hollywood studios frozen summer (and DDD countdown!)

Headed to California for the Dumbo Double Dare in just a month!  So excited for this one!  I got my bib number and corral assignment yesterday- I've made it all the way up to Corral C!  When I ran my first race- Tower of Terror 10 Miler- last October, I was in G so I've come a long ways.  The C placement however, means I ended up with an estimated finish time of just under 2 hours for the half marathon, which is so not even going to happen.  I set a PR on that Riverside Dash 15K back in April, so I used that for all my proof of times.  I mean, my estimated finish time for the Marathon next January is like 4 hours.  HA!  

So, Scot signed up for the Princess half with me.  We have a group of about 15 or so people running it together, most of whom are friends of friends but that's okay.  It'll be great to have so much support!  I can't for the life of me figure out what compelled Scot to sign up for this race, but I'm supportive.  I've offered to let him get up at 5 am with me for my morning runs but he hasn't taken me up on that yet!  He has already started looking into costumes, though.  I've given suggestions (Incredibles, Piggy & Kermit, Elsa & Olaf) but he says he wants to be a Prince.  Whatever then!

We went down to Hollywood Studios this past Sunday for the Frozen Summer events and had an absolutely fabulous time!  We had some fast passes for our favorite rides (Toy Story, Star Wars, and Tower of Terror) and the wait for the rest of the stuff we did really didn't exceed 20 minutes.  But oh let me tell you about the Frozen stuff!  When we got to the park we were given a paper Olaf snowman on a stick and were told to use #olafsummervacation on social media and take his picture doing various things around the park.  Some of the photos would be selected for the big screen presentation during the fireworks that night!  Cool!  Off we went. 

We first snagged tickets to the sing-along, which was a great idea at 2 in the afternoon.  The theater was warmer than it should have been but it was better than being outside.  Olaf enjoyed it.

Of course I sang along to everything, and I think Scot just enjoyed the ride.  He doesn't know all the words but I saw him trying when I glanced over.  The whole show was great- really funny, with a finale of smoke effects, lights, and of course- snow!

We made it into Wandering Oaken's Trading Post, which was a temporary store filled with Frozen merchandise.  Nothing to write home about.  They did have a candy counter with all kinds of themed goodies, but I resisted.  I was saving my calories for a cupcake and glowing drink later!  After a couple more rides, we found a seat at the bar in the Tune In Lounge for a bite of early dinner.  From there, into Frozen Funland!  Frozen Funland is also a temporary setup down the street from Toy Story, you go inside and around a corner and they have an ice rink set up with skate rental!  There's also a big corner filled with snow for kids to play in.  This is where the cupcakes were!  I paid way too much for a chocolate Anna cupcake.  Olaf didn't get any...

We got a photo at the entrance with him, sat down, enjoyed the cupcake, then headed out.  

Here's a few more of the things we did over the afternoon- a couple shots of the Backlot Tour:

And we also took him on the Tower of Terror!

 After the sun went down, we had to wait for the fireworks.  We put up our feet for a while and I got to enjoy my glowing blue Frozen adult beverage!  And some popcorn.  Because I couldn't resist the smell.  As 9pm rolled around, we headed over to the Mickey Hat to the dance party.  The Mulch, Sweat & Shears guys we re-branded as the Ice Men of the North and of course are really good.  After their rocking performance, the fireworks show started with Anna and Kristoff on stage, talking to Olaf who was digitally represented on the screen above.  He started showing his "vacation photos" in song (from the pictures that had been tagged earlier that day).  Almost 2 dozen of them with various people posing with their Snowmen On A Stick flashed up during the 2 minute song, and right at the end- THERE WE WERE!!!  OMG we made it into the show!  The one of the 2 of us holding him in front of the bridge in Frozen Funland!  I was in heaven after that- the fireoworks were incredible, the music all day was fantastic, the food was amazing, the whole theme was fulfilling enough for a Frozen addict like me, it was the perfect end to the day.

a princess once more, and more, and more

Disney Princess Half marathon registration was today and I signed up for the Glass Slipper Challenge again!  Wooo hooo!  I've actually got another couple girlfriends who are participating in the 1/2 marathon phase so I'm looking forward to training together.  

