Jeff Galloway helps me get across the finish line!

Okay, so as you know, I have big plans when it comes to runDisney races. I plan to do the Princess 10K and half marathon at Walt Disney World and the Tinker Bell 10K and half marathon at Disneyland in the same year so I get a ton of medals (really cool medals, too.) These two races have always been in February and January but I didn’t mind. I thought it would be an adventure to run so many races so close together. However, I was planning on doing them in 2015 so I had time to raise money for the trips and train for the races. I should have known better. Disney is always changing and now runDisney has made a major change, too.

The Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend has moved to Mother’s Day weekend in 2015. WHAT!!! Okay, okay. I am calm. I mean, it is not the end of the world. It will be easier having one race in February and the other in May. It’s just that I was really looking forward to running a race at Disneyland in January. I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon on Labor Day weekend and it was hot! But I can also understand. The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is in January so perhaps they wanted to spread things out. Logical.

While I understand I am also slightly disappointed. I was ready for the challenge and now the challenge has been made easier. I should have known. I always say that change is normal with Disney. If you want to do or see something you had better plan to do it soon. I guess I should have planned my races in 2014. But you know what? I’ll find another running challenge and just enjoy my plethora of Disney races. (Great Wall of China, anyone?) Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: I encourage everyone to run a Disney race at least once. They are so much fun and they are flat so anyone can do it. They also have a lot of 5K and 10K races so you get all the fun of a Disney race without killing yourself. If you need some guidance click on runDisney and check out the training plans by Jeff Galloway. I am using his 5K plan to train for a virtual 5K I’m doing January 25. Maybe I’ll have my husband hold up Disney stuffed animals along the way so it will feel like a Disney run.

Image from Disney Parks Blog

It’s Friday and the weekend is hiding right around the corner. What are your plans? I want to sit on the couch with a warm cup of cocoa and a good movie. But I’m not going to. I am going to go for a run.

Now I would be the first to admit that I don’t run because I like it. I run because I like to do races and I do races because I love the medals. RunDisney has released the new designs for the 2014 Princess  and Tinker Bell Half Marathons. I already have two Princess medals and I love the new designs. I won’t be running these races until 2015 but just looking at these medals makes me want to run.

So go outside this weekend. Run, walk, or hike, but spend time exercising in the great outdoors. And if a medal isn’t enough to motivate you  think of how delicious that cocoa will taste when you head back inside to the couch. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: You may not be a runner, but I know you can walk, and if you can walk then you can do a race. Jeff Galloway, the official coach for runDisney promotes a run/walk pace for all races. By following his method anyone can finish a race and earn a medal.

Judy and Jennifer at the 2009 Princess Half Marathon

On Sunday I am running the Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon in Fredericksburg, VA. My brother gave me this race and trip as a present for my 40th birthday coming up in October. What a brother!

I plan to run a half marathon in every state in my lifetime. That should not be that hard to do if I don’t repeat states too often. And there lies my temptation. I love to do races in the Disney parks. I’ve already run three times in Florida and once in California and I will be doing more. That really cuts into the number of new states I can finish in a year.

Now that I think about it runDisney races should be separate from my 50 state goal. Instead I will try to do all of the runDisney races that I can. I have to qualify this goal because they add and drop races all the time. Still, I think I will like meeting this goal since every runDisney race includes a trip to a Disney park. Awesome.

Between races I like to listen to running podcasts and read running books (I train occasionally, too.) Recently I have found some runDisney resources that are fun to listen to and to read. I hope you someday complete a runDisney race. There is something for everyone. If you are not sure what is involved than check out the Mickey Miles Podcast. This is a low key podcast with a load of great information. They answer lots of questions and have plenty of advice for beginners.

If you want the complete scoop on Disney races than I would get a copy of Magical Miles: The Runner’s Guide to Walt Disney World. This book tells you all you need to know to run a race at Walt Disney World and have a fun vacation at the same time. Running at Walt Disney World involves more planning than running at Disneyland and this book can give you the confidence that you won’t miss anything.

I hope to run my fastest time this Sunday with my brother pacing me. If I need musical motivation I’ll listen to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse soundtrack. I always run faster to the Hot Dog Song. I guess every race I run is a Disney race in my mind. Happiness squared.

Goofy Quote: (Jeff Galloway is an official runDisney training consultant. I follow his run/walk/run program. I like this quote and think it is just as true for half marathons.)

“The marathon is one of those experiences that people tell me allows them the confidence to be able to do a lot of other things in their life that they thought they could never do.” Jeff Galloway

I know. You’re thinking, “I can’t run!” But here is the cool thing. Run Disney has events for all levels of ability. There are family runs, and 5Ks. There are endurance runs. There are half marathons and marathons. There is even the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge which I am doing in January 2012. On Saturday I am running a half marathon and on Sunday I am running a full marathon for a total of 39.3 miles. That is the goofiest idea I ever heard of, so of course I couldn’t resist. Would you like to join me?

Before you protest too much (you can protest about the Goofy Challenge, just read on before you dismiss the other events) I’d like to list to many advantages to participating in a Run Disney event.

•  You get a fantastic medal with a Disney character on it
• You get five star treatment before, during, and after the race
• You get a discount on resorts and park tickets
• You get to attend special race events at the parks
• You will be in better shape because of the training you did for the event
• You will have bragging rights
• You can run with your children in the family races
• In the longer races you get to run through Cinderella Castle and down Main Street before the park opens
• You will have Mickey Mouse and the gang cheering you on
• You get running help from Jeff Galloway, the run/walk/run expert

I’m sure there are more great reasons to consider a Run Disney event, but for me it is a chance to visit the parks I love and complete a race at the same time. I am not fast and I will never come in first (or even five thousandth.) But no one can describe how it feels to cross that finish line. You need to experience it yourself. It is happiness squared.

Goofy Tip:  If you still think running farther than ten feet is insane consider volunteering to help during a race. The events don’t happen without a large volunteer force. You can share in the thrill of the event by handing out cups of water on the route or placing medals over runners’ heads at the finish.