There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page!

​Whether you've been running for years or just picked it up, there's one thing that gets a really bad reputation: the treadmill. I've even heard it referred to as "the dreadmill" since it can be fairly boring compared to running outside. 

And for those who think it is boring, they have a fair point: you likely don't have as many surroundings to look at if your treadmill isn't near a window. 

I started running more on the treadmill when I'd go to the gym to start weight lifting. It was an easy way to incorporate HIIT cardio. Plus, you have a flat surface that is completely in your control.

But I didn't want to ever look at it as the "dreadmill." So I experimented and now, I actually prefer treadmill running over running outside!

Here are seven ways to make the treadmill less boring and indoor running more fun. 
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First person POV videos are a fantastic way to make the treadmill less boring. 

The treadmills at my gym offer a service called RunTV, where you can pick an interactive workout. These will show a specific scenery and match the incline to simulate running the beach or mountains. 

You don't need a fancy treadmill for this, though - a tablet or phone will do just fine! There are tons of YouTube channels out there that offer first person POV videos designed for running on the treadmill or pedaling on a stationary bike.  Just look up "treadmill videos" and you'll find a bunch.

This one is one of my favorites from World Nature Video:
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Running to music that transported me somewhere else was how I fell in love with running in the first place. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I used to love creating playlists that were themed around the runDisney races.

I had a Disney music playlist for when I was training for the 2018 Princess Half Marathon. I also have used my Star Wars playlist a few times when training for the multiple Star Wars race weekends I've participated in. 

Need some workout playlists to get you started? I've created a few on Spotify!

• Star Wars running playlist 
• Anime workout playlist
• Disney running playlist 
• LOONA workout playlist
• Halloween workout playlist

Challenge yourself by seeing how much you improve! If you stick to the same speed and/or incline every time, you'll probably get bored a lot faster.

Set a goal so you can head into the gym or onto the treadmill with a plan. Looking to increase your mile time? Start slowly increasing the speed to see how fast you can go. Want to get a feel for training at different heights? Start to increase the incline!
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If you've been meaning to catch up on some reading or a favorite podcast, the treadmill is a great time to do so. You can easily walk or run to these safely on a treadmill. No need to worry about your surroundings!

​Just listen, enjoy the entertainment, and the workout will fly by in no time. This is a great way to burn some calories while also being able to stay up to date with your reading challenges or book clubs.

If you've been doing steady state cardio on the treadmill and are starting to get bored, try HIIT! HIIT (high intensity interval training) is a great way to burn some fat and can definitely help mix things up. Start by running at intervals or playing with the speed on the treadmill. 

Studies have shown that HIIT training does help improve your VO2 max compared to other ways of training. VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen that your body uses when you work out.

Not sure where to start? There are a bunch of treadmill HIIT workouts you can follow along on YouTube! Check out this one from IBX Running.
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Treadmills aren't limited to just running or walking. If you want to feel the burn, you can add some calisthenics to your treadmill workout. Set the incline to zero and start at a lower speed until you get used to it to be safe!

Some workouts you can do on the treadmill include:

• Lunges
• Glute kickbacks 
• Side gallops 

Try doing these movements for 30-60 seconds at a time and alternate between these with running or walking for 30-60 seconds. 
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One of my favorite things to do on any piece of cardio equipment - whether it be the treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike - is to catch up on television shows.

​Since I go to the gym five days a week, and I aim for a 30 minute cardio session, I get to enjoy about one episode per gym session. I've been able to quickly catch up on the shows and anime that I watch this way (the photo above is from when I was catching up on Naruto!). It makes the time on the treadmill fly by since you're focused on the show.

When I was training for half marathons and had to get a long run in on the treadmill, I'd even put on a movie! I trained for the Star Wars Half Marathon a few years ago by watching Rogue One on the treadmill, since it's one of my favorite films in the franchise.
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Having the right running equipment makes a huge difference. Even though treadmill running provides a more smooth, even, reliable ground, you still want to have the right gear for ultimate support. 

Here are some of my favorites: 

• Shoes: Hoka One One has provided me the most support so far. I've tried a lot of running sneakers, but I love their Bondi and Rincon models. I have tendonitis in my ankles and find that these shoes provide a great amount of support without being too heavy.
• Headphones: I love Aftershokz. They don't plug into your ears, but are actually wireless bone conductors. The part that plays music rests right next to your ear on your jaw. You can hear the music, but the people next to you can't - plus it allows you to be aware of your surroundings. These aren't my favorite if I'm in a gym that already plays music, but I do love having these for when I run races so I can pay attention to any on-course announcements.
• Socks: Balega brand socks are the best, in my opinion. I've tried a few brands of running socks that promise no blisters, but Balega has been the only brand that delivers on this for me.
• Headbands: I have long, thick hair. It can be really hard to find a headband that actually stays in place while you run! I discovered SweatyBands at a runDisney expo and have been hooked on them ever since. They stay in place and are super lightweight, plus they have a bunch of really cute designs. Sometimes I even forget I'm wearing it!

​I'm currently undergoing an eight week fitness challenge hosted by 1UP Nutrition! Be sure to follow me on TikTok to follow along as I share daily mini-vlogs.

