rundisney Disneyland Paris Sept 23-25, 2016
PRINCESS HALF RECAPS:
The end of it all! Not a race tomorrow and not one next week!
The day before was interesting. We did AK and then Studios and had dinner at mama melrose and got back to the room and went to sleep. I love mama melrose but feel that there service can be a bit slow. It's important to make an early reservation so you can get home and ready for the early bedtime.
I slept straight through the night but woke up feeling full and a bit sick (spoiler alert: I felt fine until after the run, was super nauseous and barely ate the rest of the trip, including being deathly sick on tues night to the point I almost couldn't fly home on Wednesday. I was still recovering the weekend after-no idea what I had except a stomach virus).
I forced myself to eat and took some tyenol and felt much better. also maybe TMI: My monthly visitor was supposed to visit starting Sunday so I think they added to my feeling like blah.
We (me and Mallory) got up at 3am, had breakfast and headed out for the monorail at 3:45AM. As much as I hated the monorail for the 5k, it was not too bad for the half! More trains running and it was pretty smooth. The walk over from the monorail stop does add about 5 extra minutes to the beginning of the day but it is all fine.
We got to the starting area, checked our bags and started the 20 min hike to the corrals. We split and I hit the bathroom, hopped in the corral and started doing stretches when they decided to announce rundisney DISNEYLAND PARIS!! YES YES YES!! the race I have been waiting for!!! The excitement was just what I needed to get pumped for this race.
I was corral E, so we started around 5:45. The course is the same as the WDW half so I knew exactly what to expect. The course was not crowded at all and I found more than enough room to run. When it started to narrow, I just moved to the grass to walk and then moved back to the road to run.
Before I knew it, we were on the road to the entrance of Magic Kingdom and I was feeling pretty good. I was planning on stopping for lines that looked pretty short and Pirates and heroes were OUT OF CONTROL. I kept going through the gates of MK, over to the TTC by the race track. I got my 5k split, which was 36:03, giving me estimated finishing time of 2:32 at 8:18. I knew that time would change as I was hoping to stop for a lot of pictures!
Well my wish was answered because around the corner was Vanellope and Wreck it Ralph! I only waited about 3 minutes for them.
- Princess Frozen 5k
- Enchanted 10k
The end of it all! Not a race tomorrow and not one next week!
The day before was interesting. We did AK and then Studios and had dinner at mama melrose and got back to the room and went to sleep. I love mama melrose but feel that there service can be a bit slow. It's important to make an early reservation so you can get home and ready for the early bedtime.
I slept straight through the night but woke up feeling full and a bit sick (spoiler alert: I felt fine until after the run, was super nauseous and barely ate the rest of the trip, including being deathly sick on tues night to the point I almost couldn't fly home on Wednesday. I was still recovering the weekend after-no idea what I had except a stomach virus).
I forced myself to eat and took some tyenol and felt much better. also maybe TMI: My monthly visitor was supposed to visit starting Sunday so I think they added to my feeling like blah.
We (me and Mallory) got up at 3am, had breakfast and headed out for the monorail at 3:45AM. As much as I hated the monorail for the 5k, it was not too bad for the half! More trains running and it was pretty smooth. The walk over from the monorail stop does add about 5 extra minutes to the beginning of the day but it is all fine.
We got to the starting area, checked our bags and started the 20 min hike to the corrals. We split and I hit the bathroom, hopped in the corral and started doing stretches when they decided to announce rundisney DISNEYLAND PARIS!! YES YES YES!! the race I have been waiting for!!! The excitement was just what I needed to get pumped for this race.
I was corral E, so we started around 5:45. The course is the same as the WDW half so I knew exactly what to expect. The course was not crowded at all and I found more than enough room to run. When it started to narrow, I just moved to the grass to walk and then moved back to the road to run.
Before I knew it, we were on the road to the entrance of Magic Kingdom and I was feeling pretty good. I was planning on stopping for lines that looked pretty short and Pirates and heroes were OUT OF CONTROL. I kept going through the gates of MK, over to the TTC by the race track. I got my 5k split, which was 36:03, giving me estimated finishing time of 2:32 at 8:18. I knew that time would change as I was hoping to stop for a lot of pictures!
