Disneyworld Marathon

[~T~]

Hi,
My mom is OhMom and she just wanted to let you all know that her and my grandma and all of the other walkers are now finished with the marathon, and she finished in 3 hours and 20 minutes and is comin home Tuesday.

[nativetxn]

Great news! I'm so proud of of our marathon WISHers. Thanks for letting us know, T.

Katholyn

[Minniespal]

Wonderful news.

[plutosmyfav]

Thanks T!!!

I've been on pins and needles all morning wondering about our WISH Walkers! I can't wait to hear all the details:)

Sundie

[johde]

Congratulation all you wish walkers. You are such inspirations on what can be done if you put your mind to it.

[TammyNC]

I have to say that I am glad the 1/2 is over and now I'm resting (you can see what relaxes me). I saw several WISHer's along the way and cheerleaders too. We enjoyed our time with everyone at Jellyrolls, The Boardwalk Bakery and then Trails End Buffet last night. It was very inspiring to see so many of the WISHer's all together.

Molli, Bev, Melanie, Nikki and Annie did great. They all finished before I did, but were there waiting once I got through all of the lines for pictures, food, etc. They are all great encouragers and I'm proud of them and everyone else that even attempted the 1/2 or full.

[nativetxn]

Did you run across KarenNY, Tammy? I'm curious as to how she did. I have no doubt that she did well.

Katholyn

[Lani]

I have to say that I am glad the 1/2 is over and now I'm resting (you can see what relaxes me). I saw several WISHer's along the way and cheerleaders too. We enjoyed our time with everyone at Jellyrolls, The Boardwalk Bakery and then Trails End Buffet last night. It was very inspiring to see so many of the WISHer's all together.

Hi Tammy -- I was there with a large group of folks from John Bingham's Team Disney-Penguin mailing list, and saw everyone in their DIS green outfits! :)

Glad to hear you finished successfully! (I posted another thread about how some W.I.S.H. Walkers were not allowed to finish! boo!)

[WebmasterKathy]

Yay!!

I'm thrilled for ohMom, AlreadyExcitedGrammy, TammyNC, Melanie, Nikki, Annie and all the other WISHers who were marathoning.

I can't wait to hear all the results, all the stories, and see all the photos!

[CarolA]

Congratulations to all!

[TammyNC]

Thanks for all the kind words. I have to say that I have met so many this weekend, I truly can't remember who was who. I know that is sad to say, but it gets a little overwhelming and confusing when you start putting real names with tag names. Hopefully she will check in soon.

I did hear about some that were swept and shouldn't have been. I don't know all the details and as I said somewhere else, hopefully we'll get the full scoop when they get back to their computers.

I have to say thanks to everyone for being an inspiration and motivation to do this. I can't believe I even mentioned to DH this morning that with training, I bet I could do better next year and not be quite as sore. We'll see if I feel that I can commit.

[ZerasPride]

Congratulations to all our WISH friends on a successful marathon! We are so proud of all of you! :cool1:

[Mom of Sleepy, Bashful and BabyDoc]

Congrats to all you WISHers................hope all went well. I hate thinking any of our people were in that mess.

Cheryl N.WI.............I'm sure that you finished. I'm so proud of you. let me know all the details!! :D

[perfectmatch300]

We met a lot of the WISH marathoners at Trails End the other night & they are all ready to go! It war great meeting everyone. I appreciate the updates, as I'm anxious to hear about the experiences they had.
Katholyn, KarenNY was at Trails End on Sat, but I do not know how she did with the marathon.

[catherine]

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our WISHers who did the marathons. You are all awesome. What an inspiration you all are! :cool1: :cool1:

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I did hear about some that were swept and shouldn't have been. I don't know all the details and as I said somewhere else, hopefully we'll get the full scoop when they get back to their computers.


I think there was something strange with that race--more runners than last year...yet this year...it took only 13 minutes from 1st runner to last runner to cross the start. Last year--the race results have people up to 7:15--meaning a 15 minute 1st to last over the start. With more runners--sounds totally suspicious.

