Coast to Coast and Back Again: A runDisney Journey

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 14, 2017 part 6 - Never Stop Running!

At this point, there is less than a mile to go, both parks are behind us, and I knew DH was waiting for me somewhere on Disneyland Drive. We continued on backstage along the frontage road and soon popped out on to Disneyland Drive.


Still on the frontage road backstage, I spotted this Elsa/Slave Leia and Anna/Han Solo mashup couple. Very cute!


Got a second chance to photograph the projection I mentioned at the beginning of the race. It really is the little touches at these races.


DH captured this action shot as I ran towards him, got a hug/kiss from the sidelines and then kept going. Note that I still have all my layers on and I never felt overheated. For this Florida girl, it was just the right amount of layers for a 10K in California!


After I passed DH, I was so happy to see this high school band cheering us on. What a great experience for them and very much appreciated by us! #formerbandgeek

We are getting so close now and I'm still feeling good. I'd originally intended to run intervals during the race, limiting running for outside the parks so I could take my time in them, but that plan went out the window when I began because the weather was just absolutely perfect and I felt fantastic the entire time that I just kept running and just stopped briefly when I felt like it. I was a little concerned about running most of it when I'd be running the half the following day, but I definitely didn't push myself, just kept a nice pace going the entire time and paying close attention to how I felt at any given time. I don't want to speculate, but I think that since I train in heat and humidity, race conditions that are cool and only slightly humid feel wonderful. More on that for the half marathon recap.


Mile 6 (last mile marker!) featured BB-8 (and red-armed C-3PO, barely recognized him ) who is also the race mascot! I love him so much.


Home stretch!

I finished well within my typical Disney 10K time (which is much slower than a normal 10K but still much faster than the 16mm pace requirement). I was medaled by a friendly volunteer, walked the gauntlet to get heat sheet, water, grabbed my food box and banana and had a finisher photo taken (will post later). Then I noticed some really cool photo ops, texted DH that I would be a while and he responded to take my time. I got in line for a Wampa encounter:


Ugh, ugh, can't reach! Use the Force...

Then I gathered up all my stuff (I keep forgetting to take a plastic bag to help lug all the post-race accoutrements) and set out to head to Downtown Disney and DH so we could grab a breakfast sandwich at Earl's then head to the hotel for a shower. Mostly me, not him.


Passed the finish line again on my way back to Downtown Disney.


Cutest 10K medal in the galaxy!


Where's the cheese?

Next Up: Final thoughts on the Light Side 10K.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

Final Thoughts on the Light Side 10K

So this is the post where I was going to show some of my PhotoPass race shots, but when I went on the DL app yesterday, they were no longer there. Went on the PhotoPass website and same deal. I thought that they were available for a year? I’m pretty sure that I could go on MarathonFoto and still purchase my photos from Princess Half from 2015. Grrrr.

Either something is terribly wrong with the PhotoPass site (which is plausible) or they don’t make photos available for very long anymore. I guess I’ll see if I can email them with my codes and see what happened. The photos we took in the park are no longer there, either and I’m not sure whether I still have the PP card they gave me. And yes, I realize that this is my fault because I should have purchased them during the trip or shortly after, but I was going to late January and then my grandpa died, I had to make last-minute arrangements up to Wisconsin for the funeral, I returned to Florida and attended a professional conference (important for a small business owner), and then my husband collapsed at work and was hospitalized for 10 days – POOF! There went February.

Anyway. This puts me in a foul mood, but it doesn’t change how I felt about the Light Side 10K. I think that Light Side is my favorite runDisney weekend, just because I’m a SW nerd, it’s a nice time of year to visit DL (Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion closures notwithstanding), and I really like the courses.

California races for an East Coaster allows for easy wake-up times (since our bodies are 3 hours ahead), transportation to the corrals is easy or walking is an option as well, the racing field is much smaller so you don’t get a lot of the crowding and associated rudeness along with that. 10Ks in DL have so. much. park. time! I mean, in reality, it’s probably only 3-4 miles of the 6.2, but it feels like so much more because you’re either backstage of a park or in one. It’s positively decadent. Sure, there aren’t many character stops (5 by my count, 4 for Tink 10K last May), but the entire course is pretty much a photo op.

If I had unlimited funds, I’d do Light Side every year, but alas not so much. Also, I’d like to do the Disneyland Half and Avengers Half weekends at some point as well, so I think Light Side is going to have to take a backseat until I can manage to do at least one of those other weekends.

