Disney: Princess Half Marathon Recap

FInally a race recap!

I left off on my last post with our 3 AM wake-up call. My dad made sure we were awake and ready to go. He made our coffee while we brushed our teeth and gathered our materials. I packed us a baggie for breakfast: almond butter, bananas, bagel, protein bars, etc. Even though I was nervous and had little to no appetite, I forced myself to eat something. Mom and I were out the door by 3:20. I started out the door without my mom because I was in a hurry to get there! I held the elevator for her as she ran down the hallway. Classic.

We had a bus waiting for us right outside the door and literally zero issues! Everything went flawlessly. That really put me at ease before the race. 

We arrived at the Epcot parking lots and walked to the pre-race area. Only at Disney would they have a DJ and a dance party and stand-up comedians in costume before a race. It was a real party! We settled in and ate our breakfasts. We had plenty of time until we had to be at our corrals. Mom and I hung out for a bit and people watched at all the insane and creative costumes!

We hugged one last time and separated to walk to our corrals - and boyyy it was quite a hike. Pretty sure we walked at least 2 miles before the race even started. As soon as Mama Q and I separated, I had a lump in my throat. I can imagine that I nailed the "deer in headlights" look as I walked to my corral.

At 5:30 on the dot, the first corral was announced to start the race! Every 5 minutes, fireworks went off to signal the next corral's start. Suddenly, the crowd was a sea of smartphones taking pictures and videos of the fireworks. 

The announcers were pumping up the crowd and asked if there were any first-time half marathoners and I was kinda standing there frozen slightly nodding my head. One exceptionally kind woman could see how visibly nervous I was and she patted my back and said "Enjoy every mile, it's a fun race!" And I did just that!

At 5:50 AM, I was crossing the start line! Every mile of this race had incredible  entertainment: Disney characters, Polynesian drum lines, DJs, comedians, cheerleaders, marching bands, and a Gospel choir ironically placed at mile 13.

The crowds of spectators at Epcot and Magic Kingdom were everything I could have hoped for. Their incredible, positive energy was palpable and it was truly an unforgettable feeling. Runners were giving high fives to the spectators and volunteers. The signs they made were entertaining and hilarious! Some of my favorites were: "Chafe now - Wine Later" or "Will Run For Burritos" or "You thought they said RUM, didn't you?!" Around mile 8, a spectator pointed right at me and shouted, "Hey Minnie Mouse - you go girl!" The crowds really did keep my spirits up! 

We arrived at Magic Kingdom from a secret side entrance at Main Street USA. I was running down the street as the sun was rising and I nearly had tears in my eyes I was so overwhelmed. The crowd was absolutely going wild for the runners - makes me happy just reliving it as I write! I stopped for a quick selfie or 2 or 87 with the castle in the background. 

Yes, I was focused on running but I also wanted to take advantage of this time running at the park. We ran through the entire park and at that point on my playlist, I was jamming to my favorite Disney songs! We passed through every section of the park and I was so excited to be approaching the castle. The Queen Elsa and Anna and Kristoff characters from "Frozen" were at the castle balcony waving and cheering on the runners. Everyone were just going nuts as we ran through Cinderella's Castle. 

I truly enjoyed every mile. Once I saw the sign for Mile 10, I actually said out loud "But I don't want it to end!" I was having way too much fun out there. I followed my sister's advice and stopped at every water station whether I was thirsty or not. I made sure to thank the volunteers at the water stations because I can't imagine what an exhausting day it is for them too.

I called my dad at Mile 10 to give him an update (but he was receiving live text updates on my pace) and his shuttle bus got lost and he was nervous he wasn't going to make it in time. My heart sank. I tried to remain focused for the last couple of miles.

Almost at Mile 13!

As I was approaching the finish line, I was scanning the crowds for my dad and I spotted him! I was so relieved and I kept my eye on that finish line. With every ounce of effort and the beauty of adrenaline, I just started sprinting. 

