My Personal Thoughts About runDisney

So, this post is a pretty difficult one to write. For the most part, I have kept my opinions and thoughts about runDisney and their recent changes to myself or shared them with people that are close to me. I haven’t really come out and taken a position one way or another. I’ve played this out in my mind for weeks and came to the conclusion that I owe it not only to myself but I owe it to you to share my thoughts openly and honestly. These are my opinions and this is my space…so I am going to try to frame these thoughts the best that I can.

Before we even dive into this, I am going to provide you all with my runDisney race resume. I am sharing this so you know that I have been doing this for quite some time…so maybe some of my thoughts will have some context against them when I talk about the changes I have seen over the years.

-Disneyland Half Marathon 2012

-Wine and Dine Half Marathon 2012

-Walt Disney World Marathon (Goofy Finisher) 2013

-Tinker Bell Half Marathon 2013

-Disneyland Half Marathon (Dumbo Double Dare Finisher) 2013

-Wine and Dine Half Marathon 2013

-Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (Dopey Challenge Finisher) 2014

-Tinker Bell 10K AND Half Marathon 2014

-Avenger’s Super Heroes Half Marathon 2014 (Coming Soon)
-3X Coast to Coast medal recipient

Ok, now that I have that out of the way let’s get right into this post.

I discovered runDisney by accident. I began running in 2012 and found out that Disney had their own race series. I, being the huge Disney fanatic that I am was very excited and signed up for the Disneyland Half Marathon without hesitation. It was my third half marathon and it was A LOT of fun. I am local to Disneyland so travel wasn't an issue and in 2012 I don't remember the course or the expo being too crowded. I had the time of my life. I was moved and inspired and didn't want this to end. Upon returning from vacation to Alaska (on the Disney Cruise Line no less...I left the next day haha), I signed up for the Wine and Dine half marathon. Food and wine and running...who says no to that. I went to that event alone. I was fortunate enough to secure a place in the Disney Parks Blog meet up group where I was formally introduced to Team #runDisney. I had been chatting and conversing with many of these people online for a couple months. The group was small, yet welcoming. I continue to keep in touch with A LOT of these folks to this day. After finishing that weekend, I walked away with so many new friends. Again, I didn't want that to end.

I have said it before and I will say it again, runDisney race weekends aren't so much about the race...it's about the people! The people are what make these racecations what they are. Hands down. Period. I like to think of it as a family reunion when we all get together. I mean, we run races that aren't Disney and make it a point to meet up with one another just to say hi and steal hugs. THAT is what makes this special. I hang on to those memories and look forward to creating more both on Disney property and off. 

As of the past year, runDisney has seen some major administrative changes in how they operate. The changes are not subtle and the changes in MY personal opinion are quite disheartening. Let me be perfectly clear. I was a cast member at Disneyland. One of my roles was a guest control/special events cast member. They are part of the team that runDisney leverages for race weekend logistics. So, I understand what it is like to be a cast member and the stress that comes with it. I am not blaming ONE single person for ANYTHING. These are my personal feelings and observations. You have every right to agree or disagree. I also welcome alternative perspectives as well. This is meant to generate conversation, not bash anyone.

Let's talk about what runDisney does VERY well. runDisney knows their audience. One of the reasons they exist is to encourage families to get off the couch and be active together. They do that by holding races at their vacation destinations and hoping all will participate. BRILLIANT. I love that families can run/walk/play together. runDisney is also a great place to run if you are new to running and want to give it a try. I have always found runDisney races to be a safe haven and space for all skill levels. I find for the most part their races and expos are very organized. They have their moments when they aren't so smooth...but so does everyone else. They really leverage their runners in their campaigns. This forms a sense of community and inclusion. I also find they are always on the hunt for continuous improvement. Not every race (Disney or non) is perfect. There is always something that can be done better. I find they address the big things and get them corrected. Jeff Galloway & Tara Gidus are wonderful resources that are warm, open, and available for the participants! I love that so much. The list of what they do well is much longer but these are just some of the things I really do appreciate.

Ok...here's where it's gonna get dicey. In today's technical age social media presence is important. Lots of us turn to Facebook or Twitter for news and customer service...they miss the mark on this hardcore. I find the accounts go nuts during race weekends and then are pretty quiet there after. New participants have legitimate questions that only runDisney can answer and those vehicles would be a great way to close the gap. I know the staff is limited. I know they have a lot on their plate. But client engagement and loyalty is important. For most inquiries I will direct you to the Team #runDisney blog/forum/Facebook group because they are an amazing resource with seasoned runDisney participants...myself included. I always wondered why they don't have a formal race ambassador program to help with this...then it hit me. Why do they need it? Bloggers like me do the work for free. We recap our experiences and answer questions for free. They don't need to create or leverage a program for that because the need is already addressed. Makes sense to me. Although it would be a nice idea.

