I haven't had a chance to talk much about our RunDisney Springtime Surprise weekend back in April, so I thought I'd pop in to do a Throwback Thursday for it!
It was actually a year ago yesterday that I came out of RunDisney race retirement when I was able to register for both the 2026 RunDisney Springtime Surprise 5K and 10K because Eliot and I couldn’t resist the Winnie the Pooh and Zootopia themes of the races. The original plan was for him to sign up for the challenge, but I decided that if I could get into the 5K or 10K I would join him. (Little did I know that would be the race weekend where we could actually get me into both races...)
After my endometriosis surgery last September, I haven't exactly been super active. And I definitely wasn't very active before surgery due to the baseball sized cyst inside my belly. So even signing up to attempt something like this was a pretty big mental hurdle for me. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… doing events at the Disney parks is basically the only place you’d ever catch me even remotely attempting a race. 🏰 But the character meet & greets, entertainment and seeing the World Showcase and Spaceship Earth lit up always makes it worth it. ✨🌐✨
This year, we actually committed to costumes. Eliot's sister Sara and his parents also signed up for races that weekend- so we coordinated costumes with them. We bought character shirts and tried to find shorts/skirts that would match. I even found these ridiculous character headbands online and they really sold it.
For the 5K, Eliot and I dressed up as Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. 🐰🦊 Thankfully, Eliot and I were in the C corral, so we had a great head start on the other corrals. I felt pretty good while waiting in the starting corrals. I made sure to stretch out my muscles, I took some calming deep breaths and I felt very centered. This was the first ever RunDisney event where I wasn't nervous... and dare I say that I felt confident?
Looking back now, I probably felt great because I knew that I had nothing to lose. For me, just getting back to the start line was probably the biggest battle I faced. No matter how these races went for me, I had dared to try to attempt them again... after being in incredible pain and having surgery. So when our group's fireworks shot into the sky, I started my speed walk with a confidence that I haven't had in other races.
The 5K was a great way to get back in the game because it's a fun run and not timed. Still, Eliot and I tried to stick to the 16 minute a mile pace as much as we could since we knew it would be a good practice for the 10K race the next day. I really pushed myself during those three miles, and Eliot encouraged me the entire way, often reminding me that we were fine and doing great. He and I basically speed walked through the World Showcase- only stopping to take a few quick photos and for one longer stop in the America Pavilion to use the restroom and take photos with Duffy!!!
I was pretty emotional at the end of the race when the finish line was in view. Eliot video taped me crossing the finish line and I got a little misty eyed. I was so proud of myself after everything I've been through this past year. Still, the 5K was a lot of strain and effort on my body. And if there was ever a medal that I've earned, it was this one.
The rest of that day, I walked more steps... in fact I ended up clocking in at 22,000 steps according to my FitBit. This past year, 10,000-12,000 steps is usually when my body hits a wall and it's had enough. Then I walked another 10,000 steps past that point... so I knew that the 10K the following day was going to be an extra hard challenge.
Naturally, Eliot and I dressed up as Tigger and Eeyore for the 10K. 🐯🧡💙🎀 This time, we were in the D corral, so we didn't have as much of a head start. Eliot tried to get us as close to the front of the corral as possible... and the nerves were starting to set in the closer we got to the start line. I just had this bad feeling that I couldn't shake.
The 10K was a really rough one for me. I had massive cramps less than a mile in and some really nice lady stopped to give me a salt tablet to suck on. It was so hot out. It might have been stupid early in the morning, but the humidity didn't get that memo because it felt like I was trying to speed walk in a hot sauna... and I was dying.
Eliot was doing the Springtime Surprise challenge (5K, 10K & 10 Miler), so he had to finish. I didn't want to hold him back, and I couldn't shake that bad feeling no matter how hard I tried to. Plus, my body was already at it's limit from the previous day. But Eliot was right there next to me cheering me on until I couldn’t go any further.
I didn’t quite make it into Epcot before my body had enough of the intense Florida humidity & heat. It was only about 1.75 miles in, but it was longer than I thought I'd make it after crossing the start line. I pulled myself at the medical tent right at the entrance to Epcot's World Showcase, and I felt really confident in that decision. Eliot stopped to make sure that I was ok, then he kept going to finish the rest of the race.
I patiently waited for everyone else in the other corrals to finish running by me. Then I hopped in a van with the other people who pulled themselves or those who got pulled because they got behind pace. They drove us directly to the finish line and once there, they gave us our medals, food boxes, bananas, water, Powerade, and some medical attention if necessary. By the time we got there, my legs had tightened up and it was all I could do to get myself back out of the van. I ended up getting ice for my shin splints and I talked with some wonderful volunteers while I tried to stretch my legs back out.
Eventually, Eliot was close to the finish line and I made my way over to the meeting area. After talking with Eliot, Sara, Rick and Nori, we discovered that they had cut the course in multiple locations because Nori finished before anyone else, yet she started in the last corral. If I had known that they were going to cut the course in multiple spots due to the extreme weather, I would have told Eliot to leave me and I would have kept slowly moving forward- but I’m happy with my decision to listen to my body.
The following day, Eliot and Sara were both doing the 10 Miler. The theme for that race was Aladdin, so Eliot dressed up as Genie and Sara was Aladdin.
I said goodbye and good luck to both of them at the car, and then I ended up staying there to get some more rest. (Three early mornings and very little sleep had taken a massive toll on me.) However, there was still quite a bit of excitement as I could hear them setting up a Muppets entertainment video loop nearby. When the race started, I heard all of the fireworks signaling the release of each corral group. Then the DJ set up not too far from my parking lot row and there was no more sleeping to be had.
This race course went through Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and there wasn't really a good place to see the runners. I ended up meeting up with Nori over by the entrance back into Epcot. There, we tracked Eliot and Sara through text messages. Eliot came first and he stopped to take a photo with me. (He was pretty emotional at this point since there was only a mile or so left for him to go.) Then we waited for Sara to pass us before heading over to the finish line where Rick was standing.
Eliot and Sara collected their 10 Miler and challenge medals. Then we all met back up in the meeting area and celebrated the end of another RunDisney weekend.
After these past two races, I think I’m headed back into RunDisney retirement. I had a great time, but I'm definitely not signing up for another Springtime Surprise event ever again... because they always seem to be hot. But I might be persuaded to do another 5K event if I can get into it... especially if it's Princess weekend.
Still, I'm really glad that I did this. I’m so proud of myself for completing the Springtime Surprise 5K and attempting the 10K after everything I’ve been through this past year. 🙂
