superchime
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2010
- Messages
- 817
Princess weekend recap - 10k race day
When I registered for the half marathon I knew that was a stretch goal for me, so when Princess registration came around I registered for the 10k as sort of a consolation race because I had successfully done 10k races in the past and 6 miles was a pretty comfortable distance for me in training. I figured if I couldn't finish the half, I'd redeem myself with the 10k. I never imagined that I'd be worried about finishing it.
Then I got sick in February, and stayed sick for weeks with a cough that wouldn't quit. Training got derailed. I tried to walk as much of my training plan as I could but running wasn't happening. So I headed into this weekend uncertain already. Then, the night before the 10k I could. not. sleep. I don't know why, but I may have dozed for an hour total. When my alarm went off at 2am I had a raging migraine and I was hating life.
A fitness Instagram account I follow always says never make a decision from bed, and I had to get up to find my migraine meds anyway, but I was pretty sure I was just going to crawl right back in there. My husband, who had just returned home from a work trip to California, was still awake, and he told me to go. I'd regret it if I didn't. Just go to the start line.
So I took the meds, ate half a banana, and got dressed.
So excited. I posted on my IG that I was really mad at the girl who signed me up for this.
I got out to the bus pick up area at just a few minutes after 3:00. There were already a few people waiting, and many more joined us. Hilariously, there were also some very drunk people who were still awake and wandering around amongst our line.
No bus. No bus. Then finally our bus rep person ran out into the parking lot and flagged it down. The driver didn't know where to go, who knows what would have happened if the rep hadn't been there. Finally at 3:20 we had a bus. I sat and chatted with a very nice woman who was a perfect princess.
By the time we got to Epcot the corrals were already filling, so I didn't have time to find the dis meetup. Just dropped my bag at gear check (I'm so jealous of everyone who doesn't need to do this... I have to have my *stuff*), stopped off at the portapotty, and headed for corral D. It wasn't too full yet, so I found a spot over towards the left side.
I have learned that I get claustrophobic once the corrals start moving, so I know now that I need to be on one of the sides next to a fence. I sat there waiting for the race to start, ate a handful of sport beans, and started to feel my headache ease up. By the time the race started it was gone and I was so grateful.
We started to move towards the start line and I could see the balloon ladies and Dead Last Start people when we turned the corner. I had volunteered to be a DLS target for this race and I was donating $10 to Give Kids the World for each DLS person to pass me.
I started off a little faster than I should have because I needed to go! I didn't have anyone with me to hold my spot, so I didn't want to jump out of my corral before the race started. I'm not about to go in the bushes in Florida, and I didn't feel good about the line for the port a potties I saw around mile 2ish, so I just ran until I got to Hollywood Studios.
After that, I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of the race. No headache, no balloon ladies in sight, beautiful sunrise. I was glad I got up.
I had heard stories about princess weekend and the different vibe it had from Marathon weekend. Not all of the stories I heard were positive, so I wasn't sure what to expect heading into the weekend, but I had a great time. I know maybe I got lucky, and it only takes one person with a bad attitude to sour the weekend, so I was glad to not have that experience. I also found the course less congested than the half, even the section from DHS to the Boardwalk. With some weaving, I was pretty much able to run whenever I needed to.
I don't know any of these women but this is my favorite photo from this race.
A beautiful morning run through Epcot. It will be even more beautiful when those barges are gone. Also, I feel like my teeth are gigantic and my eyes are wrinkly and I used to be super self-conscious about photos of me but I'm 46 now and I just don't care any more. That's what I look like.
My goal for this race was to finish under a 16 minute mile pace. My official chip time was 16:11 (arg!) but Runkeeper had my pace as 15:29 and my apple watch had my pace as 15:46 so I'm going to call it good.
The cooling towel at the end of the race was very welcome. That half a banana from 2am had long since worn off, so I ate an uncrustable and the very best bag of Doritios I've ever had in my entire life.
By that point it was nearly 8:00 and Epcot early entry would be happening soon. My stomach was feeling much better than it did at the end of the half in January but I have realized that I really, really do not want to sit on a bus after a race. I'd much rather hobble my sweaty self through the general public who are just trying to get to Remy's. Sorry.
I rope dropped Starbucks for an iced coffee (decaf because I'm fun like that) and made my way back to my room. I was stopped twice on the way by people who said they had wanted to run this weekend but couldn't get registered, and wanted to know if I had any tips. I did.
At this point I noticed that my heart rate was still pretty high, which started the adventure of worry that I posted about earlier. I showered and got ready to take a nap but first (because I'm nothing if not melodramatic) I texted my husband to tell him my heart was doing weird things and if I died during my nap that he was not allowed to give my chickens away.
I woke up a few hours later, not dead, but hungry as heck. I ate everything in my hotel room, hung out for a bit, then headed to Epcot for more. Caught a beautiful sunset on the way.
I got my (now) traditional post-race meal of vegan fish and chips from Rose & Crown and found a quiet corner in the back of the UK pavilion to enjoy them. Or... it was quiet, until a family came over and the drunk dad picked a fight with his wife. Nice. I packed up my food and headed to find another spot to finish.
It's been too long now, and I don't have any more pictures, so I don't really remember what happened the rest of the night. I think Epcot was still pretty crowded and I didn't feel like park hopping, so I headed back and turned in early. Really glad that my rough morning turned into a pretty great day.
