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Ep 22 - Showing up for yourself (with special guest, Kristen from RunningInMakeup)
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This episode is a special one — and honestly, probably the one we all need right now as the weight of training and life gets heavier and heavier. We had the most unbelievable honor of sitting down with Kristen from RunningInMakeup, someone many of you know and love from her incredible youtube channel, her creative costumes, and her genuine presence in the runDisney community.
During our conversation, she opened up about what this year has looked like behind the scenes, why she's stepping back from filming marathon this year, and how she’s learning to put her own “oxygen mask” on first. We talk about losing joy, finding it again, balancing real-life struggles, and the courage it takes to show up for yourself. It's SO good.
If you’re in the thick of marathon training, feeling tired, discouraged, distracted or feeling like you’re the only one struggling — this episode is for you. We hope it reminds you that you’re not alone, that running can be its own form of therapy, and that sometimes you need to take a look in the mirror and remind yourself of why you're doing this. Kristen has inspired us, we're so grateful and now even MORE excited for Marathon Weekend… and we can’t wait for you to hear it.
If you're not already subscribed to her YouTube Channel or following her Instagram, make that a priority... you'll be glad you did!
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey there, friends. Today we have a very exciting guest joining us on the podcast. You may know her from her amazing Run Disney videos on YouTube. We are so thrilled to have Kristen from Running and Makeup on the podcast with us today.
00:00:22
Speaker
Hello, friends, and happy Thanksgiving. Welcome to the podcast. This is episode 22, believe, Erica. I think that's the number. um If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, then happy whatever today is, Wednesday, Thursday the week. This is like the kickoff to the holidays. It is, yes. We have not decorated for Christmas yet, but Thanksgiving is like our mark where we're like, okay, it's officially time for Christmas. That's right. So you're ready to get decorating?
00:00:47
Speaker
I think so. i got to trim up the energy. Yeah, for
Podcast's Mission and Kristen's Impact
00:00:51
Speaker
real, right? Like yes there's so much going on just in life that like the idea of getting all those bins out and decorating the entire house sounds like a lot. yeah You know, in between those long runs and our kids words and yeah work and all the things. the things yeah But um I am looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner.
00:01:11
Speaker
d Delicious. It's my favorite meal of the year. Like a style of food. Right. Yes. I love it is your favorite Thanksgiving. Well, if you're new here, the goal of our podcast is just to help you feel confident and prepared for your races. As we get closer to marathon weekend, this can be a really tough part of training. Just know that you're not alone.
00:01:30
Speaker
Yeah, with this that that right there. the It's hard right now, especially with the mileage and all that stuff that we're in yeah right now. That's why we have our guest on the podcast today. Absolutely. You're going to love this conversation we have with Kristen. And if you've never seen her, her energy's on unreal. It's awesome, right? But she got really authentic and genuine and shared what's hard and you know why she's you know making some decisions she is and focusing on some things. Because this is just the hard part of training. Totally. Right? So know that you're not alone. Even the even the the best costumer I know out there on the course has stuff that, you know, life life's, yeah right? Totally. And the mileage is hard and all that stuff. Coming up in the next couple of weeks, like just know that we were supposed to talk about transportation this week, but this opportunity to talk with Kristen kind of pushed the transportation topic back a
Special Episodes and Listener Interactions
00:02:23
Speaker
little bit. um So our schedule, ah you know, I said we were going to talk transportation this week. We'll do that.
00:02:28
Speaker
We're going to find somewhere for that to fit in the schedule of of episodes leading up to Marathon Weekend. We'll still get to it. But today we're talking with Kristen, and you're going to love it. Yeah. And then next week we're still on track. We're going to do the – we're going to talk about our routine on a race weekend. Yes. Like kind of – not minute by minute, but like, you know.
00:02:45
Speaker
Kind of. Oh, you think we are? Okay. Hour by hour. Yeah, that's right. Like, hey, here's when you know we go to bed. Here's when we you know we like to eat our food at this time whatever for, you know, like just timing. Yeah. Right? When we like to fly in or drive in, depending. So anyway, that's what we're going to do next week. Good.
00:03:02
Speaker
And then we'll find a time for transportation. Also, you're going to see a bonus episode here coming up in the next day or two, maybe two to three days from now. um I'm going to run the Thanksgiving day half yeah on Thanksgiving. And so if you're listening to this on Thanksgiving, I might have already ran it, but I haven't done the episode yet.
00:03:21
Speaker
Anyway, that's that multiverse timeline thing that I get confused because we record early. Right. Anyway, so I'll do a bonus episode about that. Just talking about that race experience because believe it or not, there are other races than Disney races. Right. There are. Weird, right? Yeah.
00:03:35
Speaker
I've heard this this course is going to be hilly. So I'll report back and let you know how that is. We like to read reviews on the podcast, Erica. Usually we pull those from Apple Podcasts and we love those, but we actually, um we got this one on YouTube. yeah It was a YouTube comment and I asked you if, i if because it ties in with our our theme for the day or or our interview. I thought this one might be worth it. And you said that you agreed. Yeah, totally. you want to do it? Yeah. this was a This was a good one. Man, I had to read it a couple of times without you know to be able to read it without getting emotional. Really? Yeah, because I mean, I feel like this is the reason why we do this podcast, right? So i hope I say your name right. It's J. Grace Dorfer, I believe is how she says it. But she says, I listened to your Running Is Hard episode this afternoon and was completely enthralled. Your honesty and vulnerability are a gift to your listeners.
00:04:30
Speaker
Wait, wait for This is the choke point. Yep, that's right. um I just got back from running my fifth half marathon at Wine and Dine, and I'm trying to get back into training with Princess 5K and Half on the horizon. You two inspire me as a runner, a Disney adult, and a parent who struggles to balance running with all of my other responsibilities. whoo I feel that. Um, thank you for taking the time out from your busy lives to make this podcast and share your insights and your encouragement. AJ, you look so good. Erica, I'll take that hug now. That's perfect.
00:05:02
Speaker
Thank you so much. Oh man, that was so good. And, and, She proved that she listens well because we had said in the episode that my whole goal here is to achieve a thing and look look good doing it. So get her comment there. And obviously she's expecting that hug yes from you. because I would gladly give her probably while crying. You're the best hugger. Awesome. Thank you so much for leaving us a a review or a comment on YouTube. or Honestly, I love the direct messages on Instagram. Like the feedback just lets us know, I think that we're headed in the right direction. Right. Totally. Right.
00:05:34
Speaker
And if it's helpful, that's it. We've said before a million times, we're not trying to be famous or influencers or anything like that. If it's helpful for you to get you to the start line, hopefully the finish line, all of that, that is the win for
Kristen's Run Disney Journey
00:05:47
Speaker
That's right. Okay. Another person who wants to get you to the start line and finish line is Kristen. She is, her YouTube channel is called Running in Makeup. Her Instagram is called the same thing. They are amazing things to be subscribed to and following. She's so authentic, genuine. I mean, just like to her core, we had an incredibly great conversation with her and you get to hear that right now.
00:06:12
Speaker
Erica, today's a big deal. Yes. Because we have, I'm going to say, run Disney celebrity, like royalty on the podcast. At least that's how I view yes ah this special guest. So i I saw an amazing Instagram post from her the other day. And we've seen her at races, never met her in person. Right, right. Seen her at races. She's like, she does those like amazing costumes.
00:06:33
Speaker
Yeah. You know, the VHS tapes and the cones and all the whatever. Like she's yeah big time. Oh, yeah. So anyway, she had this Instagram post the other day that i was super inspired by. So then I took did that like, five we talk about five seconds of courage. Right.
