Disneyland 10k (Race Recap)

Anaheim, CA
Saturday, August 31
Weather - Sunny and Warm

So. The Disneyland 10k. I had EVERY INTENTION of skipping the Disney magic over Labor Day weekend. Even when the Dumbo Double Dare was announced, I was horrified at how much money it cost. I passively sat and watched as the race sold out... and THEN I LOST MY MIND. What if I wanted to run??? So before the day was even over, I had signed up with a charity group, Lazarex, so that I could run. (Thanks AGAIN, everyone that donated and helped me get to California!!)

Anyway.

So race morning. There were four of us in the room, the Heathers and me and L. The other Heather was not running the 10k, so we were trying to not wake her up. We had planned the night before to allow enough time to get coffee in Downtown Disney before the race, which started at 6:30. We left the hotel on schedule and walked along the 5k course to get THE MOST DELICIOUS LATTE every from Haagen Dasz. As we were heading (leisurely) over to where we assumed the start would be, L informed us that since the race started at 6:15 that we should hurry. It was 6:16 when she said that. Huh. Heather and I thought the race started at 6:30. So we are wandering around (still fairly leisurely) looking for the start. We thought it was going to start at Downtown Disney, but all we could find was the finishing area for the 5k...

And then we see the tail end of people walking to the start. That might have been the start of alllll our problems in this race. Our costumes were much better on the first day, so we had planned on a 2ish hour 10k (not knowing in advance that would put us "a little behind pace") and take all of the pictures.

L has some sort of hip/leg injury, so we were running slower than usual anyway. The first aid station was at mile 1 (outside the park) and finally entered the park somewhere around mile 2. We took a decent number of pictures, and I am the MOST OBNOXIOUS HUMAN on earth... see me prance... see me photo bomb... However, look how HAPPY I AM!!

So we are in line to take a picture with Monsters Inc. (behind the tallest guy ever in the entire UNIVERSE):

When we notice... there are not many people behind us. Now, we had been in line for probably close to 10 minutes, and we knew we were taking it easy, but I don't think that any of us imagined that we were THAT far behind. And sure enough, the crowd thins and we see the bike sweepers. They don't tell us we are in danger of getting pulled, but that we are "a little behind pace." Well. What does THAT mean? So we still took our picture, but figured maybe we should try to, I don't know, run a bit.

I'm the only one doing the monster pose.

We finally end up on Main Street, the location of the second aid station... at like mile 4.2??? Why so far in between aid stations?? It was so hot!! And apparently, they also ran out of cups. So, they gave us GIGANTIC bottles of water and suggested that we "share with a friend." Seems wasteful.

As you can tell, our costumes were in theme with the 10k - Alice in Wonderland! So we HAD TO stop and get pictures with all of the characters (which, by the way, it really didn't seem like there were THAT MANY on the course):

We are approaching the castle and in line for a picture with the Tweedles, when we for REAL see the sweepers. Not just the guys on the bike, but the ACTUAL GOLF CART SWEEPERS.

Dave ran up behind us and ASSURED us we would have time to get a picture in. Meanwhile, the sweepers are SCREAMING at us - "RACE OR PICTURE - YOU HAVE TO KEEP MOVING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GET PULLED." Everyone else in line believed them and took off. We (riskily) chose PICTURE (and then run REALLY FAST):

Turns out... there was only ONE guy behind us, otherwise, this magical shot of us with Dave exiting the castle makes us FOR REAL the last people on the course. Hilarious.

 

We are now well aware that the sweepers, in fact, DO pull people off the course in the park, so the whole myth about - "if you are in the park, you are safe" IS A LIE. We ended up having to actually run that last mile, stopping only for the random aid station that was at mile 5.5. Turns out, we passed a decent number of people and we CRUSHED our 2 hour goal (which again, would have apparently put us outside the course limits. Oops.

So... how did we do?

Bib #22392

Official Time - 1:52:41

Official 5k Split - 55:25

Overall Place - 7562/7828 (look at all the people we passed that last mile!!)

Gender Place - 4917/5133

Division Place - 806/841

Garmin Time - 1:52:39

Moving Time - 1:24:54 (see, we stopped A LOT)

Mile 1 - 13:05

Mile 2 - 13:52

Mile 3 - 24:32

Mile 4 - 23:29

Mile 5 - 14:01

Mile 6 - 19:12

Mile 6.43 - 10:20 (hey, look at that!!)

