Running on Fumes from Start to Finish

[annmarieda]

Ah just found this, finally getting caught up!

Glad you made it over!

Love the glittery magic bands and the royal rooms at POR look so cute! How did you like them?

Thanks! I really enjoy dolling up the bands. Nail polish is a fun way to do it. As for the royal room, it was pretty neat. I am glad that I can say I have stayed there. POR and POFQ are among my top favorite resorts in WDW... and that room is definitely awesome!

The same thing happened when we were late to Ohana....showed up about 10-15 minutes late and the buzzer went off almost before we could sit down...is that the secret to getting in without an additional wait?

I kinda wondered that. Like had we not been late would we have had to wait till then anyway?

 

[MEK]

Boma looks super yummy!

Sorry your trip to the outlets was almost a bust - Hey - getting a $5 cell phone case that you don't have to order off amazon and wait a month for is somewhat of a bonus. But boo to retail priced running shoes.

I hope you finally fall asleep and don't suffer too badly from lack of sleep.

 

[annmarieda]

Boma looks super yummy!

It was pretty good. I really like the soups they offer.

Sorry your trip to the outlets was almost a bust - Hey - getting a $5 cell phone case that you don't have to order off amazon and wait a month for is somewhat of a bonus. But boo to retail priced running shoes.

It probably would have been far better had we not decided to venture that way, but it was slick to find a case for me phone.

I hope you finally fall asleep and don't suffer too badly from lack of sleep.

Sleep is a very important factor in good running performance. I wish I had more sleep that night.

 

[eandesmom]

It really was... and just like my post race breakfast... Boma is now a traditional last dinner before a race. I did PM when it was a buffet before the first ToT.. and it worked well too. I think in general, buffets can allow me to pick and choose what I feel up to eating. More than that though, both of these had rice that I could eat. I know pasta is often thought to be a good prerace food, but for some reason I gravitate toward rice dishes.

I love rice and eat a LOT of it. I'm a bit weird about buffets though, in general avoid them. I think it has a lot to do with too many years in the foodservice business. Boma is one of the good ones for sure.

It was really a bad idea on my part. I just had too much energy still to consider going back to the room. The $5 phone cover made it worth it though. Getting there though was very odd...

it wasn't a bad idea, it's just frustrating how WRONG gps can be in that area.

I think the worry of getting sleep doesn't help. I think had I not HAD to be up the next morning I may have fallen asleep and stayed asleep much easier. I stand by my though though that what really would have made it easier is making it to rope drop at MK that morning. I get saving my legs for the race and not running all over the parks. That made sense. But I needed to be tired enough to go to sleep early enough.

Exactly, we stress about needing to sleep and that makes us unable to. I'd have been stir crazy. And honestly, might have taken off solo so everyone's needs could be met. The blessing of age is feeling ok about being selfish sometimes like that.

I had worries about Alex coming back to the room. I assumed he would stroll in and wake us. I didn't even think it would be that he would keep us up.

Teens are by their nature (ok young adults too, at least a lot of them) clueless. Inherently self centered and obtuse. Not remotely intending to be but they literally can't see the world aroudn them and think ahead as to how their actions might impact others. Even if you "get" that part and can't truly get mad about it, it doesn't make it any less frustrating.

First off, yes.. ewe.. on the floor! Second, I am not even sure why. I guess I could see Alex was coughing and shaking the bed so that kept him up. I also know the plan was that I would sleep alone and he would too as long as Alex was out of the room. I really thought that Alex would not get back to the room until midnight or later... I guess Steve assumed that I still wanted to sleep alone. I did wake at one point and notice him on the floor next to my side of the bed. Knowing how hard it was staying asleep, I decided that since he looked like he was sound asleep I wouldn't wake him. I feel kinda bad for that, but in the end I think even though it was floor sleep it was still sleep. I am not sure either of us would have got back to sleep if he had joined me in bed.

Ahhh...I didn't realize you'd both tried to go to bed in separate beds and Steve was with Alex. that actually would have made it harder for me to go to sleep. I am used to Jeff beside me so in general sleep best that way. If I am traveling without him, it isn't an issue. But if he was there in the room and not next to me....that would make it harder for me for sure. Sleeping next to someone I am not used to sleeping next to is also hard. Difficult enough on a normal night but add pre-race baggage to it and UGH.

I realize though that on vacation, it is a luxury and heavens knows I/we spent years sleeping with the kids in the room. Although, the year I shared a bed with Kendall was the beginning of the end

Seriously though... I think you are very wise. I know that it can work to have people in the room and still get sleep...but Alex in general can be a tad oblivious to what is going on around him. Steve has already balked on our January 2015 trip being in just a studio. It will just be just 3 of us, so I think it should work. Oh my gosh though... I JUST this second as I was typing that realized that we will be off to run the half and what happens with Zoe? do the services operate that early? Or maybe a 10 year old is old enough to stay in the room by herself? This definitely is going to take some thought.

2 things. One I think you may be able to get a sitter to come to the room. That would be best at her age. I probably wouldn't leave her. I have no idea if services operate that early but you'd think there has to be something and folks run into this for races all the time. The other option was if you knew a family that might be there that had an older child you could "hire" to come sit with her.

