Official 2011 Disneyland Half Thread!

[DisneyRunnerGirl]

First "official" training run last night after work - I had a half on Saturday, so now time to start training cycle again

This will be the first time I have ever trained entirely on my own. My sister, who has been my training and racing partner for years, has been permanently "benched" from running due to a serious heart issue that is aggravated when she runs....spending the end of each of our races over the last 12 months in either the med tent or our worst case, her being transported with sirens and lights to the ER after the Chicago Rock and Rock, finally convinced her to stop.

I will really miss her companionship and the great "sister" time we have enjoyed over the last 5 years. but I need to keep doing this for me.

I will have a race partner for the WDW Half in Jan as my son, who is now a Disney Cast Member will be running his very first half there with me.

 

[ban26ana]

So excited your in. How was your Princess run? I feel in love with the C2C medal at the expo. It is so much prettier in person than on the website.

It was hard, I'm not going to lie. It was my first race and I didn't train nearly enough. I let excuse after excuse keep me from running. I hadn't yet fallen in love with running, so it was something I was forcing myself to do. About 2 weeks before the race, it finally clicked. I finally looked forward to running. Of course by that point it was too late to squeeze in the training. I ran it in 3:17:09, and I felt like a truck hit me for about 2 weeks afterward lol!

 

[slp1650]

Just got permission a few days ago to take the time off of from my internship to fly back for the race. So excited I don't have to give it up and I can get my C2C medal! I still have yet to buy my plane ticket, but I reserved a DVC months ago

On a training note... damn I'm sore. I did part of a Jillian Michael's DVD yesterday and everything from my quads to my shoulders and arms is sore right now. Biking to class is not going to be fun today, especially in the wind...

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Will we be running around Angels infield? I sure hope so, it was were I was going to park my family to see me. The description doesn't sound like it and I'm frustrated that there is still no course map.

I want to say that I read somewhere a while back (somewhere on this thread maybe?) that this year the course is taking us around the outside of Angels stadium because there is a day game scheduled there that day. I was pretty bummed when I read that too. I don't know how accurate it is and I haven't looked at the team's schedule or anything, but it does make sense that we couldn't run through there with game day prep going on.

September 4th the Angels have a home game against the Twins at 12:35pm.

 

[Cripey]

September 4th the Angels have a home game against the Twins at 12:35pm.

BOO!

 

[kim3339]

Anyone know where the real bathrooms are on this course?

Will we be running around Angels infield? I sure hope so, it was were I was going to park my family to see me. The description doesn't sound like it and I'm frustrated that there is still no course map.

If the course stays similar to what it's been in the past, I know for sure there are bathrooms around Mile 5-6 on Lewis street. I think, but not 100% sure, there are some right after we turn into the DL Parking lot after Mile 1 and when we go back through that area at the end of the race. I do know that people have turned off when we get into the park. Aside from that, I can't think of any others.

Since we won't be running in the stadium, you can still tell you family to see you there. When this happen the 3rd year, we ran along the outside of the park. In front of the stadium, there are 2 ginormous helmets at the entrance to the stadium, there weren't many people there. Also, as we leave the parking lot, there's a water stop in the lot, but after, there's really no one there. That would be a good place, b/c you'd be able to see them. The cross street is State College and Gene Autry Blvd.

Course Mapwise though, don't think it'll be released until at least the beginning of July, maybe mid. I think they're waiting on the parts of construction that they know will be finished to see if we can go back in the park towards the end or where we can run in the beginning. If you want, I can pull out older ones and try to post them tomorrow if you like. Just let me know!

 

[Saylan]

Course map is up: Course Map.

 

[johde]

Thanks for the information. I'm now trying to figure out where we're going. The map isn't near as detailed as past years. In DCA it looks like past Monster's Inc, and bugs life before exiting near soarin'. Disneyland looks like up main street, through tomorrow land, the castle then out the side. Can't tell for sure if it's around angles stadium for through the stadium (I'm still figuring around, but we're making a couple of strange corners there), Overall it seems like less DCA and more Disneyland.

 

[ban26ana]

Thanks for the course info. How is the entertainment for this race? I did the Princess in February and the entertainment gave me something to look forward to. I'm very scared to do a long race like this without much entertainment. I'm not that focused of a runner yet.

 

[johde]

Thanks for the course info. How is the entertainment for this race? I did the Princess in February and the entertainment gave me something to look forward to. I'm very scared to do a long race like this without much entertainment. I'm not that focused of a runner yet.

