Share your funny stories or warm fuzzies from marathon weekend.

[Mooshu]

Let's see so many great moments from marathon weekend.....

1) Meeting everyone in line at the Expo and actually putting a face to everyones name/screen name.

2) Jen & Chris yelling out that Jeff is a real person...not our imaginary friend

3) TT VIP lounge meet!!! Thanks Mara! It was such a great view from the top and we really felt like VIP's being able to go through the back to go on the ride.

4) Jeff coming in 2nd place and being able to get us fast passes to Rock n' roll rollercoaster! Whoo Hooo

5) Matt on the overpass...as we're running closer to the over pass, I mention to Jeff...hey there's someone yelling at you up there...hey it's MATT!!!

6) The cheer squad as we're exiting Hollywood on our way to the Boardwalk! Thanks guys! I really need a boost about then.

7) Pat & Jims window at Pop...made me smile at all the great memories. I think we stood there about 10 minutes looking at the pictures.

There are a ton more!!

 

[escape]

So after changing rooms, we get a call that they found me a Goofy shirt. One of the managers at the expo is holding it for me. So we go BACK to the expo and she hands me a bag. It has a maroon Goofy shirt in it and three gold pins. She says "Have a great race!" and then PUSHES me out the door. Wait I didn't pay. She says its been taken care of... I didn't argue. The pins are little replicas of the medals? I never saw those for sale either. I strongly suggext that you go to the expo on Thursday since most of the Goofy stuff was sold out by noon on Friday.Cecilia

How nice of them to do that for you. Didn't Disney used to pre-sell some of this stuff? I thought that two years ago, you could order some of the clothing in advance. It sounds like they need to do something like this again so that everyone can have a chance of getting a keepsake or article of clothing. I'm going to attempt the Goofy next year and I'll be really disappointed if I can't get some Goofy items.

As for my warm, fuzzy moments....

Really, the whole weekend. I really enjoyed volunteering and being able to just be a cheerleader instead of a participant.

One of the best and funniest moments came when Steve and I were by ourselves at the Beach Club, cheering on runners for the full. I had just finished helping Anne and Karen at the famous turnaround WISH stop. We had extra oranges, wet cloths, candy, and pretzels to give out. So, I took them with me and headed to the Beach Club/Boardwalk area to hand out.

So many runners were greatful to get the goodies. Steve and I were also able to get ice from one of the snack shops to hand out as it was really getting warm toward the end of the race. Some guy comes up to me after watching me yell for the runners and handing out all of this stuff. He said he was a runner but couldn't participate in the events that weekend. He said he had been watching me and was just in awe of me helping the runners and he thought I was the ultimate spectator. He then asks if I would marry him. He said he couldn't get his wife to support him in his training efforts, let alone offer to help anyone like this. I told him that I was just one of many WISHers offering support to fellow runners throughout the course. He then asked if anyone else might be interested in his offer.

 

[bubba73]

I have got 2 more warm fuzzies that I feel a little silly about mentioning but they did happen and they made me feel really good. They would be the first times that Liz and Jeanne saw me.

Liz first saw me at her resort before package pickup. (I was her and Susan's driver. Feel like Driving Miss Daisy ) When she saw me in the lobby, she ran over to me and gave me a big hug and talked about how good I looked. (I have always had a self-esteem issue so this was totally foreign to me.)

I had promised Jeanne that I would say hey to her at the POP meet several months ago and I was intent on doing so. Now, with the beforementioned esteem issue and the large crowd, I was having some major issues about coming out of my shell. Jeanne had passed by me 3-4 times and didn't even recoginize me. (I had sent her picture from early last year.) Finally, when I could tell she was about to leave, she walked by me one more time and I gathered up enough courage to say something to her. I tapped her on the shoulder and said: "Hey Jeanne! It's Bryan. It's bubba73!" The next part was really funny because it looked like she started focusing in on my stomach. Then she looked up at me and gave me a big hug as well.