By signing up for the Princess, et al, I'm officially on track to complete EVERY Disney World race over 10K (6.2 miles) during the 2014-15 racing season.  This includes the Tower of Terror 10 Miler (repeat customer on that one), the Wine & Dine Half, and the Dopey Challenge.  It's a total of 8 races, including the Princess half/10K.  The Dumbo Double Dare at Disneyland this Labor Day is just a lagniappe!  

I've also really caught on to this virtual racing thing.  There's a ton of them on www.willrunforbling.com and it's super easy.  Actually, I convinced my friend LizzyDragon to sign up for the-get this- Top Gun Run.  We're both pilots (she is a former student of mine) and we were doing what pilots do best- floating around in the pool sucking down rum and cokes- when I saw the link to this website.  I'll pretend I'm just very persuasive, but I didn't have to try hard to get her to sign up for the 10K.  I'm pretty sure the rum helped.  I ended up signing on for the half marathon.  It wasn't expensive, $25, and the money benefits muscular dystrophy research.  Since it's a virtual race, they send you a medal (which you pretty much just purchased for $25) and you run around your neighborhood or whatever.  Anyhoo, the cost is low and the medal is badass looking!  We've decided that when the time comes in the middle of August (AWESOME time of year to run, esp in Florida, know what I'm sayin'?) that I'm going to get up and knock out 7 miles and while I'm doing that, she's going to drive up to my house and we'll finish the 6.2 together.  Because it's a virtual race and we can do whatever the hell we want to, right?

We feel the need.  The need for speed.  During intervals, of course.

  

virtual race, real life wine

Dopey Challenge training started this week!!!

Crap.

Less than 2 months to go until I hop on a plane and take an unnecessarily long and out of the way airline route out to L.A. to run the Disneyland Half/Dumbo Double Dare.  I'm ready for that one.  I even got a little over-excited and make my Eeyore ears, tail, and bow last night.  Right now I'm tracking 3, about to be 4, training programs- DDD, Tower of Terror 10 miler, Dopey Challenge, and Wine & Dine training starts next week.  I just sort of gave up on following anything too precisely and just run whichever is longest that week. 

Last month I signed up for my first "virtual race"- it's the Daytona Beach Firecracker 10 Miler, benefiting a local veterans association.  Basically, I signed up, paid my $40, and got a t-shirt and medal in the mail a few weeks later.  There was a few days time frame for me to do the 10 mile run anywhere and anytime I wanted, so I decided to knock it out this morning as my "long run" around the neighborhood.  You may be wondering what's actually holding me to even bothering to do the run, since I don't have to submit my time or even tell anyone I've done it.  We're totally on the honor system on this one- I'm sure if you want to be a loser and pay, get the medal, and forget about it you can but...why?  It's only 10 miles.  Suck it up, Buttercup.  (That, btw, is my new favorite saying.  I started saying it to my students when they get all sissy with the airplane, or if they say they can't study for a progress check because *insert lame reason here*)

So I finished my 10 miles this morning in around 1 hr 39 min.  I just this week started training with intervals and I'm so in love!  Especially since it's so damn hot here in FL.  When I ran the Princess Half marathon last February, I ran it straight through, slowing at the water stops.  I wanted to die at the end and could barely move the next day.  I'd noticed that during the longer training runs, my legs would cramp up approaching the 10 mile mark.  This week I've started doing a 4:30 minute run/45 second walk interval and it makes all the difference in the world. My time is faster because I know I can push myself a little more because there's a walk break coming up!  Check out my new bling:

I also made a medal hanger for all my new lovelies.  I bought a board, screw-in hooks, picture hangers, and paint from the craft store.  I looked all over for a stencil for the Walt Disney font but couldn't find a thing.  I finally just googled it and hand-drew the lettering in pencil before going over it with a paint pen.  I think it turned out fantastic!

I should be adding...13 more by the time Dopey is complete.  14, if you count the one I'm holding above.  That one wasn't on the display when I took the picture. 

On a non-running note, Scot and I went to Grapevine, TX for my family's annual reunion.  If you go searching for a blog I wrote last summer, you'll see how I raved about a little bar/restaurant called Into The Glass in the historic downtown area.  I'd been looking forward to going back there for an entire year and when we stopped by again, they did not disappoint!  I posted a photo below of the wine I had because it was amazing and, yet again, I'm going to drive myself crazy looking for it.  I'm pretty sure it's not pronounced Ferret like the stinky little rodent some people keep as pets.  Fer-AY maybe?  Whatevs, it's French.  And it's got this crisp, peachy note that was perfect for the 90-something degree day we had.  Find it.  Drink it.  Srsly.

