Expedition Everest Challenge May 5 @ 9:30 2012

[Cripey]

So just a little OT story here I had to share~
DS17 and I are doing the EEC together. He's grown up with a love of all things climbing/Mt. Everest since he was young. He knows every factoid there is about Mt. Everest and has done lots of high adventure kind of stuff~ his dream is to go to Base Camp there some day. (The real one)

We also love watching Amazing Race together and always talk about what we would do if we were running the race together.

So doing this challenge together is really special since it's a more realistic version of our dreams.
We are so excited planning our weekend.

Then, 2 days ago, he finds his car covered with window paint reading "PROM?"
When is Prom? You guessed it... May 5th.
I was surprised at how last minute the invite is but it seems like that is not uncommon, for a lot of kids are just asking each other now.
It is not for his school, it's for Prom at the girl's school.

He has a chance to ask her to his (he goes to an all boy's school), but he really likes this girl and I feel bad that he'll have to give it up. He says he's fine with it and our weekend is special and he wouldn't miss it for the world. I still want to give him an out if he wants it. I know he's torn in his mind but says he still wants to do the EEC. He's so sweet, but as a mom I have guilt he's doing something with me when he should be experiencing those HS milestones.

Oh, what a tough spot to be in! I'm not a mom, so I can't say I know exactly how torn you must be, but the first thing that came to mind when reading your story was that I'm guessing he has a pretty good head on his shoulders and has been taught well to make good decisions for himself...by YOU! I hope that by him recognizing that this race and time spent with you will be special to him, that you are filled with a great sense of accomplishment! I mean, come on! A teenager choosing to hang with his mom over a girl he likes!?! Does that EVER happen!?! Personally, I think he's right...this will be a special memory for the both of you, and he won't really be missing a huge milestone...he'll still get to go to his own prom, and hopefully with the same girl he really likes. Oh and the bonus here...it's a little test for the girl...if your son doesn't go with her, and explains why, her reaction either way just might tell him alot about her

 

[PrincessV]

I have never done an EEC, but with all the other runDisney 5K's and vast majority of the ½'s I've done, the line to retrieve your bag was minimal (glaring exception being the inaugural Wine & Dine)

I've only done one WDW race, but there was absolutely no line at the Tangled 5K's bag check.

So just a little OT story here I had to share~
DS17 and I are doing the EEC together. He's grown up with a love of all things climbing/Mt. Everest since he was young. He knows every factoid there is about Mt. Everest and has done lots of high adventure kind of stuff~ his dream is to go to Base Camp there some day. (The real one)

We also love watching Amazing Race together and always talk about what we would do if we were running the race together.

So doing this challenge together is really special since it's a more realistic version of our dreams.
We are so excited planning our weekend.

Then, 2 days ago, he finds his car covered with window paint reading "PROM?"
When is Prom? You guessed it... May 5th.
I was surprised at how last minute the invite is but it seems like that is not uncommon, for a lot of kids are just asking each other now.
It is not for his school, it's for Prom at the girl's school.

He has a chance to ask her to his (he goes to an all boy's school), but he really likes this girl and I feel bad that he'll have to give it up. He says he's fine with it and our weekend is special and he wouldn't miss it for the world. I still want to give him an out if he wants it. I know he's torn in his mind but says he still wants to do the EEC. He's so sweet, but as a mom I have guilt he's doing something with me when he should be experiencing those HS milestones.

First, I think I understand completely how you two feel about this, because my DS9 and I are huge Everest buffs, too! I always joke about someday serving up burritos at Base Camp, but the EEC is a far more realistic prospect for me, too.

Second, NO MOM GUILT! That's from one mom to another. He's reacting as he is because you trained him up right; be very, very proud of that accomplishment.

 

[GaRain]

I plan to take my phone too - but it takes bad pictures! Good thing I have a good bra that will store all this stuff!!!
I am getting nervous! Going to see a chiropracter this afternoon and hoping that helps the lower back!
Has anyone been practicing things that could be the obstacles?

I am good with the 11:30 meet up time.

 

[jeanigor]

I plan to take my phone too - but it takes bad pictures! Good thing I have a good bra that will store all this stuff!!!
I am getting nervous! Going to see a chiropracter this afternoon and hoping that helps the lower back!
Has anyone been practicing things that could be the obstacles?

I am good with the 11:30 meet up time.

