Marathon weekend roving reporter live trip report

[Mouse Skywalker]

Kathy - I loved your BLOG. I think you really captured a lot of the essence of what I feel about both the WISH forums and team as well as running. It's not the race that matters; it's getting together with friends. It's like someone said about Mousefest. Mousefest is about the people. Well I run so I can do these races with the great people I've met on the WISH boards. I'm really glad to share my WISH "family" with my DIS Unplugged "family".

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Congratulations to you too princessgirl2238. It's not about where you finish, or what your time is, but just being out there giving your effort.

 

[Emmabean2000]

congratulations on the finish! your time is awesome- i finished at 3 hours, which is slower for me but i've been battling a hip injury since this past summer so i was just happy to be able to run at all.

Thanks! I too have battled injuries this past year, and understand the frustration that goes with it. I have so much respect for anyone that completes the race! 13 miles in 3 hours is fantastic!!!!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

OK, let me get back to my pictures and report...

I arrived at the Start staging area around 4am. It's such a surreal scene, it's early, dark, lots of people sitting around, and an 80's band playing full bore.

Here's the band

They had a DJ playing when the band would take a break. I could hear all this music at the Swan when I walked out the door at 3:45am. It was drifting across the EPCoT parking lot.

Some of my WISH teammates waiting for the start.

Here's what we're running for.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I don't actually have any pictures during the race because I checked my camera at the baggage check.

The race went really well. I ran with friends of mine from the WISH boards, a husband and wife couple who I've run with in Washington DC at the Marine Corps Marathon and in Philadelphia. They're both doing the "Goofy" - which means they are running the half today and the full marathon tomorrow. So they were taking it easy for today's half. We stayed together the whole race, just chatting, and joking the whole time. The miles clicked away so quickly. We kept saying... I can't believe it's mile 5, 7, 10, 12... they just kept going by. It was the funnest race I've run since, well, since the last time I ran Disney in 2007.

Let's see, some highlights I remember.

I was actually getting pretty cold by the time we started. I left my sweatshirt on for the first 4 miles to warm up. I took it off before getting to the TTC, but I was still pretty cold through the Magic Kingdom. I never really warmed up until I finished the race, and got another shirt to put on.

I fell around mile 2. I stepped off the road, lost my footing, and tumbled head over heels. I just laughed at my clumsiness. I did my best "Chevy Chase" bounce up recovery... "I'm good, I'm OK."

Another highlight was seeing the HUGE, bright full moon setting behind the Grand Floridian. It was a gorgeous site. I wish I had a picture of that.

Seeing all the spectators on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom is always a highlight, as is running through Cinderella's Castle. Running through the Magic Kingdom in general is just so cool. I loved seeing Captain Jack on his Pirate ship backstage. I asked him where the rum stop was...

Other than that, just running with friends was cool. We picked up another WISHer "LilLouisiana Gal" after Magic Kingdom, and she stuck with us for a while. Then we finished it up in EPCoT.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Once I finished, I got my camera again from the bag check area... so more, pictures...

People making their way through the finisher's area. Waiting for their official finisher photos.

The 80's band is still playing at the staging area. In all honesty, they were pretty good. They were called the 80's All Stars and played all those 80's songs that were being talked about in chat on New Years Eve.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I then indulged myself a little. Since I was by myself, I didn't have to worry about anyone else's schedule, or if people were tired of waiting in line for me. I saw that you could get a finishers picture with characters. So I did.

I try to live by the "Goof's" mantra of not taking yourself too seriously. So I had to get a picture with Goofy.

Then I figured, why not, I can go ahead and get pictures with all the characters that were out.

Gotta get a picture of Donald, since the half marathon was "his" race.

Saw Donald's main squeeze Daisy.

Did a little dance with Minnie.

Finally saw the Big Cheese himself.

The only character I missed was Pluto. He went in before I could get to him.

Here's a closeup of the medal.

BTW: This is my 3,000th POST!!!

 

[Renysmom]

ahhh Dave -


Why does your runners bib say Joann?? DO you have something to tell us???

Thanks for all the pictures. I can feel your excitement in your posts about the race. Hope your having a wonderful evening and you get some rest. You deserve it

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Here's been the only downside of the weekend so far. So I went to leave the marathon staging area, and the lines for the buses were sooooooo long. So I told myself, I know, I'll walk to the entrance of EPCoT and take the theme park bus back to the Swan.

