races - The Fairest Run Of All

Half A Race Schedule Is Better Than No Race Schedule At All, Right?

October 5, 2021October 5, 20212 Comments

We still live in uncertain times, but I’m feeling hopeful enough to wedge a race schedule in there anyway. Well, half a race schedule. Not ENOUGH races, but some. Not the WHOLE year, but part. And yeah, sure, most are retreads of runDisney races, but I’m registered! That’s what counts! And so I am officially looking forward to: The Wine & Dine Half Marathon, November 2021 Continuing my registration strategy of registering for EVERYTHING. I’ve been thwarted at every turn so far but it’ll pay off eventually, I just know it. Plus Pat’s really excited for his first ever...

Like A Flash Mob, But Running: Tales Of The Reluctant Spectator

September 21, 2021October 11, 2021Leave a comment

Oh my gosh, you know what cracks me up every time? When you’re running a race in a downtown/populated area and there are people there that clearly had NO idea there was a race happening. I’ve kinda-sorta talked about this before, specifically in a runDisney context – once upon a time Elizabeth and I dashed about Walt Disney World ourselves dodging marathon and half marathon – but that was different. We were vaguely aware there were races happening, so while we were mildly inconvenienced in unexpected ways at times, it wasn’t completely out of left field. I don’t know...

runDisney Race Registration Has NOT Been A Nightmare?!

August 25, 2021August 25, 2021Leave a comment

Back in 2020, when runDisney was still operating as though races would continue in the coming year, the 2021 WDW Marathon (RIP) sold out in record time. How fast, you ask? My race buddy was thirty minutes behind registration opening and the marathon was already sold out. And that’s the full marathon, which historically has been a waltz. Yikes! Mind you, that was with alleged COVID-induced registration caps and such, and anyway the race ended up cancelled. But when runDisney relaunched the race season, I was scared. With pent up demand for an already popular race, how hard would...

In Which Jenn Identifies A Gap In The runDisney Expo Market

August 6, 2021August 6, 20212 Comments

The Wilmington Marathon isn’t, say, runDisney or Marine Corps Marathon big, with fancy sponsors and thousands of participants. But it’s gotten big enough to have its expo in a convention hall, which is where I found myself for bib pickup the day before the race. There was all the usual stuff – official race merch, running store and athletic store booths, local businesses – and one thing more: discounted old race gear. Not for the current race, of course, but the organization puts on multiple events per year and was selling some leftover stuff from races past for, I kid...

In Which Jenn Is A Figment Of Your Imagination

July 1, 2021August 16, 2021Leave a comment

The full trip report is over, but the details still need filling in. Read on for more May 2021 WDW fun! It happened!!! It finally happened!!!! runDisney has officially announced new, in person races! Including Wine & Dine for this November. I KNEW holding onto my resort reservations was a good idea. Hooray!!!!!! Now all I have to do is not have a nervous breakdown while wildly grappling for race registrations before they sell out. 😅 But then: celebration! So much of my year revolves around joyously training and planning for these races; as silly as it sounds, I feel...

In Which Jenn Recaps The 2021 Wilmington Marathon

April 20, 2021August 16, 20212 Comments

I’m gonna be up front with you guys: the Wilmington Marathon went poorly. But it went, so I’m gonna tell you about it. I’m consistent like that. It all started out okay: I woke up on time, fueled up, taped up, dressed, and made it to downtown Wilmington without incident. Weather ranged from 55 in the morning to the low 70s later in the day, which is a little chilly for me but most would call it perfect running weather. There was both a Wilmington Marathon and Half Marathon going off that morning, and due to COVID restrictions runners...

In Which Jenn Is Finally Running That Marathon TOMORROW

April 16, 2021August 16, 2021Leave a comment

Hello! I have two items of exciting news: I am currently 80% vaccinated and will be receiving my final COVID booster shot on Tuesday! I am finally running my 15th marathon TOMORROW! It’s crazy to think that I haven’t run a marathon in over a year. I haven’t had that much time between marathons… ever. I ran my first marathon in 2014 and then from 2015 on I ran two to three every single year. If nothing else, there was my rock, my staple, the Walt Disney World Marathon, every year in January. But with the tragic cancellation of this year’s...

The Nightmare Before Race Day

April 5, 2021August 16, 2021Leave a comment

Remember last year when Pat bought me Spaceship Earth leggings just in time for my race costume? Well, he’s done it again! Okay, yes, I haven’t had a runDisney race in… oh, dang, well over a year. No wonder I’m so depressed. But I have to believe they’re going to come back, and when they do, I need to be ready and I need to have race costumes. Here’s another one: remember my Sally the Ragdoll race costume from WDW Marathon 2020? Because Pat did NOT. (Admittedly he wasn’t there.) But he knows that I love The Nightmare Before Christmas and...

In Which Jenn’s 15th Marathon Continues To Give Chase

January 22, 2021August 16, 20212 Comments

The 2020 Wilmington Marathon was supposed to be my fifteenth marathon. Scheduled for March, it was cancelled, my first COVID race casualty. So then the 2021 Walt Disney World Marathon was in position to become my fifteenth marathon. Painfully but understandably, it was cancelled, alongside the Princess Half and Star Wars Half weekends. Which brought me back around to the 2021 Wilmington Marathon, where my deferred registration had landed after last year’s cancellation. I’d imagine the race organizers thought they’d be free and clear by February 2021. Alas and alack. Still, it’s run by the same organizers who safely put...

Happy Friday: How To Make Virtual runDisney More Realistic

January 15, 2021August 16, 2021Leave a comment

I’ve said it many times before: unfortunately, I’m not all that big on virtual races. Whenever a runDisney race has been cancelled of late, I’ve always taken the refund rather than switch to the virtual version. But there are many who disagree with me, including the thousands who performed a virtual WDW Marathon Weekend race (or 2 or 4) last weekend. One such individual was Justin Stone, who tackled an at-home Dopey Challenge. Not content to simply wear a bib and accept a medal upon the completion of his requisite miles, he decided to make his virtual runDisney experience...