There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
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This is part three in a series where I'm documenting my running goals that I've shifted thanks to COVID towards increasing my time! You can check out part 1 and part 2 if you'd like, but not totally necessary to understand what I'll be sharing today. 

So, I have good news and bad news (well, for myself, really). The bad news: my mile time was longer than I thought. The good news: now I can accurately gauge my pace! 

So, I had done pretty exclusively treadmill runs thus far. I made the mistake of not calibrating myApple Watch before getting right into it once I switched from my Garmin and my times were not accurate, to say the least (my Garmin was old and in need of some replacing, haha).

This was discovered after calibrating and running on pavement with Anthony for the Crowned Athletics free Together in Paris run (P.S. you get 10% off their products with the coupon MagicallyFit) and a local free virtual 5K that we did (thanks, Healthy West Orange!), and found out that my pace wasn't between 9 and 10 minutes per mile, but was closer to 13-13:30. Oops! 
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​But! The good news is now I have a more accurate gauge for how much faster I actually have to go and can train accordingly... especially since I signed up for the runDisney Princess 5K in all its virtual glory. I figure if I'm gonna attempt a 30 minute 5K, I might as well have something to show for it, and whenever I get there at least I'll have a medal I can engrave with the date and time, right?

Since the race is in February, so I figure beyond just having a medal to show for my accomplishment, it'll be a good way to see how far I've come (even though my goal isn't necessarily to get a 30 minute 5K for February, but just to gauge my progress - I'm not rushing this so I don't hurt myself!). 
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I got the Rincon by Hoka One One a few months ago (when I decided to start this challenge for myself) and I absolutely love the shoe. It's super lightweight but still really supportive, which has been really important with me because one of the main reasons I would run/walk/run would be to avoid flaring up sciatic nerve damage. With these shoes (and proper stretching, but trust me from experience - the shoes do make a difference) it hasn't been a problem, so I'm super happy about that. 

Balega is the only brand of running sock I've truly not had blisters in (and my husband swears by them as well, not just for running but day-to-day life) and I love the AfterShokz bone conducting headphones for when I'm running outdoors since it allows me to be super aware of my surroundings but still getting to listen to music or chat with my husband. Best of both worlds!
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I love Halloween. I love Halloween music. I love the spooky season, you guys. So, with that being said, I had to create a Halloween workout playlist for when I'm running or hitting the weights. It's been super fun and is reminding me to not always take myself so seriously when training (because it's supposed to be fun!) and makes for a really good time, especially when I'm looking for something different to work out to. It's fun to mix things up and to be festive!

Check out the playlist on Spotify.

So, my goal for the rest of the month is to shift that 13 minute mile closer to a 12:30... and then in November, I'm hoping to get it closer to 12. If I can shave at least 30 seconds off my mile each month, that should put me at an 11 minute mile in February, which is pretty close to my goal. We'll see if that actually pans out, though - again, I'm not going to force it.
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You May Also Like

• Weight Watchers Halloween Candy Guide
• Virtual 5K Training Tips 
• Disney Halloween Costumes You Can Get On Amazon

There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!

Like I shared with you all last month, I'm currently working on improving my running pace in a way that is safe and effective for me so I don't flare up old injuries. My current 5K personal record (PR) was 40 minutes, and I really want to cut that down to 30 minutes. A big part of this is going to be eliminating walk breaks (which I still highly recommend for people to try out, especially if you are new to running and/or nursing some old injuries like me; and I'll probably continue to do run/walk/run on longer distances). 
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To give myself a good baseline for how much I needed to shave off my mile specifically and to hold myself accountable, I signed up for the free and virtual Healthy Selfie 5K Your Way that Healthy West Orange is hosting this month. My goal was to complete this 5K in the 35-37 minute range since this would be my first time completing a 5K without taking any walk breaks, and I knew that when I pushed myself, I could do a 40 minute 5K with the intervals. 

I ended up blowing this goal out of the water! My total time was 33:26, something I was not expecting but will totally take. My pace was about 10:42 minutes/mile, which is not my fastest but I slowed it down a little bit to maintain for the 3.1 miles. Now, I'll shift back to taking it one mile at a time. ​

This way, I'll be able to feel comfortable and confident when running straight through at a pace that's closer to a 9:50 mile (something I know I can do, but need to work up to doing that for 3 miles in a row!). I'm looking forward to picking up my medal this weekend (it's a drive-through set up, but it'll be my first opportunity for a #MedalMonday in months, haha)!

To train for this 5K, here's what I did: 

• Signed up early so I could slowly increase my mileage a half mile at a time
• Spent at least a week at a set distance before increasing mileage
• Listened to my body. If I wasn't feeling 2 miles one day, then I wouldn't do it so I wouldn't hurt myself
• Didn't force myself to go my fastest mile. Longer distance means slowing it down a bit so I could make sure I wasn't burning out in the first mile or so. To do this, check in with yourself every half mile or so: "Is this pace maintainable?" 

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I recommend you do the same, and if you're going virtual, here are a few things you can do to make your runs more interesting: 

• Have a good playlist! Music truly helps. 
• If you're on the treadmill and get bored easily, look into treadmill videos on YouTube to simulate running through a destination, or watch a new show on your fave streaming service. This can help the time (and miles!) go by more quickly. 
• You can also try something like the app Zombies, Run! which puts you in the heart of a zombie apocalypse story.
• Remember: just because a race is virtual doesn't mean the miles don't count! A lot of people don't really like virtual races, but they can be great to use as incentives for training towards a goal. It gives you something to look forward to, even if it is just a medal. 

