The Darling Family Takes on Marathon Weekend: Jan at the Boardwalk Villas

[liznboys]

More value for your dollar...LOL!

 

[dismagiclover]

Wow, riding EE during the race would be so much fun! I have never really considered running a full marathon, but your report is making me really consider running this race! I guess I will see how I do in the Princess 1/2 and decide if it is something I really think I could do. Thank you for the inspiration!

My advice would be to try out the half and see how that goes. The marathon was an incredible experience, but it is a huge jump to go from the half to the full. The training is just so much more intense. I can't wait to hear what you think of the Princess. Not too much longer!

How fun you had people out there cheering for you!!! What brave soles to ride EE during the race...that would make me paranoid, but thats cause Im a slowpoke

It is definitely best I didn't ride it, but I would have loved to. Like I said, if I ever do this race again I'm going to ride Everest!

I love that you had friends there cheering you on. Riding EE would definitely be icing on the cake! I like the way you (and the ones who decided to ride EE) run races - that's how a Disney race should be run!

I like the way I run Disney races too, but it would be a great race even if you were running for time. There is just so much to see and such great crowd support!

Am all caught up and you've left me hanging with your fav character greet is coming up!

Loving your updates, esp the Castle pictures. How cool that you got to meet Louis, next to Ray he is my fav character in Princess and the Frog

Hopefully you won't have to wait too much longer to see who my meet is with! It was fun to meet all of those new characters!

More value for your dollar...LOL!

You know me. Always looking for the best bang for my buck

 

[Queenofallthings]

Wow...another fantastic update....you look great btw...you don't look tired at all!!

How nice to see your name on a sign and familiar faces.....

 

[dismagiclover]

Wow...another fantastic update....you look great btw...you don't look tired at all!!

How nice to see your name on a sign and familiar faces.....

I was still feeling pretty good at this point! Plus it was a huge boost to be in the park and see some friendly faces!

 

[dismagiclover]

So far Day 4 has been all about me. However, the rest of the Darling Family were still at Disney World. So what were they up to since I left them over 6 hours ago? Well for much of the time they were sleeping, of course. (Since I left them at 3:30 am.) They slept in a bit (at least Wendy and DH. My boys never sleep in.) They had a leisurely breakfast in the room. Then they headed out the door to Animal Kingdom. Why would they choose Animal Kingdom on this morning? Well I think you can probably figure that out considering where I am in my race report. The initial plan had been to not even enter the park. They were just going to look for me outside Animal Kingdom because I’d read here on the DIS that there was plenty of spectator space outside the entrance, but the route inside the park could get narrow. Once they arrived, however, the kids starting clamoring to go in the park. DH decided to head to Dinoland thinking that would be a good spot to see me. He called me (yes, I took phone calls during my marathon) to find out how far away I was. I still had a ways to go (I think I talked to him around Mile 15) so they decided to hop on a ride. And of course if we are in Dinoland the only ride my kids see is Dinosaur Dumbo. This worked out well because there was no line whatsoever. They rode once and the CM told them to just stay on for another spin. Michael was concerned. It seemed unfair to him to cut in front of the people waiting. DH pointed out that there were no people waiting. Can someone please explain why this same ride in the Magic Kingdom has the longest lines ever, but here in the Animal Kingdom you can go multiple times in a row? After they finished their flight above Dinoland they staked out a bench with a great view of the runners. DH took this shot of the Minnie runners.

DH didn’t realize when he took the picture that I’d been running in the proximity of these runners much of the race. They were obviously ahead of me by this point and I don’t remember ever seeing them again. I also recognized the woman in the purple hoodie. She was one of the nice ladies that I talked to in the corral before the race began. She was doing the Goofy. At this point anyway I wasn’t far behind her. I never actually saw her during the race so I was excited when I saw DH took an accidental photo of her. Around this time Michael wanted to go on Primeval Whirl, but DH was afraid they would miss me so he said no. Michael then went into one of his pouts. Pluto was visiting close by without much of a line. So John and Wendy went to meet him. Michael was still too busy pouting. Here are the shots of their meet.

