Disney Princess Half Marathon Race Recap

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! Should you want 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 publish. I’ll share information on the expo, working gear and journey particulars in a separate publish.

The race begins at 5:00 AM Jap Time, which suggests 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 massive 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 costume up.)

Sadly, my resort neighbors had been massive 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 anticipate to sleep nicely the evening earlier than a race, however this was further tough. I awakened 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 resort 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!

Word: Should you’re staying at a Disney Property there are shuttles to and from the race. I stayed at a Disney resort for the Dopey Problem and their shuttles made it tremendous straightforward. (I had expertise utilizing the shuttles to and from the race, however have heard tales from different runners with a unique expertise.)

The race begins and finishes at Epcot so it’s straightforward to seek out and get parking. But it surely’s an extended stroll to the precise begin line so you need to get there early and consider strolling time. I feel a lot of the Run Disney info suggests you arrive no less than 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.

For the reason that race begins at 5:00 AM it’s earlier than dawn and utterly darkish for the primary half of the race (or the whole race when you’re very quick). This can be a bummer as a result of it’s onerous to get good video and images when it’s so darkish. (A pal my race images mentioned – it seems to be just like the race is in the course of the evening.)

The solar began to rise round 6:30 AM. I run Disney races to have enjoyable and attempt to take numerous images, which incorporates stopping for images with characters. These character images have strains, so it takes loads longer to run 13.1 miles than a common race. However that works out to get higher lighting. Runners in direction of the again of the pack had been working by the fortress after dawn and had a lot better images.

There are character stops all through the course and Run Disney doesn’t share the place precisely they’ll be or what characters will probably 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 offer you an thought of the course.

Once more, I took numerous video, however it was so darkish most of it’s unusable to publish. Fortunately, I could make out most of it to inform you – so I’m itemizing all of the character stops and potential race picture 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 subsequent character. We didn’t cease as a result of we didn’t notice till we had 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 to be such as you’re working into the Magic Kingdom, however you run by the backstage and in entrance of the theme park for a bit first.

After Mile 3: Sophia the primary

Mile 4: See the Up to date Resort within the distance (I hoped we’d run by it, however nope. That might be kinda loud and ridiculous, however I’m loud and ridiculous.)

Then, you go below a bridge and again up in direction of the Magic Kingdom entrance.

And at last you run by 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 Foremost 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 Foremost Road with the fortress within the distance and spectators cheering – it’s the BEST a part of the course.

Mile 5 is on Foremost Road. From there you run in direction of the fortress, however flip proper into Tomorrowland. You run by Tomorrowland and again in direction of the fortress to run by it from the again. That is the BEST picture op of the whole race.

There are race photographers snapping pics of runners as they run out of the fortress.

And there’s a picture cease in entrance of the fortress (no characters). There are a number of photographers lined up in a row right here so the strains are tremendous quick if in any respect. Solid members direct you the place to go if you wish to hold working (flip to the suitable) or cease for a fortress picture (to the left).

After the fortress: Jessie and Woodie (from Toy Story) character picture cease.

Run by some extra of Magic Kingdom and exit to backstage the place there’s a picture 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: Somewhat previous mile 7 was Snow White and Prince Charming (or whoever her man is, I don’t know him). Additionally… I do know the picture 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

This can be a picture op (beneath) with Anna and Elsa from Frozen. I don’t keep in mind what mile it was, however we did cease for this one. Sadly, it’s NOT in my race images. Perhaps it didn’t come out in any respect, however provided that I’ve different blurry images 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 below 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 mates??)

Mile 9: There’s an enormous display screen 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 occurring at this level within the course. However it’s nonetheless FLAT, which I really like.

After the 15K mark: Mulan (once more – you move the identical space once more coming again). So, when you skipped it the primary time you will get a photograph now when the solar is extra prone 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 suggests 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 picture 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 an worker (aka forged member) entrance.

Character picture op – Fancy Nancy (fortunately there are forged members with indicators telling you who among 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 number of race photographers at totally different spots inside Epcot, however no character stops. And also you don’t actually run by any enjoyable areas of the park. This can be attributable to building (there are numerous partitions/boundaries up overlaying building areas proper now).

Character picture op – Mira Royal Detective (I didn’t know who this was, however there was a forged 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 accomplice (idk his identify), Mulan, Jasmin and there would possibly’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 costume up for Disney races and I feel for the Princess races specifically. I’d say a majority of runners had been in some form 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 the Citadel within the Magic Kingdom. Operating down Foremost Road in direction of the fortress after which working by it may be my favourite a part of the race.
Liked working with Kelly and Elise. It’s 1000x extra enjoyable to run with mates – 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 sporting 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 best – 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 fowl 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 images / video. Loads of my pics and movies had been too darkish to share on the weblog or on social media.
A few of the images within the entrance of the fortress had been blurry and others had been out of focus. Fortunately, I took a number of totally different ones (as a result of Elise and I had been ready for Kelly at this level within the race and I made a decision to leap again within the Citadel picture line). I feel one of many photographers had a smudged lens, so these pics are blurry / foggy. And our group images are somewhat out of focus and grainy. I don’t wish to blame it on the darkish as a result of the RUNNING images coming from the fortress are crisp and in focus (these pics had been taking inside minutes of one another in the identical lighting).

My first thought is I really like this race! I had a lot enjoyable over the course of the whole weekend. I extremely advocate working the Princess 5K, 10K or Half along with your working buddies, sisters, mother or non working mates who wish to give it a whirl. This really is a FUN RUN and the vibe is lighter than different massive half marathons. It’s an amazing alternative to make working enjoyable once more and reignite your love of working when you misplaced it over the previous few years.