Disney does it again!! Glass Slipper Challenge!!

Oh boy!! Disney has done it again! Just a few weeks ago, it seemed like the entire @RunDisney community was going crazy for the newly announced Dopey Race! Even I have to admit, I was going a bit mad trying to decide if I should step up for the Dopey!

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with RunDisney, here is a brief overview of the newly announced Dopey. During WDW Marathon weekend, those people who are "crazy" enough, can participate in the Dopey Challenge, which includes running the 5k, 10k, 1/2 and Full Marathons!! These are back-to-back races spanning over 4 days!

Now, I say "people who are crazy enough", and I do have to admit that for about 8 hours, I was seriously considering this, so I count myself as one of the "crazies!" The catch for me here is, that over the course of 4 days, runners can earn 6 medals!!! 6 MEDALS!!!!! Now, anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for medals, and I will run just about anything, as long as I can receive a medal at the end of the race!! So, you can imagine how excited this made me!! 6 DISNEY MEDALS!!!!!

But, having never run a full marathon, nor having run any back-to-back races, I decided that the challenge just wasn't going to be mine....this year! Oh, and did I mention that I had already committed to running both the Tinkerbell 1/2 and the Princess 1/2? Yeah, well I didn't think my body, or my wallet could handle 3 1/2 marathons and a full marathon in just a couple of months!! It was a hard decision to make, and I was very happy when Dopey sold out....I didn't have to think about it anymore!

Well, last week, Disney announced what was for me, the most exciting new race challenge: The Glass Slipper Challenge announcement about the new Glass Slipper and new Coast-to-Coast medal!!

I first head about the announcement through Heather Bridges Montgomery  and her blog Through Heather's Looking Glass (if you don't read this girl's blog, you should start....now!!)

It was about 9am and I for the rest of the day I was glued to all my social media channels, reading everyone's thoughts and excitement about this new challenge and the new medals!!

Okay, so here is the breakdown:

Special Pink Coast-to-Coast

The first change I heard about was the Glass Slipper Challenge. It involves running back-to-back races during the Princess 1/2 marathon weekend. The Glass Slipper Challenge includes running the newly announced 10k (I don't think this race has a name yet?) and the 1/2 marathon. Participants will not only receive the 10k and 1/2 Marathon medals, but will also receive a special "Glass Slipper" medal!!!

I was already planning on running the Princess 1/2 and Royal Family 5k in 2014 again, so this announcement had me SUPER excited. Again....I can earn MORE MEDALS!!! Plus, I really love the 10k distance and I am excited to see what type of course this may involve.....another chance to run through the castle?!

If that was not enough excitement for one day, Disney had more in store.......don't they always?!!!

They also announced that participants who ran the Tinkerbell 1/2 and the Princess 1/2 would receive a special Coast-to-Coast medal!! The challenge of running one Disney race on each coast in the same year and receiving a Coast-to-Coast medal is nothing new, just the medal its self is new.....and PINK!!

Again, this was more exciting than one can possibly imagine, as I had already made a commitment to running both the Tinkerbell and the Princess, and a special PINK medal is right up my alley!!

So, again, I thought the excitement would stop there....but noooooooo!

The Team#Run Disney facebook page was blowing up with rumors about Disney adding a 10k and another special challenge to Tinkerbell weekend!!!! Meaning 3 more medals!!!

A total of 7 medals!!!!!!!!!! I can hardly contain myself!!

I am more excited about these races than I think I have ever been! I cannot wait until registration opens up in June, and I know I will be on pins and needles until I am safely registered for both of these races!!

Until then, I will continue to put my miles in and dream of Disney!!

Are you excited about these new Run Disney changes?!?!

Girls on the Run 5k Race Re-Cap

Yesterday I ran my first race since the middle of March, and the first local race since last running the Mankato 1/2 Marathon in 2011!! Yikes!

The Girls on the Run 5k race is in its 3rd year here in Mankato, and this is the first year that I have actually run it! The very first year, was my first year of running and this race was going to be my very first race ever! However, the morning of the race was freezing cold and raining cats and dogs!! I was nervous about the race to begin with, so I opted out!! :(

Last year, I was injured, and not running at all, so I missed out again. Finally, this year everything worked together and I was able to run! In great weather, nun the less!! 

Spring has finally come to Minnesota, and it is long over due! We have had record snow falls this April, and even had a 2-hour late start due to blizzard conditions on Tuesday of this week (April 23rd!!). This weekend, however has been perfect! The temps reached 80degrees yesterday, with full sun, and we are in the 70's today! Yesssss!

So, as they say the stars were aligned and so I ran the race! I was also able to run as part of a team! One of the High Schools that I work at got a team together, and I decided that I would run it with them! East High School's colors are black and gold, and so I was dress accordingly -- excited that I got to rock my yellow Team Sparkle skirt again (first time being the Princess 1/2 marathon as part of my Snow White costume!)

At the start of the race, I knew I was going to be too hot (having run in the rain and snow up until this race, it was quite a change!!), and I also knew that what I had eaten for breakfast was not going to be good for the race (note to self: never ever eat dairy before running!!)

It was however, a beautiful day, and I was happy to be running! The girls who participated in the Girls on the Run program were all decked out in pink, and having a great time, it was so inspiring to watch these girls of all shapes and sizes have fun running!

The course was just a loop around a local park, which included a few hills. I started out really strong, making it to the 1 mile marker in about 8 minutes! That is however, when it all went wrong! My stomach started cramping so badly that I had to stop and sit down for awhile, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to finish the race, and I started to panic that there were no port-a-potties in case I needed one!! Not a happy thought!

I decided that sitting wasn't doing me any good at all and started to walk. Walking didn't feel good either, so I figured that I would run, and at least I would get back to the start (and the potties!) faster!! 

I impressed myself as I powered up the hills and tried to get over the stomach pain I was feeling! I had to walk a couple of times, due to some very severe cramps, but I powered through it, and finished in 38 minutes, not a PR, but in many ways, I was proud of myself! Proud that I finally got to run this race, and proud that I finished, in spite of my GI issues!! 

Now that the weather is nice, I am excited to get outside and get some extra training for my upcoming races!! :) 

Ryan and I ended the perfect day by eating at our favorite restaurant in St. Paul, and visiting some of my favorite stores, rewarding myself with a few new Lululemon purchases! :)