In short, if you’re a Star Wars fan or even just a Disney nut, I highly recommend this 10K race - and the 10K has all the benefits of running a runDisney half marathon without the distance. And you’re done in time for breakfast!

 

[iivye]

I'm sorry to hear about that photos. You've had a rough couple of months and to have all your photos gone must be really frustrating. Hopefully they will be able to retrieve them.

Thanks for doing the race report; I really enjoyed following along!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Disneyland only holds Photopass for 45 days.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

I'm sorry to hear about that photos. You've had a rough couple of months and to have all your photos gone must be really frustrating. Hopefully they will be able to retrieve them.

Thank you, it is frustrating! And I realize that Disneyland has a policy regarding photos, but I did email them and gave them the codes for both the half marathon and the 10K, so I'm hoping that they still might have them somewhere because 45 days doesn't really seem like much when WDW and MarathonFoto (previous race photographers) keep them available for much longer. I appreciate the empathy!

Thanks for doing the race report; I really enjoyed following along!

Thanks for following along - I've still got another race and a few days at DLR coming up if you're interested!

Disneyland only holds Photopass for 45 days.

thanks

 

[Ariel484]

That sucks about the photos! I'd email anyway and see if they can help you it.

 

[cavepig]

Interesting on Disneyland and only 45 days, maybe they can still help out.

Great pictures! I loved running around DCA too in 2015, it's so pretty! That wampa picture is awesome!

Reading this makes me more excited for Darkside!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I really enjoyed all your photos and I'm glad you didn't get too hot! You look all bundled up next to some of the other runners.

What a bummer about the photos! I really hope you can retrieve them. 45 days seems so short, especially with how busy many people get when they return from a vacation and try to catch up from being gone.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

That sucks about the photos! I'd email anyway and see if they can help you it.

Interesting on Disneyland and only 45 days, maybe they can still help out.

What a bummer about the photos! I really hope you can retrieve them. 45 days seems so short, especially with how busy many people get when they return from a vacation and try to catch up from being gone.

Thank you all! I did email Disney on Friday and received an immediate response that apologized for inconveniencing me and that they'd be looking into it and responding within 7 days. FWIW, I didn't insinuate that they'd inconvenienced me (I realize I am at fault here, but 45 days is pretty short and I've been a little preoccupied with Major Life Stuff), but I really appreciate them looking for my photos and I'm hoping to have some luck this year.

Great pictures! I loved running around DCA too in 2015, it's so pretty! That wampa picture is awesome!

Reading this makes me more excited for Darkside!

Thank you! I'm pumped for Dark Side, too, mostly because I could use a Disney trip, but also Star Wars! I'm not sure if you ran Dark Side last year (so apologies if this isn't news for you) but they had the Wampa and garbage compactor photo ops set up in DAK parking lot last year. I didn't do them then, though, because I was suffering a lot of pain that day and the lines seemed really long. But given that both of them were set up in the pre- and post-race area for Light Side, I'll bet that Dark Side follows that lead, and hopefully the Rathtar, Boba Fett, Jabba, etc. photo ops will be back as well!

I really enjoyed all your photos and I'm glad you didn't get too hot! You look all bundled up next to some of the other runners.

Thank you! I did look all bundled up, didn't I?! Luckily the layers were all sport tech fabric so they were light layers and didn't get too hot. And it was pretty brisk all morning, I was glad to have the layers when we walked back to our hotel, I even had the runDisney mylar wrapped around me by that time! #floridaproblems

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 14, 2017 part 7 - Park Time!

After returning to our hotel, I sat for a bit to cool down and update social media (you know, the important things! ), ate my go-to Earl BLT breakfast sandwich (so yum! No photo unfortunately), then showered and got ready for some park time! For Tink weekend, we'd purchased 3-day parkhoppers and then spent the day of the 10K just wandering around Downtown Disney and went to see Captain America: Civil War, but for this trip I figured that the 4-day PHs were only $25 more each so even if we just spent a partial day in the parks, it'd be worth it. So we hopped an ART bus to the parks to get some more Disney on!


Security puppy! Funny story: my husband is a Dog Magnet (yes, with capital letters), dogs just love him. All dogs. When we came back from Jamaica one year, the TSA dog sniffed and sniffed and sniffed his feet and then licked them! Very unprofessional, if you ask me. So now when we see security dogs, we kind of brace ourselves for a friendly greeting. This one was all business.

