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

[disneylovin24]

Another great update!!!

 

[dismagiclover]

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!

I really do need to see Meet the Robinsons. My Disney Education is lacking

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!!)

I'm so excited for you! I hope to hear a report of how it goes

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

That is definitely the best song there is for getting pumped up. Even sitting here singing it in my head I want to get up and move

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

When you're feeling good, the end of the race is just fun! I like the new WISH stuff in your signature

Another great update!!!

Thanks for following along

 

[mla1977]

I can't wait to see you cross the finish line! When I got into Epcot my TnT coach was with me and said I couldn't stop for water and once we got into the actual park she had me running AAALLLLLLLL the way to the tree. I made it. It was my own fault for telling her what time I wanted. (I really wanted to beat my time for the Philly Distance Run) I was close, but you'll have to wait until I get to that part in my TR to see if I beat it!

 

[Angies1274]

Yay!! You made it to Epcot!!!

My boys would have been thrilled to meet the characters from "Meet the Robinson's"!! It's actually one of Noah's favorite Disney movies so we've seen it a dozen or more times. Cute movie....you should watch it.

After working so hard to get ready for the race and looking so forward to it! I can totally understand why you didn't want it to be over!!

Can't wait for more!!!

 

[dismagiclover]

I can't wait to see you cross the finish line! When I got into Epcot my TnT coach was with me and said I couldn't stop for water and once we got into the actual park she had me running AAALLLLLLLL the way to the tree. I made it. It was my own fault for telling her what time I wanted. (I really wanted to beat my time for the Philly Distance Run) I was close, but you'll have to wait until I get to that part in my TR to see if I beat it!

Those pesky coaches. Wanting you to actually achieve goals. What is up with that I checked out your blogs to see if they gave any info about your finish, but they didn't.

Yay!! You made it to Epcot!!!

My boys would have been thrilled to meet the characters from "Meet the Robinson's"!! It's actually one of Noah's favorite Disney movies so we've seen it a dozen or more times. Cute movie....you should watch it.

After working so hard to get ready for the race and looking so forward to it! I can totally understand why you didn't want it to be over!!

Can't wait for more!!!

You're making me decide I have to figure out a way to get my hands on a copy of Meet the Robinsons. My boys would probably love it too.

 

[dismagiclover]

So I was almost to the finish line. I headed out of Epcot into the backstage area. I was feeling great! I’m not actually sure when this picture was taken, but that was how I was feeling during the home stretch.

On the right I passed by this great choir

I want to give a huge shout out to these folks. They were singing their hearts out and I’m sure had been for hours. It was cold and wet and I’m sure they were miserable, but they lifted my spirits and made my grin even bigger (if that was possible.)
Here came the mile 13 sign

Woo hoo! I made it!
I turned the corner and the finish line was just up ahead

And then something happened. This next set of pictures shows why I will never be a serious runner. The finish line was just feet away. Every second mattered. I was within seconds of my goal. Just needed to stay focused. One foot in front of the other. Oh look! There is Mickey Mouse! So what do I do? Stop dead in my tracks and take a picture, of course!

And here is the picture. (Definitely worth those extra few seconds.)

Oh and Minnie is here too.

Here is that picture

Best be moving on.

I finally cross the finish.

With a huge grin on my face!

My official chip time was 3 hours 11 minutes and 45 seconds.

Next: Will I find Liz? And did she make it in under three hours?

 

[carissanboys]

My official chip time was 3 hours 11 minutes and 45 seconds.

That sounds better. I keep forgetting that the time on the clocks isn't your time because you guys started so much later.

You did it!! And you had a blast!!

 

[Dolce27]

Congrats! Great last pic! I wonder I saw you in EPCOT? I was in the park trying to cheer on some of the runners here and there as I went.

I'll be one of those runners that will never 'stop to smell the roses'. I may allow myself to stop next year for one - or maybe even two - pic's, but I'll be focused on time. This year I was going to allow myself to stop for a pic in the MK if I found someone that I really wanted a pic with, but I never found someone that made me go: I’ve got to stop!

