Princess Half Marathon Recap (Part 2)

Ok, so I lied.  I got it finished and want to post it today, I don't want to wait!  At this rate I might finish the whole thing today. 

This is the second part of my recap, I'm hoping to fit it into three!  Part 1 of my Princess Half Recap.

So where was I?  Oh yes, out to the corrals we went!  I will say that I was super impressed at this point with how RunDisney organized all this.  20+ thousand people and everything seemed to run really smooth.  This could just be my perspective because I have spent the last couple years reading about this race and have come across some horror stories, so I was happily impressed.  

When we arrived to the corrals, we got in an actual line for the PP's this time.  It looked big, but moved pretty fast.  The smell wasn't pleasant, but I'm oversensitive to smells already. 

This was what it looked like when I turned back to where we had come from.  Masses of people still coming into the corrals.  I thought this was so cool.  Crowds usually bother me, but I was on cloud nine and loved the energy that all the people brought to this event. Everyone was in such great spirits, I've never just struck up conversations with strangers like I did during this race. Yes, even in the port-a-potty line!

So if you aren't a runner, this may be TMI for you.  If you are...then TMI doesn't exist and you'll be ok with this next part! I get up to the front and realize that I do have to go...uh...#2.  No problem, I was just happy that I decided to get in line when I did.  I go in, sit down, do my business quickly (I'm fast like that, don't hate me) and reach for the toilet paper.  Nothing.  WHAT THE F*#$*@!!! NO TOILET PAPER?!?! I actually yelled that.  LOL.  It never occurred to me for some reason that the toilet paper would run out? I briefly panicked, thinking I would have to run a race after not using toilet paper, but I figured it out pretty quickly.  I ripped the cardboard roll off and used that.  :p  Just to make it a bit worse, Kim, being the amazing thoughtful friend she is, had woken up in the middle of the night to add toilet paper to my list of things to bring.  What had I done with it?  I blew my nose with it.  Doh!

When I got out of the PP, April said "Was that you?!"  LOL...she heard me from the stall she was in.  Just like me to cause a scene at the port-a-potties!  We headed right over to corral F after that.  

   Behind me:

 It was pretty full already and I was happy to stay where we were, near the back.  It was not long and they were sending off the wheelchairs and first corrals!  I was shocked at how fast it went.  We must have just had good timing, I thought we would be waiting in the corrals forever.  I cannot explain how excited and overwhelmed I was. 

April and I were running different intervals, so we wished each other good luck and I popped in one earbud.  It was our turn and I had to giggle as I went over the starting line that I was already tearing up.  If I was crying already, I would probably be a blubbering mess by the end!  The smaller corrals but shorter wait for each to start must have helped because from the get-go I didn't feel overcrowded at all.  I was so elated, the moment was here, I was doing it, and it didn't feel real!  

I loved the dark.  I paced myself and just soaked it all up.  I passed the 1 mile marker before I even realized it!  April and I played leapfrog for a bit and then I got into my groove and lost her at some point.  I had no interest in stopping for pictures or waiting in lines, but LOVED seeing all the festivities. 

I also realized pretty quickly that I had to let go of the photographer in me.  This point and shoot, covered in sweat, was not going to take the kind of quality shots I'm used to.  I did decide for a quick pic of mile 2, I think I saw April again at this point, but I was in a haze of excitement and euphoria.  And sweat.  A haze of sweat.  Note about the weather.  Florida is humid and I trained in the cold, but I didn't have a single problem with the weather.  I sweat buckets no matter what weather I run in and heat/humidity doesn't seem to bother me, other than being soaked in sweat!  It was foggy and I really loved it.  It helped with the heat and it just made everything a little more *dreamy* for me somehow.

 

For those of you that don't know, I was running with a knee injury and a bit of foot tendonitis? I had only gotten up to 10 miles in my training because of my knee pain and my taper was a BIG taper because I was trying to rest it for the race.  It was bothering me at this point and the foot as well, but nothing I couldn't handle. I arrived at the Magic Kingdom toll booth and was so excited to take this picture! I actually think this is when I realized the shots wouldn't be the quality I really wanted but I was ok with that.  Oh and a side note I just remembered...it was SO COOL to have the monorail drive by as we were running.  It was dark and foggy and the monorail would pass by and it blew my mind for some reason.  I was running, at Disney, and monorails were passing by!  Surreal. 

 My attempt at a selfie. LOL. I had already taken off my glasses b/c they were sliding, which was a bummer later because I couldn't read any of the fun signs!

