Friday of Disney Marathon Weekend

We make it to the Expo on Friday afternoon to pick up my stuff. Because I'm doing Goofy, I get to go to the front of the line. Getting to go past the ginormous line might be worth doing Goofy. (For reference, there were over 12,000 people in the half; 18,000 people in the full- only 3,000 in the Goofy, so I just walked right up to the Goofy tables).

I get my packets and go downstairs to pick up my "free" T-shirts. Exactly why did Disney think grey was a good color? The actual design is very cute, but the grey is kind of dingy. Oh well, there's plenty of other stuff to buy! I drop the family off at the Sharpie stand to make a poster. In a burst of power shopping, I pick up 2 t-shirts, a frame, a pin, a Goofy stuffed animal, and a keychain in about 5 minutes. Really. I'm that good. I find my peeps and we head to the hotel.

My mother wanted to come to the Marathon as well- she said she wanted to see me run a marathon, and I told her this could be her only chance! So she and a friend, Betsy, stayed in another room in our hotel. Ted and Emma go out for a sushi dinner date. Emma, my mom, Betsy, and Harry and I wander down to the Boardwalk. I know I can't deal with Harry in a restaurant (especially after a 4 hour drive). I'm a bit neurotic because you are supposed to eat something you are used to before you run- as in make no changes. We end up with a plain cheese pizza that we eat at a table outside. Have I ever run the day after eating pizza?! Well, no, but I have eaten a lot of pizza in my life so I feel reasonably safe.

We go to our respective rooms. I spend at least an hour compulsively organizing my stuff. I have to pin my race number on, put my chip on my shoe, pack my bag I'd pick up after the race, and just generally pace around, all while watching What Not to Wear. Finally, around 10:30 p.m., after setting my phone alarm and a wake up call, I drift off with the knowledge that there's going to be a lot of beeping in my room at 3:05 a.m...

Waiting for the Half Marathon start

Good news! I really didn't have to worry about over-sleeping. I wake up so pleased with my internal clock- it's 2:45 a.m. Perfect! Then I blink a few times and see the 1 in front of the 2. Great, it's just after midnight. I've been asleep maybe two hours. I doze on and off for the next hour. I spend my waking moments staring at the glowing lights in the room- thermostat, smoke detector, and my favorite, powerstrip under the desk. I give up at 2:30 a.m. and take a shower. Could my eyes be more bloodshot?! The first bus is at 3:00- maybe I can nap in the parking lot.

I get dressed, put on all my accessories (Garmin watch, iPod holder, stupid water belt thingy, etc). I add my "throw away" sweats in case it's cold outside. I grab my plastic "post-half" bag, my water belt, my extra bottle of water, the towel I'm going to sit on, and a sandwich. Why yes, I do travel light.

I go downstairs to the lobby. The only people I see are by a bus outside. I guess that must be for us and hop on. The driver takes maybe 8 of us straight to the parking lot. We get off the bus, and walk pretty much forever to get to the staging area. It's basically empty. Trying to adjust to actually being early to something in my life, I wander over to the concessions stand. I grab a Diet Coke. I have to say, as people start arriving, I notice that not many other people found it appropriate to drink a Diet Coke at 4 a.m. Alright, actually no one else is drinking a Diet Coke. Did I mention I'm drinking my Diet Coke in front of a big screen TV thing and there is a DJ playing Duran Duran, Van Halen and Aha videos? No napping in this parking lot, just vague memories of junior high.

I'm getting a little anxious now. I'm annoyed that I have all this stuff with me, and people are starting to gather in little groups. Keeping with the junior high feel, there are people sitting in circles. Very lunchroom. I wander through the baggage check-in area, and find a whole other section, blissfully less loud than the 80s revival in the front. And look! There in day glow yellow is my WISH team! So, I get to join a circle too- I feel much more secure. We all chat a bit and I drop off my bag. I feel a bit silly in my sweats, but at least the asphalt isn't bothering me. I eventually drift off from the WISHers to go into a portapotty line. When I return, I realize that my corral is heading out. I join the herd. They put you in corrals based on your estimated finishing time. I go find Corral C and sit down again. Man, I can't find any WISHers! Oh well, I kill some time dumping my sweats and towel in the big box that Disney gives to charity. Then I wait some more.