When we got back from Texas, we scooted down to the Magic Kingdom for a day because I'd booked us Fastpasses for the new 7 Dwarfs Mine Train like 3 weeks earlier.  I'd seen the local commercials for it and was bouncing in my seat to finally get down there and take a ride!  When we got to the park (it's about an hour drive) we found out 7 Dwarfs was down for maintenance.  For the whole day.  Talk about disappointment!  I guess we'll get down there in a couple weeks and try it again!  Fingers crossed this time.  (Although we did get in to Be Our Guest for lunch, only had to wait in the hot sun for maybe 20 minutes, which totally made up for it.)

running the expedition everest challenge

The Expedition Everest Challenge was one of the first Disney races I'd heard of when I started keeping up with All Things Disney after moving to Florida.  I'd always wanted to try it but it was never in the budget.  The price is pretty steep for a 5K, after all!  After experiencing the Princess Half and Tower of Terror 10 Miler, I decided the price tag was worth it and managed to talk Scot into running Disney with me.  Of course, we signed up the day registration opened, and within the week, Everest was sold out.  Surprise surprise.

Back in the beginning of the year, I decided we'd dress up as Russell and Kevin from the movie Up for this run.  Thanks to that DIY crack known as Pintrest, I was able to come up with some costume ideas that didn't require much effort or sewing.  

We booked a room at Pop Century, got dolled up, and boarded to bus to Animal Kingdom around 8pm.  The past 3 days had been dreary and raining with a front stalling out over Central Florida.  When we got to the park, there was a steady drizzle welcoming us.  We hung out under a shelter with the vending machines for a few minutes til it started to slack off.  As we headed along with the rest of the herd over to the AK parking lot, we got soooo many compliments on the costumes!  I knew we looked amazing, and I was a bit surprised at the lack of overall dressing up from the rest of the runners.  I mean, compared to ToT and Princess, hardly anyone was in costume.  

We joined the crowd in front of the DJ for some warm-up dancing.  The drizzle was on and off for the next hour or so, but some careful footwork around the puddles allowed for minimal splashing.  I don't care if I look like a big doofus while dancing but Scot's a lot more self-conscious.  He did eventually start to loosen up a bit and I'm pretty sure he was having a good time, rain aside.  We lined up a bit later in corral A (which was awesome because the wait times between corrals took forever!) and did some more dancing and cheering in the drizzle.  Somewhere, a (soap) snow machine started up and it looked like a full-out blizzard.  The countdown ended and all of a sudden, we were off!  It started with a gentle jog around the parking lot, splashing through puddles the whole way.  The first "obstacle" was a series of hay bales less than a mile in.  We leaped over about 8 rows of them in the face of the Marathonfoto paparazzi that were camped out at the end.  The course then took us through the park for a brief spell, then around and out the back down a service road.  There wasn't as much music and entertainment as on the longer races, but there were some neat lights and a guy in a booth setting off fire balls.  The next obstacle was a selection of tires to high-knee though.  I swear I thought I was going to face plant and die right there, but again I made it though with minimal effort.  The water stop came along at mile 2 after we popped back into the park.  The time in  was quick though, as we sailed back to the backstage area.  The final obstacle was a crawl under a rope net, and although the rain had finally stopped, I was relieved there was astroturf underneath it, after all, everything was still really wet.  Scot slithered under the net like he'd done it 100 times, I was a bit slower.  My feather headband had been getting on my nerves the whole time and I'd finally just taken it off and tucked it into the waistband of my pants.  The finish line was around the corner and we crossed it together at around the 26 minute mark.  Impressive!

We were immediately handed bottles of water, our first clue, a map of AK, and a blue sharpie with a flashlight attached.  

