What Do You Do With A Problem Like Balloon Ladies? 

Okay so in case you don’t know at runDisney events (except the 5k’s) you must stay ahead of a 16 minute mile or you will be pulled off the course.  To make the 16 minute mile the last people to cross the start line are these ladies carrying big balloons.  If they catch you and you stay behind them you are pulled from the race.  So as always I sort of plan my picture photo ops along the course based on how far ahead of them I am.  So before I even start to get ready for the morning I plot out their points.

My 2025 Princess Half BL Estimates by time:
6:16 mile 1
6:32 mile 2
6:48 mile 3
7:04 mile 4
7:20 mile 5
7:26 mile 6
7:42 mile 7
7:58 mile 8
8:14 mile 9
8:30 mile 10
8:46 mile 11
9:02 mile 12
9:18 mile 13

With that in mind I told myself, self: I think I may only do Villains for photo ops.

Parked the car in the Epcot Parking Lot Section: WALL·E 407.  I was there before the were letting us in past security.  Maybe too early? Nah!  Cuz…

2:30 means getting all the character photos before 3am

Evil Queen

Snow White

Aurora

Maleficent

Since I was done so quick I was hanging around and ran into a coworker who was doing the Half also but in a different corral.

Had to pee three times so now further back in my corral. Doh. Just gotta keep moving.  No it’s start time.  GO GO GO!

Mulan – Skipped.  I got Mulan at the Expo.

Moana – Skipped.  Regret that.  I don’t think I have a pix with her.

Sleeping Beauty – Skipped.  Been there done that.  

Goofy – Skipped.  

Water

2.02 bathroom / under monorail into bushes  The line was so long a bunch of pee’d in the bushes while the Monorail was above us.  Sort of a cool moment!

Maribel & Bruno Stop #1 5:47am / 30 min

We don’t talk about my pace today #bruno #rundisney #princesshfmarathon #teamrundis

Water

Daisy Duck Stop #2 at 45.39 x 3.21 mile

Donald Duck – Skipped.  

Ballon Ladies Start 6:07 so almost an hour ahead!!

Mile 4 – narrow & construction / Near Grand Floridian

Penelope Stop  #3- 69:43 at 4.82

Stopped to get a Sugar Rush from Vanellope von Schweetz #rundisney #princesshfmarathon #teamrundis

Feeling it. Yikes. Thanks god for the photo pass rest

Aladdin and Jasmine Stop  #4 5.76 m 87 min

Princess & Frog Stop #5 5.88 miles

Beignet Time with Prince Naveen and Princess Tiana #rundisney #princesshfmarathon #teamrundis

Balloon Ladies at 5k at 6:57 at 16 min mile

Beauty and The Beast Stop #6 7.31 m at 1:54.28

If I don’t finish this race before the last rose pedal falls I will be stuck as Maleficient forever. Had to ask Belle and Beast how to break the curse. #rundisney #princesshfmarathon #teamrundis

Walking. Walking

Old Witch Stop #7 mile 10

This Old Man asked an Old Witch to cast a finisher spell on me. #rundisney #princesshfmarathon #teamrundis

And now comes the bad part…

Will The Balloon Ladies Get Me?

I signed up for the Princess Challenge as it was a week after my 55th Bidthday. I downloaded a training program but life got in the way. I’m pretty fit and workout regularly but just didn’t get in the runs

I would do a 15 or 20 min Peloton Walk+Run class a few times a week. The 10K went well and I jogged at a 12:30 min pace while pausing for a few character shots.

Then the Half. I was able to keep the 12:30 jog pace with pauses for a

few character shots. Then mile 8 I started to struggle. By mile 9 I was walking.

Thank God for the 3 Hour Pace Group. I ran into them about mile 10 and pretty much finished with them. I really don’t know if I would have made it without them. Having a group to keep track of the Walk and Runs freed my mind from doubt and soldiered on.

I forgot the leaders names but they truly are the greatest Prince and Princess on the course yesterday.

Now I probably should have stopped at the medical tent when I was done but wanted to get my medals. I’m gonna pretend that I’m fine. I think my costume at least the wings started to cut off circulation in my arms. Right now I made a pit stop to get Dunkin Donuts on my way to my hotel.