The experience of a Run Disney event began at registration - for me it was a 2am alarm to register (being in a different time zone)!! I had read that these events sell out pretty quickly so I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss out. I was traveling all the way to Anaheim from Australia so I thought I might as well make the most of it and I entered the Pixie Dust Challenge - the 10km on the Saturday and the half on the Sunday. Run Disney events are quite expensive - especially with our exchange rate but it was definitely worth it!!

The race pick up expo starts on the Thursday before the event weekend. I collected my race packs on the Thursday afternoon and it was pretty busy. There was a race shirt for each event I was registered in as well as a Pixie Dust Challenge shirt. Of course I had to make some purchases at the expo - how could I not with so many great vendors!!

The actual race day was a very early start (4:15am!!) but a short walk from our hotel to the start line. There was so much energy and great costumes in the corrals to keep you motivated, and great entertainment at the actual start line keeping the runners excited.

The run starts outside the park on roads outside the park and over the freeway overpass and then back into the park. Inside the park there are lots of disney characters and photo opportunities along the way, there really is such a great atmosphere inside the park. There are lots of great volunteers if you're on your own and need help taking photographs. Once you have runs round the park, you leave the park and run on the streets of Anaheim. Don't worry there is plenty of entertainment and cheering crowds along the running route outside the park to keep you going!!

After running through the streets, the run reenters the park and finishes over near the Disney Hotels where we started. At the finish line collect your bling and snacks and enjoy the entertainment!! This really is so much fun and such great energy along the whole run!!