Hello all,
Well it is a week late but I stayed in Flordia and played some after
the race!
Short story: I completed my goal which was to finish under the 7 hour
mark. Net time was 6:41:49!!! I received my Mickey and I am happy!!!
Long story:
I arrived in Orlando early Friday afternoon. After checking into the
hotel room my mom and I headed out to the expo. I was so nervous on
the plane and in the hotel room. I placed my pink hat on as I headed
into the expo hoping that I would meet someone else who was just as
nervous as I. I did not see any penguins but did do some shopping.
Saturday as mom and I were waiting to board the bus to the pasta feed
I had a very nice lady come up and say to me, "Are you a real penguin
or a phoney?" I said, "I am a real one"' and then I saw her name tag
as she introduced her self. It was Kathy Flippo. She and I spoke on
the bus and she helped to calm my fears some. Once at the pasta
dinner I was able to meet so many others, Sue, Russ, Jerry, Mark,
Linae, Val, Molly, Scott, Jane, Nancy, and those are just a few!!! I
had been looking forward to meeting everyone especially Linae since
it seemed as though I was following in her footsteps in the race that
we both had been completeing without knowing of the others plans. The
pasta dinner was awesome and the company and my table was great! I
went outside and had to return to the tent and then I saw HIM!!!
Mickey was in there to take pictures with us. I ran outside and had
my mom come in and take my picture with him. Mom and I then headed
back to the hotel for a restless sleep.
Sunday at O'dark hundred the alarm went off and I prepared for my
first marathon. I was so nervous that I was barely talking to even my
mom. I put on my penguin temp tattoos and my running gear and headed
out the door. I knew that when I came back to the hotel I wasn't
going to be the same person as I was at that very moment. Once on the
bus I ran into Sue,Jerry and their son. Sue helped to calm my fears
and cried at the excitment of my first race. After we got off the bus
we saw some pink hats and headed that way. We met other penguins
there as we tried to remain warm. My nerves then really started to
kick in. I used the porta potties and returned to the group. Then the
announcer then told us to head over to the corrals. Linae and Val
kept me with them since we were in the same corral. My stomach was
deciding that I making the biggest mistake in my life and was decided
to be upset with me. We froze our rears off for another half hour
waiting to continue to the corrals. Once we came around the corner
and I saw the corrals and the tv cameras I almost lost it...my food
as well as my mental status. I was on the verge of tears because of
the fear of the unknown and the excitement. I could not believe that
this day was here. We found some other penguins and had an encounter
there. I guess I was in a zone because Kathy told me to breathe. That
took my out of that zone for about a minute then I was right back
into it. We met Terrie and she tried to help calm me down as well!
Linae took my picture for me, I am glad that she knew that later I
would want that picture but at the time I couldn't think of it. She
and Val asked how I was and I told the flat out, "I am going to puke
and I am totally scared!" The 2001:Space Odessey sang came on and
that made me smile and take away the nerves. Right about then that
dear sweet Mickey Mouse was over our head announcing the start of the
wheel chairs. After some fireworks he then started our race. Here we
go...the start of the race and my new life. For me just getting to
the start line was a huge accomplishment. We ran on the highway and
then into Epcot. It was so neat to see the lights on the arbor as
well as in the ground. The first 4 miles zoomed by and then there was
my own person scream team. I was so happy to see them. Ok this is
where the marathon starts turning into a blur. I remember running
behind these two plder guys that had the cooles saying on the
sweatshirts but I can not remember what it was. We enterted Magic
Kingdom and I was excited to see Snow white and the 7 dwarfs and then
all of the cast members in the different costumes standing out front
welcoming us. As I entered main street there he was..Mickey, but I
was to fast (yeah right me fast HAHAHA) and missed him. I came
around a corner and there was a band playing for us..just us..how
cool is that. I got a big smile gave them a thumbs up and a head nod
and continued on. The next thing I remember is running through the
castle then off to liberty square. I took my pic with Pluto and
Goofey and then headed back out. I found it funny how Disney opted to
play Poor Unfortunate Souls for The Little Mermaid movie just as the
