Race Reports/Encouragement/Kudos January 12th

[KelNottAt]

Oh, Eva, congratulations! What a awesome report. You brought tears to my eyes. I'm so proud of you.

 

[hoosmi]

Hey kids-

In the interest of not rambling on forever, I put my race report on my newly acquired blog. How funny that I have a blog! It's only the half- it took me forever to put the pictures in. I have lots of pictures of WISHers for the full- I'll try to do the report tonight.

Here's my site- please tell me if I'm not supposed to post this- as you can tell by the fact that my pictures are still out of whack, I'm still learning.

Thanks to all the WISHers!

http://goinggoofy.blogspot.com/

Jen in GA

 

[Cruella de mom]

OH Eva! Thank you for sharing your story. Congratulations on your race!

I have run lots of races now, and the finish line is always amzing maybe not quite as amazing as the first one but always worth the effort.

Way to go!

Cecilia

 

[MomofCKJ]

Hi everyone. I want to apologize in advance for the length of this race report. There are just so many thoughts and memories that I want to capture, and this is the best way for me to do it. Besides, since I was out there the longest, I figure I'm entitled to a longer report, too.

About this time last year, I found the WISH boards, and for whatever crazy reason, I looked up here at the events/competition sub-forum. I was so inspired by everyone's stories that I caught Marathon fever, and eventhough I was heavier than I had ever been in my life, I decided to paricipate in the Half the following year. And so my journey began...... but I'll skip ahead to race day.

After an extremely restless night, I wake up at 3 am to a very loud wake-up call from Stitch and Mickey. Even my dh could hear it and was amused by it. Since I knew to lay out all my things the night before, getting ready was a cinch, and I was out and headed for the bus 35 minutes or so later. I am a Florida girl now, and am truly a WIMP when it comes to cold weather, so I was a bit nervous when I was quite warm in my throw away warm up clothes. It was going to be a warm day. We made it to Epcot and I started looking for the lime green shirts -- only to see them everywhere. What was up with all the teams wearing lime green this year? Didn't they know that was our color? Hello?!?!Anyway, I finally found the inspiring lime green shirts and had fun meeting and chatting with a few people. Everyone seemed so calm and relaxed, but I was a wreck. I just knew that I was gong to be swept. I was averaging about 16:45 (or so) on my long sessions, and my fastest one was 16:04 (or so) on a 5 mile walk. That walk about killed me. I knew I couldn't maintain that for even another mile, so I was very nervous. Also, due to an illness and then the kiddos being out of school, I missed out on 3 weeks of training. Pretty much anyway. I did a few walking tapes at home, but that was it. My game plan was to try to get to the front of my corral (the last one, of course) and do a r1/w9 thing. I figured that was the best way for me to get that cushion and keep it for as long as possible.

Well, the announcers started telling runners to make their way to the starting line, but I hung back. I was wanting to make one last visit to the portapotties. However, I did eventually have to go toward the starting line and my corral. It already seemed full, but since I was by myself, it was easy to work my way forward. I think I managed to make it a little more than half way through the corral before the start for the 3rd wave. Not too bad. I remember being pleasantly surprised that there was room to move. I was afraid we would be tripping over everyone else's feet, but that really was't the case. I also remember something that Anne (I think) mentioned last year at the Minnie about not darting in and out so much. Something about it wasting energy and actually adding distance to the run. Disclaimer: I may not have been Anne that said this because I honestly don't remember who said it; but it made sense to me, so I tried to keep it on the straight and narrow.

