Surfing Through a 10K Run

I think the more we participate in runDisney events, the easier it is to wake up at 3 AM. I'm sure it helps that it's our regular wake up time for work. 

I have to add that usually I have a little excitement the night before and I can't fall asleep quickly. This time around I had no problem sleeping. We had a long day. 

As I mentioned, we wake up around 3 AM for work. The Friday before the run we needed to pick up our race information. So after working ten hours we arrived at the Expo near 4 PM. There was a healthy sized crowd at the Disneyland Hotel convention center. The crowd flow was great and organized. Participants are sent into the parking garage, which was decorated for the occasion, then back out again to the halls. 

It was a hot day and we were ready to get back into the convention center. 

Eric and I didn't buy anything this time around. We did browse a few booths for men's active wear. The fashion was dedicated to women with character themed skirts and headwear. Don't these vendors know that men also wear clothes? We even wore clothes to the event to prove this. 

We were eager to get home. After a quick stop in the Official Merchandise store, we left. Eric and I had to make the same trek back to the car through a very hot Downtown Disney. I was crossing my fingers that the weather during the race wouldn't be as hot and humid as last year. 

Getting back to the start of our story, before the break of dawn.  It almost seemed like we were one of the first to arrive. Getting into the structure was so easy. I don't think we had seen this before. As it turns out, we had forgotten that both the 5K and 10K took place at the same time last year. This year they had been separated, a good thing. 

Here you can see we are ready to take on the world. (Translation : Take on the slope that dips under the hotel tram drop off....hate that part of the course)

I want to mention there was a slight, cool breeze happening!! No humidity like last year!  

As the participants gather with anticipation, all of our attention is locked on one individual. Kronk! 

This was the best costume we had seen that day. This guy even had Izma vocals and music from the film, Emperor's New Groove. I'm not sure how he dealt with wind resistance, but everyone loved it. Here's one more full body shot where Izma is shown. 

The route was the same as last year and that was a relief. It's great to know what you're in for so that you can prepare for the "ups and downs". 

As Eric and I made our way through the course, we kept an 11 minute per mile pace. We do enjoy character photo ops, but we didn't really see anyone that caught our eye. 

Apparently we were fine with photos of just ourselves! 

Eric used to drive this trolley through Toontown, during his attractions days.

 

The theme of Stitch/Polynesian/Retro Elvis was falling flat. I don't think I even saw Lilo out along the route. "Elvis" Stitch was near the river in Frontierland, but at that point we didn't feel like waiting in the queue. Running along the Rivers of America meant that we were almost through with this 10K! 

Both Eric and I paid homage to our friend Miley-chan, as we ran past the Pirates of the Carribean attraction. It was at that spot where Miley fell during the 2014 Tinkerbell Half. But, I think we promised not to tell anyone. 

We wound our way through Downtown Disney. Once we hit the Tortilla Joe's restaurant, that's when I knew it was almost over. This race had gone by quickly. I think it's my favorite length of a run event because it's all in good fun. There wasn't a moment where I had to negotiate with myself to keep pushing forward. I can recall whistling at one point, but I forget what melody I used. 

And look! They even gave us medals! We finished in 1 hour and 8 minutes. That's about 11 minutes shorter than last year's 10K, not bad! 

I can be seen here looking very awkward and hunched over. Not my best photo at all!

We also had a few pals running the event. Josh and Daniel joined in for the second year in a row. No one passed out and we all finished. Both Eric and I skipped the Half Marathon this year. I'm pretty sure we will run the Dumbo Challenge next Labor Day (run both the 10K and Half Marathon in one weekend). 

For the time being, Eric has the Avenger's Half in November. I'll train with him, and then cheer him on from the sidelines. I'm going to try and see him at as many cheering locations as possible. So, I guess it's a good idea I'll be training with him!!! 

Ever Thought About a RunDisney Event?

Who had the odd ball idea to run two races in one weekend? It was Eric's idea and I said, "Well....alright!" Plus, I didn't want to just be in the cheer section as he ran his 10K. Maybe I was the one out of my mind?

