I had the opportunity to run some awesome races the past few months! I ran my first relay, PR'd, and ran like a little elf and leprechaun! The best part about the races is running with friends!
Palm Beach Marathon Relay: Team Long Distance Relationship! December 7, 2014
Fort Lauderdale 5K: Valentine's Day Chilly 45 degrees in South Florida!
Fort Lauderdale A1A Half Marathon February 15,2015 One night I had a dream that I was running the Disney Princess Half dressed like Ariel with a green skirt and purple tank top that said "It's Leg Day!" That because the inspiration for our outfits for the A1A Half. Mermaid Leggings and Bright Running Jackets with "It's Leg Day!" and shells and mermaids ironed on. It was chilly but awesome running weather and it was a gorgeous course! We looked super cute and I PR'd this race finishing in 2:12 and Megan 2:08! Now my goal is to run a half under 2:10, Sub 2 hour half... I'm coming for you one day!
Running on Luck with my Lads and Lassies! Fort Lauderdale Shamrock 4 miler-March 14, 2015! This was a really fun run and fun times after the race! (Maybe too much fun!)
The 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon was nothing less than magical. I trained pretty well for the race up until Wine and Dine and the holidays then I fell apart, it was so hard to get a long run in! By the time it was race day... I only ran a little over 13 miles (I don't suggest using my training plan!) We started in the second to last corral, so we started almost an hour after the gun. I was really nervous and excited waiting in the corral. Regardless of the crummy training, I managed to run a lot of the race, stopped for pictures, cried happy tears of accomplishment, laughed and talked with my pal Fozzie(Megan) for 26.2 miles!
Megan completed the Goofy Challange(dressed adorably as Goofy for the half!) and I was so happy to have her by my side. It's so nice having someone to talk to and to push each other when we needed it! I don't know if I could have completed it on my own!
We made it to Magic Kingdom! (Please appreciate Perry the Platypus's face in the background!)
Letting it go with Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff
Megan got Goofy!!!
My Kermit costume was pretty simple! First I just found green running clothes! Green leggings, a green tank, and a green long sleeve top from Marshall's. Next, I made a super full tutu using green glittery rolls of tulle from Walmart! Bonus they were only $1!!! Then, I made Kermit's collar by cutting out triangles and hot gluing them to a ribbon, finally for Kermit's eyes, we cut a ping pong ball in half and drew the little crosses and hot glued it to a ribbon to make a headband!
Megan's Fozzie costume included Fozzie colored leggings, tank, and long sleeved top. She made a orange, brown, and gold glittered tutu, she made Fozzie's tie using white with pink polka dot fabric, she got an adorable little hat from Party City that she painted brown, we glued "Wocka Wocka" to her legs and she wore her hair in buns for Fozzie's ears!
These were our most popular race costumes yet! So many runners complimented us and stopped to take our pictures! We even made our goal of making Run Disney Facebook!!! We hugged after crossing the finish line and the photographer ran over and made us reinact the moment, we were so excited! The race was a fantastic experience and I can admit I am obsessed with running Disney! I definitely would do the marathon again. When I do I will train more, and I will make it on Everest at mile 14!!
We finished!!!! And made Facebook!
Post Race Excitement!!!
Post Marathon Champagne Celebrations in Hollywood Studios!
Animal Kingdom Celebrations with the best spectator friends!
The Disney Princess Glass Slipper Challenge was my first back to back race! We ran a Enchanted 10K on Saturday and the Princess half on Sunday for a total of 19.3 miles in one weekend. I ran the race with my original runspiration, my friend Collette. I decided I wanted to be the same princess during, but wearing her different outfits. I raided my running clothes and found a yellow tank and a blue tank, and knew I had to be Belle!
The Enchanted 10K was super fun! How could a race not be fun when thousands of princesses and a few princesses run through Walt Disney World!? I dressed as "provincial town" Belle. I wore a blue running tank that I already had (Marshall's $12.99) and I bought a blue running skirt from Amazon ($16) and a white long sleeve running top from Marshall's ($12.99). I also made an apron from an old t-shirt and white ribbon. I twisted my hair and wore a blue bow! Simple, yet adorable running costume! Race day was so humid!!! We took it rather slow, it seemed that a lot of the princesses were walkers which made running tricky. I wouldn't have changed anything the slower pace allowed us to take pictures and enjoy the course a little more than I normally do! (My favorite part was Elsa making it snow on all of the runners!) We finished strong and received our medals! Day one was a success!
Belle in Paris! How appropriate!
Stopping to pose in Epcot, Spaceship Earth!
Pre-race Disney Princess Half!
