Official 2011 Disneyland Half Thread!

[kim3339]

As for race entertainment, right before overpass on Ball around 4 1/2 there's a high school or college band, forgot @ what miles but there's also a Mariachi band/ dancers and Hawaiin group/ hula dancers, about Mile 7 there's a dj and I think that's about it. It's also the industrial kind of area from abot 5 1/2 until the Honda Center.

 

[Lynn G]

Hey all -

So, I wish I had seen this thread earlier! I'll be coming in from NYC to run this event. So nervous - it'll be my first one! Yay! VERY thankful to have friend running this with me who rocks.

Couple of questions for those you that have run this event before :

1. Is there enough entertainment. In looking at the map, miles 4-8 look REALLY boring.....thoughts from anyone who has done this?

2. The sweeper - if you're on the borderline, will they let you keep running if you think you can make it? (I'm SOO worried about the sweeper...I don't want to get SWEPT!! ) My training so far has proven that I can finish in 3:30, but, I just want to get your thoughts....has anyone been swept? Or seen someone get swept? What happens with this sort of thing?

Thanks everyone for the help, in advance. Running 10 mi tomorrow - wish me luck! My very best wishes to all, as well, on their long runs this wknd!! We can do it!!

-Jill aka Half Marathon Chica

Ref sweepers: Last year I did this with really bad knees (this year we are only doing the 5K), at mile 9 or 10 I was seeing the red flags saying I was behind pace, I was looking for the sweeper to pick me up and take me back, I was really hurting - but as I passed the race folks on the side of the road, I was talking to my husband on the cell phone, who was wondering where I was, I said I thought they were going to make me finish this race on my own, and the race guy heard me and said "yes" - so - at least towards the end of the race, if you are not too far behind, they will let you continue!

 

[ultramickeymouse]

As for race entertainment, right before overpass on Ball around 4 1/2 there's a high school or college band, forgot @ what miles but there's also a Mariachi band/ dancers and Hawaiin group/ hula dancers, about Mile 7 there's a dj and I think that's about it. It's also the industrial kind of area from abot 5 1/2 until the Honda Center.

Last year from all of my pics I took:

High School Band/Pep Squad - mile 4 1/2
Cheerleaders - at mile 5
Mariachi band/ dancers - before mile 6
Cheerleaders/Dancers - 10K mark
Hawaiin group/ hula dancers - just past mile 7
High School Band - before mile 8
High School Cheerleaders - Honda Center
High School Band/ Pep Squad - just past mile 9(entering Angel Stadium parking lot)
Boy Scouts/Girl Scout - 15K(entrance to Angel Stadium)
High School Band - leaving Angel Stadium
High School Band/Pep Squad - mile 10.5
High School Cheerleaders - just past mile 11(entering/in/leaving tunnel)

after that you enter back of CA just before mile 12.

Hope this helps! See you next month

 

[halfmarathonchica]

Robert and Kim - GREAT info! And, wow - Robert, REALLY detailed notes. So cool. I appreciate it! I used to live in Anaheim...so, I know that the race route is pretty darn boring! So, appreciate this - helps me to prepare mentally.

I have learned so much great info by reading all of these messages. You all are the best! Thank you.

13.1 - here we come!
-Jill

Last year from all of my pics I took:

High School Band/Pep Squad - mile 4 1/2
Cheerleaders - at mile 5
Mariachi band/ dancers - before mile 6
Cheerleaders/Dancers - 10K mark
Hawaiin group/ hula dancers - just past mile 7
High School Band - before mile 8
High School Cheerleaders - Honda Center
High School Band/ Pep Squad - just past mile 9(entering Angel Stadium parking lot)
Boy Scouts/Girl Scout - 15K(entrance to Angel Stadium)
High School Band - leaving Angel Stadium
High School Band/Pep Squad - mile 10.5
High School Cheerleaders - just past mile 11(entering/in/leaving tunnel)

after that you enter back of CA just before mile 12.

Hope this helps! See you next month

 

[halfmarathonchica]

Lynn - Really appreciate this. I want to enjoy the race, so, I want to take lots of pics, etc. And, b/c it's my first one! My pace right now is most likely a 3 hour race. So, I just wanted to make sure that I have some wiggle room.

Did they force you to finish the race when you didn't want to? Or, did I misunderstand? Also, are there pacers that give you a warning that you are behind?


-Jill

Ref sweepers: Last year I did this with really bad knees (this year we are only doing the 5K), at mile 9 or 10 I was seeing the red flags saying I was behind pace, I was looking for the sweeper to pick me up and take me back, I was really hurting - but as I passed the race folks on the side of the road, I was talking to my husband on the cell phone, who was wondering where I was, I said I thought they were going to make me finish this race on my own, and the race guy heard me and said "yes" - so - at least towards the end of the race, if you are not too far behind, they will let you continue!

