Real Women Sweat PINK - A 2013 Marathon Trip Report - COMPLETE 8/8/13

[ZellyB]

We woke up bright and early on Monday morning to our 24th wedding anniversary. I also woke up to legs so stiff I wasn't sure I could get out of bed. Ugg. But, I did manage to pull myself out of bed and shuffle off to get ready for a day of fun at Hollywood Studios.

It really was a challenge to get moving, but once I was on the go, the stiffness started to work out. Don't get me wrong. I was sore and my feet still hurt, but moving around was really the best medicine for that.

We headed out for HS and got there right at rope drop and headed off with the stampede to TSMM. We grabbed a fastpass and got in line. I'd only ridden this ride once before and we'd used a fastpass, so this was my first time through the full queue.



Super cute queue!! Standby was only about 15-20 minutes, so we were on and off the ride very quickly. I did manage to beat out Chris on the score at the end. Go me!!! I typically do not succeed at beating him on games like that, so he of course claimed his gun wasn't working properly. Men. He was happy to gloat when we rode it a second time with our fastpasses and he beat me.

Next we were off to our favorite ride in all of Disney...



Sorry again for all the self portraits!! We were able to ride ToT something like 5 or 6 times. Like I said before, this was our first time at Disney during an off-peak time and WOW. What a difference and a pleasure. We LOVED how short the lines were. I know that I hear a lot of complaints about the South American tour groups for this time of year and we did see some, but they really never caused us any difficulties. Maybe there weren't that many there yet or we just managed to avoid them for the most part, but it was honestly just a pleasure to be in the parks.

We were able to ride RnR using a fastpass as well and that was the one time there was some rowdiness from a tour group, but it was pretty minimal and the line was short, so it was really not an issue for us.

I had planned on seeing the Beauty and the Beast show since we've never seen it before, but it wasn't being performed that day. Belle and the Beast were out for pictures, but the line for that WAS long, so we passed.

We decided to eat light for lunch since we had early dinner reservations at Victoria and Alberts. So, we opted for the much loved or much loathed giant turkey leg. Look away now if seeing someone gnawing on one of these grosses you out!!!



And, no, I don't usually eat it this way. We tear it apart with a knife and fork, but we thought this would be a funny picture about how ravenous I still was after the run.

The shirt I have on was the tech type shirt I bought at the expo. I loved it. The color was really fun. Chris is wearing the one he bought. We opted not to wear our medals because honestly, they were pretty heavy and uncomfortable. But, we still got lots of congratulations from people who saw the shirts. So, we still got to bask in the glory of our accomplishment.

We rode Star Tours and then wandered around the back lot for awhile.



After a really, relaxed and easy day, we headed back to Shades of Green to get ready for our dinner reservation at Victoria and Alberts. Once in our finest duds and all refreshed, we made the short trip over to the Grand Floridian. We went a little early since neither of us had ever wandered around that resort. It's really beautiful. I'd love to stay there sometime, but I've always had trouble reconciling the cost of it when we can stay at SoG or offsite for a fraction of the cost. Still, one day, we will splurge!!

I have to apologize now that we didn't take more pictures of the food. We intended to, but it felt weird to take pictures in that atmosphere and we were also paranoid to use the flash, so the pictures we did take aren't very good.

We were greeted by name at the podium and sat down on a small couch for just a couple of minutes before we were escorted to our table. It's a beautiful, small and intimate dining room with subdued lighting and a quiet atmosphere. The service was unbelievable. We had three different people attending to us, so we never wanted for anything, but also never felt rushed or hovered over.

We were given our menus, customized with our names, and set about deciding what to order. Chris and I decided that we would each order different items from each course so we could sample as much of the menu as possible. V&A is set up as a prix fixe menu with several courses. There are also some options for upcharge items and we did indulge in a couple of those as well. You can also order a wine pairing. Our initial plan was to split the wine pairing, but our server told us that the pours were not full pours if our concern was too much to drink. Well, that's all the persuasion it took to get us both to get our own pairing. However, full pour or not, by the time we were done, we were both feeling those drinks a little bit.

