HF#11988

This is a local favorite for runners in Murfreesboro, TN. As a runner, we all know our passion is more than just for us, we use it everytime we race to raise funds for and bring awareness to an organization in need. That is exactly what the Special Kids Race is, proceeds go toward a local organization that helps special needs kids that do not have anywhere else to turn because their needs are too many, too expensive, or too time consuming for the big hospitals.

Packet pickup is at a local church the afternoon before the race but unfortunately if you are not familiar with the church, you might have a difficult time finding where at. Hopefully next year they will have more signage to help direct people or have an easier location in general. Course is timed and your timing chip is on you bib and the race shirt is a cotton tri-blend t-shirt. Not really anything else as far as the expo goes, there are a couple organizations there with booths setup but nothing other than awareness, other races to take part in, and donations.

Race day parking is really easy as multiple locations in the area offer free parking. If you do not get their in time to park at the start/finish line, they shuttle people from nearby lots on donated school buses or you can get a nice warm-up run in instead of riding a shuttle. The course is pretty awesome I think, too often we find ourselves running through town or out in the middle of nowhere but this course takes you through and around the Stones River Battlefield so it is scenic but also within the city limits. Also, the route is really flat, maybe a rolling hill here and there but nothing anyone should worry about. Aid stations are every mile and a half or sooner and the post race festivities offer a lot of goodies from your typically bananas, energy bars, and water to some donated items from local businesses and even homemade items. The hit this year was a massive home made rice krispies "brick" made and donated by a local church, I believe.

Not exactly worth traveling a great distance to run this race but worth it if you are within a couple hrs and want to help a good organization and see some new scenery.

HF#11988

So I was not suppose to run this race but a friend got sick and gave me her bid. I know, race management typically frowns upon this but last minute illnesses happen and who would say no to an extra opportunity to get a good run in. Called the Enchanted 10K, this not a bad 10K but it is very crowded and most of the runners have poor runner's etiquette as they stop and cut you off to get to character photo opportunities. I think if someone was to tell me anything about this 10K beforehand, it should of been to enjoy the scenery and the weather rather then focus on time because I ended up getting a bad case of Runner's Knee the day before the half marathon due to having to jump out of someone's way after they stopped in front of me. So yes, my review might be seen as negative which is not my point, my point is to enjoy the run and not shoot for a time. The 10K shares the same expo as all the other runs for the Disney Princess weekend so they have everything you could possibly need for race day and the future. Also, if you need something after the expo, there is a run store Downtown Disney. SWAG is a race specific tech shirt from Champion. Aid stations after every mile or so and the course scenery I think it better than the half because you are in parks more then you are behind the scenes; unlike the half that is mostly on roads to the parks rather than through the parks. Course is really flat but again, not too fast. Not sure on parking since we were at a Disney resort which bused us from hotel to race and took us back again afterwards. Also the resorts do a great job of communicating the bus schedule for the races the day before in the lobby.

Like I said in my half review, the Disney Princess weekend is not my scene but it was a great time with friends and to show them support. I would definitely attend again if asked and hope to attend a different RunDisney event in the future.

HF#11988

February in Tennessee is always cold and brutal as it is our snow...well, ice season and in my 18 years in the area that part has never changed so you have been warned! This race is decent but not great. I think it is perfect for a checkup run to see how you fared over the holidays and what you need to do before half marathons really pick up in the spring. The expo is decent for it's size but the location is lousy because there is no parking within a block of the arena and it is hidden under the arena with the entrance around the back so it looks like a service area. Swag is pretty unique as a nice cotton jacket and you have the opportunity to register early for more freebies and they have race specific items for sale at the expo also. Parking access for the race is easy...if you are familiar with the area. Well, at least it was this year as they had empty construction lots while building the baseball stadium. I have not seen the area much since it opened this summer but it is important to highlight that you cannot park at the farmers market. We were lucky having known the area and parked very close to the starting line which was perfect because the starting line was unbelievably cold just standing in the low teens wind chill. The course is not flat but the worse hill is the very beginning, after that it is mostly gradual inclines and declines and maybe one or two more hills but they are short. Aid stations are every mile and a half or so and they have plenty of sweets on the course if that is your thing. Sweets and running do not mix well with me so I bypassed but they have flavored marshmallows, chocolate covered pretzels, and if you are lucky, the light will be on at the Krispy Kreme where they have been known to hand out free fresh glazed donuts. The medal at the end was pretty unique and custom for Nashville and there is lots of hot chocolate and chocolate fondue available at the end. Again, sweets not my thing when running and when I did try some of the stuff in the car later it was super rich which isn't my thing is general.

So there you have it, a sweet race in hot chocolate weather that is nice to see where you stand going into half and full season.

HF#11988

HA! So first off, no, I am not a Princess and this race is aimed for women runners but guys can take part as well and if you are sensitive to winter like myself, this is a great race to escape it for a weekend in Florida. I am not exactly sure how easy everything is when you stay off Disney property but if you stay at a Disney resort then everything is made really easy for you with transportation everywhere and the resorts communicate the bus schedules in their lobbies. With that being said, you will have to stand in lines waiting for a bus sometimes and race morning is super early as we had to be on a bus by 4:30 for a 7 start time. Catching a bus back afterwards was hectic for the expo so we cabbed it to dinner instead and my group was middle of the pack to tail end finishers and there were buses waiting on us so we got back to our resort pretty quickly. The expo is massive, if you need it then it will be there and if you forget something, there is a running store at Disney Springs. Everything about this race is setup really easy for runners and if you need something then reach out and it will provided one way or another. For example, it was cold this last year and they supplied blankets to everyone in the starting area and at the finish-line. The course is pretty cool but you do not run there as much of the parks as you might think, you run briefly through Magic Kingdom and Epcot but other then that, it is mostly the behind the scenes areas and park roads. Turning down Main St. in Magic Kingdom and having a crowd standing shoulder to shoulder cheering for the runners down the entire street is a pretty cool setting though. Tons of character stops along the route for photo opportunities if that is your thing. Aid stations are every mile with everything you could ask for to get you to the finish. Also, if you are new to half marathons and not sure you are ready for the next step, first off, you are, it is all mental over physical but this is not a bad place to start. If something happens you cannot keep pace then they will pick you up and bring you to about a half mile before the finish so you can still experience the finish-line and help spark that drive you need to train up for the next race.

All-in-all, not a bad race, especially for women runners and Disney fans and if you are like me and would probably never do this race if some work friends had not invited yo;, enjoy it and support the women in the race...you always be back home suffering through an ice storm! Oh, one more thing, get the dining app for your phone and schedule your meals 24 to 48 hrs in advance. We did not catch on to this until the middle of our trip and you have difficult finding meals on the property if you do not take care of this.