final rundisney tinker bell half marathon weekend preparations

Which one of these will you be earning?
I'll be grabbing the first four on the left. Boom!

It seemed like runDisney Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend was so far away! It's hard to believe it's this weekend! Have you started packing and getting everything gathered? A few last minute prep ideas for you...

Source: Disney Parks Twitter

Print out your waivers before leaving. You can do that here. Forget to do this? Don't freak out - they usually have computers/printers set up at the expo (don't take my word for it though, you never know what changes might be made). I'm sure if you are at a hotel, they wouldn't mind helping you out if you needed it.

What corral are you in?

Source: runDisney

Source: runDisney

Give the Official Event Guide a read. You'll find just about anything you need to know in there. Event start times, locations, courses, road closures, etc.

Are you doing the Pixie Dust Challenge? Make sure you get your photo taken with your race bib before leaving the expo on Thursday or Friday. There's usually some signage and plenty of workers/volunteers to help you find where to go if you are lost. After you finish the half marathon, check in at the Challenge tent located at the Finish Line to receive your Pixie Dust Challenge medal.  Yay!

Make sure you get to the expo to pick up your packet – only you can do this, no friends or family can pickup for you! Here are the expo hours:

A little bit of racing etiquette to keep in mind (helpful tips for a happy race for all):

• Walk no more than two abreast.
• If you are walking, try to stay to the right so that runners can pass on the left. Give a hand signal or shout 'Walking' so others around you know you are going to be going from a run to a walk (also helps to look behind you to make sure you aren't stopping right in front of someone else).
• If you have to squeeze through, say 'excuse me'.
• Accidentally knock in to or shove someone? Say sorry.
• See a photographer on course while running? Try not to just stop and pose - they can capture you while running, and an abrupt stop can cause accidents, falls, trips, etc.
• Speaking of abrupt stops – if you need to tie or shoe or are waiting for someone to catch up, step to the side of the course so no one trips over you.
• If you want to run with a friend who is in a different corral, the faster of the two will move back to the slower corral.
• Be kind to your fellow runners and encourage one another!
• Have fun!

Looking to grab yourself a new pair of runDisney New Balance Shoes? Runners get first dibs on them Thursday, while other guests can purchase May 6th or 7th (no virtual queue on these days). If you are running, jump in the virtual queue at 7pm Wednesday evening (May 4th) to try on and purchase footwear on the first day of the expo (May 5th). Once you fill out the form and submit, you'll get a text or email with your group number and return time. On expo day, you'll receive another notice when you're group number is up. You'll want to get there within an hour of your callback notice to ensure access to your requested shoe. Once you're at the booth, check in with an NB associate so they can get your name/confirmation number to get the process started. More information can be found here.

2016 New Balance runDisney Ariel

I plan on attending the We Run Social event at 1pm on Saturday (after the 10k) that's at Trader Sam's. This will be my first social meet-up, so I hope I don't just sit in a corner being shy and instead make the most of it! haha. I should be able to recognize a few faces from social media. Anyone else planning on going?

If you see me at all during Tinker Bell Weekend—whether at the expo, at the parks, on the race course—please don't hesitate to say hi! I understand the whole shy thing, as I'm shy too, but let's be friends :)

Who's all ready to go? I've got some packing to do myself and hoping I remember everything I need. What's on your packing list?

friday five: five running products i am currently loving

Hey guys! I am linking up with the DC Trifecta again on this gorgeous, sunny and, cool Friday: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run. Some may say it's too cold here in Chicago, but 61 degrees is right up my alley :) This week's theme is a 'Free Friday'– meaning, the choice is ours. I've decided to list 5 running products/items that I am loving right now.

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1. New Balance Momentum 2 in 1 Shorts. You guys, these were the dream shorts I had been searching for. I've worn them during half marathons and NOT ONCE did I have to pull them down. No more fidgeting with my shorts. No more having to pull them down every 5 minutes when they ride up. They stay put, and that's what I've been on the hunt for (I loathe when my thighs rub against each other, even if I have on Body Glide and there isn't any chafing happening, I just don't like the feeling). I love the material—so light. I honestly didn't expect to like love them so much, because I didn't believe they wouldn't ride up. After all, there is no grip on the inner shorts, and they aren't very tight on my leg, so I just figured I'd be pulling them down during my runs. NOT ONCE. They're amazing. The inner short has a 5.5" inseam, and the outer short has an inseam of 2.5". It has Lightning Dry® technology (wicks away moisture to keep you comfortable and dry – a must for any running attire, in my book), the waistband is comfortable, and there is some reflectivity on the front and back for safety and visibility.

