Bling Alert: Race 13.1 Series

The only thing I love as much as running a race is the bling I receive at the finish line.  I'm big-time into race bling.  I'll complete a challenge if it means more medals and I'm always curious to see a race medal before I register.  It's the one memorabilia you earn, and half marathon medals are hard-earned.  So, anytime a race series offers awesome bling (or multiple bling, even better!) I feel compelled to share it. 

 

 

In an attempt to reach Saturn level of Half Fanatics, I was in search of an early May race and encountered Race 13.1 in Greensboro.  I remember seeing signs for it last spring, but I never really looked into it.  I'm regretting that decision now because it's a series that hits a couple dozen cities, offering big race perks with a small race feel.  The Greensboro race, for example, has a half marathon capacity of 1,500 runners.  That capacity sounds like I have a lot of room on the course to myself.  The medals, however, are not small.  Check out the reward for the Greensboro Half Marathon on 5/15:

 

 

I'm a little biased here, but I think Greensboro has the best medal. The mason jar is truly representative of the Piedmond Triad. 

 

That's enough talk about the Greensboro race, here is a list of the remaining cities this series will be hitting in 2016!

              

Knoxville, TN – May 1st, 2016  

Greensboro, NC – May 15th, 2016

Richmond, VA – May 21st, 2016

St. Louis, MO – May 22nd, 2016

Cincinnati, OH – June 4th, 2016

Raleigh, NC (Spring) June 4th, 2016

Roanoke, VA- June 18th, 2016

Detroit, MI- July 2nd, 2016

Charlotte, NC- September 25th, 2016

Raleigh, NC (Fall) October 8th, 2016

Little Rock, AR- October 9th, 2016

Fayetville, NC- October 22nd, 2016

Charleston, SC- October 29th, 2016

Nashville, TN- October 29th, 2016

Asheville, NC- November 12th, 2016

Orlando, FL- November 13th, 2016

Baltimore, MD- December 3rh, 2016

Durham, NC- December 10th, 2016

 

I mentioned there was some extra bling involved... and there certainly is.  Complete three half marathons in one calendar year, and receive a bonus medal.  Receive an additional medal PLUS a Half Marathon Finisher pullover when you complete your seventh half marathon of the series in a calendar year.  With the close vicinity of many of these locations to me, I can definitely hit the threshold to earn the medal for completing three!

 

 

In addition to earning extra bling for running races within the series, they also present the opportunity to earn a triple crown medal for completing specific Race 13.1 events as well as other featured local events.  There are currently two triple crown medals offered and they are in Raleigh and Roanoke. 

• ​     Raleigh Spring Triple Crown - Earn this medal by completing the Tobacco Road Half Marathon on March 13, the NCRC Classic on May 22, and Race 13.1 Raleigh-Spring on June 6.​ Click here for details!
  
  


•      Roanoke Triple Crown  - Earn this medal by completing Race 13.1 Roanoke, VA on June 18, the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon or Half Marathon on April 16 and the Star City Half Marathon on Nov. 19. Click here for details!

It's worth mentioning that the series offers a season pass for $150.  The season pass allows runners to register for an unlimited number of Race 13.1 events for only $15 each.  If you intend to run three or more events, the pass will definitely save you money in the long run. 

I'm excited to experience my first race of this series next month and can't wait to share my experience!  I've read that there is a 40% elevation reduction in this year's course from the 2015 course which makes me VERY happy!  This girl doesn't do well with hills! 

Since I'm toying with the idea of running a few other locations to earn an extra medal, I did a little digging to see which destinations most interest me. The Charleston race is Halloween themed which definitely draws my attention. I'm not one to wear costumes for races, but it would be worthwhile just to see other runners' costumes. Plus, Charleston is always a great idea. 

Based on other races I've already registered for in the fall, Asheville and Charlotte are my only North Carolina options. Since I'm already running a Half Marathon in Charlotte in early September, I would be more inclined to try Asheville. I've never run a race in that city! Since I'm worried about hills, I checked out the course and was thrilled to see a 15% decline in elevation from the previous year. The course also promises to be beautiful and scenic. 

If you'd like to run Race 13.1 in Greensboro with me, use code BARBIE10 at checkout to receive 10% off your race registration fee! 

Xoxo, 

Amanda 

Will Run For Beer

My first beer run of the season is coming up in April, and in honor of running 13.1 miles for beer I am bringing you my Beer Run blog post!  Here are five reasons you should try a beer run (just in case you've been living under a rock and haven't done so already) and some tips on completing a beer run safely!

My first race after college was a beer run.  It was also kind of an accident...  At the time, I had started training for my first half marathon.  There was a local beer run offering a 5K and 10K distance.  I of course wanted to push myself for the 10K distance.  I went out the night before and kept insisting I couldn't drink too much because "I have a race tomorrow!"  Well, thanks to peer pressure I drank more than I wanted and woke up feeling like the 5K was the better option.  I had done many 5K's during high school Cross Country and knew I could complete one just fine. 

