Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend- Race Day

Finally it was race day.  I was awake by 3:30, because who can sleep when there is a Disney race to be run?  Got up got ready to go, at a great breakfast and we were out the door by 4:10.  The picture on the bottom left is what our jackets said.  We wore them all weekend and while warming up for the race and got so many compliments on them. The middle one is what my mom's jackets said.  She loved it and was continually having people ask her where she got it.  This is the first race that I have run since I got my iPhone.  As you can see here we were all busy updating our FB statuses with the same incorrect 

grammar.  I guess thinking wasn't part of the pre-race plan at 4:30 a.m.

Finally at 5:30 it was our turn to start.  The first corral of runners started at 5:00, but we were at the very back of the pack and it takes awhile to 14,000 runners across the starting line.  It was great to Minnie and Daisy standing there and Tinkerbell even flew by when they said GO for each corral.  We saw some fabulous signs during the race and this was one of our favorites.  

 The first half of the race in mostly in the parks.  Holly and I were running together.  Well we were run/ walking together.  We were using the Galloway method of run 1 min walk 1 min for the first half.  Of course once we got in the parks we got a little slower.  We had to stop at get some pictures with the fabulous Disney characters.  They had all the lights on, the World of Color fountains going, and all the staff out cheering and giving high-fives.  We tried to stop at all the photo ops where there weren't a ton of people.

The First 5k split was 1:17:37, 24:59 per mile, ETA 5:27:30.  What?!?!?  I guess that we had a bit too much fun playing in Disneyland.  We new we had to get our hustle on.  At mile 5 you left the park and by mile 6 we off Disney property.  By the 10k mark we were at 14:21 per mile, much better.  There was a huge Red Hat contingency near mile six and they were so fun.  They had signs, and noise makers and of course those fabulous hats.  I might have to join them, just so I can where those hats.  The last half of the race wound though Anaheim.  Not the greatest scenery, but there were marching bands and cheer leaders lining the route to make up for it.  

Do you like our fabulous socks?  They are the compression socks and they are fabulous!

Finally we saw the finish line and mom and Bevan cheering us on.  The mean thing about this race is that you can see the finish line, but you have to make a huge jog through the parking lot.  It was very disheartening.  I usually save a little burst of energy so I can sprint across the finish line, but the jog took it out of me.  I just couldn't do it.  Of course once I got across the line, I didn't care.  I was just so glad to be done.

Minnie and Daisy were at the finish line, Chip and Dale weren't there when we came through, cheering and giving high fives.  I finished in 2:50:10, I feel really good about that considering what a slow start we got off to.  We got our medals and a space blanket, not sure why they handed those out since by that time it was hot.   We moved down the line and got a bottle of water, a bottle of Powerade, a box of treats, and a cute bag to carry it all in.  Then Holly and I went to find Stephanie and Tori.  Pretty soon they were making their way towards the finish line.  I tried to warn them of the mean jog at the end of the course, but I don't think they understood until they saw it.
Finally we were all done.  I have to say the amazing Tinkerbell medal was completely worth it.  This race was so much fun and totally worth the time and expense.

After the race we walked back across the street to our hotel and jumped in the coldest swimming pool I have ever been in.  It took my breath away.  But between that and the soak in the hot tub, my legs were feeling pretty good and I was ready to hit Disney.