Nemesis Challenge: No Pain, No Gain. A ½ Marathon 2013 NEW Updates 2/20 NEW

[that's nice]

They don’t take that kind of money in trade for Dole Whips anyway.
No real loss there.

Barry does though.

Dang fine place for a meet.

You are right. Thinking back there was no better place.

You can try…
But I don’t think it’s possible any more to forget about the penguins.

Not when someone keeps posting pictures of them.

Ummm…
Y’all are racing tomorrow aren’t ya’?

That’s two days of recovery for him.
Not so sure he’s got Team Tim’s best interests in mind here.
What team did you say he was on?

Paul was running the full... he is on Team Tim. Or so I thought. Maybe he defected to the dark side.

Out of control?

That implies that Randall was even in control.
I got’s me doubts ‘bout that one.

True. I should of just said Randall was just being himself.

Enjoy it…
I haven’t been down there with out the boy since long before we was born. Being as he’d headed off to college this fall, it may just be time again to take my bride back down there for some couple’s time.

It was nice and lonely at the same time- if that makes any sense. We missed having them with us in WDW.

Headin’ into enemy territory ehhh?

They always say 'Keep your enemies closer'

Goo… Whoa, what?

Yea, weird dinner conversation.

Ya’ scarred me just by mentioning it.
Glad I missed the dinner conversation.

I'm scared too...

Have heard similar reviews.
The consensus seems to be: do go here, but stick to the pizza.

Pizza is an A... what we had was a C

I’ve got a feeling you’ll pull that one off.
You may be worse for wear, but you’ll pull it off.

Well, hopefully I'll get to that post soon.

Great pictures from around the WS.
Looking forward to hearing about the 1/2 from an inside perspective.

Thanks.

OF course you did... it's like your second home under there.

They're pretty easy to tell apart. The Swan has huge statues of Swans on the roof. The Dolphin has huge statues of fish that look nothing like dolphins.

I thought they mixed up where they put the statues... who knows. I'll just call them the hotels on property that aren't Disney hotels that have those ugly statues on them.

Ahhhhh...sweet music to my ears.

What is music to some is racket to others.

People are usually talking about me. I'm pretty used to it by now.

Just so you know... it usually isn't good.

Careful Tim, Randall's running next year's half. He might get his own revenge..

I'll take notes from Paul how to avoid the shiv.

YOU MAY TAKE OUR LIVES, BUT YOU'LL NEVER TAKE....OUR FREEDOM!!

Have you ever yelled that out in a crowd?

I'm sure your pregnant wife was having a good time watching you drink around the world...

Of course she was... just about as much fun when she bought tickets for me and her to goto a beerfest at the casino.

What does she care, she never has to worry about one.

Agree. Pizza is definitely the way to got there. Being the night before the race I assumed the pasta would be a better idea. The veal meatballs were good, but $21 for about $3 worth of spaghetti isn't going to work in my book again.

$3? That wasn't a big bowl of pasta... 1/2lb at most. More like $.50- feel better now?

It does get a bit dull in the middle, but the pyrotechnics at the end make up for it. The music rocks, too. (except for the dull spot in the middle.)

I guess.

 

[that's nice]

Looking forward to the race report! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for reading!

...and I am TOTALLY with you on Illuminations (kind of scared to admit that "out loud!"). I'm a Fantasmic!/Wishes gal myself.

It's ok... no one will make fun of you here. (Me? That's another story)

It is know across the DISboards that I've been known to tear up a bit at Wishes. It is my favorite show in WDW.

Pretty sure I saw Tim around mile 8 or 9. Neither one of us were having a lot of fun at that point.

You mean that wasn't fun we were having?

"This isn't spaghetti, it's noodles with ketchup."

Guess I need to go watch that.

Glad you stopped in to see us.

Of course I was gonna stop. Wish I could of taken more part of the 'festivities'

Again no penguins were hurt . simply putting them on a leash..

...and choking them to death.

