I wasnt sure that I would actually sleep, but if I did I knew I would have trouble waking up that early. I have enough trouble waking up at 6.00am for work. So I had set multiple alarms before going to bed, the alarm clock beside the bed, Daves palm pilot, and a wakeup call. Last year Mickey woke us up with a friendly greeting, this morning Stitch was yelling in my ear, not very pleasant for a non morning person!
Well I did manage to sleep, and as I had laid out my clothes, all my gear and showered before I went to bed, all that remained was for me to actually get dressed. I managed to put my shorts on the bottom half of my body, my t-shirt on the top, my number to my t-shirt and my socks and shoes on my feet. I even managed to get the tracking device, GPS, camera, room key, water bottle and 2 chocolate bars into my bum bag. But I could not for the life of me get that little chip attached to my shoe laces. There was no alternative but to wake Dave up, without even putting his glassed on he ran the zap strap through the chip and round my shoelaces. He gives me a kiss for good luck; I gather up breakfast and walk to the bus. The line up was huge but moved quickly and in no time I was on the bus and it was driving off. The opportunities to back out are getting less and less. The bus ride to Epcot was uneventful; I ate my banana dipped in peanut butter and drank some water.
Walked into staging area and onto the start line without really thinking about it, I am in corral M, and I found my way to the back right hand corner where all the wish walkers were meeting (I am surprised that at this hour of the morning I managed to remember that piece of information). The wish walkers in corral N were meeting in the front right hand corner so we would all be near each other. I waited with Ashley (Little Miss Mickey) and her brother Chad, Christy (Sap1227), Lily (Tiger Lily) and Kamy (Kamgen) and Tim (Tarzanman). I am still operating on automatic as I am not really awake yet, and I am probably not very socialable, my apologies to those in the corral with me.
The announcer kept making announcements that I couldnt hear very well, but sooner than I was ready for they played the US national anthem and Mickey Mouse started race with fireworks. It took me close to 10 minutes to cross start line. I saw Donald and Daisy Duck as I went over the start line, but there were too many people between me and them for me to go over and get a photo. I have already lost Ashley, Chad, Christy, Lily, Kamy and Tim. And I cant find any of the wish walkers from behind me so I am on my own. I really wish now that I had paid more attention to everyone else, and had a buddy to walk with. I try to pay attention to where we are going, but most of it is unfamiliar, this only my 2nd trip to Disney World.
The start to mile 1 is on the road near Epcot, but its dark (after all it is still night time!) and very crowded so I dont see much.
Mile 1 to Mile 2 we run along the road behind Epcot, up an incline, over a bridge into Epcot back stage areas, I think we are behind Living Seas, The Land and Imagination.
Mile 2 to Mile 3 we run into the World Showcase between Canada and the UK. We run through the UK, France, Morocco, Japan, US, Italy and Germany. It is pretty spectacular to have the world to ourselves, all the countries are lit up and the IllumiNations world globe is in the middle of the lake with the world images running across it. We go out to backstage areas just before we get to China.
Mile 3 to Mile 4 and to Mile 5 I think we are now on the same stretch of road that we first started on, and then when we hear the guy with the microphone and music at around mile 5, I know we are the same road, because he was there the first time round.
Mile 5 to Mile 6 we go over a clover leaf style overpass and when I look down below I can see all the runners/walkers beneath me, they wave and yell encouragement, then its my turn to go under the pass and look up and wave to everyone on the overpass.
Mile 6 to Mile 7 is road, road, road and more road! Will it ever stop?
Mile 7 to Mile 8 is more road, but we go through the Magic Kingdom sign, and thats exciting. I stop for a photo.
Mile 8 to Mile 9 we run, actually I am walking now, the bottom of my foot hurts, and I feel sick. We walk past the speedway and at one point we can see the finish line, and hear the announcer calling the names of those finishing, but not us, just as we get close enough to taste the finish we swing right and head away. Nooooooooooo!
Mile 9 to Mile 10:
Mile 9 means food, but the sign for Mile 9 comes and goes, wheres the food? Turns out its about halfway between 9 and 10. I grab a banana and some Powerade. They have chocolate, but I dont think that will sit too well right now, so I pass on it. Ugh this is the Contemporary Hill, but going down is worse than going up, there are some Canadians on the side of the road, I later found out they are the family of Team Canada. We pass the 10mile mark, are we safe from the sweeper? Yes, but we find out days later about the fiasco that occurred here).