00:06:44
Speaker
Where you're just like, ah, I'm going to do it. yeah And then so I just literally sent her a message and said, hey, thank you for being vulnerable in your post the other day. yeah Would you be willing to come on the podcast and talk about it? And then really expecting like, hey, you know. Thanks, but thanks but no thanks. And she was so awesome. That's so great. Kristen, who we all know is running in makeup. Yes. Right. If you're new to run Disney and you don't know Kristen, like you're going to know her the day you arrive at a run Disney race. Like she literally said, yes, I'd love to come talk about it. That's so cool. So Kristen, welcome to our little podcast. We are so unbelievably thrilled to have you. Yes. Thanks for having me. And ah congrats to you for those five seconds of courage.
00:07:24
Speaker
Hey, sometimes you just need that courage, right? Like registering for a race, actually showing up to the start line and then ah you ah sending a DM to someone who you've been watching for like five years on YouTube. you Right.
00:07:36
Speaker
Well, it's nice to finally ah meet you officially through a screen. Well, we're genuinely excited to have you. We've got questions and and um I can't wait for it. People have clearly seen what what you're up to, but I kind of want to like for our new runners, you know, that just don't maybe know you yet, whatever. Like, can we, are you cool with if we just throw some like get to know you questions? like Absolutely. And I'm not talking about like deep stuff. Like I'm talking about like, like I can learn a lot about you based off how you answer this first question. Okay. Go ahead. And just so you know, we judge.
00:08:09
Speaker
Oh, cool. Cool. Well, thanks for the warning. Erica judges more than I Oh, that is the farthest thing from the truth. All right. So here's my first question. We ask we ask everybody on the podcast with this question. Okay.
00:08:22
Speaker
In a half marathon, Disney half marathon, would you rather have a finisher medal for finishing that half or run down Main Street? You can only have one. Main Street. I knew we were going to be friends. That is the correct answer, Kristen. Yes.
00:08:37
Speaker
Yes. There's just something. I've said this before. There is something about main running up Main Street and not getting in trouble for it Because if you do that during park hours, they were going to tell you to walk. Right. But like having it shut down for you and running towards the castle, knowing that like that is the like culmination of a lot of people's goals is to run up Main Street to the castle. Like keep all of my finisher medals. I want I want to be on Main Street. I want to run Main Street.
00:09:07
Speaker
Yep. And Main Street has a really special place in my heart. In the marathon of 2020, my first goofy, first and only goofy thus far, um that's where my parents were. They surprised me and flew in and they were waiting right in front of Casey's. And that's where growing up, my brother and I, when we would go with my my parents to Disney, we got, because this was long before the world of cell phones and I'll just call you if I get lost or whatever it was, that was where that was the, like the, the meetup area was Casey's. So the fact that they were waiting at Casey's for me, and then it's actually in my, in my video from that, uh, half marathon day was the day that I, they were like, surprise. You see my sweet little mom like peek her head out and like wave. and Anyway. If had a story like that, I might actually say Main Street and not the medal.
00:10:00
Speaker
I would have been balling. Man, that's so cool. Oh, I was. was. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. Okay. So clearly that was the correct answer. But thank you if you could only keep one of your medals, which one would it be and why? Disney or non?
00:10:16
Speaker
Ooh, let's say Disney. I think. Yeah. Disney. Okay. Um, I would have to say marathon of 20. That was my first marathon. And that was the, again, like the, the realization of, you know what? I can do this. Like, that's so weird. I guess I can do this. So I would keep, i would keep that one for, for sentimental reasons. Yes. Perfect.
00:10:39
Speaker
Blizzard beach parking lot or the international squeeze way, which one's worse? Oh, okay. So y'all call it International Squeezeway. um what do you it? call it No Personal Space Alley. but that's very good. I like your name better. Similar to Cone Alley out the back of Magic Kingdom. This is no personal space alley because there's no, like that's, if you have a phobia of feeling people literally breathing down your neck, don't, that's just, it's, it's awful. So, um, that's the worst one. Blizzard Beach, people talk bad about it, but I've had some great experiences
00:11:17
Speaker
In Blizzard Beach. Like that was the part during marathon this past January where we were just like, this is mile 22. Yeah. Yeah. um It's party time. So we were dancing by the mile markers and just, you know.
00:11:33
Speaker
It was a great little parade through that parking lot. We didn't have a bad experience in this year's Blizzard Beach either because I think because they added that Magic Kingdom parking lot one this year and that actually was worse for me. That awful. yeah So the Blizzard Beach actually seemed no big deal in comparison.
00:11:52
Speaker
Yes, I would agree with you on that. Yeah, I would agree. Okay. Okay. So if you're going to do rope drop to close for one park, which one would you Magic Kingdom. Yeah. I'm sorry. Okay. Don't finish the question. She already knows. Yeah, she knows the answer. You said rapid fire. Sorry. Yeah, you're right. Perfect. Magic Kingdom my answer. Erica, I think, has gotten old and would say Epcot.
00:12:13
Speaker
Epcot. Thanks for throwing me under the bus like that. Would you say Epcot? Yes. Okay. Maybe. Next question. Would you choose a four-night Disney cruise, a four-day parks vacay, or four-day run Disney race weekend?
00:12:25
Speaker
Ooh, probably the cruise. You and Erica are best friends. I'm surprised myself. Okay. Yeah. Probably, yeah. Probably run Disney cruise. Yeah. Well, you just said run Disney cruise.
00:12:39
Speaker
Yeah. That's two answers. That too. You know what? Because if it stops at Castaway, right then we do the 5K. Therefore, it becomes a run Disney cru a run disney cruise. of course.
00:12:52
Speaker
Of course. Yeah. We, we overtook our most recent cruise and turned it into a run Disney cruise. We ran at lighthouse point and castaway. And so both of our port stops, we ran the five K at both. Yeah. Okay. Well that's a new challenge unlocked. Right. Okay. So if you can skip the line for one character on a race course, which one do you choose?
00:13:12
Speaker
Pluto. fun I think he's just always been my favorite. Yeah, I have pictures with him as a like small kiddo. Awesome. dare I say maybe him over...
00:13:25
Speaker
I can't say him over Mickey. I can't. ah But maybe right there, yeah a little equal, little equal too. You like when he like hold holds his ears out? Like that's like, whew, gets me.
00:13:37
Speaker
Gets every time. Okay, last question. Like that's all the rapid fire gets to know is use. But like to kind of understand like maybe a little bit of like, Just kind of your personality, whatever. Like Erica and I talked recently about our personality types, right? Like, do you, do you, can you like say your personality type, like on any like the Myers-Briggs Enneagram? Like, you know any of your, like any of your stuff? I know I'm a seven. don't know what I, don't know what I wing towards, but, um, so seven is the romantic. Am remembering that right?
00:14:07
Speaker
Sure. i don't, it's been years. i say No, no, that's not the romantic. The enthusiast, the enthusiast. The enthusiast. Yeah. It's the enthusiast. Okay. yeah mean The enthusiast. So tell us. Which makes a lot of sense. Okay. Why? I mean, I get really excited about a lot of things and very passionate about a lot of things. Hence this whole thing.
00:14:28
Speaker
running and channel and social media and all of that. And I want to share that enthusiasm with with other people. So I feel like that aligns with a seven. Is a seven no fear? you you have like like Is your fear of of new things, remember, pretty low or or how does that fit for you? um Normal, a healthy amount of fear towards...
00:14:49
Speaker
new things. um if If that new thing involves heights, um snakes, or just really those two, I'm i'm not excited about that yeah at all. yeah Okay. so Yeah, no, I hear that. we When I think of a seven, for those that know the Enneagram, you guys are always super excited, super friendly, up for any challenge. like All of that you would say is true for you, but they also kind of like avoid the the um emotionally difficult things too, right? like Not trying to get deep on you fast, but don't sevens kind of like avoid?
00:15:17
Speaker
I do. I will walk 1400,000 miles in the opposite direction to avoid a conflict with you. so Okay. All right. That's just not my, but I will have difficult conversations if we need to. Like I don't, I don't run from that, but yeah I'm going to avoid, right you know, avoid that. anything else on your personality or just kind of what motivates you or anything before we dive into, we kind of want to know you run Disney history for those who don't know it and stuff like that, but anything else on just kind of who you are or what you do? I know from your Instagram, you have an awesome dog that you love. I know that.
