Waiting List

I'm on a waiting list. I finally registered for the Disneyland Half Marathon, and I'm on a waiting list. Apparently, in the last two weeks since I checked the site, it has sold out. I'm totally bummed. BUT there is still hope that I might get in! I will know by July. If they haven't contacted me by then, it looks like my first run will be the Princess Marathon. I'm REALLY hoping I can do the Disneyland Marathon- I need something to run for!

Walking for Babies

In preparation for my half marathon, I am going to get things rolling by walking 5 miles for babies.
http://www.marchforbabies.org/KrystaR
May 7th, Newport Beach.
I've done the March of Dimes walk before in Pennsylvania. It's a fantastic organization, and as long as I can find a walk to do, I will always participate.

one day... all babies will be born healthy
today... too many moms and families know the heartbreak of having a baby born fighting to survive
I've joined March for Babies because the March of Dimes champions the needs of moms and babies in our community and across the nation. The money we raise for March for Babies will help:
- support all-important research offering preventions and solutions for babies born too soon or with birth defects
- educate women on things they can do to increase their chances of having a healthy baby
- provide comfort and information to families with a newborn in intensive care
- push for newborn screening and health insurance for all pregnant women and children
Please help by donating today!
It's easy, safe and secure - just click to make your donation.
The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

Update... A New Plan... Disneyland Half Marathon!

A week from today, Team Believe *should have* been participating in their first marathon ever- The Disney Princess Half Marathon in Florida. But I guess life happens. Poor Janelle, could no longer train. Yes, the other half of Team Believe, moved across the country, got a new job, and had zero time for running. I do not trust myself without a team mate. I knew I would probably not finish the race if I tried it on my own. I just didn't trust myself to do it alone. Especially because it would be my first half marathon ever AND it was very expensive. I don't feel comfortable spending that kind of money, knowing the chances were 50/50. So, Team Believe and the hopes of getting that tiara medal, diminished....

This does not mean that I have given up! I will continue to blog about running and my struggles. Team Believe now reaches out to everyone who wants to do this and needs someone else to do it with them. So, although Team Believe won't be attending the 2011 Princess Half Marathon, there's another marathon coming up that's closer- the 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon! Although I'm pretty sad that the Princess marathon won't be my "first", I guess it makes more sense that my first would be at Disneyland. I've lived and breathed Disneyland my whole life. I love it to pieces! I know it like the back of my hand, probably better. I've worked there, I'm an annual passholder, and it's just part of my life. I'm excited that this is something I've never experienced at Disneyland. I love those rare Disneyland firsts. Like when a new attraction opens, or a new parade begins.

In a way, this marathon will be a little more difficult. The Disneyland Half Marathon is open to everyone, male and female. That's a little intimidating. But it will also be more fun, because I already know a few people who are participating!

Here's the info on the Disneyland Half Marathon:

September 4, 2011, 6:00 a.m.

The perfect ending to a magical weekend, the Disneyland® Half Marathon is a 13.1-mile journey through the Happiest Place on Earth! Retrace Walt Disney's footsteps during a magical run starting at Disneyland® Park before taking runners into Disney California Adventure™ Park and onto the streets of Anaheim, before a magical finish by the Disneyland® Hotel. Memories are sure to be made on an experience you'll never forget!

The Disneyland® Half Marathon features:

• Timed Half Marathon race
• A course through Disneyland® Resort and the City of Anaheim, California including Disneyland® Park, Disney California Adventure™ Park.
• Disney-themed Entertainment on-course with your favorite Disney characters
• Event weekend transportation provided by the Anaheim Transportation Network.

Each participant's registration in the Disneyland® Half Marathon will include:

• Champion® Race Tech Shirt
• Finisher Medal
• Official Race Program Guide
• Personalized race bib (register before July 1, 2011)
• On-course and post-race refreshments
• Goody Bag

Schedule

Packet Pick-Up

All runners must attend the Disneyland® Health & Fitness Expo for race number and Packet Pick-Up.

To see more information about the Packet Pick-Up process and Absentee Packet Pick-Up, please visit our Event Details page.

Disneyland® Health & Fitness Expo

Friday, September 2, 2011
Noon – 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 3, 2011
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Disneyland® Hotel Exhibit Hall

Pasta in the Park Party

Saturday, September 3, 2011
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Disneyland® Park

Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend Races

Disneyland® Family Fun Run 5K
Saturday, September 3, 2011
6:45 a.m.
Disneyland® Resort

Disneyland® Kids' Races
Saturday, September 3, 2011
10:00 a.m.
Downtown Disney® District, near ESPN Zone®

Disneyland® Half Marathon
Sunday, September 4, 2011
6:00 a.m.
Disneyland® Resort and the City of Anaheim

Timing & Results

The Disneyland® Half Marathon is a timed event with a 16 minute per mile pace requirement. Anyone not able to maintain the respective paces may be picked up and transported to the finish. You may be picked up at any point along the course for not maintaining pace. The ChronoTrack timing system will be used for this race. A ChronoTrack timing D-tag will be located on the back of the race bib. The disposable D-tag should be peeled off and attached to the participant's shoe before the race.

