I gotta say... I was shocked.

[deekaypee]

Ali,

Add me to the list of folks who weren't exactly "all there" on the full. (Not that I'm all there normally.) I wasn't in WISH gear--the first of my many mistakes that day--but I fear many spectators & even fellow runners might have thought I was standoffish if not downright rude. I had my iPod headphones on the entire time, although the music was turned on fully sometime between MK and AK. I tried to smile/say thank you to folks if I heard them give me encouragement, but it might have looked like I was baring my teeth. And I might have said a few inappropriate things to folks on the course. I think I told the woman handing out pretzels somewhere on the course after AK that I loved her and wanted to have her baby.

During the 1/2 (I was in WISH gear) I tried to talk up & be friendly to those I met on the course. I remember several nice, brief conversations with TNTers--I never thought there was a stigma. I remember thanking one coach for being a positive influence for her group, a group I was trying to "draft" behind. They were a welcome sight, as were the people I kept encountering on my hours on the courses.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that, like so many folks, I was out there trying to prove to myself that I could do this. At times, it took all the mental energy I had to keep putting one foot in front of the other, let alone the physical energy to do so. So while part of me knew there were all these friendly people there to support me in so many ways, it wasn't until after the race and it registered on me that I did do it that I began to recognize all the people who helped make it possible. I just hoped they realized how much they meant to me, so much that I'm planning on being part of the scream team next year--to give back.

So, Ali, it's belated, but I (and my DH, who agrees with me), thank you and please know how much your well-WISHes and those of every spectator and participant mean.

 

[marsuzcos]

I would like to say that I had never heard of the WISH group until I did my first Disney half marathon this year........and I thought you guys were the friendliest, most fun group that I have ever ever met! I promptly looked up the website and asked to join when I got back home.
Running a marathon isn't easy.....that's why the cheerleaders and scream teams ARE important!!! Ali, you did a great job cheering....thank you to everyone who was out there for the runners!

 

[Calcio]

Ali

This may make you feel better, and it may make you feel worse. I don't know.

Running a half marathon is a great accomplishment, and many of my dear friends have achieved this accomplishment through hard work and dedication. I think back to the picture of our dear Judy, crossing the finish line this year far faster than last year, with an enormous smile. She did so well, and I'm so proud of her for it. Congratulations to you for doing this. It's tough, and you did it. Great result.

Having said that, you have no idea what it means to complete a marathon. A marathon is not 2x harder than a half, it's more like 4 or 5x. My lovely wife with good halfs and 15K's under her belt did the marathon this year. She trained her butt off, and all the time I told her, "you have no idea what's out there past mile 18. She knew I was telling the truth, but she was not prepared for what happened to her, in spite of her hard training. Until you've been there you cannot understand what it takes to keep moving forward. Everything hurts and your mind plays tricks on you. It takes great concentration to keep moving.

Adding to the troubles at mile 18 is the Disney race is run almost entirely by people who are stretching to their personal limits to finish. This isn't Boston that you need a blazing qualifying time to enter. This is Disney, and most of us, especially including me, aren't sufficiently trained to do a marathon well. You should be averaging 70 mile weeks to run a good marathon, and heck, I averaged barely half that. For people trained to this level, 1-13 are easy, 13-18 are really hard or worse, 18-23 are pure hell, and then the oddest thing happens, you can feel the finish and things get better during the last 3.

By being where you were, you saw people who were fighting the demon to continue. Last year on the day after the marathon I was in the Animal Kingdom with my daughter, riding Expedition Everest. When we came out of the ride I looked at the sidewalk, looked back at the bridge, looked forward to the bridge, and told her "I ran here yesterday and didn't even see the mountain." She was 22 then, and nearly fell over laughing at me. Please believe me we weren't trying to act rude. We were trying to keep moving. I didn't realize it until then, but in the last 10 miles of a marathon I rarely look at anything but the next few strides in front of me.