From what I have seen/heard/read I do not suspect that it will be like obstacles on American Gladiators or WipeOut or taking part in The Hunger Games. After doing a few Muddy Buddy events, scaling a 6 foot wall can prove challenging but not impossible. A local county park has fitness stations along the running trail. Things like a dozen tires set up army style to go through, low balance beams and the like. At least we won't have to trudge through waste deep water holding bikes over our heads!

What I think I will find to be a challenge is the team aspect. She has mostly been training on her bike in Colorado and me in the trails around suburban Detroit. We have done other 5K runDisney events together, but at a fun run pace, and not with any seriousness to finishing, as there was always a longer race later in the day or the next morning.

 

[PrincessV]

Has anyone been practicing things that could be the obstacles?

Not really - we've been hopping over the concrete thingies in front of parking spaces, but that's about it. My DS says he's a "great climber" and will help me over the cargo nets, so I'm covered there, lol! If they do have tires, I should probably walk them to avoid re-injuring my ankle.

Speaking of...

I ran a little last night - mostly, I walked, but threw a few short runs in and it wasn't bad; it hurt some, but more like muscle tightness than eased up as I went along, not the shooting pain I had earlier in the week. Progress! Today's a rest day and I can't decide what to do tomorrow - it should be a long run and no way will I go long yet. But I may try 3 miles and throw a few run intervals in if it feels okay. We'll see...

1 week 'til arrival!!!

 

[GaRain]

I am a wimp, so I am really hoping for some tame obstacles. I can do the tires, and I can do the balance beam - but I don't know about climbing anything!! I guess we will see.
I can't focus on doing a better time than my 5K in January - but the trip to the Chiropracter did help, I think. I go back to see him on Monday. I leave on Thursday! So soon and yet still so far away....

 

[NitroStitch]

I am a wimp, so I am really hoping for some tame obstacles. I can do the tires, and I can do the balance beam - but I don't know about climbing anything!! I guess we will see.

... So soon and yet still so far away....

You and me both! Until I started seeing the hopeless questions I don't understand how to answer, I was most afraid of the obstacles. Now the only part I don't fear is the running part.

 

[Goofydiane]

I wasn't nervous about the obstacles at all until someone mentioned...6 ft wall? Just what will the obstacles be like?

I'm doing a solo trip....now I'm getting nervous about it all.

 

[Cripey]

I wasn't nervous about the obstacles at all until someone mentioned...6 ft wall? Just what will the obstacles be like?

I'm doing a solo trip....now I'm getting nervous about it all.

a 6 foot wall? surely not! I have no idea what they will be, but I keep reminding myself that it can't be too hard or scary...they let kids as young as 9 register. I don't think they are meant to be super challenging for the majority of participants...just fun! Now, I can't remember where I read this, but I know I read somewhere at some point that if you feel like you just can't do whatever obstacle is in front of you...just walk around it and move on. It will disqualify you from winning any overall, age group or team awards, but if you're not a contender for any of those, then I would assume there's no harm I wouldn't worry though...I'm really expecting to see pretty basic "obstacles" that some have mentioned...tires on the ground, cargo net to crawl under, balance beam to walk across not too high off of the ground...stuff like that. I'm sure it's going to be a blast!

 

[amazingact21]

In regards to the obstacles: I was REALLY worried about the obstacles last year, but when I reached the first one (the hay bales) I was so pumped I don't even remember doing them.
I took the tires super slow (pretty much walking through them) so they ended up being easy.

And when it came to the 6ft wall, there was a race volunteer telling people they could either climb over, go under this rope, or go around. So if the wall intimidates you, don't sweat it, you can skip it. (My teammate and I did just that.)

 

[tiki23]

I am a wimp, so I am really hoping for some tame obstacles. I can do the tires, and I can do the balance beam - but I don't know about climbing anything!! I guess we will see.
I can't focus on doing a better time than my 5K in January - but the trip to the Chiropracter did help, I think. I go back to see him on Monday. I leave on Thursday! So soon and yet still so far away....

Glad you are feeling better! I'll see you at the corrals!

____________________________

Alice (tiki23) & Lala Take on the EEC!
Team TOLL Free (Two Old Ladies Laughing & smokeFree)
Look for us in the neon Mickey shirts and rainbow tutus!

 

[NitroStitch]

In regards to the obstacles: I was REALLY worried about the obstacles last year, but when I reached the first one (the hay bales) I was so pumped I don't even remember doing them.
I took the tires super slow (pretty much walking through them) so they ended up being easy.

And when it came to the 6ft wall, there was a race volunteer telling people they could either climb over, go under this rope, or go around. So if the wall intimidates you, don't sweat it, you can skip it. (My teammate and I did just that.)

