Mrs. Darling's 2010 Half Marathon Trip:Yes, it does snow at Disney World

[dismagiclover]

What a great update. Sandy is my hero, too!! That story made me cry! Yeaaa!

I teared up a bit when I wrote it too.

I'm laughing over your son's grief over the left behind coat. That sounds so like my kids, I'm sure you were like "what?". Five year olds are such a trip! I'm sure it now belongs to someone who really needed a nice fleece jacket.

I never knew about all the characters on the course, how cool! And, great job Sandy! You all are inspiring me!

We were a bit confused at the extreme emotion over the coat. You would have thought I'd left his beloved stuffed panda or something. Go figure

I have a somewhat dumb question-If you cross the finish line, but your time is unofficial (the clock is off), do you still get a medal?

I was gonna say I have no idea, let's ask Sandy, but she already answered the question

OK - y'all need to stop - - I was not I did not... I can and should've done better!! (its embarrassing all the nice things y'all are saying, the truth is I am so not worthy!)

Alright I'll cut out the hero worship, but I still think you're pretty cool.

 

[UGAFan0829]

[/QUOTE]=Sandy321;35186044

What happens to those that are "swept"? Can they get a medal? [/QUOTE]

I'm glad that you managed to still get a medal after all that!

As far as getting swept---From what I've been reading-if you get swept, then you don't get counted as finishing, and from what I've read, you have to finish in order to get a medal.

 

[dismagiclover]

So here we were at Mile 7 a little over half way done . (I’m not sure why I couldn’t fit this mile marker all in one pictue)

We’d been on the course close to 2 hours. Liz was really hoping to finish in under 3 hours. In other words, it was time to get serious. So Liz took the lead and headed over to the grass so we could really run (the road was rather crowded.) I followed behind for a bit and then I remembered I really don’t like running on the grass. (Some of you may be getting the impression that I just really don’t like running.) Anyway, the grass is pretty uneven and sometimes hurts my knees and ankles a bit. So I headed back to the road which slowed me down because I had to people dodge. I saw Liz fading farther into the distance and I made a decision. I would let her go. We’d talked before the race about how I knew she could do this faster than me and I didn’t want to hold her back. I assured her I wouldn’t mind one little bit if she left me behind. She really wanted to get through the Magic Kingdom with me and we decided then we’d see what happened. Well what happened was I sneakily let her go ahead. She really did think I was right behind her. I figured she would be better off running this part of the race on her own at her pace. Chances were good she could still make it in under three hours. Plus, with Liz racing ahead I could just relax and enjoy. (Though I have to confess I’d been pretty relaxed all along.)
I guess now is a good as time as any to explain my racing philosophy. (I suspect some of you may have figured it out already.) I really do train for my races. My last long training run was 11 miles and I did it in around 11:30 minute miles. When I’m training I try pretty hard to push myself and take seriously the task ahead. Race days are a whole other ballgame. Especially Disney Race Days. I train because I want to be confident that I can finish. I don’t want to have to worry about sweepers picking me up or questioning whether I can make it to the end. I train so that I can have fun. For me my finish time on race day is pretty far down my list of priorities. I’m all about stopping and smelling the roses. (And I’m sure you’ve noticed I do a lot of stopping.) Now this is a race philosophy that is tough for some fellow runners to wrap their head around. My DH didn’t get it until he actually ran the Disneyland Half with me. (Though I’d explained it beforehand.) And I don’t think Liz really understood it either until she ran with me. It takes a certain kind of person to have this race philosophy. It takes a person without a competitive drive and a person who frankly doesn’t have the desire to test his or her limits. Right or wrong I can’t say I’m going for my best on race day. I’m just going for a good time. And I must say a good time it was. Despite the freezing rain and crowded roads I was having a fabulous time. I ran by the Grand Floridian and who did I see.

I bet Mary was glad she had that parasol in this weather. Now I didn’t stop. Despite my racing philosophy so eloquently outlined above I was feeling like I should maybe pick up the pace a bit. So I kept running. But then I saw them. A pair there was no way I was passing up. Here they are

Don’t they look adorable? (Mickey and Donald, not me.) I’ve never seen these outfits. I love them. And check out that golf cart. Cutest golf cart ever! The line was a bit long for these two and while I waited I chatted with some fellow Marylanders. Runners are the friendliest people and Disney Runners are the most friendliest (yes I know that is completely grammatically incorrect.)

