Disneyland Half Marathon Recap

Phineas and Ferb

September 2013:  This year's Disneyland Half Marathon was my first Disney race in California.  I had a wonderful time, loved the race, and would like to do the Tinkerbell as well!  For the most part, my runDisney experience at Disneyland was positive, and I'd like to share my thoughts with everyone!

If you stayed on site, especially at the Disneyland Hotel, your walk to the staging area was less than 10 minutes.  If you stayed off site, you need at least an additional 30 minutes to catch an Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) bus, walk from the Bus Stop through Downtown Disney to Disneyland, and then walk to the staging area.   

Good points to note about walking through Downtown Disney in the morning:

there were nice bathrooms; 

Better Than Porta Potties!

and 2 restaurants, La Brea Bakery and Jamba Juice, were open for breakfast!

Coffee Please!

Protein Berry Smoothie Please!

Hint: Staying at the Disneyland Hotel is very convenient to all the action for any of the Disneyland Races.  The time you save from waiting for the ART bus and from walking to and from the bus stop, is well worth the money spent at the Disneyland Hotel.  You will save an extra 30 minutes worth of sleep before the race and an hour after the race getting back to your hotel.

Once you get to the staging area there are porta potties!

Porta Potties were Busy!

And Bag Check... 

Bag Check Volunteers 

And a place to meet other runners!

Cruella and Dalmations

Princesses and the Mike 

Princess Leia and R2D2

hint:  Things to consider for your checked bag are cash or credit card, change of clothes, park tickets, and identification.  Be sure and keep your camera with you in a carrier like The Running Buddy, not in the checked bag.

I thought the start of the Half Marathon was very organized and getting to my Corral was easy and well marked; I had no problems at all!  It is important to be there early, because the Corrals do fill up, and you really need your space to stretch.  I was fortunate to be in a Corral which came with a great view of the start and the fireworks!  

Jumbotron Above the Starting LIne

Fireworks Mark the Start of Corral A 

And we were off to the Happiest Race on Earth!  The first part of the race was through the parks, and it was amazing!  I saw the sunrise in both parks; 

Sunrise in California Adventure

Sunrise in Disneyland

Some really cute costumes:

Tweedle Dee and Dum

Dumbo and Timothy Q. Mouse

And my Favorite Characters!

I'm Glad I Wasn't Those Runners!

Green Army Man

Merida

Snow White

Prince Ali (what no Jasmine? My Lucky Day!)

hint:  Decide before the race if you will be stopping for pictures, and if so, how many.  Depending on the crowds, it can add hour to your time.  It is a Disney race, so enjoy and have fun!

The next leg was through the streets of Anaheim to Angel Stadium.  The people of Anaheim were wonderful and we enjoyed the entertainment they brought with them!  This fun cultural exchange was definitely a bonus from a WDW run! 

Street Dancers

Authentic Costumes

Hula Lessons

Classic Car Show

Replica of Lightning McQueen KA-CHOW!

The only downside of running to Angel Stadium was the route had you running straight into the sun.  

Bright, Hot California Sun

The sun's glare was intense and hot; and with me training at night because of the Mississippi heat, I was not prepared for the sun.  I don’t think a lot of other runners were either, because the water and PowerAde stations were hit pretty hard.  Disney wasn't prepared for the hot weather and the extra hydration needed on the course.

Water Stations Were In High Demand

hint:  Bring your own water bottle to fill the gaps between water stations and to make sure that you stay hydrated.  There are some really neat hydration belts, such as those made by iFitness, that are comfortable and easy to use (be sure to try them out before race day)  And don't forget to bring your sunglasses and to wear sunscreen! Running on asphalt on a hot day is brutal.  

By the time I had arrived at the Stadium, I was exhausted because of the heat.  

Made it To Angel Stadium

But, I had a wonderful surprise waiting for me there:  cheering Boy Scout Troops, Families and Clif Shots!  

Many Boy Scout Troops Were There!

Clif Shots and Families, Too

These surprises were the emotional and physical boosters that we all really needed!  And then when you entered the stadium, it was packed with cheering crowds!  Arriving at Angel Stadium was everything I had heard it would be, I just needed to experience it to believe it!

Stadium Full of People

Very Special Moment Inside the Stadium

hint:  Expect the unexpected.  Getting to the stadium, we ran along a canal that was dirt and sand; definitely out of the ordinary for a high-end race.  **The last few races have bi-passed Angel Stadium and I actually see this as a plus!

Just outside the Stadium, you hit mile 10;  the last three miles are always the hardest for me, but knowing the Finish Line is waiting spurs me on.   

hint:  At this point you may need extra nutrition.  Always plan on bringing a gel or bar to keep your blood sugar and energy levels stable.  These items fit in The Running Buddy perfectly.

As you get closer to the Disneyland Hotel, cheerleaders and bands from all the local schools line the streets and cheer!  

No Matter How Tired You Are,

You Will Not Walk While Everyone Is Cheering For You!

You are encouraged every last step until the end where Minnie was waiting and blowing kisses!  

Crossing The Finish Line

Kisses Back Minnie!

Very Happy Half Marathon Finisher!

Of course getting your medal was so exciting, I was very proud and honored to be a part of the Disneyland Half experience! 

All the Medals Waiting 

Official Race Photograph

I Did It!

And I can’t forget the race care package!   Disney provided plenty of water, PowerAde, bananas, and a snack box before you left!

Power Snacks

The Disneyland Half Marathon definitely had a different flavor than a WDW race, but a flavor that I enjoyed.  And all the Volunteers and Cast Members made the race special; I can’t thank them enough!

There were two things that Disney really needed to provide for after the race:  One, was shade in the family meeting area; and two, was ART bus pickup at the Disneyland Hotel.  The only good thing about walking back through Downtown Disney to the bus stop was the detour at Haagen Dazs!

hint:  Because I packed a credit card in my checked bag, I was able to get that much needed milkshake!  If you are using the ART bus, be prepared for long wait times and no shade.

My next race is the WDW Wine and Dine, and since the Disneyland Half will be fresh in my memory, I will do a one-to-one comparison. 

See you there!