I was telling Steve (when he was feeling frustrated by me wanting a studio trip) that Disney gets ya... you stay in a deluxe and realize "wow, this is nice.. I want to always stay in a deluxe" So you buy DVC to accomplish this. Then you stay in a 1 bedroom and you think "wow, all this space is nice. How can I ever go back to just two beds in a room". Then you see that trips you have planned are going to not be as possible with 1 bedroom stays... So you buy more points to accomplish this.

yeah, just wait till you stay in a 2b! We had already hit that point and were getting 2 rooms or renting condo's everywhere we went. In a way it makes me glad Jeff is such a light sleeper as I think it forced the issue for us a lot earlier than it would have otherwise.

While I can appreciate not wanting to spend the money on a room the night before just to save a little time... Semiahmoo looks so nice! We very very VERY briefly looked at it for Kira's wedding. A... too far from home and B. spendy. I bet you will have an awesome time!!!

That right there is a HUGE plus. I almost would prefer somewhere to go back to after a race than somewhere to come from that is more convenient.

It was only $43 more to stay htere versus a La Quinta, Springhill Suties or other comparable options. I think it will be worth every penny!

Hopefully I can get this adductor thing under control quickly. I have been neglecting them and it really bummed me out as it reminded me just how good pilates was for so much of my body. The good thing I hope is that muscle memory will hopefully kick in quickly. I do think it is a combination of increased mileage, not changing shoes soon enough which may have aggravated my underpronation which would definitely cause additional stress on the adductors and quads and maybe a wee too many ball squats and lunges. LOL!

I am slightly concerned about injuring it further but we will see how tomorrow goes. I did a ridiculous amount of stretching and specific things for it today and hope to keep it up and then do a fair amount of deep tissue massage. I really don't want to cut the miles down. Jeff is cracking me up with ramping up the miles. Mr "I don't want to train for a race or run that far".

Yesterday as we were cooling off we were talking about the shoe situation and agreeing I will need new ones for the half after really noticing the difference in the new ones, and he goes, "Especially since you will be ramping up the miles. But I won't"

to which I said I didn't expect him to

and then he goes

"but maybe I will anyway"

 

[annmarieda]

I love rice and eat a LOT of it. I'm a bit weird about buffets though, in general avoid them. I think it has a lot to do with too many years in the foodservice business. Boma is one of the good ones for sure.

I am not all that picky when it comes to food.... but I don't eat at buffets much at all...except in Disney. For some reason, I seem to have hit most the buffets there. Boma is definitely one of the better ones.

it wasn't a bad idea, it's just frustrating how WRONG gps can be in that area.

Actually, it was more Steve's fault than the gps. Steve asked siri to do a search for the outlet mall. Then he chose the wrong one... the wrong one... is very wrong.

Exactly, we stress about needing to sleep and that makes us unable to. I'd have been stir crazy. And honestly, might have taken off solo so everyone's needs could be met. The blessing of age is feeling ok about being selfish sometimes like that.

I worry to much about things I really shouldn't. I am so far from feeling ok about being selfish it is silly. In the end it doesn't do anyone any good if I attempt to suck it up for those around me.

Teens are by their nature (ok young adults too, at least a lot of them) clueless. Inherently self centered and obtuse. Not remotely intending to be but they literally can't see the world aroudn them and think ahead as to how their actions might impact others. Even if you "get" that part and can't truly get mad about it, it doesn't make it any less frustrating.

I know he wasn't trying to be disrespectful or anything. Alex is probably my least disrespectful kid. (to the point he even get shocked with how Zoe will say things) Oblivious though... definitely.

Ahhh...I didn't realize you'd both tried to go to bed in separate beds and Steve was with Alex. that actually would have made it harder for me to go to sleep. I am used to Jeff beside me so in general sleep best that way. If I am traveling without him, it isn't an issue. But if he was there in the room and not next to me....that would make it harder for me for sure. Sleeping next to someone I am not used to sleeping next to is also hard. Difficult enough on a normal night but add pre-race baggage to it and UGH.

Well, since we couldn't have Zoe and Alex share a bed it left the guys sharing a bed.

I realize though that on vacation, it is a luxury and heavens knows I/we spent years sleeping with the kids in the room. Although, the year I shared a bed with Kendall was the beginning of the end

I am kinda in a weird place with this. A part of me thinks.. ok, a "normal" room has 2 queens and 2 adults and their 2 kids should be able to make that work. Then I am struck with just how nice it was to not be crawling all over each other (even though it was just the 4 of us) in the one bedroom.

2 things. One I think you may be able to get a sitter to come to the room. That would be best at her age. I probably wouldn't leave her. I have no idea if services operate that early but you'd think there has to be something and folks run into this for races all the time. The other option was if you knew a family that might be there that had an older child you could "hire" to come sit with her.

I need to definitely do some research. At this point I definitely could bring Alex. However, we are back to the studio vs. 1 bedroom debate as well as his contribution. He is 18 now and both Kira and Zach had to pay for their portion of trips once they hit that point. He doesn't have a job though... so coming up with airfare and money for tickets would be impossible. (the room would be covered and food) He would have to get a job... but in getting a job I am not sure he could take the time off.

yeah, just wait till you stay in a 2b! We had already hit that point and were getting 2 rooms or renting condo's everywhere we went. In a way it makes me glad Jeff is such a light sleeper as I think it forced the issue for us a lot earlier than it would have otherwise.

Oh no! We are in a 2 bedroom for the first half of our fall trip.

It was only $43 more to stay htere versus a La Quinta, Springhill Suties or other comparable options. I think it will be worth every penny!

Yes, I would say so!

