mind racing. I was angry and screamed at my legs to move faster. They didn’t hear me. I was wondering if this was it, did I peak already (so melodramatic!). I was wondering if I should have pushed though the injury more in training. I was wondering if each consecutive mile would get slower and slower. I was thinking about everything else but the moment I was in. Negativity got to me and soon all I was hearing, seeing and feeling was the bad. I was being dragged down. I lost sight of the reason I run and I lost the enjoyment.

The clock certainly didn’t show a fail. But the point is that the clock doesn’t matter. I run for how it makes me feel – more mentally than physically. I know I’m physically capable, but there is a mental race to run. And in the Iron Girl half, I failed at the mental race. It’s harder for me to pick back up from a mental fail. But now is the time to learn from the experience, regroup and get the focus back.

Iron Girl Half Marathon 2012 Recap

Athleta Iron Girl Half Marathon

Location: Clearwater/Clearwater Beach, Florida

Date: Sunday, April 22^nd, 2012

Participants: Women’s Only Event – 1,481

Getting Right Down To It

While the weather was unpredictable this year, overall it was a good event that I would recommend and participate in it again myself. Challenging half marathon course (for a Floridian), beautiful venue, well organized, good security and volunteer support, nice shirts and medals, unique food box. Note that a 5K course is also offered by Iron Girl on this day.

Packet Pick Up

Several nights through the week you could pick up your packet (bib and shirt) at various bay area running/sports stores, or on Saturday during the Expo at Pier 60. Know your bib number which is sent about a week before via e-mail. The expo was also held on Sunday at the pier, but there is no race-day pickup. My plan was to attend the expo after the race, but Mother Nature had a different idea! By the way, the bibs are beachy and girly and are personalized with your name - a nice touch!

Race Start

Plan even more time than suggested to accommodate for parking and restroom lines. The parking lot connected to Coachman Park is used for the event, so you’re left with fighting for spots in smaller lots in surrounding blocks. It’s not impossible, but did take up more time than anticipated.

What every running wants to know – how was the port-o-potty situation? Actually, there were a decent amount of port-o-potties available. However, the lines were still running about 15 minutes long as both last minute half marathoners and early 5Kers (about 2500 additional women) converge at the same time. Again, probably less of an issue if I had made it there sooner. As it was, I was standing in line as they were making “last call” announcements to line up.

It’s a single start and the corral is narrow and winding, making for a slow start if you’re towards the back. I wanted to be just after the 2:00 pacer, but was only able to get halfway between the 2:30 and 2:45 pacers (and that was cutting line). But don’t fret. With just under 1,500 women, it thins out quickly once you get through the start line.

The Course

Starting in Clearwater’s Coachman Park and ending at Pier 60 on beautiful Clearwater Beach, the Iron Girl Half Marathon first winds towards the south through neighborhoods lining the Clearwater Harbor, then crosses the Bellair Beach Causeway and then heads back north to end at Pier 60. Beautiful views to be sure!

Although being in Florida, and Clearwater Beach no less, some elevation is built into this course not only due to two bridges, but also there were some “hills” to be found in the neighborhoods as well. Heck, you even start out running up hill! Garmin data showed 305 ft of elevation gain over the course. If you never run hills, I would advise doing so before this event, or be prepared to power walk up them. And remember to save some steam for the bridge just after mile 11!

One down side to this course is the amount of turns in the first half. These cause bottle necks and cause slowdowns. I felt like we barely made it an eighth mile before we were turning again.

The course is well marked and police officers and volunteers were a regular site. Water stops are frequent and well stocked/well manned. Both GU and Girl Scout cookies were on route as well.

Unfortunately, the starting line blew away before I got there so it lacked some of the fanfare. But according to my husband (and the picture he snapped), it was the right call to remove the finish balloon and the flags because they became a safety hazard.

The Goods

I always say, “Will Run For Bling”, and this event has the bling! The medal is heavy-weight and gold-colored with a beach theme (glittery sandcastle with palm trees and ocean) and thick teal ribbon printed with the event name and date. I peeked at the 5K medal, which was just as nice!