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When I haven't been listening to LOONA on my runs, I've been listening to a lot of J-Pop and rock. I'm studying Japanese for a future vacation (once COVID madness is over; if you follow me on Instagram, then you already know that Anthony and I were supposed to honeymoon there back in March but the trip had to be cancelled.

​Listening to Japanese music has really helped me familiarize myself with the sounds as I learn a bit more, even if I don't understand what they're saying. My husband and I have also been catching up on a lot of anime in quarantine, so I thought it would be fun to compile some of my favorite high-energy songs from anime intros and outros to feature in a running playlist (which works great for hitting the weights at the gym, too).

A huge thank you to the following people for sending me a few songs to add so it wasn't just all my faves, but hopefully some general fan-faves as well!

• hrhrosemary (and her daughter!) on WW Connect
• empathmeetsanime on WW Connect
• bliztoise on Instagram
• pzzuto on Instagram

You canlisten to this playlist on Spotify.

​There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
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Whether your gym is closed or you don't feel safe going yet if it's re-opened, working out in a COVID-19 world has shifted largely into our backyards and living rooms. My husband Anthony and I have been determined to not lose our progress - trying to lose weight/burn fat and "tone up" for me (you all know how stubborn the last five pounds can be!), trying to gain more muscle for him - and really found all of these pieces of equipment helpful. 
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Resistance Bands
Getting a set of resistance bands, especially ones that are stackable, are great for both beginners and more experienced fitness enthusiasts. Anthony loves his stackable set because he can get up to 150 lbs of resistance from the bands. This was super helpful before our gym closed due to quarantine so he wouldn't lose his progress! Plus they were great for me since it wasn't just one set resistance, so we could stack them to our needs.

Dumbbells
A set of dumbbells is a must! There's so much you can do with them, for your arms, abs, and even legs. Plus even some heavier ones shouldn't take up too much room in your house. Need more than one set and want something a bit more heavy duty? Check out dumbbell sets with racks! 

Stability Ball
A stability ball is great to include in your home gym since you can use it for so many different workouts. I love my stability ball kit from SoAlpha because in includes some resistance bands and it has a sheet with a bunch of different workouts that you can do with it.
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Yoga Mat
Not all yoga mats are created equal! You want to make sure you can have a good grip on it without necessarily needing special socks. This yoga mat on Amazon is great for non-slip and comes in a variety of colors.

Yoga Blocks
Yoga blocks are so helpful for at-home practices, especially for beginners (like myself!) still working on deepening certain stretches and improving posture in stretches.  They're usually made from foam so they're not super hard on your wrists.

Yoga Bolster
Sometimes, a yoga practice will call for a pillow. I like to use a special pillow (sometimes called a yoga bolster) for this so that way, I don't have to run and grab the ones I use on the couch or my bed and potentially get them dirty on the floor. It's nice to have a pillow with one intention (especially since a big part of yoga is setting intentions for your practice!).
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Punching bag
Having a punching bag at your disposal is a great way to work on both self-defense and cardio with some boxing drills. Anthony loves boxing for a good cardio-meets-core and arm workout. I used to use these a lot in my karate days, too, and you can't go wrong with anything by Everlast. You can shop their products on Amazon. 

Stationary bike
I swear by my stationary bike at home. I have it set up in my bedroom facing my television, so if I still need to get a workout in but I'm feeling kind of lazy, I have no excuse: I can just hop on and pedal while my husband and I watch television. I got mine a few years ago, but here's a link to the newer model version of the exact one I have on Amazon.

Treadmill
A treadmill is also something I swear by, especially in the summer (especially living in Florida) when it's too hot to get a run in once the sun comes up. My parents have a treadmill by Nordic Track that really helped me through my half marathon training (and they're the more affordable treadmill brand out there, in my experience). The ones at my gym are by Precor and I really enjoy their treadmills, too (it may not seem like it, but they're not all created equal!). 

Fitness Watch
Having a fitness watch, especially if you're doing a lot of running or other cardio. If you're into running, biking, and swimming, then a Garmin Forerunner 235 will be a fantastic watch that offers a lot of great features, like built-in interval timers. If you need something for the basics but is still a great watch with great features, I'd recommend this one.

I recently treated myself to a Series 5 Apple Watch and love it for the gym since I can track exercises beyond just biking, running, and swimming - including yoga and weight training. Plus, the Apple Watch gets more specific for what type of indoor cardio activity you're doing, so if you're like me and enjoy trying out different pieces of cardio equipment, you  can really get your stats super accurate on the Apple Watch. 
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Massager
My husband and I got a shiatsu massager like this one as a wedding present and it is one of our favorite things we've ever gotten! We swear by it after a particularly intense gym session. Trust me on this one - treat yourself.

Foam Roller
Foam rollers are great for a few things. Not only is it fantastic for muscle recovery, but also can be a beneficial part of a warm up or cool down routine. It particularly can help with tightness in both your muscles and joints. Similar to foam rollers are stick rollers, for rolling over your muscles after a workout. My mom has a million of these from the various race expos we've been to and she loves them all. This one is her favorite.

