Run, Karla, Run!

Lauren Passell wins the 2015 Disney Princess Half Marathon (Photo: Disney)

Registration for the Disney Princess Half Marathon 2016 Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals opens Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 12 p.m. ET. The women-focused race weekend will take place at Walt Disney World in Florida from February 18-21, 2016. The race is the sixth largest half-marathon in the U.S., according to Running USA, and the second largest women’s running event with 20,770 finishers in 2014.

(runDisney)

The Disney Princess Half Marathon 2016 Weekend includes the titular Disney Princess Half Marathon, Disney Princess Enchanted 10K, Disney Glass Slipper Challenge, Disney Princess 5K, and runDisney Kids Races.

The Disney Glass Slipper Challenge asks runners to complete both the 10K on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday for a total of 19.3 miles. They’ll earn three medals total: one for each race and one for the challenge. To qualify, runners must register for the Challenge, not each race individually.

The Disney Princess Half Marathon takes runners from Epcot to Magic Kingdom and back, including a run through Cinderella Castle. The 10K and 5K courses traditionally run through Epcot and the Disney BoardWalk area.

The weekend also includes the Happily Ever After Party in Downtown Disney—a post-race celebration on Sunday—and the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from Thursday through Saturday. Both events are free and open to the public. 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 →

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. (Nike)

A few weeks ago, I announced that I’m running the Nike Women’s Half Marathon San Francisco on October 19 as part of a Nike media group. I was waiting for Nike to release the course map before I decide if the race will be the scene of my sub-2 hour half marathon attempt.

Well, the course map is finally here! For the 11th edition of the race, Nike has drawn a completely new route through San Francisco.

Course Map

Like years of yore, the Nike Women’s Half Marathon starts in San Francisco’s Union Square.

But instead of heading north to the Marina and Presidio, the first three miles take runners through the city streets, including the iconic Alamo Square neighborhood with its rows of Victorian houses.

San Francisco’s Alamo Square neighborhood. (Nike)

Miles 4 through 8 tour the bucolic 1,017-acre Golden Gate Park before another mile through the often-foggy Richmond District. Read the rest of this entry →

Prince Mickey and Princess Mickey (runDisney)

Looking for 2016 charity info? Look no further! Run Disney Princess Half Marathon 2016 For Charity

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Missed out on registration for the Disney Princess Half Marathon 2015 presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including the sold-out Glass Slipper Challenge and Enchanted 10K? Limited bibs are available via charity and tour groups. Runners must register directly through the groups listed below to participate in those three events from February 19-22 at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Frozen’s Elsa makes an appearance at the Princess Half. (runDisney)

Regular registration is still available for the Disney Princess 5K and runDisney Kids Races, both of which will feature a Frozen theme and finisher medals. At publication time, the 5K was 65 percent full and the kids races were 55 percent sold.

Tickets are also still available for the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend Breakfast and Pasta in the Park Party, both on Friday and Saturday, and the Race Retreat on Sunday. Though the Race Retreat and Breakfast are each 52 percent full. Free, non-ticketed events include the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo from Thursday through Saturday and the Happily Ever After Party at Downtown Disney on Sunday.

The Glass Slipper Challenge, where runners complete the Enchanted 10K and Disney Princess Half Marathon on back-to-back days, sold out first in 1 hour and 45 minutes after an hour of technical problems between runDisney.com and the Active.com registration system. Registration opened at 12 p.m. ET on July 15. At 12:34, runDisney posted on Twitter: Read the rest of this entry →

The Nike Women’s Half Marathon San Francisco. (Photo: Nike)

UPDATE: The 2014 lottery is now closed. To run the race via charity, read Run Nike Women’s Half Marathon SF for charity with TNT.

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Registration for the 2014 Nike Women Half Marathon San Francisco random draw opened Wednesday, June 4 at 11 a.m. PDT. Runners have until 11 a.m. on June 19 PDT to register for a chance at being one of the 25,000 runners expected on October 19.

