Running the Princess 5K AND the 10K?!

Magically Manda
Mar 3, 2020
5 min read

Updated: Apr 14, 2020

Hi My Friends!! I know long time, no talk! I ran the Princess 5 AND 10K back in February so I am totally late to this game but figured why not still write a blog post about it? So my apologies for doing this quite late! I hope you enjoy it just the same!

SO.... YEP I ran not just the 5K I ran the 10K. The amount of fear leading up to that 10K I cannot even EXPLAIN how scared I truly was leading up to that day. The time leading up to the races I had been consistent on running. I had been running on my treadmill and felt OK. I knew I would finish that 5K. But I was petrified of picking up my bibs and seeing what corral I would be in.... "Please don't be in the last corral...." I drove myself nuts that I struggled with my training, sleeping and just getting ready for the races. The placement of where I would be for that 10K was literally driving me crazy..... Can anyone else relate to that? (I know I am not alone here!) I was also PETRIFIED of the "balloon ladies". (When you read stories about the balloon ladies you assume that they are these mystical beings who are going to get you swept. I learned that this isn't the case at all!)

We go to the expo and its just amazing seeing all of the characters and people excited and ready to see those finish lines! The expo can still be very overwhelming but its also a lot of fun! I love seeing all of the different vendors and all of the goodies there are. I go grab my 5K bib and then my 10K one. I look at that corral letter and I see my nightmare.....

I AM IN THE LAST CORRAL

OH MY GOSH NO!! I couldn't believe it! I was now more afraid but I am going to just push through it. I knew I wouldn't be alone in that corral and I was going to face it head on. I made a plan in my head for it and I was as ready as I was going to be!

The next day I was ready for that 5K. I walked most of it saving my legs and feet and energy for the my first 10K the next day. I finished the 5K and I was HURTING. The humidity was worse than the year prior and I didn't get the proper running sneakers!(I know BAD move and I will NEVER do that again.) Take my advise, get fitted by professionals to get the proper running sneakers for your own feet.

My feet were swollen, I had heat rashes on both of them and I was feeling kind of miserable. BUT I had my head in the game(Que "Get'cha head in the game" from High School Musical.) I can honestly say I have never been more afraid of an event in my life. What if I can't make it? What if i get swept? What if what if what if WHAT IF?! I was literally making myself sick that morning. But I remember getting ready and heading to the Epcot Parking lot. The rumble of the runners was intoxicating. "I am going to run my first 10K...This is happening.." There was no backing out now! I was walking over to my corral and all of a sudden the Backstreet Boys "We've got it goin on" was blasting! "AH! This is a good sign!! I can do this!"

Walking over to that starting line I was in the zone. Nothing was going to stop me. This is going to be a mind game, a tough one but I am going to conquer it. I am GOING to finish as strong as I can. It was hot and humid but I am going push through it. My feet are aching, but that will NOT stop me.

I took off at a slow jog pace and was just going for it. I knew the first 3 miles were all outside of the park and those will be the hardest. I didn't see a balloon in sight. I was moving. I was going. I run in intervals listening to my music loudly in my ears. Stopping periodically for a photo of the miles as I go by and at the water stops. I also knew because I was in the last corral I was not going to stop for characters, but I did wave as I ran past them.

By Mile 5 I was exhausted. It was getting to the point in the race where you are leaving the Boardwalk and going back into Epcot. People were starting to push and shove a bit and there were the balloon ladies! I started to try to run faster and faster but the people walking and the bottlenecks were getting a bit much. But I found a clear path and I bolted as fast as my legs could go. I could see Spaceship Earth! "I AM ALMOST THERE!" I didn't stop to take a photo because the amount of people right in front of it and in this area was FULL. People weren't going fast and there were the balloon ladies right on my tale again. But I could see that finish line. I was going to finish!! I sprinted as fast as I could with a large group. We were motivating each other to keep moving, to keep going, to finish! I felt my legs starting to buckle as I ran closer the finish line where there was what it seemed at the time just a heard of people finishing. I kept moving and I could feel tears filling my eyes as I approached that finish line. I finished right by the balloon ladies and they were just as sweet as anything. Congratulating me as I got my very first 10K medal. I couldn't believe it. I shook my head in disbelief walking over to grab my Powerade and box of snacks. I don't think I have ever been more proud of myself for anything I have ever done thus far in my life. I accomplished something that I didn't think I was capable of. I am not skinny, I am not athletic, I am not in the best shape I could be, but I finished my first 10K. I crossed that finish line (even though I don't have a finisher photo because there were people right in front of me dangit.) I accomplished what seemed to be to me the impossible.

I hope you all enjoyed my story on running the Princess 5 and 10K! I still am reeling over it to be completely honest with you. I still get misty eyed when I look at the 10K medal. Now, will I do this again next year? MAYBE! I know now that it is achievable and that if I just push through those negative thoughts I can accomplish whatever I want. If you are thinking about running a Disney Race, please just take that leap and do it! It is the most amazing experience I have ever done. One thing I may do differently is really rest in between races and not walk around the park as much I think that made my feet worse AND getting the right running sneakers but its all lessons learned! I would do it all over again swollen feet and tired and all!

I want to hear YOUR RunDisney stories! How did you get started? How many have you run? If you haven't do you plan on it?

Believe in yourself friends. I believe in you. I know you can accomplish so much more than you can even imagine. You are capable of anything if you just dig deep and truly believe in yourself.