Race Recap: Princess Enchanted 10K

It’s now June and I still can’t stop talking about what a fabulous time I had in February at the 2015 Run Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend! I know it’s long overdue, but it’s finally time for my Princess Enchanted 10K race recap! Now is the time to Seize the 10K (you will get that reference soon)!

In addition to the 10K, I also took part in the weekend’s Frozen 5K! Check out my 5K recap here. I flew solo out to Florida to meet my friends for our annual girl’s trip at Walt Disney World for the Princess Half Marathon Weekend! In 2014 I completed the inaugural Glass Slipper Challenge, which in case you aren’t Run Disney obsessed includes the Enchanted 10K race Saturday followed by the Princess Half race Sunday. In order to change it up this year as well as save some money, the girls and I created our own princess challenge by doing the Frozen 5K Friday and the Enchanted 10K Saturday!

This also enabled me to really soak in the 10K and give my favorite race distance a more solid effort. With 10K race options so limited around me, the Enchanted 10K was only my third 10K ever! The first one was done on a track in my final collegiate race and the second was last year’s Enchanted 10K! The day before the 10K was spent doing the Frozen 5K and then walking around the Magic Kingdom (still in our fairy tutus of course) to take pictures as well as catch the ever-so awesome Festival of Fantasy Parade. Needless to say we had been on our feet quite a bit, but that enabled me to get a MUCH better night’s sleep compared to the evening before the 5K, where I maybe got one hour of restful sleep.

Newsies! Seize the 10K!!!

Even with a good night’s sleep though, morning always comes WAY TOO EARLY Run Disney style! Before we knew it our alarms were all going off at the bright and shiny hour of 2:30 a.m. and it was time to get ready to run more magical miles! It was also time to get NEWSIE-FIED! That’s right, for our 10K we decided to go against the typical princess attire for this event and opted to dress as Newsies! Our race theme was Seize the 10K (see now you get the reference!) of course, and I think this was a good theme of our entire weekend in general. Fortunately the weather seemed to be much warmer compared to the below 30 degree temps from the morning before. That being said, it was still quite chilly, especially for Florida and especially compared to 2014 when it was already 80 degrees for the 10K!

The temperature sparked some wardrobe debates as in “sleeves or not to sleeve” and “should I bring a throwaway shirt” and “should I check a bag with clothes to change into after.” Usually I do check a bag, but our plan was to go right back to the hotel after the 10K to rest a bit before hitting the parks later. After some discussion, we decided while it was still pretty cold, we could tolerate it for the race itself and that sleeves weren’t necessary. Plus our Newsie vests and Seize the 10K tanks looked cuter without sleeves underneath. And, well, fashion wins. At least when you Run Disney!

The good thing about running as a Newsie was our costumes required far less maintenance compared to our fairy outfits. We were able to get ready and out the door much quicker! We boarded our bus and off to Epcot we went! In true Run Disney fashion, the energy was already crazy once we arrived. It was still quite chilly for our “standing around” time, which can be quite a while since Run Disney requires you to be at the course so early. At this point I was regretting not bringing a throwaway shirt. It wasn’t too bad though, but I’m sure you could tell I wasn’t a local as I got some odd looks walking around in sleeveless attire while many still had hats and gloves on along with multiple layers! Hey, I had left negative temps behind at home, so in a way this was a “heat wave” for me. We occupied our time well enough to stay warm by taking a few pictures in our Newsie finest!

We eventually bid farewell and headed to our separate corrals. I was in corral A! While I have been assigned corral A at Run Disney events before, I had always jumped back to other corrals to run with someone. So, this was my first time in corral A. I was excited that my wait to start wouldn’t be long because I was chilly and ready to run! I knew once I got going I would warm up just fine as the temperature was good “running weather” by that point. I met some people who totally geeked out over my Newsie costume, which made me happy! I also enjoyed seeing other adorable costumes! I will say being in corral A I saw less elaborate costumes, but that was to be expected as this corral likely packs in more “serious” runners.

Soon enough the fireworks were going off and the race finally started! My goal for the 10K was to run at quick solid pace until I got to World Showcase at Epcot. I wanted to run faster than I normally do for Run Disney events, especially because my Tower of Terror 10-Miler experience was still fabulous even though we stopped for way less photos than usual and held a good pace. Also, since I had to hold back so much last year for the 10K due to running a half the next day, I wanted to see what I could do! Fortunately for me I didn’t have to stop for any bathroom breaks. Not just at the beginning, but the ENTIRE race. This is a first for me when it comes to Run Disney! Usually all the standing around time beforehand has me in a porta-potty within the first mile! The first part of the race through the typical Epcot parking lot tour and Disney highway went by pretty fast. It was almost a blur. I did notice NO ONE starts the race off walking in corral A compared to other corrals. I have zero problems with walkers in races, ESPECIALLY Run Disney ones, but I was glad to be able to get out quick and establish my pace without feeling like I was stepping on someone. Other than an experience with a rude “Belle” who thought it was polite to yell at other runners, things were going well at this point in the race. In fact, rude Belle probably helped me run even faster because I decided I had to pass her. Take your grouchy attitude out of my Run Disney, thank you!

