Super Heroes Leave their Capes at Home and Make a Run for it!
- Talisha Salinas
- Dec 3, 2015
- 3 min read
Anaheim, CA- November 13, 2015
“There goes 3-foot Captain America!”
Over 5,000 runners took on the runDisney’s Avengers Super Heroes 5k at the Disneyland Resort early this past Friday morning. Set up through both parks in Anaheim, CA, the yearly event allows participants to run for the charity of their choice, while enjoying a run around the magical parks.
Before the Race
Jumping in place, Kat manages to maintain warm as she waits for Dev, her boyfriend, as he finishes putting on his race bib.
“I feel like we should’ve upped our cosplay (costume play) idea…” she says, looking around at the many contestants during early sign-in at 3am.
The Californian couple, wearing matching red and yellow Iron Man jackets, admited to feeling underdressed in presence of such elaborate costumes, this being their first runDisney event.
Capes, tutus, wigs and even sequined running skirts were some of the many outfits worn by the contestants. Young children to adults in full body costumes—Iron Mans, Captain Americas, and even Hulks, who covered themselves in green body paint to help elaborate their costumes even more.
Many wore outfits that were sold at a runDisney expo a few days before the event. Not only did they offer workshops on fit living, they also sold costume accessories, such as capes and a collection of limited edition Mickey Mouse ears in the form of Marvel’s The Avengers.
Photo Courtesy of Talisha Salinas.
Ready to Begin
Volunteers in lavender shirts guided the participants to the starting line as the time to begin the race approached.
The crowd gets rowdier as the announcers are heard through the speakers. Those running first begin to stretch as they make their way to the starting line.
Two of S.H.I.E.L.D’s finest agents helped announce the event that morning—Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D; a fictional peacekeeping and spy agency in a world of superheroes. In white lab coats themselves, the agents complemented the costumes around the starting line to ease the excitement near the starting line.
A breathtaking trumpet performance of Star Spangled Banner by a member of the Anaheim 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Adoption Committee, followed by a roar of applause from the attendees cause the excitement near the starting line to rise. Once a small safety issue on the track was taken care of, the officials were ready to begin the race.
The crowd went wild when the confetti guns went off as they watched the runners leave the starters line behind them that cold, Friday morning.
The course began on Disneyland Drive, making its way through a back entrance that lead the runners to CarsLand at Disney California Adventures. Passing Paradise Pier, and making their way through Buena Vista Street, they pass the entrance to the park and make their way to the entrance of Disneyland, where the course continued.
Marvel superheroes and villains, even Disney favorites, such as Snow White and Cruella de Vil, made it past Main Street USA, past the Walt Disney and Mickey statue and past the white Matterhorn Mountain.
Some of the Marvel films soundtrack played on the track, exciting runners as it created the feeling of being superhero themselves, emphasizing runDisney's mission statement; "Every run is magic, when you runDisney."
Cutting through Fantasyland, runners made their way through the teacups, pass the Haunted Mansion and through the back of Splash Mountain to find themselves going through a back entrance, open for employees and participants only.Volunteers stood by the sides of the entrance of the park cheering and handing out water for those who were in need of hydration.
Making their way through Downtown Disney, participants hustled in determination to finish the race. Crossing Disneyland Drive, passing AMC 12 onto Downtown Drive, the crowd cheered as runners made their way through the finish line marking the completion of the marathon.
Runners crossed the finish line and headed over the tent to receive their finisher medallion, after completing the race. Although the race wasn’t timed, that didn’t prevent the participants from timing themselves while completing the marathon.
Trickling through the finish line, a little after 7:50am, the last of the participants made their way to the complimentary snacks and refreshments. After the participants were done having a good time with the others, they made their way home with the memories of the marathon, that took place at "the happiest place on earth."
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