You Inspire Me

You all inspire me to blog! Your questions often illicit answers that make me think "That is worthy of a blog post!"

Here is one such comment/question.

Andolise Bradshaw

"I love looking at your pics. WHAT an inspiration you are! I was curious after doing the Dopey challenge how are you feeling? Mentally &/or physically exhausted?"

The Dopey Challenge was an amazing experience.  I totally goofed around during the 5k, 10k and half and that made all the difference.  My plan was to have so much fun I would be able to run 48.6 miles and cross 4 finish lines! It worked! Of course I had nothing left in me when I finished, but I did feel like I could have run another half on Monday.  My body had become accustomed to the schedule and the effort. Then again when it was all over mid morning on Monday my body began to shut down driving to the airport.  My "Disney high" kept me going until it was over.  

I had just enough left in me to climb into the stands and watch my sister and trip mates cross the marathon finish line! Watching there effort was spectacular! These races mean so much to so many! 

Let it Go! Dopey Challenge Anthem

It was totally a Let it Go week for me! I let all those Dopey miles slide away from me as I ticked them off and let them go for even better ones ahead! I am completely and utterly a mental runner and this song is my anthem!

From the moment I saw Frozen I knew I was going to kick some Dopey butt this weekend! It was just the mental edge that I needed! If runDisney ever wants to get into the mind of a mental runner, i'm their girl! Until then I will keep running with the knowledge that I am one with the wind and the sky and I can do anything!!!

WDW Marathon! Leg 4 in the Dopey Challenge!

Minnie Marathon Bra goes the distance

You know the Minnie Marathon Bra by Champion was up to the 10k challenge and it passed my half marathon challenge, but the best news of all is that in the third successive day of racing the bra passed my marathon test with flying colors! No chafing, no fuss, no body glide! For me this bra is all that it is advertised to be! I will never run long in anything else ever again! 

The Minnie model is only being sold at runDisney race expos for those of you hoping to pick one up. I will be adding some other colors to my running bra arsenal. The basic bra is for sale at ChampionUSA.com and at major sporting goods retailers for around $48. I ran in a size large if you are wondering.

                                          

                                    Around mile 19 in the WDW Marathon! 

ChampionUSA provided this bra so that I could road test it and review the product. All of the above thoughts are my own. 

runDisney is my #DisneySide

My #DisneySide got a lot shinier this weekend with my completion of the inaugural @runDisney #DopeyChallenge! Tonight I am safely back at home in Rhode Island. 

I returned home to some amazing news. I will be hosting a Disney Side party in February! I will be including elements of my favorite Disney Side which is of course @runDisney! More details to follow! 

Minnie Marathon Bra

When the runDisney blog posted the new Minnie Marathon Bra made by Champion I was very excited! I run exclusively in Champion bras ... the $17 version from Target. I was a bit shocked to see that it was going to retail for $54! My plan was to look at it, but there was only a slim chance I would try it on. 

When I saw the bra at the WDW Marathon expo it was as good as it looked online! 

Champion provided me with a Minnie Marathon Bra to test run during the Inaugural Minnie 10k. I know what you are thinking ... Is she crazy? I had never run in the bra before and I was going to race in it! Yes I am crazy! So crazy that I did not apply the usual body glide and challenged the bra to prove its "no chafe, no bulk, no sweat" promise! 

Well it preformed impeccably! It felt amazing! Like I never even was aware of it! Of course I knew I was wearing a bra, but it was a zero issue bra. After the race I was thrilled with its performance. We all know how it usually turns out ... you strip down for your shower and immediately see where your bra failed. Painful red chafing that burns when you get it wet. To my utter surprise I was entirely free and clear of all chafing! I was 100% unscathed! 

So why have a fancy fun bra that no one will see? Well it is only $6 more and darn it, it makes me happy! Plus it turned out it worked amazingly well with my Minnie Mouse polka dot running dress. There are those ladies who can wear the bra shirtless with confidence and cheers to you, but I probably won't be one of them. Of course I am sharing a story about my bra with all of you, so who knows maybe one day I will wear it running for all to see!

I washed the bra and plan to wear it again tomorrow. This time for Donald's Half Marathon. We see how it does over twice the distance. 

Day two update: I wore the bra for the half and again it preformed amazingly! I was fully saturated, dripping with sweat for most of the half marathon, and again I had no chafing! So I am taking this challenge all the way! I am going to wear the Minnie Marathon Bra in the Mickey Marathon! I am putting it to the full distance test!

You all know (I am sure) that things (including garments) work or don't work depending on any number of factors. One of the basic principals of running is don't try new things on race day! I obviously threw this out the window on this one. 

Champion provided this bra free of charge for me to test run. They placed no requirements on me in exchange. I did offer to post my thoughts on the bras performance on social media. All of the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. 

My Dopey Challenge costume lineup

So here it is...my Dopey Challenge costume lineup!

The WDW 5k as Elsa from Frozen!

The WDW Minnie 10k as you guessed it Minnie!

The WDW Donald Half Marathon as a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar! I had so much fun running in this costume at Wine & Dine I am wearing it again!

The WDW Mickey Marathon is getting the full runDisney treatment with sparkly runner Mickey on a blue running dress! 

Of course Dopey has my back on this fourth leg of his challenge! I am going to need his support! 

Make sure you say hello and stop for a photo if you see me! That's why I am sharing my costumes early. Travel safe and see you real soon in wonderful Walt Disney World !

Karen asked which one was my favorite? Here is my answer! 

Elsa because the cold never bothered me anyway. 

Minnie because she taught me I can really run a marathon in ears! 

The Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar because hello...it's a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar and the crowd loves it! 

Finally my runDisney Mickey and Dopey dress because it is elegant simplicity! 

Thanks for asking Karen!

Are you a Goofy lady - runDisney and New Balance

 

2014 New Balance runDisney Collection

As soon as New Balance announced that they were launching 890s as well as 860s I was immediately drawn in to learn more. This is what all the neutral runners were asking for and they were actually going to do it! My issue was that I was more interested in the Goofy shoe than the Cinderella shoe. Yes I am female and the Goofy shoe is a men's model, but maybe it would work. 

M890DIS Goofy

W890DIS Cinderella

I contacted New Balance to get their opinion. They were willing to send me a pair of M890 for me to try, but they could not send the Goofy runDisney overlay. What I received was a pair of M890NYC4. I was so excited when I opened the box! These shoes are amazing in their detail! I was instantly doubly excited about this project! 

The test run went great! I did 4-5 miles in them. I had noted right off the top that they listed as being .5 cm shorter than the W890 women's pair that I use. I run in a women's 8.5 and these are a men's 7. I was advises that the conversion is one and a half shoe sizes smaller. Turns out the 7s were too short for me, but that is because the NYC overlay model ran half a size too small according to New Balance. 

So when I go shopping for my Goofy shoes on Wednesday morning I am going to ask for a size 7.

Competitor posted a great article about the whole line of 2014 runDisney New Balance shoes. 

If you want to learn about the purchasing procedures for these shoes at the 2014 runDisney WDWMarathon Weekend Expo you should read this runDisney blog post.

New Balance provided me a pair of M890NYC4 running shoes free of charge. They did not require anything in return. I engaged them hoping to learn more about the Goofy shoe and it's potential use by women.