Buzz's Brigade Come Flying into Aug-Dec Totals
- Thread starter goofyinohio
- Start date
We were meant to leave for MCM on Thursday night, but after a call from HED to say that my wheels were on their way we decided to wait for them. FedEx were meant to have them here by 10:30, they turned up at 3:05!!! I then had to get them to the bike shop to have the tires put on, by the time that was done and several phone calls had been made as the hub was the wrong size!!! We got home to finally pack the car. We did not leave until 2am Saturday morning.
We arrived in Arlington at 6pm, luckily for me the team had already picked up my bibs I did not need to go to the expo. We went straight to whole foods to get something to eat and then to the holiday inn. I went straight to bed while my dh started to get my chair ready, he also went to meet the team captain to get my bib and goodie bag as they were still out at dinner when we arrived. I had missed all the team activities, and did not see anyone until the morning.
We set the alarm for 5am as we had to meet down stairs for a 6:45 depart. We set off a mass of red shirts taking over the roads in Arlington. The hotel was a mile away from the start line and a couple of times we stopped so that we could arrive together. Just before the start line we stopped, got everyone together so that we could enter as a team. I looked up and I saw the balloon arch start with a row of Marines stood under it. As we approached they started cheering and clapping and moved to the sides, It felt like we were super stars!!! I did not realise it at the time, but we had a private start, the other wheelchair start was on the other side of the road!!! I was interviewed for the local news, because of Tinkerbell.
I was next to a marine who was in his 12 marathon and he told me how bad the hills were and how that going down hill I would be between 40 – 50 mph.
It was a very humbling experience to be a part of the Freedom team, these men and women have lost parts of their body during active service.
We had Montel Williams a forma marine and disabled through MS as our starter. There was a fly over by two plains that are both a helicopter and plane!! And then the huge cannon was fired and we were off. I would have been happier in the back row, as I am slow, but we had to stay in the positions we arrived in, but I did not have to worry the fast ones soon got by me!!
The first 3 miles were all up hill, I was staying with a small pack of team and my chain fell off, one came over to see if he could help, luckily I remembered what my mechanic at the shop had said and that if the chain was not off completely to pull backwards and it might go back on, well I did this and it worked. I said I was ok and the guy went off. I asked someone how much longer the hill would go on for and I was told not much longer, then you cross the bridge and start climbing hills again. The guy I asked went off and I did not see him again until the “wall”
The hills were hard, very hard, but the team got me through them, once we were across the bridge into the second set of hills, I saw one of the team walking pulling his chair. When I say walking this guy lost both of his legs and has metal ones now, he usual uses crutches but of course did not have them. I went over to ask what happened, he had 2 punchers and only one small repair kit. I do not carry a kit with me so I could not help him, as I turned the corner there was a medical team who saw him and started cycling towards him, I pulled over and told them that he had 2 flats and went on my way. The down hills where scary, my new wheels are awesome they make a noise once they get to a certain speed, it sounds like the noise of “airwolf” an 80’s TV show, so we are now calling my chair “crankerwolf” when my racing wheels are on and “cranks” when off.
Some of the team over took me down hill, it must be their military training as they were fearless shouting oo-rah as they went. I was trying to pump both my breaks as I was not comfortable going that fast I was thinking about my crash, but I had to be very carful as I had the wrong hub size and was told that if I hit the break too hard the wheel would fall off. Once out of the hills, around mile 9? It levelled out so I could start getting some torque, and overtaking my team mates. I was passed by the lead runner and was determined to over take him, I did this twice and then kept in front of him for the rest of the race.
The support from the marines and spectators on the course was fantastic, there was only a few places where there was not many people and they were quite lonely as this was my first race without an escort and there were no competitors around either. As I went along the river I saw an aeroplane flying very low over the river I though it was going to crash into the river, but there was no one around to tell, good job really as it was coming in to land. I did not realise that the airport was right next to the river!!!!!
One of the team was in front of me and he had run out of water so was having to use the water stops, I could not believe what I saw, he indicated that he needed a drink and slowed down a little, a Marine started running to match his speed and hand over the cup, it was like watching a relay race, and they did not spill any!!!! There was a part along the river where it started going up hill again and there was a runner on the side walk who started running with me and shouting encouragement to get me up the hill, he was great, just a passer by who wanted to help, once at the top I thanked him and he ran back down to help the next chair through.
As we started heading towards the bridge back to Arlington there was no one around except the marines at their check points and the police at the road closing points, it was lonely. As I came across the bridge there was a man sat on the side of the road and he was there to cheer us all on, I think he must have ran this race before as he knew just where you would need to see someone cheering for you.
Once in Arlington I got to the out and back and saw some of my fast team mates on the loop back, I could not believe that I had been able to catch them up. I did not manage to over take them, but finished within 2 mins of them.
