2015 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend ** Check-In ** May 7-10, 2015

[Chiomaca]

Race Dots ...

I bought some for Marine Corps but have to admit I've reverted to pins. It's so much easier to shift the bib if I don't like where/how it is sitting on me after I put my shirt on. I know, vanity..and a little OCD because it CANNOT be crooked.

Ugh 4am! I was going to leave the hotel at 4:45. I really don't want to be standing on my feet for 2 hours before I have to run for 3 more.

I know some of you are early birds, but I didn't even leave my hotel until almost 4:45 on Sunday and I stayed a mile away at the Fairfield Inn. I've been known to be outside the corrals for the National Anthem when I'm in one of the further back corrals. I was in A this time, so didn't think I could cut it that close. Still made it in without about 10 minutes to warm up for both races.

It was a pretty quick meet up. I know Vicki and I really discussed trying to do something a little more planned out next year and we're going to work on some plans, I'm sure. So if you're back next year we'll have something more fleshed out, including how to recognize us. I know I had to leave by 3:15 to make the Facebook group meet up so I had to leave pretty quickly, but it was so great to meet a few of us.

Sorry I missed you guys. I had too much family to do a Saturday meet up.

I got 4 pairs of the ones where they were selling the Thorlo socks for buy 3 get 1 free,

I did the same thing, except with Feetures socks, which I love. I bought the Tink NB shoes and wore them on Friday but don't know if I'll ever wear them again. They felt fine at first but then the back of the shoe started digging into my right ankle - when I took the shoe off that night, I had a 1/4 inch dent in the skin! But they realy do glow in the dark, which was awesome.

Trying to get around on Saturday was such a royal pain!

Ugh, no kidding. We did a few dark rides, Buzz Lightyear, and Star Tours and called it a day.

My runs were pretty great. There really is a big difference when you start in the early corrals. For the 10K, I wore the Silvermist costume I'd made, which worked pretty well. Next time I will make the waistband out of something moisture wicking if the main body is a printed lycra. Other than that, I was really happy and the Pixies on the course all recognized me. Silvermist was, of course, the last one of the course, and the person I gave my iPhone to captured a couple of great moments. The MarathonFoto person, not so much. Kinda glad, because I don't have to pay for the pictures I really liked. I stopped for lots of pics, but still managed to be under a 9:30 moving pace. For the half, my Garmin and iPhone both had a hard time synching, so I missed the first 20-50 feet of the run. That turned out to be good because I just ignored them for the rest of the run. I was thinking about picking up my pace when I saw a woman also in a Team RWB shirt and carrying a flag, who was struggling around 8.5. We'd talked in the corral and I let her go ahead because she was going to be running faster than I wanted to go. Turned out she'd hurt her knee, so I ran with her from mile 9 to the finish. In the end, my splits up to that point showed I would have PRd the half, but I'm glad I ran with her anyway.

 

[Chiomaca]

Oh - my final costume!

 

[Miranda]

Oh - my final costume!

Can't see the picture, no permission to view.

 

[kim3339]

I bought the Tink NB shoes and wore them on Friday but don't know if I'll ever wear them again. They felt fine at first but then the back of the shoe started digging into my right ankle - when I took the shoe off that night, I had a 1/4 inch dent in the skin! But they realy do glow in the dark, which was awesome.

My left one felt a little like that on my ankle, but when I pulled up my sock a bit it helped a little. They won't be running shoes, but definitely Disney shoes and I love the color. You're not kidding about the glowing! I put mine on Fri evening and was walking around in them until I went back to the room around 9 and they were glowing until almost 3am! And I have a hidden mickey in one of the swirls.

Congrats on the great race!

 

[Miranda]

Hrm, I checked out those Race Dots but the warnings about not putting near computers or cell phones or anything kind of worry me. I tend to toss stuff in bags together all the time.

 

[Chiomaca]

I'm clearly doing this wrong because I can't get it to upload from Flikr either. So here's a link instead. Silvermist in Carlsland.

And with the real Silvermist.

 

[Miranda]

Cute!

I was so overwhelmed, I feel like I missed a lot of stuff. I think I spent way too much mental energy trying to not run into walkers that I missed a lot of the characters. Or maybe some of them were gone by the time G went through, but I also know I was just totally oblivious to some of them. One of my friends asked if we noticed the rides were running and I was like... no? They were? SO asked me if I saw Goofy standing in the middle of DL on a float... nope... or how about Minnie and Daisy at the finish line... nope, ***, what race was I running?! The only ones I can really remember were the Stormtroopers in Tomorrowland, the... cowboys? The two entertaining guys with the mics near the carousel. Wow I can't even remember now what their costumes were. And I do remember seeing a handful of others but darn if I can remember what I was looking at now.

