Summer Running Recap 2026:

 

I liked the way I did things last summer and so I plan to do it again however instead of like last year doing each series in a block I will instead be going chronologically

That said ….

RACE 1/7: June Watermelon…

I was in wave 8/10…we parked at 5:57 at our usual spot and I made my walk out at 6:25 and got to my spot at 6:32. This season the club plused up their coral signs and the new flags seemed closer together than before I also forgot my bug band and was getting bit up waiting to start

My OOTD was my green Livi set and my Tiana Lillypad Princess crowned accessories … I was feeling a bit rushed so decided not to glitter up even though I was doing that for most of my races this past year

Weather of the day was 71 feels like 79

I started at around 7:05 and was passed by an inflatable shark about nine minutes in most likely someone doing a dead last start as they were cheering just in front of the start mat when I crossed. 

I hit mile one in 18 mins

Next mile was the merge onto the sidewalk, halfway mat (no official split), and water stop

Mile 2 in 19 mins (37 total)

Just before the merge back to the street I tossed my water bottle

Mile 3 in 19 mins (56 total) finished in 58:07 (summer time 58:07–series time 58:07)

Finish Line Track: Actually Romantic--Taylor Swift

RACE 2/7: Kuzkotopia 5K

This is the first of my Disney Summer Series 5Ks… 

I tried and failed to beat the heat with it being 80 feels like 85

I didn’t curate outfits as well as last year. My initial intention had been to do my Go The Distance race and had my Hercules 10k shirt from 2025 springtime ready to go but with the heat I leant more on the Goofy Movie challenge aspect with a black tec gear tank inspired by Goofy’s vest and a blue livi skort plus a green bondi band

I hit mile one in 20:49

Mile two in 21:14 (42:03)

Mile three in 21:20 (1:03:23)

Final time 1:05:27 (series time 1:05:27 overall summer total 2:03:34 )

Finish Line Track: If I Loved You---Nerdy Prudes Must Die

RACE 3/7: Red White Blue

There was a lot going on mentally in the 24 hours leading into the event which lead to a slightly later start than previous years. I left the house at 6:17 parked at 6:32 and got myself adjusted to walk towards the brewery at 6:39…. Well almost adjusted as one of my safety pins broke.

I was able to grab a new one at the day of pick up table as I adjusted myself.

Initially I had planned to salute all nations but mostly America for this semi quincentennial celebration by re-wearing my Lady Liberty Piggy costume however instead I opted for my navy Livi skort, Arabian Princess crowned tank, Star Captain crowned accessories and the event visor given in loo of tee shirts

Weather was 76 feels like 80 as I finished my electrolyte beverage and listened as they announced a delayed start due to being delayed in setting up the above mentioned day of bib pick up (I picked my stuff up the night before)

It was nine minutes before the posted start but because the shoot wasn’t even open yet and the delay was announced I did a quick restroom break.

I arrived at the shoot about a minute after the initial start and seeded myself mid pack as the national anthem was just beginning.

I crossed the start at 7:08 (4 mins after the official start so not a huge delay) 

At 7:20 just as I was approaching the lake portion of the course the winning runner passed in the parallel lane of the road.

My garmin didn’t buzz at mile one or I just didn’t feel it but I hit the marker in 18 mins

This course is fun and honestly much better than the Lakeside Village course but really nothing much to see for ambiance and I made it to mile two (and the water stop) in 18 mins {36 total} garmin did buzz a min before the marker

I got to mile three in 19 mins {55 total}

My official time of 56:42 which is my summer season PR so far (roughly 14 mins over my pre covid PR though)

While this isn’t part of a series my 21.7 mile season total so far is 9.3 miles in 3:00:16

Finish Line Track: Turn it Off--Book of Mormon

RACE 4/7: July Watermelon…

Welcome to race number four of my summer journey and number two of THIS series.

