Four Parks, One Dope: A 2015 Dopey Challenge Trip Report!

[TruLovesKiss]

Joining in to say HI and that I am really enjoying reading your TR!! I get excited each day you post an update to read about the next snidbit of your race.... I feel like I'm running it right there along with you. (Although it's much easier for me to be sitting here at my laptop... and usually I'm not even wearing shoes. haha )

Anyway, my hubby and I are signed up for our first RunDisney event in May. It's "only" a 5K but I'm so excited for it! And actually, reading your TR has me motivated to train for the Princess Half in 2016.

SO happy for you that you're going Coast to Coast! That will be quite an accomplishment!!!

Also, I got a time alert in here - finally! 20 miles in 4:20:37, 13:02/mile pace. Estimated finish time of 5:41:39 (11:45AM). I was also happy to find that I had texts from a friend and from my brother, Craig (who'd been getting my tracking updates all weekend) waiting!! That made me super happy for sure.

How are your friend and brother able to get your tracking updates? Sounds pretty neat!....I'm curious how this works

 

[Ariel484]

Mile 20!!! Almost there (well okay, 6 more miles, but still close!).

You know, I think I had the exact same thought go through my head at MM20!!

Okay, those shots with Mickey are too freaking cute. I adore them. And I completely agree on the fan support leaving AK. There were lots of people and they were so energetic. It was a really nice boost here.

Thanks!!

Yeah I think I forgot there would be so many people out there! Mostly I remembered that it was going to be crowded. But it was so much fun!

You are doing a great job with pace and rolling along. WWoS. Sigh. What can you say? I always feel just lost in there too with all the twists and turns, like where am I now? I also always feel like Champion Stadium will come up much sooner than it does so around every twist and turn I'm thinking we are headed there and then...nope. I get why they run us through there and to get to 26 miles there has to be some boring miles covered in there, but this is just not a fun stretch.

Totally agree with you. I get it too, and I can appreciate that it's less backroads...but I still don't love it!

Showing my age here, but I didn't know the Glen Coco or Bye Felicia tidbits. I had to google them. So, hey, I'm now more educated in pop culture. An added plus to reading trip reports.

GO RENT MEAN GIRLS!!! Or pull it up on Netflix or whatever - it's so funny! As for Bye Felicia, I didn't know what that was until Wine & Dine. Oops!

They did washcloths last year too instead of the sponges from 2013. Like you, I didn't take one since we had just finished being rained on and I was quite comfortable from a temp standpoint. VERY different from the heat of 2013. Give me a nice cool misty rain anyday over sun and 80 degree temps.

Yeah, I feel like the washclothes wouldn't be as nice to carry as the sponges? Maybe? I could be making that up.

OMG YES - the weather this year was SO much better than in 2013!!

Woohoo mile 20 almost there! I've heard from a lot of runners that they didn't like the ESPN portion. I did however hear from a runner from wisconsin who said they ran into the stadium and heard On Wisconsin our state song. Now that would pump me up for sure.

Woohoo! I honestly don't even remember music playing in the stadium - I think I was just focusing on getting out of there!

i'd never trained with bananas either, but took one at both stops and I'm so glad I did. I am not sure I'd have made it without them, and I refuse to take orange slices and get sticky ever again. (Mile 10 at Marine Corps and spent 16 miles trying to unsticky myself at every water stop.)

Uck! That doesn't sound like fun at all!! I would hate that!

My second goal (behind finishing) was to ride Everest and thankfully there wasn't much of a line at all by the time my group got there. I had to buy that ride pic!

Ahhh!! Jealous! I would have bought it too, for sure!

Great update!!!

Thanks!

The gravedigger dude in your photo...he was totally utterly in character the whole time. We were in the line waiting for the photo and I had was talking to my DH - he sneaked up right behind me and HISSED IN MY EAR! As in, his mouth was right by my ear.

I nearly had a heart attack and was happy to lie down (it's not as bad as it looks, promise!)

Hahaha!! that's so funny! When I went up to him and asked for a picture he sort of took a deep breath and had the angriest look on his face, like I was really annoying him. And then he moved in for the picture so I guess he wasn't TOO annoyed.

