TWINS RUN in our family: February 2013

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

5th Annual Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend: 100+ Recaps from 2013 runDisney Races

Malinda & Leah (1st Place Sister/Sister Team TwinsRUNinOurFamily) may need some Disney magic to help us write our race recaps. ;-) In the meantime, check-out these Expo, Royal Family 5K, Princess Half Marathon & Princess Half Marathon Meet-Up recaps (listed in alphabetical order according to blog). Are you writing a race recap? Did you write a race recap? If so, let us know in the comments and we'll add your link to our post! Thanks for sharing and we hope you enjoy reading all the posts!

The Final Forty
http://thefinalforty.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/race-recap-disney-princess-half-marathon-part-one/

Fit 2 Flex
http://www.fit2flex.com/2013/02/princess-half-marathon-weekend-expo.html
http://www.fit2flex.com/2012/02/disneys-princess-half-marathon.html
http://www.fit2flex.com/2013/03/rundisney-royal-family-5k.html

Fitzness
http://www.fitzness.com/blog/the-ultimate-girls-getaway-rundisney-princess-half-marathon-and-5k-weekend/

Fly in My Martini
http://flyinmymartini.blogspot.com/2013/02/disney-princess-half-marathon-recap-and.html

For the Love of Disney Running
http://lovedisneyrunning.blogspot.com/2013/03/princess-half-marathon-let-fun-begin.html

Frugal Beauty
http://frugalbeautiful.com/blog/princess-marathon-recap/

Geekmom
http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2013/03/disney-princess-half-spectator/

Gingermantra
http://gingermantra.com/2013/02/26/racing-v-running-2013-disney-princess-half-marathon-recap/

Girl on the Run
http://girlontherun365.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-fairytale-comes-true-rundisney.html

Politely Rude Me
http://politelyrudeme.wordpress.com/2013/02/26/weekend-recap-disney-princess-half-expo/

http://politelyrudeme.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/disney-princess-half-marathon/

Princess Run 13 - My Princess Transformation
http://princessrun13.blogspot.com/2013/03/disney-princess-half-marathon-race-day.html

Pumpkin to Princess
http://www.pumpkintoprincess.com/2013/02/rundisney-princess-half-marathon-expo.html

Purely Twins
http://purelytwins.com/2013/02/25/working-eating-disney-princess-expo/

Race Every Step
http://www.raceeverystep.com/2013/03/2013-rundisney-princess-12-marathon.html

Ready Tech Run
http://readytechrun.com/2013/03/rundisney-princess-half-marathon-expo-recap/
http://readytechrun.com/2013/03/feel-the-magic-princess-half-marathon-recap-part-1/

Redbook - According to Kelly
http://www.redbookmag.com/kids-family/blogs/mom-blog/run-disney

http://www.according-to-kelly.com/

Run Date Eat Sleep
http://www.runeatdatesleep.com/2013/02/27/princess-half-marathon-weekend-an-expo-fit-for-royalty/
http://www.runeatdatesleep.com/2013/03/09/disneys-princess-half-marathon-2013-race-recap/

Run the Great Wide Somewhere
http://runthegreatwidesomewhere.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-princess-half-part-4-race.html

Run Karla Run (2012 Princess Half Marathon recap)

http://www.runkarlarun.com/2012/03/02/race-report-disneys-princess-half-marathon/

Run Like a Princess
http://runlikeaprincess.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/official-disney-princess-half-marathon-2013-race-report/

Run Shop Travel
http://runshoptravel.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/disney-princess-half-marathon-recap/

Run Stretch Repeat
http://www.runstretchrepeat.com/2013/02/27/disney-princess-half-recap/

Run... Walk... Fastpass... Repeat
http://runwalkrepeat.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-princess-half-race-report-big-race.html

Runderella
http://www.runderella.com/tagged/Disney-princess-half

Running Coastie to Coastie
http://runningcoastietocoastie.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/its-not-you-its-me/

Running at Disney (Princess Half Marathon Meet Up recap)
http://runningatdisney.com/2013/02/28/a-royal-rundisney-meet-up/

Running to Disney
http://runningtodisney.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/princess-half-marathon-race-report/

