The Disneyland Paris Half Marathon registration is opening up in less than a week and already there is a lot of negative talk about the entire process.
First, if you want to participate in the event, then the registration which includes a race bib along with a travel package is what you need to register for on October 13.
Second, if you choose to purchase one of these packages you are required to pay a 50% deposit at the time of purchase, then 25% on 11/15/15 and the remaining 25% on 12/15/15. This means you are paying for your entire trip before the end of 2015 and the event doesn’t take place until September, 2016! Only 25% of the entire package is refundable if cancelled in writing/confirmed receipt by GET on or before Tuesday 11/15/15.
However, if you choose to not take this approach and purchase a bib through a travel provider, then you do have a chance in January to purchase a bib only, but there will only be a handful of those bibs available to purchase.
I was hoping to register for this event; but now that I know I will need to shell out this much money ahead of time; I don’t think it will be possible.
This race would have been a great opportunity for me to travel to Europe. I have never been to Europe before and I would love to see another Disney park, being I am such a huge Disney Fan. I also wanted to earn a “Castle to Chateau” medal which is something new from runDisney. But with the cost of hotel/race registration package alone, you still have to add air fare. I honestly don’t know if this would be something I am willing to purchase. We will have to wait and see what the prices are on October 13 before making a determination for such an event.
Are you planning on going to the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon?
Thursday night will kick off the pre-race festivities for the Hartford Marathon weekend for me. I have never run the Hartford Marathon before and am nervous about it because of the fact that I never ran it before. I don’t know what the morning will be like getting into town and where to go, where to park, what to wear, what the course is like, etc. I almost feel like I am running one of my first races. And unlike a runDisney race, this is a “real race” where people take it very seriously. I won’t be running in costume; but hope to be running in my new gear from my sponsor Mintz & Hoke. When we ran the O’Hartford 5K in March there was an exciting energy in the air in the city. I anticipate that with the Hartford marathon it is going to be even more energetic and exciting!
I’m hoping that by attending the Girls Night Out on Thursday night and hearing other talking about running, and seeing the setup for the race in the city, my nerves will be settle a little bit. Dimity McDowell from Another Mother Runner will be speaking at the Hartford Club. I can’t wait to see her! I have met her at several races and she was cheering at the Philadelphia Marathon last year and I had the chance to take a photo with her and Denise Dollar when she was cheering on Sarah! I will be picking up my bib at the Expo on Thursday night prior to the dinner so I will get to experience the way the Hartford Marathon Foundation puts on the event at the XL Center.
Dimity and I at the Philadelphia Marathon Expo – November, 2014
Dimity and I at the Philadelphia Marathon – November, 2014
Dimity and I at Fleet Feet in West Hartford last Spring
Sarah and I at Fleet Feet in West Hartford last Spring
I am also hoping that by resting my leg for the week that my calf will settle down and I won’t have issues on Saturday. I ran on Sunday and my plan is to stick to walking for the rest of the week. As much as I want to go out for a run during this beautiful weather this week, I think it is best to just walk.
Have you run the Hartford marathon before? Do you have advice for this race like where to park, what time to arrive, how is the course? I’d love to hear from you and see you there Saturday!
The first weekend of October used to be the weekend for the runDisney Tower of Terror 10 miler in Walt Disney World. But rumor has it, they will no longer be running the Tower of Terror 10 miler. That was one of my favorite races. I was lucky enough to run it in 2013 and 2014. It feels weird to know that this is the weekend of the event, yet it isn’t happening this year.
Most runDisney race weekends I don’t participate in the 5K because I travel in as late as possible so that I don’t miss too much time from work and my family. Sometimes that means I can’t participate in the 5K because they happen on the day I am flying in. With the Tower of Terror and Wine & Dine races the longer distance races take place at night and the 5K is the morning of the same day. I didn’t register for the Tower of Terror 5K race last year but I did go to the race with Kim, Gail and Becca.
If you all know Kim, Gail and Becca they don’t hold back when putting together their race costumes. I can’t even say that I wear a costume, when compared to them. Their race weekend involves prepping for the race with various trips to costume shops, home improvement stores and craft supply stores. They put a lot of work into their designs, and the end result is worth it. But the harder part is, they still have to RUN in those costumes!
For the 5K they were dressed as the hitch hiking ghosts from the Haunted Mansion. I went with them to the 5K and loved the atmosphere of that race! It was a rainy morning but just when it was time to leave the car and walk to the starting line, the rain has pushed away and there was a low ceiling of clouds with the sun just beyond it that really set the stage for a haunted 5K trail run through the ESPN Wide World of Sports.
The best part of that whole even was the headless horseman that makes his appearance just before the race. Check it out. I had an incredible viewing location for this!
The Tower of Terror 10 miler race takes place the night of the 5K race. This year after the race I also participated in the after party. The first year of the race, I did not participate in the after party because I had to fly home very early the same morning. Last year I attended the after party, showered, and then hopped in the car to the airport to fly home and attend a family event. I only napped while on the plane. That was crazy but worth it!
