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Disneyland Half Marathon Race Re-Cap 2014

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I thought this would be the? PR race.? I thought this would be a redemption for the crappy runs I had this winter.

I thought wrong.

The Disneyland Half Marathon was just not my race, y’all.

Here’s the race re-cap though: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.? Oh and the Weird.

I’m going to start with the Weird.? These numbers don’t look that bad.

weather DL half 2014

I’ve run in worse.? I’ve run in 10 degrees hotter and 100% humidity.

But this race is in my top 3 hottest most miserable get-me-the-eff-off-this-course experiences.

It was hot.? And muggy. And gross. But the numbers don’t look so bad, which is why I call it the Weird.

The only saving grace were those sweet, sweet little clouds.? If we were running in full sun like we did last year… man, I can’t even think about how bad it would have been!

From the start I was just not “feeling it.”? You know, the excitement and giddiness you get as you get dressed for a race and make your way to the corrals.? That feeling.

It just wasn’t there.? Even though I thought my costume turned out super cute.? This was the Good:

Nemo collage

I wasn’t alone in not “feeling it.”? My running buddy Lisa was in the same boat.

Maybe we stayed at the parks too long on Saturday or maybe we didn’t eat enough or maybe it was just too freakin hot… but we just weren’t “feeling it.”

I hoped the corral would change things.

Nope.

We were in Corral H.? H for HOT and HUMID.

By the way, playing Let It Go for every corral start in front of us wasn’t helping the mood.

Corral H

I grabbed a few pictures as we got closer to the front.

The bike guys (sweepers? medics?) told me this would be the last time they saw me- I appreciated that one!

DL Half bikes

runDisney did things a little differently to start this race. The first corrals went off in pairs until F.? Then G went off alone and so did H right around 6am.

I honestly do not remember any part of these first couple of miles.? I was bitching and moaning about how hot it was and how much I was NOT feeling this race.

Come on Shenanigans, get it together!? You’re at Disneyland for goodness sake!

The first 4 miles through the parks.? Usually this is the best part of the course.? Since I already knew I was in a negative state of mind I recognized that I would not be stopping for many pictures.? If any.

I grabbed a few that I felt I couldn’t pass up but didn’t stop in any lines.

DL Half 14 1

DL Half 14 2

Hey, if you can’t have fun, why do it?

There were more characters for the half than we saw on the 10K course.? You can check the re-cap for that one here if you missed it.

In DCA there were Army men (in fact, we saw quite a few of them!),? Jake,? and the Cars Land folks.? I may be missing some.

In Disneyland we saw Mexico Donald (I hear it was actually the Three Caballeros but only Donald was out when we went by), Prince Charming and the Step Sisters, a host of villains (Maleficent, Cruella, Dr. Facillier, Jafar, the Evil Queen), and Darth Vader and Storm Troopers.

2nd Dumbo Dare Challenge picture

2nd Dumbo Dare Challenge picture

The parks were very crowded and even though we really didn’t stop much, our first four miles were pretty slow.? Slow even for us.

Lisa and I knew the next nine miles would get done, but they wouldn’t be pretty.

Today I read a couple of other bloggers re-caps and this seems to be a common theme.? For some reason, this race was a bit tougher than normal for many runners.

This was the Bad.

It didn’t help that I over analyze things when they start falling apart.? Like my friend Karen said, I had to have “the talk” with myself around mile 4.

Normally this is straight into the sun.  But we lucked out with the clouds!

Normally this is straight into the sun. But we lucked out with the clouds!

Was anything hurting?? No.

Was I feeling sick?? No.

ITB ok?? Meh… it was a little tight, but I’ve run when it was worse.? So… no.

PF acting up?? No.? Feet were good.

Was I hydrated and had enough gels?? Yes.

Basically my check list wasn’t popping any major issues.? There was no physical reason I not to keep going.? It was all in my head.

At this point I warned Lisa that I needed to put on my head phones and zone out.? She wished me well and we separated.

Errr… kinda.

As it turned out we kept leap frogging each other through the race.? She had some tight legs and ankle issues so she would stop and stretch out.? I stopped a few times for pictures.? In the end we stayed pretty close to each other.

When we run out of characters, Disney runners create photo stops!

When we run out of characters, Disney runners create photo stops!

Miles 5-9 were ok for me.? They were all around 15:20-15:30? minute miles and I was THRILLED that I was moving at that pace.

I enjoy the streets of Anaheim and all the community support.

I especially enjoyed seeing this lady and the Popsicle she gave me at mile 6!

Love ya, Tracy!  Thanks for being there!

Love ya, Tracy! Thanks for being there!

