runDisney Jingle Jungle 5k 2014

During Wine and Dine Half Marathon weekend, runDisney holds a Christmas themed 5k in Animal Kingdom.  It's a little tradition for my son and I to run the event together.  This year we dressed as Elsa and Olaf!  I love Christmas, I love Disney--so I love the Jingle Jungle 5k.

Nathan and I woke up very early.  We snuck around our room so we did not wake up my still sleeping daughter and husband.  It was a chilly morning.  We walked to the bus stop at the resort to wait to board our bus to the start.

We got to the Animal Kingdom parking lot just as the sun was coming up.  We were lucky enough to have corral B bibs, so we did not have to wait to long to start.  The first mile of the race is out around the AK parking lot.  Then we enter the park and the fun begins.  Nathan and I love to stop for all the character along the course.  The fun part about the Jingle Jungle 5k is that some of the characters are dressed up in their holiday best.

After running through Africa and Asia, we went back stage.  For a Disney geek like me, this kind of stuff is so cool!  We got to see the back side of Expedition Everest.  Even cooler is that we got to see the park's Christmas decorations laid out and ready to be put up.

Nathan and I had so much fun running the race together.  He told me about all the other races he wanted to do--5k's only, nothing longer he says.  By the end of the race, it really started to warm up.  We hit the third mile marker just as we exited the park.  Nathan and I could hear the finish line music planning and he started to dance.  It was such a fun way to finish the race.  He was so proud when the medal was put around his neck. Way to go little Buddy!

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

runDisney Jingle Jungle 5k

Our first ever family running event was the runDisney Jingle Jungle 5k on November 10. 2012.  We spent the night at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, so we were right near the Animal Kingdom park for race morning.  As I am a seasoned runner and used to the very early morning, my family is not.  The kids got up ok, but my husband was not so cheerful.  From the balcony of our room we ate breakfast while we watched the animals.  We could hear the music and the DJ at the race.

The trip to the race was very quick.  As we got closer, the music got louder and the kids got more and more excited.  I know its a race day no-no, but we all wore our race shirts.  It was fun for the family to all be dressed alike.  I figured that since it was an untimed family run, it would be ok just this once. Once we parked, we met up with some of the runDisney friends and got in line for a photo with Santa Mickey.

This was the first runDisney 5k that I have been part of that actually had corral placements.  Since we had my daughter in her stroller, the whole family started back with the stroller division.  We all stayed together until we crossed the start line, than my son, Nathan, and I ran ahead.  The first mile was through the Animal Kingdom parking lot.  We had to do a lot of weaving to get around walkers and slow runners.  Around the time we got into the park, we found our pace.  We ran past the Tree of Life and toward Africa.  We then turned into a "backstage" area.  This looked to be parts of where they house the Savanna animals.  One of my favorite parks of runDisney races is getting to see the back stage areas--they fascinate me!

By around mile two Nate and I caught up with some of my runDisney friends. They are usually much faster than me so I never get to see them during a race--just before and after.  With stopping for pictures, I finally had a chance to catch up to them.  We ran the rest of the race together.  There were a few picture stops along the way.  That made keeping up with them easier.  We crossed the finish line together with a big leap!

As much fun as it was to run with my friends, it was more special to finish with my son.  I could not wait to see Mike and Andrea finish too.  I could not wait to hear how much they liked the race and see them get their medals.  The kids loved the race!  They were so proud of their medals.  Mike did not love it so much.  I don't think he got the running bug, but I am very proud of him for doing it.  This was a great event, and in true runDisney style there was lots of characters on the course.  This event will always be special to me because it was the first race I got to do with my whole family.

A dream is a wish...

--Amy