Compression Socks
After a great run, I make sure to wear compression socks to help with the blood flow and preventing soreness. I find it really does help! My favorite pairs are my Danish Endurance brand ones from Amazon. They sell sleeves and socks, so if you just need it for your shins you have that option too. They're fairly affordable but still get the job done.
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​I've seen a play on the "freshmen 15" phrase going around this summer - the "quarantine 19" - but please know that it's a stressful time for everyone right now. Don't punish yourself into working out because you put on some pounds during lockdown. Bake that banana bread because you love it, and then try some of these pieces in your next workout because you love it, too. They're not mutually exclusive! ​
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There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!

With COVID-19 impacting literally everything, including races, it's been a huge adjustment for me. When I first started my running and weight loss journeys, I always had something on the books. Whether it be a 5K or a half marathon, it was my way of sort of forcing myself to keep up with my training. There was one year where I even ran in an organized race event every single month! However, it's allowed me to shift gears and also shift my goals.

I've run a half marathon... six times. I don't have anything to prove to myself anymore in the regards of knowing I can go the distance (take that, sciatic nerve damage!). However, I do have something to prove to myself... I can go faster. I've been a huge fan of Jeff Galloway's run/walk/run program (it's been a literal lifesaver for my aforementioned nerve damage) and will always recommend it to people starting out or looking to change up their routine. But I want to go beyond my comfort zone and improve my time. 

My ultimate goal is to run a 5K in 30 minutes or less. I'm in absolutely zero rush to get there, and not having a date for that goal is actually refreshing after years of constantly having something on the books. I'll get there when I get there, and likely blog a few more times about it along the way to hold myself accountable, but I want it to feel incredibly natural so I don't hurt myself or get disappointed if I'm not at a certain place by a certain day.

Music has always been such an important part of running for me. It really does make or break the experience! I've done a few different things: when I was first starting, I was really into the "Zombies, Run!" app and later, got really into listening to different soundtracks. I'd listen to the Star Wars OST when training for the inaugural Star Wars 10K or to Disney music when training for the Princess Half Marathon. It was really effective!

But now, I want to just vibe and go, so I've been turning a lot to K-pop and J-pop (music I've enjoyed listening to for years now). I speak only a little Japanese so while I may pick up a word or phrase here in there in songs, I don't really know what they're saying, and I don't speak any Korean at all. Having the music just be really fun songs that I don't know the words to has been a great way of making sure I don't get too distracted by the music.

One Korean girl group I really, really love is LOONA. Each member of the group has a few singles of their own, and there are a few subdivisions within the group. Their vibe is really fun, upbeat, and each girl/subdivision has a unique sound. Most, if not all, of their songs are - as far as my understanding goes - about love and/or girl power, so it makes for a really uplifting running experience. I've compiled a few of my favorite songs by LOONA in order for a warm up, run, and cool down that you can try for yourself whether you love K-Pop or are looking to expand your horizons. I even put them together in a Spotify playlist! Since Spotify is shuffle-only for free accounts, this is a great option if you're looking to go for a run/walk/run and want to let the music decide your intervals for you.

What do you like to listen to when you run or walk (or both)? Let me know in the comments!

*Disclaimer: There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!

Whether you want to get in a long walk or go for a short run, there are tons of options! Let's explore them!

Running around the Boardwalk is my favorite for longer distances. It's beautiful, especially in the early morning when there isn't really anyone out and about except for people who want a super early morning cup of coffee or other runners, and you get to (sort of) experience two of the parks along the way - Epcot and Hollywood Studios! 

I recommend starting at the Boardwalk Resort area and then you have two choices: left or right. I'd recommend making this decision based on the time of day; for example, if I know the sun will be rising around the time I'm heading to Epcot, I enjoy watching it so I'll plan accordingly. For article's sake, let's say you go right first! 
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When you head right and follow the path along the lake and over the little bridge, you'll end up at the International Gateway entrance to Epcot, so rather than entering the park you'll want to head back to the Boardwalk. You can pass the Yacht and Beach Club and the Swan and Dolphin; each of these resorts also has their own running paths if you'd like to tack those on for extra mileage, or you can keep heading past the Swan and Dolphin and take the path that leads you to Hollywood Studios.

When you reach Hollywood Studios, again, you'll want to turn around to head back rather than enter the park (unless you bring your Magic Band or ticket and the park is open)! This part of the path gives you a really cool view of the Swan and Dolphin resorts and Tower of Terror.  I like starting and stopping at the Boardwalk because once I'm back, I like to treat myself to a nice, fresh cup of coffee from the Boardwalk Bakery afterwords! 

Parking options: If you're staying at any of these resorts, you have plenty of parking options given the loops are all connected around the lake. If you're not staying at this resort, I'd recommend parking at Hollywood Studios and having that be your start point (since I get free parking with my Annual Pass, this is what I do).