Oh, and some flamingos provide some distraction, as you might imagine.



Mickey, Minnie and Donald come out (I can see them on the screens, not in real life). Someone sings the National Anthem, the fireworks go off, and we're running. OK, walking slowly towards the Start sign...

Finally, the Half Marathon starts (really!)

Anthem sung, fireworks off, we're headed to the start! I'm not that nervous. Anything is better than waiting around.

Remember it's 6:10 or so. It's dark outside. We're running down closed roads. There is enough light to see, but it's still strange. There are people everywhere. Some people are going slower off to the right; some are slowing down on the far left; and there's a lot of weaving in the middle. Oh, and a lot of weaving in the grass on either side. Some people do a run/walk plan- they run for say 4 minutes and walk for about 1 minute. Not a problem- probably a good idea really- but they seem to want to start the walking portion directly in front of me. What's up with that?! Didn't really matter; I just didn't want to plow into someone. If I wanted to run fast, I wouldn't be at Disney and I certainly wouldn't be going Goofy!

I have my iPod strapped on my arm, but never put in the headphones. (I just let them dangle so they could get trapped under my bib when I least expected it- annoying!) There are bands or DJs or whatever all over the place; there's a guy playing air guitar; there's a running club that is dancing around with loud music and some sort of penguin theme. There is so much to see.

Here's the first mile marker-



That's pretty much what they all look like. Well, they're all a little different. One's the Screamer, one's American Gothic, etc. Hello- I just realized they were playing the moon landing tapes at mile 1- see the sign? D'Oh!

Here's the Screamer.



Here's a section where you got to decide on your music.



I went disco, of course.

I see the entrance to the Magic Kingdom and get all excited. Psyche! We're running down a different way. I never drive at Disney and I really don't pay attention on the buses, so I'm kind of clueless as to what's happening. Whatever, I can sense the Magic Kingdom coming up! Wait- here's the Ticket and Transportation Center- spectators everywhere! It's total sensory overload- people are screaming, waving signs, ringing cowbells. My bib has my first name on it, so some sharp-eyed spectators are screaming my name. And, I see WISHers! I'm screaming now too and waving like an idiot! Seriously, this is ridiculously cool. I can feel a huge cheesy grin on my face- there's a hill somewhere along the way, but I don't care, because I'm running at Disney and I don't want it to ever end.

Here's a fuzzy spectator picture (and they were more excited than they look here!)



I look up and realize we've entered a backstage area. (Talk about non-magical- the backside of these wonderful buildings are warehouses.) There's an open gate... there's lights... there's Disney people with big Mickey gloves... tons of screaming and spectators... MAIN STREET, BABY! As if the Ticket and Transportation Center wasn't crazy enough, Main Street is loaded with screaming people including WISHers. My running is effortless now. It's absolutely overwhelming.







We turn towards Tomorrowland. I come to a screetching halt- Chip and Dale are here! I have to jump in line to get a picture.



I take off again, big cheesy grin permanently affixed. We pass the TeaCups, which are spinning, and there's Alice and friends. D'Oh! Stop again- who cares about setting a personal record!? I'm in the Magic Kingdom!



Now this is just getting out of control- Piglet!



The Carousel is spinning, Dumbos are flying...

Now I'm headed to the Castle. Ariel, Prince Eric, the Fairy Godmother, and two trumpeteers are on the balcony. I'm about 20 feet away when the trumpets start blaring above us- runners are cheering!



We head through the castle- photographers are on the down ramp. Some doofus cuts me off. Oh well, there's other photographers- maybe there's a decent picture out there. We run all the way down the ramp and go towards Liberty Square and Frontierland.

Ever seen where the parade starts by Splash Mountain? We go into the backstage area through the parade entrance. Whoa- back up, need a picture of the train for Harry, Mr. Choo Choo.



I don't see the floats like people have talked about in the past. But, there's a big ship full of pirates. I wait in a pretty long line. Who cares?!



There's another water stop before we leave the Magic Kingdom and then it's back to roads. Kind of a boring stretch, and a tight squeeze. There are some signs that are clever. Can I remember any of them? Nope. Wait, here's one- "clones are people too." Hey penguins! (from Mary Poppins- that took me awhile!)



