Disney Princess Half Marathon

Mar 7, 2010

Hi everyone - I thought you might like an idea of what it was like to be at Disney!

Last Spring I began to run on a regular basis, two or three times a week. Usually the runs were between 5 and 8 kilometers, the odd time 10 km. I was running for fitness and fun and time with the girls, to chat and discuss life; So when my friend Tracey asked me if I was interested in doing the Princess1/2 Marathon in Disney, I thought she might be insane. You see, I'm not really the competitive type I don't like the hype of going out and racing with a bunch of people I don't know. The idea of pushing myself to near exhaustion pain or injury, just to get a "good time" or a personal best did not really appeal to me.

I had done three half marathons, and I can tell you that it was mostly just to say I had done it, to myself. If you were to ask me why I run, I would say - "because I can". However now I must say, after running the Princess ½ Marathon, I feel as though I could do just about anything.

First, there were 13500 women, and 95 men in this race. So you can imagine the vast differences in the runners. Most races I've been to had a few thousand runners tops. Let me say that again 13500 racers, did I mention they were almost all women. Now if you are a guy and you know that there are that many women (and good looking I might add) coming into town, here is what you do. You show up race day with a HUGE sigh that says "POST RACE PARTY EVERYONE WELCOME CALL 238-480-1237, ASK FOR MATT." That was just one of the sights to see on the race course. I'm getting a little off track, so let me start at the beginning.

Do you know of any other race where your Fairy Godmother comes to give you words of inspiration and waves her magic wand as she does the count down? Well she was there, bipity bopity bo… It may have been cold, but she got us all moving with great music and had us waving our hands and hopping up and down at the start of the race. Everyone was pumped the air was electric. Did you know in Disney they almost never say "no". If there was something you needed prior to the race or even on the course, it was pretty much there. Now that is magical!

It was a 6:00 AM start time and we had to be at the race for 4:30 AM. Everything was very well organized by Disney, including Pick up, Drop off, food, photos taking and port-a-potties. Girls I don't know about you, but you gotta have access a toilet, before the course sometimes on the course, and definitely after the race. There were hundreds of port-a-potties strategically placed throughout the race, but wait, it gets better.

On the course, it starts out dark and cold, you can't feel some of your parts kind of cold (For Florida that is not nice but at least there was no rain, or sleet). We all had bibs that said Princess ______, I'm now known as Princess Michelle. All the women, were dressed up, from the tame girls like me, who dared to wear a skort, and my pink FMCT jersey and of course my princess crown, to the extreme princess full gown and make-up and magic wand. No matter where you were in the race there were characters, cheering you on at the sidelines, or racing right beside you. There were even villains, like the queen of hearts and wicked witches. I was following a Tinker Bell for most of the race, just in case I needed more Pixy Dust. Even the men dressed up as various characters, like Aladin and Prince Charming, and then there were the cross dressing men who became a Princess for a Day; Fun stuff. The course looped from Epcot over to Magic Kingdom through the castle and back to Epcot. Other sights to see were Marching bands, Drummers, all your favorite Disney Princesses, Pirates, and my Favorite, the G I Joe green men. There were water stations at every mile and at least 3 stations with Tylonal and muscle rub. Music played and when the sun came up it looked like everything had been dusted with glitter. (actually most of us were dusted with glitter) Apparently Princesses don't sweat we glitter.

The sorest parts of my body were my cheeks (on my face) from smiling so much. It truly was a blast and an inspiration to see so many amazing women some out and be a part of the Disney Princess Marathon. Some women ran in large groups, encouraging each other, and some women were on a mission to get their picture taken with every single character; they'd run, take a picture, run some more and take more pictures.

I don't think any other race will compare to this one. One of my favorite parts was watching the sea of women, dresses beautifully, running over the Express Way to Disney's Magic Kingdom. It was truly Magical. I had a personal best this race with regard to my time, but to me it really did not matter, because it was a one of a kind experience, an energy like no other, a high that you can only get when you are doing something you love and watching others have the adventure of a life time.

Now when ever I run, I will think about the race day a Disney and smile a big happy smile, know there truly is some fun to be had while racing. This is Princess Michelle, exhausted, exhilarated and excited to be home :)