Race Recap: Disneyland 10k/Dumbo Double Dare

Y’all, I love a good 10k. (I also love to say y’all, even though I’m from New Jersey.)

10k-1

When I began my running journey in 2011, I started with a 5k mud run. From there I did an 8k road race before jumping in distance to the runDisney Princess half in February 2012. The elusive 10k distance didn’t happen for me until fall 2012 and with one race, I fell completely in love with the race distance.

Hearts in my eyes, swooning, in love.

Problem was (and is), there weren’t a whole heck of a lot of 10ks around these parts. I ran a 10k in October 2013 but haven’t gotten the opportunity to do one since.

Fortunately, runDisney started adding 10ks to their race weekends and sweetening the deal by creating challenges that incorporated these races. The 10k distance AND Disney? Be still, my beating heart!ย 

As soon as I got the idea in my head about doing the Dumbo Double Dare challenge in California, there was no stopping me.

10kstartmercam

I knew that Cam would agree to it because Cam really loves my ideas and is always down for anything that I suggest. You know, until it comes to the race and then she’s all “Meridith, what did you get us into?”

That’s when I usually do the “Isn’t this FUN?”comment during a really, really fun part of the race (like while we were jamming to Elvis in Cars Land) so she remembers the fun and not the fact there we were so sweaty, the sheen had our arms slipping against one another the entire race.

I let Jess slide when it came to doing the challenge, being that this was her first half ever. Next time I know she’ll be all in!

10kstartline

You know what’s rad about the Disneyland races? Waking up at 4am and then walking to the start from the hotel – we stayed at Best Western Stovalls Inn. It’s so easy breezy and when you’re a bundle of excited energy who doesn’t really sleep well before races, easy breezy is always appreciated.

A hush fell over the crowd as Elvis crooned the Star Spangled Banner. This race’s theme was Stitch, with an emphasis on Elvis, Hawaii and all things Polynesian. Cam decided to pay homage to Pearl Harbor with our costumes and we were feeling very patriotic.

We lined up right behind the D corral and waited for our turn to go. The energy was great within the corral and everyone was looking forward to making our way through the course.

I decided to ditch the watch this weekend. Disney races are never about the time for me. Plus, the more time I can spend with friends, the better!

10kgo

We got the GO ahead (see what I did there) and crossed the start line to the sounds of Elvis. Our game plan was to do an easy run throughout the course and stop for any must have pictures.

10kmap

credit: runDisney

The first two miles were through the streets of Anaheim and around the Convention Center. They were pretty quiet, which I can understand because it was early in the morning. No bands, no cheering squads, but plenty of smiling faces of race supporters and awesome volunteers.

There were a lot of younger kids running this race, which is something I always love to see. Going into mile two, one was running on the median and must have stepped wrong because he fell. Yikes!

A few of us stopped to see if he was okay but thankfully he jumped right up and kept running. It was a good reminder to be aware and stay on the marked course. I know the want to go faster is there for some but we need to race smart!

DCA-10k

The air was hazy and humid as we made our way into California Adventure but spirits were high! Running through the parks is always the highlight of these races although in Disneyland the time in the parks is less – mainly because there are less parks.

Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen were out in Cars Land but we decided to skip the lines in favor of a brief pit stop. Hello, real restrooms! Always hold out for the real deal if you can. Totally worth it.

10krestrooms

Everything part of me was sweating at this point. So gross and so awesome, all at the same time. Let’s just say that I was very grateful I decided to wear bike shorts under that skirt. (I also had my Spibelt under there to hold our fuel – Laffy Taffy – so I bet that everyone else was grateful I was wearing bike shorts, too, when I was hiking up my skirt.)

Races with Cam always rock because she’s a really cool chick. I mean, Disney races are always fun but when you’ve got Cam by your side you can expect dancing, singing, seeking out and mugging for race photographers, and jokes that make you giggle the entire time.

We didn’t seeing many character photo opportunities during this race, which was a bummer, so we decided to stop in California Adventure to snag a shot. Selfies weren’t really cutting it because you could see our faces but not much of the background! Thankfully cast members are always there to lend a hand.

10kDCA

Cam and I both commented that the air in the parks was actually cooler than the air on the streets of Anaheim. Is it possible to air condition outside air… outside? Disney magic, hard at work!

10ktunnel

This tunnel was actually pleasant because there was a cold spot right smack dab in the middle. I sort of wanted to stay there! Alas, we continued on because there was more fun to be had.

Feeling parched in Toontown, we made our way to water fountains… only to find the water to be hot! Not so yummy. Then I nearly tripped off the curb because walking is hard. Very grateful I had Cam to grab on to and didn’t turn an ankle!

We knew the Castle wasn’t far. Holla!

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I think this is the first time I actually got to RUN through a castle during a race. This race was crowded but probably the least crowded of all the Disney races I’ve done.

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Of course, no race is complete without a random shot that you didn’t mean to take.

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Magical Disney ground!

After a few more turns around the backlot, we were headed to Downtown Disney and ready to wrap up this party. Around this point I texted Jess because she requested I let her know when we were around mile 5. The plan was for her to meet us at the end however she was still zzzzzzing away, right up until the text. Whoopsies!