Hopefully I can get this adductor thing under control quickly. I have been neglecting them and it really bummed me out as it reminded me just how good pilates was for so much of my body. The good thing I hope is that muscle memory will hopefully kick in quickly. I do think it is a combination of increased mileage, not changing shoes soon enough which may have aggravated my underpronation which would definitely cause additional stress on the adductors and quads and maybe a wee too many ball squats and lunges. LOL!

I hope you do too!

I am slightly concerned about injuring it further but we will see how tomorrow goes. I did a ridiculous amount of stretching and specific things for it today and hope to keep it up and then do a fair amount of deep tissue massage. I really don't want to cut the miles down. Jeff is cracking me up with ramping up the miles. Mr "I don't want to train for a race or run that far".

It is weird... I almost find that I feel bad not increasing my mileage. Like right now I know I don't need to be going further... but somehow it seems like the natural progression to do so. But... with ramping up miles comes the possibility of injury. So I think being cautious is wise.

Yesterday as we were cooling off we were talking about the shoe situation and agreeing I will need new ones for the half after really noticing the difference in the new ones, and he goes, "Especially since you will be ramping up the miles. But I won't"

to which I said I didn't expect him to

and then he goes

"but maybe I will anyway"

I bet you will be doing halfs together soon!!!

And... isn't it crazy how a new pair of (right) shoes can make such a huge difference? I ran in my new shoes today and it made me realize why my lower back had been hurting. What a difference they made!!

 

[Woth2982]

Your dinner looked fantastic! I hear ya on the not falling asleep part! Your time zones are all off too! Not sleeping well before a race is hard though. I had the same issues this past Princess race. I also FELL right before my race too! About 6 days before I fell on my parents driveway carrying pizza I picked up for them. My poor hip was all black and blue on race day!

 

[annmarieda]

Your dinner looked fantastic! I hear ya on the not falling asleep part! Your time zones are all off too! Not sleeping well before a race is hard though. I had the same issues this past Princess race. I also FELL right before my race too! About 6 days before I fell on my parents driveway carrying pizza I picked up for them. My poor hip was all black and blue on race day!

Injury and lack of sleep definitely are not good running situations.

 

[annmarieda]

The morning of a race always come too early. For this particular day it was even more the case. I think I figured I got about 4 hours of sleep. Had I already caught up on sleep, I might have been able to feel bit more optimistic.

When I woke and began to get ready, I realized my knee felt very tweaked from the fall that happened maybe 5 or 6 hours prior.

I definitely did not feel optimistic. I even posted to facebook that I felt as though the lack of sleep and fall did not bode well for a successful race.


I woke Steve. I half expected that he was going to bail on going. I knew he got even less sleep than I did. He didn't beg me to let him sleep though and was soon up. I think that helped my mood tremendously and soon we were both getting ready. We were excited!

Ready, I took a selfie.



Too bad you can't see my yellow shoes with sparkly red laces. This is about as much of a costume as I do. I have done maybe a bit more for a st. patty's day... but it is all some variation of actual running attire.

It was an easy walk from our room to the RD bus. We got in line later than I wanted. I knew that the closer to 4am the longer the line would be. I had planned to get there by 3:30. However, that did not happen. I want to say it was more like 3:45 and the line was LONG. We did manage to get on a bus just fine though and soon were were off to the staging area.

Oh my, look at my tired baggy eyes...



It is amazes me how well choreographed the event is. You arrive and start walking with the mass and everything flows... despite the volume of people.



I have heard that this can be a very cold morning. Not this year. This year it was already quite warm and humid. You can kinda tell by how many people are in tanks rather than sweatshirts.



Steve and I split up to turn in our bags. I thought bags were normally dropped off by last name.. I may have just been confused or perhaps it was just different, but it appeared that bags were dropped off per corral. Once through the bag check chute, Steve and I joined back together to start the walk to the corrals.

On the way, med tent volunteers were passing out biofreeze on a stick. I happily took one and liberally smeared it on my knee, shin and ankle. (the side I tweaked landing on the suitcase) Magic I tell you! The stuff is like magic and very quickly I didn't feel like my leg was tweaked all.


Steve and I stayed together until it was time for him to head in one direction to his corral and for me to head in the other toward mine.



I am not certain on the walk. I know it is long. Very long. It definitely adds some mileage to the day. I think I read 2 miles? It can't be that far. I was headed to corral E. Once there, most people were ready to get down to business.



I am not sure why one of those was so much darker than the other. There was a large video screen near by. They had prerace entertainment. Maybe I caught a bright flash from the screen? I sat and stretched and watched the show as I tried to wake up more. I was seriously tired.

There were not that many people in my corral...especially compared to later corrals.


Not that many people between me and the starting line.


It was nice because I could do more people watching that way and see what was going on around me. At one point, I noticed some people wandering about and I could swear that the bib I was seeing did not give them the right to be in the corral. Soon enough, security came up. They seriously tried to argue that they wanted to start from this corral. (I want to say they were in H.. but I think it may have even been further back. I will explain later why I think it might have been further back) The group tried to hold their ground against security until the security officer told them they had the choice.. go back or leave the race all together. I think he also pointed out that he was doing them a favor giving them the choice because he could just remove them and disqualify them here and now. It was after that they the group begrudgingly removed themselves from E corral.

I now that I may not make friends saying this. However, I do not feel sympathy for these people at all. I kinda felt like they should have been taken away then and there. If you want to not have to run in a corral with a lot of people or have plenty of time for pictures, then do the work... and train. Or bare minimum accept the place you are in your journey. That is what Steve did after all.

