Disneyland 10K

So I am going to skip talking about the expo.  It was crowded, I was cranky (what, me cranky at Disneyland?).  Mom waited in line about 2 hours or more to purchase some Dumbo Double Dare items for me and there were just so many people it kind of just bugged me beyond belief.  Moving on to happier memories.

 This post is long and full of lots of pictures.  I carried my camera for the 10K but not the half marathon since I knew most of the course would be "off" Disney property and honestly there wasn't much I'd have wanted to stop for a photo of.

 The start of the race was a disaster to put it mildly.  They had the 5K start 45 minutes before us in 5 minute waves.  We weren't allowed to enter our corrals until they finished the waves and that was about 15 minutes before we started.  A lot of runners very nervous about making it to the start and panic.  Um, I was there for fun but still was concerned since if I didn't get in the 10K I wasn't going to get the coveted Dumbo medal (he's my absolute favorite and I would have had an honest to goodness melt down temper tantrum with uncontrollable sobbing).  Fortunately for Disney this did not happen.  Probably even better for my Momma for not having to deal with that.

 Right away we headed into Cars Land through Route 66.  It was a hot and humid morning with temps already in the mid 70's and probably about 70% humidity.  Hot but not hotter than I have handled in a race before.  I figured stop, take lots of photos and be ready for the half the next day.

 Selfie with World of Color in the background.  Much more beautiful the next morning while it was still dark out.  With any back to back race the strategy is to survive to see the next day.  If you feel good and conditions are favorable bust a move on that second day (or third).

 The 10K theme was Wonderland so they had all sorts of Alice in Wonderland characters out and about for the day.  Characters that you would not normally see so of course I had to stop.

 Perhaps the cutest flowers I will ever see and they weren't scary.  I like this kind of flower.  Or the one from Bambi (also known as a skunk).

 My time already starting to shape up into "meh."  Don't worry, it got slower as I went through Disneyland due to waiting to see characters.

 While waiting to see characters I take a look back at what I have run and check out the other runners costumes and such.  I also get some pretty unique photos at the same time.

 Apparently people run with their iphones so when faced with a real camera for photos people seem to have a tough time.  Hence the weird walking and awkwardness of some of the photos.  They think it's taken the photo and tell me, OK when it's clearly not.

 Joey Fatone!  I also saw him at the Goofy Challenge both days I was there.  Did not see him for the half but he did finish it alongside his lovely wife.  Both are so nice and humble to all the runners who want to stop for photos.  They don't care that they are all sweaty, which is nice cause we all know we aren't looking our best in a race.

 This guy totally reminded me of my Papa Bear.  He picked up the course cone and was using it as a mega phone.  Way to be super awesome.  At least he was cheering which is a lot more than I can say for many of the other cast members.

 Halloween parade floats since they are getting those ready for special performances very soon.  Made me excited to visit a different time of year than my usual.  Hint Hint handsome Manfriend of mine.

 They did a great job of having items and characters along the course for us to be entertained.  These characters were great but I was annoyed at a girl running at this part of the course.  She jumps in front of the line and says she isn't cutting.  Obviously a Cast Member and starts talking to the guy taking the photos and the characters start interacting with her for a few minutes while the rest of us wait in line for our chance to photo and continue.  After this she is in line for characters to have photos and same thing happens.  GRRR!  Take the photo and keep moving, that's what the rest of us do and expect of you.

Sticking with the Wonderland theme we've had the Flowers, Cards and now Mad Hatter and Alice, Queen of Hearts and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (and as Mr. Gallagher said Tweedle Dumber pointing to himself).  

 That was it for the characters.  Meanwhile my mom was at the finish line having her own kind of fun and frustrations.  They didn't put the start of the 10K on the big screen but rather continued to show the people finishing the 5K (right in front of her) on the screen.

She snaps a photo of the first male and female finisher and the confetti burst.  Then tells me that the clean up crew is trying to sweep around runners to clean it up rather than leaving it to take care of at the conclusion of the event.  Also some unfortunate issue with not having the finishers tape up for some runner that was the top runner (or was that half day?).  Anyways, they have some issues to work out.

 The strange curve of the finish did not provide much room for her to "spot" me coming into the finish. Probably didn't help that she was really looking for my bright green Tink outfit.  Hi mom.  I finished and I see you!

 On my way to get my medal and get another wristband to identify that I earn a Dumbo tomorrow.  So now I've got two wrist bands and feel like a ridiculous teenage girl with a coast to coast band, Dumbo band and watch taking up half my arm.

Tomorrow I will be earning my Dumbo medal and I am beyond excited.