septbride2002
"TO MILE 9!!!"
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2003
- Messages
- 5,472
I usually write a trip report but I thought for this special trip I would just write a Marathon Story. I hope you all don't mind if I post it here.
2:45a.m. the phone rings - I answer it and hang it up immediately - didn't even bother to listen to who it might be calling. My DH turns to me and says I cannot believe we are getting up this early to walk! I sweetly say, "Suck it up. Love ya - mean it!" I get up out of bed to brush my teeth and sweep my hair back into a pony tail under my bright pink princess hat. The attire today will be sports bra, running shirt, running pants, socks, and running shoes. I have my throw away sweatshirt on as well as a fashionable fanny pack filled with Tylenol 8 hour, stop watch, snacks, and cell phone. We walk outside and quickly realize that there will be no need for sweatshirts - it is already warm enough without them.
3:15a.m. we meet up with Doe (DoeWDW) and head to Port Royale where we meet up with AuntMeme (MaryEllen). We get on the bus waiting for us and head to Epcot. We are all pretty excited but still cannot believe we are up at this hour. Brian and I chatted with a girl who was doing her 3rd marathon and she was giving us tips and pointers. We get to Epcot and head to the gate we stood sort of in the front near the port-a-potties so that we can see other Wishers walk in. We saw (and please forgive me if I forget anyone) Oh Mom, Alreadyexcitedgranny, and 3 other girls who names escape (Ya know it was only 3:45 in the morning and I haven't had any coffee yet
). We were standing there thinking this is great no one is in line for the port-a-potties and that is when we realize - whoops we are looking at the back of them! So the 4 of us walk around to the other side so that we will be able to actually use the potties when needed 
.
My neighbors Eric and Susan met up with us and we all decided to go and warm up a bit. We had a great time talking and getting to know one another. And that is when a group from the St. Charles, MO Runners club joined us (Eric is a member). As this one man (Found out later his name is Glenn) turns around we realize he has a monkey in his back pocket. To be more specific it is a Curious George. I proceed to say, rather loudly, "Why does that man have a Curious George in his pants?" Needless to say Doe thought that was hysterical, once she stopped laughing we were able to ask - "why the monkey?" Evidently this guy is a real jokester and said that George is always curious to see if he will finish it. By the way Glen was running the 26.2 miles!
After Glenn and George left us Doe turns to me and says, "Excuse me while I strip." And right in front of my husband! I tell you this woman has no shame. 
Just teasing! She was just shedding her first layer of clothing but we all still found it pretty funny. Remember it is now 4a.m. and no coffee.
FINALLY we head to the start line. We had a great time watching all the men run into the not so wooded area to do their "business." Thanks Guys - Love ya - mean it! After we walk .6 of a mile to the corrals we realize we are all in different ones. Doe, DH, and I were in L and the rest were in N. After we checked we all decided to start in N so that we could stay together. So it is now 4:30 and the race does not even start till 6a.m. - so we pull up some asphault and have a seat. We are still trying to remained stretched out so that we don't tighten up in the first mile.
Yeah it is 6a.m. - and we start although we don't move. I proceed to start mooing like a cow. I'm serious - I have never felt more like a heard of cows in my life! Finally we move and by move I mean take a one step about every 30 seconds. How is that for being on pace! We cross the start line at 6:10a.m. It is really really crowded and we are pratically running over people to get up to a good pace. And I would estimate that we really didn't hit a good stride until we were done with the first mile. The first mile went really fast because there were lots of spectators yelling and were really excited.
To be continued....
2:45a.m. the phone rings - I answer it and hang it up immediately - didn't even bother to listen to who it might be calling. My DH turns to me and says I cannot believe we are getting up this early to walk! I sweetly say, "Suck it up. Love ya - mean it!" I get up out of bed to brush my teeth and sweep my hair back into a pony tail under my bright pink princess hat. The attire today will be sports bra, running shirt, running pants, socks, and running shoes. I have my throw away sweatshirt on as well as a fashionable fanny pack filled with Tylenol 8 hour, stop watch, snacks, and cell phone. We walk outside and quickly realize that there will be no need for sweatshirts - it is already warm enough without them.
