I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon this weekend and have so many pics and movies I didn’t know the place to begin with this recap! In case you desire fast video clips checkout @RunEatRepeat on Instagram for some enjoyable reels and tales from the weekend.
In an effort to maintain this a reasonably quick race recap – I’m simply speaking concerning the precise run on this put up. I’ll share data on the expo, working gear and journey particulars in a separate put up.
The race begins at 5:00 AM Japanese Time, which implies we needed to depart for the race by 3:20 AM.
So… I set my alarm for two:15 AM as a result of I wanted loads of time to wrangle my hair into 2 huge buns that might keep for 13.1 miles. I used to be dressing up as Princess Leia for the PRINCESS Half Marathon. (Run Disney races are one of the best place for working costumes. Most runners gown up.)
Sadly, my lodge neighbors have been huge followers of slamming doorways and yodeling (which they practiced proper outdoors my door). So, I didn’t get to sleep till actually late and stored waking up virtually each hour. I by no means count on to sleep nicely the evening earlier than a race, however this was further tough. I wakened earlier than my alarm and determined to only stand up and begin preparing.
[Check out my Get Ready with Me for the Princess Half Marathon on Instagram @RunEatRepeat]
I didn’t keep at a Disney lodge this weekend, so I needed to plan my very own transportation to the race. Fortunately, Kelly and Elise had room within the Sparkle Shuttle for me!
Observe: In case you’re staying at a Disney Property there are shuttles to and from the race. I stayed at a Disney lodge for the Dopey Problem and their shuttles made it tremendous simple. (I had a great expertise utilizing the shuttles to and from the race, however have heard tales from different runners with a special expertise.)
The race begins and finishes at Epcot so it’s simple to search out and get parking. But it surely’s an extended stroll to the precise begin line so you must get there early and think about strolling time. I believe many of the Run Disney info suggests you arrive at the very least 1 hour earlier than the race if no more.
There are many porta potties on the stroll from the parking zone to the beginning corrals. Bag verify can be alongside the way in which.
Because the race begins at 5:00 AM it’s earlier than dawn and fully darkish for the primary half of the race (or your complete race in case you’re very quick). It is a bummer as a result of it’s onerous to get good video and pictures when it’s so darkish. (A good friend my race pictures mentioned – it seems just like the race is in the midst of the evening.)
The solar began to rise round 6:30 AM. I run Disney races to have enjoyable and attempt to take plenty of pictures, which incorporates stopping for pictures with characters. These character pictures have strains, so it takes rather a lot longer to run 13.1 miles than a typical race. However that works out to get higher lighting. Runners in direction of the again of the pack have been working by means of the fortress after dawn and had a lot better pictures.
There are character stops all through the course and Run Disney doesn’t share the place precisely they’ll be or what characters shall be out (the characters do swap out for breaks periodically so that is comprehensible as they’ll’t assure something). Each race is totally different so the stops and characters this time doesn’t imply something for subsequent yr’s race, however I’ll share all those I famous to provide you an concept of the course.
Once more, I took plenty of video, nevertheless it was so darkish most of it’s unusable to put up. Fortunately, I could make out most of it to let you know – so I’m itemizing all of the character stops and potential race photograph ops on the course beneath.
Earlier than mile 1 there was a cease for a Star Wars character I didn’t acknowledge.
Round Mile 1: Princess Jasmin (from Aladdin) was the following character. We didn’t cease as a result of we didn’t notice till we have been working previous. I used to be shocked to see such a well-liked princess so early within the race!
Earlier than Mile 2: Princess Merida (from Courageous)
Earlier than Mile 3: Mulan
Earlier than Mile 3: Enter Magic Kingdom space. It seems such as you’re working into the Magic Kingdom, however you run by means of the backstage and in entrance of the theme park for a bit first.
After Mile 3: Sophia the primary
Mile 4: See the Modern Resort within the distance (I hoped we’d run by means of it, however nope. That will be kinda loud and ridiculous, however I’m loud and ridiculous.)
Then, you go underneath a bridge and again up in direction of the Magic Kingdom entrance.
And eventually you run by means of the doorway into the Magic Kingdom. Minnie Mouse was waving from the bridge as you enter the park (not a personality cease, however a enjoyable shock).
Course Spotlight: Run down Fundamental Road in direction of the fortress. And there are spectators cheering right here!! You run into the Magic Kingdom, across the bend after which down Fundamental Road with the fortress within the distance and spectators cheering – it’s the BEST a part of the course.
Mile 5 is on Fundamental Road. From there you run in direction of the fortress, however flip proper into Tomorrowland. You run by means of Tomorrowland and again in direction of the fortress to run by means of it from the again. That is the BEST photograph op of your complete race.
There are race photographers snapping pics of runners as they run out of the fortress.
And there’s a photograph cease in entrance of the fortress (no characters). There are a couple of photographers lined up in a row right here so the strains are tremendous quick if in any respect. Forged members direct you the place to go if you wish to preserve working (flip to the proper) or cease for a fortress photograph (to the left).
After the fortress: Jessie and Woodie (from Toy Story) character photograph cease.
Run by means of some extra of Magic Kingdom and exit to backstage the place there’s a photograph cease with Cruella De Ville and another villains.
Mile 6: You’re again outdoors the park
After Mile 6: Tinkerbell and one other fairy
The princess (or queen?) from A Bug’s Life.
