The 2016 Princess Glass Slipper Challenge weekend came and went as quickly as they always do! Unfortunately, life also came and went so fast that I never got my blog posted with that race recap. Fast forward to this year and I can give you a Throw Back Thursday version of last year’s race. Mandy and I ran this race together because we are trying to get five Princess Glass Slipper Challenges done in hopes of obtaining legacy status. Sadly Diana wasn’t at this race weekend with us.
I flew down Friday afternoon, went to the expo for my bib and to shop around, and then went over to my hotel to check in. I traditionally like to spend the first night that I arrive at Disney Springs. I like to get the tomato soup from Earl of Sandwich and shop at my favorite little shop in the Marketplace Co-op, Tren-D. Then head over to my room to lay out my 10K race costume and get settled in for the night.
I met Kenn and Mandy for the start of the 10K. Our corral took off at 5:51 a.m. and we took 2 hours and 14 minutes to get the race done. We spent every minute of that race having fun and getting pictures taken with as many characters as possible. In France we were in line for photos with Lumiere and Cogsworth, a picture I really wanted to take; but there were officials on bikes yelling out to everyone that the sweepers were coming and if we continued to wait in line we were putting ourselves at risk of being taken off the course. Even though Mandy and I knew we could outrun the balloon ladies; we didn’t want to run the risk of losing our challenge medals.
So we took off and ran back towards the balloon ladies who were crossing the International Gateway and heading over to the Boardwalk. We continued through the Boardwalk; took some photos of the balloon ladies that we were chasing, and then ran towards the finish line.
The half marathon took off at 5:49 a.m. and it took 3 hours and 32 minutes to finish. Again, we were running this race for fun and not for time. We were in corral G and the last corral was P so we had plenty of time between us and the balloon ladies. This course is the typical course that runs from Epcot towards the Magic Kingdom entrance, under the Contemporary waterway, and into Magic Kingdom. We ran through the castle and then back towards cone ally. At this part of the race, I feel relief because I know we just have to run back to Epcot and not towards Animal Kingdom like the marathon course does. As we were getting closer to the end of the course we were running with Kenn and were actually running up the overpass hills.
I’m looking forward to running with Mandy and Kenn again. We haven’t run together since the Dark Side Challenge last April so it will be good to catch up! I am also looking forward to some warm Florida weather. The cold winter months in CT are getting to me and I need to see some green and feel the warm sun. I’m also looking forward to Kona breakfast with all the ladies of Team Shenanigans on Saturday!
View the 10K race recap video
View the Half Marathon race recap video