First, the photo links (because pictures say it all, really):
My photos: http://tinyurl.com/f87hb
My 14-yr-old daughter's photos:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BYtWjdy3aPBg
OK, now the report... I'm a member of this group as well as the Disney
Deads email group, and had the great privilege of being chauffeured
around by Disney Dead Kris Kozuch this weekend. Because my daughter
and I flew down Friday after she got out of school and planned to fly
back Sunday night (more about that later), we knew it would be a
brief, no-rental-car trip. Kris rescued us and drove us to the expo
and to the start of both races (no Disney transportation for an event
this small), which made logistics a breeze for us. I can't say enough
about the generousity of the folks you meet on these lists!
So, Laurel and I get to our hotel about 11 PM on Friday, get to bed at
midnight, and are up at 4:30 AM and catching a ride with Kris to the
5K at 5 AM. She volunteered for the race and did a great job as a
course monitor (and cheering us on). The 5K was nice -- the announcer
kept saying "It's all about the women this weekend" and even the music
at the start was "by and for women." The race wound through Downtown
Disney and around the golf course -- very pretty, but Kris pointed out
that "real runners" probably wouldn't like the narrowness of the
course and the sharp turns. I was just out to have fun with my
daughter, so it suited me just fine. We finished right around 40
minutes and I am happy to say the heat was not a factor for us at all.
It actually seemed quite pleasant there all weekend, though the noon-
3PM time of day was a bit oppressive for this very round Penguin.
Kris gave us a ride to the expo to pick up my 15K packet, then it was
off to our lunch reservation at the castle. We had a lovely lunch with
the Disney princesses at Cinderella's Royal Table and got the best
seat in the house: a table for two overlooking Cindy's carousel. The
park was crowded (a normal summer Saturday, I guess, and we are
spoiled by our off-season expectations) so although we were there 5
hours, we only managed to do Philharmagic, lunch, and a little
shopping before returning to our room for a quick nap. (Louise, we did
manage to squeeze in a Dole Whip float and two fresh pineapple spears!)
After a quick nap in our room, which (again) was one of the best we've
ever had -- a room on the back side of the Calypso building at All
Star Music and only a minute's walk from the food court and bus stop --
we were off to eat at House of Blues, then do all our obligatory
shopping for the folks back home. (We actually carry a list --
something for Dad, brother, sister, Taylor [who is having a
birthday]...). Back to bed at midnight, then up again at 4:30 AM to
meet Kris at 5:00 to go to the 15K start.
Like the 5K, the music there is themed "for and by women" and they
promise DJs on the course (a nice surprise). Another nice surprise
small fireworks at the start and a few characters on the course (and I
had my camera ready, naturally!). The course is the last part of the
marathon course, through Disney MGM then (as one runner
said) "sidewalk, Boardwalk, EPCOT, and you're done!") I finished in
2:07. Not stellar, but again, well within the time limit.
Our adventure didn't end there, though. Laurel and I were on an
overbooked flight Sunday night, so we volunteered to stay over until
the early morning flight out Monday. The layover worked out pretty
well - she got to school about an hour-and-a-half late in exchange for
an overnight in a very nice hotel (that Southwest paid for) and for a
total of $615 in flight vouchers. Now maybe the whole family can fly
somewhere together this year. Of course that meant another 4:30 AM
wakeup call, so I'm just getting out of my sleep deprived state today.
I came home with two gorgeous medals and some wonderful memories of a
weekend with my all-but-grown-up daughter. Very satisfactory!
