The Atlanta Women's 5K

April 14th, I got to run the largest 5K in the Southeast: The Atlanta Women's 5K.

Although I was bummed that none of my regular running chicas could experience this with me, I was excited to be running in this event. I had heard a lot about it, and the race certainly did live up to all the hype.

The atmosphere was electric with female pheromones! Music, set to a perfect tempo to excite runners, greeted me upon arrival, and after checking in and getting my bib, there were vendors to enjoy, tempting me to shop.

Before the race got started, we were given an opportunity to participate in a group stretch, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then, runners were told to move to their race corrals.

Do you see the purple flowers on the race banner in the above pic? These emblems were everywhere. The medals were shaped like this flower, and I couldn't help thinking they looked a lot like purple forget-me-nots.

Now, if you have read my blog in between 2010 and 2016, you know that it used to be titled Forget-me-not, Oh Lord! And you know why those flowers are special to me. Whenever I see them, or anything that reminds me of them, I think about the baby I lost back in August of 2010, our Angel.

Waiting for the race to start, I thought about the day of my miscarriage, and looking around at the hundreds of women that surrounded me that day, I thought of the reality that 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage in their lifetime. I wondered which of these ladies had at one point shared in the pain I had experienced eight years ago.

And then the race started. And I ran. And thoughts of Angel ran with me, thoughts of all that I had done since then to honor her memory, thoughts of the races run for her. 

And I was happy. 

To think of her now, makes me smile. Back then, to think of her would bring unimaginable sadness. But it is somewhat true what they say, "Time heals all wounds." So now when I think of her, I smile. I'm grateful to have carried her the few weeks I did. I'm a better person for having had her in my life.

So I ran. Happy. Determined to remain happy. And it was a good race.

Finished in 36:07

After finishing, I got a medal, my shirt, and a flower! We were showered with gifts!!

I had a great time enjoying me and remembering Angel. This race is a keeper, for sure! 

This Magic Moment: The Disney Princess 5K

Once upon a time, in the southern state of Georgia, there lived a runner who had a dream. Her greatest fantasy was to one day dress up as her favorite fairy tale princess (Snow White) and run through one of the parks at Walt Disney World.

Every year, she read runners' blog posts about their dashes through Disney. She scrolled through pics on her Facebook news feed of her friends racing in the most magical place on earth. And every year, she would longingly say to herself, "I'm going to do that... one day..."

Years passed, and finally, the runner could stand it no longer. She knew she must do whatever it took to make this dream a reality!

So, she messaged some of her most beloved friends and running buddies. She proposed that they unite and work together to make this fantasy an actuality. And they agreed!

Upon hearing her three girlfriends had her back - as they had similar ambitions of dressing up and running through one of the happiest places in all the land -  the runner called upon her friends at Magically Ever After Travel. And with the assistance of agent Jenny Casey, the plans were set to run the magical 5K through Epcot during the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

When the day arrived for the runner and her fellow females to embark on the journey, she simply could not contain her joy. Smiling from ear to ear at 4am, she awoke that morning, readied herself, grabbed the bags she had already packed, and, accompanied by her friend Jordan, drove to pick up her other two running buddies Jaimee and Dusty. Their journey had begun!

The drive to Walt Disney World went quickly by, and before they knew it, the runners had arrived at what appeared to be runners' heaven on earth - the runDisney Health and Fitness Expo!

At the expo, they picked up their race bibs and shirts, purchased a couple racing items, and got further excited by the running atmosphere.

New hat!

Reluctantly, they then went to check-in at their hotel, but soon after dropping off their bags, the runners went to Disney Springs to shop! Too excited, they stayed out very late but eventually went back to their lodging to rest up for the race the next morning.

At 3am, the runner's alarm went off, and she awoke to the sound of Snow White singing "I'm Wishing." She sprung out of bed, yet again smiling from ear to ear, and proceeded to get dressed in her Snow White running outfit purchased from Rock City Skirts.

Dressed as her favorite princess and accompanied by her dear friends, the now newly transformed running princess made her way to the 5K start line. Absolutely nothing could ruin this magical day. And magical it was!

Fireworks marked the start of the race!

Everything was enchanting as she ran among other runners also realizing their dreams coming true. And what made the whole experience even more amazing was that she got to run the race with her bestest running buddie, Jaimee.

It was absolutely spellbinding running through the night with Disney music filling the air and everything all aglow.

The running buddies stopped on occasion to take pictures of moments they wanted to remember forever.

It was an extraordinary experience!

Even crossing the finish line felt magical.

And as if all that wasn't enough to make the runner smile for the rest of her life, at the conclusion of the race, she and her friend were handed a beautiful talisman to forever gaze upon and remember their spellbinding journey together.

The runner's dream had finally come true!

To further mark the momentous occasion, after refreshing themselves back at the hotel, the runner and her friends then spent the rest of the day at The Magic Kingdom where even more wonderful, fascinating, and altogether marvelous moments were realized!

Driving back to Georgia the next day, after a few more stops to shop, the friends fondly remembered their time in Walt Disney World. After everyone arrived home safely, the runner laid her head on her pillow that night knowing now - after finally realizing her dream of dressing up as Snow White and running through one of the parks at Walt Disney World - now she could live happily ever after.

The First Race Report of 2017

My fourth Hot Chocolate 5K (I have been running for 4+ years now) was completed last month.  This race remains at the top of my "gotta run this one" racing list for multiple reasons:

First - FRIENDS!

This is a race for girlfriends. Females running together for chocolate equals fun! How could it not?!

Second reason to run this race - CHOCOLATE!

Those who know me know I love chocolate. And if you are a fellow chocolate lover, you MUST participate in this event. Just imagine, after pushing yourself forward 3.1 miles, consuming rich hot chocolate, then enjoying marshmallows, rice crispy treats, and bananas dipped in melted chocolate! It's as close to a utopia as you can possibly get here on earth.

The final reason to run this race - FUN!

This race inspires fun. Silly is your middle name as you run toward your chocolate waiting for you at the finish line.

So I obviously recommend signing up for the Hot Chocolate 5K/15K race whenever it next comes near you. Get a group of friends together, and go enjoy some chocolate!

Running Tip: Indulge sometimes. #chocolate