# 7 MNSSHP: Partying with the Mouse (Part 4)
Saving the Best for Last
We made our way between the Partners Statue and the castle to watch the Villains Show.
It was fun, I had never really stopped before to watch one of the live shows! Wishes was scheduled to start not long after the show ended, so Cammy and I opted to stay put and not fight the crowds and we were rewarded with a great location to view both Celebrate the Magic and my favorite Wishes!
Which both were spectacular as usual. After the show, we had a little while before the next parade so we decided that we wanted some real food, or at least Cammy wanted real food and I still had not had the pumpkin waffle sundae. Cammy headed of to Casey’s while I went in the direction of Sleepy Hollow, and with our food in hand we met back up at a table near CP/Casey’s. By this time we both were beginning to drag and sitting down was a welcomed treat.
As we enjoyed our food, the Boo to You Parade began and instead of getting up and moving to watch the parade, we opted to watch from the table.
Not a great viewing area, but hey at least I was finally seeing a Disney Parade (next time I will be sitting on the curb) and there is always my zoom lense. After the parade, Cammy and I decided that it was time to make our way back to CBR and call it a night.
On our way out we stopped for a few more photopass pictures to capture our night and then it was on the bus, back to our room to check our candy haul and fall into bed with not so scary dreams.
My favorite drink at WDW got a little better when I tried out the Dole Whip featured at F&W...Orange Dole Whip with Crème de Cocao White. Pretty yummy...but an orange dole with pineapple juice can't be topped!
To tell you the truth the parade idea got pushed aside once again, but I made improvement. I got closer to parade then I ever had on my prior trips. Thankfully I know that I have another trip coming in 13 months, so maybe I will try again to make a parade!
The only thing better than fireworks is fireworks with Cinderella's castle framed in front of them. Disney simply does it the best! If I could, every night would end at MK with Wishes.
I am not happy with this page, so I am sure I will be tweaking it before I get my album printed! That is the great thing about digital scrapbooking, I can tweak, tweak, tweak until I get it the way I like it!
Love your MNSSHP pics and the scrapbook pages! How on earth did you capture such great shots of the show? Most of mine got pretty blurry with all the movement. That's great the other mouseketeers asked for a picture with you.
Love your MNSSHP pics and the scrapbook pages! How on earth did you capture such great shots of the show? Most of mine got pretty blurry with all the movement. That's great the other mouseketeers asked for a picture with you.
Thanks Tink! Trust me I have lots of blurry pictures (probably every 1 good one there is about 10 bad ones ), but my camera is great and I am learning to use it better and better.
I am so ready to get the TR done! I have 1 month to get the album and the TR done so we can start a PTR! YIPEE. The 6 of us that are going are already bouncing around titles...so watch for a roll out the end of February. We are so excited about this trip!!!
I also want to get this one done because on another board/website I want to get my PTR for this summers Europe Adventure going.
Well here is the last of my favorite things...well almost, we still have a race to finish!
You know you have arrived when you see the castle...I personally like all 3! Each of them special and unique. When I see Cinderella's castle I have to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming! Finally getting to see the Beast's Castle this trip was a dream come true...and eating in it was great! Hogwarts never disappoints me, it transports me back to some of my favorite stories and characters. It is breathtaking!
RunDisney Expo (Friday Afternoon)
Walking Way TOO Much in Order to Run 10 miles
After doing everything we wanted to do at AK on Friday afternoon (really what was allowed in the time frame that we had after the weird bus situation) it was time to head to the RunDisney expo at WWOS and pick up our race packet. Instead of going back to CBR, to get on a RunDisney Bus and then go to WWOS, I thought it would be wiser to head to the closest resort that had bus services to the expo and had a bus actually waiting at AK for the resort which ended up being YC & BC. Cammy and I happily hopped on the YC & BC bus for our short trip to WWOS. When we arrived at the YC we were puzzled because according to race information the bus stop would be clearly marked and there was no sign anywhere to be seen. I was a little nervous that I misread the run information and I made a huge error in transportation. We walked over from the bus stop to the transportation stand at the YC and found that the RunDisney bus was in front of the Convention Center and were pointed to a pathway around the front of the building. Along the way we met another runner wearing a boot. She and Cammy had a great time comparing "run injuries" and race plans. It was nice to meet another stubborn runner! After somewhat of a hike to the convention center there was the bus sign.