Hey you mess with one member of team Tim you mess with all members!!!

That's right! We stick together!

Next time listen to Paul he has a good touring plan!!!

I think Paul was trying to give me another excuse in case I couldn't run.

You could have come with us to dinner at LeCellier. ut no you had to eat with team Barry

True... but I wanted to intimidate Barry by staring him down.

Hope the room was to your liking.

Loved the room and the resort. Thanks again for all your help on that.

 

[DrMomof3]

You were up late!!! I tried to go to bed early before the half but couldn't sleep anyway.

Amanda

 

[livsmom04]

Welcome from a fellow NCer. If I can do it anyone can!!!!

Thank you. We were supposed to go for our first walk yesterday but I looked at my hubby and told him I'm not freezing but butt off in this weather. Lots of ice out there right now. But we both want to be able to run when ER leave for our trio in June so we have just about 5 months to do it. Lol.

 

[Poolrat]

Money no. But they did give me an AP magnet.

!

OOOOHHHH I need one of those.....

You were up late!!! I tried to go to bed early before the half but couldn't sleep anyway.

Amanda

Tried is right- lay there panicing about oversleeping and passing out midway and welll everything else.

Thank you. We were supposed to go for our first walk yesterday but I looked at my hubby and told him I'm not freezing but butt off in this weather. Lots of ice out there right now. But we both want to be able to run when ER leave for our trio in June so we have just about 5 months to do it. Lol.

Yeah Maybe this weekend it might get nice enough. Hopefully I can get back out there I really need to .

 

[that's nice]

You were up late!!! I tried to go to bed early before the half but couldn't sleep anyway.

I was trying to get to bed early but that just didn't happen.

OOOOHHHH I need one of those.....

They only cost about $600.

 

[Poolrat]

They only cost about $600.

+ 12.95

 

[lindsey]

subbing... can't wait to read more of your trip.
We arrived on Thursday, went to WWoS for my packet for 5k (not ready for 1/2 yet), and the crowd was light.

We went back Friday with my DIL, DS, and grand kids to pick up DIL packet for 1/2 and kids for Saturday races. It was very crowded. It took a long time when we left in the Disney bus to get back to POP.

Then we went back Saturday for the kids' races. Less people, except for the kids races.

 

[that's nice]

+ 12.95

subbing... can't wait to read more of your trip.
We arrived on Thursday, went to WWoS for my packet for 5k (not ready for 1/2 yet), and the crowd was light.

Congratulations on the 5K! I ran the Jingle Jungle in Nov. It was a fun race too!

We went back Friday with my DIL, DS, and grand kids to pick up DIL packet for 1/2 and kids for Saturday races. It was very crowded. It took a long time when we left in the Disney bus to get back to POP.
Then we went back Saturday for the kids' races. Less people, except for the kids races.

Friday was just insane at the Expo. Leaving the Expo was tough too. We left when all the kids races finished. I think it took us 15 minutes just to get from the bus loading area to the stoplight at the end of the WWoS road.

 

[cj9200]

We headed over to Rose & Crown to meet up with some of the aforementioned DISDads. As I got closer to R&C, I can hear the girly voice of Randall yelling, 'Team Barry Rules!' I quickly considered just to continue walking past Rose & Crown, but there were a few other guys with him... including some of the Team Tim members.

We sat down and had a drink with Randall and his wife, Carl, Paul, and Scott... oh, I can't forget the penguins.

What a motley looking group. Although the guy with the beard looks like he could drink all of you under the table.

I think we sat and talked for close to an hour. Then it was time to get Randall back for beating me up in November... In case you missed it- first he put me in a head lock..

Nov. 2012

Then he tossed me to the ground and stomped on me.

Nov. 2012

So it was time for payback. First we tossed Randall to the ground, draped a Team Barry shirt over him, then went Team Tim style on him! (No penguins were hurt during this stomping)

We didn't hurt him too bad... but we this did stop him from yelling Team Barry every 5 minutes.

