RunDisney and the Disney World Marathon Weekend 2015

I just wanted to use tonight to gush about the race empire that got me into running… RunDisney! There are many views on runDisney and mine is such a positive one. So let me first tell you how I became obsessed with running at Disney.
About a year ago, I was so stressed with life- I had a new job as an ICU RN (that can put any normal person over the edge on its own), just bought a house and was heading towards an engagement with my lovely Prince Charming. Amazing happy life things by all means, but I felt like everything I was doing day to day was to become more accomplished and work towards my future goals. I really had nothing I was doing for just me to stay healthy and relax and enjoy myself. So somehow I stumbled upon the Disney Princess Half Marathon.
13.1 miles of running through Epcot and Magic Kingdom. So how awesome does that sound- well to me freaking AMAZING. One small glitch, I have never been any sort of athlete nor had never run more than 5 miles in my life. Well my mom began running and was currently training for The Boilermaker- a 15K in Utica, NY in July- and I thought ya know what my mom was never any sort of athlete either and she’s a running fanatic why can’t I be like that? So I signed up for the email they send out letting you know when you could sign up as my research showed races at Disney sign up quickly, asked my mom who was hesitant but said, “Hey why not? It’s Disney World.” When the registration opened we were on it and there I was, officially signed up to run more than double than my wimpy legs have ever carried me. So September came and I began using Jeff Galloway’s Half Marathon training, the one sponsored by RunDisney and 5 months later my family and I flew to Florida for a running inspired vacation.
Well let me tell you it was an amazing experience in which Disney had all perfectly planned. I mean I wore a Princess Belle outfit and crown and got to run through the parks I grew up going to on a yearly basis. I was able to reach a goal that I signed up not even knowing if I could complete. And I got to do it side by side with my mom. How could I not be in love with running at Disney World.
Everything about the weekend was fantastic. An amazing Expo where I learned all about the newest and greatest running products. It was there I fell in love with my now favorite and unable to live without- SparklySoulInc headbands! It was an amazing run filled with characters, barbershop quartets, gospel groups, fireworks, people on stilts! I mean it had it all. And then to finish off the weekend an after race party at Downtown Disney where I celebrated with all the fellow runners the amazing feat we had accomplished.

Well once the week in Florida came to an end, I knew I would continue running, as it was something I learned I loved and can never again live happy without doing. But was at sort of a disconnect because I had such a good time running in Disney I had no idea when I would be back, something I never felt growing up because as a family it was a yearly trip we would be back at Disney the following year to experience the magic.

So I see it as Divine Friendervention because a few weeks later one of my best friends from college messaged me in a group letting us know she was planning to do the Dopey Challenge in January 2015 and wanted to go to Disney as a runcation with other runner friends to be there to support her. So for all those who don’t know the Dopey Challenge is a crazy running weekend challenge including running on marathon weekend- the 5K, 10K, half and full all on consecutive days. I give kudos to anyone willing to accept this challenge and because my friend reached out I wanted to be there to support her journey and uh DUH go back to Disney World to run again.
So of course initially I said yeah I’ll totally do the half with you. Then because I had an entire month to think about it before registration started and I was at the end of my second half marathon training, I came up with the crazy idea that I could accomplish a full marathon. The Walt Disney World Half and Disney Princess half are nearly the same route so I wanted to experience more of Disney running and took the plunge last week and signed myself up for the Full! And thank goodness I didn’t second guess myself because I signed up at literally 12:13 and when I went on later that evening everything was completely sold out except for the Full was at 50% and the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge still had availability. I still am in shock and have no idea how far these two little not so wimpy anymore legs will get me but I cannot wait! I have even made the decision to go to Disneyland August 2015 and run the 10K and half there as a one year wedding anniversary trip and run for the Dumbo Double Dare medal(running the 10K and half on consecutive days) and the coveted Coast to Coast medal, one in which you receive for doing a half or longer at Disney World and Disneyland in the same calendar year. I started this running journey at the most magical place on earth- why in the world would I not continue?!

Have you ever run Disney? What was your first race? Will you be running the Disney World Marathon 2015?