Friday, September 11, 2009

Friday Fave Five #53

This week is officially the fifty-third Friday Fave Five. I checked in my post history and found that this is my fifty-first FFF!

This week has been a good and busy start to my school year. But I want to focus my faves on the weekend when The Professor and I took a quick overnight trip to Anaheim, California. If you are human, were ever a child, or are even a little bit literate, you will recognize the name of that city as being the hometown of DISNEYLAND, DOWNTOWN DISNEY, and CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE.

Riding boats through the Pirates of the Caribbean tunnel, climbing up the Matterhorn, and visiting with Minnie Mouse and Goofy are not the only attractions at Disneyland. Last weekend Disneyland hosted the Half Marathon and Chaplain Dan, The Princess and her sister ran it for the first time.

We joined the hundreds of people cheering the 13,000 participants. Since the starting time was 6am, we drove down Saturday night and stayed in a motel near Disneyland to be on hand to see our three favorite runners at the beginning of the race.

We were able to follow their route and wave and shout at them at two different spots.

And of course we were there at the finish line to congratulate them!


We were so proud of their accomplishment, and so was Mickey!


My five faves?

1. Spending Saturday evening with them, sharing dinner at The Block, an outdoor mall in the vicinity.

2. Cheering them as they ran past us. We were amazed that we were able to spot them among the thousands running down Disneyland Drive at the beginning.

3. Finding an open coffee place at Mile 4 so we could sip some refreshment while they ran out of Disneyland and through the city.

4. Being at the finish line to hug them and congratulate them on a good run.

5. Dining with them and The Princess's parents afterwards, just enjoying being together, promising ourselves and each other that we would all walk and run and train and join the throng of racers NEXT YEAR!

Do you think we could really do it?

To read what other people are thankful for this week, go to Susanne's blog!

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent FFF. And a fun one at that. Have a great Friday :) Aloha

Tracy said...

A very great Friday, Willow...Happy Weekend :o) ((HUGS))

ellen b. said...

Sure you could do it. I've been tempted to walk a 1/2 marathon. Should only take about 6 hours!

Anonymous said...

I'd no idea they had something like this through Disneyland? How fun that you got to be a part of it ;-) Haven't been at the park in over 20 years....

Jerralea said...

Of course you can do it! Anything's possible if you only imagine! ;)

Seriously, it sounds like a fun weekend for you all.

Anonymous said...

What a fun day you had.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

I love Disneyland! I am so ready to go back but Steve is less enamored and is still resting on his laurels of having taken me 10 years ago - LOL

I definitely think you have it in you - they say that regular running is one of the factors of enjoying a long and healthy life....

Kari said...

Great Five Willow.I'm sure you can do it. I miss Disneyland.

Happy Friday.

Jientje said...

Oh wow, what a great weekend!! You made me just a wee bit jealous Willow!!!

Barbara H. said...

I have never been to any of the Disney sites -- must go some time! Anaheim always makes me think of friend from our church who moved there to start another church.

Sounds like a really great time!

TXDidi said...

Wow, that would be quite an accomplishment to finish a half-marathon, eh? I think I could walk it but couldn't run one in a million years. I'll be cheering for you if you go for it next year.

Susanne said...

Congrats to all of them for finishing! That is quite an accomplishment! And go for it, you can do it!

Brenda said...

Sounds like a lot of fun! Love the pictures :)

roxie said...

Willow, I know you. You can do ANYTHING you decide to do. And for you, a marathon would be just a wallk in the park.

Anonymous said...

It's fantastic you were able to connect with them in such a big group of runners.

The whole aura is contagious - and yes! with discipline and diligence you and The Professor can achieve running (or running/walking) in next year's Disney Half. Even at a moderate pace of 18 minute miles you'd finish in under 4.5 hours. With training you should be able to bring it down to around 15 minute miles. Very doable. It's a matter of finding the time to train consistently for a half-marathon.

Sharon Lynne said...

Sounds like a fun weekend.
I hope you can join in next year!

Knitting Linguist said...

What a great experience! And how fun that you were there to cheer them on :)

Anonymous said...

This sounds so much fun!

Marg said...

You can do it Willow. I'm so glad that you were so part of your families marathon. I just love the enthusiasm that comes from that energy.
Start training...you have because you walk all the time. I've done 8 km, but not a half.

Flower said...

Yes, you go!! What an exciting and fun time you have had!!

Sherida said...

You are so much better at remembering to post than I am. Sounds like a great day!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I'm so glad you were there to cheer your favorite runners on! That must be the best race to run in as there are so many wonderful attractions to look at along the way ;-)

XUE said...

Very tricky to say "Fifty first's Friday Fave Five" even 2 times in a row!

Unknown said...

Oh...Disneyland..a place the children and I dream of going so much!! I think I need to work harder before I join any races..for sure I'll be the first..from the bottom.

Tks for the Lebaran wishes..we are getting ready to 'balik kampung' and will be off the whole of next week. MIL cooks the best rendang East coast style..with lots of gravy too, exactly how we love them..with lemang, ketupat and bread :D

Have a good week ahead Kak Willow, I will miss you much :D