During packet pickup, you receive your shirt which is the same for 5K and half marathon and not event- or date-specific. The material is soft and comfortable. The fit is a little more “soccer mom” than “sporty”, but certainly 100% better than the basic cotton man tee. I felt sizing ran a little large. You do pre-order size, but I was able to switch mine out with no problems.

Loving the approach to food! All the samples are contained in an easy-to-carry box and include gluten free and organic foods that you might not expect. Apparently there was also a free breakfast offered to runners, but due to the downpour I didn’t stick around for it.

A Minimalist is Born

Recently, I’ve found minimalism. One of those part-the-skies, angels-singing, apple-falling-on-your-head type realizations that there’s a better way for me to live. I feel as though this was a missing puzzle piece finally found, one I’ve always known was missing.

I read once that minimalism means different things to different people. One columnist said something to the effect of: minimalism is sorting through and removing the unimportant so that the truly important can speak louder. Of course, I think it was a bit more eloquent than that. That statement best describes my goal for my minimalist journey. I’m seeking my true happiness by trying to focus on the truly important and releasing all the rest.

It was difficult to be honest with myself, especially when I’ve always been one to ignore and hide feelings and emotions. Admitting even to myself that I wasn’t honestly happy was no small task. Am I capable of happiness, and what if the answer to that is no? Will it take up-ending my life to chase my happiness? That’s a frightening prospect when you’ve come so far and are so invested in a particular direction. If I admit to being unhappy, will I be seen as ungrateful? After all, I have a lot of things that many people would kill for – education, my own home, etc.



Photo Source: http://ubersuper.com/are-you-happy/



But the further I got along on the typical American middle-class life plan, the emptier I felt. College, grad school, marriage, career, home ownership…and the stuff starts piling up, and the bills start piling up to pay for the stuff, and auto-pilot kicks in. Soon you’re just living life in a certain way because that’s what you’re “supposed to do”.  Time ticks by and you no longer think about what’s important to you, you easily give up the dreams for the ‘real world’, you feel pressure and lose sight of where you truly want to go.

Despite being on the “right track” I wasn’t truly happy. And trying to gain more didn't make me any happier, in fact just the opposite. But why not? This is how we are supposed to live life, no? For me, it’s a distraction. The pursuit of these things was distracting me from chasing the truly important desires in my life, distracting me from finding my true happiness. The meaning was missing from the majority of my activities. I was existing, but not living. And so I had to change.

So I started to look around and see what wasn’t necessary in my life, what was keeping me from chasing my happiness, from finding meaning? I looked at my home and furnishings, my relationships, my clothing, my career path, my thoughts. And I started tossing. The knick-knacks that collect dust that I have to spend time cleaning every week rather than being outdoors with my husband – gone. The shirts that I keep “just in case” I might wear them one day – gone. And I look now to identify what’s important to me – my marriage, my health, seeking my purpose.

It’s a journey. I would argue a never ending journey; and I’m only at the beginning stages. I’m good at clearing the clutter in my home, but enormously challenged with clearing the clutter of my mind. Luckily, my ever-supportive husband is on the same journey. For once, I’m engaged and honestly excited about the path of my life. Together we’re redefining our lives, and chasing happiness as we goMinimal.

goJoin! The Power of Community

Over the years, I’ve been involved in a few groups - the marching band in high school, Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity in college…okay, that’s about it. Perhaps due in part to my reluctance to be in social situations, but I had/have a tendency to avoid groups and committing to groups. I’ve done myself an injustice.

Thankfully my husband, Brady, doesn’t have the same problem. When we started on our path to a fit lifestyle a few years back, he immediately sought out groups. We live in an area that doesn’t sustain any sort of fitness-oriented population - despite having so many fantastic places to be outside and be fit (one of the very bright spots about our location). Naturally, the place to reach out then was the internet. Brady joined bike groups through Meetup, read forums and found a community. He showed me the power of seeking out others who share your passion and interests. Through his groups, he was able to become a stronger rider in a way he likely could not have accomplished on his own.

