Dumbo Double Dare--Part 1 The Expo

Since I had to work on Thursday AND we were flying with a companion certificate, we were very limited in the flight choices we had. We were supposed to leave DTW before 8pm and get into LAX about 10pm. We were delayed about 30 minutes but they were able to make the time up during the flight. We landed a little after 10pm PST. Now at this point we had to get the luggage and get to Avis to get the rental car. Overall it was not a bad experience but LAX is under construction was so it was not the most pleasant experience and the traffic at the airport and getting to Avis was a little bit much so late at night.

We did have a funny. I was assigned our car, a white Kia. We got the bags in and were just getting into the car when another group walked up. Seems they were assigned the same car. Well, we were in it and we just left.

We got to Anaheim in about 35 minutes and overall not bad. We checked into Paradise Pier. We had to wait a few minutes. It was late and the person working seemed distracted but he was pleasant enough. Our room was on the 12th floor and near the elevator which was nice later in the weekend. I have to give a huge shout out to Leigh from the Mousekeplanners. She did great getting us into the room block here.

The room was super cute. It had 2 queen beds and a sofa. The beds had the cutest beach ball pillows on them (only $65 if you chose to take it home with you). We had a view of the parking lot BUT it turns out it was also the last 1/2 mile of the half marathon!!

We both crashed because we were so tired.

Friday I was up kind of early since I was still on our time. I was ready and headed to the expo about 9:40am. I had not planned to camp in line but I knew I wanted official merchandise. Jeff decided he would run to CVS with the car and get water, Gatorade and pop for the weekend which was SO NICE to have.

I got to the expo and I was in complete shock. There were people EVERYWHERE. runDisney had put green tape on the group to keep people in lines. There were lines for getting your packet and another for the expo. I jumped into the back of the expo line figuring I could get my race stuff later since we were so close. Once the line started moving shortly after 10am it was a mad house. I got lucky and a nice girl in line worked with me so we both got the things we wanted. I managed to get a Dumbo zip up, a Disneyland Half jacket, a Coast to Coast shirt, 2 straw cups, a Dumbo magnet and 2 sweatybands. Then I got into line. WOW, it was a line. It went to the back wall of the expo. After about 30 minutes I was so thirsty and still did not have my bib. I was happy since at one point I was right near Jeff Galloway as he was speaking!! It was so neat. Jeff came over to the expo and stood in line to pay for me while I went to get our park tickets and my race stuff.

It was at this time I started to see posts that the expo had been shut down for overcrowding which was completely understandable. I got in line outside and waited for about 20 minutes in the sun before I gave up. I was hungry and defeated. I asked at information how I could get my park tickets and she told me how to get into the basement area where the tickets and bibs were without standing in line. I followed her directions and there was NO LINE for park tickets or for bibs. The entire hold up was the t-shirts that had to be picked up in the expo. It was out of control. I got my tickets and my bib and joined Jeff in line. At this point he was almost to the front after over 90 minutes. I was so excited to find out a running friend was in line behind him so I got to meet her in person and her delightful daughter.

I finally got my official merchandise and we had park tickets. We went back to the room, grabbed a drink and it was time for the parks!!

Cruise in Shoes 5K

Abby has been really wanting to run with me and has wanted to do a race. When we were in Chicago she walked over 3 miles without complaining and kept up so I knew she could do it. I was looking online and came across the Cruise in Shoes 5K that is part of the Woodward Dream Cruise weekend. Now usually we are like most locals and stay as far away from Woodward as possible during this weekend but I figured a 7:30 race would get us out before most of the crowds (so glad I was right)!!!

Another bonus for this race was that there were finisher medals for everyone since I wanted Abby to get a medal. Somehow I talked my mom, Jennifer,  and Pattie into joining us. The plan was Jennifer and I would let Abby set the pace and stay with her and Pattie and my mom would stay together and go at their pace.

Abby did so good yesterday. We got to the Memorial Park lot about 6:30am. We pinned our bibs, did our hair and made our way over to Shrine High School. I will admit, it was a lot colder than I had thought it would be but Abby did great and did not complain. Jennifer met us after running to the start from her house (it was a long run weekend) and we jumped into the start.

 I also got really lucky and finally got to meet a local Princess who I have not been able to connect with. Janie is just as sweet and nice in person as I thought she would be!!!

Abby went off really fast and her first mile was under 11 minutes. She loved the cheering on Woodward and people telling her to go. Once we got into the neighborhood she slowed down, I think more because she could, not because she had to.

The course was set so that we came up to the finish line through the neighborhood before we entered the football field so we could see the finish from about .4 miles back. As soon as Abby saw it she took off and she did not slow down. She finished so strong and I was so proud of her. It was a slow 5K for Jennifer and I but it was nice to do it with her and to have someone to talk to. My mom and Pattie did amazing too and finished just a few minutes behind us.

We had a few snacks (they had bananas, pretzels, bagels, chips and salsa and protein bars along with water). Once done we headed back to the car and you could tell the Dream Cruise was starting! The cars were out and it was so neat to see. I think we will do this race again next year and I think we will have to bring the little one so he can see the cars!!