Are you running this year’s Disney World Wine and Dine Half Marathon!!?? I hope you are! It’s my favorite Disney race and I’ve got a few tips on how to make the most of this very special and amazing experience!

There were a few things I learned last year and a couple mistakes I made, and I’d love to share those with you (and to document it for myself!):I ran this race for the first time last year (you can read all about it here) and absolutely fell in love with it. Like, seriously, maybe my favorite race EVER. So, of course, had to register for this year’s as well!!

• Figure out your nutrition! Diet Diva Tara has promised me (yes, we’re great friends. Well, twitter friends;) that the Run Disney blog will have a nutrition article for night races up soon, but in the mean time, I found this great article in Women’s Running all about how to prepare. Run Disney also posted a blog about how to prepare for night races (but Tara’s will be better so I’ll post it on the FB page as soon as it comes out!)
• Take it easy on Saturday. Don’t over do or try to park tour like a boss. This year I’m planning on lots of pool time on Saturday if weather permits, or at the very least, a nap! But I won’t be going crazy in a park. My legs don’t like running a half marathon after a full day of park touring!
• DROP BAG ESSENTIALS Last year, I was so bummed that I had not brought a change of clothes and especially body wipes of some kind. I was so gross and so wanted to feel fresh for the after party. Also, I’m not even going to attempt the changing tent this year – it was warm and smelly in there and kind of made me nauseous. All of us in there are perfectly clean, lovely women but put about 200 of us in a tent after running 13.1 miles and it’s, um, GROSS. I’ll be finding a restroom in Epcot (I’m thinking the ones in Living with The Land may not be swamped?) ALSO pack a more comfortable bag INSIDE your drop bag. Drop bags are not great for walking around and you’re gonna be tired enough from running 13.1 miles without an uncomfortable bag on your back. I bought this one at our resort last year pretty cheap and have loved it.
  
• Be VERY CLEAR on where you’re meeting your friends and family. It’s pretty chaotic and hard to criss-cross the park while the race is still going on, so take a look at the race course and pick a good place. YOUR PHONE MAY NOT WORK because there will be so many of us using them at the same time, so having the spot picked out ahead of time is essential.
• Don’t forget that attractions ARE OPEN at the after party! Not all of them, mind you, but it wasn’t until I got home from my trip and read other’s race reports that I found out that we could have ridden Test Track and Soarin’.
• WATCH YOUR STEP Yes, the course is very well lit, but there are a few places, especially in Animal Kingdom, that I found dim and hard to see. Just try to watch your footing – I saw 2 different people fall on the uneven asphalt there. I’m great about this at home but at Disney I get so caught up in the moment I don’t pay attention to what’s right in front of me. Literally.
  

  Obedoo I want to be like YOUUUU!!!