We sat down and waited, and waited, and waited finally after about 30 minutes a bus appeared. I had figured that the bus stop for YC & BC would be combined and we were now on our way, but the bus stopped directly at the BC bus stop ugh if we would have just gone to the BC we would not have had to walk clear around the YC. Sometimes, I cant win! Happily, we made our little bus ride to WWOS. When we arrived at WWOS, I was stunned we were taken to a parking lot quite a distance from the entrance and had to walk from there. I know, we are running 10 miles the next night what is a little more walking?! As we made our way towards WWOS and the expo entrance we discovered that there was a CBR bus stop right at the start of the pathway up the hill and noted to ourselves that we would be on that bus instead of walking all the way back to the parking lot for a RunDisney Bus back to CBR.
As we climbed up the hill towards WWOS, I could feel nervous excitement building and the race was starting to become real. I had a little panic attack near the top of the hill, but I literally found myself behind a trash can having a moment while Cammy was left trying to figure out what was going on. Panic attack aside, we headed into the Expo. WOW, can you say nervous excitement being amped up another 100% from where it was in the parking lot.
We made our way to our respective packet pick up lines without any wait or issues and then picked up our shirts. Packets and shirts in hand it was time to do a little shopping. Suddenly, my mood shifted again from nervous excitement, to panic attack, to more nervous excitement and all the sudden a overwhelming sadness. While I love Cammy dearly and I was so thankful that she was on this trip with me, everything that has happened in the last 12 months since I agreed to this race started surfacing and this was not the picture I had planned for this moment. Trying to shake the sudden mood change, I sent Cammy on her way to shop while I had a good cry in the bathroom.
Later I found Cammy making a cute t-shirt purchase...I forget what it said but it was about running with her dog. We stopped in at the SparkleShirt booth, but it was so crowded that we quickly moved on. I saw lots of things I liked, but nothing I could not live without. In the RunDisney booth I really wanted to buy a ToT 10-Miler Finisher shirt, but I felt like that would be jinxing myself (plus, I really did not like the colors). I did end up buying a couple of pairs of running compression socks for my dd as a present.
I have to stay that I was a little disappointed in the Expo. I was expecting a lot more from what people had told me from past experiences. It seemed like many vendors skipped the expo this year (I was so hoping to have KT Tape there to tape me up) and it was far less crowded that I had expected (or maybe we just picked a good time).
Purchases in hand, Cammy and I decided we had seen and done enough at the Expo and walked back down the hill to the bus stop we had seen for CBR. The bus ride back to CBR was quite interesting, there was a training camp at WWOS for rugby players from around the world. So we had the pleasure of riding back with some really cute young lads from Australia. They had a great time teasing Cammy about her leg. They also set their sights on some cute young girls, who for the life of me I can't figure out why these girls brushed off these boys advances! Arriving back at CBR it was time for a little rest and relaxation back (aka POOL TIME) before we got all dolled up for our special dinner at Narcoossee's.
Tower of Terror 10-Miler
Prerace Jitters, Sadness and Prep
After we caked it up with Betsy at BOG, we decided that it was time to head back to CBR for a rest before the nights big run. Curtains drawn in our room and air conditioner turned up we both settled in our beds for a little nap, well Cammy napped.
