This was it. This was my day. My 40th birthday spent doing a half marathon in Disneyland.

Packet Pick Up & Expo

I was so excited doing my first half marathon during the Tinkerbell weekend I took a similar photo on the carpet. Then, I took one during the Star Wars weekend. So now apparently it’s my thing.

Here’s my Disneyland Half Weekend shot:

The Start

The start, as always, had an excited vibe. However, it was hot. Too hot. The announcer said the feels like temperature was 87°. It wasn’t even 5am yet. Blech!

Running through California Adventure

I stopped a number of times throughout DCA.

• I had seen Mike & Sully during the previous 2 races, but didn’t stop. I’m glad I stopped this time.

• Since my daughter is a gymnast, I stopped to take a pic of the girl flying around the Toy Story bar.

• The crowd of runners on Hollywood Blvd.

• Cowgirl Jessie must stop for a photo op with a horse.

Running Through Disneyland

• One of my favorite photos from the entire weekend is this one with Minnie & Mickey

• At one point, I was hoping to get my Castle to Chateau medal and run the event later in the month in Paris. This pic with Remy will have to do instead.

• I was slightly disappointed that my only photo op with Woody, during a Toy Story themed race, was this one of him up on the balcony of The Golden Horseshoe.

• Runners on Main Street

Running the Streets of Anaheim

•  It was crazy hot, but the sunrise was lovely.

• After stopping for all my pics in the parks, I ended up with the corral I run/walk 3 hour pacer. I kept with them for awhile, but eventually went about my own pace. I did enjoy the bit I was with them. I will have to keep it in mind for another event.

• During the run, the red flag came out.

• As always, I enjoyed all the entertainment along the way. This time we had a Polynesian group, a Mexican group, and a car show featuring Lightning McQueen.

• The Hogwarts Running Club had ice in a cooler for the runners. So, so awesome! I was sweaty and obnoxiously hot. I grabbed a refreshing handful of ice and shoved it down the back of my shirt.

• I can’t stop for every sign that catches my attention, but I had to stop for this one with Chandler.

• This was a different course than my previous RunDisney half marathons. This time, we ran through Angel Stadium. I’m not really a fan of ball sports, but it was a nice change to run through the stadium.

The Finish!

I’m always happy when the finish line is in sight. But, I was especially thrilled this time. Given the choice, I would absolutely run on a 30° day before running on a 90° day. Run/walk/jogging for 13 miles in high temps and high humidity is not my idea of a good time. To be nearing the finish line was a huge relief.

I love/hate the photo on the left. It’s one of my favorite finish line photos ever. I typically look like a dufus. This one, though, is a lie. I appear to be in great spirits – in reality I feel miserable and half dead.

After finishing the race, I headed to the medic tents for ice. I walked more during this half marathon than I ever have before. Unfortunately, I’m not a good fast walker and I know my posture was horrible – resulting in back shoulder pain. I placed the ice on my achy back shoulder and also on my face to cool me down.

By the time I got a pic with my medals I felt much better and ready to conquer the rest of the day.

I earned 4 medals that weekend: a 5k, 10k, half marathon and the double dare challenge medal for completing both the 10k and half.

— More than Running —

My 40th Birthday

I don’t usually celebrate my birthday, not even with a family dinner. That works well for me.

However… I was in Disneyland and somehow 40 seems like such a milestone. I totally enjoyed the day in every way I could.

• I got my birthday button, which looks amazing.

• I found a cake and balloons in Mickey’s house and pretended they were for me.

• By coincidence, we were having a little snack break at Refreshment Corner when Alice & the Mad Hatter came by to play musical chairs. I absolutely talked my friends into participating with me. One of my favorite moments ever! To top it off, the Mad Hatter sang me a short, silly birthday song.

• I made us shirts for the occasion. Mine said, A Very Merry 40th Birthday to Me. The others said, A Very Merry Unbirthday to Me.

• A friend of mine had her 35th birthday during the trip. We celebrated our special days with a margarita from Rita’s Baja Blenders in California Adventure. I like margarita’s, but I didn’t really care for this one. I did enjoy the company and atmosphere, though.

This was certainly a RunDisney event / Birthday I will never forget.

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The races for this RunDisney weekend started at the before-the-sun hour of 5am. Oy! This meant every day I got up between 3:00 and 3:30. Oy, oy, oy!

They’re worth it. I’m sure I’ll do it again.

The 10K theme was Monsters, Inc – which I liked better than The Incredibles theme for the 5K.

Packet Pick Up & Expo

During packet pick up I took this photo because I was running the Double Dare challenge – meaning I was running both the 10K on Saturday, then the half marathon on Sunday.

Our Costumes

My friends have done a number of RunDisney events. The girl in the middle makes aprons to wear as their costumes. This time they were Snow White and the Evil Queen. So, I dressed as Dopey.

The Start

This time I was placed in corral E for both the 10K and the half. During Star Wars, I was in C for the 10K and B for the half. I’m not exactly sure how the corrals work, but I think there were more corrals this time. Even though the actual corrals weren’t the same, I feel like I was placed correctly for all events. Until I started stopping for photos, I seemed to be staying similarly paced with the other runners.

Running through California Adventure

It was a hot, humid morning so I didn’t want to dilly dally too much during the 10K. I took pics going through DCA, but none with characters.

The Backlots

The back areas and tunnels had a few fun surprises. I love all these kinds of detail. There was an employee from the Child Detection Agency searching the area, as well as doors and Monsters University posters displayed.

I have a few favorite places to run during the Disney events – one of those places is through the large doors into or out of the parks.

Running through Disneyland

I don’t love the pic of me on the left, but I love that Daisy & Donald are right behind me.

The Final Stretch

• Well… I do look Dopey in the photo on the left….

• Still one of my favorite sections to run is the fenced area between Disneyland and DCA. The spectators are always amazing.

The Finish

Maybe it’s because I create photo props, but I loved all the photo ops with props available.

I am now an official runner at MU:

Despite the heat, I kept a pretty good pace the entire race. It makes up for my seeing the balloon ladies at my last RunDisney 10K.

My first event of the Disneyland Double Dare is complete.

— More than Running —

It’s My Unbirthday

The next day was going to be my birthday – making this day my unbirthday. I snapped this photo while on the Alice in Wonderland ride.

Dining at Disney

I had never eaten at the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country before. We decided to try it. I got a wrap and fries for somewhere around $10. It was ok. Not the best, but not bad.

Well, that’s a wrap, I have finished my 7th RunDisney event.

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