A Day to Remember

Ok, I finally have the time to detail this past weekend's activities and share with you the smiles, tears, and pain that is the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. Along the way, I'll share some of the lessons I've learned as well, just in case you're crazy like me and want to do this sometime in your lifetime.

Friday. Got to the Expo to pick up my race bib and Champion Chip (so I could get my exact time - not that I'm trying to qualify for the Boston marathon or anything!) As I stepped out of my car into the frosty Orlando air (which earlier in the week was downright balmy!) I realized I forgot to bring anything to cover my fingers. (LESSON 1: Bring gloves! Actually, with Florida the way it is, be prepared to run in anything - hot or cold.) The Expo was (predictably) a mob scene - definitely not for claustrophobics. Fortunately, there was a vendor selling throwaway jackets and GLOVES! Yay! So, after I picked up everything, I headed to the retail area to look at the various souvenirs that were available (Souvenirs? At Disney? Surely you jest!) You want a stuffed "Snitch" (Yes, that's an "i", not an "a" - I still don't understand the popularity of that character, but I'm not a 2-year-old anymore) with a Marathon t-shirt on? Check! Want a commemorative bottle of marathon wine (if you know me, I actually did!)? Check! You name it, they had it. I seriously pondered the purchase of a t-shirt that proudly proclaimed "I did it!" as I hadn't "done it" yet, and would have had to explain why I didn't every time I wore the shirt (or I would have had to relegate it to the back of my closet with my Culture Club tour shirt and other such things.) It was cute, and had the map of the course on it, so I decided "what the heck". I've bought dumber things!

After the Expo, I headed to our lovely hotel, the Disney Coronado Springs. Disney being Disney, it was a themed place - southwestern this time. All of the (obviously anglo) cast members had to greet you at all times with a hearty "Hola!", which I found strangely amusing. The hotel was nice, but, as with most of the new hotels, the walls are as thin as Charmin toilet paper (more on this later). I met up with my parents, who were there to cheer me on (and pick me up from the hospital, if need be) and we headed out to dinner (LESSON 2: If you haven't lived in a town for a while, and you venture out to your favorite restaurant, make sure it's open first! I was looking forward to Dan Marino's, paid to park, walked over and it was closed for renovations! At least you really don't have a problem finding a restaurant in Orlando!). We got back to the room, and I tried to think sleepy thoughts (LESSON 3: Do not stay up to watch "Trading Spouses" if you need to get some sleep!), as I had to get up at 2:30 am (!) to catch the bus over to EPCOT Center, where the race started. Of course, I couldn't sleep because I was really anxious about the race (I feared I wouldn't finish and would have to be picked up before I got to the finish, which left me with a feeling of dread.) And, as I mentioned before, there was some commotion outside, as some revelers staying at the hotel were heading out for fun evening activities at 12:30 am. I think this one guy was standing right outside my door yakking it up quite loudly on his cell phone. So, needless to say, I got very little sleep. I used to work in TV and had to be into work at 4am, so the getting up wasn't such a big deal for me, so when the alarm went off, I got up - ready to face "The Duck"!

