I have to start by saying this post is MONTHS over due!  I wrote it a few days after the marathon weekend and never posted.   In mid-February, we went to down Florida to spend time with Allyn’s family and for me to partake in the Glass Slipper Challenge, which is part of the Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

This was my first Disney race so I was super excited to get there, get my run packet, and run. We arrived at our Disney World Resort on Wednesday morning. Got checked in and then made our way to Disney World. Thursday was packet pick up. Friday evening was the Pasta in the Park Dinner at Epcot. Saturday, was the  first race, the 10K. Then Sunday was the half-marathon.  Allyn and my mom joined for the weekend.  This was also my mom’s first visit to Disney World, so in between the all of the running events we made our way through all four parks.

Packet Pick Up and Expo

  

Like with any running event, pack pick up and the Health and Fitness Expo is the opening event. Packet pick up started on Thursday morning. I had high expectations for the packet and the expo. However, the packet just consisted of your event shirt and your bib. I guess I was expecting something more. Other race packets I received have included coupons, or free sample. There was nothing extra.

The packet pick and expo were split between two buildings in ESPN Sports complex. The Expo was more of a big sales floor for runners. Every vendor for women’s running accessories was there. New Balance and Champion were the two main athletic clothing/running shoe vendor, since they both sponsors.  No, Brooks, Asics, Nike or Reebok. Disney had two areas for commemorative items (one in each building). When I was at the Expo, about an hour and half after the expo open and the merchandise was already picked over. Aside from all of the places to shop there was plenty of places to get your picture taken behind special RunDisney signage. There were a few vendors giving away run signs and paper tiaras.

Going into the expo I expected to see some Disney characters but there was none. In true Disney style, there were lines and people everywhere. People were going crazy of anything RunDisney or princess related. The Expo was definitely geared towards the Disney enthusiast the serious runner (such as myself) would probably find little value in the Expo.

10K

The 10K started at 5:30 am on Saturday morning. To catch bus at the resort and make it to the starting area on time I had to get at 3:30 am and was waiting for the shuttle bus at 4:00 am.

The morning of the race was unseasonably cold (upper 30s). I was in the last coral, which meant between I had to stand around in the cold. I kept moving and tried to keep my muscles lose and my body warm. Regardless what i did, my legs were cold and starting to cramping from having to wait so long.

Once I started running the cramping went away and I settled into a good pace. I ended up running about a 11:38 pace through out the race. My goal was not push myself and not run at my fastest pace, but to run steady. I was please that I was able to maintain a steady pace through out.

I really enjoyed the 10K course; the course taken you through the back entrance to Epcot, through Epcot’s World Showcase, then along the back part of the Boardwalk resort and back into Epcot to finish line. I have to say I enjoyed the 10K course over the half-marathon course.

I finished the race in one hour and eight minutes from the time I started running. However, the official race clock said around 2:00 hours (because it was the time the race started).

Along the course there were plenty of drink (hydration) stations. At the end of the race they gave you full size bottles of power aid and water along with a snack box.

Half-Marathon

Like the 10K, the half-marathon started at 5:30 am. After my experience of waiting for the shuttle bus the morning before Allyn volunteered to drop me off. I am not sure if this was a smart move or not. Between the closed roads and others trying to get to race, it taken almost 45 minutes to get drop off point. From the drop off area it was about a 3 mile walk to the coral area.   There was about twice as many people running the half marathon as the 10K the day prior.

Most of the half-marathon course was on the back and side roads and parking lots of Walt Disney World and Epcot.   The course was actually very narrow in places given the number of runners on the course.

Running through the Magic Kingdom was not the magical experience I thought it would be. My pace slowed down from a 10 minute pace to 16 minute pace. Between people stopping at take pictures and the course getting even more narrowing through the park it was hard to stay at consistence running place.

After I got through the Disney Park I was able to pick my pace back up and finish the race in about 3 hours.

The biggest disappointments with the half-marathon was that there were so many walkers on the course and that the tracking chip did not register correctly so my family ended up getting incorrect pace times and did make to the finish area in time to see me finish.

What made running Disney a great experience?

Disney is a magical place and I think that is what made this a running experience to remember. I mean where else can you have the Fair Godmother and Prince Charming see off at the start line. There was something interesting to see at each mile, from bands, performers, Disney Characters, and cheer squads.

The opportunity for a challenge also makes it a great experience. Many times you go out of town for a race weekend and you have to be there to pick up the run packet and attend the expo a few days before. Running two races back to back is different type of challenge. Running the half-marathon the day before helps energize you for the half-marathon. I was also able to get a sense of what the course was like. Getting an extra medal for my efforts was not bad either.

The bad and ugly (side) of the Princess Half Marathon Weekend?

Not to be a downer but I can think of a number of bad or ugly things about the Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

Getting to the race takes a lot of work and I don’t mean just training. The training is the easy part.   If you are lucky enough to get registered for the race (you have to do it exactly at the time race registration opens), you must start planning for your trip to Disney immediately. It take a good chuck of time to get all of arrangements made.   Not only are resorts expensive but the good ones in proximity to race fill up fast.

The races are early … meaning they start at 5:30 but you have to be up at 3:00 am to catch the shuttle and get to your coral.

There are tons people at the races, both in terms of runners and spectators. This makes for lots of crowds and some times crowded running path, which can slow you down.

One thing that helps sale the Run Disney races, is the characters along the course. You see these great pictures of runners posing with various Disney characters on the Disney website. Basically if you plan on completely the race don’t plan to stop to get your picture taken. The lines for pictures witch characters along the course are long and eat into your race time.

The weekend can push you to your limits, both mentally and physically.  You are at Disney so way not take in the parks while you are there. Because of time we decided to do the parks before the race.  I was mentally and physically exhausted, before the race started, due to running around the parks the days before. This is was not a smart move. One thing you must do, especially if trying to complete a challenge, is pace yourself.

Was running Disney and participating in the Princess Half Marathon Weekend worth it?

Overall, YES. It was very memorable in so many ways.   When I had the three medals hanging around my neck the moment was priceless and all of training and planning had paid off.