keenercam
Loves Mickey!
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2001
- Messages
- 10,466
I was going to post this on the weekly thread until I realized how long it is and how selfish it would be to take up so much space there. I just needed to say some stuff, though, and to share my experience, so I hope no one minds this new thread.
I truly do not know where to start. My memories of the weekend are so consumed with feelings of gratitude that I think I’ll just start chronologically and try to remember everything.
First and foremost, though, I wanted to thank everyone for making our DD19 Jenn, feel so welcome and needed. She had such a great time and brags that she was a “Goofy Cheer-er” and indeed she did spend Saturday and Sunday cheering, staying around both days until the last runner had passed. I cannot thank Heather and Anne and Cathy and Erin and Rhonda and Carrie and Scott and everyone else who took her under their wing and made her a part of the team. She said she will never forget the experience and is really looking forward to doing the half next year and cheering all day Sunday.
POP meet – Thank you so much to everyone who approached me and introduced themselves. My vision is pretty bad and I wouldn’t have recognized anyone beyond a few feet in front of me. I met so many of you for the first time and yet you felt like old friends. Amy – you have been my WISH journal buddy for so long that finally seeing your smiling face in person and being able to share a hug was such a blessing! Thank you so much to Karen and John for the WISH sport bag – what a generous gift you shared! Kathy and Carrie – Thank you so much for the cowbells. My hands would never have survived Saturday without them! What an amazing event this gathering was. Seeing old friends and new friends was such a GREAT way to start the weekend!
Saturday – What a blast it was cheering on Main Street and then at the back entrance to EPCOT! I got a lot of pix of WISHers which I will post on another thread this weekend so that everyone can figure out which they’d like me to send them. Somehow, getting up in the wee hours on Saturday morning to share the experience with Sara and her wonderful girls, Colleen, Tim, Carrie & Scott, Heather & Jenn was so much like a party! Then, running into Steve & Krista and so many other WISHers at the EPCOT entrance when the race participants were nearing the prize was so much fun! I had the wonderful surprise of hearing from Sunny right about then and made a mental note to ask everyone to keep her in your thoughts and prayers and she continues to suffer serious back pain. I wanted to apologize to the WISHer to whom I threw a bottle of water at the back entrance to EPCOT and missed. I am so sorry, but I hope having cold water was worth it.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for dinner Saturday. I was a bundle of nerves and being surrounded by your warmth and support meant the world to me!
How to describe the experience Sunday? I can’t begin to find words. Being around all the WISHers at the start reinforced my feelings of optimism and determination. It was so much fun to share the time walking to the corral and waiting with the likes of Charlie, Jen, Helen, Mel, Lily, Carrie, Scott, Chad & so many others. I don’t know what I would have done, though, without my dear friend and race partner, Rhonda. As we started, Rhonda, Lily and I were going at a great pace, enjoying watching the other participants and making great time. We were all so excited about seeing the WISHers at water stop #2 – thank you so much, Marilyn (Vic’s darling wife!), Angie, Kristi & Judy. It was hugs all around and then thanks and moving on!
Rhonda and I stopped after several miles to use the port-o-potty and from then on, Lily was a green blur in the distance! Last year, Rhonda and I were diverted and didn’t get to run down main street toward the castle. This year we did. As we came into the park and made the right hand turn onto Main Street, I burst into tears of joy. A dream fulfilled and a memory never to be forgotten! Surprisingly, I think Sandy was the only WISHer we saw on Main Street, and she was making enough noise and providing enough support for 10 ordinary (read: non-WISHer) fans! Thanks, Sandy!!! Rhonda spotted Hildegarde, one of the Main Street suffragettes, whom we’d met and talked with Saturday and she got her attention. Well, bless her heart, Hildegarde started jogging with us! She said she was so proud of us and kept saying “you go, girls! I am so proud of you!” Oh my goodness, I could cry just thinking about it! As we entered Tomorrowland, it became apparent that many of the marathoners behind us had been diverted and were NOT running toward the castle, but were now ahead of us. I know how disappointing that had to be, since it happened to us last year.