The prices are now out of bounds. Yes, we can discuss the "value" you get for the races. Yes, the tech shirts are usually awesome (and have improved drastically in both design and materials that are used), yes the medals are usually awesome (I'll come back to this), and the on course entertainment is usually spot on. I still have a hard time justifying $195 for a half marathon. Some high profile marathons don't cost that much. When you factor in travel, housing accommodations, food, and swag at the expo...it adds up. Fast. Especially for someone coming from Southern California to Orlando. Now, no one is forcing any of us to make these commitments and sign up and everyone has an individual circumstance. For me, I've done these races find a better value in using those available funds to explore and experience other races. It's not cost effective for me to repeat these races at the high price point...that continues to climb. That's just me.

I was REAL disappointed with the 2015 Goofy medal. Why? Because it looks EXACTLY like the ING Miami Marathon medal from 2012!!!!!!! The only thing missing were the palm trees. I am all for leveraging ideas for inspiration and such but this is THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY! You are known for creativity, innovation, and for using your imaginations to bring ideas, concepts, and stories to life. You bombed that one guys...sorry 'bout it. Normally the medals are breathtaking. I have some that just make me say WOW that rocks to this day! Even the 2014 Goofy medal is stellar! The Marathon medal this year as simple as it is, still has charm and appeal. I don't know what happened, but I want to see that flare come back. Racing isn't all about medals...but having one that you can fall in love with is always nice. Now, everyone has the same taste in design so this opinion is completely subjective...like most of this post but you get what I mean.

runDisney has realized it is officially a cash cow. They sell out races in record times at high prices (which is their prerogative), the merchandise isn't the cheapest (and sells out quickly), New Balance shoes are a hot item (I waited for my pair), and everyone wants to sign up for what's next. Why wouldn't they as a business play to these strengths? And they do. And why shouldn't they? It's about the bottom line at the end of the day. A business exists to make a profit. And they have found new and "creative" ways to do that. Introducing new challenges for one (Dopey, Glass Slipper, whatever is going on on Castaway Cay).

For me, it's exhausting to go to these events. I literally need a vacation after the racecation. Dopey about killed me. The mileage wasn't the issue. It was the constant 3 am wake up calls, hardly any park time, and early bed times. It starts messing with your head. I hung out and met old and new friends that weekend and I will forever be grateful for that, but it's just too much mental stress for me. I love the concept of runDisney, but I think since they have made their changes they primarily focus on the bottom line instead of the runner. The runner will always be there because let's face it...y'all are still stalking the website and social media grasping at those registration dates and links. The demand is there. I don't see that changing. This post isn't trying to steer you away, do what you love! I am here sharing my perspective because I have seen a shift and it makes me sad.

Wine and Dine will always be my favorite event, and I plan on returning to that in 2015. This isn't goodbye by any means, but this is I need to reduce my participation. runDisney has give me SO SO SOOOO MUCH!!!! Memories, friends, and magic. I want that to continue and I wish all participants find the same happiness that I have been fortunate enough to experience in their own races and trips.

This has been on my spirit for a while. So there it is. Now you know. It's not the bubbly funny post that you usually get from me, but it is honest and from my heart. And it's taken me some time to get here and put it down on paper err...computer screen. Whew. It sure isn't what it used to be...and sadly it's pretty obvious.

So...I Guess I'm Running Avengers

So see what had happened was...

So, it's no secret I have been on a runDisney hiatus. I have kept the reasoning for that pretty much to myself, but I can say that cost was a huge factor. I had pretty much known that the Avengers Half Marathon weekend was coming...it was strongly hinted during the Disneyland Half Marathon meet-up last year...you guys didn't believe me LOL. So when this announcement was being teased and released I wasn't in shock at all.

So here we are. Registration opened today and sold out in minutes for this inaugural west coast race. This is pretty awesome because it offers another race for us west coasters, and another opportunity for you to earn Coast-to-Coast. Personally, I think that $195 is still too much for a half marathon...but apparently that didn't stop me.

I evaded the runDisney excitement of Disneyland half marathon weekend, and Wine and Dine. Both are two of my favorite runDisney races. It hurt to watch them sell out, but I knew it was for the best. Avengers was announced and my initial reaction was "NO! I am not doing this." I held strong to that and went back and forth with my big sis Jen about this. Should we do it? Should we do this and then run Rock 'N' Roll Las Vegas that night? (which apparently lots of you are planning). Should we just say no. We landed on just say no. Well...this morning she asked me if I fell on the keyboard yet and I hadn't. Then something happened. I completely blacked out. I woke up to confirmation emails in my inbox and a withdrawal notification from my bank. I think Thor's brother Loki put a spell on me...because I ended up registered.

