Disneyland ½ Marathon Weekend~2012 Check-in!

[MotoXPrincess99]

Found it for you!
Volunteer Resources

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION

As a volunteer for the 2012 Disneyland® Health & Fitness Expo, Disneyland® Family Fun Run 5K, runDisney Kids' Races and the Disneyland® Half Marathon, you will receive apparel, snack box per shift, and, if you meet the eligibility requirements, a one-day, one-Park Disneyland® Resort Theme Park ticket.

Theme park ticket distribution is based on minimum volunteer shifts worked. Each volunteer must either work at least two volunteer shifts or one 3:00am or earlier Half Marathon race day shift, to be eligible for the complimentary one-Park admission. Each volunteer must also sign in and sign out for each shift to be eligible for the complimentary one-Park admission. Each eligible volunteer will receive a maximum of one (1) complimentary one-Park ticket.



Were you able to specify where you wanted to volunteer or was a generic this race, that race type of thing?

For the Half Marathon is was specific water stops, start line, finish line but for the 5K is was just generic so I guess where ever they need us. Ireally want to hand out the medals.

Well, I always use any excuse to stay a little longer and enjoy a little more. Then again, when I tried to do a few more days at Disneyland after I ran the Tinkerbell I paid for it, lol.

So, I just finished my second half on Sunday! I kicked 10 minutes off my time from the Tinkerbell. I'm hoping I can shave a few more off by the time the Disneyland half comes around. I had a lot of fun (but daaaaaang was it warm in SF). Loving the new bling though!

Way to go! I can't believe this next one will be my 6th!

Here's one I posted on instagram afterward My medal, along with the tiara and boa they gave us just before the finish line:

I wanted to see if I could still enjoy myself running a half that wasn't through Disney and I definitely did! It wasn't just a fluke thing, haha.

Nice picture!

Sounds like a good plan for it!

The course was actually pretty nice. I was pretty darn happy that it was super flat (flatter than the Tinkerbell was, that's for sure) and the majority of it was literally spent on the water which made for some great views. The airport didn't really play into it. I completely forgot how close we were to it until I was driving back to visit my family afterward.

One thing I will say, however: it was not as well organized as the Tinkerbell was. Some things were easier (like picking up my race packet - took all of 2 seconds, if that) and some things weren't (started a late, mile markers weren't the easiest to see, etc.). But it was not a bad experience by any means.

Right now I'm actually kind of bummed my next event isn't until the Disneyland Half. A 5K or two, or something, would be fun between now and then.

You should do a Mud Run! They are so much fun! My DBF and I did one a few weeks ago and we have another on July 21st. Both are/were 5K's.

 

[pilgrimr]

There'll be people but it won't be X-mas or middle of summer busy. The waits will be 20-45 minutes or so. The longer waits will be for Indy or Splash, but they have FPs. HM will be down for the Halloween layover, IASW should still be open. Cars Land will probably be really busy, but it'll still be new so that's to be expected. I'm there Fri - Mon morning, and have never had a problem hitting all the rides at some point or more during the weekend.

Restaurant wise, it's not that bad, but ESPN will be crazy all day Saturday b/c college fb start so a ton of people hang out there all day. Naples will be busy Saturday night b/c of the race as well.

I am sad to hear that HM will be down as that is one of my favorite ride. Thank you for the information. I am looking forward to cars land and the other updates at DCA.

 

[kim3339]

I am sad to hear that HM will be down as that is one of my favorite ride. Thank you for the information. I am looking forward to cars land and the other updates at DCA.

Me too. The first 3 or 4 years it was still open, but then they started going bigger and earlier on Halloween and the overlay so now it's closed that weekend.

 

[OctoberDisney]

And yes I do.

Nice! Do you love it? Do you have to go to work after you run?
(PS. I did the college program one summer a million years ago. Most fun summer EVER!)

 

[OctoberDisney]

I wouldn't be scared! As long as you train, you should be fine. The nice thing about the courses in DL, is that it isn't hilly. The 1/2 in Sept. has 2 overpasses and 2 underpasses. Tink has I think a total of 7 or 8 over/under passes. But there's not crazy inclines in a short period of time.

I get down to the parks on Friday and do the expo and the parks Friday. Saturday is a little more low key, the 5k in the morning and then I usually stick to DL after the race and go back to the room in the afternoon. For Tink this year, I stuck to one side of the park and Main St. as opposed to trying to go back and forth. We go out to eat around 6 or so and I go back to the room after dinner. B/c I'm walking around more than I normally would for a race, whenever I'm in the room, I have my feet up on the extra pillows, I've found it really does make a difference. I also bring Epsom salt to soak my feet Sat. night and relax them a little more.