The half marathon is the focus at the 2014 Nike Women’s Half Marathon San Francisco. (Photo: Nike)

For the 11th year of the world’s largest women-focused race, Nike has decided to forgo the marathon distance and concentrate on the half.

“Due to runners’ feedback over the past few years, we have decided to only offer a half marathon,” reads numerous responses to runner inquires on the race’s Facebook page. “But we are dedicated to bring you one of the best Nike Women’s Half Marathons yet!”

The Nike Women’s Marathon and Half Marathon San Francisco debuted in 2004 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first Olympic women’s marathon in 1984, won by American Joan Benoit Samuelson. The Nike Women’s Marathon and Half Marathon went on to become the largest women’s running event in the world. More than 30,000 runners finished races at the event in 2013. More than 26,000 of them ran the half marathon. Read the rest of this entry →

We’re ready to run! (Photo: RunKarlaRun.com)

Greetings from Minnesota! I’m here to take on the SHAPE Diva Dash, a 5K obstacle run for women.

Legs in! (Photo: RunKarlaRun.com)

SHAPE and EAS Sports Nutrition brought me on as a hired gun to share training tips for the 2014 races in the April and May issues of SHAPE Magazine. I had so much fun at the 2013 SHAPE Diva Dash that it was easy to say yes. Now I’m running the Twin Cities edition of the race on Saturday, May 31.

Now that race day is finally here, I thought I’d share my race report from the SHAPE Diva Dash New York that I did with a group of my friends last October. We rocked it New York style.

The Race and Course

SHAPE Diva Dash is a 5K obstacle run for women that’s light on mud and heavy on fun. Run in 10 cities around the U.S., each course is different and includes 10-12 obstacles meant to test strength, balance and agility.

Team “I ♥ NY” is ready to rock! (Photo: Cindy Gordon)

Most obstacles have easier and harder options. And you can skip challenges that you simply don’t want to do. So it’s as difficult or as easy as you want it to be.

Terrain might include paved roads, grassy fields, dirt trails and more. And you never know what obstacles or terrain to expect until you’re faced with them on race day.

Runners can choose from a “competitive” wave, where the first 10 finishers receive prizes, or any of the “non-competitive” waves that follow every 15 minutes. None of the waves are timed.

You’ll see lots of women running together in team running costumes and snapping photos along the way. The vibe is definitely more fun than fierce.

My girls. (Photo: RunKarlaRun.com)

Team I ♥ NY

I rallied four of my friends to run with me in one of the non-competitive waves at the New York-New Jersey race in October 2013.

We donned neon I ♥ NY gear and giggled all the way. Among our ranks were a 4-hour marathoner, a reluctant 5K finisher and a range of runners in between. As our photos will attest, we had a blast.

It was the perfect antidote to a long and laborious marathon training season for me. The race was just two weeks before my big fall marathon, perfect timing for a taper fun run.

Waiting for the race to start. (Photo: Cindy Gordon)

As we waited for our wave to start, a DJ blasted tunes and we were led through a light warm-up and stretch. Before long, our group was off.

We jogged easily and stayed together. Waits at most of the obstacles were no more than two or three people long. Often, we didn’t have to wait at all.

But rather than tell you about this race, I’ll show you. This is an event where the course can speak for itself. So here is Team I ♥ NY as we take on the SHAPE Diva Dash.

Here we go! Read the rest of this entry →

The Tunnel of Trees at the Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon. (Photo: Phil Hospod)

Looking for destination races? Check out my three latest stories at Shape.com. I picked 10 women’s races, 10 wine races and 10 beach races worth booking a ticket for. Many of them aren’t even single race weekends, but running series with multiple events all over the U.S. and around the world. In all, these 30 running events have 60 race weekends among them, and even more distances to choose from. Let the day dreaming begin!