Mile 1 I did in about 15:45. Mile 2 I did in 16 flat. Mile 3 was about 16:20. Notice a pattern? Yep! With each passing mile I was getting slower and slower, and I was certain I would be swept -- but not until after I went through the MK. I knew I had enough of a cushion to make it that far, so that was exciting. Somewhere before the TTC, I met a lady who said she loved our shirts and asked if we could walk together -- since we seemed to be walking at the same pace. What a neat lady. She had had surgery (hip -- if remember correctly) and hadn't been able to start training until very recently. She loves Disney, and her goal was simply to make it through the MK. I told her about WISH and the DISboards, so I hope she looks for us. (Leslie, are you out there?) We were doing alright when we got to the Contemporary hill. It was really tough for me to go up and felt I was holding her back, so I told her to go ahead and that I'd catch up to her. Right after that was my first encounter with a wonderful bike medic. He said we were all fine. We had 7 minutes to make it to the next check point. We were at mile 5, and I was 7 minutes ahead of the sweepers. It was the first time that I thought I might actually finish the race. Even at a 17 minute mile, a 7 minute cushion would take me to mile 12 (pretty much a sweep-free zone). I tried to catch back up with Leslie, but the course got really crowded and I never could. Besides we were then entering the MK and I started to have to fight back the tears. I was so excited to be doing this in one of my favorite places on Earth. On Main Street was where I also noticed my first WISH scream team member. Sorry, I don't know your name, but your face kind of lit up when you saw me and you started cheering for me by name and ..... wow.... just an indesribable feeling. The encouragement you gave was so uplifting. I finally knew what others meant when they said how much it meant to have people cheering for you. I mean I knew they really meant it and weren't just "shoveling sunshine" -- as my friend used to say. I started to pay more attention to the volunteers and the others who gathered to cheer for the runners. I also started saying thank you to them as often as I could.

However, it took me almost 18 minutes to run that mile. Now, I was beginning to worry again that I would be swept. Outside the MK I could see the buses waiting to take the runners home, but I knew I'd make it past them. I also saw my new friend, Leslie, making a right turn toward the buses. She had made it through the MK and was stopping. I guess I was happy for her. Her goal wasn't to finish -- just make it through the MK and she did. Soon after leaving the MK, an ambulance went by, and so, another person was out. And with that, the real race began. I thought this part was the hardest. It still seemed like such a long way to go. As I'm thinking about this, I came up on the bike medic who tells us we have 3 minutes to make it to the next point. We'll all make it fine if we stay at the pace we're going. Oh, okay. I guess I can stay in this thing a little longer. We pass that check point, and soon after that I see the girl on the bike with her red flag going to the next point. Ugh!! That was fast. I just saw her. Soon the medic is telling me that we have 2 minutes to make it to the next point. We can still make it, but its going to be close. I just keep on keepin' on. I'm thinking at this point that not making the check point would be alright. I make it past the mile marker and figure I'm safe for now. Then all too soon I see that blasted girl on that bike with her *^&%& red flag riding by me again. Aaargghhhh!!!! Do I really want to keep doing this? I mean I've gone a long way -- farther than I thought I would. Would stopping (or being stopped) at this point be so bad? Soon I hear the bike medic say that we have 2 minutes to make it to the final checkpoint. What!?!?! The FINAL one? Could I really be home free if I make that one? Hmmm..... do I really want to though? It was mile 10 and that meant 3 more miles, and I had never gone more than 10 miles during my training. I was really thinking I was done; and when the medic added that if we wanted to make it, we'd have to pick the pace up a little bit, I knew I was done. Imagine my surprise when I actually did pick up the pace though. I guess I really did want this. The race officials were not on their bikes this time. They were standing next to them, and I knew it was close. I made it though and let a big Wooo Hoooo as I walked past. Could I really be home free?

After 30 or 40 seconds, I turned around to look behind me. It was the first time I had done that the entire morning, and I saw 2 white buses pulled across the road where I had just walked. Man, that was close. I walked a few more moments enjoying the walk because I did feel safe, and then ...... there's that girl again. Now, where is she going? The guy said this was the final leg. We were supposed to be safe. Rats!!! I try to pick up my pace a little. Soon another bike medic comes up to me and says, "Eleven miles is a lot to be proud of. Are you going to quit at 11?" I said I wasn't planning on it, and he said, "Well, they might make you quit." Now, I was confused. Is there still 1 more sweep point? I don't get it. "You know that, right?" he said, "They may make you quit." I looked him square in the eye and said, "If they want to stop me because of my pace, that's fine. However, that would be the only reason to stop me. Otherwise I'm okay. Listen to me. I'm coherent and easily able to speak. There is no reason to stop me." He looked at me, smiled, and said, "Congratulations, then." and dropped back to speak with someone else. Then I start thinkng that maybe I wasn't as coherent as I thought because I just thought I heard him say congratulations, but there is that girl up there waving that heinous red flag. However, I also notice there are no buses there with her. Also when I guy behind me takes off at a full sprint, the bike medics take off after him yelling to slow down. It was okay. He was safe. With that the entire mood changed, and we started celebrating.

