Hi, this is where you can find out what I have been up to! I have finished the Disney Marathon and fundraised over 4,500 for Team in Training which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The marathon and the days before:
We got to Orlando it was 70 degrees, headed to the hotel, and then went to the Race expo at Wide World of Sports to get my race # and race chip! Once there we looked around and bought some new running clothes and other stuff.
Friday was the day of the Pasta Party this is the most inspirational and emotional party of the weekend! We went to the World Pavillion in Epcot and there were 2,200 runners and walkers total we had half in the first seating of the pasta party. We learned the all 2,200 of us raised over 6 million dollars for this event alone! We also were introduced to the Honored Hero for the whole event she had ALL Leukemia and had relapsed this is her second time through chemo!
After my walk team Amy and Janet, ( Amy's 1st marathon and Janet was doing the half and the full marathon ) walked through Epcot and then headed back to Coronado Springs for the final team meeting! Sat was a day for me b/c we had to get up at 2:00 am to be on the runner's bus to the start by 3:00 We got to the start and it was freezing like 30 degrees.I headed to the start and waited for the National Anthem, then the gun went off it took me 7 min to get over the start and the first 2 miles were outside of Epcot then we ran by England, France, out by Germany and on our way to the Magic Kingdom. That is where I met a lady who had run the Boston marathon w/ TNT and ran for Dominic who's photo was on my back! It was really foggy and we couldn't see much of the skyline of the Magic Kingdom, well once we got to the parking lot the TNT'ers were out in force cheering us on and making a football tunnel by the ticket and transportation center. Then the only real hill on the course wasn't that bad! Once running on to main street USA that was awesome the street was packed as we ran by the folks with the TNT banners. Chip and Dale and the incredibles were out! Running through Cinderella's Castle remember to for your photo! Once we left the Magic Kindgom, we were on our way to Animal Kingdom, they had some of the characters out in the back lot on the course! We were in AK for a short time then on the road heading to mile 20 I still felt great at this time ! Some people were hitting the wall I decided that once past the Sweep point I was going to walk and enjoy the race! Which I did and MGM park was awesome.... Once we came out the last 2 miles was lined with wall to wall people cheering us on! The endorphins had kicked in and we were on the last 2 miles the home stretch still feeling great we worked our way through EPCOT! The last 8/10's of a mile was people that were 6 deep behind the ropes cheering us in but once we saw the 26 mile mark I was taken back by the last 2/10's of the course which was all bleachers and cheering fans!!!! I had done it I had made it to the end of the race feeling great and knowing that I have made an impact on my Honored Hero's lives to getting closer to a cure!!!!
Now I am off to train for the Disneyland Half Marathon in Sept and back to Disney for the full marathon in Jan of next year!!!! Check back for the most up to date info on what is going on!