You're so close! I love that picture of you with Mickey, so cute!

Woohoo! Thanks, that's one of my favorites!

I'm dumb but I never realized that you could do run/walk intervals in a marathon. I just assumed that you had to run the whole thing. I did my first 5k this fall and never thought I'd do more than that. Now that I know you can run/walk it's got me considering doing one of these Disney races. There's so much to get your mind off running.

Not dumb at all! I think a lot of people think that.

runDisney works with Jeff Galloway and his big thing is the run-walk-run method - he creates training plans for runDisney and there's some literature in there about taking walk breaks. It's really common, especially at Disney races. Just gotta make sure people around you know that you're about to walk, that you move to the side and that you and your 5 friends or whatever don't walk in a big line across the course.

As long as you keep your overall average pace to 16:00/mile, you're golden - some people can actually walk the entire thing and keep that pace!

ETA: I forgot to mention that the woman holding up the Awesome poster looks like Victoria Jackson from SNL.

You're right!! I knew she looked familiar!

Yay! Congrats on the Dumbo! I'm happy to see you are doing the 5k as well- since you haven't done DL before the non timed race is a MUST! The whole thing is the two theme parks and I know you'll want lots of picture stops!
This was Chip and Dale at WWoS- they were so cute!

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Thank you!! I am so freaking excited - especially for the 5K and 10K courses, I think they look awesome!

I am SO sad I missed Chip & Dale - new-to-me outfits!! ARRRRG.

But hey, nice SparkleSkirt!

Holy goodness, how do I make my picture smaller?! Sorry! Didn't want it to be that insanely huge!

No worries, you just wanted to make sure I could see it really well. How kind of you!

Joining in to say HI and that I am really enjoying reading your TR!! I get excited each day you post an update to read about the next snidbit of your race.... I feel like I'm running it right there along with you. (Although it's much easier for me to be sitting here at my laptop... and usually I'm not even wearing shoes. haha)

Hi! Thanks for reading so far!

Anyway, my hubby and I are signed up for our first RunDisney event in May. It's "only" a 5K but I'm so excited for it! And actually, reading your TR has me motivated to train for the Princess Half in 2016.

Oooh, are you doing Expedition Everest Challenge? I never got to do that one, unfortunately. Hope you guys have a blast!

I'm eyeing Princess Weekend for 2016, too!

SO happy for you that you're going Coast to Coast! That will be quite an accomplishment!!!

Thank you!! I have wanted to do the Disneyland Half for years, so glad it's actually happening!

How are your friend and brother able to get your tracking updates? Sounds pretty neat!....I'm curious how this works

The friend that texted me follows me on Instagram, and since I was posting so many pictures I think she just had a good idea of where I was.

As for my brother, I did a couple of things - first, I connected my running watch to the Bluetooth on my phone...this sends him (and my husband) and email with a link where they can see a map and me "running" (as a little blue dot on the map). Unfortunately both of them told me it cut out after about 4 miles...ugh!

The other thing is that runDisney has a tracking system that is connected to the chips in the race bibs. They place timing mats throughout the course, and whenever you step over one an update is sent out. Ahead of time you can sign up to have those updates texted or emailed to people, or posted to Facebook or Twitter or whatever. So I had signed my husband and brother up to get those updates! It's pretty cool and I found it worked pretty well this weekend overall (just missed the 13.1-mile updated during the marathon for whatever reason).

 

[emilyindisney]

Derp- I fell way behind. Oh well, here we go! SO EXCITED TO READ ABOUT THE MARATHON!

More weird reports on the whole 16-min-mile pace thing. Wish Disney would just be outright about this!

Port-o-potty DISmeet wooooo!

Your package pictures coming through the castle look great- definitely worth the purchase!

We were super disappointed about the length of the villain's line. They were a must-do going into the race but when we saw the line and figured it was pushing a 10 minute wait we kept going.

That eagle picture though... This is a tribute to all marathons, but mostly Walt Disney World's! Well placed Disney, well placed!