I was sweating, and all of you were celebrating my return to runDisney. I guess you guys have missed me :) So, I will be running around like Thor for Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon weekend. Geez. Now what will my next runDisney race be? After this, more than likely Wine and Dine 2015. I am passing on Marathon weekend for various reasons...mainly because I would like to do Miami and if I go I'll want to go Dopey and that damn near killed me with the 4 days of early wake ups.

So, yes I will be there at Avengers and will absolutely enjoy it and enjoy seeing all of you. My wallet hurts but I am sure I'll survive. Now if only Disney would construct a BiFrost to carry me between Disneyland and Walt Disney World that would be spectacular...talk about cutting down on travel costs.

runDisney Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend Recap

What a weekend this was for sure! After coming back from Dopey weekend, I was feeling very good physically and mentally. I made it back to So Cal, got back into the groove of life, and was ready to take on another 19.3 miles with the Tinker Bell 10K and the Tinker Bell half marathon! I actually had a roller coaster of a weekend! So I won't waste to much time with that an intro, let's dive right in!

Thursday I made my way to the expo at the Disneyland Hotel! I figured Thursday would be a great day to go! Especially in the evening, hopefully the crowds would be gone! I was right! But let me step back! I received a text from the lovely Vicki, who blogs over at Scoot-A-Doot and she totally surprised me and told me she was in town for the race...as a participant! I was over the moon! I absolutely adore this girl!

Vicki went with me to pick up my bibs and handle some business over at runner relations. We laughed the entire time! She really is awesome! Vicki took off to catch some Z's, so I went to the expo to poke my head around and see what was happening! I picked up my tee-shirts and ran into running pal Tracy who was volunteering! After that, I made my way over to Sparkle Athletic to grab some sparkle for the half marathon. Real Men Sparkle after all! I knew that my girl Kelly would hook me up and make sure I sparkled right! I secured my gunmetal sparkle visor!

@AccordingToKelly from Sparkle Athletic is just AWESOME

I ran into some other awesome people at the expo! Then I made my way to the runDisney merchandise area! I will say this...the expo was run 100 times better than Disneyland Half's expo last year! I was thrilled! Very efficient. Very well organized. Hats off to the coordinators! I headed home and wouldn't return to the resort until the 10K on Saturday Morning.

Yes that is an A. runDisney made a boo-boo! 

Saturday morning I arrived to Anaheim ready to take on the 10K! I was a bit chilly but that's to be expected for 5:30 in the morning in January, right? I mean it isn't snowing or anything but we were in So Cal. I met up with fellow gazelle Joe who was in town to spectate the 10K and run the half marathon! I love hanging out with this guy! He's crazy fast...and well...just crazy! He's AWESOME! We decided to run the half marathon together!

Hey, it's Joe!

Throughout the morning, I received tweets from other great runners who were participating in the race that wanted to make sure that we could connect and say hello! Before I knew it, we were off and running! The first people I ran into are a couple of my favorites, Tracy and Dawnley the mother daughter duo that represent Team Run#3rd! I always LOVE seeing these two! Always so warm and always smiling!

Love Tracy and Dawnley

I continued my run through Disneyland and even encountered another online friend, Fiona! I have been chatting with her for some time, and she always makes me laugh so it was awesome to get to bump into her and meet her in real life. She was also spectating the 10K and was gearing up to earn her wings on Sunday.

The rest of the race was pretty great! I love the route that runDisney chose when they designed this race. A majority of the race was actually on Disney property which was pretty awesome. There were probably two miles total that were on the streets of Anaheim. Overall, this was an awesome race! Now there is a huge catch here for me. After coming off of Dopey the prior week, at the finish I immediately felt my energy levels deplete! I really did my best not to over do it on the 10K, but I guess my body had other thoughts. Immediately post race I didn't stop to say hello or see ya tomorrow to anyone. Sorry you guys. I made a direct line to my car and drove home. I finished up some chores around the house, climbed into bed and vowed never to leave it again. I was literally physically drained. I am now calling this the Post Dopey Hangover. I am absolutely sure it was a combo of running the Dopey Challenge, flying, working, then jumping right into Tink weekend without any real break! I always say listen to your body, and my body basically told me to stay in bed and don't ever leave...well until Sunday morning.

