It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Oh wait, I think that’s been used.
But it’s appropriate in this situation.
We drove up Fri morning with no problems as I-4 had reopened from the horrific accident a couple days before. Went straight to the Expo for packet pickup. DH was excited as this was his first Expo as a runner instead of a spectator. Did some shopping and found Anne, Carrie and Scott. DD15 was sitting up looking down on the Expo floor and was able to spot Anne’s WISH shirt. It was really crowded so I didn’t get to visit many of the booths but all I really wanted was my marathon pin and a shirt. DH got his and we went off to check-in at the Poly for our first visit there.
Got in and got settled in time to head over to Pop for the WISH meet. This is always one of the highlights of marathon weekend. This was my third year with the team and I was constantly amazed at how much we have grown. So many people were there, I don’t think I got to meet everyone (Kevin…how have I missed you 3 years in a row?) There were cowbells, pompoms, clappers and those wonderful backpacks that Karen and John made. It was really great!
My Pop picture is a little off-kilter but this is the team for 2008.
We ate then left to go back to the room and start settling in for the night. DH wanted to go back to the Expo so we dropped him off on the way and he rode the bus back. One of the best things about staying at the Poly was watching Wishes from the beach which we did 2 out of 3 of our nights there.
Half Marathon
Neither of us slept much that night. DH got up about 2:30 and was out the door a little after 3 for his first half. We were both worried about him...he really hadn’t run much in an effort to heal the shin splints and we weren’t sure if his legs were going to handle the race at all. I went back to sleep after he left and got up about 6. Got ready and went to TTC about 6:35...it was packed! I couldn’t get anywhere near the gate so left and went over to the road by the Poly. It was really early so only the elites were going by. They all look so serious...it doesn’t seem like they’re having much fun.
My first WISHer was Mike who ran by looking fresh as a daisy. I also saw Howard, Lynne and Kevin, Chester, Matt and Cheryl, Cecilia. I got a 5K update on DH so was encouraged that he was moving along. I didn’t get any updates for awhile and was worried he’d had to pullout due to the leg pain. I finally saw him, but he was on the opposite side of the road. He was running with Erin and they both looked great! I packed up and ran back to the Poly to get the kids up and ready to go to EPCOT. I got his 10K update after they passed me at the Poly so figured the updates were about 2 miles behind. Went to the room, helped get the kids ready and we took off for EPCOT. I was afraid we wouldn’t make it after we got the 15K update while on the monorail to EPCOT. The cool part was passing over the runners on the course...we saw Lily and Judy both out there moving along very well.
Once we landed, we went straight to the family area. I was afraid DH had already finished but it still took them awhile to get in. They finished in 2:53:35 with no shin pain at all!
The medal mess at the end was unforgivable. I’m planning to send an email to Disney Sports. Hopefully, third year’s the charm and they’ll be able to pull it together for next year.
We took DH back to Poly to eat and rest, then I took the girls to MK for awhile. I was trying not to walk much, but we got to do a few rides, including WT’s new fave, the Haunted Mansion.
Full Marathon
I actually got some sleep the night before which is really unusual for me. Usually I sleep about 2 hours then just lie awake waiting until a reasonable time to get up and ready for the race. I got out the door at about 2:45 and realized how warm it was. Found out later, 67 degrees with 94% humidity. I went to the monorail. Doors were locked...they said they weren’t letting anyone on the trains until 3am so I sat down to wait a few minutes. Caught the monorail to TTC, then waited for the train to EPCOT. Next thing I saw was the lime green monorail pulling up to take up over to EPCOT...I figured that must be a good sign!
I got there and walked to the start and found Dana and Bill near the baggage claim. We went through and found a bunch of WISHers already assembled, so sat down. I was really nervous and spent most of the morning babbling so apologies to all of you that had to listen to me at that hour. I was really surprised at how quickly they moved us into the corrals. I hadn’t even started my potty ritual yet when they opened the gate. Jen and I got lined up in corral G where some WISHers were already waiting. It all seemed to go by pretty fast. Before I knew it, we were standing up, moving up and getting ready for the start.
We started off pretty well, got to see the WISHers at the first water stop (thanks for being there!) but I had to make an unscheduled potty stop in EPCOT so we hit the Odyssey before we got routed back out. I felt pretty good, but the humidity was brutal and I felt pretty damp by mile 3. We got to MK...hope the castle pictures turned out well! I was feeling pretty hot, wet and sweaty by then. I had packed an extra shirt for DH to have outside the Poly and was looking forward to changing. When we got there, I discovered I’d only packed a long sleeve tech shirt, not a short sleeve or tank...AAARRRGGHH. So, since I’d already taken off my WISH shirt, I just left it off and carried it...without putting on sunscreen. Oops.
I have a wall I always hit between miles 12 and 14 and it was there just like always for me. A lady ahead of us said she thought the next water stop had bananas and oranges, but we got there and only bananas. Really a shame...the oranges sounded so good and I craved one the whole way.
