You would think the second day of doing anything would be easier than the first. You have your stuff together, you know what you need, and everything should go smoothly, right? Wrong. I don’t know why but getting up for the Half is always worse than the 10K the day before. Instead of having all of my outfit in one place, part of it is usually in the dryer and things are scattered all over from where I dropped them the day before because I was too tired to go looking for them before bed. I decided to leave my wrist sweat band behind since I forgot to wash it and it got too tight to be comfortable the day before, and added one of my old Star Wars Weekends name tags. None of this helped me get ready faster, but they seemed like good ideas at the time. I even set my alarm five minutes earlier, but I still got out the door Sunday about ten minutes later than I did Saturday morning.
This time I paid no attention to where I parked and they were already letting us make our way to the buses. I recognized a voice to my left directing everyone towards the red balloons and I immediately headed her way. It was Katy, one of my friends from my college program when we worked at the Jungle Cruise. She broke off mid-sentence and yelled my name as loudly as she was giving directions, drawing laughter from everyone around us. We hugged and I told her I’d look for her at the finish.
It was about the time I got on the bus I realized I had made a critical error. I had forgotten my snack! I usually always bring two packs of peanut butter crackers and eat them on the drive in, or at least a granola bar. I had absolutely nothing, and all my cash was in the car that was now being left behind at Epcot. Oh boy.
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Captain Phasma somehow made it out of the trash compactor.
DJ Elliot
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[lgc_column grid=”50″ tablet_grid=”50″ mobile_grid=”100″ last=”true”]I jumped in line for Captain Phasma as soon as I could. She was the only one left that I had never met, and apparently every character with a helmet talks now. I should have checked the wait times first and gone for Darth Vader because by the time I was out of her line, Vader was up to a 75 minute wait. It was about 4:15 and the characters were being pulled at 5 am. No way would I have time. I didn’t feel like waiting for Boba Fett or BB-8 again so I went over to the stage to watch DJ Elliot and Disney Parks Blog Guy do more trivia questions. There were lots of Disney Photopass Cast Members milling around, but a lady asked me to take her picture. She handed me an android and there was no camera button anywhere on the screen. I’m an iPhone girl and I was very confused. She insisted I just hold down on the screen and I did, multiple times.[/lgc_column]
She went to check the photo and it wasn’t there, instead she ended up pulling up a close up of herself in a bikini that she then could not get to go away. That was right when the Stormtroopers showed up on stage and I wanted to watch it and try to film them, but she wanted me to try again.(Like waiting until the Stormtroopers were done would have made a difference!) We tried again and the same thing happened. Getting fairly irritated at this point, I asked her if she could make it have a camera button so there would be something to push instead of tapping the screen and hoping it worked. Finally it took and she was happy, just as the Stormtroopers left the stage. She thanked me and went to join the Cast Member group photo they just announced. So no Stormtroopers video for Chelsea. (They repeated the show while I was in the starting corrals but I was too far back to be able to see it and my phone would not pick up the screen at such a distance.)
This time I was smarter and used the bathrooms in the runner only section. The line was not much shorter, but better than the one I waited in the day before. I headed for Corral F. I have never been in such a high start corral, and I was only one from the back because of their new mini wave procedure. I will say I do not like it. The corrals are HUGE and I get it is probably less work for Disney, but it’s impossible to get to the front of your corral and would be very easy to get separated. I also had issues on the course because I usually look at the corrals on the bibs of runners around to gauge where I am in the pack. It’s a little harder when everyone has either Corral F or G. Normally I can look and tell if I’m in trouble when I’m in Corral I and I see a bunch of Corral Ks around me.
Photo by Andria.
My friend Andria had been doing all three races as part of her Kessel Run Challenge and we hadn’t seen each other yet, but we were in the same corral today! (Why wouldn’t we be, practically everyone who wasn’t a first timer was in this corral…) She texted me where she and her boyfriend were and I went wandering to find her, I walked straight past her when she saw me. We were both talking about how unprepared we were and how we were probably going to die. I am so mad at myself for not being clever enough to say, “I have a bad feeling about this.”
Even once our corral started moving, making it to the actual starting line took quite a while because of how many people there were. I was quite surprised by the amount of fireworks they were shooting off with each wave, I feel my other races have been one little burst where this was more like a fifteen second show.