Steve was placed in corral J. There is NOTHING wrong with that corral. Let me say this first and foremost. He had not had more races under his belt by the cut off in order to submit a time that would put him in a different corral. It was a good corral placement for him. After all, that is what the corrals are there for... to put like paced runners together.

Corral J had a bit more runners in front than corral E though and so while I don't feel sympathy for those who got kicked out of corral E, I can certainly appreciate not wanting to start with this many people..






Before I knew it it was time to start. All I could think was "thank God".

Off we went.. both Steve and I on our own journey through this race. After my experience trying to take pictures at the ToT, I didn't even try. I am would have been even less coordinated with the lack of sleep. Steve however had to get a shot approaching the tolls.



I remember hitting this point and began to worry.... It was still early and quite dark when I hit the tolls.

Approaching MK, I had a thought that I have NEVER had in any race other than this. I thought I might not finish. I was so tired. I ran as though I had weights on my feet. I was not out of breath nor were my muscles sore. I was just sluggish.

I am going to do something I don't normally. In fact this is the first time I have snagged these pics. If anyone wants to call me out...tell me this is wrong. Please do and I will go ahead and remove them.

I think this must have been on the approach to Mk




Running through MK... is the look on my face because I can't believe it is another photographer (yes, for some reason I have more photos of me from this race than others races) or is it because my neighbor is VERY happy .


I made it through the castle before the sun was coming up. Steve hit the castle I believe, just after.

I was having a good time though...




Once I got out of Mk, I knew that I had to take some walk breaks. I think it was at about mile 7 that I started to implement them. I started to feel better by mile 9. I had one gal that I was following. It was nice to have someone to keep pace with.

Coming into Epcot I wasn't just taking a walk for a few seconds here or there. I was starting to consider walking to the finish. I was very tired. I also was very wet. I had tried to use my "dump a glass of water over my head" method to cool myself. Only with high humidity, that doesn't so much work. It does not evaporate and so you are just left.. wet.

Ok, so I may be making this sound much more bleak that it was. I felt like I was walking a lot and I felt like I needed to walk to the finish. Reality was I ran through the parking lot by the spectators and up into Epcot. Once I hit the backstage entrance I walked but probably less than a minute. I ran all away around the loop to the entrance of WS and back around to the ball. I walked just as I approached the ball (which is where I seriously considered walking to the finish) but began to run again before I had passed the ball. I ran out back into the parking lot and finished with as much of a sprint as I could muster. (although I doubt this was much of a sprint)

In this pic you can see the gal that I ran near - leap frogging most of the race. (the gal behind me in blue with black tights) If you are out there gal in blue. Thank you. You were my inspiration. You kept me going when you didn't even know it. In many ways... I could not have finished without you!




I got my medal, my ice bag (my fingers had swelled to look like hot dogs so I needed to ice them a bit) and all the food and drink they force you to get.



Then I posed for my "official" finish photo.



You want my stats? 2:17:23 is my finish time. I am shocked that even with all the walk breaks I still finished with a better time than I did the phm in 2013. I beat that by almost 9 minutes. 221 out of 1670 in my age. 1420 out of 11201 for gender. 4150 out of 20242 over all.


I had hoped that the kids would make it in time to see my cross the finish line. Sadly, they did not.

I needed a biobreak before I tracked them down. What a horror show that was. I still can not get the images I saw out of my mind. Let me just say... if you run a race with that many people.. find a real restroom when it is over and do not settle for a portapottie. OMG! I think people ran and ran and then... well, they did not quite make it to a sitting position when the runner trots hit. I know.. TMI, but I can't tell you how many doors I opened only to immediately close them. YUCK. Finally I found a "virgin" enough looking one to use.

I was then ready to track down Kira and the others. They were not far from me and it was easy to find them. We walked back to the finish line to wait for Steve to come through.

He was very determined as he approached.


Josh waited by the finish to take some pictures of Steve crossing the finish. (not sure why I don't have them) while the girls and I had screamed for him as he came by. He was unable to hear though. I knew the route he would take through the finish chute and so we met him on the end of it.

Now remember how I mentioned the group that tried to sneak into the corral may have been assigned a corral far back? I thought it was H, but after I saw Steve come through guess who I saw? One of the guys that was in that group. I think this put him finishing about an hour after I did. No, he didn't need to be a corral further back from E... not al all.

Steve's finish photo.



His stats - Finish time 2:48:08. 1053 out of 1617 in his age. 5553 out of 9041 in gender. 10155 out of 20242 overall.

Next Up:1/11 - Donald Half/Epcot Part 2

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I love how the route is the same as PHM, I had to keep reminding myself that it was not the Princess when looking at your pics! Sounds like even though you were tired, you had a good race!!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Great job- even better given that it was a struggle!

 

[swwake]

Ann - you are such a cute runner! You look much more awake after the race!

I love the shout-out you gave to the lady in blue - your inspiration. So nice of you!

 

[eandesmom]

I woke Steve. I half expected that he was going to bail on going. I knew he got even less sleep than I did. He didn't beg me to let him sleep though and was soon up. I think that helped my mood tremendously and soon we were both getting ready. We were excited!

Ready, I took a selfie.

Very cute outfit! Were you warm in the tights? I can see why you want to wear it again, it's adorable.