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2. Garmin Forerunner 220. I am loving my new watch! It's so lightweight, I barely even notice I have it on. I also enjoy that it vibrates and beeps at every mile (you can set your 'laps' at whatever distance or time you like; I prefer to keep it on the miles). Another feature I have enjoyed is the bluetooth connectivity so that it will upload my run info immediately, unlike my Nike+ that I had to plug in to my computer after each run. So much more convenient. I charged it last Friday before my half on Saturday, and then continued to use it through Thursday without charging it again. When I plugged it in Thursday, it was still at 40%. That's amazing. I know there is so much more the watch can do, I just haven't had the time to play with it as much as I'd like.

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3. My Road ID* bracelet. I purchased the Elite a while back (it has a watch-like buckle clasp), and wear it on every run. Sometimes I even just wear it out. A few summers back, I was having issues breathing and feeling nauseous/like I was going to pass out, so I wore it in case I did. I'd be easy to identify if it came down to it. Luckily, I never did pass out, but it was nice to know I was covered. I'm sure I've mentioned this before in another post, but it's one of my running essentials. If something were to happen to me while out for a run, it's nice to know that if I can't speak, they can still identify who I am and contact the important people. God forbid that ever happens, but it does put my mind at ease (even if it's just a little) to know that the info is there on my person. Plus, they have so many options for wrist band colors (I have pink and blue), so if you get bored you can switch it up. They also just recently came out with badges that you can add to the wristband (5K, 13.1, 26.2, etc.), which is another fun way to accessorize. I would urge anyone that does not use Road ID* to go buy one now. 

*Disclaimer: This is an affiliate link in which I receive a small commission if a new customer orders through the link. I am not an ambassador or getting paid to promote the product, but I do believe in the it, and whether any one uses my link to purchase or not, I think it's an essential item for anyone that runs/cycles/is active outdoors. Not to say I wouldn't love a small commission so I can buy some more color bands ;)

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4. Nuun. Perhaps you know this about me already, but I am not a lover of plain water. Sometimes it hits the spot, but usually I want some flavor. In order to hydrate more, I decided to give Nuun a try. It is fantastic! The flavors are so light, that it's just a hint of flavor, and not an overwhelming taste. A few of my favorite flavors are Cherry Limeade, Strawberry Lemonade, Lemon Tea, Fruit Punch, and Tr-Berry. I know, that's most of them haha. I also love that they have different kinds – Energy (contains caffeine for an energy boost along with electrolytes), Active (electrolytes), and All Day (natural hydration) – so you can find the perfect tablet for any time of day, depending on what you're up to. There's no sugar, artificial flavors or colors, or high-fructose corn syrup with only about 7 calories per tab. Sounds (and tastes) good to me!

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5. Yurbuds. I mentioned these in my Friday Five: Five Things in My Gym Bag, but thought they were worth mentioning again in more detail. I have the Inspire Pro for Women in Aqua. I used to use the Ironman Yurbuds Inspire Pro (which it appears are no longer sold on the Yurbuds website), because they had the 3 button dry mic, which wasn't available yet for the Women Inspire Pro (at least not that I could find), but only the regular sized Inspire Pro. I really like the ones geared towards women, because they are designed specifically to fit smaller ears. Even with the different size earbud pieces with the Ironman ones, they were still a bit large for my ear. I ended up losing an earbud, so decided to purchase a new pair, so went with the Inspire Pro for Women, and am happy I did. I like having the ability to control my music and volume from the Yurbuds rather than having to take my phone out and play with it, hence my need for the 3 button dry mic. I love that these earphones don't fall out of my ears, unlike most other brands. I am no sound expert, but it all seems good to me, and obvisouly the sweat and water resistance is a must have for earbuds that I run with. 

What are some of your favorite running products/items at the moment? Any must-haves? Essential items you can't go running without? Would love to hear your recommendations!

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts (links to the specific posts are at the top of the page) and link up if you are joining in! There are always a lot of blogs linked up, and it's interesting to see everyone's takes on the theme, with this week's being especially fun and varied. I suggest taking a look at a few (or all, if you have the time). Have a great weekend, everyone!