Our RunDisney Journey: How We Started & Why We Keep Going
- Mai Smith-Trau
- Nov 22, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
As some of you already know, our family has jumped headfirst into the magical (and sometimes exhausting!) world of RunDisney. From 5Ks to 10Ks and now even half marathons, this journey has transformed our health, our habits, and honestly—our lives. This is how we got here… and why we’re still going.
💍 From a Disney Wedding to Realizing We Needed Change
The photo below is from our wedding day in February 2022. We celebrated in our favorite place—Disney, of course! We were happy, in love, and clueless about how unhealthy we had become. We ate whatever we wanted, rarely exercised, and blamed our aches and tiredness on “getting older.” Sound familiar? But underneath the magic, we weren’t feeling our best… and that eventually caught up to us.
💉 The GLP-1 Chapter: What We Learned (and What We Didn’t Change)
In 2023, like many people, we learned about the GLP-1 medications and decided to try them. Insurance covered it, so we took the chance—thinking it would be the shortcut we needed. Instead, we got… an adventure.
Side effects we met along the way:
Legendary sulfur burps (my son kept asking, “What died??”)
Nausea that felt worse than pregnancy
Digestive chaos: constipation one week, the opposite the next
We took the medication for about a year and all lost weight, but eventually, we hit plateaus. The medication helped—but it wasn’t enough on its own.
🏰 Rediscovering RunDisney – The Spark That Changed Everything
In 2017, I used RunDisney races as a fun getaway with my son. Then in 2024, I randomly saw a post about the RunDisney Villains Weekend, and something inside me lit up again. No training, no conditioning, no prep—but I was determined.
I asked the family:
Daughter: “HELL YEA!”
Husband: “Let me think about it.”
Son: “Absolutely not.”
And right there, I stepped back onto the treadmill. That moment became the start of our real lifestyle change.
👟 Adding Movement: The True Turning Point
My husband eventually joined me, breaking through his weight plateau and finding his confidence again. He started walking, then slowly transitioned to running. He set goals, tracked his progress, and actually stuck with it—even when I tapped out during the summer heat.
By our first race:
He reached his goal weight.
Lost around 80 pounds.
Reduced his hip pain significantly.
Added strength training and outdoor running days.
Became more consistent than both of us expected!
This wasn’t magic. It wasn’t luck. It was movement + consistency.
🎉 Starting at 50: Why Age Doesn’t Get the Final Word
We both started this journey right around 50 years old. That’s the part I want people to hear the loudest:
💬 You are never too old.
💬 Never too out of shape.
💬 Never too late to start.
Whether your goal is weight loss, confidence, better health, or crossing the RunDisney finish line—if we can do it, you can too.
🌟 The Power of Community: Finding Support Along the Way
One of the best parts of our journey has been the community we’ve found. Fellow runners, families, and Disney lovers have rallied around us. We’ve shared tips, tricks, and even a few laughs. It’s amazing how a shared goal can bring people together.
Join the Fun!
If you’re thinking about starting your own RunDisney adventure, don’t hesitate! There’s a whole world of support waiting for you. Plus, the camaraderie at these events is unmatched.
📸 Capturing the Moments: Photography and Memories
Let’s talk about the importance of capturing these moments. As nature photography enthusiasts, we’ve made it a point to document our journey. Every race, every milestone, every laugh—it’s all part of the story.
Pro Tip: Bring a camera (or your phone) to every event. You’ll want to look back and remember the joy, the struggles, and the triumphs. Plus, it’s a great way to inspire others to join in on the fun!
❤️ Final Thoughts: Our Transformation & What Comes Next
We never expected to change this much. We never expected to love running. We never expected to feel this good. But here we are—healthier, stronger, happier, and more connected as a family.
If you’re starting your own journey, I hope this inspires you. If you’re already on the path, share it with us—I’d love to follow along.
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