On the way, med tent volunteers were passing out biofreeze on a stick. I happily took one and liberally smeared it on my knee, shin and ankle. (the side I tweaked landing on the suitcase) Magic I tell you! The stuff is like magic and very quickly I didn't feel like my leg was tweaked all.

YAY, that's really wonderful

It was nice because I could do more people watching that way and see what was going on around me. At one point, I noticed some people wandering about and I could swear that the bib I was seeing did not give them the right to be in the corral. Soon enough, security came up. They seriously tried to argue that they wanted to start from this corral. (I want to say they were in H.. but I think it may have even been further back. I will explain later why I think it might have been further back) The group tried to hold their ground against security until the security officer told them they had the choice.. go back or leave the race all together. I think he also pointed out that he was doing them a favor giving them the choice because he could just remove them and disqualify them here and now. It was after that they the group begrudgingly removed themselves from E corral.

I now that I may not make friends saying this. However, I do not feel sympathy for these people at all. I kinda felt like they should have been taken away then and there. If you want to not have to run in a corral with a lot of people or have plenty of time for pictures, then do the work... and train. Or bare minimum accept the place you are in your journey. That is what Steve did after all.

I'm surprised, with all the cracking down, that people would even try. It was nice of security not to just kick them out but amazing that they protested. Nice to hear security was checking but...really sad that they had to.

I am going to do something I don't normally. In fact this is the first time I have snagged these pics. If anyone wants to call me out...tell me this is wrong. Please do and I will go ahead and remove them.

I see nothing wrong with it, it's not like you tried to remove the watermark! Some of these are really cute though!!! Did you not buy any of them?

Once I got out of Mk, I knew that I had to take some walk breaks. I think it was at about mile 7 that I started to implement them. I started to feel better by mile 9. I had one gal that I was following. It was nice to have someone to keep pace with.

Coming into Epcot I wasn't just taking a walk for a few seconds here or there. I was starting to consider walking to the finish. I was very tired. I also was very wet. I had tried to use my "dump a glass of water over my head" method to cool myself. Only with high humidity, that doesn't so much work. It does not evaporate and so you are just left.. wet.

Wet tights and skirt sound...

UGH

And heavy

Shirt sounds like potential to actually get chilled if you aren't careful.

Ok, so I may be making this sound much more bleak that it was. I felt like I was walking a lot and I felt like I needed to walk to the finish. Reality was I ran through the parking lot by the spectators and up into Epcot. Once I hit the backstage entrance I walked but probably less than a minute. I ran all away around the loop to the entrance of WS and back around to the ball. I walked just as I approached the ball (which is where I seriously considered walking to the finish) but began to run again before I had passed the ball. I ran out back into the parking lot and finished with as much of a sprint as I could muster. (although I doubt this was much of a sprint)

In this pic you can see the gal that I ran near - leap frogging most of the race. (the gal behind me in blue with black tights) If you are out there gal in blue. Thank you. You were my inspiration. You kept me going when you didn't even know it. In many ways... I could not have finished without you!

With the finish time you had, you can't have walked really, all that much in the big picture of the race. It doesn't sound like you had a bio break in there? But I can definitely see for someone used to never walking, it felt like a ton. That completely makes sense and I am sure seemed much bigger, or worse in your mind at the time than maybe it was. Fingers swollen from the humidity?

YAY for random people to keep you motivated!

I think you guys both did great!!!!!! Especially on that kind of limited sleep and fighting off the plague.

 

[Ariel484]

Yay Ann and Steve!! Awesome job! Sounds like it was really a mental battle. Love that Donald medal.

I totally agree with you that the people who tried to jump corrals and then argued about it should have been kicked out! Awesome that you recognized one at the end finishing WELL after you did. Corral placement is there for a reason, dude!

I love your outfit, so adorable!

The port-a-potty story... YIKES! I can say I've never had that experience at a Disney race yet (knock on wood) and I hope that streak will continue!

Congrats!!

 

[annmarieda]

I love how the route is the same as PHM, I had to keep reminding myself that it was not the Princess when looking at your pics!

It was nice that it was the same route. (although, do you remember running toward WS and looping at the entrance for the phm?) They even have much of the same characters at the same spots. Army sergeant? Yep... right there at... well mile 10? Not sure... could have been 9 or 11. It is the same spot though.

Sounds like even though you were tired, you had a good race!!

It was good, but I would have enjoyed it more had I not constantly wished it was over. I would like to say that I will never run a race on such little sleep again.. but too late... it happened just last weekend.

Great job- even better given that it was a struggle!

Thanks so much. It didn't kill me... but I really wish it had been just a tad easier.

Ann - you are such a cute runner!

You are sweet. cute? More like a little wrinkly woman trying to look cute.

You look much more awake after the race!

I was. Spoiler alert... but not everyone who got up early had to take a nap that day.

I love the shout-out you gave to the lady in blue - your inspiration. So nice of you!

I think often people who touch us never know that they have. Sometimes it is a stranger who opens the door when our hands are full and that simple act of kindness brings around a day that was otherwise not going so well. Other times it is someone who just smiles... is near us... or keeps us going without even knowing they did so. I wish I could give a shout out to more people.. to let them know how they have touched my life. After all, I am where I am and who I am because of those I have encountered... regardless if they are a life long friend or family member or someone who ran next to me for 13 miles.

Very cute outfit! Were you warm in the tights? I can see why you want to wear it again, it's adorable.

