Run for Rescues – 5k & 1 mile dog jog

RUN FOR RESCUES

A Fashionable 5K & 1 Mile Dog Jog
to benefit the SPCA of Central Florida

The first annual RUN FOR RESCUES will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at The Mall at Millenia.

ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE SPCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA.

Healthy pets and healthy people are always in fashion!

You can find all of the Run for Rescues details here.

Who said formal wear and running shoes don’t go together? Accessorize your running apparel with a tutu, tiara, bow tie, or anything else you can imagine – and RUN FOR RESCUES!

Choose from:

A timed, chipped USATF certified Fashionable 5k – for serious or casual human runners and walkers
A fun, untimed, 1 Mile Dog Jog to walk or jog with or without your dog.

Prizes will be awarded to top individual and team finishers and the largest team in the Fashionable 5k. There will also be prizes for the most fashionable humans in the Fashionable 5k and the most fashionable humans and dogs in the 1 Mile Dog Jog.

The event will feature health screenings and demonstrations for people and dogs as well as photo ops on the
red carpet with the “pup-arazzi” and celebrity shelter pets!

TRAINING PROGRAMS:

The SPCA of Central Florida has partnered with Florida Hospital Healthy 100 to create
Get Your Jog On: 5k Fitness Training Program for People to get you in shape to confidently run the Fashionable 5k in just 10 weeks. Choose from:
- A personally coached version featuring a series of five in-person training sessions with Florida Hospital experts, supplemented by a schedule of independent exercise sessions. This version requires a $10 donation to the SPCA of Central Florida.
- A do-it-yourself version: We provide you with the schedule and you start training by yourself or with your friends! This version is free.
The SPCA of Central Florida has partnered with the veterinarians at Sanlando Springs Animal Hospital and the trainer at Big Paw Pet Care to create Get Your Dog On: 1 Mile Fitness Training Program for Dogs to get your dog in shape to confidently run or jog the 1 Mile Dog Jog in just 10 weeks. Choose from:
- A personally coached version featuring a series of three in-person canine fitness training sessions with the trainer from Big Paw Pet Care, supplemented by a schedule of independent exercise sessions. This version requires a $5 donation to the SPCA of Central Florida.
- A do-it-yourself version: We provide you with the schedule and you start training your dog! This version is free.

RELAX WITH THE RESCUES: After the Fashionable 5k & 1 Mile Dog Jog, head across the street to the SPCA of Central Florida’s Orlando shelter and meet the cats and dogs available for adoption. Enjoy $10 micro-chipping for your dog (regularly $30) and a special reduced adoption rate all weekend long!

THE SPCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA: All proceeds from Run for Rescues will benefit the SPCA of Central Florida. By participating in this event you will be supporting Florida’s oldest and largest animal welfare organization. The SPCA of Central Florida is a full-service animal welfare agency, providing shelter and adoption programs, affordable veterinary care, and community outreach programs.
The SPCA of Central Florida is a 501 (c)(3) charity. They are strictly a local organization and receive no federal, state, county, government, national animal organization, or United Way funding. So all the money the SPCA of Central Florida raises goes to helping pets right here in Central Florida! To learn more please visit www.orlandopets.org

SeaWorld Orlando hosts Reindeer Run

Recently I participated in my second non-Disney race at SeaWorld with the Vanessa Welch Reindeer Run. This three mile fun run was a great Christmas themed race through SeaWorld Orlando. It was a nice morning to start the Reindeer Run at 7:15am with a temp in the low 60s and slightly overcast skies. Not really knowing how this was going to be organized in comparison to most of my other races, I decided to get to the race at 6:30 so I could find my way around and meet up with my friend Doug. We found each other about half an hour before start time and got in the corral for joggers. There was also a corral for walkers scheduled to start about 15 minutes after the jogging participants.

Tons of people dressed up for this race, possibly a greater percentage of runners than for any other race in which I’ve participated. There were especially a lot of reindeer antler headbands for the Reindeer Run. This made for a fun atmosphere at the start of the race, which was a bit quieter than I was used to without a DJ to warm up the crowd and play music.

