Disneyland Half Marathon 2013! Part II

Race Day:

3:00am.  Our alarm went off.  That's a RIDICULOUS time to get up for a race.  The things we do for runDisney.  We put on our costumes.  I found an awesome tuxedo t-shirt for Ben in the print of the blue jacket the Beast wears and I wore a yellow tank top and skirt and a red rose for Belle.

Roughly 4:00am on Race Morning

I highly HIGHLY recommend costumes for runDisney races.  Do you have to wear them?  No. Are you going to be looked at funny if you do/don't wear one?  No.  But it's alot of fun.  There are TONS of ideas out there, just make sure to Keep It Simple, Stupid.  It is still 13.1 miles, you don't want to be uncomfortable at mile .1.

Ben trained quiet a bit harder than I did so we split up for this race.  He took off like a speeding bullet and I chugged along.

Jenn and Jan at sunrise at Paradise Pier

We made it to Disneyland

Fixing to run through the Castle!

BOOM!

 As we went to Disneyland we couldn't help but compare it to our beloved Disney World.  This race, you are completely done with the Disney parts of the race by mile 4.  Sure you go through Angels Stadium and

by the Honda Center, but it's lacking in the Disney Magic if you ask me.   The cool part about it is the entire community of Anaheim comes out to support you.  There were local marching bands, classic cars, dance teams, people on their front porches all out to cheer you on so that was awesome.

Welcome to Mile 4

Mile 9 is by, and through, Angles Stadium.

And of course you know I did the Angles in the Outfield move.  I also chanted "Quack, Quack, Quack" when running by the Honda Center.  

Now we were in the home stretch.  We were a bit slower that anticipated based on the heat and the (at the time) secret pregnancy (YAY JAN!) so now it was a race against the dreaded balloon ladies.  If you don't keep a 16 minute/mile pace they will sweep you.  We've heard horror stories of them blocking the course with a bus and requiring everyone to get on the bus instead of completing the race.  We've also heard that if you get back to Disney property they won't sweep you.  So it was a race against the balloons.

We Did IT!

Jenn and Ben with their DL and C2C medals!

The whole gang with their medals!

As I promised in the last post the blue banana vomit story.  So as me and Jan were finishing up, we called Ben and Tim to see where they were so we could meet up (and to let them know we are almost finished to get a picture).  They said they were in ESPN Zone.  If you know Ben and Tim that obviously means they are hydrating...with beer.  Come to find out, after the race, Tim chugged a blue powerade and ate a banana.  One of the two, or perhaps a combination of both, upset his stomach and that's where Ben found him...crouched over vomiting behind a kiosk.  Blue Banana Vomit.  Then this picture happened.

Don't you....forget about me....

After the race we could either wait for the shuttle back to the off-property hotel or walk the 1 mile.  We've already gone 13.1, what's another mile?  Turns out, 1 mile after a half marathon is a 51 minute mile. 

We got back to the hotel where I walked immediately into an ice bath.  I LOVE ice baths after a long run.  We originally tried this after the Royal Family 5K in February the day before the Princess Half Marathon.  We knew our legs were exhausted after 2 days in the parks, plus a 5K so we thought we had nothing to lose.  Our legs felt great after it and completely ready for the half marathon the next day.

Ice Bath Celebration

 After cleaning up the boys went to In and Out Burger.  This is the stuff of legends for Southerners.  I've never been to one.  Let me tell you, this is straight from the gods after a run.  We devoured our animal fries and animal burgers in silence.

Headed back out to the parks after the race to celebrate!

Of course you cannot celebrate without a Dole Whip Float!

Introducing Jan to the nectar of the tiki gods.

 

It was delicious

What a beautiful view.

Jenn and Ben...Enjoying the parks

I completely DESTROYED Ben on this game.  

CarsLand!  It was so cool!

One more day in LA so we toured Paramount Studios.  We saw Mychal Rivera's sister! Go Vols!

We went to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour which was simply amazing.

One more stop then we headed back to God's Country.

We had an absolute awesome time.  The parks were great, the race was finished, the Southern California TN Alumni Association chapter was so friendly and welcoming.  Even with the weather being unseasonably hot and the queue lines, restaurants, everything, not having adequate air conditioning for this Southern girl we had an absolute amazing trip.  

We got to the airport where they searched my hair!  I felt more violated than I did when I walked through the naked scanner.  Then we were of course pulled aside where the guy already knew what he was looking at through the scanner on my carry on.  He had see the mass quantity of medal and made me empty out my bag only to find 4 giant hunks of runDisney medals.  #runDisneyproblems

After planes, trains and automobiles we arrived safely back to Tennessee, only for me to realize we no longer have a Disney trip on the books.  Time to start planning.  Here's to Wine and Dine 2014!

Disneyland Half Marathon 2013! Part I

So after running the Princess in February we though, we might as well do another one in California to get that coveted Coast to Coast Medal!  So we signed up for it...even though it would mean the following 3 things:

• It would be the first home game Jenn would miss in 12 years
• It would be the first home game Ben would miss in 20 years
• It would be the first home game that someone from our family hadn't attended since 1973.