I got to the race location and registered for the 5K.  I was kind of jealous of the runners wearing bibs for the 10K but knew I would be running longer distances in no time.  I was so excited to start the race, I didn't even realize I started in the 10K group of runners.  That was my blonde moment of the day.  When did I realize my mistake?  Literally halfway through the race.  I approached 3.1 miles on my app and was nowhere near the finish line.  Then it started pouring down rain.  I was angry, miserable and drenched.  I finished in 1:08:48 though.  Not bad for my first 10K.  Afterwards, I got two free beers from Natty Greene's.  And cheese fries.  I ate an entire order of cheese fries #noshame  So now I'm hooked on beer runs and will register for them any chance I get.

My many beer runs have ranged from 8K to 15K. I mentioned my 13.1 mile beer run coming up which is The Carolina Brewfest Half Marathon.  I'll be running this spring as a guest. I'm really looking forward running through the Triad and enjoying a craft beer festival afterwards!

Here are reasons you should consider adding a beer run to your lineup of races:

1. Beer Runners are Less Pretentious
I prefer the atmosphere of beer races because the runners just seem way cooler.  While there are definitely some fast runners and great athletes who participate in these races, they all seem more approachable and laid back when beer is involved.

2. FREE BEER
I shouldn't even have to elaborate on this reason.  Free beer is waiting at the finish line for you.  Talk about motivation to run faster!

3. Great Excuse to Try a New Brewery
In my city, new breweries are often times featured in the lineup of beer races.  Running a race is a great excuse to try out a new spot and sample new beers.

4. Burn Off Beer Calories
You're guaranteed to feel less guilt about consuming all those craft beer calories when there is running involved.  I allow myself one beer per mile ran.

5. It's a Great Social Event
You're likely to convince friends who are not serious runners to participate in a beer run because of the cold refreshment waiting at the end.  And if they still won't run, they're sure to come cheer you on because BEER.

As much fun as beer runs can be, there is also an increased possibility of injury.  Here are my best tips to get you through the fun while having a a good time and proper recovery.

Limit your beer intake before the race.  I don't think you have to completely give up beer before you start running, but chugging a six pack wouldn't be ideal until after the race.  I've started a beer run with two beers and still kept an 11:18 pace with rain and hills.  Rain tends to be a trend for my beer runs.

Hydrate before, during, and after the race... with water!  Just because beer quenches your thirst, does not mean it provides you with proper hydration.  Drink plenty of water.  I encourage you to drink water in between beers even when you are not running.  Beer will dehydrate you and cause a terrible hangover if you don't take measures to hydrate properly. We don't want anyone passing out post-race due to dehydration from their beer consumption.

Don't forget to stretch.  It's easy to dive into the post-race celebration without stretching.  I've done it before and I ended up pulling a muscle in my leg because of it.  Your post-race celebration can wait about five minutes while you cool down and show yo self some love.  Don't get too drunk that you forget to foam roll when you get home, too.

Bring some body spray.  You'll be ready to jump right into that post-race bar crawl if you freshen up a little bit first.

Now you're prepared to take on your first beer run of the season.  If you're in the area you should join me for The Carolina Brewfest Half Marathon and 5K on Saturday April, 30th in High Point, NC.  Following the race is a craft beer festival where you can sample beers from dozens of local breweries.  Register here to secure your spot in the ONLY brew fest and Half Marathon in the Triad.

Cheers,
Amanda

The Wine & Dine Game Changer

RunDisney made a HUGE announcement today.  Many runners were predicting the addition of a 10k to Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, but I don't think anyone was expecting all the changes that went along with it.  So, here is everything you need to know about the new and possibly improved Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend and whether or not I'll be running this year.

Since the Inaugural race in 2010, Wine & Dine Half Marathon has been challenging runners to a 13.1 mile night run followed by a late night private event.  The after-party took place during Epcot's annual Food & Wine Festival and featured as many as 30 countries for runners to sample cocktails and food in.  Because of the unique nature of the race, it's been named the best race among many lists of best wine themed races and best after parties.  With RunDisney's recent changes, all of that may change for this beloved night race.

Moving from Saturday night at 10:00 PM to Sunday morning at 5:30 AM completely changes everything about the race.  In my opinion, it shouldn't have the same name because it's essentially no longer the Wine & Dine Half Marathon.  It is a multiple morning race weekend with a theme just like every single race weekend RunDisney currently offers but it is certainly not the Wine & Dine Half Marathon that so many runners have come to know and love for the past six years.