The first mile of the Reindeer Run was in the SeaWorld parking lot, then the rest of the three mile run was almost entirely in the park itself. There were so many cool things to see throughout the park like the Sea of Tree lights and the fountains, Santa Claus was there for pictures and there were decorations and lights on the course.

Race registration is only $25 and a portion goes to charity. There is no medal for this race, but you do get a long sleeve shirt with the Reindeer Run logo. I would definitely do this race again. It was a lot of fun and there were a lot of great things to see along the way. This was a great way to see SeaWorld and to get in the holiday spirit while contributing to charity. There were also costume contests after the race as well as a free kids run. I highly recommend this race if you’re looking for something fun to do next December. Have you done the Reindeer Run before? What were your thoughts?

RunDisney Tower Of Terror 10 Miler With @kchristine

While I have had the amazing experience to complete the runDisney Princess Half Marathon, Tower of Terror Inaugural 10 Miler, Dumbo Double Dare Challenge (Disneyland 10K and Disneyland Half Marathon), and earned my Coast-To-Coast Medal with Kelly, I have never been so proud of her as when she completed this year’s Tower of Terror 10 Miler! We are beyond excited to have her share her recap of this year’s race! Thank you Kelly for being a great inspiration and friend who wouldn’t let me quit!

I’m not a runner and I don’t like running. That being said, I’ve spent a fair amount of time training and running Disney races this year. I don’t regret a minute of the pain, sweat and tears that has gotten me to where I am today.

My first big race and RunDisney experience was the inaugural Tower of Terror 10 miler and looking back, I’m not quite sure how I ever agreed to run more than a 5k after that race. It was miserably hot and the course was frustrating in both terrain and entertainment which led to a frustrating experience…and somehow I blocked that all out when I signed up to race it again. To sweeten up this race, I used dvc points to get a treehouse for the weekend so other friends who were also running would have a place to relax together.

As I got close to this race, I started to remember all of the misery I felt on the course and that I had a new issue to deal with. While I train alone, I’ve run every Disney race with one person who is a family member to me, a sister I chose. She had decided after the Dumbo Double Dare that she was retiring from running and I would be going it alone from here on out. The thought of not having someone to yell at me to keep up my pace for those first few miles sent me into a teary panic but it was time for me to pull up my big girl compression socks and move it.

I made it to the expo and quickly picked up my bib and race packet with minimal lines. The expo itself was rather minimal, less exhibitors and crowds. A welcome addition to this weekend was the warnings from RunDisney regarding the weather at the expo and online. Their twitter account was regularly encouraging runners to hydrate heavily due to the heat/humidity. While I appreciated hearing these warnings, they did freak me out a bit since the course was extremely hot last year.

Before I knew it, it was time to head out. I arrived at Hollywood Studios and caught up with friends who were also running and tried to shake out some of my nerves. I expressed some of my nerves to Deanna, particularly my issue of crossing the start line alone. We decided to start together as her regular pace is near mine. If one of us needed to slow down, we could separate and see each other at the finish line. The separation never happened, and I’ll be forever grateful for this.

We started comfortably with a game plan. We kept a decent pace with intervals and enjoying the enhanced entertainment on the course. First three miles were pretty smooth…. and then came the cramps. I got a stomach cramp and pushed through it with a few extra walk intervals. We laughed, danced and sang our way to mile five. Mile five was mainly off road and was not comfortable to run on due to the lack of flat surface and light. Along with these issues, a new set of cramps hit that made me want to quit then and there. I tried to push through it with some jogging, but I didn’t make it very far. We stopped for a picture with the Haunted Mansion gravediggers, but the cramps persisted. We hit Champion Stadium and were welcomed by friends with signs, and cheers. I turned to Deanna at this point and told her that I knew I was able to finish at that point but I didn’t think I had any running left in me as it was a bit of a struggle to walk quickly. She didn’t leave me though, and we continued on.