Soon enough, I followed, joining his primarily road biking group who also had members interested in mountain biking. I’m not strong enough to ride on the road with them yet, but they are supportive in other aspects. And while I haven’t joined any specific running group (it’s a bit too inconvenient to drive 40-60 minutes to do a 60 minute run.), I have found community in other places. Twitter is full of people encouraging, supporting, offering advice. Reach out to friends on Facebook who share your interest. Attending events - bike races, running events, etc - is a fantastic way to get out and interact with groups of people who share your passion.

What I’ve found is that being part of a community, no matter what topic, keeps you motivated, helps you challenge yourself and grow, develops friendships and connections with people who get you (i.e. understand why you wake up at 4am on the weekends to do something crazy like run or bike for ridiculous amounts of time!). As a newbie, it’s invaluable. You never feel alone. The more you talk and share and connect with others, the more excited you become about your sport. The enthusiasm is infectious!

I wonder today what I may have missed in past years by not finding communities and groups. What skills could I have developed? What hobbies could I have become involved in? But that’s the past; I have only today and the future. So I’ll take note, learn my lesson, and not be afraid to goJoin!

Product Review: Brooks PureFlow

Product: Brooks PureFlow Running Shoes

Price: $90

Recommend? Yes

This past weekend, I purchased the Brooks PureFlow from the Brooks PureProject line. Originally, I went in thinking I would purchase the PureConnect, as I was hoping for a more minimalist shoe and a few runners I know recommended them. They simply had too much arch support and were too narrow for me. Also, I could immediately feel discomfort in my shins on the test run. They just weren’t going to be the shoe for me. So I checked out PureFlow instead.

Current Shoe: I’m a neutral runner who currently uses the Brooks Glycerin 9 and have loved them since day one. I’m on my second pair (first pair used for about 400 miles) and also highly recommend these shoes. But variety is the spice of life, yes?

Initial In-Store Thoughts: The test run up the street on the PureFlows made me feel like I was running on springy marshmallows! From the start, I loved the feel of these. I have a wider foot and these shoes accommodate that. They are breathable, flexible and lightweight, but provide enough cushioning for comfort. The Nav band is also nice to hug the mid portion of your foot. The toe has a slit, but I personally didn’t notice any particular benefit. While I advocate feel and function over looks, it just so happens these shoes have an appealing look with a nod to retro style. Technologically advanced running with style? Yes, please!

First Run: Last night I took them out for the first time and put 5 miles on them at about 85% effort. I felt light and agile. My foot seemed to fall in just the right place, naturally. And my body also responded by being more upright. I simply felt as though my whole body clicked into place. My legs felt fresh and comfortable throughout the run and after.  The only downside I have so far is partially my fault. I tried these on without my normal socks. I wear Experia sox with the Thorlo pads - thicker on the ball and heel. The store I purchased from didn’t have them and I forgot mine. So with a thicker sock, they were a little more snug than I prefer, but not uncomfortably so.

I’m anxious to see how much distance I can comfortably cover in these shoes. However, being that they have a shorter life (250-300 miles) compared with my Glycerin 9s, I’m tempted to save them for speed, tempo and races only - when shaving the weight can benefit me the most.

Do you have any of the PureProject products? What are your thoughts?

Rejuvenate the spirit - goEasy

Early Sunday morning I was awakened by my husband who was getting ready for his usual Sunday road biking ride. This is my cue to get up and goRun. My eyelids were heavy and puffy, and I think I may actually have groaned that stereotypical zombie groan from the movies. I was tired. So I pulled the covers up, snuggled with my dog and drifted back to sleep. After all, I’ve read a lot about sleep being just as important or more so when training. So yeah, let’s call this “training”.

