Comic Con International 2011!

Okay so I'm a couple of weeks behind in posting a review of SDCC (San Diego Comic Con) in pictures, but here it is!

I realized something this year about what it is that I love and look forward to SO much when it comes to SDCC. As runners, we're often asked WHY we do it. I can tell you the same question is asked of me about attending Comic Con - and especially about dressing up in costume. Much like within the running community, Comic Con provides an environment where people can be comfortable showing and sharing their passion (and let's face it - just downright obsessed in some cases) without feeling judged. At Comic Con, that passion is about 'geek stuff' - infatuations with superheroes, video games, sci-fi shows and movies, and the celebs that come to show appreciation to their fans via autographs, short verbal exchanges/stories, pictures and numerous panels we wait hours in line to see. The energy at the Con and all over the Gas Lamp Quarter is much like race day (for 4 days!) - and dressing in costume just adds to that excitement and further engages you in the experience.

I ask you - what is so different between race day and Comic Con for me? Exactly.:-)

2009 Disneyland Half Marathon

 2010 Disneyworld Marathon 

Comic Con 2011

Comic Con 2010

Here we go! Enjoy!

You and 130,000 of your closest friends coming and going all day long (SD Convention Center).
Our hotel was 2 blocks from here.

Jack and hubby! How awesome is this 'puppet'?

"Deana Troi" (Marina Sirtis) from Star Trek: Next Generation

Hubby made his costume in one day at Comic Con!
 (Mask was bought from an onsite vendor)

Enormous posters and banners all over the Exhibtor's floor.
Sensory overload!

Remember Rufio from Hook? AWESOME costume!

Hubby and Green Arrow (fabulous costume!!!)

Waiting in line (for hours) for the Vampire Diaries panel.

Paul Wesley (Stefan Salvatore) - Vampire Diaries panel

Ian Sommerhalder (Damon Salvatore) - Vampire Diaries panel
Ian came out on stage recording the crowd as he was announced.

We weren't sure how people would react to The Flash couple. Most people yelled out "Mr &Mrs Flash".
I did get one "Flashette". Ha!

R2-D2 will be your waiter this evening....  and apparently so will Indiana Jones. 

See the guy on the right stopping us to take a pic?
We couldn't go more than about 20 feet without being stopped.

Hubby came across this party set-up/promotion for Southpark while out on a run. 

Gears of War 3 figures. Incredible detail.

To-scale replica of the infamous Back to the Future Delorean. Impressive!!!

 ....and this is how you get tickets for next year:

I sat/stood in line from 5am until 8:45am before getting our ticket confirmations for next year. There were about 800 people in front of me (many who spent the night sleeping in line) and at least 2,000 behind me. With only a limited number of tickets for 2012 being sold per day this year, tickets sold out every day.

So there you have it! Can't wait for next year!!