Running to Disney...And Beyond

http://seevrun.blogspot.com/2013/03/race-recap-2013-princess-half-marathon.html

Running Happily Ever After
http://runninghappilyeverafter.blogspot.com/2013/03/princess-half-marathon-close-encounters.html
http://runninghappilyeverafter.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-frog-in-sea-of-princesses.html

Running with Sass (Princess Half Marathon Meet Up & race recap)
http://www.runningwithsass.com/rundisney-princess-half-meet-up-2013/
http://www.runningwithsass.com/rundisney-princess-half-marathon-race-recap-2013/

Running While Chunky
http://runningwhilechunky.blogs pot.com/2013/02/one-tired-princess.html

Running Wild
http://kristyruns.blogspot.com/2012/05/disney-princess-marathon-weekend.html

Runners Guide to WDW (2012 Princess Half Marathon recap)
http://www.runnersguidetowdw.com/2012/10/15/2012-princess-half-marathon-recap/

Runners Trials
http://www.runnerstrials.com/2013/02/26/rundisneys-princess-half-meet-up-2013-recap

Sarah Runs A Lot
http://sarahrunsalot.blogspot.com/2013/03/race-recap-princess-half-marathon.html

Sara-Thon
http://sarahthon.com/2013/02/28/disney-princess-half-marathon/

Scoot A Doot (2012 Princess Half Marathon recap)
http://scootadoot.com/race-recaps/rundisneys-2012-princess-half-marathon-race-recap/

Slow Lane Runner
http://slowlanerunner.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/princess-fun/
http://slowlanerunner.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/2013-disney-princess-half-recap/

Snap Eat Run
http://snapeatrun.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/run-princess-race-recap/

Sneakers and Fingerpaints
http://www.sneakersandfingerpaints.com/2013/02/princess-weekend-race-recap.html

A Storybook Life
http://www.astorybooklife.us/2013/02/bibbidi-bobbidi-boo-princess-half-recap.html

Staying on Track (2012 Princess Half Marathon recap)
http://megroberts.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/my-first-half-marathon-disneys-princess-half-marathon-race-recap/

Summer on the Run
http://espn.go.com/espnw/athletes-life/8995171/summer-run-race-followed-disney-fun

Suzanne Ran
http://www.suzanneran.com/2013/03/path-to-princess-half-expo.html
http://www.suzanneran.com/2013/03/path-to-princess-half-journey-ends.html
http://www.suzanneran.com/2013/03/path-to-princess-half-journey-ends-part.html

Team #runDisney
http://www.teamrundisney.com/2012/12/rundisney-family.html
http://www.teamrundisney.com/2012/12/why-i-love-rundisney-running-in-costume.html
http://www.teamrundisney.com/2013/01/why-i-love-rundisneys-princess-half.html

http://www.teamrundisney.com/2013/03/my-first-rundisney-2013-princess-half.html

Toenails Are So Overrated
http://toenailsaresooverrated.com/2013-disney-princess-half-marathon-recap/

Travel with Emily
http://travelwithemily.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/holy-humidity-2013-princess-half-marathon/

Triple O: The Objects of My Obsessions
http://ktmac111581.blogspot.com/2013/02/oops-i-did-it-again-princess-half.html
http://ktmac111581.blogspot.com/2013/02/everybody-tweeting-is-here-because-no.html
http://ktmac111581.blogspot.com/2013/03/i-am-lost-princess-princess-half.html

Twins Run in Our Family - Faster 1/2 @LeahCville
http://www.twinsruninourfamily.com/2013/03/perfect-princess-reflects-on-5th-annual.html

Urban In Suburbia
http://urbaninsuburbia1.com/?p=1590

Undercova Diva
http://undercoverdiva-asitcom.blogspot.com/2013/02/disney-princess-half-marathon-weekend.html

WDW Fan Zone (2013 Royal Family 5K)
http://www.wdwfanzone.com/2013/02/disneys-royal-family-5k-a-true-family-experience/

WDW Radio
http://www.wdwradio.com/2013/02/video-walt-disney-world-rundisney-princess-half-marathon-2013-recap

We Run Disney
http://www.werundisney.com/2013/02/princess-half-marathon-meet-up-recap.html
http://www.werundisney.com/2013/03/royal-family-5k-video-recap.html