marathoners split from the 1/2 marathoners. Cruella was not far
behind Jafar, Ursala and the other villians. She was yelling at us
walkers, "This is a marathon you should be running!" Well let me tell
you I ran right by her, I was not going to allow her to yell at me. I
met up with some other people and we walked together for a while
until the witch tried to give us some apples. I left them and
continued on my own. Just around the river bend was the cast of the
Animal Kingdom. I thought it was nice how they were all dressed up in
their costumes to greet us and try to make us happy. Once in the park
the regular guests were cheering us on! We came out of the park and
it hit me, mile 18. Prior to the marathon I had known that mile 18-24
were going to be my roughest miles. I had tried to stop that mental
"freakout" but I guess I didn't really win. I continued to
run/walk...ok walk more than run. Once I finished the first overpass
with the piped in screams I had a person come up to my side and speak
my name. It was one of my two guardian angles. Linae and Val had
caught up to me. I was so happy to see them yet sad because we
thought that I was going to finish way before them and I felt as
though I wasn't doing as well as I should have. My angels decided to
help me along. I ran their 1/2 split. Boy did that do wonders for my
mind and body. My left foot toes were starting to hurt and so was my
right knee. As we rounded the turning point at mile 22 (I think) I
heard the song Go the distance by Michael Bolton. I think that I knew
then that I was going to finish the race but I was going to be
hurting doing it. Val helped me to take off my long sleeve shirt so
that I would be cooler. She was right I felt a better once I did
that. We saw the sad wagon and hoped that no penguins would be
picked up by it. As we entered MGM and I saw that nice man standing
there with his medal cheering us on I hated him and loved him all at
once. I guess I was truely in the BMZ. I loved the green army men who
gave us Spree candies. The first once was heaven and the other made
me sick. I think this happened to many other becuase all of a sudden
there were the candies all over the ground where we threw them. My
angels "carried me" on their wings until mile 24. The angels flew me
out of my hell spot. I owe them. At mile 24 the pain really kicked
in. I let my angels fly away from me becuase I did not want to drag
them down. As well as the others I came to the last water stop,
thanked the VoluntEars (as Disney puts it)and saw the sign that made
me continue. Pain is temporary, Glory is forever! I think that is
what it said! I saw some beautiful people in pink hats as I came back
onstage at downtown disney or somewhere like that. They had their 1/2
marathon medals and were screaming for us. They warned me that just
around the corner was a person taking pictures. Well then, I shall
run I told myself and that I did..until I passed the picture people!
I ran a little and walked alot through Epcot until a man with Team in
Training came up to me. He clapped for me and told me that I was
doing well and almost to the finish. Then there it was... as
beautiful as I think Heavens gates will be...the finish line. I have
no idea where the energy came from, I guess my training in sprinting
that last few yards helped, but I found it deep with in. I think that
is when I knew that I would finish the marathon. I ran so hard that I
suprised myself. Then I saw her, Minnie Mouse. She gave me a high
five with a white hand that was so very dirty from others who had
chocolate gels on their hands, but I didn't care. Then I heard my mom
call my name. I saw her and the pride that she had on her face. As I
crossed the finished line I threw my arms up in the air and yelled,
"I DID IT". I went over and recieved my blanket and then have my chip
removed. Then there was the nicest VoluntEar around she placed my
medal around my neck and I thanked her. My two angels had appeared
before me again and it was all I could do to scream out their names.
I hugged them and thanked them for their help! I saw mom and headed
to the bus for the trip back to hotel. Once back to the hotel I knew
it had happened. I completed a marathon. I did it and I will never be
the same again.
The whole week I wore that medal with pride. It was around my neck
and displayed each day we walked around all of the parks. It was nice
meeting my fellow penguins and getting to know faces with names. I
loved how now I have a bond with an elite group of people in the
world, MARATHONERS. I spoke with some even on the plane as I was
leaving to head home to California. I am one of them. I am MARATHONER.
Vashie
Walt Disney World Marathon Finisher bib #10860