Thanks! The skirt is a sparkle skirt (I will bring that tomorrow) and the tee a rawthreads tee. I honestly cant remember the tights being too warm. They are compression tights. Light weight. Steve got them for me for Christmas. They were not cheap. So I kinda felt a tad obligated to wear them. The may have very well been a factor in why my leg didn't bug me. (in addition to the biofreeze)

YAY, that's really wonderful

It worked well, but as you can imagine the tights made it a bit of a challenge to get on (hence the slathering)

I'm surprised, with all the cracking down, that people would even try. It was nice of security not to just kick them out but amazing that they protested. Nice to hear security was checking but...really sad that they had to.

I think that had there been more than one security officer that the group might not have protested so much. I want to say there was 4 in their group.. maybe 5. So they did have him outnumbered.

People try all sorts of things at races. I read last year that they had trouble with ladies at the phm just showing up right before the finish and trying to get their medal. As in.. they didn't run any of it... just popped in right before to run the last quarter mile or so. Why these people who just want that medal don't just buy one off ebay I just do not know.... Seems like it would be far simpler that way.

I see nothing wrong with it, it's not like you tried to remove the watermark! Some of these are really cute though!!! Did you not buy any of them?

I still feel guilty. But there were a lot of pictures of me this time. I am not sure if it was where I ran on the course or the fact that there were fewer people on the course along side me... As for purchase? Well, I have been tempted. With a discount they are about $10 each for a 4x6 (I think) Single image is $30... or 3 for $65... etc. If I wanted the entire CD is inline with the pp price... but unlike the pp, sometimes there may not be many pictures. (ToT there are 8 of me) Sometimes they get what they count as a photo and it is just a corner of your face. Plus... I would want the entire family not just mine...so it adds up. I wish they would let you do a sort of joint cd. I would be all over that. Course as I mentioned specials come out.. I just checked and it looks like I could get 8 5x7's for $53. That is much more of a deal. Oh! I just looked and I can take and put photos from all the races in a "favorites" Then I can order the 8 I like from that grouping on standard kodak paper and it is just $50! I might have to do that....

Wet tights and skirt sound...

UGH

And heavy

Shirt sounds like potential to actually get chilled if you aren't careful.

I will admit the shirt did get heavy. As you know.. rawthreads isn't your typical athletic material. It breaths well, but I am not so sure it fits into the "drifit" category.

With the finish time you had, you can't have walked really, all that much in the big picture of the race.

I don't know... what I remember was feeling like I needed to walk. I remember thinking I was walking a lot. Maybe it really wasn't as much.

It doesn't sound like you had a bio break in there?

Nope, no biobreak. Unlike when I started the phm in 2013 and HAD to take a moment. (OH! I be that is why I was slower at the phm... duh) I made sure I was completely empty.

But I can definitely see for someone used to never walking, it felt like a ton. That completely makes sense and I am sure seemed much bigger, or worse in your mind at the time than maybe it was.

You might be right. Spoiler for my week training recap... but I ran over 8 miles today. I kept telling myself I could take a walk break at... and then didn't. In my mind I feel like I was going to so much that But I didn't walk at all. So maybe taking a walk break even every couple miles would seem to me like I was walking a lot.

Fingers swollen from the humidity?

There are a few factors here. First because of my pre diabetic state, I battle edema in my extremities on occasion. Second, heat exacerbates the first issue. Third, the swinging motion of my arms for 2 + hours forces more fluid into my fingers (and toes...which is one of the reasons people lose toenails after long races) Ice and elevation tends to bring my fingers down to a more normal size.

YAY for random people to keep you motivated!

I usually find someone who is like paced. Not to "run with" as in talking and that sort of thing... but just to keep up with. This gal seemed to be a kindred spirit. She ran and walked about as much as I did. I do think I finished before her... but I can't be sure.

I think you guys both did great!!!!!! Especially on that kind of limited sleep and fighting off the plague.

I worried about Steve. I honestly did. I worried that he was going to hate his experience. He LOVED it. He is not an outgoing sort of guy. He would never just stop for pictures on his own. However all the energy of this race is what has him wanting to do more and more Disney races. The races we run in between are just training for the big "fun" race. Disney races are addictive... just you wait!

Yay Ann and Steve!! Awesome job! Sounds like it was really a mental battle.

OMG! I had not thought of it like that. It was a mental battle. I was constantly thinking I needed to stop. Constantly fearing I was not going to be able to finish. All while thinking it odd that I wasn't out of breath or experiencing muscle fatigue. It WAS mental.

Love that Donald medal.

I think they did an awesome job with it this year. Past years.. maybe not so much (like the one where it was just the head and the bill stuck out? Not so much a fan of that one)

I totally agree with you that the people who tried to jump corrals and then argued about it should have been kicked out! Awesome that you recognized one at the end finishing WELL after you did. Corral placement is there for a reason, dude!

Ya know, there is that debate. What does it hurt if someone lies about time to get a better corral placement... lies about who they are to get a bib... lies about what their corral is..lies..lies lies. What does it hurt me? Why do I care if they are in the wrong corral. The argument is always that they have the right to run their race the way they see fit. I agree. They do. However, why does that trump my need to run my race the way I want? I think people like this group who skipped up to E corral... they honestly do not think they will be in my way or hinder my race in any way shape form. Fact is... no matter how hard we all try not to... I think we all (myself included) get in someones way. Chance of doing that is greater if you are not in the right corral. Corral placement is there to ensure EVERYONE has a good time. Not just those going for pictures OR those going for a time. For EVERYONE.