00:15:48
Speaker
I do. He's sleeping right here. No, I, um, I am just your run of the mill, what you would call an adult onset runner. Um, it, I got started right after my, I shouldn't say right after a year after my twins were born and I was like, you know, if I don't change some things, then i'm not going to be able to be the mom I want to be and be around for them. So I made some some lifestyle choices of lost some weight in the in the process and picked up this really cool habit that I didn't think I'd be able to stick with because running was punishment when I was in school. Like I think it was for a lot of us.
00:16:27
Speaker
And here we are nine years later. When you started running, Kristen, did you did you like immediately jump into run Disney or did you do other running first and then switch run Disney? so No, i actually started with a couch to 5K program. and that was my That was actually my husband's idea where you know i get really enthusiastic about stuff. I can lose interest in it really quickly as well. and so Our kind of meet in the middle with that was, I'll do the couch to 5K because it's six weeks. And if at the end of that six weeks, I don't love it and I haven't noticed a big change, then I can like put the bow on that box and put it aside. And that's, I gave it, I gave it a good shot. So, um, and here we are, like i said, nine years later and I'm still doing it. So, uh, but my, my first goal race, my first ever race was the, um, it's been renamed now, but the 3M half marathon here in Austin, which is where I'm, where I live. And that was my first ever race. And that was in um January of 2018. When I was in college, I was in a sorority. And um once I graduated out, you know, we all kind of go our separate ways, but
00:17:37
Speaker
Thankful to Facebook. We were able to keep in touch with everybody. And one of my old sorority sisters has actually posted run Disney. And I didn't know that that even existed until then. And I had like grown up, we would go every summer. Like Disney was not a new thing, but run Disney was like a brand new thing. I had no idea. And so she had posted on Facebook about going and running um during Princess. And so i was like, wait, what? like You can run there and not get, like I said, not get in trouble for that. And so I you know talked to my husband about it and he was like, well, that sounds really cool. like But at that point, everything for um the rest of that year was sold out. And so he wrote me essentially an IOU for Princess of 19. And, um, and so that's, yeah, that was how I got started. There was thanks to a Facebook post from my sorority sister.
Kristen's Content Creation and Personal Growth
00:18:35
Speaker
That's awesome. Um, where does the content creation piece come in? Right? Like I know that you have an amazing YouTube channel and your Instagram is like massive and all that. Where did that come from? What, what, you know, tell us about that. So that actually started as an accountability tool um for me when I got the bib for Princess of 19. So when that registered back in 18, I started just looking on YouTube for, you know, I had no idea what to expect.
00:19:05
Speaker
Absolutely no idea what to expect. And through youtube I found my my favorite channel, which was Res Runs, Gerald Resnick. And I remember training.
00:19:17
Speaker
on the treadmill at the time at the gym and having the phone like on the, um, on the the front of the treadmill and watching his videos and like being like, that's what like, Oh my gosh, like this is amazing. Um, and so that was like highly motivating. But the one thing that I didn't really see a lot of was people,
00:19:39
Speaker
documenting their training process through that. And because I know I'm the first one to be like, okay, well, this is too hard. I'm going to find something else. I figured if I was documenting it and there were maybe four people, four or five people that were expecting videos every week, maybe I'll stick to it. Maybe I'll actually see it through. And so it actually just started as an accountability tool. And it really snowballed into what it has become. And, you know I had somebody tell me one time, you are to me what Rez Runs was to you. And that was like no yeah higher compliment. yeah Because I and i knew like how how much I adored watching his videos and how much I looked forward to that and the encouragement that they gave me. so
00:20:26
Speaker
And he's just as nice in person, by the way. its awesome Yeah. Yeah. Why do you, so that's why you started it. Why why do you continue? Right. Cause it's, it's not easy. I'm, I'm like, I, I create, uh, I'm not a content creator, but like I do video production for a living. Right. So I know that this is not easy stuff, right. Especially as vulnerable as you are in, in all this, whatever, like, I'm sure it's difficult. Why do you keep doing it?
00:20:47
Speaker
People have reached out and and told me numerous times, both in in comments and DMs and all of that, that you know I'm doing this because I saw somebody like me doing it. you know Somebody who isn't in Corral A, who doesn't run sub nine minute miles, who has a life as a, as a mom, as a wife, as a full-time employee, like I'm doing this because you showed me that it's possible. Because I think just looking at it from the, you know, just the big zoom out picture run, Disney's a lot like content creation is a lot, you know, that, um but showing somebody just the real life that, Hey, you can manage this and it may not be pretty the whole time, but it's doable. um I think that was the encouragement that really,
00:21:40
Speaker
caught people and, and like, you know, she's not just showing the perfect, pretty side of it. Like she's showing the ugly runs. She's showing the discouragement. She's showing how it's hard to balance all of this. And if she can do it, then maybe, maybe I can do it too. That's awesome. That's good. Kristen, what do you love about the run Disney experience?
00:22:01
Speaker
I love how inclusive it is. i love that, you know, run Disney is the can be the gateway into bigger things. um I love that it's a lot of people's first time ever towing a start line is a run Disney start line. And that's because it's so welcoming to all ages, stages, and abilities. you know And I think Run Disney is kind of a um a safe place for a lot of people who may not be brave enough to step forward to something like even their own local big city half marathon. It's just ah it's a safe place to just go be brave.
00:22:40
Speaker
who you are. And, um, and I love that. I love that. A hundred percent we've run destinys for everybody. Yeah. We love that too. Yeah. Awesome. Thanks for a little background on you. Can we talk about your Instagram posts? I, I, I kind of, I'd love to, to just, yeah, yeah. Here, here's how I understood what, what, what I saw on Instagram. Like it looked like, Hey, you know, I need to focus on my running. I've, but you know, I've, I've got all the, you know, I'm not Ultimately, you you posted that you're not going to film, right? Which is kind of a big thing because we all watch your videos, right? Like you're, that's kind of, I mean, where you're I hate to say it, like, that's what we expect from you, you know? Like it's good stuff. It's engaging stuff. And we, you know, we're waiting for that next episode to drop, you know? But you ultimately said, I need to focus on me. yeah And I remember the, one of the phrases you says, i've've I've needed to find the joy in running again, you know? Can you just tell me about like, what's going on, right? Like, are you willing to talk about that at all? Like, what's going on with that? So um like I think all of us, 2025 has been the year that I'm just ready to be done with. there's Life has lifed this year. And almost the to me, um so I work in healthcare and 2020 obviously was not a great year for a lot of us in healthcare care that work in a hospital. And this year has almost rivaled that to me. not Not in a work setting, but just in like a personal setting. you know There's been some major family illnesses. um I made a ah mention in the post about, you know, in September, well, what was happening in September was I was having to fly um to Louisiana to be with my extended family, my my great aunts and whatnot, as um one of them is dealing with a major, major health, you know, um thing that's going on and helping the other navigate through that um just because of my medical background And everything was piling on. And for, you know, there were so many things that I was juggling in the air, like something was bound to drop and break. And it was the content creation. Like I said, that that made, in the post, that made the most sense to just set it aside. And in doing that, I not only freed up a lot of time, but I also freed up the ability to take a hard, hard look at why I was doing
00:24:58
Speaker
the content creation because in in the grand scheme, i had really, really lost the why in it. And, you know, when you film like I do,
00:25:09
Speaker
and you film on your training runs, your pace and your form and your, all of that suffers for the sake of the content. Um, you can't be out there running your sprints and have your camera and, and not just be like, like every, every shot, you know? And so there are a lot of things that you have to take a back seat and,
00:25:33
Speaker
I was feeling so good going into this training um block, this this dopey training block because of health things on my end that were going really, really well um that I was like, I'm so excited. this is going to be the best one yet. is the best series yet. And that just had to take a backseat when things started falling apart. Like you mentioned earlier, the wheels just fell off. you know That was the one that I had to just be like, you know what? That's what I'm going to choose to sit down, set out um at at this point and really not come back to it until I miss it enough to come back or i have...