I hike all the way across the parking lot about 15 minutes to the front of EPCoT (where the monorail is) to discover, there is no bus from EPCoT to Swan. Why would you need a bus when you can walk through EPCoT to the Swan. But I didn't have a park ticket, so I couldn't get into EPCoT. So I had to take the bus to Hollywood Studios, and then walk down the path along the canal to the Swan.

I finally got back to my room around 11:00am, and I had made arrangements with some WISH friends to meet at the Macaroni Grille at 11:00am. So I don't shower, get out of my running clothes, put shorts and a fresh shirt on and jump in my rental car to rush to meet my friends.

So I'm driving past Downtown Disney towards Apopka-Vineland, and all these cars are cutting me off to turn left into Downtown Disney. I finally get an opening, and gas it to get around the traffic. I pass Typhoon Lagoon, and whammo, there's the Sheriff on his motorcycle. Yup, I get pulled over for a speeding ticket. I was going 44 mph in a 35 mph zone, and the speed limit just shifted from 40 mph to 35 mph at Typhoon Lagoon. Great... that put a damper on my runner's high.

Anyway, I was able to meet up with my friends, and eventually got over the ticket. But even as I do write this, I'm getting steamed again.

 

[ADP]

I finally get an opening, and gas it to get around the traffic. I pass Typhoon Lagoon, and whammo, there's the Sheriff on his motorcycle. Yup, I get pulled over for a speeding ticket. I was going 44 mph in a 35 mph zone, and the speed limit just shifted from 40 mph to 35 mph at Typhoon Lagoon. Great... that put a damper on my runner's high.

That stinks Dave. I'm glad you were able to still enjoy the time your friends.

Thanks for the great photos. It looks like you had a wonderful time.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

ahhh Dave -


Why does your runners bib say Joann?? DO you have something to tell us???

Thanks for all the pictures. I can feel your excitement in your posts about the race. Hope your having a wonderful evening and you get some rest. You deserve it

Shoot, I knew I wouldn't be able to sneak that past these observant DISboarders. Well, do you remember when John was mentioning "The Crying Game" on the Podcast a few weeks ago????

No, seriously, I had no plans of running Disney until about 2 weeks ago. One of my WISH teammates (Joanne), posted on the boards that she had injured herself and couldn't run the race. So I'm using her bib.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

After lunch, I went over to the Wilderness Lodge to soak in the atmosphere of the WL lobby. I just love that resort.

Look at the sun light streaming in through the windows.

I even got to meet Ranger Stan! He made me feel like his grandson.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

After Wilderness Lodge, I headed over to Fort Wilderness for dinner at the 5:00p Hoop-de-Doo Revue show.

Mmmmm, bucket-o-chicken, can't go wrong with food in metal pails.

ribs

mashed potatoes

baked beans

I was soooooo full after this dinner, but, what the heck, I just ran 13.1 miles today. I burned some calories, right?

Some shots of the show.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Back to my room in the Swan by 8:00p. I walk in my room, open my curtains and see WISHes going off over the Magic Kingdom.

These aren't great photos, but just more to show you (and remind me) that I saw it.

You could actually see it really well from my balcony.

OK, that's it for now. It's been a long day, and I'm beat. I'll check back in tomorrow. Thanks for reading everyone.

 

[FireDancer]

Congratulations on your time and your ticket I love the new medals. I just wish they had them last year since I have 2 of the old style. I guess I can suck it up and come down again for the new medal if I have to

 

[cocowum]

Dave, thanks so much for taking the time to tell us about your trip. I hate running, I was in the Army for 4 years (that's where I met Paul ) we had to run all the time and I vowed, when I got out of the Army to never run again. Your story really has inspired me, I think that I am going to run the Expedition Everest challenge. I gotta tell you between your post and Kathy's blog I got pretty choked up reading. I especially loved the pic of you and Goofy. You look so happy.


BTW: I love the T-shirt you wore to HDDR.

 

[MODisFan]

Congratulation Dave on finishing the Marathon - that's wonderful. Also, thank your for taking the time to post a live trip report. The views from your room look great! Sorry about the ticket...glad to see his hasn't ruined your trip.

 

[SamSam]

Dave, I've loved looking at your pics and reading your posts. It sounds like a wonderfully fun race! I'm more determined than ever to do the 1/2 in 2010.

 

[safetymom]

Dave, thanks for all the great pictures you took. You really had a busy day yesterday. Isn't Ranger Stan a gem????

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone:

I'm waking up this morning. Getting my coffee. Here's the view of the full moon over the Dolphin that I saw when I woke up.

After I came back from getting my coffee.