Post 50 RX

I Won’t Grow Up… 53, Tinker Bell and Me

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So this is what the other side of 50 looks like.  After spending the first half of life as a buttoned up professional, I have more recently been spending my time searching Etsy for “tutus” and googling “fairy makeup tricks”.  Perhaps I can blame this phenomenon on a mid-life crisis, but I prefer to blame it on runDisney- and my son.  He is the reason I am this way!  When Kyle came to me over a year ago, asking to go to Walt Disney World, it came with a new twist.  Could we run around Epcot before it opened?  Could we train all fall, mother and son, together?  A 5K at his most happy place might give him the goal he would need to get over a serious personal struggle.  No self-respecting mom would say no to that request, except I had spent the past 30 years telling friends, family and patients that running was not “the exercise of choice” for me.  It would exacerbate my ACL injury.  And now?  Throwing reason and best practice aside, I bought my first pair of running shoes and off we went.  Slowly.  Run, walk, run.  I told myself I was doing it for him, but as happens more often than not, I got more than I gave.  As my two teen boys grow older, we have something new to bond us together.  Disney first, running second.  A fan for 47 years, I’ve discovered my new “season of Disney”.   I’m in better shape than I’ve been in decades, and  I LOVE RUNNING!  Who knew?

In 17 days I will run my first full Half Marathon in Disneyland with Team Up! Autism Speaks.  As I spray my (graying) hair with pixie dust, don my tulle wings, and tape (neon green) my dysfunctional joints, the paradox continues.  It took me 53 years to act like a child.  Once again, I’m betting that what I donate to one of my favorite charities will be insignificant compared to what I will come home with.  Thank you, my son.  I’m trading in my lab coat for a magic wand, and off I fly.  As we soar, I hope this proves to be a magical year for us both.

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Comments

  11. D-you inspire me so much!! If I looked that good in a tutu, I would wear one all the time. I love this story, and I cannot wait to hear all about your run with your son!!

    Reply

  13. Your story has inspired me, Your enthusiasm is awesome and I have never ran 1 marathon and really want to. You pic looks great tooo and here's toasting to 2012.

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    • Well, they are amazed that, like Forest, I'm still running! And running WITH them is sheer heaven; a bonus I wasn't counting on. (You running sisters can understand, I know!)

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    • Yes you do Deborah! Well, I've only done one non-runDisney race, and a 10K at that, so I may not be totally objective… But it is a stellar experience!!!

      Reply

  18. I love everything about this post! I'm 40 and proud to dress up and run around Disney! You're only as old/young as you feel, right? Thanks for linking up with us today and you look awesome!

    Reply

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