We went through security and then broke right to the DL entrance and made it through with no issues - we have the tendency to pick the wrong lines, you know where the people ahead of you don't know what they're doing or they have 8 kids that suddenly show up just as you think you're next.


My favorite sign in the world, west coast edition!

Since it was a little later in the morning, enough time had passed where lines were starting to build up at most of the attractions. Also, it was Saturday on a holiday weekend, so probably a little busier because of that. So we decided to spend some time in neglected (for us) Frontierland. We went to BTM to see what the stand-by time was (DL app said 35 minutes, figured that was tolerable) and it was 50 minutes. So we decided to FastPass it and hit something else.




Splash Mountain!

For some reason, we'd never gone on the DL version of this ride our previous two trips, so DH got it in his head to do it this trip. Now keep in mind that while it is sunny out, it's still a little chilly (note the peole in sweats/long sleeves/pants). In Florida, we have a hypothesis that the CMs adjust the splashiness of the ride to weather conditions because we've gone on it in the dead of winter with nary a drop of water hitting us. So we figured that California was the same. Dun dun DUN! That's foreshadowing...


Putting the "splash" in Splash Mountain. The people in the flume look a bit concerned, eh?

So as you can see above, the ride in California (and apologies to people who frequent DL and already know this) is a little different than in Florida. For one thing, it's the old-timey flume configuration of sitting while straddling a bench in the log, single-file. Whereas in Florida, it's a 2-person seated side-by-side configuration. However, we were game to try it - it's something new, after all - and the wait was only listed as 35 minutes. Which in Disney parlance means that you're probably only going to wait 15-20. The theming of the ride is the same as in Florida, but the execution is much different; many of the same elements exist, but in a different order or a different side of your log. So we didn't really know what to expect. At this point, I had my purse dangling down my side, brushing the bottom of the flume interior. We went down one incline and a WAVE of water came over the side of the flume. Luckily, the opposite side of my purse. I immediately snatched it up and held it to my chest for dear life.

We went down a second incline and another wave toppled over the flume, soaking my other side. By this time, my feet were soaked, my hoodie sleeves were soaked, and it's cold outside. Grrr. And we had yet to experience the grand finale! Long story short on this one, folks, they mean business when they say you'll get wet on this one. I came out and my Brooks shoes were soaked, and I was very glad that I always bring along a pair of shoes for each race I plan to run. Luckily, the sun was out and did help to dry us out...eventually.


Zip-a-dee-doo-dah... more like Zip-a-dee-whoopty-doo-dah!


Smiling even though we're all soaked (look at the girl in front of me with the maroon hoodie).

By this time, our FastPass for BTM was active and we headed there to ride. I can't explain it, and I don't know what makes it different in California specifically, but I really like the DL version of this ride, even though it's shorter. After BTM, we decided we were hungry for some lunch, but there really isn't anything quick service in DL that I felt safe to eat before a half marathon day. So we decided to head back to Garden Grill in DCA! But first a detour through New Orleans Square on our way out.


For some reason, this just struck me as funny, a wheelchair nonchalantly parked in a door labeled for Club 33.

Next Up: We Get Detoured!

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 14, 2017 part 8 - We Get Detoured!

As we entered DCA, fully intent upon getting our lunch on, we were beckoned by a CM just outside Cars Land. DH was bracing himself for a survey, but I pointed out that she didn't have an iPad. So we went over and she asked us how many in our party, if it was just the two of us. We said yes, and then she asked if we liked the Radiator Springs Ride. We said yes. She then whipped out a couple of FastPasses that had just opened a window and gave them to us! She had been sweeping and someone just dropped them on the ground. We weren't too picky and took her up on them, and quickly turned in to Cars Land rather than heading to the back of Paradise Pier for lunch. Sometimes when life gives you an opportunity, you take it! So we rode RSR again and since I'd now learned about the disastrous "live photos" on my iPhone (now shut off), I got some better pics this time around.


Ooh! Ahhhh!






Getting purtied up!






Wheeeeeee!


Our race photo in our purple beauty!

Nice little magical moment for us, but we were still hungry! So we headed towards Paradise Pier and I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs again (why mess with what works?!) and DH tried the ravioli which he said was really good. We managed to find a spot to sit, it was crowded by this point because it was peak lunchtime, and then were treated to some live jazz! It was nice, sitting in the shade of a tree, eating good food, and listening to some great music. I almost didn't want to get up once we were finished!


