Looking Back: Princess Half Marathon Weekend

Today marks the beginning of the 2018 Princess Half Marathon Weekend! It also marks three years since I ran the Princess Half Marathon with my friend Leslie. We were both feeling gross so it wasn’t a pretty race but we managed to have a great time regardless.

I really don’t remember too much but I know I didn’t particularly enjoy the race. Princess and Tink are obviously female centric races which is all well and good, but the runners for this weekend in particular are horrible.

I’ve always said that runners are either the best people you’ll ever meet or the worst with no in between. Princess weekend is the worst of the worst. Take a look at some of the worst RunDisney Expo stories/experiences and you’ll see that a large majority of them are over the Princess Weekend. People getting trampled for merchandise- Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

I don’t remember too much from Leslie and my run other than cat-calling Flynn Rider on course along with finding the world’s dirtiest porta-potty. If anything, it was a good time catching up since we don’t get to see each other that often. Actually, I can’t even remember the last time we saw each other.

I do remember I had just gone through a breakup (I referenced this recently in my Valentine’s post) and we chatted about that and other relationship woes. Leslie and I always have a blast together.

We Disneybounded as Wreck-It Ralph and Venelope Von Schweetz for the race. Leslie looked amazing, I looked like a potato per usual. I ended up having to ditch my over shirt so I basically was Disneybounding as the Hulk. I also learned why you shouldn’t run in mesh shorts.

I’ve since gotten better at dressing/disneybounding for races.

Thanks Leslie!

Funny enough, a few short months later we were at the Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend in Disneyland where I was dealing with similar issues regarding relationships. Leslie and I have mirroring lives sometimes.

In 2016 and 2017 I opted out of participating in the event and headed to Tampa for the Gasparilla Distance Classic where I ran the Michelob Ultra Challenge. This consisted of 4 races over two days. Insane but better than dealing with the people at the Princess Weekend.

Last year Erica was in town for Princess so the two of us were literally running crazy trying to do our respective challenges (her the Glass Slipper), enjoy spending time together, and get in some Disney time. Turned out that we were just miserable the whole time because we were so damn tired.

I had originally considered running Princess this year since the Glass Slipper Challenge is the only RunDisney challenge I haven’t done. I’d like to be able to say I’ve done them all but, honestly, the idea of running it again and dealing with the Princess crowds doesn’t seem all that appealing to me. That and the money. Challenges are expensive!

I opted out of running Gasparilla again this year. I didn’t need another weekend of being miserable, especially since I would be going at it alone again. I considered doing one of the other challenges offered up that weekend but the financial aspect kept me away.

It does feel strange to not be running this weekend. I see everyone gearing up for the races both in Orlando and Tampa and can’t help but feel a little sad that I’m not taking part. It doesn’t help that I know Facebook is going to be hitting me with memories of all the races. Hell, it’s already started.

Then I think about the money I’ll have saved by not running this weekend. There’s the registration, taking the time off from work, gas, food, etc.

Race weekends are damn expensive.

Anyway.

Three years ago today I ran my second half marathon with one of my favorite people and basically solidified my addiction to running.

My next race isn’t until April with the Dark Side Half Marathon weekend and I really need to get my act together for training.

Good luck out there runners!