Jen and I kept up some sort of interval until about mile 15, then abandoned all pretense of running. I was pretty firmly in the BMZ by then. (Sorry Jen...I always seem to be the anchor you drag along in these races). We walked the rest of the way, hot sweaty with aches and pains I didn’t remember from training. My ankle started going somewhere in there. It’s weird, it doesn’t hurt until I stop, slow down or the terrain changes, but I can tell when it’s gone. I have to keep going at that point because stopping means it tightens up and doesn’t bend again until it’s good and ready.
I think the section between MK and AK was the hardest. Nothing to see, only generators with speakers playing random song snippets. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to stop, check into a medical tent and tell them it just wasn’t worth it. Thank goodness for Jen or I don’t know if I would’ve finished. Getting to AK helped...by then we were craving ice cold drinks. There were tons of photographers in AK which I didn’t want to see at that point. We got through and headed out on our way to WWOS and MGM. There were lots of characters along that way which helped.
It was great seeing Ann and Heather at the turnaround. Ann gave us ice which was fabulous ! We saw some WISHers on both sides of the turnaround and headed to MGM. I kept telling myself if we could just get to MGM, I knew we could finish because there’d be stuff to see then WISHers close by to keep us going. Just knowing you guys were out there waiting for us was huge!
Kim, I do remember seeing you at the water stop...sorry I wasn’t coherent enough to say hi. I think Vic joined us somewhere around there. We kept plugging along, I think all three of us were hurting. I kept thinking about what Lynne said before the race started...pain is temporary, pride is forever. Somehow that helped, knowing that I could gut out the pain and get through the rest. I also kept thinking of (is it Robert or Dave’s quote)...relentless forward motion. Toward s the end, I think I was just on autopilot.
I teared up when I saw Kathy, Jen and Erin outside MGM, then again when DD15 ran up to me outside BWV and walked with me for awhile. DH was there with WT and I saw them but was afraid to stop for long. I knew if the forward motion ceased I was a goner. It was sooo cool seeing more WISHers outside BCV...knowing you guys would be there was huge. We got to EPCOT and about halfway around WS, saw the big black cloud hanging over SE and heard the thunder crack. I was so afraid WDW would pull us off the course, I think I started going faster. The CM’s kept saying almost there, but it wasn’t nearly almost enough for me. We came around SE and saw Jen’s family, then came to the choir, then the chute to the finish. Jen and Vic ran it in...I finally got up enough to run and some guy stopped dead in front of me to take a picture of 2 girls crossing the finish line. So my finish photo may show me wiping out some random dude. I made it just under regulation 6:58:09.
Got my medal but didn’t stick around for a photo due to the incoming storm. I saw Carrie at the end then went to find the fam. DH brought crutches, I took off my shoes (aaaahhhh...such relief) and put on my ankle brace. The wind was kicking up so we packed up the kids and headed to the bus. Driver dropped us at TTC to take the monorail or walk back to Poly. We got to TTC and the rain opened up so we waited until it slacked off to head out. I actually felt okay except the bottom of my feet and ankle hurt. We finally got back to the room. The fam went downstairs to get lunch while I got in the shower. It felt really great until I almost passed out. I had to sit down in the shower, turned off the water and wait it out, thinking I couldn’t walk well enough to get to the phone in the other room and call for help. But it passed eventually. I think it was lack of food...I usually drink chocolate milk and eat right after a LR, but in the race to get out of the storm, only had part of a tangerine.
Boardwalk Bakery was great next day! I’ve never been able to go before as we usually leave on Sunday so this was a real treat. Unfortunately, the cold weather everyone had hoped for arrived. It was pretty frigid out there! Got to see everyone, heard some war stories and got another picture before we left.
Can’t wait to do it all again next year!
Apologies for the length if you’re still reading, bless you! So many things happen on marathon weekend...it’s just amazing!
DS-11 first race ever, he was scared to death, and oh yeah one running shoefor DS "somehow fell out of suitcase" when DH was packing it up --- soooo he wore mine, only a size and 1/2 too big
Well DS was a really good sport and they did great, about 35 minutes!! Here they are at finish:
I told him that i was very proud of him for not giving up and he spoke words of great wisdom, he said: "MOM YOU NEVER GIVE UP EVEN IF YOU ARE IN LAST BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN, YOU MIGHT END UP IN FIRST" 
VERY PROUD MOM 
Here he is PROUD OF HIMSELF:
)
PRs are not high on my list of priorities for these races! I saw a million WISHers on the course -- some passed me, some I passed -- all offered affection and encouragement. My standout encounters during the race were with Matt and his Minnie/princess, who kept leapfrogging me until they blasted past me in EPCOT headed to the finish line and into the proverbial sunset. It's funny how folks you've never met before in person suddenly seem like your best friends -- I enjoyed them so much! (Matt, if you read this -- I'm the "serious walker"!)
However, I did have the honor of meeting Cecilia (Cruella de mom) while I was standing there. Cecilia, it was nice meeting and talking with you. Once I got my stuff together I walked through the tent, found the rest of the WISHers, and hung out for a bit.