Mile 10 to Mile 11 we are in the Magic Kingdom; in Tomorrowland to be exact, but wait I thought we got to run up Main St. Well the group in front of us did. They went up Main St, around the Castle, through Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, through the Castle and Frontierland and then they exited the parked near Splash Mountain. We come in to the Magic Kingdom in Tomorrowland, go through Fantasyland, through the Castle and into Frontierland. I stop to have my photo taken with Pluto outside the Liberty Tree Tavern and to take a photo of the Mile 11 sign 3:03:50 just before we exit the park near Splash Mountain and into a backstage area. I see the floats for the Share a Dream Come True Parade and take a photo of the genie from Aladdin.
Mile 11 to Mile 12 is on a long stretch of road, very dull, no spectators and its very quiet until we run past the Grand Floridian, the road is lined with CMs and a few guests in top hats and veils. I stop to take a photo of the Mile 12 sign 3:20:58. Its taken me 17 minutes to move a mile, walking is definitely slowing me down.
Mile 12 to Mile 13 I am running again now. I cant walk across the finish line, I have to run. We run past the golf courses before turning into the Pluto parking lot, the finish clock says 3:37:36, so 17 minutes to run the last mile, so running is not faster than walking or not at this point anyway. I am a little disappointed, all my training was done at 14:30 minute miles, I had hoped to finish in under 3hrs 15mins but it was not to be. I looked for Dave in the Magic Kingdom and as I was running into the finish but I couldnt see him anywhere.
I am still standing, but feeling slightly off, a little nauseous, and I am getting hot. I have my chip removed, am wrapped in a space blanket which I have to take off very quickly as its was way too warm. It will make a nice souvenir though as it has the half and full logo on it, I think I will put it in my survival kit when I get home. A volunteer places my Donald medal round my neck, I am not sure if I have the energy to hold my head up, let alone the medal, but somehow it stays there. I join the line up to have my photo taken, all I want to do was lie down and sleep, I cant be looking too good because a volunteer in a red shirt (a medic) asks if I am okay. The photographer tells me to put everything down and smile. Smile I can do, put everything down I can do, but bend down to pick everything up again now that takes some skill.
I take one of everything in the food tent chocolate, banana, orange, fruit cup, muffin, coke etc. I find my way to the T-Z tent, look for other wish walkers and Dave, I find Dave first and he gives me a big hug and says I am sweaty and gross! So would he be if he had run/walked 13.1 mile. Dave said he waited in Magic Kingdom and at the finish but I must have gone through both before he got there, because he didnt see me. My apologies to my fellow wish walkers, but I was exhausted and feeling off so we headed back to hotel. Later I will regret this decision; I really wish I had made more effort to meet the rest of my team.
8471st place
Official time 3:38:02
Chip time 3:29:21
Pace 16:38/mile
1st place some guy
Official time 1:13:07
Chip time 1:13:05
Pace 5:34/mile
1st place female
8th overall
Official time 1:19:24
Chip time 1:19:22
Pace 6:03/mile
My feet cannot stand to me incased in shoe any longer. I take them and my socks off in the car; Dave makes some comments about the smell!
Back at POP Century I need to wind down so we both head on over to the Hippy Dippy Pool. We fill Daves mug with frozen coke from the food court, and relax on the beach chairs, play under the daisy showers, and enjoy the sun. I start to fall asleep, for a lilywhite girl, covered in moles falling asleep in the sun is not a bright idea so we head back to the room. I literally fall into bed, which has not yet been made, so I didnt even need to pull the sheets back. I nap for approximately 2 hours. During that time Dave played with his new radio and went for a drive to find an internet café, but gave up. While I am in the shower housekeeping arrives to clean the room, Dave tells them not to worry about and asks for clean towels. The housekeeper gives Dave 4 clean towels, and a shampoo and soap, then decides that we really need more than one of each so loads Dave up with about 10 soaps and 10 shampoos. I know what we will be giving everyone at home as souvenirs. Then Dave cant balance it all, so the housekeeper puts another 4 towels on top to hold everything together. Pity we are checking out in tomorrow morning and wont be able to use 8 towels and 11 soaps and 11 shampoos in such a short time.