I'm hoping the elimination of the night run is indicative of a Tower of Terror 10 miler return.  When I first looked into RunDisney races back in 2012, I had planned to run The Tower of Terror Ten Miler in 2013 as my first RunDisney race.  Completely uneducated and unfamiliar with RunDisney races, I was clueless when it came to signing up for one.  Although it did not sell out immediately, I did wait too long and missed getting a spot in the 2013 race so I signed up for The 2014 Princess Half Marathon on a whim as my first race.  I then missed the Tower of Terror Ten Miler in 2014 due to it falling on the same day as Yom Kippur.  I still hear runners complaining about the poor planning involved in that scheduling conflict.  Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year in Judaism and involves fasting for 24 hours, making it impossible for any practicing Jew to participate in the race that year.  Runners were informed prior to the 2014 event that it would not return in 2015 but no reasonable explanation was given for its elimination from the lineup.  Fanatics have speculated it was cut due to renovations at Hollywood Studios and the race will make a return in the future.  I imagine rumors of its return will continue to swirl around social media now that RunDisney does not offer a night run.

Mickey's Jingle Jungle 5k used to fall on Saturday morning of race weekend, but has been pushed up to Friday morning to accommodate the new challenge.  Moving from Saturday morning to Friday morning has resulted in a name change for this race and is now known as Mickey's Holiday 5k.  Go figure.

The Wine & Dine challenge so many of us have been anticipating has finally arrived.  It is Lumiere's Two Course Challenge.  I love a good Disney pun, so I'm pretty excited about this one.  I also love challenges because I love medals.  I thought it was kind of silly to come all the way to Florida and only come home with one medal during race weekend.  Last year I took home two medals because of my Coast to Coast Challenge, though.  Since I am not traveling to Disneyland in 2016 for a race, this year's Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend would have sent me home with one medal unless I added the 5k to my race.  I'm not afraid to admit I am not a fan of 5Ks so I much prefer the 10K challenge option.  Plus, can you imagine the medals for this challenge? WINE WINE WINE.  Incorporate a Beauty and the Beast theme and BAM. Pure Disney gold.

Following suit with every single RunDisney race weekend currently offered in California and Florida, both races take place on consecutive mornings.  Yes, it's a bit redundant.  I was hoping for a 19.3 challenge on consecutive nights to mix things up but it didn't happen.  A 10K on Saturday morning and the Half Marathon on Saturday night also would have been an interesting concept.  Two races in one day would have been a true test of endurance for park hoppers.

The transition into a morning race initially left me pondering two VERY important details.  1- do we still receive wine upon crossing the finish line?  8:00 AM is NOT too early for a peach Bellini or a mimosa... just saying.  2- What about the after party?  Well, we have an answer to the latter of my two questions.  The party is still integrated into the race weekend, however, it is not immediately after the race.  This is another concept I have mixed emotions about.  In one respect, I enjoyed going straight into post-race celebrations without skipping a beat.  On the other hand, a shower would have been nice.  I can't go straight from a race to the parks but the sweat kind of contributes to the experience of Wine & Dine Half Marathon.  With recent race weekend changes, I can shower, put on a Lilly Pulitzer maxi dress, wear my medals, and get a head-start on post-race celebrations by going straight to Epcot!  Hellooooo rum spiked Dole Whips and Riesling flights!  The closed event begins at 8 PM and lasts until 1 AM and runners still receive a $15 gift card to spend at the Food & Wine Festival (or nearly anywhere on Disney property as it's a Disney gift card).

After hearing about Lumiere's Two Course Challenge, I immediately decided I was running this race again.  The transition from a night race to a morning race took away from the excitement a little, but I'll still happily shell out the $330 registration to take part in this Inaugural challenge.  I ran in 2014 during the unofficial "Splash and Dash" Half Marathon in which runners experienced 10 MPH winds in 55 degrees with a non-stop downfall of rain the entire race.  I questioned my sanity after standing at the starting line for an hour getting completely drenched and then continuing on with 13.1 miles in the cold, wet, windy weather.  In 2015, I ran the shortest Half Marathon on Disney property after getting an hour delay and a shortened course due to weather conditions.  I don't know what the 2016 Wine and Dine Half Marathon will hold, but I'm anxious to find out.  Some runners say the race is cursed.  Maybe the new time will change everything.

Another factor I considered is that 2016 Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend will fall on Daylight Savings... giving runners an extra hour of sleep.  I'm not going to complain about the extra sleep.  I had originally hoped it would equate to an extra hour of drinking around the world at Epcot, though.  Last year I didn't leave until close to 4:30 AM so I know how to close a park down!


You can find out how it goes through my blog or you can come run with me!  Registration opens for Disney Vacation Club and Annual Passholders on Tuesday March 22nd at Noon and to the general public on Tuesday March 29th at Noon.  In 2014, it took just over 24 hours for the half marathon to sell out.  Increased popularity resulted in a sellout in under 30 minutes during 2015 registration.  I missed APH registration  because of how quickly it sold out and had to register with everyone else last year.  Nobody can predict how quickly this year's race and challenge will sell out, but EVERYONE is talking about this race so be prepared to register early!  Challenges typically sell out first, so keep that in mind.  Good luck to all runners!