It was all so emotional I just started tearing up. I received my medal and a little pixie dust from the Fairy Godmothers at the finish line. Immediately, I got a congratulatory text from my sister who had been getting my live updates. I was happy she could follow along even at a distance. My dad found me afterwards and hugged me and I just started crying. I honestly couldn't believe I pulled it off.

We met up with my uncle and cousins in time to watch the rest of the race! My brother called me when we were in line to get into Epcot to congratulate me. It meant a lot that my siblings were so actively involved in the whole process even if they couldn't be at the actual race. 

Now that I was done, it was time to focus on Mama Q! We reentered Epcot and went to the exact same spot where we watched Allie in her marathon. I was a little nervous that my mom was going to be hating it. When we spotted her, she was upbeat and smiling and really enjoying herself! I am so proud of her for kicking some serious half marathon ass.

Keeping with tradition, the Q's (and my cousins) headed to England at the World Showcase for fish n' chips and a round of beers. 

Overall, racing at Disney exceeded all of my expectations. I had such a fun time! I will absolutely do another Disney race again in the future - my goal is to do the Wine and Dine Half in 2016!

The black blob right in the middle of the pic is my tutu!

Disney: Pre-Race Weekend Activities

Without further ado... finally a Disney recap! But first, pre-race activities!

The Princess Half was such an unforgettable experience, I love reliving it all in my noggin as I write this post.

We arrived in Disney World on Friday afternoon and after dropping our bags at the hotel, my mom and I went off to explore the expo. While we were waiting for our shuttle to go to the expo, we were chatting with another mother-daughter running duo and they had done the race years prior. They told us the nightmare experience they had the morning of their race trying to get buses to the starting line and there was a bus shortage. They missed their corral start times! We were getting a little panicked, me especially because I had a pretty early corral start. We discussed that whatever happens, we weren't going to lose our cool because that doesn't fix anything. We tried to remain as positive as humanly possible! 

On our way to the Expo!

We arrived at the expo and I remember being there last year for my sister's Disney race. The energy there was just amazing. I couldn't believe I was there again and it was my turn to pick up my packet and bib. My mom and I were seriously so giddy!

We picked up a few goodies - we both got magnets for our cars, mom got a cute headband, and I got a new long-sleeved running shirt that says "Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world" (it's my new favorite and I can't wait to wear it running this spring on the canal path).

After the expo, we met up with my Aunt Mercy and Uncle Eric and cousins, Jack and Dane. We always have such a fun time with them, especially on vacation and especially at Disney World. 

We had a deeeeelicious dinner. I was not shy about stuffing my face after a day of traveling. Pretty sure I got 3 or 4 servings of dessert. I was saving up calories to burn on race day! We made it back to the hotel just in time to see the Epcot fireworks from our hotel window. Nothing warms my heart more than fireworks at Disney. 

Saturday morning was supposed to be my "rest day" and happened to be the busiest day! We woke up early and walked over to Epcot to see our brother's friend Mandi and her kids run in the 200m dash. It was beyond adorable watching so many little kids running to the finish line with their bibs and receiving medals. It really got the kids excited about racing! I had never met Mandi and the kids before that day but I am so glad we finally did. Lila loved our matching braids and loved showing off her new medal. AND she said that she was excited for her next race! Ladies and gents, we have ourselves a tiny runner.

Afterwards, we bused over to Hollywood Studios and did a few rides and shows there where we'd be able to sit and rest our feet. We saw the car stunt show (haven't done that in decades) and it was super cool. 

Some of my favorite guys!

Off to Magic Kingdom! (Yes, we went to 3 parks on our rest day... woops) The #1 ride I must go on is Space Mountain - check!

We went to a yummy dinner at the hotel next to ours for some carbo loading. I didn't want to eat too much because it would upset my already nervous stomach the night before the race. I walked back to the hotel early in order to have lights out by 9 PM. 

By the way, my prediction was correct. I got minimal sleep that night due to nerves. I woke up around midnight to check the alarm on my phone because I was afraid it wasn't going to go off. I could not, for the life of me, fall asleep again. I got about 2 1/2 hours. Yikes.

