Official 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon Thread

[Mickey's sweetheart]

I'm ready to be the rootin'-est, tootin'-est cowgirl in the wild, wild west! The last piece of my Jessie outfit arrived today. I'll probably wear it for the 10k instead of the half. I don't think I want to deal with that hat for 13.1 mile.

 

[Keels]

Since I just decided to join the party, I'm a little behind on training. Eek! Did 8 miles yesterday - plus another 2.5 walking to and from the gym in 110 degree heat. Pretty sure that walk was harder than the full 8 miles.

Does anyone have any good tips for races 3 weeks apart? I'm doing DLP at the end of the September, and while it's not quite "back to back," I've never done two races this close together. (Doing the same in November with W&D and the Philly half.)

Recovery is going to be your BIGGEST concern - not just during DLH weekend, but especially after. You're not giving microtears, etc., a whole lot of time to heal and then you're going to be stressing your body with a long-haul flight.

Lots of stretching, foam-rolling, ice baths, etc. I would probably sleep in compression every night from the time I get home from Disneyland to when I leave for Paris (and definitely on that flight), just to keep everything tight and right. Also, I wouldn't force anything at DLH. There's no reason to risk getting hurt when you know you can finish and are just looking to come out and have fun. Treat the DLH races like fully supported training runs for DLP Half.

Also, don't take much time off - even if it's just cutting runs back to 30-45 minutes/3 miles during the week or so. I would try to squeeze in one more longish run between getting home from Disneyland and leaving for Paris (maybe 8-10 max), just to keep your fitness level up.

 

[bananabean]

Recovery is going to be your BIGGEST concern - not just during DLH weekend, but especially after. You're not giving microtears, etc., a whole lot of time to heal and then you're going to be stressing your body with a long-haul flight.

Lots of stretching, foam-rolling, ice baths, etc. I would probably sleep in compression every night from the time I get home from Disneyland to when I leave for Paris (and definitely on that flight), just to keep everything tight and right. Also, I wouldn't force anything at DLH. There's no reason to risk getting hurt when you know you can finish and are just looking to come out and have fun. Treat the DLH races like fully supported training runs for DLP Half.

Also, don't take much time off - even if it's just cutting runs back to 30-45 minutes/3 miles during the week or so. I would try to squeeze in one more longish run between getting home from Disneyland and leaving for Paris (maybe 8-10 max), just to keep your fitness level up.

Thanks for all the advice, @Keels! I get really bad shin splints so I usually sleep in compression sleeves after a run, but I hadn't thought about it for other nights or on the plane. Will definitely add that to my plan. And normally I would say no to ice baths, but if this heat wave continues, I might be up for them!

 

[Keels]

Thanks for all the advice, @Keels! I get really bad shin splints so I usually sleep in compression sleeves after a run, but I hadn't thought about it for other nights or on the plane. Will definitely add that to my plan. And normally I would say no to ice baths, but if this heat wave continues, I might be up for them!

Two race weekends at Disneyland and I know that I swell BAD in California. So just be aware of that!

 

[Kathymford]

Two race weekends at Disneyland and I know that I swell BAD in California. So just be aware of that!

It has been HOT lately, but relatively low humidity compared to last year. At least so far. Also, I say "hot" as a California girl.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

Thanks for all the advice, @Keels! I get really bad shin splints so I usually sleep in compression sleeves after a run, but I hadn't thought about it for other nights or on the plane. Will definitely add that to my plan. And normally I would say no to ice baths, but if this heat wave continues, I might be up for them!

You should be careful with compression sleeves, they aren't the same as compression socks. They can cause blood pooling which can be especially dangerous on a plane or while sleeping. My local running store put out a newsletter that had warnings about wearing them and recommended wearing them for no more than an hour after a workout but they said with compression socks you can wear them anytime and for as long as you want.

 

[courtneybeth]

It has been HOT lately, but relatively low humidity compared to last year. At least so far. Also, I say "hot" as a California girl.

It's been a miserable couple of weeks here for sure! I didn't realize you were a local too - hi neighbor

 

[Kathymford]

It's been a miserable couple of weeks here for sure! I didn't realize you were a local too - hi neighbor

Yes! I'm in Torrance ... about 25 miles north of DL.

 

[Neon Cactus]

Disneyland running rookie question here. The 10k course is well mapped out, but the Disneyland portion of the Half looks a bit vague and I didn't see an inset like they do for the WDW marathon. Does anybody know where the route in the parks will be? It looks like at DCA we don't go past Grizzly River or Soarin', but back down the performance corridor to Hollywoodland and then out that way. Do we go into the front entrance of Disneyland or backstage and through a side entrance onto Main Street? Looks like Tomorrowland, and then ultimately out through the castle. From the map, it looks like we go back into DCA and then exiting back out and into the backstage area of Disneyland up to Ball Road. It'll be awesome either way, but just wanted to get an idea.

 

[bananabean]

You should be careful with compression sleeves, they aren't the same as compression socks. They can cause blood pooling which can be especially dangerous on a plane or while sleeping. My local running store put out a newsletter that had warnings about wearing them and recommended wearing them for no more than an hour after a workout but they said with compression socks you can wear them anytime and for as long as you want.

