Here we go!

The nerves and butterflies have set in. We fly out in less than 12 hours for sunny Florida for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Just the thought of that genuine faux rhinestone encrusted tiara-shaped finisher's medal gets my princessy-bits all tingly! Of course the fact that it's going to be 80 degrees every day while we are there is tempered by the fact that Richmond is also going to have unseasonably warm weather. It's NOT FAIR that the one time I go somewhere warm that it's warm here, too.

So, today's stresses and nerves and wanting to cry came from:

• Learning that our race bibs are color coded based on what princess we picked when we registered, BUT THEY DIDN'T TELL US WHAT COLORS THEY ARE! AARGH! I picked Belle. Belle wears a yellow dress. But I was going to run in a pink skort. Pink skort + yellow bib? ICK. If I had known about the color coding, I would have picked Aurora (Sleeping Beauty). She wears pink and I'm all about pink right now. But maybe Belle isn't yellow and Aurora isn't pink? And what were the other princesses? Cinderella (blue)? And Snow White (???? she was a clown in her garish red/yellow/white. I never liked SW)
• The race course map only shows one "food" station around mile 9. Are there any Gu's anywhere? What is the "FOOD" being offered at a "FOOD" station?
• Where do we park for the expo?
• Where IS the expo?
• I don't have cute enough clothes for a girls weekend. (NOTE: worked through lunch and left early for a power shop through JCPenney and Shoe Carnival. Clothing problems solved with help from cellphone camera and picture mails to Speedee (Red? or Blue?))
• The dishwasher that was supposed to turn on at 10 this morning did NOT turn on and my bottles for my fuel belt are not clean & dry right now.
• Can I take empty water bottles for fuel belt through TSA screening? I can't find bottles on the banned list, but it doesn't say I CAN either!
• TSA screening. I have not flown commercial with carry ons since 9/11 as I am afraid of screwing up the screening process. So I am the designated "checking a bag with toiletries over 3 oz" for the crew.
• Sunscreen can't be found in 3 oz or less size, and I really don't want to be a lobster bake in Florida. See above.
• HOW many people are registered for the race? Is it 7,500, 10,000 or 20,000?
• What corral am I in?
• What corral are the girls in?
• Why did I find one mention of the "MEN" being in the last corral? MEN? UMMMM this is a women's only race, people.

SIGH

BUT - I have my girls with me. My girls love me and my girls will make sure that I get where I need to be and keep my head on straight. So time to chillax, make sure I have my stuff together, and be ready on time in the a.m. for my pickup.

Traveling to a "strange" town is tough, and I give the Disney people ZERO points, yes ZERO points for the amount of helpful information on their website. I expected to see detailed course map with info on where the water stops are, what's offered at the water stops, directions to expo, etc. NOTHING. ZIP. NADA.

So, whilst the dishwasher chugs away so I have squeaky clean bottles (that are going in the checked bag cause I am NOT throwing away my Fuel Belt for the TSA people), I sit and worry.