Tips for pre-race stuff, make sure you hydrate well starting around Wed., earlier if you're flying more than a couple of hours. By Sat. night, you should have to go to the bathroom a lot and it should be a really pale yellow. Eating is all a personal preference and everyone has their own opinion, but I do the big carb dinner on Fri and a light protein on Sat (usually a grilled chicken sandwich and baked potato. I also bring 2 shoes when I go to the parks ~ my running shoes and a pair to walk around the parks in.

Post race, make sure you don't sit for a long period of time in the first hour or 2. Make sure you get something in your system as well carbs and protein. If you're in a hotel and there's a fridge- chocolate milk is actually one of the best things. I go back and shower and then take it easy on Sunday. Some people take ice baths for their legs as soon as they get back to the room. We either go to a late lunch or an early lunch and then into the parks. But the main thing is to make sure you get something in your system soon after the race and stretch throughout the day, especially when you get back to the room that night.

As for being sore, it's all anyone's guess! I've had races where I'm really sore and races that have gone really well and can go the rest of the day Sun. If you keep in mind that Sun will be slower than a normal day at the park and you'll feel every incline and decline there is in the in the lines and the park. Mon hopefully will be a better and by Tues you'll be back to normal.

But the biggest thing is to remember to enjoy the race and take everything in! It's 1 of the most fun races out there, and you really couldn't ask for a better 1st race. And be on the lookout for the cameras, they're all along the course, but my fave and the 1 to make sure you smile for is the 1 at the castle.

Kim~ This.is.AWESOME. This is exactly the kind of stuff that I need to know! Thank you so much. I am pasting this into a document so I can remember all this as we get closer. I will have more questions, too! Like, will I need to worry about a sweatshirt while we wait before the race and where should my family be at the end? OK, I could really ask about 100 questions now but maybe I'll space them out! Really, thank you for this!

 

[Belle Ella]

For the Half Marathon is was specific water stops, start line, finish line but for the 5K is was just generic so I guess where ever they need us. Ireally want to hand out the medals.



Way to go! I can't believe this next one will be my 6th!

Wow! I'll be there someday. Heck, I never thought I'd have done 2 at any point in my life. Lucky number 3 here I come!

Nice picture!

Thanks!

You should do a Mud Run! They are so much fun! My DBF and I did one a few weeks ago and we have another on July 21st. Both are/were 5K's.

I've considered doing one. I don't think I can this year just because of $$. I'm honestly starting to think I wont have enough to register for the Tinkerbell in time which is going to royally suck!

Nice! Do you love it? Do you have to go to work after you run?
(PS. I did the college program one summer a million years ago. Most fun summer EVER!)

I do love it But I just started this year so I have no idea what's going to happen when the Half rolls around. I sure hope not, lol, but it's always a possibility.

 

[kim3339]

Kim~ This.is.AWESOME. This is exactly the kind of stuff that I need to know! Thank you so much. I am pasting this into a document so I can remember all this as we get closer. I will have more questions, too! Like, will I need to worry about a sweatshirt while we wait before the race and where should my family be at the end? OK, I could really ask about 100 questions now but maybe I'll space them out! Really, thank you for this!

No worries! That's what the boards are for!!

As for a sweartshirt... I always bring clothes to throw over my running stuff race morning. Forgot if you said you're doing the DL or Tink 1/2, but for the DL, you'll probably only need a shirt, maybe some sweats if there's the coastal fog. For Tink, I had sweats and a shirt, but just a sweatshirt would've been fine. It was warmer weather for a January run. Just watch the weather reports the week before to gauge what you want to bring to throw over you clothes. When you check in at the expo, you'll get a huge plastic "gear bag." It's a bag that you can throw your clothes in and they'll hold it in the staging area and you pick them up after the run. If they're older clothes, you can where them into the corrals and toss them, and after the start, volunteers pick up the clothes and they get donated. Another thing that a lot of people use are old long socks for their arms and garbage bags. Garbage bags are great b/c they really keep you warm and dry if it rains as well as give you something to sit on. For Tink, I went to Target after New Years and picked up their cheap packs of gloves and disposable hand warmers. They were on sale for like $1 or 1.50 and came w/ 2 pairs, that way if it was really cold I could run w/ them and toss them.