Hmmm... a litle boring now, let's turn to runner watching. These guys do not disappoint- Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, and Captain Hook. The man facing them was just asking Tinkerbell how he got the short end of the deal!



We run towards Epcot. There are more spectators and WISHers to help break up this stretch. I can see Spaceship Earth in the distance. We run into Epcot, head towards the World Showcase, and then turn back towards Spaceship Earth. Spectators are out again- love these people! We head through a cast entrance.



Hey- there's the gospel choir. Very cool.



I'm running past the choir and can hear cheering- there's the finish line! I high five Chip (or maybe it was Dale). I cross the finish- I forget to hold my arms up in the air- maybe the photographer got me with Chip (or Dale, whatever).



I stagger over to the volunteer taking off chips, get my medal, get a blueberry muffin, and head to the Goofy tent. My orange arm band is changed for a blue one showing I completed the half. On a whim, I get a massage. Hurts so good! I chat with a few WISHers, ask my friend Angie to point me towards Epcot and my hotel, and start the long walk back dragging my bag of useless stuff. I'm wearing my medal, of course. People are congratulating me as I'm walking. How fun.

I look at my phone messages- my chip time was 2:13:xx. I forgot to look at the clock when I crossed the line. That's much faster than I intended to go, and may hurt me for the full marathon, but oh well- it was sooo fun.

After cheering some along the way through Epcot, I make it to the room and take a short ice bath. My mother and her friend took Emma to MGM (Hollywood Studios!) that morning, so she's having fun on the rides. Ted and I walk around the World Showcase a few times with Harry. I'm really happy about the Donald, but worried about the next day. I get another pizza that night. At about 8 p.m., I get in bed. The getting ready routine doesn't take as long, since I did the same thing the night before. I'm a little sore, but nothing too bad. On the positive side, as opposed to getting no sleep before the half, I pass out that night.

Here we are with Donald.




Regrets: very few. I didn't use anything in my checked bag, and it was really heavy to drag back. I hated my water belt- the water stops were very organized- Powerade in blue cups in the first tables, water in white cups towards the back.

Here's my last picture. This would be the view of someone almost passed out on a ledge below Spaceship Earth while waiting for their family to get off the ride...just saying.



Tomorrow the full!

The full marathon! Part two of Goofy--

The wake up call comes at 3:00 a.m. Are you kidding me? I'm so tired I just beat on whatever it is making that horrible noise. Then the realization hits me- time to get ready to run a marathon. What was I thinking?!

Same basic routine as the day before. My eyes are beady and bloodshot, even after a shower. I eat a PB and honey sandwich. I get most of it down, but let's just say, it doesn't stay down. Great. So my nutrition plan is not going well.

I gather my ridiculous amount of stuff and go find a bus. Hmmm... there are two different types of people on the bus: those who can't stop the nervous chatter, and those silently glaring at the chatty ones. I'm pretty sure I know which group is doing the Goofy! One woman gets on the bus and starts yelling at the driver as she's boarding that "a lot of us are nauseous and we need air conditioning!" I find this incredibly irritating- who is she to be yelling at my driver, who is up for a second day in a row (I know because he drove me both days)?! And how dare she speak for all of us?! Uh oh, I think I'm approaching the BMZ (Bite Me Zone) and I'm not even running yet.

I get to the staging area after the long deja vu hike from the bus. It's hot and it's HUMID. Perfect. I find out later it's 100% humidity. I can't find WISHers- since when have all these other people started wearing shirts in our color? That's totally unacceptable. Hmmm... me thinks it's time to stop everything and buy my now customary 4 a.m. Diet Coke. Then I can begin a proper WISH search, preferably far away from the blaring 80s videos.

I find one WISHer- ok, that's better. Another leads us to the rest of our clan. Ah, security at last. The Goofy people are looking pretty strong. Tired, a bit sore, but basically ok. My friend Helen is eating her cereal again- who has the presence of mind to pack cereal, milk, a plastic bowl, and a spoon? She did it two days in a row- I'm so impressed. I drink my Diet Coke.

All is well for about ten minutes- then the Disney people open up a path to the corrals. Great, we're sitting in the path. We all scatter. I walk with Lily towards the corrals. As we chat, I'm feeling better. A woman is walking with us talking about how she wants to move from Corral B to Corral A with the fast people. Of course I hate her. It's not a rational thought, I'm just in that kind of mood. Lily on the other hand is totally patient and chats with her. By the end, I kind of like the woman- she's just nervous like the rest of us. So thank you Lily for humanizing the speedy woman!

