Learning what I already knew...My Disneyland Race Experience

Over two weeks later and I am just now doing my Disneyland Half recap. I needed some time to ponder the race and what it taught me. I guess 13.1 miles didn’t give me enough time! But I honestly needed this time to truly reflect on the experience.

So we have to start back in February. I was still amazed that I was actually enjoying my runs. I HATE running and only signed up to do the Princess as a way of improving my overall conditioning. But by February I needed my long runs. They were essential to my well being! Encouraged by my FB fellow princesses I elected to do Disneyland. I wanted to have another goal to keep myself running and the idea of the Coast to Coast was so tempting. Now mind you, I signed up for Disneyland before I actually ran Princess. So I may have been putting the cart before the horse.  But it proved to be a very good thing as the race sold out BEFORE Princess Weekend. 

Fast forward a little and find me training with a Galloway group. I have 2 halves completed by this time and have signed up for Goofy.  In prep for my Disney Goofy run, I am training for Space Coast Full Marathon in November.  My original goal for Disneyland was to run it faster and maybe even get to a longer interval ratio. But with Space Coast and Goofy in my future, I dialed my goal back a little. My fastest half was a road race with a time of 2:33 something. I aimed to do as many picture stops as I wanted AND do a 2:30 half.  (I believe reality dictates that I mention a couple of things. When I started, I had to work to do a 15 minute mile. I ran for 6 months before I could consistently do a sub 10 minute mile. Heehee)

Here is what I have discovered, you can have the full Disney Experience or you can focus on a time goal. What you cannot do successfully is both! Or at least , I can’t.  The entire race was such a blur for me. I spent time evaluating if things were worth it to do, savor or skip because of the time required.  While I swear we ran into the sun for most of the race, it wouldn’t have mattered to me. I smiled at the little hula dancers and mariachi kids. I cheered with the cheerleaders and clapped for the bands. I smiled and waved at the classic car owners. But honestly, they only got 1/3 of my attention. I was focused on the clock and beating that time. 

I did not make my time goal. I ran the race in 2:43 something. This is still 17 minutes faster than my Princess time. I certainly took more pictures and ran faster overall.  So I kind of accomplished both goals. But it cost me so much. I spent quite a few days disappointed at my time. I had a senior moment and forgot my princess time so I thought it was a little slower. Then as I read other people’s recaps, I realized I had missed so much of the race.  In some cases, people described things I don’t remember seeing. In others we saw the same things but they really took them in.  I missed the experience. I forgot why I was running.

See running is my anti competition event. I am just in a race against myself and my previous time. I do work hard to get faster each time I do a race. But I normally just use the time as a way to gauge my progress.  I don’t stress about a time goal and I don’t beat myself up if I miss it. Each race is so different. You cannot ever depend on a specific pace or finish. I know this and I accept it. I am not in it for that purpose.  But I forgot that at Disneyland. The real rub is Disney Races are not necessarily time races. You pay extra for the experience.  So not only did I cheat myself out of my running zen; I cheated myself financially too! 

My new goal is to enjoy the run and let the finish time work itself out. You know I was doing that before. I just got caught up in the hype. I went from being happy to just having the ability to run to thinking I was the bees knees. I run because I love it. I run because it brings me clarity and peace. I am going to remember that from now on! My motto was, is and will always be - I run because I can....