Disney Princess 1/2 Prices Released!!

Are you a Disney Princess? Is your glass slipper a running sneaker!?
Well lace up and sign up on Tuesday June 11 for the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon!

The Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon was my first 1/2 marathon ever! It was so incredible and so worth every penny! What made it extra special was it was the 5th Anniversary, as well as a great experience to make connections with so many wonderful people!!

The 2014 Princess 1/2 Marathon has been added to, with a 10k! And if you really want to go the distance you can sign up for the "Glass Slipper Challenge." What is the "Glass Slipper Challenge" you ask???
If you think that a half marathon is just a walk in the park, put your endurance to the test and compete in the all-new Glass Slipper Challenge! A 19.3-mile adventure held over two days, participants will run the Disney Enchanted 10K on Saturday, followed by the Disney Princess Half Marathon on Sunday. If you finish both races within the pacing requirements, you will be awarded the all-new Glass Slipper Challenge medal in addition to your Half Marathon and 10K finisher medals. (rundisney.com)

Below you will find all the pricing information for the 2014 Princess 1/2 Marathon (found on the Run Disney website)!
For those of you signing up, you are going to love it and going to have so much fun! For those of you thinking about it, just do it! If money is tight, go with a bunch of friends to help share the cost, do fundraising and book through an independent Disney Vacation planner! If your looking for a recommendation, check out Amy Smith or Heather Montgomery!

Registration for the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend will open at 12:00 pm EST on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. Click here to receive a reminder email for when registration opens.

Click here to receive a reminder email for when registration opens.

Entry Fees and Deadlines

Disney Princess Half Marathon

• $160 by August 13, 2013
• $175 between August 14 and November 19, 2013
• $190 on or after November 20, 2013

Disney Enchanted 10K

• $95 by August 13, 2013
• $110 between August 14 and November 19, 2013
• $125 on or after November 20, 2013

Glass Slipper Challenge

• $270 by August 13, 2013
• $290 between August 14 and November 19, 2013
• $310 on or after November 20, 2013

Cinderella Royal Family 5K

• $60 per participant

Race Retreat

• $120 per participant /2 Marathon!

-Stephanie

To Move Onward

So the hubby and I have been on a little bit of a house hunt. We took a break for about two months and then things started popping up on the market. Well Sunday something wonderful popped up and we knew we would have to jump on it.
Well we were going to try to do something yesterday but things weren't always confirmed right away so we had something set up for today. Well on my way home from work, I was notified that it was off the market. Someone made an offer and it was accepted by the seller. Boo Hoo.... I am disappointed, but I never even got to look at it. So we are trying our best to stay positive.

So when I got home I knew I needed to go running since it had been about a week, but I was feeling frustrated, so that motivated me a little bit more! So I would say being positive isn't always the top motivator, but sometimes feeling negative and frustrated can be a motivator as well. Running is great way to go out and be yourself, be with your thoughts and thoughtless! It also is a great way to get out your pent up energy or just a way to boost your ongoing positive energy!

 

(Update) After I hit "publish" I was on facebook and someone had shared/posted this:

 

1 Year (+) Later!!!

In my previous blog I talked about the 2 5k's I ran in ONE day! I didn't have any pictures to share at the time so here they are!

But first I want to show you something that I think is so AHHHMAZING!
I began running because I found out about the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon, and knew that was it, I had to do it! I was never much for running, but thought "how freakin fun will this be!?" I also thought that this was the greatest way to get healthier, eat healthier and lose some weight. But weight loss was never my #1 goal, but more of a secondary benefit!

So I started running short distance on my street and found my first 5k! Boy was it rough, but I made it through! Well, a year has passed and that same 5k came around again, and it felt really important to me to participate again in what started the ball rolling in my running journey....
Seven 5k's, Two 10k's and one 1/2 Marathon later!

 And as you can see...I have made many improvements!
My first 5k time was 46:08
My 6th (1st of 2 of the day) was 37:00...almost 10 minutes difference!!

So here is the start of my day at the LUK, Inc Run, Walk, Stroll 5k with two friends!

Below is after the start of the race with two small hills ahead of us!

Here is my sister and I  at race #2 of the day. The Central Mass Housing Alliance 5k for the Homeless. My two friends from the 1st race came along as well with their 2 dogs and walked. The Dogs were awesome, one of which did her 5k as well!







All in All an Awesome day!
-Stephanie

Running a double!

Today was my day for doubles!
Two 5ks in one day!

It started with a rough morning...after a fun night out to celebrate a friends graduation with her Masters degree!

I toughened up, got dressed and took a ride out with a couple friends to the first of two 5k's.
We got there, registered and got our "swag" which was pretty lame aside from the shirt.
This 5k was for LUK, Inc which is a non-profit for youth and families.

