It is finally here!!! Yay!! My first runDisney Disneyland Half Marathon!!
After the 10K on Saturday, I thought I would just spend the afternoon hanging out at the hotel pool – that lasted about 15 minutes! I was just too antsy to sit still – but that cold water felt REALLY good on my legs!!
I thought I’d head back over to the Expo to see if there was anything at all left (spoiler – there wasn’t!) then back into the parks for some Disney fun! I had planned to try to see the fireworks but knew that with a 5:30 start it was going to be a VERY early morning and headed back to the hotel for some relaxation and sleep!
And when my alarm went off at 3 on Sunday morning you can believe I bounced out of bed like Tigger!
I had my clothes ready – this time, a BLUE Sparkle Athletic skirt, a white tank with my name on the front and the Mickey Mouse Club logo on the back. I was also wearing a pair of my new PRO Compression sox – light blue! Oh yeah. Mouse Ears too.
I could see the bus stop from my window and there were already people down there…I was hoping to catch the first bus, because I knew that it would be a long wait for the next one. I um..missed the first bus! Waited with a few other people and realized that it was going to be another warm one – and this time we’d be out there a little longer than yesterday so hopefully there was going to be more water!
Got over to the starting area again and was very happy to see that the corrals were much more organized than the day before so I was able to start in my assigned corral – with hundreds of others! I talked to the pacer and my plan was to hang with him and see if I could make a good time. Then I headed to the starting line and lost him along the way.
Started with my intervals, trying to keep myself under control and not head out too fast but I have to say, once I headed into Disney’s California Adventure, I was seriously overcome with excitement!! I felt like I was running on air!! Since I hadn’t done any stopping for pictures in the 10K, and I knew that there would be limited opportunities out on the streets of Anaheim, I planned to stop for EVERY one in the parks! And first up were Mike, Sully and some Cheerleaders from Monsters University!
Then Phineas and a Fireside Girl!
Then, across the concourse and into the Magic Kingdom, I HAD to get a picture at the entrance!
I made several more stops along the way and then we were heading out into the streets of Anaheim. Into the bright blaring sun!! Several local cultural groups were out along the course and it was great to see the families out there supporting thousands of strangers!
The next biggest landmark was Anaheim Stadium around mile 9 and I was not prepared for this! The parking lot was filled with Boy and Girl Scouts from all over southern California! We entered the stadium onto the field and the stands were also FILLED with people! Signs, high fives, lots of screaming!! Emotional! Again, kind of unexpected for me! We ran around the stadium on the warning track, everyone stopping to take pictures. Great experience!!
Somewhere around here I lost track of what mile I was on – but in a good way! I was surprised when I saw the Mile 12 sign when I was expecting the Mile 11 sign!! And I knew I was in great shape!
Heading back into the parks’ backstage area after Mile 12 (yay!), I saw a sight that is familiar to anyone who has participated in a runDisney event – Peggy Sue. Her sign stays the same and she’s always got something sweet if you need a final push! Thanks for the Starburst – and the hug – Peggy Sue!! It’s just like having family there – almost!
Thanks to http://www.momsmagicalmiles.blogspot.com/ for letting me borrow this picture, featuring Peggy Sue and Julie Smith Franklin (of http://runwalkrepeat.blogspot.com/ fame!)
Finally the finish line was in sight! And there was Mickey giving everyone encouragement in those last few steps! I took a quick look at my watch and, while no records were broken, I was pretty happy with the job I’d done!
I’d planned on heading straight to the parks again but definitely underestimated how hot and sweaty and dehydrated I’d be! So I headed to the hotel, got cleaned up and got myself back over to the parks for the rest of my day!!
outrunningthefork 