The three of us crossed the starting line together. I saw one person with a stroller that got pulled off to the side, but another stroller that kept going. I thought strollers were not permitted so I am not sure how they made it into the corral in the first place. Over to my right I saw the line of Guest Relations Cast Members in their plaid and reflective vests and saw my friend Jeff standing there. I’ve seen him at almost every race I’ve run and today followed our tradition exactly. I yelled, “HI JEFF!”, and he yelled back, “HI CHELSEA! HAVE A GREAT RACE!” It was about that point I noticed Andria was behind me and I tried to slow up for her, but I lost her in the crowd a minute later. I looked at her boyfriend, “I think we lost her.” “Yeah, this happened yesterday. I feel bad but my legs are just too long.”
I kept pace with him up until we reached the marching band in the same spot it was at the 10K. My pouch came loose and I ran with it in my hand for a bit, but I had to stop to readjust. I have never had it come off before! I started running again immediately after, but he was already gone.
[lgc_column grid=”50″ tablet_grid=”50″ mobile_grid=”100″ last=”false”]R2-D2 was in the same spot he was in for the 10K, this time with a much shorter line. I stopped fast and cut sideways to reach it, trying not to run directly in front of anyone and cut them off. His line moved quick and I probably did not wait for more than seven minutes, but it gave me enough time to realize something horrifying. In my heart I believe R2-D2 is a real droid and he’s beeping and buzzing all on his own, just like there is only one Mickey Mouse, but obviously I know he has a little help from technicians. Just usually you can’t see them. They had the R2-D2 operator sitting off to the side in plain sight! Come on, Disney, I know there’s no kids on the course since you have to be fourteen to run, but that’s no excuse! I was horrified, but I got my picture and went on my way.[/lgc_column]
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Beep boop.
Pay no attention to the woman with the box.
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Every burst of fireworks is comforting for me on a race, it means there’s another group of people in front of the Balloon Ladies. I heard the last one a little after the first mile marker, just as I made the turn down Bear Island Road. My strategy this time was a mixture of trying to put distance between myself and the last corral while still saving energy for running through the parks. I also knew it was only going to get hotter and that would slow me down.
The next photo op I came to was on my right, the Endor speeder bikes. I kept going since it was meant for two people and I’d look sort of sad all by myself. This stretch was a two lane road with trees on either side, and right at the two mile marker was my favorite effect I have ever seen on a RunDisney course. There were lasers flashing overhead with smoke, sound effects, and strobe lights so it was like you were running through the battle on Endor, complete with Ewok cries. I didn’t want to stop to get my phone out, but RunDisney included a video of it in their high-light reel from someone’s Twitter account.
A little further on, there was a Cast Member on the left at the end of the line yelling, “Ewoks over here!” I stopped and turned hard, and then had to double check with the girls in front of me, “She said Ewoks, right?” (Really Spellcheck, you recognize Ewok as a word but not Ewoks?) They took about ten minutes and I had to resist the urge to hug them. Race characters are not quite the same as park characters, it is more of a “smile, click, go, next!” Meeting. Plus, I was sweaty and I did not wish to get sweat on an Ewok.
There was a photo spot that was more of a scene and not characters, where you could pose in the trash compactor like you were trying to brace it. I probably should have stopped but I was worried about time and I had lost track of who was around me. I had seen the three hours and thirty minutes pacer group earlier but not in a long time. (There are multiple pacer groups and you can sign up with them to follow to hit your target time.)
The course then took us into the backstage area of Animal Kingdom, where we ran past the vehicle storage for the train and the rhino house. Where else can you see a rhino on a half marathon? We entered into the actual park between the Maharajah Jungle Trek and Kali River Rapids before turning left and heading towards Expedition Everest. I picked up the pace, it’s so much easier to run in the parks than the open road. There’s usually people cheering and it just gives you an energy boost. I swung into the restroom by Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama just before we went backstage again. Why use port-a-potties when you can have real sinks? I took a wet towel and wiped my face down. I did not think of the heat and increased sweat it would bring when I decided to leave my sweat band behind. I also grabbed a Pokestop real quick because I was unsure when I would get another opportunity.