I thought it was funny how they had all those informational signs out by the sewage plant like they were trying to distract us from the stink!

I was expecting a split at the half point and still think it's weird that they had mats out but no half-way text.

I would seriously LOVE to see Perry out! I don't even really watch that show but something about Perry is just hilarious! I laugh and do the "Where's Perry?" or "Perry the Platypus" quotes every time I see the Perry ears in a Disney shop.

 

[disneyhorselover]

AHHHH how was it?! I'm jealous!!

The limit does not exist...THE LIMIT DOES NOT EXIST!!

YES! I saw that one too! Courtney, Jess and I were saying that a ton that weekend so I flipped when I saw that sign (toward the end I think?).

The limit does not exist...THE LIMIT DOES NOT EXIST!!

I knew you would know the right answer...I have a fifth sense. It's like I have ESPN or something!!

Showing my age here, but I didn't know the Glen Coco or Bye Felicia tidbits. I had to google them. So, hey, I'm now more educated in pop culture. An added plus to reading trip reports.

Glad we could help educate If it makes you feel better, I only learned about Bye Felicia from my sister the night before the marathon!

GO RENT MEAN GIRLS!!! Or pull it up on Netflix or whatever - it's so funny!

This!! It has now been out for 11 years, so I don't even feel crazy saying that it's a classic!!!

 

[steph0808]

By now there were 2 lanes on the course separated by one row of cones - those of us that had just passed Mile Marker 16 were heading into hellhole that is ESPN Wide World of Sports, and everyone else coming toward us had just gotten out of that awful place and were at mile 20.

You are so, so right about WWOS.

As sick as I was during the 2013 marathon, that was the only place that made me want to drop out and ride the sweeper bus to the finish line.

I hate that place with a passion! "There will be crowds cheering in the stadium!" Um, no there weren't. "Mile 20 Spectacular," my butt.

Ugh! The stuff nightmares are made of!

 

[disneyhorselover]

Hahaha the gravedigger looks so unimpressed with taking a selfie!!!
To be honest, I didn't think I'd be able to lay down either but I got back up easier than I thought...race adrenaline I guess, haha

Ugh the WWOS section. I got super sick during this part of the course during the marathon, so seeing those track pictures just brings back extra bad memories. I also don't remember much else about it, other than that I think it followed a similar path to the WWOS section during ToT, and I was none too impressed with the twists and turns then...it felt very tedious.

We got those wet washclothes about 2 minutes after it started raining...everyone around us (and myself) was like uhhhh what am I supposed to do with this now? Haha

I didn't mind the stadium part I guess, though I forgot to look for myself on the jumbotron-oh well.

I agree about the out and back part...it was tough to watch all those people coming back and think about how far I had to go....but also a relief on the way back!



Also, I forgot to mention in my last post that I am watching Mean Girls right now thanks to this thread!

 

[garneska]

Love the new pic of Archie that is so cute.

The best sign I saw was at the entrance to AK. It said " I will never do another .... Then a pic of Dory ... Oh look another race" . Completely how I feel. No I won't do that ..... Well maybe. However I think my next Goofy is in 5 years. Next year just one of the races.

I hate the WWoS section too, but I think it would not matter mile 16 to 20 blows where ever it is. At least at 20 miles it is only a 10k.

I actually attempted a dr appointment today but he was running so late I just left. I will give it another week, but starting to get cranky about not running.

 

[Ariel484]

Derp- I fell way behind. Oh well, here we go! SO EXCITED TO READ ABOUT THE MARATHON!

More weird reports on the whole 16-min-mile pace thing. Wish Disney would just be outright about this!

Me too! Check or don't check, but whatever you do, make the directions correct in the program!!

Port-o-potty DISmeet wooooo!

Two of them!

Your package pictures coming through the castle look great- definitely worth the purchase!

Yes! Out of all of the races I've done, this was the first one where I got good castle pictures!

We were super disappointed about the length of the villain's line. They were a must-do going into the race but when we saw the line and figured it was pushing a 10 minute wait we kept going.

Yeah, that's such a great meet. I was glad I'd gotten it before!

