Originally posted at laurabowers.net on March 17, 2014. I’m updating my author website by moving all older runDisney and running content here!
Whoa, look at me, on a recap roll! First a post on the Expo, then the 5k, and now this? My blog won’t know how to act with all this attention from me. But I’m starting a new book tomorrow and P90X3 (which I will finish, by golly, I mean it this time,) so I really wanted to get these done.
Enough chatter, let’s get to it!
Transportation for the 10k started at 3:30 and once again, I was up early and out the door in time for the first batch. What a lovely sight, seeing these buses waiting for us! Such a big difference from last year. I can’t emphasis how important it is to show up early.
It was also lovely finding out that I was sitting by a Perfect Princess! (Someone who had completed all five races.) I reacted as though she was royalty and in a way, she is! I loved hearing what the race means to her and how she plans on continuing her legacy. I hope she does!
(Hmm, I didn’t realize until now that my bow was lopsided. Bugger. Okay, let it go, let it go, don’t get all OCD …)
Moving on! We soon arrived at the Expo parking lot and walked to the stage area.
After grabbing a coffee, I did some more people watching and social media catch-ups while my running pals trickled it. It would have been nice if there were some pre-race character photos, but as far as I know, they didn’t have any for 5k, 10k or half marathon. (I remember seeing Mickey at the 2013 5k but that’s about it.)
There were some awesome costumes, like these gals who went as Haunted Mansion Dooney & Bourke bags! Completely cool, although how they ran in them for six miles is beyond me.
Speaking of costumes – my Team Sparkle Minnie skirt was so comfortable! And because of the god-awful humidity, I wore running shorts instead of capris in public for the first time in … well, forever. (I have issues. Long story.)
My race plans were to run with Maria (third from the right as Rapunzel wearing the cool light-up braid,) and Lynn (front and center in a green Sparkle Skirt.) We headed off together to the corral area for a potty break, only to discover that we couldn’t return to the stage area again. Bummer – we missed another group photo, but look at who we ran into instead!
Doesn’t the shadows make my smile look freakish? And I have to admit. I felt a little guilty for this pose. What if they are tired of everyone acting scared around them? You know, like how dentists can grow weary of folks being afraid of them? Or maybe I tend to over think things. Occupational hazard. And they were lovely. Check out Margaritas, Miles & the Mouse’s interview with them!
Okay. Now, about those corrals. I had qualified for A, but my friends were in a different one so I planned on moving back to be with them. But I have to admit. I’m Type A. Like, all caps, put-it-in-bold TYPE A. Since it was an inaugural race, I got itchy with a huge desire to be in the very front of the first corral for the first Enchanted 10k.
So after Maria and Lynn assured me they would not be insulted, (love them,) I put back on the same Little Miss Independent hat from the 5k and hauled booty to Corral A, going to the very front (but failing to realize that I was standing behind the permanent barricade instead of the temporary one. Rookie mistake.)
Pretty soon, we were funneled out and behind the rope, walking toward the start line! We had to stop at the walkway between the stage and corral areas, though, for straggling runners still crossing to the corrals. Volunteers were hollering for them to hurry, making me wonder what happened to make them so late. Traffic? Alarm malfunction? It did give me a chance to notice a girl in front of me who was wearing the most awesome shirt ever!
If you haven’t read this hilarious comic about long distance running by Matthew Inman at The Oatmeal, do so immediately! (Well, after reading this. My recap will get better soon, I swear.)
[Note to Self: Order my own Blerch shirt immediately. After writing this, of course.]
So anyway, the volunteers waited as long as possible for late comers to pass, but they finally had to shut the barricades, making me feel sorry for the runners who didn’t get it. Hope they let them pass after Corral A started. Soon, we were standing beneath the starting line, ready to go!
So excited! After some welcoming words from the stage and a countdown I could hardly hear, fireworks were blasting and we were OFF!
A lesson to be learned from being at the front of Corral A: Be prepared to have faster guys gazelle-jumping around you. Which is okay – they’re trying for a PR, but it startled me a bit. Add that to my over excitement, and I ended up running way too fast for the first quarter mile, turning me into a gaspy mess.