We created a “mile of truth” and spent more time enjoying the entertainment and sights on the course, which were significantly better this year. At mile 9.5 we had another welcome surprise: snacks for us both! Deanna’s husband Neil and our friend Cindy had popcorn and beer for us to enjoy as we finished the course and crossed the finish.

So where do I go from here? Well, I found out something new in this race: I am a runner. I don’t always like running, but I’ve now found that there are times that it is exactly what I need to do. I have grown closer with Deanna and we do have some races planned in the future. Most importantly, I’ll be running my 3rd Tower of Terror 10 miler in 2014.

Inaugural Celebration K-8 School Pride Prowl Races

Registration Opens today for the inaugural running of Celebration K-8 PTA’s Family 5K Fun Run and Wellness Walk, known as The Pride Prowl.

The Pride Prowl is a fundraising event to help the exceptional programs and activities that the Celebration K-8 PTA brings to the Celebration K-8 School.

This year the PTA volunteers have taken on the extra work of organizing this fundraiser ourselves – with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the school.

The Pride Prowl has two races, a 5K Fun Run and a 1 Mile Wellness Walk that begins and ends at the Celebration K-8 School. The route for the race has runners passing through some of Celebration’s most beautiful neighborhoods.

The schedule for the Pride Prowl is as follows:

· Friday, September 13^th: Family Fun Expo

The Family Fun Expo will take place from 5pm – 9pm, and will be held in the Celebration K-8 Gym. The Expo is where race participants can pick up their race packets and attendees will have the opportunity to find products, activities, and services that are family friendly in nature.

· Saturday, September 14^th: Run With the Pride
5K Fun Run will begin at 7:30 AM and the Wellness Walk 8:30 AM in from of the Celebration K-8 school.

You can register online here, and you can see the costs below as of August 26, 2013!

Activity	Today	Later

5K Family Fun Run – Single Runner	$25.00	$30.00
Family Wellness Walk – Groups up to 5 People (Ages 3 and under free)	$35.00	$40.00
Family Wellness Walk – Single Walker	$15.00	$20.00
5K Family Fun Run – Groups up to 5 People (Ages 3 and under free)	$60.00	$70.00

Make sure you register soon! The first 100 Runners/Walkers to sign up receive a free event shirt, and ALL runners/walkers will receive a custom appreciation item from Celebration PTA.

Help support the Celebration K-8 School by participating in our inaugural running of The Pride Prowl – Celebration K-8 PTA’s Family 5K Fun Run and Wellness Walk!

2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Gets An Upgrade

For years, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend combination of receiving medals for the 5K, Half Marathon, and Marathon was a 42.4 mile challenge unofficially dubbed the “Dopey” by fans. Now with the addition of the new Walt Disney World 10K, the name “Dopey” becomes official with an additional new medal for the Dopey Challenge, but with one small change. Instead of being 42.4 miles, Disney is including the 10K into the mix for a grand total of 48.6 miles. That’s right, the old fan based Dopey was only 4 medals (5K, Half, Full, and Goofy), but now Dopey challengers will receive 6 medals total adding 1 for the 10K and 1 extra for doing all 4 races.

The cost to participate in this new challenge? $495 for participants who register before June 18, 2013. This price includes all 4 races.

The new 10K will cost $95 for registrants by the same date. With the 5K being $60, the Walt Disney World Full & Half Marathons costing $160 each, and the Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge weighing in at $340.

Price increases for the Walt Disney World Marathon races will occur on June 19, 2013 and again on August 14, 2013.

Additional information can be found at runDisney.com

Wordless Wednesday – RunDisney #Run3rd

Wordless Wednesday – February 27, 2013

For more information about #run3rd visit their site.

Please take a second to really look at the Mission Statement, because it is definitely something that means a lot to me.

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend As A Spectator With Jaimee – @Jaimd929

Hey There! My name is Jaimee Dietz and I was asked to write about my experience as being a spectator at this year’s Walt Disney World Marathon weekend. This was my very first time going to marathon weekend so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

I went to support my friends who were running the Family Fun Run 5k, the Walt Disney World Half Marathon, the Walt Disney World Marathon and even the Goofy (the 1/2 on Saturday followed by the full on Sunday).