Thanks for the obstacle info! Now I am a teensy bit less worried over those.

 

[wakica]

HI guys!! Just getting my internet fix in today and had a min to pop on here Was at AK today and loved it and SOOO excited to run through it!!! We survivied the YETI 3 times today and CANNOT WAIT to take him on at the 5K challenge on Saturday!! yay!!! It was great in the light and will be even more great in the dark!

We did MK yesterday (twice) and AK today. I noticed today my shins are bugging me from all the walking yesterday even though I've been training since Nov and out walking for an hour delivering flyers 3 times/week!!! SOOO.. learn from me and even if you THINK you are prepared do some shin exercises if you plan to be in a park the day or two before the race.
At this point I'm just hoping mine adjust on time. LOL. We were done today by just before 2 so have been napping, reading and taking it easy. Will eat supper and do the pool this evening so hoping my shins are ready to go tomorrow for Epcot which will be a doozy for walking

Weather is hot but cools down nicely in the evenings so I'm betting the temps will be just right for race day

Looking forward to seeing some of you there or around this week/weekend. I'll probably get on here another few times b/c we have some slower days and I don't want to miss out on what your' all talking about and planning

 

[sbsmommy]

Good to know the temps are lower on the evening.

Does anyone know if Dinosaur will be open for the after party?
The final race instructions just say Dinoland I think. I'm wondering if we should do it while we are at AK in the morning or save it for the party.

 

[boxdoc2]

According to the site:
"The entry fee for registered participants includes entrance into an exclusive Post-Race Party at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. Attractions open for this party include Kali River Rapids® Attraction, DINOSAUR, Dinoland U.S.A.® Area, and the Expedition Everest Attraction*."
The * says that rides are subject to availability. So hopefully it'll be ready to go that night!

 

[sbsmommy]

According to the site:
"The entry fee for registered participants includes entrance into an exclusive Post-Race Party at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. Attractions open for this party include Kali River Rapids® Attraction, DINOSAUR, Dinoland U.S.A.® Area, and the Expedition Everest Attraction*."
The * says that rides are subject to availability. So hopefully it'll be ready to go that night!

That 's what i had been going by. Just seemed strange that the final race instructions just say EE, KRR and Dinoland. But hopefully they are just lumping it into Dinoland and saving words.

 

[KigerKat]

Well, I wasnt feeling any better on Friday, so the doc prescribed a z-pack for me. I'm still coughing quite a bit, but I am feeling better today. I only ran once last week and I really need to get my long run in today. I'm so excited and can't wait to be proud of myself next Sunday for doing my first ever Disney race!

And I hope they get EE fixed before next weekend! DH and I will be seriously bummed if BTM, TT, and EE are all down during our trip.

 

[sbsmommy]

Well, I wasnt feeling any better on Friday, so the doc prescribed a z-pack for me. I'm still coughing quite a bit, but I am feeling better today. I only ran once last week and I really need to get my long run in today. I'm so excited and can't wait to be proud of myself next Sunday for doing my first ever Disney race!

And I hope they get EE fixed before next weekend! DH and I will be seriously bummed if BTM, TT, and EE are all down during our trip.

Hope you're feeling better. I just got over a nasty cough.

What's wrong with EE??? I heard ITTBAB was closed, but haven't heard anything about EE.

 

[KigerKat]

I read somewhere that it got shut down yesterday, but I don't know if it's back up and running yet. I forgot about the TOL losing a branch the other day, and I love ITTBAG. I guess it's a good thing we're going back again this year!

As far as the obstacles, I'm guessing they will be fairly simple or easy to accomplish. I'm thinking one climb over something, one climb under something and one go through something. But yes, we do have to remember that there are little ones in the race, too, and they have to be able to complete the obstacles. So if a 9 year old can do it, I guess I can, too!

 

[NitroStitch]

I read somewhere that it got shut down yesterday, but I don't know if it's back up and running yet. I forgot about the TOL losing a branch the other day, and I love ITTBAG. I guess it's a good thing we're going back again this year!

As far as the obstacles, I'm guessing they will be fairly simple or easy to accomplish. I'm thinking one climb over something, one climb under something and one go through something. But yes, we do have to remember that there are little ones in the race, too, and they have to be able to complete the obstacles. So if a 9 year old can do it, I guess I can, too!

I hope EE is up next week - that would be a major bummer if it wasn't.

I'm way wimpier now than I was at age 9! I didn't know any better then.