Newsie and Jiminy Cricket!!!

We continued down the dark Disney highway but there were still a good number of volunteers and crowds on hand to cheer us on! The first character stop, Tinker Bell and I believe her sister (?) in their winter attire, was on the highway shortly before entering Epcot World Showcase. I was tempted to stop as the line wasn’t long AT ALL (another perk of corral A), but I wanted to stick to my plan! I passed the half way mark and before I knew it I was already entering World Showcase! As usual, World Showcase was gorgeous. It was still dark when I got there, which in my opinion made it seem more beautiful and even serene, yes, serene despite the fact that I was running alongside thousands of my “closest” friends. I had a solid pace going, but I had to stop for a quick picture with Marie from The Aristocats and of course Jiminy Cricket! Jiminy is a rare photo opportunity in the Disney Parks, so I always try to get pictures with him. My dad is a huge Jiminy fan too, so I like to get pictures to send to him! I got a quick pic with the Snow White Topiaries and took some other quick pictures before continuing on.

Enchanted 10K World Showcase fun and Boardwalk with Baseball Donald!

With my two character stops and a few random pictures, I didn’t really lose much time as the character stops were super-fast! I took in the beauty of World Showcase and headed toward another favorite place to run at Disney: the Boardwalk area! Talk about stunning! Getting to run on the Boardwalk is one of my favorite parts of the Enchanted 10K course! I was looking for baseball Goofy since I got a picture with him there in 2014, but much to my delight it was BASEBALL DONALD instead! Donald is my FAVORITE of the Fab Five and I LOVE baseball. Needless to say this made me VERY excited! Donald was my last character stop of the race, but ending it with my favorite was good enough for me!

Enchanted 10K finisher! Love the bling! So pretty!

Before I knew it was heading back into the Future World section of Epcot. I did see space Goofy and while his line was short, I opted to continue running since I was enjoying my pace and was ready to finish! I soon rounded the corner I know very well as a seasoned Run Disney-er and found myself sprinting down the finish line! I couldn’t believe the race was over! It FLEW by! I was immediately awarded my awesome finisher’s medal, which is BEAUTIFUL! Medal and all I made my way through the finish chute to grab some Poweraid, water and my snack box.

I warmed up considerably through the race and found the temperatures ideal for running, but once I was stopped I noticed my sweat was turning into that “cold sweat” feeling and I was chilly soon after. I thought about getting in line for some post-race character pictures while I waited for my girls to finish, but ultimately decided to set up camp in the finish area to wait. It was here that my great experience had a hiccup as I found myself getting pretty cold and my stomach was a bit jumbly from all the adrenaline of racing. The girls and I had been texting throughout the race to see where we all were as none of us started in the same corral. With such long breaks between corrals, it made our plans to meet at the finish a little scattered. So, with their blessing I decided to head back to the hotel to warm up and hopefully settle my tummy since we had a day of parks planned later! There was zero wait for the Port Orleans Riverside bus and before I knew it I was back to our warm room (that’s still odd to say as it’s usually “cool room” while at Disney). Fortunately a warm shower and munching on some of my goodies from the post-race snack box perked me right up!

We successfully SEIZED the 10K and were ready to enjoy the rest of our runcation at the parks! Overall I once again had a fantastic time during the Princess Enchanted 10K! This is a great course. While some tend to not enjoy the first half, I am totally cool with it. The last half through World Showcase and the Boardwalk makes up for the highway/parking lot portion tenfold. It was another great Run Disney experience and I can’t wait to hopefully be back with my girls for Princess Weekend 2016!

Mickey was proud of his girls!!!

Did you run the Princess Enchanted 10K? I’d love to hear all about your experience!

Happy National Running Day!

Happy National Running Day everyone!!! I hope all my running friends are celebrating today! As someone who has been involved with running since the third grade, I am so excited that National Running Day exists to celebrate both this amazing sport and community!