237 days to go...

xoxo,
Amanda

Countdown to Rock N Roll Raleigh Marathon Weekend

3/27/16 Update: Waivers and corral placements are now available. See details below!

In April, I'll be running my first Rock N Roll Marathon Series races.  I'm excited and I know there are many other first-timers out there so I've put together a comprehensive post on everything you need to know to prepare yourself for this weekend. Use #RNRRAL for all your social media posts to connect with other RNR Raleigh runners during race weekend.

First up are the races.  For the first time ever, Raleigh will be hosting a 5K on Saturday April 9th at 8:00 AM.  With the introduction of a 5K comes the release of the Remix Challenge medal, as well.  The challenge is for anyone looking to take home some extra bling by testing their endurance.  I'm a sucker for race challenges because I LOVE BLING so I'll be participating in The Remix Challenge.  After taking on the 5K on Saturday morning, challengers will then run either a Half Marathon or Marathon on Sunday through the city of Raleigh.  After completing my first Marathon in January of this year as part of Disney's Dopey Challenge, I've decided to take it easy and run the Half Marathon.  It will be a while before I train for another Marathon.

Sooooo speaking of medals... I've gotta show you the bling for this weekend.  The medal features Sir Walter Raleigh, as well as the logo for The Dickie V Foundation.  The V Foundation for Cancer Research was started in 1993 by Dick Vitale and is the official charity for Rock N Roll Raleigh Marathon Weekend. 

Let's not forget about the Remix Challenge medal, either. 

Registration is still open for the Half Marathon and Marathon.  As of 3/27, the 5K has sold out.  Online registration for both Sunday's races remains open until April 3rd.

Rock N Roll Marathon series is also offering the Beat Your Time Challenge for all Rock N Roll Raleigh alumni.  Runners who beat their previous time in the same race distance will receive one oef these limited edition koozies!  This exclusive prize is definitely motivation to return in 2017 to rock even harder!

The expo for the races begins on Friday at 3:00 PM.  Runners can pick up bibs and items such as concert tickets at The Raleigh Convention Center.  The expo will only be open for four hours on Friday, but is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday.

I mentioned concert tickets... Runners participating in the Marathon or Half Marathon are entitled to a limited quantity of complimentary tickets to GAVIN DEGRAW!  He will be performing at The Red Hat Theatre on Friday night.  Doors open at 7:00 PM, but Gavin DeGraw isn't scheduled to perform until 9:00 PM.  If you are registered for the Half Marathon or Marathon, you can use this link to request your Gavin DeGraw tickets.  Non-runners can purchase them for $25 each.  I don't know about anyone else, but I am extremely excited for his performance!  Growing up in North Carolina, I of course watched One Tree Hill (it was filmed in Wilmington, NC) and was obsessed with the opening credit song "I Don't Want to Be."  His debut album, Chariot, was one of my top five favorite albums in high school.  I've seen him in concert once and remember it being a great show so I may or may not have to come up with a Gavin DeGraw playlist for the rest of my training runs...

When it comes to race day, I recommend challengers go all out with the 5K rather than "take it easy."  Incorporate back to back runs into your training program and you'll be able to tackle both races come April.  In my opinion, the 5k gives runners the ability to stretch their muscles and acclimate themselves to the type of course and weather.  If anything, it's a mini test run for the big day.

Like I said, I've never participated in a Rock N Roll Marathon series race, but I hear the on-course entertainment is awesome.  St. Lucia is the headliner for the weekend and will be performing during Sunday's races.  Post-race, the website states that runners will receive a celebratory beer.  Anyone who lives in NC knows you can't SELL liquor before Noon on Sundays, so I emailed the coordinator just to MAKE SURE runners would still receive their finish line beer.  After all, starting a 7:00 AM will have me finishing around 9:30 AM and two and a half hours is a long time to wait for a post-race beer.  She assured me that because they are not selling alcohol, all runners over the age of 21 will still receive their beer.  PHEW.  I was really sweating that one.

If you've purchased a Tour Pass from Rock N Roll, the Raleigh Half Marathon or Marathon can be counted towards earning any of your heavy medals for 2016.  It is also part of the Southern Charm Limited Edition Medal.  Run in any three of the four following cities to earn this extra bling: Savannah, New Orleans, Nashville and Raleigh.  I sadly won't be earning this medal in 2016, but I'd like to make it to all four southern cities next year! 

I'm also running in Virginia Beach in September, which qualifies me as a "Double Beat" Heavy Medalist.  Remember, if you will be running multiple RNR locations in the same calendar year, you are eligible for heavy medals.  Use this registration link in order to secure your spot as a Heavy Medalist for 2016 races.  Here are a few tips on Heavy Medals, from RNR's website:

• Only half and full marathon distances count toward earning Heavy Medals 
• Be sure to register with the exact same name and birthday to ensure your races count
• Prepare to wait 8-10 weeks for your Heavy Medal to arrive in the mail.  Once you have run 5 or more qualifying races in one calendar year, you will receive an email prior to future races with directions to pick up your Heavy  Medal at the finish line.  