 

[johde]

Last year from all of my pics I took:

High School Band/Pep Squad - mile 4 1/2
Cheerleaders - at mile 5
Mariachi band/ dancers - before mile 6
Cheerleaders/Dancers - 10K mark
Hawaiin group/ hula dancers - just past mile 7
High School Band - before mile 8
High School Cheerleaders - Honda Center
High School Band/ Pep Squad - just past mile 9(entering Angel Stadium parking lot)
Boy Scouts/Girl Scout - 15K(entrance to Angel Stadium)
High School Band - leaving Angel Stadium
High School Band/Pep Squad - mile 10.5
High School Cheerleaders - just past mile 11(entering/in/leaving tunnel)

after that you enter back of CA just before mile 12.

Hope this helps! See you next month

That's a pretty good selection on on course entertainment. Throw in the Disney Elements in Miles 1-4, and a few DJ's and there shouldn't be many "dead" sections on the course.

The best race I've run in terms of on course entertainment so far is the Columbus, OH Marathon. I ran the half and they had entertainment approx. every 1/3 of a mile. They even published a map and List of who was performing and when they were supposed to perform. They had 65 entertainment spots along the full marathon course and times the performers were scheduled for made sure the Back of the packers didn't just see people packing up.

It's hard to believe the race is only 4 weeks away.

 

[pamiam]

Ref sweepers: Last year I did this with really bad knees (this year we are only doing the 5K), at mile 9 or 10 I was seeing the red flags saying I was behind pace, I was looking for the sweeper to pick me up and take me back, I was really hurting - but as I passed the race folks on the side of the road, I was talking to my husband on the cell phone, who was wondering where I was, I said I thought they were going to make me finish this race on my own, and the race guy heard me and said "yes" - so - at least towards the end of the race, if you are not too far behind, they will let you continue!

Like Halfmarathonchica, I am paranoid about not staying on pace and getting swept. This is a real possibility for me because I am a super-slow runner! Anyway, I have friends who have done the race multiple times and they said that last year was an exception because they were filming some chick for Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition who was running the race but was super duper slow, like she finished with a 22:00/mile pace. One of my friends was running injured and expected to be swept because she was so far behind but it never happend. So, evidently last year was a freebie.

I am just going to go out there and do my best! I accept that there won't be any time for character pics for me, and that long lines at the portapotty might screw me (yes, I really am that slow) but I will keep going and have fun!

 

[MaryJ]

Like Halfmarathonchica, I am paranoid about not staying on pace and getting swept. This is a real possibility for me because I am a super-slow runner! Anyway, I have friends who have done the race multiple times and they said that last year was an exception because they were filming some chick for Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition who was running the race but was super duper slow, like she finished with a 22:00/mile pace. One of my friends was running injured and expected to be swept because she was so far behind but it never happend. So, evidently last year was a freebie.

I am just going to go out there and do my best! I accept that there won't be any time for character pics for me, and that long lines at the portapotty might screw me (yes, I really am that slow) but I will keep going and have fun!

I just saw that episode on TV a couple of weeks ago. Yes, it did look like she was going pretty slow.

This will be my first time at DL, but I have done the WDW half 3 times. The first time I did it with a friend from church, and we made the decision not to try to stay together. We didn't want one of us to hold the other one back. Now, she is almost 20 years younger than I am, and when I finished I asked DH where she was. He told me he hadn't seen her yet. She ended up finishing with a time of 3:45 and did not get swept. I came in just under the 3:30 mark at 3:25.

 

[halfmarathonchica]

GREAT info, Mary. Thanks for sharing! The more margin, the better (and the better I will feel about completing this )

Appreciate your feedback!
-Jill

I just saw that episode on TV a couple of weeks ago. Yes, it did look like she was going pretty slow.

This will be my first time at DL, but I have done the WDW half 3 times. The first time I did it with a friend from church, and we made the decision not to try to stay together. We didn't want one of us to hold the other one back. Now, she is almost 20 years younger than I am, and when I finished I asked DH where she was. He told me he hadn't seen her yet. She ended up finishing with a time of 3:45 and did not get swept. I came in just under the 3:30 mark at 3:25.

 

[Qltrgrl2]

What do you plan to do the day before the race? We are arriving in CA on Friday from the east coast and will go to the Expo that day. So...Saturday is a free day but I am not sure if we should spend time at one of the parks or just relax, see a movie, eat...... I can purchase tickets for $63 (one park only) and I thought it might be fun to spend a morning at California Adventure since we are only in CA until Monday. However, with this make us to tired for the race? Any advice is welcome!
Happy Running!

 

[ultramickeymouse]

What do you plan to do the day before the race? We are arriving in CA on Friday from the east coast and will go to the Expo that day. So...Saturday is a free day but I am not sure if we should spend time at one of the parks or just relax, see a movie, eat...... I can purchase tickets for $63 (one park only) and I thought it might be fun to spend a morning at California Adventure since we are only in CA until Monday. However, with this make us to tired for the race? Any advice is welcome!
Happy Running!

