Rise and Run

Princess registration has turned into its own endurance event, and we felt every mile of it. We break down what we saw during the Princess Half Marathon Weekend queue, why more runners are walking away disappointed, and what might be behind the slower movement now that old workarounds are gone. We also talk through the bigger forces at play like field size limits, staging constraints, rising demand, and the way social media can amplify FOMO and frustration.

Then we pivot back to what actually moves the needle: training with humility and consistency. We share practical summer running reminders on hydration and slowing down in heat, plus a smart pacing tool for sticky weather: the Galloway magic half mile. If you’ve ever panicked after getting new training paces, this conversation is for you, especially if you’re trying to build longer run intervals without blowing up.

Runner’s World Senior Health and Fitness Editor Donna Raskin joins us to talk longevity, evidence-based fitness advice, and why runDisney stands apart from typical racing culture. She connects movement to independence, community to health, and reminds us that “old” and “overuse” aren’t diagnoses. We wrap with a race report spotlight that hits straight in the heart: Amy returns to racing on the Yellow Brick Road after chemotherapy and celebrates being cancer free.

Subscribe for more runDisney news, training talk, and community stories, then share this with a friend and leave a review so more runners can find us.

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runDisney training may be between big weekends, but our brains are still in race mode. We start by mapping the season ahead, talking base building, long-run confidence, and how to sneak in hill work even when you live somewhere flat. We also share one of our favorite community rituals: a collaborative Spotify training playlist that turns solo miles into a shared soundtrack and helps you find new “go-to” songs when motivation runs low.

Then the mood shifts to the headache a lot of runners felt this week: Princess Half Marathon Weekend registration gets postponed. We talk through what it’s like to sit in the queue, how tough it is when people rearrange work and family schedules, and why the added service fee makes the whole thing sting more. We also wrestle with the uncomfortable question: if races keep selling out fast, what pressure would actually lead to better registration tech and clearer communication?

From there, we go full gear nerd with a roundtable on running technology. Garmin vs COROS watches, Shokz bone conduction headphones, hydration vests, the Gymboss interval timer for run-walk training, Strava add-ons, and the new gadgets that tempt us, including ENGO sunglasses with a heads-up display. We also share honest buyer’s remorse, from fueling experiments that wreck your stomach to lights and accessories that never live up to the ads.

We wrap with a spotlight that brings the fun back: Andrew the Puppet Runner joins us to share his free summer virtual race (5K, 10K, and half) and why he’s connecting it to fundraising for No Kid Hungry. If you enjoy practical training talk, real world Run Disney updates, and gear advice you can use right away, hit subscribe, share this with a running friend, and leave us a review so more runners can find the Rise and Run family.

Puppet Runner Virtual Race

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He’s the runner you spot from a distance, not because of a character costume, but because he’s carrying the weight of a whole profession. Fireman Rob joins us to explain why he races in full firefighter turnout gear and what that choice has to do with mental health, hope, and letting people know they’re not alone.

We talk about the realities behind the gear: the heat you can’t escape, the sweat-soaked weight that only gets heavier, and the mindset required to keep moving when there’s no “easy mile.” Rob shares how he trains for the uncomfortable, how the fire service teaches calm under pressure, and why the most important skill is learning to talk to yourself kindly when you’re hurting. He also opens up about being part of search and recovery at 9/11, the lasting impact of trauma, and how running became a way to keep moving forward one step at a time.

Before the interview, we hit the latest runDisney conversation starters, including the 2027 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend themes and artwork, the excitement of seeing Jasmine finally headline the Half, and the budget trade-offs many runners are making as prices rise. We also share a practical “What Would Alysha Do” on adapting your training plan when life throws a curveball, plus community updates, YouTube content for Disney resort running routes, and a packed race report full of PRs and proud finishes.

If you take one thing from this, let it be Rob’s reminder: keep moving forward. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share the episode with a running friend, and leave a review to help more Run Disney runners find our community.

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Boston and London aren’t just marathons. They’re full-body logistics puzzles, city-wide celebrations, and emotional pressure cookers that reveal what your training is really made of. We sit down with runners who lined up at two of the biggest stages in the sport and tell the story from the inside, from expo wins and wallet pain to the moments when the course turns and your plan has to change.

