I gotta say... I was shocked.

[MyZoeJane]

I ran the Disney Half this month and cheered on the full from Animal Kingdom the following morning... and I was SO EXCITED to cheer for the WISHers that I've been visiting with here on the DIS... even though each passing team member made me feel like there was no pointI kept on...

Only ONE person smiled at me and thanked me... would you believe it? Of the dozens and dozens of bright shirt wearing people I smiled at an enthusiatically shouted "Go Dis!" or "Yay WiSH!"... almost ALL of those people rudely ignored me or grumbled!

Can you believe it?! My friend, who the race with meandwho alsofrequents the DISboards was also shocked and dismayed. What was it guys? Was it the fact that we were wearing our purple TNT shirts instead of the bright green ones? Is there some kind of anti-TNT thing going that we don't know about? Granted, we all get in our "zone" and can't thank every person who cheers for us... As a TNTer, believe me, I know! But I seriously got grumbled at and eyes rolled at me! Was it my Minnie ears? Did I just look stupid? And it wasn't just runners... we tried to talk to people before and after the race, too... ALL GRUMPY!

It's such a shame... I wanted to come back and start participating here more, but I'm not so sure I want to do that anymore.

Are we not all in this together?

 

[princessrunner]

Ali, I am very dismayed to hear this. I was not in the full but I did do the half and I was, personally, very thankful for ANYONE cheering as I passed whether it was a WISHer or not. I did note (being this was my first day race in WDW) that the TNTers were pretty much only cheering for their own no matter who was passing by which was a little disappointing. I would hope that none of our own would ever be rude to another team no matter what the circumstances were.

I apologize for your being snubbed, I hope it was unintentional. It is certainly not the true WISH spirit that I feel here on a daily basis. I hope that you decide to come back and post with us.

 

[Jen117]

I don't think anyone purposely grumbled at received a thank you. I think for a lot of people (including myself) was a really difficult stretch. The sun came out and heat really wiped people. If I didn't say thank you, I at least tried to smile or nod. Don't take it personally, if you hang out here long enough you will see how great and supportive this group is.

 

[windwalker]

Darlin, a lot of us were in survival mode by the time we hit the AK. My dear lady was laying flat on her back by mile 17 trying to find the strength to continue. Yes we drew strength from the cheering but ofen we didn't have enouth left to respond.

Look at it as doing for your children, they really are thankful for it but it's a while before they let you know. After the race I tried to think through the blur to remember all the sights and sounds and the positive vibes.

That was just about the point in the race that a lot of us had our worst moments. It is affectionately called the "bite me zone" please don't think of us as that way all the time.

That wasn't me in the white speedo it was Big Vic.

Goofy Panda

 

[Valentine]

I would have to agree with that the AK portion of the race was the MOST difficult area for people to physically and mentally get through.

As a scream teamer from Mile 3, 9, 13, 23 & Finish.. I can tell you... that people were peppy and smiling at 3 & 9... 13.. some were happy.. some not so much... 23... some where incoherent.. and others just able to nod.. of course there were the few who are insane and were STILL peppy at 23.. but I can only think of 1 person who fits that bill... And the Finish.. we screamed our heads off and noone acknowledged us.. all they saw was the Finish line in sight. BUT.. as a fellow teammate.. I KNOW they heard us... they just had to dig deep and take what they heard and channel it to get through...

So.. don't take it personally... just know that your scream teaming may have gotten alot of people through that stretch...it is a thankless job sometimes.. but.. hey.. we don't do it for the thanks.. just for the knowledge that we may have helped one person that day.... So.. Don't give up... We are ALL a Team!!

Kathy

 

[tigger2esq]

I wasnt wearing a bright WISH shirt and while I smiled and waved for the first half of the marathon, count me in with the crowd that was in basic survival mode by the time we hit AK. It was rough. It was all I could do to just keep moving forward. Know that cheers were heard and appreciated but I am sure I was not smiling or thanking many (or any!) by that point. and at the end.... well I just wanted to get my medal and find a place to sit down!! ugh. the crowds seriously pull you through but if you have ever run for 6 + hours you know that that "zone" you get into at the end is all your own and it takes a lot to snap out of it. I am not sure I snapped out of my zone until I was safely back at my Boardwalk Villa with my DH and DD and a glass of wine and a whirlpool bath and even then--it included more tears than cheers until MUCH later.

