On Friday morning, after a workout at the Grand Floridian’s little gym and a quick breakfast, I met up with the team from New Balance for a running and Disney-filled day!
New Balance sent us some gear to test out ahead of time and SkinnyRunner, Tina and I all agreed that the Heidi Klum Moto Pullover was our favorite item! With my crazy-long torso, I always gravitate toward apparel with extra length and this pullover is plenty long and very lightweight with a flattering cut. I love the kangaroo pocket and loose neckline.
Our morning began with the Disney’s Wine and Dine Weekend Health & Fitness Expo.
Hi Sarah!
There was a lot to see and we wasted no time exploring and chatting with the various brands and companies in attendance. There was no shortage of booths to check out and I loved all of the Disney-themed gear. If you wanted to buy Minnie Mouse ears, sparkly polka-dot running skirts and fun high socks, the expo had everything you needed!
Over the course of the weekend, we learned a lot about the runDisney races and one thing that really stuck out to me as someone who is not competitive or crazy-fast is how welcoming they are to new runners and runners of all levels. (Fun fact: 70 percent of runners who complete the Disney Princess half marathon are first time half marathoners.)
Heck yes!
At the expo, I loved discovering new-to-me items like the RooSport super-magnetic beltless gear pouch…
And the Mission EnduraCool cooling workout towel.
Once moistened with water, the towel instantly becomes 30 degrees cooler than a person’s average body temperature, making it a ridiculously refreshing way to wipe away sweat! I knew this towel would be a hit with my mom, so I bought one for both of us.
We also had the chance to check out the runDisney running shoe at the New Balance booth!
This shoe was created last year and at first only 1,000 were produced because New Balance wasn’t sure whether or not they would be a hit. They ended up selling out within one day and now there are plans to create a new shoe every year for Disney fans! The 2014 runDisney shoe will have customizable inserts that runners can purchase to correspond with the Disney race(s) they completed. I thought that was so creative!
I also made sure to snap a picture of all the runDisney race medals that were on display at the expo.
Disney medals are so colorful! I can see why Disney lovers go crazy over them.
After the expo, our group made our way out to Disney’s New Balance Track & Field Complex where we grabbed lunch and had the chance to meet the people behind New Balance marketing and runDisney races.
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I loved learning that 67 percent of runners who participate in Disney races are female. Woop!
A highlight for me was listening to Jenny Barringer Simpson, a professional runner and New Balance athlete, speak about her training.
(Jenny is in the bright blue tank top in the middle of the above photo. Our blogger group: Monica, Sarah, SkinnyRunner, Tina, Jess, me and Gia)
A few quick facts about Jenny’s accomplishments:
- She ran the fastest mile of any woman (4:19) in the United States this year
- She is a 2008 Olympian
- She is a four-time NCAA champion
- She holds 6 NCAA records (1500m, indoor mile, indoor 3K, indoor 5K, outdoor 5K, steeplechase)
- She is the American Record Holder in the Steeplechase (9:12)
Jenny told us all about her training and was kind enough to answer any questions we threw her way. She started running in third grade and really loves the “black and white” of running. Jenny views sleep, nutrition and her workouts as “compound interest” that add up to make her a successful athlete.
Jenny told us about her favorite running shoes, the New Balance 890 (the one she wore when she ran her 4:19 mile) and the 1400, which she called the “best shoe ever made” and went into detail about her training schedule when I asked her to tell us about her workouts.
Jenny explained that she runs, on average, 10 miles every day, with four “intentional” workout days a week (intervals, temp runs, etc.) and three recovery days every week, two of which are back-to-back. A recovery day for Jenny is usually running at a 7:10 pace for an hour or more. (Yes, she’s crazy fast!!!) She takes one day off every eight weeks and completes stretching and strength training primarily for injury prevention and to help her with explosive movement.
As for her diet, Jenny likes to drink tea or something with a little caffeine before a workout and her pre-workout food staples are oatmeal or cereal (Cheerios). Jenny also emphasized the importance of refueling post-workout and explained that she worked with a dietitian who told her that while the typical advice of eating within 20 minutes of a workout is fine, eating immediately after a workout is even better. Fueling ASAP after a workout was one of Jenny’s “must-dos” when it comes to her diet. Post-workout snacks for Jenny are typically a smoothie or yogurt or something with a 3:1 carb-to-protein ratio.
It was a very informative and interesting Q&A session and a fun day with New Balance and Disney!
Question of the Day
- Have you ever met a professional athlete?
- If you could be a professional athlete in any sport, which sport would you choose?
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This is one of my favorite posts you’ve EVER written. There is just so much information and so many good products. I would love to meet some of my NFL stars (Eagles, whoop whoop!) 😀
I love all the Disney themed running gear- SO insanely cute! I HAVE to run this race sometime!!
I met Jeff Galloway for a brief “Hello!” during last years Expo for the Tower of Terror 10 miler. That was also my first big race and I felt so at ease. I love Disney and RunDisney. They are the perfect race experience for a slow jogger like me!
And now I have to run a race at Disney. Ahh! I like that you mention they cater to ALL types of runners….not all of us eat hour long 7:10 pace miles for breakfast! 😉 can’t wait to read about your 5k!
LOVE all the fun running gear they have! That coral-orange is super flattering on ya!
I have never met a professional athlete but I think it would be a pretty amazing experience!! Sounds like you are having an amazing weekend!
I’ve always said a Disney Half Marathon is the only half marathon I would every consider running. Maybe one day! 😀
Wow what fun event! Love those cute shoes!!!
I got to meey Olympic gold medalist Dot Richardson a few years ago. She gave my team a motivational speech and then let us hold her medals. They’re heavy!