Just backstage were two Stormtroopers and a little further down were the Emperor and two of the red guards. Behind them were members of the 501st so I am not entirely sure if the Emperor was an official Disney character or not. We came out into the Animal Kingdom parking lot and the course looped around towards the bus parking before heading back out towards the main road. There was a couple with signs off to the side that made me giggle. One had a picture of Darth Vader and read, “You don’t know the power of a Mickey Bar.”
There was another photo station half way through the parking lot, and had I understood what it was better, I would have stopped. It was the ice cave with the Wampa with a Lightsaber above you to reach for. I didn’t realize you were supposed to turn the picture upside down.
I feel like there were more water stops on the course than there actually were on the map, probably due to the high temperatures and heat advisory. Just past the next water stop was Vader’s chair, and at this point we were about half way there, just past mile six and the 10K marker. This is usually when the race starts being a little less fun. I don’t know how, but according to my runner tracking I had the exact same time on this 10K as the 10K the day before, right down to the second. Apparently all my running more than equaled out my stopping.
A little ways down the road I encountered a guy I have seen at previous RunDisney races, dressed in Gryffindor robes and holding a sign that reads “I AM NOT AT THE WRONG PARK! Hogwarts Running Club”. The Hogwarts Running Club is a non-profit organization that puts on “virtual” races themed around Harry Potter and all the proceeds go to charity. A virtual race is one that can be done anywhere, at any time, and the medal shows up in the mail. I have only done one of their races myself, and I intend to do more in the future even though I’m not counting them towards my 30 by 30. The more races I run, the more of their runners I see.
I got my first scare about time as I went up the hill on Osceola Parkway. Through the trees I could see the Animal Kingdom parking lot where we had come through and the back part was empty. I tried not to panic. The last runners still had to be at least a mile behind me, right?
I made the turn onto World Drive and, as C-3P0 would say, thank the maker there was the food stop. It’s not food per say, but a Cliff gel shot. I had never used gels in my life before RunDisney and as of yet have never eaten one off the course, but after not eating anything before the race I was running out of steam. Normally there are volunteers shouting what flavors they have but this group was just sitting at their tables. I tried to read the flavors as I went, looking for vanilla, but I couldn’t find it. Determined not to backtrack, I just took the one at the last table. I should have gone back. Mocha was disgusting and I made a mess when I accidentally bit part of the packet off with it.
It was only about a mile down World Drive to the turn for Hollywood Studios, but it seemed to take forever. The sun was high in the sky and everyone was basically at a walk. This turned out to be the most exciting part of the course for me, however. A few months ago, I noticed what I thought was a pedestrian bridge from Hollywood Studios across World Drive and ever since I’ve been very curious about what it could mean for Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land. It looks like a long box which is why I thought it might be a covered bridge for guests, with sides so no one would see the cars below. I would be walking right underneath it and finally able to get a good look. I stared at the sides of it as I slowly realized I was not staring at a bridge, I was staring at a RIDE TRACK! It looks like a coaster or something that a vehicle would be anchored on rather than driving over, and there is definitely construction going on the other side of World Drive so I’m thinking it could be transportation Hogwarts Express style. I couldn’t see a way back and there was only one track that I could see, but I am super excited about this.
Just past the ninth mile marker, the course became the same as the 10K course the day before, heading up the long ramp and into Hollywood Studios. The only good part of this was that, once I made it to the top, I could look back and see how many people were behind me. I didn’t need to worry anymore, I could barely make out the end of the crowd and there were still probably stragglers behind them!
Photo by Disney Photopass.
Darth Maul was right inside the turn into the backstage area like he was the day before, but with a much shorter line. I guess that’s the good thing about seeing the same characters twice. I came up into the Fantasmic stadium but this time the 501st were no where to be found, and outside Tower of Terror I encountered some very confused guests in the park for Extra Magic Hours. Running down Hollywood Boulevard I ran across a manager I used to work with, who is usually in Fantasyland during races with a box of kleenex. (No, seriously, I’ve seen him like four times and he always has kleenex which is super helpful.) I pointed at him and yelled, “You’re in the wrong park!” As I ran by, he shouted back, “Yes I am!”
There were no Stormtoopers in the park itself this time, but I found two as I made my way backstage at the front of the park. I managed to pick up a run and keep it up as I headed into the area in front of Hollywood Studios until the course narrowed as we turned towards the Boardwalk. It’s too tight to run, and to all those people who like to try to keep running and yell “EXCUSE ME!” at everyone, I want you to know everyone around you thinks you’re a jerk.