And now, lets check our Runners Roster! Our good friend Ricky would also run both races. Friends and couple, Josh and Daniel would be running their first event! AND! ....so was Tim, Ricky's brother. We couldn't all be crazy, right?

The problem with this event was the heat! If you're reading this and live in the immediate area, you'll know what I mean. Obviously no one can control how hot it gets. What we had to control was our preparation for it and how to keep dehydration at bay. 

I was extremely nervous because we trained horribly! So when I say we prepared for the heat/run, I meant we drank our water. 

It was just a little crowded. Little did we know that the following day would draw a bigger crowd. (More on that in a bit)

This 10K was themed to Alice in Wonderland. Eric created a Cheshire Cat image he then added to his shirt. And, mine was a "Queen of Hearts Royal Court" theme. (Gotta love a Queen!)

This route was relatively short as it looped around the Anaheim Convention Center and proceeded through California Adventure, Disneyland, and then Downtown Disney. Although short as a whole, the last stretch through Downtown Disney felt so long. The humidity really added to that "We're never gonna finish" feeling. 

One we started to round ESPN zone I started bounding for the finish line. Eric was right next to me and we were determined to put this sticky race behind us. For the 10K, we both finished at 1 hour and 17 minutes. 

We were satisfied with our time and glad we didn't have to run in that weather any further. Here we all are with our shiny, Alice themed, 10K medals!

After the event, Eric and I were determined to not be in pain the next day. We spent some time in the pool and steam room. We also spent about an hour using the P90X Stretch program. I think that definitely helped us because I wasn't sore the next morning. 

Day 2 began with another early rise at 3:15 AM. Sadly that's when we usually wake for work so it wasn't bad. As we ate our blueberry muffin we psyched ourselves out for the 13.1 mile run. I usually have issues with my calves and ankles. That was at the forefront of my thoughts. 

The participants came out by the thousands! We hadn't seen such a huge turnout until this year. There wasn't even room in our assigned area, Corral D. Eric and I had to jump a barrier to enter Corral E. You have to understand that me jumping a fence is a big deal. 

Once the race started, they threw us right into an incline, so mean! But, we had run this before and knew what was coming. This route had us run through the parks and then head East, toward Angel Stadium. The area between the stadium and the resort is pretty dull with a view of only tile warehouses. 

Eric and ignored the event's Dumbo theme and decided to dress as Buzz and Zurg. Yes they are rivals, but we thought it was a fun idea. (Thanks to our craftiness, we put these together). Ricky, his brother Tim, and their cousins put their outfits together as well!

We absolutely had to pose with icons of the race's theme and our costume themes :-)

Once we made it to the route between the parks and the stadium, we had to maintain a steady pace and stay injury free. Heading toward the stadium too quickly can really count against you while heading back toward the resort. 

At one point the route runs beside the river and that portion was so long. This area was in fact drawn out because the event planners had to avoid construction. It certainly felt longer!

While we were to enter the stadium, we received an extra boost of encouragement from our pal Josh! He was cheering us along. Josh snapped a photo of me sucking on a Cliff Bar Energy Shot, not flattering, but it was a "must do"!

Once in the stadium and the announcements are sounding off (couldn't understand a lick of it), the excitement grew! 

One can see our professional craftsmanship on our costumes here. 

The route heading back to Disneyland was as tough as expected. There was an entire mile we walked. Around mile 10/10.5 is when my calves usually start to contract into cramps. It seemed I was keeping that issue at bay, but it didn't last long. 

Both Eric and I started getting thigh cramps at mile 12. This was inconvenient as we had hoped to push ourselves hard through the final mile. We jogged. We walked. We jogged. We walked. That final stretch Eric and I put the pain to the back of our minds and jogged out to the finish!

Here are our earned medals! We received one for the previous day, one for the 13.1 miles, and a third symbolizing the entire weekend event. Three! The feeling of accomplishment made the pain all worth the effort. Our final time for the 13.1 miles was 2 hours and 50 minutes. That time was about 20 minutes slower than our best recorded time, but that's ok. It was done!

Eric and I have our next Run Disney event this coming January, The Tinkerbell Half. We've kept up our running since this event, but we must stay focused and keep running!