That's a big deal.

We made it out there, through planes, trains, and automobiles.  Yes we watched that during a layover.

Nashville -bussed-> Atlanta -flew-> Ft. Lauderdale, FL -flew-> Los Angeles -car ride-> Anaheim

We headed to the parks the 1st day (Thursday), our hotel was a mile from the parks so we walked.  When you're doing a 13+ mile run in a couple days what's an additional 2 miles each day?

Complete with First Visit Buttons!

We ran back and forth between parks.  I HIGHLY recommend park hoppers.  We went in first to California Adventures to get a fast pass for Radiator Springs Racers.  I had heard that was the hot ride right now.  So thankful we did!  We got the fast pass at roughly 9:30 and it was for 7:15 that night!  They sell out quickly!

Checking out the New Cars Land

This place served their cokes in giant cones!

This ride is so awesome

Lightning McQueen!

Part of Radiator Springs Racers

 The racers ride was almost identical to the Test Track in EPCOT.  However without all the advertisement which makes it way better.

Clearly I loved this ride.

I think I have the same picture of me on Test Track doing the same thing.  It was so warm and fast.  So awesome.

From there we went back to Disneyland and just started riding anything and everything.  The park was dead.  It was awesome.  

We also got a fast pass for "World of Color" so 2 of the big things we knocked out in the first day!  Side note: I found out my Papa died on this day...the "Up" scene in World of Color didn't go over well...at....all.

Grizzly Rock

For dinner we headed over to New Orleans.  

I got to see inside, now I'm obsessed.  Someone help me get inside!

 So we are standing outside of Club 33 as I take this picture and this couple comes up and also takes a picture.  I said "Hey if you are going inside you have to take me!" of course kidding...because no one goes inside.  They take their picture, ring the bell and go inside.  I was like "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?"  It hadn't even dawned on me that they were in a suit and dress...I felt like an idiot.

Since Club 33 wasn't an option we headed next door to Blue Bayou.

 This place was awesome.  The ride for Pirates of the Caribbean floats by, the theme is awesome, and their "broiled filet mignon" was one of the greatest I've ever had.

Walt's apartment with the light left on.

Friday started out with more parks. I haven't mentioned the weather yet.  You know Southern California weather right?  Beautiful, sunny, cool days.  There should be an asterisk next to that that says "Unless the Altom's are in town"  It was low 90's, with 60-70% humidity the whole time.

Not that big of a deal, we live in Tennessee, we're used to that.  But we're also used to BLASTING the AC when we come inside.  That's not the case there, all their line queues, dining spots EVERYTHING is outside.

I'd say we handled it pretty well with minimal complaining.  Others did not.  We saw people with coats covering their heads from the sun, walking around with bags of ice on their heads. It was hilarious.

Trader Sam's was once described as the "Awesome badass child of the Enchanted Tiki Room"

 So this bar...where to start.  First it's a Tiki Room with alot of the decorations from the Enchanted Tiki Room in it.  Complete with totem poles with eyes that follow you around.

You order certain drinks, and the entire room is themed to do something. Whether it's the lights go out and the volcano erupts while alarms and red lights flash, or the ship in the bottle gets stormy and sinks.  It. Was. Awesome.

The first drink I ordered?  The "Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum".  It was like suntan lotion.  Would I order it again? Of course...if only to say the name.

The first drink Ben ordered was the Shrunken Zombie Head..complete with souvenir glass.

Right after I caused the volcano to erupt... 

 We ordered the Krakatoa Punch next.  It was DELICIOUS.  We could have drank a million of these...

Yes...the drink glows.

Hooray the entire gang finally met up for some Tiki Bowl Punch!

Finally we ordered an "UH-OA" which caused the room to start chanting while the lady threw cinnamon on our flaming sugar cube.  You know you have good friends when having not seen them in months the conversation goes how was the flight?.....blah blah blah.....so I'm hoping my poop schedule doesn't get thrown off too much.

We headed to the Expo after putting it off all day afraid of the nightmares we had been reading on facebook and twitter about lines that were 7 hours long!  Then headed to a Mexican joint in Downtown Disney for some margaritas and chow.  We were beginning to get hangry.  

Griffith Observatory

On Saturday we headed out for some touristy stuff.  We headed to "Home" to eat breakfast and meet a friend from Ben's old ska days.  Do we have a picture with him?  Of course not...

Then we headed up to the Griffith Observatory.  It was awesome.  You could see everything.  

The boys...being...boys.

Can you tell it was game day?  I'm sure people thought we were part of a cult or something...in a way...we kinda are.

Selfie with Bert.

This is what happens when you go out of town on a game day...and Ben wondered why the call was lost.

From there we split up, me and Ben headed to the Santa Monica pier to look for a Sharknado while the others headed to do other touristy things.  

We never found a sharknado so we headed to Q's for the official Southern California Alumni Association game party.  It was awesome.  50 Tennessee grads gathered together to watch the game on the other side of the country.  

