As I mentioned in the last post the plan for this half was FUN!! I had a half two weeks later that was my goal race and I really wasn't suppose to be running this one. But how could I pass up legacy status?! As everyone at the meetup knows my goal for this race was EWOKS!!! They were out at the 5k and I passed them up. I had heard they were not out at the half but I held out hope that they were going to be there.
The first mile was dark, extremely dark. The course went out of the TTC parking lot and headed towards World drive. Then we made a slight turn and I saw the first character stop, R2D2. I thought about stopping but it was still early in the race and I have a picture with him from the Force Awakens opening night event at DS so I kept on. We passed the gas station and then mile 1. Around that time some major fireworks went off and I thought that was the last corral going off. So I made a mental note that I was probably 15 minutes ahead of them. Then I did some calculations and figured if I stayed on pace by the end I would be 45 minutes ahead of the balloon ladies. That was a good chunk of time so I would comfortable with stopping as I wanted/needed to.
I made my way on to Bear Island and the sun was starting to come up. Then I heard blasts and started seeing lasers and explosions off in the woods. It took me a minute but it came to me that this was the battle scene from Endor!! How cool was that! Then I got really excited because that meant Ewok right?! Sadly I didn't see any around. I thought they had missed this opportunity but I kept going. A little while later I saw a line of runners. I ran passed them and looked over and there they were the EWOKS!! Heck yeah! I jumped in line. I don't normally stop for characters at races because I have always been afraid of being swept but today I was confident that I was not getting swept. The line felt like an eternity but I timed it and I spent 5 minutes waiting so not bad at all.
The next couple of miles were uneventful. The course was pretty much the back of the marathon that I had run in January which was nice because I knew the course. There were a couple of pace groups on the course that I played leapfrog with for what felt like an hour because of their run/walk intervals but I finally got rid of them right before AK. I noticed they had set up the trash compactor scene out on the backside of AK and I thought about stopping but I didn't want to take that picture by myself so I didn't stop. Because I knew the course I planned a bathroom break at the real bathrooms in AK, right before EE. After that I got back on course and before I knew it we were out of AK. In the backstage area there were some people from the 501st that you could stop and take pictures with. I was tempted but decided against it and kept on. I really want to stop for the red Storm Trooper I had seen the year before and I was hoping since he wasn't there he would be else where on the course.
In the parking lot they had the other scene setup that I saw last year, the Wampa cave. I really wanted to stop for that one but the line was soooo long. I had already lost 15 minutes from ewoks and a bathroom break so I let my nerves get the best of me and I kept going. The next couple highway miles were also pretty uneventful. I saw some people wearing some Maryland flag running gear so I chatted with them for a minute since I am a fellow Marylander and that was where my half was going to be 2 weeks later. By then the course was feeling very crowded and narrow. They did have screens set up along the route that played scenes from the movies and that was a nice distraction.
At mile 9 the course went up a ramp and onto Buena Vista Dr. we were approaching HS. That is when I ran into them again, another pace group. I don't know if it was the same one from before or if I had come up on another one but this one seemed even bigger. The course was coned off to one lane and traffic was going by like normal on the other side of the cones. The group took up the whole lane and there was no passing them. Some people did try but I didn't want to risk going out in traffic just to save a few minutes. I was stuck but thankfully I was not running for time so I waited until the course opened back up and then I passed them. I ran into HS and up the hill by Fantasmic. During the marathon they gave out delicious chocolate at the top of that hill but sadly they don't do that for half marathons. They also had the 501st out at that spot last year but they also were not there
I was sad because I thought that meant there was not going to be anymore on the course. Then in a blink of an eye I was out of HS. But photopass did get manage to get a picture of me
Next it was along the canal between the Boardwalk and HS. So crowded!! This time we got to go around the Boardwalk to the right instead of the left, this was the first time I got to run it that way. Almost at the end of the boards I noticed some more 501st people!!! I was so excited, especially because there was the red Storm Trooper
I snagged this selfie with him and the black one that were standing there.
Then I took a selfie with the Tie Fighter pilot
They were all so awesome. I thanked them a thousand times and kept moving. About then I got a text from Becky that they were on there way but I told them not to worry about it because I was so close to the finish line and I didn't think they would get to there on time. So she agreed we would just meet back at the room.
Around world showcase I went, past the ball into backstage Epcot. To my surprised when I reached that point there were even more 501st people!! So I grabbed a couple more pictures with them.
These guys were just as awesome as the first set and I thanked them and ran off. Only .2 to go! In no time I came up on the finish line and crossed at 3:16:33.
These people even made a frame for me
After I finished I got my medal then grabbed a drink, the volunteers insisted I take two because I looked so hot, my snack box and a cooling towel. I took a quick I did it picture
Then I headed for the buses and didn't have to wait before I was on my way back to CBR. Much different than last year!
Up next: Swimming, Packing, Shopping and Good byes
sad2
Thanks for the meet up! It definitely helped pas the time until the race started. I was glad to finally meet some DIS people!
Another awesome cast member!!
I think we had to even check because they'd never let us know? Or something. Odd, some of this trip is a blur in my mind LOL
SO much like Killian 