Also, texting while running is really difficult so I decided to just call her. And then I was THAT GIRL on the phone. Please, feel free to judge me. I was judging myself.

The crowd support was high in Downtown Disney, including a sign that said YOU ARE WINNING. There were people calling “Hey Sailors” to us too, which made us grin ear to ear! It was perfect.

And so was the finish line!

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Water bottles were handed out directly after the finish, which was appreciated and necessary in the hot, hot heat. From there, we made our way to the volunteers handing out the medals and collected our super cute Stitch medals.

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The Dumbo Double Dare bracelets were handed out directly after that. Pictures and Medical were located nearby (we skipped both) and headed straight for the snack boxes and freezing cold bananas. Those bananas! I mean, who would know I could get so excited for a piece of fruit. BUT I DID.

Side note: Came home, put bananas in the freezer and forgot I did it until my husband brought them to me with a perplexed look. Then they were too cold to bite.

There was awesome entertainment and while we snacked, we took a few minutes to soak it all in.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgIG5KMMUBU&w=560&h=315]

10kmercam

Later we visited the park to celebrate with Dumbo.

10kstitchmedal

I’ll bid you adieu the same way I began…

Y’all, I love a good 10k!

ย 

24 thoughts on “Race Recap: Disneyland 10k/Dumbo Double Dare

    • Thanks Minnie! They were a lot of fun to run in and now I’ve got my Halloween costume. ๐Ÿ˜‰ Cam’s writing about creating costumes for tomorrow’s post.

  1. Great recap. Love your outfits. Costumes are the way to go, adds to the fun. Looks like you had a blast.

    Came to you via Team runDisney and think your post would be good for the MickeyMonday linkup. Stop by rungeekrundisney.com to add it if you want. The idea is to help all of us share some Disney each week, and help each other’s blogs out.

    • We had an AMAZING time. I’m already wanting another runDisney race, which is difficult since I’m not currently signed up for one. Need to remedy that! ๐Ÿ˜‰

      I will definitely swing by the linkup! Thanks for the info.

    • Thanks Meranda! You know, when you see the opportunity for a good selfie in Disney, you can’t pass it up. Even if it happens to be in the bathroom. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  2. I love your costumes! Girl, I was sweating a whole bunch too. That race was hot. And I think 10k is a good distance as well. Loved meeting you!

    • The amount of sweat I had going that day was totally overwhelming. I’m SO GLAD we got to meet each other. I mean, I wish I smelled better but hopefully you didn’t mind too much. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  3. You guys look adorable! Love your costumes, and great recap. I was disappointed by the lack of characters this year, but I gotta say, the 10Ks in Disney parks are pretty freakin’ fantastic — you spend a far greater majority of the race actually in the parks, soaking up the magic. And, yeah, it was freakin’ HOT…I was a disgusting mess that morning!

    • I agree about the lack of characters, Jennifer. However, any runDisney race is pretty amazing to me because YOU ARE IN DISNEY. The 10k was just perfect – I loved how the majority of the race is in the park and super fun. Even if it was super hot. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  4. Arm sheen! Lol! Too funny. Thanks for the recap! So that’s “the tunnel?” Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to do Avengers until one of the chicks snapped a picture of the medal for me. Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚ My friend ran Tinkerbell and said running through Anaheim was “not very pleasant,” to put it nicely. Such a short time in the parks, and we have to run on some kind of bike trail? How about the elevation? Is it flat? I hated that overpass in Princess half. That coast to coast medal is calling my name, though!

    • Yes, that is “the tunnel” and it really wasn’t bad at all. I’ve ran through another tunnel (DC for the Nike Women’s half) and I was pretty sure that I was never going to emerge from the tunnel.

      I took the Avengers medal pic for you and I have to say that now I WANT TO DO THAT RACE! It’s so nice – as are all the runDisney medals.

      I did Tink in 2013 and I didn’t find running through Anaheim too bad. It’s just different than the Florida races because in Disney World, you’re on property the entire time so you’ve got more opportunity to see characters and Disney related things. While in CA, once you’re in Anaheim, the entertainment consists of “outside of Disney” things. Does that make sense?

      Overall, both Tink and Disneyland were both very flat. Occasional small “hills” but nothing really drastic. Very much like the Florida runs! ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Thank you so much!!! Jess covered the half race recap last week if you missed it. SO MUCH FUNNNNN! We need to get ourselves at the same event soon. Deal?

      • Deal!!! ๐Ÿ™‚ I think that it would be great to be at the same event…I will bring post race champers!!! ๐Ÿ™‚ Though, it may not be cold, so it might be best to enjoy said champers after we have all finished! ๐Ÿ™‚

        I know I will be around for W&D 2015…so if your budgets allow, maybe that one can happen? ๐Ÿ™‚

        • YOU JUST NEEDED TO SAY CHAMPERS!!!

          Seriously though – I would love to aim for W&D 2015. I need a Disney race to set my sights on and I loved W&D 2013. <3

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