Corral Placement and Waiver Update: 
Race confirmation emails were sent out on March 23rd.  If you did not receive the email, don't worry because I am providing you with all the links and information included in that email!

You can visit registration confirmation and print out your waiver for the expo.  Please note that you will need this form printed out and signed, along with photo ID, in order to receive your bib on race weekend.  Bib numbers and corral placement are both printed on the waiver.  I'm starting in corral 15!  I'm uncertain how many corrals there will be for the Half Marathon, but it appears there are 1,000 runners per corral.  Final information for the 5K, Half Marathon, and Marathon can be found using those links.  One of the runner perks for Rock N Roll Raleigh is the Show Your Bib program.  Local businesses on this list are offering discounts to runners who show their bib or finisher medal during race weekend.
   

That's all I have for now on Rock N Roll Raleigh Marathon Weekend.  I'm looking forward to this new experience and meeting a ton of runners!  I hope to see ya there!


xoxo,
Amanda

Part of That World: 2016 Princess Half Marathon Review

I've been putting off this blog post because I didn't want to face reality that Princess half Marathon Weekend was over.  Well, I've finally accepted it and started counting down for my next race.  Here is my experience running 22.4 miles at the Happiest Place on Earth!

This year's race was my third Princess Half Marathon Weekend.  The event takes place annually in February at Walt Disney World Resort, with registration opening in July the prior year.  Since running my first Half Marathon in 2014, this race has always held a special place in my heart.  Year after year, it's been my favorite race and with The Little Mermaid as the theme, this year was no exception!  Disney's Princess Half Marathon is the # 2 most popular Women's Half Marathon in the country followed by Tinkerbell Half Marathon at # 3.  RunDisney knows how to put on a race for the ladies, that's for sure!

When I originally signed up to run this weekend, I registered for another Glass Slipper Challenge with APH early registration and that was it.  I've never been one to add 5k's onto my race weekends.  I don't typically run 5k races at all, let alone at Disney.  The 5k during this year's Dopey Challenge was my first runDisney 5k and I only ran it to earn the Dopey Challenge medal.  After failing to convince my Mom to run the 10k with me, she agreed to run the 5k. I registered the two of us for the 5k the day registration opened to the public.  I was able to register both of us before it sold out, but I know many other runners were not as fortunate as me.  These races sell out quickly, so if you're planning a runDisney race in the future I recommend creating an active.com account in advance and getting to the website at least 15 minutes before registration opens.

I flew down to Florida on Wednesday evening with plans to attend the expo early Thursday morning.  Upon arriving, I encountered the most crowded expo I have ever seen.  Coming up to ESPN, I saw a line of girls going all the way up the hill.  What was this line for? Bib pick-up!  Yes, the line to get bibs was not only out the door, it was all the way down the ESPN hill.  While it looked an hour long, it moved quickly and only took about 15 minutes to get through the doors.  Once inside, the lines were minimal.

I exit the building only to encounter another long line!  This one went down the steps and around the field to get into the expo.  Knowing that I would likely not get a wine glass if I attempted to come back the next day, I waited in line yet again to get into this building.  It was about another 20-30 minute wait.  The inside was absolutely packed but I made it to the merchandise tent and grabbed one of the remaining wine glasses.  The Glass Slipper Challenge pins, however, were depleted.  It's just my luck that the one race I don't pre-order a pin I am unable to purchase one. I made my wine glass purchase as quickly as possible and left.  The building was packed and I felt claustrophobic.  Not only were the large crowds uncharacteristic of a RunDisney expo, the behavior or participants (line cutting, etc.) was, too.

I had dinner that night inside Epcot at Via Napoli.  It was my first time dining here but I know a lot of Princesses enjoy this restaurant during race weekend.  No kidding, I booked my reservation 180 days out.  The menu was a bit pricey for the serving sizes, but the food was absolutely delicious.  I got a white Sangria and a pizza with artichokes and truffle oil and my friend got macaroni.  I just love carbo loading, don't you? I can see why so many Princesses dine here before races.

My Mom and I arrived at the 5k race around 4:30 AM.  It was her first race and I really wanted her to soak everything in.  There were photo opportunities with Sebastian as well as Ariel & Eric.  Luckily, we stood in line for Sebastian because Ariel & Eric took off early to get to the starting line.  Although I was placed in corral A, I stayed back and ran with my Mom in corral E.  This corral was definitely majority walkers.  My Mom had plans to walk the race, so that was not an issue for us or our pace.  Unless you are a Dopey Challenger during Marathon Weekend, 5k races are not chip timed at Walt Disney World.  There were no chips attached to our bibs, and from what I saw there were no balloon ladies or sweeper buses.  We stopped and waited for photos with Goofy as well as Donald & Daisy and still finished with hundreds (possibly thousands) of runners behind us.  Much to my surprise, my Mom really enjoyed this race!  She complained about it and I think part of her was dreading it.  When she realized the 5k's are purely just for fun and not competitive at all, she was able to relax and have fun.  I'm glad because I never would have heard the end of it if she paid $65 for a race and hated every second of it!