Runners toast their efforts at the Wine Country Half Marathon Series (Photo: TJ Nelson/Destination Races)

The 30-year-old Marathon du Medoc in France may be the grandfather of wine races, with tasting stations along the course and wine-fueled parties all weekend long. But you don’t have to travel to France to guzzle grape at destination races that stomp through vineyards on the way to wine-fueled feasts. Events all over North America, from 5Ks to marathons, cater to wine lovers who like to run hard and drink harder.

I picked 10 wine running series with 20 races in 10 U.S. states and Canadian provinces for runners who like to cool down with vino. See them all at Shape.com.

10 Beach Destination Races for Your Next Racecation

The Southernmost Marathon, Half-Marathon and 10K in Key West. (Photo: Marrero/Doll Photography)

Run and sun under a palm tree at these courses for sand and shore lovers. From Jamaica and the Bahamas to the South Pacific and coast of Australia, these dream-worthy destinations have races to match. Want to surf in California? Party during Carnival in France? Hula in Hawaii? Get lost in the Bermuda triangle? You can, and run too. Read the rest of this entry →

Hollie Estupinian, 32, of Capitola, Calif., wins the Nike Women’s Marathon San Francisco in a time of 3:05:13 on Sunday, October 16, 2011. (Photo: Susan Goldman Photography/Nike)

Time is running out to enter the random draw lottery for the 2013 Nike Women’s Marathon San Francisco. Runners have until June 14 at 12 p.m. PDT to apply for one of the 30,000 spots in the marathon and half marathon. The event is celebrating its 10^th anniversary on Sunday, October 20.

The Nike Women’s Marathon San Francisco began in 2004 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of a major milestone in women’s running: the first Olympic women’s marathon in 1984, won by American Joan Benoit Samuelson.

The event has gone on to become the largest women’s running event in the world. More than 22,000 runners finished the Nike Women’s Marathon San Francisco in 2011, and another 25,000 ran in 2012. This year, 30,000 runners are expected to take part. Read the rest of this entry →

Rachel Booth wins the 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon. (Photo: Preston Mack/runDisney)

When it comes to winning Disney half marathons, no one does it better than elite runner Rachel Booth. The 32-year-old mother of two won her fourth Disney race this morning at Disney’s Princess Half Marathon in course record time. It was her second consecutive Princess Half victory. She also won the Disneyland Half Marathon in 2010 and 2011. At four wins, she owns the most runDisney victories of any woman.

“It never gets old, for sure,’’ Booth said after the race. “As I got to Mile 7 and 8 and through Mile 10, I got to see some people [cheering] and that definitely gave me extra incentive.’’ Read the rest of this entry →

SHAPE Diva Dash obstacles include rope ladders and monkey bars, not barbed wire and mud pits. (Photo: Adventure Fit)

The SHAPE Diva Dash is expanding to 10 cities in 2013 to meet the increasing demand for women’s-only obstacle runs. The series began as a single obstacle run in 2011, before expanding to four cities in 2012. Now they’re looking at their biggest year yet as they expand to 10 cities in eight states and Washington, D.C. The series’ first race takes off today weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

One of the drivers in the current running boom has been the proliferation of women. A record 7.6 million ladies finished a road race in 2011 and women now account for 55 percent of all road race finishers in the U.S., according to Running USA. While men’s participation in road races has not quite doubled since 1990, female participation has increased more than 600 percent in the same time frame. Read the rest of this entry →

Fitness Editor-in Chief Betty Wong finishes the 2012 race. (Photo: Steven Meyer/More.com)

Women’s races are more popular than ever with new women-only and women-focused events popping up all over the country. Disney’s Tinker Bell Half Marathon debuted in California 2012 and Nike Women’s Marathon is bringing a half-marathon to Washington, DC for the first time in 2013, both of which sold out months in advance.

Registration recently opened for another women’s race that’s sure to sell out: The 10^th anniversary More Magazine/FITNESS Magazine Women’s Half Marathon in New York City’s Central Park on April 14.

