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Tuesdays on the Run: My First Race:Disneyland Half 2010

7/15/2014

6 Comments

 
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Another Tuesday, another Tuesday on the Run hosted by our favorites: 
April from Run the Great Wide Somewhere, Erika from MCM Mama Runs, and Patty from No-Guilt Life.

This week we are talking about our first race!! My first race was the Disneyland Half 2010. I can't believe I am coming up on the 4 year anniversary of me running. And even crazier, I ran the 5th annual, meaning next year will be the 10th annual! However, as I haven't written about in the past (here, and here) it was a very bad race for me physically but emotionally was amazing.

I don't have many pics to show from it (I actually didn't personally take any! I got all of these off of Facebook and saved them because I need them!) but let's start at the beginning.

I signed up in May 17, 2010 (it was maybe 60% full). I had a friend that had run a few years before and really enjoyed it and asked if I would run it with her which I said maybe. Since I wasn't sure about it, I actually thought about it for a few days and talked to my mom about it. She told my stepdad who had a quote I will never forget "if the people on the Biggest Loser can run a half and survive, you can do it too!" So I signed up. My friend Amy also ran it as well. 

The cost was $128.10 with all fees. I put down my finish time as 2:45 (no need to submit proof of time). Also, it asked if I was planning on walking as a question. 

At the time, there was no rundisney, I just knew the race was Labor Day weekend, the weekend after my birthday and that I had the summer off in between my 2nd and 3rd of grad school and could train. At the time, I was going to the gym every day and doing the elliptical (I hated the treadmill and still do!) so I decided to do my miles on there. YES I DID THIS ALL SUMMER. Even while working at Yale-same thing.

While I was home for the summer, I told this to my grandma and she was so worried she took me to the Foot Locker and told the guy working-she's running a half marathon, has never run one before and needs the best running shoes and socks. That's how I got my Asics (You can see them in pics below! I kept them incase I ever need shoes to get dirty)

One of my off days at work over the summer, I actually did 13 miles on the elliptical (which looking back, takes longer than just running). I felt I could do it!

Got back to school, and decided on my birthday I needed to do 13 miles. Happy 24th Birthday to me! Well I did it and then went to my birthday party and woke up with legs so achy and sore I thought I had broken something. (I had never heard of a Taper before-big mistake!!)

After doing research, It turns out I had IT band syndrome but nothing was going to stop me. I went and bought a knee brace and kept the workouts light. I was asked if I would drop out and figured no matter what, I could walk to the finish.

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EXPO
My friends determined we needed a hotel room for the night before so we could go to the Expo and I agreed. I just assumed we would drive to save money but then realized we can't do same day pickup.  Somehow I was corral D at the half (without a time submission and still the corral I have been in this day). We took a few pictures and headed off to dinner. 
Got a room and went to the expo then went to Cheesecake Factory to carb load (literally the only thing I knew). In our bags we got shot bloks so I packed them in my bra for racing (I still do this to this day!).

I wore a green drifit top (which I still wear and it's so special to me!), cotton shorts (still have these too!), and a tinkerbell hat (just threw it away but I had it all these years because it was very special).

I didn't even make a playlist until that night in the hotel room (I was unsure if we could use music!). And btw-we watched HSM 2 in the hotel and decided Bet On It would be our finish line song! (And yes we did all change it to that when we crossed the finish line!)
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The morning of, off we went running and taking pictures. I just remember my knee killing me after we left the park. Mari had injured her knee too so we were a mess. I kept taking my Clif shot bloks every 2-3 miles and they kept me going.

Characters seen on the course:
  • Jack-jack
  • Mike Wazowski
  • Lilo and stitch
  • Sebastian
  • Lightning and tow-mater
  • Mary poppins, penguin, bert and chimney sweeps
  • Castle
  • Tiana, Louis and Naveen
  • Cruella deville
  • Evil Queen
  • Little Einsteins
  • Clarabelle and Horace Horsecollar
I loved going through Angels stadium and I will never forget the excitement I had for crossing the finish line! Woohoo!

And I was miserable right after. I had ice packs put on both of my knees and in my pics I sent to my family from my blackberry, I cropped out my knees so they wouldn't freak out. Actually, I cropped them out of all pictures. 

At that time, I remember thinking I will never be able to do this again and I will never run a full. Obviously that has changed since then (Race Recaps Here) but I'm also a much smarter runner now and much better at training and fueling my body.

And btw-my time was 2:51:49 for my first half. I said I would happy with anything under 3 hours. That time is still the fastest Disney half I have ever run (there also weren't as many pictures and things out to take pictures with. And the characters that were out did not have long lines). One day I will top that-hopefully! 

PROBLEMS:

  • Not running outside
  • No training plan
  • No taper
  • No nutrition/fuel plan
  • Not the right clothes
  • over training

SUCCESSES:

  • I love running now
  • Rundisney especially Jeff Galloway taught me so much
  • The Disneyland half will always be my race and be so special to me
  • The people I have turned on to rundisney


When I look at the Disneyland half medal in 2010, I know the back story to how I got there and it was a mess but I also feel such pride. I honestly can't believe I did that and look at me now!!

And since I made million mistakes in my first race, I'm going to start a series tomorrow called-So You Want to be a Runner so you won't make the same mistakes!

Thanks all for going on this journey with me! What was your first race?

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My medal! :)
6 Comments
Amanda link
7/15/2014 02:10:32 am

That's a great looking medal! I'll be running the Disneyland half marathon next month and I can't wait!! Your post got me even more excited about it than I was before! :-)

Reply
Juliana Calhoun
7/15/2014 03:45:21 am

Thanks! And hopefully I'll see you there-I'm running Dumbo for the second time!

Reply
MCM Mama link
7/15/2014 06:28:11 am

I can't believe how many people ran Disney races as their first races! Way to finish!

Thanks for linking up with us!

Reply
April at RunTheGreatWideSomewhere
7/15/2014 10:12:57 am

Great first race! Can you believe I've never been to a Cheesecake Factory? I think I need to plan a visit to one to carbo-load before my next half. Thanks for linking up with us today!

Reply
Juliana Calhoun
7/16/2014 03:28:35 am

I love Cheesecake Factory! Huge portions and great cheesecake

Reply
Juliana Calhoun
7/16/2014 03:32:07 am

That's one thing I love about rundisney-it's very first time friendly! And why would you not want to run through Disney parks? It's the best!

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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