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

[where's_my_prince]

oh my gosh those balloon characters are so cute!!!!

[MotoXPrincess99]

Originally Posted by where's_my_prince

oh my gosh those balloon characters are so cute!!!!

I know! I've never seen anyone make Disney ones before. We looked for him after we got done eating to see how much they were but he was gone.

[tinkermell]

Look like everyone is enjoying themselves to so much!

[VintageDisneyRules]

Originally Posted by MotoXPrincess99

There was a man that was making balloon animals for people that were waiting to eat. They were so cute!





.

Sarah, Aunt Toni said it looks like Tinkerbell is pole dancing.
What IS that pink balloon supposed to be?

[sameyeyam]

Originally Posted by VintageDisneyRules

Sarah, Aunt Toni said it looks like Tinkerbell is pole dancing.
What IS that pink balloon supposed to be?

I'm not sure, but I think that Ariel needs to schedule her yearly mammogram. She's looking a bit lumpy up on top. Those are awesome.

Great TR Sarah!

[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]

Originally Posted by sameyeyam

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

[MotoXPrincess99]

Originally Posted by 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.

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 !