Once again I was wave 8/10 which was surprising as normally I get bumped to the last wave. Are they finally keeping runners waves consistent especially with them not staged so drastically far apart? Or maybe it’s because there were some errors where the bibs were concerned (I was told at pickup that despite my bib saying I was a 12 year old male my information was correct in their system)

I arrived at 6:01 walked out at 6:25 and got to my spot at 6:36

My OOTD was my pink Livi skort and green mystique tank paired with a green bondi band and my  Tiana Lillypad Princess ball cap as well as the Tiana proper crowned bow

The weather feels like 74 feels like 76

I started at around 7:05 and like last time was passed by the shark about nine minutes in …

I was watching them and their party take photos at the finish so here is a visual

I hit mile one in 17 mins

Next mile was the merge and water stop. I didn’t notice a halfway mat this time not that it matters

Mile 2 in 19 mins (36 total)

Unlike in June I kept my bottle as I hit the merge back and eventually 

Hit mile 3 in 18 mins (54 total)

Unofficial finish 55:54 which is my summer season PR so far

6.2 series total 1:54:01

12.4 summer total 4:54:17

Finish Line Track: The Life of a Showgirl--Taylor Swift

RACE 5/7: Go The Distance 5K

This is the second of my Disney Summer Series 5Ks… 

Once again it was a hot one with it being 80 feels like 86 however I did opt to wear my 2025 Hercules 10k Brooks shirt & my blue blogaties skort to run paired with a blue polka dot bondi headband 

I hit mile one in 20:50

Mile two in 21:01 (42:51)

Mile three in 21:21 (1:04:12)

Final time 1:05:47 only 20 seconds over June (series time 2:11:14 15.5 mile summer total 6:00:04)

Finish Line Track: What Do You Say--Black Friday 

RACE 6/7: August Watermelon…

And just like that my summer sunrise watermelon series comes to a close.

I knew going in I wouldn’t be at me peak because A) I got my flu shot a few days prior and was having after effects from it and B) I’m pretty sure I wore my Brooks for the last two races and not my ASICS (plus I was wearing my buckees watermelon socks which were more fashion socks than athletic ones) 

Anyway it wasn’t a fluke as once again I was wave 8/10 not that people really check. There were people with wave 9 on their bibs significantly ahead of me and as always strollers allegedly are supposed to start last but the first half a mile I was playing dodge them on course.

We got a later start parking at 6:06 and walking out at 6:31.

My OOTD was aside from my socks and shoes my pink Livi skort and tek gear tank accessorized with  a watermelon Bondi band and lillypad princess hat

Weather of the day was 77 feels like 79 and super humid 

I started at around 7:04 and this time I watched as the infamous shark started a wave or two before me.

I hit mile one in 19 mins

Next mile was the merge onto the sidewalk, halfway mat (21:40 split), and water stop

Mile 2 in 19 mins (38 total)

Mile 3 in 20 mins (58 total) finished in 59:29 

Final series 9.1 series: 2:49:30

18.6 summer total: 6:59:33

Finish Line Track: Nobody But U-4*Town

RACE 7/7: Colors of the Wind 5K

For my final Virtual Race I just barely finished before the end of August but here we are.

I never screenshot the tempreture but trust it was HOT as aside from Work Sceduel the reason this race was dealyed was because heat advisories were making me move most of my runs to the treadmill and I didn’t want to do this one indoors.

That said for the first time in a long time for warm weather outdoor runs I DID NOT wear as skort and instead wore my Avia brown tank and some gold old navy leggings as well as a brown bondi band

I hit mile one in 20

Mile two in 21 (42)

Mile three in 22 (1:02:00)

Final time 1:05:45 which was two seconds less than July so I was pretty consistent though a far cry from my pre-covid PR (series time 3:16:59 21.7 mile summer time was 8:05:18

Finish Line Track: Blank Space--Taylor Swift

note: I do not know why some of the photos in this blog post uploaded with that streak in them...

Run The Year:

1405.22/2026

 Upcoming races

• Margaritaville 10K 9/26

• Hot Chocolate 10K 12/13

• Gasparella 15K/8K Challenge 2/20-21

• Princess 5K 2/26

• Springtime Surprise 5K & 10K 4/9-10

PRs

• 1M {15:26} 3K {30:59} 5K {42:46} 8K {1:13:59} 10K {1:42:52} 15K {2:19:09} 10M {3:01:51} HALF {3:54:55} FULL {7:08:15*} *virtual full run in increments

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