About that time, I also start to hear a conversation going on behind me. The same bike medic that asked me if I was going to quit must've asked the woman behind me the same question. I heard her telling him no way. At first, she was embarrassed that she wouldn't finish and that if she did, she'd be the last one to do so. However, she'd been following my shirt (not me... my shirt. ) for the last few miles, and she was determined to finish -- even if it meant being dead last. We talked for a bit and finally made it to the top of the hill only to see the road go back down and make a right turn UP another slope. Hello?!?! What is up with that? I guess it was just too much for some people. Several people started cutting across the median and headed toward the parking lot. Others of us just looked at each other wondering if we could do that, too, but it seemed like it would cut too much distance off the course. I had decided to stay on the pavement and take the long way up the (hopefully) final hill. I did hear someone ask about those people, and we were told they were done. They were stopping. When we made it to the top of that slope, we saw them sitting on the ground, We also saw a few others stop. It was so heartbreaking. They had come so far and were so close. I couldn't imagine how much pain they must have been in or how bad they must have felt to decide to stop at that point. I was still feeling sad for them when we turned the corner and headed down toward Epcot. And I saw the most beautiful sight. A sea of lime green WISH shirts. Wow!!! I couldn't believe that ya'll were still there. Thank you for the cold water and the cold washcloth. Those were a little piece of heaven, and thanks too, for the cheers and the encouragement, and thank you so much for just being there. It was an amazing boost, and it did help me pick up my pace.

We entered the backstage area of Epcot and one CM asked what took us so long. I said something about stopping for breakfast a few miles back and the bike medic (the one who asked me about quitting) laughed and repeated it loud enough for the guy who originally asked the question to hear. It got a lot of laughs and a few cheers. We continue through the gated and are now onstage and up ahead I see my dh and my little girls, and I am just overwhelmed with emotion. Suddenly I find it very had to breathe and I try so hard to fight back the tears. I couldn't though. I tell them I love them but that I can't stop but I will definitely see them at the finish line. They were at mile 12.25 and I cried that last mile of the race. Several times I had to take my glasses off to wipe my eyes because I couldn't see. They were so filled with tears. The gospel choir was amazing, and I raised my hands and sang along as I walked by. Then the bike medic (not the one that asked me about quitting, but the one that had been telling us how much time we had) said that he didn't want to alarm me, but just around the corner was a large (and loud) group of people and a big sign that said Finsh Line, and he offered his congratulations. I thanked him for his encouragement along the way and I turned the corner to another sea of WISH shirts and just past the finish line -- my family. Crossing that line was one of the most amazing feelings in the world. It was indescribable, but I rank it right up there with childbirth and getting married. I realize that as I do more of these races that excitement at merely crossing the finish line will probably subside, but for now, I still am amazed and in awe of what I did. I'm not sure of what my official time was. My results aren't on the website and I pushed the wrong button on my Garmin after I crossed the line. From what my Garmin did have on it though, I'm going to say my time was about 3:50. Also, I was not the DLF, but I was close. I think there were 5 or 6 people behind me.

Also, no medal yet, but I feel certain I will get it eventually, and I'm okay with that. I thought the medal would be the big thing, but it really wasn't. Crossing the finish line was the big thing, and I have that memory. Also, thanks to this really long post, I will always have that memory. Thanks for sticking with me.

Anyway, that's it. I was sore the rest of the day but really not bad on Sunday. Cheering for the runners on Sunday was a lot of fun, too -- especially now that I really understood how much it meant. I'll be back in May for the Minnie and next January for the Half again. After that, we'll see.