This was the first 5k ever last year, and thought there couldn't be a better way to "celebrate" a year of running that by doing it again! So it was at the same place with the same route. Although, the thing that was different this year was the crowd. It was a lot smaller this year. It was one of those races that when you pre-register, the first 100 get a tech shirt, and everyone else normally will get a cotton tee like I did last year. This time, my friends and I arrived and got bib # 69, 70 and 71 as well as a tech shirt each!

My mom and sister even came for support, the hubs was in CT for a golf tournament.
It was nice to have someone to run with. My friend Ben was going for a good time and he runs a bit faster, so he went ahead. His girlfriend and I kind of played tag. We started out side my side, which was great! Then I was ready for my first walk break, she kept running on which was fine. But once I started up again I would catch up to her and pass her. Eventually I would walk, she would pass me and would start the dosey doe all over again.
I was pleasantly pleased to hear my first mile to have been ran in roughly 11minutes and so many seconds. My pace did slow as expected, but I don't think I ever paced over 12 minutes, or maybe I did in my last, but still came out with an average pace under 12!! I was stoked, and I keep saying it and I believe it, that it was a PR!! (at a race)
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/13/ma/May19_LUK5K_set1.shtml

Then it was time to relax, eat something then move to the next race! My friend and his gf wanted to go home and get their dogs for the second one, which was awesome! So they had their dogs and just walked the second one.
The second was for the Central Mass Housing Alliance at Elm Park. It was such a great day for all of this running!
My sister ran this one with me. It started off with a feeling of nausea, then a cramp. So there was a lot more walking, but still ended in good time. Thanks to multiple water stops, the cramp went away, which made things a lot easier and the run more enjoyable.

When we finished, I just wanted to drop to the ground and take a nap! But I kept moving, stretching and waited for my friends to finish! They did and awesome job and had a great story. Apparently their dog Lilly felt the need to take a poop while they were walking.....in the middle of the rotary that we all had to pass through/around for the course. So we all had a good laugh about it!

We gathered ourselves and went home. I took a shower, put on comfy clothes then snuggled up in bed with a little snack and tv. I ended up napping for maybe 1/2 hour.

I am still pretty tired, and hope to update you with some photos my mother took, but I will have to wait until those are uploaded and shared! So come back soon and look for them!

-Stephanie
"you've got a friend in me."

Legs of Jello

 

I have felt determined but unsuccessful for the past few days in my attempt to go out and run. I went out on Monday and was hoping to go for at least 3 miles, but only made it about 2 1/2 miles. It was hot and I am not used to that yet. Plus it doesn't help that it has rained the past two days.

 

So today I came home and said "Stephanie, you need to do this...get dressed and go!" And I did.

 

I was determined no matter what to do at least 4 miles. And guess what...I DID 5! Let that be a little haha to myself!

 

The only trouble was before I even hit mile 2 my legs began to feel like jello, right in the calf area. Then it crept up to my knees for a bit. So from my 2-4 the jello wiggled around my legs for a bit, but despite the heat, which it was somewhere between 70-80 degrees I believe, I didn't feel to hot. But I am sure that the heat was a contributing factor to my legs, breathing and overall feeling.

I didn't feel to terrible, I just did the best I could, pushed a little and did what I had to do!

 



 

Unfortunately my phone doesn't do selfies very well, or at least when uploaded and made bigger it comes out all pixelated! But this was me after my run, red in the face, sweaty and happy. Again it is hard to tell in this picture, but its there!  

Needless to say, I am on my way to getting in gear for my 2nd half marathon! Plus with some tips left on one of my last posts by a close friend, I have no doubt it will be a great one! (I have included them below!)

1. Train!! Get your plan together start a running log , grab friend and get it!!!!
2. As you train USE SUNBLOCK- & the sweat proof kind. Get you a visor and some light weight sunglasses...
3. Eat healthy especially a couple weeks prior to the race. Lots of veggies and lots of fruit to help you with hydration..
4. Yes, study the race course and know where the water stops are. If you have to wear a hydration belt during your training runs and the actual race since it is July..
5. HYDRATE a couple weeks prior to the race , especially the week of and AFTER. It will help you not feel lethargic during and after the race and will help prevent muscle cramping..
6. Speaking of muscle cramping. Experiment with SALT. Packets of salt from fast food places. Carry them with you for your long runs and you races when its warm. I dont know much about this subject so you will need to read up on it but please do so.
7. Experiment with your race clothes. Lighter the better and dry wick. Wear light colors also
8. HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!! Dont set a time goal for your July race. Especially if its warm. The goal is to FINISH!!!!

I intend on following each of these!

-Stephanie
"Together, even the smallest can achieve the greatest goal"