After saying goodbye to Mickey and Donald I headed towards Mile 8

Then I was upon Mile 9. (I’m speeding up!)

Then I hit Mile 10.

Check it out. I actually ran an 11:30 mile. I guess I must have been feeling focused.

Well the focus went away rather quickly. Look who I found.

I’m actually trying to look tough.

I hit mile 11 (and you can see I’ve reverted back to my smelling the roses pace.)

I was actually showing Michael (my 5 year old) the pictures of the race and he was explaining to me that if he was running he would try to go a bit faster. He said, “I think those characters make people lose focus.” He told me he is not going to stop for the characters when he runs the race. Then he said, “Well maybe I’ll only stop for 5 of them.” He has a little bit of his Mama in him after all.

 

[dismagiclover]

=Sandy321;35186044

What happens to those that are "swept"? Can they get a medal? [/QUOTE]

I'm glad that you managed to still get a medal after all that!

As far as getting swept---From what I've been reading-if you get swept, then you don't get counted as finishing, and from what I've read, you have to finish in order to get a medal.[/QUOTE]

If you get swept you don't get a medal. What I don't know is if you get a medal if you cross the line after the time limit has passed. So you're not an official finisher. It appears from Sandy's pictures that this year they swept everyone after Sandy since there is no one behind her in pictures. Thus, there are no "unofficial finishers". I, obviously, could be wrong about that since I wasn't there.

 

[UGAFan0829]

Wonderful update! I love your theory about stopping to smell the roses, and the characters too!! Seriously, you really look like you're having a great time, and that's what it's all about. It was really sweet of you to let Liz run ahead so that she could meet her goal.
I SO can't wait to read more!

 

[carissanboys]

"I think those characters make people lose focus.” Love it!

I think your philosophy is just fine. Whatever works for you. I have no idea which philosophy I will follow until I get there. We'll have to see how tired I am.

Wow - Liz must have been going FAST for the 2nd half of the race!!

 

[Stefy]

I'm loving your theory too. Taking your time and not pushing yourself too hard is the way to go. I love how the characters are there to greet you and it gives you incentive to keep going, as you want to see who the next character up will be

Mickey and Donald look so cute in their lil outfits and that golf cart is awesome!

 

[Angies1274]

YAY!! for seeing the pirates!! Love the pictures!!! Great job, Sandy!! What an inspiring story!!

It looks like you are having such an amazing time! I really think you are inspiring me to give this a try. The "stopping to smell the roses" theory sounds pretty good to me! Love the picture w/Donald and Mickey. That golf cart is so adorable!!!

Michael's comment about the characters making you lose focus....but he would maybe stop for 5? Too cute!!!

 

[dismagiclover]

Wonderful update! I love your theory about stopping to smell the roses, and the characters too!! Seriously, you really look like you're having a great time, and that's what it's all about. It was really sweet of you to let Liz run ahead so that she could meet her goal.
I SO can't wait to read more!

I was definitely having a great time! It really wasn't that sweet of me to let Liz run ahead. It was actually pretty self serving and lazy. I didn't want to exert the energy it would have taken. I mean what kind of crazy people think you should actually tire yourself out running a half marathon

"I think those characters make people lose focus.” Love it!

I think your philosophy is just fine. Whatever works for you. I have no idea which philosophy I will follow until I get there. We'll have to see how tired I am.

Wow - Liz must have been going FAST for the 2nd half of the race!!

My first half marathon I was absolutely dead by the end and I still finished in about 3 hours. I remember I went back to the hotel and took a nap. So I would guess you'll probably be pretty tired by the end. Liz did pick it up for the 2nd half of the race. She really is a much more serious runner than myself even though I've been doing it for 9 years now and she is just going on 1 year. She'll claim otherwise, but I think she is just more of a natural.

I'm loving your theory too. Taking your time and not pushing yourself too hard is the way to go. I love how the characters are there to greet you and it gives you incentive to keep going, as you want to see who the next character up will be

Mickey and Donald look so cute in their lil outfits and that golf cart is awesome!