First off, I had the opportunity to see the Family Fun Run 5kers early, 4:30 AM to be exact, Friday at the Epcot parking lot, which is where all the runners congregate before heading into their respective corrals. Even though I wasn’t running, I could feel the excitement in the air. There was music blasting, a photo opportunity with Mickey and Minnie, and just a great time of seeing some old and new friends.

As the time approached for the runners to start the 5k, I then headed over to Hollywood Studios with James Hansen and Mary Jo Collins for the Run Disney Marathon Meet up. In order to be a part of the meet up, you had to follow the link in @runDisney‘s tweet announcing the event to sign up for a chance to attend. They only allow a certain number of participants, so it was very exciting to be chosen to go.

walt disney world marathon — Jaimee and the Big Cheese at the RunDisney Meet Up

We met at Hollywood Studios and ran 2 1/2 miles through the park followed by the opportunity to meet some inspiring runners, including Jeff Galloway. I even had my picture taken with celebrities Joey Fatone and Drew Carey. This was also my first time going to this event and it was so much fun. I would definitely do it again if I get the chance.

Saturday was an even earlier start where I got up at 2 am to see the Walt Disney World Half Marathon runners get ready to start their trek through the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. This race also started at the Epcot parking lot. I know this is insanely early but it was completely worth it.

After we left the runners, my friends James and Stephanie and I started our adventure by heading over to the Magic Kingdom via the monorail. This was the most practical way to get over to MK rather than driving a car. The whole process took about 30 min. To see the runners through MK, you don’t need a park ticket because technically the park is still closed. Main Street USA was breathtaking that early in the morning, because all the buildings were lit up with the sun rising behind them. They even had Cinderella’s castle all lit up with the Dream Lights. I could only imagine being one of those runners turning the corner to run down Main Street and see that glorious sight that is Cinderella’s castle. We stayed there for about an hour or two and then headed back over to Epcot to see our friends finish.

Taking the monorail back to Epcot was a little time consuming but we were in no rush so it really didn’t bother us. What was really neat and unexpected was as we were riding the monorail we could see the runners below. When we arrived back at Epcot, we headed over to the area where the resort buses are located to grab a spot to watch the runners head towards the finish line. Seeing my friends finish and wearing their medals proudly was so awesome and inspiring. It even made me proud for them.

Sunday was another amazing day being able to see some of my friends run the Walt Disney World Marathon. We made our way to the United Kingdom pavilion in Epcot to watch the runners come through the end of the race at mile 25. I saw a lot tired and weary faces but also determined faces knowing that they were nearing the end. Some had smiles and some had tears in their eyes. I tried to cheer for everyone, strangers and friends alike, clapping, yelling, and ringing a cow bell!

Overall, I was so thrilled to be able to have this experience being a spectator at Marathon weekend. It was extremely inspiring seeing all different types of people running. One of the most touching moments was seeing a man carrying the American Flag while running down Main Street. It was such an amazing sight to see. It filled my heart with gratitude. Another very special moment was seeing a few men dressed in full firemen garb carrying tanks and all.

This weekend will definitely be a weekend I will never forget. You don’t have to be a runner or interested in running to enjoy marathon weekend. It’s so fun and exciting just being in the midst of all the Marathon Weekend activities. But be careful, you might just get inspired to hit the pavement and sign up for a race of your own. I’ll be running my first half marathon in February, the Walt Disney World Princess Half Marathon and I’m also training for the Dumbo Double Dare Challenge at Disneyland later this summer.

So get out there and cheer for those runners! You never know where it might lead you!

Running Full Circle With Run Disney

How did I get involved with run Disney? Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of running……um NO! Honestly, I don’t really even like running. The races are fun but the training is definitely tough and requires discipline. Ok, so let me back up.