Since my IT band went out on me right after the MK, I’m glad that I didn’t. My finishing time was already pretty bad in comparison to what I was capable of finishing had I been able to run the entire thing so I’m glad that I didn’t add on any extra time with character photos. But next year I expect to run the full thing so maybe I’ll allow one or two pic’s to slide.

 

[mla1977]

I guess I didn't even update my TnT page with that. The Disney blog is updated before the TR (for now it's the same thing), and I plan on updating the running one once I get to the race. You'll find out soon enough. If DBF goes out tonight I will be doing a lot of writing!

 

[liznboys]

Haha! I didn't know the photogs captured you taking pix of M&M at the end! Too funny.

While you were finishing up your race with a huge smile on your face, I was beginning to deep freeze....

Thanks for the sig. compliment, I like your new ticker!! Argh!

 

[Happy Elf]

Great updates! I love the picture of you crossing the finish line! You look like you had a great race despite the miserable conditions!

 

[dismagiclover]

That sounds better. I keep forgetting that the time on the clocks isn't your time because you guys started so much later.

You did it!! And you had a blast!!

There is a pretty big difference between my chip time and clock time, but even my chip time is still pretty slow. I don't mind one bit though

Congrats! Great last pic! I wonder I saw you in EPCOT? I was in the park trying to cheer on some of the runners here and there as I went.

I'll be one of those runners that will never 'stop to smell the roses'. I may allow myself to stop next year for one - or maybe even two - pic's, but I'll be focused on time. This year I was going to allow myself to stop for a pic in the MK if I found someone that I really wanted a pic with, but I never found someone that made me go: I’ve got to stop!

Since my IT band went out on me right after the MK, I’m glad that I didn’t. My finishing time was already pretty bad in comparison to what I was capable of finishing had I been able to run the entire thing so I’m glad that I didn’t add on any extra time with character photos. But next year I expect to run the full thing so maybe I’ll allow one or two pic’s to slide.

As I mentioned earlier serious runners have a hard time wrapping their head around my race strategy. I actually run races slower than I do training runs. Kinda strange I know, but it works for me

I guess I didn't even update my TnT page with that. The Disney blog is updated before the TR (for now it's the same thing), and I plan on updating the running one once I get to the race. You'll find out soon enough. If DBF goes out tonight I will be doing a lot of writing!

I'll be on the lookout for updates

Haha! I didn't know the photogs captured you taking pix of M&M at the end! Too funny.

While you were finishing up your race with a huge smile on your face, I was beginning to deep freeze....

Thanks for the sig. compliment, I like your new ticker!! Argh!

The pictures of me taking pictures weren't part of the original ones they put up, but I went searching for them so I could add them to my download. I thought it was funny I stopped feet before the finish line to take a picture. Maybe DS5 is right. I really need to work on my focus
The next update will talk about the post race. Definitely not the best of times

Great updates! I love the picture of you crossing the finish line! You look like you had a great race despite the miserable conditions!

It was a great race and the miserable conditions make for a great story. But as you'll see in the next update Liz especially paid for the weather conditions

 

[praisehisname]

Jumping onboard a little late, but loving the report! Another Baltimore girl here; Loch Raven area.

Denise

 

[Angies1274]

Such a great update!!!

You look so happy as you're crossing the finish line!! What a great accomplishment!! Love the pictures of Mickey and Minnie! (I would have stopped too!)

Is that a new ticker? or did I just miss it before? YAY!! for going back!! I bet the boys are soooo excited!!

 

[Ellester]

Hurray! The big finish! It must feel awesome to cross that finish line. Looking forward to the post-race activities!

 

[cdotla]

What a great recap of your experience!!!

I am loving your TR! I also did a Disneytrip / running event with a close girlfriend and it was a blast! We had so much fun, and it brings back memories just reading your report.

Can't wait to hear Liz's time, and hear both of your final thoughts on the race, and the final parts of your trip!

 

[Stefy]

Another great update Cool pics too, I lol-d at you stopping to take pics with the finish line just a stones throw away.

Just over 3hrs is not bad, well done, you truly are an inspiration and congratulations again for a great achievement and the same to you too Liz. Well done to you both

 

[dismagiclover]

Jumping onboard a little late, but loving the report! Another Baltimore girl here; Loch Raven area.