This route is on the short side - a mile each way - but it is one of my absolute favorites due to the breathtaking sights and sounds. It's best enjoyed at sunrise, in my opinion; I think that's how Walt intended for us to admire the look of the Polynesian Resort since running this trail! However, at night sometimes you get great views of the electrical parade that they do on the Seven Seas Lagoon.
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If you're starting at the Polynesian Resort: Start at the Moorea building and go to the right of it. When you turn the corner, you'll see the ferry boats that take you to Magic Kingdom and the bungalows with a view of the Seven Seas Lagoon. You can see Cinderella Castle, the train station, Space Mountain, and Astro Orbiter as you run by the bungalows, and I recommend leaving your headphones behind for this route so you can enjoy the sounds of the Walt Disney World Railroad (yes, you can hear the train whistle!), the ferry boats, and the monorail. 

When you reach the pool and boat dock, you're gonna head around the dock and then, once you're on the other side of the pond, take a left to go by the resort and follow the path to the Grand Floridian; if you see the Wedding Pavilion in the near distance, you're in the right spot because you're going to pass it. You'll then head like you're going into the Grand Floridian and going around the back of it so you're back by the Seven Seas Lagoon. You'll pass the pool at the Grand Floridian and then after going up the steps, you'll find your way in the resort near a fountain. If you want, you can turn around here, or you can keep going towards your right to head down to the boat dock for a nice view of Magic Kingdom and the monorail and then turn and go back the way you came. 

If you're starting at Grand Floridian: It's basically just reverse from above. Start from the resort, head down towards the pools and once you hit the beach, just follow the path to the Polynesian, passing the Wedding Pavilion on the way. You'll head to the Polynesian's boat dock and go around the pool and then make your way by the bungalows. Head all the way down to the Moorea building and then turn and head back!

Parking options: If you're staying at Grand Floridian or Polynesian, you can stay there. If you aren't, park at Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) and take the walkway to the Polynesian Resort. I like parking at the TTC and counting my walk from my car to the Polynesian walkway as my warm up.

This route gives you a beautiful view of Disney Springs and actually takes you there! There are many ways you can take to tack on mileage so if you want something shorter or longer, you have your pick!

There's a path that's just shy of a mile long that takes you through The Springs and The Paddock areas that is mostly along the water (and beautiful!). This is where you're going to get stellar views of Disney Springs! You can also loop through the different sections of the resort and find new paths. Most roads eventually lead back to Disney Springs if you get lost!  

And if you ever do get lost, there are tons of signs around the resort area with a map so you can eventually find your way back! 

Parking options: If you aren't staying at Saratoga Springs, you can access the path from Disney Springs. The path near the golf course is tucked behind House of Blues and Cirque du Soleil, closest to the orange garage, but be careful of golfers! The other part (where I recommend starting) is tucked away behind Disney's Days of Christmas. The path there starts near where the "Happy Holidays" statue is behind the store. This side is closest to the lime garage.
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Bonus: Every Thursday morning, there's the Derby Dash 5k at Saratoga Springs! Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the fun run starts at 8 a.m. in front of Community Hall. Registration is only $15 - just inquire with the front desk! You don't have to be staying here to participate. There is also a free walking league through the resort area - no registration required - on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m., meeting in front of City Hall and walking for about 1.75 miles through the resort. Read more about events like this here.

This trail is a 0.9 mile loop around Bay Lake Tower and the South Garden Wing. You can add on some distance if you go by the tennis courts. You could also go from the Contemporary, head towards the Magic Kingdom, and run past the boat launches and monorails down a brick road. This brick road - which you may have seen from above while waiting for a monorail - leads to nowhere so it's a good turn around point, but this is a super busy area between foot and road traffic, so exercise caution (and maybe save it for early mornings). 
Parking options: Contemporary Resort if you're staying there, or park at TTC and take a monorail over.

Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter have a loop about 1 mile long that connects the two resort grounds! It takes you around a majority of the resort buildings, so no matter where you're staying, you likely have access if you're at one of the Port Orleans hotels. This run has a really pretty view, as it goes around some lakes, and the buildings for this resort are a very pretty, southern style.
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Bonus: Every Sunday morning for $15, you can participate in the 1.5 mile Beignet Dash! Registration is at 7:30 a.m. at French Quarter with the fun run beginning at 8 a.m. You get beads, some other freebies, and a coupon for three free beignets. Read more about this here!

This is a great trail for nature lovers! There are signs posted throughout that let you know where the bike and jogging trail are, but it weaves through Fort Wilderness and takes you eventually to the Lodge. You can weave different ways depending on the mileage you want to get, and parts of the path are either paved or just nicely packed dirt. And because of the location, you've got a good amount of shade here!

You can start near Tri Circle D Ranch at Fort Wilderness, near the main lobby at Wilderness Lodge (where you'll see some signage), and a path near the bike rental building at the Villas. If you get lost, there are some New Balance maps around!

This designated running path is just shy of a mile and a half long, and it starts over near some of the other sporty resort amenities. You can take a few different routes: Peninsular Road, South Point Road, and/or Old Turtle And Road. If you'd like to scope it out before you run, it's marked on the map for Old Key West as the New Balance Running Trail.

Caribbean Beach Resort is a pretty big property, so I highly recommend going here if you want a longer run! This property is gorgeous and covers a lot of ground, and it also connects to smaller-sized Riviera Resort. This also connects to the Skyliner, so if you want to hop on and run elsewhere, the main hub is at Caribbean Beach.

You can cover at least 1.7 miles at Coronado Springs - where they also have their own fun run - whether you're jogging or biking. This path takes you around the lake, but you can also add a little more distance by following some other paths around the resort.

