1. Train/Run With Friends or Family.
For the Disneyland 10k in 2013, I ran with my husband and my friend Mindy and I was so glad I did! It made the course seem shorter and it was fun. I jogged with my husband during the months before and having a running partner definitely made training more enjoyable. If you're thinking of doing your first runDisney event, consider signing up with a friend (it is Disney after all!) or if you're already signed up, take a look at Facebook to see if there are any groups you could join since you might find a running partner there. Try to find friends who are willing to go at around your pace and you all will have a great time! Since it was my first time running through Disney parks, I knew I would want to make lots of stops to take photos so I also made sure whoever I jogged with knew that I wouldn't be as focused on my time and was just aiming to finish.
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| You've got a friend in me... run with some friends! |
2. Rest!
The runDisney events are extra appealing because of the obvious- they take place at Disney Parks! If you're spending some time before your race at the parks, make sure to take it easy on the day before your run. A day playing at the parks can definitely tire one out so take breaks and maybe save the fireworks for the night after your run (what better way to celebrate!) so that you can go to bed early. If you can, stay at a hotel that is a short distance from the start of your race. I live close to Disneyland but since it was my first race I still opted to stay in a hotel that was even closer. It allowed me to get an extra hour of sleep and since my nervousness kept me up most the night, that extra hour was precious!
3. Dress up!
People get really creative with their running outfits! Although it technically doesn't make you faster- it is fun to do and I think it adds to the excitement. Doing your first runDisney race is a special occasion- why not dress up for it? Even if it's not a running costume, treat yourself to some new running gear or wear your favorite Disney t-shirt. Or you could even dress to match whoever you run with- it really makes you feel like a team! My husband and I wore our Pop Century shirts and I also wore my new Team Sparkle skirt for the Disneyland 10k. For the Tinkerbell 10K, I dressed as the Blue Fairy. Whatever you end up choosing to wear, make sure to go for a jog in it beforehand so that you can make sure you are comfortable in it!
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| Team Pop Century! |
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| Blue Fairy- wings to help me fly through the race! |
4. Take pictures BUT be careful about lines.
When I signed up for the 10k, I knew I would be taking lots of pictures during my run. They often have characters you usually don't see and the Disney parks are full of places for a great photo! Just be careful not to spend too much time in any of the lines. The characters are the best but just like at any day at the park, their lines are long! We ended up taking photos at other spots like in front of It's a Small World or at anything that had no wait. The mile marker signs usually also had lines so we would take a photo off to the side of them instead and were happy with that! There are also photographers along the course who take photos of all the runners. You can find the photos online sometime after the race and can purchase any that you like. We prefer our free photos though so we made sure to take some on our phones.
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| There's that Mile 2 marker.. and the line we avoided! |
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| Small World- such a pretty photo spot! |
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| Surprisingly short line at Circle D so we paused there! |
5. Check out the Expo.
I didn't think I'd spend much time at the Health and Fitness Expo that they have during the runDisney weekends. I was wrong. They have a lot of great booths there so be sure to check it out! It definitely gets you pumped for your upcoming run. There are usually some great speakers too! Plus you find so much great exercise merchandise that you end up wanting to jog more so you can have an excuse to buy more of it! I bought my favorite sneakers there and a headband that I added to my running outfit.
6. Stretch and drink water!
This is advice that I always have to remind myself about before any workout. runDisney races are no different! Make sure to stretch before you start and it'll help prevent soreness later. Also make sure to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water. Something I learned during the race was that if you start to feel overheated splash some water on your face and neck! I did my first 10k while still recovering from a cold and I hit a point where I started feeling too hot and a little woozy. It was when I finally tried splashing water on myself that I started to feel better. I wished that I had thought to do it sooner!
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| Me feeling much better after a splash of water! |
7. It's OKAY to be nervous.
There's no need to be nervous but it is okay if you are! I definitely was nervous before my run. Just remember that you have already succeeded by just crossing that start line! You are pushing yourself to do something out of your comfort zone and that is awesome. You are awesome. Think of it as a day of parkhopping or that you're racing from one favorite ride to another- you will be fine!
8. Have fun!
I can't stress this enough. As Baloo would say "forget about your worries and your strife.." and just have a great time! The best thing about runDisney races is that they take place at the happiest places on Earth so take in your surroundings and enjoy!
Check out the Virtual Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Blog Hop on Aug 13 for more info regarding runDisney and the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend!
