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I am not a “Girly-Girl”. I don’t really enjoy dressing up, painting my nails or fixing my hair. My TV is solidly tuned in to ESPN. I don’t watch any Real Housewives or Bachelor shows. Heck, I can probably count the number of times I shave my legs during the winter on one hand! (yes, my husband is proud) However, there is one thing this girl does not even pretend to want to do...and that is to go camping. I like my air-conditioning, television, internet, hot water and flushing toilets. So, it comes as a surprise to myself that on any given race morning, all thoughts of modesty and cleanliness are thrown out the window as I hide behind trees and other people to pee “one last time” before the race begins. It happens at every race, and like a good potty joke, it makes me laugh every time. It seems even more ironic when it is at the Disney Princess Half Marathon. When lines for porta-potties are 20 deep, you will find me and countless numbers of other princesses holding firmly to their tiaras while dropping their sparkly skirts in the bushes, trees, woods, and sometimes just on the side of the road! It isn’t pretty, proper, or majestic, but it always happens and I, for one, think it is very funny!
On February 26, I ran in my third Disney Princess Half Marathon. It was also my 3rd runDisney half marathon this calendar year. Representing runDisney on the Disney Moms Panel has allowed me to do some really cool things! This particular trip I got to meet 20 amazing fitness bloggers. They were there on a social media trip and I am in awe of how plugged in they are to people around the world. It was also really fun to see them at different places along the race course. Running is so much more fun when you have people to talk to!
I also got to speak at the runDisney meet-up event. Other speakers included three Olympic caliber athletes: Jeff Galloway (1972 Olympics), Suzy Favor Hamilton (2000 Olympics) and Rachel Booth (current Disneyland half and Disney Princess half winner,and also qualified for this year’s Olympic trials). So, of course, I fit right in with that group! I am sure that the only reason they run is to take pictures with Cinderella too, right??? My son was quick to point out that Rachel Booth’s time for the half-marathon was less than half the time it took me! Thanks, buddy!!
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| Suzy Favor Hamilton at the Expo. She is amazing! |
Two other fun things happened during this trip---I finally got to eat at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom. Obviously, that is always quickly vetoed by my two boys when we take family trips. But this time, I was hanging out with fellow moms panelist, Laura Munkel, and we had a great time dining with the princesses!
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| Posing INSIDE the castle at Cinderella's Royal Table! |
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I also got to be there when my sister-in-law, Stephanie, finished her first half marathon. She did a great job, and she is already planning to sign up for another one! At Disney, of course!
Some highlights from the Princess Half Marathon:
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| AND WE'RE OFF! |
Loved being serenaded and proposed to around mile 9! He even found my glass slipper=)
The gospel choir at mile marker 13 makes me soooo emotional! Good thing there is just .1 of a mile left!
