WDWFAN9
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2001
- Messages
- 2,043
Hi All!
I mostly lurk, but this past weekend was so fantastic
that I wanted to share my experience with everyone.
Friday began at 3:30AM. DH was dropping me at the airport on his way to work, and that is the time his day normally begins. Yikes! So I chose the 6:30 flight to Columbus and the timing worked out great. I was at the Hampton Inn in Columbus a little after 9AM. Of course my room wasn't ready, so I got comfy in the lobby and talked to Lily, who was on her way to town. When she arrived there was a slight snafu with her room, but it was straightened out and she was actually able to check in. So we dumped our stuff in her room and headed down the block to the expo.
While we were picking up our packets the Penguin himself came up to say hi, and we chatted for several minutes. That was so cool
.We walked around for a little bit and Lily got John Bingham to sign Liz's bib and we posed for a couple of pictures. After we met up with ohMom and her DDs we gave John the Penguin shirt that Liz coordinated (great job Liz 
). He seemed genuinely pleased to get the shirt. And we also got a picture taken with Coach Jenny. Both of them were very down-to-earth people. John and Lily talked for a little bit about their Goofy experience. It was just awesome.
We then headed out to lunch, with ohMom's oldest DD doing an excellent job of navigating. We ate at a great Irish pub and everyone seemed pleased with their food. I know I was. After lunch Lily and I went back to the Hampton and I was able to get my room, just down the hall from Lily.
I headed out to see my DS's dorm room at OSU, only a short two mile walk from the Hampton. Since I had only been on campus once (on move-in day) Craig wanted to show me around. And of course everything he wanted to show me was farther away from the Hampton. I figure I probably walked at least 6 miles that day and later Lily teased me about doing a mini-version of a Goofy. It certainly wasn't my plan to walk that much the day before the half, it just sort of happened.
When Craig and I got back to the hotel Lily was just getting back from meeting up with another Dis'er and they had had ice cream at Graeter's, so she wasn't hungry. Craig and I headed out again (more walking) and had a great supper. We got back to the hotel and just chilled for a while. It was so good to see him. He is my baby (the youngest of 4) and now he goes to school 7 hrs from home. It was really nice to just hang out with him, and being the sweet young man that he is, a little later in the evening he walked a couple of blocks to Cold Stone Creamery to get me some ice cream. After that I got our race clothes ready and it was time for lights out.
Saturday morning came quickly. Lily brought her stuff down to my room (we were sharing Sat night) and I got to meet Amanda. We made our way to the race start and met up with ohMom and her family. Before we knew it it was time for the race to start. The weather was cool and cloudy, but not bad. DS, myself, Lily, and Amanda walked together.
The first part of the course was through an old, but beautifully maintained, area. The houses were gorgeous, all that beautiful architecture was so nice to see. The miles flew by as we walked and talked and Lily made us pose for pictures at every mile marker! We also talked to Liz a couple of times during the morning.
DS was a great tour guide through the OSU campus, showing us the different points of interest. He is so happy to be a Buckeye, and I have to admit that even though I was not initially thrilled with his choosing a school so far from home, it has worked out well for him.
Before we knew it the finish line was in sight. Craig's frat brothers were race volunteers and they all waited for him at the finish line, gosh, a bunch of guys being thoughtful. Imagine that!!
We all finished together. Our time was 3:41:20 and our official pace was 16:54. I had trained for a 17 or so pace, so this was right on schedule.
We got our medals, took a few photos, grabbed some food, and then walked back to the Hampton. Fortunately everything was located within a few blocks. After just chilling in the room for awhile it was time to head out to supper at Buca de beppo's (?). There was a big group of us and we all had a great time. DS and I sat across from Helenabear and her DH. They are both relatively recent graduates of OSU, so DS enjoyed comparing notes about the differences on campus from 5 or 6 years ago.
After that it was back to the Hampton. Amanda offered to give Craig a ride back to campus. He definitely wasn't going to walk the 2 miles, but was planning on taking the bus. He really appreciated the door-to-door service! Lily and I talked for awhile, watched a little basketball, ate a few of the delicious chocolate chip cookies that Amanda had brought, and then it was lights out.
Sunday Lily was up early and after breakfast (the Hampton put out a nice spread), she left for home. I headed down for breakfast and ran into ohMom's family and joined them. After that I packed up and headed to the airport. Just as I was about to step into the plane we were stopped - bad weather in Chicago had shut down Midway. We ended up having an hour's delay. I was able to catch DH before he left home to pick me up, so at least he wasn't waiting at the airport for me. The flight home was uneventful and it was good to get home to my pups (aka the lil' love magnets).
It was amazing to share this experience with DS, and in our family if we do something once and like it - it becomes a tradition (at least that is what the kids always said when they were little). So I've told him this definitely deserves to be a tradition. Thanks Lily for suggesting Craig join us.
It was also amazing to share this with my Dis friends. My DH has been a little leery of those "Internet people", but the support and friendship have been so memorable. I wish I were a little more eloquent, but just a great big
to you all. I hope I can meet more of you in Chicago in August.