Thanks for sticking with me during this long post and for all the support and encouragement this past weekend and the months leading up to it.

I don't even know you and you are making me cry! What an inspiring, encouraging story you tell! I am so happy you finished! YOU ROCK!

Allyson

 

[Texa]

I also had cramping calves for the last 4 miles. I have N-E-V-E-R cramped up before. Ever. I was well hydrated, but I guess the electrolytes got out of whack somehow. It was a really interesting (not) experience. I had to take a little "skip" to avoid someone who veered in front of me & felt the first twinge in my left calf.

First thought - "Ouch! Cramp! Where did that come from?"
Second thought (about 2 minutes later) - "Hmmm. They're still here......."
Third thought - "Well. This really sucks"

.

That's funny. I got leg cramps right around mile 9 also. Up until then I had been keeping a really nice pace and have a good time with Jackie, then it my legs started going Uh OH. I decided to walk about a mile and see if I could shake them of but they kept on... not really full blown cramping...but that feeling you get when your leg begins to cramp and you can move it to a different position and it will stop. So after mile ten, my calves and hamstring we're all trying to cramp and I kept moving forward but would kind of kick my legs out in different directions to keep them from cramping. I looked like I was dancing down the road!

I finished at 3:12. About 20 minutes later than I was hoping, but I don't mind too much. More room for improvment!

 

[Theta]

we turned the corner and headed down toward Epcot. And I saw the most beautiful sight. A sea of lime green WISH shirts. Wow!!! I couldn't believe that ya'll were still there. Thank you for the cold water and the cold washcloth.

Hi Eva,

I was there at the EPCOT parking lot and I have to say this was one of the highlights of my trip.

It was so exciting to see Lynnda and then you coming around the corner. I think it was Karen who had the water and washcloth. Karen that was such a great idea to have those. Karen also gave the woman who was DLF a bottle of water and a washcloth, she was so grateful as well. It was a wonderful moment to witness and I was so glad to be there to cheer you ladies on!

Congratulations,
Colleen

 

[MouseDogMom]

That's funny. I got leg cramps right around mile 9 also. Up until then I had been keeping a really nice pace and have a good time with Jackie, then it my legs started going Uh OH. I decided to walk about a mile and see if I could shake them of but they kept on... not really full blown cramping...but that feeling you get when your leg begins to cramp and you can move it to a different position and it will stop. So after mile ten, my calves and hamstring we're all trying to cramp and I kept moving forward but would kind of kick my legs out in different directions to keep them from cramping. I looked like I was dancing down the road!

I finished at 3:12. About 20 minutes later than I was hoping, but I don't mind too much. More room for improvment!

You had leg cramps; I had a killer blister on my little toe. I refused to stop and look at it though - I was afraid if I took my shoes off I wouldn't put them back on. Soon after we parted I started thinking I hated running and never wanted to run again, but managed to get past that enough to get back into it. Every mile after that got longer and longer!

Eva - What an amazing report! I cried too - I'm so proud of you for hanging in there and making it to the finish line. That memory is amazing, isn't it? WE DID IT!

Jackie

 

[Texa]

You had leg cramps; I had a killer blister on my little toe. I refused to stop and look at it though - I was afraid if I took my shoes off I wouldn't put them back on. Soon after we parted I started thinking I hated running and never wanted to run again, but managed to get past that enough to get back into it. Every mile after that got longer and longer!

[Jackie

Yup, in hindsight I wish I would have pushed through and kept running. By that point it didn't feel any better to walk than it probably would have to run!
It's funny by the end of the race I was like NO WAY AM I EVER DOING THIS AGAIN. But now a few days later, I'm thinking about what I would have done differently....for next time!

 

[MouseDogMom]

Yup, in hindsight I wish I would have pushed through and kept running. By that point it didn't feel any better to walk than it probably would have to run!
It's funny by the end of the race I was like NO WAY AM I EVER DOING THIS AGAIN. But now a few days later, I'm thinking about what I would have done differently....for next time!