Yes, the Team in Training group can be wonderful and can be a pain. They are numerous, and they are everywhere. If by the law of large numbers 1 of 20 participants behave in a less than admirable manner, then this group must have hundreds of poorly behaving people on the course. The purple jerseys are visible, and I've seen people in purple behaving wonderfully and terribly. Particularly that 30ish woman this year who cut off the cloverleaf at mile 6, came from the ticket and transport center directly to the Polynesian, and I assume finished and wore the medal. I was running at least 2 minutes a mile faster than this woman, and passed her 3 times on the course. C'est la vie.

On the course, most of us knew where our mates would be, and we actively looked for them then and there. I knew 5 places for sure where friends would be. I looked for them at each stop, but only saw 3 of the groups. I missed 2 large groups of friends in the crowds and my concentration, so you can imagine how many of us don't notice the kind, and I mean kind encouragement of supporters.

And lastly, be careful calling people rude the start of the race. We all are different. Some folks like to chat in the starting corrals. Others concentrate within themselves. This doesn't make us rude, it is our own way of reaching back into months of training and preparing for what lies ahead. I'm getting up there in years, but my background in competitive athletics is deep and wide, across many sports and up to and barely beyond college. I'm sure it looks totally dumb, but before a race I go into the same concentration/relaxation mode I did when I was a college athlete. I may chat with the person next to me, but just as likely, if they say something I may be in my own little world and not hear or respond. It's just my way.

To everyone, and I mean everyone on the course, thank you so much for your presence. In the early miles it is wonderful, because I can appreciate it and scan for friendly faces. How I missed Kristi and Angie and Jim at mile 2, I cannot imagine, sorry. In the late miles it helps pull us, even though we feel like zombies (although I am with Krista, I don't care for the "you look great" comments, since I know I don't).

Ali, I wish you well in your step up to that first marathon. In our modern world where life is pretty darn easy, there are few challenges like it.

Craig

 

[wtpntigger2]

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...

I am the friend that ran with Ali and this is the impression that came across to me while we running the half. Whenever we passed a WISHer we would yell "Go DISboards" and get some really strange looks from most everyone. I stopped saying anything once we got to MK because I was so put off by the reactions. (I didn't say "Go WISHers" because that is what was on the shirts and I wanted them to know I KNEW who they were because I was a DISser too)

I do have to say, though, at mile 12 before going into EPCOT there were Scream Teamers and I remember one specifically cheered me on by name and that really helped me get through those last 15 minutes so THANK YOU!

 

[scoolover]

It's all about the shirt. The first time I wore it was at a local 5K. The thing was so bright that I tried to run away from it. That is the point about the shirt. I had only met about 4 WISHers before this year and my girlfriend didn't know anyone. We both had great interaction with other WISHers during the races because of a simple shirt.

That being said, every time I heard a WISH or a Scott I would acknowledge it some how even if there wasn't a shirt involved. There is nobody that I have met on the WISH team that would intentionally ignore you. I am also happy to report that I was in pretty good shape at AK. Mile 19-20 was my down hill turn.

I wouldn't give up yet. Just wear the shirt.

 

[nucpharm29]

Okay, so I'm not a catty person by nature--but I'm running late for work and have had no coffee--so this might come off that way.

I feel compelled to post this--here we are posting all our appologies (me included) for not thanking you specifically for cheering us full marathoners on. But my question to you is no1. Why did you feel compelled to single the WISH team out? There were, what over 12,000 finishers on January 13th and how many of that number actually thanked you? I see that you've been on the boards before--why not become an active member. Then you would actually know us and, in my mind, not at all been offended. And no 2. Why were/are you so concerned about being thanked? In my mind, cheering is not for personal gratification, but for encouraging runners to the ultimate goal.

And in your words: yes, we are all in this together, Scream teamers, volunteers and runners/walkers. If any of those groups weren't there the event wouldn't happen. But if you're scream teaming or volunteering for personal glory you've missed the point.

 

[RedDragon]

Thank you, Stephanie, for saying what I was thinking. I remembered after I responded once already to this that another WISHer, Cruella de Mom, was running for TNT this year. I've seen her on the boards quite a bit and enjoy her posts. When I was doing so badly at mile, what was it, 20 or 21, she ran up beside me in her purple shirt, stopped running and walked with me, introduced herself and spent a few minutes encouraging me and chatting with me to keep me going. I THINK I thanked her for her generosity and how much it meant to me, but I'm not sure about that.

