Tag: kid races

Will runDisney Add A Second Star Wars Race Challenge?

June 12, 2014
Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog

So now that the registration has come and gone and filled up, I wonder if runDisney will offer another Star Wars Race.  There are talks of it on the pod casts that I listen to.  All speculation of course.

Here are thoughts:

Get rid of Expedition Everest and add a Star Wars weekend the first weekend in May. Star Wars weekend takes place during May at Hollywood Studios so it would be a nice marriage of two events. The kid races and 5K could take place in the morning and then the 10K and half marathons could take place at night since it is very warm in May.  Expedition Everest takes place at night already so this wouldn’t be too different.  Perhaps don’t include the 10K with this race series and just have the half marathon at night to help with logistics.

There could be an Coast/West Coast coast to coast medal with special recognition of the two different Star Wars Challenges.

Then there is the added element of the Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend taking place May 7-10, 2015.  Yet another coast to coast race going from the East Coast to the West on back to back weekends.

What do you think of this idea?  Do you think it is feasible?  Do you think it will really happen?  Would you do all of the races?

Star Wars Registration Opens Today!

June 10, 2014

starwarsWill you or did you register for the runDisney Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend today? Did you take advantage of the early AP and DVC registration opportunity? Will this runDisney event sell out yet another famous race?

Like the Avengers race that recently opened up for registration and sold out in record time (less than 2 hours), I believe this race is going to sell out even faster.  This has been the race everyone has been waiting for; however, there are more complications involved with the logistics of it.

First of all, it is the weekend following the marathon weekend.  If runners are participating in the Dopey challenge, 4 races in 4 days, they will then have to fly to Anaheim prior to Friday to pick up their race packets to participate in the 5K beginning on Friday.  It also means 3 more early wake up calls for the races.  If you live on the East Coast that shouldn’t be too hard, but your body is recovering from Dopey.

Second, you will be eating up a lot of your vacation time in January if you are doing Dopey then Star Wars.  For Dopey, you have to be in Florida by Wednesday to pick up your race packets and run the first race, the 5K on Thursday.  The races end Sunday so if possible, you could fly home for a few days then turn around and head to California for Thursday.

Third, you’ll be spending more money on airfare and hotel and food.  These are the consequences for registering for these races!

Fourth, Disney did add another challenge to the mix a month ago when they announced the Castaway Cay Challenge.  This is the cruise that leaves the day after Marathon Weekend and sails for 4 days, arriving pack to port on Friday.  You can still hop a flight to California for Star Wars, but you will miss the 5K.  This is also an additional pricey race to add to your list within the first month of 2015.  The price for the Castaway Cay Challenge is $65 but that’s the race only.  You still have the $1000+ cost of the cruise.

There are some positives about all of this.  If you are addicted to the bling, then you will go home with 5 medals if you participate in the Star Wars Challenge after marathon weekend because you will have the 5K, 10K, half marathon, Star Wars Challenge AND a coast to coast medal.

Is it worth it?  It would be to me, but I really can’t fork out the cash for another race registration and travel expenses.   runDisney marathon weekend is becoming the largest race weekend event in the country, and it does bring in economic activity to the area.  The same is also true when adding a race weekend event to California.  That is a positive impact of these races for the surrounding areas.  But given the time of year and the costs associated with all of the races, I just can’t do them all.

I was a fan of Star Wars when I was young, but my kids aren’t into it yet.  So even though I am not registering this year, it may be something that I’d show interest in the future.  It also depends on if it will be back in the East Coast or if it will remain in Disneyland.  For those of you registering today, may the force be with you!

starwars2

runDisney Announces Yet Another Race I Can’t Attend…let the wookie win

May 28, 2014

Yesterday was my first day back at work after being in Disney for 11 days.  I was catching up on everything from work and then I was noticing Facebook posts were popping up about Star Wars and a new race that was coming up.  My phone was also dinging tweets with clues from runDisney.  Sure enough by lunch time the announcement was made that there would be a race on January 15 in Disneyland for Star Wars with a 5K, 10K half marathon and kid races.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hzOfY3hGtw&w=560&h=315]

Registration Opens June 10 at noon.  I bet it sells out in record time.

This is the second race in a month that runDisney has announced that I will not be able to attend.  I am very bummed about this.  I will be running my first Dopey challenge the weekend before in Walt Disney World. I already have plans to stay in Florida from Wednesday to Wednesday.  I can’t hop on a plane and fly out West to do the Star Wars races.  I do have a job and I would like to keep it!  My husband will also kill me if I sign up for a race out West the following weekend.

Just a few weeks ago they announced the Castaway Cay Challenge which is the 5K run while sailing on the Disney Dream.  This now presents an issue for those who have registered for the Castaway Cay Challenge and who want to do the Star Wars race because the ship doesn’t return until January 15th.

I think it is great that Disney finally offered the race that everyone has been waiting for, but I wish it was taking place in Walt Disney World in May during Star Wars weekend.

I Took My Kids Out For a Run

April 9, 2014

My daughter has been asking me when she can go out for a run with me.  She’s 5.  My son doesn’t really have an interest in going far.  He’s more of a sprinter.  At the WDW kids’ races in January, my son took off like a rocket and left my daughter and husband behind while he went for the finish line.  That’s great!  I love that.  So last night when I was getting ready to go for my run I told the kids to get themselves ready and when I came back I’d take them out for a run.  “In the street?!”, they asked.  I said yes.  They jumped up and down and cheered and clapped.  They were going on a run with mommy in the street!

I did my run and came back to get them.  Of course they didn’t have their sneakers on yet, but we got ready and hit the road.  My daughter was ready to run the entire distance up our hill.  My son who was just recovering from a fever the day before and who suffers from terrible allergies and allergy induced asthma ran about 10 steps and said he wanted to walk.  I knew that was going to happen.

I told my daughter to run to the next mailbox and we’ll meet her there.  We continued this to the top of the street.  Then we turned around to head home.  I thought running downhill would seem easier for the kids.  Adrienne chugged along with her ponytail blowing in the wind, a smile on her face and her arms swinging by her side.  My son complained that his legs felt tight, his side had a stitch and he didn’t want to run anymore!  LOL,

It’s all good. I know my daughter has it in her to do the distance, I know my son is a sprinter.  I also know he came along with us because he wanted to spend the time with me.  Next time I’ll wait until he is feeling better and maybe even just leave him home or bring his scooter!

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