A Little Inspiration: Running The Tinkerbell Half Marathon

 

Credit: Bridgette White

I hope you are all enjoying  a cozy evening at home on this chilly and wet Monday. To start off the week, I wanted to share about our newest contributor Bridgette’s, inspiring post about running a half marathon. She shares all about her amazing experience and how we can do it too!

I think most of us have a bucket list or a list of things we want to do or accomplish in our lifetime. Running a marathon was on my list. I have to admit, it wasn’t at the top or near the top of the list for that matter. Being a full time mom keeps me busy, but in the back of my mind it was there.  I was checking my email one day and I noticed a brochure for Team in Training, an organization that trains people to do marathons, triathlons, etc. Team in Training also helps raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I decided after looking into it that I was going to do it! Run a marathon-check and donate to charity?check- Sign me up!

I started to look for races to run in and came across the inaugural Tinkerbell Half marathon at Disneyland. I mean there is no place on earth that would be more fun to run 13.1 miles!  The race fell on my son’s 2nd birthday and we were heading there anyway. It made the decision pretty easy. Disney sponsors over a dozen running events at its various parks. They have kids fun runs and family friendly 5Ks.

Fast forward 11 weeks after I decided to sign up and thanks to some amazing training from my coaches from Team in training, I was ready for race day. I woke up 3 am to meet my coach and teammates for a walk to the starting line. Over 12,000 runners were at that starting line that morning. I was nervous, but my body was ready. Did I mention that I had never run more that 2 miles at a time in my life before I started training? Before I knew it the race had begun and off I went to cross that finish line. Two hours and forty one minutes later, I crossed the finish line. I was exhausted but exhilarated! It was hard, but it was FUN!  My hubby and kids were there waiting for me and watched me receive my Medal!

There were bands and cheerleaders to encourage us along the way. Running thru Disneyland and seeing some of the rides behind the scenes was an amazing experience.  It made my first half-marathon even more special!  Maybe this will inspire some of you moms and dads to go out there and do it because you really can! If I can do it, so can you!

To learn more about TeamTraining head here and to learn more about all of the Disney races head here.

When Bridgette is not running, she spends her time with her husband and two young children exploring beautiful Southern California.

2 comments

  1. Carissa says:

    Nicely done Bridgette! I ran the 5k that weekend and am training for a 10k in March…someday I will conquer the 1/2! Love that we can encourage other families to get out there and be active!!!

  2. Sarah says:

    Bridgette,
    You are an inspiration to us all! You can do anything you put your mind too, even when you have so many other things going on. You are not just a wife and mother…you are a marathoner now! Congratulations on accomplishing something momentous and doing it in honor of others who can not. WAY TO GO!!!

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