Some Canadian's Thoughts on Weekend!

[MichelleTO]

Thank you to all the WISH team and all the other Cheer Sections! This was our first Disney race and we will be back, next time with kids who are pumped to run the 5km. We did the trip with DHs only, how wonderful! You were all inspiring as we ran, especially at the overpass, thank you, that really helped!!
A few thoughts from a Canadian perspective.
1. People were not prepared for the cold the am of the half? I was surprised as after reading many posts on the boards there were so many not ready for the cold temps, we hit our dollar stores to outfit ourselves for donation clothing to peel off, obviously many thought it would be warmer. We were toasty!!! And thought the temperatures were great as we had been running in -10c for the weeks prior, and have not run since the race as we have been in a deep freeze here -30c with wind-chill, since!!
2. We missed the POP meet, sorry; we got caught up off site prior to the meet and ended up enjoying a meal a bit late.
3. We were amazed at the numbers of people for the entire event, from the expo to the resort to the morning busses, quite a buzz!!! Our fave were the ladies we met from Puerto Rico who were so cold, I wish I had more clothes to give them.
4. Run start was great, except no toilet paper in potties; alas some saviour couple came prepared and shared "more than a square" with all in line, this WAS THE ONLY THING WE HAD NOT PREPARED FOR BUT WILL NEXT TIME! The only thing Disney could have done better - monitoring the potties prior to race.
5. Everything was well done, we did however both say we would like more characters spread out along the route (out and in roads to be exact) and at the finish line rather than just in the MK.
6. We loved running in the moonlight and watching the sun come up! We normally put the sun to bed with our runs.
7. Lots of Canucks ran the race and were at the expo, especially the gang from Regatta Sport and Run Girl Run; they're from our home town!!! We are now the unofficial ambassadors for the running Disney, I think in the last week we have convinced over 20 people to start training for the run, or for at the drink around the world in EPCOT after the race.
8. We love Disney and this is just another way to enjoy it so thank you Disney.
9. We are now back home and it feels like years ago that we were in the warm temps and sun, we are now going for our first run in the am and will have to don our full winter gear including yax trax. Please god give us an early spring.
10. We are curious about the coast to Coast!!!! And will try to find some way to get there!!

Thank you so much everyone on these boards for all your info and advice and inspiration for this race, we are now hooked and will spread the word north of the border

 

[princess aurora]

I saw lots of fellow Canadians and tried to mention that when I saw them... "go canada".

I hooked up with a guy after MK through AK then we lost each other. He was from Winnipeg, Dustin I think. We were both walking by that point and in pain. He was worse off than me and I tried to keep his spirits up and get him to take it all in. Hard to do out there at those tough times.

I wish I had had some Canadian bling on. Never thought to wear any. I learn as I go.

It was as magical as my first-ever marathon should have been. I'm so glad I conquered the parks and stopped to smell the roses...or at least take some pics. I tried to say hi to the WISHers out there too. I didn't have the lime green but I saw you.

I also tried to thank the volunteers as I went through the water lines. By the end my "thank yous" were less enthusiastic but the feeling was not. I know events like this can't happen without the volunteers!!!


Courage to Cover the Distance was posted on my back! That was my motto going in.
Then I read this on another site...
The pain is temporary... the pride is permanent. You just don't understand that until you've finished...and survived to tell the tale.

Thanks to all the WISHers out there for tips and support.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I'll admit that I was some what unprepared for the cold weather. The longest distance I had gone in that kind of weather was a 10K on my own. I had talked to a couple of runners (not on DIS) about what to wear for the 1/2. So I wore a tank top and running skirt along with throw away long sleeved shirt. Half way to the monorail station, I thought about going back for my tights and gloves. I ended up hanging onto my shirt until mile 3 but never really warmed up until the end when I got my space blanket. Looking back, I definitely could have used my gloves more than anything else. Running with cold hands is not pleasant. I guess that's my lesson learned for 2010

 

[MichelleTO]

Yes, we all learned, our supporters as well, they were frozen! Next time we will have to plan to dress our hubbies as well, they figured, shorts and a fuzzy and a Kona coffee would keep them warm! NOT! Like taking care of children sometimes.
But even if it was warmer I would still prepare to have layers to give away, easier than freezing.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Yes, we all learned, our supporters as well, they were frozen! Next time we will have to plan to dress our hubbies as well, they figured, shorts and a fuzzy and a Kona coffee would keep them warm! NOT! Like taking care of children sometimes.
But even if it was warmer I would still prepare to have layers to give away, easier than freezing.

That made me laugh Michelle!

Agree with you on the layers!

 

[mkymsehi]

Vicky & Michelle,

I wasn't cold, and I'm from Hawaii.

Here's what I did before leaving here. I went to the Salvation Army thrift store, and found two pairs of "sweat pants" for $3.25 a pair. I also brought with me two t-shirts and two sweat shirts from home that could be tossed.

I wore the layers from POP Century, to EPCOT parking lot, through the check-in tents, and then walked to to corrals.

Both days, when I heard them announce the race start was 2 minutes out, I tossed the warm-ups, and hit the road running. For me, a mile into the race I'm warmed up.

I had on a tank-top Race Ready shirt for the 5K and the half, and a short sleeved Race Ready for the full. All three days I had on shorts. I laughed that all my friends from the Eastern seaboard, from Colorado, Wyoming, Illinois, and California were all bundled up.

Rather than deal with gloves on Saturday, I carried in each hand a disposable hand warmers. Surely you know what those are? By the time I was heading out of the Magic Kingdom, I could toss those.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Jeff, I get a lot of laughs when I tell people that you were fine in a tank top and shorts and I was freezing my butt off in a similar outfit. I think my problem is that I'm one of those people that's just always cold. You know... the one in the office who's got a space heater under their desk and is always playing with the thermostat