Next up: Half Marathon Recap!

Week 9 + 10: "Pack My Suitcase?!"

The time has come to begin packing for the half...

I have some experience with the Disney races because of Allie's full marathon last year so I know how the general routine goes. I arrive in Orlando on Friday mid-afternoon. We will do packet pickup on Friday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. We kinda wandered around aimlessly last year and now I know exactly where to go. I'd also like to spend some time looking at the overpriced Disney merch because why not?!

Last week, I called the hotel where we're staying and they answered all my questions: where can I get breakfast before the race and what are our race day transportation options? 

Luckily, there is a 24 hour casual dining area where I can grab pre-race fuel: a banana and a bagel with PB the morning of the race! And there are buses that run from the hotel to the race starting at 3 AM. Hundred bucks says I'll be wide awake around that time waiting for my alarm to go off.

"Oh, I'm stressed."

In addition to packing for a Naples trip (which I'm a pro at by now), I have to take into consideration all the little details pre-, during, and post-race!

• socks - regular and compression (2 pairs, one for race and one for recovery)
• pajamas
• running costume... I mean, outfit
• Saturday's park outfit
• post-race fresh clothes
• snacks/fuel
• headphones (2) and armband
• shoes - race shoes (and inserts), converse
• water bottle 
• pre-race sweatshirt to donate (Disney donates any clothes taken off before or during the race)
• drawstring bag
• laundry bags

Little does my dad know, he's been training for this day his whole life... he's been carrying all our bags for decades! Now this is his chance to shine as the World's Greatest Bag Holder.

I'm bringing a drawstring bag that will contain:

• dry shampoo
• lip balm
• Luna Bar
• comb and extra hair ties
• deodorant
• baby wipes
• face wipes
• band aids
• lotion
• rollerball perfume
• fresh clothes
• converse

Weeks 9 and 10 have been my toughest yet... and not because of the running. I've had strep and a minor case of the flu aaaaand now I'm on day 3 of a migraine. I'm writing this blog post with my eyes closed... impressive, huh? Essentially, I'm in rough shape. But whatever, I'm going to focus on how far I have come, not the aches and pains. My sister reassured me that she was sick right before her Disney race and everything turned out just fine. 

I'm getting really excited just to soak in this whole experience and enjoy every mile. I consider myself really lucky that my faaavorite aunt and uncle and cousins will be there to cheer us on in the race. It's going to be a truly memorable weekend!

Week 8: Need For Speed

I'm not gonna lie, I have been kicking some serious training booty this week and it's only Monday! I started Week 8 off with a SNOW DAY! It was the perfect opportunity for me to catch up on some lost mileage due to a hectic work schedule. With just a few weeks left of training, I've become very strategic in how and when I want to run. I want to make sure that I get my mileage in, whilst working on speed, AND not burning out/tapering at just the right time. 

The weather has been the biggest factor for me lately. Obviously with the subzero temperatures and the feet on feet on feet of snow we just got, I was unable to run outside the last two days.

On Sunday, instead of working on distance, I did a little over 4 miles working on speed. It was the fastest I had run 4 miles ever! I wrapped up my workout with a couple of yoga sequences for easy cross-training. The weather next Sunday will be 30 and partly cloudy according to the forecast - perfect for my last long run! 

I took advantage of this lovely day off by getting back on the treadmill. I didn't sleep well all weekend so I was going to take it easy this morning and shoot for a quick 3 miles. Welp... mile 3 came and went and I thought I'll just got for 5 miles... then a 10k (which I PRed woop woop!) 

Finally, I decided to call it quits at 8.6 miles. Every mile that went by was faster than I had ever gone before. My usual pace felt painfully slow and I definitely needed a boost. I felt great getting off the treadmill knowing I almost tripled my distance goal for the day. The only reason I stopped was because my mom told me there would be homemade guacamole in the kitchen waiting for me. A girl's gotta eat!

I spent the rest of the greatest Monday ever watching movies ("Boyhood" and "Chef"... both incredible, by the way), reading, and helping my dad shovel the driveway. 