To congratulate my Mom for finishing her first 5k, I booked a reservation for character breakfast at O'hana's.  If you are able to get a reservation, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DOING THIS EXPERIENCE.  We requested a window seat and OMG that view was perfect.  We were over looking the pool and Trader Sam's and could see The Grand Floridian, Magic Kingdom and The Contemporary Resort off in the distance.  Breakfast was served family style.  It started off with Hawaiian bread (cinnamon and pineapple) and fresh fruit.  They also had a fruit juice blend with papaya that was incredible!  It would certainly mix well with vodka and coconut rum.  Next, our server brough a platter out for our table.  It included biscuits, scrambled eggs, homestyle potatoes, Mickey waffles, bacon, and sausage links.  I don't eat pork but everything else was absolutely delicious!  I'm not even a big waffle fan but I can tell you they definitely taste better when they are shaped as Mickey!  Speaking of Mickey, he made a stop by our table!  We also got to spend time with Pluto, Lilo and Stitch.  It was a relaxing meal and we definitely left with full stomachs.  That was one of my favorite Disney dining experiences and I can't wait to do it again. 

We spent the remainder of the day relaxing at our resort's pool. The weather was great and I would have loved to spend a few hours in the parks, but my Mom didn't purchase a park hopper during this trip. 

I arrived at the 10k race with plenty of time to get to my corral and stretch. I started in corral C with a friend who runs the same pace as me. 10k corrals took off ten minutes apart so we began our race at 5:50 AM. 

RunDisney 10k's are quickly becoming my favorite races. We ran a swift 11 min/mile pace the entire time. I know many women "take it easy" or even walk the 10k when competing in the Glass Slipper Challenge, but I am not one of them. I believe the purpose of Glass Slipper is to challenge your endurance and that's what I did! My legs were incredibly sore in 2015 after running the 10K portion of the Glass Slipper Challenge so I made a point to train harder for this year. My 10k was 6 seconds quicker than it was in 2015 and my Half Marathon was nearly ten minutes faster than my 2015 Glass Slipper Challenge time. I think I successfully completed the challenge this year! 

We received our medals and quickly left the finish area in the parking lot to get showered and ready for the day. I spent the day shopping at Disney Springs and Orlando Premium Outlets. Alex and Ani bracelets were low in inventory at World of Disney but I managed to get the two that I wanted. I imagine princess Half Marathoners were buying them all up (especially Ariel). I also may or may not have purchased three pair of 7 For All Mankind jeans at the outlets (gotta love that employee discount)! Kate Spade also had a 40% off sale but I resisted the urge to purchase a new handbag.  My Mom purchased her first Kate Spade handbag, though.  Welcome to the club, Kimmie!

We went to a local bar for dinner on Saturday night.  I knew most places would be absolutely packed on a Saturday night for dinner so I wan't trying to fight crowds and carbo load at the same time.  I felt extremely dehydrated going into dinner, so I downed about three glasses of water in addition to my seafood mac n cheese.

Even after heading to bed at 9 PM, it was difficult (as always) to wake up early for my 5:30 AM Half Marathon.  The Half Marathon course begins almost a mile away from the parking lot, so I like to arrive extremely early to allow myself enough time to get to the corrals.  I was starting in corral H for this year's race.  I'll admit I was a little bummed about my corral  placements this year because I was in A for the 10k in 2015 and F for the Half Marathon.  It appeared that Glass Slipper Challengers were faster as a group this year than they were in the past two years, though.

Despite my attempts at hydrating prior to the race, I went into The Princess Half Marathon feeling nauseous.  I trained for a PR and I intended to break it so I would not let that get in my way.  Up until mile 9, I was able to contain it and maintained a pace that would have me finishing 14 minutes faster than my current PR!  The hot Florida sun made an appearance once I got to mile marker 9 and I had to take a break.  After almost an entire mile of walking, I picked up my pace, breaking my PR by 54 seconds!  It wasn't the drastic time cut I was looking for, but a PR is a PR.

Overall, this race weekend was one of the best ones I have experienced at Walt Disney World.  The Little Mermaid theme was out of this world! The weather was absolutely perfect and I came into the weekend feeling prepared to take on another Glass Slipper Challenge.  I headed home on Sunday afternoon with four new medals and a sparkly PR.

If you are considering participating in the 2017 Disney Princess Half Marathon, registration opens on Tuesday July 12, 2016 at Noon for the February 23-26 2017 race weekend.  Start saving now!  Registration for all three races cost me around $400 and my airfare was around $180 with Southwest.  