The stretch out to Animal Kingdom was tough, but I was still doing fine at that point and Rhonda was very strong. We stopped for Rhonda to use the ladies room and then went past Expedition Everest. Like Amy, I noticed that I was suffering from a lack of nutrition, and ate a snickers marathon energy bar a couple miles before I’d planned to do that. As we approached the turn around, we saw Carrie & Scott in the distance, then Matt & Cheryl; I got hugs and good WISHes from Vic and Denny and held the positive vibes from the WISH team close to my heart. Closer to the turn, we saw Heather and Anne who gave us cold, wet washcloths and ice. It was about this point that I started feeling woozy and knew that I was getting very ill from the powerade/water mix. I could only take sips of Dasani on the course and as expected, got more and more ill from it. I started shivering and my body was covered in salt, and it reminded me that I hadn’t used a salt packet – I took 2 at that point. I think it was Heather who yelled to me that Jenn was waiting for me in MGM. Intellectually, I knew that couldn’t be since she didn’t have a park ticket, but it drove me forward. Somewhere before MGM I told Rhonda to go ahead of me. She absolutely refused until I told her I’d have to quit if she stayed with me, that I wasn’t sure I was going to finish and I didn’t want to keep her from finishing. We saw the police cars with lights flashing pulling onto the side of the road, ready to block the marathoners who were to be swept. We jogged a bit and got past them, but I knew I was keeping Rhonda back. There were so many people down or ill along the sides of the road leading into MGM. I felt so bad for them.
I never did see my Jenn in MGM. There was a guy near the front of the park with a sign promising “Gayle” margaritas and pointing the way to World Showcase. I offered to be Gayle! I told myself I’d get out to the walkway and sit down. My plan was to call Howard and tell him I was done and would make my way back to BCV. I had been praying “Thank you, God, for my healthy strong body. Please give me the strength of will to keep going.” I also confessed that I just couldn’t make it any further without Him and prayed some more. Suddenly, I saw green. Yes, lime green. There, up ahead, were Kathy, Erin & my Jenn, giving me LOTS of cowbell and screaming for me. As I approached, Jenn was running toward me for a hug, crying and laughing “Mom, I am so proud of you! I know this is hard. You have to keep going. You can do this!” How could I stop then? All I could think of was what kind of example would I be setting for Jenn if I quit when the going got tough? They told me Rhonda was just minutes ahead of me and frantically worried about me and had asked them to look out for me. Kathy and Erin recognized that I wasn’t doing well and decided Erin would walk with me up to the WISHers at mile 24 and Kathy called ahead to ask them to get me tap water because I was “sicking up” the Dasani and powerade. I could also hear Jenn calling Howard to tell him I had just passed that point and that Erin was staying with me.
As we walked along the waterway, there were so many runners sitting on the sides of the race course and at two different places we saw medical personnel hooking people up to IVs. I didn’t even know that was possible under those conditions.
But I had to focus on where I was and what I was going to do. I was wobbly and shivering and Erin convinced me to “take a walk to EPCOT.” I realized then that God had provided something more than strength of will -- friends and angels to lift me and literally walk with me until I had strength of body and will. Thank God for the WISHers at Y/BC – I’m trying to remember everyone who was there, but I just keep envisioning angels. Someone gave me water and I felt much better once I drank that.
As we approached the entrance to WS, we saw so many runners on the ground and on the benches. There were medical people everywhere and shortly thereafter we saw an ambulance golf cart taking away an older gentleman that the medics had hooked up to an IV. I said a quick prayer for him and kept moving.
Erin and I continued our “stroll” around Europe, Africa, Asia, Mexico, all the time cognizant of the sweep bicycles telling us we were 4 ½ minutes ahead of pace, then down to 2 minutes and finally down to “you have to keep moving, you are only 30 seconds ahead of pace.” It seemed pretty apparent they’d sweep even as late in the game as approaching Future World. At some point, I heard someone cheering for me and calling me by name in WS – I learned later it was Stephanie and Scott. You guys were amazing! You gave me a boost that I really needed at that point! I couldn’t believe there were still people on the course, cheering for the stragglers! We passed a CM who scolded a woman to "Ma'm, GET OFF the race course. NOW!" and I turned and thanked the CM for her support.