AND--my GPS was wayyy off...by mile 7--I had us past mile 7, but Disney didn't...and it just got worse. I think by the end, I had between half and three quarters of a mile of extra milage on my GPS. Which makes no sense. I guess longer distances increase the inaccuracy of the GPS.

I'm not saying Disney wasn't cheating or anything--but it sounds really odd.

And then they did a count down to run me in and the announcer said I made the mat before the clock "officially stopped (though the overhead timer was still running)--but I didn't log an official race time and am not recognized officially a finisher of the race though I do have a finishers medal as do the hundreds behind me--unless they closed the gate to EPCOT.

And there were literally hundreds of people behind me after I passed mile 21--it was a turnaround stretch of road that was 1 mile out and 1 mile back. I saw NO sweeper van and people still walking INCLUDING a half marathon who I don't know how was allowed passed the half when I was told and rules state that NOONE would be allowed passed the half if they were wearing the half marathon number.

I should be proud that I finished--but when my GPS started showing greater distance than actually traveled AND an unauthorized athlete was on the course and they shouldn't have been AND the announcer said I made it, but I didn't--it just TINKS my bell.

And if our WISHers got swept and they think they SHOULDN't have been--well I believe them over the race personnell!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just my 2 cents!

[anniet]

Hey T-

Your Mom is a GREAT half-marathoner, but she screams like a five year old on the Tower of Terror! :scared1: :scared1: :scared1:

[KarenNY]

The best part of participating in the 1/2 Marathon was spending some time with some wonderful WISHers :grouphug:
I walked/jogged with my DD Lisa and Heather(TXBelle) who we met at TE Sat night.
We were part of the group who were on the altered course in the MK (we didn't go up Main St).
I looked for my results on the DisneyMarathon site but couldn't find my name. I guess we crossed the finish after the mat was turned off even though the timer was still ticking. We did get our Donald medals.

[PRINCESS VIJA]

congratulations to all of the marathoners. You guys worked so hard and you all are winners and inspirations to me! :cheer2:

[TammyNC]

This is jimmytammy. I am TammyNC's DH. I wanted to let you know how proud I am of your Mom, your Grandma, AnnieT, MelanieC and Tammy along with all the other WISH marathoners who participated in this marathon. It took a lot of grit, determination, skill, and willpower for them do do what they did.
Your Mom and your Grandma are very special ladies and you are lucky to have them. But you probably already know that. And Tammy and I are glad to have them as friends. Thank you for sharing them with us for a few short days.
Take care and we hope to see you in WDW real soon!

Jimmy

[ohMom]

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:
the day is just begininng and i'm teary already. thank you so much for your kind words, everyone -- ('cept you annieT :rolleyes: love ya, mean it!)

i can't imagine a more magical, magnificent experience than this past weekend has been for me in many many ways.

CherylNWI did finish strong and wonderfully! I saw her monday at the pool and yesterday at breakfast and she's doing fabulous!

i'm off to look for finish line photos - are they up yet? mom and i crossed together we :rockband:

[MelanieC]

Wow - I have tears reading this thread!

JimmyTammy thanks so much for the wonderful kind words! It was so great meeting you, Tammy and the kids. Thanks for all the TAXI rides I had a great time this weekend!!

Bev & Molli- Thank you so much for being my adopted family while I was there. I really appreciate you both letting me tag along. It was so great to finally meet you and I feel like I've known you for years. What a great experience this whole weekend was and you guys definately :rockband: !

Tammy -It was so great to get to meet you finally. It was the commitment thread last year that changed my life and made finishing this marathon possible. I can't thank you enough! Tammy you have such a wonderful family! Kristian is just beyond her years - tell her it was so much fun being around her this weekend.

Annie- I'm so glad we got to meet!!! I had so so much fun and I can still hear you laugh!!

