We got in on Thursday and went to DL first thing Friday morning. With Haunted Mansion and the Matterhorn closed, we had done Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder, Pirates of the Carribean, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad, Small World, Buzz Lightyear,watched a pirate street show and got visited by the talking trash can by eleven! The crowds seem to be coming in right around then. I kept a lookout for green WISH bands, but spied none. I figured everyone was probably in DCA. We stopped at Innoventions and played, then stayed to see the ASIMO show. By then it was lunchtime, so we headed to DTD. VERY disappointed to see that the "outdoor seating" at Napolini's was 2 tables!

Finally got to go to the Expo to get our goodie bags and numbers!!! I had forgotten about speakers being at the Expo, until I saw the sign with the list of who would be there. JOHN BINGHAM would be there in an hour!! AND JENNY HADFIELD was also there!!! No way was I going anywhere until I heard them! Fortunately, it would probably take me that long to get through the merchandise line! There were only about 5 people listening to the speakers. We sat down when Kim Jones was speaking. Yes, the Kim Jones that won the Women's division! We just thought that she was an interesting speaker! Danny Dreyer spoke next. He's the author of Chi Walking and Chi Running. Another very interesting speaker. by now, the crowd is getting a bit bigger. And then, there he was...THE PENGUIN!!
After John and Jenny spoke, a cute 10-12 year old boy came up and asked me if I was a WISHer! I was so shocked and surprised (even though I had made sure to keep my wristband in clear view!). I asked who his parents were, but before he could answer, I saw CAM!! and HOWARD!! so this must be..ANDREW!!! My first WISHers in DL!!

After all of THAT excitement, it was time for Howard and Cam's reservations at Goofy's Kitchen..and they graciously invited us to join them..THANKS, CAM, HOWARD, AND ANDREW!! Andrew is every bit as neat a kid as you would think he would be! How could he not be with Howard and Cam as his parents?

We left our WISH friends and tried to hit DCA. It was almost closing time, so we had to choose between Soarin' and Monsters, Inc. Since Monsters Inc. isn't in WDW, we decided to do that. Did run over to look at the Boardwalk at night...gorgeous!!

When DCA closes, everyone heads over to DL, oh, my!!! DH wanted to ride the train around, so we got on board at Main Street. We got to talking about the Tikki Birds show and how it didn't have the "Under New Management" sign on it. Hmmm, maybe we should go try and see it. Got off at the next stop and tried to dash over to the Tikki Birds. There was no "dashing" as the Fantasmic show was going on and, of course, every thing was crowded. Finally made it there, only to find out that they didn't have shows during Fantasmic or the fireworks! Fought our way back through the crowd, got back on the train and then got stuck right where the fireworks were being shot off! Couldn't see them, though, unless we got off of the train, and that was a no-no! What a riot!!

Saturday was left open to rest and visit with DH's aunt and cousins; until the WISH meet at 4! It was so great to see everyone at Napolini's! What a great group showed up!! Even Icesk8tingJen, who is a moderator for the DL thread, came! Dana WAS there..I'm so sorry we didn't get you in the picture!! Sorry, too, about the shadows!

It's finally THE DAY!!! We actually got about 6 hours of sleep. I told you that I learned my lesson about trying to do miles on limited sleep! We had no problems driving to DL. The only hold up was when we picked the wrong lane to enter the parking lot...but we got in. I thought it was so wrong that we had to pay for parking. We got a voucher for parking at the Minnie 15K. Do they give vouchers for parking at the marathon weekend?

We made our way to the parking lot where the big bright lights were, hoping someone could give us directions after that. right before we entered that area, though, there were porta-potties, WITH NO LINES, so we took advantage. Once inside the parking lot area, there were porta-potties with people 6 deep! We stumbled around, saw Howard and Cam (stretching!), Pirate Paul, and beentherealot Jeff. Those WISH shirts are just great for finding people!! I don't even remember how we found our way to corral E, but once there, we managed to get up to the front. Hey, I need all of the seconds I can get! When I found out we still had 45 minutes to the start, I sat down. Legs all around me, I didn't care. I just knew that I needed to let my legs have all the rest they could get!

