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2 weeks before the race I came down with something that felt akin to the plague. Couldn't breathe, couldn't talk, couldn't detach myself from the kleenex box. This led to several panic-y episodes and nightmares and loss of sleep pretty much up until the day of the race. Medically I was feeling pretty good by the 5th, so here's how it all went!
The Friday before the run, I had to go down to the Wide World of Sports to the RunDisney Expo to pick up my race number and packet. That experience was an overwhelming nightmare- I arrived around noon when it first opened, stood in line in the hot sun to get in, then was swamped by crowds worse than Black Friday at Target! I tried to wander around a little bit and look at thee vendors and booths and merchandise but it was so insane that all I really wanted to do was go hide in the bathroom. So I left. Maybe when I go back for the Princess Half Expo I'll be a little more prepared. Not today though.
I had work the day of the race, so my day started at 7am. After a day of flying, I headed down to check into the Caribbean Beach Resort at WDW around 4pm. My parents were already there so after I took a quick catnap in my room, we met up and went to the food court for dinner. I was starting to get really nervous so I wasn't sure what to eat. I ended up with some chicken and mashed potatoes, which I tried eating but mostly just picked at. I had to force myself to choke it down. Scot showed up after getting off work early after 7, I got my Maleficent costume put together, took some pics, and was on the bus just before 8.
The bus took all us runners to the Film parking lot of Hollywood Studios. I started talking to the lady sitting next to me- her name was Annie and she was for Montreal. She'd run half marathons before but this was her first Disney race. She'd been placed 2 corrals behind me, so we decided we'd hang out til line-up time. When we arrived at the parking lot, the energy there was crazy! There were thousands of people-many in costume, a DJ on a stage, water stations, probably 100 porta-pottys, and photo ops and laser lights. We worked our way over to the stage where the music was playing and the DJ was teaching everyone dance moves- we decided to join in, laughing and dancing to everything from Gangnam Style to the Time Warp. It was a great time, until we looked at each other laughing and realized we were starting to sweat and didn't want to get worn out before running 10 miles!
It was great to have someone to hang with and talk to, since we had almost 2 hours to kill before race start. We spent that time just sitting on the ground near the water tables and people-watching. Around 9:00, race officials started herding us into our corrals. Annie and I said our goodbyes and good lucks, and I went over to Corral G. After we were all grouped up, we had to walk to the finish line about 45 min prior to race start. The corrals were separated by officials with ribbons stretched across the fronts. The walk was probably a good half mile, but the race officials were talking over the speakers and were entertaining us and playing music the whole time. At 9:55, the wheelchair participants started- I heard the Twilight Zone theme music and saw a burst of fireworks over the trees. After that, Group A went, then B a couple minutes later, and so on. Our start time for G was 10:15. I saw my parents and Scot on the other side of the fence as my group passed closer to the start! Each group that started got the music and fireworks, then we'd all inch forward. I thought I heard group F go, then it was our turn next. I heard wrong, I guess, because as we were moving up, I crossed the start line! Crap! I scrambled to hit the GO button on my Map My Run app, hit PLAY on my Pandora, and started off.
Not that I was running. The crowd was so much that it was a medium-paced walk. Laser lights and fog machines above added to the craziness. Music was pumping. And we were going nowhere fast. I wasn't worried though- there'd be plenty of running time later! Right at the first turn, literally less than a half mile in, there was a Character Stop- the Wicked Queen from Snow White was doing photos and there were probably 100 people in the line. Uh, sorry Queen, I've gotta run...
It took over a mile for the crowd to thin into something I could work a run into. There were Disney Villain characters at LEAST every mile, and water and Powerade stops every mile as well. Even though I had my Pandora, there was music and entertainment playing all along the route. We ran down Osceola Parkway to Animal Kingdom, made the turn after the entrance, and started back. There were stilt walkers and characters and music and lights all themed around AK, and a inflatable giant spider hanging over the overpass with a laser light web shining on the wall. That was by mile 3. As I got to mile 4, more characters and a water stop-I actually saw a volunteer at the water stop that I knew! Anita, who is in my Women in Aviation group handed me my water! I shrieked in surprise, said a quick hi, and moved along with a bit more energy. A little ways down further, there was a tent with people handing out goo on popsicle sticks. I didn't know what it was- food? Medicine? I didn't take any of it and made a mental note to look it up later. Mile 5 took us down a dirt service road towards the Wide World of Sports. My phone had started giving me a low battery beep, so I was wondering how long I'd have my run tracker. I wasn't worried about losing the music because of all the en-route entertainment. The dirt road was darker, with fog machines, hazy lighting, more characters, and lots of trees. It was much more crowded because it was thinner, so I stuck to the edge. The road spat us out near some baseball fields- we wound around the race track and down the main walkway towards the baseball stadium. All along the way, volunteers were holding support signs and clapping and cheering us on! It was great, I don't think I stopped smiling the whole race, actually. I turned into the baseball stadium and ran around the outside dirt area- the stands were filled with spectators and people cheering support! The 6.2 mile (10K) marker was there, too. I sailed out of the stadium with plenty of energy, ran through the parking lot filled with more cheering crowds, then hit the road back to the studios.
Just after mile 7, my phone died. I was really bummed to lose my Map My Run, because it was recording the route for me! Also, Scot and my parents were using the live tracking feature to watch where I was. As I approached mile 8, a HUUUUUUGE section of people who were walking were just approaching the dirt road area, which I could see across the median. Probably 1/3 of the original crowd was just walking- I couldn't see the end of the group before I made the turn off the exit and headed through the Hollywood Studios entranceway, past more villain characters doing photos. The lake (retention pond?) at the exit had a thing in the middle that was shooting giant hot fireballs a couple hundred feet in the air every 15 seconds or so. And laser lights. And music.
