2014 Race Schedule - Planning

So here is what I have on the 2014 race schedule for this year.  This is very much a work in progress.  I would love to hear your feedback and thoughts.  Which other races should I be looking into? I am staying mostly on the East Coast.  New England, DC area, and Florida primarily. 

Princess Half - runDisney; 

Sunday Feb 23^rd

chEar team / DisneySide 

Tour de Patrick; Providence, RI;  

Saturday, March 8, 2014 

The Ocean's Run 1/2 Marathon; Matunick, RI;  

Sunday, March 9th, 2014

Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run; Credit Union Cherry Blossom;

April 6, 2014

Boston Marathon; Monday, 

April 21, 2014; spectator only

Fort Adams, THE 10 MILER; Newport, RI; 

April 27, 2014

Navigant Credit Union Running Festival Half Marathon; Pawtucket, RI;  

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Boston's Run To Remember Half Marathon;  

May 25, 2014

Runner's World 5K; Newton, MA; 

June 7^th, 2014

Runner's World 10K; Newton, MA;  

June 7^th, 2014

RUNNER'S WORLD HEARTBREAK HILL HALF MARATHON;

Newton, MA; Sunday June 8, 2014

HarvardPilgrim Finish at the 50; Gillette Stadium, MA; 

JULY 3, 2014

Blessing of the Fleet Road Race, Narragansett, RI; 

July 25, 2014

Narragansett Bay 1/2 Marathon & 5k ; E. Providence, RI;  

Sunday August 17, 2014

ZOOMA CAPE COD HALF MARATHON & 10K; 

North Falmouth, MA; Saturday, September 27, 2014

B.A.A. Half Marathon; 

Sunday, October 12.

Marine Corps Marathon (Lottery); 

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Wine & Dine Half 

November

ZOOMA Nape - Please Vote

I threw myself into the running to Run to Napa, powered by ZOOMA and fueled by wine. Please vote 4 the purple Dopey! I get to bring a friend! http://t.co/pBCmI5sJR1

Mile 19 of the WDW Marathon
fourth leg of the Dopey Challenge
2014

WDW Fun Run 5K

Before the Fun Run 5k dressed as Elsa from Frozen

The WDW Fun Run 5K was the first leg of the Dopey Challenge! There were 7,000 Dopey runners in a field of 10,000 runners.  I was placed in Corral B for the 5k and the 10k.  Both of these races shared a bib if you were registered for the Dopey Challenge.  The bib was chipped, but it was unclear to me if they were really going to be timing us.  I had never run a runDisney 5k where they timed the runners.  I don't think the other 3,000 runners who were running the 5k and were not Dopey had a timing chip on their bibs.  

In front of the start line before they brought the corrals forward.

Corral B waiting in the corral
(Dark January morning for a 6:15 start)

Anyway...I really did not think much of it and ran the race with a total disregard for my finishing time.  That was until another runner reminded me that Dopey runners were supposed to maintain at least a 16 minute pace.  Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you think about it, I had already blown the 16 minute pace after waiting 20 plus minutes in the Dopey character line. I calculated that if I ran flat out from Remy in France to the finish I would still exceed the 16 minute pace. So I reassured myself that runDisney would not disqualify all those Dopey runners who waited to see him and I enjoyed the rest of my slowest 5k ever!

My favorite picture from the Fun Run 5K

Runners speeding past the Dopey line

Runners waiting for Dopey
(the line went all the way across the front of Germany
 from left to right)

The best part about waiting in line for Dopey
was waiting with Dopey!

After at least 20 minutes I got my chance with Dopey

Still happily goofing off
forgetting the 16 minute pace requirement

Stopped to do a selfie with the medics
they have bicycles - bicycles are cool!

Run buddies on the course

Does pace matter?
I asked the rats, but they did not know!
Neither did any of the Dopey runners in line waiting for pictures.

Run buddies at the finish line
(I beat Santa! I bet he stopped for Dopey as well.)

With Bob Hitchcock at the finish line!
He liked how much fun everyone was having on the course.

runDisney volunteers make the races happen!
Thanks to my volunteer for a great photo finish!

Your questions:

Competative 5ks? At Disney?

Snow Cream and Syrup @SnowCreamNSyrup
@LoveDisneyRun @runDisney is it possible to run a competitive race? They call it a "fun run" and I have heard its not timed.

Well for the first time ever a runDisney 5k was timed, but only because it was part of the Dopey Challenge. There are only 5k times listed for the Dopey Challengers WDW Marathon weekend. There are no 5k times listed for other runners at either WDW Marathon Weekend or subsequently at Tinkerbell weekend.  So I would say runDisney intends to continue with their un-timed 5Ks.  That said, you can certainly qualify for Corral A with a great qualifying time and run your race from the start of the corral. You will find wide open running from the front and the course is gun timed. 