Results will be posted at runDisney.com/Disneyland following the conclusion of the race.
CourseThe course for this magical event will take runners from the Disney California Adventure™ Park, celebrating California's storied past and exciting future, to the Disneyland® Park where you will explore the fantastic "lands" of nostalgia, color and delight. Then it is on to the scenic streets of Anaheim, past the Honda Center, home of the Anaheim Ducks, along the Santa Ana Trail overlooking the Santa Ana River, by Angel Stadium, home of the MLB's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and then past Disney's Paradise Pier® Hotel and the Disneyland® Hotel for an exciting finish of the Happiest Race on Earth! Ideal weather and a flat loop course set the stage for an exhilarating Half Marathon designed to shatter personal bests.
Beneficiary

Anaheim Community Foundation

The Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend benefits the Anaheim Community Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing and improving programs, services, and facilities not ordinarily supported by the government, which enrich the lives of Anaheim residents. With the support of thousands of volunteers, the Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend will help to enhance or expand a wide variety of programs that greatly benefit the Anaheim community. The Anaheim Community Foundation is proud of their more than twenty years of building community through people, partnerships and pride.

To learn more, visit www.anaheimcommfound.org.

The cost I pay for entering will help the Anaheim Community Foundation. However, anything beyond that, I would like to donate to Autism Speaks. As many of you know, my brother C.J. is Autistic. He wasn't too thrilled about being part of our Princess Half Marathon, so I'm glad there is something none-princessy to include him in =) C.J. will be 16 this year! He loves the Patriots and is currently weight training in hopes of making his high school football team.

I have left most of the Princess Marathon stuff up because I still hope to participate in it. My goal is set for 2012 so that I can officially run "Coast to Coast" with Disney (there are even special coast-to-coast medals!). Although I don't know if they will still be supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I will still be raising money for Diabetes Research in honor of my grandma.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has already donated towards the Princess Marathon. I will be using it for the Anaheim Community Foundation and Autism Speaks unless otherwise instructed (I can save it for the Princess Half Marathon if you specifically wanted to donate towards Diabetes Research or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society- just let me know). If you would like to make a donation to the Disneyland Half Marathon and beneficiaries, please use the link on the top left of this blog.

I'm really happy to be training for something once again. It helps tremendously when you have a goal. I still feel the same way when I started this journey and am very excited be participating in these fun marathons!

A Runner's Story From Last Year's Half Marathon

http://lindasmarathonrun.blogspot.com/2009/03/disneys-princess-12-marathon-weekend.html

"We made our way over to the Start line and to our assigned corrals. It was cold out at 55 degrees with 87% humidity. But, I know Orlando, and I knew that once the sun got up, it would warm up very quickly. A few women from Northern states were saying how glad they were they were wearing their running tights. I was thinking they would not be so happy about that in about an hour.
The race started and we slowly moved towards the Start Line. There were 8000 women running the half marathon this morning. I was in the middle corral, and it took me a full 5 min after the start to reach the timing mats. I had already decided to run for as long as I could. I am a slow runner; but, I am a really slow walker and I was afraid I would not make the 16 min/mile minimum speed if I walked the whole thing.
So, the running today was good. Really good. Disney had many diversions planned to entertain us all along the way. There were quiz questions on the route, and many characters to be photographed with. We ran from Epcot into the Magic Kingdom and through Cinderella's Castle. It was soooo much fun!!!
Once the sun came up, the temperature soared up into the 80s. I stayed well hydrated. I was on pace between 13:30 -13:45 for the first 9 miles, and was looking at a finish in under 3 hours. I was not in any pain, and could have kept going ... if it weren't for being so well hydrated and having to make a Port-a-potty stop. There were huge lines at all the potties, so it took awhile.
After that, when I started running again I had a cramp in my right quad (the inner most one). This was really strange. I have NEVER had quad trouble even when I take the downside of bridges too fast. I slowed down to walk it out; but, my quad was not having it. So I had to fully stop and stretch and massage it. It loosened up a bit, and I could walk on it. So mile 9-10 was around 20 min (yikes!). I did some run/walking for the next mile.
Mile 11 started up a hill - an interstate overpass, actually. I came up on a young woman (early 20s) who was crying and talking to herself saying, "Come on. You have to keep going". I stopped and walked next to her and asked if she was OK. All she could say was, "the hill .. I can't". So I told her she could, and I would walk it with her. So I stayed with her up the hill and down the other side until mile 12. By then, I didn't care about time anymore. I knew I would finish, so no big deal.
At mile 12, the course flattened out again, and we were back in Epcot! Before I knew it, I was crossing the finish line. As soon as I did, I was ushered to a recovery area where a Disney medical person removed my knee brace, and wrapped an ice pack around my knee. That was very nice.
After I exited the area and received my medal, I went back to the Race Retreat for an after race brunch. There was plenty to eat and drink, and a nice place to rest for a bit.