With short trip and coming across country, you have to do parks on Sat. Just try to do things where you can sit as much as you can and avoid standing in long lines. Use Fast Passes when you can. Just make sure you get an early night for race morning!

See you in 4 weeks

 

[Disfan11]

What do you plan to do the day before the race? We are arriving in CA on Friday from the east coast and will go to the Expo that day. So...Saturday is a free day but I am not sure if we should spend time at one of the parks or just relax, see a movie, eat...... I can purchase tickets for $63 (one park only) and I thought it might be fun to spend a morning at California Adventure since we are only in CA until Monday. However, with this make us to tired for the race? Any advice is welcome!
Happy Running!

Since you are coming from so far away, I would plan on spending a leisurely day at the parks on Saturday. I would also go to the parks on Sunday after having a rewarding shower! I will be wearing my "I did it" or my race shirt along with my medal! That's what I did after the Princess run in Feb. It's fun to have people congratulate you all day. I'm flying out on Monday, so I'll be going park on that day as well. Might as well have fun while I'm at Disneyland.

 

[Swmr359]

What do you plan to do the day before the race? We are arriving in CA on Friday from the east coast and will go to the Expo that day. So...Saturday is a free day but I am not sure if we should spend time at one of the parks or just relax, see a movie, eat...... I can purchase tickets for $63 (one park only) and I thought it might be fun to spend a morning at California Adventure since we are only in CA until Monday. However, with this make us to tired for the race? Any advice is welcome!
Happy Running!

I'm flying in Friday morning and out Monday evening. I plan on being in the park on all 4 days! I do plan on forcing myself to rest though; Saturday I have a reservation at Ariels, which will force me to sit and eat.



How are you all getting from the airport to your hotels? I'm using supershuttle here at home but they don't go to my hotel in CA.

 

[Saylan]

I'm flying in Friday morning and out Monday evening. I plan on being in the park on all 4 days! I do plan on forcing myself to rest though; Saturday I have a reservation at Ariels, which will force me to sit and eat.



How are you all getting from the airport to your hotels? I'm using supershuttle here at home but they don't go to my hotel in CA.

Which hotel is it? I think we're going to be using the Disneyland Express.

 

[Danhockey04]

We are getting dropped off at the airport, but in California, we are taking super shuttle.

 

[jeanigor]

My TA suggested Super Shuttle or the DL Express. She said that SS would be cheaper, but DLE would be faster.

Mousesavers might have a coupon/coupon code to reduce the price.

She also said neither required advanced reservations.

 

[Saylan]

My TA suggested Super Shuttle or the DL Express. She said that SS would be cheaper, but DLE would be faster.

Mousesavers might have a coupon/coupon code to reduce the price.

She also said neither required advanced reservations.

I have a link to 5$ off per ticket (one way or round trip) on the DLE. Since it's 27 from SNA roun trip that makes it pretty cheap. Somewhere on the DL board is a thread that explains the pick-up and drop-off routes but basically my understanding is:

-From the airport: stops at Disney hotels first and then makes rounds
-To LAX: Has a specified time and route for the Anaheim Resort hotels and stops at Disney hotels last to drop off any SNA guests before going to LAX
-To SNA: Same as the above, only disembarking at Disney hotels to board a separate bus for SNA

That's just how I understood it to work.

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

What do you plan to do the day before the race? We are arriving in CA on Friday from the east coast and will go to the Expo that day. So...Saturday is a free day but I am not sure if we should spend time at one of the parks or just relax, see a movie, eat...... I can purchase tickets for $63 (one park only) and I thought it might be fun to spend a morning at California Adventure since we are only in CA until Monday. However, with this make us to tired for the race? Any advice is welcome!
Happy Running!

I'll be arriving Saturday morning. I plan to hit the Expo then do Disneyland for a few hours before having dinner at Naples in DTD at 6:15. Then it's bed time.

Since you are coming from so far away, I would plan on spending a leisurely day at the parks on Saturday. I would also go to the parks on Sunday after having a rewarding shower! I will be wearing my "I did it" or my race shirt along with my medal! That's what I did after the Princess run in Feb. It's fun to have people congratulate you all day. I'm flying out on Monday, so I'll be going park on that day as well. Might as well have fun while I'm at Disneyland.

I will also be in the parks after the race. I wore my I Did It shirt and medal last year too.

 

[halfmarathonchica]

MotoXPrincess99 -- Where did you get your "I Did It" shirt? Do we get those at the marathon? Or elsewhere?

-Jill

I'll be arriving Saturday morning. I plan to hit the Expo then do Disneyland for a few hours before having dinner at Naples in DTD at 6:15. Then it's bed time.



I will also be in the parks after the race. I wore my I Did It shirt and medal last year too.

 

[Cripey]

Has there been any sort of meet organized over race weekend? I can't remember if it's already been talked about in this thread...would love to meet some of you and say hello if it worked into my schedule for the weekend!