Nervous excitement and sadness of a derailed dream returned and I found myself tossing and turning for the next 3 hours. Looking back, I am not sure why I did not get up and go check out those hammocks that I had been thinking about for months or even just go lay out at the pool&nerves were certainly messing with my brain and I could not think, let alone rest. I wanted so badly to talk to someone...I wanted to talk so badly to the person that started me on this journey, but sadly I knew I couldnt even though she was probably only a few buildings away resting. I laid there and wondered if any of this had effected her like it had me. But I also knew that I hate to push this sadness from my thoughts and focus about me. I stopped over on my PTR and found LOTS of well wishes left for me that really helped to lift my doubting spirit and sad heart. THANK YOU EVERYONE THAT LEFT ME WELL WISHES...you have no idea what this meant to me. After 3 hours of me tossing and turning, Cammy awoke and we decided to head over to Old Port Royale for a little prerace dinner and more hydrating. We decided to split a chicken sandwich (yes, we learned our lesson a few days before on how big those sandwiches were) and some fries (need a little salt in our system).
As we ate we discussed our race plan and repeated I told Cammy that this race is about me and I did not expect her to run with me (I knew even on a broken foot I could not keep up with her)&I would be fine alone and I would meet her at the finish line. Afterwards, we went on a banana hunt for a little prerace fueling as we waited in the corral to start. Trying to find a banana at a race host resort is a little interesting and much like a treasure hunt. I picked up the last one out of the basket, and you would have thought I had a piece of gold in my hands because instantly out the woodwork came about a million runners eying my banana, including Cammy. Thankfully I was spared from being mugged when I was able to track down a CM who took about 15 minutes searching the back for more bananas. Bananas in hand and more water bottles under the arm, I suggested to Cammy that we might need to pick up our celebration cupcake at CBR just in case we couldnt find one after the race in DHS and I knew that CBR had a famous one from the WDW Cupcake Crawl Blog that I love to follow (okay drool over).
So with our hands full of our little MUSTS for the both pre and post-race we headed back to our room. By the time we reached the room Cammy was now fully awake and nervous excitement was starting to affect her! Cammy is normally an amped up personality but through in race excitement&We spent a good 15 minutes taping each other up (especially Cammys foot), before getting dressed in our running costumes.
It took me several attempts to get my bib on before Cammy took pity on me and helped me out!
Once dressed and all our belongings together in our little plastic backpack we headed to the bus stop and before we knew it we were boarding the bus for the prerace holding area and corrals.
It all the sudden hit me again as we sat down on the bus that this was actually happening and I was sick to my stomach with self-doubt. Cammy came to the rescue as my personal cheerleader, once again. As we made our way to DHS, Betsy began texting us with her location and where to find her friend Carol (who was also running the race). When the bus pulled into the parking lot nervous excitement took me over completely! Our first stop was of course a picture stop proving that we had arrived
and then walking around trying to find Carol (who I had never yet before, just heard about) and thankfully easy to find as the parking lot was quickly filling with people. Introducing myself to Carol was interesting, but instantly I felt a connection with her.
I was so thankful for her calming presence. Shortly, Betsy arrived with the surprise she had been telling me for the last couple days she had for me. I was reduced to tears as she showed me what she had and I was humbled by her sweet gesture.
Here Betsy was standing by me, supporting me, and cheering me on. She had changed her Disney trip to be here with me at my side, she of all people knew what it was like to feel completely blindsided and abandoned by someone who we both considered a close friend. I will say it again, I DID NOT deserve Betsys friendship because I was part of the reason why she was abandoned, but here I was wearing a sparkleskirt she bought for me as a reminder not to quit (and I might add she was sporting a matching one), a poster to cheer me on, and being here just for me! We spent a good time chatting, really they spent the time trying to calm me down and keep me from pushing my way into the corral way too early. I was so nervous that I could not get my mouse ears that I had made to work right (one of my glow sticks would not go together) and then I loosened one of the ears...ugh. There was a lot going on around us...DJ Dance Party, photo ops and lots of just waiting around...I really did not take in too much of it thanks to my nerves.
