Running Royalty

      Before any big competition, most marathon runners go through a checklist of race day necessities to make sure they are prepared at the starting line.  Running shorts?  Check.  Double-knotted shoelaces?  Check.  Bib number?  Check.  Tiara and tutu?  Check!   Unconventional accessories for most runners, a tiara and tutu were must-haves for Nevillewood residents Sue Harford, Pat Hartman, and Janice States when they ran the Walt Disney World Princess Half Marathon in Orlando, Florida in February.  And for these VIPs (Very Important Princesses), the experience was filled with the magic Disney is famous for.

     “I was just so happy and excited,” said States. “My favorite part was being in the start corrals with all of the ladies and Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother counting us down.  Ooh!  And the fireworks!”

For the fifth year, the Princess Half Marathon celebrated women runners and helped athletes of all ages find their “inner princesses.”  After a start that included fireworks and music, the course wound through the resort’s Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center theme parks, giving runners an enchanting experience as they pounded through the 13.1 miles.  Famous Disney characters were stationed along the course ready for photo-ops, and a gospel choir gave runners some much-needed oomph during the last mile.  Most of the 36,000 runners chose to wear costumes.  “There were tutus everywhere!” exclaimed Hartman.

     While gospel choirs and fireworks may have helped to ease the challenge of a distance run, motivation and preparation began long before race day.   Hartman and States trained together, at first running just a mile or two at a time.  According to Hartman, “We were thinking, 13.1 miles?  No way!”  But after completing a few 10-mile runs and with some encouragement from her husband Darren, Hartman registered for the race.  Harford began running a few years ago when a friend asked her to be a part of a marathon relay team and has run six half marathons and one full marathon since. For her, training for the Princess Half Marathon included running about 25 miles per week.

     After months of preparation (and a night of beauty sleep), the three princesses made their way to the starting line at three o’clock in the morning.  “That was my least favorite part,” said Harford, “but we fed off of the energy of the crowd.”  Running through Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom was something that all of the ladies will never forget.  “It was a truly magical, uplifting experience,” said Harford.  States mentioned that there was a few miles without a lot of fanfare, but  “when I saw the sign that said ‘EPCOT next right,’ I knew I could finish.”

     Pink, tiara shaped medals awaited the ladies at the finish line, “crown jewels” for a job well done.  Hartman and States were proud to have finished their first big race.  “I started to tear up a little at mile 11; I knew I was going to do it,” said Hartman of her emotional finish.  Harford finished with a personal record, her best finish time yet. 

     While the tutus and tiaras may be put away, these princesses are keeping their running shoes on! Each of the women has plans to run more races. Harford will be running the full Pittsburgh Marathon in May and coaches for the Girls on the Run organization. States and Hartman are on relay teams for the Pittsburgh Marathon and want to run Disney’s Wine and Dine Marathon in November during EPCOT’s Wine and Food festival.  “A wine and dine half marathon,” said Hartman, “Now doesn’t THAT sound like fun!”  Better add a bejeweled goblet to the checklist!