So, the first thing we ordered was an upcharge item:

Amuse Bouche
Imperial Osetra Caviar with traditional garnishes

Chris had never had caviar and I'd only had a small taste of it once before, so we thought now was probably our best chance to try it. It came out served with these small pancakes, a boiled egg, creme fraiche and a small glass of ice cold vodka. I also got a special little mother of pearl spoon to use.



It was amazing!! And tiny.

Next up:

Masago Crusted Gulf Shrimp with Ponzu Vinaigrette
Roasted Long Island Duck with Pomegranate, Pistachios and Hearts of Palm

Chris got the shrimp and I got the duck. Both were amazing, but the shrimp won this round by a mile!! It was probably my favorite thing the entire night. Just delicious.

Next:

Diver Scallop with fennel, leex and Minus 8 Verjust vinaigrette
Onion Ash Crusted North Carolina Wreck Fish with Clam Chowder

I think Chris got the scallop and I got the wreck fish. We called this round a draw since both were equally good!

Next:

Braised Oxtail and Cherry Ravioli with roasted red peppers
Vermont Quail with Parsnip puree and gif gastrique

Chris got the ravioli and I got the quail. This round went to the quail.

Next up the entrees:

Poulet Rouge with Hedgehog mushrooms and gnocchi
Iwate Japanese Beef with Oxtail Jus

I got the chicken and Chris the beef. This was another upcharge item, but boy was it amazing.



Chris said it was like eating meat ice cream. The little pitcher held a reduction sauce that I think they said was reduced over a few days! It was delicious, but very rich, so a little went a long way. Plus, the meat itself was so good, you really didn't need much else to enjoy it. My chicken was also great, but the beef obviously won this one walking away.

Next:

Sottocenere Al Tartufo, Parmigiano Regiano, Colston Basseett Stilton, Gouda Reypenaer XO
White Chocolate Gelato with tableside shavings

I got the cheese plate and Chris got the gelato. No pictures, but gelato wins!!

And now....dessert

Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee
Hawaiian Kona Choclate Souffle

Chris got the creme brulee



And I got the souffle



Souffle wins!!! The ice cream that was with it was sooooo good too. It was ice cold, never melted and yet was soft. I'm not sure how they do that, but it was great.

Of course we had to order coffee as well to be prepared at the table. This was so fun to watch. I wish the pictures were better.





The last little item we got was a special little plate of bites along with a rose to commemorate our anniversary.



There was a delicious dark chocolate with some sea salt on top, some kind of lady finger type of cake with raspberries and then a sort of gummy fruit, cinnamon chewy thing. Chris really couldn't eat his since we were stuffed to the gills, but I forced it down. The lady finger thing was my favorite. YUMMY.

We managed to drag our stuffed bodies (still with sore legs!) out of the chairs and go back to SoG where we collapsed in our beds fully sated and content.

Next up: Last day, MK and the mouse!

 

[ZellyB]

Tuesday morning we awoke to celebrate Chris' birthday. When we picked our wedding date many moons ago, I decided on the day before Chris' birthday because then I figured he'd never forget our anniversary. So, far it's working like a charm.

Anyway, we got up early because we wanted to make rope drop again. This morning, my legs and feet were feeling soooooo much better. Not quite back to normal, but close.

We got to MK a little before rope drop and watched the opening show. I'd actually never seen this before, so it was a lot of fun and really got us in the mood. Once inside, we headed straight to see that fabulous Since we had missed him at the finish line, we really wanted a shot with him. We had decided to wear our marathon shirts again and skip the medals.



Mickey was great. As soon as he saw our shirts, he started running in place and gave us a big thumbs up. Really fun!