As we approached the Gospel Choir, I noticed they were dressed in black and white, rather than their gold robes. Had they taken off the robes because of the threatening storm? They were singing “One World, One God” -- I wish I could remember more of the words. I thanked them and asked Erin if she could take the stuff I was carrying, that I wanted to jog across the finish. She pointed out Jenn and Kathy at the grandstand, on my left. Jenn was out of control, I could hear her screaming “That’s my Mom! Go, Mom! You can do it!” I kicked it up, jogged across the finish, high-fiving Chip and Dale on the way, and burst into tears. A really sweet CM called me by name and congratulated me and handed me a bouquet of flowers. I have no idea why. I turned to thank Erin (hopefully it was about the 20th time I was thanking her) and the CM handed her a bouquet as well.
Getting my medal was nothing compared to getting hugs from my daughter, my husband and my teammates. And I was so relieved to see Rhonda with her medal. I'm not sure which of us was crying harder or hugging the other harder. Poor thing! Once again, I was amazed to tears to see everyone who had waited for the very last WISHers to come in – Scott, Carrie, Judy, Colleen, Matt, Cheryl . . . and the list goes on and on. I looked at Howard and Jenn and saw so much happiness and pride on their faces. I was so proud of Howard and yet he acted as if my achievement was the most important thing. Love you, honey, mean it!
Okay, I didn’t mean to write a book. But there is no way to say in a few words what the WISH team means to me. Everywhere I looked there were WISHers giving great COWBELL and all sorts of nutrition and encouragement. Soon after the half-marathon mark, I realized I wasn’t even paying attention to mile markers. I was no longer running the miles. I was running the green shirts. From WISHer to WISHer and making my way to the finish.
I know I’ve said before that I couldn’t make it without the WISH team. And I know that there are so many people here who say that and mean it, but I also believe that most people have it in themselves to make it, with or without the support. They just have a strength of will that I can not claim. I truly believe that it is the strength of the WISH team, collectively, that brings me to the start and gets me to the finish. You are an absolutely amazing bunch. I cannot thank you guys enough!
I truly do not know where to start. My memories of the weekend are so consumed with feelings of gratitude that I think I’ll just start chronologically and try to remember everything.
First and foremost, though, I wanted to thank everyone for making our DD19 Jenn, feel so welcome and needed. She had such a great time and brags that she was a “Goofy Cheer-er” and indeed she did spend Saturday and Sunday cheering, staying around both days until the last runner had passed. I cannot thank Heather and Anne and Cathy and Erin and Rhonda and Carrie and Scott and everyone else who took her under their wing and made her a part of the team. She said she will never forget the experience and is really looking forward to doing the half next year and cheering all day Sunday.
POP meet – Thank you so much to everyone who approached me and introduced themselves. My vision is pretty bad and I wouldn’t have recognized anyone beyond a few feet in front of me. I met so many of you for the first time and yet you felt like old friends. Amy – you have been my WISH journal buddy for so long that finally seeing your smiling face in person and being able to share a hug was such a blessing! Thank you so much to Karen and John for the WISH sport bag – what a generous gift you shared! Kathy and Carrie – Thank you so much for the cowbells. My hands would never have survived Saturday without them! What an amazing event this gathering was. Seeing old friends and new friends was such a GREAT way to start the weekend!
Saturday – What a blast it was cheering on Main Street and then at the back entrance to EPCOT! I got a lot of pix of WISHers which I will post on another thread this weekend so that everyone can figure out which they’d like me to send them. Somehow, getting up in the wee hours on Saturday morning to share the experience with Sara and her wonderful girls, Colleen, Tim, Carrie & Scott, Heather & Jenn was so much like a party! Then, running into Steve & Krista and so many other WISHers at the EPCOT entrance when the race participants were nearing the prize was so much fun! I had the wonderful surprise of hearing from Sunny right about then and made a mental note to ask everyone to keep her in your thoughts and prayers and she continues to suffer serious back pain. I wanted to apologize to the WISHer to whom I threw a bottle of water at the back entrance to EPCOT and missed. I am so sorry, but I hope having cold water was worth it.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for dinner Saturday. I was a bundle of nerves and being surrounded by your warmth and support meant the world to me!
