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Big Announcement, and I can’t believe I’m saying this out loud – I signed up for my first race ever, which happens to be my first Disney Race, actually multiple races, actually all the races for the 2023 Disney Princess Race Weekend– OMG 😳 and I’m putting it out into the world for motivation, encouragement, accountability, advice, and to bookmark this moment in history because hell might have frozen over!
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Some background- My husband Mark has been a runner our entire relationship and ran his first half marathon in 2014 before moving to Florida in 2015. Since then, he has run ten-timed races, and I have always been his cheering section at the finish line.
I’ve often been quoted as saying, “I’m not a runner; I hate running; if I’m running, it means a Big Cat got out of its cage,” etc.… In January 2022, while Mark was running his first Full Marathon, I remember stressing and worrying at the finish line when a thought struck me- instead of always standing around waiting at the finish line full of anxiety, I could have been training and getting my medals all these years!
Mark has been trying to get me to become a runner with him for years. After all, it’s in my blood; my father was an incredible distance runner before I was born and when I was very young and had fantastic finish times for his races. I have often joked around with them and said if I ever did a race, it would have to be the Princess race at Disney. The joke’s on me now because it’s happening!
When we moved to Florida, I was in the best shape of my life. We were biking, rollerblading, swimming, yoga, pure barre classes, Beach Body Insanity, and Piyo programs multiple times through… and then I had a health scare.
All of a sudden, I woke up to have the arch of my left foot swollen like a baseball and unable to walk. After urgent care, X-rays, and multiple orthopedic specialists, no one could find any root cause. Instead of knowing what we were treating, I went through physical therapy, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, laser treatments- you name it, I tried it- plus I spent months in an air boot and had to take months off of full-time work.
It was a nightmare and still is. One doctor made the mention that even though I was only 30, it might be early signs of RA. I was shocked and mortified and tried to ignore it – but then the arthritic pain and swelling started to move around my body periodically. Sometimes, I experience it in my right foot, wrists, hip, spine, knees, fingers, etc.
Seven years later, I’ve started to accept that this may be the truth and that diet and exercise are imperative to my quality of life (because I don’t believe in taking a bunch of pills as the first option). If I don’t use it, I’m going to lose it, and at this point, I’m so out of shape that I feel like I’ve lost it and I’m at a breaking point. I feel miserable and sad and have a significant lack of confidence in how I look and feel. I can keep blaming the last two years for being the most stressful in my life (COVID and Tiger King) and keep eating and drinking my feelings, or I can set a new goal to pull me out of this significant rut.
I don’t know what got into me, but when Mark said the registration for the Princess Weekend Races was coming up – I knew they would sell out quickly, so I agreed, and Mark signed us both up! Race weekend will be February 23-26, 2023 – I’ve got over six months to train for three races, and I’m already so excited and nervous and motivated because all be damned, if I spend the money and make the arrangements and don’t finish my goal!
So, what does running all the races mean? The 2023 Disney Princess weekend consists of a 5K on Friday, a 10K on Saturday, and a Half Marathon on Sunday. And why on earth did I sign up for all of them? Go BIG or go home, right? Plus, the princesses duh!
Once I saw the Princess for each race (for the shirts and medals), I couldn’t pick just one because each one of them is in my top 5 favorites- 5K is Jasmine, 10K is Belle, and the Half Marathon is Moana and if you do the 10K and Half Marathon it’s considered the “challenge,” and you get a bonus shirt and medal, and it’s my all-time favorite Disney Princess- Cinderella!
I’ve already started training and will follow this RunDisney guide and add significantly more yoga to my schedule. Nutrition, sleep, and stretching will also be top of my list for self-care over the next seven months.
I know I’ll have to tell friends, family, and work NO on things if it affects my training schedule, and I will have to stay laser-focused, but I’m looking forward to it. Besides being a finisher, my biggest goals are to avoid injury and do something good for my health. And again, Princesses! Oh, and spending more time with my husband, too! 😎😅😂
We have many friends and family members who are or were skilled runners, so I look forward to any advice and encouragement. I’m not sure if this hobby will stick or if this will be an epic one-time thing, but I am looking forward to a lifestyle change!
p.s. All of the custom Minnie Ears and Disney shirts you see in our photos were either purchased on Amazon, Etsy, Hot Topic, Target, or at the official Disney stores! Find our affiliate links on our SHOP!
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WOW!! That is really cool. You know you have your cheering section far & wide, from all ends of the earth.
Sounds like some pretty hefty goals. Just be careful and take care of yourself. And have fun!🥰😘