In January I ran the Tinkerbell Half Marathon in Disneyland, step one in completing my Coast to Coast Disney Journey. However I think the most important part to me was that it was my first Half since having Cam. And my first half since the Princess in 2013 (while I was pregnant). My only goals for Tinkerbell were to have fun, and since I could push myself, to beat my time from PHM of 3:35. Without a baby in your belly it is easier to make yourself go faster.
My initial goal was to do it in 2:30, but after having Camden via c-section, there was no way that was happening! So my new goal became anytime under 3:35. (Actually I had forgotten it was 3:35 and thought I had done it in 3:25, so I added a bit of unnecessary pressure during the race.)
I knew adjusting to the babies schedule, and not having as much free time to train as I did before would hinder me a bit and I was INCREDIBLY nervous at the start, but the race itself actualy put me at ease.
Pictures: Me in my corral, I was in C. This race is smaller than princess, so I was glad to be closer to the start and not have to wait as long. Next is Tinkerbell starting the race for our corral and the first mile marker. (Times on the mile marker are since corral A began.)
The ONLY thing I like better in Tinkerbell vs PHM is that the California Half begins and then after 1.5 miles you are in the parks. This made me have fun and relax, going through the park at dark with a bunch of other runners is kind of Magical. (Plus it was my first time in Disneyland/California Adventure, you run through both.)
Pictures I took in the park, some are blurry because I was on the move and nervous, but as I went on I stopped and paced myself with them to get better quality shots, and to remind myself I do these races for fun.
Then it was out of the parks and onto the highways/roads of Anaheim, this is where I prefer Florida Disney races, only because they own the roads and have characters on them. California had cheerleaders and marching bands, still cool, just not the same as PHM.
The go random stranger sign was motivating, and the second picture is just showing you the mile marker on the roads. The last picture is one of my all time favorites. I was nearing mile 13 at this point and saw this lady, TEAM MOTHERBOY, if you are an Arrested Development fan you know why this woman became my hero, and her costume was perfect down to the martini glass. Too bad I never saw the guy she was running with who must have been dressed as Buster.
Lauren met me along the course at various spots and that really helped, but I was tired. 3 hours came and went and I was nervous I was going to do the same or worse than my pregnant half. I mean I did weigh around the same as when I ran it and MAN was I exhausted. But I pushed myself and crossed the finish in 3:17!!!! That is almost 20 minutes faster than last year. All things considered I was proud of that. The race was fun and well worth it. Afterward Lauren and I hit the parks hard, and almost both fell asleep on the drive back to her apartment. The next day I headed back home to CT and my family that I had missed so much. One thing was for sure, I was so proud of what I had accomplished!!!
So I end this post with a bunch of photos. Let me start with one of the many Dan sent to inspire me while running, and end with my race outfit and medal!
I guess I fibbed as the last picture is Lauren and I going around Disney!!!
