Racing to Lose a Toenail ~ My Half-Marathon Weekend *Homeward Bound 3/16 p.25

[DisMomAmy]

That's great news!! Good Luck!!!

 

[Sonnyeclipse]

Looking forward to hearing about it. I embarked on a similar journey for the 2010 half and am going to do it again for the 2012 half or (gulp) maybe even the full.

 

[carissanboys]

Good luck with the bid on the house!

Thanks! Everything I have is crossed!

That's great news!! Good Luck!!!

Thanks Amy! I can't wait until this process is over and we can really say "our house" and start making plans!

Looking forward to hearing about it. I embarked on a similar journey for the 2010 half and am going to do it again for the 2012 half or (gulp) maybe even the full.

So you were there for the crazy weather last year! My friend Liz (who will make lots of appearances in this TR) did her first half last year. Good luck if you choose to do the full! Our friend Jenny (dismagiclover) just did her first full. Hoping she'll do a TR.

 

[ddstratton]

Looking forward to hearing about your trip!

 

[Native NYer]

Joining in, Carissa!

 

[carissanboys]

Looking forward to hearing about your trip!

Thanks for stopping by!

Joining in, Carissa!

Yay! Jennifer!

 

[carissanboys]

Before I begin, I want to mention that I didn’t do a very good job of taking pictures on this trip. I was overwhelmed half of the time and the other half I just didn’t want to carry my purse. My camera is kind of big to fit in a pocket. Liz was kind enough to take many pictures and share them with me so that this TR won’t be completely photo-less! Thanks Liz!

~ Friday, January 7th, 2011 ~

Friday morning I woke up shortly before 5 a.m. I wanted to be on the road heading to the airport by 5:45. I still had a few last minute items to pack, but everything went smoothly and I was on my way. I decided I would drive myself and just leave the car in long term parking so Chuck and the boys wouldn’t have to get up early.

I had checked in online and printed out my boarding pass the day before so all I had to do was get through security. It was pretty quiet in the airport and I didn’t have too long to wait at the gate before we started boarding. I was in the 2nd boarding group and scored a front row seat! I had to store my purse in the overhead compartment, but I didn’t care. I had tons of leg room and would be one of the first off the plane.

There was a gentleman sitting in the window seat, but no one in the center as the plane wasn’t full. The flight attendant asked who was going to WDW and I noticed the man next to me raised his hand. I asked if he was going for marathon weekend and he informed me that he was doing the Goofy Challenge. For those who don’t know, there are some folks who are goofy enough to run the half-marathon on Saturday and then the full marathon on Sunday. I know – crazy!

The flight went by so fast since my neighbor and I chatted the entire time. We talked about running, house buying, dogs – it was one of those conversations where two people just click and there was an equal amount of talking done on both sides. I was really hoping to see him on the return flight because I wanted to know how he did in both races. (I didn’t see him.)

This was my first time using Magical Express, but it was pretty easy to figure out. I only had a carry on so I headed to the check in counter. We had to wait about 15 minutes to board our bus, but everything went off without a hitch. I almost fell asleep on the ride. We had a very entertaining driver, which immediately reminded me why I love Disney so much. Around this time I began receiving texts from numerous people: Chuck wanting to know if I made it safely. Melissa (jmskinner) telling me where she was since we were planning on meeting up. Joe (airman) doing the same. And Liz (who was flying in from NC) keeping me posted on where she was. For someone who isn’t used to doing a lot of texting, I was trying hard to keep up!

We arrived at Pop Century and I immediately loved the look of the lobby. So cool. The line to check in was somewhat long. It probably took about 10 – 15 minutes to get through, so not too bad. The great thing was our room was ready! I think it was only about 11 a.m. Liz had received a code for a preferred room. We ended up in the 60s right by the pool. Later in the trip I’d be very glad we didn’t have to walk very far!

It took me a few minutes to actually find our room in the building. But, find it I did. Room 4470 would be our home for the next two nights.

And the view from our room:

I dropped off my stuff including my jacket. At this point, I was getting a bit stressed. I needed to meet up with a couple of friends at Hollywood Studios to ride Tower of Terror and I needed to get back to Pop so Liz and I could get to the Expo to pick up our packets. Plus, I was starving! I took a few deep breaths to soak up the Disney air and tried to come up with a plan.