When I registered for the half marathon I knew that was a stretch goal for me, so when Princess registration came around I registered for the 10k as sort of a consolation race because I had successfully done 10k races in the past and 6 miles was a pretty comfortable distance for me in training. I figured if I couldn't finish the half, I'd redeem myself with the 10k. I never imagined that I'd be worried about finishing it.
Then I got sick in February, and stayed sick for weeks with a cough that wouldn't quit. Training got derailed. I tried to walk as much of my training plan as I could but running wasn't happening. So I headed into this weekend uncertain already. Then, the night before the 10k I could. not. sleep. I don't know why, but I may have dozed for an hour total. When my alarm went off at 2am I had a raging migraine and I was hating life.
A fitness Instagram account I follow always says never make a decision from bed, and I had to get up to find my migraine meds anyway, but I was pretty sure I was just going to crawl right back in there. My husband, who had just returned home from a work trip to California, was still awake, and he told me to go. I'd regret it if I didn't. Just go to the start line.
So I took the meds, ate half a banana, and got dressed.
So excited. I posted on my IG that I was really mad at the girl who signed me up for this.
I got out to the bus pick up area at just a few minutes after 3:00. There were already a few people waiting, and many more joined us. Hilariously, there were also some very drunk people who were still awake and wandering around amongst our line.
No bus. No bus. Then finally our bus rep person ran out into the parking lot and flagged it down. The driver didn't know where to go, who knows what would have happened if the rep hadn't been there. Finally at 3:20 we had a bus. I sat and chatted with a very nice woman who was a perfect princess.
By the time we got to Epcot the corrals were already filling, so I didn't have time to find the dis meetup. Just dropped my bag at gear check (I'm so jealous of everyone who doesn't need to do this... I have to have my *stuff*), stopped off at the portapotty, and headed for corral D. It wasn't too full yet, so I found a spot over towards the left side.
I have learned that I get claustrophobic once the corrals start moving, so I know now that I need to be on one of the sides next to a fence. I sat there waiting for the race to start, ate a handful of sport beans, and started to feel my headache ease up. By the time the race started it was gone and I was so grateful.
We started to move towards the start line and I could see the balloon ladies and Dead Last Start people when we turned the corner. I had volunteered to be a DLS target for this race and I was donating $10 to Give Kids the World for each DLS person to pass me.
I started off a little faster than I should have because I needed to go! I didn't have anyone with me to hold my spot, so I didn't want to jump out of my corral before the race started. I'm not about to go in the bushes in Florida, and I didn't feel good about the line for the port a potties I saw around mile 2ish, so I just ran until I got to Hollywood Studios.
After that, I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of the race. No headache, no balloon ladies in sight, beautiful sunrise. I was glad I got up.
I had heard stories about princess weekend and the different vibe it had from Marathon weekend. Not all of the stories I heard were positive, so I wasn't sure what to expect heading into the weekend, but I had a great time. I know maybe I got lucky, and it only takes one person with a bad attitude to sour the weekend, so I was glad to not have that experience. I also found the course less congested than the half, even the section from DHS to the Boardwalk. With some weaving, I was pretty much able to run whenever I needed to.
I don't know any of these women but this is my favorite photo from this race.
A beautiful morning run through Epcot. It will be even more beautiful when those barges are gone. Also, I feel like my teeth are gigantic and my eyes are wrinkly and I used to be super self-conscious about photos of me but I'm 46 now and I just don't care any more. That's what I look like.
My goal for this race was to finish under a 16 minute mile pace. My official chip time was 16:11 (arg!) but Runkeeper had my pace as 15:29 and my apple watch had my pace as 15:46 so I'm going to call it good.
The cooling towel at the end of the race was very welcome. That half a banana from 2am had long since worn off, so I ate an uncrustable and the very best bag of Doritios I've ever had in my entire life.
By that point it was nearly 8:00 and Epcot early entry would be happening soon. My stomach was feeling much better than it did at the end of the half in January but I have realized that I really, really do not want to sit on a bus after a race. I'd much rather hobble my sweaty self through the general public who are just trying to get to Remy's. Sorry.
I rope dropped Starbucks for an iced coffee (decaf because I'm fun like that) and made my way back to my room. I was stopped twice on the way by people who said they had wanted to run this weekend but couldn't get registered, and wanted to know if I had any tips. I did.
At this point I noticed that my heart rate was still pretty high, which started the adventure of worry that I posted about earlier. I showered and got ready to take a nap but first (because I'm nothing if not melodramatic) I texted my husband to tell him my heart was doing weird things and if I died during my nap that he was not allowed to give my chickens away.
I woke up a few hours later, not dead, but hungry as heck. I ate everything in my hotel room, hung out for a bit, then headed to Epcot for more. Caught a beautiful sunset on the way.
I got my (now) traditional post-race meal of vegan fish and chips from Rose & Crown and found a quiet corner in the back of the UK pavilion to enjoy them. Or... it was quiet, until a family came over and the drunk dad picked a fight with his wife. Nice. I packed up my food and headed to find another spot to finish.
It's been too long now, and I don't have any more pictures, so I don't really remember what happened the rest of the night. I think Epcot was still pretty crowded and I didn't feel like park hopping, so I headed back and turned in early. Really glad that my rough morning turned into a pretty great day.
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