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The training schedule I was following for this particular race had be doing a 14 mile run a couple weeks before the big weekend. I felt like it would be silly to run 14 miles when I'm only going to run 13, so I didn't go that far. However, to reassure myself that I actually COULD handle this thing, I did a 10K practice run, and then a 13.1 the morning after. The 13.1 practice run took me 2 hr 7 min and I was pretty happy with that. With that experience behind me, I was super pumped for the real race day!
After another terrible night of tossing and turning, I was relieved to get up to my 3am alarm. Peanut butter and bread, vitamins for breakfast. Sparkles woke up for a few foggy minutes to say goodbye and to wish me luck. I put my kleenex, sports beans, and the free mini luna bar from the Expo in my zip belt over my Cinderella outfit, and headed down to the bus stop.
Holy cow, ya'll. The line for the buses was ridiculous! I eventually found the end and got in it. 2 buses were filling up, but I didn't get on either one of those. A third bus pulled up, but I didn't make that one either. After about a 15 minute additional wait, another bus pulled up and finally I was on my way to Epcot again! I started talking to a gal on the bus dressed as Ariel (she had a red visor on with a crab sewed on top of her head- it was hilarious.) Her name was Karen and as we chatted I learned this was her first Disney race- she'd come in from Maryland with her family. We decided to stick together until corral time. When we got off the bus, the crowd and gathering space was noticeably larger than the morning before- 24,000 people! It was so packed we could barely move! We inched through the crowd looking for a water station. I could hear the warm-up DJ but never saw him. People were all over the place! Sitting on the ground, standing in groups, wandering, stretching, looking bewildered...oh wait, that one was me. Finally, we passed through the bag check area and found the water station near the porta potties. As we sipped, we discovered we were unintentionally in line for the bathroom as well. We decided to stay put because the lines were huge! It was 30 minutes before we got done with the bathroom line, so we started the long walk to the corrals. The trek there was close to a 20 minute walk! We headed down the road and parted ways at a traffic light- she was in a rear corral, I was in F.
Side note- I was so happy to be up front- the corrals were A through P...16 total! I didn't want to wait that long to start!
I finally made it to my corral and worked my way up to the front. I struck up a conversation with another Cinderella near by and enjoyed the people-watching in my new group. A couple dressed and Olaf the Snowman and Anna from "Frozen" were right in front of us. Pretty much every guy I saw was wearing a tutu. Or a dress. Come 5:30, the Fairy Godmother did a countdown and a huge burst of pink and white fireworks popped over the start zone. There was one wheelchair racer, and he was off! 3 minutes later, Corral A started with the same firework fanfare. My F corral moved forward quickly, and I was about to bounce of my shoes with excitement. And I needed to find the bathroom again! Before I knew it, we were up front! The announcers pumped up our group, and POP BOOM! Off we went! I had some trouble with the Map My Run this time- it wasn't picking up the GPS signal. I speed-walked a bit to start while screwing around with my phone. Finally! I started the music after I got my app working, and off I went!
Less than a mile in, there was a school band playing- horns blaring, drums beating, kids cheering. This race had many sponsors and benefitters so there were lots of supporters from different groups cheering us on alongside the road. About a mile in, I had to pop into one of the bathrooms, but there was no line so it was a quick stop. After a mile or so on Epcot Center Drive, I made the turn to World Drive- the route to the Magic Kingdom! After the turn, there were more characters with lines waaaaaay to long for me to even think about bothering with, but they did have a giant, parade-float sized pirate ship complete with Jack Sparrow and crew! I could hear the theme music and the whole assembly was enhanced with fog and lights. It was pretty cool looking. Not long after that, I saw what would turn out to be one of my favorite roadside diversions- a group of about 6 people with flowy, floaty bird shaped kites on poles. They were swirling them around in the air while the song "Go Fly A Kite" from Mary Poppins played from somewhere. In the misty darkness it was absolutely magical!
Mile 3 wound around the Speedway that the (formerly Richard Petty but now) Exotic Driving Experience uses. No special effects for mist and fog here- it was starting to really get thick out there! There were some race cars and a couple drivers on the side in the parking lot- you could hear engines revving and the music switched to variations of "Life is A Highway." The cars from, well "Cars" were there too- Mater and whoever that red one's name is.
I continued through the parking lot of the Ticket & Transportation center, and then followed everyone along a side access road towards the Magic Kingdom. The entrance to Main Street USA was through a backstage area- I popped out from a gate and was greeted with a roar from the crowds! OH MY LORD I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THESE PEOPLE!!! It was probably 6:30 in the morning and the sidewalks were packed! So many people were there to watch, to cheer, to wave signs and blow noisemakers. My hand flew over my gaping open mouth as I came in. I turned the corner onto the main part of Main Street and had to catch my breath and will myself not to tear up as I saw Cinderella Castle, lit up with pink lights, the top obscured by the graying mist. As I ran, I held my hand out to every high-5 and waved back to everyone's shouted words of encouragement. The running crowd had definitely thinned, as I'd managed to make it closer to the front-runners. I was able to comfortable navigate through Tomorrowland and around the backside of the castle.
And then I got to run through Cinderella's Castle.