Nicki-(Evansmom) WOW - You so totally rock. 7 weeks pregant and you finished in a little over 2 hours!! You :rockband: ! Having you there to cheer me on at the finish line was great. THANK YOU!

Lilly- Tell your husband thanks for being such a wonderful picture taker. He was such a sport. I still laugh thinking about him saying NEXT PICTURE! at Trails End. It was great to meet you! What was your final time. I just remember you flying past me really early in the race!!

Cheryl - It was so great meeting you. Thanks for the ride from trails end and to breakfast at the boardwalk.

Karen & Kammy - Thanks for all your work with the marathon! So glad I got to meet both of you! The weekend was such a blast.

CDoobie - It was great having dinner with you on Sunday Night! I'm glad we got to catch Illuminations that night!!

24KK9 - It was great meeting you and your husband. Thanks for joining us for Dinner after the marathon. Please start posting more!!! Thank you to you and your husband for the ride over to the Beach Club!!

To those family members who had the WISH Signs as we approached the Contemporary and MK - THANK YOU! They really helped!! GO WISH WALKERS!

To everyone else I met this weekend. I'm so glad to meet everyone. I met so many great people!! Trails end was very overwhelming because there were so many of us. The sea of green scarfs and green everything was amazing!! Twinsmom- Thanks for the scarfs, RachelQ- Thanks for the magnet & Candy bar, Bev- thinks for the name tags & bracelet. I'm blanking on who brought the glow in the dark necklaces - but they really helped in finding and keeping up with everyone! I still had mine on at the end of the race and didn't even realize it!!

I had such a fabulous wonderful weekend! It was really a lifechanging event. I still can't believe I did it, even though I knew I could!!

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hi Melanie--I'm sorry to say I am glad you couldn't make dinner on Friday--I was unknowingly carrying a nasty bug :(

Glad you enjoyed your race!

[Auntmeme]

LONG POST _-First - thanks to Doreen, Amanda & dh & Susan, Amanda's neighbor for letting me join them in walking for a donald medal, I had a great walk - wonderful conversations & just a fun time :flower1:

Second - sorry I did not meet more wishers! - I found it very difficult to combine the family disney experience with wish meetings :guilty:-I may have done a bit much in the planning department princess:

Congrats to all Wishers :grouphug: sorry to hear about the unfair sweeping at mile 10 :sad2:

Marathon report -
Friday - p/up race packet - since I was in MK I had to take the monorail to TTC and then wait for a bus to MGM - took forever and then a bus to WWS. Once we arrived there the expo was organized and not overly crowded, I picked up packet, bought a shirt and proceeded to bus stop. ( would prefer not to have to visit fitness expo to pick up items!)Bus to return to CB had problems, cast members assured the over 50 people waiting that a bus would arrive shortly. After at least 30 min, cm announced 2 buses were to arrive. The loading of the buses was very unorganized with cm & driver allowing people to board without regard to line placement, basically if you were in the middle of the line you either were last to board or unable to board :confused3
Sunday - up at 2:45 met up with Doreen & Amanda and boarded 3:15 bus - no problems. Arrived at marathon loading area & followed the crowd. We did use the porta pottys and then followed the crowd to corral N. It was very exciting with the sea of humanity (as amanda stated) & the rock bands. As we waited for the start of the race, alot of wait time, we chatted and met other wishers & marathoners. When everyone started moving, slow crawl, so did we. Someone sang the national anthem & mickey & minnie started the race with fireworks. DH over at CB heard the whole thing, he thought he would sleep in :rolleyes: Doreen started with a quick pace which we kept the entire time. Our motivation (as Susan chanted) was snacks at mile 9. I did carry 2 bottles of water so did not get water or powerade the first few times. I did use the bathroom in Epcot and had a tought time catching up to Doreen due to slower walkers, very narrow paths for soooo many people. I loved the music along the way and wish there had been more! White Rabbit from Alice was along a path but we did not stop for pics. Snacks at mile 9 were power gel ( never used) and candy bars. Forgot there was a banana station before 9 - best banana ever really needed it! I did snack on lowcarb bar (which I carried) before we hit mile 9. We were part of the group that was cut off from walking down main street in MK, we walked through the back of tomorrow land. This was disappointing :( we did walk through the castle. I stopped for a pic with mary Poppins, Bert & penquins. Caught up to Doreen and now we hit the most boring part of the course. There should be music or cheerleaders - something during the last 2 miles. The staff from the wedding pavilion were dressed in black & white & waved & cheered - which helped with motivation. As you come around the finish line area you can not help but pick up the pace - there is so much noise, cheering & names being announced ( I did not hear mine). Then we were finished :cheer2: They took our chips & then we walked to get our medals, next booth ahead. Hit the porta potty. There was Chip & Dale & a couple of other characters who were getting ready to leve. There was a longggggg line to get an official pic taken and an evern longer line for food. There was a bit of confusion to get back to the hotels. The bus was to take us to Epcot where we could transfer, the line for buses only about 1000 people waiting. Ok so walk, walk, & walk more to the monorail to take us to epcot we decided on the less crowded ferry to MK. Once at Mk there was almost no one waiting for buses, found out buses were just being started. Waited again for a bus, I'm sure a lot less time than the others. Finally made it back to hotel about 11. Long morning but very well worth it :flower1: Would I do again? not sure???