2013 WDW Half with the husband!

While running has significantly increased in popularity over the years, it can still often be "the forgotten sport." Ask any cross country or track runner and they will likely agree. Running isn't the glamorous, money making sport like football or basketball. Heck to outsiders watching people run or wondering why they would choose to do so might even come off as "boring" or "crazy." I remember in high school when my school's football team received a parade, yes a PARADE (small towns for the win lol), for winning the state championship. My cross country team also won the state championship and I'm not sure we even got a mention in the school morning announcements. Seriously. We did get recognized at a football game. Because of course lol! My track team also took home a state championship title and we were undefeated that season as well! Again, not much recognition came of it other than an article in the town newspaper. 

I get it. Running like I said isn't the money making sport or the one that brings the spectators. Running is sweaty, messy, repetitive and HARD. When I was younger and competitive I found the lack of recognition a bit grating, but now looking back I realize it makes it all the more special. As a runner, it's almost like we have our own little world. Runners no matter what level all share a connection. We GET each other! Like the saying goes "our sport is your sports punishment." Because running can often be ignored, save for every four years with the Summer Olympics, I think that's why those within the running community are so well-bonded and connected. This spans from the cross country and track runners, to the competitive road racers, and to those of us running for fitness and training to race for fun!

Runcations with my BRF's make running even more fun!

The running community is one I am proud to continue to be involved with. I am very happy that running has become more popular over the years. I also LOVE that more and more people are realizing that they, too, can become a runner. If you finish first or last, you are still a RUNNER. I have been to many races where the person who crosses the line in last place is just as celebrated as the winner. While this isn't always the case, it happens enough to make me proud to be part of this sport. I have participated in other sports, but none have offered the support like the running community does. I have friends I've never even met face to face because of the social media aspect of the running community! 

What are some of my favorite things now about running other than the supportive community? Here are five big ones:

1. It makes me feel good. Even the worst run is better than no run. I always feel better about myself after a run.

2. Running allows me to still enjoy treats like pizza. And ice cream. And popcorn. Well food in general, I guess!

3. Runcations! As I've come to this phase of my life as a runner, I've found that planning vacations around races "runcations" can be a great motivator to keep running. 

4. Run Disney! Did I mention runcations? Run Disney races are the best type of runcations! My Disney addiction and running go together like peanut butter and jelly! Running in my favorite place?! Yes please!

5. Running is the best stress reliever! When I am in my running zone I am able to blow off steam and let the annoyances of the day trickle away.

Run Disney makes running fun! It's not everyday we run as Darth Vader and Maleficent! 

National Running Day is a day when runners nation-wide declare their passion for running. Today's celebration is a wonderful way for seasoned runners to reaffirm their love of the sport, but it's also for beginners to take that first step out the door! If you have always wanted to try running, stop thinking "I can't" and get out there and do it! What perfect way to start your running journey than on National Running Day?! I encourage everyone to get their run on today!

After my first half marathon, 2011 Flying Pig Half! 

How did you or how do you plan to celebrate National Running Day? Why do you run? Let me know in the comments below or tweet me @lilrunner. You can also find regular running updates on my Instagram @lilrunner1485.

And as always, the race bling from running (like my 2014 Glass Slipper Challenge medals here) isn't too shabby either! 

Let’s Go Streaking: RWRunStreak 2015!

Why hello there! It’s been a bit since I last posted. Yeah yeah yeah I already missed out on my “posting once a month at least” goal, but hey, May is just a crazy busy time for me y’all! I think every May has been hectic since my school years and working years! What’s new? Well, with summer not officially but basically here it means the hot, humid, muggy weather is alive and well in West Virginia!

Unless you are new to the blog (and if so hi new friend!), you all know by now that summer isn’t exactly my favorite because it’s soooo hot. Plus when you no longer have summers off the allure is kind of gone. Not to mention most of my television shows are on hiatus. Womp womp. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy many aspects of summer like baseball, flip flops, cook-outs, the 4th of July, and sunshiny days. BUT as a runner, boooo summer. I’d rather run in 20 degrees compared to hot humid temperatures in the 80s and up!

Something about running in the humidity and heat makes me feel sluggish. And I mean I’m all about the AC this time of year and that often sounds more appealing compared to sweating my way through a run through the neighborhood. Due to these negative thoughts, my motivation to get out there can be low this time of year. However, the past two summers I’ve put in plenty of miles and stuck to my routine thanks the Runner’s World Run Streak Summer Challenge. To read about my challenge experience last summer, check out this post!

The RWRunStreak challenge officially started on Monday, Memorial Day. The rules of the challenge are to run at least one mile every day until the challenge ends on the 4th of July. That makes for a total of 41 days of running! As Runner’s World says, also 41 days of AWESOME! My personal rules for the challenge are to continue to follow it to the best of my ability with the exception of illness/injury. I also plan to mentally stress to myself the importance of doing “only one mile” on certain days. Both years that I’ve done the challenge I’ve sometimes struggled with that because I tend to think “only a mile why not do two?” Lol! I am a firm believer that days off are important and year-round run streaking is not for me. This is why allowing myself and telling myself that it’s ok to go out and run “just a mile” is perfectly acceptable!