But the sleep was fitful as my mind churned over my decision. I hadn’t run the day before, unless you count up and down the sidewalk testing new shoes. Today was my only chance to get in a long run; 10-11 miles were on the schedule. Begrudgingly, I got up to start my morning routine. All the while, thinking how I just didn’t have this in me today. Wondering if this would be the day that I push myself, break, and begin to hate running. Speculating that I would probably go out there and cut it short anyway, so I should probably not bother going in the first place. Fearing I was losing my resolve with a half marathon looming on the horizon. It was too late in the day. It was getting too hot. I would have to leave the house in a shambles. I wasn’t going to be able to knock this out of the park, so just give up now. The excuses flowed like hot syrup. And yet I went out of guilt; because I’m stubborn even with myself; because I wanted to be able to look myself in the mirror later; because it’s just my routine now.

As I drove, I realized how ridiculous I was being. Why was I being so hard on myself? I believe there is a time to push yourself and test your limits. If you don’t, you’ll not improve. But as a newbie runner, I think there is a trap of feeling like every run has to be faster, father, better. That notion is often reinforced by the leaps and bounds that are possible in the beginning months.  It leaves me feeling as though lack of improvement at every step is failure. That’s a bit dramatic, no?

I read a lot about running, soaking up every morsel of information I can find to help me grow in the sport. There is a wealth of information about the importance of having easy days. Every training plan incorporates them. But I rarely, if ever actually do it - the real definition of an easy run “at a conversational pace”. But the physical benefits aside, maybe the mind needs an easy day. Perhaps I should give it a go.

So I gave myself permission to go out and just enjoy my run no matter what that meant - slow, short, walk breaks - just goRun. And no matter what my Garmin told me, I was going to be proud of myself. Proud of all I have accomplished so far. Proud that I wasn’t sitting on the couch. Proud to be making steps towards a healthier, happier me.

It ended up being the best run I’ve had in a while. Why? Because I enjoyed every minute of it. I sang along with my music. I planned my blogs. I reflected on what running meant to me. I marveled at the shady, grown-over havens on the trail; felt the sun’s warmth on my skin; appreciated the solitude. My run ended up being 14.5 miles, my longest to date.

Those miles, those slow and easy miles, rejuvenated my spirit. So go out and be proud of your efforts. Listen to your body and mind and don’t be afraid to sometimes just goEasy.

Gasparilla 5K 2012 Recap

Gasparilla Distance Classic 5K

Location: Tampa, Florida

Date: Saturday, March 3^rd, 2012

Participants: Total – 11,924; Men - 4,858; Women – 7,066

Gasparilla in Tampa brings to mind pirate ship invasions, kid’s parades, night parades, day parades, costumes, drinking and beads, lots of drinking and beads. But for thousands of runners, it also means it’s time to lace up and head out to Bayshore Blvd. for one of the area’s largest race weekends.

This year’s Gasparilla races included a 5K, 15K, 5+3K, and Half Marathon, as well as an Expo. To answer the nagging question now, the odd ball 5+3K is so named after the race sponsor, 5/3 Bank (Fifth Third Bank). While many runners pick just one event, the ambitious can take on one of three challenges where various combinations of races are run. The toughest challenge is the Michelob Ultra Challenge, requiring runners to finish all 4 races during the weekend.

On a whim, I decided to join some friends and participate in the 5K - my first Gasparilla race. Navigating downtown Tampa is always challenging for me, but luckily this time I was a passenger in a vehicle with prearranged parking - win! So we didn’t have a problem getting to the area.

Race registration is in the Tampa Convention Center, which is also the location of the race Expo. Upon entering from the ground floor, it’s not readily apparent where you’re supposed to go. The Convention Center is used for many activities and that I could see, at least two other events were taking place that day causing some confusion. Luckily, I read the race information (something I’m learning a lot of people just seem to skip over). The Expo was held upstairs, the East Hall if I recall correctly, and registration was at the back of the hall past the vendors.