00:26:15
Speaker
dealt with other things that allow that to come back and refill that space. I mentioned in the post too, that with the help of people who are a lot smarter than me, yeah a lot of those were, um, my therapist for one, there's no shame in therapy, like go get it. Like, trust me, trust me. It is chef's kiss. Um, but you know, my therapist really helped me realize that I was coming in and like saying, well, this is what I'm feeling. And and his response was like, well, why?
00:26:46
Speaker
He was like a toddler. yeah like Toddlers be like, well, why? Why? I'm like, you're making me so mad. like I don't know why. yeah So that really helped to prioritize. Yeah.
00:26:57
Speaker
Why was I doing this? And it had become the the content creation had become more of a, like you said, an expected thing for me than it was a personal love joy of mine. a joy. Yes. And and that was really that was when i really had to be like, okay, whoa.
00:27:19
Speaker
Because it used to be the other way around where I didn't care what was expected of me. I did it because I loved it. And those had gotten flipped where I cared more about what people were expecting and what they thought than i did the love that I had for it.
00:27:35
Speaker
And, um, and that really needed to shift. And the same was true for running too. I was caring more about what people were saying about me and my pace than I cared about doing it for the fact that I loved it. right Having that time off from that and focusing on strength training, focusing on finding the dang right shoes. Like that has been set that is a long, I never have. I ever felt more like Cinderella yeah than trying to find the right running shoes. um But I've gotten to like focus on things like that. and Focus on improving my pace and focus on prioritizing, you know, diet and fueling and all of that stuff. And everything has just kind of fallen into place in that regard. And so I'm so thankful for the time that I've had off of it and,
00:28:23
Speaker
the the you know The culmination of that healing journey is going to be not long form content filming marathon weekend. And for the first time in my entire run Disney career,
00:28:39
Speaker
be able to be wholly present on those courses and not have to relive it or honestly live it for the first time when I'm back home and editing because I was so focused on, i got to get this shot. I got to get this mile marker. I got to see this person and make sure I get this interview part done. i have to go back to the expo to get B-roll because I felt like I was in everybody's way during during the first day of the expo. um I get to actually just go and be there and be wholly presently in that moment
00:29:13
Speaker
And I am so excited about it. Oh, I'm sure. Man, I am so excited for you, Kristen. I know we just met, but I'm a two on the Enneagrams. I'm a helper. I'm ah like crying over here for you, like super excited for you to be able to experience marathon for you this year. Yeah. Yeah. pretty Well, and the, the hard part of, I guess, being a seven, um and caring a whole lot about what people think and expect of me. That's something that I've had to really, that my therapist and I've been working through is
00:29:44
Speaker
there comes a point where you have to do it for you and you have to show up for you. And i am so good at showing up for other people. And I think a lot of people would, would agree with that. And I love showing up for other people, but something that I have,
00:30:00
Speaker
forgotten how to do was show up for me. Yeah. and you know, I've put in my hashtags in a few of the posts, like put your own oxygen mask on first. And I was so concerned with putting everybody else's mask on that the plane had already gone down and I was sitting there without an oxygen mask on, you know? um And that was, that was really September was when that, for lack of a better analogy, that plane crashed. Mm-hmm. And I was sitting there with no oxygen mask on, but everybody else was okay. you know yeah um And that was the that was the wake-up call was was September. um And I realized i just i had to do it. I had to show up for me. And and that started in small ways. And you know there was a a conversation that happened at um Fort Worth Marathon.
00:30:49
Speaker
a couple of weekends ago where it was myself, um Teresa running, running with shin splints, um Danielle, who ran the 20 miler with us and our friend Rachel. We were, we were carb loading before the 20 miler with um old fashions, pasta and cheesecake at the cheesecake factory. all ago And um there was just this conversation that happened where it was like, you know, what, what's your, what's been your favorite part of, you know,
00:31:16
Speaker
any and all of the race courses. And i kind of had to sit back and be like, I, i don't know, because I can't remember in the moment. right I can tell you what it was like in the video. I can tell you that, you know, having Tara literally stop on the side of the road and be like, oh my gosh. And like, I'm Tara from Georgia and now we're best friends. And um I can remember things like that after having seen them on the video. but in the heat of the moment, I could not think of a favorite moment that i wow had had. And i had been toying with not filming Marathon Weekend for a little bit, but that conversation really solidified it where i was like, no, i i want to be able to to have an answer for this question yeah and not have to preface it with, well, in the in my video, I remember because I saw it through the video, that was really the catalyst for
00:32:09
Speaker
making that choice. So, um, and I'm, yeah, I'm just, I'm ready. I'm excited. It's like what? 46 days out, something like that. Oh yeah yeah. I'm excited for you. I know I just met you and I know Erica's over here probably holding back the tears cause she's excited for you. We're excited for you just to experience it for you. And I know it like it might have, like someone might hear that around and like think it's selfish or whatever, but like to have done dopey a few times and now you're doing it for you. like yeah like Like, I'm thrilled for you. Like I genuinely mean that. And thanks for being vulnerable and honest too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that was the hard part because chronic people pleaser, I don't want people to be upset with me because I don't film or I didn't film it. yeah And it is by no means meaning that the channel is going away.
00:32:54
Speaker
it's just like at all. Like the channel is going to pick back up after – marathon weekend. And we'll probably, I'll probably do a sit down at some point and just be like, these are all the lessons I learned, you know, um, through this. And, but ah the last thing I want people to be like, you know, well, forget her. Like, we're just going to unsubscribe and like do all that. Like, If if that's what you choose to do, that's fine. um You have to realize that when you have lived so much of this experience in the public eye, there's very little of it that is done or has been done just for the sheer experience, like personal experience. Most of my run Disney, in fact, all of it up until...
Kristen's Future Plans and Running Insights
00:33:40
Speaker
this coming up marathon weekend has been, you know, for the sake of, of others. I'm, I'm in the list somewhere, but it was, you know, filming it so other people could see it and fall in love with it like I did. And then there was doing it so that I could answer any and all questions, especially around the event guide. Um, there was doing it because it's what was expected. i just want to do it because I want to do it yeah kind of thing.
00:34:03
Speaker
I'm excited to see where you take the channel and like, um, like I hope people understand, right. That like, if you take it in a different direction or whatever, or you find a more efficient way to do something and still share your love of it or what, like, this is hard. Like people talk about, you know, our podcast, remember we found that this format works for us because I did try filming the race one time and it was one time.
00:34:25
Speaker
one time. I'm like, nope, not doing that again. you know like It's too hard. And so the fact that you've been doing it this much, I i just hope people really give give you some grace on that like channel moving forward perspective, I guess is what I'm saying. yeah And I will say you know a big thank you all to everyone that that commented on um on that post. you know I posted that. I was in that moment where I feel like if I didn't say it, I wasn't going to. sure And so I just sat and typed and and posted it and really was prepared for not the response that I got. i was prepared for the opposite response that I got. um But the overwhelming response was, i am so proud of you. i am so excited for you. i can't wait to see you um on the courses. I mean, it was just that...
00:35:20
Speaker
10 times over. And that was way more than I expected it. And I honestly have thought about just shutting the comments off before I even hit post. But I thought, you know what? No, like I'm going to let people, they take the time to read my stuff. I'm not going to you know, censor what my brain wants to jump to the worst possible response ever. yeah So I was just, you know, hit that post and was like, all right, all right, Lord, here it is. So, yeah, no, I think like, um, you know, at the beginning of our interview, you were talking about how like mom, like having had kids beat somebody different that like, you know, and you've talked about how women identify with you because you represent so many of us. Right. And so I think like even this change, like this, I feel like this is gonna impact a lot of people like in a different kind of super positive way. like yeah Like this whole idea of like, you know, take care of yourself, put your own oxygen mask on first. Like, I didn't i mean, as sure guys, but like a lot of moms need to hear that, you know? yeah And so I think that this is inspiring like in a different way. And I think that it doesn't surprise me that you got the comments that you got because I think it's great. So.