As you can see the Christmas trees were still up so I stuck in a holiday Photopass border. So shortly after this I entered Dinoland This was one of the most emotional moments of the race for me. I saw my family sitting on the bench and felt myself tearing up. Here I was at Mile 17 in a marathon and there they were cheering me on. Michael even came out of his funk enough to greet me. They didn’t get a shot of me before I reached them so they had me do a posed running shot.

I look like such a weirdo. John, who loves me as much as anyone else in this world ran out to the course to give me a hug. I could tell he was so proud and excited for me. So sweet.

The other kids came out to pose with me.

As you can tell Wendy was excited too. Michael was humoring me. I wanted a picture with DH too. Of course all of the kids had to take a picture so I got 3 pictures with DH all from different angles.

It was so fun to see my family on the course! I wanted to stay and talk to them, but DH encouraged me to get a move on. The course ran out of Animal Kingdom and ran through a backstage area before going by the front entrance of the park. DH told me they would go over there and I’d see them again in about a mile. As I left Dinoland the official photographer caught me on film.

Only 9 miles to go! How much longer can I drag this out for?

 

[carissanboys]

Yay for having family there to cheer you on! I'm sure it was an awesome moment.

 

[DrMomof3]

I agree that seeing my family was a highlight of my race!

Amanda

 

[torsie24]

Amazing update!!!

And how awesome you got to see friends and family!

 

[thegreggersmom]

Disney should be paying you -- you are making a grueling 26.2 mile death march actually look like fun to this couch potato! Can't wait to read more.

 

[mermaid764]

Awesome update!

That must have been an amazing moment to see your family there cheeing you on

 

[monorail girl]

Great photos of the race! I of course forgot a camera so no character pics for my sister or myself. I had to laugh when you said you started listening to Rocky. I thought I was the only one who still trains to the rocky music
My husband teases me about it

What a nice surprise for you in the Animal Kingdom with your family and friends there.

 

[RunningGirl]

I got tears in my eyes when you saw your family - such a great feeling! It's so nice to see a family that supports each other and encourages each other. I'm sure that seeing you do this will have a long-reaching, positive effect on your kids and let them know that they can do just about anything they want to.

 

[norybell]

How awesome it must have been to see your family! And inspirational for them, too, I'm sure...well, maybe not Michael with his pouting, but I betcha Wendy ends up being a runner one day!

 

[jmskinner]

All caught up!!! I am so loving this TR. I still remember reading your Half-Marathon TR last year.

Made some notes to comment on everything. The chapter on your DH brought me to tears. I remember when the accident occured, but didn't realize how badly. So inspirational!!!!

And love the Peter Pan!!!! What a cool husband and Dad!!!

Love all the pics, my DH would fuss at me for even stopping once. And I love the otter pic, proof that I did see at Otter at POFQ last month.

And this last chapter when you saw your crew, the tears just started flowing. Sitting here hoping my DH doesn't walk in because he will make fun of me. Such a magical weekend you all had!!!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Yay! I had a feeling your family would be at AK to see you run!!!! 9 miles to go wow!!! You're doing great so far!!

 

[pookersmom]

I just read your whole trip report after waking up this morning. How awesome! I got a little weepy when you saw your family in Animal Kingdom.

I'm so excited to read a TR from someone who actually ran the marathon, because we checked in on the Monday after and saw lots of people around the parks that whole week wearing their medals and shirts (heck, we probably saw your family at some point!). So it's nice to hear what it was like.

 

[dismagiclover]

Yay for having family there to cheer you on! I'm sure it was an awesome moment.

Animal Kingdom was my favorite park this race and it was because I saw Liz and you and my family! Really was a high point!

I agree that seeing my family was a highlight of my race!

Amanda

It is such an incredible feeling to see people that you love supporting you!

Amazing update!!!

And how awesome you got to see friends and family!