I love Mickey and Donald in their golfing outfits I've seen pictures in other places of Goofy and Minnie in that spot so the characters traded out. I"m glad I got Mickey and Donald because they look way cuter!

YAY!! for seeing the pirates!! Love the pictures!!! Great job, Sandy!! What an inspiring story!!

It looks like you are having such an amazing time! I really think you are inspiring me to give this a try. The "stopping to smell the roses" theory sounds pretty good to me! Love the picture w/Donald and Mickey. That golf cart is so adorable!!!

Michael's comment about the characters making you lose focus....but he would maybe stop for 5? Too cute!!!

You should think about giving it a try! It is a whole new way to experience Disney Magic and it's good for you too Go down the page to the WISH board and you'll find lots of people that do the races. It really is a great time! And yes Michael is quite the character

 

[disneylovin24]

How many times a year do you get to run around disney like that, of course your going to not be going to fast

 

[liznboys]

Did you notice the 3 hour pacer in this picture? There she is with her balloons... So I guess that's where we were at that point, I thought we were further behind than that.

I just love our picture right in front of the castle!!

I was cracking up in this picture because we actually had to go backwards and then pretend like we were running that way for the first time in order to get it!! LOL!

Ok, after Mile 7..... Yes, I thought Jenny was behind me as I was running in the grass. And then I looked back at one point and she was GONE. I had no idea! I slowed down, may have stopped completely, to look for her. She was no where in sight. So I thought, I could wait for her or I can keep going... I figured that she probably meant to do that so that I would just keep going and could try to meet my goal of under 3 hours.

So, I went back on the grass and sped up again. I didn't take any pictures at all after I split from Jenny until I got to Epcot. I did feel a pang of sadness as I ran past Mickey and Donald and that cute golf cart, but I was more interested in meeting my goal.

 

[dismagiclover]

Did you notice the 3 hour pacer in this picture? There she is with her balloons... So I guess that's where we were at that point, I thought we were further behind than that. I didn't notice that. Of course after that point we spend probably at least 15 minutes stopping throughout the Magic Kingdom so you had some catching up to do. Do you remember passing by her your way to the finish line?

I just love our picture right in front of the castle!! This is the picture I put in that frame I bought. It looks great!

Ok, after Mile 7..... Yes, I thought Jenny was behind me as I was running in the grass. And then I looked back at one point and she was GONE. I had no idea! I slowed down, may have stopped completely, to look for her. She was no where in sight. So I thought, I could wait for her or I can keep going... I figured that she probably meant to do that so that I would just keep going and could try to meet my goal of under 3 hours. I was a sneaky little bugger, wasn't I?

So, I went back on the grass and sped up again. I didn't take any pictures at all after I split from Jenny until I got to Epcot. I did feel a pang of sadness as I ran past Mickey and Donald and that cute golf cart, but I was more interested in meeting my goal.

There is always next year

 

[Ellester]

It takes a certain kind of person to have this race philosophy. It takes a person without a competitive drive and a person who frankly doesn’t have the desire to test his or her limits. Right or wrong I can’t say I’m going for my best on race day. I’m just going for a good time. And I must say a good time it was. Despite the freezing rain and crowded roads I was having a fabulous time.

I was actually showing Michael (my 5 year old) the pictures of the race and he was explaining to me that if he was running he would try to go a bit faster. He said, “I think those characters make people lose focus.” He told me he is not going to stop for the characters when he runs the race. Then he said, “Well maybe I’ll only stop for 5 of them.” He has a little bit of his Mama in him after all.

I think my philosophy would be close to yours. I can certainly be competitive, but I would want to enjoy all the experience of a Disney race. I'll never be a competitive runner, but I like the idea of training just to be sure you'll finish!

Michael is so sweet! I love their quotes at that age. Today, Andrew wanted to know when we were going to Italy. What? Not anytime soon, son. He'll have to settle for the pavillion in the WS, although it doesn't have the leaning tower of Pisa that he really wants to see.

 

[dismagiclover]

I think my philosophy would be close to yours. I can certainly be competitive, but I would want to enjoy all the experience of a Disney race. I'll never be a competitive runner, but I like the idea of training just to be sure you'll finish!