00:36:34
Speaker
Well, thank you. I, appreciate and I appreciate And appreciate y'all, you know, there's good parts of people pleasing, but then there's where I had tipped into, which was not, not beneficial for, for myself, for, you know, really anybody else, because I can't, you know, again, you can't pour from an empty cup. yeah And I was like, you know, we're like film on the inside of the cup kind of empty. Right. Yeah.
00:37:00
Speaker
Awesome. Thank you again for being authentic about that. Like to know that someone like a skilled and awesome and put together like perfect costumes. I mean, you did the event guides. Like, I mean, like just to know that you are also a human being with human being things too. Like, I think it's going to yeah be pretty awesome for for folks to understand.
00:37:18
Speaker
You know, I had started to step into this I wanted everything to be pristine and very planned out and very um aesthetically pleasing because that's what the algorithm was pushing. And it was becoming disingenuous to who I started out being. And probably that's why it became more work than it needed to be because it wasn't genuine. um And I didn't feel like it was genuine anymore. um
00:37:49
Speaker
One thing in the most recent Dare to Dopey series that I actually really enjoyed doing was finding different things to put my microphone on in every episode. I think one of them was like a shoe. yeah yeah And ah one of them was, i think, a spatula. That's just me. Like, I'm just a giant goober. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I really, really disliked how I was denying that side of myself to be the more aesthetically pleasing, you know, what everybody else wanted me to be. And I think that's where a lot of the dissatisfaction in it started to rear its ugly head was i was changing who I foundationally was because other people didn't like it.
00:38:32
Speaker
yeah. I've said it like 10 times. We're so excited for you. Like like where where it goes from here. We're super excited. about Yeah. Yeah. Anything else about that story? Kind of whatever you want to share before I ask you like some other, other kind of running ish questions, anything else you wanted to share about that?
00:38:45
Speaker
Just that, you know, I've, I had people, I had people send me messages and comments and, um on that post that was like, if you're okay with it, I would like to say, hi, I am always okay with it. like you can i mean just I love to meet y'all. I love to hear your stories. That has never changed. um That's why I spend upwards of you know seven and a half, eight hours at the expo every time. so I'm not like y'all where I get myself and go. That's not Never could be me. Never could be me. and that's That's my time to get to meet a lot of people um yeah and get to hear a lot of stories. And I love that. So just because I'm not filming doesn't mean that I want to be left alone during marathon weekend. like I want to say... hello to you. I want to hear your stories. I want to meet you. Um, it's just not filming is just a deeply personal thing for me. It's nothing, you know, that's it.
00:39:38
Speaker
End of story period. It's, it's, it's a healing closing the the chapter, the book on that part of it. yeah Um, but I think that's, I think that's the big, the big takeaway is just because I'm not filming doesn't mean I don't want to meet anybody. Sure. That's the actual, that's the opposite. Excellent. Then we're going to track you down. hope you don't mind. Perfect. I'll be there. Perfect. perfect um It'll be easy to find you because you'll be on the screen and Chris will be saying your name. Right. Yeah. It'll be easy to find you. I don't know about that. i don't know about that. But um can I ask you some some running stuff? I mean, unless yeah any of that creeps in you you had and and this was in your post, too. You had said that running it like is a different kind of therapy or something to that phrase. What does that mean? Like, as it not necessarily the situation, just in general, what does that mean to you? Yeah. Yeah.
00:40:21
Speaker
So, you know, there's something to be said. about willingly and knowingly going to put yourself through 30, 45 minutes, half marathon, marathon, 20 mile or whatever of something that's not comfortable. And you learn a lot about yourself in those kinds of runs. You learn what you're capable of. You learn what you're able to um tell your brain to like, you know,
00:40:46
Speaker
No, we're okay. You can just sit back and relax. Like we're fine. so that's the kind of therapy that I meant. Like there's a um there was a study that was done several, I guess, years ago, um but I was made aware of it recently, but it talked about how there's a correlation between people that have survived, um,
00:41:05
Speaker
trauma of various kinds and how they are now like distance runners because they already have that ingrained in them what it takes to just survive. And you carry that skillset over into something. And so for me, it's a therapy of I've overcome all this stuff in the past.
00:41:23
Speaker
Why can't I do a marathon? Why can't I do, you know, this all out fastest I've ever run a 10 K? Like, why can't I, well, there's no reason I can't. yeah There's absolutely no reason I can't. So, um, so that, that's what I meant by that. It's a, it's a, almost a personal therapy because it's you and you and you alone, no one else is going to put those shoes on and run that race for you. You have to do that for yourself.
00:41:48
Speaker
I think we said it in a podcast recently, kind of what you were talking about, like sometimes when work or life or something is really hard or whatever, I get that like, um yeah, good luck trying to rattle me right now. You know, I can run a marathon, right? Like yeah like I've got all these, whatever, coping strategies and whatever to physically and um and um emotionally, mentally survive. yeah This work thing, like I got this, no problem. You know what i mean? So I totally agree. Yeah.
00:42:12
Speaker
And I will say some of my best runs have been what my little group and I have have deemed as a rage run. um And that's just like where you like have a bad day and you're like, you know what? I'm going go rage run. you've been on I had one on Monday. coach was like, run slow, Erica. And I'm like, sorry, I was super angry. Like I just ran fast. Those have been some of my best months my best times actually have been on a rage run. I don't know that I've ever been on one. therapeutic. Well, next time you get upset at work, you're like, give me 30. And then you just go rage run it off. that's All right. I'll write that down. That's good. Yes. Yeah. Oh my gosh. That's awesome. um So this is kind of a difficult time of year to run like weather, holidays, food, family schedule. What have you found to be successful in like balancing all this? I think I actually talked about it in one of my videos where it's you have to it takes a village and you have to let the people that are closest to you that are expecting things from you this time of year. So you have to let them know, like I may not be able to say yes to everything because I'm doing this. And if they know you and love you, they know how important those things are for you. um The other thing too is just to be flexible. um I was off work from the hospital yesterday and I was like, you know what?
00:43:29
Speaker
before the rain gets here and have to be somewhere tonight, let me just go out and throw down for 45 minutes. So, yeah but I think the biggest thing is just letting people know, like, here's the goal that I have. And usually if they can see how much it means to you, that makes it easier for them to be like, absolutely. I'd love to help you, you know, be a little part of this journey with you by helping facilitate, um facilitate those things. I think I've learned two things from you today. I've learned rage run and you just said a throw down as it relates to a run. So I think I'm not getting in your way. i think that's bottom line. So it's funny you should say that. um The 10K at Fort Worth, like I'm getting it.
00:44:09
Speaker
So we're going through the start line. And of course, these ladies decide to like stop and pose right through the start line. And there's a picture of me like I'm literally like this, yeah like going in between them. And Danielle's face is like, yeah like, so that was me like throwing down like I will very kindly.
00:44:32
Speaker
on your left Yes. Anytime someone stops, side tangent related though, yeah anytime someone stops in front of me or throws their arms out or cuts in in front of me on the on the you know and on a Disney course, I'm like, i hope that photo sucks. a Because my face is like, why don't you to do that to me? You know what I mean And so I don't want to ruin their race, but they just kind of like weren't aware. Right.
00:44:57
Speaker
So that happened to me, my first princess. And um same thing, we were running and um we this lady cut in front of us and we were like, all right, we're going to jump. Ready? Three, two, one And right as we jumped, she cut in front. So I ended up looking like a T-Rex in the back because my arms are like this and I'm like, yeah and like just like peering over her shoulder. and That's funny. um You know, it's just, you just got to be you got to be aware. Aware. That's what we say. We always say you can do that.
