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Disney Princess Half Marathon 2013: Recap from a plus sized runner

Disney Princess Half Marathon – My (late) recap of my first half marathon.

I have posted on and off about my completion of the Disney Princess Half Marathon 2013 (PHM) on  previous posts imported from my old blog to this one.

How I ended up doing a Disney Princess Half marathon

So my path to a half marathon started by spending a lot of time online during my husbands deployment. I found I instantly LOVED Blogging and runDisney. Specifically – the Princess Half Marathon. I immediately contemplated doing this, put the word out to my mom, husband over seas, friends, seeing if anyone wanted to do it. Well they were all interested, and they were ALL runners ready to go – while I was struggling with being very overweight, fighting an autoimmune disease that caused fatigue, and having no personal time due to unpaid overtime at work. I did not train well at all. I mean I always did my long training with my friend on Saturdays and got up to 11 miles in my longest walk, but I was slow 14:30-15 minute walking and I would “run” on an elliptical.  PS. An Elliptical is not a “run” it is cross training, and does not count as a run. Do not kid yourself, you will regret that! I do! So now that we know my training was walk and talks with friends, I will let you in on a spoiler- I FINISHED 13.1 MILES at DISNEY!!

The Vacation, and the starting line. runDisney Princess Half Marathon

This was the first vacation my now husband I were going to have with my parents and we were going to spend a week in Disney hitting up the parks, relaxing, and just spending time with my parents. Spending time with my parents has become so precious living in another state and it was perfectly timed after my husband returned from deployment. That will have a post of all its own some day soon, but one of my best friends from college and her new husband were also coming to do the race as well! It was a PARTY! My friend started in the corral ahead of us, and my mom and hubby in the one behind her –E corral. I am very happy we chose to do the race first.

We all stayed off property and traveled in for the race ( My next Princess Half Marathon in 2014 I stayed ON property 😉 ). We personally had some stubborn drivers in our car, but we got to the parking so quickly with no real troubles. We were so confused at the tents/DJ area we snapped this picture by my dad and parted ways. Sadly, we had no idea he could come in that area with us! It was all tutus everywhere, and lines for who knew what. So he just tried to head to the Magic Kingdom to wait. Poor dad. We also did not know what was going on and just saw hoards of people walking somewhere, so naturally we used the porta-potties, and followed the people not knowing what was going on. Are you sensing a trend?

Honestly I did not think we walked that far to the corrals, but from other bloggers Garmin pictures, I guess It was kind of far! Most people reported 20 minute walk, but I really thought it felt like a few minutes as I was too busy absorbing in the atmosphere. LOVING IT.

startring line runDisney Princess Half Marathon

What I love about Disney is they do not skimp on any of the magical features. Whether you are first or last, you get to see the starting fireworks, the Fairy Godmother still sees you off, and your start to your race is absolutely magical. Unlike any other race I have participated in, this one is truly not one to miss. This is not because I adore Disney to pieces either, it really is incredible even my husband thinks so! (he is a non-Disney addict)

So Plus sized “running” with crappy training- Not so good.

I seriously think I finished this race on pure Disney magic. Or pixie dust. My husband obviously had not listened when I admitted I had never “run” outside, and all my runs took place on an elliptical. (I know.) The weather was hot, 78ish, and 98% humidity; so not the conditions I did speed walk outside in, and something my asthma was not ready for. So lets run the first mile in 10 minutes? Oh yeah, and I was having shin splints on pavement,  overall the pain started to smack me in the face. Something with my feet was going horribly wrong ( poorly fitted brooks), and I just tried to focus on the Magical miles entertainment Disney set up.

Disney Princess Half Marathon recap

We had a good speed walking pace after my husband stretched my shins, why he thought I could run? Ha! I do not know. So I was hot, sucking air, but I would pick people out from my corral that were near me, and race to stay up with them. It was working, and then before we knew it we were coming up through main street! The beautiful castle I love so much was ahead, and I was sweaty and happy! Note to other asthmatics: do not place your inhaler in your sweat drenched sports bra. Terrible things happen to your skin. I have scars to prove it!