I'm doing W&D in November, hopefully I won't be so overwhelmed for that one and I will get my proof of time for a better corral at my 10K in a month, because I only got a 3:15:41 here.

 

[Belle Ella]

I'm clearly doing this wrong because I can't get it to upload from Flikr either. So here's a link instead. Silvermist in Carlsland.

And with the real Silvermist.

I love it!!

It was so much fun to see people's costumes all weekend long. I brought them up with the friend who is going with me to WDW in November for Wine & Dine and I think we've pretty much settled on doing at least a very simple costume.

Cute!

I was so overwhelmed, I feel like I missed a lot of stuff. I think I spent way too much mental energy trying to not run into walkers that I missed a lot of the characters. Or maybe some of them were gone by the time G went through, but I also know I was just totally oblivious to some of them. One of my friends asked if we noticed the rides were running and I was like... no? They were? SO asked me if I saw Goofy standing in the middle of DL on a float... nope... or how about Minnie and Daisy at the finish line... nope, ***, what race was I running?! The only ones I can really remember were the Stormtroopers in Tomorrowland, the... cowboys? The two entertaining guys with the mics near the carousel. Wow I can't even remember now what their costumes were. And I do remember seeing a handful of others but darn if I can remember what I was looking at now.

I'm doing W&D in November, hopefully I won't be so overwhelmed for that one and I will get my proof of time for a better corral at my 10K in a month, because I only got a 3:15:41 here.

I can see how that could happen. I tend to get into a zone when I'm running and I don't always notice everything going on around me. Especially if there happens to be a lot of maneuvering due to bottlenecks.

Good luck in your upcoming 10K for your POT.

 

[WDWarchitectureguy]

I got to meet a few DIS ladies

And a DIS guy.....if only briefly.

Summary of the weekend:
10k went off without a hitch. I wore older shoes, and ended up with some side heel blisters, but that area doesn't rub in my newer shoes which I wore for the half, so no biggie. Didn't make any of the meet ups. Too much to do, no time to do it. DW finished her 2nd Disney 10k. Woo Hoo!. She started in corral D, I was in the way back of E. I caught up to her in tomorrowland. Got a few selfies, I took off. I finished and made my way over to the finish line area. Watched her finish. Got some River Belle Terrace breakfast, rode a few rides, took it easy, went back to the hotel to swim and relax.

1/2 morning, DW walked with me over to the family reunion area. We said our goodbyes. I was in G. Back 2/3rds of the corral. Finally got going around 6:20am. I stopped for a few pictures. Iridesa and Rosetta, Castle photo, etc. Kept a 1min run, 2 min walk pace. Small blister on my toes. Still finished with a 2:57:13 time. My First Sub 3 hour Disney Race. With all the walking, recovery hasn't been bad.

Post 1/2. We went back to the room, showered and changed clothes. Mickey and Minnie bounding outfits. Headed to DL to take photos with characters. So much easier to do in DL, than anywhere in Florida. Got our photos with Minnie, then Mickey. Spent a short time in the park doing other stuff. Then headed back to the room again. I took a couple hour nap. Then got all dressed up in my dark green button down business type shirt with my haunted mansion tie and hitch hiking ghosts tie tac. My DW was in her Pin Up Girl clothing castle dress and matching accessories. All gussied up, we had dinner at Steakhouse 55. I had a little too much to drink. (shouldn't have done all the wine pairings) and we went to DL. Rode HM, and then Big Thunder. Took some photos in front of the castle. We looked adorable if I may say so. Then off to bed.

Monday & Tuesday were all day park days. Lots of rides. I carried ALL my medals. All 6 Dopey Challenge Medals, All 3 Pixie Dust Challenge Medals, and Blue Coast to Coast Medal. We visited Pixie Hollow and we got pictures with Iridesa and Tink wearing all 10 medals. Also got to finally take a photo with Snow White. Back in January we were in line to see Snow at Epcot when it started to rain, so never got photos. We walk into DL and she's hanging out in a corner right after the first tunnel. I put on my Dopey medal and got some pics.

Overall fun trip. Dealing with the crowds was frustrating. You can't have that many special events happening all at once. Plus the HUGE HUGE student groups that started piling in Monday and Tuesday. Just too many people.