As for your parents, it's all a personal preference of where you would like to see them and where they would like to see you. They have aluminum bleachers at the finish line and you can also purchase "Chear" packages that will give them a nicer place to sit at the finish. But the nice thing is that the 1st four or so miles are in the park and the last mile or 2 are as well. So you can look at the course map to figure out what would be easiest for them to get to as well as a place that would be good for them to see you. If you're close enough, Disney Way is a really good place in my opinion, b/c there aren't a lot of people, only at the corner on Harbor. And the street is wide enough where they'll be able to pick you out. It's also at the end of the race, mile 11 1/2 or so. The good thing about these courses is that depending on how much of you they want to see and how early they want to get up, they could watch in the beginning of the race in the DTD promenade area go get some breakfast and then come back and watch the end.

Also, the week or 2 before the race and at the expo, they'll have runner tracking available. What you do is enter your bib # and name w/ the phone # of who's cell phone will be tracking you and they'll send texts w/ your stats of where you are at the race. They usually do start, 5k, 10k and finish. That'll also help them pick you out of all the runners. Oh! And make sure they know what you're wearing so they can find you. A tip about clothes though ~ don't wear the race shirt during the race. A lot of people wear them and it'll make it harder for them to find you. They'll see 1,000s of you's running by!

 

[MrsPinup]

I am excited about this race Jazz~ Where did I book our hotel room? I forgot haha

 

[Belle Ella]

I don't think I remember either! I know I had it written down at some point but I kind of misplaced a lot of things in the move

 

[MrsPinup]

I don't think I remember either! I know I had it written down at some point but I kind of misplaced a lot of things in the move

I want to say Carousel...does that sound right?

 

[Belle Ella]

I'm pretty sure it wasn't Carousel. Was it one of the BW's around?

 

[pilgrimr]

Kim3339, what is the weather typically like for the race? I saw you mention drop off clothes for the race. I would think it would be more warm than cold. Another question is the California smog, will it be a problem? I really appreciate your information. We have. Even to DLR several times but it is my first race.

 

[kim3339]

Kim3339, what is the weather typically like for the race? I saw you mention drop off clothes for the race. I would think it would be more warm than cold. Another question is the California smog, will it be a problem? I really appreciate your information. We have. Even to DLR several times but it is my first race.

It actually hasn't been that bad. The 1st year I ran, 2nd year of the race there was a heat wave and when I finished it was 102. Years 2-4 there was coastal fog which was awesome, and the past 2 years, no fog, but no heat. I don't remember exact temps, but no hotter than 60-65. They also moved the start up 15 min. this year as well. During the day in the parks it's usually mid to high 70s or low 80s. But race wise it's been great. There could always be a heat wave, you never know. Pre-race though, I just wear a shirt over my running stuff. The only time I actually used the sweats were when there was coastal fog. Wasn't cold, but better to have them then be cold afterwards. I also like to have a shirt to throw on after the race when I'm walking back to the hotel.

The nice thing about this course is that most of the miles outside of the park are perpendicular to the sun or your back to the sun. And the part when you are facing the sun, it's that long, no more than 1/3 mile each time. Based on the past courses, the last time you face the sun is b/w 8-9 when you pass the Honda Center and are running towards the river. I think that's the only time I've had the sun in my face, and 1 small section right before mile 6. The early part on Ball the sun isn't that high yet. Once you hit the river, you turn right so the sun is on your left and you turn in at Angel Stadium. After that, sun will be at your back or your side again.

This year the weather has been so weird and no real winter, hopefully that'll mean a mild summer!

 

[MrsPinup]

I'm pretty sure it wasn't Carousel. Was it one of the BW's around?

BW doesn't sound familiar for this trip. Maybe I should call around or check my email for the confirmation

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

I am excited about this race Jazz~ Where did I book our hotel room? I forgot haha

I don't think I remember either! I know I had it written down at some point but I kind of misplaced a lot of things in the move

I want to say Carousel...does that sound right?

I'm pretty sure it wasn't Carousel. Was it one of the BW's around?

BW doesn't sound familiar for this trip. Maybe I should call around or check my email for the confirmation

Sorry to laugh but this was funny to read.

 

[MrsPinup]

BW doesn't sound familiar for this trip. Maybe I should call around or check my email for the confirmation

It was Desert Inn! I just called to make ressies for another trip in July and asked the guy if I happened to have any other reservations....and we do!

 

[Belle Ella]

Sorry to laugh but this was funny to read.

The thread needed some good comic relief

It was Desert Inn! I just called to make ressies for another trip in July and asked the guy if I happened to have any other reservations....and we do!

Whew, that's an important piece of information right there!

 

[cloudnut220]

This was pretty funny to read.

I can't wait to be in DL so I can actually visualize these places!

 

[MrsPinup]

I am glad we amuse people. I could use more amusement today

So, is anyone wearing a costume for the half?

 

[Belle Ella]

I've thought about it, but I probably wont. Maybe next year. I don't think I could pull anything out of the bag this year.

What about you?