Disney Princess Half Marathon course map

runDisney.com

castle during runDisney princess half marathon

 

 

I was honestly doing fine at the castle, I was still going about 14:30 –15 minute miles, walking my way through everything just hot and steamy. The Castle was SO crowded when we got there, we could not see my dad anywhere, and it was hard to move through by the time we got there. My mom and friend did not have any problems as they were a solid hour plus faster than me.

It was still magical. I was with my husband who wore a Wal-Mart running shirt I turned into Prince Charming costume ( It is made with glue, random items I bought and took apart to make the shirt, and broken sewing machine needles happened more than once but  SO WORTH it!)

disney princess half marathon couple costume cinderella and prince charming

Princess Half Marathon 2013, my our first half!

I was starting to find pain after the castle, my shoes were not purchased at a 1/2 size bigger so there was blisters and lost toe nails. I did not know what the medical stations were handing out, and just kept walking. I wish I would have stopped after the fact, I was really going to need it! I am so thankful for the water stations, I was so dehydrated by the Magic Kingdom, and had no problems drinking a ton of water for once. My body craved it.

cinderella plus sized rundisney costume

Photo bombing because I was too slow to stand in line.

Seeing as I did not train as well as my husband, I was hurting pretty much around mile 9. I was starting to hate everything, especially the fact I was slow and under trained. I just wanted to stop at a character stop, but the lines were so long for me. Scared of getting swept for being too slow, I never paused to even check out the shorter lines. Looking back that was silly; I had what looked like thousands of people behind me. The music, the entertainment, and the Characters that I wish we stopped for were all VERY good distractions and mood boosters for me.

Epcot during Princess Half MArathon finish line of rundisney princess half

So then around mile 11ish, there was a Toy Story Solider –Telling us there is only one more over pass. He lied.  I was DYING. I had only used a pre-race Gatorade thing, and no fuel while racing. I felt I was walking on stubs, and just overall had weird feeling. That whole ‘racing to keep up with people around me‘ had started to fail, as some of the later corrals behind us started catching up. Thankfully the end was close! I literally was feeling like I could not run through the finish line. Actually, now that I think back – I was pretty delirious at this point.

The Finish Line!

runDisney finish line  princess half

 

 

rundisney finsher medals

I was so thankful for that little box of snacks and the water and sports drink. My dad was with my mom who finished in a little over an hour before us, ( my sweet husband walked the whole time with me) and my dad was shouting at me from the cheer section to drink the sports drink, and more sports drink till we reunited. (apparently I was pale as a ghost and everyone was worried, without telling me until the color returned.)  I wish now I would have stopped at the medical tents after getting our fantastic snack boxes. It was all run so smoothly, but we just headed back to the timeshare and relaxed, napped, and coördinated with my friend and her husband for an awesome post race meal and Raglan Square in Downtown Disney.

DSCF0098DSCF0099

 

DSCF0105

DSCF0100

This was the MOST amazing bread pudding and post race treat.

Magical end notes

Yes, I was slow and poorly trained.

Yes, I suffered some nights at parks from extreme foot pain following the race. The days were fine Winking smile

Yes, it sounds a little miserable if you look at the negative parts.

BUT!

I finished 13.1 miles, I had a wonderful time looking at all the entertainment along the way. It truly was magical in every way, the Disney way.

 

Oh yeah!

runDis_medal_lg

I was so motivated by my first experience, I am running Coast to Coast! Or Castle to Castle as I like to refer to it as in 2014 in the special Tinkerbell and Princess Half marathon coast to coast. I will earn this beautiful medal in addition to both my Tinkerbell and Princess medals.

I was so motivated to do “better” at these next ones. Not to become faster, but to run fast enough to wait at character stops and still finish without being swept.

I would love to connect on twitter with you!

Filed Under: Disney, Disney Military Discounts, Run Disney, Running Tagged With: Disney Princess Half Marathon, first half marathon, plus sized runner, Race Recap, racecation, runDisney, walking a rundisney half marathon, what I learned during my first runDisney Half Marathon

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Krissy @ Shiawase Life says

    October 22, 2013 at 2:38 pm

    Thanks for sharing your perspective, Ashley! Very proud of your accomplishment, and i wish you happy training for 2014’s C2C adventure <3

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 22, 2013 at 2:52 pm

      Thank you so much Krissy! I love reading your recaps of all your races, especially the run Disney ones!