Who knows, I might try to stay perfectly pixie dust.

 

[Belle Ella]

And a DIS guy.....if only briefly.

Summary of the weekend:
10k went off without a hitch. I wore older shoes, and ended up with some side heel blisters, but that area doesn't rub in my newer shoes which I wore for the half, so no biggie. Didn't make any of the meet ups. Too much to do, no time to do it. DW finished her 2nd Disney 10k. Woo Hoo!. She started in corral D, I was in the way back of E. I caught up to her in tomorrowland. Got a few selfies, I took off. I finished and made my way over to the finish line area. Watched her finish. Got some River Belle Terrace breakfast, rode a few rides, took it easy, went back to the hotel to swim and relax.

1/2 morning, DW walked with me over to the family reunion area. We said our goodbyes. I was in G. Back 2/3rds of the corral. Finally got going around 6:20am. I stopped for a few pictures. Iridesa and Rosetta, Castle photo, etc. Kept a 1min run, 2 min walk pace. Small blister on my toes. Still finished with a 2:57:13 time. My First Sub 3 hour Disney Race. With all the walking, recovery hasn't been bad.

Post 1/2. We went back to the room, showered and changed clothes. Mickey and Minnie bounding outfits. Headed to DL to take photos with characters. So much easier to do in DL, than anywhere in Florida. Got our photos with Minnie, then Mickey. Spent a short time in the park doing other stuff. Then headed back to the room again. I took a couple hour nap. Then got all dressed up in my dark green button down business type shirt with my haunted mansion tie and hitch hiking ghosts tie tac. My DW was in her Pin Up Girl clothing castle dress and matching accessories. All gussied up, we had dinner at Steakhouse 55. I had a little too much to drink. (shouldn't have done all the wine pairings) and we went to DL. Rode HM, and then Big Thunder. Took some photos in front of the castle. We looked adorable if I may say so. Then off to bed.

Monday & Tuesday were all day park days. Lots of rides. I carried ALL my medals. All 6 Dopey Challenge Medals, All 3 Pixie Dust Challenge Medals, and Blue Coast to Coast Medal. We visited Pixie Hollow and we got pictures with Iridesa and Tink wearing all 10 medals. Also got to finally take a photo with Snow White. Back in January we were in line to see Snow at Epcot when it started to rain, so never got photos. We walk into DL and she's hanging out in a corner right after the first tunnel. I put on my Dopey medal and got some pics.

Overall fun trip. Dealing with the crowds was frustrating. You can't have that many special events happening all at once. Plus the HUGE HUGE student groups that started piling in Monday and Tuesday. Just too many people.

Who knows, I might try to stay perfectly pixie dust.

Yes, yes! So much happened this past weekend I honestly can't keep track of it all. Especially between Thursday and Friday because I was literally bouncing around all day, going from the expo to work and then back to the Expo after work. Don't quite think I will ever attempt to do that again. I'm honestly not even sure why I attempted it now, but oh well.

It sounds like you had a pretty darn good weekend, all things considered! I definitely agree with you about all of the special events. That premiere just really messed with everything. But I'll just be thankful that the first Grad Nite wasn't over the weekend (this actually happens tonight - I'm sooooo thrilled about going back to work tonight).

You should definitely run the PDC again next year I know I am!

 

[Chiomaca]

And I have a hidden mickey in one of the swirls.

I will have to check mine! I may wear mine to walk short distances, but definitely not running shoes. I'm going to try my new Sketchers GoRun4s this evening. Hoping they will be as comfortable at my Frees without the arch blister. Or maybe I should try the heel lock that's floating around the runner's interwebs lately.

I was so overwhelmed, I feel like I missed a lot of stuff. I think I spent way too much mental energy trying to not run into walkers that I missed a lot of the characters. Or maybe some of them were gone by the time G went through, but I also know I was just totally oblivious to some of them. One of my friends asked if we noticed the rides were running and I was like... no? They were? SO asked me if I saw Goofy standing in the middle of DL on a float... nope... or how about Minnie and Daisy at the finish line... nope, ***, what race was I running?! The only ones I can really remember were the Stormtroopers in Tomorrowland, the... cowboys? The two entertaining guys with the mics near the carousel. Wow I can't even remember now what their costumes were. And I do remember seeing a handful of others but darn if I can remember what I was looking at now.

