FROM: Running with the Mouse Published As Needed
The Pixie Dust of Disney Running
A Disney race is more than a run. As with everything Disney, it's a show, complete with music, characters, and entertainment, not just at the finish line, but throughout the course. Jenn spreads the pixie dust about Disney running.
Disney races are constantly ranked in the Top 10 'Must Do' races around the country, and I'm sure that makes people wonder:
click an image to expand:
See - Jenn really does run with the Mouse.
In this rustic threesome, Jenn has charmed a County Bear.
Jenn poses with Gepetto and other Pinocchio characters and... are those Mickey ears or 'bunny ears' behind her head?
Busted! No four-legged entrants allowed in the race. You better hide your face!
Are runners throwing their empty cups AT this guy?
A comfortable place to rest for those who can't keep up...
What keeps runners and Disney fans constantly returning to run with the Mouse year after year?
Most races feature fabulous entertainment along the course: high school marching bands, big crowds, etc. But what's the one thing that Disney can brag about that no one else can?
They bring the Disney magic.
Music and Magic and Moving Feet!
To put it bluntly, Disney knows how to entertain! Being the crazy Disney fans that we are, you don't need me to tell you that, especially when it comes to vacations in the parks.
But Disney doesn't skimp out for their running events, either!
They manage to continue sprinkling the pixie dust through all 3.1, 13.1, or 26.2 grueling miles of each and every one of their long distance races.
Not only does Disney provide the same entertainment along the course that other races do, they find a way to kick it up a notch.
Running through the parks is a highlight of each race. Basking in the crowd support along Main Street and knowing that you're running in "Walt's footsteps" as 'When You Wish Upon a Star' plays in the background definitely makes a few people get teary eyed, myself included, no matter how often it happens.
Characters on the Course
But it's the stuff along the course outside the parks that truly sets Disney races apart. Running on long stretches of highways and back roads tends to get boring during most races. Not so with Disney races, where you'll see something at virtually every turn to keep your mind off the aches and pains of a long race.
Where else but at a Disney race would you find Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Cinderella, Big Al (from Country Bear Jamboree), and other fun and crazy characters scattered along the course for some extra motivation?
Some of the lesser known characters seem only to come out during Disney running events - a special treat for runners who finally will be able to snap that prized photo with Gepetto, Pinocchio, and the VERY hard to find Captain Jack Sparrow himself!
This past marathon, they even had some of the more friendlier animals from the Affection Section petting area of Animal Kingdom out on the course to keep us company.
Comedians from the much missed Adventurers Club kept us entertained, their jokes echoing from their microphones as you ran by.
Spectromagic floats twirl around in circles while gymnasts and stilt walkers from the Animal Kingdom tumble and walk along the sidelines shouting words of encouragement.
Disney even stations grave diggers from the Haunted Mansion along a very 'dead' part of the course in case anyone wants to rest their legs... permanently!
The best thing is that Disney pulls out all the stops for every race, even the 5k events.
Mickey, Goofy, and the rest of the Disney gang are the best running buddies you could ask for, and the show that Disney puts on for we runners is nothing short of magical!
More: RUNNING WITH THE MOUSE
Stuff Not to Skip
- Disney's Official Site: Run Disney
http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/sports/rundisney - Jennifer's Blog: Eat, Sleep, Run Disney
http://www.eatsleeprundisney.com - Jennifer on Twitter: DisRunner
http://www.twitter.com/DisRunner - Jennifer on Facebook: Eat, Sleep, Run Disney Fan Page
http://www.facebook.com/EatSleepRunDisney