13.1 Miles of Disney Magic - A Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Trip Report

[MotoXPrincess99]

Sunday, September 5th, 2010 – RACE DAY!!!!

On the day of the Half Marathon we had to get up at 4:00am! We got dressed and headed to the ART stop at the front of the hotel. They had the ART busses running very early that morning. There were so many people out walking to the Disneyland Hotel (where the starting line was) but we opted to ride the bus. We would be doing enough walking/running later.

We got dropped off at the usual bus stop so we still had to walk through DTD.

We made our way to the staging area which was in the parking lot of the Disneyland Hotel. We stopped for a picture:

It was pretty cold out at the time of the morning so my aunt had brought some disposable lab coats from work that kept us warm until the race started.

There was a stage set up with a DJ and an announcer who was trying to get everybody pumped up for the race. He told us that 14,000 people were signed up to run. There were more women than men. The oldest person running was 83. All 50 states were represented…stuff like that.

If you look close you can see my aunt and I in our lab coats. These pictures were taken by the company that was taking pictures during the race. I ended up purchasing the CD.

 

[sameyeyam]

Wow, that was early! Awesome idea with the lab coats, makes you so easy to pick out in the photos.

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

We pretty much stood around for half an hour before they started sending people into the corrals. There were a lot of people dressed in costume. We took pictures with some of them.

There were 7 corrals with 2,000 people each. The fastest people were in Corral A and they would get to start first at 6:00am. Corral B would start at 6:05am and so on. I was supposed to be in corral E and my aunt in G but since we wanted to run together I dropped down to G since they wouldn’t let her move up to E.

It was probably around 5:00am when they started calling out the letters for people to head toward the corals. I have never seen so many port-o-potties in a row. There were probably 50 or 60. This would be the last chance to use the bath room until you were out on the course (that is if you wanted to stop and wait to use it).

Headed toward Disneyland Drive

Looking back up Disneyland Drive toward the Mickey and Friends parking structure. We were at the very front of our coral, right at the fence.

After standing in the corral for an hour the sun started coming up as the different corals started the race. This is when we ditched our lab coats. I don't know what people did with their jackets and sweaters. I had heard that people go around and pick-up all the clothing left at the start and donate it to charity so maybe people brough old jackets and stuff.

Another picture looking back toward the parking structure.

This guy’s outfit played Elvis songs the whole race.

Finally it’s our turn to start! They made us walk behind the fencing toward the starting line.

The tail end of Corral F headed down Disneyland Drive toward Katella.

On your marks, Get set, GO!!!!!

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Wow, that was early! Awesome idea with the lab coats, makes you so easy to pick out in the photos.

Yep, and we didn't have to worry about carrying a jacket with us the whole race. We tossed them when the sun came up.

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

We headed down Disneyland Drive. We took a left on Katella and then another left to head up Harbor. This is where we passed the Mile 1 marker. It’s a little blurry but I was running after all.

We headed left at Disney Way into the parking lot. The Incredible’s were out posing for pictures.

We ran around the lot and into California Adventure. We entered the park through a gate right next to the Tortilla Factory. From there we headed left. Some of the puppets from the World of Color pre-show were out.

Next was another left onto the bridge and under the Paradise Pier sign.

Then we ran past the Mile 2 marker.

We ran down past California Screamin’ and Toy Story Mania and continued around past Mickey’s Fun Wheel (of death). Lilo and Stitch were out right across from the Silly Symphony Swings.

We continued around and back up the middle toward Grizzly River Run. The sun still wasn’t up all the way and it was kind of foggy.

Another World of Color puppet.

We continued around past the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail and past the entrance to the California Grand Hotel. Right before we got to Soaring Over California we were sent out a side gate and into Down Town Disney.

We headed right and through the security check point area.

Up next: Running through Disneyland

 

[magichusky]

Hahaha OMG love those lab coats! What a great idea! I ran the 1/2 marathon in 2008 and pretty much just freezed my butt off for an hour.

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Hahaha OMG love those lab coats! What a great idea! I ran the 1/2 marathon in 2008 and pretty much just freezed my butt off for an hour.

My aunt runs alot of races so she has it down. They really did keep us warm, arms and legs since they were so long, and then we just tossed them over the fence of the corral when it started to warm up.

 

[VintageDisneyRules]

I'm really enjoying the report and seeing all the pictures. It's almost like being there !

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Running through Disneyland

After we ran through the bag check area it was on to Disneyland! We ran through the gates in the middle of the fence. My aunt and I stopped here for a picture in front of the Mickey Head flowers.

Then we headed toward the right and under the train tracks. There was a float with the Penguins from Mary Poppins and some Chimney Sweeps dancing around.

Next we headed up Main Street.

Then it was left toward Frontier Land.