I'm sitting there watching the TV screens and trying to understand what force in the universe always leads me to a blaring speaker, when my friend Becky appears. Oh good! Becky is another Goofy WISHer. She and I have seen each other at the Minnie and Tower of Terror races. We laugh because she can't sit- she's wearing her running skirt and doesn't want it to snag. I take off my throw away sweats and we sit on them and wait... for about 1 minute before we are forced to move. I dump the sweats and we stand together waiting.

Becky, you owe me, because this is cute of you and not of me.



The announcer counts down from 15 instead of 10 (in honor of the 15th anniversary), the National Anthem is sung, there's fireworks, yada yada. I'm really tired. We finally meander across the start line. Becky thinks I'm going to be fast so she sends me off. Ironic since I really am not in a running mood. I remember asking her if my left leg should already hurt...





I weave through people for the first mile. Same mile marker as yesterday. Miles 2 and 3 are just more weaving. It's so humid. Yesterday was much better. My left IT band is officially hurting. I ran with a hurt IT band once in training- within 2 miles it went from a dull pain to absolute daggers. I'm a little concerned that I have something like a million miles to go.

So, here's a picture of mile 1. Yep, looks just like mile 1 from yesterday. So do the people I'm weaving through. I'm a wee bit bored. The novelty is gone.



We're heading towards Epcot. Hey- I pass some WISHers! Sometimes I remember to take pictures, sometimes I don't. I try to wave to all of them.

Here's Wendy, our WISHer who seems to be racing at least 2 days out of every week. Seriously, the woman never stops moving! She posted that she drank a Diet Coke while on the course. My hero.



And here's Helen, our Australian cereal-eating WISHer.



Look- the flamingos are back. Deja vu! They're looking a little rough too. One guy seems to have lost some feathers...



Here comes Epcot.



We're in Epcot, heading towards China. Somehow I've missed the first three water stops. Yesterday I had a Powerade and water at almost every water stop so I'm panicking that my hydration strategy is going downhill (along with my time). Oh, and would you believe I'm getting hungry?

I stop and take a picture with Mulan. I'm wearing my fancy new hat I bought in Germany (in Epcot).



I'm still hot, my leg still hurts, and now I'm hungry and thirsty. I'm having an attitudinal problem. Then it happens- spectators! Look at the bright WISHer. Now I'm feeling better! I wave like crazy.



An overpass- people to watch! I'm looking over the bridge for WISHers! Things are perking up.



It's blurry, but look at how reflective we runners are.



Now we are where the runners go under the overpass. I'm studying the bridge like crazy. Yes! I see a WISHer! We wave and take pictures. (Why didn't I stop to focus my camera?!)



Here's right past a water stop. Check out all the cups everywhere.



Oh look, here comes Magic Kingdom. Guess what, not really. I'm not amused. I did this yesterday, thank you very much, so I know the Magic Kingdom is really not that close. I hear two girls from Team in Training talking about beating Katie Holmes' time. Seeing that I've just passed them and I'm moving incredibly slow, I'm thinking it's not going to happen for them today. I keep it to myself- if delusions of beating Katie get them to the finish line, more power to them.



Somewhere in this horrible leg-hurting stretch I meet Cecilia. She's another WISHer, but she's running as a mentor for Team in Training. She sees my shirt and we start talking. She has two girls with her. They both have on leg straps. Are these girls tough or what?! I only realized I was injured when I started the race; these girls knew they were hurt before they started and did it anway. Serious guts!

Here's a funny fact about Cecilia. We made tentative plans over the internet to run the half together. We both thought we needed someone to make sure we kept a slow pace and didn't get hurt. We were planning on finishing in about 2:30. In all the chaos, we didn't find each other. Turns out we both finished at 2:13, although she beat me by a few seconds. Obviously we needed each other since neither of us was capable of sticking to our 2:30 plan alone!