00:45:26
Speaker
You know what i mean? Just be very aware right yeah of who's around you. yeah Yeah. Just look for your window. That's one of my tips is you need to look for your window. 100%. And be aware. Just be aware of yourself, like where you are in space and how how big your wingspan is and don't Mike Wazowski people. and Do you have any like mid-fuel photos? I have a couple of those where I've got like a gel half hanging out my mouth. Do you have any of those? Yeah.
00:45:52
Speaker
I do. I got, actually got one for, uh, from Fort Worth where I was like mid chew um, I think it was scratch the the gummy things. I mean, I look like I had like a whole thing, a dip. yeah I don't even dip like that. say whatever Whatever you want to do on the races. And I like walked past the photographer and I was like, well, you caught me at snack time. was like, at that point, I, it you know, um But there actually there was a there was a little like photo series we did a couple seasons. Maybe it's last season, but it was how many random things can I get caught with in a photo pass? Oh, that's funny. And it all started with Princess where I got caught coming out of the bathroom in Hollywood Studios and I was holding my Cottonelle potty wipes. Oh,
00:46:37
Speaker
And there was a there was a race photographer there and i like there was no hiding it. So I was just like, ah they're like and then the next race I had an applesauce pouch hanging out my mouth. And oh that's and then, that's thought you know, I got the the gummies like, you know, yeah it's fine. You cannot take yourself too seriously and that kind of thing. Absolutely not. Yeah.
00:46:59
Speaker
That's awesome. The potty wipes humbled me though. I'm sure it did. Okay. Okay. It's a serious or more question. What would you say to someone who wants to be you, right? Like you're big time, right? Like we all see you on the, on the Instagram and on the, all the things, right? Like I just want to be that. So they're out there taking pictures at every mile marker. They're posting everything they can. They're tagging every single run Disney thing they can tag. They just want to be like as yeah famous as you, right? Like what, what advice do you have for that person based off all the things you've learned over nine years of doing this?
00:47:26
Speaker
Just be so genuine. Like you can talk about your love for running, but if it's not genuine, people see through that. People can see like, oh, you're just being heavily influenced or you're copying for lack of a better term. um So and so. But if you just bring your own. twist to it and just be genuine and be genuine in your love for it, then people start to notice that. And the general consensus is the the community is the way that it is, is because it's full of just genuine people. So if you see me and you want to be me, don't be you. Like there's only one of me, you be you, I'll be me, and we can be friends. I love it. So good. um So Kristen, when you cross the finish line after marathon this year, what does success look like for you?
00:48:17
Speaker
I think crossing it. Yeah. Honestly, yeah i think just the, um I'm already looking forward to the ugly crying snot pictures from the finish line yeah because it will be so symbolic on a personal level. um It will be taking the joy back, putting the thoughts and opinions of other people completely to the wayside. And that is so much easier said than done. um But it's just symbolic of that. And so success for me um is is multifold. um I would love to cross it in five hours, 30 minutes. that's That's my time goal. yeah That would be almost an hour off of my last marathon. Right. Awesome. Another thing too would be having somebody you know come to me and say, like I'm doing this because you encouraged me to do it. totally like Those kinds of things, I don't need monetary compensation. Lord knows if that was what I was in this for, I wouldn't be doing it anymore or have ever started. But um sometimes just the verbal appreciation of somebody that encourages and inspires you is, is more, it's worth more um than any, any amount of money. So um that's, that would be a good measure of success is did I encourage somebody to show up for themselves? I've watched your channel for a long time. Right. So like, but I don't know you, you don't, you know Like I reached out in five seconds of courage, whatever, but like you've been encouraging us, you mean? And you don't know that. Like, I mean, we genuinely love your content and you know, while I guilty of like, you know, wow, she's so amazing over there doing, you know, whatever. Like I would never want to send you a message. Right. But yeah we, we have been encouraged by your content for a long time. Totally. Well, thank you. I appreciate that. I appreciate it a lot. I do think if you want to get to that five and a half hours on the marathon, you better hope the line for Goofy is short.
00:50:05
Speaker
Or not Goofy. Who's your character? Pluto. I was like, Goofy, I could care less. like buy that whatever You better hope Pluto's got a short line if you get You know, i sometimes you have to forego...
00:50:17
Speaker
one love i know or another. it hurts. so you know, that's like riding ah riding Everest. I have yet to ride Everest during the marathon. yeah yeah And, you know, i've got I've got myself now trained up to where if I wanted to, I could potentially have enough cushion to do it. But I also don't want to risk getting stuck on it. Yes. Then therefore not meeting any time goals because I was... right Yeah. Hanging out with disco Yeti for way too long in a park that's not my favorite. So that's my biggest fear. I want to do it, but I also don't want to cramp up. I don't want, i don't want to trip, you know what i mean? Going through this queue. Like I have so many of these variables. I'm like, my, my number one goal is to cross the finish line. Right? Like I'd love to do it. Yeah.
00:51:01
Speaker
There's so many characters we've passed up that just hurt, you know, because I was nah, I got a time goal today. You know, this is why I'm here. yeah So I get that. Well, and I, I should say, i hope, well, no, I didn't learn my lesson at all. Um, During princess during in the half marathon, I stopped. It was the, i don't know if y'all were there. was that princess where it was so foggy. Yeah, we did that one. Yeah. You remember that? Yeah. yeah Like you couldn't see 20 feet in front of you. Yeah. Um, but I that was, um, yes, it was.
00:51:32
Speaker
I was, um, I couldn't see the character cause it was so foggy. And then I got to a person and they were like, I'm surprised you're not stopping. And I was like, what are you talking about? And they're like, it's Pluto. And I was like, oh my gosh. And yeah so i go and get in line and like, you know, got separated from my group, you know, whatever should have just not done that. Um, so I get my picture with Pluto and it was right after that, that I tripped on one of those reflectors and fell in the middle of world drive. Like,
00:52:03
Speaker
concrete, like face the whole nine yards. Uh, but what was funny in that moment though, was my natural instinct was protect the camera. And so when I fell, i was all about like statue of Liberty left the arm up, which is why like my right arm got like completely road rash. And, but I should have, should have just been like, Oh, that's okay. I'll catch him in the parks. And I probably wouldn't have fallen. so I'm so sorry. how well Last question I have for you. And i know we've gone really long and if you need to, yet then then totally fine. My last question is any like words of wisdom advice, like, you know, it can just be generic or whatever, but like anything for that person that's struggling right now, right? Like they're, they're, maybe it's their first run Disney. They're, they're terrified that things aren't going well. Right. Like what whats what are your, what are your encouragement? I would say, um you know, go, go look back. I guarantee you that you've probably taken a picture on like your first day of training, you know, yeah um or the day you signed up, you know, go back and and reflect on that and remember why you did that. Why did you sign up? What in you on that day decided I am going to do this. The other piece would be, um just know that nobody's training block training cycle, however you choose to, to word it is perfect. You're going to have really, really bad runs. And sometimes those bad runs will be several in a row, but the, the minute that you decide that it's not worth it anymore or that you're just going to give up because it got too difficult, then you let that little devil on your shoulder win. And I'm not in the business of that. Like, we're not going to, we're not going to be about that. um You are so much stronger than the doubt that you're feeling in this moment because you had enough confidence in yourself six months ago, eight months ago, a year ago to decide,
00:53:55
Speaker
I'm going to do this. So think back to that version of you and get some strength from that, because I guarantee you it's just because you've lost a little bit of that if you're struggling right now. Now, I know that there will be some some physical challenges, too, with with injury and that kind of thing. But. Um, always go by what your doctor says, go by what your physical therapist says. If they tell you to walk, we'll go be the best walker that you can be, yeah you know, or that, um, marathon shuffler or, or who, you know, whatever that, that you can be. So, um, something that Bob said on rise and run, I guess it was last week where he talked about, um, you, y'all know, Bob, we love, we love Bob. Um, Bob has these like nuggets of wisdom so every, like he's like, I've,
00:54:41
Speaker
Pastor a church. I'll, I'll go. Uh, just, just a running run, Disney rise and run with pastor Bob. yes Um, my pastor would be totally fine with that. He'd be like, as long as on Sunday, you're good. yeah Um, yeah but he said, he goes, you can't cross a finish line if you don't hit the start line. Hmm.
