runDisney Tinker Bell Half Marathon Meet-Up 2013

This morning, Friday January 18th, 2013, I had the pleasure of attending the Tinker Bell Half Marathon meet-up at Disneyland.  runDisney puts on the meet-ups for groups of usually between 30-80 people. They are usually the Friday morning before a race weekend.  We were told to meet down by the Disneyland hotel where we were given our runDisney shirts and where we could put our belongings in a bag for transport while we do our run.  Sean Astin, as most of us know from Goonies, Rudy, and Lord of the Rings was there to run with us and also Ali Vincent, who was the winner of Biggest Loser Season 5 and has her own show called Live Big with Ali Vincent.

We started running through Downtown Disney led by Jeff Galloway using his run walk run method.

We than ran through Disneyland just as the sun was coming up.

Follow the golf cart!

We were greeted by a special guest Tinker Bell!

Sean Astin and Bob from runDisney.

And Ali Vincent jumped in for a picture too.

After Disneyland we ran across to California Adventure, through Paradise Pier and along Hollywood passed Tower of Terror and through Bugs Land back to the fountain at the front of the park where we were given bottles of water and more special guests, Mickey, Minnie and Goofy!

Sean Astin and runDisney nutritionist Tara Gidus.

Group Shots!

After we all had a chance to take pictures we were walked over to Cars Land where we were told we get to ride Radiator Springs Racers before the park opened!!! Seriously, if anyone has tried to get a fastpass for that ride anytime over an hour after the park opens you know why I was excited to get the chance to ride.  The wait is always super long and the fastpasses are always out in the morning.

I got to ride in the car with Ali Vincent, she is in the pink jacket in the front.

After we all had a chance to ride we were walked out of California Adventure and over to Napa Rose where we were greeted by an amazing buffet of bagels, pastries, fruit, yogurt, coffee and juice.  It was all delicious and also beautiful. We all spread out among the tables in the dining room of Napa Rose and ate and than we got to hear from Sean Astin and Ali Vincent.  As well as Tara Gidus, the runDisney nutritionist.  We also heard about the New Balance runDisney.

Here is a video of Sean Astin and he explains #Run3rd and the amazing inspiration for it.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lbq40zdp8s&w=420&h=315]

Jeff Galloway is always a pleasure to hear from!

Ali Vincent talked to us about her amazing and inspirational story.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCY2TP6McMo&w=420&h=315]

After all the speakers were done we were treated to a cooking demonstration right there in Napa Rose!  The chefs made a black bean cake with pico de gallo and a poached egg.  It was an amazing time and at the very end upon exiting we were all gifted with a one day park hopper ticket!

I hope you enjoy all the pics!!!

Did you run the Tinker Bell Half Marathon?