Vancouver Rock 'n' Roll Recap

Yeah I'm still a bad blogger, what can I say I work crazy hours and by the time I get home it's pretty much dinner and bed.

Though I did want to tell you about my experience at the Inaugural Vancouver Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. Now I had zero intentions of doing this run until I saw the medals...yes it's all about the bling for me.

 First off arrived in Vancouver and I love Haida art. It's everywhere in Vancouver.

 The expo was at the Vancouver Convention Centre which is along the water

 The official gear, the gear bag, tech shirt, band for the VIP and mini map. I dished out some extra cash for VIP as I will pay for indoor toilets and a warm place to wait for the start.

 Brooks was the major merchandise sponsor so I picked up a tshirt

 Cap

The jacket

 As I spent enough money I got the VIP toilet sticker, which allowed me the use of the flushable toilets Brooks set up right outside my hotel. Though I didn't need it as I had that VIP thing and that was inside a ballroom at the Renaissance Hotel.

 It's been a long time since I'd been to Vancouver so I was pretty dependant on google map though it thought my hotel was in the bay.

 On the Saturday before the race I went to the Vancouver Aquarium. Love the jellies.

 And the Sea Lion

 And the Penguins!!!!

 And the Beluga

 This guy just kept spinning around with his ball

 Underwater view of the Beluga

 Picked up a fun Sea Otter umbrella, though Vancouver was plagued by rain it didn't rain a drop on race day.

 I'm intrigued....Salted Watermelon???

 I had to make second trip o the expo as I wanted the magnet and needed the pin.

 Race day night was a wee stressful. I was checking out on Race Day so had to be super organized. I had originally planned to stay until Monday but changed it for a work opportunity. The Marriott let me use the showers in the gym post race so at least I didn't need to go to the airport grungy.

 The VIP room was o.k, I got there early and it was just me and a few elite runners then others showed up. Not to many costumes but one guy in a red body suit with a white maple leaf on this front along with ski goggles was my favourite.

 The corrals were a wee chaotic, now I'm used to Run Disney and appreciate how they manage the corrals. There were flags on the side of the road with the corral number that you just  sort of stood behind. I was corral 22, second from the last. The actual last corral 24 got to start 15 min early. In retrospect I should have joined their corral. By the time we got to the start corrals 20-23 were one massive corral. While waiting for the start I heard a lot of folks talking about Run Disney events.

The race itself wound through Vancouver, I always find Gastown a wee slippery due to the tile. What I was looking forward to was how much of the course was along the Sea Wall. I didn't realize the Sea Wall would be open to the public. First time I ever had to dodge baby strollers and bicycles mid half.

 I managed to shave a few minutes off my last half which surprised me. I felt good until about Mile 11 and that was in the middle of Stanley Park, while beautiful it has many many inclines.

 The VIP band also got me into a special finish area where there was food and your bib came with a beer ticket, I didn't have any beer. The finish area was Devonian Park which turned in one big muddy field. For the 2nd run in a row had to throw the Nike's into the washing machine.

I wish I could have had late checkout as when I got back to the hotel it was shower, change, eat some lunch then off to the airport. Found a few things at the airport.

I don't think I'll ever do this one again but as far as the Rock 'n' Roll series I'd like to do Vegas and Montreal after my goal to do Dopey in 2016.

Hope you enjoyed my recap and I'll try to be a better blogger.

Bad blogger and Tower of Terror 10 Miler Recap

Aye carumba, almost a month and a half since my last blog.
I don't know where the time went, the hours I work are long and to be honest by the time I get home I'm wiped.

However in between blog posts I did go to Disney World to take part in the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler and Mickey's Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run
.

 My first order of business was to bling up my Magic Band, unfortunately when you book travel through a Canadian provider you can't log into My Disney and choose a colour so it's always grey but fitting for a Star Wars fan.

 The bib pick up and expo are always at ESPN when at Disney World.

 I was rather impressed with the size of the expo for this event, the last time I was there for a non Half weekend the expo was tiny.

After the expo I hit Magic Kingdom which is my favourite park and it was all dressed up for Halloween - my favourite holiday.

 I didn't spend to long in the park as the 5K was the next day so next up my Expo haul

 The official race shirts

 I had to get another pair of Oofos as I love these sandals, I tried to get a mini stick last time so it was on the list for this time. Showers were forecasted so the shirt I brought for the 10 miler wasn't ideal so it meant another RawThreads shirt joined the collection.

 Official merchandise, included the pins, the car magnets (which I put on my fridge), Run Disney light up bracelet and shoe add ons, a necklace for my RunDisney vinylmation and I really like the hat this run.

 I always get the I Did It shirt but won't wear it till post run.

 I'm also quite fond of the jacket, the writing glows in the dark.

 It was bright and early on the 5K morning, the thing that makes it worth it being there early - a picture with Mickey.

 The start area was in the middle of an astroturf field which was very different then usual so the start area was not the dance floor it usually was. Plus it was raining constantly during the wait for the start. It wasn't so bad as it felt warm so I actually didn't mind getting a bit soaked.

 The headless horseman started things off.

 Now I realize it said Trail Run but I seriously had no clue there were woods behind ESPN, the course was dirt, gravel, grass and astroturf so the runners took a beating. Glad I packed two pairs.

 Fast forward about 12 hours and it was time for the 10 miler which started at 10pm same day as the 5K.

 The RunDisney DJ

 Full moon made it interesting, course wise it's my least favourite. A whole lot of road and weird curves that were angled ramps. You started at Hollywood Studios ran towards Animal Kingdom through the parking stalls and then on your way to ESPN with one more dirt stretch and astroturf and then you make your way back to Hollywood Studios. I didn't spend too much time at the Villain After Party, for one thing not too much was open and the park was full of people sitting on the sidewalks eating their RunDisney boxes. I didn't see any characters so I headed back to the hotel.

 The medal is super cute and the elevator actually moves as there is a spring in the back. Don't think I'll ever repeat this race but glad I got this medal.

 Picked up few Disney items, I've been looking for a smallish Dumbo forever and found him in Animal Kingdom, plus I couldn't resist the Halloween tshirt.

 I was going to Mickey's not so scary Halloween Party dressed as R2D2, at one point I was walking through Tomorrowland and a Jedi fist pumped me for being part of the Rebel Alliance.

 I caught the Boo to You parade twice, the 2nd time by accident.

 Great light show on the Castle, I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

Came home with a cold so I've been pretty out of it but next run is next weekend with the Vancouver Rock N Roll Half Marathon.

I promise to be a better blogger, sorry for the long absence.