Today is August 2nd, which means there are only 30 days until I’m heading to sunny California for runDisney’s 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon, woo-HOOOOOOO!!!
Yeah, I’m a little excited for the following ten awesome reasons.
1.) All four Joyful Miles bloggers will be there!
SUPER EXCITED about this! Now only is it awesome spending time with Jackey, Megan, and Rob, but we can finally get a better profile picture! This was our plan during the Broad Street 10-Miler, but the cold rain put a stop to that. Thank goodness we at least got a great picture by the Rocky statue! Balboa to the rescue.
I can also shoot video for a new YouTube trailer, since Rob is left out of the current one. And speaking of video … oh my goodness, we have big plans! Joyful Miles contributor, Sara Hudson suggested we try filming an expo haul video. I’ve never done one before, but hey, it is a good excuse to buy more!
I’m also super stoked that our good friends James, Leslie, and Brooke, a writer for Runner’s World, will be there! We are all running the Dumbo Double Dare, so there’s been some serious costume planning going on. Here’s a (very obvious) hint on what mine will be for the half:
2.) This will be my first Disneyland Half Marathon!
Normally doing a race weekend for the first time makes me anxious and brings out my crazy, but not this one, baby! I’m looking forward to this new experience … so much so that I have yet to do tons of research and course analysis.
Well, I did find this fun post over at Gojo Runner.
And I did a quick search for a 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon course map in hopes we will still be running through the Angel Stadium. Nothing so far, but the official course description at runDisney.com sounds promising!
Why I can't wait for the @runDisney #DisneylandHalf #DumboDoubleDare #werunsocial #Disneyland #runchat Click To TweetIt’s the Disneyland®Half Marathon weekend and the course for this magical half marathon event will take you from Disney California Adventure® Park, celebrating California’s storied past and exciting future, to Disneyland®Park, home of Mickey, Minnie, Donald and the whole Disney gang. Then it’s on to the scenic streets of Anaheim, past the Honda Center, home of the Anaheim Ducks, along the Santa Ana Trail overlooking the Santa Ana River, through Angel Stadium, home of the MLB’s Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and then on to Disney’s Paradise Pier® Hotel and the Disneyland®Hotel for an exciting finish. Ideal weather and a flat loop course set the stage for an exhilarating Half Marathon designed to shatter personal bests.
3.) The Country Bears 5k!!!!
Good grief, I’m so ridiculously excited about this! Not only do Jackey and I love, love, LOVE the Country Bears, we’re also going to run together for the very first time. Shenanigans, mayhem, and madness will surely occur!
Plus, the race is ENTIRELY in Disneyland and California Adventure, which was what made the Neverland 5k so fantastic. Since there are no corral assignments, our plan is to leave super early to get a spot near the front of Corral A, then get pictures with every character, mile marker, character actor, cool backdrop, and casual bystander, taking our good ole’ sweet time.
It. Will. Be. Epic.
Plus our costumes are going to be really cute.
4.) The Country Bears 5k will have MEDALS for the first time!
Last Thursday, runDisney announced some changes for future races, including having medals for the 5k races instead of rubber medallions.
Now, Jackey and I both have mixed feelings about this since we liked the medallions. And imagine how cute and colorful a Country Bears one would be! But, it is rather cool that we’re participating in the first 5k that’s getting medals, so I’m forcing myself to be excited about this.
Speaking of medals…..
5.) Look at the Dumbo Double Dare medal!!!
Cute, cute, cute, cute, CUTE!!
I shall hold my tongue about the 10k and half ones, though.
6.) Our own non-park California Adventure
Now, normally when I go to either Disneyland or Disney World, I’m a stay-in-the-Disney-bubble kind of gal. But everyone’s excitement over touring Los Angeles has rubbed off on me! We haven’t made concrete plans yet, but this might include a Santa Monica Rocky/Apollo-inspired beach run plus a visit to the high school Grease was filmed at.
Surely I’m going to get some great videos from this, like our Wannamakers adventure!
7.) Eating at Goofy’s Kitchen
Since I’m a bit of an El Cheapo when it comes to dining, I rarely do character meals. I mean, spending $90 for a runDisney jacket that I’ll wear again and again? Sure. $40+ for a meal that I’ll only poop out the next day? Eh, pass. But our group has never done a character meal before so it should be an awesome experience. Plus, it’s Jackey’s favorite table service and she’s just as big of an El Cheapo as I am when it comes to meals, so it will be worth it!
8.) Trying Disneyland’s Monte Cristo at Café Orleans
While listening to the Mickey Miles & More Podcast, AJ from The Disney Food Blog mentioned how the Monte Cristo from either Blue Bayou or Café Orleans is her FAVORITE meal at Disneyland.
When a food blogger calls out a sandwich as her favorite meal … I pay attention.
Plus I love sandwiches.
So this bad boy has a big date with my belly.
9.) Riding Tower of Terror before it’s ruined!
Okay, so I’m feeling a little saucy about the confirmed rumor that Tower of Terror will be replaced with Guardians of the Galaxy. Now, I’m all about reinvention. Nor do I get overly territorial about sentimental rides. Universal Studios tearing down Jaws for Harry Potter? Yeah. Brilliant move. But to mess with one of the best themed rides in amusement park history???
No.
Not cool, no matter how great Guardians of the Galaxy was. So I plan on riding the Tower of Terror as many times as possible with sad little tears brimming in my eyes.
10.) Waking up LATER!!
Okay, so I did mention in this Tinkerbell Half Marathon vlog that one of my least favorite things about a West Coast runDisney race is how there’s no pre and post entertainment.
But.
Not having to wake up at 2:30? Yeah. That’s super awesome. Plus as an East Coast gal, the time zone change certainly works in my favor. Of course, staying at the Grand California in May did spoil me a tad, but we’re certainly saving tons of money by staying at a Good Neighbor hotel.
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So there you go, the ten reasons why I’m super excited about this years Disneyland Half Marathon.
QOTD: Are you going to be there?
If so, fantastic, please be sure to look us up since we’d love to meet new friends! You can find us at:
We plan on being at the Expo Thursday afternoon and hitting up Trader Joe’s at some time. I’ll be the one either filming or talking into a camera, so be sure to say hi!
And as always, have a joyful day!
1. So excited to see the expo haul!
2. DL half is awesome!
3. I’m jealous about The Country Bears theme.
4. I think I’m sad about the medallions.
5. Love the Dumbo medal this year! Mine is one of my favorites!
6. Can’t wait to see your California adventures!
7. Goofy’s Kitchen is so fun!
8. I have not been to Café Orleans
9. Im not attached to the ToT theme so open to something new plus they are keeping it the same at wdw.
10. Waking up later is the best!
QOTD – I won’t be there this year but wishing I was! Can’t wait to read and see videos!