Lindsay's journal.....3 half marathons later and I'm still at it updated 7/12

[redlight]

You look so much slimmer!

[Rose&Mike]

Wow, Lindsay! I just saw your side by side pictures! You should be so proud of your hard work! Looking good!

[mommyof2Pirates]

Originally Posted by mikamah

It's so great to see the pics side by side!! You look awesome!! You can see such a difference all over, face, arms, legs, belly. You look so fit and fabulous!!!

You are at my first big goal weight of 181!! When I hit 181 I will only be overweight, not obese!!!

It's sooooo close now!!! Can't wait to meet you there!!!

thank you Kathy. I feel good about myself right now. I do have more I want to loose but I am proud of what I have done so far. I cant wait to meet you soon too.

Originally Posted by redlight

You look so much slimmer!

thank you!!!!!

Originally Posted by Rose&Mike

Wow, Lindsay! I just saw your side by side pictures! You should be so proud of your hard work! Looking good!

Thanks rose. I was beating myself up for awhile about being so far from my goal but after looking at my before and after pics I am really proud of what I have done so far. I feel so much better and I know that I now have incorporated a healthier lifestyle not only for myself but my family too.

[lisah0711]

Hi Lindsay! Just stopping by to say you look so healthy and strong now and you have the legs of a runner! You should be proud of all your hard work and progress. Can't wait to see you soon at the Princess!

[mommyof2Pirates]

Originally Posted by lisah0711

Hi Lindsay! Just stopping by to say you look so healthy and strong now and you have the legs of a runner! You should be proud of all your hard work and progress. Can't wait to see you soon at the Princess!

thanks Lisa!!!! I appreciate the comments.

[mommyof2Pirates]

Well I am leaving for the airport shortly. I fly out at 550pm to disney. I am so excited for my trip and even more so for the race. This race means more than just running 13.1 miles to me. It means that I am strong, I can do something I put my mind to, and that I am still "me". I had lost myself for awhile under the title of mother. I realized that I was not doing my children any benefit to have them see me just be their mom. I want them to be proud of who I am and show them by example that if you work hard at something...even if you think it is impossible....You Can Do It.

I will have a full report with lots of pictures when I return.

[mommyof2Pirates]

i did it!!!! I completed the 2011 disney princess half marathon! I had so much fun and will be back later to tell you all about it!!!

[mommyof2Pirates]

Before I start my race report I thought I would review the details of the trip.

We stayed at the Carribean Beach Resort from Feb 24, 2011- Feb 28, 2011. It was an all girls weekend.

Me


My Mom- Michele


and My Aunt Jane


Our flight left Thursday evening at 550pm. We had a very smooth and enjoyable flight....minus the toddler that screamed and cried for 3/4 of the flight two rows behind us. I felt so bad for the mom she tried her best to calm her down but the child was just not having any part of it. We arrived at MCO at 815p. It was a smooth process to get our luggage and we only waited about 5 minutes and our ME bus was there waiting to take us to CBR.

We were the first stop! Check in went quickly and we were so excited to here that our room was on the first floor and in Martinique right next to the food court and bus stop. I was so excited considering we did not pay for a preferred room.

Here is our view:


We found our room and headed to the food court. I ate a grilled chicken sandwich. Once we finished we went back to the room and got ready for bed. Unfortunately we had toilet issues. It kept running and wouldnt flush. We called and a gentleman came within 10 minutes. He fixed it quickly and we were off in dreamland shortly after.

[mommyof2Pirates]

We woke up fairly early out of habit today. I think it was somewhere around 630am. I had stared a new book on the plane so I decided to lay in bed and read. With 2 young boys at home this is a rare occurence for me to be able to do this. It was really really enjoyable and relaxing.

Around 8am we went to the FC for breakfast. We got ready and decided to take a walk around the resort before catching the bus to the expo. I would guess we ended up walking a bit over a mile. The resort is so beautiful. It is one of my favorites. I cant wait to bring dh and the boys here...hopefully someday soon.

Here is one of the pics we took:



We got to the bus stop around 930 and waited by this sign:


Our bus came shortly after and we were on our way to the Expo. While driving I got a call from Kathy aka Mikamah. She was there waiting for us and Lisa and Rose were also on their way. I was so excited to meet my BL (biggest Loser) friends.

We got off the bus and had to walk about 1/2 of a mile to the expo area. Here are the signs:




and here I am with the BL group.

From Left to Right:
Rose(Rose&Mike), Me, Kathy(Mikamah), and Lisa (LisaH). It was so great to meet everyone in person. They are some amazing women and I could not have done this race without there support. I am truly blessed to have found such an amazing group to be a part of.

We stood around for just a short while and chatted. Then the fairy godmother came out and we counted down to the opening of the expo. They sprayed confetti streamers into the air and the expo was officially opened. There were two lines....one to just go in and the other to get a pic with the fairy godmother. Well I couldnt pass that opportunity bye. So I got myself some pixie dust.


and here I am with the FG.


I just had to get my pic with the footmen too.


We walked into the expo and this was our view from upstairs:


We headed down to pick up our bibs and goodie bags. I said goodbye to my friends and spent the next hour shopping like crazy. I would recommend that if you do not want to fight huge crowds to make sure you go right for 10 on the first day of the expo. There were alot of people but it was managable.

