Part 1 - The Parks
Originally, my goal for this race was to run around marathon pace (13:21). However, I knew I'd have to back off with the heat and I wanted to stop for characters and any Tower of Terror photo opps since it was my first time running through all of Hollywood Studios. My bigger goal was to figure out my nutrition so I didn't get runner's gut like I did during the Princess Half. I ate half a bagel in the car and drank liquid IV, then held off on water until the race start. I nibbled the rest of the bagel (but didn't finish) during the meetup and had an applesauce pouch in the corrals. I also filled up my handheld with liquid IV due to the heat. I had three pouches of Tailwind to use later on.
I started with 30/30 intervals, giving myself room to increase them later on depending on how I felt. As usual during races, my heartrate went up pretty fast. I have no idea why because I don't run that fast and it stays in zone 1 for awhile when I'm training. But I guess races make me excited.
I stuck to the intervals so I wouldn't gas myself and enjoyed the space to move in the backstage area. I decided to stop for selfies at all the mile markers again. Once in the parks I didn't see any characters I wanted to wait for. (Later on I learned that the mice I saw near-ish America were actually The Rescuers, not Cinderella's mice, and I was SO MAD at myself for not stopping because my husband loves that movie. Oh, well.) Running through World Showcase in the dark is always beautiful, so I stopped for some videos.
I did have an awkward moment where I tried to go around someone on the right, but she moved right as I did so I brushed her arm, and then she gave me a "that's why you're supposed to pass on the left" remark. Yes, I know, and I apologized profusely, but there were people on my left blocking me! I wasn't moving super fast, either, so her nastyness annoyed me for a bit. We're all trying our best!
I hit the (newly remodeled!) UK bathrooms before heading out of the park. Thankfully, I only had to pee. Pulling my shorts back on while I was covered in sweat was quite the feat and reminded me of Ross from Friends and his leather pants.
I really enjoyed running around the Boardwalk and saw a great sign that said "Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to exercise."
The walkway to DHS wasn't too crowded, despite a really poorly placed water stop. Then, we were back in the parks!
I was excited to run through Hollywood Studios, especially Galaxy's Edge, but that ended up being kind of disappointing because there was no entertainment or even any kind of music. Plus, they couldn't route us past the Falcon. Darth Vader was out around Star Tours, which was cool, but you can meet him in the parks. Why not have any of the Galaxy's Edge characters out? Even if they're not doing a meet and greet, but just on the upper levels to take your own pictures? It seems like such a fail. I did stop for a selfie with the X-wing, though.
I like this picture of me in Toy Story Land.
I passed Lotso on our way out of the land and decided to get a photo since he's pretty rare and I was so hot and muggy that I wanted a break. Plus, his line was pretty short. I know I'm also really short, but he is HUGE!
I stopped for a Tower photo opp and the bellhops. I love my Tower jumping pic.
The bellhops needed better lighting, but I'm glad I stopped.
This ended up being my longest mile at 22 minutes, haha. But considering I stopped 3 times, I don't think it was too bad! I talked to another runner in the bellhop line who said she doesn't usually stop either but was so hot she also needed a break. It was nice to get a little rest and by the time I got moving again, it felt like it had gotten cooler and less muggy. As
@The Expert noted, probably because the sun coming up helped lower the humidity! I considered hitting another bathroom before leaving Hollywood Studios but didn't feel like dealing with my shorts again so I moved on. There was a water stop just before we got to the road and I filled it with my first baggie of Tailwind. I was still feeling fine energy wise but knew there was still more than 5 miles left and I'd start to bonk soon without any kind of fuel. Thankfully, my stomach still felt fine.
Mile 1: 13:21 (exactly on marathon pace!)
Mile 2: 14:51 (potty break)
Mile 3: 13:42
Mile 4: 13:42
Mile 5: 22:21
Despite some stops, I was still averaging around 15 minute pace and knew that would improve in the second half of the race with fewer stops. Next post, we hit the road.
Thankfully he went right back to sleep. I eventually did because my (first) alarm woke me up at 2:10. I had that moment where I think to myself, "why the heck do I do this to myself???" Because runDisney. 
