Wordless Wednesday #PerfectPrincess #PrincessHalf

runDisney Shirt Love. :)

      One of my favorite things about running any race is an awesome event shirt! runDisney has hit the nail on the head with the 2014 marathon weekend shirts this year! I love them all! 

     Fast forward a few weeks and now I'm getting ready for Glass Slipper Challenge...exciting!

     I'm packing pretty light for Disney's Princess Half Marathon weekend (as light as a girl can pack) because just like Marathon weekend,  I will be receiving four new event shirts from the races. One for the 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and one for completing the Glass Slipper Challenge (completing the 10k and Half Marathon). Wow. I'm tired from just typing all of that. ;)

     Back in the summer, I was so lucky to be able to attend #DisneySportsFestival where we learned about all of the different amenities and sports programs that the ESPN Wide World of Sports has to offer for families and kids! Did you know that there are over 350 different sporting events held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex???

ESPN Customize Your Champion Event Tee!

     One of the coolest things that we were able to do was design our very own souvenir T-Shirt! Of course I knew that I would be running the Dopey Challenge this year so I designed mine to include my Twitter name as well as the mileage on the sleeves and the back. Talk about a cool souvenir! I can only imagine what the kids that are participating in different tournaments held at WWOS must think about these! 

Great Custom Souvenirs!

Lots of options.

Mileage numbers on the arms and back. 

     The shirts are totally customizeable. There were tons of different sporting events to choose from to go on the front and back, different fonts, moderately priced, quality Champion material and made right there at the Complex. I designed mine to look more like a jersey. 

Custom Tee Center

     The Team Mom for each team can pick up the players shirts all at once to make things easier. The Design-A-Tee booth is located inside of the Josten Center right next to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill. 

     If you are at the expo this weekend for the Princess Half Marathon or for any other future runDisney events, make sure to stop by the Welcome Center at ESPN Wide World of Sports to get pricing and more details on designing your very own souvenir t-shirt. 

The front of my shirt.

Close-up of the front of my shirt.

     Say hi if you see me sporting my cool new shirt around Walt Disney World Resort! I'd love to meet ya. :) 

Happy running and see you at the castle!

Disclaimer: I was provided complimentary travel accommodations for media coverage provided during #DisneySportsFestival. All opinions are my own. :)

Mercedes Half Marathon Prepping!

Mercedes Half Marathon Race Swag!

     It seems like it was just yesterday that I was getting ready for the Biggest Loser Half Marathon. Actually, it was exactly one week ago...This week has flown by! Time for Mercedes Half Marathon tomorrow. Eeek!!

     Mercedes Marathon Weekend is one of my favorite running weekends. I get to see all of my local running friends. We all just "know" that we are running it. There's never a question. We just go. It's a must-do event here in Bama!

     The weather looks great..40's at the start and is warming up to low 60's. PERFECT!!

     I'm loving the event shirt and all of the swag...we have a GREAT Post-race party hosted by Jim n' Nicks BBQ, free massages and oh yeah lots of free beer and Coca Cola Products! How can you go wrong with that?? You can't. It's why we keep coming back every year.

     Talladega Half Marathon is also a huge sponsor for Mercedes Marathon (another one of my must-do-Bama-races).  Registration just opened for that race...If you are looking for a super fun race on an official NASCAR track, then this race is for you!

     Off to finish getting my race gear for Mercedes Half Marathon together and packing for Disney's Princess Half Marathon next weekend too!

Happy Running! 

runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend Events

Welcome to Princess Half Marathon Weekend!

     It's almost that time again!! I can't believe Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend is in just a couple of weekends. Less than 10 Days to be exact. Hey who's counting?!?! All of the Princesses are, that's who! :)     I always say, Oh yeah...This year is going to be different. This year I will be the Princess out relaxing by the pool and resting. This year I won't look like an exhausted Princess in all of my pictures.      Well...one look at the weekends' event schedule and I know that once again, I will not be the Princess out relaxing with her glass slipper-shoe wearing self! Me and my Princess friends will arrive on Thursday and we will have a Royal-Jam-Packed weekend full of Princess fun! How's that for alot of Princess chatter? ;)     I will be going to the Disney's Fit For A Princess Expo and shopping, running the Cinderella Royal Family 5K, running the Enchanted 10K, running the Disney's Princess Half Marathon and playing in the Parks after the races!     I love this weekend because it is a huge girls's getaway weekend with some of my closest friends, mom and sister. We will be on vacation, we will laugh and we will RUN. It doesn't get much better than that!Check out the weekend schedule and make your magical plans accordingly. :)Weekend Schedule

Packet Pick-Up

Location: Jostens® Center at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

All runners are required to attend the Disney Fit for a Princess Expo for race number and packet pick-up. You will need to download your personalized race number pick-up card/waiver form online when it becomes available  (approximately one month prior to event) and bring it with you to Packet Pick-Up at the Expo.  