As you can see, we got the first clue wrong!  It said to use the color of something you'd been given, and of course we'd just been given a BLUE sharpie.  So we circled that one and ran to the clue station.  I was stumped with we got a big DENIED by the woman managing the station.  What else had we been given?  We started looking at the AK map for colors but couldn't figure it out.  This was not starting out well!  The lady looked at us like we were dumb as rocks and told us to look at our bibs.  Bibs?  I looked down at my green race bib.  Green?  YES.  Oh.  Well, shit, I'd been given the race bib yesterday, that was long-forgotten.  Ok, got Clue 2 and moving on!

Well damn.  This one was hard too.  We found the station for this one inside the park near Pizzafari and loitered around to listen to any hints the guide working it was giving out.  We'd racked our brains thinking of prime numbers that were whole and odd, but didn't know what to do with them, or what the green flag was for.  Again, the man there told us to find where numbers were spelled out in the clue from #1-  the phrase "both reenergized" contains the hidden word "three" and the word "done" contains the word "done."

This?  Is some bullshit.

The answer was... four.  You add 3+1.  Okay.  Four.  Now give us the next clue, idiot.

Clue #3!

Finally, an easy one.  I figured this one out pretty quick- we use 2 As, one G, 2 Hs, and so on to fill in the blanks.  "Things that keep up you warm."  Got it.  

Clue #4!

The next station attendant gave us this one that said to punch out all the items that apply to Clue #3.  A scarf, mittens, fire, sleeping bag, boots, hot thermos.  Now it's getting easy!  Dash off to station number 5 for the last clue!  

The answer from Clue #2... oh right, it was 4!  We fiddled with our clue numbers til we found the one with the giant 4 on the back and took off toward the finish line.  As we were running, we passed opposite the direction of people just starting the 5K part of the race!  Yikes!  We rounded the corner to the finish while holding up our #4 signs.  We crossed the finish line with good times!

Scot: 63rd place in 49:31.  43rd individual male to finish out of around 6,000 participants.

Me: 62nd place in 49:30.  20th individual female to finish.

Overall, good times.  After we got past the first 2 clues, of course!  Since we finished so early we were able to get on some rides, we rode Everest twice in a row!  After that, everything else that was open was in DinoLand USA.  We headed out to the buses when the crowds started picking up around midnight.  Check out our bling!  The medal is pretty neat, it opens up into a compass

I enjoyed this race.  It wasn't my favorite (not long enough for me, plus the Expo took place outside in the rain under like 3 puny little tents) but I'm glad Scot got to participate in a runDisney event.  Might do it again next year, but we're going to have to study more, heh heh.

a dash and a dopey idea

What a month!  It's almost Easter and I'm wondering how I missed most of April!  Back in the beginning of this month I think I had Scot's birthday, Sun N Fun airshow in Lakeland, the Riverside Dash 15K, and our Magic Behind the Steam Trains tour at the Magic Kingdom to look forward to in the first 7 days of the month, but after all that was over the time just flew by. 

The Riverside Dash was put on by EA Sports, which has headquarters here in Maitland.  The 15K was in Sanford, along the riverfront (AKA Lake Monroe), from the hospital, down to the zoo, turned back down 17-92 and through historic downtown before ending back at the hospital.  It was an easy course and I actually blew away my previous time with a PR of 1:21:31! I was surprised when my Map My Run kept telling me my pace was around 8:44/mi, because I'm usually comfortable at around a 9:30/mi.  I was feeling good though, so aside from a 30 second porta potty break, I was able to hold that pace throughout and finished with a jumping heel kick across the finish line!  Scot had even managed to find a spot on the side of the road around mile 5 to cheer me on.  

Shiny new bling

For the 3 Disney races I've now run, I can admit I'm race-spoiled.  Although an easy route, the RD15K was boooooooooring!  No music, no entertainment, no nothing along the course.  I was left to my own thoughts and Pandora.  I can't imagine running a marathon.

More on that in a minute.

Switching gears...or tracks, I can say... I do highly recommend the Steam Trains tour at the MK.  It was an insanely early wake-up call for us (5am!), and I had to get us to the Contemporary Resort by 7 to park so we could walk to the Magic Kingdom, as Disney transportation wasn't running that early in the morning.  Scot likes his trains so we enjoyed it very much.  We got to ride backstage and see the Roundhouse where they keep the trains and monorails and learned so much about the history of trains in the parks and at Walt Disney's own home.  A lot of it I couldn't follow, the technical stuff and all, but it was still fun.  I got some good photos.