I haven't seen her sulking because I didn't thank her personally, if that is the case. She knows it without my having to say it. That's what being a team member is about. It's not for personal glory. It's about being there for your team.

Cruella de Mom: THANK YOU! If I didn't say it then, I'll say it now--it really meant a lot to me that you walked with me for those few short minutes.

And to those at mile 13 who cheered for me but I didn't respond: THANK YOU!! At some level, I knew you were there and it really did mean a lot to me.

 

[windwalker]

LOL!! YOu guys are too funny!!!

That's okay about the whips.. we had fun with them later, back in the room!

Kathy! Now I'm shocked

Innocent as the new fallen snow Panda

 

[MouseDogMom]

Not that there's much more to be said, but I had heard many bad things about TNT and how they didn't cheer for anyone else before I ran my first Disney race this year. I was really pleased when somewhere around mile 11, when I was definitely in the BMZ, when someone in a purple shirt cheered for me by name. I THINK I did turn around and at least smile, if not say thank you, since I had heard such negative things and was so grateful to have one cheering for me. By that time I was really tired of all the purple. I understand what Ali said about there being so many TNTers to cheer for; I never wanted to see another purple shirt or hear someone cheer for one by that point, so it meant even more to have one call my name.

Jackie

 

[jmasgat]

So at the risk of getting flamed....

I'm new, and haven't yet raced, but have spent a lot of time cheering my DH, DD and DS (and xcountry teammates) when they race. I have to say, I would never expect anyone to acknowledge my cheering. They are racing/running/wogging/walking--and concentrating every ounce of energy on their race. They aren't out there to socialize.

Now, I know this is Disney and there's a different atmosphere, and lots of people, and some familiar cyberpals, etc,etc. And maybe you expect (and perhaps deserve) gratitude, but I think it's harsh to call people out.

And yes, when I run this May in the Minnie 15k, I will appreciate anyone who cheers for me (although after this post, maybe noone ), but please don't be insulted if I don't give you the on-the-spot acknowledgement that you're looking for.

(Now I will go back to kicking the dog and yelling at the kids )

Maura

 

[nepatsfan73]

We all are different. Some folks like to chat in the starting corrals. Others concentrate within themselves. This doesn't make us rude, it is our own way of reaching back into months of training and preparing for what lies ahead. I'm getting up there in years, but my background in competitive athletics is deep and wide, across many sports and up to and barely beyond college. I'm sure it looks totally dumb, but before a race I go into the same concentration/relaxation mode I did when I was a college athlete. I may chat with the person next to me, but just as likely, if they say something I may be in my own little world and not hear or respond. It's just my way.

To be clear, I have yet to partipate in a half marathon or marathon and that is why I did not originally reply to this thread.** Craig's** above comments, however, is what I thought about mentioning. I also played diverse sports in high school and college and learned how I needed to ready myself for those events. Although I do not yet know how I will be just prior to the start of a distance event when I do begin to participate, I imagine that at least for the first ones, I may not be my usually jovial, friendly-self in the corrals. I hope to have fun and my goal, at first, will be just to finish, but I know I will be competing against myself.

To all WISHers, volunteers, cheer-ers and supporters, I apologize now if I am rude before the start or during 2009 WDW marathon races. Hopefully (or maybe not for your sakes), I will be my "regular" self the days before and after I finish.

 

[chimera]

(I didn't say "Go WISHers" because that is what was on the shirts and I wanted them to know I KNEW who they were because I was a DISser too)

Next time, yell "Go WISHers". I cheered for the half and honestly wouldn't have been tuned into 2 out of 13,000 people yelling Go Dis. I would imagine the people that just stared at you (and I was probably one of them) if we heard and understood what you said, were trying to figure out who YOU were. I'll share my Cecilia (Cruella de Mom) moment from the half. She wears her TnT singlet and said Go Wish when she went by me at the Poly. I had to look at her face, then look at her bib to get her name before I realized who it was (my brain only processes info so fast). By that time, she was well past me and had to turn around when I yelled and gave her some cowbell. Lynne and Erin weren't wearing WISH shirts and I totally missed them as they went by because it took me too long to figure out it was them...and I've known both of them for 3 years!