00:54:58
Speaker
or something to that effect. So, you know, you have to have one before you can have the other. Right. And so that's, you know, think about that. Think about how that is your victory lap. You're in the thick of it right now, but those start lines, those actual races, that's the victory lap of it all. That's like the, the bow on the present of all of it are those are the actual races. And, And so sometimes when I'm feeling down or I'm feeling like I'm so tired of this, i don't want to do this anymore, it's too difficult, I'll think about, you know, marathon morning, which sometimes can feel like Christmas morning. Oh, yeah. I'm so excited. yeah You want to get there. You want to go sit down for an hour and a half in the corral and, you know, meet your your new closest friends and that kind of thing. So just really thinking about
00:55:44
Speaker
Going back to your why, going back to that version of you that decided you were strong enough to do that because you you are. um And then remembering that everyone has difficult training runs or or workouts or whatnot, but that doesn't define, that little chunk of bad does not define the entirety of your training cycle. So don't. Don't fall casualty to, okay, well, I'm awful. im so I suck. So I'm going to quit. No, you, no, you, you come talk to me and then. then I love it. I love Thank you for those words of encouragement. Erica, any other questions for Kristen? No, I just, it's been so, so much fun to have you on. I'm so excited for you. Like, I hope that you just find such a deep joy in your run this, this upcoming marathon season. Like it's going to be so exciting for you just to have that for yourself.
00:56:32
Speaker
Yeah. Thank you. Anything you want to want to chat about before we let you go? i know we've held on for a long time. It's a long episode that will release just in time for those Thanksgiving runs, which perfect. Thanksgiving runs, it is a simulation weekend. So you're welcome. Anything else you want to talk about? I want to know about your costumes. What what do you have planned?
00:56:48
Speaker
and we are We are very planned out every year, but this one. yeah So we have no clue yet. It's pathetic. like I know what I'm wearing for princess next year, but but we don't even know that. i't even know that yeah Well, the only reason why have that one planned is because this will be the 10-year anniversary of my first princess. And the first time I ran it, I was like brand new runner, didn't know a thing about running. i ran and i dressed as Snow White and I ran in like a cotton, like a thick, I mean, just nothing good. And so I was like, I got to do Snow White the right way this time. so
00:57:23
Speaker
<unk> but to say not cotton t-shirt. Exactly. Yeah. So I've got my, my athletic tee and my skirt and my shiny leggings and all the things already ready, but we have not figured out marathon yet. Nope. We don't know. Sorry to disappoint you on that one. Of course we could never come anywhere near what you do and and and no intention to. Yeah. What are you doing?
00:57:42
Speaker
Or is it a surprise? Um, some of it's a surprise. Okay. Yes, of course. I can, can allude. Okay. So I will say, in fact, I had somebody ask me, reach out on Instagram and ask me to help them like give my creative process to coming up with costumes. So, um, this is for free. oh Um, I,
00:58:01
Speaker
very rarely will go straight to the theme. Yes. Like standard, totally you know, I'll maybe go that character, but I won't go straight the theme. yeah So what I mean by that is I'll take that character and I'll think, what can i make that character into? yeah um So can I mash it up with something else? So marathon this time, marathon weekend, this time is, has been a really fun exercise in that.
00:58:27
Speaker
because you know it's book themed like the different types of books and so all of mine are with the exception of marathon because we're doing something special for that one but um 5k 10k half they're all versions of that type of story so that's awesome space mystery love it love story cool um well we can't wait to see it Okay. This was so much fun. This was awesome. I can't, again, I said at the beginning, we appreciate you just being vulnerable, willing to talk to us on, on the podcast at all. Um, I think it's going to be so encouraging, especially for our new runners or even people who think that, you know, we've, we, you know, whatever creators have it all together. Uh, no, not really life. Life happens. yeah yeah know Yeah. If you find a creator who has it all together, you have fallen for the gimmick. Correct. correct Yeah. You have, right they have curated that. um yep no no creator that I know personally has it all together. Yeah. yeah so yeah
00:59:27
Speaker
Erica and i are about to sign off and I'm about to ask her thoughts on princess metals as our last thing with you. Tell me, what do you think about the princess metals coming out? And then what, then we'll let you go. So here's the thing. um No, I think they're great. I think they're great. um I love the stained glass aspect. Yes. Seeing that 5k really makes me wish I would have signed up for the 5k. Yeah. um I'm half marathon only. Yep. Same with us. Yeah.
00:59:53
Speaker
Because I am just so, listen, I am so sick of Moana. i am so sick of that girl. preach She needs to way find her way to the break room. um I am tired of her being on every medal that I've gotten in the last, what, four years. right um You know, there are other princesses. There are other princesses like Pocahontas. We haven't had her in, um well, since what, 2018?
01:00:20
Speaker
It's been 20. We've never had it on one of our races. now She was on it. it had to have been 20 because she was the 10 K the year, the only other year that I've only done the half. Yeah. And that was 2020. I would love to see it go back to where you pick one princess and do variations of her for all metals, like the sidekicks for the 10 K or whatever. yeah yeah I'm just tired of Moana. Yeah. I'm just tired of her.
01:00:43
Speaker
I remember Erica and I were sitting down at dinner the night before princess registration, having a very strategic conversation over tacos about what we're going to register for. And I said, I want to do the half. I like the challenge wherever. And I love the 5k, but I don't want to do Moana. Yeah. And I don't even want to run the 10k.
01:01:01
Speaker
And so it was like, I like this terrible decision of like, what to do because if you're going to do the 5k and the half, you might as well just do mile. You might as well 10. But then I'm like, Erica, we're doing all these races this year. That's just money for the sake of the 5k. Anyway, so we ended just going just with the half. But now I kind of regret it because Merida looks amazing. She looks amazing.
01:01:22
Speaker
Amazing. I love the design. i love the design. i love the stained glass. Like I think that's so, so, so very good. Right. um I just wish Moana wasn't on it. And that's all I'm going to say. Mic drop. I love it. Awesome. It was great to have you. Thanks so much for joining us today, Kristen. Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. but we we your channel, Running in Makeup on all the things?
01:01:43
Speaker
On all the things, if yeah. There's 99% chance every single person that just heard our podcast has already subscribed correct to all of those things. But if you're in the 1% and you haven't met Kristen's channels yet, go subscribe right now. 100% need to. Awesome. Thanks for joining Thank all.
01:02:00
Speaker
Man, that was so good. I loved meeting her and just getting to know her. i love that when somebody that's big like that, a big personality, is actually just genuine and sweet in person. I just i love that. She wants the best for other people. And you know like some people say that, but I really get that. Yeah. vibe. yeah Like I will be, and i hope you don't mind. I'm going to go track her down at marathon. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And find her at the expo. yeah I'm going to do it. Yeah. I really loved that conversation.
01:02:30
Speaker
That was great. Great. We talked a little bit about princess metals with Kristen. She clearly is over the Moana, which I sort of agree with too. You know, it's not that I don't like Moana. It's just, you know, I get a frozen but is my other one that I'm kind of like, ah,
01:02:45
Speaker
yeah Maybe we could move on you know from from this for a while. um But what are your just overall thoughts? right We're not doing the 5K, which is the Merida one, but what are your thoughts on that medal? I really like Merida.
01:02:57
Speaker
Yeah. Yes. We really did struggle when we were trying to figure out what we were going register for. right Hammond and Holland over like, ah, but Merida, we've never done a Merida race. yeah you know yeah yeah i think the medal looks cool.
