Meet the Family: Katie

I am 36 years old from the sunny state of California and I have fallen in love with running and especially running Disney!   Registered nursing is my profession and passion and I am part of the night owl team in the emergency department, which means sleeping days and up all night make my schedule crazy at times.  I have a husband in school at the moment and 2 busy teenagers.  Needless to say, I'm a busy working wife and mom.  If I can find the time to run and train, ANYONE can!

Races completed:  I have run 3 half marathons, ALL at Disneyland.  2 were the Disneyland half and one was the Tinkerbell Half.  I have aspirations for WDW one day soon!  I have also completed 2 10k races.  One at Disneyland as part of the Dumbo Double Dare (which I highly recommend and will come in a later post) and 1 in San Francisco as part of the SF Giants race series.  As for 5k races, I have done many of those as well, although now looking back none have been at Disney.  Something else to put on my list!

Inspiration for running:  I have said this before but it bears repeating... I used to HATE running!  I loathed it in high school and never ran or even jogged as part of exercising, UNTIL I went to cheer on the family at the Disneyland Half Marathon in 2010.  In fact I was not only in awe of all the runners in costumes and their medals, I was jealous and wanted one too!  So, I found myself talking not only myself into training for the next Disneyland Half, but the hubby as well.  I will never be able to express what a HUGE inspiration Aly and Bill were to me that day and the impact of running my very first race at Disney was.  I will save all that for another post.

My favorite character:  I'm not sure I have a favorite character.  But if I had to choose one, I think I would pick Dumbo.  He was my favorite costume to date and inspired me during a very hot inaugural Dumbo Double Dare weekend in 2013!  However, I do own a lot of Mickey so I can't leave him out.  Remember, it all started with a mouse!

Why I love running Disney:  That's easy!!! Because no one else does it like Disney!!! There are lots of fun races out there, and I definitely have not tried them all, but there is something about Disney magic and costumes and running through the same streets that Walt walked himself that is inspiring and downright magical.  It is the place where dreams come true!!!

My advice for training:  Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!!! Beginning is not easy and takes loads of courage.  Focus on small goals at first,  like running to the end of the block or running 1 minute without stopping.  I posted before about the couch to 5k app.  It really did help me build up my runs.  Always remember that a "bad" run is better than no run. But be mindful of your body and how it feels.  NO INJURIES!!!  Joann had great advice about not comparing yourself to others.  Any distance is an accomplishment!!! Any race is an accomplishment!!!! Any finish or for that matter any start is an accomplishment!!!! If you are dreaming of running a Disney race and getting that Disney medal, DON'T stop, KEEP going, because dreams do come true!!!!