You know, it has almost been 2 weeks since we got back from that magical weekend. We are still talking about it and remembering different things about it. There is no doubt that there were 1000's of warm fuzzies for all of us. I was able to meet total strangers and people who I felt like were really good friends even though I had never seen them before. But if I really had to be honest, these 2 moments would have to rank higher than any of the others for me personally. I have never been a good-looking guy and really don't feel like one today. But these 2 women went out of their way to make me feel like a Prince. (Dave and Jeff are the Kings.) I really can't thank them enough.

I just felt like I had to share that one too.
Bryan

 

[mkymsehi]

Bubba, I'm more like the court jester.

Folks, Bubba's not shy. He walked right up to me in the POP food court on Thursday, and introduced himself to me. We chatted briefly, and said we'd see each other out on the road Saturday.

Well, I never saw him during the half, and he ducked out on me at the mile 11 water stop, in order to hand out Poweraide further up the table.

Thanks for volunteering for the Scream/pit stop team Bubba. I'll be seeing you at the next WISH meet, you'll be the one greeting everyone like they are long lost family.

P.S. I opened a fortune cookie tonight at Panda Express, and it said "You have a captivating style all your own." Those cookie makers are GOOD at fortune telling!

 

[bubba73]

Folks, Bubba's not shy. He walked right up to me in the POP food court on Thursday, and introduced himself to me. We chatted briefly, and said we'd see each other out on the road Saturday.

That shows the difference. I am ok when it is one on one. It's the big group thing that makes me nervous. I have always been like that. I hated getting in front of my classmates in school to do a speech. Alas, what to do???

 

[jeanneg]

I have never been a good-looking guy and really don't feel like one today.
Bryan

OK, Bubba, now I'm gonna have to come and kick your butt for that comment!
Let me have your home address so I can send you a mirror as a gift......a full-length one at that! As I told you in a PM.....and I will now share with others....I was not focusing on your stomach. I was merely checking out the entire package and, trust me, it looked GOOD! I guess subtlety is not one of my strong points (comes with age ) You're right about not recognizing you, though. You are much trimmer and leaner than the photo you sent a while back. You've done an amazing job losing weight and becoming fit. Now you need to reprogram the image of yourself you carry around in your brain. You ARE a great looking guy....and SO much more handsome than Jeff!!!!!

 

[deekaypee]

OK, Bubba, now I'm gonna have to come and kick your butt for that comment!
Let me have your home address so I can send you a mirror as a gift......a full-length one at that! As I told you in a PM.....and I will now share with others....I was not focusing on your stomach. I was merely checking out the entire package and, trust me, it looked GOOD! I guess subtlety is not one of my strong points (comes with age ) You're right about not recognizing you, though. You are much trimmer and leaner than the photo you sent a while back. You've done an amazing job losing weight and becoming fit. Now you need to reprogram the image of yourself you carry around in your brain. You ARE a great looking guy....and SO much more handsome than Jeff!!!!!

Bryan, I wasn't around when you two met. But I can totally see Jeanne checking you out! First, she's a cougar. (Yeah, yeah, takes one to know one.) Second, Jeanne is so right. You look GOOD, boy! I was another one who didn't recognize you at first because of previous pics. I did a quick double-take myself. I'm not much of a hugger, else you might have gotten one from me. Plus, there is DOOD and his watchful eye....


As for the rest of the warm fuzzies, I just have to say that meeting all the WISHers I did, not matter for how brief a period of time, was the highlight of my week. I don't want to name everyone, for fear that I'll forget people. (You all know I met you and how I feel: )

So I'll only give one shout-out: to Jackie, who was with me every step of the full. I came into this race undertrained and resigned to walking. I know a Disney event is lots of fun, no matter what, but I didn't realize how fun it could be having a friend with you on the course. I train alone, you see, and have always raced alone. She helped get me through the race, motivating me to the finish. And after being with Jackie I'm seriously tempted to always make my marathons last 7 hours. (Okay, maybe not, but I'm definitely into the social aspect of the races now!)

