Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend Race Costumes

Happy Tinker Bell half weekend!  I did this race the very first year and loved it, so I am excited to do it again.  When I ran it the first time, I did not dress up.  I wore a sequined lime green headband and called it a day.

If you've been following this blog for a while, you'll know that I spent many, many hours making my Donald shirt.  I didn't really talk about how long it took me, but trust me, it took way longer then I wanted it too.  There were several times during the process that I wanted to throw something.  In the end, it was worth it, but man was it frustrating.

After that, I decided costumes should be easy.  For right now, the most I am willing to commit to is doing an iron-on.  And yes, I continued that commitment for these costumes, so they were quick and easy to pull together!

Since I am going all three races, I needed three costumes ideas.  Tinker Bell has always been one of my favorite characters (and Peter Pan one of my favorite movies), so I decided to do all costumes from Peter Pan.  Given the theme of this race weekend, I am sure I will not be the only one in any of these costumes!

Let's start with the Neverland 5K!  I'm going as Smee!

Fortunately, I already owned the tank (I picked it up a couple of years ago from Gap Body) and the Sparkle Athletic skirt from a previous costume.  The only item I needed to pick up was the red hat, which I got from Amazon for a couple of bucks.

For the Tinker Bell 10K, I decided to go with the man himself - Peter Pan.

Unfortunately for this one, I owned nothing.  I was worried about finding the shirt, but I was able to get one from Amazon for like $7.  It's technical too!  I'm pairing it with a kelly green Sparkle Athletic skirt and red feather.  I also ordered a matching sparkle visor, but decided to get it too late for it to be delivered in time.  I'll be picking that up at the expo.

And of course, the main event - the Tinker Bell Half Marathon.  I think it should be no surprise to anyone that I am going as Tinker Bell!  She is my favorite after all :)

I ordered the wings and lime green skirt from Sparkle Athletic.  For the shirt, I ordered the tank on Amazon and did an iron-on from Etsy show DesignsbyMKC (same person who did my Anna and TOT iron-ons).  The tank and skirt colors do match - it just seemed to photograph weird.  I order the bow on Etsy as well - they are from miniPanda (a fellow runDisney fan and blogger).  I also ordered some white pom poms from Sparklet Athletic for my sneakers that I am picking up at the expo.

So those are my costumes for Tinker Bell weekend!  I am a little nervous about the wings, but I am sure it will be fine.

What is everyone else dressing up as for Tinker Bell weekend?  Share your costumes in the comments below!

Tink Updates

Yay!  We are only 6 short weeks from the start of Tinker Bell race weekend (or long weeks depending on how you look at it!).  I know I cannot wait for this weekend to come!  So, I thought I would share some Tink items that I've been ruminating on for a while.

1. The Medals

I've been meaning to write a post on this since I came home from Princess.  But time got away from me, so let's do it now (yes, my Princess Half recap is coming... it's about halfway done.  My goal is to finish it this weekend!).  Anyway, on to the shiny stuff.

I love, love, love the 10K and Half medals.  First off, it makes me so happy that the half medal hasn't changed a whole ton since I did this race back in 2012.  I love that spinner so much!  I like the addition of the pearl/silver foil that makes the wings iridescent.  Love!  I am not as big of a fan of the Pixie Dust Challenge Medal.  Don't get me wrong, I like it, I just don't love it like I do the 10K and the Half.  I wish it tied slightly more into the styling of the other medals and included Wings.  I also really like the 5K medal with the Lost Boys on it.  Of course, I forgot to take a picture of it.

2. Tink Dooney & Bourke Bags

The first year I ran Tink, I remember loving the Dooney & Bourke bags.  Unfortunately, I didn't get one that time around (I didn't know about the pre-order and the one I would have wanted was sold out by the time I got to the expo).  I was hoping to rectify that this time around.

They released the designs yesterday and pre-order started.  Of course, the bag style I liked last time (a tote bag) is not included in this years design.

Source: runDisney

Whomp, whomp.  I am also not as in love with the design as I was before (it's cute, but for me, it's not 'can't live without it' and given the price, it has to be 'can't live without it', you know?).

I think the main sticking point (for me) is that it doesn't actually mention the race on it.  It says it's a unique runDisney design and while that may be true, it looks like a Disney bag you could get normally.  Personally, I was hoping it would at least say the race weekend.

Fortunately, my wallet is safe this time around (okay, more money to spend at the expo on other items)!  Although, I reserve the right to change my mind at anytime on this point.

3. Costumes

Of course, what is a runDisney race without the costumes!  I am starting to work on mine and will share once they are finalized.  I've got 3 to plan this time around (5K, 10K and Half).  Again, I'm trying to keep it simple (no sewing or cutting apart shirts for me... again).  And given the theme of race, I am thinking one costume will be a fairy (I mean, I gotta, right?).  So here are today's question for you all...

Have you ever run in wings before?  Sparkle Athletic has some, but I am worried about actually running in them.  I see a lot of people wearing them, but don't actually know if they are comfortable.

If you've run them before, please let me know how it went!