Take care!
I mostly lurk, but this past weekend was so fantastic
that I wanted to share my experience with everyone.Friday began at 3:30AM. DH was dropping me at the airport on his way to work, and that is the time his day normally begins. Yikes! So I chose the 6:30 flight to Columbus and the timing worked out great. I was at the Hampton Inn in Columbus a little after 9AM. Of course my room wasn't ready, so I got comfy in the lobby and talked to Lily, who was on her way to town. When she arrived there was a slight snafu with her room, but it was straightened out and she was actually able to check in. So we dumped our stuff in her room and headed down the block to the expo.
While we were picking up our packets the Penguin himself came up to say hi, and we chatted for several minutes. That was so cool
.We walked around for a little bit and Lily got John Bingham to sign Liz's bib and we posed for a couple of pictures. After we met up with ohMom and her DDs we gave John the Penguin shirt that Liz coordinated (great job Liz ). He seemed genuinely pleased to get the shirt. And we also got a picture taken with Coach Jenny. Both of them were very down-to-earth people. John and Lily talked for a little bit about their Goofy experience. It was just awesome.We then headed out to lunch, with ohMom's oldest DD doing an excellent job of navigating. We ate at a great Irish pub and everyone seemed pleased with their food. I know I was. After lunch Lily and I went back to the Hampton and I was able to get my room, just down the hall from Lily.
I headed out to see my DS's dorm room at OSU, only a short two mile walk from the Hampton. Since I had only been on campus once (on move-in day) Craig wanted to show me around. And of course everything he wanted to show me was farther away from the Hampton. I figure I probably walked at least 6 miles that day and later Lily teased me about doing a mini-version of a Goofy. It certainly wasn't my plan to walk that much the day before the half, it just sort of happened.
When Craig and I got back to the hotel Lily was just getting back from meeting up with another Dis'er and they had had ice cream at Graeter's, so she wasn't hungry. Craig and I headed out again (more walking) and had a great supper. We got back to the hotel and just chilled for a while. It was so good to see him. He is my baby (the youngest of 4) and now he goes to school 7 hrs from home. It was really nice to just hang out with him, and being the sweet young man that he is, a little later in the evening he walked a couple of blocks to Cold Stone Creamery to get me some ice cream. After that I got our race clothes ready and it was time for lights out.
Saturday morning came quickly. Lily brought her stuff down to my room (we were sharing Sat night) and I got to meet Amanda. We made our way to the race start and met up with ohMom and her family. Before we knew it it was time for the race to start. The weather was cool and cloudy, but not bad. DS, myself, Lily, and Amanda walked together.
The first part of the course was through an old, but beautifully maintained, area. The houses were gorgeous, all that beautiful architecture was so nice to see. The miles flew by as we walked and talked and Lily made us pose for pictures at every mile marker! We also talked to Liz a couple of times during the morning.
DS was a great tour guide through the OSU campus, showing us the different points of interest. He is so happy to be a Buckeye, and I have to admit that even though I was not initially thrilled with his choosing a school so far from home, it has worked out well for him.
Before we knew it the finish line was in sight. Craig's frat brothers were race volunteers and they all waited for him at the finish line, gosh, a bunch of guys being thoughtful. Imagine that!!
We all finished together. Our time was 3:41:20 and our official pace was 16:54. I had trained for a 17 or so pace, so this was right on schedule.
We got our medals, took a few photos, grabbed some food, and then walked back to the Hampton. Fortunately everything was located within a few blocks. After just chilling in the room for awhile it was time to head out to supper at Buca de beppo's (?). There was a big group of us and we all had a great time. DS and I sat across from Helenabear and her DH. They are both relatively recent graduates of OSU, so DS enjoyed comparing notes about the differences on campus from 5 or 6 years ago.
After that it was back to the Hampton. Amanda offered to give Craig a ride back to campus. He definitely wasn't going to walk the 2 miles, but was planning on taking the bus. He really appreciated the door-to-door service! Lily and I talked for awhile, watched a little basketball, ate a few of the delicious chocolate chip cookies that Amanda had brought, and then it was lights out.
Sunday Lily was up early and after breakfast (the Hampton put out a nice spread), she left for home. I headed down for breakfast and ran into ohMom's family and joined them. After that I packed up and headed to the airport. Just as I was about to step into the plane we were stopped - bad weather in Chicago had shut down Midway. We ended up having an hour's delay. I was able to catch DH before he left home to pick me up, so at least he wasn't waiting at the airport for me. The flight home was uneventful and it was good to get home to my pups (aka the lil' love magnets).
It was amazing to share this experience with DS, and in our family if we do something once and like it - it becomes a tradition (at least that is what the kids always said when they were little). So I've told him this definitely deserves to be a tradition. Thanks Lily for suggesting Craig join us.
It was also amazing to share this with my Dis friends. My DH has been a little leery of those "Internet people", but the support and friendship have been so memorable. I wish I were a little more eloquent, but just a great big
to you all. I hope I can meet more of you in Chicago in August.Take care!