Only three days into the challenge and I’m already finding myself much more excited about running again! Maybe it’s the Barney Stinson in me, but sometimes I need the challenge as an extra boost. So, RWRunStreak: challenge accepted! I’ve really enjoyed doing this challenge for the past two years. I actually debated a little about doing it this year, but ultimately decided it was just what I needed!

Who all is streaking this summer? Even if you missed out on the first few days, I still encourage you to join if you need that motivation boost or if you want to try something new! Just add on the extra days after the 4th. No one is judging here! Good luck to all my fellow streakers and happy running!

Follow me on Twitter @lilrunner and/or on Instagram @lilrunner1485 for regular RWRunStreak updates!

Goodbye Roaring Twenties, Hello Fabulous Thirties

Tomorrow I will bid farewell to my twenties. Yes, that’s right I am turning the big 3-0. Frankly I can’t believe it. I am not sure I’ve been handling this approaching milestone birthday well as it completely freaks me out! I mean THIRTY! I remember thinking 30 was “like so totally old” when I was in my teens. Now here I am less than 24 hours away from no longer being a “twenty something.” The Friends clip below never fails to amuse me and now I understand the humor and freakout-ness of that episode LOL!

The husband has already turned 30 and I’ve celebrated several good friends turning 30 as well. Still, it seems surprising that it’s finally my turn. It’s one of those things that remind you that you really are a grown-up. It’s a reminder of how fast life can really pass you by. Growing up can be hard y’all.

However, as I get closer to parting ways with my 29 year-old status, I am not feeling as freaked as I was. I still feel young! I still look young and continue to get carded on a regular basis. I’m also laughing at my teenage self that once considered 30 old. Really folks, 30 is basically the new 20! More importantly, I’ve also thought about everything that happened in my twenties. So many major life changing events. Of course like in everything, there were some sad moments, but the blessings and amazing memories I made this past decade of my life is incredible.

My twenties were filled with many milestones themselves. It’s truly incredible the difference between 20 and 29. I get emotional thinking about all the great things that happened over these last 10 years. I really am truly blessed. My favorite memories of my twenties can be summed up in the following list:

1. The first three years of my twenties was spent in college. During this time I celebrated my milestone 21st birthday (y’all know how that one goes). I also made some of my best and life-long friends during this period of time.
2. I went to Europe for a summer.
3. I ran my last competitive cross country and track race. I am still a runner, but it was emotional as I closed that chapter of my life goodbye after devoting so many years to running cross country and track competitively.
4. I graduated college and earned myself three degrees to go along with it! #humblebrag
5. I officially moved away from home and got my own place.
6. I got my first “adult” job and truly joined the workforce.
7. I married the love of my life!
8. I said goodbye to my apartment and became a homeowner.
9. I met even more friends through my “work life” that I’ve stayed close with as well.
10. I got my furbaby Winston, who continues to be my absolute pride and joy. I love my puppy boy!
11. I ran my very first half marathon. I was hooked after that and have continued to do more since!
12. I quit my first job, which had turned into a life sucking experience, and came out stronger!
13. I accepted a new job that I am still at and absolutely love!
14. I got addicted to Run Disney!
15. I became an Aunt. My nieces and nephews are some of my greatest joys.
16. I finally got to see WVU go to the final four in basketball. I also saw my Mountaineers capture Fiesta and Orange Bowl BCS victories in football.
17. After 20 years of awful, I got to see my beloved Pirates make the playoffs and end a horrid losing streak. The 2013 Wildcard game at PNC still makes me cry tears of joy when I think about it!
18. Best of all, through trips, family and friends, I’ve made more fabulous memories than I can count!

This! Life truly is a gift! So bring on 30! 

It’s also worth noting that I learned A LOT in my twenties. It sounds cliché, but it’s true. I had to learn some tough life lessons along the way. There were rough patches, but I am proud that even through the dark times I was able to grow as a person. Here are some of the most noteworthy things the last decade of my life taught me:

1. It’s okay if not everyone likes you. Sometimes people just don’t like you and that’s that. No need to stress or wonder why. Be yourself because your true friends are really the only ones that matter and they will love you because YOU ARE YOU.
2. To reiterate number one, BE YOURSELF and let your freak flag fly! I used to worry entirely too much what people thought of me and now I honestly don’t care. You will find true happiness when you embrace who you are.
3. It’s okay to spend Friday nights in wearing your sweats and watching Netflix. In fact, this can be an ideal time!
4. Life is messy. Instead of expecting perfection, learn to make the most of the mess!
5. It’s up to you to be happy. If you make an effort to be happy and smile more, you really will be happier!
6. Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone’s life is different. Stop trying to “measure up” to your friends and embrace the blessings you have.
7. It’s fine that you might not be as skinny or “fit” as you were at 20. Normal even. Stop comparing yourself to your past you and live in the present! This is something I continue to tell myself now!
8. Sometimes you will “fail” or you will feel like a “failure.” But remember the sun will always shine the next day. Pick yourself up and try again. Never stop trying.
9. Don’t settle! You are worth it. Fight for what you want!
10. Most importantly cling to those who matter in your life. Your true friends and family will always be there for you, and those are the people that make life worth living!

So, as I approach my 30s I am still a little freaked. But, after I think of all the major life moments I’ve experienced these last 30 years, I look forward to making even more beautiful memories in this next chapter of my life. I am so thankful for life itself because it truly is a gift. I want to thank all of my friends and family for being part of my life. I love you all. More than you will ever know. Those of you reading this who might even be a stranger to me, thank you for being part of my life by supporting this blog.

I often find myself focusing on the future that I don’t just stop and look around to enjoy the present. As I start this next chapter I have one major goal: live in the moment! Thirty and FABULOUS! And don't worry, my humor continues to be as mature as ever:

Race Recap: Princess Frozen 5K

Another Princess Half Marathon Weekend is in the books folks! It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a month since I was in Walt Disney World with my BRFs for our annual Princess girls’ trip. This year instead of doing the Glass Slipper Challenge, we created our own Run Disney challenge by doing both the Princess 5K and 10K races. In true Run Disney fashion, magical miles were had by all and more magical memories to count were made!

A Royal Greeting at the Princess Expo!

Princess Race Swag!

To kick off the race weekend, we went to the Fit For a Princess Expo and got our race swag! This year's race shirts were so much better than last year! Very colorful and much more "princessy." I especially loved the purple Enchanted 10K shirt! I also purchased a FlipBelt at the expo. I love it, so expect a review here soon! We later hit up Hollywood Studios for a little bit of park time and Fantasmic. Before we knew it, we were off to our room at Disney's Port Orleans Resort-Riverside for an early bedtime, because when you run Disney you not only get magical miles, you also receive super early wake-up calls!

For phase one of our race weekend, we participated in the Princess 5K, which was appropriately themed the Frozen 5K this year. One of the great things about Run Disney is their dedication to event theming. Themes and Disney go together like peanut butter and jelly. That being said, I didn’t realize when I registered for the Frozen 5K last summer just how close to the theme that race would be! Of course, I’m sure not even Run Disney officials could have guessed the Frozen theme would be taken to another level by Mother Nature herself. While I normally anticipate overly hot and humid temperatures for my Run Disney Florida races, imagine my surprise when the morning of the 5K my weather app read 30 degrees. THIRTY DEGREES people. I guess that’s what happens when you put Elsa in charge of the race. I mean we all know the cold never bothered her anyway!

We had fun visiting with Jasmine at the Princess Expo! 

I know Run Disney sent out a weather reminder that it could be chilly the morning of the 5K, but I assumed it would be “Florida cold” and nothing major to worry about. Anything seemed better than the sub-zero temperatures and snow that I left behind in West Virginia. Still, being the overly cautious and always prepared runner that I am I managed to pack a few long sleeve options that could work with my race costume. That being said, I found myself wishing that I had packed even more layers. Normally at home a 30 degree run would be no biggie with my proper attire and such. However, I was in Florida and this type of race weather was just totally unexpected! Again, thanks for that Elsa.

Flora, Fauna and Merryweather!!!

While slightly annoyed at the weather, which was more so because we would be standing in it for a while before the race actually started, I knew I needed to LET IT GO (do you see what I did there?) and enjoy another Run Disney experience that I was blessed to be able to do! So I put my “fairy” best attitude on and got into my costume, which was the Flora part of our Sleeping Beauty fairy trio! Seeing my BRFs in their Fauna and Merryweather costumes to complete our fairy theme raised my spirits even more! As soon as our tutus were on and glowing (that’s right they had lights in them!), the Run Disney magic had officially taken hold of me!

Flora Fairy ready to go!

It wasn't easy getting off the warm bus, but the energy before the 5K was contagious. I loved seeing everyone's costumes, but I especially loved how other runners were geeking out of our fairy outfits! Cailyn, who designed our beautiful light-up tutus, hats and wands, deserves all the credit! She did such a great job! Be sure to check out her blog here. On a not so humblebrag, I think we stood out as one of the best group costumes I saw before the race. You know you are rocking a great costume when strangers are asking to take your picture as well as take pictures with you!