That eagle picture though... This is a tribute to all marathons, but mostly Walt Disney World's! Well placed Disney, well placed!

It's Disney Magic!

I thought it was funny how they had all those informational signs out by the sewage plant like they were trying to distract us from the stink!

Yeah, nice try Disney...I actually don't remember it stinking too badly in 2012 and 2013, but this year - yeah, I was aware of it!!

I was expecting a split at the half point and still think it's weird that they had mats out but no half-way text.

Yeah, and if you look at the marathon results it does look like there's a spot where they were going to record the half marathon split.

I would seriously LOVE to see Perry out! I don't even really watch that show but something about Perry is just hilarious! I laugh and do the "Where's Perry?" or "Perry the Platypus" quotes every time I see the Perry ears in a Disney shop.

I like the show but I actually like the movie a lot better - we stayed at Disney's resort in HIlton Head 2 summers ago and saw the movie there and it's hilarious!!

I knew you would know the right answer...I have a fifth sense. It's like I have ESPN or something!!

I can't think of another good reference off of my head that will fit into this conversation, unfortunately...so...

YOU CAN'T SIT WITH US!!

Glad we could help educate If it makes you feel better, I only learned about Bye Felicia from my sister the night before the marathon!

We are truly doing important work here.

This!! It has now been out for 11 years, so I don't even feel crazy saying that it's a classic!!!

It absolutely is!!

You are so, so right about WWOS.

Really though...

As sick as I was during the 2013 marathon, that was the only place that made me want to drop out and ride the sweeper bus to the finish line.

I hate that place with a passion! "There will be crowds cheering in the stadium!" Um, no there weren't. "Mile 20 Spectacular," my butt.

Ugh! The stuff nightmares are made of!

Yeah, it seems to have that effect on people!

Same experience for me - no crowds, not spectacular. BOOOO

Hahaha the gravedigger looks so unimpressed with taking a selfie!!!
To be honest, I didn't think I'd be able to lay down either but I got back up easier than I thought...race adrenaline I guess, haha

Maybe I'll do it someday...maybe...

Ugh the WWOS section. I got super sick during this part of the course during the marathon, so seeing those track pictures just brings back extra bad memories. I also don't remember much else about it, other than that I think it followed a similar path to the WWOS section during ToT, and I was none too impressed with the twists and turns then...it felt very tedious.

Oh noooo, that stinks that you got sick!! Ugh!

Tedious is a good word for it.

We got those wet washclothes about 2 minutes after it started raining...everyone around us (and myself) was like uhhhh what am I supposed to do with this now? Haha

Hahaha...I swear the sponges felt good when I got mine in 2013! Before the marathon started that morning I told Austin, Courtney and Bill to make sure to hold onto the sponges and not just toss them, because I had such fond memories of them from 2013...and they were washcloths this time AND we barely needed them. Oops!

I didn't mind the stadium part I guess, though I forgot to look for myself on the jumbotron-oh well.

I forgot to look too. Oops!

I agree about the out and back part...it was tough to watch all those people coming back and think about how far I had to go....but also a relief on the way back!

Yeah, I feel that way about every out-and-back during a race!

Also, I forgot to mention in my last post that I am watching Mean Girls right now thanks to this thread!

Excellent life decision!

Love the new pic of Archie that is so cute.

Thanks!!

The best sign I saw was at the entrance to AK. It said " I will never do another .... Then a pic of Dory ... Oh look another race" . Completely how I feel. No I won't do that ..... Well maybe. However I think my next Goofy is in 5 years. Next year just one of the races.

I totally remember that one!

I'm like that too...after I did the marathon in 2012 I said I wouldn't do one again...then ooh, look! Goofy Challenge in 2013!

I hate the WWoS section too, but I think it would not matter mile 16 to 20 blows where ever it is. At least at 20 miles it is only a 10k.

So true on all counts!

I actually attempted a dr appointment today but he was running so late I just left. I will give it another week, but starting to get cranky about not running.

I'm the same way. I hope you get it resolved soon!!

