Nancy Toby: Run Big!

This is going to be me in 2 months, at the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Only different. Subtract the apple and red stockings. Add running shoes and a race number and maybe a race belt holding my camera. Cut the hair short and uhhhh, add a few pounds. And maybe (I'm not sure about this part) Lycra shorts under the skirt. I'll have to try it on and see if I can wear my royal blue ones or if I have to find some yellow or white shorts. At least my legs in March will be sufficiently white to be appropriate for the Snow White title.

Maybe I should put a sign on my back that says, "Not bad for a 72-year-old domestic drudge! I'm ahead of you, aren't I?"

It looks like they changed their course back to the same old half marathon course, starting and ending at Epcot and going through the Magic Kingdom and Cinderella's Castle. That will be fun!

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Course info: I had a question about the characteristics of the course. Yes, most of the way it's pretty boring (4-lane concrete Disney access highways and ramps) but they do their best to dress it up with big lit-up mile markers, music, and occasionally characters. Course support is generally fine - bring a water bottle to the start to discard but leave the double-barreled water bottle belt carrier at home. The short 1-mile run through the Magic Kingdom midway through the race and the final short stretch through Epcot will be the real highlights. I recommend http://www.disneyrunning.com/ for race reports from the January half marathons - it should be very similar to those, only with 99% women dressed in pink princess outfits and tiaras. Average minimum temperature for that date in Orlando is 54*F, so plan for that at the race start, warming up quickly to an average high of 74*F in the afternoons. Bring a garbage bag or an old Mylar blanket to the race start to sit on or wear and discard depending on temperatures - it's always a long wait until the start. And it will be CROWDED! Don't plan to run for time, and carry a camera!

Labels: clothing, race gear