All major marathons and any sponsored races are “corporate”…I am extremely dismayed to be soon running a marathon sponsored by Miller Lite, a product that goes against everything I believe it…all I can say about *half* marathons is that they’re for “girls”…pfffffffft!

The costuming isn’t all that unusual. I’ve run half marathons with people dressed as pirates and animals and a variety of other things (sometimes themed to the race, sometimes just…different). Can I imagine racing in anything other than clothes I had trained in? No, but if people get a kick out of it, great. It’s part of the atmosphere of the race, and I love watching the dressed up people run past (or better yet, running past them). It’s fun. Run Disney has a variety of events and the Princess Half is just one of a variety of marathons and half marathons that are targeted at women (sponsored by other companies). Disney has plenty of running options for the non-princesses. I’d rather run a race sponsored by Disney than by Miller Lite.

Meh, you should see the costumes at the Detroit Turkey Trot. Just about every single race, no matter the distance, is corporate sponsored. And you know, if I were local, I might try the Disney half, simply because *I* haven’t done one yet (talk to me in October…) and there’s far less intimidation at a race like this. Heck, even the Run Like a Mother authors mention this particular race as being good for newbies. The half I’m looking at has quite a bit higher intimidation factor for me :-(

Personally, I feel that anything that gets women off the couch and out exercising is a great idea. While I think running in a costume is uncomfortable, I applaud the women that can pull it off. Heck, I think we should all embrace our inner princess, whether that be Snow White or Xena, Warrior Princess. After all, the price of inactivity is not too princess like: Heart disease, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dementia, breast and colon cancer…..just to name a few.

Actually, both Mulan and Pocahontas are considered Disney Princesses – http://disney.go.com/princess/#/home/ . My daughter loves them, especially Mulan.

So basically what I am hearing is that women have to either be smart or beautiful, athletic or a princess. Sounds a lot like saying they can either work or be a mother to me. Doesn’t teaching our daughters to be strong woman include the choice to feel like a princess and be smart and athletic and nurturing. Go Disney for encouraging women to get up and move and be fit, which is treating your body like a princess in my book. :)

We run a halloween race in costumes…what’s the difference? It’s just a way to distract the mind from the pain of running long distances. But nice attempt at stirring up trouble. I have issues with the princess phenomenon but this race is simply about having fun.

Let me start by saying that I was part of a Disney press group that ran the race on Sunday. But I had initially heard about the race via twitter and signed up on my own months before hooking up with Disney to cover the event as a blogger as well.

I’ve only run one other race, a four miler in Central Park last Mothers Day. I’m not a runner (yet). I’m forty pounds overweight and it can be intimidating to join a group of people – mostly men – who are uber-fit and who do this kind of thing all the time. It never occurred to me that I could find a race where I wouldn’t feel fat and slow, but instead energized and encouraged. Where the very fact that I was out there doing it meant more than my finishing time. And I did the entire thing with big silver Mickey ears on my head, because why the hell not? It’s fun! I ended the race exhausted, but already dreaming of doing better next year.

But the other side of the race is the side for the serious runners, who aren’t wearing costumes. They get to start first and really, really compete. I was so inspired in mile two as I saw the eventual winner coming back the other way, almost done. So you can be out there having fun with friends in a costume, you can be a completely serious and fast competitor, or anything in between – it’s up to you.

So we’ve got all different combinations of women competing as athletes, women pushing themselves to the physical limit and doing things they never thought they could do, women having fun while being active, and women taking part in something where whatever effort they could put in was recognized as being a positive step. To work so hard to find an angle to criticize that, well, hating on Disney gets traffic.

I think the author said it all in the second paragraph: “I don’t understand.” Clearly.

Let me start by saying that I was part of a Disney press group that ran the race on Sunday. But I had initially heard about the race via twitter and signed up on my own months before hooking up with Disney to cover the event as a blogger as well.

I’ve only run one other race, a four miler in Central Park last Mothers Day. I’m not a runner (yet). I’m forty pounds overweight and it can be intimidating to join a group of people – mostly men – who are uber-fit and who do this kind of thing all the time. It never occurred to me that I could find a race where I wouldn’t feel fat and slow, but instead energized and encouraged. Where the very fact that I was out there doing it meant more than my finishing time. And I did the entire thing with big silver Mickey ears on my head, because why the hell not? It’s fun! I ended the race exhausted, but already dreaming of doing better next year.

But the other side of the race is the side for the serious runners, who aren’t wearing costumes. They get to start first and really, really compete. I was so inspired in mile two as I saw the eventual winner coming back the other way, almost done. So you can be out there having fun with friends in a costume, you can be a completely serious and fast competitor, or anything in between – it’s up to you.

So we’ve got all different combinations of women competing as athletes, women pushing themselves to the physical limit and doing things they never thought they could do, women having fun while being active, and women taking part in something where whatever effort they could put in was recognized as being a positive step. To work so hard to find an angle to criticize that, well, hating on Disney gets traffic.

I think the author said it all in the second paragraph: “I don’t understand.” Clearly.

Personally, I enjoyed the race. The whole draw of this race is running AT Disney with other women of like mind. AND you get to dress in a tutu and tiara, which ordinarily is not socially acceptable. It was fun. End of story. Not everything has to be about a deeper meaning or how women have been subjected to certain roles in society.

Ted – Pocahontas and Mulan may be on that site, but they’re not on any Princess products. My daughter loves Mulan, too, and has the Mulan doll, but Mulan’s image isn’t on any of the other Princess gear she has (a chair, a tent, a paper doll set, pajamas, books/coloring books, jewelry…)

Last year I ran the Disney World 5k with my son. Not only did we have a great time on the run through the park but it was a great way to remember our trip together.
I have always struggled with my weight but knowing I was signed up for the 5k helped me keep my eating in check while visiting the park in the days before the race.
I enjoyed it so much that I have lost thirty five pounds and hope to lose ten more before I do the Princess half marathon there February 2012.

why would someone do this race the same reason they choose most races, based on how kick butt the destination is and good t-shirts you get are. A tutu and tiara would be a lot easier than the costumes people come up with for most races haven’t you seen the costumes people wear for marathons they are insane.