Top Ten Reasons I Think I Can Run/Survive a Half-Marathon

10.            I have an awesome playlist – I can’t stress how important this is.  Strangely, most of the music on my list is stuff I’ve stolen from my kids, but when I listen to it, I don’t really feel like I’m pushing 40.

9.            If Greg can do it, I can do it – I love my little brother, and if any of you know us Homer’s, you know that we weren’t exactly built to be runners.  I would say that we’re pleasantly plump, and plumpness is kind of funny to watch run.  Nevermind that, though.  Greg decided to run the Disney Wine & Dine Half-Marathon with his wife Sarah in 2011, and that pretty much started the fascination with RunDisney.  My point is this... he has worked really hard to be a runner and I really admire that about him.  Why he keeps signing up for these races, I don’t know that I’ll ever understand, but I’m glad he does, because it’s loaning me some confidence for this weekend.

8.            Ummmm, it’s Disney – Now I’m not a huge racer, but I have been to enough of these events to be able to say that all are not created equal.  The running community is awesome.  Because you mostly compete against yourself, everyone is super supportive and really works hard to encourage you to do your best wherever you are.  I have been the last person to cross the line and not the last person (never the first) and I have always felt supported.  Anyway, Disney races have characters, and marching bands, and DJ’s and cast members and all sorts of fun stuff.  I’ve heard Matt talk about it for the last two years.  I’m looking forward to seeing it first hand.

7.            If it is truly a bucket list item, I have to survive in order to check it off – 5 years ago, I would have said that I would have had to be facing certain death if you expected me to run..... now it’s pretty much just perceived death.  Gotta do it anyway.

6.            I have a cute costume to run in – Matt and I have some great costumes.... He’s running as Ralph, from Wreck-It Ralph and I am running as Vanellope von Schweetz.  Definitely check back for pics from the race.  I will try and get some good pics before we are all nasty and sweaty, but there will probably be some of those featured as well.  I even have cute matchy earrings.... just sayin’.

5.            I’m running it with my handsome husband - (something I never thought we’d do together.)  He will tell you that he’s always thought it was possible but never likely.  Well, here we go.  I know that if Matt’s at my side, I can do anything.  I know that sounds totally cheesy, but I must admit that it’s the reason I’ve stuck with my kids so long.  He has promised that he’ll stick with me and I have promised that I’ll let him take off if the course sweepers come through to kick us off the course.  It’s a mutually beneficial understanding.

4.            I have to be there to keep Sarah from going into labor – A year ago, when we decided to run, Sarah wasn’t pregnant.  Now she is and she’s been warned by several of us not to push it.  So, we’ve got a killer run/walk strategy that will hopefully allow us both to claim our awesome Donald Duck Finisher Medal without any medical complications.  Matt and I will carry her, if we have to.

3.            There’s a Dooney & Burke purse at the end if I finish (a.k.a. Matt’s bribe) - Every year, Disney partners with Dooney & Burket to create special edition purses to commemorate the races.  I told Matt that I wanted one last year when we were walking through the Expo.  He told me (jokingly I bet) that if I’d run, he’d buy me one.  Needless to say, that is the carrot that I’ll be dangling in front of myself between Mile 9-12.  Can’t you hear me chanting, “new purse, new purse, new purse?”

2.            Awesome music, crowd and entertainment all along the way – As mentioned before, Disney races are special and I’m glad to have such an awesome supportive environment for my first/last half-marathon.

1.            Bury any remaining doubts I have about myself doing hard things – This transformative journey I have been is not over, although I can say that I am settling into this new normal.  I still don’t know that I love to exercise; that may never happen.  I know that Hershey’s Kisses are still a very real slippery slope for me and that although I like protein, mashed potatoes have always been and will always be my favorite.  This race is my chance to prove to myself that although I’m not perfect, and will probably never be there, I can work hard, push through and accomplish my goals.  This paradigm shift has been hard, but oh so worth it.