Team 'Ohana--No One Left Behind: The Continuing Adventures

[WDWMarathonManiac]

Hello all!

My name is Cynthia and I am a new team member. I'm so excited! I will be running the WDW 2011 marathon, which will be my 11th year in a row of participating in marathon weekend. It was my desire for the medals that made me start running in the first place. I've seen the W.I.S.H. shirts over the years, and always wanted to be a part of it, but never knew how to join. Now what?

2001 - Donald
2002 - Mickey
2003 - Donald
2004 - Donald
2005 - Donald
2006 - Mickey
2007 - Mickey
2008 - Mickey
2009 - Mickey
2010 - Goofy

 

[FFigawi]

Hello all!

My name is Cynthia and I am a new team member. I'm so excited! I will be running the WDW 2011 marathon, which will be my 11th year in a row of participating in marathon weekend. It was my desire for the medals that made me start running in the first place. I've seen the W.I.S.H. shirts over the years, and always wanted to be a part of it, but never knew how to join. Now what?

Welcome Cynthia! Now you need to go through Ohana initiation, a very secret ritual involving things you might have seen in Animal House, and then some. Actually, just helping us get to know you is really all we ask. We all answered these questions earlier this year, so if you want to know more about us, you can go back to the beginning of this thread and read along to your heart's content.

Name:
Day Job:
Family:
Location:
Favorite race you ever ran:
Best recovery food or beverage:
TV Shows you watch or have loved:
Races Planned this year:
Meaning of DIS screen name:

See you at Goofy!

 

[tiberius]

Hi Cynthia! Aloha, new cousin and welcome to the extended family of Team Ohana!

11 years is a long streak of Disney events, I have to confess that I will choose a race because of a good medal--or even any medal compared to a race without one.

As to what to do now, tell us a bit about yourself and start participating in the discussions as you feel comfortable; BTW I'm glad to see another triathlete among us!

At one point we've all answered (at least most of us, anyway) these questions as a matter of introduction, so you might want to do the same to let us know you:

Name:
Day Job:
Family:
Location:
Favorite race you ever ran:
Best recovery food or beverage:
TV Shows you watch or have loved:
Races Planned this year:
Meaning of DIS screen name: I bet I can guess in your case, Cynthia!

Many of us answered these back in the first few pages of this thread, other answered later as they joined. In general we tend to be big lovers of good food, fun times and (at least many of us) sci-fi .

Looks like John was quicker on the draw than I was
...and we love seeing photos, too!

 

[WDWMarathonManiac]

Name: Cynthia

Day Job: Right now, unemployed. I have a crazy job history. Molecular Biologist, Teacher/Administrator, Patent/Trademark attorney, Divorce Mediator, Sports Bra Designer

Family: Wonderful husband Bob, Son Zachary (10 years old), Step-son Ethan (13 years old), cats Moose and Kitty Fantastico

Location: New Jersey

Favorite race you ever ran: Tough one. Last year's Goofy was unbelievably great. I smiled through the whole marathon. My first race ever, and the reason I started to run was the 2001 WDW half-marathon. I decided to run the race during my difficult pregnancy, had to have lung surgery 2 weeks before I was supposed to start training, and had IT Band problems so bad that I was in a wheelchair for 3 days after the race. It was the most meaningful race ever. I cried like a baby when I crossed the finish line. But I am most proud of my first half-ironman (at Disney, of course!), when I was in a bike crash 23 miles into the 56 mile bike leg, and with bloody limbs and a bent bike I finished the bike leg and went on to finish the run.

Best recovery food or beverage: Chocolate chip cookies, preferably from Main Street!

TV Shows you watch or have loved: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, 30 Rock, Community, Lost

Races Planned this year: Sadly, only the WDW Marathon. I really want to do EVERY Disney race (I need all the medals!), but am trying to save money this year.

Meaning of DIS screen name: Every year I start and finish the Disney marathon/half-marathon in tears. This race has gotten me through MANY of my life's ups and downs. If I had to crawl, I would finish this race. If I had to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a year to afford the trip, I wouldn't hesitate.

 

[WDWMarathonManiac]

I don't mean to sound so serious . . . I'm really lots of fun, I swear!

 

[tiberius]

I don't mean to sound so serious . . . I'm really lots of fun, I swear!

Don't worry, I think you're going to fit in pretty well here. You definitely have a lot of similar interests to your new cousins.....and I love the variety of career choices (then again I've been a Marine, dog trainer, Customs Inspector, policeman, utility worker and now a utility manager, so I've been around the block as well! )

Here's a big question for you, what do you think about wearing leopard print?

 

[MouseDogMom]

I don't mean to sound so serious . . . I'm really lots of fun, I swear!

I don't know if serious is the term I'd use. Fanatical, maybe. Maniacal, perhaps. Obsessed, definitely. But all of those mean you fit in here just fine!

DH and DD were huge Buffy fans. Me, I watched it with them, but I was really only watching to see Angel. Was much happier when he got his own show. And now I'm really happy that he's on Bones, since I can watch him without worrying about him turning scary-looking.

I smiled through the entire half this year. And through the first half of the marathon. Then things got ugly. I cried through a good portion of the second half, and had it not been for an extremely supportive and patient husband, might have convinced myself that the Goofy medal wasn't worth it. Which it was, since I cried again when they put it around my neck at the finish!

We're still on the fence about 2011 - trying to decide if we can better spend that money on a) other races, or b) an all-out WDW trip over spring break. DD is campaigning hard for for option B. We had it all planned to do the Princess, and then they changed the date and screwed everything up.

Welcome to the family!

Jackie

 

[FFigawi]

I don't mean to sound so serious . . . I'm really lots of fun, I swear!

