Rise and Run

What if every step you took felt like a small miracle you could share? That’s the energy running through this episode as we move from Princess Weekend prep into one of the most inspiring stories we’ve ever hosted. We kick things off with training touchpoints, expo strategy, and course notes for the Run Disney Princess 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon—plus our meetup details, virtual queue tips, and the can’t-miss Main Street moment for first-timers. If you’re mapping out corrals, merch runs, or yoga logistics, we’ve got your plan.

Then we sit down with Amanda Ferrin—The Walking Miracle—whose life with a rare autoimmune disease didn’t end her story; it sharpened it. Amanda shares how a spontaneous 7K in Denver led to a last-minute Disneyland 10K, a Dopey bib through charity, and a season of marathons from London to New York. She explains scleroderma’s impact with honesty and warmth, talks about living with constant pain, and how moving—often dancing—through miles brings relief, dopamine, and community. Her signature sequin jacket isn’t a costume; it’s a choice to celebrate every day she gets.

This conversation holds more than race talk. When Amanda needed specialized surgery and IV antibiotic therapy, the runDisney community rallied overnight to fund it—turning hope into action and a bill into a lifeline. We hear what recovery looks like now, the races she’s eyeing next (Rome, Paris, London, and the New York City Half), and why joy, presence, and kindness matter more than pace. Along the way, we share a polished Princess Weekend guide—expo hours, Brooks drops, transport windows, photo tips—and a lively Race Report packed with PRs, scenic routes, runway 5Ks, and hot chocolate finishes.

Subscribe for weekly stories, race guides, and real talk from a community that runs on heart. If this episode moved you, share it with a friend and leave a review—what moment will you carry into your next run?

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A good mantra can change a season, and ours hits different: earn it in the winter, win it in the spring. We start with a candid weather check and slide straight into the nuts and bolts of racing life—updated Wine & Dine registration flows, random queue placement, why sellout times barely budged, and how our community rallied with Zoom rooms, phone trees, and charity backups  We map out Princess Weekend long runs, Springtime Surprise magic miles, and the kind of speed work that shakes off a post-Dopey lull and brings your spring fitness back online.

Then everything sharpens into one story. Heather, a push-rim athlete many of you know, takes us inside the Donna 110—eight laps Saturday and a marathon Sunday—finished in historic Florida cold with frozen hydration lines and sheets of ice. She shares how triple-stack long runs, bike guides, a coach pacing a late lap, and a brand-new custom chair made the difference. The result: the first wheelchair finisher in race history, the only woman finisher this year, and a heady mix of grit, humor, and joy that included communion at mile one and counting dogs to stay present. Her perspective on adaptive sport is powerful and refreshingly inclusive: we’re all out here doing hard things, visible or not, and the win is showing up with purpose.

We round things out with Loopy Looper team interest surging, Tom’s strength challenge for accountability and smarter training, and Fluffy Fizzies returning to the Expo with upgraded foot care, themed bath bombs, and easy preorder pickup. The race report delivers a streak of firsts and PRs—from stadium sprints to donut runs and frigid New England grit—that remind us how many ways there are to measure progress. Subscribe, share with a running friend, and drop your spring goal in a review—what are you earning this winter so you can win in the spring?

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Fireworks before sunrise, yoga in the cold, and a finish line that felt like a farewell—this Disneyland race weekend had a different kind of electricity. We open with Miss Piggy’s cameo on the castle screen and roll straight into the expo’s virtual queue scramble, a quick detour through misplaced bib drama, and a check-in with Jeff and Barbara Galloway that left us optimistic and grateful. Between merch scarcity, the Dumbo hoodie frenzy, and smarter PhotoPass ops, the weekend balanced magic with mechanics in classic runDisney fashion.

The 5K reminded us why the west coast course is beloved: quiet fireworks, a park-start and park-finish, and sunrise over Pixar Pier. A surprise “balloon lady” sighting and a late-course cut around Avengers Campus created some confusion, but the joy still landed. The 10K leaned into imagination—Sorcerer Mickey everywhere, Figment looping in our heads, and backstage Easter eggs like the Tower of Terror sign and A Bug’s Life props. Photo lines moved faster, and runners helped each other grab those castle shots when photographers cleared out near the back.

