This is a story about me, but it could be about you too. It could be about running, or something else you want to do but just haven’t. Let’s just get up off our tushies and get ‘er done. This is also a story about Disney, and how that magic can get me jazzed about sweating while it is still dark out.
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My father Tony ran across the country twice with his brother Joel. They ran for the first time as seniors in college in 1971 and the second time in 1976 as married men starting their lives. They ran 27 miles each day the first time and 42 miles a day the second. I cannot even imagine completing a task like this. Currently there are 279 tracked journey runs since 1909 across the U.S. My father is listed as the 90th and the 96th runner.
At the end of their second journey, they met with President Gerald Ford. Here is one of the official White House Photographs. That’s my dad shaking the President’s hand!
You might imagine my life was filled with running. Well, it was, but only for a short time. My father was a pastor while I was growing up and ran to pray and to have time alone with his thoughts and with God. I can’t remember us ever having run together. In junior high and high school I ran track. Like my dad, I was not a sprinter. I ran the 800 meter, the 1 mile and sometimes the 2 mile. I remember finding my breathing pattern and matching it to my steps like it was yesterday. I make a unique sound while I am running longer distances, though I suppose we all do.
At some point I stopped running. I played soccer and was awarded best hustle more than once. I just really didn’t run again, but I felt the pull. I wanted to get back into this sport that has become both uber social while remaining intensely personal.
I kept saying I was going to run, and then I didn’t. The sport is perfect for me, being practically free and having no commute to speak of. I see races I want to participate in all the time, but I am not in good enough shape to run them. I still didn’t run.
Then, a few months ago, I got invited to the Disney Social Media Moms Conference. As part of the conference, we were invited to participate in their first Run Disney 2 mile fun run. I almost didn’t sign up. I was afraid of being too slow or too tired or embarrassing myself. Then I kicked myself.
I dream of running the Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World and someday the Disney World Marathon. I also would love to be a Mud Runner and do the Warrior Dash but I am nowhere near ready. Note that all of these events involve the funner side of running. I want my picture with Minnie or my body covered in mud. I want to Color Run. It all sounds fantastic!
You have to start somewhere and I had a chance sitting in my inbox. I signed up. If anyone could make running feel like magic, it is Disney.
When we got to the race we could choose to run the whole thing or run/walk, the fantastic program from Jeff Galloway that he created so he knew he could run his whole life. I originally went to the combo and then thought abut the number of times I had run two miles in my life and I went for the run.
When you have not run in a long time or ever – 2 miles is no easy thing, though it certainly starts that way. At 5:30 in the morning and after almost a week in Mexico and a 9 hour drive down with the kids the day before, I felt exhausted…and then exhilarated. And then I finished. I don’t look purty but damn, I am smiling.
It felt good. No. It felt great. Run Disney got me back my running and I can’t wait to see where it takes me. It didn’t hurt to run through the ESPN Wild Word of Sports. There was so much to see! Tip – mix up your routes. Look around. Don’t get bored!
So, how did Run Disney get me off my ass? Well, they presented a challenge that was fun and doable. People of all abilities were welcomed and the support from my fellow bloggers and both the staff at ESPN WOS and Run Disney was fantastic. They say
When you Run Disney, every Mile is Magic
and I believe it.
There are races of all lengths and for all abilities. Run Disney will turn your fantastic accomplishment into a family vacation. There are activities planned for the whole family to enjoy. Run with fun should be another one of their mottos. The same can be said for the ESPN Wild World of Sports, where they organize sports events for teams all over the country and make your soccer tournament into an event for the whole family. The Disney team is committed to helping families be healthier and helping WOMEN cross that finish line and cry tears of joy. Seriously. I don’t make this stuff up.
One word of caution when running with bloggers or really running and Disney event…we bring our phones and are easily distracted by all of the sights around us. I was lucky I didn’t run into the wall!
Hats off to Run Disney and the fabulous bloggers who completed the Fun Run with me.
We got back to the hotel and took a whole group shot – a little less sweaty and a whole lot of ready for a shower!
We were offered inspiration, tons of smiles and big hugs from Ali Vincent, who won the 5th season of Biggest Loser. She might be the most likeable person I have ever met and she oozes happy and well, her show is Live Big with Ali Vincent. People, that is actually in my tagline! If anyone needs encouragement, she’s your girl. I hope I can encourage you too, whenever you need it.
It was an incredible morning filled with joy and accomplishment and the magic of Disney. And of course, I hope I made my Papa proud.
With that, I hope we can all
Live Big, Learn More and Love Much.
That’s what it’s all about!
Is there anything new you are starting? What is your running music?
p.s. I am looking for really upbeat music that I might not listen to in front of the kids. Seriously, I can run and pretend like I’m in a club. No prob.
Disclosure: I was honored to be invited to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. We were provided with discount park tickets and accommodations as well as fantastic opportunities like this fun run. We were not asked or required to write any posts. All of this sloppy love for Run Disney is my very own.
Love it! Looks like a really fun time. I’ve heard great things about the Disney Princess half. I just ran my first half in March, and I wrote a lot about how it has transformed me into a “real” runner. But now that I’m not training for anything…(and it’s already hot as balls here in TX), I’m slacking. I need to get back on it. My pants are feeling a little tight.
Congrats!
Leigh Ann recently posted… Say Bye Bye to Google Reader
Some people will just do just about anything to get time away from their kids 😉
Kidding my love – super proud of you and your BIG accomplishment
They were just waking up when I got back and they were so proud of me!
Brittany recently posted… How Run Disney Got Me to Run Again
Twitter: AlisonSWLee
says:
I really need to get back into running – if anything, just to be alone with my thoughts for 30 minutes.
Love that you got back into it!
Alison recently posted… The Other Side
Yay!!! So glad you enjoyed it– hope to run disney with you next year at the Princess!
Elena recently posted… Is Paleo Right for Me?
That is my hope too! It would be even more amazing to have a friend like you there!
I haven’t written my post yet but this was one of the highlights of my weekend! I loved running with you and I am totally smitten with runDisney now. I had already planned to be there, but now I am even MORE excited about running the Princess Half next year! Do it!! You have plenty of time to train and it will be a fun goal 🙂 wink wink
Andrea (Lil-Kid-Things) recently posted… This is the middle…this is the beginning {becoming mom}
I learned so much about your dad, and about you! Your dad rocks man. I sometimes pray while walking, but I think if I ran, I would be concentrating too hard on the huffing and puffing.
I did an all-day ChiRunning seminar, which I was so proud to have done. I was the most out of shape person there, but I got off my butt and did it. Now I need to practice the techniques I learned.
Lady Jennie recently posted… Life in the Trenches – Chapter 20
I so wish that I could have been able to run with you! It looks like you all had a great time. And the picture of the bloggers running with phones? Amazing! I’m surprised that no one got hurt 😉
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It was fun! I wish you could have been there too. I just wish Minnie in her track uniform had been there at the end!
Brittany recently posted… When 15 People Ask Where You Got Your Shoes, You Tell the Whole World