Run, Karla, Run!

Goofin’ with Pluto (Photo: MarathonFoto)

What happens when two Disney-loving sisters take on the Disney Princess 5K together? Costumes, cold-weather, and lots of laughs.

My sister ran her first 5K with me at the 2012 Disney Princess Tangled 5K. Three years later, we headed back to the race weekend to tackle her first half-marathon. I attended the race as a media guest of runDisney to write a story for Shape.com.

But before we laced up for 13.1, we made our triumphant return to the Disney Princess 5K—this time clad in costume.

Drizella and Anastasia Tremaine are ready to run #Princess5K! Thank you @sparkleathletic for the inspiration & gear!

A photo posted by Karla Bruning (@runkarlarun) on Feb 20, 2015 at 2:08am PST

Running Costumes

We stayed up way too late the night before the race, huddled in my hotel room at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, finishing our running costumes. My sister was staying at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, but decided to have a sleepover so we could head to the race together.

For the half-marathon, we planned to run as Disney’s most famous sisters—Frozen’s Elsa and Anna.

So for the 5K, we chose to run as Disney’s most infamous sisters—Cinderella‘s wicked stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella Tremaine.

Anastasia and Drizella (Photo: runDisney)

Read the rest of this entry →

My sister and I run through Cinderella Castle. (Photo: MarathonFoto)

When I was 8 years old, I promised myself I’d never forget what it feels like to be a kid.

The inciting incident was simple enough: a grown-up yelled at me, essentially, for having fun—the kind of fun a kid has on warm spring days, doing cartwheels, playing, and running like a girl is apt to do. Maybe I accidentally cartwheeled into her, or maybe I was giggling too loudly. Whatever I’d done, it was completely innocent.

But her grumpy admonition, that I wasn’t being “lady like,” stung. As I sat sulking, staring at the grass stains on my pants, I promised myself I would never be that grumpy grown-up, that I would never forget the glee of childhood, that I would never forget the Barbie slogan of the era: “We girls can do anything.”

It was a solemn promise that I’ve held close to my heart. I run Disney races—dressed in costume as a parade of princesses who stir the child-within—because of that promise. In other words, I run like the girl I used to be and the child at heart I continue to nurture.

I ran the 2015 Disney Princess Half Marathon as a media guest of runDisney, with my sister by my side, and wrote about it for Shape.com.

It was my second go at the race. I’d run it in 2012 dressed as Cinderella with my real-life Prince Charming by my side, in costume too. Having my husband pace me to my then half-marathon PR is still one of my favorite running experiences ever.

But I found running a women’s race with one of the most important women in my life to be another running career highlight.

I make no bones about it: I really enjoy women-focused races. My first 10K was the Oakley New York Mini 10K, the original women’s road race. I’ve since sung the national anthem at that event and worked it as a race announcer, too. I’ve gone on to run the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco, Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland, and SHAPE Diva Dash in New York and Minnesota. I believe that races that focus on women still have a place in the fabric of our sport. Here’s why. Read the rest of this entry →

The Disney Princess Half Marathon is finally here! Time for the running costume reveal!

Today, I ran the Disney Princess Enchanted 10K as Shredded and Torn Cinderella. It was a bit too cold for my costume as planned—barely 40 degrees!—so I added some arm sleeves.

Torn Cinderella

And best moment of the day: my photo opp with Cinderella! We got a great before and after shot. Thanks Fairy Godmother! Cinderella looks much better after a little magic.

Before and After

But what will I wear to the Disney Princess Half Marathon? On Friday, my sister and I ran as Disney’s most infamous sisters—Anastasia and Drizella. Read the rest of this entry →

The Inaugural Glass Slipper Challenge medal (Photo: runDisney)

The countdown is on! The Disney Princess Half Marathon 2015 Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals starts in just a few days! I’ll be running all the races—Disney Princess 5K, Disney Princess Enchanted 10K, and Disney Princess Half Marathon, earning my Glass Slipper Challenge medal in the process.

Running with my Prince Charming at Disney’s Princess Half Marathon. (Photo: brightroom)

Although this weekend snuck up on me, I’m incredibly excited. It will be my seventh runDisney race, second time at Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, and the first doing the Glass Slipper Challenge. For a gal who named her dog Cinderella, this is pretty exciting stuff.

But even more important than earning a Cinderella-themed medal is the woman who will be by my side: my sister.

Back in 2012, my husband (then fiancé) and I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon as Cinderella and Prince Charming, where he paced me to a new personal best. I’d been training hard and was really excited for the race.

My sister and her kids came along for vacation too. My niece and nephew ran in the runDisney Kids Race, and Sis was out there early on half-marathon morning cheering me on along the course and at the finish.

She’s long been one of my best supporters, coming out to root for me at the Chicago Marathon, New York City Marathon, and other races, often with a home-made sign in hand. Read the rest of this entry →