Race Report - 2016 Disneyland Dumbo Double Dare

Expo Friday

This was my fifth consecutive Disneyland Half Marathon, and my fourth time for the Dumbo Double Dare Challenge(10K on Saturday, Half Marathon on Sunday). Left San Diego later than planned and got to the hotel around noon. The Best Western Stovall's Inn is very close to the start/finish area, and this will be the 4th year we are staying there. Luckily our room was ready, so we could unpack before going to the Expo. Much cooler this year than in the past five. The long lines of the packet pickup and expo were not there this year, or maybe our timing was just right. Same picture verification validation as last year, where they match the photo at the Expo before they hand you the Double Dare medal. This would be the second year (and half) for my daughter, so not as much anticipation. We've been doing this Disneyland race weekend thing so long now, that we know where everything is, and how everything works.

Late lunch at Roscoe's Waffles as recommended by my daughter, who is now a UC Irvine (30 minutes from Disneyland) student and knows the area much better. I actually didn't feel like walking much as my muscles seemed to be tight from earlier workouts in the week. A sandwich for dinner, and an early bed time. Our room was located on the west side, so no view of the fireworks this year.

Disneyland 10K

Theme this year was buddies. For the 10K, "Join Aladdin and his best buddy Genie for a magical run!". I had an Aladdin Street Rat costume I worn a few years ago, but this year I made the hat slightly larger, and added Abu to the top. The vest was not very secure, so having him on my shoulder would not work well. My belt/wrap kept falling low previously, so this year I mounted it on a belt strap, so it was not attached to the pants. We watched the Aladdin movie on Thursday night, and when I saw the early scenes where Aladdin stole a loaf of bread, I knew what extra prop I needed. Alarms set at 2:15 am, but woke up on my own just before 2. My plan was to get to the staging area at 4 am before the 5:30 am start time.

As I was headed towards the start area, my normal route was blocked. There are new security procedures in place (they've been in place for several months, but I just haven't done a runDisney race since last year), so everyone had to go through a bag (and costume) check before entering the start area. Only a few dozen runners around at 4 am, so I used the potty before lines got long. This race is a big event for the Running/Race costume group which I belong. Many showed up early, and I met several friends I have not seen since last year. A news reporter took a group of us costume runners, and we were featured in the OC Register.

Corrals opened around 4:45 am, but my friend whom I was running with had not arrived. She finally got through security, and we walked over to our corral B, after most of the runners have assembled. Not too long before the national anthem was sung. Our start time was only 6 minutes from the first gun time, so somewhat near the front. As usual in a race, lots of traffic, and hard to find a comfortable pace until about a ½ mile. My main goal of this 10K was to get a picture at every mile marker. The past years markers have always been great. Last year I got mile 5 with myself, and my daughter got mile 6 before the race started. My friend was dressed as the Mayor from Nightmare Before Christmas, and we ran together which made it easy to take each other's picture, though most of the pictures were the both of us at the buddy themed mile markers. Still dark at the 5:36, and sunrise was an hour away. First mile marker (Monsters Inc, Sully and Mike) came up at the Anaheim Convention Center, which was well lit from the street lamps. Surprised there were Disney cast members who helped take pictures. Lines moved pretty fast, but we were not running for time. Mile 2 (Jungle Book, Mowgli and Bear Baloo) was just after the entrance to the back lot, and much darker. This section has always been a slow area for me, as the asphalt is a bit rougher. During the half, I can run along the left side on the smooth concrete gutter, but for the 10K the left side was blocked. As we entered the actual parks, the course was different, but I didn't look at the exact details. I normally don't have to use the restroom during a 10K, so not really concerned where the course goes.

