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| Kessel Run, Coast to Coast, Dark Side Half medals |
I did it! I finally made my journey to accomplish the runDisney Kessel Run Challenge a reality. A lot of planning and timing (not to mention the ridiculous sums of galactic credits....) went in to making this happen. But even through a family emergency, I finally got my Millennium Falcon medal.
The runDisney Kessel Run Challenge is when you run the current Disneyland (DL) Light Side Half Marathon in January, and then run the Walt Disney World (WDW) Dark Side Half Marathon in April, both within the same calendar year. This is where the planning and spending galactic credits comes in to play. This is like a Coast to Coast Challenge, but with a Star Wars theme. runDisney even allows Kessel Run Challengers to also receive the Coast to Coast (CTC) Challenge medal. This year was the 10th anniversary of Coast to Coast, so the medal is a bit larger than the regular CTC.
January 2017 was only my second trip to Disneyland. I absolutely, positively LOVE Disneyland. I love it more than WDW. There is a charm to DL that you do not find at WDW. But one of the top reasons for me is that you can walk anywhere at DL!!! NO BUSES!! Although, I will never again take a trip to WDW without a car or rental car, so that excuse may not hold much any more. I ran all 3 events Light Side weekend, which was a 5K, 10K, and a half marathon. Running the 10K and the half is in and of itself a Challenge for the weekend, so I got an additional Rebel Challenge medal as well. I know it all sounds confusing for those who don't runDisney! So please contact me with questions! For the half, I ran as Buddy The Imperial! I love me some mashups!
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| Buddy The Imperial Rebel Challenge finisher photo |
For the Dark Side in April, I only ran the half marathon. This trip almost did not even happen, and I'm very deeply grateful to my mommy for letting me go do this. I always run in costume, and for the 2017 Dark Side half, I was part of the Slave Princesses of the Dark Side. This is a group of amazing women who run the half in costume as a mashup of a Disney Princess and Slave Leia from Return of the Jedi. I was Slave Moana this year.
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| The Slave Princesses of the Dark Side
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The weather was very humid that day. Not super hot, just super humid (which I do not mind, but costumes and humidity sometimes don't get along). I ended up removing my boots and wig prior to the start. I also stopped at the first medical tent to use scissors to cut out the front grass portion of my skirt. It was what needed to be done! I started the half with friends, but ended on my own. I just kind of wanted to get done. A lot was on my mind.
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| Light Side, Dark Side, Kessel and CTC medals |
I was so done at the end. I had a friend hold a bag with all my other Star Wars medals in them for me to grab as I headed to the finish line. I grabbed them at the Boardwalk, so only about 1.3 miles or so with the bag of medals. I put on the Light and Dark side with the Kessel and Coast to Coast for my finisher picture. This is the picture I wanted and was so tired LOL!!
I had a late checkout so I could shower, pack, and stuff before heading to EPCOT prior to leaving for home. But I stopped to see some friends on the way out! I am eternally grateful to my mom and brother for allowing this weekend to take place. I can assure you it is entirely possible to be sad in the Happiest Place on Earth. But I got this done, and the run was for dad.
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| Slave Moana, Maui, Salacious, and the big guy himself |
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| Disney Visa Cardholder Meet |
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| I was satisfied with my care |
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| I wore this on my back for the half at DL |
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| All of my Star Wars medals to date |
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