The 10 miler race ran from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, down Osceola Parkway to Animal Kingdom, back up Osceola Parkway to a trail leading to ESPN Wide World of Sports and ended back in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In previous years the weather had been very hot and muggy for this race. Last year it was perfect. The air was dry for a Florida night in October and the temperature was perfect for a night run. The race course has a lot of character stops and the after party takes place in Disney’s Hollywood Studios with food (for purchase), some rides are open like the Tower of Terror and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and also some characters. We stayed at the party until around 3 a.m. It was a long day and I had a flight to catch in a few hours. But it was a very fun event.
I am still hoping that the rumor is just that, according to runDisney Faith Dority the race is in the vault for now. I am hoping they will bring it back at some point. I do enjoy this race weekend with the Villains and the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party held in Magic Kingdom that weekend as well. In 2013 it was my first runDisney night race and I really enjoy the night races.
One of the reasons why I love runDisney races, is because at just about every race I make a new friend. I had the chance to meet two more Connecticut runDisney fanatics, Bob and Mary Perrotti when I got on the plane last October. I sat with them on the plane and now I visit them at their local shop in Perrotti’s Country Barn in Middlefield and see them at local races in Connecticut! My whole family has met Bob and Mary and I have also met most of Bob and Mary’s kids! It’s so awesome how running can bring people together for more reasons than just races.
When I began running and participating in races I was very diligent with my training. I would follow the training plan to the T. But lately I have been veering from that plan and cutting corners with my long runs especially. I consistently get in 3-5 runs per week, but I am not running a 23-26 mile run prior to the marathon as Jeff Galloway’s training plans suggest.
There are several reasons for that. One is because mentally I burn out when doing 23+ miles prior to my race. The second is because I am having issues with my right leg and I think it is my IT band acting up. Third I just haven’t had as much time. That never was an excuse I would never let get in my way before.
My last run was on Friday and my intent was to do 20 miles. I walked the first half mile to warm up my leg. Then I began my 30/30 intervals. I was doing ok until mile 3 when my Garmin watch lost power. Just before I left my house I grabbed my watch and it was almost dead. I charged what I could and brought the cord and a portable charger with me. I didn’t expect to need it that soon into the run. I plugged it in to charge and used runkeeper for a while. But I didn’t have intervals working. I ended up needing to download an interval app so that I had audible cues when to do my walk/runs.
At first it was frustrating not having my watch working. But then I wasn’t keeping track of the distance as much. So there was a little relief. I wasn’t constantly checking it and doing the math in my head to guess what time I would finish and how much more time did I have left to go. It was a freeing feeling not monitoring that information.
I mapped out a route before I left the house so I thought it would be doing somewhere between 11-13 before I looped back to my house and started the last half of the run. When I got home and refilled my water and ice I checked my map online and completed 13. That was a relief. I only had 7 miles left. Instead of the route I had planned out for the last section I decided to stick to my route closer to home. I didn’t want to go too far in case I started to have issues as I was getting towards the end of the run.
Strangely, my feet were hurting me the most. I was doing more walking than running at times so I don’t know if that was the cause. It was bothering me quite a bit. I hope that won’t be an issue on race day.
I ended up cutting the training run a mile short because I ran out of road and I also felt like I was out there the entire day! I was out there from 10:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon.
After I finished I had my chocolate milk and showered and sat down to do some work for a little bit and to put my feet up. That felt good but I didn’t want to get stiff sitting around. Everything was ok and I wasn’t having many serious issues with my IT band.
The following days were good. I had some stiffness but it was the kind that feels good when you push yourself. I didn’t push myself in terms of speed but I was pushing myself to go farther than I have since January.
After I completed the run I was glad it was over but I still feel incomplete or unprepared for this race. This is the Marine Corp marathon. I feel like I am disrespecting the race. I have to Beat the Bridge so the roads can be reopened by 1:00 p.m. So if I can do that I won’t be as scared. I am running it with friends who also have the same goal of surviving so I am hoping we can all cross the line together.
Depending on how things go with this race will determine what I decide to do next year. When I finish this race I need to maintain my mileage through November and December for the Dopey Challenge in January. That means 2 more 20 milers at least. Marine Corp Marathon was on my bucket list along with the Chicago marathon and NYC. So I will leave it up to fate to determine if I will be training again next year for those races in addition to my Disney marathon in January.
The first day of racing for us began on Saturday for the Disneyland 10K. This is one of my favorite runDisney races, if not my favorite. The alarm went off at 4:00 a.m. and I got up and began to get “sparkled” for my Disney anniversary costume. We walked from our hotel to the Disneyland hotel and arrive around 5:00. The crowds for the 10K are not as large as they are for the Disneyland Half Marathon so we had no trouble walking over to our corral and getting right in with very little wait time.