Similarly to the Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts, this is another fun spot to go for a jog because of all the fun little photo opportunities tied in to the resort's theme and different sections of the resort. There's a course that takes you through Sports, Movies, and Music, and you can even take part in the All Stars and Icons fun run! It's about 1.2 miles long.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive yet fun way to stay active on your Disney vacation, then look no further than the resorts! There are plenty of fun runs at the Walt Disney World resorts to choose from… and the good news is that you don’t have to be staying at these specific resorts to participate!

Every fun run is $15 per person (free for kids 3 and under) and includes a cute little medal (nothing as hefty as the runDisney ones, but a cute trinket regardless) and either a free treat or some resort swag. Dates and times are subject to change, so double check with the resort’s cast members to be sure if you’re interested! Some of them offer pre-registration, but you’ll have no problem signing up the day of if you get there 30 minutes early.

Fort Wilderness hosts runs seasonally, so check with the cast members working there to see when and where they’re being hosted, if at all. If you’re there for the Fourth of July and want to run for Dole Whip, check out the PIneapple Dash at the Polynesian Resort! Check with resort cast members for exact times, as it may vary from year to year, but you can expect for it to be around 8:00 a.m., give or take.

As the name suggests, this Old Key West Resort fun run is a course shy of 2 miles long that starts near the playground closest to Sandcastle Pool. You can enjoy this race every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m., with registration happening at 7. To preregister, check with Cast Members in the Community Hall! ​

This 1.2 mile fun run happens every other Tuesday at The Reel Spot at All Star Movies. You can register the day of or you can pre-register at All Star Sports’ Surfboard Bay Pool. Registration the day of begins at 7:30 a.m. with the race kicking off at 8.

This Boardwalk Resort course takes you for a 1.4 mile fun run at 8 a.m. every Friday!  You can register by Jellyrolls at 7:30 a.m., and the race starts where you register.

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club hosts this 3K every Thursday at 8:00 a.m., with registration held at 7:30 a.m. the day of. Call the resort if you’re interested in pre-registering. The starting point and registration location is at the marina just outside of the Yacht Club. ​

​Want to run a 3K around Saratoga Springs? You can every Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m., with registration at 7:30. Just head to the Community Hall to sign up and get started!

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Have you tried any of the Resort Fun Runs? Which one was your favorite? Let's chat in the comments or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter!

No matter what your level, there are a ton of free morning yoga classes offered at Walt Disney World resorts for guests! I didn't even know this was a thing until I was resort hopping on Easter morning this year, only to see the sign hanging out near where the White Rabbit and an egg hunt of sorts were going on! I love yoga and Disney can be a pretty stressful vacation, so this is a great chance to unwind and feel some inner balance among the chaos that can often be a Disney vacation! 

The recreational activities usually change, and there have been times when I have or have not seen something available, so I recommend using this list as more of a guideline than a set-in-stone schedule. Each class is a half hour long unless otherwise noted.

• Grand Floridian Resort, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. (I saw a sign for this on Easter so it may be seasonal as it's not on their website)!
• Saratoga Springs, Monday and Wednesday at 7 a.m. (limited to 20 guests), near Congress Park Pool overlooking Disney Springs
• Contemporary Resort, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. (limited to 15 guests), by Lakeside Landing

I'll update this list as I see more signs around resorts or as things change! As aforementioned, always check with the cast members at your resort before your stay just in case times or dates have changed.

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*Disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, these are products I genuinely endorse!

The Star Wars Rival Run Weekend was one for the books! Even though this was my fifth half marathon, I faced a few challenges for this race that definitely kept me on my toes. Whenever I get a cold, it starts with a sore throat… which I woke up to on Wednesday morning. Thankfully it never progressed beyond that (thank god for Zicam and cough drops!), but I was also worried about my knee on top of it since I hurt it about a month prior (don’t laugh, but I hurt it doing a BollyX video, which is basically bellydance meets Zumba) to race day. But I took a page out of Han Solo’s book - “Never tell me the odds!” - and pushed through it anyways!

I’m going to do my best to make sure these character locations are accurate; they’ll be approximate, though, as I don’t recall exactly where along the mile they were!

Characters: Rey on a Takodana backdrop
Marker: Kylo Ren

What I remember above all else is how humid it was at the start! I was in Corral F and in the second wave of it, so we started around 5:58 a.m. based on when I started my Garmin (the first corral started at 5:30, so we didn’t wait too terribly long once they started sending them out). The course hasn’t changed from last year, so it was nice going into this half knowing exactly what to expect. You run past the Magic Kingdom sign, which is pretty neat, but it’s a pretty straight forward run. What I do like is seeing the fireworks go off from the other corrals, though - not only because I enjoy viewing them, but it’s nice to get a gauge for how many people I’ll have behind me.

Characters: None, but you could pose in Emperor Palpatine’s throne!
Marker: Darth Sidious/Palpatine

I actually always have to give runDisney kudos for how interesting they make this stretch. Running down Bear Island Road to get from Transportation and Ticket Center to Animal Kingdom could very easily be a 2 mile boring run through the woods down a service road, but instead they totally jazz it up. You start with red lights (in the nearly pitch black dark, otherwise) and a recording of Vader’s breathing and some taunts from the Sith Lord, so it gives the illusion of you running from Darth Vader. Combined with other light effects it is pretty cool! Plus as you go further down, there are more lights plus some fire and explosions with the sounds of Ewoks and blaster fire to make you feel like you’re running through the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi.