3:15a.m. we meet up with Doe (DoeWDW) and head to Port Royale where we meet up with AuntMeme (MaryEllen). We get on the bus waiting for us and head to Epcot. We are all pretty excited but still cannot believe we are up at this hour. Brian and I chatted with a girl who was doing her 3rd marathon and she was giving us tips and pointers. We get to Epcot and head to the gate we stood sort of in the front near the port-a-potties so that we can see other Wishers walk in. We saw (and please forgive me if I forget anyone) Oh Mom, Alreadyexcitedgranny, and 3 other girls who names escape (Ya know it was only 3:45 in the morning and I haven't had any coffee yet
). We were standing there thinking this is great no one is in line for the port-a-potties and that is when we realize - whoops we are looking at the back of them! So the 4 of us walk around to the other side so that we will be able to actually use the potties when needed .My neighbors Eric and Susan met up with us and we all decided to go and warm up a bit. We had a great time talking and getting to know one another. And that is when a group from the St. Charles, MO Runners club joined us (Eric is a member). As this one man (Found out later his name is Glenn) turns around we realize he has a monkey in his back pocket. To be more specific it is a Curious George. I proceed to say, rather loudly, "Why does that man have a Curious George in his pants?" Needless to say Doe thought that was hysterical, once she stopped laughing we were able to ask - "why the monkey?" Evidently this guy is a real jokester and said that George is always curious to see if he will finish it. By the way Glen was running the 26.2 miles!
After Glenn and George left us Doe turns to me and says, "Excuse me while I strip." And right in front of my husband! I tell you this woman has no shame. Just teasing! She was just shedding her first layer of clothing but we all still found it pretty funny. Remember it is now 4a.m. and no coffee.FINALLY we head to the start line. We had a great time watching all the men run into the not so wooded area to do their "business." Thanks Guys - Love ya - mean it! After we walk .6 of a mile to the corrals we realize we are all in different ones. Doe, DH, and I were in L and the rest were in N. After we checked we all decided to start in N so that we could stay together. So it is now 4:30 and the race does not even start till 6a.m. - so we pull up some asphault and have a seat. We are still trying to remained stretched out so that we don't tighten up in the first mile.
Yeah it is 6a.m. - and we start although we don't move. I proceed to start mooing like a cow. I'm serious - I have never felt more like a heard of cows in my life! Finally we move and by move I mean take a one step about every 30 seconds. How is that for being on pace! We cross the start line at 6:10a.m. It is really really crowded and we are pratically running over people to get up to a good pace. And I would estimate that we really didn't hit a good stride until we were done with the first mile. The first mile went really fast because there were lots of spectators yelling and were really excited.
To be continued....
I really wish the Tag Fairy would take note of that one. 
DH stayed with me of course and he knew that I was feeling it. Now here is the bad part mile 11 was the most boring stretch of highway, very narrow, at a steady incline, with you facing east so the sun is blaring down right at you. There are no spectators, no music, no anything - it is very easy to let your thoughts consume you. This is when I saw Ohmom again who commented on the same thing. When we hit mile 12 I could no longer see my three friends and I knew that they were to far ahead to catch up any longer. I was walking next to an older woman who I heard say, "I can't finish." Well this snapped me out of my funk. I started talking to her about how we have to finish. That we have made it to mile 12 and that we had not come all this way to just quit when we were right there. She kept going. That was When DH asked me if I wanted to run....
So we walk over and they put the medals over our heads and we hug again and I am really starting to cry now but I pull it back together. We take some pictures and talk about how I fell behind. Doe tried to wait for me but she said she couldn't even see me in the crowd. We take some pictures, and grab more water and decide it is time to go. We did not do the professional pics or get anything to eat. We all had the swimming pools on our minds.
I love reading about your 1/2 marathon experience! I'm very proud of you, Amanda! 