Sunday morning was half marathon day. At this point, I was still feeling the effects of the Dopey Hangover, but I didn't think about it much! I was more excited to be able to run with Joe! I've never had the opportunity to run with Joe let alone hang out with him much (mainly due to our paths just crossing at different speeds) so this was going to be a treat. I arrive to the corral and find Joe in his #TeamSparkle skirt, visor that matched mine, and his St. Jude Hero singlet...oh and fairy wings. I knew at that moment that this race was gonna be a blast! His energy was through the roof!!!

Ohhh Joe...

Before we knew it, our crew was underway on our 13.1 mile trek through the Disneyland Resort and the city of Anaheim! This was a fun experience because we literally stopped for every single character stop. And I mean every single one. We decided this race was just going to be about fun, laughing, encouraging other folks while we waited in line (Joe is a pro at that), and taking all the random selfies!

The gang is all here!

Fast forward to mile 6 which is where we leave the resort and head onto the streets of Anaheim, the crew had to stop for a photo with the awesome folks from F3 - Further, Faster, Forever (of which I am a member) for our awesome photo!

F3!

At this point, extreme fatigue had set it. I realized I was basically done for the weekend! I dialed ALL the way down and ended up walking a majority of the rest of the way. I mean, I ran when I could but that Post Dopey Hangover came in full effect. I was literally mentally and physically exhausted. I had officially done too much. I recognized this, realized what was going on, and mitigated to avoid serious illness. I got some nutrition into my system and hydrated like a mad man. I didn't feel faint or like I was going to puke or anything, but I knew that my race weekend was done. That was okay with me. It's not like I didn't just run 48.6 miles the week before. This is another important lesson in listening to your body. I felt fine when I walked, but running caused some interesting sensations in my abdominal region...cramps but not really. So I took it easy. I knew the finish wasn't too far so I focused on enjoying the walk and celebrating that I just ran Dopey and I just added on another 19.3 miles! I was proud! I ran the last .1 into the finishers chute, got my selfie with the boss mouse and crossed the finish line! I had earned my second pair of wings AND my coast-to-coast. That was pretty awesome!

Tink and Coast to Coast

Although, I felt like crud at the finish, I met some familiar faces and made another bee line to my car. I was officially ready for a bath, some water, and a much deserved rest! Overall, I had a great weekend of running. It was an awesome challenge to go back-to-back but luckily Tink Half moves to Mother's Day weekend in 2015 so that temptation goes away...although I am hearing rumblings that another race may take it's place? Who knows...that's what I am hearing in the streets. Anyway, runDisney rocked it! I had a blast! Next up, Surf City USA in Huntington Beach! See you there! But before I go... look at all the blinnnng!

The Approach for Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend

Well, this seemed like a good idea at the time! It is here and underway! The 2014 runDisney Tinker Bell Half Marathon weekend! This will be my second year earning my wings! And my second year going coast-to-coast back-to-back with marathon weekend. As you all are aware by now, I just finished the inaugural Dopey Challenge in Walt Disney World, which consisted of running 48.6 miles over the course of four days. After a few days of rest and no running, I actually feel pretty good and ready for the challenge of taking on about 19.3 miles.

So here's the scoop! On saturday, I will run the Tinker Bell 10K. The main driver for choosing to run this race was because it was inaugural, and I always enjoy running first year races! I plan on just enjoying the run at a comfortable pace! I don't plan on running for a large PR at all on Saturday. My goal is to go out there, run, and get warmed up for the half marathon! So really, this is just for fun!

Now let's talk about the half marathon! I am excited because I didn't come down with a cold after marathon weekend like last year! I know EnergyBits had something to do with it. In fact, I feel healthier. Anyway, I plan on wearing this course out! I plan on a smart consistent start as not to burn out to fast, and dial it up in the second half! Absolutely hoping for a negative split. Not going to promise a sub-2 or anything, but my goal is run and pace myself to a very consistent half marathon. Running with Faith last week and having that be the best marathon I've run consistency wise really has me ready to focus on the prize. Especially, when I will begin work with my coach Holly very soon!

So basically, I plan on just rocking out this weekend and enjoying myself. Using Galloway intervals, and hydrating with Skratch! So this should be a blast!

Follow the journey! Tomorrow, I'll recap the 10K for all of you! See you on the road!

Sharp's Final Thoughts on the Inaugural Dopey Challenge

Well folks, it's time. Most of us are either on our way home or sitting in the airport awaiting our flights...which is exactly what I am doing. As a side note before I get started...I scored power plugs for my phone and laptop! SCORE! So many of us participated in the runDisney Walt Disney World weekend (which again is really a week). This consists of the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Marathon. Many of us took on various challenges. I met a lot of people who did their own make-shift 'East Coast Dumbo Double Dare' by completing the 10K, followed by the half marathon. Others went Goofy, and some even went Dopey. I am officially Dopey! Horray! So what did I think and how do I feel?

