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2017 RunDisney Star Wars The Dark Side Half Marathon Race Recap

Posted by DoombuggyRunner on May 4, 2017

Posted in: Disney, Race Recap. Tagged: 10k, 2017, 5k, characters, coast to coast challenge, dark side, dark side challenge, florida, fun run, half marathon, kessler challenge, RunDisney, star wars, walt disney world.

It’s Half Marathon Time!!!! After doing the Star Wars Dark Side Challenge 10K the day prior, it was now time for the half marathon. On Sunday, April 23, 2017, I ran in the RunDisney Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon.

We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House for this trip. I always enjoy this view from our balcony!

Because RunDisney races start so early in the morning, 5:30 AM, it was again an early night on Saturday night as well. However, this was no ordinary half marathon for me. I was not running for time, but for pictures! In the end, it will have been my slowest half marathon, but my most fun, because I went overload on Star Wars character stops!

For this race, I try to dress up in costume as a Star Wars character. Last year I ran as a storm trooper, and this year I went with Boba Fett, the Bounty Hunter. So, here is flat Boba Fett. We got the Boba Fett hat from the Disney Store. The Boba Fett running shirt off Amazon. The arm sleeves are volleyball sleeves which my wife dyed burgundy and drew all the weapons on. The knee braces were dyed yellow to match Boba Fett’s knee plates. It was finally topped off with my grey shorts, and Orange/Black Hokas (which do not match or go with the costume in the least).

The alarm clock went off at 3 AM on Sunday morning, and by 3:30 AM Boba Fett was ready for the hunt and heading toward the bus at the resort.

The crowds were much bigger for the half marathon than for the 10K the day prior.

Because we had all got the pre- & post race character pictures done at the 10K, we did not spend any time waiting in character lines. So we just found some pavement in sat, relaxed, and socialized.

At about 5:00 AM we started making our way to the porta-potties & corrals. We were all spread out for this race. Becky was in Corral A, I was in Corral B, and Matt & Kira were in Corral E. So we all did our goodbyes and ducked into our respective corrals.

Then it was time to take off for the race.

2017 RunDisney Star Wars The Dark Side 10K Race Recap

Posted by DoombuggyRunner on April 26, 2017

Posted in: Disney, Race Recap. Tagged: 10k, 2017, 5k, coast to coast challenge, dark side, dark side challenge, florida, fun run, half marathon, kessler challenge, RunDisney, star wars, star wars characters, walt disney world.

Can you say PR? At Disney??? That is right. On April 22nd, as a part of the RunDisney Star Wars Dark Side Challenge, I ran the 10K, with the half marathon to follow the next day (separate recap later). Because I do not run 10K events too often, I wanted to push my efforts and try and break my previous best of 55:44 at this distance back in 2012. Mission accomplished. I ran a 51:57 on my way to a new PR!

Well I started the post at the end, so now I will back track a little and review the race. First, it is Disney & it is Star Wars themed, so that makes it all great!

We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House for this trip. I always enjoy this view from our balcony!

Because Disney races start so early in the morning, 5:30 AM, it was an early night Friday night. With all the gear ready, off to sleep I “tried”…

The alarm clock woke me at 3:00 AM, and I was on the bus to the race by 3:30 AM. Upon arrival at the Magic Kingdom Parking Lot (aka Transportation & Ticket Center) there were people everywhere. Which was weird at 4:00 AM, but this is RunDisney!

I met up with my running buddies, Matt, Kira, & Becky.

After we met up, we decided to jump in the shortest character line that was available, and luckily it was Boba Fett. You will learn more on this choice throughout this and the half marathon post to come. The characters available were Boba Fett, Captain Phasma, Darth Vader, Jabba the Hutt, & Kylo Ren. We caught pictures with the rest of them at the finish area. Becky waited for a little while for us, but it took almost an hour just to see Boba Fett, so she headed to the corals a little earlier.

Me & Boba Fett

Matt, Kira, & I with Boba Fett

There was good entertainment in the waiting areas prior to the corrals opening.

After our picture with Boba Fett, we headed to the Corrals. Becky & I were in Corral A, Matt & Kira were in Corral C. So we all used the porta potties, wished each other well, and off to our corrals. Rudy, Carrisa, and some other dude entertained us for a little while.

Then some Storm Troopers gave us some orders, then it was time to hit the road. I great Disney fashion, each corral starts with fireworks.

This, however, was my first 10K at Disney, and I was disappointed in the level of fireworks for this race. The half marathon fireworks were far better!

Here is the map of the course for the 10K. We started at Magic Kingdom and ended in the Epcot parking lot.

As I said earlier, I was going to go all out for this race. My initial goal was to run a sub 50 minute race. For the first 3 miles I was on pace for doing that. Then it started to warm up and I knew I was not going to keep up that pace. My second goal was to best my best 10K time in a half marathon, which was 52:49. Mission Accomplished with a 51:57! So, as you can see in the pictures below, which you should contrast later to my pictures in the half marathon post, I was killing myself in this race. But it was worth it for the PR! There were a lot of character stops on the course, including a great showing from the 501st Legion; however, since I was going for a PR I did not make any stops. I saved that for the half marathon.