Characters on the course:

@MPStephanie: "@LoveDisneyRun what characters did you spot?"

The only characters that I passed on were Flik and Princess Atta. They were out between the parking lot and the back entrance to Epcot. They have never had character's outside of Epcot on a 5k course that I am aware of so I was caught off guard not even looking. I thought for a brief second about doubling back, but I let them go. All of the other characters are pictured above.

My Elsa Costume:
Amanda Nichols Bumm Do you make all your running costumes? They are just great!
For the love of Disney running I do Amanda! They are functional and fun! Thanks!
Amanda Nichols Bumm Do you use a pattern or just free style it? I loved your Elsa too!
For the love of Disney running I use a favorite running dress that I bought as a pattern for the base and then I let my creative side run wild! My Elsa was just a long version of the running dress with slits up above the knees on the sides.  The sparkle overlay is just one large square of fabric cut into 2 triangles.  The front triangle was safety pinned to the top of my bra in the center and at the sides of my bra to create a bodice effect.  The back triangle was pinned at my shoulders to give a draping cape effect.  Other runners told me the shimmer could be seen at quite some distance.

Disneyland Half Marathon

This is one of the many posts that has lingered in my Drafts folder.  Seeing all the amazing runners this weekend at the Tinkerbell Half made me want to take a look back at the Disneyland Half Marathon and think ahead to this years race.

Most of you know that I was not planning to race this race, but for a series of  fortunate circumstances I found myself at Disneyland for the very first time!

So rather than stall out and find this post lingering any further ... let's get to the amazing pictures!

Starting the morning off with my weekend run buddies!
Thank you Fairy Godmother!

Happy ChEar Squad members!
These folks were great! They let me take a picture of their fabulous shirts and they had fun with it to boot!

Tink found a chariot! Okay it is a road sign.

She said YES!

Pan and Tink at the start! (w/ @WhatThe5k)

Carissa chatting with Joey Fatone.
(@CarissaAnneB and @RealJoeyFatone)

Carissa chatting with Sean Astin. 
(@CarissaAnneB and @SeanAstin)

Carissa chatting with Alison Sweeny. 
(@CarissaAnneB and @Ali_Sweeny)

Chatting with Mickey and Minnie!!!

A selfie with Mickey!

Fireworks at the start! The start line was huge at DLR.  

It was an amazing morning for a run!
The neon looked spectacular!

I was thrilled to finally be racing on Route 66 in Carsland!

The morning light was just coming out
and the trolleys looked so vibrant!

Look who I found...Mr. runDisneyTV! (@runDisneyTV)
No one know this would be his last race.

The Fireside Girls loved that I asked them
to come front and center!

Disneyland...I have arrived!
I love the scale of the California parks.

Jasmine was totally into blowing kisses.

Just a quite morning run at Disneyland!

Look who I found! My Neverland friends.

My wings were tired and I stopped for a ride!

Aurora looks so beautiful with the
pink castle light behind her!

Do we have any Little Green Men lovers out there?
I know a few!

Oh Cinderella...so far away from home.
She should get a Coast to Coast medal as well!

I wish Snow White would have a candy apple for the photo op! Runners would love her even more!

Selfie with my It's a Small World friends!

A couple of strong girls!
Maria taught me that pose a couple of visits back.

So we were about to leave DLR
and I just did not want to leave the parks!
I ducked into Mickey and Minnie's area
in Toontown for a couple of photos.

So if I told you the horse would not stop licking me
what would you say?  Salt lick for a horse!
I was hot, sweaty and insanely happy.

Next up...the streets of Anaheim and the endless sky!

I loved the street performers.

These girls were so fantastic!
There moms were all taking our pictures!

As a Tinker Fairy I could not resist...you know...Tinkering! 

Shout out to the Clif Team!
I carry my own Clif Shot Blocks
so I passed on the Clif Shots,
but they were doing a good job!

Hello Angel's Stadium!

The stadium was filled with enthusiastic scouts!
Talk about a cheer squad!
I just want all of those kids to be inspired to lead active lives!

I loved the mile markers at DLR!
Fanfare and carnival all rolled into a celebration!

My Coast to Coast picture!

Let's take it home!

For the medal baby!

Medal - Medal

Coast to Coast

Runners bringing it home around
the Paradise Pier parking structure.

Disneyland Half / Coast to Coast / Princess Half

Let the celebration begin!
Another amazing runDisney race!

My favorite custom souvenir from my DLR trip...
my Mickey Mouse original!

Sharing my accomplishment with Walt!
(They let me walk around the parks all day as Tink!!!)

What an amazing day!