When I started running again there was noticeably more pain in my knee.  Luckily there was a med tent right after the toll booth and I grabbed some Biofreeze as I ran by the slathered it on my knee.  That helped a little. It was about this time I started to have the urge to yell SPARKLESISTER! at every runner I saw with a Sparklekskirt on.  I eventually just started doing it.  Some people would look at me like I was nuts but most would realize what I was talking about and we would briefly chat about how fabulous they are and how I had one on under my petticoat. I'm sure I looked like a lunatic yelling Sparklesister at people and lifting up my skirt!  ;)

I was feeling really good, just the nagging in my knee for the moment and enjoying it all.  I had to go back and look at the order of these shots b/c it gets a little muddled in my brain.  

Speedway area...

 Villains!  These were a consideration to stop for when I was planning the race, but I just wasn't feeling that line and I really was just enjoying my run.  I loved seeing them from afar and they were playing a Selena Gomez song (Cruella DeVille) that made me think of Savannah. <3

 I had taken my earbud out at this point, it was slipping out of my ears from all the sweat and annoying me.  I didn't really feel like I needed them and decided I could pop them in after the Magic Kingdom if I needed to.  We came to the underpass and I had to laugh when I heard another Princess exclaim how happy they were for a downhill.  I laughed b/c I had to immediately stop and walk down it because downhill is not a good thing for knee pain! Ouch.  Up was much better! Loved the DJ, everything about this race was just so much fun, always something to see and hear.

I was grabbing water at every stop, there was no shortage, although I kept repeatedly asking for water instead of Powerade until I realized that at each stop the water was at the end.  No idea why it took me a couple stops to figure that out. I took a GU some point?   Then I realized I had been enjoying myself so much that I missed mile 4 all together!  I thought that warranted stopping to take a picture of mile 5!

 It was coming now, that moment I had thought about so many times in training.  I remember rounding a corner backstage and BELLS. Cow bells. Bells ringing everywhere.  I turned the corner and it was all that I imagined and more!  The cheering, the lights, the castle...I tried to take a pic while running and it was all blurry.  It's about what I experienced anyway b/c I was crying! 

I decided to pull over for just a second and take a less blurry shot.

I ran down farther to where I wanted to take a selfie, these castle shots were really the only ones I wanted for sure during this race. 

My attempt at a selfie was pretty pathetic!  I looked a wreck, but on the inside I was beaming, I swear!

 You have no idea the amount of editing it took to get my face not totally beet-red.  :p  

A CM offered to take my picture luckily!  YAY!!!!!  

(you know you said you wanted me to post a lot of pics, it's your own fault if you are getting tired of seeing my face!)

Elated, I turned around, stepped onto Main Street, started to run, and was hit with searing pain in my knee.  It stopped me dead in my tracks.

How's that for a suspenseful end to Part 2?!?!  *maniacal laugh*

Princess Half Marathon Recap (Part 3-Final)

Princess Half Marathon Recap (Part 1 of a million)

Ok, so I don't know how many parts there will be.  I have a lot of photos, some that are too horrid to share so maybe that will cut down on the length...I doubt it.   I've done race recaps, but not of this magnitude, so I thought I would just start talking and see what comes out.  That's pretty normal for me anyway! LOL.  If you missed them, you can read my Expo and #Runnerslove posts which were the previous days before the race.

I had gone over this night of sleep in my head a million times and it went about like I thought it would.  Broken sleep the whole time with me finally waking up at 1:40, twenty minutes before the alarms went off.  I crept out of bed and started going over my list and getting ready.  Oh and I made coffee!  Kim had brought her coffee maker, life saver! I'm normally an extremely early riser, so I had no problems with feeling tired.  I ate some yogurt and a few mini Babycakes cupcakes.  Yep.  Cupcakes before a race.  I probably shouldn't have since cupcakes aren't what I normally eat, but I don't usually have stomach issues.  Took my obligatory selfie and was pretty pleased with my Cinderella costume!

 I did my normal morning routine as well as I could, but I found myself shaking as I was trying to get my bib just perfect.  I wasn't shaking because I was worried about the race, I was anxious about TIME and didn't want to be late.  As soon as I walked out the door to head for the bus at about 2:50, I felt much better.  I ran into April on the path to the bus.  Perfect timing, I should have expected this from my twinkie.  We walked over and straight onto the bus that had just pulled up, front seat even.  One had pulled away as we were walking up and it wasn't even 3 am, so I'm not sure if they are running buses even earlier now?

I was talking a mile a minute, nerves I suppose, but I talk a mile a minute on a normal day, so maybe not.  ;)  I do know that this would have been a completely different experience if I had been alone and I was so glad to have company!  We had no issues with traffic and arrived at Epcot...er...I don't know when.  I realized later that I never once looked at the time, not even in the corral. 

Bananas! (I never did eat mine...)