If you ran any of the races this weekend, you can view your photos at www.marathonfoto.com by entering  your bib number.  Also, certificates are available for all finishers.  Originally, certificates were released with incorrect dates!  They have since been fixed and can be found using this link. Lastly, I wanted to comment on my obsession with the snack boxes this weekend.  Goldfish is the way to my heart, so that was an excellent choice.  Did anyone else notice a tropical theme?  Island fruits for Welch's and the coconut puffed corn?!?  It may sounds gross, but I'm pretty sure the coconut popcorn was my favorite item from a Disney snack box. Ever.  You can purchase them here.

I can't wait to hear about all your experiences running The 2016 Disney Princess Half Marathon!  Please share them in the comments below.  See all  you Princesses next year!

xoxo,
Amanda

My Latest Obsession: Rocksbox

I typically post on my blog about running and working out, but those are among many hobbies and interests of mine.  I'm also obsessed with designer jewelry and wanted to share my latest find, Rocksbox.  It's a designer jewelry subscription similar to Netflix.  You select pieces and add them to your Wishlist.  A stylist then selects pieces to go together as a set and sends them to you.  I've been subscribing since November of last year and I am HOOKED!  Here are the pieces sent in my most recent box, the scoop on how I purchased a pair of Kendra Scott earrings to keep for only $9 and a code to receive your first month ABSOLUTELY FREE!

For my most recent box, I let my stylist know that I would be traveling to Orlando, Florida for Princess Half Marathon Weekend and was looking for mermaid-inspired pieces to go along with The Little Mermaid theme.  She did not disappoint!  Once my box was ready to go and tied with a bow, I received this letter from my stylist:

As you can imagine, I was freaking out over the fact that she said "thingamabobs."  These are the pieces she sent in my latest Rocksbox:

I'm having a hard time deciding which piece to keep.  I could keep all three but I don't want to go overboard!  Let me know in the comments which piece is your favorite to help me make a decision.

After your first FREE month, Rocksbox costs $19 a month.  With that subscription fee you also receive a $10 Shine Spend to use towards any piece during the month.  Also, subscribers get an "Insider's Price."  For example, the $90 Kendra Scott Rayne necklace I currently have out on loan is discounted to $72.  If I applied my Shine Spend, that would bring it down to $62 for me to purchase!

In my last box, I received a pair of Kendra Scott Elle earrings in magenta that I couldn't live without.  In addition to my $10 Shine Spend, I received a $25 credit, Forever Spend, from referring a friend.  Any time a friend uses the free month subscription you send them, you receive a $25 credit that never expires!  The $55 earrings were listed at $44 for the Insider's Price, so with my two credits I was able to purchase them for $9.  Not only were they delivered directly to my door, but I got to try them on and wear them before I decided to buy them.  Plus, they only cost me $9!!!

So, it's time for YOU to redeem your free month!  Use this link to receive your first month free and a $10 Shine Spend towards purchasing your next piece of designer jewelry.

I'll be shipping my box back this week for a new set and can't wait to share with you the items I receive next!

Disclaimer: I do NOT receive compensation for posting my Rocksbox sets.  I only receive a $25 credit each time a friend or follower subscribes using my link, as would any subscriber.  

Countdown to 2016 Princess Half Marathon Weekend

2/5/16 Update: Waivers and corral placements are now available. See details below!

We are less than three short weeks away from the start of Princess Half Marathon Weekend!  To say that I cannot contain my excitement is an understatement.  Princesses like me have been checking on Track Shack multiple times per day (or hour!) to see if waivers have been made available because CORRALS, ladies.  Everyone is anxious to see what corral they may be starting in!  Runners are also dyinggg over the Official Event Guide and the beautiful mermaid theme. First-time Princesses may not have a clue what I'm talking about. 

That's OK!  I was absolutely clueless going into my first runDisney race.  Mine was in February 2014 at the Princess Half Marathon.  If you think I'm making an overstatement by admitting I was clueless, I'm unfortunately not exaggerating.  I don't want that to happen to anyone else!  I didn't know anything about challenges and missed signing up for The Inaugural Glass Slipper Challenge.  If I had actually taken the time to read the events of Princess Half Marathon Weekend, I would have taken on the challenge of running a 10k on Saturday and a Half Marathon on Sunday in order to earn three medals.  In hindsight, I can just look back and laugh at how I missed it.  I won't be laughing if they ever decide to make Glass Slipper Challengers legacy status though...

Also, I hate to admit this, but I didn't go to the expo.  I didn't read the event guide and had no idea of the events going on that weekend.  At the time, I was working as an Event Coordinator and the biggest event of the year was rescheduled due to snow to the day of my Half Marathon.  I was frantic to get as much work done as possible before I left and disregarded all emails regarding the race because I was preoccupied.  HUGE mistake.  So my first advice is to read The Official Event Guide from front to back.  You don't need to print it out because they'll give you a nice one at the expo as a souvenir.  Seeing Ariel and her friends all over the bright and cheerful pages will not only keep you well informed, but it will just elevate your excitement to a whole different level!  This race is such an exciting one!  Even going into my third year I'm still as bright-eyed and enthusiastic about becoming a Princess Half Marathoner as I was for my first one.