My goal is to finish one or two short and speedy runs before the weekend!

P.S. I tried my race outfit on for my parents yesterday - I'm really getting into the Disney spirit!

So... Am I A Runner Now?

In the midst of training for my first half marathon, I've been thinking and reflecting on my running and fitness journey. Why do I do this? Why do I run? 

One thing I want to clear up is that this does not come easy to me. I've always had an appreciation for the beauty of athletics but I haven't always wanted to participate. I loved watching any sport from a young age - football, basketball, soccer, tennis, etc. Also, I was interested in yoga at a very young age. I was the weirdo asking my mom to drop me off at the yoga studio because I was too young to drive myself. I made the volleyball team in middle school but decided I didn't want to play. I played on the tennis team for a couple years in high school. 

I haven't always been a runner. I quit track after one week of practice when I was in the 8th grade. I alllllways faked having cramps in high school in an attempt to get out of running the fitness mile in gym class. Running a mile seemed like an actual nightmare to 15 year old Maddie. 

When I got to college, I tried going to the gym once or twice a week... that didn't last long. During freshman year, I went just about once a month. Then something happened sophomore year... I got myself a gym buddy. Her name is Natalie and she is currently my best friend, my sorority sister, and my #1 homie. We went to the gym 4 or 5 times a week. We miraculously had a bunch of classes together so we had the same schedule. Plus, we had different strengths and weaknesses when it came to our fitness. She was wayyy better at cardio than I was and I preferred lifting weights and strength training more than she did. We made a great team. Suddenly, I was in really good shape. I became addicted to the feeling. 

I'm sure I've also mentioned once or twice that I am the youngest of 3 runners in my family. My brother is a maniac runner. I grew up watching him lace up his combat boots to go running on the trails with my brother-from-another-mother, Roger. He was doing triathlons and marathons left and right. My sister was the track star in the family and was always really fast. She started getting into distance running a few years after college and already has multiple half and full marathons under her belt. That girl racked up medals really quickly.

Then there's me. 

I really had to ease into running. I absolutely hated it. And I hated my siblings for being so good at it. Like... was I missing something? Then I did my first registered race - the Webster Turkey Trot... a measly two and a half miles. Hah! I could do that in my sleep now. It seemed really daunting at the time. And I was registered with my brother and sister. They did the 4.4 mile course and started earlier than I did. I had some serious anxiety waiting for the gun to go off. I remember crossing the finish line with them and they were so excited asking me, "What did you think?!" "How did you do?!" I simply said... "I HATED THIS... but I also kinda liked it."

Now I'm addicted.

So far these are the races I have completed...

Turkey Trot 2.5 Miler (November 2012)

Kappa Delta 5k @ University of Rochester (September 2013)

Color Run 5k (May 2014)

Corporate Challenge 5k (June 2014)

North Face Endurance Challenge Trail 10k (June 2014)

We Run Nashville 10k (August 2014)

I remember at this time last year, my whole family was at Disney World cheering my sister on during her marathon. I had always dreamed of running the Disney Princess Half Marathon. It was something to accomplish... someday. To be honest, I did not believe in myself. I thought I'd give myself more time. At the time, I had only done the Turkey Trot and a casual 5k on campus. How on earth was I going to run 13.1 miles? So I started chipping away at it... a few more 5Ks and a couple of 10Ks. 

 If I could, I would go back in time 7 or 8 years and tell myself that I would fall in love with running. I would tell my old self that, someday, I'll be asking for new running shoes and compression socks for Christmas. 

I don't know where this running journey of mine will take me but that's what I love about it. It is mysterious, never-ending, and all mine. No one else's. It takes time, patience, practice, blood, sweat, and tears (but actually). 

I guess that's why I am so passionate and enthusiastic about running and fitness and all that jazz. I can feel myself changing from the inside out.