View directly behind me while I ate.

Once we finished, we walked around DCA for a bit to let ourselves digest our great meal. And then I decided that I'd like a glass of wine and to just sit in the open-air wine bar area to take in the sights.

Next Up: Lessons With a Youngling

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 14, 2017 part 9 - Lessons With a Youngling

We headed towards Wine Country Trattoria and the wine bars on either side of it. DH ordered a craft beer and I ordered a pinot grigio and we walked over to the shaded area (grapevine shade!) to sit for a bit and watch the crowds go by.


So crisp and delicious, with Paradise Pier in the background.

While we just chilled out for a bit, a little girl approached me and asked to see my 10K medal. She was dressed as Princess Leia and was wearing a medal as well. She'd done one of the kids races and so I congratulated her on a job well done. We chatted for a bit and she informed me that she was Princess Leia but that she didn't like her hair up in buns. She was very cute and soon enough her father showed up and we chatted with him a bit as well. Turns out that they were AP Holders and he tries to sign her up for all the kids races each runDisney weekend.


Ella - I've blurred her face because I don't like posting photos of other people's kids. But she was just too cute! And I asked permission before I took the photo.

By this time, it's mid-afternoon and both DH and I are ready to just relax at the hotel. This is the part when being on East Coast time is kind of a drag because we were both ready for a nap! We left the parks, though we did detour through a few stores first, and slowly meandered through Downtown Disney.


I'm obsessed with the DL monorails. Also, you can see just how close everything is at DL because that's the DL Hotel in the background.

This is the part where writing a TR nearly two months after the fact can get dicey. I don't have many more photos from this day to remind me of what we did, but I assume we picked up our go-to dinner from Earl of Sandwich because it's super-easy and you can eat the meal later on if you have a refrigerator in your hotel room. Also, you can't beat the price of their food at Disney. You really can't unless you're bringing your own.

We made our way through security exit and down past the DL Hotel, crossed the street to the Grand Californian entrance to cross that street, where I got distracted by poppies.


Poppies in the median!

We arrived back at the hotel for a relaxing evening since I'd be running the half marathon in the morning. We both also needed to dry out our shoes from the Splash Mountain debacle. DH is really good about keeping to my schedule for these race weekends, which I really appreciate, though he did wander around the hotel for a bit while I got caught up on social media and also did a little reading on my Kindle. One of the runDisney regulars, Sparkle Athletic, put together a collage of the runners who were on #teamsparkle for the 10K, and guess who was included?! Little ol' me.


There I am, bottom right!

I then started thinking about the weather for tomorrow's race, because I had a few options for layering for the half and wanted to be sure I would have enough for all the waiting around, but not too much layering.


Slightly warmer conditions for the half marathon versus the 10K, but still chillier than Florida!

For the half marathon, I'd originally intended to recycle my Rey costume from Dark Side Half in 2016, I'd even ordered new arm sleeves from iGlow Running because then I'd only invested $25 in my costume for that race (a bargain!). However, December 27 changed all that. That was the day that Carrie Fisher died.

I'd loved Carrie for forever. First off because she's a bad*ss as Leia, and that's how I first knew her. But then I discovered in my middle school years that she'd written a book, and I read Postcards from the Edge at a far-too-young age (IMHO). I continued reading her material and loved her HBO special Wishful Drinking (if you haven't seen it, it is fantastic). In short, she was MY Disney Princess and her passing affected me like no other celebrity death (and then her mother the following day!). So I decided I needed to express my grief by paying my respects to Leia, which resulted in a mad scramble for costume elements mere weeks before race weekend. Luckily I had some on hand.


My favorite Leia meme after Carrie's death (I'm also a huge Hamilton fan). Not my costume inspiration, though.

Next Up: A Princess Runs Again

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Yay! Updates!

There are several rides that are at both WDW & DL that I prefer the DL version. Splash Mountain is an exception to that. I dislike the seating arrangement, but that's not the main thing. The ride goes too fast! It's supposed to be a deep south meander, but the California version is at California speeds! I feel so rushed on it.

Pirates, Space Mountain, Small World, Autopia....I prefer the DL versions of all of those, and I'm forgetting some.

How cool to be on Sparkle's Instagram collage!

Score on random RSR fast passes!