I love your outfit, so adorable!

Thanks. I think this is kinda going to be my "go to" costume... maybe not the EXACT outfit.. but probably a rawthreads shirt and sparkle skirt. They seems to be easy to run in. I am in awe of all those who can run in true costumes... or even tutus. (tutus are so darn cute)

The port-a-potty story... YIKES! I can say I've never had that experience at a Disney race yet (knock on wood) and I hope that streak will continue!

At least I wasn't in urgent need... I just need to use one. OMG! I feel so bad for those who must have just barely made it. What a mess... so gross. But so sad!

Congrats!!

Thank you.

 

[eandesmom]

It was good, but I would have enjoyed it more had I not constantly wished it was over. I would like to say that I will never run a race on such little sleep again.. but too late... it happened just last weekend.

we can only control so much huh

Thanks! The skirt is a sparkle skirt (I will bring that tomorrow) and the tee a rawthreads tee. I honestly cant remember the tights being too warm. They are compression tights. Light weight. Steve got them for me for Christmas. They were not cheap. So I kinda felt a tad obligated to wear them. The may have very well been a factor in why my leg didn't bug me. (in addition to the biofreeze)

on the "obligation". I am glad you like them though! Nice that they are compression and light as those 2 things don't always go together in my mind. Not that I own any compression mind you, the fabric generally isn't all that friendly to me. Although I really am finding it varies by brands as much as the %. % is a good starting point though for sure.

I am worried a skirt over shorts would just seem like so much fabric in the summer heat and am really looking forward to seeing yours tomorrow!

I have a sneaking suspicion I will fret about this for months and end up in boring plain shorts and tank.

It worked well, but as you can imagine the tights made it a bit of a challenge to get on (hence the slathering)

At least they look like a capri length, not a full which would have been impossible to do I think. (well in public anyway)

I think that had there been more than one security officer that the group might not have protested so much. I want to say there was 4 in their group.. maybe 5. So they did have him outnumbered.


People try all sorts of things at races. I read last year that they had trouble with ladies at the phm just showing up right before the finish and trying to get their medal. As in.. they didn't run any of it... just popped in right before to run the last quarter mile or so. Why these people who just want that medal don't just buy one off ebay I just do not know.... Seems like it would be far simpler that way.

That's just sad, I don't get it. Trying to make sure you are at the front of your corral versus the back, I get (even if you don't really belong at the front of your pace range) but cheating...rubs me wrong. I understand everyone wants to be out of the crowd but...ugh.

How were they able to tell the people popped in at the end like that? Must have been really close to the finish. How would you even get there...take a bus?

I still feel guilty. But there were a lot of pictures of me this time. I am not sure if it was where I ran on the course or the fact that there were fewer people on the course along side me... As for purchase? Well, I have been tempted. With a discount they are about $10 each for a 4x6 (I think) Single image is $30... or 3 for $65... etc. If I wanted the entire CD is inline with the pp price... but unlike the pp, sometimes there may not be many pictures. (ToT there are 8 of me) Sometimes they get what they count as a photo and it is just a corner of your face. Plus... I would want the entire family not just mine...so it adds up. I wish they would let you do a sort of joint cd. I would be all over that. Course as I mentioned specials come out.. I just checked and it looks like I could get 8 5x7's for $53. That is much more of a deal. Oh! I just looked and I can take and put photos from all the races in a "favorites" Then I can order the 8 I like from that grouping on standard kodak paper and it is just $50! I might have to do that....

And then you scan them. It is a bummer they don't have a family package, they really should. But if you can get 8 and mix and match your races, that's not so bad at all!

I will admit the shirt did get heavy. As you know.. rawthreads isn't your typical athletic material. It breaths well, but I am not so sure it fits into the "drifit" category.

no, definitely not drifit. It breathes well compared to cotton I will say but sweat...yeah it doesn't wick as well as I'd like. I have a lot of the tasc regular stuff and while I like it...it's much better for the gym than for running.

I don't know... what I remember was feeling like I needed to walk. I remember thinking I was walking a lot. Maybe it really wasn't as much.

Nope, no biobreak. Unlike when I started the phm in 2013 and HAD to take a moment. (OH! I be that is why I was slower at the phm... duh) I made sure I was completely empty.

Yes, I recall that was a bit of a complicated adventure too with all your layers...

You might be right. Spoiler for my week training recap... but I ran over 8 miles today. I kept telling myself I could take a walk break at... and then didn't. In my mind I feel like I was going to so much that But I didn't walk at all. So maybe taking a walk break even every couple miles would seem to me like I was walking a lot.

I almost think taking a walk break at all might feel like that.

There are a few factors here. First because of my pre diabetic state, I battle edema in my extremities on occasion. Second, heat exacerbates the first issue. Third, the swinging motion of my arms for 2 + hours forces more fluid into my fingers (and toes...which is one of the reasons people lose toenails after long races) Ice and elevation tends to bring my fingers down to a more normal size.

Interesting! My hands definitely swell in the summer when I run. Not horrible but I do notice it a little.

At least I wasn't in urgent need... I just need to use one. OMG! I feel so bad for those who must have just barely made it. What a mess... so gross. But so sad!

Well, at least they made it in the door. But wow, I can only imagine how much worse it got as the morning went on for the later runners.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

It was nice that it was the same route. (although, do you remember running toward WS and looping at the entrance for the phm?) They even have much of the same characters at the same spots. Army sergeant? Yep... right there at... well mile 10? Not sure... could have been 9 or 11. It is the same spot though.