Notice that Randall could take you all by himself but it took a pack to take him down.

We were seated pretty quickly and ended up at two tables next to each other. Melody & I sat with CJ & Crash, Barry, Barry's friend and his son. We had a nice dinner discussing running, food, Disney, and ummm vasectomies. I hope we didn't scar Crash for life with this conversation. It took a few minutes to order but once we did the food came in a matter of minutes. Melody had the eggplant parmigiana, I had chicken parmigiana with a side of pasta, Barry had pasta & meatballs, Crash had Lasagna Verde (i think) and CJ had mozzarella & tomato salad and soup(?).

It was minestrone. It was OK, not great. The mozzarella was good quality but no balsamic on the salad. Crash liked her lasagna but the portion was small. Expectations were high and they didn't meet them but overall it was a good meal.

As to our conversation, she isn't scarred for life. I threatened worse things to the kid that dared asked her to the prom last year.

Before departing for the evening, A quick picture of Barry, CJ, & I.

Now that is a good looking group. It was great meeting up with you guys. Fun dinner. And I am sure I can speak for everyone that met Melody and Bambi that both of you married way out of your league.

 

[that's nice]

What a motley looking group. Although the guy with the beard looks like he could drink all of you under the table.

I'm not to sure about that. I think Paul, Carl, & Scott were doing quite fine.

Notice that Randall could take you all by himself but it took a pack to take him down.

This was a payback beating..

It was minestrone. It was OK, not great. The mozzarella was good quality but no balsamic on the salad. Crash liked her lasagna but the portion was small. Expectations were high and they didn't meet them but overall it was a good meal.

It was ok... I mean it wasn't like we didn't eat our meal or anything. I think the company was better.

As to our conversation, she isn't scarred for life. I threatened worse things to the kid that dared asked her to the prom last year.

Guess it is a good thing I didn't ask her to dance then.

Now that is a good looking group. It was great meeting up with you guys. Fun dinner. And I am sure I can speak for everyone that met Melody and Bambi that both of you married way out of your league.

It was great meeting you too CJ. Melody did marry out of her league but I don't mind.

 

[that's nice]

It was 3:05am and Melody was shaking me telling me I had to get up. I hopped up and was wondering why the alarm on my cell phone didn't go off. I went over and picked it up and saw it was only 2:50am. The clock in the room was 15 minutes fast. Whew!

I had all my clothes laid out and it didn't take me long to get out of the room to meet Barry at 3:10. Didn't I tell you his room was in a building right across from ours? I'm not sure if this was planned (it wasn't on my part) but it worked out good. I opened the door and noticed right away how warm and humid it was. When I walked down the stairs, he was already out there.. I guess he was anxious. We walked over to the bus stop and took the shuttle to the Hospitality House. There were about 10 people waiting for the shuttle to Epcot. Barry texted Chris (another DISDad who was running) and he was just getting out of his room.. as this was going on a bus pulled up. We opted to wait for the next bus so we could ride over with Chris. As we were waiting more and more people were walking over waiting for the shuttle to Epcot. Chris arrived right at 3:30 with his cousin, and we were just chatting waiting. And waiting. And waiting. When the bus finally showed up there had to be at least 200 people in line, if you could call it that, waiting for a bus.

Finally, a bus showed up and it didn't look like we were going to make it. Luckily, a second bus pulled up and we were the first ones on. As the bus pulled out of OKW, we realized that the starting corrals were right behind where our building were. We could of just walked from our buildings, across the road, and been at the starting line. Disney, discourages people walking to the starting line, but if (when) we run next year, we are walking!

A normal 7 minute ride to Epcot took close to 20 minutes due to the road closings. We did have a good bus driver who knew how to drive.. AKA taking a few shortcuts and cutting people off. There was so much traffic. I would suggest to anyone planning on driving to any marathon, to leave early. We were dropped off in the Epcot parking lot and began our walk to the staging area. We had a meet planned before walking through the bag check with some other Dads who were running. There were so many people and it was already after 4am, that we decided to keep moving. We dropped off our bags at the baggage check and started walking with the sea of humanity, towards the starting line. I don't have the exact time we started walking but it was about 4:30am.