I run a little further and meet Bree. She's a WISHer too. I'm glad I have on my shirt- she isn't wearing a WISH shirt, so she finds me first. We chat awhile. She's thinking this is not going to be one of her better days. She wants to walk a bit outside the Magic Kingdom because her stomach is churning. I think it's the best idea I've heard yet! We walk, we run, we chat. Somewhere by the Transportation Center a WISHer hands me a Twizzler. I'm still hungry, so this makes me really happy. Bree and I pick up the pace as we enter the backstage of Magic Kingdom.



Whoo hoo! It's Main Street. It can't compare to yesterday, but it's still fabulous. (Wait- that's not fair to Main Street. It's not Main Street that can't compare to yesterday; it's me that can't compare.)





Heading towards the Castle.



And now Tomorrowland.



I see Chip and Dale. Bree keeps going while I stop for a picture. Cecilia and her crew line up behind me. We hang together through the Castle and Frontierland.





Cecilia stops at the medical tent. Brilliant idea! I get some Biofreeze squeezed into my hand. I try to put it on my leg, but it all just slides down. Nasty! Oh well, maybe it will numb the pain a bit. Poor Cecilia is trying to keep an eye on all three of her injured chicks now! My leg hurts, but I'm really just scared it's going to hurt more; Cecilia's crew looks like they've already reached that point.

We reach mile 12. It's finally starting to be a bit different. Somewhere in this vicinity, Bree finds me at a water stop. Obviously it's meant to be. We stick together the rest of the race.



Check out this running club. I think this was the fourth time I'd seen them dancing around in two days. I love them! Bree and I talk about how much fun it would be if the WISH team could have a spot where we could do the same thing next year.



Mile 13. I amuse myself by thinking I'm not halfway through the Mickey, I'm two-thirds through the Goofy. Still seems kind of, you know, far...





We head towards the Animal Kingdom. I take a picture of the Disney nursery for Ted, our family horticulturalist. I'm pleased that I still have enough wits about me that I can remember to take this picture, even though it doesn't show anything interesting (I want Disney topiaries, people!)



Oh look, we're near the Animal Kingdom. Here's some furry animal.



Here's a less furry animal. I pass on getting in that picture.



I make Bree get in the picture with the parrot. As we wait, the parrot says "Hello." Being polite people, we both answer "Hello." We don't talk about it afterwards. How did it not strike us as strange that we just had a conversation with a bird?! Things are getting a little fuzzy.



I get more Biofreeze at a medical tent- this time it doesn't just run down my leg, it lands on my shoe in a big glob. I hope my shoe is happy now because my leg still hurts. Bree gives me an Advil. I take it. Dry. Bree's stomach and hip flexors are bothering her. We're quite the pair! Surprisingly we are fairly upbeat, considering that we are having some physical issues.

Back to people watching. These girls look cute. Hot, but cute.



Animal Kingdom- there's Expedition Everest!



And that was it for the Animal Kingdom. But here's Minnie Mouse!



I don't know where they got their energy, but the Incredibles came out of nowhere- this is a picture of them blazing away. (Bree said something like, "oh look, it's the Incredibles" but being somewhat slow, I almost missed them. I think I was looking for characters, not runners.)



Mile 18. How far can you run on sheer stubbornness? I think I'm about to find out. Just when it feels like it will never end, I look up and see WISHers! I see Becky's sister, Jen, waving and screaming. We go a little further and Bree's family is waiting. Her little boy is with her husband and mom- too cute.



We take a picture with Mickey. We're starting to pay a high price for these pictures. Starting back up is a killer. Still, have to take the Mickey picture.



Oh look. Miles of asphalt. Pocahantas and John Smith are standing on the side of the road. Yet another picture.



Mile 19. They're all blurring together. We've had so much Powerade and water. There's a lot of sloshing going on now. We are both wishing we could find a Diet Coke soon. In theory Diet Coke would slosh too, but it still sounds good.



Peter Pan and Wendy are standing by an RV. Peter is talking about making wishes. I want to slap him. How about a little pixie dust, Peter? Cause guess what- I'm not flying!



WISHers with wet washclothes. Best idea ever.



Mile 21. Whatever.



Finally we head to MGM. Bree tells me they used to put out a red carpet, but it's not there this year. But around the corner are Butterfingers. I grab one. Poor Bree can't eat anything. I'm probably totally grossing her out. What can I say- I have an iron stomach! The only thing better than my washcloth is my Butterfinger.

There's the Tower of Terror.



What the heck, another picture.



