andromedaslove
Mouseketeer<br><font color=green>Escorts pokey tur
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2004
- Messages
- 2,534
First... I am doing this in sections because it would take too long to do it all at once!! Right now, you are getting my EXPO/5K reports!!
Okay... so, I hate to admit this, but I was waiting for everyone else to post their trip reports before I added mine. I needed to read theirs to help me fill in the blanks... I am horrible with names!!
EXPO:
We arrive on Thursday afternoon around 1:30pm, so we could pick up our 5k
packets before the EXPO opened at 3pm. At 2:30 we went and got in line for the EXPO and notice a whole group of WISHers at the fron of the line (WW Dave, Erica (c or k?), Robert, and his wife). I apologize, but even though I recognized you guys I am really kind of shy, and couldn't work up the nerve to say Hello. I swear, where's Anne, when I need her!? Inside the EXPO everything went really smoothe. I picked up my packet, pin, and shirt in no time at all. Even stood next to you WISHers when getting my pins. I swear I tried to make eye contact and say Hello, but I guess when I thought you were looking in my direction you didn't see me!! Then back to the hotel we went to wait for the rest of the family to arrive, and get ready for the 5k the next morning!!
5K:
Friday at 4am we all (9 of us) wake up. To say the least my FIL was not thrilled with his early morning wake-up call!! After TOT I was really afraid that traffic would be bad, so I made them all wake-up early so we could catch the first bus over. Fortunatley (or unfortunately, I'm not sure which) there was NO traffic, and my FIL harassed me all morning about "how glad he was that we left so early, because there wa SO much traffic." He's lucky I love him!! The good news is that since we got there so early we got front row seats for the family to watch the START and FINISH of the race!!
As we were hanging around waiting for the start of the race Lucas (DS3) fell asleep on my shoulder. That's when I saw her, my savior from my shyness, ANNE!! For some reaosn I always feel completely comfortable whenshe's around! I ran up and said Hi. Like always she knew exactly who I was!! I called Michael (DS6) over and introduced him. She made a point to tell him how she had heard so much about him and the wonderful thing he was doing. Then she grabbed her DH and told him all about Michael too. Have I told you all how proud I am of him?!
After chatting wiht Anne and a few other WISHers that Michael pointed out, Michael and I headed for the Corral. As we were standing there waiting Michael looked up and asked me, "Mom, what if I finish last?". I almost started to cry. So, I grabbed his hand, walked him back over to the WISH group, and read him the back of BigVic's shirt. I explained that I didn't think he would be last, but even if he was the fact that he started this race at all was amazing and that I was so proud of him. It took everything I had to get through that without crying too. Then back to the Corral we went.
Finally, the race started. I had realized earlier that I had left my watch in the room. So we were trying to run for as long as would could before walking and catching our breath. We passed Optimator (Mike) at the very beginning, he was cheering us on and surprisingly knew who I was from that far away!! Then we realized that the "run for as long as you can" didn't work very well, because without a time limit Michael kept wanting to stop. Right after entering Animal Kingdom we decided to change our strategy. We would pick a spot or a person on the course and run until we cought them. That seemed to work much better. Michael would catch his breath, smile at me, and take off running laughing like a hyena the entire way. He really did amazing, and we had a blast, he even raised his arms in victory as we crossed the Finish Line!!
Okay... so, I hate to admit this, but I was waiting for everyone else to post their trip reports before I added mine. I needed to read theirs to help me fill in the blanks... I am horrible with names!!
EXPO:
We arrive on Thursday afternoon around 1:30pm, so we could pick up our 5k
packets before the EXPO opened at 3pm. At 2:30 we went and got in line for the EXPO and notice a whole group of WISHers at the fron of the line (WW Dave, Erica (c or k?), Robert, and his wife). I apologize, but even though I recognized you guys I am really kind of shy, and couldn't work up the nerve to say Hello. I swear, where's Anne, when I need her!? Inside the EXPO everything went really smoothe. I picked up my packet, pin, and shirt in no time at all. Even stood next to you WISHers when getting my pins. I swear I tried to make eye contact and say Hello, but I guess when I thought you were looking in my direction you didn't see me!! Then back to the hotel we went to wait for the rest of the family to arrive, and get ready for the 5k the next morning!!
5K:
Friday at 4am we all (9 of us) wake up. To say the least my FIL was not thrilled with his early morning wake-up call!! After TOT I was really afraid that traffic would be bad, so I made them all wake-up early so we could catch the first bus over. Fortunatley (or unfortunately, I'm not sure which) there was NO traffic, and my FIL harassed me all morning about "how glad he was that we left so early, because there wa SO much traffic." He's lucky I love him!! The good news is that since we got there so early we got front row seats for the family to watch the START and FINISH of the race!!
As we were hanging around waiting for the start of the race Lucas (DS3) fell asleep on my shoulder. That's when I saw her, my savior from my shyness, ANNE!! For some reaosn I always feel completely comfortable whenshe's around! I ran up and said Hi. Like always she knew exactly who I was!! I called Michael (DS6) over and introduced him. She made a point to tell him how she had heard so much about him and the wonderful thing he was doing. Then she grabbed her DH and told him all about Michael too. Have I told you all how proud I am of him?!
After chatting wiht Anne and a few other WISHers that Michael pointed out, Michael and I headed for the Corral. As we were standing there waiting Michael looked up and asked me, "Mom, what if I finish last?". I almost started to cry. So, I grabbed his hand, walked him back over to the WISH group, and read him the back of BigVic's shirt. I explained that I didn't think he would be last, but even if he was the fact that he started this race at all was amazing and that I was so proud of him. It took everything I had to get through that without crying too. Then back to the Corral we went.
Finally, the race started. I had realized earlier that I had left my watch in the room. So we were trying to run for as long as would could before walking and catching our breath. We passed Optimator (Mike) at the very beginning, he was cheering us on and surprisingly knew who I was from that far away!! Then we realized that the "run for as long as you can" didn't work very well, because without a time limit Michael kept wanting to stop. Right after entering Animal Kingdom we decided to change our strategy. We would pick a spot or a person on the course and run until we cought them. That seemed to work much better. Michael would catch his breath, smile at me, and take off running laughing like a hyena the entire way. He really did amazing, and we had a blast, he even raised his arms in victory as we crossed the Finish Line!!
How is it that we missed the group 5K picture?? 
I told Michael he would probably beat me, and he did!! 
That one picture of you and Michael together at the 5K with the guy behind you (#934) is both of you beating DH!! I'm really proud of you both. I'm so glad Michael was able to do the race this year, too. since WDW raised the age limit, as you pointed out. And your post about being able to meet the family that you were running for was really moving. 
Anne
