So I'm finally caught up with this thread. Life was insanely busy through the middle of May and has slowed down from out of the fire and into the frying pan.
SAFD When to Visit: While I can make a strong argument that any time you are able to visit WDW is a good time to visit, I still hope someday, maybe even this year to experience WDW in full holiday mode. I got part of that in 2012 when I ran Wine & Dine, but Epcot was only decorated for the holidays. It was not yet offering all the holiday entertainment and such.
SAFD Training: It's been in a lull. Between work insanity and then allergies and vaccine timing, it's been real hit or miss for a while. I need to change that soon. For better or for worse, I decided to create my own virtual races over the next little while. Maybe a real race in September if the San Francisco Giant Race goes live. I hope it will especially because the San Francisco Marathon has already announced that it will happen live.
SAFD Adjective: Special. Inspiring. Powerful. Hopeful. Unique.
SAFD Medals: No pictures, but most everyone has already seen what my favorites look like anyways as many of you have already earned these same medals.
1. 2017 Kessel Run. My first Kessel Run and it required nearly 18 months of training. I knew I could finish a Half Marathon alright, but finishing a half marathon mere days after concluding a mutli month long 10-12 hour work days 6 days a week and busy Sundays with Church involvement was a different task entirely. The allure of Star Wars proved to be enough, so in 2016, I mock trained for a race I might never get to run just to see if I could actually handle the training and the work pressures. As it is, my 2017 running year in review was a lot of doing things I once believed to be impossible. Which leads to number two.
2. 2019 WDW Marathon. For years, the Marathon was the impossible race. Non runners would ask and I would always laugh and say no. Never happening. I believed I could run a marathon, but I did not want to train for a marathon. As 2017 taught me how to train during very busy times and that insane ideas such as running the last Avengers Half Marathon on a whim after signing up and beginning training 3 weeks before the race, I came to think that maybe the marathon could happen. So after 2018 Dark Side, I decided to attempt the marathon. As I viewed it as a possible one and done experience, I decided to go really crazy and throw in Dopey as well. Training was very eye opening and educational and
@DopeyBadger helped prepare me for what would come.
3. 2017 Coast to Coast. 10th anniversary Coast to Coast medal with both castles on it. How can I beat that? If not for the personal inspirational nature of the two above it, this just might be my favorite medal.
Honorable Mention: 2011
Disneyland Half. My first race ever.
SAFD Design Your Own Race:
1. I would bring back the Kessel Run which simultaneously restores the Coast to Coast because it means races return to Disneyland.
2. Storybook Coast to Coast. Same idea as the Kessel Run. One movie is the themed movie for the year and finishing the Half on each coast earns the Storybook Medal. This can either combine with Princess or become its own separate event so as to not be limited to just the animated fairy tales. I also like the idea of having each coast switch up its theme each year. For instance 2022, Disney World has the heroes of the story and Disneyland has the villains and then in 2023 Disney World has the villains and Disneyland has the heroes.