Disney Fit for a Princess Expo

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014

Cinderella Royal Family 5K

Epcot®
6:15 a.m. on Friday, February 21, 2014

Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend Breakfast

Epcot
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. on Friday, February 21, 2014

Princess Breakfast Pricing includes

• Breakfast Buffet
• Disney character meet & greets
• Opportunities for photos and autographs with Disney Characters

runDisney Kids' Races

Epcot
Friday, February 21 – Saturday, February 22, 2014

Pasta in the Park Party

World Showplace Pavilion Epcot
Friday, February 21 – Saturday, February 22, 2014
7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Buffet Dinner
9:00 p.m. Illuminations: Reflections of Earth

Disney Enchanted 10K

Epcot
5:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2014

Disney's Princess Half Marathon

Epcot
5:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2014

Dates and times are subject to change.

Happily Ever After Party at Downtown Disney®
Downtown Disney®
4:00 – 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2014

Happy Running and see you at the Castle! 

For more information on runDisney events and races, please check out www.runDisney.com.

I'm running Biggest Loser Run/Walk Half-Marathon in Mobile, Al.!!

Something crazy happened to me last December when I saw a Discount Code for The Biggest Loser Run Walk  Half Marathon in Mobile, Al. I thought..."Sure. I'll run that. I'll need a long run right before Princess. That will be good. I've been wanting to run one of those races. This will be perfect."

Little did I realize that I probably should have looked at my calendar before I hit 'register'. I've got Mercedes Half Marathon next weekend in my hometown...THEN back to Walt Disney World to run Glass Slipper Challenge!!

OH MY HALF MARATHON.

Three back to back half marathons? And a 5k. And a 10k.

Yep. I went there.

So....here we go. Weekend number one. #BLRWMobile, Here I come!

I did Dopey Challenge so I can do anything else, right?!?! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

I am excited to run all of these races even if they are back to back and all for different reasons. Hopefully, this will not be the last of the Biggest Loser Run Walk races in my future. I love the show and can't wait to experience this race in person.

I'm packing my bag and am about to hit the road..and oh yeah, it's Mardi Gras season in Mobile too. This is going to be FABULOUS!!!

Can't wait to share my pics and thoughts on all of these races.
Happy Running. :)

Course Map for Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Announced!

Me and the Hubby in Nashville for the CMA Awards

     Anyone that knows me, knows that I'm a HUGE Country Music Fan and I visit the city of Nashville often! I go for all kinds of country music events, concerts and festivals. It only makes sense that I would be running a Marathon in April there! Not only am I pumped up to run this marathon but I was super excited and honored to be chosen as a Rock n' Blogger for the 2014 Country Music Marathon & 1/2! Be sure to tune in my blog for news and updates on this and other Rock n' Roll Series events. :)

     Now on to the important details....I've decided to run the FULL Marathon. Yes, I said FULL. I love the city so much that 13.1 miles just weren't enough. I want to run through all of the streets of Nashville! 26.2 miles of yeehaw goodness. Welcome to the South, Ya'll. ;)

Hopefully, I can spot a few Country Music Hotties on the course. I'm going to keep my eye out!

Selfie with Country Music cutie pie Jake Owen...umm ya. 

The scene from Lower Broadway...
Home of the Start Line for Country Music Marathon!

     I was SO excited to learn that the Start Line of the Country Music Marathon will be located on Lower Broadway. Holy Yeehaw, that's right in the middle of Legendary Downtown Nashville!!! Country Music Party Central! We will run the surrounding streets and finish up at LP Field for a post race party and concert. Details on the concert coming soon. :)

DOWNTOWN Start Line!
Location: Lower Broadway
Perks of the new Start Line:

• Short walk from downtown hotels.
• No Shuttles necessary!
• Electrifying ambiance of downtown to kick off your run!

Free parking will be available at the finish line at LP Field, which is a short walk across the pedestrian bridge to the new start line. Check out the various Shuttle Options available!


Check out the new Course Map here.

Make your plans now to come run the St. Jude Country Music Marathon and a Half in Nashville with me on April 26th! Use Code BAMAGIRLRUNS to save $10 off registration.

