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

[OhMari]

Oh, sorry about your aches in the beginning.
Your spirits looked liked they picked up a little at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[MeMom]

This is a fun picture. Not the usual sight here.


So glad Baxter is better.

 

[pirate<3rocks]

Not sure that I am up for a sad update Car

Hope nothing really bad happened

How aboot a toenail update instead??

 

[eandesmom]

Oh, poor Baxter! I'm so glad he is ok and doing better. You do look hot, that sounds rather miserable, I'm glad you were able to get more comfortable and the stuff around your waist didn't bother you.

I'm scared about a sad update though......

 

[LKMang]

Delurking to say that you rock!! You are such an inspiration to me! I have always wanted to run a marathon (or half marathon) and you’ve shown me that it is totally possible! I’m finally getting off my butt and doing the C25K!

Sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens…hope it isn’t too sad!

And good luck with the house buying! We are hoping to move this spring.

 

[blue_river]

How aboot a toenail update instead??

I'm with her!!!

 

[carissanboys]

That humidity will get you every time! It's like running through soup!

Sorry the heat was bothering you and your soreness was flaring up. Love that picture running down Main Street though -- so neat!

When I was standing there waiting for the race to start and I could feel how damp my clothes felt, I knew I was in trouble!

Oh, sorry about your aches in the beginning.
Your spirits looked liked they picked up a little at the Magic Kingdom.

They did! How could they not? I was almost halfway done and I could take off a layer of clothes!

This is a fun picture. Not the usual sight here.


So glad Baxter is better.

Once again I have Liz to thank for all of the pictures.

Thanks! He went in yesterday for his check up and the doctor gave him the okay for a normal life. No more collar of shame!

Not sure that I am up for a sad update Car

Hope nothing really bad happened

How aboot a toenail update instead??

I can't give an update on the toenails since I haven't talked about them in the race yet.

Oh, poor Baxter! I'm so glad he is ok and doing better. You do look hot, that sounds rather miserable, I'm glad you were able to get more comfortable and the stuff around your waist didn't bother you.

I'm scared about a sad update though......

I would have preferred not to have anything around my waist, but it didn't bother me too much.

Delurking to say that you rock!! You are such an inspiration to me! I have always wanted to run a marathon (or half marathon) and you’ve shown me that it is totally possible! I’m finally getting off my butt and doing the C25K!

Sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens…hope it isn’t too sad!

And good luck with the house buying! We are hoping to move this spring.

Thanks so much! We've had our home inspection so now it's just all of the final paperwork.

I'm with her!!!

Y'all will have to wait on the toenails.

 

[carissanboys]

I continued running through the Magic Kingdom and out of the Magic Kingdom. I know at one point along the way, I saw Liz pass me. I did a lot of walking with a bit of "running" thrown in here and there. There was a couple that was doing the walk/run method and they were wearing t-shirts that announced they were doing the Goofy. We took turns passing each other for a while.

Right before mile 10 I decided I wanted to start taking pictures of the mile marker signs. But, as I got closer to mile 10, I saw an ambulance and a bunch of people surrounding someone. They were performing CPR on this person. At that same time, there were sirens behind us and the confusion began. There was a firetruck and a police car coming on our left. There were people in front of us telling us to move to the left out of the way. So at one point we all just had to stop where we were and let them go by.

After passing that scene, my mind couldn't stop thinking about who the person was, what happened, and if he was going to be okay. I wondered if his family was at WDW with him. It's definitely not the kind of thing you want to see during a race. When I talked to Liz after the race, she had seen the person down and people around him, but the ambulance hadn't arrived yet. I tried to look online that afternoon/evening and the next day, but couldn't find anything. When we were home, Liz found a comment somewhere that the gentleman hadn't made it.

Obviously, I didn't take a picture of mile marker 10. I didn't want to be disrespectful. Around this time I started to get very emotional. Part of me felt so lucky to be completing this race, to have a body that allowed me to do so. I was amazed that I had set a goal for myself and actually stuck with my plan and made it to this point. I was so proud of myself for not giving up. But, then I would start to feel such disappointment that the race hadn't gone the way I'd trained for and hoped it would be. And right after I had that thought, I'd think about the runner who was being worked on by paramedics and be grateful for my health. There were a few tears shed in those final miles!

Those last few miles seemed to take forever. Finally, I reached mile 11!

I posted that picture on Facebook and reading the comments and support of friends really helped me along.

And then I was at mile 12 and entering Epcot!