We finished up with Mickey and headed off to ride Space Mountain and then off to Buzz Lightyear. Chris again felt the need to redeem himself after his initial loss at TSMM, so we were both very intent during our ride.



Not that we're competitive or anything. And, yes, sad to say that Chris beat me. I think my gun was malfunctioning.

Next we headed over to check out the new Fantasyland Expansion area. We had reservations that night at Be Our Guest, so we were curious to see where it was and how the new castle looked. Honestly, the bridge and doors leading to BoG are pretty cool, but the castle looked...strange. I know it's supposed to be this forced perspective and that you are looking at a full size castle that is just a long way away, but really, I just thought it looked like a toy castle up on the hill. Might just be me though.



Walked on over to see Gaston's as well. This we thought was really well done and themed great.



We wandered over to the Voyage of the Little Mermaid next. Standby was only 15 minutes, so we jumped in line. Again, crowds were sparse.
We both enjoyed the ride (and the queue which was fun), but it was a bit of a let down overall. It felt very much like a copy cat of Nemo. Don't get me wrong, I like Nemo a lot and since Little Mermaid is one of my favorite Disney films of all time, I had a lot of fun on this ride. I guess I was just hoping for...more. But, I'll certainly plan to ride it again any time we are at MK.

The line for Enchanted Tales with Belle was long and we really weren't that interested in that, so we skipped it. We tried to peek through the construction fencing at the mine train construction, but it was tough to see much.

We spent the rest of the day just leisurely making our way around the park. Lines were very short and we were able to ride all our favorites very easily. Splash Mountain was down for refurbishment so we didn't get to ride it. I've never actually ridden it for a variety of reasons, so maybe this next year we'll manage!!

Spent some time watching the parade as well





As evening was approaching we headed back toward Be Our Guest to make our reservation.





We checked in and got a pager and hung out on the bridge leading to the castle gates to wait. It took longer than I expected to get called and by the time we finally did get called, it was about 30 minutes past our reservation time. Not a big deal, although we were REALLY hungry.



The inside of the restaurant is very pretty...and dark. We were told that we wouldn't be sitting in the main ballroom, but rather in the West Wing. I was a little disappointed initially, but once seated, I think being in the smaller and more intimate space was actually nice. The table was set with a napkin folded into a rose on the plate.



We got our menus and ordered and I'm sorry to say I really don't remember what we ate. It was actually pretty unremarkable. Not bad at all! Just nothing that exciting. Still the mood of the restuarant and the service was good. We both ordered a glass of wine with dinner as well which was nice.

Chris tried to get a shot of the enchanted rose, but on a phone, it was hard to get a good picture.



Once during dinner, the Beast strode quickly through the dining room and then announcements were made regularly that he was available to meet with after dinner. Dessert was good and even though I'd put on our reservation that we were celebrating Chris' birthday, we weren't offered the grey stuff. But, really we were fine with that.

We stopped in for a picture with the Beast and then got ready to leave. On the way out we noticed the stained glass picture with Belle and the Prince dancing and decided to try one last self portrait in front of it. A CM saw us and offered to take our picture.



Totally cheesy, but we thought it was hilarious.

We walked out into the darkened park and walked around a bit waiting for Wishes to start. We got a nice spot near the front of the castle to enjoy the show and then slowly made our way out of the park. We were sad knowing this was our last day at Disney, but it had been a magical trip.

Next up: Final thoughts, commemoratives and future plans

 

[ZellyB]

We headed out bright and early the next day to go home. I was sorry to leave Disney World behind, but anxious to get home to the kids. The trip was really amazing and I'm so glad I made my first marathon a Disney run. I think it has spoiled me for any other races.

It was really exicting to get back home and share our accomplishment with everyone and ultimately when I started chemo the day after we got home, I kept reminding myself that I finished 26.2 miles, no way were some nasty drugs going to finish me off.

