Race Day!!!!

DL Half Marathon weekend-o-fun!

DCA was all lit up for the runners

It's here! I am sure Hubby has a lot more emotions about this than I do, as he is the one running it. But I am crazy excited none-the-less. 

As promised, super early in the morning, things got started...
Runners needed to be in the corrals by 5:15 am for the 5:30 start time. 

I watched the corrals go by from my birds eye view in our room... and these corrals were rather large.

You can see the runners on the street at the bottom of the pic... they will loop around and into the park

The lights in DCA were on for the runners and it was fun to see the shadows of the runner in the early corrals turn into regular runners, as the sun came up and the later corrals hit the streets. 

Hubby sent me lots of pictures from along the course (his pics at the end). 

Off to cheer Daddy

Mostly awake.. but in our matching Cheer Squad T-shirts

The kids and I were up early too, just not as early as hubby. We ventured out about an hour before we expected him at the finish. This gave us time to find our seats in the Cheer Squad area and settle in. 

We picked up some of the food that was provided.. but other than my coffee none of it was really eaten. Between the early hour and how excited (over stimulated) we were... food wasn't high on the to-do list.

Most unique assortment of foods... Whole grain (seeds included) Croissant and Rita's Italian Ice..... Hmmm?

People watching is sooo much fun at a RunDisney event. The finish line entertainment was as much fun as watching the runners finish. The kids had fun seeing all the costumes 

The finish line! 

Selfie time! 

and with my little lady! 

So true... and this runner carried that flag 13.1 miles.

And of course we got to see our runner cross the finish line. He was all smiles as were we.

There he goes... in his signature all black 

We all met at the room for a time... to rest, change, recover a bit. Then we were off to Disneyland!
We haven't been since 2012 and we are not sure what the little lady truly remembers from that trip. So we dove right in and go quite a bit done. Focusing mostly on things that Disneyworld doesn't have, or that are different here in CA. Plus a few that we just HAVE to ride, or it's not a trip to Disney ;)
Gotta have a mint julep and mickey beignets..... right?
We left the park around 4:00 to return to the room and rest a bit before dinner.

The castle.. in its birthday best! Happy 60th to Disneyland! 

This is what happens to you when you do a half marathon... then your family drags you all over the park - small world nap.

The line at the DL Starbucks... much longer than any I encountered at WDW Starbucks. 

Dinner was with old friends who live in the area. We loved getting to see them. The kids were a wee bit bored, but managed ok. These are the type of good friends that are more like family... years may go by, but getting together its like you were never apart. Such fun!

Hubby decided to grab a massage so he dropped us off and ventured out. I got the kids to bed and once he got back... we weren't too far behind.

The medal. Cool, huh? The middle diamond spins to show the castle on the other side. 

Pictures from the course... a runner's perspective (captions provide by the wife)

Walking to the corrals

Entering Radiator Springs... just after the 1 mile mark

Headed over to Disneyland

Gonna run through the castle... just after mile 3

Runners thinking, "Hmm, that looks like a great place to nap later" ;)

Just one of a many marching bands lining the course

more entertainment for the runners... hula anyone?

Nothing beats running along the Santa Ana river on a hot day... wait? where did it go?

You can see this icon from Disney property, and it looks really far away... just saying. 

Someone has a sense of humor :)

Running (walking) with Disney - Day 10

10K and our last EARLY morning.

This morning was very very early for Hubby. The 10K started at 5:30, which translates to leaving the room before 4 am.
The kids and I didn't follow him to cheer. We talked about it, but ultimately decided keeping kiddos happy while watching and waiting for dad might not be easy :)

Hubby had a good race and returned back to the room to shower and recover, before a Character breakfast at 9:30...  its amazing how long the morning lasts when you get up before 4 ;)

Nice bling!

We had a nice leisurely breakfast with Pooh bear and friends.
Our little lady discovered a new love of Croissants.