Up Next – Will I make my date to ride Tower of Terror or will I chicken out?

 

[ddstratton]

Wonderful start!!

 

[liznboys]

I agree, great first part C! I'm excited all over again!

 

[MeMom]

We arrived at Pop Century and I immediately loved the look of the lobby. So cool.

So glad you liked our Pop.

We have sat at those tables many times and watched our little ones splash around in that fun pool. Especially the one on the left in the picture closer to the flower shower, which is coverd up by one of the palm trees. Just seeing makes me easily picture us there again.

It's neat that you found a friend on the flight. Did you 'hook him up' with the DIS?

I'm glad you got a good driver. They can really make a difference in the excitement of your entrance as you drive under the arch. What did you think of the Magical Express video?

 

[fairestoneofall]

what a nice picture on the wall! did you notice it while you were there?

(sorry. i had to.)

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

Love Pop! Never been lucky enough to score a room in the 60's section. Nice view!

 

[carissanboys]

Wonderful start!!

It's a bit heavy on the text and light on the pictures, but there will be more.

I agree, great first part C! I'm excited all over again!

Me too! Like I said to someone else, I feel like I can actually take time to think about the trip now. It went by in a flash. I keep saying to Chuck, "Looking back, I don't remember the half being all that bad. It seemed very easy." But, I know I didn't feel that way when I was doing it.

So glad you liked our Pop.

We have sat at those tables many times and watched our little ones splash around in that fun pool. Especially the one on the left in the picture closer to the flower shower, which is coverd up by one of the palm trees. Just seeing makes me easily picture us there again.

It's neat that you found a friend on the flight. Did you 'hook him up' with the DIS?

I'm glad you got a good driver. They can really make a difference in the excitement of your entrance as you drive under the arch. What did you think of the Magical Express video?

We loved Pop! It was Liz's first time staying there too and we both thought it was great. The bus service was excellent! I thought the food was good too.

No, I didn't mention the Dis to him. I asked if he was on Daily Mile (a website to keep track of workouts and a great community for support, but not set up like a message board) and he wasn't so I didn't want him to think I was too crazy.

Honestly, I didn't watch much of the video. I was afraid I'd feel a bit motion sick if I did and I just closed my eyes to relax.

what a nice picture on the wall! did you notice it while you were there?

(sorry. i had to.)

Of course! I noticed it immediately upon entering the room! I mean, seriously. It was right by my bed.

Love Pop! Never been lucky enough to score a room in the 60's section. Nice view!

It was a great location. We did see a few brave souls in the pool over the weekend.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Great room location!! I'm glad you got there easily - hope you made it to Tot!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Wow! You guys got a great room location! Did you pay for a preferred room or was it an upgrade?

 

[Goofster57]

Liz was kind enough to take many pictures and share them with me so that this TR won’t be completely photo-less! Thanks Liz!

Thanks Liz!!!

Will there be Food Pron in this TR?

Nice start Carissa,
The POP is such a neat resort and you gals had a great view.

 

[RunningGirl]

I'm here to share marathon weekend vicariously! This is the first time in 5 years we didn't go, but we're going Goofy next year!

Glad you trip went so smoothly! Can't wait to read your race report!

 

[Native NYer]

The Goofy Challenge

Pop looks like such a fun resort.

 

[carissanboys]

Great room location!! I'm glad you got there easily - hope you made it to Tot!

I was very lucky that everything was going smoothly.

Wow! You guys got a great room location! Did you pay for a preferred room or was it an upgrade?

Liz had a pin code for the preferred room. We actually wanted a standard (this was a budget trip for both of us), but we were very happy with the preferred room.

Thanks Liz!!!

Will there be Food Pron in this TR?

Nice start Carissa,
The POP is such a neat resort and you gals had a great view.

There will be very little food porn, but there will be some.

I'm here to share marathon weekend vicariously! This is the first time in 5 years we didn't go, but we're going Goofy next year!

Glad you trip went so smoothly! Can't wait to read your race report!

So you're one of those crazy people!

The Goofy Challenge

Pop looks like such a fun resort.

It definitely had a very fun feel to it.

 

[fairestoneofall]

Of course! I noticed it immediately upon entering the room! I mean, seriously. It was right by my bed.

wait. and you slept in the bed RIGHT THERE by the picture? oh. that's even worse!

i guess it's a good thing Liz took a picture then.