 We got in line almost right away so that we could get some photos with the backdrops.  The line moved fairly fast and I loved the music/DJ. I didn't feel like I was waiting, which I hate to do, btw.  It was truly surreal.  

We took photos with one backdrop, took a quick potty break with absolutely no lines (no clue where that shot is, but I took one) and then jumped back in the other photo line! These photos aren't the kind of quality I like, but honestly, it was so much fun, I just wanted to capture the moment.  I did see someone who had their dslr and then bag checked it.  If I get crazy enough I could do that next time.  (ahem...yes, there will be a next time!)

I have no idea what I'm laughing at, but I was having fun! About to run a half marathon?  Who, me? 

 

I'm sorry, did I say there were going to be a million parts to this race recap?  I meant a million and one.  Right after we finished up with pics, we found Rachel!  Actually, I think she found us, but who's keeping track here anyway? Time for more pictures then!!

Ok, there's a method to this madness.  First of all, I always take a lot of photos, it's just what I do.  It also helps me focus and calms my nerves.  I wasn't feeling too nervous but maybe that's because I was having fun taking photos.  I'm sharing so many with you, however, because it will be the last time you see me looking fairly cute and put together.  The remainder of this race recap will be filled with my dripping sweaty bangs, red face, and look of death!  I have to at least post some photos to offset that, right?  

We walked over to see if we could find any of the group photos that were taking place, that was harder than I thought.  So many people!  In the meantime, I was texting with Jessica so I could get a special photo for Savannah.  

After I got this shot, it was time to head to the corrals!  Already?!?! I'm torn on whether to continue or start part 2 here.  Hmmmm... I think I will end with us headed to the corrals.  Ooooh and I just realized that if there are three parts to this recap, and I do one each day, I will finish on Wednesday...my Birthday!  Fitting! 

 I took a pic of the now-crazy-line PP's that April and I had used with no lines earlier.  We decided to use the ones out by the corrals when we got there. 

  I wasn't surprised at the walk, I had read about it many times, and enjoyed it.  It helped warm up my muscles a bit.  I was so excited!

Before I knew it, we were at the area where they split the corrals off and we headed towards F.  I was pretty lucky to have someone I knew in the same corral as me.  I might have been more nervous about where to go and what to do, but instead I just followed April around like a puppydog.  LOL

Up next...my run-in with a port-a-potty. There were curse words!

Princess Half Marathon Recap (Part 2)

#Runnerslove and love of runners

I thought I would post about the #runnerslove meetup and all the people I met over the weekend!  I came away from this experience realizing the other runners are what really make this whole experience worth it.  I met so many amazing ladies and had so much fun. I had a list going of people I wanted to meet and didn't barely scratch the surface.  Again, balancing a trip with other people and a trip to run a half was delicate.  I think next time I will go on my own and the whole weekend will be about the race and runner fun.  

After The Expo we headed to the #Runnerslove meetup that Kristy and Meg coordinated at The Polynesian beach.  We were late after having to go back to the resort for my phone. (I'm never late, BTW.  Just sayin')  I was blown away as I walked up to the meetup and heard someone whisper/say "There's Karen".  Seriously folks, if you are the one that said that, you made me feel like a rockstar.  I forget that I'm not just blabbing to myself here and that people actually read and know who I am.  I geeked out a bit on that.  I'm also fairly shy (I know, SHOCKER!) with people I have never met, but I warm up fast.  I walked up to Meg and got the hugest-squealing-hug I have ever received in my life! If you have never met Meg, you must.  She's amazing!

I immediately started taking photos.  I think some people thought I was nuts, but this is just what I do. Gotta document people!   Besides, it helps with the nervousness,  LOL.  I saw so so so many faces that were familiar and I wish the rain had not foiled my plan to chat with all of you!  Meg & Kristy asked if I could take some pictures of the gifts their sponsors gave away, so I started happily snapping away. 

So many familiar faces and not enough time!

 

I panicked a bit when the rain started to come down harder. I had enough time to give Meg a hug and run! Patty escaped with me, Hi Patty!! *waving* 

 By the time we got to cover, I realized I needed to head to Downtown Disney for our dinner reservation, so we headed out.  Curse you rain!  I missed Rachel by seconds, she arrived and texted me as we were stepping on the bus.  Boo. Hiss.  

Have no fear though, I have determination!  Rachel met me at the Pop Century pool on Saturday afternoon and I'm so glad she did.  We had a blast!  

We chatted by the pool and then proceeded to embarrass my 13 year old daughter by getting up and doing the Cupid Shuffle in the middle of the pool!  Savannah wasn't too embarrassed though, as she was happy to take photos of us dancing! Unfortunately, my camera is tempermental with people that don't use it often and she didn't set it on auto, so it was on my own settings and half the shots were out of focus. So much fun though! 

