Once we got to the cabin, we hopped a bus to Hollywood Studios to hop a bus to the Expo. The first thing we did at the expo was bib & packet pickup. Bib pick-up was in the Milk House and even though it was packed, Disney was incredibly efficient with passing out the goodies and getting the Dtags tested. Next stop: the sports cafe. a two story (auditorium style) room with TONS of booths and goodies to buy! I left on Thursday with the limited edition 2010 Disney Marathon pin, and a pair of sunglasses.
Friday the grandparents and kids came to meet us. We had a great time at Magic Kingdom. There were almost no lines (as not many people had the desire to freeze their @$&#$ off) so we were able to make it through all of the rides we were interested in fairly quickly. SueAnn & Holly were going to the Expo so I decided to go back and try to meet up with them and grab some more clothes, since the weather channel was predicting lower and lower temps as time went by...by this time the possibility of SNOW was predicted!!
We had THE WORST LUCK with transportation going anywhere besides the race :P Here is a photo of us on the first leg of the trip. I was still smiling. We missed Holly & SueAnn.... it also made us miss our first, and delayed reservations. However, after 5 buses and 2 boats to and from the expo, we FINALLY made it to EPCOT to eat Moroccan. It was delish, but I couldn't eat hardly any of my entree after the appetizer we split and the thought of dessert made me ill. Here is a photo we got, its not great but I really wanted a picture of the tree and it was freezing so one shot is all I gave.
On Saturday, we had a princess breakfast at Akershus Banquet Hall in Norway , road a few rides while we were at Epcot, headed over to Hollywood studios to ride the Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller coaster, then raced to Downtown Disney for Dinner at Planet Hollywood . It was loud and packed and crazy. NOT my kind of place. I had 1 shrimp and about 1/3 of the spinach dip appetizer, and could NOT eat my spaghetti. There again, just not hungry and started feeling sick.
The night before the race, me, Matt, Boy & Han, and my mother-in-law and father-in-law stayed in the cabin. Matt & I had the main cabin, so I could get ready (buses ran between 3-4am). Neither Matt or I could sleep at all. I laid there wishing the clock would just hurry up already. The morning of the race I got up feeling sick. Actually, I was gagging (dry heaving) and couldn't eat or drink anything pre-race. It was 26 degrees with a 17 degree wind chill factor. I layered up, and packed a clif bar in case I started feeling like I could swallow it, filled out my medical info on the back of my bib, attached my d-tag and all of the other stuff I was suppose to do the night before. Then Matt drove me to the main bus stop area so I could be ontime and have a little less time waiting in the cold (He is a dream!!)
**I do want to add here that I realize people run in weather worse than this all of the time, but I dont. I wasn't used to the cold, nor equipped for freezing temps. I dont even have adequate long pants, jackets, etc for wicking, heating, etc. So it was trashbags and disposable clothing keeping me warm today** Here is the outer layer that I had on...The one that me and my boy picked up at the Expo Friday night and decorated in the Sharpie support area of the expo...
I ended up giving my Clif Bar (breakfast) to the guy riding on the bus with me. He was doing the Goofy challenge and was giving me pointers on bag check and where the potties with the short lines are. I met up with Jeanine at the fork in the road by the corrals. Did I mention it was so cold??
We lined up for the portalets, but we ended up jumping in the bushes because it was time to go! I ended up getting stickers in my drawers! :( HAHA! We picked the stickers out, hopped the fence and ran up the side of the road trying to get to our corral D...but we could only get to corral E. That is where we started.... Me feeling like death and Jeanine all spry and sassy! :) The characters came on stage to introduce the beginning of the race and fireworks went off...it was gorgeous!
The first few miles were crowded and I wasn't sure if I would be able to make it, Jeanine was worried about me because I was so pale, I just knew I was going to throw up! I was sweating and freezing; couldnt decide to keep the trash bag on or remove it b/c once its off, I might get really cold. The course was flat and the route left Epcot behind. We ran down the highway toward Magic Kingdom, and through MK where I stopped at the park restroom. I removed my gloves and my outer layer of pants, used the bathroom and was on my way...except I forgot my Brooks running gloves, so I battled the crowded bathroom to check the sink and stall and they were already gone. I picked up some discarded gloves because my fingers were freezing, but they were sweaty and wet making my fingers even colder so I tossed them and tucked my hands into my jacket. The park run was pretty neat b/c the rides were running even though nobody was on them at 7am. It was just starting to be daylight and people were already lining the entrance to cheer the runners on! This was the beginning of the first spectator spot. We ran through future world, frontierland, through Cinderella palace which was especially awesome and started to pick up my mood a little. Maybe it was really the powerade 1 oz at a time but I started to enjoy all of the wonderful things that were on the sidelines! Jeanine forced me to take a photo at the Castle (thanks girl!!! I LOVE this!!!)