I get into a zone sometimes, too, especially if I'm stressed about times. They probably weren't gone but if you're like I was my first couple of Disney races, I looked at long lines and just blew past or took a selfie with the character in the background. The advantage to being in Corral A is that a lot of people were blowing past just to run, so the lines were only 2-5 people depending on the character. I never noticed rides running, I don't remember seeing Goofy on a float, either. I remember Minnie and Daisy at the finish because (as you can see from my profile pic) I stopped for a character pic in front of the finish line in January. The guys near the carousel were pirates, IIRC.

It was so much fun to see people's costumes all weekend long. I brought them up with the friend who is going with me to WDW in November for Wine & Dine and I think we've pretty much settled on doing at least a very simple costume.

I didn't mind running in a costume for the 10k. I don't think I'd have been happy with it for the half, and I know for sure the wings would have been toast at the halfway point because the elastic was knobbly and I chafed something awful. If I ever run in wings again, they will have to be pinned on. For Avengers, I drafted a pattern for a top that looked a bit like the Scarlet Witch's leotard top, but with nude mesh instead of a bustier...because really, how can you fight crime in a bustier if you have a bust? I wore a pair of short red volleyball shorts, fishnets and red calf sleeves. With my red shoes, they made for passable "boots". Usually I just go with a color scheme. Not sure what I'll do for Avengers this year.

Good luck in your upcoming 10K for your POT.

Yes! It should be easier for you if it's less crowded!

 

[Chiomaca]

Yes, yes! So much happened this past weekend I honestly can't keep track of it all. Especially between Thursday and Friday because I was literally bouncing around all day, going from the expo to work and then back to the Expo after work. Don't quite think I will ever attempt to do that again. I'm honestly not even sure why I attempted it now, but oh well.

It sounds like you had a pretty darn good weekend, all things considered! I definitely agree with you about all of the special events. That premiere just really messed with everything. But I'll just be thankful that the first Grad Nite wasn't over the weekend (this actually happens tonight - I'm sooooo thrilled about going back to work tonight).

Bouncing between work and expo right before a big run is pretty crazy...but it's hard to stave off the excitement. Are you working the 24 hour day? I'm planning to go - plane tickets, hotel etc, reserved already. But the crowds were miserable this weekend and i'm wondering if I'll really enjoy it. I'm renting a camera that I am considering buying, so hopefully I'll be distracted with that and not care so much about being jammed in or long lines.

 

[Belle Ella]

Bouncing between work and expo right before a big run is pretty crazy...but it's hard to stave off the excitement. Are you working the 24 hour day? I'm planning to go - plane tickets, hotel etc, reserved already. But the crowds were miserable this weekend and i'm wondering if I'll really enjoy it. I'm renting a camera that I am considering buying, so hopefully I'll be distracted with that and not care so much about being jammed in or long lines.

I will be, indeed. 11pm- 7am in my home away from home (Cars Land). This is the first year I've had to do an overnighter. Last year I had an earlier afternoon shift and it really wasn't bad crowd wise. I never go in as a guest on these days so I have no idea how crazy they actually turn out to be, but everyone I know who goes seems to really enjoy them.

What kind of camera are you renting?

 

[Chiomaca]

I will be, indeed. 11pm- 7am in my home away from home (Cars Land). This is the first year I've had to do an overnighter. Last year I had an earlier afternoon shift and it really wasn't bad crowd wise. I never go in as a guest on these days so I have no idea how crazy they actually turn out to be, but everyone I know who goes seems to really enjoy them.

What kind of camera are you renting?

Cool. I will try to stop in and say hello. I thought you were at Tower of Terror?

I'm renting a Canon 6D and lenses. It's a full frame camera and I've never shot with one before. If I really like it, I may buy one eventually. My own body is 5 years old, but it's a perfectly capable camera and I've invested a bit in lenses - the best of which I can't use with the 6D

 

[Belle Ella]

Cool. I will try to stop in and say hello. I thought you were at Tower of Terror?

I'm renting a Canon 6D and lenses. It's a full frame camera and I've never shot with one before. If I really like it, I may buy one eventually. My own body is 5 years old, but it's a perfectly capable camera and I've invested a bit in lenses - the best of which I can't use with the 6D

The department I work (stores) can potentially put me all over DCA (and when needed DL and DTD). But Cars Land is my home team and where I am for the vast majority of my shifts.

Nice! Enjoy getting some great photographs. It's been awhile since I've shot anything in the Parks. Mostly because I have no working photoshop after my trusty laptop kicked the bucket a little while ago. My poor Nikon has gathered much more dust than I would have preferred lately. Hopefully I'll be a little more inspired lately and simply work OOC.

