Inaugural Enchanted 10K at the Princess Half Weekend Race Re-Cap
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She is just too cute! DisBroad Shannon |
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The whole Poppins Posse.? Plus DisBroad April, Adam and our buddy Wendy.? Thanks Bonnie for the picture! |
I was delighted to discover that this group theme was a huge hit!? And also a little surprised with the popularity of Saving Mr. Banks that there weren’t more people going with a Mary Poppins theme.? Whatever the reason, I loved that it took us about 45 minutes to make our way to the corrals because we kept having people stop us and ask for pictures!? At one point the corral gave the Broads a round of applause as they weaved through the corral in a conga line to get to the front.? Too much fun, and the race hadn’t even started yet!
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The DisBroads Poppins Posse and the fantabulous runDisney Mom, Faith!? I love her! |
In the corrals I found Andrea!? We met through the Disney Parks Moms Panel Search and I was so happy to finally meet her in person.? She was running the Glass Slipper Challenge as Black and White Minnie for the 10K and Color Minnie for the half.? It’s one of the great things about runDisney for me- finally getting to hug my online friends!
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Andrea Updyke, Lil-kids-Things and BabyCenter Blogger |
The DisBroads started the race together, but after the first mile it was obvious the faster Broads weren’t having none of my snails pace for this race.? I’m cool with that- and sent them on ahead.? DisBroad Julie was picking up what I was throwing down and decided to hang back with me.? Hey, I’m slow, I know it, and I had 13.1 more miles to cover the next day.? I know my limits- and pushing it for the 10K would not be wise.? I don’t work that way.? Plus, it was effin hot out there.? I REALLY don’t work that way!
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My ideal is less than 50 degrees and 50% humidity, so this was warm to me. No wind.? Ugh. |
My master plan was to have them stop for pictures so by the time we caught up, we wouldn’t have to wait- just pop in for the picture.? This was a brilliant strategy, but I forgot about my potty stops adding to the time growing between us and them.? We did manage to make this work out once just as we entered the Boardwalk.
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One of my favorite Broads pictures! |
Along with many other runners, I was not a fan of the first half of the 10K.? I am not sure what can be done to make it a better route, but the out and back is just not appealing to me.? Neither is the parking lot tour that runDisney seems to be fond of giving us at most races.? The Royal Family 5K and the Wine and Dine are two that stand out.
However, I LOVED seeing Elsa on top of the overpass.? I thought that she and Anna *might* make an appearance, but my money was on them appearing at the more laid back 5K.? When they were not there, I assumed we would not be graced with the sisters this race weekend.? I mean, if they were on the course, the race would come to a screeching half for 95% of the participants!? This was a fantastic compromise.? I pulled off to the side and took a short video.? And yes, it was SNOWING!
Back in Epcot we took a quick stop near America to go to the beautiful potties.? Yes, I have a thing about the Disney potties.? I have documented quite a few of them over the years, and this one is actually one of my favorites!? On our way out of the bathroom Julie made a comment about DisBroad Tania sleeping with Louis (she was on the fold down bed at Port Orleans Riverside in case you couldn’t make the connection).? For whatever reason, this promted us to go ahead and get in line to take a picture with the big ol’ Alligator.? I’m so glad we did!
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See the guy on the bike?? Yep.? That’s the runDisney photographer! |
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We landed on the runDisney Facebook page!? Photo credit runDisney |
My favorite part of this race began when we left Epcot.? While the front of this race was a bit lacking, the end makes up for it.? The Boardwalk is really such a beautiful place to run!? I have not had the opportunity (aka, the money) to stay at one of these resorts just yet.? It’s still a relatively new area for me to explore.? And explore we did.? As I mentioned before, thanks to our Poppins Posse props of Sweeper brooms and DisBroad Suzanne’s adorable Mary Poppins hat, we were able to spot our group stopped in line as we crossed the bridge.? There were tons of places to take pictures along the way.? I limited myself to just a few, but here’s three of my favorites:
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Sweeps need a break too!? Just taking it all in. |
I cracked up when we ran past Kirsten, who was devouring her sweet treat on the go.?? I knew DisBroad April had made a stop at the Boardwalk Bakery too and wondered how her cheesecake brownie was tasting mid run!? Around this time we also met up with our blogging pals from Running Happily Ever After.? Monica and Walter, the Disney Bride and Disney Groom ended up crossing the finish line with us.
After the Boardwalk we went back into Epcot.? And the last character we saw:? Donald! ? I missed Mexico Donald at the Wine and Dine since I didn’t make it back into the party that night.? I wasn’t going to pass up this picture either.
When we crossed the finish line, we got a shout out from Carissa, letting us know our fellow Poppins Posse had finished ahead of us.? Those brooms.? Man, they were a pain to run with, but made the costume!? I even considered ditching mine, but DisBroad Tania quickly set me straight.? There was NO WAY I was allowed to dump a prop on the run.? She scares me a bit, so I listen to her.? And I’m so glad I did.? #BroomsFTW
This was by far the longest 10K I have ever run in.? Even longer than the Disneyland 10K, and I didn’t think that was going to be possible!? Ah well, records are made to be broken, even when you are going in the opposite direction, right?
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It’s a GREAT medal.? One of my favorites. |
When the race was over, I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about the course.? Frankly, I was left with some disappointments but couldn’t pinpoint what it was that bothered me.? After a couple of weeks of mulling it over, I am now sure it’s the very beginning miles that I was not thrilled about.? Part of it is the course:? it’s the parking lot and highway and just very boring.