Totally in agreement - I went from "never running again" to trying to decide between the Half or the Full next year. DD says she wants to do the Half - she wants a "real" medal, not the "participation award" they gave the 5K runners. And DH is putting together a whole team of friends here who may be interested (this is the same DH who doesn't like distance running )

I'm bummed that DD has 6 days out of school next January - starting the weekend AFTER marathon weekend. So much for the perfect trip...

Jackie

 

[Sandy321]

Eva
You are an amazing spirit - I had no idea there was anyone behind me - I really thought I was last - and YOU had such a great attitude!! Funny what those bike people told you was different than what I heard!! There was a bus at mile 11 - and the medic said "you have 2 min or you'll have to get on that bus" and when we passed THAT bus the sweeper bike lady went by, and I'm sure I cussed, then a medic said, yep, we sweep at mile 12 - you have to get there by the 16min mile then you are safe!!

I started this post last night, but between the tears reading your post and my dd cries for attention, I never got back to it!!

 

[Sandy321]

Totally in agreement - I went from "never running again" to trying to decide between the Half or the Full next year. DD says she wants to do the Half - she wants a "real" medal, not the "participation award" they gave the 5K runners. And DH is putting together a whole team of friends here who may be interested (this is the same DH who doesn't like distance running )

I'm bummed that DD has 6 days out of school next January - starting the weekend AFTER marathon weekend. So much for the perfect trip...

Jackie

We cant do it next year, our DS is getting married Jan 24 - DH keeps saying sure we can, we can even have them come along!!

Maybe I can think more clearly in 2010!!

 

[deekaypee]

Just a brief summary, as I'm still trying to process everything from the weekend. It was my first 1/2, my first marathon, my first Goofy! It was really enjoyable and my only regret was that I didn't take advantage of all the experiences--the photo ops, the conversations, the sights--as much as I wanted. I guess I was too nervous about pace/time.

I did better than expected, with a chip time of 2:53:18. I'd anticipated a 3:00-3:15 finish, and I was surprised at how great a difference the race adrenalin made, especially at the start.

I deliberately slowed down because I knew I had to last not only through the 1/2 but have energy left over for the full. Heck, I should have used that time to talk with folks more, but again...first race, big anxieties. My only problem with the 1/2 was that I ended up with small blisters and hot spots, same as with my training. I knew to expect them, but they had an effect on my full, as did the humidity.

My highlights of Saturday included seeing (from afar) many WISHers and exchanging some brief conversations. I'd been unable to attend events because I was with my (non-Disney) DH and his parents (their first time to WDW in YEARS) and we'd spent the week before touring. So I really valued what little time I had to spend with you all, and have promised myself that next year will be different!!!!

Last night: I'm already tempted by the Goofy, who would have thought? But DH and I are thinking of going Goofy every other year just to maintain some balance in the training/social life, especially during the holidays.

 

[Big Vic]

Marilyn and I got to the family reunion area around 0900. The first finisher we saw was Howard. Hung out for a while as a few more finisher made their way in.

We left around 1000 and made our way into Epcot. We took a few minutes and watch as racers made their way into the park. Here are a few pictures I took.

Lynnda and friends

Eva

Sandy

Congrats to all of our 1/2 marathon racers!!

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

Okay, so here's my race report, based on MouseDogMom's progress throughout.

Start: walking out to the car, heard the fireworks
Mile 1: driving to Wilderness Lodge
Mile 2: eating breakfast
Mile 3: walking from WL to the mile 4 marker, getting ready for dad to take photos
Mile 4: cursing Mom for being on the WRONG side of the road, and trying to conceal the fact that I was crying at every WISHer going by from my Dad
Mile 5: arguing with the cop who wouldn't let us across the bridge
Mile 6: backtracking to catch the bus that would take us across the bridge
Mile 7: basically sprinting to get a good spot to shoot more photos
Mile 8: ringing a green cowbell, cheering for Mom, and watching Dad almost deck a guy for getting in his way
Miles 9, 10: taking monorail to Epcot from the Poly
Mile 11: arguing over where to stand
Mile 12: high fiving Mom as she comes by, more cowbell
Mile 13: fighting the huge crowd past the finish line trying to get to a good place to meet Mom
Mile 13.1: bursting with pride, wishing I had half the stuff my mom has

I love you Mom. I don't know if I can truly tell you just how proud I am of you. Under all the comments I made the rest of that trip there was a huge admiration for all you've been through. Now stop crying.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

I didn't post on here as I prepared for my race but was lucky enough to chat with Sandy on the boards before heading to Orlando! So on race morning I decided to look for her...