The classic cars were fabulous, as usual.? I wish I had the speed it takes to be able to stop and truly admire the cars every year.

They sure are gorgeous and a nice distraction at the middle part of the course.

I grabbed this one real quick.? You see,? Mr. Shenanigans owned one of these babies when I met him.

IMG_3067

It’s now parked on my ring finger.

Awwweee…

Cars Collage

About the time we finished the cars, the sun decided it was time to play.

Nooooo… I had 4 miles left!

With the sun coming out I wanted to walk even more.? So far I had kept to my intervals of 30 second run and 1 minute walk.? It wasn’t fast but once out of the park and away from the congestion it was keeping me below pace and that’s all I could ask for at this point.

Dl Half 14 7

Then the Ugly happened.

When I left the stadium my brain took over.

Y’all, that’s not a good thing.? That’s when I gave up.

Yep… I gave the freak up and just slowed to a snails pace.

Remember that physical checklist?? I was still good.? Or at least good enough to stick to my plan.

My ITB was acting up a bit more and I was chaffing pretty much EVERYWHERE due to the extreme amounts of sweat pouring off me.? But I wasn’t in any major pain.? I should have kept running.

But I didn’t.? I walked the last 3 miles.? Full on walked.? Turned off the intervals and just moseyed on in for the end of the race.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not dissing walkers, not at all.? But this was not in my plan.? And runners hate it when the plan falls apart.

My original goal was finishing around 3 hours.? Based on my training, this was possible.

But it wasn’t happening.

Not. Even Close.? I knew this early on, but still hoped to find some silver lining in this cloud of a race.

I’ll say this about myself- when I crash and burn I do it spectacularly.? My final miles were 3 and 4 minutes slower than my previous pace.? Yeesh.

The last miles had some fun surprises.? I truly smile to think of all the people who stuck around for the back of the pack.? Y’all rock.

I loved seeing all the finishers hanging around the final stetch cheering and yelling for us.? Runners:? you are AMAZINGLY positive.

IMG_3090

Kris and Mindy from Race Every Step were a welcome sight at mile 12.5

The final kick got to me and I managed to run the last little bit of the race.? I even got a shout out as I crossed the finish line from the race announcers.

After crossing the finish line, I reunited with Lisa and we headed back to our hotels.

We had an all-you-can-eat BBQ lunch planned for later!

Celebrating at Disneyland is my favorite thing ever.? It might actually be why I sign up for these races!

DL Half 14 8

I have a lot of work to do before I’m ready for Goofy.

Full disclosure: I’m even considering dropping the half and just completing the full.? This race weekend shook me up a bit.

I know I have time.? I know I will do the training.? And I know I have to figure out how to mentally fight through the doubts.? I have to figure out how to deal with the things I cannot change like the weather.

There you have it: the Weird, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the 2014 Disneyland Half.

Did you run the Disneyland Half this year?? Did you have any mental or physical issues to fight through in your last half?

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Holly

Saturday 17th of January 2015

Did you make or buy your shirt?? I am planning to be Nemo and my friend Dory for Princess weekend next month. LOVE YOURS!

patty

Saturday 17th of January 2015

It was made for me. I love it too!

Melissa

Saturday 6th of September 2014

Well I also appreciate your honesty... I am sorry that it was such a rough run! Your costumes were amazing and you should be proud to have finished! I am hoping to tackle goofy someday too...maybe 2016...gotta get that Coast to Coast sometime!

Allyson Brandt

Saturday 6th of September 2014

I'm sorry you had such a rough run. I'm impressed that you finished! I hope the next one is better for ya!

April at RunTheGreatWideSomewhere

Saturday 6th of September 2014

I feel like I'm reading my own Tink recap! And I still haven't gotten that out of my head. Focus on the positive, you finished. Under pace. You didn't give up and sit on a curb and get picked up. You didn't get injured. If you figure out how to shut up that head chatter during a race, please let me know, it gets me every time!

I'm so impressed that you are tackling Goofy. Just learn from this one and trust that the Florida weather will cooperate in January! And maybe I'll join you for Goofy 2016!

Beth

Friday 5th of September 2014

Doesn't that suck, starting a race and knowing you just aren't into it.. I'm sorry for that. You gutted it out and finished. From the looks of the pictures you had a good time. I think when a race or a run isn't going well I ask myself, am I having fun? and if I'm not having fun why am I not having fun? Usually because I've set some unrealistic expectation on the race or the run. I back that down to the bare bones of right foot left foot right foot left foot and smile and it all seems to be better. I did the Princess 1/2 in Disney World (Florida) we were hardly in the park, I'm glad you actually were able to run through the park.

Keep on keeping on!!!

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