Mile 7: A bit previous mile 7 was Snow White and Prince Charming (or whoever her man is, I don’t know him). Additionally… I do know the photograph beneath is Sleeping Magnificence. I don’t have one with Snow White.
After Mile 7: The Genie from Aladdin
Character cease previous Mile 7: Goofy
It is a photograph op (beneath) with Anna and Elsa from Frozen. I don’t bear in mind what mile it was, however we did cease for this one. Sadly, it’s NOT in my race pictures. Perhaps it didn’t come out in any respect, however provided that I’ve different blurry pictures within the combine – it’s bizarre.
Mile 8 is on the overpass. It’s one of many few hills of the course. General I’d say the course is fairly flat aside from the bridges (overpasses) you run over and the one you run underneath first after which over. Noting as a result of I do know runners need a good course description past the map or elevation profile as a result of it’s onerous to inform the way it’ll really feel whereas working.
After Mile 8: Pluto (from being Mickey’s canine… is that their relationship or are they associates??)
Mile 9: There’s an enormous display enjoying Mulan songs at mile 9. There are screens like this all through the course. I’m noting it right here as a result of there’s not a lot else happening at this level within the course. However it’s nonetheless FLAT, which I like.
After the 15K mark: Mulan (once more – you go the identical space once more coming again). So, in case you skipped it the primary time you will get a photograph now when the solar is extra more likely to be up. The road seemed the identical size the second time round.
Band enjoying earlier than Mile 10.
Mile 10: Close to the mile marker was a DJ on the mic telling jokes and inspiring runners.
Overpass after mile 10, which implies a hill kinda late within the race. However, it’s not too steep and also you get to run down it after. Gotta earn the downhill!
One other DJ that we handed earlier within the race too.
Mile 11: Water cease proper earlier than mile 11.
Character photograph op – Clara the Cow shortly after mile 11.
Overpass right here – aka hill. After the downhill you possibly can see Epcot within the distance and that’s the place this race finishes.
You run into Epcot by means of an worker (aka solid member) entrance.
Character photograph op – Fancy Nancy (fortunately there are solid members with indicators telling you who a number of the extra random characters are).
One final water cease backstage at Epcot.
Mile 12: The mile marker is backstage at Epcot.
Then, you run into Epcot and in direction of the entrance of the park (not across the water like for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon). There are a couple of race photographers at totally different spots inside Epcot, however no character stops. And also you don’t actually run by means of any enjoyable areas of the park. This can be resulting from building (there are plenty of partitions/boundaries up masking building areas proper now).
Character photograph op – Mira Royal Detective (I didn’t know who this was, however there was a solid member holding an indication).
Gospel choir simply earlier than mile 13.
Mile 13: Flip the nook and you’ll see the FINISH LINE!!!!
And the grand finale… Jeff Galloway was on the end giving excessive fives as runners crossed the end line.
- Liked all of the Princess character stops. I noticed – Belle & the Beast, Snow White & her associate (idk his identify), Mulan, Jasmin and there may’ve been extra. (They swap out characters to take breaks periodically so you a lot not see the identical characters as one other runner.)
- Liked that so many runners gown up for Disney races and I believe for the Princess races specifically. I’d say a majority of runners have been in some type of costume or themed working ‘match. [Sparkle Athletic is the best place to start for running costumes. I’m wearing a Sparkle Skirt for my Princess Leia costume.]
- LOVE working by means of the Citadel within the Magic Kingdom. Working down Fundamental Road in direction of the fortress after which working by means of it may be my favourite a part of the race.
- Liked working with Kelly and Elise. It’s 1000x extra enjoyable to run with associates – particularly for enjoyable runs like this.
- Liked that my Princess Leia buns stayed for 13.1 miles (as a result of I used 131 bobby pins).
- Love the Princess Half Marathon Medal and the race t-shirt.
- Liked that there are such a lot of ladies that run this race! Who run the world? GIRLS!!
We’re all carrying Sparkle Skirts – verify ’em out at Sparkle Athletic or on the Run Disney expo (they’re in any respect of them).
Elise is @elisewallace on Instagram and Kelly is @according2kelly on Instagram
- The tremendous early begin time isn’t ultimate – solely as a result of it’s so darkish on the Begin Line and for the primary miles this time of yr. I’m an early hen and I do know that working early is nice for beating the warmth – so I don’t thoughts beginning early for different races. However I run Disney races to see the theme parks and characters and for the enjoyable pictures / video. Loads of my pics and movies have been too darkish to share on the weblog or on social media.
- A few of the pictures within the entrance of the fortress have been blurry and others have been out of focus. Fortunately, I took a couple of totally different ones (as a result of Elise and I have been ready for Kelly at this level within the race and I made a decision to leap again within the Citadel photograph line). I believe one of many photographers had a smudged lens, so these pics are blurry / foggy. And our group pictures are a bit of out of focus and grainy. I don’t need to blame it on the darkish as a result of the RUNNING pictures coming from the fortress are crisp and in focus (these pics have been taking inside minutes of one another in the identical lighting).
My first thought is I like this race! I had a lot enjoyable over the course of your complete weekend. I extremely advocate working the Princess 5K, 10K or Half together with your working buddies, sisters, mother or non working associates who need to give it a whirl. This really is a FUN RUN and the vibe is lighter than different huge half marathons. It’s an awesome alternative to make working enjoyable once more and reignite your love of working in case you misplaced it over the previous few years.
Maintain going with these Working & Consuming posts:
Follow @RunEatRepeat on Instagram for extra working, consuming and enjoyable! See ya there.