The walk was slow. I mean slow. There were thousands of people trying to walk on narrow service roads towards the start. In some places there were 30-40 port-o-pottys lines up with lines 10 people deep waiting to get in them. There were guys, and girls, doing their 'business' in the brush on the sides of the road. It was insanity. I've never seen anything like it. The walk was painfully slow.

Don't we look excited?

We were getting closer to the corrals and it was suggested that we use the bathroom. We only had to wait for 4 or so people to get to the bathroom. While waiting in line, word was spreading that none of the bathrooms had toilet paper. Good thing I was just going '#1'. I felt bad for all the ladies but what cha gonna do?

We finally got to the main road where the corrals were. A, B, & C to the left and D, E, F, G to the right. Naturally, we went to the left and came up to our corral. Our bibs were checked to make sure we were in the right place. Once in the corral, I realized why they call it a corral. You do feel like a herd of cattle. There was no room to stretch or breathe. We had got there just in time. Time was 5:30 and they were singing the national anthem. It literally took us 1 hour to walk from the bag drop off to the corral. INSANE!

There were huge TVs to see the talking from the starting line. They started counting down the first wave.. the wheelchair athletes. 3, 2, 1 BOOM! Fireworks started shooting off! It was awesome! Each corral was slated to start in 10 minute intervals. Corral A was lined up and ready to go. They counted it down again... 3, 2, 1.... BOOM!!!

There were fireworks going off in front of us and behind us too. The anticipation was building and I was sweating. I was nervous, anxious, excited, scared all rolled together. Our corral started moving forward towards the starting line. It was almost our time.... 3, 2, 1 BOOOMM!!! More fireworks! Barry and I walked toward the starting line.

I'm pretty sure we wished each other good luck, set our music, and started running.......


Up next... the run

 

[afwdwfan]

It was 3:05am and Melody was shaking me telling me I had to get up. I hopped up and was wondering why the alarm on my cell phone didn't go off. I went over and picked it up and saw it was only 2:50am. The clock in the room was 15 minutes fast. Whew!

Ok, having read this, I just have one question... What the beverly was Melody doing up at 3:05 am??????

When the bus finally showed up there had to be at least 200 people in line, if you could call it that, waiting for a bus.

Moral of the story... take the first bus!

We did have a good bus driver who knew how to drive.. AKA taking a few shortcuts and cutting people off.

Was he trained on the streets of NYC?

Don't we look excited?

How excited can you be to be awake at 4:30 am and getting ready to run 13 miles?

We were getting closer to the corrals and it was suggested that we use the bathroom.

Won't there be any trees or bushes along the race route?

I'm pretty sure we wished each other good luck, set our music, and started running.......

Wait a minute... wished each other luck?????

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

It was 3:05am and Melody was shaking me telling me I had to get up. I hopped up and was wondering why the alarm on my cell phone didn't go off. I went over and picked it up and saw it was only 2:50am. The clock in the room was 15 minutes fast. Whew!

Welcome to the world of runners...only in this place will you hear something to the effect of, "I was really glad it was 2:50 a.m."

I had all my clothes laid out and it didn't take me long to get out of the room to meet Barry at 3:10. Didn't I tell you his room was in a building right across from ours? I'm not sure if this was planned (it wasn't on my part) but it worked out good.

Sounds like suspicious nemesis activity to me.

Chris arrived right at 3:30 with his cousin, and we were just chatting waiting. And waiting. And waiting. When the bus finally showed up there had to be at least 200 people in line, if you could call it that, waiting for a bus.

We could of just walked from our buildings, across the road, and been at the starting line. Disney, discourages people walking to the starting line, but if (when) we run next year, we are walking!