MY thoughts on the run, itself --- I am not a fast runner. I probably never will be. Sure, I'd like to improve my time. Possibly I could have done that today. But, I realized something else today. For me, it's really not about the finish line. It's about the road there. And, this weekend the road was excellent! :-) "

Believe It, We're Doing It!

Janelle and I think up some crazy things. Moves, jobs, a birthday party for Barbie?....
This time, you won't believe what we have gone and gotten ourselves into.......
We are going to run in a half marathon for the FIRST TIME EVER.
Not just any marathon- the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Orlando, Florida around Epcot and the Magic Kingdom! Now that's our kind of marathon!
My body is already in nervous shock from the anticipation. Did I mention that I hate running. Like, H-A-T-E it. I never do it. Heck I don't do any exercise! So why are we doing this half marathon? I'll tell you why..... because only Disney can get me to run. Yes, it's true. I tried participating in "Biggest Loser Contest" at the office thinking it would motivate me to actually "be fit"... That was a giant laugh. I got a dog thinking I would walk more... that didn't work either.
My Co-Worker and friend, Mele, my parents, and my long time friend, Vanessa have given me hope and encouragement that this can be done. That I, the lazy bum, can do this. I need to do this to stay healthy. I need to find motivation to keep my heart and lungs strong. One of the motivants behind this particular half marathon is to educate women in health and fitness. I am definitely that target. In fact, the weekend kicks off with the Fit For a Princess Expo. Fit Princess = Me.
Besides running for our health, we're also running for some great organizations. Disney is raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Just by registering and participating, we're contributing to their program. However, Janelle and I would also like to run for the Diabetes Research Institute on behalf of my grandma, her royal highness, Grandma K! Anything we raise beyond the registration fees will go to diabetes research. We're running for you, Grandma!
Your help would be greatly appreciated. No, we don't expect you to run along side of us - so you can breathe that sigh of relief! But, a sponsorship donation would be AWESOME. Just use the link on the left to send a payment. If you know anyone who would like to contribute, please forward the link to this blog or our e-mail address, teambelieve2011@gmail.com.
The below post contains more information about the run. I'll continually update this blog with posts of how our training is going. It should be quite funny!
Thank you for tagging along on this journey. We hope it brings inspiration to others and encourages everyone to BELIEVE.
~Krysta

Information About Disney's Princess Half Marathon

Disney's Princess Half Marathon
Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 6:00 a.m.
Start and Finish: Epcot®

Think you've got the commitment, perseverance and determination to be a true princess? Disney's Princess Half Marathon gives you the chance to prove it. Grab your best friends (or woodland creatures) and register today for a royal quest through 13.1 miles of the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida.

This race experience is fit for a princess earning her glass running slippers or a woman who runs her kingdom already. Gather your girlfriends for a magical getaway now, so you can all earn your Princess Half Marathon Tiara Finisher Medal!

Disney's Princess Half Marathon features:

Women's focused half marathon

A course through Magic Kingdom® Park including Cinderella Castle and Epcot®

Disney Princess themed Entertainment on-course and maybe a visit from Prince Charming and friends

Event Weekend Transportation is included if you stay at one of the Event's Host Resorts

Each participant's registration in Disney's Princess Half Marathon will include:


Race Registration

Commemorative Champion® Ladies Tech Shirt

Goody Bag

Event Weekend Transportation from Select Resort Hotels only

Personalized Bib (Must register by January 1st for names to appear on bibs.)

On Course Refreshments

On Course Disney Entertainment

Post-Race Refreshments

Family Reunion Area with live entertainment and characters

Half Marathon Finishers receive a very special Princess medal

A one-year subscription to REDBOOK* (a $3.92 value). Offer and refund details. *Subscription offer valid for US residents only.

All event information is subject to change.

Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®(LLS), an organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancers. With the support of thousands of volunteers and participants in LLS's Team In Training program, the Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend will help blood cancer patients live better, longer lives.
LLS uses Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend as a platform to create awareness of this life saving cause, as well as to raise much needed funds for research. Participants and volunteers have the opportunity to make donations to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society directly at the point of registration or by visiting our website at www.disneyprincesshalfmarathon.com.

THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®(LLS), headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 68 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $550 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, LLS made 5.1 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. To learn more, visit http://www.lls.org/.