Race day registration for me was cheap ($35), easy and fast. Bring cash to speed the process - I was able to skip lines where everyone else was paying with a credit card. In less than 10 minutes I was registered, paid and had my shirt and bib. My friends who preregistered had to wait in much longer lines (about 15-20 min) and then had to go to a separate line to get shirts. Also, make sure you get the right color bib for your corral - speak up if they hand you the wrong color (find the pace info for corrals in your packet). I was told that “they aren’t really paying attention to corrals”, but I assure you I was checked before entry. In the chaos of the streets however, some people did slip in to corrals they should not have been in.

Finding bag check was also difficult as it was not marked. Again, luckily I had read my packet to know it was “room 24”, however there was a massive line into one small door where people were both trying to drop off (5Kers) and pick up (15Kers) at the same time. Chaos. Eventually someone figured out that we could form two lines. Simple signs really could go a long way here.

Whether it be the large number of participants, the layout of the city streets or both, navigating your way to the start lines is quite difficult. A map is provided in the packet, but good luck interpreting it when you actually make it into the streets. I wasted time trying to get up to my corral not realizing I was actually in the last corral! Once I got out to the side area though, there are so many spectators in the way, you can hardly get through. My best advice, look for your color flag and use any means necessary to get there. Body surfing is acceptable.

The race route: The upside - it is beautiful scenery on the water. The downside - it’s an out-and-back, in the baking Florida sun. I’m from here, I run in the sun all summer long, but rarely for a full 3 mile stretch with no shade in sight. By mile 3, I was dying like a worm on hot asphalt - no PR here. Be prepared for heat and pace yourself accordingly. There is a water stop and a few sprinklers you can run through. I can’t imagine doing the challenge and having to run essentially this same route multiple times in two days - it would get boring fast. Once is enough.

After the race, you’re provided with as much bottled water as you can carry, bananas, energy shots, smoothies, fruit cups, and hot black bean soup (not sure who wanted this on a blistering FL day though…). You also have a free beer ticket on your bib that you can redeem at the after party on the water.

While I read via Twitter that the Expo was a madhouse on Friday night, Saturday afternoon (after I raced) it wasn’t very busy. I could fairly easily navigate to vendors where there were a lot of freebies and samples to be had!

So it sounds like this race was all together crazy. While not the most organized, it’s not impossible, you just need a little patience and to read your packet! I would definitely do it again, and here’s why: For only $35 bucks, it’s a fun day to get out and stretch your legs in the local community with a chip-timed race. You get a usable tech shirt, a really nice medal (I love good bling!), lots of freebies at the expo, and a beautiful day to goRun in the Florida sunshine!



Monsters Take Over Downtown Winter Garden - RUN!

Ever heard or said, “I’d only run if someone was chasing me!”? Well kids, have I got the run for you! Rock On Adventures’ Monster Bash Dash will supply you with just that motivation. Not only will someone be chasing you…it’ll be monsters! The event is a 5K evening/night run where you’ll have to protect your “life” (flag football flags) to survive the monster-infested woods.

Yesterday, my husband and I had an awesome opportunity to be volunteers to help promote this unique event during the Bike Fest in beautiful and quaint downtown Winter Garden. After seeing the call for volunteers on Facebook, I asked Brady what he thought about spending our day made up like monsters and promoting the run. There were some nice perks offered, but as you might have guessed from some of my previous posts, dressing up in public with the intent of drawing attention to myself was a frightening proposition. Time to step out of the comfort zone! That’s what goBE is all about right? So we went.

Downtown Winter Garden appears to be a thriving main street atmosphere. Cafes, boutiques, bookstores, bike stores and more line the brick paver street. Clearly a family-friendly, dog-friendly, bike-friendly place – when can I move? A fountain and gazebo sit in the center median and there is also a small water feature area to the side where kids can play. Yesterday, along with the Bike Fest, the Saturday market was going on. So there were plenty of people to stare…uh, scare.