 

[Ariel484]

2015 Walt Disney World Marathon! FANS!!!!

I was back to the two-lane portion of Osceola Parkway where the guys were shouting that we were 20 miles in...this time it WAS true for me, but not those that were in the other lane, about to enter WWoS.

Suddenly it occurred to me that Courtney and Austin had posted that Everest picture when I was at mile 16/17. Based on that and on some other texts between me and Courtney throughout the morning, I guessed that they must be approaching Wide World of Sports soon...maybe I would see them NOW?!

I began scanning the other lane for Courtney's neon green shirt, and I kid you not, less than a minute later - there she was!!

This is one of my top favorite memories from this race. Courtney had been working her butt off for this marathon and had come down with the flu over Christmas - not the best way to finish off training. And now here she was, totally killing it. I flipped out and screamed her name - I was so happy to see that she looked fantastic. She screamed back at me, jumping for joy with a huge, huge smile on her face. Because all of us runners were packed tightly together we didn't stop for a picture or a hug or anything, but seeing her was SUCH a huge boost. Apparently Austin was right next to her and I somehow missed him. Oops!

I was in a pretty good mood by now...I knew Jess and Holly were waiting in Hollywood Studios and that Will would be somewhere in between miles 24 and 25. But something weird did happen in this stretch...I started to feel the tiniest bit nauseous. It didn't have a really bad effect on me or anything...it was just weird. I'm still not sure why it happened (banana #2 exacting its revenge? Drank too much Powerade? Both?), but it stuck with me for a few miles. My quads were also a little sore by now. The arch achiness was coming and going, but it wasn't terrible.

We had a small on ramp to climb on our way to Hollywood Studios, and Sarge was on the side of the road barking orders. In my picture from Champion Stadium you can see a couple behind me in Wyoming shirts...I'd been near them for the past 4-5 miles. They were the only ones in line for a picture with Sarge when I stopped...and Sarge made the woman do push-ups!! EEK! I'm so glad it was her and not me. I just settled for a selfie.

"Okay, now go make up those 5 seconds you just lost!" Sir yes sir!

Mile 22! I knew the next Mile Marker was in DHS!

Sidenote: I forgot to get high-quality screenshots of these magnifications of the course this year and have been using the ones I saved from 2013, since most of it has been the same. This one is a little out-of-date right before Mile Marker 23, but you get the idea.

Plus, you know...the hat isn't a hat anymore!

We headed into the Studios through the back, near Tower of Terror. Back here is the last food stop of the race - they hand out chocolate. I don't think I would have taken it on a normal day, but I still had that slight nausea so I REALLY wasn't having any now.

And here's Mile Marker 23! Another place where I braced myself - it was here in 2013 that it hit me that I had a little over a 5K left...it was here that I KNEW I was going to finish the Goofy Challenge, and I had sort of an emotional reaction to it. I was sort of expecting a similar realization and reaction here today.

It didn't happen though. And I think the reason why is the same reason that I was so calm the day before and this morning: I had already known for awhile now - weeks? months? - that I was going to finish. Really, I never would have signed up in the first place if I didn't think I COULD finish. Now I just had to do it.

From here the course went through the Backlot Costuming tunnel, which I liked last year because it was a cool, shady reprieve from the heat. This year, not so much - incredibly poorly lit. Eek!!

I safely emerged from the tunnel and it was time for another awesome part of this race...FANS!!

I'd been texting with Will, Jess and Holly for most of the morning. Holly told me that she and Jess were on Hollywood Boulevard, that they'd be on my left. And there they were!!

Another favorite moment from the race, for sure - I was SO excited to see them! I know I had a huge smile on my face...until another runner cut across the course in front of me. But whatever! I slowed down, let him go, and pulled off to the side to have a chat!

They said all kinds of perfect spectator things - "You're making this look easy, you're killing it," etc. I think I was complaining a little about my legs by then (really just my quads) and was more than happy to have a small break. I told them that I'd seen Courtney and that she was crushing the marathon, and we took a selfie...of course.

Holly pretty much had to push me back onto the course ("Go get that Dopey medal!") - again, I was more than happy to chat/not run for a bit - and I was off!