Eventually, it was finally time to start the race. By this point the weather hadn't warmed up at all and it was still cold. Again, thanks Elsa! We were soon off and moving though and that helped warm us up! We planned to stay together the whole time and to take the race super easy. We also wanted to take as many character pictures as possible since this was the first Run Disney race that all three of us would be together the whole time! The first part of the course is the typical Epcot Run Disney parking lot tour, but soon we saw our first character: Minnie Mouse in her special blue snowflake dress! She looked super cute! I will have to wait until I purchase the official race picture to show y'all because the photographer clearly was rushing people as fast as possible and I wasn't even looking at the camera since they literally snapped the picture as soon as we got next to Minnie! I guess that's why the picture stop lines that were pretty long went by so fast! Lesson learned!

Pluto with his winter antlers so cute!

From there we soon were entering the gorgeous Epcot World Showcase area, where Let it Go was appropriately playing for all to hear. I absolutely love running through World Showcase. It's so beautiful! Our Minnie character stop was by far the longest line, but during this time we actually made friends with another group of girls who we kept meeting along the course. That's the beauty of Run Disney - you get to connect with so many awesome people who share your love of running and Disney! They even saved us a spot in line as if we were part of their group for the next character stop, Pluto, who looked extra cute in his winter antlers! After our brief Pluto visit, we took in the sights of World Showcase and continued forward. Let it Go continued to play, and this was the point where we realized the song was being played in a different language. This would continue through the entirety of World Showcase. I love me some Frozen and the ever-popular Let it Go and enjoyed hearing it in different languages, but it was even a little redundant FOR ME. I can't imagine how some of the moms and dads running that hear this song daily anyway felt LOL!

Fairies with Goofy, wearing his winter finest!

The next character stop was Mickey in his winter sweater. His line was pretty long, so we decided to skip our pal and keep going. In hindsight, we probably should have stopped since our next character stop, Goofy, would be our last as well as the only remaining character picture stop of the race! We caught Goofy, who was also wearing his winter sweater, before we left World Showcase. We fully expected to see Donald eventually, since at this point we realized the only characters they were utilizing for this race were members of the Fab Five. However, Donald was no where to be found. Womp womp. So there were only FOUR characters total! That was a disappointment, I'm not going to lie. I've read other Run Disney 5K recaps that had more than four characters. Even the Castaway Cay race on an island had more than four characters. I'm not sure if the cold had something to do with it or what? Did anyone see Donald? Maybe he was gone when we ran by, but we didn't see any place where there would have been a stop. Oh well, I had my best girls with me so we still had a blast even without as many of our Disney friends to see along the way!

With some Frozen Dudes after the race!

Eventually we made our way back into Epcot on the future world side, which was utilizing basically the same route I know well by now as a seasoned Run Disney runner. To perhaps make up for the lack of character picture stops as well as highlight the race's theme, we did see Anna, Elsa and Kristoff from Frozen! They were on a stage-like set-up and not available for photo-ops, but we did get some pics with them in the background! They were hilarious as usual as they joked with us and shouted words of encouragement. It wasn't too long after this that we were running down the finish shoot! We made sure to hold our fairy wands high, smile and take in every magical moment of crossing the finish line together! I've crossed many finish lines in my running career, but it was super fun to do so with my BRFs!

Love me some Run Disney bling!

We immediately got our bling and were given mylar blankets, which were a much needed addition to the usual Run Disney post-race accompaniments. They really helped keep us warmer as it was still quite cold! We also grabbed our Run Disney snack boxes, which also were a nice upgrade. I've received a snack box for every Run Disney event I've done, but the boxes for Princess Weekend were better than usual! Our medallions are so cute. They are rubber, unlike the metal ones you get for longer races, but are still really nice!

Before leaving the race area, we did enjoy some post-race pictures with the guys from Frozen and some cute snowflakes! Instead of going back to our hotel like we usually do, we stayed in costume and hopped on the monorail to Magic Kingdom! This was mainly done so we could get our picture with Princess Aurora since she wasn't on the race course! It was worth staying in costume because of that as well as we seemed to be entertaining other Disney patrons! We got more photo requests, even from official Disney photographers! That's when you know you have a pretty great costume theme going for you!

Princess Aurora with her fairy friends! Make it pink! Make it blue!

Overall cold and all it was a great race experience! It was fun being with my BRFs, and I think that's what made the Princess 5K most enjoyable. Did you run the 5K? If so, what did you enjoy most?

Princess Frozen 5K fairy fun and magical memories!

