Day 2:
After a restless night, the alarm went off at 5 am again and we were both up
and getting ready for another full day.
After figuring out the "who's car should we take and leave there, who's car
should go to EPCOT, etc, details of getting there and getting back, we were
off to the Sports Center for the Race for the Taste start. I was anxious
for the Penguin encounter we had tentatively set up.
Unfortunately, it didn't work out...........no one was there when I got
there (late), so I assumed I had missed everyone. Turns out there was more
than one registration area (apparently), so maybe I was just at the wrong
one. It was set up very differently than I remember last year. So, off I
went to try to re-connect with my son and daughter-in-law who were also
running. I didn't find them either. But just before the start, I thought I
recognized Penguin Wendy, so I introduced myself (sort of) and sure enough
it was THE Penguin Wendy! LOL! We chatted a bit, and then we were off and
waddling. So it was a Penguin encounter after all, albiet a small one......
...I'm sorry I missed the others!!! Maybe next time!
It was still dark at the start, but the sunrise more than made up for the
early start. It was beautiful, and it felt great to be out and about and be
able to see it. The morning temperature wasn't even bad.........after last
year, anything would be better!!! I had worried unnecessarily.
The event closed at a max of 2500 entrants, and it was real evident there
were many less than at the Komen. Still, the start was crowded, and having
placed myself properly at the back of the pack it took several minutes to
cross the mat. Wendy immediately left me in her dust! LOL! I kept her in
sight thru the first 3 miles, almost catching her at 3, then she blasted out
of sight. Go Wendy!
Disney always does a good job with these events, this was no less. There
were adequate water stops (altho I missed PowerAde or Gator Ade and I ended
up taking a Gu at 3 miles). I threw away my own water bottle at 4 miles (I
always carry my own, just in case --- at the bop, you never know!). There
was music, cast member support (applause, applause, cheering), big screen tv
(you can see yourself waddling), several photographers (my photos can be
found at http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=11086&BIB=280
They're not awesome, but not so ghastly either), good control from Disney.
The race itself: I didn't have race anxiety/panic at the start this year
like last year (thank goodness!!!) I kept to my plan for the most part, but
ended up walking most of the last mile with another lady from the Orlando
area who was struggling a little. My finish time reflects this, but I wasn
t out for a spectacular finish time - still, I beat last year's time by
almost 6 minutes. I just wanted to enjoy my time in the park (EPCOT). We
started at WWoS, down Victory Way to Osceola Parkway, onto World Drive, into
MGM (the back way), past the new MGM car show area, up New York Avenue (I
think), under the big blue Sorcerer hat, down the street to the entrance of
MGM, along the north side of the parking lot to the river, along the river
to the Boardwalk area (along the river is my most favorite part of the
course, it's so peaceful, beautiful, and quiet), around the lake past Yacht
and Beach Club, into EPCOT via the UK cast member area, over the
International Bridge towards France, past France/American
Adventure/Germany/Norway/China/Mexico/ into Future World, past Spaceship
Earth, and to the finish at the parking lot, where family was waiting with
cameras and encouragement. I ran to the finish.......... :^) What a treat
to run thru the parks when there aren't a ton of guests....................
gotta love it.
My time was 1:28:44, for a 14:16 per mile average...(last year: 1:34:10;
15:09 -- but I RAN the Komen last year the day before at a 13 pace, this
year I walked it, and I walked MUCH more of the RftT last year, it was so
hot and humid!).......slower than I had hoped, but about the same as I do
here in my "training runs", but longer than I've done in "races" recently (I
ve been doing mid 13's). But then I worked harder in the "races" here
lately too, and I did walk most of the last mile. This "race" was for the
pleasure of being at WDW. I am unashamedly in love with WDW. Son's time
was 55:35, DIL 1:00:30 (she's doing the New York City marathon next month!).
At the finish, there was Race for the Taste food............if you wanted to
stand in line...........we didn't. We tried the blackberry crisp (or what
ever it was --- we didn't care for it).............got a can of lemonade....
....then skipped the remaining 2 food stations (I believe they were salmon
and salad). At the race finish line there was bottled water, orange wedges,
bananas, and bagels..............maybe more, don't remember. We had an
early lunch reservation so we didn't stick around long. The medals are
typical Disney........thick, large, gold...........a chef's hat with spoon,
fork, and knife dangling from the bottom. Cute, and a prized possession now.