So...if I stared at you and gave you a strange look as you went by, I was trying to figure out if I knew you or should know you, not some weird WISH v TnT thing. I'm with Stephanie and Martha...I'm not really sure here what your motivation was and I think you're taking this all a bit personally.

 

[skfulkers]

I'm going to echo Stephanie's comment that this may come across a little catty, and I really try to be a pretty nice guy most of the time (although Krista may have a different opinion ).

Are we really still talking about this? I agree, we've been apologizing for over a day now, and the sincerity and true greatness of this team is definitely showing through. I have never met a more wonderful, caring group of people in my life (and this includes even our groups at our local church). I have been a member of this team for close to three years, and never once has there been anything but a sense of complete respect, admiration and encouragement for all the others we encounter. I am involved with other running groups, triathlon groups, etc that I sometimes train with. This is not always the case with those groups.

I am somewhat put-off by the comments of rude, etc. As others have echoed, stick around here for awhile and get to know the wonderful people on this team. I would hope your opinion would change if you take the time and effort to make a fair assessment of the team.

I'm going to stop talking now.

Steve

 

[KeenHo]

I think the topic was addressed very well by Craig, Stephanie and Steve (o.k. by Big Vic too!). So I won't bore everyone with my similar thoughts.

I do want to mention one of the most rewarding minutes of the race weekend (Goofy experience) when at mile 25.something, we were running around the world showcase. At some point, I realized that there was a TnT runner, male, running on my left side. I assume he had been around me or near me for some time. When I actually had the opportunity to see his face, he congratulated me on my hard work and effort during the race and shook my hand. It was unsolicited, unnecessary and unexpected, yet it meant so much. This person was enduring the same pain, exhaustion, dehydration, heat and humidity I was and perhaps hurting as much or more as I was. Yet he took his valuable air and time to compliment my effort. It was a very nice thing to do. It took me off guard in a very profound way. To that TnT runner and more importantly, man, THANK YOU for your kind words!

Let's get on with more important things (training tips, reports, kudos, etc.) and memories of the weekend that define us as WISHers.



Howard

 

[crzy4pooh]

I am the friend that ran with Ali and this is the impression that came across to me while we running the half. Whenever we passed a WISHer we would yell "Go DISboards" and get some really strange looks from most everyone. I stopped saying anything once we got to MK because I was so put off by the reactions. (I didn't say "Go WISHers" because that is what was on the shirts and I wanted them to know I KNEW who they were because I was a DISser too)

I did the half, and I remember 2 ladies in purple pass me and say "Go Dis". I'm now guessing it was you all. When I heard it, I was trying to process what they had said (my brain was not functioning rather early on), and by the time I figured it out, they were long gone. I apologize for the puzzled look I gave - I really appreciated all the encouragement I got on the course. I just couldn't figure out what you said quickly enough. Thank you, though!!! I hope you both will stick around and get to know everyone. This is truly an amazing bunch of people, and I'm so proud to be a part of the WISH family!

 

[Stitch_lover_Sith]

Lynne and Erin weren't wearing WISH shirts and I totally missed them as they went by because it took me too long to figure out it was them...and I've known both of them for 3 years!

Mel I have to say that I am shocked by this. With some of our past races sure, but I was running with Jeff. LOL I had thought of that but to be honest the current shirt was not what I had trained in and I did not want to do anything new for the race.

I response to others posts I agree 100%. If you give the Team a chance to know who you are and participate in some of our activities you will find some of the best friends your will ever make. We like to check drama at the door. Feel free to continue to post with us we ARE a welcoming community but you will find we are every different from other part of the Boards. If you decide to join us.
Erin

 

[wfloyd]

Mel I have to say that I am shocked by this. With some of our past races sure, but I was running with Jeff. LOL I had thought of that but to be honest the current shirt was not what I had trained in and I did not want to do anything new for the race.

Erin

Now we know why she missed you, she was too busy watching her hot hubby run by.

Bill

 

[Cruella de mom]

and the Team in Training coaches were AWESOME...