Oh, and I will give one other shout-out, even though he'll never read it. To DOOD, my DH. I've said it before, I'll say it again. He's the best person I know, and that's saying something because he's in pretty esteemed company around here. I took my first steps on a course because of him, and without his love and support I'd never have treated the idea of doing races seriously. And that means I would have never sought out the WISH part of the DIS and found you all. I'm so very proud of him and it is an honor to be on the same course, even if we finish hours apart! I may never reach his pace, but I certainly hope to become the kind of generous, gracious athlete he is.

 

[dsnyfan21]

Bryan: I will have to add here (and I know you won't like it!) You definately look different thatn the photo you had up of yourself with your daughter. I was taken aback at the Volunteer Bus area. You've done a GREAT job with getting back into a fitness routine.

For those who didn't see, here are some photos I took that have Bryan in them.

There you have it folks. Out there in black and white (and color), proof that even you Bryan can't argue!! (at least I hope you won't ) Definately not the Bryan I remember seeing in the earlier photos.

Sneaking away Tracy

 

[MichelleTO]

Great Thread!!!! Warm Fuzzie or I should say tingles up my spine.

The kindness of the couple that shared a roll of toilet paper in the potty line up!!

The MOON!! Running by moonlight till we got to the TTC was so beautiful, people were stopping on the way to take pictures of themselves with the moon behind them.

But really the best was the entire part of the run through the Magic Kingdom
WOW! I was skipping on that entire part of the run, especially as all the cast members were so encouraging and calling our names out.

Best warm fuzzy is when my running friend started to cry when she saw her husband after the race, so emotional and sweet.

 

[bubba73]

I guess I have been taken out back behind the woodshed and been given an old-fashioned "whoppin'". I really don't know what to say other than "Thank You!". You have to understand that I have had these issues for well over 20 years and it isn't something that will die quickly but I will work on it, I promise.

I actually didn't change a lot this past year. Or at least not as much as you all think. I have been a gym rat for over 10 years. Just in '07, when I had my knee scoped, I got a little lazy and took about 6 months off from the gym. Then I got back in and was really doing a pretty good job at my workouts. The only difference was I was more focused on adding muscle so I wasn't doing as much cardio.

Then the teams came up and with that, my competitive fire was lit. So I charged up my time and intensity on my cardio program to really push myself to the limits without killing myself. But here is the good part. I may never be a fashion model or anything like that but I don't have to be. With the friends and love that I have here, I have more riches than they will ever have.

Again, all I can say is thank you!
Bryan

 

[twotoohappy]

Cool thread!

Here's a few, (I've got photos to post later!)

1. Hangin' out with Bryan and Susan for the weekend!

2. Slowing down and soaking in the 5k with super HOT Bryan
and taking lots of pictures including pics of that Celebrity Jeff!

3. Seeing Wendy again - she's my inspiration on these races-
hence why I sent the reporter over to her

4. Seeing Anne (Maherae) because she made me feel so welcome
last year, I came back again this year!

5. Going to Jellyrolls with Corinna, Bryan and Susan
(and a big thanks to Daniel from Jellyrolls for learning a song
for me and coming in early to play it so I could go to
sleep early before having to run the 1/2 )

6. Matt on the overpass!!!!!

7. My Florida BFF Glenn and new friend Dusty getting no sleep
and coming to cheer us on! And my BFF getting anything I needed
so I didn't have to walk after the 1/2

8. Making new WISH friends and catching up with old ones

9. Honestly, there are too many fuzzy memories!

10. Seeing the WISH scream team EVERYWHERE!!!!! Thanks!!!!

 

[twotoohappy]

and yes Bryan - I said super HOT!

WISH and DFD thread and especially Bryan kept me
motivated throughout the year making me strong enough
to go to Marathon weekend and do as well as I did with
the issues I've been dealing with.

thank you WISH members and thanks lil' bro

 

[MichelleTO]

yes! how could I forget Matt on the overpass, by that point in the race it was a great pick me up!

Thank you all the wishers as you were very inspiring!!

 

[bubba73]

I just want to go on record that I didn't request, ask or pay anyone to say what they have said. I do appreciate everything that has been said. It really does mean a lot to me. I just have one question though. "Where the heck where all of you when I was growing up??" If I could have had this kind of support back then, I probably would be a lot more vocal during the meets than I was the first time.

