Ariel484
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2011
Helloooooo humans! Grab a chair - and clothes for every possible weather scenario 
- because it's time for another runDisney trip report!
The cast is...me! Shannon, 32 years old (picture from November's Wine & Dine Half Marathon!):
This was my 10th runDisney weekend, and was supposed to be runDisney races 22, 23, 24 and 25 for me. But Mother Nature had other plans!
Almost 1 year ago to the day that this trip started, I experienced a pretty significant (in my world) back injury - you can read more about that here. I decided that Marathon Weekend would be my big comeback and signed up for the Goofy Challenge (half marathon + marathon on consecutive days) back in April. In October, I transferred my registration to the Dopey Challenge, which consists of the 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon on consecutive days. I had successfully completed the challenge in 2015 (I had also done Goofy in 2013).
I had been plagued with doubts and insecurities all year when it came to this weekend. I felt like this - specifically the marathon - was something that I needed to do to prove to myself that I was "healed," but at the same time, I just wasn’t sure that I was ready. My back was still sore during long runs and I was really starting to get burned out on running altogether. I was very nervous for this trip!
It turned out that this trip was challenging, weird, and rewarding all at the same time. I had a good amount of DIS-meets, a good amount of alone time (my first-ever solo trip!), a good amount of character time (eek yay!) and almost NO park time! The least park time I have ever had on a trip...in fact, I rode just 1 ride all weekend (any guesses as to what it was? 
). So it may not make for the most entertaining trip report ever, but that hasn’t stopped me in the past. 
So here it is - my 2017 Marathon Weekend...with the help of the Seven Dwarfs!
- because it's time for another runDisney trip report!The cast is...me! Shannon, 32 years old (picture from November's Wine & Dine Half Marathon!):
This was my 10th runDisney weekend, and was supposed to be runDisney races 22, 23, 24 and 25 for me. But Mother Nature had other plans!
Almost 1 year ago to the day that this trip started, I experienced a pretty significant (in my world) back injury - you can read more about that here. I decided that Marathon Weekend would be my big comeback and signed up for the Goofy Challenge (half marathon + marathon on consecutive days) back in April. In October, I transferred my registration to the Dopey Challenge, which consists of the 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon on consecutive days. I had successfully completed the challenge in 2015 (I had also done Goofy in 2013).
I had been plagued with doubts and insecurities all year when it came to this weekend. I felt like this - specifically the marathon - was something that I needed to do to prove to myself that I was "healed," but at the same time, I just wasn’t sure that I was ready. My back was still sore during long runs and I was really starting to get burned out on running altogether. I was very nervous for this trip!
It turned out that this trip was challenging, weird, and rewarding all at the same time. I had a good amount of DIS-meets, a good amount of alone time (my first-ever solo trip!), a good amount of character time (eek yay!) and almost NO park time!
The least park time I have ever had on a trip...in fact, I rode just 1 ride all weekend (any guesses as to what it was? ). So it may not make for the most entertaining trip report ever, but that hasn’t stopped me in the past. So here it is - my 2017 Marathon Weekend...with the help of the Seven Dwarfs!
I hope you get a chance to do it some day!!
) Thankfully, this guy was not a factor in my trip. In the weeks leading up to this weekend, I was washing my hands like crazy and chugging orange juice and Emergen-C drinks like it was my job. I made it to the trip without getting sick! Woohoo!!
) and I each got maybe 4 hours of sleep. Then on Tuesday night I just stayed up wayyyy too late and didn't get to bed until about 12:30 on Wednesday morning. So I was pretty sleep-deprived going into this trip, and it stuck with me until the last day!
Our airport is small and easy to navigate, and I figured it wouldn't be too crowded.........................
) and got into an enormous security line with just one hour until my 6:30AM flight was due to take off. I was starting to panic a bit (a lot) that I was going to a.) miss my flight! and/or b.) Big Purple wouldn’t make it to Orlando since I had clearly arrived at the airport later than I should have (I DID pack my race outfits and essential ID stuff in Little Red, so at least I had that with me!). 
GAHHHHHH! 
I made it through and had just enough time to grab a granola bar for breakfast at a gift shop before power-walking to my gate approximately 30 seconds before boarding began! 