We headed back to Anaheim and got stuck in the infamous traffic.  We finally got back to Downtown Disney to get supper and everywhere had 2 hour wait!  At this point I was getting hangry, we didn't get anything at the bar or the whole day since eating at "Home" that morning thinking we needed to behave somewhat for the race the next day.  We left DTD in search of food that wouldn't make us wait forever.  Turns out, Anaheim has NOTHING as far as chain restaurants.  No Chili's, Logan's, nothing.  Not that we were looking for that, but we were too afraid to venture out and eat at some hole in the wall the night before a race.

We ended up eating at Chipotle.  The night before a half...  It's never tasted so good.

I'll update Part II when I can including stories about the race, blue banana vomit, and Rudy.

Disney's Princess Half Marathon 2013

So we left off as I turned on my alarm clock for 3:15am for a half marathon.  Ben and I both agree that this is the hardest part.  That's an asinine time to get up to run.  Running is hard enough, running 13 miles is hard enough, don't make me do it on little sleep.  How am I supposed to go to sleep early at Disney World?!?!

But we did it.  We woke up, got into our sweet costumes and headed to EPCOT.  A suggestion - bring an old sweatshirt or something you can toss because it's COLD that early in the morning.  At least it was to me. Disney donates any clothing left on the course.I brought a nice Tennessee hoodie figuring those Florida residents shopping at the Goodwill would have a better option than that nasty Gator stuff.

After what felt like FOREVER waiting in line for a bus, getting to the race, waiting for all the other corrals (with it being our first we were placed in nice corral G...out of corrals A-H) it was finally our turn.

We felt good, took a little while for everyone to find their groove, we were going strong. Then we FINALLY get to it.  The castle.  Holy crap I'm going to run through the castle!...ok it was more like very slowly walk since everyone stopped so that was frustrating.  But I ran OUT of the castle!

I'm halfway to being a Princess!

Then the worst thing happened, because we were in the second to last corral the pace changed DRASTICALLY.   After the castle everyone stopped running.  The castle was roughly mile 7, between mile 7 and 8 we had run an extra half mile weaving through people and trying to get around them. Then the course narrowed...and narrowed again...until it was one lane of traffic with cars going down the other lane.  It was IMPOSSIBLE to get around anyone.  After getting frustrated, and an even more frustrated Ben, I said "This is Disney, we shouldn't be frustrated!  Let's just enjoy the rest of the run, get some pictures and then enjoy our vacation!"  Which is what we did.  We walked from about mile 10 to 13.1.  Not at all the time we had hoped for, but we had a ton of fun.

FINISHERS!

Because it wouldn't be true to the title of my blog to only tell half the story, here's a list of our favorite eats and drinks at Walt Disney World.

Eats:

• Dole Whip Floats - Adventureland - Magic Kingdom - The only reason I go to the Magic Kingdom.  OK that's not true, but they are still delicious.  I LOVE the orange with pineapple juice and Ben prefers the vanilla with pineapple juice.
• Beef and Blue - Resorts - it's a sandwich Ben originally had last year (when I got the Princess Half bug when I realized we planned our trip the same week as the race and I didn't do it).  We had it at Pop Century last year and they had it at Port Orleans this year, Ben said it was better at PC.
• Le Cellier - Canada - EPCOT this was our celebratory meal the night after the race (and our "we need to stay awake so our internal clocks aren't jacked up for the whole trip").  Everything.  Everything is good here.
• Tangierine Cafe - Morocco in EPCOT.  If you are hungry this is the place to go.  We used a quick service meal credit (we had the dining plan) and had more food that we knew what to do with.  It was all delicious.
• Mickey Ears - Everywhere.  They are so good.  We eat so many of them when we go.
• Mickey Waffles - Resorts - I don't know if it's cause they are shaped like Mickey, or if they really are that delicious, but we highly recommend them.
• Yak and Yeti - Animal Kingdom - Both the quick service and the table service are delicious.  If you do the table service, get the burger.  I swear it'll be one of the greatest burgers you've eaten.
• School Bread - Norway - EPCOT  This is delicious!  And a BIG snack if you need something to tide you over between meals.
• O'hana - this is hands down the best restaurant on property.  Save room for dessert. Pineapple Coconut Bread Pudding with a Bananas Fosters Rum Sauce?!?! YUM!

Drinks:

• Grand Marnier Slush - France - EPCOT - I promise, beer drinkers, tequila drinkers, wine drinkers, teetotallers, EVERYONE will like this drink.  The only problem is the cup is entirely too small.
• Italian Margarita - Italy - EPCOT
• All you can drink - Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show - this was the best part of the show.  If you can drink it, they'll bring you another one.  
• Lapu-Lapu - Polynesian - drink these before eating at O'hana.  Don't go to WDW without eating at O'hana. 
• Avocado Margarita - La Cava De Tequila - Mexico - EPCOT.  Sounds weird but it's delicious.  If you can only make it to one place in EPCOT make it this bar.  There are so many margaritas to try!  
• If you dare to leave the property and head over to Islands of Adventure to head to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter the Frozen Butterbeer is the way to go.  I've had it both ways, the frozen is hands down better.
• Unfortunately Ben doesn't care for too many beers at EPCOT, but he does like the Hog's Head Brew at the 3 Broomsticks.