Well, at this point I have VERY minimal discomfort. I kept my 5K, 10K, and half marathons very easy and utilized a consistent Galloway run/walk technique all weekend, adjusting my intervals as I needed to ensure comfort. So this made for muscles that were not overworked or strained. I survived with no injury thank goodness. I also did my best to enjoy all of the fine cuisine Walt Disney World has to offer, but did so responsibly knowing I had races in the morning. Not a whole lot of junk food this weekend.

So that brings me to what I personally thought was the hardest part of the weekend for me...the 5 early wake up calls. All from waking up early to make sure I got the newest New Balance runDisney shoes, to ensuring I made to to my start corral in enough time. I honestly think the 10K was my worst day. I was so pumped up and had ALL the adrenaline in my system during the marathon. I knocked out last night though. I am sure all runners thought it was an awesome treat to be able to sleep in past 4AM this morning haha!

This challenge is just as much of a mental challenge than it is physical. You need to be in the zone ALL weekend in order to make this a success. You have to be focused during all of your distances, you need to fuel properly, and you need to get as much rest as possible. Thank goodness for EnergyBits which gave me energy AND the vitamins I needed to keep from getting sick! I brought a whole bag with me and took two servings every day!

What didn't I like? I didn't like the early morning wake up calls at all. It was hard to know I absolutely had to be up and out the door. There is no grey area here, you don't want to miss your bus or miss your corral. I also thought the price for this challenge was steep. The medals were beautiful, the tech tees this year were much improved from last year, but is it just me or did it seem that the character stops were sparse? Had me scratching my head all weekend. I absolutely got an amazing value for all the entertainment and amazing course support that was present, but I still think this may have been a little on the steep side. Also, just as note to other runners...do not say the following phrases to someone 'Oh, you just ran the half?' or 'You just ran the marathon?' Just because someone didn't take on a challenge doesn't make their journey or their race any less important. I heard a lot of that this weekend. I am absolutely sure that no one had malicious intentions and I'm sure many of this was done in a joking manner so I don't want this to turn into a finger pointing session, but honestly, every distance should be respected. 26.2 and 13.1 is nothing to turn your nose up at. So, I say all this to say congratulate all of your fellow runners out there! No distance is too short! GO YOU as Cigna would say. Encourage one another!!!!!!!!!

What did I love? THE MEDALS! The medals are GORGEOUS! Personally, the Goofy is my favorite! The tech shirts were absolutely much improved from last year. The designs and the material were beautiful! Very happy. The course support at the aid stations and water stops was spot on! The volunteers as usual were amazing! The expo pretty much remained well stocked all weekend. I went back and only couldn't get one thing I forgot which was my Dopey hat. I loved the virtual queue line for the New Balance shoes. I know my perspective is a little different because I was first in line on Wednesday, but I thought that was a very efficient way to queue up people wanting to get their shoes. Now for those folks that bought ALL the shoes to sell them....I won't get into that.

Wrapping it up!

I know that each of you gave it your best effort out there! I know that many people learned a lot from their performance! I know there were some challenges. But I know that we all learned something. I love coming to Walt Disney World to run! It is honestly one of my favorite things. Not only do I get to see some amazing people, and reconnect with new folks, but I always have (no joke) a magical time. It's more than theme parks for me. It's about being in the moment and letting the spirit and magic remind you that you are alive. Being able to run around the world (as I call it) is such a blessing. Some people never get a chance to leave their home state, and I get to travel all over the country to run, smile, and write about it. It is a reminder that I am blessed enough to one run on my own strength and get stronger, and two that dreams can come true. If you ever have turned the corner of Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom and seen Cinderella's castle for the first time, you know that it is such an experience. Running past it with spectators cheering for you gives me chills. I love the feeling, the spirit, the energy, and the magic that runDisney can create. If you choose to do this challenge I caution you of the early mornings, and not only encourage you...I am telling you you need to be TRAINED UP! This challenge will eat you up if you let it. 48.6 miles is a long way, and the distances get greater every day. The weather in central Florida is also quite unpredictable. We got it all! Rain, humidity, sunshine, overcast, puppies! Sunday however was such a blessing! Perfect running conditions! So, train for the distance! Make sure you get that long run in and cross-train so your whole body is strong and ready for the challenge. All in all, this was a great experience. I am on the fence if I would do it again next year as there are some other races I have my eye on, BUT I am not saying no. There is a chance I may be back for marathon weekend next year, but we will see what the year holds. I had a blast this weekend, and now Saturday and Sunday...the Tinker Bell 10K and Half Marathon await. Which means, Coast to Coast 2014 gets picked up on back-to-back race weekends! Let's see how this goes!