Rock On Adventures set up in front of the Tri & Run of West Orange store (Friendly staff here. Support local shops!). Kill to birds with one stone – I had a little time to test out some minimalist shoes I’ve been wanting and walked away with the Brooks PureFlow, yay! The fantastically talented, Nick Wolfe did all of the volunteers’ make up and then spent the day doing free face painting for kids (and some adults!). It was a total hit! Little monsters, and a few cute animals too, were running around all over town. Check out Evil Twin FX to have your mind blown by the body painting he does!

Walking through the market, we surely got some stares. I made one child cry on accident! Leave it to me – sheesh. Most people were very quite intrigued about the run being at night and particularly that monsters would be chasing them.

In all, it was a beautiful and fun day to be out promoting this event. I love that it’s a local group who is giving back to the local community. The event benefits their Y and Meals on Wheels. Brady and I had fun as monsters for the day and getting out of our comfort zone to goWild!

Come join us, Team Horrors d’oeuvres, on May 26^th. Will you survive?*

*Note: this is a perfect training opportunity for survival skills needed in the coming zombie apocalypse.

Disney Princess Half Marathon 2012 Recap

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon

Location: Walt Disney World - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Date: Sunday, February 26^th, 2012

Participants: Total – 16,890; Women – 15,780

Obviously, this isn’t the timeliest recap as I just started blogging last week. But I still felt I could add my two cents about this event, and ultimately, I blog for me. Pausing to enjoy revisiting a joyful time in my life and being able to read back on it later have great value. This was my first half marathon and I couldn’t have hoped for a more organized, fun event.

During the Princess Half Marathon weekend, runDisney hosts the Tangled Royal Family 5K, Royal Family Kid’s Races, Pasta in the Park Party, Princess Half Marathon, and the Fit for a Princess Expo. This recap covers the last two of these events. Being fairly local, my husband and I drove in Saturday and returned home Sunday after the half marathon.

The Expo

ESPN Wide World of Sports is the host to the Fit for a Princess Expo. I had not previously been to this venue, but it’s the perfect place to start out the weekend. Driving in and parking were both easy with your own vehicle. We arrived around 11am. As you walk up the main entrance, the tone is set. The venue is grand and it was a beautiful, sunny Florida day with just a slight, cool breeze alluding to the coming cold front. The place is a buzz and already we spot smiling women in tiaras and tutus. Everyone is taking their photo with Princess welcome signs and course maps dotting the entry area.

The first stop is a giant tent set up on one of the fields adjacent to the Josten’s Center. Awaiting you as you enter the tent is your carriage with two handsomely dressed footmen. While in general, the lines to pick up your bib seemed to be rather long, I lucked up and mine was actually pretty short! Know your bib number. It’s located on the bottom of the waver you received via email. But if you happen not to have it, there are computers and printers on site. That’s just one more step for you. The bibs are very large and colored based on your favorite princess chosen when you signed up - mine was Ariel so it was teal. They are also personalized which is a nice touch. Much to my surprise, even though I signed up well past the deadline for such personalization, mine was emblazoned with my name!

I’ve seen some express discontent at the “goody” bag because it’s essentially just your bib, clear bag for bag check, and race information. Personally, it doesn’t bother me. When there is an expo involved, you get plenty of samples and goodies. And it’s actually less wasteful, as you only take what you want. I hate waste. Normally, I get a lot of useless junk in “goody bags” - anyone else have 8,000 cheap water bottles and key fobs? What I could see as potentially annoying is that they don’t give you your shirt. While this keeps lines moving faster, if you had no intention of visiting the expo, you’d be annoyed.

Next, you’re sent into the Josten’s Center building to pick up your shirt and enjoy the expo. Entering on the second story, you get to overlook the massive expo floor and see how incredibly packed it is! Oh by the way, your shirt pickup location is all the way on the other side - force a sale much? Eh, I’m here for a relaxed weekend and planned to visit expo anyway. Shirt lines were short with friendly staff. And the shirts are a cute cut for women, unlike most races with unisex shirts.