At registration, they gave out soft sided insulated lunch bags, with water
bottles in a mesh pocket on the side...........both with the Race for the
Taste logo on them (handy!....last year they had aprons). There were shirts
if you wanted to BUY one. Who needs another shirt? I didn't. But I did
buy (at the very minimal weak"expo") a Minnie, dressed in pink, to
commemorate the Komen race. My kids think I'm nuts. I just love WDW.
We headed back to WWoS to pick up the car, then back to CBR for showers. We
hung out for a while, letting the grandkids get some pool time as rewards
for being patient, having to wait so long for us to run --- they had to get
up early too, Grandpa had taken them to EPCOT to see us finish. Then we
headed out to Wilderness Lodge where we had lunch reservations. If you
haven't been there, GO!! It is an absolute HOOT!!! Whispering Canyon Cafe
is ANYTHING BUT WHISPERING! We adults had the skillet lunch (all you can
eat..........had chicken, sausage, bbq ribs, pulled pork, beans, corn on the
cob, Yukon mashed potatoes.........and we ATE!). It was superb. The wait
staff is a riot! They made the men in the dining room line up around the
room and do the "wave". Then they had to sing "I'm A Little Teapot".
Since we had a birthday girl, they made her family (all 5 of the rest of
us) get up and ride stick ponies around the dining room singing Happy
Birthday while she watched. What a scream! Can you just imagine Grandma
and Grandpa, Mom and Dad riding stick ponies around the dining room making
complete idiots of themselves and enjoying every minute of it??? LOL!!!
There were many other shenanigans going on...........you just have to go
there and experience it for yourself. We had a blast. And I was pleasantly
surprised at the bill...............for the 6 of us, alcohol included (just
a couple of beers and a glass of wine) came to just over $100. I expected
it to be more. We all felt like we wouldn't have to eat until at least noon
tomorrow...........!!! Who needs the dining plan??? If you haven't gone
there, do it!
The kids had to leave Sunday afternoon..........so we crashed early (took in
the Nascar race on TV that night -- darned that Brian Vickers!!!). Monday
morning we were off to our one and only day in the theme parks..........and
we picked my favorite: EPCOT. We entered the park at 9:30 AM, and left at
9:30 PM. The Wine and Food Festival was in full swing and it was quite
crowded, altho lines to attractions were generally only 10-15 minutes. We
didn't do anything SPECIAL, it was special just to be there. We did sample
the cheese soup and beer from the Canada booth.........yum........have to
find that recipe, I think it's online somewhere! We took in all our
favorite attractions and movies, with the exception of Test Track. By the
time we got there the fast passes were gone and there was a 90 minute stand
by wait. Uh, no, not today. DH had not done Soarin' before, so we did that
first thing. It's awesome. We did just about every other show/attraction
there is. We enjoyed The Voices of Liberty at the American Adventure (NEVER
miss them!), but wondered what happened to British Invasion that we always
make a point to see (not even listed on the events page this time, and the
gazebo was all locked up tight). We stayed for Illuminations, and enjoyed
it immensely. These are awesome fireworks. It was a long day, but it
passed by all too quickly.
Tuesday morning, we packed up and checked out . I'm homesick
for the place already, and already planning the next trip. The ride home
was uneventful, just long ........ Almost 1500 mile drive (10 hours the
first day, 15 the second). Somehow, going home always seems longer than
leaving for vacation ........ We ran into torrential rains in Michigan
again........just as it was when we left!!!! And, waking up on Thursday
morning at home, SNOW!!! Argh!!! I like snow, but this is not pretty snow,
and it's way too early for it. I have one more "race" I've registered for..
.........the 5.7 mile at the Great Turtle on Mackinac Island next Saturday.
I hope we aren't running in snow!!!
If you got through all of this, you deserve a medal! LOL!! You can tell I
enjoyed the trip??
Hope to see you next year..............I hope to be there next year.........
....I'm working on being there for the marathon or half 2008, the Komen and
the RftT will be a toss up...........
Day 1: Komen 5K
