Part II…

Mile 7: After the highs of running through Magic Kingdom, Mile 7 seemed very quiet and uneventful.  We stopped to take a photo with Belle and Gaston.  Belle is my very favorite princess so I was willing to wait in line to take a picture with her.

Mile 8: Poor Molly, things started to go downhill after we left the Magic Kingdom.  We alternated between running and walking.  Molly had some stomach issues and we stopped for a 2^nd bathroom break.  At least these port-a-potties had shorter lines.  We ran by one of the Disney golf courses and saw Donald Duck and Goofy posing for photos.

Mile 9: We passed back by the hot air balloon that I had photographed in the darkness during Mile 2.  I distracted myself by taking photos of a man who was dressed as Cinderella.  He was wearing a blond wig that was pulled back with a clip.  I couldn’t help but laugh each time I caught sight of him in his long blue dress.

Mile 10: Mile 10 was tough.  With only a 5K left to cover, I did my best to encourage Molly to keep running.  Molly called the shots and we took a lot of walking breaks and enjoyed the nice weather and pretty roadside views.

Mile 11: I left Molly halfway through Mile 11.  She was having knee pain and alternating between walking and running.  I felt bad taking off but she told me to go because she wasn’t sure how long it would take her to cross the finish line.

Mile 12: Mile 12 included a quick jog through Epcot.  I spotted several characters without lines so I paused for photos.  I checked my Garmin and was surprised to see that I was moving along at a 7:40 pace.  I was definitely moving and grooving.

Mile 13 and 0.1 finish: Hitting Mile 13 was so exciting.  I knew the finish line was SO close.  There were lots of people along the side of the road yelling and cheering.  I was running really fast, dodging and darting around people.  I could hear people yelling, “Go! Go!” as I sprinted to the finish line.  I wasn’t running with a time goal but I still wanted to make sure that when I finished the race, I was running as fast as my legs could go.

Final Thoughts: The Disney Princess Half Marathon was such a great experience.  Disney was highly organized so the event ran smoothly.  There were lots of water stops with both water and Powerade along the race course.  Plus there was Goo after Mile 7.  There were so many characters throughout the race and I loved stopping for photos.  I ran this half in my slowest time, but I could care less.  The race was so much fun and I was too busy having fun, watching the other runners and taking in the sights.  I loved encouraging my friend Molly and helping to boost her spirits as she completed her first half marathon.

If you’re into running or looking to get started running long distance races, come to Disney.  It is a bit pricey to register but you’re guaranteed to have a good time.  Run Disney!  I’m already thinking of registering for my next Disney race.  Who knows…maybe I’ll tackle the 2012 WDW Marathon?!?!