My next advice is to make sure you do NOT skip the expo.  This is where you pick up your bib, shirts, and anything you may have pre-ordered such as pins.  It IS possible to receive your bib on race day, but I do not advise this.  I arrived to my first Princess Half Marathon three hours early in order to pick up my bib and I would have liked that extra sleep instead.  Picking up bibs on race morning is limited to runners with unusual circumstances that prohibit them from picking it up during the expo.  It is not advertised that this option is available, but it is.  There were no shirts.  Just bibs.  I was lucky enough to have them mail my shirt after the race, though.  I did, however, miss out on the pin that I prepaid for.  My pin collection is now missing a commemoration from my first runDisney race, and you don't want that to happen to you!

Corral Placement and Waiver Update: 

Waivers are now available to all Princesses participating in any of the races this weekend and corral assignment has been posted for all Half Marathon and Glass Slipper Challenge runners! Bib numbers are indicated on waivers. Here is the bottom right corner of my waiver for The Pixie Dust Challenge in 2015 for your reference. 

Runners of The Glass Slipper Challenge will only need to print one waiver for the 10k and Half Marathon, but any other runners participating in multiple events will need to print a waiver for all events which they are registered. For example, I have printed my Glass Slipper Challenge waiver and 5k waiver as I will need both forms to pick up bibs for all three races. 

After obtaining you bib number, see the below charts to determine corral assignment. Bibs are in numerical order according to the POT submitted back in the fall. Here are the corral assignments for runners of the Princess Half Marathon: 

Bibs range from 1-17,160 indicating there are 17,160 registered Half Marathon runners in addition to Glass Slipper Challengers. 

Below are the corral assignments for The Glass Slipper Challenge:

Again, you see a bib range of 20,001 to 28,129, indicating 8,129 Glass Slipper Challenge runners. Based on the 2015 corral placements, 7,875 runners took on The Glass Slipper Challenge last year. 

Also worth noting is the possibility of a different corral placement for the 10k. Since the 10k has less corrals (and less runners), Glass Slipper Challenge runners were assigned a different corral for the 10k than they were for the Half Marathon. My bib for the 2015 Glass Slipper Challenge indicated my corral placement for both races, as shown below. I'm predicting they will implement the same plan this year. We will find out at the expo upon picking up bibs if our POT puts us into different corrals. 

Since the expo is super important, I'm going to provide you with all the information you need regarding the expo so you take full advantage of everything it has to offer.  First of all, dates and times:

10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 20, 2016

Location: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

I will be at the expo when it opens on Thursday, and not because I'm terrified everything will sell out.  Merchandise doesn't sell out within minutes like the horror stories online claim.  I just want as much time in the parks as possible with my Mom and Sister.  Plan your arrival schedule around the expo.  You'll be relieved to get it out of the way, but also SUPER excited once you immerse yourself in all the race weekend activities.  Walking up the hill to ESPN just amplifies your anticipation and completely puts you in a runner's mindset.  One of the best aspects of a racecation is seeing everything through a runner's eyes and starting your trip at the expo will definitely set the tone for this. 

I really enjoy the expo.  There are several photo opportunities and I recommend taking advantage of as many as possible.  You'll love looking back on memories from race weekend once you've traveled back home.  Here are some examples of photos I've taken at past runDisney expos!

My first stop will be the Field House where bib pick-up takes place.  Make sure to bring identification because they require it in order to pick up packets.  Pictures will be taken of Glass Challenge runners with their bib.  These pictures are used to verify runners at Glass Slipper Challenge tents following The Princess Half Marathon. 

Included with bib pickup is a voucher with shirt size for runners to claim their race T-shirts.  Glass Slipper Challengers also pick up their T-shirts in The Field House.  T-shirt pick up will be at Jostens Center for the 5k, 10k, and Half Marathon. This is the same building the vendors are set up in.  Since I'm running the 5k and Glass Slipper Challenge, I'm picking up my bib first to avoid going back and forth between buildings. 

All the fun happens at the expo.  This is where you will find most of the vendors.  My favorite is Raw Threads.  They have a new Princess Mantra collection- just in time for Princess Half Marathon Weekend.  Guest speakers are also part of the expo and their schedules will be posted prior to the race weekend.  I will share this information with you as soon as it becomes available! 

This post is intended to prep you before the race, so I will update it as more information becomes available.  Feel free to check back continuously, as runDisney will be releasing waivers and corral placements soon! 

I'm looking forward to earning my glass slippers again with all you running princesses!  See ya real soon. 

xoxo, 

Amanda