[Mom of Sleepy, Bashful and BabyDoc]

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:
the day is just begininng and i'm teary already. thank you so much for your kind words, everyone -- ('cept you annieT :rolleyes: love ya, mean it!)

i can't imagine a more magical, magnificent experience than this past weekend has been for me in many many ways.

CherylNWI did finish strong and wonderfully! I saw her monday at the pool and yesterday at breakfast and she's doing fabulous!

i'm off to look for finish line photos - are they up yet? mom and i crossed together we :rockband:


Oh, I'm so glad to hear about Cheryl...........so COOOOOOOOOOOL!

[anniet]

Annie- I'm so glad we got to meet!!! I had so so much fun and I can still hear you laugh!!



Sorry about that, Mel.....my whole life I've been known through school and places of employment for that laugh---it's hard to get out of your head, but maybe with time!
:blush:

It was great meeting you too!!! We had a lot of fun!!!!

[ohMom]

annie - you should've HEARD me trying to imitate your accent to Paige tonight -- oh my gosh it was pitiful --

[anniet]

There's a rule about the Boston Accent, Molli---It can't be imitated, even in the movies and even by movie stars who grew up there (Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) You either have it or you don't! Believe it or not mine is mild compared to others who live in the city:blush:

Although I do have to say Sean Penn's accent in Mystic River was close, but Laura Linney's was waaaayyyyy off!

[ibouncetoo]

CDoobie - It was great having dinner with you on Sunday Night! I'm glad we got to catch Illuminations that night!!
24KK9 - It was great meeting you and your husband. Thanks for joining us for Dinner after the marathon. Please start posting more!!! Thank you to you and your husband for the ride over to the Beach Club!!


I'm sooo glad to hear you guys all met up at Boma, I was worried about the split PS times and not being able to contact 24KK9 beforehand. I wish my tummy could have handled it, as it was I had chicken noodle soup at the POP food court around 4:30 and was back in my room by 5PM. I slept from 11:30A-3:30P then 7P-8:30A the next morning! Monday I took a taxi over to WL at 11A (didn't check out of POP till the last possible moment) and spent about three hours in a comfy chair reading and waiting for my sister to arrive. I'm sad I missed you guys and said I missed out on a Zebra Dome too!

[Tiger Lily 03]

~T~ --You are such a sweet thing to let us know how your Mom and Grandma did. I know everyone that was left behind would be glad of the news. I want to add my praises to the fact that you are so lucky to have such great people in your family.

It was a wonderful experience to meet all the WISHers.