 

[aladdinsgirl]

I just want to chime in here and agree with what everyone else is saying. I didn't run the full this year, but I ran it last year. I know from personal experience the AK stretch is TOUGH in the marathon. At that point in the marathon most runners and walkers have been out on the course for about close to or over 4 hours. The sun is out and it is BEATING down on you. You are tired. You are sore. You are most likely dehydrated. You are ready to quit and it takes every bit of your energy to just put one foot in front of the other. You really aren't paying attention to the crowds around you, and when someone does call your name, it takes precious energy (that you don't have) to smile or nod or acknowledge that person. Or maybe you just don't feel like smiling or nodding and that's okay too. I know last year I cried from mile 17-26.2, I was battling an injury, the heat, humidity, and the park goer's who really resented the fact that marathoners were there, taking up so much room. I didn't feel like smiling and jumping around, I was miserable and couldn't just put on a happy face and pretend like it was all okay. Definitely the bite me zone. So please don't take it personally that no one made a big deal out of Wish, they were just trying to finish the marathon and were consumed with that. I cheered at mile 24 this year and I called out people by name and rang my cowbell and let me tell you, I got some NASTY looks from runners who's name I called out, telling them they were doing great. But I didn't take it personally, because I KNEW that's a hard stretch--you've come 24 miles and you have 2.2 to go and you know you can do it, but it still seems SO FAR. The marathon is a beast, you don't how difficult it is to complete one until you've run or walked one.

And like Kathy said, you cheer for the marathon participants who really need your cheers, not for the thanks of cheering them on. Hope this post and other posts help you realize that it we aren't anti-TNT or any group on the course (I personally am in awe of the charity runners, you are all amazing) and we certainly aren't anti-WISH. We all love each other the same and support each other the same, we don't play favorites AT ALL. So please stick with us and get to know us better.

Krista

 

[princessrunner]

Well said Krista and Kathy.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Ali, thank you for putting this out here. It is better to air than to let it build.

I too want to apologize. There were many people cheering all participants along the way and not just for the team/person for whom they mainly supported. That is so wonderful for sure! While normally I too try to acknowledge in some way all those supporters, AK is where things begin to break apart. That may have been the case for me too. I don't know. I still had my shirt on there so I expect that you were also offering support to me. Truly, it means more than you would imagine and it is definitely not any intentional snub.

I am sorry that you got a bad impression, and I do WISH that you will stick around a lot more so that you can learn that we are a great group.

 

[windwalker]

I want to add one more thing. Your TNT team and all teams wear a unique color for a reason. Sometimes only the bright familiar color can register to your brain dead body. I know I often looked for the WISH color and just tuned out everything else. At one point I in animal kingdom we had fallen behind pace and I knew if I could just catch up to Nancy and Jeanne we would be back on pace. I could see that WISH shirt way off in the distance.

Goofy Panda

 

[Lexxiefern]

Ali, thank you for your cheering! If I did not smile and thank you, it was because as others stated, it was a very hard stretch for me. I saw my family in the parking lot of animal kingdom and they told me I was downright grumpy! Please don't take it personally and again thank you for cheering

Becky

 

[goingthedistance]

Something else to consider is that those of us doing the Goofy are pushing 30 miles in 2 days at that point on the full. That's a long way to go in two days, and it takes a lot of concentration to push through the depleted fuel stores and the aching legs. It is nothing personal if we did not vocalize our appreciation for the spectators cheering for us. We get into the zone and become so focused on what it takes for us to go another mile, another half mile, or even another step.

I personally am grateful for every single spectator and volunteer out there spending their morning encouraging us to reach our goal.

Paul

 

[goofyinohio]

I did not wear anything with WISH on it, but everytime I heard someone say my name I smiled and said Thank You. It really was a big boost.

Thank you for cheering for all of us.

 

[Big Vic]

I guess I'll keep my opinions to myself.

That wasn't me in the white speedo it was Big Vic.

Don't you remember, I was wearing a lime-green thong.

 

[gsu1988]

I agree with what everyone else has said. I did not have on my WISH shirt so I did not get singled out by any WISH supporters but I still was glad they were out there cheering for all the runners passing by. Like most have said, by the time we get to AK things are starting to get tough. Most of the time by that point there were total strangers who would call my name (because it was on the front of my bib) and all I could muster was eye contact. No smile, no thank you, no wave, just mere eye contact. I am sorry that you felt snubbed but let me assure you that any cheering that you did was greatly appreciated especially in that portion of the course.

 

[hoosmi]

Having never run a full until Goofy, I've never been so drained as I was at AK. Let me give you an example- I handed my camera to a CM to take a picture with Minnie and then promptly started walking right up to Minnie... in the middle of someone else's picture. The CM stopped me and all I could say was "I'm sorry, I'm a little delirious!" She laughed at me. I ws so out of it!

Please know you were appreciated. Your cheers probably registered too late in my head for me to respond, but I liked all cheering. I do remember one TNT coach cheering for me by name in one of the open stretches. I tried to give him a big cheesy grin and a thanks. I like the TNT people. I think sometimes I just assumed that the TNT people were cheering for the TNT runners (not that they didn't support all runners, but that the TNT people were part of their team).

