Disney Princess Half Marathon

In February 2014 I ran my first ever half marathon...and I finished it!

If you're unfamiliar with Run Disney events, Disney organizes races of different lengths throughout the year at both US parks. The courses literally go though the parks, costumes are encouraged, and Disney characters are all over the place.

It was the middle of 2013 when I first learned about these events (particularly the WDW Princess HM) and sent it to my bestie saying we should get in shape and do it "next time". She promptly told me we were doing it this time. It basically went like this:

So, nine months before the race, I stepped on a treadmill and went for my first ever run. I've never run. I've been the adamant "I hate running" chick. But now....while I still hate the treadmill, I'm starting to like running. Sorta. It's a weird sport.

By the way, I suck at running. When I say I'm "running" what I really mean is "I'm walking fast with some bursts of running in between". My average pace is considered power walking by most tracking tools. I am getting better, though! Very slowly but surely.

Anyways, the main event starts uber early, since it needs to be over for the parks to open. We were up at 3am to get into our Princess Woody and Princess Buzz costumes (best friends....princess-themed race...do I really need to explain our decision?) and to the bus with plenty of time to spare. Then we spent an hour or so waiting in our O corral, excited but sleepy.

Finally, it was our turn to start! As each corral starts, Disney sends the runners off with fireworks!

Then the run is on! Because we weren't used to the heat, and we both had a rough start that morning (and I was having...female issues), we ended up power walking most of the race, but still. We finished! The course for this race was more highway than I expected, but hey- it's the Disney highway! And they've got a lot of character photo-ops along the way. We didn't stop, since we were going way slower than we expected, but it was still high energy and fun! Disney runners are the greatest, most encouraging people ever!

Here, have some race selfies:

So, the course. It starts outside Epcot, onto the Disney highway heading past the race track towards Magic Kingdom. The most exciting part is when you turn a corner and realize you're on Main Street heading towards the castle. It's this burst of energy at the half point of the race that spurs you on! After running through Tomorrow Land, you come up behind the castle and there're two heralds blasting their trumpets as you run through the castle! Then you head out the back of Magic Kingdom, back on the highway, and end up at Epcot via back stage Epcot.

Just before you reach the finish line, at mile 13, there's a live gospel choir spurring you on to the end. And at the finish line? Mickey and Minnie are giving high fives. It's super exciting, and then they give you a medal, a cold towel, and a snack box!

That's what I look like after a crazy 13.1 mile expedition that I fully didn't expect to finish! At mile 3 I was certain I wouldn't finish, had a brief revival around mile 6 at the castle, then lost faith again from mile 8 on. It wasn't until around mile 12.9 that I thought I might actually make it. But I did. I still can't fully believe that I did a half marathon.

The night before we left, RunDisney announced a brand new race in DisneyLand: The Avengers Half Marathon!! Guess what we're signed up for?

Also on this trip? Other amazingness. I had dinner in the Beast's West Wing. THE WEST WING! It's forbidden, you know.

Belle had the napkins folded like roses (obviously), We got to see THE rose, and Beast was even home to meet us. Yes, I tried the grey stuff (and, yes, it was delicious).

And, to satisfy my geekiness, I had a butter beer in Hogsmeade after a terrifying broom ride around Hogwarts.

This was such a fun week! Definitely one for the memory bank! 

Have you done a RunDisney race? What did you think?

I Survived P90X!

I tried P90X today....and I think I liked it! To learn about P90X, check out this video or go to their website. 

So my gym is about to offer P90X classes, and today they were offering a few preview classes. I really wanted to go, and couldn't find anyone to go with me, so I sucked it up and went by myself.

Now, in my head, it looked like this: It would be a decent size class of really-fit people, and I would strategically stand in the back, so when I couldn't do anymore (which I expected to be about ten minutes in), I could just collapse on the ground and not be noticed. The cost of the class was a ten dollar donation to the American Diabetes Association, so I figured even if I totally failed, at least I could say I tried, and supported a good cause.

Here's how it actually happened: I showed up a few minutes early, because I wanted to make sure I could get into the class. My name was first on the list. I was told the class would be in a little coned-off section, not actually in the class room. I went and warmed up on my favorite elliptical, and ten minutes later the trainer, Ryan, came over to get me, saying it was going to be just one-on-one. So NOT what I pictured! And I told him that, and that I wasn't sure how much I could do, but that I would try my best. As he was asking me what weight I usually use for free weights, two more women came (yay, not alone!). Another trainer also came over, since he was free and one of the women was his client. So two trainers for three of us. We jumped right into it, though it was slightly toned down, since it was an introduction to P90X. That does not mean it was easy, though! Definitely not! I had to lay on the living room floor for 20 minutes when I got home! It was the same tough exercises, just a little slower, to explain the moves. Anyways. I rocked the P90X. Seriously. I did everything he said to, with the highest weights he said to, in the hardest ways he said (I did FULL push-ups. No knees! Well, except that last time...). And actually, I was kinda the best in the class. One other woman was pretty close to me, but I pushed just a little further and did a little more than she did. I did have to take some breaks, like anyone else, but I DID it! And Ryan was proud of us. He said that cardio-wise, we were the best class he had all day :)

My end opinion of P90X: I loved it! I did way better than I expected, and finished the whole thing! The real classes start in October, and I would love to do them, but it's $99 a month. I already spend $120 on personal training, so I definitely can't do both :( I can barely lift my arms, I had to lay on the floor at home before I took a shower, and I know I'm going to KILL tomorrow, but I loved it! It's a good feeling to push your body to its limits and get stronger! And I'm so proud of myself to know that I CAN DO P90X!!! Woohoo!

Also, I got a lunchbox with a snack. It's the little things that make me happy.