Running as life

Running first became a priortiy in my life when I needed stress relief.  Stress was a daily occurence while in college, studying premed classes.  Running allowed me to be in silence, to think through problems or even not to think at all.

Compeitive running came much later.  After having a baby I wanted my body back.  I set a goal - to run a half marathon.  A HALF MARATHON! My mind could not wrap around the magnitude of my endeavor.  I ran 5ks, maybe a 10k here and there, but never anything close to 13 miles.  I researched and talked with anyone that had any knowledge of long distance running.  I joined running groups online and runing teams in person.  I streamlined my diet and became all about running.  Slowly I began to lose weight.  Losing weight was amazing but what happened after was even better.  I found my tribe aka my running family.  Having met so many people along the way with the goal of incorporating running into our daily routine.

My top 4 tips to anyone just starting out would be:

1) Research, research, research - make sure you read about the different running methods, long distance running plans, etc.

2) Join a running team.  I have met my closest friends through the running community.  The encourgagment from my running family has made this running journey the best undertaking in my life.

3) Pick a race that excites you.  My first half marathon was in Disney.  Why? Because I love everything Disney! Disney races enterain in almost every mile.  From characters (Mary Poppins dancing with penguins) to DJs thoughout the course. RunDisney always has a charity attached to every race which makes me feel great supporting them.

4) Make sure to get fitted for your running shoes. Go to a local run store and have an expert check your gait and suggest the perfect shoe for you.  Then buy it there.  Help support our running community!



One of my favorite local races has to be the Fort Lauderdale Public A1A Half Marathon.  The best part, besides being local, the beautiful beach scenery. 

My awesome Publix A1A Half Marathon medal

Kicking butt in the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

Disney fanatic does not even begin to describe me.  I love Disney; anything and everything to do with Disney.  Disney World is my happy place.  Epcot is my passport to the world.  Animal Kingdom is my zoo.  Magic is palpable throughout Walt Disney World.  So it stands to be true that as a runner I would participate in every single Disney race (on the East coast).

Disney Hollywood Studios Osborne Lights

This past weekend I ran the Disney Enchanted 10k.  Last year I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon.  I was looking forward to running a different type of race.  Enchanted 10k was one of the shortest races that I've run.  Dressed as the Little Mermaid (Ariel) I was ready to rock this race! Character stops, which are a big draw for Disney races, was a bit sparse due to the distance.  My only character stop was with Jiminy Cricket and Pinocchio. Genie dressed like Goofy, Luminere and Cogsworth from the Beauty and the Beast, Tinker Bell were the other character stops that I skipped.  Running through Epcot proved to be fun.  Not being able to run through Magic Kingdom was the one disappointment.  As a "Princess" orientated race, running through the castle in Magic Kingdom would have been perfect.  But alas we just ran though Epcot and the Boardwalk.

Sleeping Beauty Aurora (pre race)

Jiminy Cricket and Pinocchio

Lumiere and Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast

Last but not least my post race picture...

Running is therapy

Starting my running journey was, at least in the beginning, challenging.  Surprisingly, coming from an active athletic background helped mildly. My journey began in 2014. My goal - to run one Half Marathon.  That Half Marathon goal snowballed into 7 Half Marathon, a 10 miler, 10K and a few 5k races.  I just could not help myself. Signing up for races had become an addiction.  Especially the sell out races.  You know what I mean.  You have to be at your computer at a certain time and a certain day.  Your heart is racing, fingers trembling.  That huge sigh of relief you expel when you finally get in.  Yes those races (ie Disney races).  While there are many similar sell out races out there, Disney takes the cake. 

My Disney love started long before my running journey even entered my mind. It is the Happiest Place on Earth! So if I was going to start this fitness journey I might as well do it at happy place. One crazy morning I decided to sign up for the Disney Half Marathon held every year in January. Rumor was that in order to sign up I would need to be at my computer sell day at noon. I was ready. My credit card in hand. Both RunDisney and Active websites up and ready.  Refreshing the page every 3 seconds. Then finally the registration form came up.  With lightning fast speed I typed every bit of information that was needed. And then like that...I WAS IN!!! Me! The girl who had never ran more than 3 miles was going to run 13.1 miles.