I just focused on the WISH color, because in my reduced capacity state, that's all I was capable of. I'm sorry you felt snubbed- I can't give enough praise to the people who cheered (especially the runners from the half!)

I cheered a bit by the Boardwalk on the way back to my hotel, and I got the same mixed reactions. I think people are just so incredibly weary late in the race- physically, mentally, in every way. I hope that whether they liked me or hated me for cheering, at least I maybe distracted them for a few steps that carried them a little closer.

Jen in GA

 

[julia & nicks mom]

I did not wear any affiliation as I did the Half and had a lot of people cheering for me...

I think large groups get a bad rap...obviously people look for their color and want to make sure they don't miss one of their own...but I found all groups to be great...

I had been very worried about Team in Training after all the negative things I had read about them...I met a lot of DELIGHTFUL people who were out there...on the way into the MK I met a great couple and chatted with them until they had to run...then as I was leaving he caught me and asked if I had seen his wife - he used my cell phone to find her (she had theirs) -

and the Team in Training coaches were AWESOME...I was not one of theirs but I found them encouraging everyone and helping us all stay on pace - before it started one of them was nice enough to answer a nutrition question I had...

There were times I cheered for a WISHer and I seemed to get a puzzled look - like "how does she know who I am?" I think they were expecting to see a green shirt when I yelled GO DIS!! and I threw them for a loop...

There were also a lot of people in the MGM that i cheered for that I am sure they were trying to muster up a smile but I really got a grimace....

 

[RedDragon]

I, too, was one of those people who could barely put one foot in front of the other at AK. This was my first marathon. I so appreciated everyone who was out there cheering for us but to say that I was peppy enough to stop and thank every single person who cheered for me would be overstating my ability by the animal kingdom. I was told later that several people cheered for me at mile 13 but I didn't respond. I honestly don't remember hearing it. I was concentrating on just going forward.

Yes, if I saw the purple TNT shirt it wouldn't have mattered what you were saying, and frankly I wouldn't have heard it by that point anyway. I would have assumed that you were cheering for TNT. If you cheered for WISHers, thank you. I'm sorry if you expected to be thanked personally by each WISH person who passed by you or heard you cheering for them. At that point in the race, it just wasn't going to happen.

Thank you for cheering for us. And thank you to all WISHers who cheered. It really was appreciated.

 

[WDWFAN9]

I'm so sorry you were disappointed with your experience with WISHers. I've found them to be one of the most supportive and encouraging groups ever.

In the past I have enthusiastically thanked spectators, volunteers, and the police along the entire route. In fact sometimes I think I've made more noise as a participant than the spectators. However, that Sunday just was not my day. Leaving MK I was hurting....when I passed the WISHers screamteaming by the GF I could barely managed a half-wave and a nod, and these were people I know and consider friends. By the time I got to the backend of AK I knew my race was going to be over soon. There were people cheering, but I was concentrating on one foot in front of the other and didn't have energy to spare. By the time I left the medics outside AK and was heading towards the tram area all I could think of was getting to my DH. When I spotted him and Kristi off in the distance I just kept repeating to myself - gotta get to Jim, don't fall down, gotta get to Jim, don't fall down. Really, at this point if George Clooney himself in a white speedo had been cheering for me I wouldn't have noticed, or if I had I wouldn't have cared.

Thank you to anyone who took the time to cheer!

 

[wtpclc]

I agree with all the others. I start losing it in the long open sstretch before AK. AK has hills asnd weird pavement adn then you run aorund a parking lot. It's tough. Here are 2 things that may have been against you:

1. I focus on looking for the lime to get me through. That's firs tadn froemost. My biggest fear was that I would pass withdisneyspirit adn not recognize her because I knewshe would not be in lime and I know her.

2. If you're with TnT, it's harder. I went through my 1st marathon and TnT people went silent if I was following them. :-( In my mind, when I see TnT people get extra excited, I now assume there's a TnT persopn around me and that it's not for me. Very likely, I didn't hear WISH until it was too late. Or I gave you my I've run 16 miles adn am now confused that TnT people are sayign WISH look. SOmethign in the back of my mind is vaguely out there thinking I may have heard you and been confused. Not against TnT. TnT participants work very hard to raise $ adn I cheer for them with everyone else on the course, just that I would not recognize it as someone cheering for me.

Although the circumstancse were not great, the best thing about walking in after MGM this year was that I had the energy to acknowledge as many people as possible adn thank tehm. I erally do try to thank every person out there cheering. Uaually, though, that turns to a thumbs up, tehn to a nod adn then to just trying to havethe energy to turn my head and give what i hope is a smile. At that point, it's probably morelike a look of pain.

I am terribly sorry that you felt rebuffed. It's not what any of us would ever do intentionally.