As I came around the final corner and saw the “wall” I was saying out loud no, and I can’t when a marine said just up there is the finish!! As I looked up I saw a team mate stuck on the hill, he could not move, and he was using the brand new, top of the range chair, I had not seen him since mile 3 and I thought that if he could not get up there in that chair how was I going to do it in mine. I saw that he had 2 marines trying to talk him up the hill and in the end they had to give him a push, while this was going on a marine came over to me, he bent down to my level and started telling my to pull, he was so kind, I had heard horror stories about how the marines shout at you on this last hill, but he was kind. He kept telling my to pull and that I could do it, he came with me all the way up that hill, if it had not been for him I know I wouldn’t have made it. As I approached the finish line there was a green van stopped under the balloon arch, there was no way for me to get past, so as I got there I shouted “move that truck” and too my surprise so did the marines and spectors. The van moved and I finished. 2:28:47
I was met by the VP of Achilles and she told me that I was the third woman home and that I had done really well. I went off and met my DH and Tinkerbell did her test. I went over to first aid as I needed ice for my elbows and my DH was pushing me in cranks and my DD in wheels and Tinkerbell!! A marine saw us and came over to help; he pushed DD and took Tinker bell’s lead. He got us 2 food bags and my USAA coin and asked us where we were staying. We told him the holiday inn, which was a mile away and he said lets go!!! For a little bit of the way we followed some of the team, but they were too fast and we lost sight of them, so we asked an Officer and he sent us the wrong way up a hill, the marine asked my DH if he wanted to swap as he was struggling to push me up the hill and he told him No as he was already doing to much to help us. Once up the top of the hill we asked some locals were the hotel was and they told us to go down the hill and turn left, so back down we went again. The marine took us right into the hotel car park, the way in for the chair and thanked me for taking park in the race…..he was thanking me!!!! I thanked him for the help and his service to the country and he left for the mile walk back.
At the hotel we had a lunch provided by Quzino’s nothing I could eat so my DH had mine. I asked about the guy with the punchers and they did not know that anyone had punchers, just a broken chain. As I was saying where is he I saw him and paramedic came in saying that they had one of our team and that he needed his crutches, it was the guy that I had seen, he had not been able to get repairs and had to pull out of the race.
I thanked the team organiser for allowing me to race with the “freedom team” and she asked me what races I would like to do. I was not expected to finish so fast, and I think I impressed them. There are some races in FL next year that they are coming to and I will be racing as a team member with them for those. The team is also coming to WDW for the half marathon, they wanted to do the full, but Disney told them that it was too dangerous!!!!!
I had a nice hot bath and we had to pack and check out as we had to get our DD back to ballet on Monday. We left around 4pm and got home at 12:00 midday on Monday, time for a shower quick snooze and off to class.
While I was out on the course working my butt off my DH, DD & Tinkerbell where sat in the VIP tent, complete with laptops, large screen TV and waiters serving breakfast!!!! He missed out on the cooked lunch as I got back 1:30 before I was expected too. At the start of the race a guy came around and wrote down all our bib numbers, I did not know why until my DH told me that they had GPS tracking on us and that in the tent they could see our bib numbers on the course map in live time!!!
The organisation and kindness of the marines was amazing I do not think that any race will ever come close to the standard set by the MCM.
I can’t wait until next years!!!!!!
__________________
I'm sponsored by www.balatonspausa.comwww.freedomryder.comwww.spirafootwear.comwww.philwood.comwww.hedcycling.com Miles this month:161 Time:8:58
We arrived in Arlington at 6pm, luckily for me the team had already picked up my bibs I did not need to go to the expo. We went straight to whole foods to get something to eat and then to the holiday inn. I went straight to bed while my dh started to get my chair ready, he also went to meet the team captain to get my bib and goodie bag as they were still out at dinner when we arrived. I had missed all the team activities, and did not see anyone until the morning.
We set the alarm for 5am as we had to meet down stairs for a 6:45 depart. We set off a mass of red shirts taking over the roads in Arlington. The hotel was a mile away from the start line and a couple of times we stopped so that we could arrive together. Just before the start line we stopped, got everyone together so that we could enter as a team. I looked up and I saw the balloon arch start with a row of Marines stood under it. As we approached they started cheering and clapping and moved to the sides, It felt like we were super stars!!! I did not realise it at the time, but we had a private start, the other wheelchair start was on the other side of the road!!! I was interviewed for the local news, because of Tinkerbell.
I was next to a marine who was in his 12 marathon and he told me how bad the hills were and how that going down hill I would be between 40 – 50 mph.
It was a very humbling experience to be a part of the Freedom team, these men and women have lost parts of their body during active service.