Okay, the bad about the expo. It’s packed! Bring your patience. There were times the walkways came to a virtual standstill they were so clogged. Certain booths seemed to cause more problems than others - namely the first booth to sell anything pink with 13.1 on it. Trust me - there are LOTS of other booths selling this same stuff. It’s all in good nature that I say - Please keep moving ladies. And don’t kid yourself that there are “deals” here - there aren’t, it’s just convenient. For me, an expo is a good opportunity to see a lot of items in one place and pick up a few samples of products I might not otherwise try. My nearest specialty running store is 40 minutes from my home and I despise shopping online, so this is a good opportunity to kill a few birds. BTW - I wasn’t looking for any of the specialty Disney merchandise (like the coveted Dooney and Burke Princess bag or the sport jacket), but I assure you it was all long since gone and everything else was picked over. So if you want that, you better go to the expo as soon as they open the doors.

In all, we spent about 1.75-2 hrs at the expo. Picking up the bib and shirt only took about 30-40 minutes of that.

Night-Before Preparation

We headed over to Downtown Disney to grab some lunch at Earl of Sandwich. Didn’t spend much time here as we’ve been many times before, but you’ll definitely want to check it out at some point. There are many food venues, tons of shopping, Disney Quest, House of Blues, Cirque, and much more. It’s a nice place on a small lake to meander and enjoy the weather.

We chose not to stay at one of the designated event host resorts, but we did still stay at a Disney property - Coronado Springs Resort. If you have your own car, or are willing to call a cab, I’d recommend this place. It quite close to the main Epcot entrance (read less travel, more sleep) and not overrun with children (read less noise, more sleep). For locals who only require one night (host resorts require 2 to get the deals), there are FL resident discounts and also pass holder discounts. I don’t want to do a full review of the hotel here, but suffice it to say it was clean, convenient for the race, had a hot tub, and late enough checkout to run, return and clean up - but don’t eat at the Pepper Market.

While your settling down and relaxing before the big day, read your race packet (if you haven’t already). If you didn’t print and bring the race packet with you, they provide the most important parts in your bag.

Here are the important items that it seems a lot of people overlook:

• There will be LOTS of traffic and VERY significant delays if you do not arrive early
• Be in the Epcot parking lot by 4am
• Be in your corral by 5am
• There is about a 20-30 min walk to the corrals from bag check (depending on how long you wait/how slow the overall crowd is walking)
• There are port-o-potties in the front and back of the family staging area
• There are port-o-potties multiple places along the walk to the corrals - if the first ones are packed, keep moving! The last stop is a large grouping underneath an overpass
• If you are a walker, slow runner or are using the walk/run method, it is courteous to your fellow runners to move to the right

I overheard a lot of frustrated people who didn’t plan enough time and got stuck in massive crowds “running” to their corrals to start on time. That can all be avoided. But you will have to read your packet and wake up early, very early. Just plan a relaxing evening and get in bed early.

The Race

The alarm was set for an early 2:45am wake up. Unfortunately for me, my brain decided 1:30am was more appropriate, despite taking a sleeping pill the night before. I brought my usual race day breakfast with me and ate it down first thing. Then got a quick shower and dressed in my clothes, all set out the night before - bib pre-pinned and all. This is where it was nice to have a hotel with later check out - no packing up, just go.

We left the hotel room around 3:30-3:40am and easily made it into the Epcot lot and settled in by 4 - no traffic problems at that time at all. The cold front had really picked up and it was low- to mid- 50s with a biting wind and threat of rain. So we opted to stay in the car for a bit while I mentally prepared. (yes, that’s cold for a Florida girl!)

We soon made our way to the family staging area where it’s a party scene over by a DJ stage! I’m not a great dancer normally, but that certainly doesn’t improve in the wee hours of the morning, so I opted for quiet stretching away from the stage. Due to the weather, I was glad I brought a throw away jacket. If you suspect it will in anyway be cold but not cold enough to run in long sleeves, bring a jacket to toss. They have donation bins all along the corrals. Note: don’t forget (like me) to pack another jacket in your checked bag for after! Also, if you like a pre-race drink (I use Hammer Nutrition’s Sustained Energy), bring it in a disposable water bottle. Most drinks should be taken between 30-45 minutes prior to your race, but you’ll be/should be in your corral.