 

[VickiHD]

Wanted to do a little race recap.....We finally got home yesterday evening. Boy I am exhausted but still feeling good about the weekend. It was a great race weekend. It was fun to meet new people, spend time with friends old and new. I am happy with my expo purchases and thought the design of the shirts and jackets were really cute. I was able to try on and purchase the Tink shoes--although they're still in the box. Enjoyed my time at the expo wandering around and listening to a couple of the speakers. Saturday evening for the movie premier, I spend some time watching the blue carpet arrivals...and yes saw George C. There was so much going on and getting ready for the races I felt like I didn't get to spend much time in the park at all or with my family until after the 1/2 on Sunday. I'm happy I did the challenge and so happy to have finished it. Met a few really nice runners on the course both days and on Sun ended up doing the half of the 1/2 with a nice lady from the east coast. I've always run Tink by myself so it was really nice to have a someone to talk to from mile 7 on to the finish. The miles really flew by with someone to talk to and we were doing the same pace so it was perfect. I loved seeing my DH and son out cheering me on the course and I am so happy my heal pain issue calmed down in order to do and finish the challenge 1/2. Finally was able to spend some time in the parks and go see the Hat Box Ghost. Closed the park Monday night....not a big deal since it closed at 7:30. Hated to leave but now counting down the days until our next trip down.
Looking forward to Tink next year. I will not do a challenge but focus on just the 1/2. Proud to say I'm a Perfect Pixie !!

 

[kim3339]

But the crowds were miserable this weekend and i'm wondering if I'll really enjoy it. I'm renting a camera that I am considering buying, so hopefully I'll be distracted with that and not care so much about being jammed in or long lines.

That's my plan. Get the shirt I want 1st thing when I get there Fri and then it's just getting all the pics I want and watching the fireworks/show and new parade then WOC in DCA. If the rides aren't long, I'll ride, but I'll be there until Mon so Fri is just more of a be there to experience everything day.

I will be, indeed. 11pm- 7am in my home away from home (Cars Land). This is the first year I've had to do an overnighter. Last year I had an earlier afternoon shift and it really wasn't bad crowd wise. I never go in as a guest on these days so I have no idea how crazy they actually turn out to be, but everyone I know who goes seems to really enjoy them.

Do you have a certain store in CL or could it be any one? I'm coming over there around 1 or so for the 3am WOC.

 

[OctoberDisney]

Hi all!

I love reading how everyone's weekend went. Sounds like everyone did pretty well and is happy with the weekend? Yay!

We got home in the middle of the night last night so I'm just now getting around to checking in.

I ran the half and it was great. I had a great pace and was happy and feeling great until about Mile 7. I didn't wear earbuds inside the park because I wanted to take it all in and enjoy. Well, when I finally plugged in, they didn't even work. So I had to do all those quiet miles with no distractions and I pretty much argued with myself the entire rest of the race. You suck! This is hard! Keep moving forward! LOL. It slowed me down quite a bit. Oh well, I finished and I cried and I love my medal.

I didn't make it to the expo until Saturday afternoon. I bought the white Tinkerbell Half zip up hoodie and I'm happy with it. We also stopped to watch Margaret Kerry speak and she was wonderful! So, so glad that we did that.

I ran the DL half in 2012 and definitely agree that the Tink course is so much better. LOVED all the time in the park. Although, I agree that I can't even remember a lot of it!

 

[Miranda]

I am happy with my expo purchases and thought the design of the shirts and jackets were really cute.

I got a couple shirts (the purple half tech shirt and the blue half I Did It shirt... plus I may have ordered the hot pink I Did It one that showed up yesterday in the online store ) but I really regretted not ordering the jacket or signing up for the neon green shoes! The jacket was super cute and as soon as I saw people wearing the shoes I wished I had some!!

 

[VickiHD]

I got a couple shirts (the purple half tech shirt and the blue half I Did It shirt... plus I may have ordered the hot pink I Did It one that showed up yesterday in the online store ) but I really regretted not ordering the jacket or signing up for the neon green shoes! The jacket was super cute and as soon as I saw people wearing the shoes I wished I had some!!

The pre order jacket was not the ones in the merch. store. It was a gray and pink stripe one, very unTink like I thought. As soon as I saw it I knew I would never wear it so I "picked it up" and returned it. There was no problem returning it since I knew I would never wear it !!! So much for the pre-order process. But I loved the two jackets for the 1/2 and PDC that was in the gen. merch area.