This race is going to be one big honky tonkin' party and I can't WAIT!!! Hope to see all of my running friends there!

For more information on this race and other Rock n' Roll Series event please visit www.rocknroll.competitor.com.

*Disclaimer: I was provided complimentary race entry in exchange for media coverage during St. Jude Country Music Marathon and Half. All opinions are my own.

Fitness Envy..Yeah I Got it.

Athleta Chick

     There are not many times that I actually have a case of envy. However, today is not one of them. I get this catalog in the mail and instantly I have a terrible case of fitness envy. It's horrible!! I want the clothes. I want the bodies. I want those dang abs!!!!

     Seriously. WHO has abs like this chick??? Oh wait a minute. EVERY OTHER GIRL IN THIS CATALOG HAS THE SAME ABS. Great legs too.

     So I find myself telling my hubby. Yeah. I need to join a gym instead of just running every day. Yeah I need a part-time job at Athleta. Yeah. I WANT THOSE HOT MESS Green pants on the cover!!!

     This catalog is SO good to look at for so many different reasons. I will have a few moments of fitness envy and then I will make myself go feel like a rockstar as I dare to go run a few miles on my treadmill wearing only my sportsbra and capri pants. I will then go check out the website (where the chick on the home page is wearing the green pants too), drool over the clothes and get back to normal daily thoughts and activities. It's all good. Win/Win.

     Thank you for sending to me, Athleta! I actually enjoy being totally jealous as I catalog wish/shop!  The Fitness envy doesn't last long and it's all in good fun. One day I will have great abs and I might even break down and buy those hot mess cover green capris! Hubby knows I want them and tells me that I will look "cute" in them. That's really I need to hear. :)

     I do have a couple of Athleta skirts and I really like them so I know that I will like the green pants just as much. (Especially when I'm wearing them as I workout in my sports bra rocking my new rock-hard abs ;) .LOL.

     Happy Shopping, Running and Ab-Dreaming. :)

Bye Bye Clutter

     So far, I must say that 2014 has been off to a GREAT start! I've ran a Marathon, a Half Marathon, a 10K and 2 5k's so far!  I've got 3 More Half Marathons, a 10k, 2 5k's and a full marathon scheduled all before May. That's what I know so far.

     With the good comes the bad and I've had alot of things going on in my personal life for the last couple of years that I'm finally able to say good-bye to. That's a good good feeling. Bye Bye baggage. Bye Bye things that are annoying me. Bye Bye obstacles. BYE BYE CLUTTER.

     I let some things go and there's no looking back! Simplicity takes Courage. I faced my fears, eliminated a few things and am taking charge. I am my own Boss.

     You know that ole' saying "Clean Out the Clutter"? That's exactly what I've been doing lately. Unfortunately, it's clutter that's causing distractions and not actual clutter inside of my house! Umm yeah. I need to do that too! IKEA Road Trip anyone? ;)

     My house still needs a little bit of a makeover. Three kids, two dogs, one husband, one grandmother and a mom who keeps everything can accumulate ALOT of clutter!

I really to frame this and hang it by the front door
 as a disclaimer for anyone about to enter! :)

     That's alright. That kind of clutter I can deal with. Most of those "things" are things that mean something to me and I wanna keep for a while. I'll get in a purging mood soon and get rid of a ton of stuff. I usually have to be in that kind of "mood" and trust me, my family hates to see that side of me.

     It's the clutter of negative people, stuff getting in the way of staying focused, not spending time with those most important to me. That kind of clutter just has to GO.

Love this! Bye Bye Clutter!

     The hubby and I have made a few long term goals...so far so good.  We both felt like we were kind of spinning out of control for a while and that's just not a good feeling. Chaos was consuming us and we don't deal well with that! We're a busy busy family. We don't have time for chaos. It's time to slow things down and say the word NO. No more unwanted Chaos.

     Slowing down is something I don't do well either. I've never met another runner that wants to be slower...it's just not in my nature! Some things just have to be done though...and slowing down is one of those things. Help me now. Did I just say the words SLOW DOWN? I don't really mean that you know. Not in a runner kind of way. I mean it in a slow down, re-evaluate, focus kind of way.

     Moral of the story...I'm enjoying the new year, I'm cleaning out clutter and I'm slowing down.
Sounds like the making of a Bizarro New Year's Home Improvement Show followed by a nap!

     I think I will go get in my comfy clothes (after my super speedy run) and get cozy on my couch.  I think I'm going to like this slow-down thing. ;)

**What's cluttering your life?