I suspect I am not the only one among my particular audience that enjoys a Disney song or two in their running playlist. During my recent run streak my phone happened to throw “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid at me, which immediately reminded me of one of my all-time favorite runDisney memories. Technically I’ve recounted this incident before, but I think it deserves its own highlight. Let’s do it!
MY FAVORITE runDISNEY MEMORY (SOUNDTRACK CATEGORY)
The scene: the last couple miles of the 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon. It was the second runDisney race weekend and first Marathon Weekend since the COVID era cancelled everything. It was also the last time the WDW Marathon featured two of my favorite things about the race:
1. A finish through World Showcase, and
2. Disney movie songs playing all throughout Epcot – nary a pop song to be found.
This was the norm for several years, and I had had excellent luck entering Epcot in time for key training cycle songs. Most recently I had grooved to “Dig a Little Deeper” from The Princess & The Frog, and before that “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana almost brought me to tears right there on the course.
THE FLUKE IS THE DUKE OF SOUL
This time I wasn’t quite so lucky as to hear a top-five favorite, but I did get an all-around good one: “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid. A catchy classic! Naturally I began mouthing the words and making little dance-y arm gestures, because it helps you run faster. Did I say faster? I meant happier. Try it! (I think faster has something to do with elbow positioning…?)
Anyway, I was boppin’ along with Sebastian. It looked like this:
See? Very normal. Very dignified.
At this point in the race it was somewhere between 10 and 11am, which meant plenty of spectators – some purposeful, some accidental – roaming the side of the course. I happened to notice a couple standing off to the side, also singing along to “Under the Sea.” Sebastian was just hitting the first breakdown:
The newt play the flute/The carp play the harp/The plaice play the bass/And they soundin’ sharp/The bass play the brass/The chub play the tub/The fluke is the duke of soul –
And with every ounce of my music minor’s sense of rhythm, I pointed at the guy just in time for the track – and him – to say in perfect unison with a beautifully coordinated basso profundo,
“YEAH!”
It was glorious. I felt at one with the Disney universe. We each of us had a part to play in that moment, and we all delivered. I pumped my fist at the couple in appreciation as I ran out of their lives forever. Yet they remain eternally in my heart (yeah). Spectators really are the best.
A runDISNEY WISH: BRING BACK WORLD SHOWCASE & DISNEY SONGS
If I had one runDisney wish to make, I would first wish to bring back World Showcase finishes for ALL the races that used to have them (I know for a fact the Wine & Dine Half Marathon did, and I’m told the Princess Half once did as well).
But if I could make two wishes, I would also request the return of the Disney movie song finale in the last couple miles. We aren’t ALL Swifties, dangit!
Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!