Perhaps you have read my review of the inaugural Avengers Half Marathon. (No, you are not in the wrong place!) Point is, if it were not for the unexpected Christmas decorations at Disneyland Resort and this secret weapon, I might have been left with a bad taste in my runDisney mouth. Just when I thought the Santa Anas and a dusty river bed would get the best of me, in flew the caped crusaders. The Cosplayers of Southern California- regular citizen nerds like you and I- rescued the day.
Therefore, I was beyond excited to head to the next inaugural runDisney event, the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend. So ecstatic that I signed on for my first challenge race! While the Star Wars 10K is run primarily through the parks, the Star Wars Half Marathon seemed primed for the Cosplayers to take us to infinity and beyond. Sorry for mixing my Disney metaphors.
What seemed like legions of costumed volunteers lined the course after Mile 5; in Garden Grove the Cosplayers seemed 3 deep! Light Side and Dark Side, they posed for pictures, gave autographs, chatted up with us about our costumes, and looked like they were in seventh heaven.
I didn’t know until after the race that many of these kindred Star Wars spirits were actually registered with the runDisney volunteers. The 501st Legion was out in Force. Nerd-Con has this year’s link on their website, along with instructions on how to send in one’s costumed image along with an application. Geez, if I wasn’t running…
This year, the course will surely Awaken with the buzz of the recent release of the 7th movie in the series. (Let’s play a game; since the Rey costumes have long been sold out on every costume site I could find, what’s your over and under number of this most recent superstar’s sightings on the course???)
In many ways, these Cosplayers finished what Disneyland started; the characters in the parks were just a subtle preview of the army of Storm Troopers, Jedis, and … who were our guardians to the finish line. Through the Force of their enthusiasm, we were transported far, far away from the pavement in Anaheim.
Simply out of this world.
This is very cool! I love that cosplayers can do this in Disneyland.
They were astounding Becky!!!!
Hey Didi! I am a member of the 501st which provides all the Stormtroopers for outside the parks. Also featured as on course entertainment are the Mandalorian Mercs, Rebel Legion and the Saber Guild. All groups have strict costume guidelines and do tons of appearances and charity events every year!
You are a celebrity Mallory!!!! May I reference this in my post??! (And any leads on the upcoming race? :D)
Yes of course you can use for your post! I know that many of my friends will be out on the course in full costume – no mile assigned yet however. I can confirm my friend who does an excelled Finn will be out too! More info on 501st here: http://www.501st.com/