Thanks for joining me on this journey! There is so much more to experience, see, and run through! I hope you continue to join me on these amazing journeys! No two runs are ever the same and there is always something to learn! I have a long way to go, but I enjoy every step! Here's to the magic! See ya real soon!

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Day 5 - WDW Marathon

It's really funny. I really didn't know how I was going to do today. I woke up extra early feeling pretty rested and fueled after my trip to the Pasta in the Park party (which I will recap later). I think I was just anxious. The marathon distance always intimidates me. 26.2 miles is absolutely nothing to laugh at, especially in Central Florida where the weather is unpredictable. Thankfully, I had the most amazing marathon today! Yes, it was the #CorralG anniversary today, and I love those kids very much! It will always have a place in my heart and can't be replaced! Before I get ahead of myself, let me back up just a bit.

I'll make this quick. This is the marathon distance which will round out the Dopey Challenge races. We have run 22.4 miles up to this point, so I can only imagine that most runners were beginning to if not already experiencing muscle and mental fatigue. Myself included. I hung out with Jen and Jessica in the start corral this morning. We were absolutely excited to take on the distance, but like I said nervous. We have all trained and have become better athletes since last year, so for most of us this was a test! The fireworks went off and Mickey Mouse sent us on our way!

I was in pretty good spirits. The weather was spectacular! A much appreciated change from 2013's 85 degree weather with 97% humidity! Today was cool in the mid 60s with little humidity! Conditions were amazing. The first 8 miles were the same from the day before so it wasn't like I didn't know what was coming. And then this! Faith Dority came up and tapped my shoulder and said hello! Some of you may know Faith as the newest Disney Parks Mom's Panel as our runDisney specialist! This was pretty awesome! She had a smile on her face and a dream in her heart, which was to crush the Dopey Challenge! We began chatting and said 'Hey, you're alone, I'm alone, let's run together!' And that is exactly what we did! We met at the Magic Kingdom toll plaza and the rest was history! Faith and I clicked immediately. We decided we wanted to run 4/1 run walk intervals, and we would do that until we needed to modify! We felt strong and encouraged. We were even joined by Mary Jo (@MoJoDisney) for a while! She is equally as fun and matched our energy!

Fast forward to the Magic Kingdom! We basically blew threw the place! We were on a mission. We didn't stop for too many photo stops. Mary Jo was awesome enough to take our first milestone photo! We decided to take and share photos from our major milestones such as mile markers and park icons! Selfies at that LOL. We were in front of the castle here.

Of course we have our phones in our hands LOL

I ran into my Corral G sister Jill spectating in front of the castle! I gave her a huge hug she gave me some encouraging words, and Faith and I sped out of the Magic Kingdom. We kept our steady pace as we made our way to the Walt Disney World Speedway! I was really happy they did not remove this portion of the race (it was added during the 2013 marathon). We ran around and enjoyed looking at all the classic cars and of course laughing. I don't think there was one point where we weren't smiling now that I think about it.

Speedway

We flew around the speedway and made our way onto the back roads of the resort. I find this portion of the course a little boring, but Faith kept me entertained. We exchanged stories, chatted, and just enjoyed each other's company! Next stop, Animal Kingdom! Before we even entered the park, we were met by small farm animals...and the cutest thing happened. THEY HAD MARATHON RACE BIBS! I thought this was the cutest thing ever! The animals were sweet and just so precious...and they had race bibs with their names! CUTE! CUTE! CUUUUTE!

His name was Fleming LOL

Milestone photo was taken in front of Expedition Everest of course! We didn't ride because we were just in the groove of our running and wanted to keep the momentum! But of course, there's always time for a selfie. Although, I am not sure the Yeti was all that interested.

Ain't nobody got time for no Yeti

After Animal Kingdom was a highlight for sure. The halfway point, mile 13.1! Faith and I had been doing a good job of monitoring our Twitter feeds for our official split times so we could stay on point for our finish. So once we crossed the timing mat, we did this again! We were very pleased with the consistency of this race! So we continued with the 4/1 intervals onto Osceola Parkway and made our way to ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Once we reached mile 16 we were beginning to feel the fatigued so we adjusted our intervals to 2/1. This worked out worlds better for the both of us. We were both able to run strong and recover during the walk break without compromising our pace or time. We ran through ESPN Wide World of Sports and enjoyed a run and even enjoyed a banana. Then before we knew it... BAM MILE 20! Where are these miles going????

