Ever since they changed the longer race courses that enter Magic Kingdom—bringing us in via the Grand Floridian pathway and out past the Contemporary instead of the other way around—this has been one of my favorite moments. Rounding that bend onto Seven Seas Lagoon to find the Water Pageant out along the water's edge, the monorail track and lights from the castle overhead, and just a hint of the castle itself visible in the distance. It's just one of those thoughtful things that the organizers do for us that makes the course that much more special. It's also the signal that we're just moments away from crossing the threshold into Magic Kingdom and making that iconic run down Main Street, U.S.A.
This moment, like seeing Space Mountain reflected over the water as we exit Magic Kingdom, has become almost as much a symbol of runDisney to me as Main Street itself. Enough so that, on the course yesterday, I decided that it needed to be today's image.