So I decided on a whim in November of 2011 to sign up for the Family 5k, or 3.1 miles, during WDW Marathon Weekend 2012. Having never trained before or participated in a race, I decided to join up with other runners on a “team” so I wouldn’t have to do the 5k alone. Being familiar with Lou Mongello and the WDW Radio Show, I knew they had a running team so I signed up for the WDW Radio Running Team. Who knew that one simple 5k and click of a mouse would completely change my life? Arriving at the Epcot parking lot at 4 AM that first morning was scary. I didn’t know these “teammates” I was searching for in the vast crowd. All I knew was that we were all wearing WDW Radio blue….did I mention that the official 5k shirts were blue that year too? So it’s 4AM, chilly and I’m staring at a sea of blue shirts looking for my team. Finally, after a mild panic attack fearing I was going to have to run this race totally alone, I spotted Katie McNamara and Mike Beckerman who I recognized from the facebook page for the running team. I walked over and introduced myself and immediately was welcomed with open arms. The three of us along with Deanna Mongello and Steve Drew ran the race together and honestly, as we neared the finish line we were all a bit sad that it was over. Yes! I actually wanted to keep running so that we could all be together. They all got me through that first race and I knew then and there, these were friends for life. They even humored me by waiting in line to get an official race photo taken with our medallions. Jokingly at the end of the race, Steve and Deanna said, you’ll be doing half marathons before you know it.

I tentatively agreed to do the half in 2013 but first I came home and immediately called my best friend Jaimee Dietz and asked her if she’d run the Royal Family 5k with me in February of 2012. She agreed and we began training together which was infinitely better than running alone. I couldn’t wait to get back to Florida and introduce her to all these wonderful friends that I had met the month prior. Princess Weekend 2012 cemented my addiction to running, my love for Florida, and my adoration for all these new friends. I was also introduced to the amazing Shelley Caran and Shalon Given during this weekend proving that you never know where life is taking you. More on that in a minute! Jaimee and I met people that weekend who are truly our best friends for life. The Royal Family 5k was so much fun; we got to wear tutus and tiaras which totally distracted us from the running aspect of the event.

My next event would be my biggest and scariest challenge, the Tower of Terror 10 miler. This race was tough, it was a night race, and extremely warm and humid. It was a special night though as the race started on Jaimee’s birthday and ended on my birthday. Thanks to Shelley and Shalon for helping us make some cute running shirts to celebrate this. It was also very exciting to get my first real race bling, an actual medal. The 5k medallions are nice but nothing compares to getting your first real medal. I also knew that having completed the 10 miler, I was totally capable of running and finishing the 2013 WDW Half Marathon. So now here we are, January 2013 and its been ten days since I completed my first half marathon. I won’t say it was easy because it wasn’t, but I had amazing teammates to pull me through. I can’t stress enough how much a running buddy can help you when you think you have nothing left inside you. I ran with three guys who had all previously done half’s or full’s so they were very helpful in explaining what and when I needed to eat, how to pace, and just what to expect in general. I’ll always be grateful to my Coral F running buds, Charles Stoddard, Nathan Mauldin, and Mike Beckerman.

So here we are, January 2013 and I have four 5k’s, one 10 miler, and one half marathon in the books. Whew….it’s been quite a year. This year I’m already registered for the Princess 1/2 next month and the Dumbo Double Dare Challenge, a 10k followed by the Disneyland 1/2 marathon, in August.

So why do I keep doing this? What started as a whim turned into a totally new life for me. I lost weight, I raised money for the Dream Team Project benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation, I made lifelong friends, and I moved to Florida so that I could be with them all the time! Without all that, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog, operating my own handmade tutu and hair bow company, challenging myself daily to new things, and living a new life that I couldn’t be happier with.

So why Run Disney? Like most things, Disney exceeds your expectations when they put on an event. The races are filled with so much fun. There’s music, character meet-n-greets along the course, fireworks, after parties, and the BLING! It’s definitely not an inexpensive hobby but I’ve never once felt like I wasn’t getting my money’s worth in a Disney race. Another favorite aspect of race weekends is the camaraderie among runners in the parks following the races. Everyone wears their new bling, from the 5kers to the Goofy participants (those who run a 1/2 followed by a full marathon in one weekend) and congratulate each other as they pass in the parks. Even as I was cheering during the Full Marathon, wearing my 1/2 marathon medal, runners were going by congratulating me! They’re on mile 25 out of 26.1 and they take the time to tell me good job on my accomplishment as they are running by! I can’t forget to mention the amazing volunteers that make these races possible. They hand out water, drinks, biofreeze, and the medals.

