This does not mean that I have given up! I will continue to blog about running and my struggles. Team Believe now reaches out to everyone who wants to do this and needs someone else to do it with them. So, although Team Believe won't be attending the 2011 Princess Half Marathon, there's another marathon coming up that's closer- the 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon! Although I'm pretty sad that the Princess marathon won't be my "first", I guess it makes more sense that my first would be at Disneyland. I've lived and breathed Disneyland my whole life. I love it to pieces! I know it like the back of my hand, probably better. I've worked there, I'm an annual passholder, and it's just part of my life. I'm excited that this is something I've never experienced at Disneyland. I love those rare Disneyland firsts. Like when a new attraction opens, or a new parade begins.
In a way, this marathon will be a little more difficult. The Disneyland Half Marathon is open to everyone, male and female. That's a little intimidating. But it will also be more fun, because I already know a few people who are participating!
Here's the info on the Disneyland Half Marathon:
September 4, 2011, 6:00 a.m.
The perfect ending to a magical weekend, the Disneyland® Half Marathon is a 13.1-mile journey through the Happiest Place on Earth! Retrace Walt Disney's footsteps during a magical run starting at Disneyland® Park before taking runners into Disney California Adventure™ Park and onto the streets of Anaheim, before a magical finish by the Disneyland® Hotel. Memories are sure to be made on an experience you'll never forget!
The Disneyland® Half Marathon features:
- Timed Half Marathon race
- A course through Disneyland® Resort and the City of Anaheim, California including Disneyland® Park, Disney California Adventure™ Park.
- Disney-themed Entertainment on-course with your favorite Disney characters
- Event weekend transportation provided by the Anaheim Transportation Network.
- Champion® Race Tech Shirt
- Finisher Medal
- Official Race Program Guide
- Personalized race bib (register before July 1, 2011)
- On-course and post-race refreshments
- Goody Bag
Packet Pick-Up
All runners must attend the Disneyland® Health & Fitness Expo for race number and Packet Pick-Up.
To see more information about the Packet Pick-Up process and Absentee Packet Pick-Up, please visit our Event Details page.
Disneyland® Health & Fitness Expo
Friday, September 2, 2011
Noon – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Disneyland® Hotel Exhibit Hall
Pasta in the Park Party
Saturday, September 3, 2011
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Disneyland® Park
Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend Races
Disneyland® Family Fun Run 5K
Saturday, September 3, 2011
6:45 a.m.
Disneyland® Resort
Disneyland® Kids' Races
Saturday, September 3, 2011
10:00 a.m.
Downtown Disney® District, near ESPN Zone®
Disneyland® Half Marathon
Sunday, September 4, 2011
6:00 a.m.
Disneyland® Resort and the City of Anaheim
Timing & Results
The Disneyland® Half Marathon is a timed event with a 16 minute per mile pace requirement. Anyone not able to maintain the respective paces may be picked up and transported to the finish. You may be picked up at any point along the course for not maintaining pace. The ChronoTrack timing system will be used for this race. A ChronoTrack timing D-tag will be located on the back of the race bib. The disposable D-tag should be peeled off and attached to the participant's shoe before the race.
Results will be posted at runDisney.com/Disneyland following the conclusion of the race.
CourseThe course for this magical event will take runners from the Disney California Adventure™ Park, celebrating California's storied past and exciting future, to the Disneyland® Park where you will explore the fantastic "lands" of nostalgia, color and delight. Then it is on to the scenic streets of Anaheim, past the Honda Center, home of the Anaheim Ducks, along the Santa Ana Trail overlooking the Santa Ana River, by Angel Stadium, home of the MLB's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and then past Disney's Paradise Pier® Hotel and the Disneyland® Hotel for an exciting finish of the Happiest Race on Earth! Ideal weather and a flat loop course set the stage for an exhilarating Half Marathon designed to shatter personal bests.
Beneficiary
Anaheim Community Foundation
The Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend benefits the Anaheim Community Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing and improving programs, services, and facilities not ordinarily supported by the government, which enrich the lives of Anaheim residents. With the support of thousands of volunteers, the Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend will help to enhance or expand a wide variety of programs that greatly benefit the Anaheim community. The Anaheim Community Foundation is proud of their more than twenty years of building community through people, partnerships and pride.
To learn more, visit www.anaheimcommfound.org.
The Disneyland® Half Marathon is a timed event with a 16 minute per mile pace requirement. Anyone not able to maintain the respective paces may be picked up and transported to the finish. You may be picked up at any point along the course for not maintaining pace. The ChronoTrack timing system will be used for this race. A ChronoTrack timing D-tag will be located on the back of the race bib. The disposable D-tag should be peeled off and attached to the participant's shoe before the race.
Results will be posted at runDisney.com/Disneyland following the conclusion of the race.
CourseThe course for this magical event will take runners from the Disney California Adventure™ Park, celebrating California's storied past and exciting future, to the Disneyland® Park where you will explore the fantastic "lands" of nostalgia, color and delight. Then it is on to the scenic streets of Anaheim, past the Honda Center, home of the Anaheim Ducks, along the Santa Ana Trail overlooking the Santa Ana River, by Angel Stadium, home of the MLB's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and then past Disney's Paradise Pier® Hotel and the Disneyland® Hotel for an exciting finish of the Happiest Race on Earth! Ideal weather and a flat loop course set the stage for an exhilarating Half Marathon designed to shatter personal bests.
Beneficiary
Anaheim Community Foundation
The Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend benefits the Anaheim Community Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing and improving programs, services, and facilities not ordinarily supported by the government, which enrich the lives of Anaheim residents. With the support of thousands of volunteers, the Disneyland® Half Marathon Weekend will help to enhance or expand a wide variety of programs that greatly benefit the Anaheim community. The Anaheim Community Foundation is proud of their more than twenty years of building community through people, partnerships and pride.
To learn more, visit www.anaheimcommfound.org.
The cost I pay for entering will help the Anaheim Community Foundation. However, anything beyond that, I would like to donate to Autism Speaks. As many of you know, my brother C.J. is Autistic. He wasn't too thrilled about being part of our Princess Half Marathon, so I'm glad there is something none-princessy to include him in =) C.J. will be 16 this year! He loves the Patriots and is currently weight training in hopes of making his high school football team.
I have left most of the Princess Marathon stuff up because I still hope to participate in it. My goal is set for 2012 so that I can officially run "Coast to Coast" with Disney (there are even special coast-to-coast medals!). Although I don't know if they will still be supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I will still be raising money for Diabetes Research in honor of my grandma.
Finally, thank you to everyone who has already donated towards the Princess Marathon. I will be using it for the Anaheim Community Foundation and Autism Speaks unless otherwise instructed (I can save it for the Princess Half Marathon if you specifically wanted to donate towards Diabetes Research or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society- just let me know). If you would like to make a donation to the Disneyland Half Marathon and beneficiaries, please use the link on the top left of this blog.
I'm really happy to be training for something once again. It helps tremendously when you have a goal. I still feel the same way when I started this journey and am very excited be participating in these fun marathons!
