The “12 Days of Christmas” was one of my favorite carols growing up.
In honor of the child that lives not-so-deep within me, I’ve crafted the “13.1 Days of Disney Running Christmas.” I love that Disney celebrates the child in all of us, and that Disney running does it while putting one foot in front of the other.
So here is my homage to Disney running and the Walt Disney World Marathon, which my true love and I will be tackling on January 13, 2013. I tried to incorporate as many elements and runDisney events as I could—including the brand new Dumbo Double Dare at the Disneyland Half Marathon and bonus verses in homage to half-marathons. If you prefer, I’ve created a very silly video version here. Enjoy!
The 13.1 Days of Disney Running Christmas
Two Tinker Bells (Photo: runDisney)
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:A Marathon at Disney
On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Three 5Ks
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney
On the fourth day of Christmas
Disney bling! (Photo: runDisney)
My true love gave to me:
Four Princess Halves
Three 5Ks
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Five Disney Bling!
Four Princess Halves
Three 5Ks
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney
On the sixth day of Christmas
Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge (Photo: runDisney)
My true love gave to me:
Six Goofy’s Challenge
Five Disney Bling!
Four Princess Halves
Three 5Ks
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Seven Expeditions
Six Goofy’s Challenge
Five Disney Bling!
Four Princess Halves
Three 5Ks
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney
Coast To Coast Race Challenge (Photo: runDisney)
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Eight Coast-to-Coasting
Seven Expeditions
Six Goofy’s Challenge
Five Disney Bling!
Four Princess Halves
Three 5Ks
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Nine Wine-and-Dining
Eight Coast-to-Coasting
Seven Expeditions
Disney’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon (Photo: runDisney)
Six Goofy’s Challenge
Five Disney Bling!
Four Princess Halves
Three 5Ks
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Ten Milers Towering
Nine Wine-and-Dining
Eight Coast-to-Coasting
Seven Expeditions
Six Goofy’s Challenge
Five Disney Bling!
Four Princess Halves
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler (Photo: runDisney)
Three 5Ks
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Eleven Kids-a-Racing
Ten Milers Towering
Nine Wine-and-Dining
Eight Coast-to-Coasting
Seven Expeditions
Six Goofy’s Challenge
Five Disney Bling!
Four Princess Halves
Three 5Ks
Disney Kids Races (Photo: runDisney)
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Twelve Dumbos Daring
Eleven Kids-a-Racing
Ten Milers Towering
Nine Wine-and-Dining
Eight Coast-to-Coasting
Seven Expeditions
Six Goofy’s Challenge
Five Disney Bling!
Four Princess Halves
Three 5Ks
Walt Disney World Marathon (Photo: runDisney)
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney!
On the thirteenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Thirteen Runners Running
Twelve Dumbos Daring
Eleven Kids-a-Racing
Ten Milers Towering
Nine Wine-and-Dining
Eight Coast-to-Coasting
Seven Expeditions
Six Goofy’s Challenge
Five Disney Bling!
Four Princess Halves
Three 5Ks
Disneyland Half Marathon (Photo: runDisney)
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney!
On the 13.1 day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
13.1 Half Marathoners
Thirteen Runners Running
Twelve Dumbos Daring
Eleven Kids-a-Racing
Ten Milers Towering
Nine Wine-and-Dining
Eight Coast-to-Coasting
Seven Expeditions
Six Goofy’s Challenge
Five Disney Bling!
Four Princess Halves
Disney love.
Three 5Ks
Two Tinker Bells
And a Marathon at Disney!
Merry Christmas!
p.s. My real life true love gave to me a Minnie and Mickey “Just Married” ornament to commemorate our engagement at a Disney race—the 2011 Wine & Dine Half Marathon. We were married in August, and he surprised me with the ornament while we were trimming the tree this month. He bought it at Disneyland while we were there for the 2012 Tinker Bell Half Marathon in January and saved it until now. How very appropriate!
I am running the 2013 Walt Disney World Marathon courtesy of runDisney. But as always, all opinions are purely my own. I really do believe in being honest about my experiences and Disney is no exception. For more information read my Disclosure Policy.
Karla Bruning is a regular contributor to SHAPE.com, the host of NYRR's On The Run web + TV show, and a race announcer at events like the TCS New York City Marathon. She used to report for Newsweek but spent her free time squeezing in workouts. Now she freelances as a running reporter. She's run 7 marathons, 20 halves, 6 triathlons, sings in an '80s cover band, spoils her dog + travels compulsively.
I’m not the fastest runner and I’m not the slowest, but I am a running nerd. A journalist by trade, I love to research, read, learn and cogitate. So stick with me. Like all good nerds, I’ll do the homework and share it. But the running is up to you!