This was the part I'd been waiting for! It wasn't crowded like I'd read in other people's accounts of this race- in fact, I felt like I was the only person on the path. I didn't notice any of the other women. I sailed through the tunnel and popped out to a mob of spectators and photographers. I smiled for the cameras and then turned to watch the crowd in amazement. I know because the photo they got of me, my mouth is open and my eyes are are big as dinner plates.
And just like that, I was through the castle and out the backside of the park through Frontierland.
I was looking forward to the approaching Mile 7 because I'd voted for the winning "halfway" song on Facebook- "Let It Go" from Frozen. God I love that song! I passed a DJ in a booth and over some rail road tracks with the train sitting at the intersection, bell clanging and steam shooting out all around. Then as I moved along Floridian Way, I heard it. Probably 10 gigantic speakers blasting out Idina Menzel's amazing voice! I sang along softly and smiled at the encouraging signs spaced out along the side of the road. The sky was getting to a brighter shade of gray and I could really see the mist and low clouds now. I was glad for the dreary weather though- I didn't have sunglasses and was glad to not be in the heat.
The Clif Bar people were handing out goo gel packs but I decided to pass on that. I'd popped a couple of my sports beans a couple miles ago and was feeling pretty good. I started checking for Anita, who works for the airport, at the water stations. She was volunteering and I knew seeing her around mile 10 would be a perfect pick-me-up.
I decided around mile 9 to give the Pandora a rest- there was plenty going on on the course what with music and characters and people watching. I saw a guy dressed as Princess Leia complete with hair buns and a super soaker gun.
I found Anita at the water stop and posed for a quick picture. I didn't feel sweaty but lordy when I saw the photo she took I look like I'd jumped in the pool. My hair was wet and my shirt was disgusting. I mostly blame the misty foggy air!
As I continued on, I saw the end of the race on the other side of the highway! There were 3 people carrying white balloons with scary sad faces on them, and a couple people shuffling along barely ahead of them. There were also several people behind them, followed by a bus, some police cars, and lots of service vehicles and garbage trucks. I looked up ahead of me and saw.... oh! The 2 hr, 15 min pace balloon! Must. Pass. It. Must.... of course this had to happen while going up hill. I kept my steady pace and managed to pull ahead! The hill was tough, and up on the left once we got to the top, a Green Army Man from "Toy Story" was shouting encouragement and high-fiving everyone. Of course I stuck my hand out, who wouldn't high-5 the Green Army Guy?
Mile 11 felt good, but I was starting to feel it in my legs a bit. The Mile 11 medical station was giving out bio-freeze or something on sticks but I decided to pass. Not much longer now!
Mile 12 came just outside a backstage entrance to Epcot! Just before entering, I passed a gospel choir that was singing praises and clapping. So fun! I came in near Spaceship Earth to a group of cheering cast members and moved along through Future World. The route headed down that central area towards the World Showcase, but made a little u-turn and went right back toward Space Mountain. The top of the ball was obscured in the low overcast. I moved along and turned out back into the parking lot.
And then I heard him.
"MAGGIE!!!!!"
I turned in the direction of the voice and saw him with holding up the camera and waving. I was 100 yards from the finish line and my boyfriend had been waiting there for an hour and a half to see me at the end. I waved my arms and blew a big kiss as I ran by. With a big grin, I headed toward that big pink and purple banner, the photographers, the cheering crowds in the surrounding grandstands, the medals, the tables of PowerAde that surely await me, and the FINISH LINE! I crossed it with my hands on my head, eyes welling up with tears, and a shocked and relieved expression on my face. I held the sides of my face, running them over my head, mouth open in shock, hardly believing it was over- that I'd done it. My legs were barely hanging on. I wobbled over to the medal stand and a volunteer hung one around my neck. Another volunteer guided me over to another area to claim my Glass Slipper Challenge medal. The two clanged together nicely as I walked.
Almost as if in a dream, I stopped at the photo wall where a lady took my picture. I was given a mesh bag to hold my snack box and banana. I took a bottle of blue PowerAde off the table but was took exhausted to open it. I weakly handed it to the lady running the table and asked her to open it for me. "Of course, Princess. Here you go" she said sweetly. I wanted to hug her. I made my way to the family reunion area where I found Scot and Sparkles. I gave him a huge hug and stayed in his arms because, well, I was afraid I'd fall over if I let go!
Sparkles got us champagne mimosas- it was really the last thing I wanted but I managed to sip on it between gulps of PowerAde. The three of us hung out while I decompressed and cooled down. We decided to head back to Riverside so I could clean up and we could check out, then planned on spending the rest of the day at the Magic Kingdom.
Best. Shower. Ever.
And when we got to the park?
Best. Bacon cheeseburger topped with fried onion rings. Ever
Here are my medals!
And here is my new Christmas ornament that I got personalized!
Here's how I did! Not too shabby considering I took a bathroom break:
Bib # 21886
Gender Place: 1,206/19,294 (top 6%- only women's times were counted, no men's time was taken)
Chip Time: 2:09:57
Next races: Riverside Dash 15K in Sanford, followed by the Expedition Everest Challenge, Disneyland Dumbo Double Dare, Tower of Terror 10 Miler, and the Epcot Wine & Dine Half Marathon
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