Week 7 + Fueling

I started off Week 7 on Monday with cross-training on the stationary bike. I also did 2 rounds of an intense circuit training and finished off my workout with free weights. Today, I ran a little over 4 miles and did my fair share of leg work and free weights (again). I want to make sure that I finish my training with some upper-body strength. I'm hoping to get another run in by the end of this week. This weekend will most likely be my last long run! I have 11 miles scheduled and I'm going to start tapering until the race. 

I've been receiving emails from runDisney with race tips and the airline about my upcoming travel plans. I can't believe it is really happening so soon!

Onto my favorite subject... food.

One of the biggest misconceptions I had about training for a half marathon was that I could simply eat whatever I wanted. Boy was I wrong. The first week or two of training I was eating anything and everything. I wasn't used to running for so long and so often and I was ravenous. By week three, I got a little more organized and strategized about what I was going to eat to fuel my workouts.

I write down everything I eat every day. Also, I track my hydration with my FitBit app (I aim for 80+ ounces of water each day but it'll be closer to 100 ounces if I ran that day).

I've definitely increased my protein intake after my long runs to help with recovery. I'm constantly reading up on what to eat and what not to eat before and after workouts.  My goal is to make most meals a healthy combination of protein and carbs.

Breakfast: Coffee (duh) and Kashi Go Lean Toasted Berry Crumble cereal, or whole wheat toast with almond butter

Snack: Almonds and fruit (berries, clementines, or banana and a scoop of almond butter)

Lunch: Whole wheat toast with avocado smash, a scrambled egg, organic spinach blend lettuce, and a drizzle of EVOO

Snack: More fruit and trail mix (the nutty pistachio blend from Wegmans is my favorite)

Dinner: Baked haddock, Brussels sprouts, risotto, and salad

Snack: Dark chocolate square and a bowl of raspberries and strawberries with herbal tea

Now that I give more attention to the things I eat, I have seen a serious improvement in my overall training. I feel leaner and stronger. 

Weeks 5 + 6

The first month of training was really successful. I can really feel myself coming into my own as a runner. I joked with my sister earlier that I'm truly becoming a distance runner because I'm just about warmed up around mile 6. 

Week 5 Unfortunately, last week, I was hit with a pretty bad cold. Not just any cold, but a really dry cough. Let me tell ya, it is reeeeally hard to run with a dry cough. I tried every remedy I could think of to get rid of this thing. Finally, I started religiously taking DayQuil and NyQuil and finally started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

I had a 4 miler and two cross-training sessions scheduled. I tried going to the gym for some cross-training and I was strugggggling. Soooo I only got in one cross-training session for the whole week and that was it.

To top it off, I had tickets to a bunch of events all last week so I didn't have much time for rest. I went to the Bonnies basketball game, Pippin, and Audra McDonald at Eastman. Busy week!

My 9-miler was rough, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I had really good time and paced myself well but I was hurting at the end of it. My hips were tight and I was just ready to be done. When I ran my 7 and 8-milers, I felt like a million bucks! Now I see the effects of not doing my short runs during the week.


Week 6
After getting over my week-long cold, I was ready to refocus. Thennnn my boss got jury duty. I had to work much longer hours than usual to help pick up the slack but that meant putting my workouts on the back-burner. This was a huge bummer because I was so motivated to get back into training. I was able to squeeze in one short run and one hour of circuit training and cross training throughout the week.

This morning, I headed out for my first double-digits run ever! The last couple of weeks have been bitter cold so I resorted to the treadmill. I decided this week that enough is enough, I'm lacing up to go outside. I have noticed that when I run on a treadmill, I baby myself a lot more: stopping for water, retying my shoes, stopping for a pee break, etc. When I'm outside, I feel much more confident in my form and there is nothing like fresh winter air to keep you pushing through the miles. (I ran through 3 different suburbs during my 10 miles! It was crazy!)

I had a very slow pace this morning because most of the path was covered in snow and ice. I brought tissues and a couple of pitted dates in a baggie if I needed some all-natural fuel. Luckily, I only needed the tissues to wipe down my face, no snack needed! 

Only 4 more weeks until Race Day!