The inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon is done!
I signed up for this race in April hoping and wishing and praying that I’d make a friend to run with me. Well, that never happened. But, I did find someone that needed a ride to the race so Skinny Runner and I carpooled.
We met at 3:52am so she obviously had no time to change after her night job.
I’ve been burnt out on running and finally was excited about this race! I love Disney stuff so I have been looking forward to running through Disneyland. For a second I thought I was Tinker Bell and tried to fly. It wasn’t happening.
“You win again, Gravity!!!”
I hit up GoodWill last night for a throw away cover since my shirt was tissue thin.
But, it wasn’t very cold so I was ready to toss that thing before the start.
Just a sell out with my shells out…
Skinny Runner should change her name to Photo Runner because she ran with camera in hand and documented every mile, snot rocket, water stop, porta potty, back fat shot and Disney Character!
The first part of the course ran through Disneyland – it was still dark at this point. Running through the castle was pretty romantic awesome though! Main Street and Cinderella’s Castle were lit up and magical 
At about mile 3 we headed out of the D-land area and ran around Anaheim. There was a lot of crowd support through Downtown Disney and right out of the park. The course around Anaheim was nothing amazing, but there were some good bands and cheer squads!
Around Mile 11-ish we headed to California Adventure. This was perfect timing and pumps you up to finish the race! Plus, by this time the sun is up so you can really see and enjoy the sights and sounds of the park!
My side braid didn’t want to cooperate so I kept fussing with it the whole time. For some reason 2 braids work fine, but one braid is too thick and keeps jumping from front to back. Noted.
But, I am happy to report that my shell bra didn’t fall off! I was afraid one of my shells abandoned ship when someone yelled, “Areola!!” but it turns out they were just yelling “Ariel”! Whew!
Skinny Runner is significantly faster and skinnier than me so I thought she was going to take off and win the whole damn thing. But, she ended up running with me the entire time. We talked and enjoyed the course – it was the most fun I’ve had in a race.
Before I knew it we were at the finish line! This race really flew by!!
Tinker Bell Half Done in 1:50:25 – That’s pretty good considering we were talking (about vacations, races, ex-boyfriends, bowel movements and religion) the whole time!
Thank you SR for running with me, going to the porta potties twice before hand, taking pictures and looking the other way as I shoved an entire Clif Z bar in my mouth post race.
Question: What’s your favorite Disney Character?
![PUSHING YOURSELF when you are physically and mentally capable = an opportunity to get stronger, better, faster. ✅
PUSHING YOURSELF when you are NOT physically or mentally capable = risk injury, burnout & long term consequences. ❎
HOW CAN YOU TELL when to push vs. when to recover?? ⬅️ That comes with experience, self awareness, self compassion and a strong mindset with clear goals. 🎯
You learn along the way... during the ups and downs of training and racing and life (if you're paying attention). 🤸🏽♀️
Simone Biles has pushed herself beyond the limits of all other gymnasts in history. She knows how to push herself.
And in a sport where injuries are very common - she knows when to rest and recover. 💕
She and all the other gymnasts are doing AMAZING but also potentially DANGEROUS things at the Olympics. They make it look easy, but they're pushing the boundaries of what a human body can do! 💯
She's the GOAT. And if she needs to take a step back for any reason - physical, mental or because she forgot her lucky chonies - I 1000% support her.
But, it's not for me or anyone else to decide anyway.
We're all in charge of ourselves - from Olympians to new runners.
YOU are responsible for learning when to work harder and when to rest.
LISTEN when your body is trying to tell you something.
Be clear on your short term & long term goals and what you're willing to sacrifice to achieve them.
Be clear on what you're NOT willing to sacrifice.
SUPPORT others as they define their goals and boundaries so we normalize taking care of ourselves.
Take care. 💙
[Picture from the gymnastic Olympic Trials]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
Love this! I discovered your blog through SR, and really love it! Your story is really inspiring, and I can relate. I just got back into running (after not running since high school), and am up to 5 miles now. 🙂 I’m Disney obsessed, and told myself my first half needs to be Tink! 2013, here I come!!! If you’re doing it again, let me know! I’d love a running buddy! 🙂
I LOVE the Ariel outfit! You did good! I was thinking/hoping that was the costume you were coming up with! Love it!
Good job on cruising your way to a sub-2 half in the midst of chatting and photo taking frenzy. You girls rock.
I ran it too!!! It was so much amazing fun!! It was my very first half and I think it was a perfect first half because of all the fun and entertainment. 🙂
Disney races are on my wish list! Congrats on the run!
haha I love your costume!!! I am glad your shell bra didn’t jump ship.. but it would have made for a funny story 🙂
Awesome race report and great time! Tink is my fav character, so I HAD to run this race. My race report will be up later this week!
congratulations ladies! awesome costumes. 🙂
Great race! I also ran it and had so much fun – like you, most fun ever in a race. We stopped at every picture stop, brought a camera (although your pictures came out way better – mine are all dark and fuzzy), and finished in our slowest 1/2 time EVER, but had a blast. Btw, I love your blog!
I saw you and SR when I was getting up to Corral A yesterday! But I geeked out too much to say hi! So…hi! Are you running Surf City next weekend?!
Great costume–both of you–and great job! I definitely want to do this one next year; I love Disney and think it’d be a blast to run through the parks. Favorite character? That’s a tough one; I can’t choose just one!
Glad you had a great time! The costume turned out well. I think my favorite characters were Belle and Ariel. Don’t think I could really choose between the two.
Loved your costumes and I’m glad I got to catch your finish!!!
