I feel like I’ve been waiting to write about this race for a really long time. I signed up for the race on my birthday in July and everything that has happened between now and then blows my mind.
So, if you followed my vacation recaps (part one, part two, and part three) you already know that I really did not prepare as well as I should have for this half marathon. I spent the majority of six days walking around Florida so come race day I was anything but fresh legged. You live and you learn.
Saturday night we went back to our room around 9:30pm. I spent the next hour packing up and making sure everything was ready to go for race day. Chris taped my knee. I got my fuel belt ready to go. Made sure I would have everything I needed for the morning – headphones, bagel with peanut butter, water, electrolyte drinks — etc. By the time I laid down to go to bed, I had a little over three hours before I would have to wake up again. I dont know about you guys but I take naps longer than that. And this was supposed to be my rejuvenating sleep to really get me ready to go in the morning.
The first alarm went off at 2:15am. And the second at 2:22am. I woke up dazed but happy. I slept in my exercise pants from the night before so it would be one less thing to worry about. I brushed my teeth, smoothed out my hair, and put my race day clothes on and headed out the door to catch a bus.
I have never woken up so early for anything in my life. Friends of mine instructed me to get to the buses early (before 3am!). I ended up getting right on a bus shortly before 3am and off we went to the Epcot parking lot.
The Epcot parking lot was still prettymuch dead at 3:05am. Not surprising. There was a DJ trying to get us early birds jazzed up but all I wanted to do was take a nap. I ate my bagel, drank a water, and hung out. Shortly after, I ran into my in-laws. (Chris stayed behind to sleep so we could drive back to DC following the race.) The pre-race area was significantly more crowded at this point and Princesses had arrived for photo opportunities. I was lame and didn’t want to wait in line for pictures. It was hot. It was dark. My legs hurt. And I was tired. All I wanted to do was sit down and wait for the race to start, but instead I went to the bathroom about sixteen times (exaggeration).
Just before 5am they started asking Corrals to line up. I ended up being right in the middle of the pack — Corral D represent!
Shortly before 6am, I crossed the starting line with my mother-in-law and her friend.
This was the most crowded race I’ve ever done. I expected to be bottlenecked for about the first 5K but even at mile 10 and the finish I was surrounded by women all on their own running schedules on too narrow of a course. It just never let up. I realized very early on that unless you’re in Corral A or B (elite or otherwise), Disney is not a place to get a personal record.
We started off down the highway toward Magic Kingdom (six miles away). The on-course entertainment was fun– mainly character stops. If you were willing to stop you could meet just about everyone — villains, princesses, the prince’s, mickey and minnie, etc etc. Disney spaced the water nicely. But it is important to note that the temperature at the beginning of this race was just shy of 80 degrees with like 90% humidity. I was sticky and sweaty before the race even began.
I nicknamed the Princess Half the “body odor half marathon” due to how close we all were to one another, the amount of sweat from costumes that don’t breathe, and the heat. It was a very stinky race.
I was planning a costume, but unfortunately it didn’t come to fruition because of everything else going on in my life in the weeks leading up to the race. And I am actually really happy I didn’t. Sure, there were a bunch of tutus and princesses but I’d guesstimate that only about 1/3 of the participants actually dressed in costume. I bought a silver sparkly headband to represent a tiara at the race expo and considered it good enough.
Unfortunately, for the first time ever during a race, I had tummy troubles. I stopped shortly around mile two for a quick bathroom break (I waited in line for seven minutes … so not exactly quick) and then again just before mile ten (another five minute wait). Totally not ideal but it happens.
Back to the actual race! We run/walked our way to Magic Kingdom.
(Photo courtesy of my father-in-law!)
Turning onto Main Street was glorious. The crowd was ridiculous and it was impossible to actually run at this point between the swarms of women stopping in the middle of the course to take pictures and the crowds but still very cool.
I darted off to the side for a couple of quick ones!
And then we went around to the back of the Castle where Royal Mickey and Minnie were waiting.
That’s my excited, delirious face.
At this point, my legs were so achy and sore from the activities of the week plus in DC it was about 30 degrees the week before and here I am running in weather I haven’t exactly acclimated to quite yet (boy it was a shock when we got home though! eek!). But I just kept moving. Mentally, I felt good. I mean, I complained about the heat almost every five minutes but sometimes thats all you can do to make it bearable.
After we left the Castle it was through Frontierland and then out of the park and back down the highway we just came up to go back to Epcot. Not a lot of crowd support here but I was rockin’ and rollin’ along. I began counting down the miles and just kept moving.
Entering Epcot toward the end of the race was probably my favorite part. At this point, the course opened up a little bit so I was able to weave through people easier. And I just really love Epcot. I saw a bunch of photographers, I smiled for the camera and just kept pushing. I passed a chorus singing and I might’ve cried (it always happens!) just a little bit but I knew I was getting close.
I ran my way to the finish line and crossed with a crowd of Princesses.
I am pretty pleased with the results all things considered.
I collected my medal which is GORGEOUS and immediately left so I could get out of my smelly clothes (ha!).
I’m not sure if I’ll do another runDisney race anytime soon. It was crowded, leaving the post-race party area was much more difficult than it needed to be and I heard a bunch of people talk about how disorganized this race was in comparison to the others. I had a good time despite a few factors but I don’t typically let things rain on my parade… though I do wish it would’ve rained during this race!
I left the race without a single blister! And I didn’t chafe. So I am pretty sure I won.
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Have you ever runDisney? If so, which races? Did you like it? Would you do it again?
What is your most favorite race you’ve ever completed? Why!