The half marathon tied it all together. Early laps through DCA, then a thoughtful route across Anaheim with out-and-backs that turned the race into a reunion. The 501st brought free hugs and big energy; third-shift custodial cast cheered like pros. We talk pacing with run-walk-run, efficient PhotoPass at small world and Millennium Falcon, and the thrill of a fast finish that also marked a 100th RunDisney medal. The DCA picnic-area meetup overflowed—cookies, bracelets, and the best conversations of the weekend—proof that this community keeps the magic alive long after the medals are hung.

We close with the question on everyone’s mind: will runDisney return to Disneyland? Some of us think yes, but not soon; others felt a real goodbye in Carissa’s voice. Either way, the stories, tips, and friendships from this weekend are here to keep you moving. If you had a favorite moment from the races—or a prediction about what’s next—drop us a note, subscribe, and share this with a friend who needs a little start line magic.

Manny Runs Disney
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Confetti at the finish is only part of the story. We sit down with Walt Disney World Marathon champion Matt Hensley to trace the path from family running roots and college grind to a smart, tactical win built on adaptation, fueling, and a decisive late-race move. Matt walks us through race-week realities—working the expo, long park days, heavy legs—and explains how dew point data and small early adjustments can save a marathon when heat sneaks in. He opens his playbook on fueling (60–90g carbs per hour), mid-race decision-making, and the difference between racing for time and racing for place, including the surge that sealed the pass near mile 20.

The conversation widens to purpose, mindset, and coaching. As the founder of Boulder Underground, Matt shares how he coaches beginners to elites by aligning big goals with daily habits, calling on a trusted network of PTs, dietitians, and mental performance experts. We dig into his three-part framework for 26.2—body, mind, and spirit—so listeners leave with practical steps: test nutrition in training, find early flow instead of forcing splits, and anchor to a meaningful why when the tough miles arrive. Along the way, you’ll hear a hilarious nearly-Guinness-record family saga, Disney course highlights, and the energizing role of characters, music, and community on race day.

We also spotlight our Disneyland meetup details, roll call an enormous list of racers, and celebrate listener PRs from 5K to marathon. Whether you’re chasing a Boston qualifier, your first half, or a steadier long run, you’ll find tools and motivation to sharpen your next start line. If this conversation helps your training, share it with a friend, follow our show, and leave a quick review—what’s the one strategy you’ll try on your next long run?
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Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Start with a grin, stay for the goosebumps. We sit down with marathon winner and runDisney favorite Brittany Charbonneau for a candid, no-filter look at a race that felt hard from the gun, a costume with a story, and the moment she stepped off the fence to encourage the final finisher home. From sleepless nights with a teething baby to Florida humidity after Denver air, Brittany opens up about panic in the early miles, how she reset her mindset, and why a mid-race character stop with Joy was the medicine she needed to run happy again.

We also unpack the new Wine and Dine themes and what expanded 5K start windows could mean for buses, corrals, character lines, and that beloved pre-race hangout vibe. Expect thoughtful speculation, not hot takes—our focus stays on access, flow, and how to make race day feel welcoming for more runners. Then we get practical about blisters: toe socks vs. tape, lube strategies, nail care, and the honest truth that even perfect prep can still lead to hot spots across four days of running.

Brittany brings coach-level wisdom you can use this week. Practice in-run pivots to break negative loops. Accept that progress looks like a mountain range, not a ladder. Take real time off after big goals so motivation can return on its own. And most of all, remember that every story matters—front, middle, or back of the pack. Her finish-line moment with the last runner says everything about the culture we want: inclusive, kind, and loud with encouragement.

We round things out with Disneyland Half Marathon meetup details, Loopy Looper relay plans, and a race report full of coastal sun, frosty miles, and nostalgic roads. Hit play for logistics you can trust, coaching tips you can apply, and community energy that lasts beyond your cooldown. If this conversation moved you, follow, share with a running friend, and leave a quick review—your support helps more runners find their people.

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Send us a text
Support the show
Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sponsor Links
Magic Bound Travel
Stoked Metabolic Coaching
Rise and Run Podcast Cruise Interest Form with Magic Bound Travel

Affiliate Links
The Start Line Co.
Fluffy Fizzies
Mona Moon Naturals
Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page
Kawaiian Pizza Apparel
GoGuarded