How to describe the experience Sunday? I can’t begin to find words. Being around all the WISHers at the start reinforced my feelings of optimism and determination. It was so much fun to share the time walking to the corral and waiting with the likes of Charlie, Jen, Helen, Mel, Lily, Carrie, Scott, Chad & so many others. I don’t know what I would have done, though, without my dear friend and race partner, Rhonda. As we started, Rhonda, Lily and I were going at a great pace, enjoying watching the other participants and making great time. We were all so excited about seeing the WISHers at water stop #2 – thank you so much, Marilyn (Vic’s darling wife!), Angie, Kristi & Judy. It was hugs all around and then thanks and moving on!
Rhonda and I stopped after several miles to use the port-o-potty and from then on, Lily was a green blur in the distance! Last year, Rhonda and I were diverted and didn’t get to run down main street toward the castle. This year we did. As we came into the park and made the right hand turn onto Main Street, I burst into tears of joy. A dream fulfilled and a memory never to be forgotten! Surprisingly, I think Sandy was the only WISHer we saw on Main Street, and she was making enough noise and providing enough support for 10 ordinary (read: non-WISHer) fans! Thanks, Sandy!!! Rhonda spotted Hildegarde, one of the Main Street suffragettes, whom we’d met and talked with Saturday and she got her attention. Well, bless her heart, Hildegarde started jogging with us! She said she was so proud of us and kept saying “you go, girls! I am so proud of you!” Oh my goodness, I could cry just thinking about it! As we entered Tomorrowland, it became apparent that many of the marathoners behind us had been diverted and were NOT running toward the castle, but were now ahead of us. I know how disappointing that had to be, since it happened to us last year.
The stretch out to Animal Kingdom was tough, but I was still doing fine at that point and Rhonda was very strong. We stopped for Rhonda to use the ladies room and then went past Expedition Everest. Like Amy, I noticed that I was suffering from a lack of nutrition, and ate a snickers marathon energy bar a couple miles before I’d planned to do that. As we approached the turn around, we saw Carrie & Scott in the distance, then Matt & Cheryl; I got hugs and good WISHes from Vic and Denny and held the positive vibes from the WISH team close to my heart. Closer to the turn, we saw Heather and Anne who gave us cold, wet washcloths and ice. It was about this point that I started feeling woozy and knew that I was getting very ill from the powerade/water mix. I could only take sips of Dasani on the course and as expected, got more and more ill from it. I started shivering and my body was covered in salt, and it reminded me that I hadn’t used a salt packet – I took 2 at that point. I think it was Heather who yelled to me that Jenn was waiting for me in MGM. Intellectually, I knew that couldn’t be since she didn’t have a park ticket, but it drove me forward. Somewhere before MGM I told Rhonda to go ahead of me. She absolutely refused until I told her I’d have to quit if she stayed with me, that I wasn’t sure I was going to finish and I didn’t want to keep her from finishing. We saw the police cars with lights flashing pulling onto the side of the road, ready to block the marathoners who were to be swept. We jogged a bit and got past them, but I knew I was keeping Rhonda back. There were so many people down or ill along the sides of the road leading into MGM. I felt so bad for them.
I never did see my Jenn in MGM. There was a guy near the front of the park with a sign promising “Gayle” margaritas and pointing the way to World Showcase. I offered to be Gayle! I told myself I’d get out to the walkway and sit down. My plan was to call Howard and tell him I was done and would make my way back to BCV. I had been praying “Thank you, God, for my healthy strong body. Please give me the strength of will to keep going.” I also confessed that I just couldn’t make it any further without Him and prayed some more. Suddenly, I saw green. Yes, lime green. There, up ahead, were Kathy, Erin & my Jenn, giving me LOTS of cowbell and screaming for me. As I approached, Jenn was running toward me for a hug, crying and laughing “Mom, I am so proud of you! I know this is hard. You have to keep going. You can do this!” How could I stop then? All I could think of was what kind of example would I be setting for Jenn if I quit when the going got tough? They told me Rhonda was just minutes ahead of me and frantically worried about me and had asked them to look out for me. Kathy and Erin recognized that I wasn’t doing well and decided Erin would walk with me up to the WISHers at mile 24 and Kathy called ahead to ask them to get me tap water because I was “sicking up” the Dasani and powerade. I could also hear Jenn calling Howard to tell him I had just passed that point and that Erin was staying with me.