I'm looking forward to seeing your costume for the half. I am also a huge Hamilton fan. I LOVE the music, but I haven't had an opportunity to see the show yet. I saw Lin Manuel Miranda's earlier show, In The Heights, while it was still off-Broadway and the music for that one is also great. I love the music for Moana too; he's involved in that as well. He's just SO TALENTED!

 

[cavepig]

Thank you! I'm pumped for Dark Side, too, mostly because I could use a Disney trip, but also Star Wars! I'm not sure if you ran Dark Side last year (so apologies if this isn't news for you) but they had the Wampa and garbage compactor photo ops set up in DAK parking lot last year. I didn't do them then, though, because I was suffering a lot of pain that day and the lines seemed really long. But given that both of them were set up in the pre- and post-race area for Light Side, I'll bet that Dark Side follows that lead, and hopefully the Rathtar, Boba Fett, Jabba, etc. photo ops will be back as well!

I did not, my parents ran the 5k & 10k but only did the Rathtar pre photo op. It was their first runDisney races. So, I'm glad you posted this, I hope they have the Wampa and Garbage in the post area instead as I want to run for time in the half, I think... but if they are out at AK I may have to stop anyway as they are so cool! Such problems, I know, haha!

By this time, my feet were soaked, my hoodie sleeves were soaked, and it's cold outside.

Oh my gosh DL's splash is a soaker. Our first trip to DL my niece was pretty young and she got soaked and was so mad, my backpack got soaked too, so then when we went back a few years ago at least we were better prepared! I feel more loose on that one too, like I could fly out versus at WDWs.

We said yes. She then whipped out a couple of FastPasses that had just opened a window and gave them to us!

That's awesome and what I miss about paper FPs at WDW.

who were on #teamsparkle for the 10K, and guess who was included?! Little ol' me.

Cool! It is a great outfit & props for running the whole race in it!

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

Yay! Updates!

There are several rides that are at both WDW & DL that I prefer the DL version. Splash Mountain is an exception to that. I dislike the seating arrangement, but that's not the main thing. The ride goes too fast! It's supposed to be a deep south meander, but the California version is at California speeds! I feel so rushed on it.

Pirates, Space Mountain, Small World, Autopia....I prefer the DL versions of all of those, and I'm forgetting some.

I totally agree! And I prefer both Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion at DL as well - I don't know why (maybe the pirahnas?), but they just feel different there. I'm completely with you on the dislike of the Splash Mountain seating arrangement, I did not like that at all.

How cool to be on Sparkle's Instagram collage!

I was pretty excited, but in full disclosure, it wasn't the first time, but each time it happens is really cool.

Score on random RSR fast passes!

YES.

I'm looking forward to seeing your costume for the half. I am also a huge Hamilton fan. I LOVE the music, but I haven't had an opportunity to see the show yet. I saw Lin Manuel Miranda's earlier show, In The Heights, while it was still off-Broadway and the music for that one is also great. I love the music for Moana too; he's involved in that as well. He's just SO TALENTED!

So FREAKING talented! I haven't seen Hamilton yet either, but I listen to the soundtrack all the time. DH was a history major in college, so he loves it too and started to read the book that inspired Lin-Manuel. And Moana is another soundtrack that I listen to all the time. Part of it is that I can somewhat sort of claim some fame via The Rock since we were at university together at the same time (undergrad population 11,000 total) and so I feel a kinship towards him for sure - I even remember watching him play football! But the music is ethereal and perfect. You're so lucky to have seen In The Heights! The only musical I've seen on Broadway was Cats, but that was amazing even though it had been running forever.

Thanks for continuing to follow along!

I did not, my parents ran the 5k & 10k but only did the Rathtar pre photo op. It was their first runDisney races. So, I'm glad you posted this, I hope they have the Wampa and Garbage in the post area instead as I want to run for time in the half, I think... but if they are out at AK I may have to stop anyway as they are so cool! Such problems, I know, haha!

Haha! Yes, for sure they're worth the stop. Great photo opportunities for SW nerds.

Oh my gosh DL's splash is a soaker. Our first trip to DL my niece was pretty young and she got soaked and was so mad, my backpack got soaked too, so then when we went back a few years ago at least we were better prepared! I feel more loose on that one too, like I could fly out versus at WDWs.

I feel exactly the same way. Did not like the seating configuration, didn't feel like I'd stay in (even though I think Space Mountain used to be very similar at WDW years ago but with seatbelts), and DID NOT LIKE the soaking. When we got back to our hotel in late afternoon, my shoes were still soaked and my feet were all pruned up. It took two days for the shoes to dry out!