This is great advice. I really want to participate in a runDisney event someday. That's a good point about the lines. I think the picture you took at a distance from the mile marker was funny. I agree that training with someone would make the experience a lot more fun and it keeps you going. Also about not wearing yourself out at Disneyland the day before haha. I think the biggest thing that I get nervous about is the humidity or heat because I don't handle it well. Good tips Nerissa:)
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to do a runDisney event. I know you can do it and you will have so much fun! Training with someone definitely helps since you can encourage each other. Luckily in Anaheim the weather is usually pretty nice compared to other places especially in the early morning but for the Disneyland 10k last year it was hot and humid! I think you can definitely still do it! :) Thanks for reading! I'm happy you found the tips useful. :)
DeleteExcellent advice (especially to splash yourself with cold water, it's really HOT in August).
ReplyDeleteYou and your husband are adorable! It looks like you both had a really good time - and I would have stopped to pet the cow, too!
Splashing water definitely helped a great deal especially in the warm weather! We had a wonderful time and do most our runs together now. The cow was cute- her name was Clarabelle! :)
DeleteGreat article. As a running of over a dozen RunDisney events ( 2 time Goofy) you pretty much nailed it! Great job. Loved the pictures. If I can stress anything, do run a RunDisney event for a PR. Take in all there is to offer and enjoy the race instead! Take lots of pictures to remember the occasion! Check out my blog hop post at http://wp.me/p2Esuo-16b. Again great job on the post!
ReplyDeleteDo NOT run for PR that is....
DeleteThanks for reading! I totally agree! I don't ever suggest running a runDisney race for a PR. There's so much to see and so many great photo opportunities! There are people who focus on time but I personally prefer to take pictures and enjoy the race with friends or family. :)
DeleteGreat tips! I agree with the comment above...I never try to run PR's at Disney, to me, these races are all about having fun! I mean heck, they're expensive, I may as well get my money's worth!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I agree too! I barely meet the minimum pace because I make so many stops for pictures! haha. With runDisney events it's best to take it in and enjoy every minute especially if it's your first one. :)
DeleteThis is a great post, Nerissa! Lots of great tips even for seasoned runners. I'm always nervous before a race too, and I don't know why! They always end up being really fun. It was great running with you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mindy! It was great to run with you too! :)
DeleteThese are awesome tips! There's NOTHING like a runDisney race, and it's so easy to just relax and have fun with it, whether you're running with friends or in costume. And resting beforehand is a MUST. I'm the worst with that, so I always show up to the race with tired feet and/or sore legs from walking the parks.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer! I agree- it's easy to have fun at the runDisney races! The most difficult part is definitely resisting running around the parks before! :)
DeleteI liked points 7 and 8 the best. We'll see how it goes for me in November, but I'll definitely have those two things in mind. :D
ReplyDeleteYou'll do great in November! :) It's just another day at the parks but you move a tad faster. ;)
DeleteFellow blog hop :)
ReplyDeleteYour post is awesome! I'll be running the Disney Half and not only is it my first runDisney race but my first race of ANY kind, EVER! I can't even begin to describe the kinds of nervousness I am feeling right now. I signed up alone, all of my friends said I was crazy (haters lol) but found the FB group for the Marathon weekend, it's been a huge help!
Thanks! I was super nervous too but in the end it was great! You are going to have so much fun! :) I'm glad you found the FB group- those kinds of sources help a lot!
DeleteGreat post, Nerissa! It's been 2 years since I ran the Disneyland Half and it looks like the 10K has better photo ops! Can't wait! :)
ReplyDeleteThe 10K had some good photos spots but most of the time we just made up our own so that we wouldn't have to wait in line! hee hee! Have fun this weekend! :)
DeleteSo true about running with friends. There are so many great photo ops that are just infinitely better with a buddy. I ran my first runDisney race alone and that was the last time that I did that! And totally ok to be nervous, I've run 5 marathons and 13 halves and I still get nervous for every race!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I still get nervous before every run even after my first one- it's nice to know I'm not the only one. :)
DeleteGreat tips! I think reminding people to rest is very valuable, because it is easy to get swept up in the excitement!
ReplyDeleteThanks Krissy! I agree there's so much excitement- sometimes it even makes it hard to sleep because you're excited (or nervous) about the next day! It's important to remember to relax and rest. :)
DeleteCongratulations on your first runDisney contest Nerissa! You nailed the first-timers experience perfectly; I believe I felt every one of these emotions during my first race. Looking back, I think I was so silly for taking the Buzz and Woody's Best Friends 5K so seriously, for not dressing up or taking more pictures, but as you say, that only happens once! Thanks so much for sharing your tips with the blog hop- you now have 26 new chEARleaders!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Didi and thanks for putting together this blog hop! It was fun to go back and remember my first runDisney race and it's been great reading everyone's else's posts! There was so much info I didn't even know about yet so I learned a lot!
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