The Half Marathon was super magical! It was also super humid and foggy! (so humid the ground was wet!) I made a running costume similar to Belle's yellow gown. I used a yellow running top that I already had (Marshall's $12.99) and I pinned and poorly sewed a yellow scarf to add the off the shoulder piece to the top. I bought rose pin that were on sale for $.99 and pinned it to the scarf. For the skirt, I purchased a tutu from Party City for $19.99 (Making them is cheaper and more fun!) I tied my hair in a bun and added another rose to a barette and... Tadaa, Belle!!!! Collette ran as Ariel, she bought a nude running top and cut out felt shells and attached them to the top. She purchased a green running skirt and attached a felt shell to a headband to make a simple and adorable Ariel costume! My friend Natalie wore a green top to channel her inner Tiana! The race weekend was nothing short of magical.
Belle in front of Cinderella's Castle
Success and Sparkles!
Here's to a new year filled with many magical miles!
Disney Wine and Dine 2014 Kristoff, Anna, Elsa, and Hans
The idea for Wine and Dine 2014 came to be on the ride home from Wine and Dine 2013, before Frozen was even released to theaters. Megan turned to me and said we should be those sisters from Frozen next year!! Then a few weeks later we left the theater obsessed with the movie (just like everyone else in the world), and knew Anna and Elsa were going to be running a half marathon. We convinced David and Jim to fall in love with running and be Kristoff and Hans. The planning began immediately, however we didn't actually start on the costumes until we officially were signed up for the race in fear that we wouldn't get in before it sold out! Luckily we all registered in time and then the costume work began!
My text to Megan after registering!
Anna and Elsa costume prep in July!
Me: Anna
So costume prep began in March. I was going to dress as Anna. Luckily, I had a few pieces that could be transformed into Anna's skirt and top. I just needed to find a light blue long sleeve shirt and lots of puffy paint!! I also needed to make a cape, probably the most challenging of the pieces, but it turned out really well in the end!
Anna's Corset: Black Tank Top- Target $8 Gold Ribbon Puffy Paint
I drew the design as best as I could! It was scary I was so afraid of messing up! Then, I hot glued the ribbon around the shirt and cut the neckline and the point at the bottom.
Skirt: Marshall's $16.99 Puffy Paint for floral design.
"Boots": Knee Highs: Payless Puffy Paint
Cape: I bought a magenta fabric from Walmart and little purple balls from Michael's. The cape was trail and error, I originally had different fabric but ruined it trying to make the design on the cape, so I purchased more fabric and cut two ovals one smaller than the other to make the two layers of her cape. I threaded the balls around the top layer of the cape. Sewing was a new step for me!! Then, I hot glued the two pieces together. Megan got me the perfect clasp that I glued to the collar and then on race day I just pinned the cape so it was secure.
On race day we added a white streak to my hair using cream eye shadow and it stayed on the entire time through the pouring rain!
Early Stages of the Anna Costume
Megan: Elsa
Megan was going to be Elsa! She did a little shopping on eBay to find the blue sparkle tube top and blue sheer top. We found a store that sells really cheap clothing but awesome for costumes, we walked past and saw the perfect skirt in the window, it was only $5!! Megan pinned the tube top so it had a sweetheart neckline. Then we just got really pretty sheer fabrics to add (hot glue) to the skirt and cape. I painted the snowflakes on her cape with puffy paint and we added glitter detail to her sleeves. To finish off Elsa's look we added snowflake stickers to bobby pins and added them to her braid.
Elsa's cape detail
Kristoff: David
We finished David's or Kristoff's costume first. We bought David a dark gray long sleeve t-shirt and a lighter gray t-shirt. We got "fur" ribbon for around the collar, sleeves and bottom of the shirt. We added (hot glued) the detail and belt with purple fabric. He wore dark gray shorts and gray socks. He also wore an adorable hat!
Jim: Hans
Jim was Hans. He needed a white jacket, Megan and I thought we could get away with getting Jim a woman's jacket when we found the perfect regal white running jacket at TJ Maxx.. It didn't work, it was hilarious! (you had to be there) (sorry Jim!) We got him blue running shorts and shirt don't worry they were men's. Eventually he found a great white running jacket on Amazon. We got black fabric for the details and cuffs, gold and silver buttons and gold rope and added the detail with a silver paint pen. His jacket turned out amazing. We made him a royal purple ascot, and he wore high black socks. Hans was complete. Oh wait, the best part about his costume...the sideburns!
We had really amazing costume helpers!
After months of preparation, Wine and Dine came and the forecast was miserable! It was going to be cold and rainy the entire race! We were bummed but it didn't take away from the amazing time we had. We looked awesome and the rain added to the experience! We were actually Frozen! So proud of David and Jim for completing their first half! Cannot wait for my next Run Disney experience in January!!
Before the sky "Let it go" and poured!
Elsa and Anna
Reenactment of Hans trying to murder Elsa and the act of love thawing Anna's frozen heart!
