Hello everyone, Jay here. Chelsea’s taking the week off after running the Princess Half Marathon, but don’t worry! She’ll be back next week to tell you all about it. In the meantime, you’ll have to deal with me.
When the alarm went off at 2:45 Sunday morning, I wasn’t quite ready for it. The early start times for these RunDisney events are a necessary evil – Florida, while a tropical paradise, suffers from all of the woes of being such. Namely, the humidity, the sun, and the heat. Each one an enemy of a runner, but all three combined can sometimes be a bit of a danger if not handled appropriately.
It’s for this reason, amongst many others (not the least of which is running the course through the actual parks themselves), that the early start time is entirely justified. Getting a good head-start on the event before the heat of the day begins to settle in makes it much more enjoyable, and safer, for the event goers and the cast members involved.
Justified or not, it’s ‘really’ early. But it’s worth it. Getting to the RunDisney event early lets you meet some wonderful characters and get the lay of the land, as well as check the map and begin plotting how to get to each spectator spot if you’re not actually running the event. And the characters are happy to meet with you for pictures and conversation, not just the runner in the group!
I’ve been to quite a few of these RunDisney events now, and I love to go and cheer on Chelsea. It makes it more exciting for her, and much more exciting for myself as I wait for her to finish her run, to go to each spectator spot on the race course. It’s a journey of considerable walking and figuring out travel options, which can take anywhere from a single hour to several depending on the distance she’s running in that event. Utilizing the bus services offered by the resorts, the monorail lines, and getting yourself out to the cheering locations scattered amongst the Marathon routes can sometimes be just as fun as running the race – if a little less strenuous!
It’s always rewarding to see your runner’s face light up as they round the corner and see you there, bolstering their spirit and giving them a burst of energy and elation that you’re there for them. If you choose to go to the spectator spots, you’ll find yourself surrounded by families and friends looking for their own runners – but happily enough, they all tend to cheer everyone on as they pass by, yelling words of encouragement. Or downright lying! “The finish line is just around the corner!” is a favorite amongst the half-way point spectators. It’s spoken with encouragement, though, eagerly spurning the runners to keep themselves motivated.
Being at the Finish Line is exciting for the runners, to have your support and your cheers and to share in their moment of victory as they cross and get their medals. But I find that travelling to the spectator spots and being a cheer squad of sorts is very rewarding as well – you can share in their adventure as they proceed on the route! Also, keeping up with your runner is a challenge in and of itself, though aided by a variety of travel options, shortcuts, and maps rather than a mad dash down a long, winding road! Waiting, watching for them, giving them a high-five or yelling their name in encouragement and seeing their face light up in a smile… and then making your way to the next spot, some two to four miles away, is a wonderful experience. Particularly when “making your way” is actually riding a nice, air-conditioned monorail to the next spot!
Previously, on one of the longer races, I had to hustle from Main Street in the Magic Kingdom to the front gate of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, riding monorails and taking busses, plotting out the times to be there in preparation of catching her in time! It was a fun, silly time and many other groups moved from spot to spot to see their runner, and a sort of camaraderie was born amongst our little cheer squad. We’d end up cheering for each other’s runners when they passed by – strangers cheering for strangers, as it were, but isn’t that a wonderful thing? It would help if Chelsea didn’t run so fast – I’d have more time to get between spectator spots!
And if you’re not on the lookout for your runner, they might even catch you lounging on the grass and having a nice sit as they come into view! Chelsea caught me at one of the viewing spots having a reclined rest against a sign, and laughed at me that it’s not fair for me to sit if she’s not able to!
I highly encourage anyone who goes with their friends or loved ones that are partaking in the Run Disney event to try their hand at cheering at each of the spectator spots. You’ll get to see such a wide variety of costumes, a very popular thing to do by the runners, as well as see some amazing inspirational posters and chants. And often times you’ll be treated to some impressive sights yourselves, wandering through resorts and parks that you may not have visited before to reach each spectator spot. One of the spectator spots was from across a big brass band that played some amazing music to fill my time spent waiting to catch sight of Chelsea and cheer her on!
I will admit I look forward to November when I get to run the Wine and Dine Half Marathon with her instead of cheering.