Denise

The more the merrier! We actually live down in Anne Arundel County. We're getting a bit of snow today

Such a great update!!!

You look so happy as you're crossing the finish line!! What a great accomplishment!! Love the pictures of Mickey and Minnie! (I would have stopped too!)

Is that a new ticker? or did I just miss it before? YAY!! for going back!! I bet the boys are soooo excited!!

It is a new ticker. It's a trip I've had planned for a while but I just added the ticker. DD is going on a Disney cruise with my parents and me and the boys will head to DW for the week!

Hurray! The big finish! It must feel awesome to cross that finish line. Looking forward to the post-race activities!

The immediate post race gets a little dicey, especially for Liz.

What a great recap of your experience!!!

I am loving your TR! I also did a Disneytrip / running event with a close girlfriend and it was a blast! We had so much fun, and it brings back memories just reading your report.

Can't wait to hear Liz's time, and hear both of your final thoughts on the race, and the final parts of your trip!

What race did you do? It is such a fine time. Disney races are like no other!

Another great update Cool pics too, I lol-d at you stopping to take pics with the finish line just a stones throw away.

Just over 3hrs is not bad, well done, you truly are an inspiration and congratulations again for a great achievement and the same to you too Liz. Well done to you both

Actually coming in at over 3 hours is pretty slow (especially considering it's my 3rd half. I don't mind one bit though and wouldn't change a thing

 

[dismagiclover]

It was over. I’d completed the race. It was freezing. The cold rain was still coming down and the temperature was still in the lower 30’s. I picked up one of the space blankets that is supposed to keep you warm. (It really didn’t).

Then it was time to get the hard earned Donald Medal. Here is a close up shot of the bling.

Here are all of the medals of people still behind me (actually Liz took this picture so it is medals of the people behind her which includes me.)

I stopped by the food tent and picked up some water, a banana and a clif bar and then I went looking for Liz. She was waiting for me in the agreed upon place and was trying to stay dry. The first thing I asked, “Did you make it in under three hours?” And she did! I was excited for her because I knew that is what she was hoping for. Her official chip time was 2 hours 54 minutes and 43 seconds. She really turned it on for the last half of the race. I think she ran some miles in close to 10 minutes! Liz you rock! As I mentioned in my very first post, she has surpassed me! I can’t wait to see what she does in her next race without me slowing her down.

Anyway, at this moment in time I’m not sure Liz cared too much about her time. She was just cold. I mean really cold. Bordering on hypothermia cold. All she wanted was to get back to the room and out of the wet clothes. I definitely wasn’t going to disagree. It was pretty miserable out there. There were some characters available to take pictures with. I can’t even really remember who they were, but they all had lines. The only one that even tempted me was Daisy. However, she wasn’t tempting enough. So we found someone to snap this shot and we headed out.

Problem was we weren’t sure where out was. We just kind of followed the people and ended up over by the buses where there was a looong line of people. At that point I realized we were headed away from the monorail, and Liz was so cold I’m not sure she even realized we were looking for the monorail. (Like I said I think she was borderline hypothermic.) So we made the walk back across the Epcot parking lot and hopped in the monorail line. We made it on the first monorail that showed up and were happy to be somewhere a little warmer. When we switched monorails at the TTC there was a line we had to wait in. We were under cover, but water kept dripping on us anyway. There was a nice family behind us in line that was quite worried about Liz. The man kept trying to talk her into getting some coffee (there was an open stand nearby.) After what seemed like a long wait we finally made it on the resort monorail and around the loop to the Contemporary. Liz headed straight up to the room. I stopped at the shop for chocolate milk (a great race recovery drink). Then I headed up to the room. After a shower (that wasn’t hot enough) and some time in the heated room (we turned the thermostat up) we both started to feel better though I think it took Liz a bit longer to get over the chill. No time for rest though. We were late for our lunch reservations! Where were we headed?

 

[praisehisname]

What an awesome medal! You already did Cali Grill for dinner, so I don't think you're going back for lunch. Hmmm...it's probably a 2TS place...is it Narcoossee's?

Denise