Thoughts:

• We really felt like we had to get in for the inaugural. I will not run again... running both was... over $300??? That's insane.
• I am REALLY bitter about the stupid unisex sized shirts. According to the results, in the 10k, over 5,000 runners were women, and barely 2,000 were  men. THAT JUSTIFIES GENDER SPECIFIC SHIRTS (jerk of the week - the person that decided unisex was finnnnnne).
• The aid stations were placed VERY strangely. First one only a mile in and then well over 3 miles to the second one. And the last one was only about 2/3 of a mile from the finish. WHY?
• Related: At least they didn't run out of water, but it seemed SUPER wasteful to have to run with those giant water bottles.
• Disney is the fun fun FUNNEREST. I had the most fun ever, even IF I almost got pulled (Most stressful EVER).

Normal (Week 1)

I kind of enjoyed doing the weekly summaries for #NotEatingAllTheThings (more for my amusement and not for yours, sorry) and cramming all the pictures from the week into one post instead of short posts more often. So... I'll just keep doing that.

Tuesday - 1 mile run at the track with A. She decided with about .15 to go that the other random guy on the track was NOT going to pass her and she took off. Fastest pace? 6:23. I died trying to keep up. We also did a 2 mile ride around the neighborhood and I did arms, core and butt/thigh videos.

Wednesday - 8+ mile run on the treadmill. I had planned on an hour, then maybe 7 miles. I felt good, so I ran longer. That's nice.
Thursday - Got up early and did the arms, core and butt/thigh videos. I left work at 12:30 and had lunch with my co-worker. Picked up A at school at 2:30 and then drove to the airport. Flight to California was uneventful. Delicious dinner of PIZZA (start of an #EatEverything weekend). We went to Yogurtland, where we briefly met up with Madison. No pictures, since I am the worst blogger ever. I feel like we went to bed early, but I already have forgotten.
Friday - Stopped and got donuts for breakfast. TASTY TASTY TASTY. Heather got an extra pass for Disneyland, so in addition to the other Heather, me and A, L and H, we had Gabs along for the ride too! Did you know that California was the HOTTEST PLACE ON EARTH on Friday?? It melted the kids in submission and they were the most well-behaved children on the planet. We rewarded the children with giant waffle cones and a trip to Build-A-Bear. We spent about 45 seconds at the expo. Bought zero things, and still SUPER DUPER UNIMPRESSED WITH THE DUMB UNISEX GIANT SHIRTS. For the billions of dollars I spend running Disney races, I would REALLY like a shirt I could actually wear again. Grrr. Dinner was spaghetti! Deeeelicious.

 

 

And the kids didn't even make it home before falling asleep...

Saturday -Disneyland 10k!! (You'll have to wait for the recap). We went to the INKnBURN warehouse sale, where I bought ALL THE THINGS. If only I had more time and money... our plan for the remainder of the day was going to the "lagoon." A fancy schmancy "beach" about a mile from Heather's house. We spent all afternoon there. Zero pictures. We had Costco pizza for dinner since the power at Heather's house was out ALL DAY. Bed early?

The bottom right neon tank was actually for someone else...

Just kidding. I took ONE picture. Not of the kids, but of the hot guy in the white swim shorts. Yum.

Sunday - Disneyland Half Marathon!! (Again, you'll have to wait for the recap). Brief trip to Downtown Disney, where I was on the lookout for a shirt for my next Disney race, but FAIL. After we all showered, we went to In N' Out for lunch. L had to leave to go back to Denver early afternoon. UNINTENTIONALLY, we went to the mall afterwards. Tried on some things at Lulu (buying nothing) and had CUPCAKES!!! Tasty dinner of hot dogs and... more beer!

Monday - Wake up at the crack of dawn to go on a 10 mile trail run with Heather on the Pacific Ridge trail. We were lucky enough for a bit cooler temperatures and some heavy fog for the first half. Turns out, most of the downhill was in the beginning as well. The second half was uphill and hot. But so pretty!! Took the kids to the pool for a few hours and then did... nothing. But, we had MORE PIZZA for dinner. I love pizza so much. SO, SO MUCH.

SOOOOO...
NO WEIGH IN THIS WEEK...

• I ate EVERYTHING this weekend. Seriously, all of the things. I had donuts - every single day. I had pizza (3 times!!!). I had In N' Out. I had candy. I had so many food items I really can't even remember what I ate.
• I had the best time visiting California. It is so much nicer to go out there and not have to just turn right around and come back.
• Also nice? Heather living the dream and not having to work while I was there!
• Social life is still non-existent. I posted a ridiculous status on Facebook and have been informed that internet dating is the new cool thing, BUT NOT THE FREE SITES. I guess I will check that out at some point.
• I am registered for double half marathons this weekend, but I think I'll skip the one on Saturday and do a 22 mile run with Hope and my new training group.