We headed right and ran past Big Thunder Mountain Rail Road and passed the Mile 3 sign.

Woody and Jessie were out in front of the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ area. Next we took a right just after the Village Haus Restaurant and ran past Pinocchio’s Daring Journey and Snow White’s Scary Adventure. Dumbo was going round and round with no body on it. Snow White’s Step-mother and Step Sisters were riding the Carousel.

Next we headed through the Castle. There were some Villains’ off to the left but I’m not sure which ones were out. Maleficent was on top of the Castle!

Here we are coming through the Castle.

After running through the Castle we headed left toward Tomorrow Land. The Princesses were outside of the Castle but the line was SO long.

We went to the left of the Astro Orbiters. They were also going round and round with nobody on them. We ran past Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters and then headed left toward the Finding Nemo Ride. The Star Wars music was playing in Tomorrow Land and there were some Storm Troopers out.

After we reached Nemo we headed left and passed the Matterhorn.

We ran past the Alice ride and the Tea Cups (which were spinning) and headed toward It’s A Small World. Here’s my aunt posing with a float.

Then we headed out through some gates to the right of Small World. Here’s me in front of a train that was parked back-stage. This is where the 2nd water stop was.

Next it was around the back of Small World were we saw these guys.

We continued behind Toon Town and past the stables. Then it was back on to Disneyland Drive as we passed Mile 4.

 

[VintageDisneyRules]

So far so good.Waiting to hear more !

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

So far so good.Waiting to hear more !

I'm going to try to add more today.

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Okay, I am back to add some more to my trip report.

So, when I left off we had just passed Mile 4. We then continued north on Disneyland Drive and made a right on to Ball Road. There were bands and spectators cheering us on.

The third water station was located between Mile 4 and 5.

Look, it’s Lilo and Stitch:

We continued down Ball Road and then made a right onto Anaheim Blvd where we passed Mile Marker 5.

We ran south down Anaheim Blvd and made a left onto Cerritos Ave. There was a Spanish dance group on the corner.

We then made a left on to Lewis Street and made a stop at the Port-O-Potties. This was also where the 4th water station was located as well as a first aid station. The line wasn’t too long maybe 2-3 minutes. This was our only bathroom stop. Then we passed mile 6.

We passed a dance group and my aunt ran out and started dancing with them. I didn’t get a picture of her though.

We hit Ball Road again and went right. Then it was another right onto State College Blvd and we passed Mile 7.

We ran past some Hula dancers.

We hit Cerritos Ave again and went left. We passed the 5th water station. As we ran under the 57 Freeway we passed Mile 8.

Then we took a right on to Douglas Road. We headed left into the Honda Center parking lot and made our way onto the Santa Ana trail next to the Santa Ana River but there was no water running in it. This part of the course was dirt and it got very dusty and narrow. I was glad we only ran on the trail for a short time. You can see Angeles Stadium in the distance.

We entered into the parking lot of Angeles Stadium. There were people there cheering us on.

We passed mile 9 but I guess I didn’t get a picture of it. This is also where they had the 6th water station and they were handing out Cliff shots.

We passed the 15K mark and headed through the tunnel into Angeles Stadium.

 

[VintageDisneyRules]

Very nice report and pictures !

 

[justliketink]

Your report is so detailed! I almost feel as if I were running in the half-marathon myself - well, except that I would probably start walking after the first mile

Thanks for taking such great pics during the race

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Your report is so detailed! I almost feel as if I were running in the half-marathon myself - well, except that I would probably start walking after the first mile

Thanks for taking such great pics during the race

I'm glad you're enjoying it. I've got more pictures too add.

 

[JDBlair]

Really loving your report. I'm signed up to run the Disneyland 1/2 marathon in September. I'm really excited.

 

[VintageDisneyRules]

I think Sarah has forgotten to finish her report.
I'll remind that DD of mine.

 

[JDBlair]

I think Sarah has forgotten to finish her report.
I'll remind that DD of mine.

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

I didn't forget...our home computer broke and I don't really have time at work. But here's a little bit more...

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

We pasted the 6th water stop as we headed into Angeles Stadium. We got to run around the outside of the field.

Look! We're on the jumbotron!

We headed out of the stadium and into the parking lot where the Sweeper Buses were waiting. Luckly we were right on track and were not in danger of getting swept.

Here we passed mile 10 and the 7th water stop.

We headed west on Gene Autry Way, south on Santa Cruz, west on Standford and then north onto Anaheim Way where we passed the 8th water stop and Mile Marker 11.

Now the most I had run during training was 10 miles and this is where I started to lag. No pictures again until Mile 11 beacuse all I wanted to do was finish. I was tired and my feet were starting to hurt.

We continued up Anaheim Way crossing Katella and continued on to Disney Way where we passed the 4th medical tent and the 9th water station.

We were getting close to the finish!