Better late than never: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

So I had planned on writing more about this weekend when we got back, but traveling with a toddler and the early wake up calls two days in a row & walking around the parks all day really messed up my schedule.  So here it is.  This was my whole family's first Disney Races, my husband and I did the 10K on Friday, my daughter did the kids race on Friday and I did the half marathon on Saturday. We also celebrated my daughter's birthday during this trip (so we really crammed a lot into the few days we were there).  I won't bombard you with the 300+ photos I took during the 4 days we were there but I'll share some highlights here.

Thursday highlights:

Heading to Princess Breakfast in the rain (better than the single digit weather we had at home)

Kiddo got to lead the Princess Procession for her birthday

Royal treatment at The Bibbity Bobbity Boutique at Downtown Disney

Leaving the Expo in the pouring rain

We had planned to hit the expo Wednesday night, but through a comedy of errors (our flight landed late, then we locked the key in our room then we had to feed kiddo before the sleep monster hit) so Thursday after we did all Princess related activities for kiddo we went to pick up our packets and shop the expo a little bit.  Have you ever done this with a toddler who may fall out at any second because it's about nap time?  If so, then you know it's not a leisurely checking out of the expo, it's targeting shopping with near military precision: A pink Sparkle Skirt, a raw threads shirt, a Sparkly Soul headband and a Run Disney Vinylmation Mickey. My husband picked up some KT Tape and then we were done.

Thursday night I laid out all my stuff for Friday morning, we were staying off property in Kissimmee and everything I read said to leave 1 1/2 hours to get back on property for the race.  So I set my alarm for 2am and we were on the road by 2:30. We got to the park at 2:45.  So much for taking forever to get there.  So we both took a nap in the car until 3:45 and then walked over to the start area.

Friday Highlights:
10K:

2:45 am arrival

In our corral getting ready 

Firework start

Goosebumps (it was misty/cool out there waiting)

Crossing the start line

With Donald post 10K

Hubby & I with Daisy

That was fun! So after we got our pictures with the characters, we headed back to our place to pick up kiddo and my family to go to the Kids Race.

Kiddo with her Sparkle Skirt ready to go

200m dash in progress

Getting her medal

Post race glory

And then we did Magic Kingdom for the day where kiddo proudly wore her medal and my husband and I wore ours too.  

Friday night I learned my lesson from Thursday night: we didn't need to leave at 2:30am to make it to the park.  Instead I set my alarm for 2:30 and we left at 3am.  My husband dropped me off (so he could go back to sleep and get the family ready to meet me at the finish) at 3:30 and I was feeling good. My friend who I was running the half with met me after the security check and I didn't realize how far we had to walk to the start for the half vs. the day before for the 10k.  Just a sea of runners in the corrals behind me (I was in L)

Saturday highlights:

In my Doc McStuffins outfit

The runners behind me (and across the road was another set of runners that looked just like this)

On the course

Running through Magic Kingdom

Character stop #1 Buzz Lightyear

Tigger! This is one of my favorite photos from the half

Post run

With Chip & Dale

After a hot shower and quick change and we were back to the parks

Saw a lot of runners wearing their compression sleeves walking around the park, I was no exception.

Minnie Mouse

With Frozone & Mr. Incredible 

So yes, I totally get the Disney Magic and am looking forward to a couple of weeks when I go back for Princess Weekend and the Glass Slipper Challenge (where I won't try to cram as much activity into the weekend).   I'll have more thoughts about what I've learned from this trip that I can apply to the next trip (and future trips) in the next week...
What was your first Disney race? What lessons did you learn?