This is my first time running the race but I've looked at the youtube videos of prior years. First 4 miles is Disney style entertainment, next 8 is normal big city race entertainment. Bands of every type imaginable, cheerleaders, Dancers, etc. Running through the city, there also seems to be general cheering throughout.

 

[jeanigor]

I am fairly certain that runDisney announced on their Facebook today that the route map has been released and that we should be expecting an e-newsletter soon.

 

[kim3339]

Course map is up: Course Map.

Thanks for the link!! Guess I was way off about the release of the map.

 

[rnronda]

If the course stays similar to what it's been in the past, I know for sure there are bathrooms around Mile 5-6 on Lewis street. I think, but not 100% sure, there are some right after we turn into the DL Parking lot after Mile 1 and when we go back through that area at the end of the race. I do know that people have turned off when we get into the park. Aside from that, I can't think of any others.

Since we won't be running in the stadium, you can still tell you family to see you there. When this happen the 3rd year, we ran along the outside of the park. In front of the stadium, there are 2 ginormous helmets at the entrance to the stadium, there weren't many people there. Also, as we leave the parking lot, there's a water stop in the lot, but after, there's really no one there. That would be a good place, b/c you'd be able to see them. The cross street is State College and Gene Autry Blvd.

Thanks for the great info. The map sure looks like we are running through the stadium doesn't it. I think I will send them over there anyway.

@Saylan thanks for the map. Now maybe I can keep on my training schedule. I've posted it over my treadmill.

 

[Embroidery Grandma]

According to the description we are going thru the stadium

Kathy

 

[kim3339]

According to the description we are going thru the stadium

Kathy

I saw that, and I seriously think I'm going crazy. Did anyone look at the map this morning and see us going around the stadium? I swear that's what it was when I looked this morning. I don't know, maybe it's me.

I just think it's weird that the Angels are letting us run along the foul lines when the game starts so early. I know teams usually either have a short batting practice, or none at all after a night game, but still, they have to get the field ready. Don't get me wrong though, I love running around the field and everyone in the stadium, just from a baseball prospective, it seems weird.

 

[ludari]

I agree the map appears to indicate the race route will take us around Angel Stadium and not through it. I was a little disappointed that this years map was not as detailed as last years. In any event, it's going to be a event and I am looking forward to having fun.

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

The one one the right I printed this morning and the one one the left is the map shown now.

 

[ludari]

The one one the right I printed this morning and the one one the left is the map shown now.

When I checked this morning I only noticed the map on the right. Thanks for the update.

 

[johde]

The map on the right was ambiguous. The new map makes it clear we're running through the stadium. Given the 6:00am start, figure 6:30 for the last person to cross the start line. Angel stadium is in mile 10. At a 16 minute pace the last person should be out of the stadium by 9:00 at the latest (technically, they should be just beyond the edge of the parking lot by then). That gives them 3 1/2 hours to get ready for the game.

 

[cyberjoek]

So I went out to the parks with a copy of the course map and a GPS to try and match it as best I could. This is my best guess as to where we're going this year on property based on the map as we have it now (v3)

1. Enter through the original main drive-on gate
2. Run down and back on the Toy Story Parking Lot Bus area
3. Back down the tram way to backstage
4. Enter DCA next to Tower of Terror
5. Turn left onto Hollywood Boulevard
Now here's the part that was unclear, by my GPS match the turning point is in the middle of Test Pilot's Grill. I think that means we're going out by Soarin or it could mean they'll be more clear closer to the day as they know exactly what the construction situation is going to be.
6. Exiting via Main Gate or Soarin Gate (TBA)
7. Across the Esplanade
8. Enter Disneyland from the west end of the turnstiles
9. Go through the west tunnel under the railroad
10. Around the east side of Town Square
11. Go south of Partners and north of Astro Orbiter
12. Go south of the old Tomorrowland Transit Authority
13. Run past the Tomorrowland Terrace then turn left to go south of the Matterhorn
14. Right hand turn as we head into Fantasyland, turning left again before we get to Tea Cups
15. Left hand turn to head through the Castle (woo hoo)
16. Right hand turn into Fronterland, heading straight for the Rivers of America
17. Going south around the Rivers of America then up into Critter Country
18. Head backstage next to Splash Mountain
19. Emerge from backstage at the back gate of Mickey's Toontown
20. Run south past It's A Small World
21. Take one last look back as we leave the park through the Parade Gate next to IASW
22. Exit to backstage then the streets of Anaheim

That's the best I can do with this map and my GPS. If there's intrest I'll do a video walkthrough sometime next week when I'm back at the parks (I'm not a CM so it'll only be the onstage parts).

-Joe Kavanagh