Around 5ish we had over to MGM, its extra magic hour tonight, so the park doesnt close until 10.00pm. I want to see Fantasmic at 7.00pm and Dave will just follow me. At least here he is happy to follow me, not so much at home. So in two hours we manage to see quite a bit. Last January the Backlot tour was closed for refurbishment, today its open and there is only a 20 minute wait time posted, so we join the line up. The wait is way less than 20 minutes, there is enough time to watch the preshow once and then we are in. We walked right on to the Great Movie Ride, and into One Mans Dream, there was little more than a 5 minute wait for movie, long enough to look at the static display, I especially liked model of Peter Pans Flight.
We pick up some wrist bands for EMH, and then walk right into the Muppet Movie. There is nobody behind us so I take the time to look under the mat and see the key, and then make Dave look, he is not as amused as I am.
Its close to Fantasmic time so we grab dinner from Rosies Diner:
2 cheeseburgers and fries $5.69 x 2 = $11.38
Coke $1.99
Lemonade $1.99
Tax $1.00
Total $16.36
Okay so we left it a little late to find good seats, we are sitting on the far left, and half way up, on the far left edge of row, the only thing between us and the bushes is the staircase. We eat during the show. We enjoy the lights, fireworks, effects and music, but we both remember the Disneyland version and being better and we wont need to come back.
By now I am struggling to keep my eyes open and Dave is also losing steam. We had been planning to hit the post race party at Pleasure Island, but we are both exhausted and decide to go back to the hotel. Another decision I will regret. I wish I had seen my name posted on the official results, and that we had gone to the Adventurers Club and the Comedy Warehouse. Especially as it was free for me, and half price for Dave, if we want to go later in the week it will be full price for us both.
We were in bed watching TV when we heard a loud bang, so out the balcony we race (good thing it was not gunshots or anything bad why is it that human nature makes us curious, we run to see whats happening, rather than cautious?). Turns out the big bangs are the fireworks from IllumiNations fireworks. We could see the high stuff. Its a great end to a memorable day.
Daves mum, Barb phoned they have 5 feet of snow and no power. Daves sister, Jennifer and her husband, Zoltan are at Disneyland and they have torrential and monsoon rains. Looks live Dave and I chose the right place to be.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Well I did manage to sleep, and as I had laid out my clothes, all my gear and showered before I went to bed, all that remained was for me to actually get dressed. I managed to put my shorts on the bottom half of my body, my t-shirt on the top, my number to my t-shirt and my socks and shoes on my feet. I even managed to get the tracking device, GPS, camera, room key, water bottle and 2 chocolate bars into my bum bag. But I could not for the life of me get that little chip attached to my shoe laces. There was no alternative but to wake Dave up, without even putting his glassed on he ran the zap strap through the chip and round my shoelaces. He gives me a kiss for good luck; I gather up breakfast and walk to the bus. The line up was huge but moved quickly and in no time I was on the bus and it was driving off. The opportunities to back out are getting less and less. The bus ride to Epcot was uneventful; I ate my banana dipped in peanut butter and drank some water.
Walked into staging area and onto the start line without really thinking about it, I am in corral M, and I found my way to the back right hand corner where all the wish walkers were meeting (I am surprised that at this hour of the morning I managed to remember that piece of information). The wish walkers in corral N were meeting in the front right hand corner so we would all be near each other. I waited with Ashley (Little Miss Mickey) and her brother Chad, Christy (Sap1227), Lily (Tiger Lily) and Kamy (Kamgen) and Tim (Tarzanman). I am still operating on automatic as I am not really awake yet, and I am probably not very socialable, my apologies to those in the corral with me.
The announcer kept making announcements that I couldnt hear very well, but sooner than I was ready for they played the US national anthem and Mickey Mouse started race with fireworks. It took me close to 10 minutes to cross start line. I saw Donald and Daisy Duck as I went over the start line, but there were too many people between me and them for me to go over and get a photo. I have already lost Ashley, Chad, Christy, Lily, Kamy and Tim. And I cant find any of the wish walkers from behind me so I am on my own. I really wish now that I had paid more attention to everyone else, and had a buddy to walk with. I try to pay attention to where we are going, but most of it is unfamiliar, this only my 2nd trip to Disney World.
