Princess Half Marathon Weekend Recap Part 1

Last month I wrote a post about how worried I was about running the Enchanted 10k and the Princess 1/2 Marathon at Disney. Up until the last week I was worried about running both races. With the cold weather came various difficulties like knee pain, twisted ankles, bad weather, over training and missed runs. To sum up I was completly certain that I was not going to be successful in completing my races.

Race week came way too quickly and I was both nervous and excited. Nervous because I did not know if I wan going to be able to run well and excited because it was my first 1/2 marathon and I was going to see my friends.

Although I own a home about 5 miles from Disney, I decided to stay at a host resort for the race so I did not have to wory about not getting to the race on time and missing it. The only downside to that is that you have to wake up ubber early to catch the bus. I stayed at the All Star Movies Resort and as luck would have it I got a prefferd room which means that I was super close to the bus stops, the lobby and food court which was a plus.

I flew to Orlando on Thursday after work so I could have a day to enjoy the Fit for a Princess EXPO and a day to myself. On Friday morning, my friend Nydia came to pick me up and we drove together down the road from the All Stars to the Wide World of Sports to pick up our bibs and check out the EXPO. We wanted to be there early because I did not want to wait in line for hours to get my bib, like it has happened before. To our luck we did not have to wait to get our bibs and shirts. I was doing the Glass Slipper Challenge so everything that I needed to be picked up was at the Milk House across from the EXPO. There was no line to get my bib or my shirts. After picking up our packets, my friend Nydia had to get her 10k shirt at the EXPO so we headed across the way. To our surprise there was not line there either to get it. We got Nydia's shirt and we headed to the merchandise area because I wanted to get several things. As luck would not have it most of the things I wanted were sold out. I was really looking forward to getting some Princess Half sweaty bands and some coffee mugs. I was a little sad about that. I bought some stuff though. I settled with a Glass Slipper Challenge jacket and a Princess Half Marathon tech shirt. I bid my goodbye to Nyd, since she was leaving to go on her Disney Cruise that afternoon, and I stayed at the EXPO to see the different vendors and such.

Staying at the EXPO was an excellent idea. I got to check out some cool vendors like Sweaty Bands, KT Tape (they taped me for free, score), and many more. I also had the opportunity to meet Jeff Galloway who was at the Run Disney booth and I got to talk to him about my hurt knee. He gave me amazing advice that I was going to follow to the T on Sunday. 
 

 

After being at the EXPO for a good 3 hours I headed back to the hotel. My friend Jennifer was coming to hang out later that afternoon, so I decided to go to the pool for some RnR since the weather was niceish.

When my friend Jen arrive we decided to go and have dinner at The Wave at Disney's Contemporary Resort. The dinning room was packet, but they sent us to the bar to eat. There we were greeted by one of the nicest Cast Members I have encountered in a while. He asked us what we wanted it and even let us order off menu. Talk about going above and beyond. I ordered a salad and Jen ordered a burger. The food was delicious and fresh.

After dinner Jen and I went back to the hotel and caught up on our lives and then we went to bed early since we had to wake up at 2:30 am to catch our bus the next day.

Stay tuned for Part 2 in which I actually talk about both my races!

Until then,
Nats