At this point, I started getting excite because mile 20 only means one thing...10K to go! So we turned off of Victory and back onto Osceola and we see, stop, and have a moment with the official training consultant for runDisney...Jeff Galloway! He was running the race and also had quite the smile on his face. This means that a photo was absolutely necessary. He even complimented me on my camoflaged style gymboss timer!

Hey Jeff!

We continued our intervals and modified based on highway inclines. We made our way to Hollywood Studios! We are feeling great, especially since we got chocolate :)! We made it happen! Let me just say, Faith is really great at motivating and helping folks finish! I wanted to slow down, and Faith encouraged me and helped me get through the discomfort! I felt WORLDS better this year, but encouragement is always great! First, Kat helped keep me focused during the 10K and half marathon, and Faith was amazing!

Hollywood Studios

We flew down the boulevard at Hollywood Studios and this is where we turned all the way up! We made our way to The Boardwalk and this made me so happy! I mean, that means I am just moments away from the front door of Epcot!

A wonderful view from Disney's Boardwalk

Faith saw her family right in front of the Beach Club Villas! This was so sweet! She gave her children and her husband hugs and kisses and they were so encouraging! I loved it! So at this point we were ready to finish this thing up! We kept our intervals strong! Jill again met me in the UK in Epcot! There is nothing like seeing a friendly face in the crowd that is there to see YOU! Warmed my heart. We continued to run around the world and made our way into Future World! We were so happy and felt the emotions growing! We did it! We made it to Spaceship Earth!

And then...

We ran passed the choir and made our way to the finish line! We crossed the finish line around 5:02 which was amazing! We gave each other a huge hug and were over the moon! It was an incredible experience!

Faith, thank you so much for being so amazing! I had an amazing time today! The race wouldn't have been the same without you! It was an amazing experience! Our faces when we got our Dopey and Goofy medals! Just incredible!

Tomorrow, I will recap my thoughts on the Dopey Challenge as a whole! Thank you for following me and my adventures!

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Day 4 - WDW Half Marathon

With two races behind us Dopey-bound runners, today was the day we added the long distances runs to the notches on our fuel belts. Waking up this morning was easier than yesterday. I think having a little down time in the room yesterday absolutely helped. Kat and I woke up and headed to Epcot to get parked and make our way to the corrals. After a brief potty stop we made our way to take the extra long walk to the start line. This is something I definitely do not like about the half or full marathon. You basically walk almost if not a mile to the start...early in the morning. It's crowded and exhausting. But we persevered. What made the walk sweeter is we ran into Pam and Christine from We Run Disney! I have bumped into them in past races, but haven't had the chance to catch up. A mile long walk seemed like the right time to do so, especially since they were both going to the same corral (G!).

Pam and Christine

After we secured our spots in the corral, it was only a brief moment before we were saluting our Nation and moving up to the start. Fireworks of course indicated the start of each corral and they were larger than each of the races before them. Which means tomorrow I expect a spectacular! Too bad for Corral F who did not get fireworks but to a slight mishap (sad trombone).

Corral G fireworks

Kat and I decided to run and walk at a 2/1 run walk interval again. We figured this would force us to regulate our pace and keep me from opening all cylinders to fast. I am very glad we did this. The race felt easy and comfortable the entire way. We took extra walk breaks as needed, but overall maintained a 12:30 average pace. We stopped for some rare character photos including Jack and Sally and Darkwing Duck and Launch Pad from The Disney Afternoon! Last year during the marathon I got my picture my DD, but Launch Pad wasn't there! I was SO EXCITED!

The participants today were great! Finally meeting some Goofy runners, seeing the worn down Dopeys, and seeing those that were braving the half marathon was awesome. Everyone was in great spirits and very encouraging on the route! I am always pleased when runners are nice to one another. After all we are all in this together (no High School Musical pun intended).

Participants on their way to The Magic Kingdom

One of my favorite things about these races is running into The Magic Kingdom, and making that turn onto Main Street USA and seeing Cinderella's Castle. It is magnificent. I always get the chills! This makes all the hard work and training worth it, and honestly, it never gets old! The spectators along the course on Main Street are also out of this world! They probably have some of the highest energy on the course.

Kat and I having fun!

We stopped for a few more photo ops and made our way out the back door of the park and headed back toward Epcot. By mile 8 we were both ready to finish the race up. We figured we could finish the race in under three hours and that is exactly what we did. We continued with our run/walk intervals to keep our muscles fresh. The last thing we wanted to do was blow my legs out the day before a marathon. Kat was a great help out there today. I wanted to just get the last 4 miles over with and she made doubly sure that I stayed on pace. She did let me dial up on the last half mile though which felt so awesome! We both crossed the finish line feeling great with huge smiles on our face. Which isn't saying much because we were laughing and smiling through the entire way! Very thankful for Miss Kat!