We had Montel Williams a forma marine and disabled through MS as our starter. There was a fly over by two plains that are both a helicopter and plane!! And then the huge cannon was fired and we were off. I would have been happier in the back row, as I am slow, but we had to stay in the positions we arrived in, but I did not have to worry the fast ones soon got by me!!
The first 3 miles were all up hill, I was staying with a small pack of team and my chain fell off, one came over to see if he could help, luckily I remembered what my mechanic at the shop had said and that if the chain was not off completely to pull backwards and it might go back on, well I did this and it worked. I said I was ok and the guy went off. I asked someone how much longer the hill would go on for and I was told not much longer, then you cross the bridge and start climbing hills again. The guy I asked went off and I did not see him again until the “wall”
The hills were hard, very hard, but the team got me through them, once we were across the bridge into the second set of hills, I saw one of the team walking pulling his chair. When I say walking this guy lost both of his legs and has metal ones now, he usual uses crutches but of course did not have them. I went over to ask what happened, he had 2 punchers and only one small repair kit. I do not carry a kit with me so I could not help him, as I turned the corner there was a medical team who saw him and started cycling towards him, I pulled over and told them that he had 2 flats and went on my way. The down hills where scary, my new wheels are awesome they make a noise once they get to a certain speed, it sounds like the noise of “airwolf” an 80’s TV show, so we are now calling my chair “crankerwolf” when my racing wheels are on and “cranks” when off.
Some of the team over took me down hill, it must be their military training as they were fearless shouting oo-rah as they went. I was trying to pump both my breaks as I was not comfortable going that fast I was thinking about my crash, but I had to be very carful as I had the wrong hub size and was told that if I hit the break too hard the wheel would fall off. Once out of the hills, around mile 9? It levelled out so I could start getting some torque, and overtaking my team mates. I was passed by the lead runner and was determined to over take him, I did this twice and then kept in front of him for the rest of the race.
The support from the marines and spectators on the course was fantastic, there was only a few places where there was not many people and they were quite lonely as this was my first race without an escort and there were no competitors around either. As I went along the river I saw an aeroplane flying very low over the river I though it was going to crash into the river, but there was no one around to tell, good job really as it was coming in to land. I did not realise that the airport was right next to the river!!!!!
One of the team was in front of me and he had run out of water so was having to use the water stops, I could not believe what I saw, he indicated that he needed a drink and slowed down a little, a Marine started running to match his speed and hand over the cup, it was like watching a relay race, and they did not spill any!!!! There was a part along the river where it started going up hill again and there was a runner on the side walk who started running with me and shouting encouragement to get me up the hill, he was great, just a passer by who wanted to help, once at the top I thanked him and he ran back down to help the next chair through.
As we started heading towards the bridge back to Arlington there was no one around except the marines at their check points and the police at the road closing points, it was lonely. As I came across the bridge there was a man sat on the side of the road and he was there to cheer us all on, I think he must have ran this race before as he knew just where you would need to see someone cheering for you.
Once in Arlington I got to the out and back and saw some of my fast team mates on the loop back, I could not believe that I had been able to catch them up. I did not manage to over take them, but finished within 2 mins of them.
As I came around the final corner and saw the “wall” I was saying out loud no, and I can’t when a marine said just up there is the finish!! As I looked up I saw a team mate stuck on the hill, he could not move, and he was using the brand new, top of the range chair, I had not seen him since mile 3 and I thought that if he could not get up there in that chair how was I going to do it in mine. I saw that he had 2 marines trying to talk him up the hill and in the end they had to give him a push, while this was going on a marine came over to me, he bent down to my level and started telling my to pull, he was so kind, I had heard horror stories about how the marines shout at you on this last hill, but he was kind. He kept telling my to pull and that I could do it, he came with me all the way up that hill, if it had not been for him I know I wouldn’t have made it. As I approached the finish line there was a green van stopped under the balloon arch, there was no way for me to get past, so as I got there I shouted “move that truck” and too my surprise so did the marines and spectors. The van moved and I finished. 2:28:47
I was met by the VP of Achilles and she told me that I was the third woman home and that I had done really well. I went off and met my DH and Tinkerbell did her test. I went over to first aid as I needed ice for my elbows and my DH was pushing me in cranks and my DD in wheels and Tinkerbell!! A marine saw us and came over to help; he pushed DD and took Tinker bell’s lead. He got us 2 food bags and my USAA coin and asked us where we were staying. We told him the holiday inn, which was a mile away and he said lets go!!! For a little bit of the way we followed some of the team, but they were too fast and we lost sight of them, so we asked an Officer and he sent us the wrong way up a hill, the marine asked my DH if he wanted to swap as he was struggling to push me up the hill and he told him No as he was already doing to much to help us. Once up the top of the hill we asked some locals were the hotel was and they told us to go down the hill and turn left, so back down we went again. The marine took us right into the hotel car park, the way in for the chair and thanked me for taking park in the race…..he was thanking me!!!! I thanked him for the help and his service to the country and he left for the mile walk back.
