Okay, it’s official now. I have a streak: two Goofys in a row.
I have not been posting very often the past couple of months because of my expanded family responsibilities that have resulted from my dad’s stroke (he’s still in rehab), my mom’s surgery, and my mother-in-law’s stay in intensive care (twice in the past month). Add that to all the normal tech-writer and mom duties (especially during the holidays), and my training has been limited (that’s a euphemism for “I haven’t walked since the Kiawah marathon in early December”). Sort of a severe taper.
As usual, my husband refused to listen to my protestations of how impossible these races would be for me to complete, and put me on the plane Thursday anyway. I will leave all the details on the courses to those that do them best, but I will share my two favorite moments from each race. I loved that during the 5K they had the Osborne Family Lights lit – and that it was still overcast enough that I could enjoy them (with the Christmas music) during the race. I also adored the little duel-themed plastic medal (with a pirate motif on one side and a princess motif on the other).
The 5K confirmed that the heat and humidity would make this weekend’s “races” even less racey than usual for me, but I still had two events to go. My favorite moments during the half marathon: A rainbow popped up over the Magic Kingdom just as I entered it – a perfect, if pale, arch was visible and it appeared to end just behind Space Mountain – it was too cool! The CM at the entrance to MK who overheard me talking about it with a fellow walker said “Oh yeah, we did that just for you to make this more magical.” (I actually think God may have assisted just a little bit.) My second favorite moment was that the choir (the one that is always singing just before the finish) was performing “We’re All in This Together” from my daughters’ absolute favorite movie (well, favorite this month – they are teens and the winds shift rather quickly here at home!) “High School Musical.”
With the half behind me, I faced the full marathon with more than usual fear-and-trepidation, but once again cooler heads than mine prevailed and helped save the race for me. The first was my oldest brother, who recommended I carry my Camelbak Flashflo filled with ice so I’d have some cool water during the day. I stubbornly refused and launched into a lengthy discourse on how heavy it would seem over such a long distance, and how awkward it was, and how the straps would likely chafe with all the sweating I’d be doing (yada, yada, yada) but I woke up at 11:30PM with a nagging notion that maybe I should carry it… just in case. I got up and transferred all my junk from my little neoprene bag into the Camelbak – and, when water tables began to turn up empty around mile 17, made a note to myself to thank my brother (and God, who may have assisted just a little bit).
The second (and third) cooler heads were fellow Disney Dead Robert (disneyrunning.com web master) and his wife, who not only showed me where the shortest port-a-potty lines were pre-race, but also kept me from running myself into the ground during the first 5 miles. Panic nearly always overtakes me when the race starts and it seems as though everyone in the field is going to leave me in the dust, but I stuck with Robert and his wife, who actually know how to use their Garmins, and could reassure me that our pace would take us to the finish line within the Goofy time limit. When we were separated momentarily by a group of TNTers, I felt confident enough to pick up my pace and continue on my own during the remainder of the cooler hours of the morning, but I wanted to thank them for helping make this year’s marathon far less stressful for me than the previous Goofy was. THANKS! I even stopped to take some photos during the marathon, and my aspiration next year is to be far enough ahead of the time limit that I can stop to take my photo with the MGM characters (I’m always too scared of the cutoff to stop there, though I always want to).
As usual, seeing the Deads I swap notes with all year is great fun – Bart, Stan and Sheila, and Charles Wait -- and those that don’t post as often but that I count among my running friends, like Eileen and Ellen Druckenmiller. I saw Eileen Lawrence briefly (missed Dave this year!) during the half, and I’m pretty sure I was standing right behind Vicki Merry and her family in the 5K, but I don’t think she recognized me in my pirate gear (and I wasn’t absolutely certain it was her either). I said “hi” to Tom and Colleen, and I meant to tell them I’m hoping to re-visit the Pig for it’s 10th anniversary in 2008, so I hope he’ll keep us apprised. There were others there I should have visited with. Time is always too short – especially because I try to catch up with my brother and SIL during the marathon trip as well – but any time I spend in the company of the Deads is always time well spent.
Well, that’s my very long non-report. I’m anxiously awaiting the details from other Deads. I did sign up for next year’s Goofy. After all, I’ve got to keep this streak going, right?
Wendy
I finished within the official time limit for both races and got my second Goofy, and believe me, with all the training I missed over the past couple of months because of my parent’s and MIL’s serious health issues, combined with the unfavorable (for me) temps on race day, that was an ambitious enough goal!
I’ve already signed up for next year’s Goofy and will put my 5K race app in the mail today (those online fees kill me, especially on top of the already astronomical Disney entry charges).
Here’re a few highlights from the weekend (in no particular order):
- First, to all the scream teamers who cheered me -- an unknown WISHer -- absolutely everywhere on the course- THANK YOU! I felt like a celebrity! You are soooo awesome! I love this group!!!!!
- The 5K this year was run thru Disney MGM and they included the Osborne Family Lights in the run – fabulous to see the lights and enjoy the Christmas music. For me, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.
- The 5K medal was absolutely the best -- dual-themed with a pirate motif on one side and a princess motif on the other.
- During the half marathon a rainbow popped up over the Magic Kingdom just as I entered it – a perfect, if pale, arch was visible and it appeared to end just behind Space Mountain – it was too cool!
- The choir (that is always singing just before the finish) was performing “We’re All in This Together” from my daughters’ absolute favorite movie “High School Musical.” Almost as though my girls’ best wishes were there, even though my family couldn’t join me this year.
- Robert (from Disneyrunning.com) and his wife shepherded me through the first 5 miles or so of the marathon (for which I am very grateful) and helped me keep from running myself into the ground during the early part of the race. Starting slower made the race seem quite doable early on, and that bit of confidence carried me through the finish. I even had time to stop and take pictures with the characters, which is the primary selling point of the Disney races for me.
- I also thanked my older brother (and God) for nagging me to wear my Camelbak Flashflo during the marathon. I hate carrying anything other than a camera and some emergency supplies (like a cell phone and a bit of cash), but at my brother’s suggestion I wore my Camelbak filled with ice. Drinking cool water for miles (especially after the water tables ran out) probably made the difference between simply a hot race day and a disastrous one for me on Sunday. I even drank often between water stops. (I just do not do well in the heat.)
- My favorite part of the marathon was riding back on the bus next to a lady who had just completed her first marathon. We shared our very similar experiences of trusting God to get us through, and the various running “angels” on the course that we’d met who had made our race experience seem as spiritually meaningful to us as spending the Sunday in church. We were both laughing and crying at how we ended up seated together sharing our race day miracles.
- The Illuminations Dessert buffet that Rhonda Hare organized was fabulous! I never did get to meet all the WISHers there because I had to rush to leave. (I had an early flight and still hadn't packed.) I can't wait for our next get together. What an awesome, caring, supportive, generous bunch of folks!
I'll add a few photos later, but gotta get ready for work now. Can’t wait to read everyone’s posts!
