I registered for the Disneyland Half Dumbo Doubledare Challenge pretty early on. I knew several other of my Twitter buddies were running it and had recommended it, and so I signed up. If I'm being transparent, I would NOT have signed up if I had done so after running the Tinkerbell Half. Since I signed up BEFORE I ran it, I was committed.

I made the drive to California alone, like most of my racecations, and it was a good time. I like the serenity and decompression that can allow. Sometimes I get sleepy while driving, but that's what the Starbucks parking lot is for... 30 minute nap and a double shot.

When I arrived to Anaheim, I was early. I chose to check in, and then walk to the Disneyland Hotel for packet pickup. I arrived Friday just after it opened, which meant there was quite a line. Surprisingly, despite being about person 500, I was in and printing my release form in about five minutes. After printing my form, I made it to the pickup line, and was about 15th in line. However, it took about 30 minutes here. The cast members were quick, but for many people, they didn't know what they needed, had questions, etc. But honestly, it's Disneyland... expect to wait and enjoy the moment.

After getting my bib, I headed inside for my swag bag and to check out the expo. I was so saddened at the lack of dude stuff at the Tinkerbell Half, that I decided if I could find things this time, I was going to spend the ridiculous money and make it part of the experience. I didn't have to wait at all for my swag bag and shirts, and so I set out to shop. I found a cool New Balance tank with the Dumbo feather and FLY on the front... copped it. I went to the official mercy tent, and found a new Star Wars shirt... copped it. And then I started my collection of Disney pins... little pins that looked like the race medals. Pretty stinking cool, although the prices were typically Disney.

I then had the afternoon to do nothing, so I walked my goodies back to the hotel, and then ran back to the park. I spent the day at the parks (hurray for single rider lines at Cars), and completely carbloaded (even though I only had the 5k on Saturday). I got in a total of 9 miles that day... and also saw the new Star Ward world they are building... I really need that to open.

I got up at 4:30 Saturday and chose to walk to the starting line. I sty right next to a Starbucks that opens at 4, and wanted the two mile warmup. I arrived to the starting line which was surprisingly easy to navigate compared to the fiasco I felt May was. It was very easy to get in and very easy to get to my corral. Of course the usual people were speaking and I tried to tune them out with my headphones because they are just a little too perky for me at 5am, but hey, whatevskis. After hanging out for about 40 minutes, and stretching from time to time, I was off and running!

I had been dealing with bad IT bands in the weeks leading up to this, and so I had decided I would just PR in fun... I didn't start running to be fast or have the body I did at 20... I started running because I wanted healthy ME time and to do something I hadn't done before. When I entered with this mentality, I was in love with running again. It was a brisk morning, still dark out as we headed out through the course and into the park. The first mile of a Disney event is something like running with bulls... people get into corrals in which they don't belong, many runners don't know proper etiquette, etc., so instead of trying to go around them, I just moved to the side of the pack so that I could high five everyone lined up to cheer. I clapped for them as they clapped for us, and as usual, made sure to stop and thank the officers securing the roads.

Before long we were at characters set up, and this meant stopping to take a picture. Now, you can stand in line and get a personal photo with the characters, but 1, I really didn't want to be that weird, single middle-aged dude taking a picture with Goofy so that everyone gives me the side eye, and 2, I was already sweaty and stinky... no need to torture the people in the costume. I had a good time stopping and taking the pictures as the sun was rising in the park, but as with any 5k, the fun is over in less than 30 minutes. Sad face.

The good news was that Saturday was early park entrance, so I through on the shirt I brought, a bit of spray-on deodorant, and my day at the park began before most everyone else's. Around 1pm I went back to the hotel for a nap since it was getting hot and I had rode every ride twice, so I jogged my two miles back. Around 5pm, I jogged back and park-hopped all night, experiencing the awesome fireworks and color shows they had going on for their 60th anniversary. Good times. I think I got back to the hotel for the night around 12a, which is fine considering I needed to be back up at 4...

Same scenario for the Half, as the 5k. Remarkably easy to get to the corrals, and it was just not like that in May. We were off and running in due time, but with the half marathon, the first two miles were impossible to navigate with any sort of speed... there's just too many people in a narrow area. I love people that walk and are out there doing these half marathons- it warms my heart- I just wish they would either move right and not be more than two abreast, or would place themselves in the proper corrals. But alas... it's Disney and so just roll with it.

I stopped at every mile marker for a photo. I must have taken 60 pictures. There was a lot going on along this course. Some things that really stand out were Mexican dancers where the kids were in the most beautiful outfits. They ones that were not dancing were lined up for high fives, so you better believe I high five everyone of them and thanked them (fun points went up). There was the longest car show I've seen in my life... unreal. I think I said good morning about 200 times to the different owners lined up. One dude had a Star Wars van... he said the paint job alone was $150,000. I nearly lost my bowels.

Moving along, we ran to the Angels stadium, but then INSIDE the stadium, where people were cheering us on. Boy scouts were lines up to cheer on the runners and walkers, as well as high school bands playing their hearts out. I had to snap some photos and thank them for working hard to keep us going. It's one thing to run for a couple of hours... I can't imagine playing music for 3, 4, hours...

Finally, I crossed the finish line, with my slowest time ever in a half at about 2:30... but I did set a PR in good times. With as much money as RunDisney charges, I think going slow is the best value. Get every dollar out of the race you can... spend every moment on the course you can. Make it an experience, not a race. See you for Star Wars 2018, Disney.