01:03:08
Speaker
Yeah, the medal looks cool. I like the colors. um I like the stained glass theme. yeah i don't really love the challenge medal, so I'm not sad we're not doing that year. Yeah. You know, Belle is one of my favorite- She's your favorite. She's one of my favorite princesses. And I thought, you know, like not doing the challenge, we're not doing that either. I thought that I was going to really regret that, but I got to be honest.
01:03:30
Speaker
because I'm kind of over Moana and the Bell one is not my favorite of this set, I'm kind of okay with just doing the half quotes, quotes, just just the half for half marathon. I think the tangled metal is good. We have a tangled metal already for something else. So it's not going to necessarily like revolutionize my wall of metals, you know, because it looks very similar, but yeah um I'm definitely not disappointed with it. Yeah. You know, I've had metals where I've kind of like, oh, they did that. And that's not the case on these. Yeah. I like the all of them have stained glass incorporated somehow and I like it. Yeah, that's cool. Any other thoughts on the metals? Nope.
01:04:05
Speaker
Awesome. Another thing that we talked about last week and I just kind of wanted to follow up with you because now you have experience with it. Yes. I introduced you to it and now you have experience with it is the Rise and Run group on Hollerhype, the app. Yes. You used it for a few runs now. I have, yes. Right? Tell me about it.
01:04:24
Speaker
It's awesome. yeah I feel kind of dumb recording my my messages to people, yeah but I love getting them. and I've learned like the ones that I love the most are the ones where people who are like the most obnoxious. So I've just decided I'm just going to go into it just being obnoxious and silly because that's what people need to hear on their run, right? like Oh, yeah. Yeah. So love it though. I think especially as a two, as a helper, like it's great. thought you were going to love recording the messages. It surprises me to hear you say that that you're struggling without a smidge. I feel like I sound really dumb, but it's all good. I like the idea. I love the idea of encouraging people. So I've sort of embraced the like just talking louder than I think I should. Yeah. You know what mean? And just like. mean, the best ones are like the ones who like, let's go, let's go. Come on. Like, you know, that i like they're like a radio DJs. Right. Yeah. Yeah. I like it. So just get over your feeling of ridiculousness and and do it. It's awesome. Yeah.
01:05:19
Speaker
And I have thought maybe I'll maybe i'll tell people some of my favorite like inspiring quotes, right? Like the things that helped me get through marathon yeah like the last couple years. Maybe I'll i'll start sending some of those things.
01:05:30
Speaker
I was thinking maybe dad jokes. Like I was thinking that might be a good thing because I have an arsenal of those. That's hilarious. You should. Yeah. We'll see. Yeah. Great. I'm glad you like the Holler Hype app. I've had it on for most of my runs now. And I said it last week, it's the Rise and Run community of
Erica's Running Challenges and Training
01:05:45
Speaker
of runners, right? it's the It's the people that's in there that Right, right, right, right. That's awesome. How's your training going, Erica? I know that you lin you're very, and I guess I should just come to Expect. yeah The ups and downs in training for you. yeah Usually an injury that you're working around or through or whatever. Right. And that's no different this year, right? Nope, it's not. Okay. Tell me what's happening right now if you want to share. Yeah. So right now I'm dealing with an injury in like in my hip flexor, hip flexors. This comes back to that doing too much too fast. Yes, doing too much too fast. Like this this year, I was training with no injuries. I was so excited.
01:06:22
Speaker
Then I got a super random thing unrelated to to running. um Had to stop running for a while, but we had that half marathon that I wanted to PR at, yeah which I did, but to the expense of maybe coming back too fast. So um now I'm dealing with some hip stuff, side tangent, holler hype. The other day, I said I was going for a 30-minute run, and somebody who listens to us sent me a holler hype podcast.
01:06:44
Speaker
a hype thinking that I was running 30 miles. So just for clarification, it was 30 minutes. I was like, how do I find him to tell him like, oh my gosh, thank you. But no, I kid not even. People are yeah people are like, look, dopey is only right. You only have to go to 26. Yes, yes, yes. That's funny. Anyway, so so Clay, your running coach, our good friend now turned my running coach. Yeah. He is helping me to hopefully get to marathon. He's, he's very confident, probably more confident than I am, um, yeah that, that it's going to be okay. So he's got me, uh, doing some really easy runs with some longer breaks. Um, these last couple of weeks, uh, he thinks within the next week I should be better. And so I told him, you know, I know I can confidently walk the back half if I need to without getting swept. So, okay. We'll see what happens. I mean, either way, marathon's getting done. I just, it is. Oh, it's getting done. Yeah, for sure. Just maybe a lot more walking than I anticipated going into it this year. So the key is that I don't want to do too much for marathon and then injure myself for our other races, other races that we have coming up. Cause that's the thing is I told him, I was like, I can't just get to marathon. Like I have to be able to do the two other halves right after we finished that. yeah. So I'm trying to continue to go slow, be smart about it.
01:08:04
Speaker
But yeah. Maybe we should stop registering for races so you can like heal yourself. I think that this year, if I hadn't gotten the kidney stone and the rib thing, I would have been totally fine. Right, but you're going to get a kidney stone and a rib thing. This is par for the course for you. It is because. Yes, it just happens. All the things, all the things that a small percentage of people experience these side effects. Like people, the small person I am, that they they happen to me. I don't know why. Well, I hope it goes it goes well. It's fine. It'll be fine. I'll be there. Marathon weekend. You will. Carrying you across finish line. I'm just i'm telling you now, I'm sorry. We're going to have to walk the back half probably, but okay it'll be fine. We'll still get it done.
01:08:42
Speaker
That's okay. Actually, i lie. I'm stubborn. I'll probably still try to run the whole thing, and you'll have to tell me, slow down, slow down. You've become driven somehow. Yeah, I am i am kind of a stubborn stubborn runner. I think because... You can take runner off of the off of that sentence. You're just kind of stubborn. I am stubborn. am, yeah.
01:09:01
Speaker
ah Because I know that my personality type, like I have to incorporate those walking breaks. So I feel like when I'm running, when I'm on a run run part of the interval, like I've got to give it my all. Yeah. You know what I keep saying to you and I don't think you like it, but I keep reminding you is- Slow down?
01:09:16
Speaker
Well, i do keep saying that and I know you're not listening. what i What I'm trying to get you to listen is I'm like, what would you tell someone else? Oh, yeah. And I know you're not enjoying that, but like, you know the right answer. I do. I know the right answer. just stubborn. We tell you on this podcast. You're just stubborn.
Upcoming Races and Episode Conclusion
01:09:32
Speaker
Yep. All right. Okay. All right. How's your training going, Mr. Speedy?
01:09:36
Speaker
The training's going good. I'm doing the Atlanta half marathon here in a couple of days, which by the time you hear this will have been yesterday. I don't know. Anyway, so I'm doing the Atlanta half marathon and you had no interest in this even before the injury when I registered. Absolutely not. You had no interest this race. heard it was super hilly, which that doesn't sound good to me. Yep. And, you know, city streets aren't your favorite in general. So I love them. I'm trying to decide if I want to wear my white shoes because I wore my white shoes my last Atlanta race. Whenever they came back, they were black. Black. Yeah. You know, just because the streets are...
01:10:09
Speaker
Gross. Treats. And so anyway. So no, I'm looking forward to that. I had the packet pickup thing yesterday, which got me kind of excited yeah you know for that. So I've got my bib and everything and I'm you know i'm proud of my city.
01:10:22
Speaker
So I'm excited to run it. Good. Well, I'm proud of you for running. Thanks. Okay. Thank you, friends, for joining us for this episode. Hopefully you're having a great Thanksgiving with your family or having fun putting up Christmas decorations. Or if you're doing those, it's like the long weekend for dopey and marathon training stuff. If you're out there doing those long miles right now, good luck with all of that. We'll catch you next week for another episode of One More Run.
01:10:51
Speaker
Thanks for joining us for this episode of One More Run, the podcast. If you like what we're up to, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram. You can find links to all of that at AJandErica.com.