Seriously, I have such great friends. To sit there all morning in occasional rain, waiting for me and Courtney and Austin to run by? (And Bill too, but Jess is married to him so that's a given. ) Can't beat it. AND I later learned that they bought Austin a mac & cheese hotdog to scarf down. So awesome.

Continued in Next Post

 

[Ariel484]

2015 Walt Disney World Marathon! My Favorite Fan

Before leaving the Studios I pulled off to the side and stopped in the bathroom...the one that's right by the park entrance. After that, the course goes backstage and spits runners out into the courtyard just in front of the park entrance.

I headed down the path in front of the Studios toward the Boardwalk...Mile Marker 24!

A guy was holding another one of the best signs I'd seen all day here: "Someday you will fail. Today is not that day." You said it, sir!

Other favorite signs:

"If a marathon was easy it would be called your mom."
One with a picture of the Queen of England that said something like "Keep Calm and Run, b*tches!"
And of course... "BYE FELICIA!"

Over the bridge we go...

The course took us in front of Yacht & Beach. As I was approaching the International Gateway, I slowed down...this was where Will was supposed to meet me. AND THERE HE WAS!!

So, obviously, this was my favorite moment of the race. Will really downplays the part he played in my being successful during this race weekend, but he helped SO much. Constantly being my cheerleader all year (well, all the time in any area of life, really)...kicking my butt a little bit when I needed it...always being so supportive...dealing with our laundry room smelling like a gym locker thanks to my sweaty running clothes (overshare? )...letting me drop the cash to sign up for this weekend in the first place...and now waiting out here for not just me, but for my friends whom he had just met the day before, at mile 24.5.

Needless to say, I was happy to see him.

And after meeting Holly, Jess and Will on the course...suddenly my little bout of nausea was gone, and my legs and feet weren't bothering me so much anymore.

Will and I chatted briefly (I think mostly about where to meet up once the race was done) and I took off for my 4th and final run through Epcot!

Except that I stopped for this picture first - no line!

Wait, is this one not right either?? Mile Marker 25 was definitely in France...eh, whatever.

The course goes backstage near the UK, which is where the last water stop of the course is located. I had been drinking a lot of yellow Powerade (ew) today, mostly because I was hoping it would help prevent the foot cramps I'd gotten in 2013, and by now I had convinced myself that all of that Powerade had been contributing to my slight nausea. Water it is!

See, look! Mile Marker 25! France!

Ooooooh man. You never realize just how long the trek around World Showcase is until you're doing it during Mile 26 of a marathon. It takes fooorrrrrever.

During this stretch - specifically while running through The American Adventure - I saw what was BY FAR the most painful thing I'd seen all day. There was a guy all the way on the left side of the course who had very clearly blown a hamstring. He was practically dragging his seemingly useless leg along and limping as fast as he could. I thought about asking if he needed help, but he was very determinedly looking away and just trucking along. I decided I probably didn't want to see his face, because with the way he was moving, he was clearly in agony. I hope he finished.

Oh, AND - it was raining again. It rained for the rest of the race. But I didn't care.

What's that? Going to finish a marathon, you say? Why yes, yes I am!

Let's see, who was out...I can only remember Aladdin in Morocco and Mushu and Mulan in China. I'm sure there must have been more, but no one rare. I didn't stop for them because the Character Attendants were letting the runners cut in front of the day guests, and I would have felt guilty doing that. Unless it was a rare character or someone I hadn't met before...then I totally would have done it.

I did stop for Duffy though (under my "didn't have a line" rule):

Up next: The finish!!

Continued in Next Post

 

[emilyindisney]

How perfect that you found Courtney! What a boost!

I forgot about the chocolate stop! I took some but tucked it in my belt- I was certainly not feelin' putting half melted candy in my mouth.

Glad you found Holly and Jess too!

BYE FELICIA!!!

Yay Will! Glad you guys found each other! It's great that you had some much personal support in the last couple miles of the race!

Omigoodness- didn't World Showcase seem like it went on foreverrrrr?!

Bleck-rain! Oh well, I was glad that both times it let up and didn't rain continuously!