Mile 23. Can we just get there already?



Kim Possible. Look at Bree being all sassy and posing while I'm clueless.



We deem the Queen not worthy of the horrible pain of starting to run again from a stop. Later! We see WISHer Martha running. We ask her how she's doing- she says not good. This bothers me a lot. Martha trained so well for this one- I don't think she missed any runs. I find out a few days later that she was having IT band pain in both legs. Ow! She pushed through it- you go, girl!



We leave MGM and head down the path to the Boardwalk. More WISHers! Hey, another Twizzler! Bree doesn't seem to want one. She missed out!



We're almost at the Beach Club. For the last 6 miles, I've been talking about how my family and WISHers are going to be there. I see my family, I get all excited, and I take a blurry picture. I can't stop because of that whole leg thing, but I do get to high five Emma.



WISHers- even in my delirious state, I hear the cowbells!



Is it possible we are back at Epcot?!



Mile 25. Bree and I talk about how we've done this loop tons of times with our families (or maybe I say it to myself). We push through. Bree starts twitching around Germany because of the bratwurst smell wafting our way. We press on. I see a kid wearing what looks like a giant lanyard. I don't think much about it, but then I see a man clapping and he has the same giant lanyard. Ah ha! It's the medal- and it's pretty sweet!



Push past Spaceship Earth. There's the choir again.



It's the finish line! Bree tells me to run on ahead. As if. I high five Chip or Dale- I don't have time to look at the nose to tell the difference. We run across the finish.


We get our chips cut off, and I grab a Mylar blanket that immediately sticks to me. Then it's off to the Mickey Medal. Now this would be a fun volunteer job.



Here's Bree getting her medal. It's her fourth full at Disney!



Bree takes a picture of me getting my Goofy medal. We get separated to take our official pictures- I have to be in a different Goofy line. I take my picture and go pick up my bag. I turn around to find Bree, and she's gone! Quite possibly she turned around to see me and I had disappeared into the checked bag area. How funny is that?! It shows how delirious you are at the end of the race!

I call my mom and Ted, chat very briefly with some gathered WISHers- I hope I didn't seem rude, but I couldn't stop moving for fear I'd never start again.



I start on the eternal trek back through Epcot to our hotel. Along the way, I get to cheer on runners. I fully intended to cheer in front of the Beach Club with the WISHers who so kindly cheered for me, but again, I was scared to stop. I did get a few pictures of WISHers both on the course and scream teaming along the way.







Right before the hotel I saw the last finishers. There was a man with a woman in a Team in Training shirt. There were a bunch of the bike medics right behind them. I cheered for them, and then went up the truly dreadful hill to the hotel. Did I say "up" the dreadful hill? Down the hill was worse. I finally made it to the room and took this lovely picture.



That's it. We went out to Epcot that afternoon with Harry. I was limping everywhere. I exchanged a few knowing smiles and words with my fellow limping marathoners. I did have a Napoleon in honor of our WISH teammates who were not able to be at Disney in person, but were with us in spirit.



I also had a beer, for those teammates who aren't big fans of sugar. I know... it was a sacrifice.



Nothing says classy like pushing the stroller with your sleeping baby through the rain with a beer!



Finally a picture with Goofy!



We ran into Cecilia in Epcot. She said her girls made it. She looked great. I was a little jealous that she was walking like a normal human being!

My mother called me- she and her friend Betsy took Emma to the Magic Kingdom. They ended up touring the parks with a man and his two kids. One of his children was too small to go on the bigger rides and my mother doesn't like fast rides, so they teamed up. He had some sort of super-secret fastpass that let them on every ride. They rode everything over and over and had a fabulous time. I was so grateful not to be there... I'd already been to the Magic Kingdom twice in one weekend anyway.

Last but not least, our time was 5:42:xx. Not speedy, but considering the heat, humidity, and that whole Goofy madness, I was happy. Besides, I had a ton of fun. If I want to run a fast marathon, I'll do it somewhere boring where all I want to do is get to the end fast! (Did I mention I dragged my iPod with me for two days and never once turned it on?!)

Special shout out to WISH spectators, WISH runners, Becky, Cecilia, my family, all the other friendly runners/spectators along the way, and of course, my running buddy, Bree!

By the way, in case you're curious, I'm still limping... on Wednesday.