The #1 engine, the Walter E Disney, at the roundhouse

After the birthday and race stuff was over, the next thing looming on my horizon was the Passholder registration for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.  I'd always when I started training that I'd wanted to run a half marathon, and no was in hell was I ever interested in running a full one.  Then, watching those fools cross the finish line back in January, I started wondering if it was something even I could do.  I mean, there were waaaaay less fit people than me doing these races, surely...?

And then I decided if I were to run a marathon, I'd go all the way.

Dopey Challenge.

I've actually been downright anxious about registration day!  I knew that when I clicked that "Pay" button on active.com that there was no going back.  I was at work just finishing up a flight when registration opened.  When I clicked the link to take me to the page and it popped up, my stomach literally sank.  I took a deep breath and filled out the information.  I took many, many deep breaths and I typed in my credit card number for the $540 registration fee.  And then, in an instant, I was signed up for the Dopey Challenge.  

What is it?  Well, it's this-

I done lost my damn mind.  

I was feeling all inspired and shit after I signed up so I got up the next morning and did 13.1 on my own.  I'd run 6.2, or 10K, the previous morning so it was like re-doing my Princess Glass Slipper Challenge again.  Good news, my butt and legs were a lot less sore afterward this time.  Since I'm doing the same deal at Disneyland in August- they call it the Dumbo Double Dare, I figure I better get more comfortable with that combination so I don't, you know, DIE when I have to run a marathon the next morning.  

On that note, I think I'll go make myself a mojito.  I'm growing mint in a pot in my herb garden for EXACTLY that purpose.  True story.  

mickey ears and finery

Time for more crafts!

I found a Mickey Mouse wreath on Pintrest that I wanted to make- it was 3 grapevine wreaths tied together in your classic mouse-ear shape and decorated with white flowers and leaves. 

I set out to find my supplies- tried Hobby Lobby Holy Grail first.  Believe it or not, they didn't have anything I wanted.  The wreaths were awkward sizes and I wasn't impressed with their offerings of white flowers.  Next stop was Jo-Ann Fabrics, where I found what I needed.  I bought what was basically a reel of twisty tie wire and fashioned my ears like so:

And then it sat on the pool table/ craft table for a couple days until I found flowers I liked.  

I ended up back at Jo-Ann (after another unsuccessful Hobby Lobby attempt) and wandered around their floral section for the better part of an hour.  I didn't see anything I loved and eventually just grabbed some white carnation-looking things.  As I stood in front of a wall of white ribbon looking for the perfect accent, the realization hit me like a brick to the head.  

White is boring!

I moved down to the yellows and reds and grabbed the first roll that caught my eye- a wired glittery orange ribbon wide enough to hide the twisty ties.  I then speed-walked back to the floral section, dumped the blah white nothings and immediately grabbed some giant red and orange flowers.  I went from starting to dread this project to hardly being able to wait to get home to put it together!  Pintrest is just for inspiration, ya'll.  It doesn't have to be a copy.

When I finished, this is what I'd come up with:

All my favorite colors!  Lord help me if I ever have to work with white again.  I have so so so much love for this piece!

Here are the costs:

Jo-Ann Fabrics

Wreaths: $9 for all 3 after coupon

Twisty tie stuff: $3 

Wire ribbon: $4

Flowers: $14 after coupon

Glue gun, etc: already owned

TOTAL: $30

I probably could have done a little better with cheaper flowers and ribbon, but I bought what I loved.  If this was for sale at a Disney-related store I'm guessing it would be twice that amount so I think I done good!

Side note

We Scot and I went down to the Magic Kingdom on Sunday for Dapper Day and to see the premiere of the Festival of Fantasy Parade.  Dapper Day is a fan event for the California and Florida Parks where guest dress up in their (modern or vintage) finest, in homage to the original drawings and renderings of the first ideas for Disneyland Park.  The drawings were done back in the 50s so the people in the sketches were dressed to the nines, not like the trashy ho look people wear out in public today.  So, a fan even was started to allow people to dress up and enjoy the parks the way things would have been back in the day.  Here we are:

  

I think we look quite dapper!

if you're curious, it's www.dapperday.com for future events

running the princess half marathon: part 2 (the 13.1 mile part!)

This is Part 2 of my Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend recap.  

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