AWR or Deathtrooper.
We made our way under an overpass and they had red light effects with Vader’s breathing playing, a simple but nice addition to what would otherwise be a rather bland part of the course. This time we took the long way around the Boardwalk, but at this point the wood was at least dry so I could keep a fast pace. Near the Abracadarbar were spectators holding signs that read, “I AM PROUD OF YOU PERFECT STRANGER!” More people were on the other side with snacks for those needing a little more energy, and I just think it’s really cool that people get up that early and do this kind of thing. One day I would like to at a race I’m not running. Near the end of the Boardwalk were the 501st and I stopped for a photo with a Deathtrooper, and then I stopped to stretch my calves while I got my phone back in my pouch.
The last water stop was backstage at Epcot and I realized we must be going around World Showcase instead of out the front like the 10K. Going over the bridge from the U.K. to France there was a very hoarse Cast Member cheering, “You’re almost there! You got this! I may be losing my voice but I ain’t losing my faith in y’all!” I powered through most of the park with a quick stop in Japan for a final selfie. There were tons of Photopass photographers out on both sides.
Finish photo by Disney Photopass.
I made my way out at the front of Epcot again to find more of the 501st waiting but at this point, I was not stopping so close to the thirteenth mile marker. There was a Disney Security guard yelling encouragement as I rounded the turn and as soon as I saw the Finish Line I moved into a dead run. I went as hard and as fast as I had left in me and crossed the Finish Line just short of a sprint, and had to pull up hard so I didn’t hit the woman who stopped in front of me. (Hint: Don’t stop right at the Finish Line. Run through it!) I headed towards the volunteers handing out medals and this time found a wonderful woman who put it around my neck instead of handing it to me. Yay! Then I got a cooling towel and I have never been so happy with the swag at a race in my life. The Princess Half you usually get a bag and sometimes it’s a mylar blanket if it’s cold. The congratulations texts started coming in and I pulled out my phone to check my time. I knew what my Fitbit said but since I always start it before I actually cross the start line I never trust it so I go off the runner tracking. 03:24:33, while not my best time is definitely not my worst. Especially since I did zero training and stopped for several photos and the bathroom.
The medical crew were in the middle of the Powerade and water stations on a megaphone encouraging people to drink and offering to open the bottles for anyone whose hands were too full. They were out of blue Powerade so I wound up with yellow. Bleh.
I headed down to the Challenge Medal tent where they checked my face against the picture they took at the Expo and made sure the bib number was correct before I was presented with my Challenge Medal. I looked enviously over at the Kessel Run Challenge and Coast to Coast Medals, someday! Then I got my snack box and headed out towards the characters. There were so many people relaxing on the ground and I understand recovery, but there are photos to get!
I hopped in line for Kylo Ren for about thirty seconds before I changed my mind and went to Darth Vader’s. Kylo Ren is in the parks and Vader is not, so I decided to wait out the forty minutes. Andria came to find me to say good-bye and show me all her awesome medals (she did the Kessel run, I swear I’m not jealous…). I kept an eye out for Katy but didn’t see her anywhere, and at this point I was too tired to look for her. The photo with Vader was super quick, but I got what I wanted and headed out. I stopped to try to take a picture with the banner, but was struggling to get the sign and the medals in the selfie. Thankfully a lady saw me struggling 
and offered to help, then I took a group photo for them. I started to head to my car and was worried it would take me a while to find it since I didn’t pay attention to where I parked, but thankfully enough of the other cars had left the parking lot so Cupid was easy to spot. (Yes, my car’s name is Cupid.) My fan club was waiting in the car for the perfect photo with all three medals.
I came very close to falling asleep on the drive home, but then of course once I showered, I couldn’t sleep so I resumed my Star Wars movie marathon. I finished Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones already so I moved onto Revenge of the Sith. I then watched Rogue One again even though I watched it like a week ago, and I passed out sometime during A New Hope. I’ve got more blisters than I’m used to post race, but I’m not as sore as I expected. As of right now, I don’t have another race until November for the Wine and Dine Challenge. Maybe I’ll actually get on my training schedule this time!
Probably not.
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