Side note- I did talk to people who have done Disney races before and say there's absolutely no comparison. Any non-Disney race you do after one of these is boring as hell. I believe it.
As I moved into Mile 8, my legs started hurting. My feet were already a little sore, now my legs were feeling a little crampy. I kept going though- it hurt but was not debilitating. Plus, I was really excited to see what was around the next corner! More staff and volunteers cheering, more crowds, more lights, more characters, more music! Curiosity kept me moving! We ran past the front stage at Lights Motors Action, around and out and up the Streets of America area towards the big Mickey Hat. After the hat, I turned a corner and saw Scot and my parents again just after mile 9! I waved and screamed, and kept going. The route took us back behind a parking lot area, through a tunnel filled with chasing lights and music, then one more corner (I remember Hades from the movie "Hercules") was the character there because around that corner was the FINISH!!! Cheering crowds, photographers, a race official somewhere was announcing everyone's name as the hit the finish line- I crossed with a big grin on my face, and finally slowed to a walk. Yep- I RAN, without stopping, the entire 10 miles.
A lady hung a medal around my neck, a photographer took some photos, I took a chill towel and a banana and started walking through the cool-down route. There were tables of water and Powerade, snack boxes, a bathroom (oh yes, good idea!), medical tents with the people with the goo sticks again. I thought to myself that I was glad I didn't take one earlier and try to eat it. As I kept walking, there were people resting on the curbs, waiting for the rest of their parties maybe.
There was an official photo area on the way out, but I passed it up and found myself deposited out right inside the entrance of the Studios. It was a bit quieter and a bit surreal. No people in costume. No one in my immediate view with a number safety-pinned to their shirt or a medal around their neck. It was just after midnight, and I felt like Cinderella dumped back into the real world! I made my way to the Sorcerer Mickey hat to meet up with Scot and my parents. It was over. I'd made it.
Hugs all around, we took some pics, rode some rides, I nibbled on my snack box. Overall, I felt good. Not too hurty, not too starving. I did go on the Tower of Terror Ride and, because this is my life, I got conked in the head by my heavy medal around my neck when we went Zero G. Of course.
Final stats:
My Bib #5916
1,762nd out of 9,478 total finishers (top 18%)
778th out of 6,132 women (top 12%)
Chip time- 1:47:39
Finally fell into bed a little after 5am after probably the Best. Shower. Ever. I'm happy with everything, considering the slow-moving crowds. I can't imagine running a race without all the entertainment and support I had on this one- I'm so spoiled. And I think I'm addicted. And so excited for the next one!
Just after mile 7, my phone died. I was really bummed to lose my Map My Run, because it was recording the route for me! Also, Scot and my parents were using the live tracking feature to watch where I was. As I approached mile 8, a HUUUUUUGE section of people who were walking were just approaching the dirt road area, which I could see across the median. Probably 1/3 of the original crowd was just walking- I couldn't see the end of the group before I made the turn off the exit and headed through the Hollywood Studios entranceway, past more villain characters doing photos. The lake (retention pond?) at the exit had a thing in the middle that was shooting giant hot fireballs a couple hundred feet in the air every 15 seconds or so. And laser lights. And music.
Side note- I did talk to people who have done Disney races before and say there's absolutely no comparison. Any non-Disney race you do after one of these is boring as hell. I believe it.
As I moved into Mile 8, my legs started hurting. My feet were already a little sore, now my legs were feeling a little crampy. I kept going though- it hurt but was not debilitating. Plus, I was really excited to see what was around the next corner! More staff and volunteers cheering, more crowds, more lights, more characters, more music! Curiosity kept me moving! We ran past the front stage at Lights Motors Action, around and out and up the Streets of America area towards the big Mickey Hat. After the hat, I turned a corner and saw Scot and my parents again just after mile 9! I waved and screamed, and kept going. The route took us back behind a parking lot area, through a tunnel filled with chasing lights and music, then one more corner (I remember Hades from the movie "Hercules") was the character there because around that corner was the FINISH!!! Cheering crowds, photographers, a race official somewhere was announcing everyone's name as the hit the finish line- I crossed with a big grin on my face, and finally slowed to a walk. Yep- I RAN, without stopping, the entire 10 miles.
A lady hung a medal around my neck, a photographer took some photos, I took a chill towel and a banana and started walking through the cool-down route. There were tables of water and Powerade, snack boxes, a bathroom (oh yes, good idea!), medical tents with the people with the goo sticks again. I thought to myself that I was glad I didn't take one earlier and try to eat it. As I kept walking, there were people resting on the curbs, waiting for the rest of their parties maybe.
There was an official photo area on the way out, but I passed it up and found myself deposited out right inside the entrance of the Studios. It was a bit quieter and a bit surreal. No people in costume. No one in my immediate view with a number safety-pinned to their shirt or a medal around their neck. It was just after midnight, and I felt like Cinderella dumped back into the real world! I made my way to the Sorcerer Mickey hat to meet up with Scot and my parents. It was over. I'd made it.
Hugs all around, we took some pics, rode some rides, I nibbled on my snack box. Overall, I felt good. Not too hurty, not too starving. I did go on the Tower of Terror Ride and, because this is my life, I got conked in the head by my heavy medal around my neck when we went Zero G. Of course.
Final stats:
My Bib #5916
1,762nd out of 9,478 total finishers (top 18%)
778th out of 6,132 women (top 12%)
Chip time- 1:47:39
Finally fell into bed a little after 5am after probably the Best. Shower. Ever. I'm happy with everything, considering the slow-moving crowds. I can't imagine running a race without all the entertainment and support I had on this one- I'm so spoiled. And I think I'm addicted. And so excited for the next one!