“Every year, women from all over the U.S. and the world flock to this race for a fun, empowering run,” said Fitness Editor-in Chief Betty Wong in a press release. “I look forward to sharing the course with these fit and fierce females and having a blast celebrating our tenth anniversary.”

The race began in 2004 with just over 1,600 runners and grew to over 7,000 in 2012. Last year’s race sold out in three weeks and the 2013 race will be capped, so organizers are encouraging runners to register early. All runners will receive a short-sleeve tech shirt from Athleta, and finishers earn a medal. Read the rest of this entry →

Runners earn their wings. (Photo: runDisney)

There was plenty of faith, trust and Pixie dust on hand at the Tinker Bell Half Marathon on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. The second annual running of the women-focused even saw a new course record, celebrity runners, and nearly 12,000 participants flying across the finish line of the women-focused event.

Angela Escay from Carmichael, Calif., won the 2013 Tinker Bell Half Marathon in a course record time of 1:24:30, besting the 1:27:52 that reigning champ Kellie Nickerson posted in 2012. It was Escay’s first race in three years after undergoing ankle surgery Read the rest of this entry →

The Nike Women’s Marathon is bringing a Half to D.C. on April 28, 2013. (Photo: Nike/Susan Goldman Photography)

The Nike Women’s Marathon now has a little sister. Nike is bringing its signature San Francisco running event to Washington, D.C. on Sunday, April 28, 2013 for a 13.1-mile tour of the capitol’s historic streets. The inaugural Nike Women’s Marathon Half DC will host 15,000 runners, to be chosen through a random draw lottery. Registration for the lottery is open through Thursday, December 6 at 6 p.m. ET. Runners may register as individuals or as part of a group. The lottery winners will be notified via email December 10-14. Read the rest of this entry →

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon was a fairy tale race.

If you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true.

Cinderella sang those words and I took them to heart at Disney’s Princess Half Marathon in Walt Disney World in Florida, which I attended as a guest of runDisney.

I channeled my inner Cinderella and believed that I could break my half-marathon personal record.

Disney races aren’t for PR’s many people say. Just have fun, they tell you.

But on Sunday, Feb. 26, I learned that it’s possible to PR and have fun too while running Disney.

Of course, it helps to have Prince Charming by your side.

Running in Costume: Cinderella and Prince Charming

For starters, I feel compelled to confess: I ran in costume. Not just that, I cajoled my fiancé, Phil, to run in costume with me—as Cinderella and Prince Charming.

Cinderella has long been my favorite princess, ever since I saw clips of the film on my Fisher Price Movie Viewer Theater back in the early 1980s. I even named my dog Cinderella. What better character to summon for a half-marathon than a gal who knows how to put her head down and work hard?

I found that once you put on a costume and give in to the Disney spirit, it’s inevitable that you’re going to have a good time, no matter how painful the running itself may be. Read the rest of this entry →

Runners cross the starting line of the Tinker Bell Half Marathon. Photo courtesy of runDisney.

With a little bit of faith, trust and pixie dust, the inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon got off to a flying start on Sunday, Jan. 29 at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. More than 10,200 runners finished the debut event aimed at celebrating women and fitness.

Tinker Bell Half Marathon

The race marked my first trip to Disneyland, unless you count the time my mother says I went as a 4-month-old. So I decided to do it right. I willed my 5-foot-8-inch frame into a child’s XL Tinker Bell costume, wings and all, and lined up in the all-women’s corral A for the 5:45 a.m. start.

As I shivered in the 50-degree air waiting for the race to begin, I noticed I wasn’t the only one doing as the Romans do. A sea of fairies, princesses and tutus surrounded me. I saw runners dressed as Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine, Alice, Tiger Lily, Peter Pan, and, of course, Tinker Bell. It’s safe to say that half the runners wore something other than regular running gear, be it fairy wings, a sparkle skirt, or a full-fledged costume. Read the rest of this entry →