The big race is here! ​

We got up at 4:50, got ready and headed to have a quick breakfast and then over to the race start. We used the Porto after the misadventures the day before and then huddled in a Mylar blanket to stay warm as it was surprisingly chilly. We started in B and they announced there would be 34 waves for 4 corrals so I was curious how this would work. The race announcers were the same as the day before and kept us entertained while we waited. The race ended up starting about 10 minutes late because of race course clearance. With the smoke start again, I'm not sure when the race actually started but we crossed the start line at 7:20.

We started the same as yesterday but headed to Walt Disney studios immediately and went backstage. We got to run through the Motors Action and Studio Tour which was cool as I had not seen those yet. As we headed into the park we saw Captain America but his line was closed already as he was about to leave. Spider-Man was right next to him and had no line but only a selfie allowed. It was really annoying to have character handlers there but not take it pictures. So everyone was taking pics for each other so it actually slowed the whole photo process down. And not every character had a photopass person either (luckily Spiderman did!).

We then ran through Pixar and stopped for a picture with Mr and Mrs Incredible before heading over to Disneyland. ​

As we continued to Fantasyland and there was Cinderella and Prince Charming and PRINCE ADAM AND BELLE. I freaked as Beast is my favorite prince and he was in human form! HE LEFT 4 parties before us and I was gutted! So sad. ​

and then a run through castle! 

We did another bathroom break as we were worried we wouldn't have another chance before leaving the park. As we continued through Frontierland, we stopped for an awesome picture with the Sultan, jasmine and Jafar. ​

​Our final character stop was Baloo and Louie as we exited the park. 

I heard the Up characters were out but we didn't see them! And from other pictures I've seen, the Cheshire Cat, mad hater, March hare and other amazing characters were out too! INSANE!
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I had talked to a few people that were worried that the race would be boring outside the park but it was far from it. The countryside as you can imagine was beautiful! We went out and back from Val d'europe which is the neighboring town and made a lovely loop around a lake. We passed castles with signs (I remember one involved Louis Braille doing something there). We went by open fields, forests, corn fields and more and it was amazing. They even had bands and acts out for entertainment including cheerleaders by the lake. There were a good number of spectators in the town and lots of French people screaming ALLEZ (which means let's go!) ​

Instead of a clif shot station, they had 3 food stops with apples slices, granola bars, and cereal bars. I ate apple slices not because I needed the fuel but because I was hungry!  Hydration stops had water and Powerade. We made two Porto stops and saw the most interesting thing. They had a place for guys to pee that wasn't in a stall. It looked like a hand washing station with holes in it. Guys could go up and use it and walk away. It made the Porto lines shorter but still took a while as there weren't many Portos available. ​

As we made our way back to DLP, we saw the parking sign that looked a lot like the TTC/MK sign st WDW which was cool. Next we ran through a few of the hotels. First up was Santa Fe that had a Cars theme. Then we went through Cheyenne that had an old western town feel that was awesome! We kept going around the lake and passed New York, Sequoia Lodge, Newport and ran through the Disney village. There were lots of spectators which was great! ​

We were up at 4:50 and had wardrobe malfunctions with costumes that had to be dealt with. This caused us to head out late to breakfast but it was still open at 6 when we got there. The pre race breakfast was amazing! Bananas, apple, cereal, tea, coffee, juice, applesauce and yogurt. Having bottles of water would have been the only thing to take it from an A to a A+++. 

We headed out and the walk wasn't too bad. About 10 minutes over to the event arena (including going through security) where we checked our bag and headed to the pre race area. There was not much there but 2 photo background opps and a long line for Portopotties. We split into corrals (I was in A and everyone else started in C). The sign said portopotty in the corrals but I did not find them. There were a few tucked behind a wall and I asked multiple volunteers and they all said to keep walking forward. It may have been a language barrier and I did not want to disobey/be that American. When I got in the corrals, there was random tape volunteers were holding up and told us to stop. Turns out they were splitting us into waves which was new. I ended up making friends with a CM that works at Cosmic Rays, met ladies from LA as well and saw a few people I know. 
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The race announcers spoke in both English and French which was interesting. They had high energy and actually weren't annoying. No stupid skits, just chatting and it helped pass the time. No French national anthem and I was a bit bummed as I really like the French one. They announced the start of the race and shot off fireworks about 2 min before the wheelchairs so I have no pics of the fireworks. For each group, they launched smoke which was new (see above). ​

I stopped for a castle pic, Cruella who screamed out puppies and Jafar. ​

We continued to Discoveryland (their Tomorrowland) and saw a gorgeous sunrise. ​

Around the corner we hit the 1km which was welcomed but I thought it was a mile and was very confused. I stopped for Chewbacca and R2D2. ​

Izzy did very well but got tired towards the end so we slowed down and just chatted. The course exited and went backstage before finishing with a weird loop. Basically you saw the finish line but then looped around. ​

The kids race is just adorable. We Could see the 200 across the lake then watched the 400. All the races went off in waves. 
At the end we were able to see the start of the 1k and Sophie, a young girl with cerebral palsy with braces that walked the 1k with her dad! Turns out her parents are in one of the Disney groups I am in and I loved learning about her stories! ​Someone gave her their 5k medal :) 

Izzy ran as Rapunzel for her 400 m and look at her go! She was one of the only in costume :) And as you can tell below, she was just a tad in love with this one as she wore it around the park all day! 

After the kids race we went to breakfast and fell in love-coffee, tea, juice, breads-croissant, chocolate croissant, rolls, butter, jam, cream cheese, ham, cheese, yogurt, applesauce. We were stuffed and knew we wouldn't need to eat a proper lunch with an early dinner. I will do a separate post on touring Disneyland Paris. 

Overall, it was a fabulous race and considering that it was inaugural made it even better! I would hands down recommend this race to anybody. Most of it was in the park and the 14+ character stops and other stops was incredible and well worth the money paid. ​

Anyone else run the Disneyland Paris 5k? Would you run it? 

It has been a hectic morning to say the least but I am all in for the Inaugural Disneyland Paris half marathon! There was a lot of drama getting through (Get travel said they would call me but it wasn't confirmed/i was on skype with the disneyland paris number and also the american number). 

I got through the American number after a 40 min hold and we are in! We are staying at the Sequoia Lodge for 3 nights. I will be going with my boyfriend, his older sister and his niece. We will all run the 5k together (his niece is going to pick out our costumes as we had a long talk about who is from France and I am hoping she picks Beauty and the beast), she will be running the 400m kids race and I will be running the half marathon with his sister (I am thinking sleeping beauty costume with one of us in pink and one of us in blue!). 

Now from booking through DLP directly, I had to pay 100% right there which was a lot to put on my credit card but that is more miles to get me to europe for free! 

overall, i think we got a good deal on the package. It includes hotel, tickets, and bibs. We will get an email soon where we can all register officially with proof of times and such. we do have to get a medical form signed by our doctor to make sure we are cleared. I am going to have them fill out 2 just incase since i am running 2 races (oh the French!). 


now to plan the rest of the European vacation! We know we want to do a few days in London (have to pick up the sister and niece!), a few days in paris, I want to go to Mont st michel/normandy and my boyfriend wants to go to Rome. We are hoping to do 10-11 days but we will need to see. we may fly into London and fly out of Rome but we are not sure. 


I am so excited to earn the Inaugural 5k, half and castle to chateau medal!! Anyone else running this race?