The first few miles were crowded and I wasn't sure if I would be able to make it, Jeanine was worried about me because I was so pale, I just knew I was going to throw up! I was sweating and freezing; couldnt decide to keep the trash bag on or remove it b/c once its off, I might get really cold. The course was flat and the route left Epcot behind. We ran down the highway toward Magic Kingdom, and through MK where I stopped at the park restroom. I removed my gloves and my outer layer of pants, used the bathroom and was on my way...except I forgot my Brooks running gloves, so I battled the crowded bathroom to check the sink and stall and they were already gone. I picked up some discarded gloves because my fingers were freezing, but they were sweaty and wet making my fingers even colder so I tossed them and tucked my hands into my jacket. The park run was pretty neat b/c the rides were running even though nobody was on them at 7am. It was just starting to be daylight and people were already lining the entrance to cheer the runners on! This was the beginning of the first spectator spot. We ran through future world, frontierland, through Cinderella palace which was especially awesome and started to pick up my mood a little. Maybe it was really the powerade 1 oz at a time but I started to enjoy all of the wonderful things that were on the sidelines! Jeanine forced me to take a photo at the Castle (thanks girl!!! I LOVE this!!!)
As we past the Polynesian Resort & the golf courses I spotted Pop, Grandma C, Matt, Boy and Han...I yelled and yelled at them, but they didn't see me so I ran into the crowd and got kisses :) That is where I lost Jeanine! YAY! I had been telling her to go on! I was on a really slow walk/run pace and she was on fire - I really wanted her to run a strong race and feel like she did her best! So from mile 12.5 or so I was on my own. Seeing the kids out there supporting their mommy, helped me press on! It was so heartwarming, and I wanted them to be proud of me - I knew I'd see them againg, waiting on me at the FINISH LINE!
We ran on to Animal Kingdom, I really enjoyed this part, but I didn't bring the disposable so I didn't stop for photos...it was too cold to stop anyway. I was still stopping at every water station, taking a powerade and a water cup - which - btw - was frozen in the cups and on the streets!! There was ice all over the trashcans and roads making it very slippery! Eventually they got salt to the aid stations to spread on the ground that helped a little. The course continued out-and-back to the Wide World of Sports, but we never actually made it there. All along the streets there were DJs that were EXCELLENT! They were funny and encouraging, and played the most awesome music! Which I needed because my back and hips were seizing up and I was starting to have to stop and stretch. The runners really started encouraging each other during this time. I can't tell you how many people ran up beside of me and said "Run CC Run!!" (see the back of my jacket - it works!!)
I texted Matt at mile 21 and 22 between WWS and Hollywood Studios. That seemed to be THE WORST. It was such a lonnng way to travel with nothing but roads and DJs since Animal Kingdom. But... I made it to Hollywood Studios and ran all the way through that park! Feeling a little stronger now, maybe thanks to the two mostly frozen bananas they handed out! Onward, past the Swan resort, which was BEAUTIFUL and had a tremendous turnout! People were lining the sidewalk - in that wretched freezing weather - with their hands up for high fives, shouting encouragement, dancing and just bringing so much energy which I definitely needed! Then.... THEN!!!...
I texted Matt at mile 21 and 22 between WWS and Hollywood Studios. That seemed to be THE WORST. It was such a lonnng way to travel with nothing but roads and DJs since Animal Kingdom. But... I made it to Hollywood Studios and ran all the way through that park! Feeling a little stronger now, maybe thanks to the two mostly frozen bananas they handed out! Onward, past the Swan resort, which was BEAUTIFUL and had a tremendous turnout! People were lining the sidewalk - in that wretched freezing weather - with their hands up for high fives, shouting encouragement, dancing and just bringing so much energy which I definitely needed! Then.... THEN!!!...
We entered Epcot for our victory lap around the world showcase to the finish line! It was CRAZY full!! So many people bundled up to support ALL of the runners (not just "their" runner!) It was a fantastic journey and as slow as my race was, I did run through the final two miles around Epcot on to the finishline, where there was, once again, music blaring, big screens displaying the finishline. When I came through, "What A Feeling" (Flashdance) was blaring! I'm not a crier, but I did tear up a little because What A Feeling that was indeed!!! I was looking for my people in the crowd and didn't even see my time. I dont even know if I looked at the photographers.... All I remember is being so proud and wanting to share that moment with the family and after that find Jeanine and see how well she did! I got my mylar blanket and metal and pulled the phone out to call Matt! Only to see that my wonderful friends had been tracking my progress and had already starting sending congrats to me!!! You guys are the BEST!!! Thank you!!
I bypassed all the snacks & drinks heading straight for baggage pickup because I was soaked and freezing and they were all waiting on the other side with all my goodies already! Here's a few photo Jeanine sent me from her camera :)
I bypassed all the snacks & drinks heading straight for baggage pickup because I was soaked and freezing and they were all waiting on the other side with all my goodies already! Here's a few photo Jeanine sent me from her camera :)
Jeanine finished in 5:01 - she could have easily done a 4:30 had she not babysat me the first 12+ miles. I am SOOO proud of her!! We did it girlie!! All those miles....and here we are on the other side! THANK YOU for pushing me through this, I dont think I would have seen it through without you!
My family was so supportive, my mother-in-law carried my bags, my boy and girl held all of my sweaty belts and took pictures of me and the characters that were in the family reunion area (most of them are on the disposable from the goodie bag and still have to be developed)
My wonderful husband, my rock, kept it all together for me, packed us up and checked us out, moved the children all of the place in the freezing weather, held the fort down every Saturday for MONTHS....all to make sure I had all of the support that I needed to complete my goal. This was quite an experience. One that I will never ever forget!
| 7846 | CHANDRA | CLAYCOMB | PALM BAY | FL | WOMEN -- 35 THROUGH 39 | 35 | F | 5:33:49 | 5:45:55 | 10804 | 4434 | 876 | 41.2% |