A short stop at the World of Color, because this makes for such a good video, then mile 3 (Mulan and Mushu) in California Adventure Park. I try my best to use the same pose as the characters. The bread came in handy. Mile 4 (Big Hero 6, Hiro and Baymax) just before we exit CA, and some daylight appeared, but it was cloudy the whole morning. Mile 5 (Lady and the Tramp) in Toon Town. As we approached the Sleeping Beauty Castle, we split sides. Several stops for pictures on Main Street. I wanted to get a picture of Aladdin stealing the bread, and we saw a vendor lady setting up shop, perfect. As we exited the main gate, we headed to Downtown Disney, and I knew this was a different route than last year. We actually ran next to the shop windows. Last year, we followed the tram loading area before DTD, passing few shops. Mile 6 (Tangled, Flynn Rider and Horse Maximus) marker in DTD was much clearer due to the daylight.

Just before the finish, we stopped so that my friend could get her mayor hat (too tall and big to run the entire race) from a friend on the sidelines. My daughter was a little ways up, and got a nice picture of us running together. As we approached the finish I was looking the the usual characters to high five (or four). I saw Genie on the left, but no Aladdin (he was on a break). There was a photographer before, and I signaled for her to take a picture as I was handing Genie the bread loaf. Never saw the picture. 15 minutes total not running, oh well. Moving time average 12:20 min/mile. Watch stopped early, sometimes I hate that touch screen.

Official 1:30:16 (14:34 min/mile pace), 5332 of 9007, Div 126 of 187, Gender 2231 of 3122.

Disney Saturday

Finished early enough to get back to the hotel for breakfast. A little nap for the family, before we head to Downtown Disney to explore the shops. Lunch at Earl of Sandwich, then back to the hotel before dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Not a lot of exploring, need to save our energy for the Half the next day.

Disneyland Half Marathon

Last year my daughter ran the Disneyland Half for her first Half Marathon. This year she was back again. Buddies theme for this race was Mickey and Pluto, but buddy costumes in general were common. I ran as Tarzan, just because it's a crowd favorite. I didn't spend a lot of time in the staging area, since we wanted to get the best position in the back corral. I found a few costume runners, but with the extra runners during the Half, it's always hard to find anyone in particular.

Corrals opened around 4:45 am, and we headed to corral "I" (next to last, my assigned corral was D). During the bib check, a security person said I needed to wear shoes. I explained to him that I did not, and handed him my card that details USATF rule 143. A long walk to the corral, far from the start line. We waited in the corrals for a while, then a lady asked me for an interview, and I thought it was for a news or something. OK, keep my abs tight, I'm on camera. When I spoke into the microphone, and heard an echo, I knew I was live on the big screen. Of course the big screen was really far away, but a friend mine in the front took some pictures. There are some new announcers this year, and the interview thing is new. I'm sure that next year (if they are still there) I won't be interviewed, since I violated several Disney rules, no shirt, no shoes, so not family friendly. They even panned the camera down to show my bare feet. "Tarzan doesn't wear shoes", I said. Good thing this is a race, and I can get away with some of the standard park rules. Of course, now all the runners knew me, LOL.

The race course was changed due to the Star Wars Land construction, and I wasn't sure the best place to use the restroom. Normally, I use the one I use is across the Soarin' ride, but I wasn't sure if the course went by that. We weren't in DCA too long before we headed north to DL. We looped through TomorrowLand, pass the Matterhorn then into FantasyLand. No ToonTown this year. A quick stop for Lilo (Stitch was on break), then for Jane (Turk was on break). Disney was using their own photographs this year, so pictures were available using PhotoPass. Only problem is that they were following the family friendly rules, and would not use their camera to take my picture (no shirt). As we headed towards the Castle, we split side to get a better pictures. I figured if I wanted to use the restroom, it'd better be soon. There was a cast member informing everyone of a rest room off Main Street, so I stopped there. My daughter did too, but the line was longer. As we headed towards the entrance (our exit) of the main gate, we noticed hardly any rest room lines at those stops. I'm not as familiar with all the restroom locations in DL, but I know most are not near the course as the ones in DCA. Next year I will study the course change carefully, especially the parts through DCA. Hopefully the course next year will take us through the new far away galaxy Land. We headed briefly back into DCA, down Hollywood Blvd, before we headed out into the back lot under the Monorail, then on the roads and north out into the streets of Anaheim.