It was great of all of them to go out of their way to make my race better!

Disney should be paying you -- you are making a grueling 26.2 mile death march actually look like fun to this couch potato! Can't wait to read more.

If only Disney would pay me! The crazy thing is that I paid to do this

Awesome update!

That must have been an amazing moment to see your family there cheeing you on

It was awesome. I really did get a lump in my throat, but I tried to control the tears because I didn't want to be a blubbering idiot

 

[dismagiclover]

Great photos of the race! I of course forgot a camera so no character pics for my sister or myself. I had to laugh when you said you started listening to Rocky. I thought I was the only one who still trains to the rocky music
My husband teases me about it

What a nice surprise for you in the Animal Kingdom with your family and friends there.

Oh, I'm sorry you forgot a camera. Of course you may have actually been running a race so it was for the best I think Rocky music should never go out of style when it comes to motivating runners. It really works!

I got tears in my eyes when you saw your family - such a great feeling! It's so nice to see a family that supports each other and encourages each other. I'm sure that seeing you do this will have a long-reaching, positive effect on your kids and let them know that they can do just about anything they want to.

I do have an incredible family and an especially incredible DH. They were nothing but supportive and encouraging in this endeavor and believe me it did effect their lives. I was beat after I'd do the long training runs. I remember one day after an 18 mile run I went home and just laid on the couch. The kids came home from school, took one look at me, and started their homework and left me alone. Then DH came home, took one look at me, picked up the phone and ordered a pizza

How awesome it must have been to see your family! And inspirational for them, too, I'm sure...well, maybe not Michael with his pouting, but I betcha Wendy ends up being a runner one day!

I hope they end up finding the enjoyment of running. It really has given me a lot. And that isn't even counting the health benefits.

All caught up!!! I am so loving this TR. I still remember reading your Half-Marathon TR last year.

Made some notes to comment on everything. The chapter on your DH brought me to tears. I remember when the accident occured, but didn't realize how badly. So inspirational!!!!

And love the Peter Pan!!!! What a cool husband and Dad!!!

Love all the pics, my DH would fuss at me for even stopping once. And I love the otter pic, proof that I did see at Otter at POFQ last month.

And this last chapter when you saw your crew, the tears just started flowing. Sitting here hoping my DH doesn't walk in because he will make fun of me. Such a magical weekend you all had!!!!

Thanks Melissa. DH's story really is a great. Especially because it has a happy ending! He is a great husband and Dad! Best I'll ever have I loved seeing the otter. I didn't know they were around down there. I teared up too when I saw my crew! Such a great moment! And there is still more race to come!

Yay! I had a feeling your family would be at AK to see you run!!!! 9 miles to go wow!!! You're doing great so far!!

You were right! My family was there for me! How much do you think I can drag out those last 9 miles?

I just read your whole trip report after waking up this morning. How awesome! I got a little weepy when you saw your family in Animal Kingdom.

I'm so excited to read a TR from someone who actually ran the marathon, because we checked in on the Monday after and saw lots of people around the parks that whole week wearing their medals and shirts (heck, we probably saw your family at some point!). So it's nice to hear what it was like.

Thanks for reading! There were tons of people in the park that week with medals. It was fun to see people and share a sort of knowing nod with them! I hope you had a great trip and didn't mind the weather. (I prefer it warmer like shorts weather.)

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Great run photos! And how special to have had your sweet family there to cheer you on and motivate you. That would've made me teary eyed too. And can I just say that you looked fabulous for all that running you were doing! Girl, I'd be a hot mess if I'd been running that long! I don't know if I mentioned it yet or not but I love your Minnie headband! And how cool to be running through Animal Kingdom. It must be very special for both you and your family to accomplish something so difficult. I'm sure you all benefited from it. I am really enjoying this TR, it's giving me a very nice tutorial of Disney marathons!

 

[MagicShell]

How great that you got to see your family. I bet they made you feel so great. I know they were proud to see you out there accomplishing what you had worked so hard for.