I did not realize your shirts would all have the DLF saying on it and I had seen it on a marathon site and it was my inspiration as I headed to the race. I had knee surgery that derailed my 2007 training and then I spent 6 weeks in a boot this fall with a severe ankle tendon strain - my goal was to just cross that finish line!

when we woke up on race day I was so sick to my stomach - I couldn't eat my power bar - luckily a banana and water went down - but I was very worried about throwing up and losing my hydration...luckily nothing came up - and when they announced it was time to head to the start = DH wanted to go to the portalets one more time but I told him I HAD to be at the front of the corral so I did not have to worry about being swept...so we headed in and found a whole new set of portalets without a line! Then we went ot he front of wave C - and I saw a see of WISH shirts and there was Sandy!!

For the next hour we chatted and my stomach calmed down and by race time - I was ready! I lost Sandy at the start - my first mile is always my worst and then add in a bad decision to use the portalets with long lines and I think it took me 4 extra minutes on my first mile - not a good thing!

As I headed past the Contemporary - there ahead of me I saw Sandy - and I had to run to catch her but it was nice to have someone to chat with - I lost here again before heading into the Magic Kingdom and didn't see her again but was so glad to find out she made it past the sweep.

I was surprised at how quickly the MK went - I really enjoyed all the people going my pace - we were slow but not in real danger of being swept and so we all just enjoyed the experience and joked around - we loved the sharpie signs along mile 9 and then fatigue set in and my legs started to hurt - there was a girl walking with me who offered me tylenol - she was in a great mood and I told her I could hear my mom saying "YOU TOOK TYLENOL FROM SOME GIRL YOU DIDN'T KNOW?!?!?" But my legs hurt and if it wasn't Tylenol - she seemed really happy so I wanted some of what she had!!! (side note - when I told my mom that someone gave me tylenol - guess what her EXACT words were!!) As we headed up that long curved ramp in mile 10 - I was feeling pretty good but was getting bored - that is when I ran into a crowd playing a game - say a celebrity name and then the next person has to say someone whose first name starts with the other celebrity's first letter of their last name (it was confusing at first but two miles later there were a lot of playing and those two miles went great!!

the lady I was playing with and I fell behind her friends and we started chatting and then she told me her story - a month ago she had a melanoma removed from her leg and she was walking with stitches in her leg - she had planned to quit at the MK but adrenaline kicked in and she kept going!! It was stories like this along the way that inspired me to the finish - she and I made it through Epcot together and then I saw the finish line - I saw the clock ticking towards 4 hours and I was determined to beat it! So I did a full out sprint to beat four hours by 9 seconds - the emotion was amazing and I wish that I could say that I was fine with not getting my medal but I did cry - luckily my mom and husband persisted until we got answers and I was able to get it at the expo!

The support from DISers on the course was amazing!! You were out in full force and I loved that someone was even offering ice chips on the way into Epcot!!

I had a great weekend and am already planning next year - my big question - the half or the full!?!?!?

 

[Sandy321]

Kate you could so do the FULL!! I am still in awe and shock you were able to find me in that crowd!! (she had to say who she was twice, the first time I thought I was hearing things/hallucinating!!) I'm surprised I didnt scream and jump up and down!!!

You also have such an inspiring story, when you took off at the contemporary hill, I just grinned and thought, I should be able to keep that pace - but I didnt want to lose steam by mile 10 so I kept my pathetic slowness going!!

Big Vic I cant believe you captured me!!!

Love reading the stories!!