2013 runDisney Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Kids Races Recap
I always sign my daughter up for the runDisney Kids Races during the weekends I am running. For participating in the kids races the kids get a t-shirt and a personalized race bib.
My daughter is 3, so she is in the 1-3 age group that runs the 100m dash. They also have a 200m, 300m, and 400m as well as a diaper dash. The race starts near ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney. We wore our matching INKnBURN Minnie dot run skirts.
My daughter was so excited, but than as we got closer to our turn she started to freak out a little. Sometimes she gets shy and she woke up way to early that morning. She was afraid to run. One other time at a Kids Race she did this, so we didn’t run that time and later on when she realized she didn’t get a medal and she was really sad. This time I told her we could walk or I would carry her because I wanted to make sure she wasn’t sad again. A lot of kids freak out at the races because it is loud with all the cheering and there are characters at the finish line. I could understand for a little person that it could be a little intimidating. On the other hand, most kids LOVE it. All the attention is on them.
They corral all the 100m dashers together and put you into the “chute” and than send out the kids and parents about 20 at a time. This way no one gets hurt in the crowds.
If you notice in the picture above, the arrow is pointing at my daughter and I. She is hiding behind me when it is our turn to start running. She was freaked out by the guy in costume “working” the race.
We made it out though and she walked the first part and than got into the spirit and ran the last part. The lesson I want to share with parents though is that even if you have to carry your child that is totally ok. This race is all about the kids. If they don’t want to run, that is ok, but if you carry them they still get a medal and will know what it is like for the next time. As soon as we finished and my daughter got her medal she was so proud and called my husband to tell him all about how she ran so fast and got a medal. haha
Part of the joy of having a 3 year old is that you never know what that day will bring. On any given day my daughter could be the laughing and the first person to cross the finish line and other times so shy she is hiding on my shoulder. The best part about the runDisney Kids Races is that all of that is ok. 🙂
Have your kids ran a runDisney kids race before?
Jenn | 5th Sep 13
So cute! I’ve run a million runDisney races but never had a chance to see the kids races until this year (esp since the ones in FL are at ESPN and I’m never there that day). I saw some of the older kids (I think it was the 400m dash?) running and some parents had the same problem with scared children. Love the idea of carrying them though to at least have them experience it. Glad your daughter loved it in the end!
Matt | 5th Sep 13
My son ran the diaper dash which started late. Other than being cranky and tired from waiting I the heat he was having a great time. By the time his turn came to crawl he was too impatient and decided to walk instead, mainly because he wanted to grab the Disney characters costumes to see what they were. I hung his little medal next to mine. Proud dad!
Half Crazy Mama | 5th Sep 13
That is so cute! Congrats to both of you!!!
Kristen @ The Smith Summary | 6th Sep 13
I can’t wait to see Samantha run the 200m dash at the Princess Half next year! This looks like so much fun!
Half Crazy Mama | 6th Sep 13
She will love it. The kids medals are always really cute too.
Roya | 11th Oct 14
We are doing the 100m & 200m races with our kiddos this year. Can you tell me which characters were at the kids races? Thanks!
Half Crazy Mama | 11th Oct 14
The characters are at the finish and usually rotate in and out and are Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and sometimes Chip and Dale 🙂 Good luck and have fun!!!