So, am I ready for a marathon tomorrow? Yes. I took it very easy this afternoon. I went to Magic Kingdom just to keep my legs moving a little bit, met Mickey Mouse, had lunch at Earl of Sandwich and now I plan on lounging in bed until Pasta in the Park at 7 in Epcot. I feel strong. I feel confident. Just like any marathon, I am a little nervous. But I will be using a 2/1 interval the entire time, I have plenty of fuel,  I'll be powered by bits, so I should be fine. Given that this central Florida weather is unpredictable I won't be worrying about a PR. I will be out there doing my best, remaining focused, and having a good time. I am ready, and I hope my fellow Dopeys are as well.

Rest up, hydrate, and fuel up runners! Tomorrow greatness awaits! I am so excited for the bling that is awaiting me! Run safe and run smart guys! Let's get it!

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Day 3 - Inaugural WDW 10K

So, us Dopey folk are three days into our wild adventure. I say three days because being at the expo for the first day is an adventure in itself. This morning, Dopey runners and 10K runners took the Epcot Wonder parking lot by storm as we kicked off and ran the inaugural Walt Disney World 10K! The 10K is a very popular race distance. It isn't to short, but just far enough to spark a challenge! It also isn't intimidating as a distance for most newer runners since it is 6.2 miles. By leaps and bounds a great accomplishment for any and all who take on the distance.

So as I am sure you guessed, this was another early wake up for the race! I woke up around 4AM and got dressed up in my INKnBURN Dazzle Camo tech tee, grabbed some EnergyBits, and headed out the door with Kat!

We arrived at Epcot, parked, and took the sleepy walk to the runners village. Of course, I met up with some of my friends prior to the race where we checked up on how one another was feeling and discussed strategies for how we were going to take on today's race. 2/1 run/walk intervals were the overall winner.

Me, Jill, John, Erica, and Jenn

We made our way to the start line once the officials released the B corral (that's where we were) and we eagerly awaited our GO signal in the form of fireworks.

We were off! We started our journey with every intention of keeping the pace easy. Many of us are participating in the Dopey Challenge, so we want to ensure we have plenty of stamina and muscle strength left to complete the challenge. Utilizing the run/walk method was a brilliant plan. Our pace was consistent, and none of us felt fatigued. A couple of folks I ran with have ever used this method in a race (or training) before. I made believers out of them. The course was simple enough in its design. You take a trip around the Epcot parking lot, enter the side gate of Epcot (same as yesterday) take a trip around the world, run completely around Disney's Boardwalk, back into Future World and make a bee-line for the finish line.

Taking it easy, we came across the finish line around 1:23. Not too bad with walk breaks a few character stops. Overall, I feel pretty good at this point. Mildly fatigued, nothing a nap, hydration, fuel, and compression socks won't fix. My spirits are high, I am highly motivated, and very anxious to take on the tasks at hand. It isn't anything I can't handle, but the distance must be respected at all times. This is no walk through Magic Kingdom by any means. Races are not meant to be run back to back like this. Your body needs time to regenerate and heal, and so does your mind. This is as much mental as it is physical, so you absolutely have to keep your head in the game at all times. If you are someone who is participating in multiple races this weekend, continue to hydrate and eat as clean as you can! I know it's Walt Disney World so that is tough, but try. Your body needs all the nutrients it can get to heal and keep you performing at your best! I want you to succeed!

I want to also take a minute and say thanks to all of you for your encouraging Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and in person hellos and encouragement. I always enjoy interacting with each and every one of you! Even if I am a little sleepy at the start lines lol!

Shout out to Jill, Becca, and Kat for a great run this morning! It was great having some awesome chats and getting to know everyone a little bit better!

Me, Becca, and Kat

I LOVE running into running pals at the races! I was so happy to run into my girl Krissy! She's pretty much awesome...and fast...very fast.

KRISSY!

I also can't help large group cheesy pictures HAHA!

Patrick, Matt, Linz, Dani, Kat

I also took a moment to reunite with my #WDWRaceTweetUp pals Dani and Kat...well just Dani because I ran with Kat but you get the idea :)

Overall, today was a good day! Tomorrow will be a test before the big show on Sunday! The rest of the day holds rest at Pop Century, and dinner at some point and an early bed time for some much needed Z's. Looking forward to the half tomorrow! Wish me luck, and good luck to all the runners and congratulations to those that rocked it today!