Yep! We ran out to where World Showcase starts and then turned around and headed back to the right side of Spaceship Earth where they route you to the side behind the scenes and out of the park. It looks like it's exactly the same!

 

[annmarieda]

on the "obligation". I am glad you like them though! Nice that they are compression and light as those 2 things don't always go together in my mind. Not that I own any compression mind you, the fabric generally isn't all that friendly to me. Although I really am finding it varies by brands as much as the %. % is a good starting point though for sure.

They are pretty nice, but yeah... I don't know that the two of you would get along. CWX is the brand... they work very well at aiding in recovery. I don't think my muscles hurt at all... not one bit after the half. Steve was so proud of his and he wanted me to wear some too. It is not something I would have every bought for myself.

I am worried a skirt over shorts would just seem like so much fabric in the summer heat and am really looking forward to seeing yours tomorrow!

I almost never wear anything but skirts. In the winter it is over longer leggings and in the summer it is by themselves or over a short. Most skirts are pretty light weight and hard to tell you have them on. My brooks skirt is more substantial and I could see where maybe that would feel like too much.

I have a sneaking suspicion I will fret about this for months and end up in boring plain shorts and tank.

Try not to fret. If a pair of shorts and tank is what you will be most comfy in then that is what you should do.

At least they look like a capri length, not a full which would have been impossible to do I think. (well in public anyway)

They are pretty long. (I have short legs) They stretch pretty easily though...

That's just sad, I don't get it. Trying to make sure you are at the front of your corral versus the back, I get (even if you don't really belong at the front of your pace range) but cheating...rubs me wrong. I understand everyone wants to be out of the crowd but...ugh.

I get wanting to position yourself well. Honestly I do. It is just odd that these people thought they should be able to start there because there wasn't too many people there. I don't know, maybe one of their party was in that corral? I just know they all left.

How were they able to tell the people popped in at the end like that? Must have been really close to the finish. How would you even get there...take a bus?

I think what I read was that it was RIGHT near the finish. Like they arrived at the spectator spot (by bus) and then tried to enter the course. I don't know though. I read all sorts of things so who knows. I just do think people try to get away with the oddest of things and my first hand experience watching this group get booted from the corral doesn't surprise me.

And then you scan them. It is a bummer they don't have a family package, they really should. But if you can get 8 and mix and match your races, that's not so bad at all!

I like that I can mix and match. I didn't get around to doing that today... I need to sit down and pick between the three races they have pictures of me for.

Yes, I recall that was a bit of a complicated adventure too with all your layers...

Yup... it was. I made sure that I wasn't going to have that happen again.

I almost think taking a walk break at all might feel like that.

I also think it is because when you start to negotiate with yourself (and by you... I mean me, cause perhaps I am the only person who actually negotiates with themselves) You negotiate telling yourself "ok, at the next mile mark I can take a walk break" Then you hit that mile and think "well, that wasn't so bad I will do it at the next mile" Then this goes on... and all of a sudden you have been talking to yourself about a walk break for 3.. 4.. 5 miles. This isn't a few minutes of it on your mind but rather 10s of minutes. So now say you waited a few miles or more to take that walk break.. once the race is done your memory gets skewed because you just remember thinking about walking for the last ??? minutes.

Interesting! My hands definitely swell in the summer when I run. Not horrible but I do notice it a little.

I don't notice it until after an hour... after two it is really noticeable.

Well, at least they made it in the door. But wow, I can only imagine how much worse it got as the morning went on for the later runners.

Yeah.. this would have been around 8:30am I am pretty sure people continue to filter in for hours after that. I bet they have to haul them off to be cleaned, right? I hope so!

 

[annmarieda]

Yep! We ran out to where World Showcase starts and then turned around and headed back to the right side of Spaceship Earth where they route you to the side behind the scenes and out of the park. It looks like it's exactly the same!

I thought it was... but then just didn't remember that little turn.

 

[emilyindisney]

How did I miss all these updates?!

Good idea to send the rest of the group off to MK so you guys can (try to) get to bed early!

There were people trying to jump corrals during the PHM this year and it made me so mad- that is my pet peeve! Stick to the corral you're assigned! They all lead to the same course!!

Congrats to you and Steve on a great race!! Your time is awesome- looks like you had a little pixie dust in your shoes after all!

Can't wait to hear what Steve thought of his first half (and if he's ready for another one!)

 

[annmarieda]

How did I miss all these updates?!

You didn't miss that many.

Good idea to send the rest of the group off to MK so you guys can (try to) get to bed early!

In theory, it would have worked out well. I think we just were still too much on west coast time to get to bed "early"

There were people trying to jump corrals during the PHM this year and it made me so mad- that is my pet peeve! Stick to the corral you're assigned! They all lead to the same course!!

I really wonder if it has to do with someone from their group being in the closer corral. Maybe they honestly and truly believe that since one has been assigned they all can be there? I hate to think that they just think they are more important than the rest of us.. and thus feel like they can lie or cheat just to better position themselves.

Congrats to you and Steve on a great race!! Your time is awesome- looks like you had a little pixie dust in your shoes after all!

Thank you so much! I was happy with my time. I was even happier that I finished. I had to have had some pixie dust for sure!

Can't wait to hear what Steve thought of his first half (and if he's ready for another one!)

I will definitely get into it a bit more, but suffice it to say he LOVE the disney races.