Sounds like an awesome weekend! I have a Roo Sport and I LOVE it!!
So she doesn’t take a rest day? Just one day every 8 weeks? That seems crazy to me. What about the importance of recovery?
I’ve been a lurker on your blog for a while but am finally the inspiration to reach out and say thank you! This is a really great, super informative post. It is inspiring me to get out and run today (it’s been a while). Thanks! 🙂
Wow, I am so jealous that you go to meet her! She is one of my favorite athletes 🙂 I for sure agree with you on the Disney medals though. Those alone make me want to do one! I’ve met olympic sprinter Tyson Gay before and just last week at my half marathon I met olympic swimmer Gary Hall. 🙂 I would really love to meet Kara Goucher though!
I can’t imagine only taking one complete rest day every two months! Or running for an hour at a 7:10 pace for my recovery days! Recovery days for me mean propping my feet up in front of the TV for a few hours :-).
I would run Disney just for one of those beautiful medals! 🙂 I’d love to be a professional gymnast, but at 5’11”, I don’t think it would work out very well.
I have one of those cooling towels .. they are awesome.
So much cool stuff! Both information & cool products 🙂
Sounds like a great time!
Oh wow this looks like such a great time! I would be all over the minnie mouse ears (and maybe the slow shirt too!)
I have met a couple of retired athletes! And one current NFL player that is from my hometown 🙂 I would love to be a professional tennis player! I love those Disney shoes 🙂
I got to hang out with two Olympic medalists last summer and I was in absolute heaven! I don’t care for actresses, it’s all about the athletes! http://bettylivin.com/2012/10/10/that-time-i-was-on-a-reality-tv-show-23/
I love your hair like that!! how’d you do it??
Sounds like so much fun still. I really wish they had RunDisney races here in Australia, or actually a Disneyland in general. They sound like so much fun.
Jenny’s achievements are so amazing and inspirational. I am now making it a goal to try and eat more quickly post-workout as I always thought within 20 minutes was ok but will now try for more immediately after, even if it is a banana whilst I make a proper meal.
Looks like such a fun weekend and I love all the running gear – so stylish, colorful and fun!
Wow! If I could be a professional athlete in any sport, it would definitely be running.
I can’t even imagine running a 4minute mile, the fastest I’ve ever done was a 5:55 and that’s because there was thousands of people behind me at NYING and I felt like I was going to be run over, I obviously was in the wrong corral. I love that top your wearing!
What a small world!!! I ran cross country with Jenny Barringer in highschool-Oviedo High in Orlando. 🙂
Love seeing how much fun you guys are having – what an awesome opportunity!!
I’m not surprised that almost 3/4 of Princess half marathoners are first timers….if I ever decided to do a half I would LOVE to have a Disney race as my first one!! 🙂
-Sammy
Race Expo’s are the BEST!
This looks like such a fun race. I’ll have to add it to my list!
So awesome that you saw Sarah there too!
That magnetic belt is the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time. . . I am curious about this one!
I have the magnetic pouch and it’s pretty awesome. I use it all the time on my runs…it’s not sweat proof though, so if you carry money I suggest sticking it in a plastic bag first.
That towel sounds awesome! Let us know what you think when you try it 🙂
Wow, what an amazing trip! I love how RunDisney is welcoming to newbies so nice! xx C
I’ve never met a professional athlete, but I would love to! If I could be any type of athlete I think I would want to be a tennis player! Or a volleyball player. 🙂
I am loving those NB tops!! If I could be a professional athlete, I would play on the women’s national soccer team! I watched the women’s ACC soccer championship in person last night and it was so awesome to watch those women play at that level.
http://www.sneakersandspatulas.com/2013/11/11/living-and-dining-room-before-and-after/
a 4 minute mile? I’m lucky if I can get out of bed 4 minutes after my alarm goes off. That’s nuts!
Those New Balance shoes are adorable! And that expo is enough to make me want to sign up for a Disney run! How fun! Wow, a mile in 4:19!!! Pretty sure my legs would fly off my body 🙂
The Princess Half was my first half — I love how welcoming the runDisney races are. I was never overwhelmed or intimidated! Their expos are the best too — although my husband may disagree — he thinks I spend WAY too much money there.
I can’t imagine running a mile in 4:19, that is insane!! I saw you guys walking around a few times and I was SUPER jealous of y’alls New Balance jackets — definitely putting it on my Christmas list!
That expo looks like a dream Christmas morning – if everything was free. But I could put it all on my Christmas list. I’ve never met an athlete but that’s so awesome you met Jenny Simpson! She’s one of my favorites!!
I would be a pro soccer player because those guys are awesome. Hockey is my favorite to watch but its too scary for me to play.
So what you’re telling me is I need to bring a lot of moolah when I do my Disney half because I want EVERYTHING in those stores! One of my friends did the half marathon wine and dine and that is on my list for next year!
I am loving your recaps!! Looks like such a fun race 🙂
Do you mind sharing what you did to your hair!!?? 🙂 So pretty!
I just love your blog! Extremely motivational and down to earth, yet informative. I was wondering what size barrel your curling iron is, as those curls you have in these pictures are amazing.
Thank you! I think it’s just a standard one inch?
I did gymnastics until I reached the team level, so I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be a professional gymnast.
I would love for you to share a tutorial on your hair! It looks great! I love the wave effect. Did you just curl it in the morning and the waves happened later in the day once the curls loosened up?
I didn’t know the 3:1 ratio for after a workout, that is interesting! I would love to run a Disney race sometime, how fun! And those workout tops are really great.
-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.com