Disney Kids' Races

A major reward for going to the half marathon was getting to participate in the kids races the day before.  My kids took their races very seriously. Jack ran 100m, Colin ran 200m, and Amelia ran 400m.  We bought the kids special running shoes around the time I bought my special running shoes.  We went to the park a lot in anticipation of the trip and practiced running.  They were so pumped!  The parents got to run with the kids, which was good since both Colin and Jack were nervous.  Jack's age group, with Evie and Claire, went first.  Jack and I held hands and ran along, and he was pretty proud of himself at the end.   Mike ran with Colin, Max, and Molly.  They all stayed in a pack for most of the race, and Colin felt great about it.  Amelia was the only kid from our group in her age bracket, and she got to run with Dad.  She was so amped up before it started, that she ran out ahead of her wave of runners before it was her turn and Dad found himself chasing after her as she dashed around kids, garbage cans, and downed parents.  Dad was amazed by her speed, and she told me that it was tough to run that long without stopping, but that she really wanted to do it, so she pushed herself pretty hard.  The race concluded with some awesome medals and great free snacks.  It was one of the best highlights of the trip, and something that the kids really want to do again.

The kids getting ready before the race with their age groups.

Mom and Penny were excellent spectators.

Mike and Colin speeding by.

Amelia and Dad nearing the finish line.

The happy and distracted group.  We had to leave the park right after the race (before it opened) and spend the rest of the day in Anaheim getting ready for the big race the next day, and the kids were not pleased with the plan!

Amelia with "Flat Stanley," the paper character that she brought with her from school.  She had to write up a little journal of the things Flat Stanley had seen and bring it back to show the class.  This was an annoyance to me!

After an incredible dinner at the Blue Bayou.  

 The boys meeting Doug.  Jack ran out ahead of some kids in line as soon as he saw Doug and gave him a big hug.  It was pretty funny.

Even bubbles are magical at Disneyland.

Here are the kids with Flat Stanley again.  If the kids didn't look so cute, I would have rejected another shot of Flat Stanley!