Congrats to all WDW marathon participants.To all Goofies - WE DID IT. High
Fives to everyone.
Sorry for the delay in my report but we got back late Monday night from Ft.
Lauderdale and I am still recovering from all the travel.
We arrived at Port Orleans appr. 1AM on Friday, after a delayed flight. We
should have been sleeping by that time. The cast member at PO was very chatty
and we had 3 rooms to be checked into - got to our rooms - our son and
grandson got in; our son and daughter-in-law got in - our room key would not
work.
Walked all the way back - got another- did not work. called front desk from
our son's room (room smelled like smoke awfully bad) and they sent a cast
member with a hard key and let us in. My son had to wait for some sort of
filtering device to rid the room of smoke (this was a non smoking room) -- so
we
didn't get to sleep until 3:30. Up at 7:00 cause Jeffy couldn't wait to go to
the
parks. We went to the Expo after breakfast - very crowded - got the usual I
DID IT t shirt and some pins.
1/2 marathon - is it time to get up already? A little over 2 hours of sleep
but I am ready!
At the P tent but where are all the people that I recognize or that look
lost-like they are looking for someone? Finally - Charles and Russ arrive and we
talk a bit, but they leave and Sarge is barking out orders to move it. Not
me, I am staying until I see someone else - alas, 2 more familiar faces, Sylvia
and Frans. We waited and were joined by Lani and Alex, now it was time to
go towards the light - rather, the corrals but there are very bright lights!! I
was in F and the others were- I can't remember- but way ahead of me. After
the anthem, I shed my sweat pants but kept my sweatshirt - it was cold but not
unbearable-once you got moving. I was with all the walkers, so it was hard
to find pavement to run on. I did a lot of grass running and a lot of zig
zagging. At the entrance to Magic Kingdom - real restrooms-but long waits -
that
was a 22 minute mile- shed my sweatshirt- now it's cold but I was overheated
with it tied around my neck .I did run up Main Street but as I got into
TommorrowLand, I saw runners meeting us,they did not get to run up Main
Street.At
around 9 miles I felt funny tightening in my left thigh - walked it off but
at 10 miles WOW - full blown cramp - I rubbed it out with my disposable camera
and walked it off but every time that I tried to run (if you can call it
that)-it cramped up again. So, I had to walk - around the Christmas tree and my
right thigh cramped up but so much more that I was in tears and I was afraid
that I would not finish. It would not ease up - finally, it gave enough so
that I kind of dragged my leg and then it disappeared but I still could not run
- I had to walk. SpaceShip Earth - you could hear the crowds - an inner
voice said - you can do it - RUN - and I did-slowly, but I came across the
finish
line running and then the tears came - why?- I had done the 1/2 before.
I got my space blanket and my Donald, found the Goofy tent,changed my orange
band for a blue band and went off to find my family.
I thought that I might walk the 5K - but I would have been stupid to do it.
I needed to save my energy for the marathon.My son and grandson ran and we
waited for them and then off to a warm room and a quick ice bath(wasn't there
enough ice already) - a warm shower and then to the foodcourt for a Penguin
Encounter.
Alvaro - where are you????? I got my penguin - where is yours? I claimed a
table and then saw Charles and Maggie looking a little lost. We were then
joined by Russ and Annette and finally by Sylvia and Frans. We swapped stories-
had something to eat and drink and went on our way. Tomorrow will be along
day.
After the penguin Encounter - I took a nap 4:30 - 12:30 and then got up and
set my alarm for a 2:45 wake up. I was afraid of getting leg cramps- I
sometimes get them at night and I had forgotten my big bar of soap to put under
the
bottom sheet. I slept right thru dinner but my husband had gotten me some
fruit and a sandwich and put it into the fridge. That was my dinner at 12:30
AM.
I woke up and tested my legs - they said, let's go! All we can do is try -
if I can't finish, I would have given it my best shot but it was very tempting
to crawl back into bed.
Grabbed breakfast at the food court and then on the bus.It was very cold - I
had on tights, a long sleeve top, a second one over that, a sweatshirt,sweat
pants and wore my heavier hooded Tinkerbell jacket which I checked just
before heading to the start.I hung around the P tent but did not meet up with
anyone so toward the lights I went. I was again back of the pack, blue start
line. I It took 7 minutes to get across the start line and was difficult to
maneuver around the walkers- I did a 3/1 and that seemed to work well but
unfortunately it was a slower 3/1 than I had wanted to do. I also drank Powerade
at
all water stations because I thought that maybe the leg cramps were caused by
an electrolyte imbalance and I didn't want to get those again. At appr. mile
7, I passed Charles,exchanged pleasantries and kept on going. At the 1/2 way
point all that I could think of was how great would it be to cut off at this
point but that was not an option. Even if I could, I would have not done it
- I came here to get the Goofy! Frost (was I going the wrong way - I was
supposed to head towards EPCOT not Frostbite Falls) fog nor leg cramps could
stop
me. I was on a mission, a challenge.
I had been in contact with my family but had not seen them - then a call,
they were just over the bridge - what bridge???? And then, there they were at
mile" twenty tired", you know where that is , where the out and back is. We
hugged, I cried and told them I was done but my 2 sons and daughter in law told
me NO - that I was not a quitter and I COULD DO IT.
THEN, I came across another support team - Sylvia and Frans were waiting for
me - they didn't even now if I had started or had come thru already - but
there they were. What a welcome sight! Sylvia walked with me out and back and
then we said our goodbyes - they were going back to the Netherlands the next
day. Sylvia, if you are reading this- I appreciated your support at that point
in the run more than you will ever know because I was ready to give up - you
and Frans gave me that much needed motivation to keep on going. THANK YOU
BOTH!
It seemed like a real long time(it was) before I got to MGM and then to the
Boardwalk - no cramps but I was doing much more walking than I had wanted to.
Then into EPCOT - would I make it in time - I couldn't tell because there
were too many tears to see my watch. After exiting EPCOT, I heard, the finish
line will close in 7 minutes - so I kicked it up a notch and ran toward the
finish - I heard RUN MOM, YOU CAN DO IT GRAMMA and that is what I needed.
Got my Mylar, my Mickey, my picture taken (awful) and then found the Goofy
tent -my bracelet was marked and now the Goofy medal was around my neck - I
endured and I earned it. No one can ever take it away from me and when I die,
it is going with me. GOOFY IS MINE!
Would I do it again - NO- once is enough!
BTW - the next day,surprisingly, I could walk normal - a little slower than
usual but no limping or soreness.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT- tp-disney and PR are awesome groups!
Daria