That's awesome and what I miss about paper FPs at WDW.

SAME.

Cool! It is a great outfit & props for running the whole race in it!

Thank you! I could never have worn it in a Florida race, though. Maybe in January, but definitely not any other race weekend at WDW, so I'm lucky California was so cool in the mornings!

 

[Ariel484]

Woohoo for RSR fastpasses! I think the DL BTM has some extra explosion-type effects that the Florida version doesn't, maybe? Could be making that up.

LOVE that you decided to run as Leia!

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 15, 2017 part 1 - A Princess Runs Again (Half Marathon part 1)

As mentioned, I'd had to do a somewhat last-minute change of costumes for the half marathon which involved a little bit of work that I hadn't planned on doing, but I really wanted to pay tribute to Carrie Fisher and Leia since both of them mean so much to me. For the 2015 Light Side half marathon, I'd worked up a sort of mashup Endor Trooper Leia costume, but without the camouflage poncho because it was only my second half marathon at the time and I wasn't sure how a billowy piece of clothing would work out for me, so instead I did the military top she had on during the briefing before the Endor mission in Return of the Jedi. And then when DH and I went to what turned out to be the last Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios (something we did at least one of the weekends each year, sometimes more than one weekend), I made a quickie poncho suitable for Florida in late May (= 95 degrees and humid) for a photo op during the weekend and also for during our lunch at the new (and turned out to be only) Rebel Hangar Lounge, which was really an overlay at Backlot Express and served up Star Wars themed food (it was really awesome and I have a blog post about it and the 2015 half marathon if anyone is interested in the links):


This right here is all the Star Wars nerd cred I'll ever need! You'll note that there is no collar on the poncho because it was already hot enough.

So for this year's half marathon, I used the pants (leftover from 2015 SW half) and the poncho, though I now added a collar from some of the extra material, and also added a craft foam embellishment to my Sparkle Athletic visor to make it look more like Leia's helmet. Underneath was a Raw Threads V-neck in case it got too hot to wear the poncho, I could take it off and run in the RT shirt, and I also had arm sleeves on to help keep my arms warm until I didn't need them anymore (easily removable if necessary).


Leia is ready to go!

DH once again accompanied me out to the ART shuttle and I was off to the races. Literally. Same deal as the previous day, got dropped off at DLR main entrance area, went through security before the parks, walked through Downtown Disney and then to the race area.


Kind of strange to be passing the finish line before you've even started. And that lone wheelchair just struck me funny for some reason.


Pre-race area was already rocking by the time I arrived, this is the side of the main stage area, I just liked that Jyn was getting some runDisney love.


Vader finds your lack of training disturbing. OK, not really.


While I was looking around (one of my favorite runDisney past times), I noticed this girl dressed as Admiral Ackbar (IT'S A TRAP!) which I found hilarious because when I ran Space Coast Half Marathon last year, someone had a similar costume, but mostly because I follow this girl on Instagram and she has a podcast with a friend (Not Real Runners) about Back of the Packers and races and costumes, so basically right up my alley. Unfortunately, I was too shy to go up to her and say hi.


Wampa cave photo op. Ah, the magic of Disney! I really wish I had done both photo ops before the races when it was still dark since I'm squinting hard in my Wampa photo. Le sigh.


Death Star garbage compactor photo op. So cool!

I considered getting in line for the garbage compactor, but the announcers were already encouraging us to start heading to our corrals. So being the obedient little rule follower that I am, I acquiesced to their request. Just like the previous day, there was a bit of a bottleneck going from the portolets to the start of the corrals, but there was plenty of time to the race, so I wasn't too worried.


I think this photo may actually have been from my corral (G) since no one is moving here.

I don't have any more corral photos, so it must not have been terribly exciting or was just a rehash of the previous day. Even down to the beat box jam session! As always during the run-up to a race start, time seemed to pass simultaneously slow and fast because before I knew it, it was time to....



Next Up: Do Or Do Not, There Is No Try

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

Woohoo for RSR fastpasses! I think the DL BTM has some extra explosion-type effects that the Florida version doesn't, maybe? Could be making that up.

Oooh, you might be on to something there. I think there are more bang-whizzes that happen in California on BTM. And yes, we were so stoked to get the bonus RSR FPs after the drama to get on that ride earlier in the trip!

LOVE that you decided to run as Leia!