At the hotel we had a lunch provided by Quzino’s nothing I could eat so my DH had mine. I asked about the guy with the punchers and they did not know that anyone had punchers, just a broken chain. As I was saying where is he I saw him and paramedic came in saying that they had one of our team and that he needed his crutches, it was the guy that I had seen, he had not been able to get repairs and had to pull out of the race.
I thanked the team organiser for allowing me to race with the “freedom team” and she asked me what races I would like to do. I was not expected to finish so fast, and I think I impressed them. There are some races in FL next year that they are coming to and I will be racing as a team member with them for those. The team is also coming to WDW for the half marathon, they wanted to do the full, but Disney told them that it was too dangerous!!!!!
I had a nice hot bath and we had to pack and check out as we had to get our DD back to ballet on Monday. We left around 4pm and got home at 12:00 midday on Monday, time for a shower quick snooze and off to class.
While I was out on the course working my butt off my DH, DD & Tinkerbell where sat in the VIP tent, complete with laptops, large screen TV and waiters serving breakfast!!!! He missed out on the cooked lunch as I got back 1:30 before I was expected too. At the start of the race a guy came around and wrote down all our bib numbers, I did not know why until my DH told me that they had GPS tracking on us and that in the tent they could see our bib numbers on the course map in live time!!!
The organisation and kindness of the marines was amazing I do not think that any race will ever come close to the standard set by the MCM.
I can’t wait until next years!!!!!!
__________________
I'm sponsored by www.balatonspausa.comwww.freedomryder.comwww.spirafootwear.comwww.philwood.comwww.hedcycling.com Miles this month:161 Time:8:58
goofyinohio
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2006
- Messages
- 1,299
Gang I'm going to do my best to get caught up this weekend. Having been at Disney a majority of October and then getting sick I've not been able to catch up.
Sorry all!!!!!
Sorry all!!!!!
aldisneygrl
<font color=green>I'm putting on my shades<br><fon
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2006
- Messages
- 3,003
Chris - Totally understandable! Are you feeling better? Did your wife or your kids catch it? I hope not. Hope you are feeling better soon. 
syko - Congrats on the NYC Marathon! You did excellent!!!
*This area reserved for October results when I have time to post
*
TOTALS FOR OCTOBER:
MILES: 84.4
HOURS: 22:28:36
syko - Congrats on the NYC Marathon! You did excellent!!!
*This area reserved for October results when I have time to post
*TOTALS FOR OCTOBER:
MILES: 84.4
HOURS: 22:28:36
I came 3rd out of 24th in NYC, and I seem to be the only Wisher who did not enjoy it!!!
NYC Marathon: Been there, done that, got the bling, don’t want to do it again!!!!
It took us 26 hours to drive to NY and we checked in to the hotel just after 3, by the time we got to our room, we only had an hour to get to the expo, so we decided that the quickest way would be for my DH to run pushing me!!! The only problem with this is that the hotel has a dress code and my DH was wearing a suite and not running shoes!!!!
At the expo we went straight to the Achilles booth and were escorted to the official sign in area, I had been joking to my DH that there was going to be a problem……and there was!!!!
(Why can’t I know the lotto numbers?)
The guy that took my paperwork told me to wait and he went over to a lady who then came over to us. It turned out that the lady was the person in the Achilles office that I had been emailing so after a hug she told me the bad news….NYC Running would not allow me to have Tinkerbell at the start line as they said that she would bite someone!!!!!!
Achilles had tried to explain that she is a service dog that would never bite, but they would not budge, despite it being a violation of the ADA. I could have her at the end though as the Achilles tent is outside of NYCRR control. There was no way around this and I said that I would have to see how I felt in the morning to see if I would crank or not. I was also changed to the last bus, so that I could have a test done as late as possible.
We set the alarm for 4am and I was not feeling to good, but we got ready, Tinkerbell did the test and did not give me the all clear, but she did not give the sign for a seizure so we were a bit confused.I decided to go as I thought that she was just upset that I was leaving her behind!!
We tried to leave the hotel and found that the accessible door was locked; we would have to wait for security to come and open it!!! With only 15 mins to get to the bus, we decided to go over to the other hotel and get out through the garage exit. My DH was pushing me and pulling my crank chair as fast as he could while I called one of the team organizes to ask what to do as it looked like we were going to miss the bus. She told us that she did not know, but that they had already filled the bus I was supposed to be on and that there were athletes left behind!!!! I swapped into my crank chair and we sped off down the road, we got to the libery and tried to cross the road, an NYC official told a bus to move, blocking the walkway and we could not get onto the sidewalk!!!
