I Ran My First 5K!

I successfully completed my first 5K race on February 21, 2014! The Cinderella Royal Family 5K in Disney World.

I had seen an advertisement for it in a running magazine the previous Spring. I talked my athletic husband (he's a bicyclist) into running it with me. Well, not exactly with me. He has a faster time, so he was in a different corral.

We love Disney, and have been visiting it at least biannually since the summer after we were married. I'd never been on a real vacation before. Summer trips to get left with distant relatives in rural mountain communities was my childhood. I was immediately hooked as soon as I saw my first palm tree in the median strip of Interstate 95 in South Carolina. The Florida welcome center had free orange juice back in the day and I think still does. Disney World was a dream come true. But my hunky hero husband has always made all of my dreams come true.

So, on to our "Race-cation". I had "trained" cough-cough for nearly a year, and thought I was good enough. Mostly on the treadmill, because we live at the bottom of a steep incline. Anyhow, shortly before the race, when I received my final instructions, I was mortified to learn I must keep up a 16 minute mile pace lest I be removed, put on a bus and not allowed to cross the finish line and receive my medal. My best time was 17.33 minutes.

I panicked, drove my family nuts with my freaking out. Then I shut up, decided to just do it and guess what? I did it! Yes, I could have pushed myself harder in the race. But I finished in time without being scolded by Donald Duck. Crossing the finish line was a dream come true. I can't wait to do it all again. Perhaps in the fall.

I loved it all. And felt like the Run Disney team did it all for me. Picked me up in a chartered bus at my hotel at 4:15 AM on race day. Took me to the course they'd set up with cones and corrals. Entertained me with a DJ playing group dance songs. Cinderella and Prince Charming made an appearance. Fireworks with the start gun. Volunteers along the way with crazy noise makers encouraging me forward. Diversions through secret backstage areas of EPCOT to ensure the route was a bonafide 5K. Two water stations along the way with folks handing me half cups of water. Trash cans. Opening EPCOT early just so I could run through the countries and future world. Handing me a special medal after I crossed the finish line. Emailing me photos of me running and crossing the finish line. Water, bananas and a snack box at the end, where I was reunited with my own dreamy Prince Charming. Transportation back to our hotel for showers and celebrations.

Yes, this was a good choice for my first 5K.