Wow, what a week! Oldest daughter arrived home this week, and she'll be with us for most of this month, until law school starts up again. She drove down with some friends, and they all competed in the Disneyland runs this weekend. (Running both the 10K and the half-marathon constitutes the Dumbo Double Dare.)
Oddly, this was the first Disney race in years that I hadn't signed up for, so I didn't run with my daughter. In a way, though, it was good, because I got to experience the joy of being a spectator. This week's Ten Things of Thankful is filled with observations from Disneyland.
1. I'm thankful for my daughter, and her great taste in friends. Although I hadn't met these particular friends before, they didn't feel like strangers at all. They all supported each other through the experience of running a 10K one day, followed by a half-marathon the next. As you can tell, they were all smiles!
 |
| Photo: Oldest daughter and her friends show off their 10K finisher medals |
2. I'm thankful that we got to spend time together in the parks. We noticed "Happy Clappy Guy" again. We've seen him before, but this time, we found out more about him, thanks to Google. Watch this video, and you'll understand why we always smile when we see Peter.
3. I'm thankful for the moments when daughter and I are delighted with the same things. When we sat down to ride Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, we both looked at each other and grinned. The reason? The seat belt was adjusted to the biggest possible setting, which required us to tighten it, rather than loosen it!
 |
| Photo: Daughter and I standing by a little "Tow Mater" tractor |
4. I'm thankful that our timing of the rides worked out really well. We were afraid that we would be turned away, because our Radiator Springs fast pass window had passed while we were watching Frozen (the performance went over time due to technical difficulties). Just as we approached the fast pass return line for Radiator Springs, the ride broke down. That meant that our fast pass would be good at any time after the ride started up again!
5. I'm thankful for the inspirational runners I watched on the course. I saw runners in wheelchairs. I saw runners with prosthetic legs and missing arms. I saw first responders running in full firemen suits and carrying flags. I saw runners who were held up by both arms, but managed to cross the finish line before collapsing into a waiting wheelchair.
6. I'm thankful for how much effort Disney puts into the runs, and how supportive they are of the runners. After my daughter finished the race and picked up her banana and snack box, we returned to the finish line to cheer on the last runners. As the final runner approached, the announcer said that this was the runners 2nd half-marathon, but the first she would finish. Mickey Mouse ran with her the last few yards, and as she crossed the line, confetti shot out, just as it had for the winner. We were all cheering and clapping for her. Goofy looked at me and put his hands over his heart to indicate, "How touching!" Then he gave me and my daughter a big hug. Even though there were over 13,000 finishers, it felt like a much more personal race.
 |
| Photo: Daughter and Goofy smile for the camera |
8. I'm thankful for the chance to cheer for the runners. I made a sign that said, "Mickey is so proud!" and enjoyed watching tired runners grin and get a little boost of encouragement. I was able to get a photo of my daughter holding the sign near Mickey after the race.
 |
| Photo: Mickey is so proud of all the finishers! |
 |
| Photo: Celebrating daughter's run, at the Disneyland entrance |
We followed (at an acceptable distance) the party down Main Street, drew upon our limited NBA knowledge, and listened to the comments of people around us. We still couldn't quite figure out the celebrity's name, but when someone asked to take a photo with him, and he obliged, my daughter snapped a photo, too.
 |
| Photo: Robin Lopez poses with a fan outside of the Tiki Room |
Thanks to Google image search, we learned that our anonymous photo bomber was no other than Robin Lopez of the Chicago Bulls. Not only is he a former Portland Trailblazer (Go, Blazers!), but he is also a huge Disney fan. I really wish we had that photobombed picture!
10. I'm thankful for John. He held down the fort while I cheered oldest daughter on during her races. Next weekend, he and I will be the ones running our first half-marathon. I'm so glad we can run together!
Stay tuned for next week's TToT post, and I'll give you a report on a non-Disney (gasp!) run!
Did you run this week? (Running errands counts!)
Your hosts
A Fly on our (Chicken Coop)
Wall, Amycake and the Dude, Considerings, Finding Ninee, Getting
Literal, I Want Backsies, The Meaning of Me, Thankful Me, Uncharted, The Wakefield Doctrine
Looks like a very fun adventure. I wouldn't have a clue who the mysterious photo bomber had been! I am so impressed by those of you who are willing and able to run races like this. I don't think I have it in me.
ReplyDeleteI used to think long runs were beyond me, too. It's amazing what can be accomplished by starting slowly and building up distance!
Deleteok... now I'm exhausted! your description (and what was being described) was so well done that I feel like I was there. (I was there once... 1967 kinda remember, but not so much).
ReplyDeleteGlad you had such a good time.
If you and Phyllis ever want to visit Disneyland again, I'd be happy to play tour guide!
DeleteWhat a great weekend Kristi! I'm clapping retroactively for your daughter's achievement :D She and her friends look very happy and pleased with themselves, as well they should!
ReplyDeleteNice to switch up perspectives, eh? I would totally enjoy being a spectator. Ahem...all of the time!
Best of luck to you and John next weekend. I think it's awesome you guys run together :)
I really did enjoy being a spectator, but also enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from running.
DeleteAre the runs done before the park opens? Your oldest daughter is darling - love her haircut.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Disney people thought they were doing you a favor by deleting the photobombed picture, not knowing it was "someone"!
The runs start before park opening, and the parts that are run in the parks are completed before they open to the public. The 10K has about 2 miles run outside the parks. The half-marathon has lots of miles run outside the parks--the runners get to run through Anaheim Stadium! Those runners that aren't maintaining a fast enough pace get swept up at mile marker 11. Apparently this year, 18,000 runners started, and 13,0000 runners finished. That seems like a big attrition rate to me. I don't know if some of those 18,000 were ones that signed up but didn't run at all.
DeleteMy understanding is that it is Disney policy to keep famous people out of photos. I'm pretty sure they knew he was "someone," since he had a Disney tour guide, and Disney security around him. :-)
Sounds like you had a wonderful time watching for a change!
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot of fun!
Delete