On a side note... on our previous visit to the MK our little lady lost her camera. It was a new camera she had purchased for herself with Christmas money. We thought she had lost it on 7 dwarfs mine train... that it might have fallen out of her purse pocket and into the seat pocket, when she put her bag in it.
The day we lost it we popped into guest services twice to see if it had been turned in.. nope. But we were given the number for the big lost and found and told to call the next day. I forgot to call - I knew they kept cameras for a while, so as long as we checked before we left to go home - if it was turned in... we could still get it back. But really what was the likelyhood of all that?
So, this morning at breakfast I remembered!!! CALL LOST AND FOUND.
After we ate I found a quiet place and made the call. And they had her camera. They asked some questions to determine if the camera she was holding was really ours... how old was the person who had taken the pictures... when I said she was 8, the cast member was pleased. Apparently you can tell by the subject matter? Also asked who might be in the pictures and what landmarks might be pictured. Once she was comfortable with it being our camera... it was labeled with our names and set in the front for pick up from the Lost and Found at the TTC.

The kids and I had plans to ride some stuff and maybe shop... hubby planned to tag along... then go get a massage.
We enjoyed the park til early afternoon. Then hubby headed out - he planned to pick up the camera and then go to his massage. The kids and I stayed a bit longer then grabbed a bus back to the room.

waiting for his favorite attraction in MK... no joke. 

Hi Ho, Hi Ho.. down the hill we go.

Meeting Elsa

Dinner tonight was pizza in the room, and it was delivered shortly after hubby returned from his massage. Good timing.

Using our new books to learn to draw characters. Forgive the unmade bed :) 

Running (walking) with Disney - Day 9

Race Day - 5K and Kids races

Today is the day I have worried over, prepared for, and over thought, for months and months. It's finally here and it's Freezing!

How on earth could I have planned for that?

38° in Florida, when just days before I was thinking I should have packed shorts.

Well 38° was when I woke up. Over the morning it warmed up to the low 40s.

Anyway. The cold weather was our main obstacle. Yes, the race started early: 6:15 am. And yes there were 10 thousand people... But the kicker for both kids was the cold. And just when you thought you were getting used to the cold.... The wind would pick up.....oh dear me. My sweet boy was fairly certain this was the worst plan we had ever had.

If you've done big race events like this you know about queuing into corrals. This was originally a concern of mine for our sensory sensitive kiddo. But today the only way to stay warm was to be packed in like sardines. And he did it. Mostly burying his head into me or dad. He even wanted an arm around him. So clearly cold trumps all.

getting into the corrals

walking toward the start line

But the race started and our corral went. And he did great. We walked with our friends and it was so nice.

Hubby and our little lady had a faster pace, Running and walking. They finished about 15 mins before us. And then met us at the finish line.

Stopping for a pic about halfway around

Woooo Hoo! Almost done! 

Somehow for the race itself, we weren't really cold. But the walk back to the car it hit us again. Bbbnrrrrrrrrrrr

Back in the room warm baths or showers followed by a second breakfast was a good way to recover.

Next event today was the kids races. And the lady was ready!

It was neat to watch and she had a good time. She did the 400 meter dash and the Mickey mile.

Pic in front of the 5K sign

with her 5K medal

View of the track - Kids Races

There she goes!!!!

Chillin at ESPN Sports 

After all the racing was complete for the day, we headed to Animal kingdom.

We had a short to do list at AK, and we were ahead of schedule.

Great animal viewing on the Safari today! 

Look! We are still on our feet!!! Help us!  

Braving Expedition Everest

We enjoyed the animals and the rides at Animal Kingdom for about 3 hours. Then it was time to eat dinner... and we were hungry. 
Pasta was calling -- to Noodles and Co we went. 

The weather was nice, but really never got warm today. So I guess this is winter in Florida?

We were heading to bed early tonight. We were up early today, but hubby is getting up earlier tomorrow to run the 10K.
Night night.