Hmm - that's really interesting. Thanks for the info! I'll break out my neon pink compression socks for the plane.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

Hmm - that's really interesting. Thanks for the info! I'll break out my neon pink compression socks for the plane.

I wear compression sleeves too and had no clue until I read that newsletter and then looked into further. It sounds like it can be pretty serious. Good Luck with your races!

 

[BelleWannabe4]

I am SO excited for this weekend! My running buddy and I are in Corral F. We've only done the Princess Half at WDW and we had to get to that race craaaazy early. Is the DL Half similar or can we get there closer to the start time? What time do most people get into their corrals?

If this matters, we're staying at the Disneyland Hotel because I really, really like to sleep and it seemed like that would maximize the amount of sleep I get

 

[Kathymford]

I am SO excited for this weekend! My running buddy and I are in Corral F. We've only done the Princess Half at WDW and we had to get to that race craaaazy early. Is the DL Half similar or can we get there closer to the start time? What time do most people get into their corrals?

If this matters, we're staying at the Disneyland Hotel because I really, really like to sleep and it seemed like that would maximize the amount of sleep I get

You DEFINITELY don't have to get there as early as WDW. It depends if you care where in your corral you are. If you want to be in the front of your corral, go earlier. Personally, I like sleep more than being at the front, so I would leave my hotel at 430 and that was when walking from a hotel on Katella ... also, that may have been cutting it too close. lol.

 

[courtneybeth]

runDisney emailed out the guide officially this morning. As @lurkergirl pointed out earlier in the Disneyland subforum thread, there's a typo in the 10K date. It's not Friday September 3!

Be glad they didn't do massive printing on these guidebooks anymore - but shouldn't they get that edited?

 

[StartedByAMouse]

Disneyland running rookie question here. The 10k course is well mapped out, but the Disneyland portion of the Half looks a bit vague and I didn't see an inset like they do for the WDW marathon. Does anybody know where the route in the parks will be? It looks like at DCA we don't go past Grizzly River or Soarin', but back down the performance corridor to Hollywoodland and then out that way. Do we go into the front entrance of Disneyland or backstage and through a side entrance onto Main Street? Looks like Tomorrowland, and then ultimately out through the castle. From the map, it looks like we go back into DCA and then exiting back out and into the backstage area of Disneyland up to Ball Road. It'll be awesome either way, but just wanted to get an idea.

I overlaid the DL Half map with Google Maps to show the course a bit better. Here's a description of my guess of what the route will follow ...

• Starting line past the Paradise Pier Hotel turning into backstage behind California Screamin'
• Exit backstage portion near the archway to Radiator Springs, run past Racers down Route 66
• Run to the Boardwalk overpass near Ariel's Grotto, all the way around Boardwalk, back to Bug's Land entrance
• Through Bug's Land to a service road behind the Tower of Terror and Hyperion Theater
• Transportation hub into Esplanade
• Enter Disneyland through front entrance onto Main Street, go backstage near Mad Hatter in Town Square
  
• Run backstage behind Main Street and Space Mountain
• Re-enter Disneyland near Star Wars Launch Bay run around sub lagoon & Matterhorn into Fantasyland
• Run through the Castle & down Main Street
• Back through the Esplanade to DCA to run down Hollywood Blvd. to backstage
  
• Run through a tunnel under the transportation hub to backstage area near Harbor House cast member entrance
• Run backstage towards railroad and monorail roundhouses, around by Team Disney Building and then out onto streets of Anaheim

 

[Neon Cactus]

That's awesome! Thanks. I was hoping they hadn't changed the course from running into the front entrance of Disneyland. Don't ask me why, but I'm really looking forward to running under the entrance tunnel onto Main Street.

 

[NJlauren]

You DEFINITELY don't have to get there as early as WDW. It depends if you care where in your corral you are. If you want to be in the front of your corral, go earlier. Personally, I like sleep more than being at the front, so I would leave my hotel at 430 and that was when walking from a hotel on Katella ... also, that may have been cutting it too close. lol.

Ekkk! I was thinking leaving at 5 for the 5k..... I better make it 430..... Starbucks and me are going to be good friends on Friday

 

[lurkergirl]

runDisney emailed out the guide officially this morning. As @lurkergirl pointed out earlier in the Disneyland subforum thread, there's a typo in the 10K date. It's not Friday September 3!

Be glad they didn't do massive printing on these guidebooks anymore - but shouldn't they get that edited?

I can't believe that a) no one caught it internally and b) it wasn't fixed. You'd think it would be easy with it being electronic...

 

[Kathymford]

Ekkk! I was thinking leaving at 5 for the 5k..... I better make it 430..... Starbucks and me are going to be good friends on Friday

For the 5k maybe later would work since there are less people. I've never done the 5k at DL so someone else would need to chime in. The more people, the longer it takes to wade through the crowd, security, etc...

 

[Kathymford]

I can't believe that a) no one caught it internally and b) it wasn't fixed. You'd think it would be the easy with it being electronic...

Could it be that no one has contacted them about it yet?? LOL Maybe it's worth a tweet ...

Edited to add: actually, someone did reply to their tweet that the date was wrong 4 DAYS AGO! haha