The start to mile 1 is on the road near Epcot, but its dark (after all it is still night time!) and very crowded so I dont see much.
Mile 1 to Mile 2 we run along the road behind Epcot, up an incline, over a bridge into Epcot back stage areas, I think we are behind Living Seas, The Land and Imagination.
Mile 2 to Mile 3 we run into the World Showcase between Canada and the UK. We run through the UK, France, Morocco, Japan, US, Italy and Germany. It is pretty spectacular to have the world to ourselves, all the countries are lit up and the IllumiNations world globe is in the middle of the lake with the world images running across it. We go out to backstage areas just before we get to China.
Mile 3 to Mile 4 and to Mile 5 I think we are now on the same stretch of road that we first started on, and then when we hear the guy with the microphone and music at around mile 5, I know we are the same road, because he was there the first time round.
Mile 5 to Mile 6 we go over a clover leaf style overpass and when I look down below I can see all the runners/walkers beneath me, they wave and yell encouragement, then its my turn to go under the pass and look up and wave to everyone on the overpass.
Mile 6 to Mile 7 is road, road, road and more road! Will it ever stop?
Mile 7 to Mile 8 is more road, but we go through the Magic Kingdom sign, and thats exciting. I stop for a photo.
Mile 8 to Mile 9 we run, actually I am walking now, the bottom of my foot hurts, and I feel sick. We walk past the speedway and at one point we can see the finish line, and hear the announcer calling the names of those finishing, but not us, just as we get close enough to taste the finish we swing right and head away. Nooooooooooo!
Mile 9 to Mile 10:
Mile 9 means food, but the sign for Mile 9 comes and goes, wheres the food? Turns out its about halfway between 9 and 10. I grab a banana and some Powerade. They have chocolate, but I dont think that will sit too well right now, so I pass on it. Ugh this is the Contemporary Hill, but going down is worse than going up, there are some Canadians on the side of the road, I later found out they are the family of Team Canada. We pass the 10mile mark, are we safe from the sweeper? Yes, but we find out days later about the fiasco that occurred here).
Mile 10 to Mile 11 we are in the Magic Kingdom; in Tomorrowland to be exact, but wait I thought we got to run up Main St. Well the group in front of us did. They went up Main St, around the Castle, through Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, through the Castle and Frontierland and then they exited the parked near Splash Mountain. We come in to the Magic Kingdom in Tomorrowland, go through Fantasyland, through the Castle and into Frontierland. I stop to have my photo taken with Pluto outside the Liberty Tree Tavern and to take a photo of the Mile 11 sign 3:03:50 just before we exit the park near Splash Mountain and into a backstage area. I see the floats for the Share a Dream Come True Parade and take a photo of the genie from Aladdin.
Mile 11 to Mile 12 is on a long stretch of road, very dull, no spectators and its very quiet until we run past the Grand Floridian, the road is lined with CMs and a few guests in top hats and veils. I stop to take a photo of the Mile 12 sign 3:20:58. Its taken me 17 minutes to move a mile, walking is definitely slowing me down.
Mile 12 to Mile 13 I am running again now. I cant walk across the finish line, I have to run. We run past the golf courses before turning into the Pluto parking lot, the finish clock says 3:37:36, so 17 minutes to run the last mile, so running is not faster than walking or not at this point anyway. I am a little disappointed, all my training was done at 14:30 minute miles, I had hoped to finish in under 3hrs 15mins but it was not to be. I looked for Dave in the Magic Kingdom and as I was running into the finish but I couldnt see him anywhere.
I am still standing, but feeling slightly off, a little nauseous, and I am getting hot. I have my chip removed, am wrapped in a space blanket which I have to take off very quickly as its was way too warm. It will make a nice souvenir though as it has the half and full logo on it, I think I will put it in my survival kit when I get home. A volunteer places my Donald medal round my neck, I am not sure if I have the energy to hold my head up, let alone the medal, but somehow it stays there. I join the line up to have my photo taken, all I want to do was lie down and sleep, I cant be looking too good because a volunteer in a red shirt (a medic) asks if I am okay. The photographer tells me to put everything down and smile. Smile I can do, put everything down I can do, but bend down to pick everything up again now that takes some skill.