So we ended up cranking up the road with the police officers watching!!! At the traffic lights we were able to get on to the side walk and explained what had happened and they moved the barricade to get to the buses, as we went to find our bus we were stopped by a different official who told us that the disabled busses were not here and that we had to go up 2 blocks!!! The barricades were moved again and off we went. When we got to the right place there were a lot of athletes left including push rims, which had the earliest start. We were met by the team manager and she asked were Tinkerbell was, we explained what we were told and she could not believe it. Eventually a bus pulled in and she told them that I was to be allowed on first, the bus had no ramp so they lifted a ramp on and it was so steep it took 4 guys to push / pull our chairs up, once I was on they loaded my crank chair, I was lucky mine got a seat to hang over by itself, others had to share and our wheelchairs were hung over the seat behind us!!!!
An athlete who could not transfer to a seat was not tied down and had to hang on to the seat I was sat on!!!!! My bus had only 4 athletes, 4 guides and 2 carers on, and push rims were still left behind!!! The traffic was terrible and we got to the village just in time for me to visit the Princess room and change chairs, then it was straight to the start line!!! We were told to go and line up and as we set off we were given a round of applause from the runners in the waiting area, they lined us up and then told us that we were in the wrong place and that we all had to go backwards, behind the start line!!!!! Why they put us in front of it in the first place I don’t know. People were not happy as they had lost their starting place, personally I don’t care so I went to the back and was the last person to cross the start line, that way I knew I would not get bumped in the push for the lead. We where also in the blue start, even though on line it said orange!! I was glad though as blue was an easier course.
We finally got on our way and off we went up the bridge, I’m terrible at hills so I just took it at my own pace and over took a few people with one shouting out “where do you think your going girly”
I just carried on and had no problems, over took a few people and was hoping that the course would be nice.
Sorry to any NY’s here but the course was terrible the condition of the roads is appalling and crowd support was almost non existent for most of it, and nothing nice to look at either. Not what I had expected at all.
All was ok until I got around the half way mark when I had a TIA. I really thought about stopping at the medical tent or asking a guide to join me (Achilles had guides at the half way point in case anyone had problems) but I thought that if I went to either I would be made to stop and that I would be seen as being unreliable as an athlete and would not be offered other team spots, so I decide to carry on and she how I was at the next medical stop. I carried on like this to the end of the race.
Some of the turns were so sharp they had hay bales on them!!!! I was fine except on one where I touched a bale with my right rear wheel. I was so sick of bridges…why could we not go through a tunnel??? One had a grate for its service and they laid a thin carpet over it. My wheels span all over the place and you could feel every hole in the grate too, all I could do was cut my speed and plod through, but this time I hated the NYC marathon and could not wait for it to be over.
I did look for Wish shirts at the water stops as I knew Erica and Jane where out there for us, but I was not lucky enough to see them, but thanks for being there, it was nice to know that you where.
On my way in to CP someone told me that I was the last women back and the clock said 3:08 I really was not happy, I got my medal and it’s so light I thought that it must have been made of plastic. I carried on through and had to point to a merlr blanket as I had not been offered one and I was unable to talk properly due to the TIA the same thing for the food bag!!! I left this area and was told to go up a hill!!!!!! I had blown my left elbow…..I do this every race as it has not healed properly from the crash, the lady who told me were to go saw that I was in trouble and ask if I need a push, I shook my head and she pushed me all the way.
When I got there I was expecting to see my DH, my Mum and DD with Tinkerbell, but no one was there. I waited and finally my DH turned up, the bus from the start had been stuck in traffic for so long that in the end they demanded that the driver let them off and they ran the rest of the way!!! As soon as my DH saw me he knew something was wrong. I’ve had TIA’s before and he can understand me when I talk I told him that I just wanted to go, I did not even realise that a lady had come to my side and was talking to me, the lady I had been emailing!!! My DH called my Mum and told her where we were and that we needed Tinkerbell, she should have been there but an official sent her the wrong way!!! As soon as she got there we left, and a gentleman asked us if we wanted to get the bus back to our hotel but we said no so he walked back with us, he pushed my wheelchair, my DH pushed me in my crank and my Mum had DD asleep in her stroller and Tinkerbell. It took us forever to get to our hotel and as soon as we got there I had a bath while everyone else packed as we had to be out by 2.
We left the hotel and could not get the sat nav to work, we were driving around trying to get signal or a sign out of town when we found whole foods, we decide to stop and get some lunch, wow what a whole foods, and I thought that our local one was big. By the time we came out the sat nav had found a signal and we had a way out, now all we had was the traffic!!!!
In the end it took us 30 hours to get home and my DD missed her ballet class, luckily they are going to let her do a make up on Saturday.
