Hello Everyone!!!! What an EXCITING weekend! I've just returned from Orlando and riding the high of such a fun weekend!
Disney World really knows how to move people efficiently and in a comfortable manner. There were 14 THOUSAND runners - with women being 66% of the field!
So Friday - we have an easy smooth drive to Orlando and arrive right to the Health and Fitness Expo - which is a requirement to attend in order to run in the race. It is the place you turn in your signed waiver and pick up your Bib Number and race info packet. Then you go over to another building and pick up gear bag and Race T-shirt.
After a super easy packet pick up - I enjoyed walking up and down every nook and cranny at the Expo - looking at all the running gear and gadgets. It was literally a shoppers heaven! Especially if you love workout gear!!!!! I got a Wine and Dine 2012 Running hat - an armpocket to hold my iphone and some snugbudds ear buds for the tunes . .. which I never listened to because the race was just SO ENTERTAINING!! - But I will get to that!
We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge -Jambo House. This is an African style Themed Hotel - with African inspired restaurants. It also was listed as one of the Host Hotels for the race - meaning there was a shuttle running to and from the race start and finish all night which is just AWESOME. One of my constant headaches with big events is parking and arriving and leaving lol. - This factor was completely removed from the equation. Our room at the hotel had a savanna view of Giraffe!!!- Ostrich!! Wildebeast!! Antelope! Zebra!! Impala!! OMG - everytime I looked out the window we saw a new animal!!! It was really nice to sit on the balcony and just watch all of the different animals in person.
I also had fun trying on hats in true - Disney Fashion at the hotel gift shop!
We had an easygoing first night- and enjoyed a meal at Jiko, which means The Cooking Place. African style food. I was worried about eating anything too funky -before racing so just kept it light.
-To be honest the first night I slept horribly as I always do the first night of any new and strange place -- also I felt some nerves as the excitement ramped higher and higher!
Saturday seemed to blaze by as I tried my best to lay low and take a nap to be fresh for the evenings events. A 10pm race start for a half marathon is SO alien to me!!
-I ended up catching a solid 30 mins of afternoon shut eye and then began getting ready!!
Disney wants you to have so much crap! I really dislike running with items - and also dislike the checking of bags! anywhere! including airports LOL.
BUT- I had my ID and some cash - my wrist band -my room key etc. .. thankfully it all fit compactly into my arm pocket arm band!! Handy thing I'm glad I got it as I refuse to wear a fanny pack!
OKAY finally dressed and pinned - for those of you who are interested I had a few different outfits- in the end I went with what I feel the most comfortable in. Long sleeve black nike shirt- polocrosse lululemon crop leggings, nike airborne running sports bra, and my trusty nike pegasus running shoes- WITH iron girl run cap!
As you can see by my sourgrapes expression - I was kind of nervy LOL Just wanting to get out and on the way!!
So I leave the room walk out the front door of the hotel and hop directly onto a waiting bus to take me to the race start. They requested I take the 8 pm bus as the LAST option . . I left around 7:15ish. We arrive to the ESPN Wide World of sports and are directed to huge open soccer type fields that have all of the Corral Letters lit up in sections - surrounded by a zillion portopotties. There was music blasting and a guy dancing and pumping the crowd up - as well as every type of strange costume present worn by runners.
Runners really are ODD CATS!! I saw a couple dressed as bacon and eggs! - Another as Thing 1 and Thing 2! There were several Tinkerbells and Minnies!
It was a really fun atmosphere! I didn't like that I had to wait so long before the event - as I felt like wilting as the time ticked by to 10:15 which was my corral D race start. But everything went off with an exciting fireworks display start!!
- The miles seemed to just melt into each other as we raced down the Parkway toward Animal Kingdom. As we entered the park there were photographers all over the place capturing everyones photos at prime locations! lol - I made sure to perk up and try to appear... effortlessly springy as I passed these guys HAHA!!
- Only to slump back into my hang on for dear life unattractive left right left right go go go go sheer will hitch in my git a-long a moment later!
