Race Recap: Rainy Day Princess 5k
- princesspartyof1
- Jul 10, 2020
- 3 min read
Princess Half Marathon weekend at Walt Disney World was my initiation to runDisney (and 2 years later my first half marathon finish), so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Which may also be why I find myself itching for a trip to Orlando each February – even when I haven’t put in the training miles, I just want that familiar thrill of being alongside thousands of tutu-and-tiara-clad women in the most magical place on earth.
This year I opted to tack the Princess 5k onto the back end of my February trip. I knew it was the right choice when the themes for the weekend were announced and Moana was the 5k “honorary Princess”. What can I say, the finish line calls me!
While February is normally a beautiful and mild time of year to visit the Sunshine State, the weather during this trip was almost laughable. I arrived to all-time seasonal highs, sweating my way through Festival of the Arts at EPCOT and dodging some pretty severe storms between dining reservations and the race expo.
All of this culminated in a snap cold front, and not only did race day bring its grueling 2:30 am wakeup call, but it also treated us to temps just above freezing and a constant rainy drizzle. Here’s the thing – I don’t “do” rain. In college I wouldn’t even go to class if it was raining. And so far in my running career I’ve managed to avoid soggy feet, wet hair, and soaked gear (even if it’s sometimes meant rearranging or skipping runs). But it’s RUN DISNEY… What are you going to do?
I convinced myself it was just 3.1 miles, waited until the latest possible time I could board the race transport bus, and headed out in my double socks and fleece-lined rain jacket to earn my medal. Please note, this did ZERO FAVORS for my cute and carefully curated running costume.
Like all Disney race events, it was a lot of hurrying up to wait. They do a great job with the pre-race hype, including a DJ, special character photo opportunities, and massive dance party warm-ups. I will concede that it’s all a lot more enjoyable when you’re not cold and wet, but the people watching (and costume spotting!) more than made up for it.
Once we were out on the course, the rain really started to pick up. Part of not wanting to run in bad weather comes from a fear of slipping or injuring myself, so I planned to just walk the race until or unless I felt like I could jog safely. Most of the time I had my head down and my hood up, but I could see flashes of really fun costumes running by me and got a glimpse of several characters – in their warm weather wear, of course!
Rain and cold aside, a runDisney race course is just FUN, and this 5k was no exception. The highways and staging areas are sprinkled with on-course entertainment, and there is such a very special feeling that comes with jogging through an empty theme park. Running through EPCOT is always especially enjoyable because the Cast Members come out and cheer you on, representing their respective countries and pavilions while Disney songs blast through the park speakers. It’s just the best atmosphere!
The rain let up at the perfect time, and I was able to jog through most of EPCOT and to the finish line sans hood, with at least a glimpse at my Moana tutu and Heart of Te Fiti pendant.
Running this 5k was a good reminder of what my body is capable of, and proved that every mile really is magic - even for a princess in a rain poncho.
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