In both my last races I felt that something was wrong with my left rear wheel, it turns out that there is something wrong with the pin that connects it to my axle, my DH is going to call Hed to see if it’s something that they can fix or if it’s a job for Phil. I just want to get it fixed for Space Coast.
I told my DH that I never want to do NYC again, as I thought it was the worst race I have ever done, and he told me that the team organizers had already said to him that I would be coming next year!!!
NYC Marathon: Been there, done that, got the bling, don’t want to do it again!!!!
It took us 26 hours to drive to NY and we checked in to the hotel just after 3, by the time we got to our room, we only had an hour to get to the expo, so we decided that the quickest way would be for my DH to run pushing me!!! The only problem with this is that the hotel has a dress code and my DH was wearing a suite and not running shoes!!!!
At the expo we went straight to the Achilles booth and were escorted to the official sign in area, I had been joking to my DH that there was going to be a problem……and there was!!!!
(Why can’t I know the lotto numbers?) The guy that took my paperwork told me to wait and he went over to a lady who then came over to us. It turned out that the lady was the person in the Achilles office that I had been emailing so after a hug she told me the bad news….NYC Running would not allow me to have Tinkerbell at the start line as they said that she would bite someone!!!!!! Achilles had tried to explain that she is a service dog that would never bite, but they would not budge, despite it being a violation of the ADA. I could have her at the end though as the Achilles tent is outside of NYCRR control. There was no way around this and I said that I would have to see how I felt in the morning to see if I would crank or not. I was also changed to the last bus, so that I could have a test done as late as possible.We set the alarm for 4am and I was not feeling to good, but we got ready, Tinkerbell did the test and did not give me the all clear, but she did not give the sign for a seizure so we were a bit confused.
I decided to go as I thought that she was just upset that I was leaving her behind!!We tried to leave the hotel and found that the accessible door was locked; we would have to wait for security to come and open it!!! With only 15 mins to get to the bus, we decided to go over to the other hotel and get out through the garage exit. My DH was pushing me and pulling my crank chair as fast as he could while I called one of the team organizes to ask what to do as it looked like we were going to miss the bus. She told us that she did not know, but that they had already filled the bus I was supposed to be on and that there were athletes left behind!!!!
I swapped into my crank chair and we sped off down the road, we got to the libery and tried to cross the road, an NYC official told a bus to move, blocking the walkway and we could not get onto the sidewalk!!! So we ended up cranking up the road with the police officers watching!!! At the traffic lights we were able to get on to the side walk and explained what had happened and they moved the barricade to get to the buses, as we went to find our bus we were stopped by a different official who told us that the disabled busses were not here and that we had to go up 2 blocks!!! The barricades were moved again and off we went. When we got to the right place there were a lot of athletes left including push rims, which had the earliest start. We were met by the team manager and she asked were Tinkerbell was, we explained what we were told and she could not believe it. Eventually a bus pulled in and she told them that I was to be allowed on first, the bus had no ramp so they lifted a ramp on and it was so steep it took 4 guys to push / pull our chairs up, once I was on they loaded my crank chair, I was lucky mine got a seat to hang over by itself, others had to share and our wheelchairs were hung over the seat behind us!!!! An athlete who could not transfer to a seat was not tied down and had to hang on to the seat I was sat on!!!!! My bus had only 4 athletes, 4 guides and 2 carers on, and push rims were still left behind!!! The traffic was terrible and we got to the village just in time for me to visit the Princess room and change chairs, then it was straight to the start line!!! We were told to go and line up and as we set off we were given a round of applause from the runners in the waiting area, they lined us up and then told us that we were in the wrong place and that we all had to go backwards, behind the start line!!!!! Why they put us in front of it in the first place I don’t know. People were not happy as they had lost their starting place, personally I don’t care so I went to the back and was the last person to cross the start line, that way I knew I would not get bumped in the push for the lead. We where also in the blue start, even though on line it said orange!! I was glad though as blue was an easier course.We finally got on our way and off we went up the bridge, I’m terrible at hills so I just took it at my own pace and over took a few people with one shouting out “where do you think your going girly”
I just carried on and had no problems, over took a few people and was hoping that the course would be nice.Sorry to any NY’s here but the course was terrible the condition of the roads is appalling and crowd support was almost non existent for most of it, and nothing nice to look at either. Not what I had expected at all.
All was ok until I got around the half way mark when I had a TIA. I really thought about stopping at the medical tent or asking a guide to join me (Achilles had guides at the half way point in case anyone had problems) but I thought that if I went to either I would be made to stop and that I would be seen as being unreliable as an athlete and would not be offered other team spots, so I decide to carry on and she how I was at the next medical stop. I carried on like this to the end of the race.
Some of the turns were so sharp they had hay bales on them!!!!