Characters: Ewok, plus a trash compactor photo op
Marker: Boba Fett

Towards the end of this Bear Island Road stretch is the Ewok photo op plus where you turn to start moving into the back of Animal Kingdom. As you get closer, you start to see some greenhouses and also where they keep the elephants and rhinos when they aren’t roaming the park and need some care! This part is always exciting, too, because you know you’re getting closer to Animal Kingdom.

It was around this point that the knee injury I had started flaring up, but nothing serious. On top of it, my cough drop that I took at around 5 a.m. before we started had worn off… but my Clif block, however, held me over until I wanted to use the other cough drop I had in one of my pants pockets! Don’t try that at home, kids; I do intervals of running 30 seconds and walking for 60 seconds when I do a half marathon, so I only did so for my 60 second walk break to avoid accidentally choking on it! 

Characters: First Order stormtroopers and Resistance Fighters in Animal Kingdom
Marker: Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover, not Billy Dee Williams)

Jambo! This is where you end up entering near Harambe and move through there, to Pandora (always super pretty to run through, especially if you’re speedy and catch it while the sun is still down; I catch it during the sun rise which is breathtaking) and then past the front of the Tree of Life. This year, they had some Resistance fighters encouraging you to keep running so you could get them some intel on the First Order, which was pretty neat!  ​

Characters: 501st Legion stationed as you went behind Everest, plus a Wampa photo op in the Animal Kingdom parking lot
Marker: C-3PO

You hit the fifth mile marker in the back of Animal Kingdom, where you are then greeted by the 501st and Rebel Legions! Of course, I always stop for these guys - they’re my friends! - and they’re always so excited to be there. After a quick hello and gently teasing the handlers (“Hey, so like, are you guys with Disney?”), I moved through to proceed to the Animal Kingdom parking lot, where it wraps the mile up with the Wampa photo op (to recreate the scene from Empire Strikes Back where Luke snatches his lightsaber from the snow). ​

Characters: none
Marker: General Grievous

This mile is largely uneventful; you have to go uphill to get to Osceola Parkway, which is a fairly boring stretch of highway but at least it’s not super long. The sun was rising and I was cursing myself for forgetting to bring sunglasses, but all was well! Overall, though, a rather uneventful mile. Since I was starting to get kind of hungry and really needed a cough drop again, I took the time to munch on some Goldfish and then soothe my sore throat to prevent both from becoming an issue.

Characters: Chewbacca
Marker: Count Dooku

Not long after the Mile 7 marker is a photo stop with Chewbacca, which makes the highway stretch a little more interesting! Along the long stretches, they’ll have big screens up playing the Star Wars movies, so at least there’s that for entertainment along the way!

Characters: none, but you could pose on a speeder bike!
Marker: Leia

Characters: Maul right before you entered Hollywood Studios
Marker: Darth Maul

I have never been more excited to to see the giant Tower of Terror ad that looks like the elevator dropping on the highway than I was to see it partnered with the Darth Maul sign. Even though my watch was still saying I had run about a quarter mile longer than the posted distance (which felt like a cruel joke), I felt like I could see the light at the end of the tunnel! My knee was really starting to hurt again now, so I took advantage of the medical tents offering some Biofreeze… only for a majority of the glob I grabbed to fall into the asphalt (my own fault for trying to rush). RIP, little blob of Biofreeze. But I had enough to know that it would hold me over for a while.

I think I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Darth Maul’s photo op with Tower of Terror in the distance, because that meant I was finally in the park!

Characters: The 501st Legion in the Fantasmic courtyard (where you enter the park), First Order stormtroopers in the park
Marker: Darth Vader

Right after Maul’s photo op was the mile 10 marker, and then when you enter the park via the Fantasmic courtyard, the 501st and Rebel Legions have more troopers there to take photos with! I stopped to see Kylo and Hux (especially since I troop with Kylo often [she’s fantastic and has every single variation of Kylo!], and have with Hux before!) and I was super excited to see Ahsoka there (she’s my favorite light side character, you guys, so I ran over!). Not only was it nice to say hi to some familiar faces, but it gave my knee a bit of a break that it definitely needed. It was a total bummer with how much it hurt, but I just kept run/walking as best as I could.

After that, it was down past Tower of Terror I went! This threw my plan of just taking it easy from there on out right on out the window, because Photopass gets pictures of you as you run through the parks… and I didn’t want to be pictured walking for some reason (probably my sheer determination to not give up). ​

As you headed to the main drag of Studios, they had four stormtroopers - two to take a photo with, and two others patrolling the area. We also got to run by the newly renovated parking area and where the Skyliner stops are going to be, and it looks really nice!