Who Me Run
http://www.whomerun.com/2013/02/princess-half-marathon-race-recap.html?m=0

Why Hello Dolly
http://whyhellodolly.com/2013/02/25/this-princess-has-yet-another-tiara-medal-that-is/

ZOOMA Run
http://zoomarun.com/2013/02/disney-princess-recap/

@runDisneyTV Princess Half Marathon Video

@runDinseyTV Royal Family 5K & Kids Races

Monday, February 25, 2013

2013 runDisney Princess Half Marathon Sister-Sister Team Winners

Twins RUN 2gether 2 support Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation 2 fight childhood cancer. And, twins WON 2gether on Sunday, February 24! We ran Disney's 5th Annual Princess Half Marathon and finished in 1st place in Sister/Sister Teams. When reviewing the sister/sister team results, we noticed that several of the sister/sister teams were twins, too! Twins really do RUN in families! :-) Our race recaps are in progress. In the meantime, congratulations to all 21,222 finishers and all who trained and/or started but couldn't finish.

1st Place

TwinsRunInOurFamily

3:37:51

LEAH CONNOR

1:44:09

7 (Division) & 103 (Overall)

MALINDA ANN HILL

1:53:43

39 (Division) & 332 (Overall)

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Identical Twins Run Together To Remember

Leah & Malinda are identical twins but opposite runners.

Malinda is the "go with the flow" slower 1/2 who prefers to tweet, instagram & run marathons (4:00:57).

Leah is the "garmin obsessed" faster 1/2 who prefers to run as many races as possible while qualifying for the 2013 Boston Marathon (3:35:36).

Michael, Leah's brother-in-law, was diagnosed with cancer as a child. Michael kept fighting cancer with his inspiring Irish spirit, so it was very bittersweet when he died on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2003.

The twins' grandmother, affectionately know as GG, was diagnosed with cancer on Friday, July 13, 2012 and died on Monday, July 16, 2012. The twins are still grieving her sudden and unexpected death, but they find solace in running in her memory.

TWINS RUN 2GETHER in memory of Michael & GG, fighting childhood cancer, one race at a time!

No donation is 2 small 2 fight childhood cancer with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation!

Can you donate $2? Donate online: www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/91404

Or, text LEMONADE91404 to 85944 to donate $10.

Thanks for your support!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Ducky Momo IS My Friend!

Thanks Dan Povenmire!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Malinda's 2013 runDisney Princess Half Marathon Goals

Would you kiss a frog for a PR? ;-)

I describe myself as the "go with the flow" slower 1/2 of @TwinsRun. Some may say I'm not a slow runner, since I did finish the Philadelphia Marathon in 4:00:57. However, compared to @LeahCville, the BQ x 2 faster 1/2 of @TwinsRun, I am slow - so speed is relative! ;-)

Although Leah is the Garmin obsessed race addict, I did start using the Nike Plus app on June 23, 2012. The pace isn't very accurate in comparison to the Garmin, but it does inspire me to see that I have logged 1,270 miles in the last 8 months!

While I have multiple training schedules, including the Charlottesville Marathon/Half Marathon Training Program and the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run Virtual Training Program, I have to admit that I don't follow them very well, except for the mileage.

I don't enjoy speed workouts or hill repeats. It seems too complicated to me, so I tend to run at the same pace for the same distance. I know I need to vary the distance and the pace, which is imperative, according to Bart Yasso. :-)

Generally, I don't have a time goal in mind when I run a runDisney race. I'd rather have fun and stop for all the character photographs, no matter how long it takes me to finish. However, after finishing in 2:54:26 last year, I'd like to run my 4th Princess Half Marathon faster! ;-)

My "A" goal is to run "fast" and complete the race in 2 hours with team 'TwinsRUNinOurFamily" finishing in the top 10 of sister/sister teams. This seems like an achievable goal if the conditions are right and I feel good.

My overall half marathon PR was at the 2008 ING Philadelphia Distance Run (1:48:57). My runDisney half marathon PR was at the 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon (2:05:07) and my Princess Half Marathon PR was 2:23:44 in 2011.

My "B" goal is to run slow, stop for all the photos and have fun! If the conditions aren't ideal or I'm not feeling well, I'd rather enjoy this race and then try to PR at the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run on April 7 and the Nike Women's Half Marathon on April 28.