Well my wish was answered because around the corner was Vanellope and Wreck it Ralph! I only waited about 3 minutes for them.
I continued on and was at TTC in no time (passing the Villians line because it was iNSANE) and able to stop in the TTC bathroom with NO WAIT. I don't know how I was so lucky because when I left, there was a line out of the door.
The sun was starting to come up and the weather was still pretty cool. We headed over to MK and I had to stop and take a pic of the awesome DJ. Even though in the pic it looks like it is super crowded, I never found it hard to run (I also ran this part on the sidewalk to help out with that).
The sun was starting to come up and the weather was still pretty cool. We headed over to MK and I had to stop and take a pic of the awesome DJ. Even though in the pic it looks like it is super crowded, I never found it hard to run (I also ran this part on the sidewalk to help out with that).
DJ
Before I knew it, we were backstage and heading to Main St. Coming down Main St, I got a little emotional. It really never gets old, the crowd is amazing. In all honesty, I was really worried about running Princess-could I do it so soon after Dopey? Would I enjoy running the same courses? Would it have the same magic? and of course all of that was just me worrying because this moment STILL took my breathe away and still made me so happy.
What does not make me so happy? MY SWEAT EVERYWHERE! ugh humidity after days of cold
What does not make me so happy? MY SWEAT EVERYWHERE! ugh humidity after days of cold
We ran thru Tomorrowland (line was too long for Buzz, so I didn't stop), and came upon Tweedle Dee and Dum with one of the shortest lines. I waited 2 min and continued on.
We continued through Fantasyland and Kristoff, Anna and Elsa were there (sadly no snow) before we headed into the castle. As always, running through the castle was fantastic. They had a "jump for the blog" set up so I had to jump. I went towards the front and took my picture with the castle.
I saw my cousin's mom and godmother and then continued on. No one was out in Liberty Square so I decided to stop for Woody in Frontierland. He also had about a 3 min wait.
We continued out of Magic Kingdom where Snow White and her prince were set up but the line was insane (probably a 10 min wait). I got that pic last year dressed as Snow White so I kept moving to the 10k mark (1:21 split, final estimate 2:52, ETA 8:38-added about 20 minutes with bathroom break, course crowding and photo stops).
I stopped at the med tent and took my first ever Tyenol on route in a race (I was terrified I was going to get crazy cramps which would derail my whole race) and continued on the backroads towards Grand Floridian, the wedding pavilion, Poly and the back of the race track. Mary and Bert were out at GF and I had a great pic of them at Marathon weekend so I skipped it. I want to say the line looked about 5-8 minutes long. Chris was waiting at the GF entrance sign and after a quick chat, I continued on to the picture I have ALWAYS wanted: the glass slipper!
These fine gentleman were outside the Wedding Pavillon with TWO glass slippers and singing some tunes. They were so much fun!
I stopped at the med tent and took my first ever Tyenol on route in a race (I was terrified I was going to get crazy cramps which would derail my whole race) and continued on the backroads towards Grand Floridian, the wedding pavilion, Poly and the back of the race track. Mary and Bert were out at GF and I had a great pic of them at Marathon weekend so I skipped it. I want to say the line looked about 5-8 minutes long. Chris was waiting at the GF entrance sign and after a quick chat, I continued on to the picture I have ALWAYS wanted: the glass slipper!
These fine gentleman were outside the Wedding Pavillon with TWO glass slippers and singing some tunes. They were so much fun!
i found my glass slipper!
We continued down the service road and I got to a picture stop with the Mickey golf cart and no line. I decided I would wait to see who came out and no other than TOURIST GENIE!! OMG OMG! He was so adorable and had a bit of a longer line, but I did not care. I waited about 5 min for my favorite picture of the weekend.
After that, I kept moving forward. My goal was to get to the Heroes stop as quickly as I could. I was feeling strong and shortly made it to the Clif Shot. Just like last year, there wasn't a water stop right away so I held on to it until the next water stop and then made a quick stop at the medical tent to get some biofreeze for my calf (all precautionary).
I hit the 15k mark (15k split in 2:12:31, projected finish 3:06:23 and ETA 8:53 AM) and continued forward. Crazy to think that my PR is pretty much what my 15k split was but I was having SO MUCH FUN.
