Another WDW trip is over, :^( , two more "race" events completed. This will
be long, so I'll break it up into segments. Feel free to delete now if you
want..................
Day 1:
The trip down was rather uneventful and enjoyable, except for a NASTY
thunder (and lightning) storm in lower Michigan, and a tricky tailgate
window on my Blazer that wouldn't stay latched (popped open in Florida, and
despite DH's mechanical talents -- and he's an auto tech --we had to resort
to DUCT TAPING IT CLOSED!!.........all we needed was a mattress and rocking
chair roped to the top of the car and we'd have looked like we felt!!!LOL!!
Sheesh!)
The weather was sunny and warm wonderful in Florida, but for heat
challenged me was a tad too warm in the afternoons.........low to mid 90's.
We chuckled at the obviously native Floridians in their sweatshirts and
heavy jackets in the evening temperatures of 68, while we were comfortable
in shorts and short sleeved shirts -- obvious snow birds us! I'm sure more
than one native giggled or shook their heads at us too! LOL!
The Komen 5K on Saturday October 7, in my opinion, had easily twice the
number of participants as last year. A castmember told me she heard on tv
there were 5000 participants! I kept looking for a news article about it,
but never found one.
The course starts and finishes in the Peacock parking lot of Animal Kingdom.
It's basically an out and back...........out to Conservation Station on
some service roads, and through parts of the park on the way out and on the
way back. The course is quite narrow, narrower in some parts than others,
which made me glad I was walking it with my husband and not trying to run it
The "competitive" run started about 10 minutes ahead of the run/walk group
DH is not a runner, or for that matter a walker, but he enjoyed it anyway.
He kept telling me he could run this..............so I challenged him to
run the last mile. Fearing I might kill the 65 year old couch potato, I
waited until just a couple hundred yards from the finish to put him into
action. He accomplished it ok. We finished with a 50:31 time (my watch),
which is (I figure) a pretty respectable time for a waddler and a couch
potato walking in a crowd. I was glad I wasn't trying to run it in that
crowd!
We both got "medals"............Komen 10th Anniversary Central Florida pins
attached to a card about 4x4", pinned to a pink ribbon. I liked the medals
from last year better, but I can wear the pin more than I would wear a medal
LOL. Photos will be available, but not online yet. Shirts with the Susan
Komen "logo" were distributed at registration with the packets.
Goomies were VERY plentiful at the finish..........Yoplait is a sponsor, so
there was lots of yogurt -- Light and Fit, Smoothie drinks, whipped
varieties, and there was bottled water, bottled juice (Sun Shower -
nectarine mango juice), bananas, orange wedges, Sun Chips, Panera bread and
bagels, and probably others that I don't remember now. Before the start, I
picked up several free packages of Success Rice. Afterwards, I picked up a
nice navy blue (with a pink ribbon screen printed on) mesh "backpack" sort
of bag that was given out by Southern Ford Dealers (despite DH's aversion to
Ford -- he's a GM auto tech, don't flame me now!), a pink
bandana/handkerchief from Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, and bought (for
$1) pink shoelaces.
I love this race. It's inspirational and satisfying. It's not too long,
not too short, and has all the fixin's of a "race", you can do it at any
pace and no one is whining about the back of the packers taking a long time
to finish! Finishing is what this race is about........not finishing first,
just finishing. There are MANY signs worn on the backs of runners/walkers
honoring or remembering loved ones. Survivors wear pink shirts, and it's
wonderful that they are out there working their way to health. Sometimes it
s heartwrenching, but for the most part people are very happy and proud just
to be there. It's less competitive than most "races" I've been in, and it's
great to see people just out enjoying themselves and others for a very
worthy cause. I will do more of these!
After getting back to our resort, showering, and waiting for DS and family
to arrive (they were doing the Race for the Taste with me the next day), we
headed out for lunch at ESPN Club............always a fun treat. Grandson's
reaction to the restrooms was classic! LOL! (if you haven't been there,
check it out next time.........I don't want to spoil it for you, so I'll
remain silent about this.......) Then to DTD for some birthday shopping for
granddaughter who turned 8 that week. We spoiled the grandkids...........a
treat for us, since we don't get to see them that often. Then a light ..
very light.....dinner and off to bed early to be ready for tomorrow's Race
for the Taste.
Day 2: Race for the Taste 10K