Big thanks to On The Go’s own Aurora McBride for personally giving me my very first 1/2 marathon medal this year.

If you’re considering joining the Run Disney family, do it! You won’t regret it. You’ll gain so much more than you can even imagine. So join me, and follow along on my Run Disney journey this year as I go Coast-to-Coast! Happy running!

Volunteering Opportunities: Orlando Health Gridiron 5K Challenge

2012 Gridiron 5K Challenge Banner — 2012 Gridiron 5K Challenge

When Aurora and I volunteered at the Celebrity Mascot Games at the Amway Center, we were introduced to a whole new way to participate in activities in the Orlando Area.

The Central Florida Sports Commission is responsible for a lot of great events around Orlando, and it was a blast spending our day volunteering so we thought we would share any upcoming opportunities with you!

The Inaugural Orlando Health Gridiron 5K Challenge presented by Pizza Hut is a 3.1 mile run/walk that celebrates the heated rivalries that exist in Florida and the beginning of the college football season. Fans of Florida’s major universities and college football fans are invited to sport their team’s gear and participate in day’s worth of activities that will kick off with a 5K around the UCF campus. The race will take place Saturday, August 25 on campus at UCF. Volunteers are needed to help with bag stuffing, registration, timing, and along the course at water stops.

Here are the days/shifts that volunteers are needed:

Race Week – Monday, August 20

– Bag Stuffing from 5-7pm at the CFSC office in downtown Orlando

Race Day @ UCF – Saturday, August 25

– Pre-race & post-race: arrive at 5am

Volunteers will help with set-up, registration, packet pickup, and the post-race tailgate party.

– Water stops: arrive at 6:30am

Volunteers will hand out water/Gatorade as runners pass.

– Finish line: arrive at 7am

Volunteers will help with timing and awards.

All volunteers will receive free parking, event t-shirt, and coffee/donuts. If interested in helping please respond to this email with your preferred day/shift.

If you’re interested in volunteering at the Inaugural Orlando Health Gridiron 5K Challenge presented by Pizza Hut, please contact Georgianna Brown (gbrown@centralfloridasports.org).

However if you are interested in running the Inaugural Orlando Health Gridiron 5K Challenge presented by Pizza Hut, there is still time and you can check out the course and register for the race here.

My MCO Resolutions…

So being new to Orlando, I decided that maybe I should make some resolutions to try in 2011…so here goes…

1. To figure out where in the world I am!!!

Sure we have been coming to Walt Disney World for years, but not Orlando. So as a result I need to learn how to get around this place!!! There is so much that this city has to offer, and it has been a lot of fun finding my way around.

2. Say yes to “Fluff”!!!

I always lamented “If I only had more time…”, but guess what? I have it now and I need to use it. I plan on going to Disney Quest, watching shows, and doing anything else that was deemed to be “fluff” for past trips. I’m always looking for more fluff…so if you have some suggestions I would love to hear them!

3. Run, Shelley…Run!!!

I have signed up to do the 5K during Princess Marathon weekend, and I am totally stoked!!! I never realized just how many races were offered at Walt Disney World, but now that I do I have another reason for keeping up with my resolution to get in shape!!!

4. Let it Go!

I always find that in a new situation, I used to hang back in the wings and let things happen. Not so much now. I have let go of being nervous, and have decided that I would rather look silly but take a step towards making my dreams come true than stand still and let opportunity pass.

5. Meet More Friends!!!

When we moved down here, I knew one person here who is gone for a large majority of the year. So now whenever I see there is a meet up or if I someone I talk to on Twitter is saying they’ll be in town I am doing my best to be there. It has been so absolutely amazing meeting and making new friends! I am overwhelmed with the generosity, friendliness, and overall awesomeness of everyone I have met!