Finally the heroes, I ended up waiting about 5 minutes or so.
I hit the 15k mark (15k split in 2:12:31, projected finish 3:06:23 and ETA 8:53 AM) and continued forward. Crazy to think that my PR is pretty much what my 15k split was but I was having SO MUCH FUN.
Finally the heroes, I ended up waiting about 5 minutes or so.
I decided that if the line for Jack Sparrow and Barbosa was not too long, I would wait. It is in the one picture I have never gotten at a rundisney race. Imagine my surprise when it wasn't too long! I waited about 5 min and was so happy how the picture turned out.
After Pirates, there is about a 5k left. I was feeling great even though it was crazy hot. I got up the onramp so much better than I ever had (those few hill repeats I have done, have paid off!). I was getting really excited to finish another rundisney race! The rolling hills (sorry they are just freeways but up and down) are very narrow so I felt like I had to slow down more than I wanted. there were some great inspirational signs along the way and a final water stop.
As we approached Epcot, the crowd was great. Much bigger than in the past and they also had great signs. Heading into Epcot I find Sofia the first with no line (I walked up!) so I had to snag a pic.
As we approached Epcot, the crowd was great. Much bigger than in the past and they also had great signs. Heading into Epcot I find Sofia the first with no line (I walked up!) so I had to snag a pic.
Heading into Epcot, I got emotional again. I was rocking my NINTH rundisney race of the year and feeling better than I had ever felt in a race and also took more pics than ever. I can't believe it!
Heading into future world, I could hear the Fairy Godmother than I saw her! I had to get a pic!
Heading into future world, I could hear the Fairy Godmother than I saw her! I had to get a pic!
We did a small loop off future world and were almost done! I had to get a spaceship earth selfie and continued. It is crazy to think this was my SEVENTH race ending in Epcot in about 40 days.
I was so excited to see the mile 13 marker was Ariel! finally my costume inspiration.
As the finish line approached, and I saw the gospel choir, I knew I was almost there. I had a time goal of under 2:30 running time (I pause my watch when I stop for pics) but I completely forgot and decided to do finish line selfies! never done that either-goofy cracks me up because he couldn't get in the frame!
I was so excited to see the mile 13 marker was Ariel! finally my costume inspiration.
As the finish line approached, and I saw the gospel choir, I knew I was almost there. I had a time goal of under 2:30 running time (I pause my watch when I stop for pics) but I completely forgot and decided to do finish line selfies! never done that either-goofy cracks me up because he couldn't get in the frame!
I finished in 3:03:07 and under a 2:30 running time at 8:58 AM. I was so happy with my time: my fastest WDW half I have ever done and also the most number of pictures I have ever stopped to take.
I felt sick immediately and I am not sure why. I sat down to stretch and drink water before getting my mimosa and felt better. We did a breakfast at 1900 Park Fare before having a bit of pool time and a 2 hour nap. We then went to MK for a mini photo shoot and met Anna and Elsa with our frozen medals. We had a celebratory dinner at Be Our Guest. I was very nauseous and headed back to the room and got to watch the Oscars.
I felt sick immediately and I am not sure why. I sat down to stretch and drink water before getting my mimosa and felt better. We did a breakfast at 1900 Park Fare before having a bit of pool time and a 2 hour nap. We then went to MK for a mini photo shoot and met Anna and Elsa with our frozen medals. We had a celebratory dinner at Be Our Guest. I was very nauseous and headed back to the room and got to watch the Oscars.
Overall, this race was fantastic and much better than I was expecting after my less than stellar experience last year. I will do a reflection post later this week but I would definitely recommend the whole weekend to anyone!
Anyone else run the Princess Half? What is the last half marathon you ran?
It is Monday so we are linking up with another Magical Mickey with John at run.geek.rundisney and Katie from Adventures by Katie. Check out the link up for more Disney fun!
Anyone else run the Princess Half? What is the last half marathon you ran?
It is Monday so we are linking up with another Magical Mickey with John at run.geek.rundisney and Katie from Adventures by Katie. Check out the link up for more Disney fun!
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