runDisney Princess Half Meet Up

I never win random drawings or get picked out of a huge group of people for something really cool.  I usually watch from the sidelines or read other blogs and think about how amazing it must be to experience some of these things first hand.  I was shocked when I checked the Disney Parks Blog while sipping my cup of coffee early one morning after booting up my computer and saw that anyone interested in participating in the Princess Half Meet Up could send in an email to have a chance to be picked for the event.  And the announcement didn't have the banner saying it was already full!  After several hours of working away in Super Hero mode (i.e., Saving the Earth as an Environmental Scientist), I saw the congratulatory email that I had been chosen (no claw or Little Green Men involved).  Getting up ridiculously early for work every day actually paid off with allowing me to have this fabulous opportunity!  

Friday morning, I got up before the sun, put on my running gear, and caught a cab from the Boardwalk to the Epcot entrance.  After signing a waiver and donning super stylish runDisney tech shirts, everyone congregated just inside the gates in front of the Epcot golf ball.  I was absolutely giddy as I got to meet and have photos taken with Sean Astin (if you don't know who he is, then you obviously aren't awesome enough to have seen The Goonies a bajillion times - or Lord or the Rings - or Rudy), and Ali Vincent (winner of Biggest Loser - still cool although she beat out my friend's husband, Roger), and Jeff Galloway (such a running rock star).  

   
All the attendees (maybe 100ish of us?) posed for a fabulous shot in front of Epcot (I'm in the middle on the front row).  

We divided in to two groups - one led by last year's Princess Half winner, Rachel Booth, and one led by Jeff Galloway.  The first group was going to do about an 8-minute mile pace, which is way faster than I wanted to go.  I joined Jeff's group for a run/walk/run with running 30 seconds / walking 1 minute.  The easy pace made it a very enjoyable morning run where I could talk to others (Hi Bekky!) and take in the empty park.  We ran under the golf ball on the right, 

headed past the fountain, around World Showcase toward Mexico (no margaritas this early - bummer), out the International Gateway (my only photo is a slightly blurry one just over the bridge toward the Boardwalk), 

around the Boardwalk (thankfully my husband came out to bring my sunglasses that I forgot), past Yacht & Beach club, back in the International Gateway, and around the lagoon to Germany.  We had a carb and fruit laden breakfast with juice and (much appreciated) coffee.  While we were eating and relaxing in Germany, we heard lots of people talk about training, nutrition, and inspiration and they had some fabulous prizes (I didn't win any of them - but I sure did want a pair of the New Balance Minnie Mouse shoes!).  After gleaning as much as possible from the running experts, we received a goodie bag with some cool swag and a one day pass to the parks.  And then we got to meet the real celebrities - Snow White, Rapunzel, and Minnie!

After an amazing morning run and a breakfast filled with inspirational and informative speakers, I walked back to the Boardwalk to meet my sister to head over to the expo (seing Epcot nearly empty was breathtaking!). 

The meet up was an amazing experience that I hope I am lucky enough to get to repeat some time.  Thanks runDisney!