The entire time I kept wondering if I would actually succeed at doing what I sat out to do a year earlier. Around 8:30 pm we decided it was time to wait our turn at the porta-potties (but being seasoned Disney runners Carol and Betsy directed us to where we had minimal waits). Then Betsy walked us to the corral gate, wished us good luck and headed off to where she promised she would be waiting and cheering. Cammy and I entered our corral after wishing Carol the best and then worked our way through the growing number of other runners in our corral to the front of the corral. I knew I needed as much time between me and the end of the corral behind me it I was not going to be swept. Surprisingly the next 45 minutes of standing like a bunch of sardines jammed into a can went by pretty quickly as made friends with those around us and I held off tears of excitement, nerves, and waves of self-doubt. Not long 3 race volunteers holding our corral sign and rope to separate us from the corral in front of us opened up the corral and we were lead onto the wave of runners heading towards the starting line. While we walked we listened as each corral in front of us was introduced, watched the fireworks go off for their start, and followed along as the next corral approached the starting line
until finally our corral was at the starting line. It was finally our time to be pumped up by the race announcer...
***Note some these pictures are mine and others I have gotten from various trip reports and fb pages of "running friends."
Finally, we reached the starting line and it was our time to be energized by the announcer. I cannot tell you how nervous I was at this moment, it was almost an overwhelming feeling but it was good nerves…the kind that gets your heart racing and the blood pumping.
As the announcer introduced our corral I looked over at the sidelines at all the people cheering us on and found Betsy in the crowd with a poster just for me and Cammy (the other side was for Carol). She gave me a great big smile and a wave. It made me smile and know that I had someone here cheering me on besides Cammy being my support system. I knew there were lots of other people back at home, in my PTR, and facebook following along and saying prayers for me at this moment. They believed in me, I just had to believe in myself. Just about start time, my phone started to explode with texts of well wishes…note to self next put the phone in airplane mode! There was even a message from my PT who got me through the stress fracture and got me running again. I FELT LOVED as the fireworks went off and I crossed the starting line into the awesome green strobe light special effects to transport me into another dimension complete with Twilight Zone sound effects.
Cammy was there at my side, pushing me as I told her that I was going to run through until I got transported through the portal. The whole green strobe special effects probably lasted a good ½ a mile. Before the race, I studied the course map and with the help of Betsy telling me what to expect at each point, I came up with a race plan. I had decided that when I made it to the cloverleaf to run up to order to get on the main stretch of the run (Osceola Parkway) I would walk up the ramp and then start my run/walk intervals. When we approached the cloverleaf we slowed to a walk and it was there that began to think that maybe I pushed myself a little too hard, too fast and too much in the beginning. I had gotten caught up in the moment and not paid attention to what I needed to do for my body. You guessed it, my leg started telling me I had made a HUGE MISTAKE and I began to panic. Cammy knew something was wrong, but I did my best to maintain her walking pace. As we climbed the cloverleaf not only was my face hot with frustration, but the course became HOT…as in FIRE HOT. Disney special effects had set up a fire bomb (think a small nuclear bombing going off every few moments) at the base (center area) of the cloverleaf.
It was loud, hot and fun. I remember there being a photo op somewhere near the middle of the cloverleaf, maybe a cauldron but I can’t tell you what character was there…instead I was worrying about my leg. When we made it to the top and turned right onto Osceola Parkway I decided to try a run interval. BIG MISTAKE after my run start and then the cloverleaf my leg was in full shin splint mode and I told Cammy to please go on. She did not want to leave me, but I begged her to go ahead because we did not know how long her foot would allow her to continue and she needed to but space between her and the sweepers. I could tell that the pain killer that she took as we left the corral was starting to work its magic and reluctantly she left me. It was then I began to cry tears of frustration but somewhere in the tears I began to silently pray a steady prayer. At Mile Marker 1, there was a water station so I grabbed a cup (reminding myself to stay hydrated) and continued praying pushing myself through my run/walk intervals. Actually, running was a lot easier than walking at this moment. Around this time I ended up throwing my ears into a trash can. While they were staying on, the ear that I loosened in my attempts to get the glow stick working kept falling and it was frustrating me. The stretch between Mile Marker 1 and 2 was filled with prayer and pain and I honestly don’t remember anything around me, all I remember was pleading with God to pull me through this because I did not want to be a failure…I had not quit nor skipped any workouts during the last 12 months but I had plenty of reason to. Somewhere a little past mile 2...