We met a cool girl Stephanie Adams, in the corral and got a few pictures before it was time to run the race. If anyone knows her, I’m trying to connect via Facebook. I know she said she was part of the Double Dare Challenge Team but I can’t locate the group. As we took off running it was the normal rush of people in the beginning so we didn’t begin our intervals right away. We also saw a lot of people tripping over the curbs and falling while trying to pass others or just running out of room.
The first mile of the race takes place on the streets of Anaheim and then we entered the backlot of Disney California Adventure. I couldn’t wait for Diana to see Cars Land while it was still early in the morning and the sun wasn’t fully up yet. We rounded the corner into Cars Land and it was perfect! The lighting was just right and I told Diana to get in line for pictures. This is what the races are all about. I had to remind her that we were going to take as many pictures as we could in the park, then we would run on the streets or between picture stops depending on the time.
The characters at the character stops were villains and they had great characters out on the course! There was DJ from Cars, Lotso from Toy Story 3, Shadow Man or Dr. Facilier from Princess and the Frog and Governor Ratcliffe from Pocahontas and many, many more! My favorite was The Hun from Mulan! My family and I just watched that movie the week before and I was playing the main song continuously during my runs so it was appropriate to have such a rare character out on the course and actually get a picture with him! While standing in line for them the cast members were warning us that the pacers were about 10 minutes behind us and that if we remained in line we were risking getting swept off the course. Diana started to freak out but I told her we were fine. We could outrun them even if they were right upon us.
After our picture stop with the Hun, we ran towards the Haunted Mansion and got some pictures in front of the mansion and also as ghosts. Then we continued on through Disneyland towards Downtown Disney and the finish line.
As usual, the race wasn’t about time. Our finish time was just under 2 hours. The Disneyland 10K is one of my favorite races because most of the course takes place within the two parks.
After the race, we went back to our room to shower and then worked on the hats for our Sleeping Beauty Fairies for the half marathon the next day. I carried the materials out to California with me in my suitcase to assemble them in our room. I didn’t want the hats to get squished in the suitcase. I also knew that we would be spending most of the day and night at the parks, so I wanted everything in order before we left the room because I assumed we would be collapsing like we did the night before!
We met Mandy at the Expo and I spent a little more time shopping at the Expo, listened to Tara Guidus talk about nutrition and running, and visited Jeff Galloway for pictures and his autograph of my race medal. I usually have him sign my bib; but I forgot to bring that with me. I also took the opportunity to register for the Tinkerbell race next May. I haven’t run that race yet and it was falling at a time that we weren’t going to be on vacation in Walt Disney World so I went for it. It’s the 5 year anniversary of the Tinkerbell races so I’m also happy about getting an anniversary medal as well!
After the Expo we went over to Downtown Disney so I could find some of the anniversary items that I wanted to purchase and to also find some gifts for the kids. Then we went to California Adventure and Disneyland for lunch, rides and dinner with the World of Color to end the night.
Now that Autumn is here, race season is getting into full swing and the miles are piling up. Long runs are on the calendar for the next four months. I have a 20 miler on my schedule in preparation for the Marine Corp Marathon. I’d like to get that done prior to the weekend so I can enjoy the Durham Fair and my daughter’s softball game without having it on my mind.
Since the Disney Dumbo Dare Challenge, my IT band has been slightly irritated. I have been taking care of it with hard massage and I have still be able to run. I just wonder how much it will be affected by a very long run. I am going to be careful to not push too fast on this long run. It’s not how fast you run, but getting the miles under your feet. This fact from Jeff Galloway, who also wants you to run slower than your race pace by almost 2 minutes while training for the long distance races. I just hate being out on the road for 5 hours!
I plan on loading up the iPod with all of my favorite podcasts and loading up on some sunscreen and fuel to get the miles done. I was listening the Another Mother Runner podcast and Rod Dixen mentioned, running the races is the easy part. That is so very true. The race is the reward for all of the training that has happened. Fitting training runs into the schedule and putting in the time and enduring the injuries is all the training that has to get done so you can enjoy the races and relish the medal you earn.
The reality is setting in that I am going to the Marine Corp Marathon in a little over a month. I did finally book a room and I am going to purchase a ticket to attend the Pasta Party, where we can listen to speakers like our pal Jeff Gallowaoy! I’m going to go to this event with my friend Kimberlee. It’s best to do something with friends when you can with any race. This race isn’t going to be about getting my best finish time. It’s the ability to actually run in this event and to “Beat The Bridge” and get my Marine Corp Finisher medal. My friends Kimberlee and Anne are also feeling the same about not being prepared for this race so we are going to try to stick together and survive the distance together.
Time for me to do my mental training and prepare myself for my task coming up on Friday and to know that I can do this; it’s just a matter of, once again, wrapping my head around the feat.
The Disneyland Paris Half Marathon registration is opening up in less than a week and already there is a lot of negative talk about the entire process.
