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2015 Star Wars Weekend: Inaugural Star Wars Half

2/7/2015

2 Comments

 
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Cousins as In laws (Leia and Mara Jade)
It's here! The end of the 67.9 mile journey!! Missed other recaps from Star Wars, check them out here: Expo, 10k. 

After the great fun we had at the half the day before, and relaxing day, we were ready to roll. I fell asleep before 8:30 and woke up at 3:30 feeling pretty refreshed which was great after all of the early morning wake up calls I've had lately. 

We did our routine as it was our 6th day out of 11 we had to get up and get ready to run. We were out of the door around 4:15 and made it rather quickly to the team rundisney meetup which is always great fun at 4:30. After the group pic, me and Devin and Greg (here is Greg's recap!)  headed over to the bag area, meet up with Chris and Mallory (here is Mallory's recap!)  and hung out for a bit before the trek to the corrals. We decided to use the bathrooms in the paradise pier hotel. PROTIP: there's a second set of bathrooms upstairs, no wait!
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awesome scrolling again
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time to go!!
We were all in different corrals so we split off. Devin was in A and I was B so we made the plan he would go fast and wait in a character line. We decided on Vader but he would text if someone else was out (since neither one of us has ever gotten a pic with Vader). Spoiler alert: the plan worked well!

Corral A went off and they walked us up. We had about 10 min between corrals which seemed long at first but there was never really a period of course crowding. I still wish the corrals were 1/4 to 1/2 than they were now. Then there really wouldn't be crowded. 

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in the corral by myself, so excited to start!
We started off the same as the day before towards the parking structure and then right after the ball road light turned backstage to an all new area. It looked really cute and I felt great. I did an 11 min mile the first mile which felt fine but I was worried it would come to hurt me in the end. 

We kept going back stage and eventually came up to Main Street-we ran by the castle, through frontier land and I saw the first character stop-Luke and Leia and the line was crazy. As we went through frontier land into fantasyland, there were storm troopers stationed in front of the carousel and they were telling people not to stop at all. Seriously? If you don't want people to stop and a take a pic, don't station things there. 

We ran by Matterhorn and Chewbacca was back there with a line in the dark and I couldn't see the end. 

Our plan actually worked as I finally came upon Darth Vader at star tours. Devin ended up waiting about 15 min (Vader did take one break but it was only for 3 min unlike the crazy that was the WDW 10k). When we saw Vader I said-what's up dad? And he was NOT pleased with me. haha!
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We kept going through tomorrow land and headed backstage through the tunnel and through the Esplanade to California adventure. We came through the back and ended up in Hollywoodland and took pictures with some more rebels. 

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We decided to do a staggered bathroom break while waiting for boba Fett. By the time we both went pee, we were through the line already. It worked great. 

We continued down Buena vista street and towards paradise pier and Disney did something so smart-double storm trooper stops! We continued to the pier and out through Carsland before being backstage for awhile. Soon after we were on the streets of Anaheim. 

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The sunset we were greeted with was top notch. It was behind gorgeous! Once we got out of the park, it was a bit boring. Because of how the roads were blocked off, cars were on our left so there weren't many spectators but we did eventually come along a band and the fun guys from the Hollywood half dressed as Chewbacca.

The best part of this course was seeing the winners almost done as we first headed out. Wow-they are so incredible and they make running that fast look effortless. It really is a beautiful thing to watch. 

This course is very flat and fast so there's not much to report but that our mile splits stayed pretty even, and the miles flew by. The bands and spectators were a great motivation. 

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We headed back into a neighborhood for our clif shot, it was then time for cosplayers! Check out Greg's post for full pics but it was pretty awesome! The costumes are all top notch and we all appreciate them coming out on Sunday morning to cheer us on. 

The ones we took pics with from 501st were pretty mind blowing. Chewbacca made noise, same with C 3P0 and they were all so nice and gracious. 

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I got a pic with my mom too!
And even better, I got recognized for my blog for the first time! Someone stopped me and said-I read your blog! I was so happy so if that was you, shout out in the comments!

After that, it was all down hill for there. We had about 4 miles left and felt very strong. I am still in shock how much we weren't struggling. The miles plugged away and we even chatted with fellow runners and it was awesome. We had been talking and decided we needed a pic immediately after with all of our medals so we texted Brian to bring them from the hotel. We saw Pam outside her hotel around mile 10.5 and then turned back onto Harbor Blvd-we are close to the end!! 

The great thing was the end was by a lot of hotels so the spectators out were FANTASTIC! The signs and people were so supportive. What was not fantastic-people trying to cross and pretty much play Frogger with all of the runners. 

We took a pic with the mile 12 marker and kept going. I realized I needed to pee so I did a quick portapotty stop (less than a minute!) and we kept going. 

Before we knew it, we were in the parking lot and heading towards the finish. Ralph called and said he was stuck in traffic and wouldn't meet us at the finish line. Sad but I was so ready to be done. 

We rounded the corner and it was all so overwhelming. I was about to be done with 67.9 miles in 11 days and I started crying. I can't believe that we feel as great as we do and it was so mind blowing what we had accomplished.

FINISH! Less than 3 hours and feeling great. And the best part WE FINALLY GOT MYLAR BLANKETS!! 6 races and it was my first one. 

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the tear started-67.9!!! DOPEY REBEL 2015!!
We got our medals and went to the Rebel challenge tent and coast to coast tent and I was crying! TEN MEDALS IN 11 DAYS!  Dopey Rebel 2015. Now if only there had been a champagne tent at the finish...

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recreated the pose from when Leia gives Han Solo his medal
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in SHOCK!! coast to coast in JANUARY!! (and i cried again)
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<3
We met up with Brian and did our photo shoot and I love how all of the pictures came out. 

After we took pics, we went back to the room to shower and roll and walk to breakfast. Ralph met us there and it was great! I highly recommend Storytellers and the character interaction was great. After that, Ralph and I headed to a super bowl party then home to pass out. I didn't have to work on Monday so I able to unpack, do a bit of laundry and put up part of my Christmas decorations and do some homework. 

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ewok was proud
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it took us a good amount of time to arrange our medals
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2015 Dopey Rebels!
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photo shoot after breakfast
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me with my number one cheerleader
I will do a full debrief soon of Star Wars weekend but I really enjoyed the weekend and can't wait to do it again!

 
Anyone else participate in Star Wars weekend? Anyone have it on their bucket list? 

2 Comments
lacey@fairytalesandfitnness link
2/12/2015 12:45:39 am

Great pics! Love the costumes. All your medals looks so awesome! Quite an accomplishment finishing Star Wars right after Dopey. I am looking forward to getting my coast to coast medal too. Although mine will be pink since I'm doing princess and tinker bell. Congrats! Now you can go rest. You earned it!

Reply
Juliana Calhoun
2/13/2015 12:10:38 am

Thanks-I wish I could relax but princess next weekend and many races before pixie challenge, I'll have to wait until May. I'm excited for my second pink coast to coast

Reply



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    A late 20-something navigating the world trying to stay sane with Chi Running, Primal Eating and Healthy Living!

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