Do you have goals for the Princess Half Marathon - do you have a time goal or a fun goal?

"I used to have goals. They were evil goals, but they were goals." ~ Dr. Doofenshmirtz

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Leah is a Perfect Princess in Team Sparkle

Perfect Princess T-shirt with @runTeamSparkle Skirt!

The faster 1/2 will be a Perfect Princess on Feb 24!

@LeahCville has run progressively faster each year!

Will you run Disney's Princess Half Marathon?

Will you be a runDisney Perfect Princess, too?

Friday, February 15, 2013

Filet-O-Fish Friday Flashback

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Philadelphia Runner Valentine's Day Singles Run

(Image from Philadelphia Runner)

sponsored by Brooks Running

Are you running to find your "sole" mate?
Will you run on Valentine's Day?

The slower 1/2 of @TwinsRun has her laces crossed that she will run into Mr. Right this Thursday, February 14 at the 3rd Annual Philadelphia Runner Valentine's Day Singles Fun Run. Last year, Malinda ran in her pink Team Sparkle skirt which matched perfectly with the Brooks Running tech shirt that was included in the registration fee!

After running through the streets of Philadelphia, she enjoyed socializing with single "runnerds" at Ladder 15 Restaurant .Unfortunately, the spots for women are sold out. There are spots open for men, so any single male runner(s) should sign-up before it sells out!

(Photo from Philadelphia Runner Facebook Page)

Read more about the Philadelphia Runner Valentine Singles Run in Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer. Malinda was quoted in the story!

Singles fun run in Philly on Valentine's Day

February 10, 2013

Jen A. Miller, For the Inquirer

On New Year's Day last year, Melinda Ann Hill made a resolution: Become more social with her running.

She did that, and with a dash of romance mixed in, by signing up for the Philadelphia Runner's Valentine's Day Singles Fun Run, a three-miler that will take place on - yup - Feb. 14.

"It seemed like the perfect opportunity to meet other single runners," said Hill, 41, of Wynnewood.

This is the third annual Valentine's event for the Philadelphia Runner, a store with locations in Center City, University City, and Glen Mills. Ken Culbertson, marketing director and outreach coordinator, said that when he joined the company one of his jobs was to come up with events that would get people into the stores. Most of the Center City customers are young and single (and so are the store's employees, he adds), so he figured a Valentine's Day event would be a hit.

"The first year, we had 100 people because we kept it in the store," Culberson said. "A hundred people in our store was probably too many."

So they branched out. Now the run is capped at 200, which was made possible by moving locations. The run starts at the Center City store, and the post-event party is at nearby Ladder 15.

For $30, runners get a shirt and entry to the Ladder 15 event that includes light food, two drink tickets, and a DJ. The organizers also operate a bag check, holding a participant's non-running items in the store and carting them over to the bar after the run.

But don't just show up on Valentine's Day at the store. Runners must buy tickets in advance through the store's website at phillyrunner.com.

Tickets are split equally among men and women. As of press time, women's tickets were sold out, but men's spots were available. I signed up because, as my mother reminded me, "It's not like you have anything else to do." Thanks, Mom.

Adam Halperin, 34, heard about the run last year through a friend. "It seemed like a fun thing to do for Valentine's Day, much better than going to a bar," said Halperin, who lives in Philadelphia. He met a woman there last year whom he dated for a few months, so he considered it a success. They're not still together, though, so he'll be at this year's run, too.

Hill didn't meet her "sole" mate last year, but she'll be back as well, most likely donning her pink sparkle skirt for the occasion.

"I always have a good time when I can run a few miles, add a new shirt to my running T-shirt collection, and enjoy a couple of drinks in the company of my fellow 'run nerds,' " she said. "My laces are crossed I'll meet Mr. Right this year!"

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Muppetized Malinda

Friday, February 1, 2013

Life as a twin rewarding, despite the occasional confusion

This "My Opinion" column was written by Leah Connor and originally published in The Daily Collegian on Thursday, Oct. 24, 1991. Edited by Malinda on January 31, 2013 to change the nickname she despises! ;-)

As the weeks go by, more people are beginning to recognize me from my columns. Unfortunately, I haven't actually talked to all of these people because some of them have recognized my twin sister -- not me.