      Reply
  2. Anne says

    October 22, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    I am pretty sure I saw your husband, and therefore you, — I distinctly remember seeing that Prince Charming costume!
    Can’t wait to see how you do in 2014!! I’ll be the slow Belle 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 22, 2013 at 2:51 pm

      Really!! How exciting! We will have to meet up for sure!! ( Lots of exclamation points, I may have gotten THAT excited 😉 )

      Reply
  3. Sammy @ Peace Love and Ice Cream says

    October 22, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    Great recap – your honesty is humbling! And you’re making me want to sign up…but 13+ miles literally makes my head spin! lol
    -Sammy @ http://www.peaceandloveandicecream.com

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 23, 2013 at 7:55 pm

      You can do it!!

      Reply
  4. Laurel says

    October 23, 2013 at 9:02 am

    Awesome post! I love reading vacation and race recaps! As you know next year I’m running for the first time, so this was exciting to read. AND I’ve finally bookmarked your blog so I can keep up w you better!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 23, 2013 at 8:16 pm

      Yay I can’t wait!!

      Reply
  5. Anita says

    October 23, 2013 at 9:57 am

    Great race recap. I would love to run Disney some time, it seems like a great race and the perfect excuse for a family holiday down south!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 23, 2013 at 7:55 pm

      Yes it is! I hope you get to try one soon 🙂

      Reply
  6. Desiree' says

    October 25, 2013 at 9:44 am

    Wonderful post and a great recap! Its my dream to run a Disney race! Maybe one day!

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    February 6, 2015 at 11:16 pm

    I’m glad you wrote this. I’ll be doing the Disney princess half marathon and I am feeling a little unprepared for it. Thank you for sharing your perspective on the race and how you became motivated to do more!

    Reply
  8. Julie says

    September 13, 2015 at 9:14 pm

    Thank you for sharing. I am overweight and I am working on diet and trying to train for Glass Slipper Challenge 2016. I have been speed walking just starting to jog. I am glad you posted this. Some FB groups for the race have people complaining about going slow at 12-14 min miles… Im like id be extremely happy with that. So I have been doubting myself and this endeavor and stressing over it. I decided I was happy with my 4 miles walk run at 63 min and I also left some of the groups they are great for info about the races. This is also my first Disney race and first big race. Im super excited and scared. I am aiming for 14 min miles no more than 15 so I can stop for pic in front of castle and pee along the way… LOL I am spending the week after at the parks so I figure I can get pictures of characters later in week or at character meals. it would be nice to stop during race but I also need to be realistic about my times. Thank you again for inspiration

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      September 13, 2015 at 10:22 pm

      So glad you are working on your goals! I have a love hate with Facebook groups , so I understand. You working for 14 is a great idea, and yes definitely do not stop unless there is zero people in line. I was able to stop for characters for my next princess but still not many due to still not being very fast. I am sure it will be a magical weekend for you !!

      Reply
  9. Lacey says

    March 27, 2017 at 7:21 am

    Thank you for writing this! I have many of the same health problems you have talked about and it has been concerning me. I have asthma, and 60+ pounds over weight, I have Hashimotos Disease (which is currently not under control as my meds got messed up and wont be fixed until after my half marathon). I am running the Disney Star Wars: Dark Side Half Marathon next month. It is my first half. I have been training but I have not been able to get under a 14;30-15 min pace and it has been concerning me. Your post about your first half marathon has really helped inspire me that I CAN DO IT! Even with all my personal health struggles. I am also gad to see you did more after and that it was still a positive experience for you. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 27, 2017 at 7:30 am

      You can! Keep positive and just keep going! Not sure if your running solo or with a friend but be sure to pick out a runner or two in your corral to “race” or at least keep pace with in your mind for when you get to the boring highway running. Have a magical race!!

      Reply

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Sharing lessons learned the hard way that will hopefully encourage you to take charge of your happiness, try new healthy ideas, and save more money. I am an infertility success story, beauty product hoarder, and can always be found pinching pennies for our next vacation. Moving around the US and settling in Upstate NY, for now. Read more . . .

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