runDisney Tinkerbell Half Marathon Meetup

So... I just returned home from a whirlwind Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend with runDisney at the Disneyland Resort.  The fun started early Friday morning (6 am to be exact) as I was invited to attend the runDisney Social Media Meetup / Tweetup which included an exhilarating run/walk led by Jeff Galloway through Downtown Disney, Disneyland, and California Adventure.  As if running through the empty Disneyland Parks at sunrise (with Jeff Galloway himself) wasn't enough,  there were surprises around every corner:  A meeting with Tinkerbell herself in Pixie Hollow, a visit from Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy on Buena Vista Street, and a special ride on the one and only Radiator Springs Racers attraction in Cars Land!  My phone was already dying but I was able to capture a couple of pics along the way!

My favorite couple (and the BEST cheerleaders, by the way)!

Taking a moment to pose with special guests Jeff Galloway (L) and Sean Astin (R)

Photo courtesy of Disney: Group shot with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and the Red Car Trolley on Buena Vista Street in California Adventure!

Once we were all finished with our run, we were treated to a deliciously healthy breakfast buffet in the Grand Californian's Napa Rose restaurant while we listened to the likes of Jeff Galloway, Sean Astin (Run3rd), and Ali Vincent (Biggest Loser, Believe it! Be it!) speak on their platforms.   There was so much inspiration inside one room which really got me pumped for Sunday's run!

I have to say I was really inspired by Sean Astin's Run3rd platform, so check it out if you get the chance! We also had the opportunity to catch a first glimpse of the all new New Balance runDisney shoe!  In my opinion, this is a match made in heaven!  The comfort and quality of New Balance paired with the magic and style of Disney!  I can't wait to slip into a pair of these! You can learn more about this amazing partnership in this Disney Parks Blog video.

Since I'm a foodie, I really enjoyed listening to runDisney's new nutritionist Tara Gidus as she provided tips on healthy fitness eating habits and also touched on common dietary mistakes made by runners and athletes.  After Tara's speech, we were once again treated to a culinary masterpiece as two chef's from Napa Rose prepared a delicious Black Bean Cake topped with a Poached Egg and Pico de Gallo.  I can't wait to share this healthy recipe with you in a future post!  Be sure to visit Tara's page on the runDisney website for lots of insight on properly fueling up before the big run!

In closing, this event was an absolute blast from start to finish and really got my Tinkerbell weekend off to a "running" start!  Special thanks to runDisney for the opportunity.  Be sure to check out my 2013 Tinkerbell Half Marathon Recap!