 

[RnbwSktles]

I did stop for Duffy though (under my "didn't have a line" rule)

I must've looked terrible at this point because when I passed Duffy he reached out to me and gave me a hug. He also made a "smooch" noise in my ear which creeped me out a bit haha.

 

[ZellyB]

So, so close now!!! And yes, it takes soooooo long to get around World Showcase. Uggggggg.

Love that you got some much personal support at the end of the race. We also got a last minute spectator boost that made the race very special.

So more great photos here and you are continuing to kill it! Excited to hear the finish. DOPEY!!!!

 

[Miffy2003]

Nearly there!!

The good thing about the WS though.... All the real restrooms

We were told by our friends who were in Epcot today, that when they got in line for a character shot, the CM handler would consistently say "the characters are out here specifically for the runners. You can get a photo but if a runner stops, they go to the front of the line. Is that ok before you get in line?"

...which I thought was brilliant!

 

[MagentaMulan]

Following! I really like your TR so far!

 

[ursalita]

Oh my gosh, you're almost there.

I was feeling so happy for you when you saw your friends and DH. I also thought those signs were terrific, it must have felt good to see them at the time.

I don't know if this has already been said, I haven't read most of the comments, but I'm surprised that they gave you under ripe bananas. I remember when my kids were babies they cautioned against feeding them bananas with any green because it would upset their stomachs. I eat them sometimes and it doesn't bother me but I'm not running marathons.

I can't believe you still have a smile on your face for these character meets, I'd be crying.

Looking forward to reading about your finish!

 

[Keels]

You're amazing, girl!! Can't wait to read the finish!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Almost there!!!!!! I can just imagine how Epcot feels after 25! Were a lot of people buying food and drink in WS? I swear if I do the marathon, I'm buying a margarita and crossing the finish line with it.

 

[Slogger]

Building up to a great finish and maintaining such great pace and form. I ran the same event but thank goodness your attention to detail and recollections are sharper than mine.

I had heard so much about the sponges from previous trip reports, and then they handed me a..............washcloth?!!! While it was raining?!!! I figured it must have been one of those geographical reference misunderstandings.....kinda like we call vacuum cleaners what other people call sweepers, or a coke is a "pop" to some people. Strange.

Can anyone tell me what the Mile 20 epic spectacular references from previous Marathon is about? Obviously I have missed something!

 

[Ariel484]

How perfect that you found Courtney! What a boost!

Yes!! Perfect timing!

I forgot about the chocolate stop! I took some but tucked it in my belt- I was certainly not feelin' putting half melted candy in my mouth.

Yes! I know some people love it but to me, that chocolate stop is the WEIRDEST thing!

Glad you found Holly and Jess too!

Me too! They'd told me they would be there the day before so it wasn't as big a surprise as seeing Courtney when I did, but it was no less awesome!

BYE FELICIA!!!

BWAHAHAHA

Yay Will! Glad you guys found each other! It's great that you had some much personal support in the last couple miles of the race!

Me too!

I never have spectators at races at home (I never have Will come because it just doesn't seem that entertaining to watch, ya know?), but it's REALLY nice to have them in the latter miles of a marathon!

Omigoodness- didn't World Showcase seem like it went on foreverrrrr?!

Yes...yes it did. And then you realize there are little inclines that you never knew about! So that's fun.

Bleck-rain! Oh well, I was glad that both times it let up and didn't rain continuously!

Me too! I was just glad it wasn't like Wine & Dine.

I must've looked terrible at this point because when I passed Duffy he reached out to me and gave me a hug. He also made a "smooch" noise in my ear which creeped me out a bit haha.

That's kind of adorable and hilarious!! hahaha!

So, so close now!!! And yes, it takes soooooo long to get around World Showcase. Uggggggg.

You know it! Luckily I was still *mostly* running at that point, but still...

Love that you got some much personal support at the end of the race. We also got a last minute spectator boost that made the race very special.

Me too!

Ah, I need to catch up on your report! Can't wait to hear about your special spectator(s)...guessing there were multiple of them...