I was fine except on one where I touched a bale with my right rear wheel. I was so sick of bridges…why could we not go through a tunnel??? One had a grate for its service and they laid a thin carpet over it. My wheels span all over the place and you could feel every hole in the grate too, all I could do was cut my speed and plod through, but this time I hated the NYC marathon and could not wait for it to be over.I did look for Wish shirts at the water stops as I knew Erica and Jane where out there for us, but I was not lucky enough to see them, but thanks for being there, it was nice to know that you where.
On my way in to CP someone told me that I was the last women back and the clock said 3:08 I really was not happy, I got my medal and it’s so light I thought that it must have been made of plastic. I carried on through and had to point to a merlr blanket as I had not been offered one and I was unable to talk properly due to the TIA the same thing for the food bag!!! I left this area and was told to go up a hill!!!!!! I had blown my left elbow…..I do this every race as it has not healed properly from the crash, the lady who told me were to go saw that I was in trouble and ask if I need a push, I shook my head and she pushed me all the way.
When I got there I was expecting to see my DH, my Mum and DD with Tinkerbell, but no one was there. I waited and finally my DH turned up, the bus from the start had been stuck in traffic for so long that in the end they demanded that the driver let them off and they ran the rest of the way!!! As soon as my DH saw me he knew something was wrong. I’ve had TIA’s before and he can understand me when I talk I told him that I just wanted to go, I did not even realise that a lady had come to my side and was talking to me, the lady I had been emailing!!! My DH called my Mum and told her where we were and that we needed Tinkerbell, she should have been there but an official sent her the wrong way!!! As soon as she got there we left, and a gentleman asked us if we wanted to get the bus back to our hotel but we said no so he walked back with us, he pushed my wheelchair, my DH pushed me in my crank and my Mum had DD asleep in her stroller and Tinkerbell. It took us forever to get to our hotel and as soon as we got there I had a bath while everyone else packed as we had to be out by 2.We left the hotel and could not get the sat nav to work, we were driving around trying to get signal or a sign out of town when we found whole foods, we decide to stop and get some lunch, wow what a whole foods, and I thought that our local one was big. By the time we came out the sat nav had found a signal and we had a way out, now all we had was the traffic!!!!
In the end it took us 30 hours to get home and my DD missed her ballet class, luckily they are going to let her do a make up on Saturday.
In both my last races I felt that something was wrong with my left rear wheel, it turns out that there is something wrong with the pin that connects it to my axle, my DH is going to call Hed to see if it’s something that they can fix or if it’s a job for Phil. I just want to get it fixed for Space Coast.
I told my DH that I never want to do NYC again, as I thought it was the worst race I have ever done, and he told me that the team organizers had already said to him that I would be coming next year!!!
Duanerice
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2001
- Messages
- 1,045
Syko,
you are a true inspiration. Nothing comes easy for you but you push through and keep on going. Seems like every race they throw obstacles in your way but it doesn't stop you. I am sure you are the same way in the rest of you life.
Just wanted to know how inspirational you are. Sounds like you have a fantastic family too.
Thanks,
Duane
you are a true inspiration. Nothing comes easy for you but you push through and keep on going. Seems like every race they throw obstacles in your way but it doesn't stop you. I am sure you are the same way in the rest of you life.
Just wanted to know how inspirational you are. Sounds like you have a fantastic family too.
Thanks,
Duane
aldisneygrl
<font color=green>I'm putting on my shades<br><fon
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2006
- Messages
- 3,003
I did a local Half Marathon on Saturday with Anne M. and got a new PR!!!
It was only my second Half. Did the first one in Nashville back in April. I finished in 2:58:32. Shaved off 18 minutes of my Nashville time!! Now this race was done at a cooler time of year, and it is relatively flat, but I am so excited. Just had to share my good news with my Buzzie friends. 
It was only my second Half. Did the first one in Nashville back in April. I finished in 2:58:32. Shaved off 18 minutes of my Nashville time!!
Now this race was done at a cooler time of year, and it is relatively flat, but I am so excited. Just had to share my good news with my Buzzie friends. 
hungrygreenhippo
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2008
- Messages
- 573
Hi Buzzies,
It's been awhile! I haven't had a chance to read through all the latest posts, but I'll get around to it soon.
For October:
26.2 miles (double miles for doing the San Jose 1/2!)
150 minutes
So the short story is that mid-October I got very sick and was in the hospital for two weeks, then another two weeks at home recovering. I only went back to work last week, and haven't run at all for way over a month. I'm still trying to get some light exercise in through Wii Fit and walking.
Anyway, I just wanted to check back in because RNR Las Vegas is coming up quick. I actually don't know yet if I'm going to go. I need to figure out in the next couple days if I can walk it under the 4 hour time limit. But I was curious if there are any plans to meet up since I think there were quite a few from the team who were planning to be in Vegas.
Talk to you all again soon!