A Frozen Finish!
Celebrating in Animal Kingdom!
Celebration in Epcot!
Bonus: Race Day was Coronation Day! We wore outfits inspired by Anna and Elsa's Coronation dresses and fixed our hair like theirs!
This year for the Miami Beach Halloween Half, Megan and I teamed up again as Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy! The costumes were pretty simple to put together! Superheroes have the same basic pieces, leggings, undies and a tank top, maybe a cape and mask boom, you're a superhero!!
Megan decided to be Mermaid Man and I was Barnacle Boy! A lot of people, especially kids recognized us.. And some just shouted Spongebob!!! It was a fun event, the course was beautiful, and I ran my fastest race yet!
Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy saving Miami Beach from EVIIILLL! Mermaid Man: Orange Tank- Target $7 Mermaid Tights- Amazon Black Shorts Ribbon and foam for Belt Green Tights for gloves- Target Felt Starfish nose Pink Socks Barnacle Boy: Red Tank Top: Target $7 Black Shorts: Marshall's $7.99 Blue Socks: Amazon $3 Blue tights cut for gloves: Target $2 Sailor Hat: Party City $7 Blue Ascot cut from old t-shirt Flippers tied to shoes: Laminated Blue Paper (I ripped those off at mile 10 they were driving me nuts!!) glasses in place of his goggles
Beautiful waterfront run.
After a long nap, we were ready to go out for Halloween! Megan's husband David and Jim swapped identities with us and became Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, while Megan and I were Rocko and Heffer from Rocko's Modern Life. This years Fort Lauderdale Street Party was not as magnificent as pervious years, probably only 1/4 of the people were in costume, but it was still pretty fun... And we got to dress up two weekends in a row which was a bonus for someone who loves to make costumes!
Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy Part 2
Heffer and Rocko
Friends Unite!!
Next up, after a whole year of costume preparation: Wine and Dine!!!
We are just under two months away from the 2014 Wine and Dine Half Marathon! Megan and I persuaded her husband David and Jim to register for this years race so we could run as a foursome! We have been working on our costumes since last November and have been sticking to the training plans set out by Run Disney! I feel good during and after my runs, but more importantly our costumes are adorable... I will post all about them after this year's race, but for now... To Infinity and Beyond!!!!!
Megan and I both LOVE Toy Story so we decided to run were as best pals Buzz Lightyear and Woody! I started my costume in May and it was super simple actually. I was so lucky to find the perfect white and purple running top and tennis skirt at Marshall's. I put my sewing skills to the test and added lime green trim to te skirt and a band of green fabric to the top. I printed out the emblems on Buzz's chest and attached them to foam and hot glued them to the green fabric. I attached different colored gems for his buttons. I found footless white tights in the clearance section of Target and I purchased inflatable wings from the Halloween store! We came across cool Buzz and Woody knee high socks to complete our outfits.
Megan's outfit consisted of a yellow running top which we used fabric paint to paint the lines on Woody's shirt, a blue running skirt, ribbon and foam to create the belt and sheriff star, a child's cowboy vest I found at the dollar store, our perfect socks, a red handkerchief, and an adorable mini cowboy hat from Party City!
These are my favorite costumes we have done so far!! Everyone on the course loved them and took pictures of us and with us! We even made Run Disney Twitter which was the highlight of our night!
We made Run Disney's Twitter Account!
Megan and I spent the day at Hollywood Studios with our friends and had an awesome time! How can you not have an awesome time in Disney?! We met one of our best friends Sammy and her husband Jeff and rode all the rides and had a magical day. We got dinner and Megan and I parted ways from the rest of the group so we could get ready for the race. Well... We hit major traffic around the Downtown Disney construction so that cut about a half hour from our pre-race prep. We got ready and headed to the race with plenty of time to spare... Or so we thought! We went to Wide World of Sports and there were signs everywhere saying no race parking! We were like what the heck!!!!!! Finally we saw the sign that said race parking at Epcot. After a few wrong turns we made it to "Epcot" accorording to my GPS. Well something was wrong there were no signs and the parking lot was pretty empty. We started to panic, we were cutting it close to make the shuttle at this point, so we left that parking lot and went back on the road and the GPS circled us again towards that parking lot, and we were so confused we just came from there, so I passed the lot and the GPS recalculated and took us to the real Epcot. As we were pulling in to Epcot, we had a realization that we went to Hollywood Studios originally! (Silly GPS), I know my way around Disney, in fact I am a pro, but we were so nervous about missing the shuttle we weren't even looking at the signs just following the GPS. We finally parked the car left our bags in the car because we didn't think we would have time to check them and ran to the shuttle! We made the last one! Phew!!! Did I mention we had about two hours until the gun went off?? We just needed to make the shuttle!