Michael is so sweet! I love their quotes at that age. Today, Andrew wanted to know when we were going to Italy. What? Not anytime soon, son. He'll have to settle for the pavillion in the WS, although it doesn't have the leaning tower of Pisa that he really wants to see.

about Andrew wanting to go to Italy. I suppose kids that age don't see Italy too differently than they see the next city over.

 

[dismagiclover]

So there I was at Mile 11. For many this is one of the toughest parts of the race. We’d been putting one foot in front of the other for 11 miles and there are a couple of hills (read overpasses) around these parts. Just as things were feeling a little dull I saw this

The Epcot parking gates! The race ended right outside of Epcot so this meant we were getting close. On one hand I was relieved. I mean it was freezing and it never did quit raining. On the other hand that meant it was almost over. I trained for this race for months and it went by so fast. (Though knowing my time many runners would take issue with that statement.) That is the nature of racing, however, and I must not mind too much because by golly I’ll do it again. So we all climbed another hill (read overpass).

Notice there were pretty much no runners left. All walkers. Most of the people around me weren’t struggling with my dilemma of not wanting the race to end. There were a lot of miserable people out there. Many of them were giving everything they had to just put one foot in front of the other. I’ve been there at the end of races before. (Ask me about my Baltimore Half sometime.) Add the weather conditions and this was a brutal first time half marathon.

I was feeling amazingly good as we came upon Mile 12.

That is about a 12:30 mile and I’m pretty sure I made a potty stop during that mile too. I have to say my training really paid off this race. I never really got tired during the race. I was pretty tired by that evening though.
So we arrive outside of Epcot and headed in through a Cast Member entrance (aren’t we special?)

Then what did I hear? It was Eye of the Tiger. You know the Rocky theme song. Oh baby, things were looking good. If you can’t get pumped up listening to Eye of the Tiger then I don’t think there is anything I can do for you. I broke into a sprint. (Now that would be pure comedy.) Actually I just sped up a little and started grinning. And I’m pretty sure I didn’t stop grinning for the rest of the race. Our final water stop was up ahead.

I didn’t get any water here, but I did make use of the final Port a Potties. I think I was a little overhydrated during the race. Anyway, after my quick stop I headed through backstage

And popped out in Epcot.

I ran through Future World, and I was distracted once again.

I didn’t even know who these guys were, but the race was almost over. I wanted to prolong it and there was zero line. So I asked the handler who they were. He told me the Robinson’s and I told the guys I’d rent the movie as soon as I returned home. (I still haven’t). The guy on the right was a little offended. Thus his stance. I’m sure he’d look madder, but he can’t change his face. See that grin on my face. That was the Perm a Grin I kept on all the way through Epcot.
So I headed up towards Future World.

Around the Christmas tree

Stopped for a quick picture of World Showcase

And ran back towards the big ball.

The official photographers were out so I showed off my Perm a Grin

Next time: I actually make it to the finish line.

 

[carissanboys]

Love those last two photos of you.

You didn't know the characters from Meet the Robinsons?? It has the great song "Little Wonders" by Rob Thomas!

I've seen it a couple of times now. You guys need to rent it!

You're almost there - woohoo!

 

[mtnmomma3]

Kuddos to you for not wanting it to end.. I can understand, I have been training so hard and looking so forward to the race... not sure what I am going to do after it is over! (besides a nice hot shower and some good chow!!)

 

[carissanboys]

And I am definitely putting Eye of the Tiger on my playlist.

Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

 

[liznboys]

I didn't notice that. Of course after that point we spend probably at least 15 minutes stopping throughout the Magic Kingdom so you had some catching up to do. Do you remember passing by her your way to the finish line?

Yeah I do remember passing her. It may have been around mile 10?? It was a big deal to run past her and know I was under 3! yay! I didn't slow down though...after that I wanted to see just how far under 3 I could get.

 

[liznboys]

... The guy on the right was a little offended. Thus his stance. I’m sure he’d look madder, but he can’t change his face. ...

... See that grin on my face. That was the Perm a Grin ...

I had the PERMAGRIN on my face all through Epcot too! Couldn't stop smiling knowing I was really close to the finish!!