Packing for Tink

So I leave in 2 days for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon and I have yet to really pack. I’ve pulled things aside, mainly clothes. The plan was to start packing a few days ago, but I’ve been working late hours and am tired. I did take the time to pack my snack/food bag. Yup, a whole bag just for snack and food! Not only will I be down in Anaheim for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend, but I’ll be staying for a whole week for a little Disney vacation and hanging out with friends and family.

A peak instead of my snack bag. What’s in there?

So what’s in my snack/food bag?

Go Picnic food packs- my friend Lianna posted that she bought some of these for her WDW Marathon trip last weekend and they looked pretty cool. I went on their website to find out more info about these Go Picnic boxes and immediately liked that they had so many varieties to choose from. They are basically a picnic in a box that contain individual portions of different snacks that are individually wrapped. They even have gluten-free and vegan options. I found them at Target and they were on sale, 2 for $7. I think I may have bought each of the variety’s that they had.

I was planning on buying my favorite Emerald cocoa roasted almonds, but when I went to the “nuts” section, I saw that Planter’s had their own version of mixed nuts in individual portions, NUT-rition energy mixes. I got the Chocolate Nut mix and look forward to trying it. I also bought some Clif Z bars in Chocolate Chip and Ice Oatmeal Cookie.

I also packed some Clif bars and of course my GU Chomps (for the actual race). Shakeology and my new Hamilton Beach personal-sized blender was a MUST. And I threw in a bar of Ghirardelli chocolate since I love my sweets.

Considering that I’ll be on the go for 2 days prior to the Tink Half roaming the Expo and the Parks, and then I’ll be on vacation for the week post Tink, I wanted to make sure to pack some snacks that would keep me sustained between main meals and not something that was totally junky. PLUS my snacks help keep my budget in control as we all know that food at the Disneyland Resort can add up.

Do you bring your own snacks when you travel or do you just wing all of your meals and snacks? What are your favorite snacks to bring when traveling?

I GOT IN!

What a great way to kick off my new blog than to share my excitement that…I GOT IN! Yesterday, I was selected to participate in this year’s  2013 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Meet-Up hosted by runDisney and “Diet Diva” Tara Gidus. I am SO excited that I was one of 50 people selected to participate in this exclusive, private meet-up taking place at the Disneyland Resort. I’m an inaugural Tinker Bell runner; the 2012 was my first half marathon! I had no clue that these meet-ups at the runDisney races exist. Later, I found out about them after my friend was selected for the 2012 Princess Half Meet-Up.

Confirmation email received from runDisney

Being that I missed last years meet-up, I was determined to try and get into this year’s meet-up. I had an idea how it worked- that announcement and selection is made on the same day and it doesn’t get posted until approximately 1 week until the race. I estimated that the meet-up would take place on Friday morning, which meant I had to be in Anaheim by Thursday night. And that’s exactly what I did, made travel arrangements months in advance to arrive on Thursday night just in case. (And if I didn’t get in, then I’d just be there for an extra day prior- no biggie as I’m an Annual Passholder). Thankfully all of my “stalking” paid off, and my email was selected when I sent in my RSVP yesterday afternoon. I’m happy that my friend (and roomie for Tink) Jindy got into the meet-up as well as some online friends that I look forward to meeting.

After reading blog posts about previous runDisney meet-ups, I know that each of them offer something special and exclusive, they are all different in their own way. I can’t wait to run with Jeff Galloway. (I met him at last year’s Tink Expo and he was SUPER nice and friendly!) But I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing the Disney Fab 5 in their track/workout costumes. I’m giddy in anticipation waiting to experience that special morning. I can’t think of a more perfect way to kick off the 2013 Tinker Bell Half Marathon weekend! I’m so excited to return to Anaheim and run Tink again, as this is the race that started it all for me. Who knew that I would be running half marathons and actually like it? And this year, I’ll be running together with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Sarita. Last year, we did Tink together (it was both of our first half marathons), but we got assigned to different corrals, and us being newbies didn’t know we could join each other in the furthest assigned corral. We made sure to register as a team this time, and will running as Team Until the End of Time, complete in our first running costumes (costume to be unveiled on race morning).

As I put this first blog post public, I want to wish everyone participating in the Walt Disney World Marathon events this weekend, GOOD LUCK! AND CONGRATS TO ALL FINISHERS OF THE 2013 WDW HALF MARATHON that took place this morning! I have a few friends down in WDW and wanted to give extra prayers and good juju to my friends Jindy and Lianna (and Team B too)! Both of them will be running in their first full marathon tomorrow morning! (It’ll be race #2 for Jindy this weekend as she ran the Half this morning as she’s doing the Goofy Challenge). runDisney issued a heat advisory for this weekend and it has me a bit concerned. Stay hydrated and replenish with electrolytes, runners. I’M ROOTING FOR MY FRIENDS, TWITTER AND FB FRIENDS, AND ALL RUNNERS PARTICIPATING IN THE WDW MARATHON FROM THE BAY! ROCK IT OUT, STAY HYDRATED AND FINISH STRONG. YOU ARE ALL AMAZING! 

*List of confirmed 2013 Tinker Bell Half Meet-Up Attendees*