The other part was that it took about 3 miles for me to settle in and remember that I was there to have fun.? I think the pressure of running with a large group was weighing on me since I knew I was the slowest runner in the group.? I hate to think I’m holding people back.? I know what my race looks like, and it was not conducive to the rest of the group.? Once we went our separate ways, I think both groups were happier!? Sometimes you just have to call an audible and make changes.
Did you run the Enchanted 10K this year?? What did you think about the course?? Did you have a favorite part?
Patty Holliday is the owner and creator of all things No-Guilt Universe. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.
I’m not a fan of this course either Patty, but since I ran for time, I tried to not let the front end bother me. Running through Epcot and the Boardwalk is great, but I too wonder if there is an alternative route they could use….You guys looked great by the way, loved the costumes!
I found some ideas on alternate routes using the HS! I’ll post about them later- but there’s options. Just hated that front half! Thanks for the love Pam!
Loved the costumes! what a great idea! I didn’t run the 10k this year but have heard similar reviews about the beginning of the course. Not sure what could be done to improve it but I agree that with all of the park space at WDW, we should get more parks and less highways during the runs.
They have HS right next door to Epcot- surely we can do better, right?!
Awesome job, Patty!! Y’alls costumes are seriously amazing. Great group! I’ve actually heard a lot of positive vibes about the 10K course… I think most were referring to the EPCOT portion of it though. I don’t usually mind running on the roads at Disney since I zone out pretty easily anyway LOL
The fact that they had Elsa out there + snow is freaking cool *pun intended*!!
Elsa pretty much SAVED those first miles. If it wasn’t for her- the characters would have sucked!
I loved this race! So much fun. I do think my favorite part was thru the Beach Club Boardwalk area. In some ways I may have preferred this over the half. As always, the company was fab too. 🙂
I did too Suzanne! And the company is amazing. 😉
What do you mean I scare you? My children like to call it gentle encouragement 🙂 Honestly, sometimes the race routes seems the same to me aside from when we run through parks. I loved running through Epcot and the Boardwalk though. Excellent costumes 🙂
HA! You are awesome, but yeah, I would have totally ditched that broom if you hadn’t given me “the look”. Yikes. lol
Maybe I’m too used to Disney races, but I was a touch disappointed in the choice of characters they had out. And it IS hard to run in a big group. But I wholeheartedly agree that running through Epcot (a first for me!) and the Boardwalk was fun!
YES! I meant to comment on that too- the characters were NOT good. The 5K had better characters. This was pretty much the anti-princess princess half weekend. Weirdness.
I felt the same way about the 10K course! The beginning I was B O R E D beyond belief! Once we got back into Epcot I was fune but sheesh those first 3 miles YAWN! I will admit to getting chills hearing all the princesses singing Let it Go by Elsa. That was cool. But that only lasted about 45 seconds so yeah, what I said before;).
I loved that part too. I thought this meant we would NOT be hearing Let It Go at mile 7 since they had it blasting on the 10K. Was thrilled we got to hear and sing it again the next day!
I’m sorry it didn’t work out with running together. I didn’t realize how hard it would be with so many people. I am so glad you two caught up for the Goody pic! It is epic! And you and Julie had some awesome random photo stops! Loved all your pics.
Oh Bonnie- no worries! Groups are hard to keep together even if we were all the same pace! I just knew we’d all have a better race splitting up. was thrilled to catch yall at Goofy though! THAT ROCKED!!!
My husband will love you forever and a day for saying that he is educated and brilliant… finally someone who understands! I am not sure I want to tell him for fear it will go to his head. I loved the costumes, the company and the boardwalk and let the rest wash. This was really a fun race for me. Good job Princess!
He is, he really really is! The costumes and company were REALLY fun. So glad you came out for this one Shannon!
Too.much.fun. I’m glad you guys caught up with us for the EPIC shot with Goofy. Say, how about you come to marathon weekend?? Maybe we’ll stay in one of those Epcot resorts 😉
Hmmm… that sounds like a FANTASTIC idea K! I should run the 10K and you guys can cheer me on… oh wait, I think I might be repeating myself. 😉
Loved your costumes! I did the 10k in the back of the pack (first 10k for me), and I agree that the first 3 miles felt like FOREVER (not to mention the “sweeping” pressure). The EPCOT and Boardwalk part, however, was so wonderful! I think I need to train more and get a couple of 10k’s under my belt so I can be in an earlier corral to take the pressure off a little, take pictures, enjoy it more.. As to the route, I’m thinking maybe they could combine the 5k and 10k routes to give us more of EPCOT? I think there is a lot of Future World that the 10k does not cover that the 5k does. Maybe that would take at least 1 mile off the first 3? I don’t know. There must be a way of getting a better route.
I keep thinking there has to be a better way as well Lourdes! The back of the pack is fun- but yeah, the sweeper pressure at Disney is hard! I’m glad you enjoyed your first 10K at Disney!!!
Oh it was so fun that we found each other! I really enjoyed the race but I didn’t stop for any of the characters! I planned to if there were short lines but didn’t see any I wanted to wait for. I did grab a pic by the mile 5 sign and got some great shots in the 2nd half of the half. All good 😉
I had so much fun running with you. Its hard running in such a big group too when you are the slowest, so I was a little relieved when we split up. Here’s to our next race together!
I loved your costumes. Saw you all at the race and definitely enjoyed them.
So glad I got to meet you around the Boardwalk area! “It’s Maggie!!!!” ha ha. Really, it was so cool to see you in person, and I loved your costume! It was quite sticky out there, so glad you survived! It was my first 10k at Disney so I have nothing to compare it to, in regard to route! I had fun though! I was also happy to run into you in that porta potty line at the half start! Nice meeting you!