Thanks. I came upon my coach twice when he was helping non-TNT runners. The first time I just waved to him, the guy was laying on the grass and definately needed him more than I did. The next time, he introduced me and encouraged this man to stick with me. I ran with the man for about 2 miles until he ran into some one he knew who was walking.

I would have assumed that you were cheering for TNT.

I think this happens alot. TNT people are cheering and other runners assume they are only cheering for TNT. Of course when they scream "go team" I guess that is pretty inclusive. Just remember that most of the TNT runners earned the right to those cheers by raising a ton of money and many of them paid a pretty penny out of their own pockets. I think as a group they raised ovver 6 million dollars in the Disney marathon alone.

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.

I would have noticed that. He was not there. You didn't miss any non Disney Celebs.

I felt especially bad when I saw Anne at Mile 20 with orange slices. I knew she went to all that trouble to bring them out to help us, but by that point I couldn't eat anything else. I really wanted to take an orange from Anne, but I couldn't.

Is this the orange that Anne gave me such a hard time for taking? I took your orange? Oh it was the best orange slice ever ever ever. Thank you for sharing it with me. Anne said I had lots of support on the course but not one single TNT screamer offered me an orange slice.

Particularly that 30ish woman this year who cut off the cloverleaf at mile 6, came from the ticket and transport center directly to the Polynesian, and I assume finished and wore the medal. I was running at least 2 minutes a mile faster than this woman, and passed her 3 times on the course. C'est la vie.

She was probably a coach. They skip around on the course running with different runners. My coach was yelled at on one of the buses. And if she was not a coach, know that TNT took the medal of a cheater last year. Seriously, the coach walked up to her at the victory party and asked for her medal. Regardless, she has to live with herself.

Cruella de Mom: THANK YOU! If I didn't say it then, I'll say it now--it really meant a lot to me that you walked with me for those few short minutes.

You are Welcome Martha Believe me, It was a pleasure to meet you and I only wish I could have stayed with you longer.

Ali - Thank you for cheering. WISH is a unique group of people because we know each other but not each other's faces. This makes things confusing at first. I met lots of fellow WISH teammates this year, but I always had to identify myself by my DIS name and even then I think some people were still confused. This is an amazingly friendly group of people and I sincerely urge you to try to meet them in less extreme circumstances.

 

[wtpntigger2]

I did the half, and I remember 2 ladies in purple pass me and say "Go Dis". I'm now guessing it was you all. When I heard it, I was trying to process what they had said (my brain was not functioning rather early on), and by the time I figured it out, they were long gone. I apologize for the puzzled look I gave - I really appreciated all the encouragement I got on the course. I just couldn't figure out what you said quickly enough. Thank you, though!!! I hope you both will stick around and get to know everyone. This is truly an amazing bunch of people, and I'm so proud to be a part of the WISH family!

I guess I never thought about the processing about what we were saying as the reason for the puzzled look . I don't care about being thanked, but a smile is what would have been nice but I understand a bit better now and in the future (say at the DL half) I will make sure to say "GO WISH" especially since you all are so easy to spot.

BTW, I do have to say that I loved reading the back of the shirts. DLF>DNF>DNS (I think I got that right). Whenever I get down on myself for my poor time (this was my first half marathon and I didn't do as well as I wanted to) I think back to the shirts and remind myself that not only did I start, but I finished, and hey, there were still people finishing behind me

 

[monte]

Wow, this is very interesting to me as I was affliated with both teams...TNT because of my stepson Aaron and the W.I.S.H. team and I never once felt ignored, or slighted. I tried to thank as many people I possible and was just thankful to see so many smiling faces. I wore my purple TNT shirt and my W.I.S.H. team hat, so I really had the best of both worlds. It touched me to see the sea of purple shirts because that represented fundraising money for leukemia & lympnoma and since Aaron is battling leukemia it means we're closer to the cure.

Anne and Cam's daugther were awesome and I was lucky enough to spot them as several mile markers. People must have thought I was an idiot, but I had a smile on my face for most of the marathon because I had such a wonderful time meeting everyone and if I didn't say "thank-you" enough I'm sorry because I really did appreciate all the kind words.