Me, too.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 15, 2017 part 2 - Do Or Do Not, There Is No Try (Half Marathon part 2)

The half marathon started off much the same way as I'd started the 10K: warmup run, no intervals, intention to spend time in the parks, and the route was the same for the first few miles. So we started on that backstage frontage road that goes behind Paradise Pier (you can actually see it from Disneyland Drive on any given day). The same projection was up and I snapped a drive-by photo as I ran through the gates.


You get the idea.


Much better Cars Land photo today! And all the bright lights up ahead were for PhotoPass, I believe.


There's the blurry race photo I've come to know and love!

Even though I intended to take it slow through the parks, I found myself running because it felt good (so much cooler in California! I cannot emphasize that enough) and the first character stop had yet to be encountered. We ran through Cars Land and then through A Bug's Land.


Nice view of Grizzly Peak!

The first character stop turned out to be at the same place as the 10K (just after Mile 1) and the same characters: C-3PO and/or R2-D2. Threepio went on break shortly after I got in line, and even though it wrapped around the entrance to Cars Land (we could see the runners going by further down Route 66), it seemed to move pretty quickly. I think I waited maybe 5 minutes.


Runners going by as I wait in line. Doop doop doop.


Leia with her loyal droid, Artoo. <3

Onward to Paradise Pier! World of Color was all lit up again - so beautiful! - but I didn't stop for a photo op since I'd done that the previous day. And who knows what else was in store the next 11 or so miles?! So I ran up the PP bridge towards California Screamin' and turned the corner where I saw a photo up the ways on the left. I slowly made my way to the left side of the field (much easier in California because the field is not so congested) and got in line. I didn't even know who I was in line for until I was there!


TIE fighter race costumes, so awesome. And this sign cracked me up.


Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren from Star Wars Rebels! I'd gotten a photo with them at Dark Side last year, but this was a cool op, too, and there wasn't much of a wait, maybe a couple minutes.

Then it was around the remainder of Paradise Pier and I stopped for a photo of WOC because how can you not?


I mean, just look at it.

The race route continued to be the same as the 10K through DCA, winding around Grizzly Peak where I overheard people grumbling about the dark, and then past Soarin' which had a different projection on it today:


Love, love, LOVE!!

Next Up: The Force Will Be With You, Always

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

January 15, 2017 part 3 - The Force Will Be With You, Always (Half Marathon part 3)

We continued on through Hollywood Land and another Jedi Master was training several Padawan learner (also, I really love that autocorrect just capitalized that when it doesn't do much for spelling here!), but there were CMs on hand to ensure that runners kept going.



Not long after this, another photo op presented itself, and it was one I could not pass up. Speeder bikes! I think I waited longer in this line than for the droids, but it was really cool to have such a costume-appropriate shot.



And just like that, DCA was done for the course. I'm really surprised that these are all the photos I took, but I chalk it up to runner's brain. We then ran down through the tunnel connecting DCA and DL, and there were projected lasers again and the feel of a trench battle.


Burst of red.

The route continued to be the same as the 10K: backstage, then enter DL through Toon Town. I've never really spent much time in Toon Town even though I really love Who Framed Roger Rabbit, so it didn't really matter to me we were running through it. There were quite a few people posing in front of the fountain, though. I kept going because I wanted to see Small World again! And this time, there were CMs stationed outside to take your photograph.




We ran towards Tomorrowland and I think First Order troopers were out again at Launch Bay, but I kept going. I turned the corner and really noticed the Season of the Force banners this time, which now featured Rogue One characters! I mean, I know they were likely like that before, but this was the first time I noticed them. Star Wars music was also playing.


Cassian!


BB-8 was out near Star Tours today; it was a bit of a choke point just because of how the course was set up, most runners didn't realize it was him until this point, so many folks doubling back and getting chastised by CMs. I really feel that this stop could have been set up better, especially since BB-8 practically closed down the races last year.




Backside of the castle.




The CM had me take two photos, a normal one and then she said to look like I was having a blast. I guess this is how I have fun?!


Guess who's back? Back again. Phasma's back. Tell a friend.

Even though I felt like I wasn't rushing through the parks (though I was running most of the way), it felt like it was over far too soon. Now it would be nothing but streets the remainder of the race. But that didn't mean there weren't more things to look forward to, if 2017 was like the inaugural race!


Coming up next: Luminous Beings Are We, Not This Crude Matter