I knocked one of my goals off my 2016 to-do list. See full list here.

Let me state for the record, I am NOT a Disney freak. Sure I like Disney movies. This visit marks the 4th time in my lifetime that I have visited the mouse house in some shape or form. I did not have a dream of running a Disney race. The happiest place on Earth, to me, is the most stressful place on Earth.

It was January and I was looking for a half marathon to sign up for in April. That would give me just enough time to train with a little cushion. There was nothing in Atlanta or the metro area in the time frame I was looking for. I wanted to get a jump start on long distance running and I did not want to waiver. I knew if I signed up for a race I would put my money where my mouth is. Disgruntled I decided to look at nearby states. That is when I found the HOLY GRAIL of half marathons. The first EVER Disney Star Wars half marathon! It was a sign from the old Gods and the New! Like the GoT reference?

I am a HUGE Star Wars fan. I hit register without even really thinking. After I had a little buyers remorse. It was after spring break, during state testing, the beginning of finals and the exact time my niece was due to have her baby. Not to mention the expense of the race was just the tip of the iceberg of what this weekend would cost. BUT IT IS STAR WARS!

I mean, how cool is that medal?! SOOOOOOO worth it!

I worked hard and I was a nervous wreck. I did not know anyone else running the race. When we got to packet pick up I got choked up.

Being surrounded by so many people who were just as big of a Star Wars nerd as I was brought tears to my eyes.

I wish I could have done the dark side challenge. That is where you run the 10k Saturday and the Half on Sunday. You get an extra medal for that on top of the ones for the race. All the medals were so cool (I run for the bling). I wish they weren't all sold out when I found the race originally. Already making a mental note for 2017.

Thanks to my friend back home and a facebook post, I got to meet and begin the race with these 2 amazing ladies. I was so nervous. I always get so nervous before a big race. I didn't know anyone and these girls just so happened to be part of a running club back in my hometown, were staying at the same resort as me and were in my race corral. They sent me a PM and offered to meet me for the first bus over to the start at Epcot. The first bus comes at 2:30am ( yes AM, you read that right). These girls ran the 10k and said if we wanted to meet Darth Vader we really needed to be on the first bus to wait in line. I set my wake up call to 1:50am. I did not sleep. I could not sleep. Finally at 1:42am I just went ahead and got up. My adrenaline and nerves were fighting with my stomach. I got down to the front of the hotel at 2:20am. The bus was already there. I waited and paced nervously. The minute the girls showed up I felt 110% better. We chatted the whole ride. They really put me at ease. We waited in line for Vader, then scooted over to Jabba before we hit the bathroom and the starting line.

Considering the lack of sleep I have had, and the fact that the last 2 long runs I had I hit walls shortly before my end mileage goal, I felt pretty good. I did not take any pictures at the starting line or of the awesome fireworks but Danica sent me this video that she shot of us starting the race.

Their goal was to meet Chewbacca. My goal was to not be last, try to do under 3 hours and have a good time and stop to take pictures if I wanted to. I managed all of those goals! The race began at Epcot. We saw R2-D2 at mile 1. The line was a little long and I wasn't ready to stop running yet, I mean I just started and was in a good groove. There were thousands of runners and some narrow passages. Many walked a lot of the course. This really is not a race to get any sort of a PR. It is slower paced and packed with much entertainment along the way. I pulled a little ahead of the girls I started with and that is when the dreaded nature call began. I mean it is hard to get all your bathroom stops in when your race starts at 5 in the morning and you have to leave your room at 2:15. I hit Mile 2 and Chewbacca with a HUGE line. I had to make a snap decision. Bathroom won over Chewbacca. I mean I knew I was going to meet him later when I went to the park with my son so I wasn't too hurt but I also knew I would not see my new friends the rest of the race. Luckily I found a real bathroom, with no line, shortly after this and now I could really enjoy the rest of the race.

We ran through Epcot and Hollywood Studios in the dark. Those parks were all lit up. It was eerie to see them so empty, piping music through out the course. Each mile marker featured a different character from the dark side. It was not until I got close to Animal Kingdom that I saw the sunrise. This part was by far my favorite part of the entire race.

I started texting my husband to let him know I was past the 15k mark.

Bad selfie time... can you believe I am at mile 11 and still smiling like this?

This was the last thing I stopped for. I texted Shane to tell him I was about to cross the finish line. I felt amazing, and sad it was over. I could have easily ran 5 more miles. There were a few other things along the way I wish I would have stopped for but lines were longish. R2-D2 is one, the Hoth set up and the Emperor's chair are really the only ones I regret...but that would have killed my time, not that I was running so fast but I did not want to tank it either.

I crossed the finish at 2:49:57

Super happy to have had my boys and fellow Star Wars nerds there to cheer me on!

Hoping next year the whole family will be running this!