Saturday RACE DAY! After I got up, it was time to gear up. Sports bra, long leggings, knee braces, Team in Training top, borrowed sweatshirt from Paul (thanks!), track pants, new running socks, sneakers, bib, watch, heart rate monitor, pace band, fanny pack. i-Pod armband, baseball cap and gloves. I looked like the little kid in "Christmas Story" by the time I finished getting bundled up! Got to the hotel lobby at 2:45am. There was a flurry of activity. People were scarfing down Power Bars, bananas, bagels, and other various carbs and swigging down water by the gallons (LESSON 4: Don't listen when they tell you that there's a place to get food and beverages in the AM - they're wrong! I had to beg the bartender who was closing up shop for the night for a drink of water so I could wash down my pre-race Tylenols). Amongst the purple clad Team in Training people, there were a smattering of people who were actually coming in from a big night out, and they looked bemused that all of these people were heading out in the freezing cold (much more on this in a moment!) to run, of all things. They thought we were crazy and, frankly, at that moment I was too. I could have easily returned to the room for some (much needed) slumber but I had made it this far and just couldn't bring myself to quit. So, I headed outside to catch the bus. It was freezing (I think literally - it was definitely in the 30s.) I got on the bus and took the short trip to the starting line. It is now about 3:15 or so. The race starts at 6am. I have no idea why you have to be there so early! After I got to the waiting area, I donned the best cover up ever - a Hefty bag (garbage bag couture seemed to be the theme here). I felt like the embodiment of the old joke 'What's the difference between garbage and an Irish girl? Garbage gets picked up." (I just tells 'em, I don't writes 'em!) People were huddled for warmth in small groups - some were warming up or just moving around to keep the blood flowing. My ears were starting to get cold, and I thought all hope was lost for something to warn them with - until lo and behold - a Disney merchandise trailer (quel surprise!) This brings us to LESSON 5: Bring money to the race! I looked longingly at the ear bands and knit caps, but the few dollars in my pouch could hardly purchase a few threads. So I sucked it up (it won't be cold for long, right? Ha!) They had a DJ and band freezing outside along with us, but they did little to make the time go by any quicker. Then, finally, a call to action! Everyone started toward the starting line at 5am. Everyone is assigned a "corral" (yes, for those of you who thought Disney regarded their guests as cattle you were right!) depending on their anticipated finish time. As mine was "slug", I was with a very large group in the back corral (H, if you care.) After the 10 minute walk to the line, there left a whole 50 more minutes to fidget and wait. They had perky emcees counting down the crowd, and video displays as well (which we couldn't see form good ol' Corrall H!) Finally, at 5 minutes to 6, we had to remove our hats for the National Anthem. This is the first (of many times) I got teary-eyed - the girl who sang it had a lovely voice and resisted the urge to sing it like she was trying out for "American Idol"! If she did try to stretch it out, she would have been pummeled by people who couldn't wait to re-cover their cold heads! After this, it was "go time" - Mickey and the gang we're there as the starting gun (represented by a typically impressive display of fireworks) went off (more teary eyes from yours truly). The crowd back at the "H" started slowly shuffling towards the actual starting line, as the official race clock ticked away. Blankets, trash bags, and outerwear was being strewn all over the place, as bodies were set into motion. 22 minutes later, we finally crossed the line. As I started to pick up my feet, I thought "This isn't so bad. maybe I can run a few miles before I have to walk." 2 minutes later, "Maybe I can run for one song and walk for one." 5 minutes later, "Maybe I can run for one song and walk for 2. Before the first mile, I was walking. I didn't really care, as I tend to walk as fast or faster than I run, and there were still hundreds of people behind me. I was passing people too, so that felt good. There were people along the sidelines cheering the runners on throughout the race, but my favorites were the Hawaiian clad cheer squad near the first mile marker. I actually cracked a smile when I saw them. The first couple of miles went by quickly, as everyone was jostling for position and moving back and forth and side to side a lot. As the miles wore on, I hoped to take off my sweatshirt, so you could see my number in the photo ops that were upcoming, but I never did. It was that cold. I knew the Magic Kingdom was at about the halfway point for the race, so I got excited when we ran up towards the looming shape of Space Mountain. As we finally entered the park, I was as excited as I've ever been to be there. The characters were all over the place, and many racers stopped to have their pictures taken with them (LESSON 6: Bring a camera! I could kick myself for not getting a shot with Captain Incredible!) One lady was dancing with one of the Country Bears. I got to the "money shot" portion of the race, the run through the center of Cinderella's Castle, and was hoping one of the photographers got me immortalized on film - I still don't know if they did - my number being hidden may have denied me this privilege - and I got teary-eyed once again. By that point in time, I was afraid to stop, as I may not have been able to get going again, so I pressed on. Fortunately, the urge to go potty had not hit me, and I managed to it all of the water stops. I saw more people pee (and squat) than I ever did at Music Midtown. There were some token port-a-potties, but the lines were monstrous. I was hoping I could resist the urge for the last half of the race. After inhaling a Power Gel (chocolate - tasted like frosting...mmmm...and gave me some much needed energy) and swigging down a cup of agua, I bid a fond adieu to the MK and headed out to complete the hardest part...the last half.

After going through the park, the miles seemed to be getting longer, and the scenery was much less exciting. I started feeling jelly-legged around mile 10. I was starting to think I wasn't going to make it. Then, a slight pressure started building up in my bladder. Uh-oh. At least concentrating on not having to pee distracted me from my increasing weakness. I knew I was almost finished when I saw EPCOT in front of me and that started the worst stretch of the whole race for me. As I entered the park, I got excited and so emotional that I was almost done and I started to hyperventilate. Fortunately I was able to nip that in the bud with some mind power (don't know how I managed to pull that off!) As I worked my way back into the parking lot and saw that glorious finish line, I started up again! This time the urge to finish stopped the hyperventilation dead in its tracks. I couldn't believe I finished in time - around 3 hours and 6 minutes. It took me getting the medal placed around my neck to know that I truly did do it. I was spent. I almost fell over when they were cutting the chip off of my sneaker, and missed the post race picture because I had to keep moving. (I'm not too upset about that, as I was sure I was hardly a thing of beauty after a 13.1 mile race!) I wrapped myself in a mylar blanket (I went from looking like garbage to looking like a baked potato), grabbed a banana muffin and headed to the Team in Training tent to meet my folks. And I waited. And waited. And waited. After about an hour and a half, I figured they didn't make it and headed back to the hotel (LESSON 7: real important - bring a cell phone!) where my parents greeted me with a big "We're so sorry!" They did make it over to the race, but due to a screw up in communication , we waited for each other in different places. Oh well, no biggie! They didn't see the finish, but will when I get the video (sure to be humiliating!) I felt really sore but high as a kite for the rest of the day because I set my mind to do it, and did it! See? I'm no quitter!

Now call me crazy, but I'm thinking about doing it all again next year for Team in Training - but training to walk it from the start, not run. My hips and knees just won't let me do that anymore. We'll see...

It's been fun keeping this blog. I hope you have enjoyed reading it. I'll still be blogging, but I'll be over at sugarsmacks.blogspot.com from here on out. Well, until July!