‘Princess’ Moms On The Run From Winter

By Nancy K. Crevier

People had a variety of ways to beat the blues this past winter, but two Newtown neighbors decided to take action to get themselves through the worst of the cold season.

Missy Derocher, an independent real estate agent, and Nicole Friedrich, a massage therapist, headed down to Florida. That is not such an unusual route for New Englanders in winter, but Ms Derocher and Ms Friedrich were on more of a mission than R&R.

Joining up with Ms Derocher’s sister Donna Wilkes in Port Orange, Fla., the three women set off for Orlando, pulled on their running shoes, and joined more than 6,000 other women ages 14 to 80 running the 13.1 mile Princess Half-Marathon at Walt Disney World, Sunday, March 8.

“We’re not runners, we’re moms,” laughed Ms Friedrich. “I jog with the dog.”

The friends have been “buddy training” at the Fitness Loft, but running was not a part of that training.

“My sister had run the Goofy Marathon in January and she called and said, ‘Come and be a Princess,’ so I called Nicole,” said Ms Derocher. Her friend’s initial reaction was less than enthusiastic, but in short order, said Ms Derocher, she came around.

“I thought, ‘Why not?’ This was a very big thing for me, though, and not because of the running. It was the first time I’ve ever left my girls, Erica, who is 6 and Jenna, who is 12,” recalled Ms Friedrich.

Ms Derocher also left two of her three children — Cole, 10, and Kyle, 17 — in their father’s care. Her daughter, Jen, is 26.

Once they committed to running the Princess, the two women began to hit the gym hard in preparation.

“I think it helped that we were already in shape from working out together, but we did a little more running, for one thing,” said Ms Friedrich. “At one point, I ran ten miles. It was cold and windy, and here I was running up and down these New England hills on the ice, and I realized that I could definitely run in Florida where it would be flat and warm,” she said.

The furthest Ms Derocher ran in one training session was four miles, but she felt confident, nonetheless, that she would be able to run triple that distance.

“The race promotes and encourages positive self-image. It’s a celebration of every woman’s determination, drive, bravery, and beauty,” said Ms Derocher. “I never doubted I would finish, but I was worried I would get scooped up by a ‘flagger’ that my sister had warned us about. You have to keep a certain pace, or they pick you up and drive you away,” she said.

March 8 dawned chilly and very, very dark, thanks to the early arrival of Daylight Saving Time that morning. Lined up before 7 am, the women huddled together to ward off the chill. Within minutes of starting the race, however, the surge of energy, adrenalin, and exercise had them breaking a sweat.

The three started off side-by-side, but within the first mile they had split up, each to her own pace. The surge of runners made its way through three of the Disney theme parks: Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and Epcot. All along the way, DJs, bands, singers, and dancers kept the runners so entertained that the miles melted away beneath their feet.

“It was all so energizing and fun and it just kept you moving,” said Ms Friedrich. “I never really felt exhausted.”

“When we passed through the Magic Kingdom, it was amazing. All of the Princesses were there — Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Aurora — cheering us on. Lots of the participants were wearing tiaras and princess costumes, even, so it was incredible,” Ms Derocher said.

Looking out over the massive sea of heads bobbing before them, the women felt carried along by the energy. “You have this internal feeling of power that you are going to do something you’ve never done before,” Ms Friedrich said.

Having grown up in the neighborhood of Disney World, Ms Derocher has visited the Magic Kingdom many, many times. But this, she said, was different. “Running down Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom toward the castle was simply exhilarating. It brings out the kid in you,” she said.

Two hours and 29 minutes after she stepped off from the starting line, Nicole Friedrich crossed the finish line. Half an hour later, came Missy Derocher, followed by her sister.

The Disney literature is accurate, said Ms Derocher and Ms Friedrich, in its description of the Princess Half-Marathon: “There comes a time in every woman’s life when she must blaze her own trail. A time when she has to run, not from an evil stepmother, but to her moment of glory. A day when the true princess inside of her shines through.”

 “It was an incredible experience. It was about being a ‘princess’ and completing a goal,” Ms Friedrich said.

This could be the start of a tradition, agreed the friends. “We will definitely do the Princess run again,” said Ms Derocher. “It’s something to look forward to. I guess we checked this one off our ‘bucket list’ and we didn’t even realize it was on it.”