I wonder if they have measures in place to stop you?

We did have a good bus driver who knew how to drive.. AKA taking a few shortcuts and cutting people off.

Maybe he was from NJ originally. That's the only place I know where cutting off is encouraged.

In some places there were 30-40 port-o-pottys lines up with lines 10 people deep waiting to get in them. There were guys, and girls, doing their 'business' in the brush on the sides of the road.

Disney World is so magical!

Don't we look excited?

As excited as anyone would be at that time of the morning!

While waiting in line, word was spreading that none of the bathrooms had toilet paper. Good thing I was just going '#1'. I felt bad for all the ladies but what cha gonna do?

There were huge TVs to see the talking from the starting line. They started counting down the first wave.. the wheelchair athletes. 3, 2, 1 BOOM! Fireworks started shooting off! It was awesome!

Cool!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Won't there be any trees or bushes along the race route?

Or castle walls?

 

[FreezinRafiki]

The clock in the room was 15 minutes fast. Whew!

It was the last fast thing we'd see that day!

Didn't I tell you his room was in a building right across from ours? I'm not sure if this was planned (it wasn't on my part) but it worked out good.

Funny how things work out...

When I walked down the stairs, he was already out there..

Yup. Standing outside you room, holding a boom box above my head.

A normal 7 minute ride to Epcot took close to 20 minutes due to the road closings. We did have a good bus driver who knew how to drive.. AKA taking a few shortcuts and cutting people off. There was so much traffic.

That was insane. I've never seen that many buses letting that many people out in one place.

It was insanity. I've never seen anything like it. The walk was painfully slow.

Crazy. All the instructions Disney gives you says the walk is 20 minutes. Before we got there, my thinking was "sure, we'll make it in 10." I really did take almost an hour!

Don't we look excited?

Game Face. No time for smiling.

Good thing I was just going '#1'. I felt bad for all the ladies but what cha gonna do?

They could at least make the race bibs softer and more absorbent.

Our bibs were checked to make sure we were in the right place. Once in the corral, I realized why they call it a corral.

We were barely in it, too. After us, pretty much everyone else wanting to join B was spilling out along the side of the road next to the entrance.

There were fireworks going off in front of us and behind us too. The anticipation was building and I was sweating. I was nervous, anxious, excited, scared all rolled together.

Dude, we were running a race, not getting married!

I'm pretty sure we wished each other good luck, set our music, and started running.......

Yeahhhhh...."luck"....that's what we wished for.

I wonder if they have measures in place to stop you?

Gators.

Maybe he was from NJ originally. That's the only place I know where cutting off is encouraged.

Actually, he was. I overheard him talking to a guy that just squeezed on to the bus and was sitting on the step right next to the driver.

 

[jmwest]

I'm pretty sure we wished each other good luck, set our music, and started running.......


Up next... the run

Thus far lots of similarities to my morning as I recall. Only difference is I was mostly alone and didn't meet up with my sisters until I got to corral C. Nobody checked my bib to see if I belonged there.

 

[DrMomof3]

It took me well over an hour to walk to my starting corral! I actually missed the start of corral C and ended up starting in D for the half. Craziness!

Amanda

 

[DancinDaisyDuck]

I'm in! I plan to run the half in 2014 so I really like all the details you're including about the experience. I have no idea what to expect and this really helps!

 

[Goofy + 3]

There were about 10 people waiting for the shuttle to Epcot. Barry texted Chris (another DISDad who was running) and he was just getting out of his room.. as this was going on a bus pulled up. We opted to wait for the next bus so we could ride over with Chris. As we were waiting more and more people were walking over waiting for the shuttle to Epcot. Chris arrived right at 3:30 with his cousin, and we were just chatting waiting. And waiting. And waiting. When the bus finally showed up there had to be at least 200 people in line, if you could call it that, waiting for a bus.

So you got the late bus because of Chris? That guy sounds like a jerk.