I really am overwhelmed and not worthy of all of the adulation. I'm really not anything special. Just a normal guy who loves his friends and would do anything in the world for them. All of you are friends and family members to me now. For every ounce of love that you have showed me, I will do what I can to reciprocate.

WISHers ROCK!!!

Bryan

 

[mousemgr2]

Our marathon warm fuzzy:

Nice looking men running in kilts. - enough said!

 

[jmasgat]

Our marathon warm fuzzy:

Nice looking men running in kilts. - enough said!

Hey! I saw them, too! Even shouted out to one of them when he passed our water stop.

My warm fuzzies, better late than never.....

Getting to take my WISH buddies into Test Track. There is nothing better in Epcot, for me, than to see Spaceship Earth from the panoramic windows in the GM lounge. And to bring in all my "extended family" was cool. And for those who get queasy on these kind of rides, be glad you didn't see how the track moves when the cards whiz by!

Seeing a new WISH'er at the start line of the half--hi blizzard-Carol and then seeing her at the end and finding out she reached her goal. Yeah!

Meeting my fellow SuperGoofs--Hey Angie and Laurie and Susie and Kim and of course, Suzanne! Did I forget anyone? Hope not (It's dinner time, the dog is rambunctious, and I've decide on a "second pour" for the meal time glass of wine!)

Seeing "old" WISH'ers--can they realy be "old" if you've only met them once in person! Great to work the water stop with Tracy! And how cool was it that she gavce me the ticket she earned from volunteering. Thanks to Anne for passing around the warm clothes at the Pop meet. I wore my gloves and they felt great.

Cheering on my WISH'ers--beer in hand--at Epcot. Totalafterthought/brain fade on my part. I was done with volunteering for the full and decided to head to Epcot for no particular reason and then D'OH! realized I could cheer people on. And when I cheered on Jeff (Aloha!) and he blew me a kiss-that was special.

Looking forwward to more next year (don't tell my DH)

Maura

 

[mkymsehi]

I just want to go on record that I didn't request, ask or pay anyone to say what they have said.

Doooh, I could have gotten paid??? I missed that memo. I must have been on vacation.

 

[mkymsehi]

Cheering on my WISH'ers--beer in hand--at Epcot. Totalafterthought/brain fade on my part. I was done with volunteering for the full and decided to head to Epcot for no particular reason and then D'OH! realized I could cheer people on. And when I cheered on Jeff (Aloha!) and he blew me a kiss-that was special.

Maura

What Maura, YOU HAD BEER? I would have stopped and GIVEN you a kiss for a beer. LOL.

At that moment, I was 41.9 miles into my Dopey quest, and having Maura scream at me to get going, helped get me to the finish. I was walking at that moment, and that was the push I needed to pick up the pace.

Just so you know Maura, everyone else only got a high five. So you're special! I don't blow kisses to just anybody.


P.S. Mahalo nui loa for the tour of Test Track, that was so much fun, and generous of you to spend your afternoon with your WISH family!

 

[WDWFAN9]

Well the whole marathon weekend was pretty much a warm fuzzy experience, but there was one very personal moment for me. When I did my first half in 2006 (my very first WISH experience) I was walking alone as the course narrowed at the TTC. I realized that I was walking directly over the engraved stone we had purchased in honor of my mom and dad after their deaths. It really choked me up - I always feel their presence in Disney, but at that moment in time I was just overwhelmed with their presence. So now this year Jim and I are walking together towards the TTC and he remembers that we are approaching that special stone. He turns to me and comments about what wonderful memories we have of them, especially here at Disney. Oh my, I am getting teary-eyed now just thinking about it. It was just one of those unexpected moments that really got me.

 

[blizzard]

Seeing a new WISH'er at the start line of the half--hi blizzard-Carol and then seeing her at the end and finding out she reached her goal. Yeah!

Maura

Thanks Maura,

It was great to meet you too. I was glad to hear that you totally blew away your goal! (ps: it was great to meet another runner that likes to run alone - I'm not anti-social, just focussed) Next year the full!