Disney races are so fun! Fave character? That’s a hard one for me……. I’d have to say Tigger or Snow White or Minnie….. there are just too many I like!
My favorite disney character is Minnie Mouse … she is always in a good mood and having a great time! http://www.dashingdiva.net
Both of you look great in your costumes!
Great job! I so want to run this race some day. Well any Disney race actually. Or all of them. You know.
PS – totally had coffee come up my nose thanks to the areola comment.
Great race!! My absolute favorite Disney character is Ariel! I’ve been obsessed with the Little Mermaid since it came out when I was 3….so naturally I love your costume!
you two looked soo darn cute!! 🙂 love the costumes!
great job Monica! 😀
You look stunning in that costume 😉 Congratulations! And double congrats for having FUN doing it!
Thanks Lindsay!
Probs Mulan, that girl knows what’s up. Her or Tigger? Is that an option?
How fun! Loved both of the costumes 🙂 Congrats on the speedy finish
I wasn’t too much of a Disney movie watcher when I was young but I do love Jasmin in Aladdin.
I’m a new reader of yours, but read your race recap this afternoon and loved the costume. This evening, my boyfriend and I were at our neighborhood Italian restaurant (I live in Santa Monica) and the local ABC news happened to be on a small tv in the corner. They had a piece on the race and I saw you and Skinny Runner on the screen running and waving! Too funny! Congrats on the race!
I just heard someone say they saw us on TV too! Crazy!
Love how your braided your hair!
Great Job, I bet that was fun running with a friend.
LMFAO @ Areola! Seriously!
My favorite Disney character has to be Thumper from Bambi! Something about that smart-ass bunny makes my giggle every time… I may have once nick-named an ex “Thumper” for reasons that remain to this day un-disclosed 😉
Ha!
It looks like a great time and a good friend in Skinny Runner:-Dcc
Now that looks like one fun race with two fun girls! My friends here in Indy hope to do the Disney Half in Orlando one of these Januarys 🙂
Great job on the race!! I can only hope that I can run a 1:50 half marathon. 🙂
My favorite character is the Genie.
OMG I just saw you on SR on the Channel 7 news!
AH!!! I wish I would have seen it!
Congrats! I’m a beauty and the beast (aka Belle) girl. Love that movie.
That looks like SO much fun!! I love dress up runs..even better if you can dress up like Disney characters and run with Toy Story. 😛
Congrats on a great race!! I have to say I’m a Cinderella girl 🙂
This race sounds like an awesome time (and I wish I could do it!). The costume looks great BTW! I think my favorite character might be Cinderella…
Aren’t Disney races awesome?! I ran the Goofy race and a half last month. It was the shortest 39.3 miles I have ever run!
You are hard core!
Great job! How is it after running your make up is still flawless?
Awww I never did spot either of you, but you are much faster than me so I didn’t think I would unless it was at the start.
I dressed up as Minnie too – with slightly less skin showing. Haha I’m not very creative but Team Sparkles Disney costume guide made it easy and I just added white dot stickers to a sparkly red skirt. I had to mess with my “ears” a lot and my gloves only lasted 2 miles, but all in all it worked out.
That one really did fly by. Got my 2nd fastest time but my knees hate me now.
Great job! Ice those knees 🙂
So Jealous! That medal is amazing. Did yall stop for pictures with the characters? Those would’ve been adorbs especially since yall dressed up!
We didn’t stop for pics. I was already slowing SR down enough!
Areola joke = one of your best jokes of all time! Well done, both in the race and the joke!!!
How funnn!! I cannot wait to run through the castle. I think my favorite is Cinderella or Ariel!
Cute costumes!
Congrats!! I love Disney races, so I really really enjoyed reading your recap! And I LOVED your costume, so creative!!! I hope I can get out there to do the Tinkerbell one of these days. 🙂
Congrats!! Your costume was cute and looks like you had a great time!!
What brand is your cute skirt?? I love it!!!
I think the skirt is a Body Glove cover up 🙂
I actually like Ursula (not just because she’s my twin…) Sense of empathy there. I’m clearly a messed up person because I also feel sorry for Scar (and think he’s rather cool) and think Iago needed his own movie. Not really a fan of the princesses though. A lot of jealous resentment going on there.
I love the Run, Eat/Skinny Runner alliance – you’re both so effortlessly funny and cool that you’re pretty much made for each other.
xxx
Way to go Monica!
My favorite is Tigger! Wait, is he Disney?
Great job on the costume and the run, looks like so much fun. Do they let you hang at the park and play after?
Nope, you can’t stay in the park 🙁
My favorite Disney character has to be Belle or Minnie!! Great job!
Oh, because I’m a crazy obssessed Disney chick, I have to correct you and point out that Cinderella’s castle is actually in Disney World. It’s Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland. Sorry, it was bugging me…yes I’m THAT girl :-/
Bah! I should have known that! Especially because Sleeping Beauty was standing outside the castle!
i ran the disneyworld half a few weeks ago in orlando and it was a blast!! disney is the most magical place on earth!
Congrats Monica! Sounds like you had a lot of fun.
My favorite Disney character has to be Belle 🙂
this race looks REALLY fun! it’s definitely on my list of races to complete in the future now. and i love your outfit – so perfect!
Good Job!! I love both of your costumes! I wish I had too much hair for one braid..one braid and I look like I am bald.
speaking of bald..have you seen that new app called “Make me bald”? OMG so funny. You should download it, take a picture of Ben and make him bald …so hilarious.
Yay! This recap gets me even more pumped for next month’s Princess Half! Your costume looked (and ran) great!!