as I approached the Animal Kingdom entrance and the course came alive again with entertainment, I pushed through the pain and was now easily working through each run/walk interval and feeling strong. At the AK entrance there were the dancers from FOLK giving up high fives, music, and more fire effects.
It was so much fun running through the entrance gate! As I rounded the bend to turn back and run the other direction on Osceola Parkway there was another water stop and bathrooms. I felt like I needed to stop, but when I saw the lines to the port-a-potties I decided that I could not afford to lose that much time and ran on. As we passed under the overpass heading back the opposite direction, there was a great big spider on top and a little farther was Mile Marker 3.
It was here that I could see the end of the stream of runners on the other side and estimated that they were just about a mile behind me, which meant I had probably about 20 minutes between me and the end. As I continued my intervals, it was scary watching the course be taken apart on the other side. Amazing that the father I went there were no signs of a race even happening on the other side of the parkway. I had a cushion, but not much of one so it was important that I pushed on as much as I could. Between Mile Marker 3 & 5 I experienced some of the loneliest moments of the race (and with experience they seem to be the hardest mentally when doing longer runs for me). I watched groups of people running together, encouraging one another. Most importantly these groups were having fun together, just like what I had envisioned in my mind with OCD Princesses Belle and Jasmine. While I was enjoying the moment, there was also lots of sadness because I was here all alone. I have to admit that I shed quite a few tears. There were character tops along the way, but I just could not allow myself to stop….I remember seeing the Queen of Hearts, Dr. Facilier, the Evil Witch and Jack/Sally sometime in this stretch.
There were also lots of people cheering us on with signs and words of encouragement.
I stopped for a bathroom break…note to self sweat and humidity are not friends when trying to pull down a sparkleskirt in a dark port-a-potty! I felt like it was back in my swimming days with a wet suit. LOL…and trying to pull it back up and worrying about time does not help either. I kept my intervals going strong and I knew if I could just make it through WWOS and just past Mile Marker 7 without seeing the balloon lady, I would be able to finish this race! But that was still 2 1/2 miles away and with the luck I have been having my body could do anything during these miles...
Tower of Terror 10-Miler Race Recap
Part 2: Just Keep Going...Just a Little Further
I kept my intervals going strong and I knew if I could just make it through WWOS and just past Mile Marker 7 without seeing the balloon lady, I would be able to finish this race! I could see the turn off approaching for the dirt trail into WWOS and felt a surge of adrenaline pass through me as I passed by a huge group of runners who had stopped at the medic tent to apply biofreeze. I was feeling strong as I went past them and onto the dirt trail and then I kicked my mind into full alertness....remembering that 3 months ago it was a trail like this that was the final straw for my leg and I ended up with that darn stress fracture! I knew that the trail was going to be dark, dusty, slower, and possibly rocky…no need to rush through this area and end up injured…2 ½ more miles and I should be home free for the remaining 2 ½ miles! I went with the crowds pace and a lot of people were walking, so I too slowed to a walk. The trail through the wooded area was probably one of my favorite parts of the whole run, simply because it felt spooky. Lots of people complain about this stretch of the race…its congested, its dusty, it’s rocky (and I knew to beware of rocks flying through the air).