Stay tuned for my Princess Enchanted 10K Race Recap coming soon!

It’s Time to RUN Princesses!

Forget the glass slipper and lace up your running shoes fellow princesses, because the Run Disney Princess Half Weekend is ALMOST here! With the Frozen 5K kicking things off Friday, many princesses are already at the House of Mouse or making their way down shortly!

This running princess leaves TOMORROW! I couldn’t be more thrilled to get away from the snowy cold of West Virginia and to the sunshine state! Yes, Florida residents I get that this is your winter and that it is a bit colder than usual there, but I will gladly accept temperatures in the 50s and 60s right now! I’m looking forward to a girls’ trip runcation. Even though this is a quick Disney trip, it will be nice to get away for a few days with the BRFs and enjoy time in my favorite place with some of my favorite people!

Princess activities kick off Thursday with the race expo at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports. I can’t wait to see what the official race shirts look like this year. We’ve already been given a sneak peak at all the beautiful bling! The Enchanted 10K medal, like last year, is still my favorite. Run Disney also shared a few pictures on their Facebook page of some of the official race merchandise. I am so excited to see everything there as well as explore the other vendor booths. The Princess races start Friday with the Frozen 5K, followed by the Enchanted 10K Saturday and the Princess Half Sunday. Did I mention how excited I am for this weekend?!

Last year I completed the Glass Slipper Challenge, which involves running the Princess Enchanted 10K Saturday followed by the Princess Half Sunday. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you already know that my race plans are different this year. I’m still doing two races, but not the Glass Slipper Challenge. As an effort to save money and change it up a bit, I am doing my first ever Disney Princess 5K on Friday. I will then get my princess on for the Enchanted 10K Saturday! I am a run all the races EVENTUALLY Run Disney fan, so this plan works for me this year. I will miss doing the Glass Slipper Challenge and am not ruling it out for future races, but for 2015 this is the right race plan for me (and my wallet thanks me).

Of course the year I chose to do the 5K it ended up being Frozen themed. So just take a minute to imagine the hysteria that involved signing up for this race. Regular Run Disney fanatics know the sign-up process for Princess Weekend is crazy as is! Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Frozen mania is still alive and well, so of course the Frozen 5K sold out quickly! It will be a jam-packed race and I can’t wait to have fun with my BRFs and thousands of my “closest” Disney friends! Unless the husband comes with me, I typically run the actual Run Disney races solo. However, since the 5Ks at Disney are even more fun (if that’s even possible) than the longer races, the BRFs and I plan to do this one together. We are looking forward to hopefully achieving some PRs in FUN Friday! As for our race costumes, check out the picture for a clear-cut hint of what you might see!

 Saturday, I will take on the Princess Enchanted 10K for the second year in a row! I am SUPER excited for this race. I LOVED the Enchanted 10K last year and my only regret was feeling like I had to hold back and not being able to fully soak in the experience knowing that I still had to run 13.1 miles the next day. Well, this year I will not have that worry and I look forward to hopefully crossing that magical finish line anxiety-free! While the first few miles of the 10K are the typical Disney highway/parking lot tour, the last half of the race is awesome! In fact, it’s one of my favorite Run Disney courses! The Enchanted 10K takes you through the World Showcase as well as the Disney Boardwalk area, which is my favorite part of running at Disney. There were several character photo opportunities last year as well, including baseball Goofy, who I hope to see again! Hopefully we also get another Elsa surprise during the first few miles of the race this year too! As for our race costumes, let’s just say that we plan to SEIZE THE 10K!

I will be staying at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside, so if you recognize me say hi! I’d love to meet my fellow running princesses! I met some of you out on the race courses last year and that was a blast, so maybe we will “run into” each other again this year! Follow me on Twitter @lilrunner and/or on Instagram @lilrunner1485 for my Princess Weekend updates! Official Run Disney hashtags for the weekend are: #Princess5K, #Princess10K, #PrincessHalf, and #GlassSlipperChallenge!

Good luck to all the runners in whatever races you choose to do this weekend. Let’s all have fun over those magical miles and make some pixie-dust filled memories together! See Ya Real Soon, Mickey!

Cross-Training: Friend, Foe or Frenemy?

Running is a great full body workout. It obviously is a wonderful source of cardio. Running also works the legs and arms as well as your core. However, to really reach your fitness potential running on its own isn’t exactly the answer. This is where CROSS-TRAINING comes into play.

It’s no secret I am not a fan of lifting weights and would rather go out and run for hours instead of doing a strength training session. That being said, I also know the benefits cross-training can do for not only my running, but also my overall strength and fitness. Cross-training can be my foe, my friend, but usually hangs right around frenemy status for me.