I take one of everything in the food tent chocolate, banana, orange, fruit cup, muffin, coke etc. I find my way to the T-Z tent, look for other wish walkers and Dave, I find Dave first and he gives me a big hug and says I am sweaty and gross! So would he be if he had run/walked 13.1 mile. Dave said he waited in Magic Kingdom and at the finish but I must have gone through both before he got there, because he didnt see me. My apologies to my fellow wish walkers, but I was exhausted and feeling off so we headed back to hotel. Later I will regret this decision; I really wish I had made more effort to meet the rest of my team.
8471st place
Official time 3:38:02
Chip time 3:29:21
Pace 16:38/mile
1st place some guy
Official time 1:13:07
Chip time 1:13:05
Pace 5:34/mile
1st place female
8th overall
Official time 1:19:24
Chip time 1:19:22
Pace 6:03/mile
My feet cannot stand to me incased in shoe any longer. I take them and my socks off in the car; Dave makes some comments about the smell!
Back at POP Century I need to wind down so we both head on over to the Hippy Dippy Pool. We fill Daves mug with frozen coke from the food court, and relax on the beach chairs, play under the daisy showers, and enjoy the sun. I start to fall asleep, for a lilywhite girl, covered in moles falling asleep in the sun is not a bright idea so we head back to the room. I literally fall into bed, which has not yet been made, so I didnt even need to pull the sheets back. I nap for approximately 2 hours. During that time Dave played with his new radio and went for a drive to find an internet café, but gave up. While I am in the shower housekeeping arrives to clean the room, Dave tells them not to worry about and asks for clean towels. The housekeeper gives Dave 4 clean towels, and a shampoo and soap, then decides that we really need more than one of each so loads Dave up with about 10 soaps and 10 shampoos. I know what we will be giving everyone at home as souvenirs. Then Dave cant balance it all, so the housekeeper puts another 4 towels on top to hold everything together. Pity we are checking out in tomorrow morning and wont be able to use 8 towels and 11 soaps and 11 shampoos in such a short time.
Around 5ish we had over to MGM, its extra magic hour tonight, so the park doesnt close until 10.00pm. I want to see Fantasmic at 7.00pm and Dave will just follow me. At least here he is happy to follow me, not so much at home. So in two hours we manage to see quite a bit. Last January the Backlot tour was closed for refurbishment, today its open and there is only a 20 minute wait time posted, so we join the line up. The wait is way less than 20 minutes, there is enough time to watch the preshow once and then we are in. We walked right on to the Great Movie Ride, and into One Mans Dream, there was little more than a 5 minute wait for movie, long enough to look at the static display, I especially liked model of Peter Pans Flight.
We pick up some wrist bands for EMH, and then walk right into the Muppet Movie. There is nobody behind us so I take the time to look under the mat and see the key, and then make Dave look, he is not as amused as I am.
Its close to Fantasmic time so we grab dinner from Rosies Diner:
2 cheeseburgers and fries $5.69 x 2 = $11.38
Coke $1.99
Lemonade $1.99
Tax $1.00
Total $16.36
Okay so we left it a little late to find good seats, we are sitting on the far left, and half way up, on the far left edge of row, the only thing between us and the bushes is the staircase. We eat during the show. We enjoy the lights, fireworks, effects and music, but we both remember the Disneyland version and being better and we wont need to come back.
By now I am struggling to keep my eyes open and Dave is also losing steam. We had been planning to hit the post race party at Pleasure Island, but we are both exhausted and decide to go back to the hotel. Another decision I will regret. I wish I had seen my name posted on the official results, and that we had gone to the Adventurers Club and the Comedy Warehouse. Especially as it was free for me, and half price for Dave, if we want to go later in the week it will be full price for us both.
We were in bed watching TV when we heard a loud bang, so out the balcony we race (good thing it was not gunshots or anything bad why is it that human nature makes us curious, we run to see whats happening, rather than cautious?). Turns out the big bangs are the fireworks from IllumiNations fireworks. We could see the high stuff. Its a great end to a memorable day.
Daves mum, Barb phoned they have 5 feet of snow and no power. Daves sister, Jennifer and her husband, Zoltan are at Disneyland and they have torrential and monsoon rains. Looks live Dave and I chose the right place to be.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