Anyways race was awesome! My favorite course so far! It was so awesome running through Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot! Running through the Spectacle of Lights at Hollywood Studios was my favorite part.. I slowed down and looked around and teared up because I'm a nerd. It was wonderful! Finally I finished the race, Woody is faster than me so she was waiting at the finish and she was shivering! I was still warm from the race! We grabbed our beers then sat and stretched for a few minutes then the cold hit me, I started shivering! We had to go back to the car to get our bags with our jackets so we could enjoy the post race party..
Well the during the prerace chaos, we totally forgot to look where we parked. We knew it was in Discovery, but where in Doscovery?! We searched for a half hour and finally found my car and we were so cold and tired at this point we sadly ditched the party and went back to our hotel.
Moral of the Story: Read all of the prerace instructions in your booklet so you know where to park before the race!!!
After our chaotic search for Epcot... We made it!
We missed the after party but got to spend the next day eating and drinking around the world!
Costumes: Red Leggings (Amazon), Red Tank Tops (Old Navy), black undies, high black socks, black knee highs cut for the gloves, Orange Ribbon for belt, Incredibles Logo printed on color paper and glued to foam and attached to shirt with hot glue, masks (Party City)
My second half marathon was the Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon. My training didn't go as planned as I injured my siesmoid bones in my left foot late in July. Also, I was a little nervous because we had the huge Ft. Lauderdale Halloween Street Party planned for that evening and I didn't want to be sore and miserable because we had great costumes for the evening!
My running partner in crime.. (Or superhero in this circumstance) Megan and I planned to run the half as the Incredibles with two of our other friends who unfortunately had to back out. We stuck with our costume idea and everyone on the course loved it. We got asked to be in so many pictures and it was adorable hearing little kids scream, "Look, Daddy!!! It's Elastigirl!!" I finished the race slow and steady and felt so good after! Thank Goodness!
Miami Beach Halloween Half 2013
It's ADVENTURE TIME!! That evening Megan, her husband David, our friend Jim, and I basically won Halloween. Megan and I got a good nap in after the half, and we got costumed up and headed to downtown Fort Lauderdale for the street party. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE loved our costumes. We took so many pictures with random people, people bought us shots, about a thousand people shouted our characters' names as we walked through the streets. We kinda felt famous. Halloween is definitely one of my favorite nights of the year!
Adventure Time -- Halloween 2013
Shots on this Guy!!! (Random admirer of our Costumes)
I had so much fun running the Tower of Terror 10 Miler, I signed up for the Princess Half Marathon in Feb. 2013. Again, I didn't really train. I was lucky to run 2-3 miles per week. My preparation was making my costume! I decided I wanted to be the beautiful, graceful Cinderella! I made my friend Megan her running costume for her birthday! She looks so much like Rapunzel, so it was perfect! The costumes consisted of running tops, running skirts, ribbon, tulle, and hot glue!
The 3am wake up is rough and I had tummy troubles during the run.. But that didn't take the sparkle away from the race! It was so much fun and I cried running through the castle! As I crossed the finish line, I knew this wasn't my last RunDisney Race! These races are so exciting, emotional, challenging, and inspiring. Everyone should experience one!
I hated to run. I never ran the mile in gym class. in high school In fact, I don't think I ever ran a mile ever until I ran my first 5K in April 2012. I was inspired by a friend who ran the Goofy Challenge (a 1/2 marathon Saturday followed by a full Marathon Sunday! (CRAZY!)) in January 2012. I was so inspired by my friend and the thousands of people who laced up their sneakers and hit the pavement in sparkly costumes. I wanted, no, needed to try. I signed up for that first 5K in April and Disney's Tower of Terror 10 miler in September. The 5K quickly came, and I don't think I ran more than a mile before. The race was 100% on the beach so an extra challenge, but I finished in about 31 mins. Summer past and it was almost time for the 10 miler. I forgot to train!!! Or I found out I didn't like training, Florida is hot and running is hard. My training consisted of running probably about 5 miles a week and no more than 3 miles at a time. It's Race Time, Am I ready for 10 miles? Not at all... But the excitement and adrenaline is pulsing through my veins. I am dressed as my girl Minnie Mouse and I have my closest friends with me. The fireworks went off, and I had the time of my life. The course was fun, there was always something to look at, the people were encouraging and I ran MOST of the race. My love of Disney made the challenge of the race easier. I pushed to the finish in about 2:05 and I was hooked. I loved running Disney! Now I have run the Princess and Glass Slipper Challenge and Wine and Dine, as well as the Miami Halloween Half. And I am FINALLY on a training plan, and I'm preparing for the 2015 Disney Marathon!
My First 5K, Run for Compassion- April 2012.
My First Run Disney Race! Tower of Terror 10 Miler, September, 2012!