 

When what to my wondering eyes should appear?!!!  My twinkie!  I have been calling April my twinkie since last summer when we seemed to get the same injury or go through the same thing all the time.  I was so excited to see her!

She even brought me a "My first Half Marathon" button from the expo AND a Sparkleskirt.  Uh, could she get any better? ;) 

We spent a couple hours at the pool chatting, we moved to a table when a brief rain came through and they schooled me on Florida weather.  We had been talking about meeting followers of our blogs when out of nowhere Wendy appeared!  She asked if I was Karen and told me she read my blog.  Uh...first fangirl moment!  I was so excited, she started to walk away and I had to ask for a picture.  She then proceeded to ask if she was my first!  LOL!  Yep!  

Wendy, my first! 

Even though I was doing Disney stuff with the Savannah & Eleanor, there were still more runnerslove moments for me over the weekend.  My twinkie not only met me for the bus and hung out with me before the race, but she supported me when she found me around 8 1/2 miles (& I needed it!) and crossed the finish line with me.  More on that later, but she truely earned BRF (Best Runner Friend) status during the Princess weekend! 

 

I set up a superspecial meetup right before the race to get a picture with someone that Savannah & I both follow on twitter.  Jessica is a huge Ed Sheeran fan and when I saw what her costume was going to be, I had to set up a secret meetup and suprise Savannah (the hugest Sheerio on the planet!) I sent the picture to her and she loved it!  

 

After the race, I finally got to spend some time with Meg, we met up at Epcot and she bought me a drink!  She is so absolutely fabulous, I seriously based my decision on whether to run again next year on whether she would be there or not. 

Ok, so I know I'm gushing a lot here but I seriously realized that without the other runners, this race wouldn't mean nearly as much to me.  I'm so looking forward to next year and spending time with the fabulous women that run this race.  I hope that I can meet up with those of you that I missed!  

Do you spend a lot of time meeting up with other runners?  Does it impact your race and experience like it has mine?  How about juggling family and runner stuff? 

Princess 1/2 Expo Recap

Last Friday, February 21st, we headed to Orlando!  My daughter Savannah and her friend Eleanor came with me on the trip.  I'm writing a full trip report for those of you who love Disney and want to see all of the photos I took.  There's just no way to post them all here and this is a running blog, so I will TRY to stick to the running stuff here. The trip report is on The DIS, The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness!!  It will be a couple days before I get to updating it, I'm sick and editing photos like crazy. 

For those of you that don't know, the Expo is where you pick up your race packet, which includes your bib number, t-shirt, and a few other goodies.  They also have many booths of runner stuff.  It will make your bank account cry!  We hopped the expo bus at Pop and were there in no time. It was a bit of a trek from the buses, but it's Disney, so we expected that. 

First we had to go to bib pickup, which as in a different building.  It was super easy to pick up my bib, no lines, walked right up! 

Then we headed over to the other building and headed down the red carpet!  Cute!

I don't really care for this photo of me, I realized the shirt was too short and changed as soon as I got back to the resort...but, it's a memory and it's mine! 

Into what I call the SPENDING-ZONE.  LOL. 

 I guess I have grown accustom to small town living in the last few years because it felt a little overwhelming!  If I had been alone, I think it would have been different, but the girls were following me around and I didn't want to lose them in the crowd.  I picked up my tech shirt and headed straight to the official RunDisney merchandise.  They were out of a lot already and it was just Friday afternoon.  I was really disappointed, I wanted a Princess Half Marathon jacket and they were gone already.  I did find a couple t-shirts and a magnet, then decide to head to Sparkleskirts!  I knew they would have something for me, they always do.  ;)  I looked around a bit more but didn't feel like I could fully shop with the girls standing there, so I decided I had spent enough and it was time to go.  Found the wall with my name before heading out! 

Up next, we were headed to the #runnerslove meetup, but had to jump back on the bus to Pop b/c someone (ahem, me) forgot her phone!  

When we got back, I took a quick shot of my loot from the Expo! 

 Overall, I think the Expo was great!  I had heard nightmares about last year when they had to have it at Coronado Springs instead of World Wide Sports, and thought it was well organized.  For me, it would have been more fun had I been alone, but I found that to be a reoccurring theme on the trip when it came to running stuff.  It was hard to balance a Disney trip with a running trip.  NEXT TIME I will go alone!  Yep, I think there will be a next time.

I wish they had limited people from getting multiple of the same items or had more so that they didn't run out, but I'm pleased with how smooth the Expo went and my loot.

How was the Expo for you?  

Do you normally go alone so you can shop??