It's been awhile! I haven't had a chance to read through all the latest posts, but I'll get around to it soon.
For October:
26.2 miles (double miles for doing the San Jose 1/2!)
150 minutes
So the short story is that mid-October I got very sick and was in the hospital for two weeks, then another two weeks at home recovering. I only went back to work last week, and haven't run at all for way over a month. I'm still trying to get some light exercise in through Wii Fit and walking.
Anyway, I just wanted to check back in because RNR Las Vegas is coming up quick. I actually don't know yet if I'm going to go. I need to figure out in the next couple days if I can walk it under the 4 hour time limit. But I was curious if there are any plans to meet up since I think there were quite a few from the team who were planning to be in Vegas.
Talk to you all again soon!
I'm trying to get into the keys 100......wish me luck!!!!! http://www.keys100.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99&Itemid=111
hungrygreenhippo
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2008
- Messages
- 573
Syko, I really enjoyed reading your race reports. It's interesting to read about a race from a different perspective. I too think you are inspirational. Good luck getting into the Keys 100. I know you have wheels, but still... 100 miles!
I walked a 10k yesterday for the WISH virtual turkey trot. I was somewhere just under a 16:00 pace. I've decided to go for the RNR Vegas 1/2 and at least give it a try because I'll regret it if I don't.
I walked a 10k yesterday for the WISH virtual turkey trot. I was somewhere just under a 16:00 pace. I've decided to go for the RNR Vegas 1/2 and at least give it a try because I'll regret it if I don't.
MickeyT
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2006
- Messages
- 2,004
Hey Everybody,
Still here. Blow through every once in a while to check up on everybody.
Great plaque there Syko. I know that's not why you do it but it is nice to look up at the wall hangers and be reminded of what you have accomplished. Did you get all your mechanical problems straight. That alone would have been enough to deter most people. (But everyone on here knows you are not 'most' people!)
HGH-Sound like you're recouping well.
Already gettin ready for a 1/2 already. Amazing.
Way to go on that PR Allie. Keep shaving that time and wow who knows, be getting under 2:00!
I've been running more in Nov than I have all year. I guess I'd better with January 10 and a date with Mickey staring me down. This will be my first full and I am running to finish. I have a couple rounds of chemo (Dec 8 & 15) between now and then. Gonna try a 20 long run tomorrow and then lay off for a bit and them maybe one long one before. Like I said. Time is not the issue. Finishing is the goal.
I will post my Oct-Nov miles next week when I can get a handle on them. Hope all are well
Still here. Blow through every once in a while to check up on everybody.
Great plaque there Syko. I know that's not why you do it but it is nice to look up at the wall hangers and be reminded of what you have accomplished. Did you get all your mechanical problems straight. That alone would have been enough to deter most people. (But everyone on here knows you are not 'most' people!)
HGH-Sound like you're recouping well.
Already gettin ready for a 1/2 already. Amazing.Way to go on that PR Allie. Keep shaving that time and wow who knows, be getting under 2:00
!I've been running more in Nov than I have all year. I guess I'd better with January 10 and a date with Mickey staring me down. This will be my first full and I am running to finish. I have a couple rounds of chemo (Dec 8 & 15) between now and then. Gonna try a 20 long run tomorrow and then lay off for a bit and them maybe one long one before. Like I said. Time is not the issue. Finishing is the goal.
I will post my Oct-Nov miles next week when I can get a handle on them. Hope all are well
I just need to get the bearings changed in my back wheels. I will send them off to Phil after the race next weekend, and hope to get them back in time for mickey!!!!
Mike I don't know how you do it when you have to have chemo, your my insperation.
Please take it easy Lisa
I have just got back from Space coast and I came secound. I don't know my time yet, but my DH says its around 2:10.......so I have qualified for Boston 2011.
Mike I don't know how you do it when you have to have chemo, your my insperation.
Please take it easy Lisa
I have just got back from Space coast and I came secound. I don't know my time yet, but my DH says its around 2:10.......so I have qualified for Boston 2011.
hungrygreenhippo
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2008
- Messages
- 573
No worries, I hope it doesn't sound like I'm taking my health lightly, because I'm not. I didn't want to bore everyone with too many details, but basically what happened was that I had a lupus flare-up which put me in the hospital for a week. I went back home for a week, but then one of the medications they put me on wasn't agreeing with me so I had to go back for a second week of hospitalization. I definitely realize I have a serious condition, but I'm recovering well and am pretty much back to a normal routine again. I have an amazing mom and she came to visit and stocked my freezer with a ton of food so I don't have to spend as much time cooking each day which allows me to get more rest. I'm excited for RNR Vegas because if I finish I'll be earning the "Rock Star" medal. At the same time I'm also realistic and know that I may have to drop out if it feels like too much for me to handle. But at least I'll have tried.
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