Of course you are! Kind of have to be in order to be a bra designer, don't you?

 

[jbucci]

Welcome Cynthia You will fit in just fine around here.

You have all talked some sense into me and I won't be doing Fairfield I wasn't totally committed to it and couldn't get any reasonable trade to get off of the weekend of work. I am suffering from a severe motivational low right now, so need to get back on track. My "cross training" on tap for tomorrow and the weekend is moving the 4 tons of rock and 10 yards of mulch sitting in my driveway into its proper place in the yard-- I'll let you know how that goes.

 

[WDWMarathonManiac]

I don't know if serious is the term I'd use. Fanatical, maybe. Maniacal, perhaps. Obsessed, definitely. But all of those mean you fit in here just fine!

DH and DD were huge Buffy fans. Me, I watched it with them, but I was really only watching to see Angel. Was much happier when he got his own show. And now I'm really happy that he's on Bones, since I can watch him without worrying about him turning scary-looking.

I smiled through the entire half this year. And through the first half of the marathon. Then things got ugly. I cried through a good portion of the second half, and had it not been for an extremely supportive and patient husband, might have convinced myself that the Goofy medal wasn't worth it. Which it was, since I cried again when they put it around my neck at the finish!

We're still on the fence about 2011 - trying to decide if we can better spend that money on a) other races, or b) an all-out WDW trip over spring break. DD is campaigning hard for for option B. We had it all planned to do the Princess, and then they changed the date and screwed everything up.

Welcome to the family!

Jackie

You know, I had one year when EVERYTHING went wrong, and I just didn't have it in me to continue. Then, this wonderful person came out of nowhere and walked the rest of the race with me (and there was about 12 miles to go!). That's one of the things that I love about this race, its like we really are all in it together. I'm so glad to hear that you had a similar experience.

All-out trips to WDW are sooo great. Where do you usually stay when you go? Sometimes we just make it a long weekend, but this year we will be there for a full week

This is the first time that my step-son, who is 13, will be going to WDW. I'm a bit worried about what he will think. Anyone ever taken a 13 year old boy to WDW for the first time? Any advice?

 

[chimera]

hey there Cynthia! Welcome to the family madness! Can we interest you in a few episodes of Big Bang Theory?
My B.S. is Molecular/Microbiology...only took a few years of low-paying science jobs for me to go back to school What're you going to be next?

Corinna...you've had so many amazing races in the last 6 months, it's okay to have one not so fabulous. Don't worry about it...just move onto the next one.

Debra...speaking of BBT, did you really order the Team Bazinga shirt?

Maria...hope you had a fabulous birthday!

JenL...congrats on jumping back into the races!

Jackie...tough decision, but would be hard to give up marathon weekend.

JenB...maybe it's a summer low, my motivation also seems to have evaporated.

I'm still thinking first tri in August, but it's been hotter and grosser here this summer than normal. I'm still trying to keep up my base, but it's waaaay more walking than running these days. Gotta find someway to get a swim day in if I really want to do a tri in Aug. How many of y'all are doing Wine and Dine?

 

[WDWMarathonManiac]

I love the Big Bang Theory! I just heard that it will be scheduled for the same time as Community in the fall. What would I do without Hulu?

What to do next? Well, I've just started this Sports Bra project, but I really miss science. I abandoned my PhD work years ago, but I am seriously considering going back to it sometime in the not too distant future. Of course, I would really have to start over at this point!

Any Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett fans around here?

 

[WDWMarathonManiac]

Not this year, but I'm hoping for 2011!

 

[jbucci]

My DH and I are doing a "grown=ups" weekend trip for Wine and Dine

to Douglas Adams

I think I really need a vacation. Every little thing at work is starting to annoy me and I just haven't had much down time lately. We are going to WDW in July and for once there is no associated race Can't wait for vacation.

Now to take the dog to the vet and get back into the yardwork--- fun day off...

 

[chimera]

We are going to WDW in July and for once there is no associated race Can't wait for vacation.

when will you be there in July? We're at AKL Jul 19 to 23

 

[jbucci]

We are at BCV July 10-14 then AKV/Kidani July 14-18

 

[tiberius]

to Douglas Adams

I second that!

Mel and Jen - That's just too bad that you are there so close to each other without overlapping each other.

 

[MouseDogMom]

All-out trips to WDW are sooo great. Where do you usually stay when you go? Sometimes we just make it a long weekend, but this year we will be there for a full week

Our favorite for a week long trip (I think - it changes) is Wilderness Lodge. I alternate between that and AKL, but the family swears it's WL. The past 3 years for marathon weekend we've stayed at POFQ. DD has been putting a budget together for spring break, and I think she chose POFQ for that week. I'm the family Disney planner, so I'll get final say , but she's doing everything she can to make the March trip happen.

Another for Douglas Adams.

Mel - Surely you could go a couple of days early to see Jen? No Wine & Dine for us, unless a lottery ticket pays big dollars between now and then. Plus, Marine Corps is 10/31. I know I COULD do a half in early October, but for some reason I'm truly terrified of this marathon.

Jackie

 

[WDWMarathonManiac]

I, too, am the family Disney planner . When I was a kid, I would quiz my family on the way to Florida about the location of all attractions and restaurants. Fun!!!

I love Wilderness Lodge! Just thinking about the smell of the pace and the music when you walk in the door makes me happy! We used to stay at PORS when it was Dixie Landings, but the quality seemed to go down, so we switched to CB. We are thinking of trying to rent vacation club points this year so that we can stay someplace with a bit more space and give the Vacation Club a try. Any vacation club renters/members who have experience booking around marathon weekend?

 

[jbucci]

We are DVC and were able to get what we wanted seven months ahead but would recommend booking early because marathon weekend does book up pretty fast.