- The Tree of Life was completely lit up - It really looked fantastic! I had this sensation of being somewhere completely exotic and foreign. As we exited the park and headed back down the parkway to HOllywood Studios, I noticed that I seemed to be keeping pace with this girl. I don't know who she is- all i knew was that she is consistent! No speeding and wilting speeding and wilting - she just sticks in there and hangs on. - This girl became my ANCHOR lol. If I felt myself straggling behind I would force myself to stay with her. I was able to stick it out with her until Mile 10. Then she stopped for water or something .. . just vanished into thin air! NOooooo lol.
- But eitherway - I silently thank her for helping me stay paced. I was MUCH faster this time around and more consistent. My body is much stronger too.
- Alright Hollywood Studios!! Talk about a light show!! Every Square inch of the buildings were lit up. Darth Vader was LOOMING - Indiana Jones music was soaring us along down the rock n roll 50's style streets! - There were more photographers hanging out on corners taking pics lol which I also made a grand effort to perk up for.
I know it sounds ridiculous - but its like anything else .. . if you know someone is watching you just try harder. .. is that bad? like I dont have my own will? - Things run through my head on long runs like this- crazy things like - Why am I doing this? I'm not a runner! Why am I torturing myself? I have this crazy pressured thought in my head that my mind and body must be cleansed and purged in fire twice a year at least- to keep me humble and not let me think I'm anything I am not.
There is nothing that humbles me faster than running.
It is what it is!! - And it isn't what it isn't!
- ANYWAY -
MOVING ALONG!! lol.
-
Each mile Marker was lit up with bands and dancers - disney characters that people were actually stopping to take photos with!! I was like WHAATT!! There is no time for waiting in lines to grab pics with Goofy!!!
But now that its over - I do wish I grabbed a pic or two along the way!
My favorite Cast Character was the Toy Story Green Army man who was at the base of a hill - lol I know its florida- no hills here but okay INCLINE. . .
He was yelling in this big Army style voice MOVE CIVILIAN!! YOu GIT UP THAT HILL!!! YOU OWN THAT HILL!! HEY THAR SWEET PEA - MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE!!
- He totally cracked me up!! Love that guy!!
So the end is near!! We are running along and I see this table with HUGE pump bottles of Biofreeze!! I stopped for a second and this woman pumped ALOT into both my hands which I just slathered all over my shins calves and ankles. IT was just HEAVEN. With a zinging new icy spring to my legs- I took off again into the cool night air! ZOoming around boardwalks and receiving HIGH FIVES from volunteers and spectators!
I rounded one of the last corners and was immediately FLOODED by some kind of Fog machine ! LOL Everything around me was shrouded in a dense foggy mist- and these laser lines shot out over my head like a lit ceiling of light surrounded by trees and night.
I could hear the MC in the distance getting louder and louder as he called out peoples names crossing the finishline. My heart was pounding - I couldn't feel any pain anymore and I thought about my Core Fit coach Alicia driving me along the sleds saying this is it Minda!! your last 100 yards of that half marathon!! this is it! dig in now! I could see the Epcot Ball Looming around me as I pushed forward.
- From somewhere I found an awesome surge of energy and came around the corner and across the finish line with a good kick ---the finish line was surrounded by stands of cheering spectators as well as runners who were relaxing and waiting for friends to finish as well! - I felt this intense wave of relief and joy as my feet crossed the mats!!! A super energized guy ran up to me saying PRINCESS!!! PRINCESS!! Here is your medal!! Congrats!! You earned it!! It was so much fun.
- It was such a personally rewarding experience - and there was so much entertainment provided along the way. I highly suggest adding this race to your list of fun half marathons!!
I came home and immediately registered for the Princess Half Marathon in Feb 2013!!!!! So-- the training continues!!
Below is a close up of the medal -then Dad and myself in front of the Epcot Ball, and finally me back at the hotel showered and resting with glassy eyes showing off my hardware!!