When it was done, I had my PR, not the sub-50 that I wanted, but I will gladly take a new PR. I enjoyed the course. That was the first time I had ever got the opportunity to start in Magic Kingdom and finish at Epcot. Miles 2 and 3 were a little boring, so hopefully in years to come, they will add some entertainment there, but other than that, I enjoyed the route.

In the finish area, they once again had the characters available to take pictures with. Becky stuck around and waited for me to finish, and we took in the character photos together.

BB-8

Captain Phasma

Becky & I with Captain Phasma

Kylo Ren

Boba Fett

Darth Vader

Boba Fett arresting me

The spoils are always good after a RunDisney event. Here is to another completed race.

We have great fashion sense, I guess!

Thanks to my “0.0 Someone Has To Take The Pictures” for capture this picture of running friends!

Oh, and for those wondering…. Yes, there was a post race cupcake in the parks that day!

Well we spent most of the day post race at Magic Kingdom. Then it was early to bed again to get ready for the Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon the next morning. That recap should be available soon.

Thanks for following!

2017 Star Wars – The Dark Side Event Guide Released

Posted by DoombuggyRunner on March 30, 2017

Posted in: Disney. Tagged: 10k, 5k, coast to coast, dark side, dark side challenge, florida, half marathon, kessler challenge, RunDisney, star wars.

The RunDisney Star Wars – The Dark Side Half Marathon weekend is only three weeks away. RunDisney has released the Event Guide, Bib Waiver, & Corral Assignments.

The courses are all new. They are now starting at the Magic Kingdom Parking Lot at the TTC and end at the Epcot Parking Lot. I am personally excited for this, in that we no longer have to run the zig zags of the Wide World of Sports complex.

Star Wars – The Dark Side Half Marathon Event Guide

Corrals – Dark Side Challenge

Corrals – Half Marathon

Star Wars Half Marathon Guide is Live!

Posted by DoombuggyRunner on December 29, 2016

Posted in: Disney. Tagged: 10k, 5k, california, challenge, corrals, disneyland, expo, guide, half marathon, kessel, kids races, light side, manual, RunDisney, star wars.

Greg over at WhyIRunDisney.com has posted the 2017 Star Wars – Light Side Half Marathon Guide which will take place at Disneyland in California on the weekend of January 12-15th.

Why I runDisney

The 2017 Star Wars – Light Side – Half Marathon Weekend event guide went live back on Friday. With the Christmas weekend happening, I didn’t have time to delve into this guide until this week. Like I’ve done in the past, let’s look at the highlights of this guide. Of course, to view the entire guide for yourself, click here.

One of the things I love about the new way runDisney is doing their event guides is the graphics are so much better! If you have’t heard, runDisney is no longer going to publish their event guide in a hard copy at the Expo. So, please be sure to check out the information BEFORE you leave for the races. You’ll be glad you did.

Every runDisney race begins with a Health and Fitness Expo. The 2017 Star Wars Light Side Half Marathon Weekend is no exception. In the guide…

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First Look at the 2017 Star Wars (Light Side) Courses!

Posted by DoombuggyRunner on December 22, 2016

Posted in: Disney, ReBlog. Tagged: 10k, california, coast to coast, Disney, disneyland, half marathon, light side, rebel, rebel challenge, RunDisney, star wars.

Greg over at WhyIRunDisney has provided the route updates for the races for the Star Wars – The Light Side Half Marathon Weekend in Disneyland.

Why I runDisney

Sorry I’ve been MIA. I’ve been a little under the weather lately. I’m seriously hoping this cold goes away soon! In the mean time, many online have fount the new courses for the 2017 Star Wars Half Marathon and Star Wars 10K races happening at the Disneyland Resort in January. So, I thought I’d post them to give you all a look.

If you’re looking forward to getting this cool medal at the Star Wars 10K, here’s what the new route looks like (and it is new)…

In the previous two years, the Star Wars 10K headed off towards Ball Road. There was this pattern. The Star Wars and Tink races headed towards Ball Road. The Disneyland and Avengers courses headed towards Katella Avenue. I can’t help but wonder if starting off the races heading towards Katella Avenue, but turning into backstage DCA before getting there, is going to be…

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2017 RunDisney Star Wars Half Marathon – Dark Side Weekend Medals Revealed

Posted by DoombuggyRunner on December 8, 2016

Posted in: Disney. Tagged: 10k, 5k, challenge, dark side, Disney, florida, half marathon, kessel, medals, RunDisney, star wars, walt disney world.

Yesterday on the Star Wars site, they revealed the 2017 RunDisney Star Wars Half Marathon – Dark Side medals. This event takes place at Walt Disney World in Florida in April 2017. I am so excited I signed up for the Dark Side Challenge, which means I will run the 10k & Half Marathon in back to back days, thus earning me three medals. I will end up with a StormTrooper for the 10K, a Kylo Ren for the Half Marathon, and a Death Star for the Dark Side Challenge!