5 Reasons Why the Disney Princess Half Marathon is a Dream Come True
Once upon a time there was a girl who hated running. That girl was me; I was convinced I was born to stay in the slow lane. In 2011, I mustered some courage and crossed the finish line of my first long distance race. With newfound confidence and an overwhelming love of all things Disney, I set my sights on the Disney Princess Half Marathon in 2013. Not only did I complete the race, but I did it with my best friend by my side! To this day, it remains one of my favorite races. Disney Princess half marathons are truly magical!
This February, I plan to take on the Fairy Tale Challenge as part of the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend. Not only will I be celebrating my running journey, but I will also join in on the 10 year Anniversary of this phenomenal race! Read on to hear the top 5 reasons why Disney Princess Half Marathons and the Disney Princess weekend are such a blast!
1. You don’t have to be an elite athlete to participate.
As a novice long-distance runner, I was terrified that I’d be left in the dust at the start line. But this is Disney we’re talking about here! Family-friendly is the name of their game, and the RunDisney events are no different. Offering races of all distances, you can easily work your way up to the main event. RunDisney also assists with beginner training plans by Jeff Galloway, and helps connect you with runners training at your pace in your area. In short, it’s obtainable for all skill levels!**
** There is a caveat to this however. Although not requiring an Olympic pace, you still must maintain a pace faster than 16 minutes. Don’t assume that you can wake up a week before race day and try and push past mile 13. Approach your RunDisney experience responsibly and train appropriately so as not to incur any injury! I promise it makes for a much more enjoyable experience!
2. Girls rule!
With ‘Disney Princess’ in the title, you’d have to imagine that there’d be a majority of fair maidens in the crowd– and you’d be right! In fact, the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is one of the largest running races for women in the United States! As I shared, I ran in other races leading up to my Princess experience, but this was by far the most empowering. Whenever the going got tough, just a quick look around drew enough inspiration to “just keep swimming.” But don’t fret Prince Charming – men are allowed to run too, especially if they’re wearing tutus! Which leads me to my next point…
3. Costumes are a must.
It’s not every day you wake up and put on a tutu and a tiara for the gym. Use this opportunity to channel your inner princess! For my first race, my friend and I dressed in coordinating pink running skirts and that was tame in comparison to others. Find inspiration on Pinterest and DIY, rope your friends and running pals into a group theme or shop the RunDisney Fitness Expo for all things sparkle and sass!
4. The expo is always worth it.
All RunDisney weekends kick off with the Health & Fitness Expo at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. It’s essentially a one-stop-shop for all your race needs! You already need to show up to pick up your race packet and it is TOTALLY worth meandering through all the awesome vendors. From commemorative Disney Parks products, to New Balance sneakers and energy chews, there’s truly something for everyone. And those costumes I talked about – this is a great place to pick up a last minute tiara-visor or sparkly headband and complete your royal ensemble!
5. You will get hooked!
As if all the items above weren’t good enough! Whether you’re a Disney fanatic (like me!) or just enjoy a good race, nothing beats the feeling of running through Cinderella’s Castle at sunrise with your favorite royal friends cheering you on. It’s a pinch-me moment and as close to a fairy tale as I’ve ever come while running. Once you’ve crossed the finish line and are relishing the celebratory high with friends and supporters new and old, you’ll be desperate to get yourself registered for another RunDisney event. There’s just something about the magic that makes every step worth it!
So what do you think? Have I convinced you to give it a try? Get your next Disney Run-cation on the calendar now! I’ll see you there!
Contact me today for your FREE quote on your next Disney vacation where YOU can run in one of the Disney Princess half marathons!
Andrea Garton
MickeyTravels, LLC
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner – Platinum Level
1-888-828-2052
Agarton@mickeytravels.com
www.mickeytravels.com
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* Photo credit: runDisney