Cloudy conditions, not so much blinding glare of the sun as we headed east. At times the sun would peak through, but generally sunglasses were not needed (at least this year). The classic car display was nice to see again, and some people recognized me from last year. The route around Angels Stadium parking lot was slightly modified to make up for the Disney Park course change. Still ran on the infield dirt, with the stadium full of people, and stopped for a picture before we exited. Mile 10 is when we headed back west, and sun is behind us. This is the point of the race where you know the end is near, and the possibility of being swept is minimal. My daughter picked up the pace slightly, as we headed towards the finish. In general, this year was much cooler than years past. The partly cloudy skies were a nice change.

Just after mile 12, the course go through the back lot on Disney Way. This is the rougher asphalt section that would normally slow me down. My daughter informed me that she was going to pick up the pace again to the finish, so I struggled on the rough surface until I got to the part where I could run on the smooth concrete gutter. I increased my pace, hoping my daughter would be able to stay with me. Near the end of Disney Way before crossing Disneyland Drive, a Disney security person asked me where my shoes were (I kept running). I told him I didn't have any with me, then he told my the Disney Rule about wearing shoes. I explained to him that this is a race course, and there is a rule that allows me to not wear shoes. I told him if he wanted to run beside me (since I wasn't going to stop) while I pull out my card that states I could. To my surprise, he stayed with me. Normally in the past, the Disney Cast member would just let me go (I've only been confronted once before in a race). I know they are not going to physically stop me. I pulled out the card and handed it to him, he read it, and he let me continue. We were both friendly, I know my rights, but it gets rather annoying knowing that I may be questioned at any time.

Just after I crossed Disneyland Way, I waited for my daughter to catch up. I high-fived people, and cheered everyone on. She was only a minute or two back, and when I saw her, we headed to the finish only 0.1 miles away. I was going to high four Mickey on the left, but a couple of girls were trying to do a selfie with him, so he was busy. Not as crowded as previous races, but the slower time was more the back of the pack people.

Official 3:26:14 (15:45 min/mile), 10938 of 13090, Div 261 of 295, Gender 4366 of 4847. Slower than last year, but we made a few stops that we didn't do before. The runDisney races are not about time anyway, and I always tell my daughter (her time was 3:26:08) that you never know how you are going to feel on race day, and that PR times cannot be planned. We split off in the finish area, where I picked up my Double Dare Medal. One of my running friends was volunteering to hand out the post race snacks, so I took a bit of time to find what chute she was working, before I exited. Nice to put on flip flops after running, same for my daughter (an important lesson she learned last year).

As I headed back through downtown Disney, some security guards asked if I had a shirt, as that might be a problem entering that area. I told them I had a shirt, but didn't tell them that it was back at the hotel. Next time I'll have to bring a shirt just in case, at least I was wearing flip flops. Breakfast at the hotel was over, and it was getting close to lunch time anyway. A quick shower, but we missed the noon checkout my a few minutes. Lots of runners searching for food after the race, so we avoided Downtown Disney (we'd have to walk), and decided on Red Robin, about a mile from the main Disney area. Many patrons with race shirts around, so others had the same idea. No wait for service, so this was a good choice. Drive back to San Diego a bit heavy a times, but I've got used to this travel over the last few years.

Medals and shirts much nicer this year. The Dumbo Double Dare was redesigned, and his ears more slightly. The big-D (though not as big as previous years) is back this year after missing last year for the diamond celebration. 10K Medal would have looked better if painted, since the Aladdin and Genie do not stand out was well. Nice to have shirt is neutral colors, gone are the bright yellow and orange of the past.

Summary

Rock n Roll Virginia Beach also on Labor Day weekend. Although this year that race was nearly canceled due to a Tropical Storm, the Disneyland race weekend would kept from doing that race. Next year will be the 5th Dumbo Double Dare, and since I'm a Legacy runner, I might just keep doing this race every year, despite the cost. Of course the air fare to Virginia Beach would cost much more.

With two Half Marathon experiences, my daughter is now ready to run her next one on her own. Actually she is looking forward to it, so she doesn't have to listen to all the comments about the crazy barefoot Tarzan. I would still train with her, if needed, but she knows enough to know what to do and not do in both training and racing.