So, I decided to let everyone know that there is a person out there who resembles me. To be honest, it is more like a warning --I don't think I can be responsible for the actions of my twin sister, Malinda. She might not be so nice, friendly and understanding to the next person who calls her Leah.

But who could blame her? Wouldn't you begin to get a little upset and/or have an identity crisis if people who even had classes with you don't remember you as Malinda, but instead ask, "Hey, don't you write for the Collegian?"

Personally, I enjoy being a twin. It's usually the first thing I tell people about myself. I figure it is a good conversation starter. If my twin isn't there by my side when I first meet someone, most people ask if we are identical. Here is where I sort of get stuck.

There's this genetic thing that I'm not quite sure about so I end up sounding like a complete idiot.

"Well, most people think we look alike but, to tell you the truth, I'm not quite sure if the egg split or if there were, in fact, two eggs. I'll have to get back to you on that one."

As it is common for those children who aren't the first born, Malinda and I have considerably fewer baby pictures than my older sister Heather. The excuse my parents gave me for this lack of a pictorial history is that they were too busy trying to keep both of us fed and dry. They didn't always have the time to capture the moment with Kodak.

Yeah, sure. It wouldn't be so bad if the few photos we do have weren't, well, how should I put this, somewhat ambiguous. The problem is we aren't actually sure who is who. It's always fun having my friends try to guess which baby or toddler is me. However, they are a little disappointed when they expect a definite answer and I regretfully inform them that their guess is as good as mine.

But, I shouldn't be so hard on my parents. Malinda and I have had the same problem. Last month, we were looking through some recent pictures and Malinda said, "That's a really good picture of you." At first I agreed with her, but a minute or two later (after realizing that I had never worn that outfit) I said, "Hey Malinda, that's not me, it's YOU!" It was a scary moment.

People often ask if we ever dressed alike. When we were little all of our relatives would give us identical outfits. It was always a thrill when we got matching outfits in different colors and had to fight over who got which color. However, as we got older we realized that we would have twice the wardrobe potential if we had different clothes. I must stress the word potential because it's not always feasible to borrow a sweater from your sister when you are having an argument.

Finally, most people want to know if I like being a twin. For the most part, it's great. But, this mistaken identity thing, although it is amusing, can get on my nerves. Sometimes it's not worth trying to explain to someone that I am not who they think I am. I just smile and go on my merry way. Other times people will go on talking to me without giving me the chance to say, "Hey, wait a minute, I am NOT Malinda, leave me alone."

My freshman year at Pitt I lived with six people and I didn't have the chance to let them all know about Malinda. So for the first few weeks I got the reputation of being unfriendly because I (in reality, Malinda) didn't say hello to them on the street. Therefore, I have been conditioned to say "hi" to people I don't even know just because I don't want them to think that my sister is rude.

The most memorable experience of mistaken identity here at Penn State was during the summer at Ritenour. Malinda and I ended up being there at the same time. Mistake.

The nurse kindly showed me to the doctor's office. As I nervously sat there I heard all sorts of commotion outside. Then, the nurse came back and said, "Didn't I tell you to go to the room across the hall?" I said no.

And then it hit me, she doesn't know who I am. After about fifteen minutes and a mini-conference among the nurse, doctor and a few other people, we got the whole thing straightened out. Ever since then, Malinda and I make sure to schedule appointments on different days.

Despite the occasional identity crisis and having to share a birthday, I never regret being a twin. Although even if I did, there really isn't anything I could do about it.

Not all twins get along, but Malinda is my best friend. She really understands me and not just because in the eyes of some people she has actually been me. We have a special connection. Therefore, in the hope of keeping my sister's sanity in check (not to mention for other people's safety) I'll give you some tips on telling us apart.

If you see "me" carrying an art portfolio, it's Malinda. She's the artist. If you see me in the computer lab, feel free to say "hi" and compliment me on my column. If you see "me" working in The Gap, it's really Malinda. If I'm working in the HUB Eateries, again feel free to say "hi."

If, despite these guidelines, you still happen to say "Hi Leah, I like your column," to my sister and she lets you have it, please don't let that stop you from reading my next column.