None of those things really bothered me, because I chose to live in the moment and I was prepared and knew what to expect. I remember seeing Captain Hook and maybe the hyenas from Lion King…but again, I did not allow myself time to stop or really soak in the surroundings; I had to get to Mile Marker 7. As we emerged onto the fields at WWOS, I knew that Betsy would be somewhere here cheering me on, so with that in mind I felt like I could run and I ended up running most of the entire next 1 ½ miles...
through WWOS because I wanted Betsy to see how strong I was and be proud of me. I loved running through WWOS, there were so many people cheering you and giving you high fives.
The last stadium was the best to run through as it was dressed up for the race with a lightning maker, scoreboard lit up with a “deadly” game and empty player uniforms on the field…the fans made it even better in the stands cheering you on!
As I left the last stadium, I still had not seen Betsy (probably missed her somehow) but I did get to see Stitch and some grave diggers.
As I left WWOS my battery began to die on my phone so it was time to switch to the backup charger that I had brought along in my filled sparkleskirt pockets…the best pockets ever for hands free running without a running belt. After switching to the backup charger, I noticed that I was now at Mile Maker 7 only about ½ mile to go and if Betsy was right it would be the last time I would see the sweeper buses waiting. Sure enough when I made it back onto Osceola Parkway on my way back to DHS there were the sweeper buses. I gave them a big wave and smile and ran past them.
If nothing major happened, I was going to make it. The first really freeing moment of the entire race. Somewhere along this stretch I remember seeing the gravediggers and the ballroom dancers from Haunted Mansion.
I stopped for some water and continued on my way to Mile Marker 8, when I spotted Cammy a few people ahead of me and ran to catch up with her. I must have made up a lot of time running through WWOS! I was happy to see her, but I knew that I really needed miles 1-8 by myself to work out all my physical and emotional issues on my own. She was just as excited to see me and always being the cheerleader gave me lots of praise and encouragement. I know that she was worried when I made her go on her way; it was nice to get that hug. Mile Marker 8 came...
just as we were ready to go back down the cloverleaf towards the entrance of DHS. This time we ran down it and as we passed under the entrance gate of DHS there was Maleficent up above trying to cast her spell on us before we headed back into the green strobe lights to return us from the Twilight Zone.
Running through the strobe lights this time was a little different; I knew there were not any buses behind me waiting to pick me up! Cammy settled into my interval pace as me made our approach to Mile Marker 9 in the Lights, Camera Action Stadium. I could tell that she had a lot more left in her and I urged her once again to go ahead of me. As my excitement for finishing was starting be replaced by something else, that at the moment I could not explain but understood when I reached the finish line. Running through the stadium, I had to smile as I remembered sitting in those stands with my family almost 2 years before and watching my youngest eyes light up with the appearance of Lightning McQueen, but even those special memories were starting to be flooded with something else. I exited the stadium and onto the Street of America, again with memories of the Osborne Lights and what a happy (but cold night) it was the last time I was here. Just as I was about to make it past the turn for Muppet Vision my phone rings…really? Ugh, another note to self to use airplane mode during a race. On the other end was my husband wanting to know if I finished yet. I was very brief and short with him and remember telling him “NO, rounding the corner at the Muppets talk to you later. Click.”
The next major attraction in front of me was the Sorcerers Hat and there standing with the poster was Betsy.
I yelled at her and waved, catching her by surprise! As we made the loop back towards the BackLot Tours, just before entering the tunnel area with the different prop shops I remember hearing one of the spectators encouraging us on…just a little bit further. So I decided right there and then to run the rest of the way. With each corner turn, I kept asking myself how much further because “just a bit further” did not seem like just a bit further. Looking back at the map, just a bit further was about ¾ of a mile. It was a good 10 minutes until I did finally spot the ToT looming ahead of me...
and all of the sudden I was over taken by a flood of emotions and tears began to well up in my eyes. The finish line was now in sight…
I pushed the play button on my music, turned up the volume on the song that had become my own personal anthem the last few months and I pushed through to the finish line running before I let the tears overtake me…
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), but my camera is great and I am learning to use it better and better. 