So more great photos here and you are continuing to kill it! Excited to hear the finish. DOPEY!!!!

THANKS!!!

Nearly there!!

So close!

The good thing about the WS though.... All the real restrooms

Ah, that is a great point! It never occurs to me to stop at the end but you are right!!

We were told by our friends who were in Epcot today, that when they got in line for a character shot, the CM handler would consistently say "the characters are out here specifically for the runners. You can get a photo but if a runner stops, they go to the front of the line. Is that ok before you get in line?"

...which I thought was brilliant!

Yeah, I think I have heard that before! If it was someone rare I totally would have taken advantage!

(oh I just found the rest of the smilies! DUH!! )

Following! I really like your TR so far!

Thank you!!

Oh my gosh, you're almost there.

Woohoo!!

I was feeling so happy for you when you saw your friends and DH. I also thought those signs were terrific, it must have felt good to see them at the time.

It really was!! Those miles were really fun, between the spectators (my "personal fans" and the people in the parks and along the Boardwalk) and the signs...it was just a really great atmosphere!

I don't know if this has already been said, I haven't read most of the comments, but I'm surprised that they gave you under ripe bananas. I remember when my kids were babies they cautioned against feeding them bananas with any green because it would upset their stomachs. I eat them sometimes and it doesn't bother me but I'm not running marathons.

I have never heard that before! That's interesting...I wonder if it explains my stomach being upset a bit?

I can't believe you still have a smile on your face for these character meets, I'd be crying.

I was feeling pretty good still, thankfully!!

Looking forward to reading about your finish!

Yay, thanks!!

You're amazing, girl!! Can't wait to read the finish!

Thank you, fellow Disneyland runner!

Almost there!!!!!! I can just imagine how Epcot feels after 25! Were a lot of people buying food and drink in WS? I swear if I do the marathon, I'm buying a margarita and crossing the finish line with it.

Yes! My friend Courtney did that! She bought a margarita and her husband bought a beer - they got some AWESOME MarathonFoto pictures from that!

Building up to a great finish and maintaining such great pace and form. I ran the same event but thank goodness your attention to detail and recollections are shaper than mine.

Thank you!!

I think I can remember most of the stuff because I've done the course twice now...and I was taking tons of pictures. Some I'd just do quickly as I was running by, so they didn't come out great by any means, but they did help me remember stuff.

I had heard so much about the sponges from previous trip reports, and then they handed me a..............washcloth?!!! While it was raining?!!! I figured it must have been one of those geographical reference misunderstandings.....kinda like we call vacuum cleaners what other people call sweepers, or a coke is a "pop" to some people. Strange.

HAHAHA...I pretty much had the exact same thought process. I was surprised to see the washcloths!

Can anyone tell me what the Mile 20 epic spectacular references from previous Marathon is about? Obviously I have missed something!

OOH OOH OOH ME PICK ME!

Okay, so of course after 2 whole minutes of Googling I can't find official press releases from runDisney about this...but maybe other people who were there can chime in if I leave anything out (@ZellyB ?)

So 2013 was the 20th anniversary of the marathon and in the weeks/months leading up to it, rD was hyping what they called "The Mile 20 Spectacular" - something special just for that year that was occurring at mile 20 and was supposed to knock our socks off. I was envisioning some sort of rare characterpalooza but after rD hyped up the announcement of the Tinker Bell Half Marathon (drawing out this scavenger hunt sort of thing and putting together all of these clues just to announce what was essentially the West Coast version of the Princess Half) a little voice in the back of my head was just saying, "dial down your expectations, woman!" But I didn't, and here's what it was:

Mile 20 Spectacular

So it's basically those big puppets (which they know use at a lot of the rD races) and the special mile marker. I actually did think the mile marker was cool but after weeks/months of hype, to round the corner and see this was pretty hilarious. They just way, way oversold it. By the time the race actually happened there was no way it was going to live up to the hype.

And of course as time has gone on those of us that saw it in person remember it being lamer and lamer...you know how it is. Really, it would have been a pretty neat little surprise if they hadn't overhyped it ahead of time.