As we walked along the waterway, there were so many runners sitting on the sides of the race course and at two different places we saw medical personnel hooking people up to IVs. I didn’t even know that was possible under those conditions.
But I had to focus on where I was and what I was going to do. I was wobbly and shivering and Erin convinced me to “take a walk to EPCOT.” I realized then that God had provided something more than strength of will -- friends and angels to lift me and literally walk with me until I had strength of body and will. Thank God for the WISHers at Y/BC – I’m trying to remember everyone who was there, but I just keep envisioning angels. Someone gave me water and I felt much better once I drank that. As we approached the entrance to WS, we saw so many runners on the ground and on the benches. There were medical people everywhere and shortly thereafter we saw an ambulance golf cart taking away an older gentleman that the medics had hooked up to an IV. I said a quick prayer for him and kept moving.
Erin and I continued our “stroll” around Europe, Africa, Asia, Mexico, all the time cognizant of the sweep bicycles telling us we were 4 ½ minutes ahead of pace, then down to 2 minutes and finally down to “you have to keep moving, you are only 30 seconds ahead of pace.” It seemed pretty apparent they’d sweep even as late in the game as approaching Future World. At some point, I heard someone cheering for me and calling me by name in WS – I learned later it was Stephanie and Scott. You guys were amazing! You gave me a boost that I really needed at that point! I couldn’t believe there were still people on the course, cheering for the stragglers! We passed a CM who scolded a woman to "Ma'm, GET OFF the race course. NOW!" and I turned and thanked the CM for her support.
As we approached the Gospel Choir, I noticed they were dressed in black and white, rather than their gold robes. Had they taken off the robes because of the threatening storm? They were singing “One World, One God” -- I wish I could remember more of the words. I thanked them and asked Erin if she could take the stuff I was carrying, that I wanted to jog across the finish. She pointed out Jenn and Kathy at the grandstand, on my left. Jenn was out of control, I could hear her screaming “That’s my Mom! Go, Mom! You can do it!” I kicked it up, jogged across the finish, high-fiving Chip and Dale on the way, and burst into tears. A really sweet CM called me by name and congratulated me and handed me a bouquet of flowers. I have no idea why. I turned to thank Erin (hopefully it was about the 20th time I was thanking her) and the CM handed her a bouquet as well.
Getting my medal was nothing compared to getting hugs from my daughter, my husband and my teammates. And I was so relieved to see Rhonda with her medal. I'm not sure which of us was crying harder or hugging the other harder. Poor thing! Once again, I was amazed to tears to see everyone who had waited for the very last WISHers to come in – Scott, Carrie, Judy, Colleen, Matt, Cheryl . . . and the list goes on and on. I looked at Howard and Jenn and saw so much happiness and pride on their faces. I was so proud of Howard and yet he acted as if my achievement was the most important thing. Love you, honey, mean it!
Okay, I didn’t mean to write a book. But there is no way to say in a few words what the WISH team means to me. Everywhere I looked there were WISHers giving great COWBELL and all sorts of nutrition and encouragement. Soon after the half-marathon mark, I realized I wasn’t even paying attention to mile markers. I was no longer running the miles. I was running the green shirts. From WISHer to WISHer and making my way to the finish.
I know I’ve said before that I couldn’t make it without the WISH team. And I know that there are so many people here who say that and mean it, but I also believe that most people have it in themselves to make it, with or without the support. They just have a strength of will that I can not claim. I truly believe that it is the strength of the WISH team, collectively, that brings me to the start and gets me to the finish. You are an absolutely amazing bunch. I cannot thank you guys enough!