Up Next: What did I buy?and did I find that perfect race shirt I was looking for????????????

[jbm02]

Hi Lindsay!! Congrats on the Princess!!!! Wasn't it awesome? I loved everything about it. And this year's shirts and medals are so cool.

I was bummed that we missed meeting up with everyone but love looking at all your pictures!! (we found Lisa at the expo - thank goodness for those green WISH shirts!!!) Jen and I were scanning all the tables on Sunday at Ohana because we thought that you had reservations at about the same time as ours (ours were at 5:30PM) but sadly, no luck. Hopefully next year will be less frenetic and we'll find everyone..

My shirt: I bought the pink tank that says "Princesses never finish last". Although my favorite sayings were on some of the non-Princess merchandise. Here are a few of my favs (some may not be exact!):
If you see me on the ground, please pause my garmin
I thought they said "rum"....
This IS my fast pace...
tee hee hee hee

Were you as overwhelmed as I was at the sheer number of runners? I felt like the country mouse coming to town. Jen took a ton of pictures - I can't wait to see them. She did such an awesome job on our shirts and tutus. I'll post pics when I can figure out how to do it!!

I'm so glad that you had a great girls weekend. Both of our families were with us and everyone had a great time. I wish I could hit "re-wind" to do it all over again!

[mikamah]

Originally Posted by mommyof2Pirates

This race means more than just running 13.1 miles to me. It means that I am strong, I can do something I put my mind to, and that I am still "me". I had lost myself for awhile under the title of mother. I realized that I was not doing my children any benefit to have them see me just be their mom. I want them to be proud of who I am and show them by example that if you work hard at something...even if you think it is impossible....You Can Do It.

I love this, Lindsay. It is so true, and I too feel like I am finding myself again, and that Michael is learning that I can do anything I set my mind to, and so can he. I bet your boys are so proud of you.

Love the pictures, and can't wait to hear about your race. It was so much fun, and what an amazing experience to be a part of. I think now that it went by so fast, though I didn't feel that way at the mile 10 overpass, but it was a whirlwind of a day. Good for you for getting this all down now while it's still fresh in your memory.

[momof2minnies]

Congrats Lindsay on the race and the weight loss! The weather looked wonderful there last weekend.

Linda

[corinnak]

A Trip Report! A Trip Report! I love a Trip Report with photos and a race and people I know!!! (OK, I'm super excited about this, if you couldn't tell.) Congratulations on all you have accomplished, Lindsay!

I wish I could have been at the Expo with y'all on Friday - it looks like you had fun!

[MickeyMomTo2]

Congratulations, Lindsay! I was part of your Incredibles team, but lost track of the thread at some point. I wish I would have kept up with you all! I was there as well, and it was my first half, too. Such an AMAZING experience. I am enjoying reading your report!

[mommyof2Pirates]

Originally Posted by jbm02

I was bummed that we missed meeting up with everyone but love looking at all your pictures!! (we found Lisa at the expo - thank goodness for those green WISH shirts!!!) Jen and I were scanning all the tables on Sunday at Ohana because we thought that you had reservations at about the same time as ours (ours were at 5:30PM) but sadly, no luck. Hopefully next year will be less frenetic and we'll find everyone..

Hi Jude! Glad you ladies had a great time. I looked around at Ohana's too and did not see you guys. We got seated at 510p. If you were standing in the back of the room where they get the bread and facing outward we were in the left hand corner of the room. I cant believe I didnt see you girls there. Its not that big of a place.

I too wish I could hit the rewind button it was just such an amazing experience. I am hoping to do it again next year with my dh and boys.

Originally Posted by mikamah

I love this, Lindsay. It is so true, and I too feel like I am finding myself again, and that Michael is learning that I can do anything I set my mind to, and so can he. I bet your boys are so proud of you.

Love the pictures, and can't wait to hear about your race. It was so much fun, and what an amazing experience to be a part of. I think now that it went by so fast, though I didn't feel that way at the mile 10 overpass, but it was a whirlwind of a day. Good for you for getting this all down now while it's still fresh in your memory.

Thanks Kathy! I am so proud of you.

Originally Posted by momof2minnies

Congrats Lindsay on the race and the weight loss! The weather looked wonderful there last weekend.

Linda

Thanks Linda. The weather was absolutely beautiful!!!!!

Originally Posted by corinnak

A Trip Report! A Trip Report! I love a Trip Report with photos and a race and people I know!!! (OK, I'm super excited about this, if you couldn't tell.) Congratulations on all you have accomplished, Lindsay!

I wish I could have been at the Expo with y'all on Friday - it looks like you had fun!

Im glad you are so excited Corinna. I am equally as excited to write it. I will be back later with another update!

Originally Posted by MickeyMomTo2

Congratulations, Lindsay! I was part of your Incredibles team, but lost track of the thread at some point. I wish I would have kept up with you all! I was there as well, and it was my first half, too. Such an AMAZING experience. I am enjoying reading your report!

Hi Lauren. So glad you were there and had a great experience with the half. Feel free to come back to our team! Its not a fast moving thread so I am sure you can pick up right where you left off. How is your body doing? I remember you were having leg troubles and GI issues right? I hope you were all healed up and really got to enjoy the race.