They don’t open the gates out to the corrals right away. I went through bag check - with no lines! - around 4:40 but had a short wait until they let you through to the road to the corrals. Yes, it is a little bit of a walk (as noted in your packet) so remember to get out there early and not get too caught up in your dance moves! It's actually a nice way to get the blood flowing. I was in corral B which is an even further walk up. While I was early, I still ended up at the back of my corral due to a last minute need to pee! I had to exit my corral just before the national anthem, but still made it back in plenty of time before the race began.

The air is simply electric at the start of this race. So many costumes, tutus, tiaras, guys dressed as frogs, pink pink and more pink! There was music, motivational speeches, a blessing from the Fairy Godmother, and fireworks to send each wave on their way.

Being at the back of my corral, I did experience some heavy delays trying to weave through to the front. But it gave me a nice warm up, with no risk of blowing out my legs from the excitement, that allowed me to push the pace for the rest of the course. It didn’t thin out enough to get into a rhythm until about 1.5 miles in. The course primarily goes through the connecting roads through the Disney property, but that doesn’t mean they are boring. Disney really does it up. Of course, there are character stops all along the way. About every mile I would estimate. I didn’t care to stop at any, but they were nice to look at along the way. I’m a pretty focused runner, but I remember men on stilts, a hot air balloon, marching band, a few DJs, proposing Prince Charmings, a drum circle group, a 70’s band, storybook mile markers, and cheering squads. At one point around mile 9, I passed the famed Jeff Galloway and I remember thinking “oh, he actually does run it.” And if all the Disney entertainment isn’t enough, just checking out all the costumes is motivating - chase down that fairy! There are several well-stocked water stops along the way and a Clif Shot Gel station at mile 8, though I prefer to carry my own tested nutrition (Gu Gels and unsalted pretzels) in my SPIbelt™.

The highlights of the run are of course when you go through the parks. As I was running through Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom, the sky was just barely showing some light of a sunrise and all the white lights were on for us. Then you run straight through the castle to an awaiting crowd of spectators. Not to be corny but it really is magical. By the time you make it back over to Epcot for your grand finish, you’re ready for the pick-me-up of running through Tomorrow Land and around the iconic globe. Tourists are just starting to enter the park and are cheering you on, and a gospel choir signs! Right about this point is when I felt my proudest - I was really here about to finish; I felt strong; I was going to do this faster than I ever imagined; all my hard training was about to pay off. Kelly Clarkson’s, Stronger was on my iPod and I had just enough time before the thrill of the finish line to soak in my soon-to-be accomplishment while I ran.

And there it is - the finish. Mickey and Minnie are there to give you high fives under the pink archway. The crowd is rowdy. And racks and racks of big beautiful finisher medals stare at you. As you get your medal, you can be dusted with fairy dust. The end isn’t congested and you easily go to get “goodies”, which in this case were bananas, Nemo fruit snacks, water, mostly gluten free treats because one of our speakers (Miss USA, I think it was) had Celiac disease. Again I was able to claim my bag at the check with no lines.

Back in the family reunion area, the DJ awaits as well as photo opportunities with two princesses. Now that I’m done racing, I’m ready to take pictures! There were food trucks, a place to get champagne, a booth to have your medal engraved, and of course more merchandise. After a few photos, we didn’t hang around much longer as the weather appeared to be turning and I was pretty cold.

For the number of people participating, I’m amazed how smoothly this entire event runs. This is a perfect event also for a first time halfer. There are so many different ability levels and everyone is so supportive that you don’t ever feel “out of your league”. Everyone is there to have fun, fast or slow, run or walk. I recommend this event to anyone and plan on coming back for more future runDisney events! goDisney!