Others have talked about how the start was, which was a good thing, as we only got to hear it. I wasn't able to see a clock at the start to know what my difference was and that kindof bothered me, but I set off at my usual pace. I felt like a stone in a riverbed, with everyone flowing all around me to pass! When we came up to enter into DCA, there was a gate across the parking lot and a rather small opening for the runners to enter. Maybe that was just because we were the last bunch, but I thought that was bad planning. Around the corner and then there we were!


Lots of characters in both parks, but few with "handlers" to take your picture. I took a lot of "walk by" shots which resulted in not optimal pictures. Just couldn't convince myself to stop! Saw Pat's DH and Racheal, and got passed by Heather. We were through DCA so quickly, then across to DL. Another tight spot in Tomorrowland for a crowd to fit through, but then on to the castle. I honestly didn't know I was in the castle until I was through it! I had to try and take pictures by putting the camera above my head and aiming backwards! Through Frontierland,down Main Street and out onto the tram road.

This is what greeted us just as we turned onto Ball Rd:
Not too bad, but I heard some complaints! Through the streets of Anaheim, where it was Kristi's turn to pass me, then onto the dirt path of the Santa Ana River Trail where Tiffj passed by!

Caught up to Diane just as we saw the "Big A" straight ahead!

It was so neat to run through the tunnel and then out into the lights of the standium! I heard from people trying to find themselves on the Jumbotron ,"Get behind that bright green shirt, then we'll know where we are!" I'm always glad to help others!!! Coming out of the stadium this was the scene:

Those dreaded SWEEPER BUSES!! The girl is laughing because I'm yelling, "Bye, bye! You aren't gonna get me today!" But now I'm sad that that was where Chester and Tracy got picked up! OK, now this is probably weird (especially if you think it's weird that I memorized the course!), but I wrote the sweeper points and times in black marker on the inside of my arm!!! (reminded me of Chirsta, MelR, and Lynne with their triathalon numbers!)

Back onto the streets where I caught up with Tiffj, and then into DCA for the final leg. These guys greeted us:
as well as this:

and then out of DCA and into DTD and...THERE IT WAS!!!
I actually got to cross the finish with Tiffj, and we high fived!! Thanks, Tiffany!! DH was there waiting for me, so we could get our medals together. He had crossed 20 minutes earlier! But what a weird set up! Once you crossed the finish line, get a mylar blanket thrown at you, walk to get your chip cut off, and walk some more to get your medal! It didn't matter, so long as I got one!! I couldn't get over how great I felt. Such a drastic difference from tha last two events! I guess that's what training is all about!! I had decided no matter what, that we would get our pictures taken with the background/characters, so we hopped in the line with the inaugural background. Pat, her DH, and Rachael were just about to get their picture done as I went in search of cold water for us. Heather and her mom saw us, that was so great. She is a speedy!! There was still water, bagels, oranges and bananas left as well as fruit cups(?). I was surprised that there was still stuff left! We must have stood in line for a good 45 minutes before we got our picture done. The CM's kept trying to get those in our line to go to other photographers that had no one, but we would tell them,"They don't have this background!" So, we got our picture, but missed saying goodbye to everyone! We did head over to the "W" tent, but everyone was gone. There were still people in line for the chair massages, so we headed over there. We stood in line for just a bit, before deciding we weren't going to wait. We did meet someone in line who got swept at the 1 mile point. She said that they took her and let her run through the parks, before taking her to the finish line. She wasn't upset, because she got engaged afterwards!

I look at my castle medal everyday and marvel that I actually walked 13.1 miles and felt good at the end of it! I have ALL of you to thank! All of your comments and advice to others, as well as to me, have been invaluable. That's why I go so nuts when I actually get to see you!!

When I think of struggling with walking an 18 minute mile in January to completing a 1/2 marathon in under 16 (chip says 15:27 for 13.1, Garmin says 14:51 for 13.67), feeling great, and able to take pictures...I am amazed. Thank you, thank you, thank you, John Bingham, my DH, and you, my WISH friends!!! Anne