And, ultimately, that's what running has done for me. It has shown me just how strong and determined I am and that when I set my mind on a goal, there is very little that will deter me. It's been a good lesson to learn about myself.

Once home, I proudly put my Disney 26.2 magnet on my car!



A few weeks later, the frame I ordered at the Expo also arrived. I added my castle photo to it and LOVE the finished product.




It now proudly hangs in my office. Maybe a bit self serving, but I don't care.

I was able to start running again after finishing the last of my heavy chemo treatments on May 2. Saturday we are up to a 9 mile training run and so far it's been great. You remember that whole "one and done" thing I told Chris toward the end of the marathon right? Yeah, that lasted about two days. By the time we left Disney we'd already decided we were going to go Goofy in 2015 for the 10 year anniversary. And just a couple months ago we decided to run the marathon again in January. I told Chris I thought it would be good for me to get one more marathon under my belt before Goofy. Like I said earlier in the report, you never know where life will take you. But, you can do everything you can to enjoy the journey.

Thanks to those who read along and happy running.

 

[JessM]

I absolutely LOVED your trip report. Congrats on finishing all 26.2 miles! A marathon is definitely now on my bucket list. I did my first half a month ago and I'm ready to start training for a full. Its amazing what running as down for my body and mind, its fabulous.

Congrats as well for finishing up chemo and getting back out there!

Please do another trip report for your next marathon weekend!

 

[wiigirl]

Awesome pics!

 

[jwgm2012]

What a great ending! I love the frame you bought and think it's awesome to proudly display what you worked so hard for! I wish you well in your treatments. My mom is a 10 year survivor now... Because she has Lupus - she couldn't do the chemo or radiation - which sometimes I think is just as bad or worse than the surgery... best wishes and many blessing for a full and speedy recovery.

I'm looking forward to your future reports

By the way - I love all the selfies you and hubby took - you guys did a great job getting those backgrounds in!

gina

 

[ZellyB]

I absolutely LOVED your trip report. Congrats on finishing all 26.2 miles! A marathon is definitely now on my bucket list. I did my first half a month ago and I'm ready to start training for a full. Its amazing what running as down for my body and mind, its fabulous.

Congrats as well for finishing up chemo and getting back out there!

Please do another trip report for your next marathon weekend!

Thanks! Running has been great for me as well. I've been surprised by the benefits to my attitude. I'll plan to try and do another report after the next marathon. It was a lot of fun writing all of it out and really let me relive the whole experience.

Awesome pics!

Thank you!

What a great ending! I love the frame you bought and think it's awesome to proudly display what you worked so hard for! I wish you well in your treatments. My mom is a 10 year survivor now... Because she has Lupus - she couldn't do the chemo or radiation - which sometimes I think is just as bad or worse than the surgery... best wishes and many blessing for a full and speedy recovery.

I'm looking forward to your future reports

By the way - I love all the selfies you and hubby took - you guys did a great job getting those backgrounds in!

gina

Thank you for the well wishes and so great to hear that your mom is a 10 year survivor. I look forward to the day when I can say the same!

Chris is the king of selfies!!

 

[joyfulmom]

Thanks for the wonderful trip report! It was just the inspiration I needed today I am also running the WDW marathon in January....and it will be my first one! Yesterday, my 16 mile training run was on snow/ice covered roads with negative zero wind chills...brrrr! I can't wait to run in warmer weather in FL! I just hope it isn't as warm as last year

Good luck in your training! Thanks again for the fun TR!

 

[ZellyB]

Thanks for the wonderful trip report! It was just the inspiration I needed today I am also running the WDW marathon in January....and it will be my first one! Yesterday, my 16 mile training run was on snow/ice covered roads with negative zero wind chills...brrrr! I can't wait to run in warmer weather in FL! I just hope it isn't as warm as last year Good luck in your training! Thanks again for the fun TR!

So glad you enjoyed it. Good luck with the remainder of your training and your first marathon! Hoping for perfect weather this time around