Before we get to the World Marathon Majors recap, we share something closer to home: Bob reflects on losing Lily and the unexpected way she helped him find running again after an Achilles injury. From there, we shift into the here-and-now work that supports every big finish line, including staying consistent in the “training valley,” managing summer heat and humidity, and building a recovery routine that actually keeps you healthy. We talk steps, treadmills, dew point, hydration, pacing expectations, protein, electrolytes, and the small choices that add up when training ramps back up for runDisney season.

Then we go deep on Boston Marathon and London Marathon experiences. You’ll hear how runners get into Boston through charity fundraising and sponsor pathways, what race morning really feels like in Hopkinton, and how the hills and the finish on Boylston land when it’s your first major or your sixth star. In London, we break down travel and jet lag tactics, an impressively engineered multi-start system, on-site bib printing, iconic landmarks like Tower Bridge, and crowds so loud you can’t hear your own headphones.

If you enjoyed these stories and tips, subscribe, share the episode with a running friend, and leave a quick review so more runners can find the Rise and Run community.

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A cruise ship can feel like a floating city, but it gets a lot smaller when you spot your people. We’re back with the full recap of the inaugural Rise and Run cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, and we’re sharing what surprised us, what we’d do differently, and the moments that turned a trip into a four-night running community meetup.

We talk through the send-off at Pop Century (yes, Pluto shows up), the bus ride to port, and that first step onto a ship that feels more like Vegas than a quiet getaway. Then we get into the practical stuff you’ll actually want if you’re planning a cruise: buffet and crowd strategy on embarkation day, how the muster drill works on Royal, where to find calmer adult-only spaces like the Solarium Bistro, and what a sail away party is like when it’s loud, long, and unapologetically high energy.

From there, it’s the good stuff: our group cruise run on the Deck 5 track (wind tunnels included), Nassau choices and the Royal Beach Club reality check when the weather doesn’t cooperate, a medaling celebration inside the Pesky Parrot tiki bar, and the Aqua 80s show that had us talking long after curtain call. We also share what it’s like to record a live podcast on a ship, plus the onboard chaos of Price Is Right Live and an escape room win.

We wrap with Perfect Day at CocoCay highlights and a look ahead to Cruise 2.0 with a listener survey to shape what comes next. If you love runDisney community energy, running travel tips, and honest trip debriefs, hit play, subscribe, and then share this with a friend who’d absolutely join the next adventure. What would your dream podcast cruise look like?

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You can learn a lot about a running community by the questions they ask, and this week our listeners showed up with everything from serious marathon nerves to wildly fun runDisney hypotheticals. We dig into smart offseason training so you do not drift between race weekends: setting a local goal race, building an aerobic base, adding strength and mobility, and respecting summer heat. We also get specific on proof of time strategy, including why certain distances help, what counts for different runDisney weekends, and how planning ahead can change your corral placement and your whole race-day experience.

Then we jump into listener questions that are pure runDisney joy. We design dream Disney race courses with more time inside the parks, more Animal Kingdom and Pandora, a better Hollywood Studios stretch, and the return of that iconic World Showcase finish that feels like a true victory lap. We talk bucket list races outside of runDisney, bucket list moments inside Disney, and whether you should chase Dopey, Goofy, or “just the marathon” based on what you actually want your weekend to feel like.

The mindset talk gets real when we answer how to calm first-time Dopey and first-time marathon anxiety. We lean on trust-the-process training, run-walk pacing, and practical mental tricks for hard miles and lonely long runs, including music, podcasts, community messages, and finding a group that supports interval runners. Plus, we debate the most important question of all: if you could replace gels with Disney snacks as on-course fuel, what would you pick?

If you love runDisney, marathon training, and a community that celebrates every PR, every proof of time, and every finish, hit play. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more runners can find the Rise and Run family.

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Merch sold out by lunchtime. “Perfect” status quietly returned. Someone built a race plan around getting a photo with Boba Fett. That’s the kind of wonderfully specific runDisney chaos we love, and we’re recapping it live from the inaugural Rise and Run Cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas.

We break down the 2026 RunDisney Springtime Surprise weekend from the expo to the finish line, including what went smoothly, what still needs fixing, and how to think about merch strategy if you can’t arrive on day one. We also talk about the surprise perfect recognition, why messaging matters for long-time participants, and what runners can do when demand keeps feeding resellers. Along the way we share a big personal update, Greg’s honor of guiding a runner through the New York City Marathon, plus some of the sponsor support that makes these weekends and trips easier to plan.