If you look in the background to the right, you can see Off Kilter. I was so excited and surprised when I saw and heard them! I have been wanting to see them forever and didn't get a chance when we were at Epcot the day before. I can't tell you how much seeing them really gave me a final boost. I wish I had stopped and taken a picture. I did have a huge smile on my face as I passed them!

I tried to run a good portion of the final mile. I wanted to salvage the best finish time I could at that point. I thought I would be a bit more emotional as I crossed the finish line, but I think I was just so glad it was over. I did get to high five Donald and Goofy right before I finished!

Here is a video of me crossing the finish line. Look for me about halfway through the video. I'm on the left of the screen and I give those high fives. There are also some professional race photos of me on that same page.

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event_video.asp?EVENTID=74486&BIB=43920&VLOC=Finish Line

As soon as I crossed the line, I stopped my Garmin. My time was 3:15:57 - about 30 minutes slower than I was hoping. I grabbed my medal, made my way over to the tent and picked up a bottle of water and a clif bar. And then I made the long walk over to the Pop Century bus line. Liz had texted me to say she was heading back to the room (she finished a bit before me). While the Pop buses were the very last ones in the bunch, there was no line and a bus came up as soon as I got there. I sat my behind down on a seat and it felt so good. I posted on FB that I had finished and I let Liz know I was on my way back to the room.

Now I could relax!

Sorry this update didn't have many pictures, but there will be lots more in the next few updates.

Up Next - Showing off our bling

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

That was so cool to see you cross the finish line!!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Congratulations on finishing the race Carissa! I know it might not have been as fast as you would have liked but just think of how hard you have worked and how far you have come over the year - absolutely inspirational!!!

That's so sad about the man who passed away... at least he was doing something he loved when he died.

 

[that's nice]

Yea!!!! You made it!!! Congratulations!!!!!

I guess there is no way to NOT know where you are with those mile markers. HA!

How terrible that that man passed away during the race.

I can't wait to see your medal!!! (again LOL)

 

[glennbo123]

I'm so sorry to read about that man you saw being worked on. I was hoping that the chapter wasn't going to be quite that sad. About 10 years ago I was playing basketball at our church gym and a guy had a heart attack and died en route to the hospital. It's not something you soon forget.

I watched the video and saw you cross the line! That is awesome how you set a goal and reached it. Congratulations!

 

[dismagiclover]

That is a sad moment. My heart goes out to his friends and family.

And I'm sorry your race wasn't as you envisioned. You have good races and bad races, but it is awesome how far you've come in the last year!

 

[DizGirl20]

Hi Carissa - I just caught up with your TR. Can I just say you are such a wonderful inspiration! I am definitely going to remember your story as I am training for my first HM. In fact, I was going to give myself the day off today, but now I am going to get my butt in gear and go for a run this morning!

My biggest concern with doing a Disney Half is getting up so darn early. Do you think running the Wine & Dine Half (I think I read somewhere that it starts at 10pm) would be easier? I am not sure which one I want to do yet. I am thinking January or the Princess next year... I would love your input!

Sorry to hear about your sad moment. It's always scary to see someone down on the ground, no matter where you are. I hope that he was doing something he loved, in a place he loved...

 

[ddstratton]

Congratulations on finishing the race!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

That is so sad, I would have been tearing up as well.

I'm proud of you for reaching your goal and finishing the race! Considering your pain 30 minutes off the goal time is fantastic!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

30 minutes off your goal time is not bad considering you stopped to take pictures at different points and such.

and very sad about the gentlmen in the race.

 

[LKMang]

Wow, that is so sad about the man who passed away. I can’t even imagine seeing that and then continuing to race. I would have been emotional too. Really puts things into perspective!

You should be so proud of yourself! You did amazing! Watching that video of everyone crossing the finish line seriously brought tears to my eyes.

BTW, I’ve been wondering, how on earth do they take pictures of everyone and organize them? Does someone go through all the pix by bib number? Or is it computerized in some way? (ok , stupid question, but I just can’t figure it out!).

 

[butiflfeet]

I would have been emotional by the end of that race too! 30 minutes over your goal isn't bad considering the circumstances. Great job! When do you think you'll do another half?

 

[DawnMaree]

Awesome! I saw you cross and stop your watch! That sad incident reminds me of Evan's little Fun Run he did with school last fall. It's only about 1½ miles but there was little boy who crossed the finish line and collapsed. It was very sad. He was okay after awhile, but he did need immediate assistance.

Can't wait to see more of your pics!