4 Lessons From Running 19.3 Miles at Disney World –

I grew to become to the runner subsequent to me, my abdomen a ball of tension.

“Why am I so apprehensive?? I’m no longer looking to are available in first- there may be actually not anything to be apprehensive about.”

It used to be 4:55am on Sunday 🥱, and I used to be status with 25,000+ runners on a freeway simply out of doors of Epcot, all people gearing as much as run a 13.1-mile direction during the Disney parks.

You would possibly not know this about me, however I’m an *extraordinarily* aggressive particular person.

I don’t like dropping. And even if there’s no festival available, I generally tend to invent one anyhow.

The part marathon I ran this previous weekend used to be a CLASSIC example- for weeks, I’d been legitimately stressing 😫 about my mile instances, being concerned I wouldn’t destroy closing 12 months’s time.

And within the procedure, I used to be forgetting to benefit from the race set earlier than me. 

Disney races are FUN- that’s why they’re so common! You don’t run a Disney race since you’re looking to qualify for the Olympic trials- you select a Disney race as a result of it’s a pleasure to run.

<< However I nearly neglected it, as a result of all I may just consider used to be no longer dropping.>>

Thankfully, one of the most announcers set my head immediately simply earlier than the beginning gun went off- “you’re no longer competing in opposition to any person however yourself- no longer the runner in entrance of or in the back of you. It’s simply you.”

And that used to be it. That used to be what I had to let pass of the nerves, run a excellent race, and benefit from the journey.

A couple of different classes I used to be reminded of, courtesy of runDisney:

1. Forestall having a look left, proper, and backwards- you’re no longer competing with any person however your self, and having a look at everybody else’s expansion to peer the way you measure up wastes treasured power.

>> I spent YEARS as a industry proprietor checking my growth in opposition to different photographers- all it did used to be distract me and stay me having a look over my very own shoulder, robbing me of valuable time + consideration I may have dedicated to honing my craft.

2. Know what the “end line” looks as if for you– what would *if truth be told* qualify as a luck to your books? If I’d set my attractions on profitable all the race (no longer even a far flung chance), I’d were sorely disillusioned.

>> However how regularly will we play this “all or not anything” sport? If I’m no longer first, I’m one way or the other… closing? No method! You’ll be able to be your highest without having to be the most productive. So, what does your highest appear to be?

3. Tempo your self. I ran the 10K (6.2 miles) on Saturday and the part marathon (13.1 miles) on Sunday, which intended that if I ran the primary race at complete velocity, I’d stroll into the part marathon sore, and with a less-than-full tank.

>> Whilst you’re making plans out your once a year targets, it may be tempting to stack all of the giant stuff into Q1 & Q2… after which you end up both exhausted from doing an excessive amount of in too little time, or disillusioned by means of the truth that you couldn’t do all of it. Earlier than you ever set foot out the door, know the place you’re going these days AND tomorrow- it’ll permit you to ration your time & consideration extra realistically.

4. Bit by bit, it provides up. I didn’t come to a decision to do a part marathon the week beforehand- I signed up closing June. And I began coaching in October. There have been 100+ alternatives for me to lace up my trainers and get my frame used to longer and longer distances BEFORE the glitz and glam of race day.

>> Some days I felt like crap, and others I felt nice, however every day-to-day run, whether or not 3 miles or 10, used to be a chance to coach my frame to be in a position for the large display. Don’t skip the small stuff- it provides up.

5. Nobody is measuring your growth as intently as you might be. We generally tend to assume that persons are paying MUCH nearer consideration to our companies than they if truth be told are- “I haven’t posted on social in weeks- folks should assume one thing is incorrect!” Actually? They most certainly haven’t spotted.

>> I used to be stressing about short of to complete inside a selected time (beneath 2:15:00), however realistically? NO ONE  has requested me what my end time used to be. No longer a unmarried particular person.

I crossed the end line inside the window of time I’d aimed for. I didn’t beat closing 12 months’s time (neglected it by means of 1 minute, 12 seconds!), however I ended the race feeling excellent, and unfastened from harm (not like closing 12 months).

Used to be I the most productive? No longer by means of a protracted shot.

However did I do my highest?

Abso-freakin’-lutely.

And likewise, a couple of extra self-indulgent pictures from the weekend, as a result of I put a large number of concept into my outfits and wish to display them off :).

Each and every race has a selected Princess as its theme, and the 10K used to be Belle! I love to head the much less glaring, extra difficult to understand trail with regards to operating costumes, so I went with a Mrs. Potts glance! The highest is from my very favourite activewear corporate, Topped Athletics (the code ABBY will get you 10% off), and the skirt is from RunSewSweet on Etsy!

The following morning used to be the part marathon- the legit theme used to be Moana, however I’d had my center set on operating as Rapunzel ever since I spied this most sensible + operating skort on Topped Athletics. I’ve additionally were given the leggings + sports activities bra, and it 100% makes runs extra magical. And I do know what you’re thinking- “there’s no method she carried a frying pan for all the race.”

Ooooh sure I did.

See? Toldja. Frying pans- who knew?

If I used to be most effective going to forestall for one legit Princess picture all day (as a result of they’re dotted alongside the direction!), it needed to be her!