My brother, sister-in-law, and I arrived Friday and did the expo things - got
our free photo from the Tylenol folks, picked up our half and marathon race shirts
(which I liked,by the way, even though they were white), bought a Goofy Challenge
hoodie, and a Goofy "I can't believe I did it" shirt (with the mileage
printed on the back followed by "WOW!") - had to wear that one to work
yesterday. Also got a couple of Goofy Challenge pins, but bypassed the
marathon and half pins this year (which breaks my set of pins for each
Disney race I've done, but you have to draw the line somewhere and $95 worth
of souvenirs was enough for one weekend). Then we skipped across to the 5K
area and got that adorable Chicken Little shirt.
It was very, very crowded, and we were rushing through to make our PS at the
Whispering Canyon Café for lunch, but we got it all done.
Lunch at the Whispering Canyon Café is never a quiet meal. The
"charm" of the Whispering Canyon is the whooping, hollering waiters and
waitresses who spend their time not only serving food and drink but playing
jokes on the patrons and orchestrating wild stick horse races and happy
birthday parades. The all-you-can-eat meal served at your table is also
great.
We left the Whispering Canyon and I went to the Friday Disney Deads encounter -
serendipitously meeting Dave and Eileen and their friends on the bus on the
way over.
After the encounter, I met my brother and sister-in-law at Disney MGM to
stroll through the Osborne Family lights. We were shocked that snow machines
were blasting "real" snow (not the soap bubbles we were accustomed to at the
Magic Kingdom) on the crowd as they strolled through the fantastic display.
We even got a bargain cup of steaming cocoa in a souvenir Disney MGM mug for
a mere $4. Got a souvenir photo with Pluto in antlers as well, then I headed
to All Star Music to pin on my half and 5K race numbers, lay out my race
clothes, put the half marathon chip on my shoe and get ready for the early
race start.
I have to say, I LOVED the weather. I am far too "well-insulated" to
tolerate much heat during a longish race, and I find between 35 and 65
degrees are the ideal temps for me to race and recover comfortably. I wore
throw-away clothes to the start and was quite comfortable as we listened to
the live band and saw photos of friends and family sporting their "Go
runner" signs on the huge projection screen in the waiting area.
We soon moved to the corrals and that's when my day soured. I was in corral
F (the last corral was H) and my brother was in C. Obviously I need to
reevaluate what I use as my projected finish time. It took me approximately
13 minutes to get to the start line from my corral, and I was panicked. I
spent the first 11 miles of the race weaving between folks who seemed to be
strolling along (and you all know how slow I am!), thinking the entire time
that I might be snatched up for exceeding the Goofy pace. Basically I
worried myself sick for nothing. I stopped for 2 photos, and vowed to leave
the camera at home for marathon day (because I was too time-conscious to
slow down for photos). I now have a new vow - I am going to lose more weight
and train to get faster so I can R-E-L-A-X and enjoy the photo ops that make
these Disney races so special to me.
Disney Dead Rick (the Rickster with the Mickster) slowed down to chat with
me for a moment or two in the Magic Kingdom. He was running easily and as
encouraging and charming as ever. I waved my arms frantically and chanted,
"Picture! Picture!" when I approached the photographers at the castle. (I
have terrible luck here -- Two Donalds and two Mickeys and not a single
decent race photo except the ones I've taken myself. Hopefully "three's the
charm" in this case! I'm dying to see the photos!)
I ended up with a half marathon PR, collected my Donald, got a great photo
with Daisy, Donald, and me in my medal, then finished my race day with a
very slow 5K and an adorable Chicken Little medal.
After that, we were off to shower and dine. My schedule (and I ALWAYS have a schedule
for Disney) called for an easy day with one yummy meal and my very first Grand
Floridian massage. We settled on the Rainforest Café where I had grilled
shrimp and veggies, then caught the very last performance of the Animal
Kingdom's Christmas parade (Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade) before going to
the GF Spa for our post-race massages.
I'd picked the "soothing tired legs treatment" (basically a relaxing foot
and leg massage) and sports massage. Turns out my "therapist" thought she
should modify the sports massage to make it a bit less invigorating than
usual so I wouldn't be sore the next day. As an ignorant consumer, all I can
say is that whatever she did felt GREAT and I left feeling not even slightly
sore - after a half-marathon PR! So I was very satisfied! I oozed into bed
after laying out my race clothes and fastening on my marathon chip. By 1
o'clock tomorrow it would be over, one way or the other, and I felt pretty
optimistic.
Déjà vu all over again at the marathon start, except this time I was in
corral C and the split start meant I was not behind a blockade of slower
folks. I was relaxed and felt pretty good until mile 7, then God got my
attention. Despite the fact that professing to be a Christian is no longer
politically correct, I have to interject that point here. While God has
blessed me with the Disney Deads and my wonderfully supportive family (who finances
my races and tolerates my training and obsessing), I confess I believe it is
only divine intervention that enabled a certain white-haired fat lady to get
out and finish this Goofy mission she started.
About mile 7, I felt completely washed out. I did not hurt at all, but I had
no energy and wondered how on earth I'd ever get off that stretch of
highway, much less to the end of the race. So I did what I've done all year
when I panic: I prayed. Almost instantly, a young woman passed me with a
sign pinned to her back that said, "Wendy" and a big smiley face and Edwin
Starr "shuffled" into play on my iPod belting out, "25 miles to go...
although my feet are tired, I can't lose my stride...." As one mile melted
into the next, I started picking up speed. Eileen D showed up and ushered me
up the last major overpass, chatting and bubbly, and by the time I reached
Dave and Eileen Lawrence at mile 24, I turned to Dave and said in amazement,
"I think I'm actually going to finish this thing and get a Goofy." He told
me I was awesome (and I told him he was too kind) and walked with me for a
few feet - I was pretty much in a blissful daze.
During the last two miles, I deliberately slowed down. When the folks lining
the course in EPCOT saw you were wearing a distinctive Goofy number, they
went nuts cheering - and I selfishly wanted to soak that up. I had started
this ridiculous endeavor in March, nearly 50 pounds heavier, had stupidly
injured my back trying to be like the "real runners," come back to pick up
my training schedule and show up at Disney despite work, parenting, holiday
gift making, budgeting challenges, and all those daily distractions every
marathoner faces. I wanted to hear these folks say, "Good job! Go get 'em,
Goof! You've got it in the bag now!" It was a very good day. Thanks, God.
My brother and sister-in-law and I finished off our trip with more great
meals, character photos, rides of the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, and Soarin',
and watching Cinderellabration. We wore our medals on Monday and Tuesday and
sent emails from Figment's What If Laboratory to everyone we could think of.
I left knowing in a couple of weeks I'd be back with my kids - and I LOVE
riding with my kids - for more Disney fun before settling into a long
stretch of workdays to pay for my Disney addiction. I can't wait until May
and my Minnie marathon visit with my daughter, Laurel, and for my scheduled
trip to Disneyland in September to do the half there.
Dreams really do come true, Walt.