As a competitive cross country runner in both high school and college, I generally did regular cross-training exercises to coincide with my running. I never much cared for it back then either. With so much of my focus on being a competitive athlete as well as no full-time job and other fun adult responsibilities, it was easy to keep my cross-training consistent. Even though I didn’t enjoy it. As I retired from my competitive status into being a runner who runs to stay fit and for “me,” my consistent cross-training regimen really went down the toilet. That’s not to say I didn’t partake in cross-training or strength programs. I did P90X as well as the 30 Day Shred and other core exercise plans. Once I finished P90X I didn’t really keep up with strength training on a regular basis. I also completed the 30 Day Shred, as in doing it the full 30 days, but when it was all said and done I again shifted my focus back to primarily running. I got on a yoga kick for a while. Every now and then I’d start to cross-train again, but it definitely wasn’t a set in stone regimen.

As a creature of organized routine and habit, it’s funny that my cross-training efforts over the past few years lacked consistency. With devoting time and effort to training for longer races as well as working a full-time job and maintaining a family/social life, I honestly found it difficult to work cross-training into my schedule. It was this annoying thing I knew I needed to do, but couldn’t seem to regularly keep up with. This really is just an EXCUSE. Yes, it’s true that it’s hard to fit it in. It’s hard to fit in runs too, but I still manage to because I enjoy it (well most days LOL). What I finally came to realize is that I was expecting too much to soon. I don’t have to do a full program all at once to get in cross-training benefits. Doing so usually bores me and makes me very unmotivated. I don’t have to spend hours lifting either. I don’t have to do it every single day. I just needed to make it part of my routine somehow, someway.

As 2015 rolled in, I came up with some goals to start off the New Year. I am not a New Year’s resolution person, as I choose to focus on goals whenever I want instead. Throughout the year I am constantly adding new goals to motivate myself. However, it just so happens that each new year represents a fresh start, so that’s always a good time to set some new goals. Call it a resolution if you want, the only thing that matters is striving for something and working to accomplish it. Among several things, one of my 2015 goals is to make my good ole frenemy cross-training a priority again. I want to keep up with it on a consistent basis.

Well we are now about a month and a half into 2015 so how am I doing you ask?! As an active person who loves cardio by nature, I’ve found that the circuit training method of cross-training is the most effective for me personally. It also saves time! This really helps me to balance my busy bee life! Depending on the strength/core set I choose, I usually get a solid workout in within 30 to 40 minutes compared to hours and hours. Of course, this means it’s a harder workout overall as there aren’t really any breaks, but that’s what works for ME. I prefer to go all out and get it done, even if means copious amounts of sweat and not much time to catch my breath. Again, I must stress everyone is different and everyone responds to exercise differently. If you are the type that would rather get in two hours at the gym of strength/core training, that’s great. Do what works for YOU!

I do ALL my cross-training workouts at home as well, which again I’ve found to be more effective for ME personally. I’ve never much enjoyed the gym as I find it rather dull. If you are a gym rat that’s awesome for you and I encourage you to keep going! Working out at home also helps me keep up with cross-training because it’s convenient. I’ve been primarily using Jillian Michaels DVDs since she places emphasis on the circuit training method, which I actually enjoy and sometimes even causes cross-training to be bumped from frenemy to friend for me! I rotate 30 Day Shred workouts quite often. The 30 Day Shred workouts utilize the circuit training mix of strength, cardio and abs. There are zero breaks in all three levels of this DVD. Jillian also combines strength/core moves to work multiple body parts, which helps increase calorie burn. For example, instead of doing just bicep curls, which I find redundant and boring, you do them while doing lunges as well! It’s TOUGH but gets the job done!
I haven’t mixed in a whole lot of yoga yet, but plan to increase that since cross-training also requires stretching to be another priority!

I am very proud that I’ve kept up with my cross-training so far. I really hope to stick to this goal as I can already see changes in my strength as well as running! For one, I am much stronger than before. My push-up ability was downright sad before I started cross-training. Push-up are still hard for me but I can now do so much more! My running has been getting faster as of late and I know that’s a direct result of the cross-training. One of my other goals is to focus on some speedier runs instead of just endurance based running. It’s nice to see that these two goals are working together! The foe other than not being my favorite thing with cross-training is I've found that my shins are much sorer than usual. This could be because I prefer more circuit based workouts that involve a lot of jumping. However, as a whole the benefits of that type of workout outweighs the negative, so for now I plan to stick with it!

Cross-training continues to alternate from foe to friend to frenemy status with me, but the benefits make it worth my time. Fellow runners how do you feel about cross-training? What are some things you do in addition to running? Do you have any 2015 goals? Let me know in the comments below!