Characters: Sabine Wren and Ezra Bridger at the end of the Boardwalk
Marker: BB-8

Characters: The 501st Legion as you exit the park
Marker: Luke Skywalker

 (The road to mile 12 felt rough… especially because I hit mile 12 on my Garmin .36 miles before the marker (again, likely due to weaving through so many people). But thankfully, it was just through Epcot, and since my knee was yelling at me for not taking it easier in Hollywood Studios or along the Boardwalk, I made the decision to only run if there was a Photopass photographer and to just enjoy the scenery of Epcot. What’s nice is that with Flower and Garden going on during this race, you get to see a lot of the topiaries! It’s also cool to see the cast members from different countries cheering you on as they wave flags from their home countries. There was a really cute moment passing the China pavilion when a guy yelled, “Ni hao!” to the three women working there and they got all excited, yelled “Ni hao!” back, and then it was just a chorus of people yelling “Ni hao!”  ​

Characters: First Order stormtroopers as you finish!
Marker: Rey

I had long forgotten about my sore throat thanks to my knee pain, and medical was awesome at wrapping some ice around it very tightly at the end of the course. After grabbing my cooling towel, water, and snack box, I met up with my dad and fiance - who crushed his goal of a sub-2 hour half - while we waited for my mom to cross the finish line not long after I did (we ran the first four miles together, but we parted for her to stop at the bathroom; we finished within minutes of each other but could never find each other after that because of how crowded these races are!). Despite my knee pain and sore throat, I felt pretty good and otherwise strong. I listened to my body while out there, and it paid off!

​After the race, we treated ourselves to a breakfast feast at Port Orleans! Even with a massive Mickey waffle, bacon, and some beignets, I still had a pretty good calorie deficit at the end of the day and that’s the beauty of a long run, haha! ​​

All in all, regardless of pain, I had a total blast on this course. Star Wars Half has such a chill vibe despite the crowd size, especially compared to a race like Princess Half Marathon, that I will always recommend it first and foremost. Sure, it was humid, but when I ran Princess it was hot and humid, too! That’s just Florida and something you need to be aware of so you don't push yourself too much if you aren't used to it. Plus, if you’re worried about not being able to stop for characters due to time, the 501st Legion is a great option to not sacrifice a lot of time waiting in a long line.
​
Have you run any of the Star Wars races? What did you think? Let’s chat!

Want to incorporate something on your head without something as bulky and potentially uncomfortable as a tiara? Try a nonslip headband! Plenty of companies, like Sweaty Bands, make great nonslip headbands with fun designs. You can usually find them at the runDisney expos! 

The weather changes you can experience in Florida can be crazy sometimes, especially if you’re running WDW Marathon Weekend or Princess Half Marathon weekend. I always like to get a mylar blanket that I can easily get rid of once I start the race, or you can get a cheap jacket at Goodwill and toss it (all clothing discarded along the course is collected and donated, so don’t worry about that!). ​

Every race, without fail, I see quite a few people literally sprinting to the corral because they arrived late. If you’re worried about sleeping through your alarm, try getting up early the day before. Incorporating another race into your weekend, whether it’s to run or to volunteer, may be beneficial if your race isn’t the first (but it's important to know yourself to know if this will or won't help!). Otherwise, make sure you get to bed early enough to be well rested so you aren’t literally bolting through the Epcot parking lot at 5 a.m. Getting to your corral early enough will help you feel less nervous since it’s one less thing to worry about. Don’t sweat the bathrooms while you wait. There are plenty all throughout the start area! ​

Since it’s unfortunately socially unacceptable to wear your race medals to the office, show it off at the parks after your run! Give yourself plenty of time to relax, stretch, foam roll, or however you like to recovery, but it’ll actually help move the lactic acid around if you leisurely enjoy your favorite park. ​Another perk to this is getting the characters to sign your medal! One of the reasons my Princess Half Marathon medal is my favorite is because Snow White - that year’s featured princess - signed the back of it, giving it an extra special touch (and a pretty cool character meet and greet interaction!). ​ There are also locations where you can have your medal engraved; I got mine done at Disney Springs.

All across the internet you’ll see tales of people being swept by parade buses after falling behind the pace keepers, a group of women that are the last ones to cross the start line at any runDisney race marked by some balloons that they tie on to their outfit. I’ve got some news for you: they’re super nice, they’re not the official pace keepers, and you can still finish the race if you end up behind them. After all, that’s what happened to me at the Tower of Terror 10 Miler in 2014. I was seriously out of shape and on top of it, I was practically trampled at the start line by an overeager man twice my height, so even if I was in shape, I would have been hurting from the way he stomped on my ankle, causing it to twist and be in sharp pain for the rest of the race. Right after mile 7, I fell behind the balloon ladies. While people did get swept at the mile 7 point, I was lucky enough to have just missed that bus, and I ended up finishing the race and crossing the finish line. The whole time, I was waiting for someone to pick me up, as did a group of women around me doing the same pace. Yet, no one ever came and we finished together, much to all of our surprise. While I wouldn’t recommend falling behind the balloon ladies if you can avoid it, do know that it’s not the end of the world. Just do your best to catch up to them and keep pace with them so you can finish the course if you’re feeling up to it.  ​

*The 501st Legion and Rebel Legion are charity organizations that consist of screen accurate Star Wars cosplayers (including myself, my fiancé, and my parents!). The 501st and Rebel Legions are usually invited “troop” the Star Wars races at Disney (and have been at all of them in the past), so if you’re worried for time but want photos, I highly recommend opting for photos with the Legions, as the lines are usually quicker since it’s not an official photo stop hosted by Disney. ​