Tuesday, May 31, 2016

May Recap and what to look forward in June

May was a good month. I was able to get on the ride 228 times. By the end of May last year I was at 937 rides, for the year. This year I have 1044 laps. Now at 6611 all time.

I went pass the 6400, 6500 and 6600 laps in May. Got to meet old friends and make new ones. Etsuko came from Japan for a visit. It was great to see her. My good friend Lisa Love and her family came by one day. Got to ride with them 4 times. They even got me to visit Disneyland and go on Indiana Jones.

I participated in my first 1/2 Marathon. My good friend Catalina S. walked with me the whole race. It took 3 and a half hours but the time flew by. We talked the whole time. 
My friend Tina B. was able to ride in the 6400 car and friends Aria and Austin D. were in the 6500 car.

Towards the end of the month, my friends Larissa F. and Jana D. came by for a visit.  I saw Larissa and her son Riley last year.

And yesterday I met Danielle B. and her Aunt Janean, visiting the parks for the first time, from Tennessee.

Last night I met Carrie P. And her husband. I was walking to my car, and Carrie asked me if I was the guy that's been in Racers all those times. She told me that she has seen me on Facebook and that my story is inspirational. It makes me very humble, that people see me that way. I have tried to be a good example of how guests should treat the cart members. And my cast member friends make sure I don't get a big head about this stuff. They jokingly blame me, when the ride breaks down and always find the time to take pictures with me. They also seem to know where I'm at on my laps for the day. And what color cars I keep getting in.

Now what can we expect in June. 
June is a sad and good month. Sad because it will be 2 years this June, since my Dad passed away. But my Dad would not want me to dwell on the sad.

The good: Some of  my cast member friends have birthdays this month. Catalina S., Thomas P., Desiree L., Alex A., Karla S., Emma B., Stepanie and Samantha L., Amana G., Jeffrey N., Eva S., Luis A., and Joshua S. It is also my birthday month. 
Radiator Springs Racers also turns 4 on June 15th. I will make a sign for that day. We'll see what my lap count will be on that special day.

I should also reach 100 times on Tower of Terror. Only 5 rides to go. I'll have to find a non grad night to hopefully ride with the Bellhops, for the 100th ride.

June also needs to be a good ride total month, at Racers. I set a tentative day to reach 7000 rides by July 12th. 389 laps to go. I'm sure with all the support and encouragement from all my friends, this can occur. KA CHOW

Lisa and Olivia 
Catalina during half marathon
After race with our medals
Tina 
Etsuko
Darren, Karla, Makinna and Jeremy 
Jamie
Jess and Carol
Catalina
Carlene
Alex, Dalene, Kathleen, Lisa, Alexandra, and Christina
Aria and Austin
Catalina
Giselle
Carlene
Desiree
Teresa and Jess
Christina
Heyse
Ruth
Alexis

Larissa and Jana
Janean and Danielle
Carrie
Jess
Jessica
Sarah
Ruth and Alejandra
Erin and her kids
Delaney
Tracy, Sarah and Cheyenne 
Monique 

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Tinkerbell Half Marathon

Woke up at 2:15am this morning to get ready for The Disneyland Tinkerbell Half Marathon. I taped up my feet and calfs with KT tape. Did not want my feet to slow me down today. I got to Disneyland before 4am. I met up with Christina C. We waited for Catalina S. to show up. She was running a little late. After a final bathroom break at the Paradise Pier Hotel, we entered our corral for the race. We were in Corral E. Corral F was the only Corral behind us. The official race started at 5:30am. The 3 of us started the race at 5:54am. I took off walking fast. My Nike App had me at a 14:21 pace after mile one. Close to 2 miles I heard Catalina yell out my name. She was running to catch up to me. Christina was having pain in her legs and had to stop after she got to the 5K mark.

Catalina and I hit the 5K mark in 46:57. A pace of 15:06 per mile.

After we had gone almost 4 miles, we both used the restrooms by the Hyperion Theatre inside DCA. Then we were off again.  We stopped after mile 5, so Catalina could put on some BioFreeze they had at the first aid tent. Her lower back and legs were sore. We got outside of the parks and onto Walnut street before mile 6. We saw Racers cast member Desiree L. and she helped cheer us on. The course went north and took a right turn over the 5 Freeway. We headed to Downtown Anaheim. They passed out Clif Energy Gels to eat before mile 9. They had water and Powerade every mile and a half, during the race.

We then went south on Harbor and made left on Ball Road. Then right on Anaheim Blvd. Then right onto Disneyland Way. And right on Manchester. We stopped briefly for Catalina to get more BioFreeze.  This was at mile 11. Manchester took us back to Harbor. We went south and then headed back on Disney property. We walked through a tunnel and mile 12 greeted us on the other side. When we got within a hundred yards from the finish, Catalina  got me to jog across the finish line. I walked the whole race until that last bit.  The Disney tracker on our bibs, had us crossing the finish line after 3 hours 29 minutes and 41 seconds. For a 16 mile pace. I also used my Nike Run App during the race. The app pauses when you stop. We stopped 3 times. Nike said we did 13.3 miles in 3 hours 24 minutes and 37 seconds. A pace of 15:21 per mile.

My first Half Marathon in the books. Catalina and I helped each other get through the race. I walked and she would jog a little bit and I would catch up.

We will see what the future holds. I'm signed up for the the Disneyland 5k in September and the Avengers 10K in November. I'll see what I may want to do  after that.
Of course I'll be back to Racers to continue the race to 10,000 laps.


Catalina made are racing shirts

Before the race with Catalina and Christina
We even walked by Radiator Springs Racers
At mile 8
After we finished
Showing off the bling. Catalina got an Extra medal for doing the 10K and Half Marathon. 
The course
My Nike App