My Fitness Goal: Disney Princess Half Marathon

mcfrlndsgirl

So I started MFP over a year ago and well, things haven't really worked out the way I wanted them too. Life got in the way, motivation was lacking and I didn't have a real fitness goal to work towards so my workouts were sort of aimless. It is hard for me to go to the gym just for the sake of going since I grew up as an athlete and everything I did had a training related purpose that was directly connected to some aspect of the game.

Well, I have found the goal and motivation for my workouts this year. Saturday, May 1st I will be registering for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. I have never really been a runner but everything I have heard about this race makes it sound awesome and it feels like a great goal. I'm not worried about a great time, I'm not even worried about running the entire thing, my goal is to finish. I have begun training slowly with walking and running and will eventually work up to just running and then adding a little along to the distance.

I know the race isn't cheap especially when you add in everything but I think that if it gives me the motivation I need to finally get moving it will all be worth it. My husband and I are already planning and saving so that it can be an awesome weekend for the two of us.(as long as the Army cooperates, haha yeah right) I will be running with at least one other Army wife but hopefully there will be a group of us. I'm nervous and excited all at the same time. I feel like 10 months is plenty of time to train for this event and make sure I cross that finish line.

I can't wait to see what this year will bring.

sexylittlethang

This is AWESOME!! Let me know if you're ever in Temple and want to run together! I'm definitely not up to very long distances yet, and I go pretty slow, but it's a process, right? I've done a few 5k races (walk/jog) and they're so fun. It's a great way to build up to longer races.

Amy_B

Great! I know someone else who is doing that race. Maybe I'll direct her over here.

Amy_B

My friend said to check out the running forums on disboards.com for lots of motivation.

NOLA_Meg

The Princess half was in March, are you doing the Disney World Half in January? I am thinking of doing it as well, but I'm not sure yet because my team was picked in the lottery for the Nike Womens in San Fran in October. eeek! I plan to walk/run it in SF. Disney has a 16-min mile pace requirement which is different than other races that just require you to finish within a certain period of time so that's my major concern personally since I am pretty slow right now.

NOLA_Meg

Nevermind, I just did the math for the 10-month training period you stated which would make it March 2011. So exciting! Their races sound so fun! Maybe we'll both be running there if I don't do the one in January!

mcfrlndsgirl

yeah it is March 2011. There is no way I could do anything much sooner. I may try to do a 5 k or something the end of the summer and maybe a 10k in late fall/early winter but right now I am just working on learning to run. I know they have the 16 minute mile but I don't think that will be too hard to do. I feel that I can probably be able to run and walk it and keep it under 16 minutes.

Right now I am just aggravated that they don't have registration open yet. It was supposed to open on may 1st but it has yet to start and emailing them gets you a vague response of "early summer 2010" I just want to get registered and have it officially on the books as a little more motivation.

sandara

What a great goal! Good luck and happy running