Since they aren't finalized, I'm still taking costume suggestions.  Share your favorite costumes with me!

Shame on you, Self Magazine

Oh, Self magazine.  Shame on you.

If you haven't heard yet, Self magazine has gotten itself in a bit of hot water this week.  Every month they publish a "BS Meter".  I'm not 100% sure what makes them experts in what's BS and what's not, but let's ignore that fact.

This month's BS Meter included the below picture and the following caption on the lame side:

"A racing tutu epidemic has struck NYC's Central Park, and it's all because people think these froufrou skirts make you run faster. Now, if you told us they made people run from you faster, maybe we would believe it."

via Glam Runner facebook page

SHAME ON YOU, SELF MAGAZINE.  SHAME ON YOU.

Since the magazine went on sale this week, it's come out that Monika (on the left, co-founder of Glam Runner who makes the tutu's) was dressed as Wonder Woman since she was running the LA Marathon during chemotherapy (for brain cancer) and it made her happy.  And, the skirts she and Tara (co-founder and Superwoman on the left) make raise funds for the San Diego chapter of Girls on the Run.

Now, clearly, the Self writer and fact checker didn't really do much research into the company (or look at the photo, Tara's bib clearly says 'Die Tumor Die!!').

Self editor-in-chief, Lucy Danziger, has since issued an apology to Monika, saying the following to USA Today:

"I am personally mortified.  I had no idea that Monika had been through cancer. 

It was an error. It was a stupid mistake. We shouldn't have run the item."

Here's the thing though.  Even if Monika hadn't been through cancer, why are running tutu's are "lame"?  Lucy's statement makes it sound like they are just sorry they made fun of someone with cancer (or that they got some bad press for it).  Maybe that's not how she meant it, but that's how it reads (to me).

Sure, okay.  Maybe tutu's aren't "your thing".  And that's fine.  They weren't my thing for a long time, but if wearing a tutu is what gets you through a race, then that's awesome.  We all know how hard it is to just get out there.  If wearing a tutu makes it easier for you to lace up your sneakers, go for it.  For a magazine who's motto is "Being fit, strong and active means feeling great, being happy and looking your most beautiful", why are they making fun of other women and tearing them down?  Are you not allowed to wear a tutu and feel those things?

How about this - let's support anyone (man or woman) for whatever they choose to run/race in.  I don't personally understand the barefoot runners in Central Park, but that's what they like do and that's totally their right.

In fact, I am making my way today to Lexington, KY to run the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon (checking KY off the list!) and packed in my suitcase is one of my own Sparkle Athletic skirts.  I plan on rocking it this weekend with PRIDE.  

#tutusrock

Dumbo Costumes!

In just four short weeks (or long depending on how you look at it), I will be on a plane heading to LA and Disneyland.  That's right, we are only 4 weeks away from Dumbo!

This year, I am going all out (at least for me) in terms of costumes.  I've been running Disney since 2008, but have only started getting into costumes in the last 6 months.  Let's review the progression (apologies now for the picture heavy post).

We got a great shot running through the castle

Disney Half 2008 - Jenny and I were coming off of a TNT season and rocked our singlets for the race.  No theme-ing at all.

Great shot in Epcot

Disney Half 2009 - basic running outfit.  Nike tempo shorts and white tank.  Good shot in Epcot though!

I can't find any photo's from Disney World Half 2010.  It was snowing.  That's all I remember.

Turk!

Wine and Dine 2010 - Kasey and I got a little theme-y for the Inaugural Wine and Dine with shirts that said Wine O and a polka dot head band.  The shirt will make a reappearance later.

Nothing fancy for 2011.  Running skirt and white top.

Having trouble finding a photo from Disney World Half 2012, but I know it was pretty basic.

Sully!

Tinkerbell Half 2012 - broke the mold with black capri's and a white tank for the inaugural Tink.  Did rock a sparkly green headband in honor of my favorite fairy.

Chip and Dale

Remember that Wine O shirt?  It's back!  Otherwise pretty basic for Wine and Dine 2012.

Disney World Half 2013 - Outside of the fact that my shirt was basically neon pink, nothing special here... (yes, same shorts as Wine and Dine 2012)

Princess Half 2013 - First real foray into costumes.  Themed shirt (says "Who needs glass slippers, this princess wears running shoes", pink head band and tiara (and yes, same shorts again.  What can I say, they are really comfortable!).

So that brings us to Dumbo.  And yes, we are going full on costumes (for me at least!).  For the Disneyland 10K, we are going to be Minnie (both me and Pam) and for the Half I am going to be Snow White (Pam is still undecided).  We got Team Sparkle skirts, tanks and headbands.  Pam even got us Minnie spibelts to wear for the 10K!  I know it's not that elaborate, but it's big for me!

I even took the yellow skirt out for a test run during the Queens 10K and it did not bother me at all, so that's good to know!  I've been running in the 2 tanks as well to make sure they are comfortable.

Minnie and Snow White

I've already started a google doc of other (easy) costume ideas.  While I want to get into it, I still want to be able to run in it - and I think the Sparkle skirts are perfect for that!

What are some other costume ideas I should include?