I forced myself to settle down and slow my rope. By the time I made it to the absolute BEST part of the entire run–Elsa’s welcome from an overpass–I was back to breathing and running at my normal pace. The falling snow was such an awesome touch, another reason why I love runDisney events!
Speaking of snow, a brief training recap: Because of all the crappy snow and ice we were having, I trained exclusively on the treadmill. This really kicked me in the rear after the half marathon, but so far, I was feeling pretty good and hitting Mile One at a nice pace.
At first, I also regretted not bringing my ear buds since the first few miles were very quiet. But then I settled in and simply enjoyed my surroundings without any distractions.
After the race, there were reports of folks being disappointed with the first few miles and yes – it was a bit lackluster, but I had a nice time running by myself, thinking about my life, reflecting on the good, and making plans for more improvement. And they had a large screen set up at around mile 2 that played Disney clips which was pretty cool. (My picture didn’t turn out.)
Entering Epcot’s World Showcase between Norway and China was magical. I loved it. Absolutely loved, loved, LOVED it! And yeah, that part of the course was similar to the 5k … but it’s my favorite part of the 5k so it didn’t bother me.
Have I talked about the weather yet? No? Well. It was hot. And humid. And muggy. And humid. I was sweaty. Very sweaty.
Considering I started in Corral A and I busted booty for the first few miles, the character lines were surprisingly long throughout the race. That was okay, I used the time to post pictures and see what my other running pals were up to.
I soon said adios to World Showcase before Great Britain by turning onto the International Gateway and entered the Boardwalk, my second favorite part of the race! Boardwalk Inn has been on my dream resort list ever since my Disney addiction began in 2006 and there’s several pictures of it on my Vision Board. Some day, some day!
It was awesome seeing so many Boardwalk Inn guests cheering us on. (For that matter, all ChEARleaders are awesome as are the many wonderful volunteers!)
And what??? Who did I see up ahead? None of than two ladies from my running group, Angela and Anna, the wonderful Free Selfie ladies who later risked life and limb to cheer on runners during the half marathon on an overpass. Best character stop of the race! (#freeselfies, #princessselfies.)
Woo-HOO, the finish line!
Which was exciting.
And kind of sad because it meant the run was over.
But mostly exciting.
All in all, it was an absolutely wonderful race and I was shedding some happy tears at the finish line. There could have been more going on during the first three miles and it would be nice running through some fresh scenery but I had a total blast – even by myself. I’ll most certainly be back next year to keep up my legacy!
Isn’t it cool, saying you have a legacy? It *almost* tempts me to sign up for the Avengers Half Marathon … but not quite. I’ll stick with the East Coast for a while.
After gathering yet another goodie box, I got in a huge, huge line for a photo with Rapunzel. It was, after all, her race. The clouds started to darken, however, and when there was only about ten ladies ahead of me, Rapunzel had to run for cover when a few raindrops fell. Diva!
Some ladies bailed but I stuck it out after coming so far. I’m really glad I did, because Cinderella soon came out. I never had a photo with Cinderella before! Score!
After doing a bit of lollygagging and joining the long line for … hmm, I think it was Snow White, I noticed the time and realized I had to get going in order to make a 10:00 ADR at ‘Ohanas. with Maria and Lynn. Yikes, shouldn’t have lollygagged! Look at the line for All-Stars!
It moved pretty fast, though. So I was back at All Stars, showered, changed, and on the bus for Magic Kingdom in good time.
Bob and I have never done a character breakfast–or any meal–before, (my man rocks but he’s not big on character interactions,) so I was looking forward to having breakfast at ‘Ohanas. So was Bob when he found out he could have unlimited portions of bacon.
My man loves bacon.
Like, really, really, REALLY loves bacon. If you look hard enough, you might see the tears of joy in his eyes.
The meal was great and it was awesome spending more time with Maria, Lynn, and their lovely families, but while Bob did eat his body weight in bacon, breakfast at ‘Ohanas is not high on our repeat list. We both would rather have a sit down meal at dinner.
Afterwards, we headed back to Magic Kingdom to put those Fastpass+ selections to good work and spend some time together before our dinner at The Wave!
This year, I was smart and made an ADR at 5:00 so I’d be back at the resort and in bed by 8:00, getting plenty of rest for another day of running.
Next up, Big Momma … the Princess Half Marathon!
