Disney Princess Half Marathon - #2

I completed half marathon #2 in royal fashion at the Disney Princess Half Marathon.  It was quite the experience with a 5:30 a.m. start time and over 26,000 participants.  Let’s just say it was the exact opposite of my first half of 2013, but overall, a really unique, fun experience!

Excitement and exhaustion
at the finish!  

I’ve done a few races with over 20,000 participants but they were nothing like this.  We arrived a day early in order to try and acclimate to the weather and to experience their race expo and packet pick up.  The pick up started at 9:00 and the line stretched a thousand or more long.  Thankfully, it moved pretty quickly and before I knew it, I had my race number, shirt and other race swag.  Jason and I tried to maneuver around the expo but there were SO many people that we could barely move.  That’s a lot of princesses in one space.  Besides standard race gear like shoes and shorts, plenty of vendors were selling Mickey ears, fluffy tulle skirts and other princess related garb.  I decided to forgo the princess gear for the race as it was incredibly warm on race day.  Florida was experiencing unseasonably warm weather and the race had heat warnings out, asking all race participants to take it a little slower than normal.

My January half marathon included 30-40 race participants, 5-10 degree weather, icy trail conditions and a 10 a.m. race start.  My February half marathon included over 26,000 participants, 70 degree+ weather and crazy humid weather (worse than the most extreme Iowa August day) and a 5:30 a.m. race start.  Yes, 5:30 IN THE MORNING.  

My half marathon morning started at 2:45 a.m.  I had to get up and start eating in order to let the food digest and to make it to the shuttle on time.  Since the race was so early in the morning, I only ate a protein bar because it was just too early to eat a lot.  That was somewhat of a gamble but turned out fine in the end.  We boarded a bus by 3:30 a.m. and made it to the venue by around 4 a.m. or so.  The race was broken up into eight waves based on anticipated finish time.  I was in the first wave, A, with an anticipated finish time under 2:15.

My sweet princess crown medal
and "Princess Jessica" race bib!

I had to be to my starting area (about a mile from where they dropped us off) by around 4:30 a.m.  And thus then I had to stand there for an hour.  There was a lot of buzz and excitement in the air for this race so it helped pass the time.  Regardless, I still think the start time was crazy early!  During the pre-race festivities, they had a DJ playing music and leading popular dances to keep people moving.  They had a Run Disney stage and TV crew.  They came on stage every 15 minutes or so to share stories about other Disney races and to talk with people live in the various waves.  I’ve never seen a race start like this one.  If they are going to make people line up that early in the morning, then I suppose it’s a good thing to offer the entertainment!

As the clock closed in on 5:30 the excitement inside of me started to grow.  In one month’s time I was lined up for a second half marathon, which felt like an accomplishment of its own.  As Fairy Godmother started the countdown (this is Disney you know!), I fired up my Garmin and took off to fireworks lighting up the sky.  The race started just on the edge of Epcot and actually took off on a road to the Magic Kingdom.

I feel like I started really well, with a controlled, comfortable pace.  Quickly the sweat started rolling down my neck and back.  It was insanely humid.  Of course, I had not trained in that kind of weather (a flake of snow or a whip of wind would have been just fine with the training I had in January!) so it was tough.  However, I have run enough times in humid weather that my body was able to adapt.

This was one of the most unique race experiences.  All along the route, Disney had set up large displays and had various characters in full garb ready for pictures.  Race participants just jumped off the road and hopped into a quick picture.  Lots of women had cameras and Disney staff was lined up ready to take a quick snap for you.  I didn’t bring my phone and really I wanted to focus on my run so I didn’t stop.  However, I enjoyed seeing all the displays and all the people smiling and cheering along the way.  Disney created this race to celebrate women and the atmosphere was more celebratory about just being there and less about racing.  While the vast majority of participants were female, about 1,500 or so participants were male.

A quick pic with other Disney royalty - Rapunzel :)

Around mile 4 or 5 we wound our way into the edge of the Magic Kingdom.  By about mile 6 or 7 we were running through the beautifully lit up (remember it was only about 6:30 by this point and the sun wasn’t up yet!) castle in the Magic Kingdom!  There were tons of spectators there and that made it all the more fun with their cheering and clapping.  After exiting Magic Kingdom and heading back down the same road to Epcot, the humidity started to take its toll.  My pace started to ease up and my breathing was slightly labored.  By about mile 10 it became more about finishing than trying to hit a specific race time.  I was fine with that :)

Around mile 12 we entered Epcot and spent the last mile running through the park to a grand finish line just on the edge of the property.  I was so happy to see that line!  As I crossed the finish line, I was filled with relief and excitement – I just finished my second half marathon of the year!  My finish time was a little disappointing to me overall (just over 1:54) but given the humidity, I also thought it was still a strong time.  I’m still way off my PR from a few years ago but I need to start to let it go.  It’s just tough when you feel like you can do more!  Despite my disappointment about the time I still finished 436th, which is in the top 1-2 percent of all finishers!  That felt pretty cool!

Overall, I greatly enjoyed my princess experience :)  It was quite the race and not one I’ll soon forget.  I couldn’t have had two polar opposite races in a row and I enjoyed each of them for what they had to offer!  Now onto more running…

Miss FitGab