Then we hit the races: the 5K with standout theming and costumes, the 10K from a cheering perspective with behind-the-scenes finish line logistics, and the Inside Out themed 10-miler that closes the runDisney season with moody lighting, core memory vibes, and character stops that spark big feelings. Star Wars energy shows up loud through character lines, which leads to our ongoing debate about whether a full Star Wars race weekend could return and what might be standing in the way.

We finish with a rapid-fire race report, a live trivia contest that doubles as a weirdly fun Rise and Run history lesson, and plenty of moments that remind us why the runDisney community keeps growing. Subscribe for more runDisney race weekend recaps, share this with a friend planning their next Disney running trip, and leave a review with your favorite Springtime Surprise moment.

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Jeff Galloway didn’t just teach people how to run. He taught people to believe they belong. We put our normal Rise and Run format on pause to honor Jeff’s life and collect the stories that explain why his impact feels so personal to so many runners, from first-timers to legends.

You’ll hear from ultrarunner Dean Karnazes on Jeff’s generosity, his love of marathon history, and the Greece trip that’s now becoming a Jeff Galloway Memorial Tour. Amby Burfoot takes us back to a time when running on the roads made you look like an alien, then explains how Jeff helped turn a misunderstood pastime into a welcoming, mass-participation sport. Bill Rogers discusses what he respected most: Jeff’s kindness, the way he made strangers feel like friends, and the joy he injected into marathon culture.

Coach Chris Twiggs shares what it’s like to learn directly from Jeff’s books and mentorship, and why the run-walk-run method is really about sustainable marathon training, injury prevention, and keeping the doors open for beginner runners. Westin and Carissa Galloway close the circle with the family view: the same calm, curious, proud dad at home is the one you meet at a runDisney expo, answering emails, remembering your story, and insisting you take credit for your own finish lines.

 If Jeff ever helped you think, “I didn’t know I could do this,” you’re already part of what Jeff built.

Links
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Carissa Galloway

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A race weekend can feel like pure fun until real life breaks through. We start by remembering Lauren Bullis, a beloved Rise and Run community member whose kindness showed up in every Holler Hype, comment, and encouraging word. In the wake of her passing, our listeners do what runners do best: we show up. A simple, powerful idea takes hold, dedicating runs across the country to help Lauren reach her dream of racing in all 50 states, turning grief into a shared tribute and a reminder that community is built one mile at a time.

Then we pivot into Springtime Surprise mode with the kind of practical runDisney talk that actually helps on race week: meetup details, travel stress, early alarms, and the latest Brook's runDisney shoe drop (including what’s available at the expo and what ships later). If you’re heading to Walt Disney World, juggling a challenge, or just trying to enjoy the parks without your legs falling apart, these small logistics matter.

Our featured guest is Dr. Ali Marty, a physical therapist, run coach, and host of the Running to the Castle podcast. We dig into running recovery, injury prevention, and smarter training: the “too far too soon” trap, underfueling, how to spot early warning signs like plantar fasciitis symptoms, and how to tell normal soreness from a problem. Dr. Ali also shares simple strength training for runners (single-leg heel raises and single-leg deadlifts) plus her favorite recovery non-negotiable after hard workouts, and yes, her famously simple pre-run fueling approach.

If this helped you, subscribe for more runDisney training tips, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more runners can find the show.

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In this episode, we’re joined by the legendary Jim Ryun, one of the most famous names in American middle-distance running, to talk about the coach who redirected his life, the moment he understood what breaking the 4-minute mile really meant, and why “ownership” is the skill that outlasts talent. Jim takes us from being a teenage Olympian to racing at Mexico City altitude, then back to the quieter memories of Tokyo that still shape how he views people and competition.

Because we’re the Rise and Run crew, we also bring it home to runDisney. Jim shares his connection to the first Walt Disney World Marathon, why he leaned on run-walk strategy, and what events like runDisney races do best for brand-new runners: education, community, and a reason to keep showing up. 

Then we shift into Springtime Surprise mode with a listener-friendly logistics rundown, including expo timing, virtual queues, transportation notes, corrals, spectating limits, and key course changes so you can pack your “patient pants” and actually enjoy the weekend.

With Earth Day around the corner, we spotlight Sneakers4Good, a sneaker reuse and recycling organization that helps keep used running shoes out of landfills while supporting microenterprise partners around the world. You’ll learn what kinds of shoes to donate, how the mail-in bag works, and why one simple closet cleanout can create real impact.

If you like the mix of running history, practical race planning, and community vibes, hit subscribe, share the episode with a running friend, and leave a quick review. What’s one goal you’re taking ownership of this season?

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