WARNING - THIS REVIEW IS LONG.
NO, I MEAN IT, IT'S LOOOOOOOONG!
Start – Mile 1
I saw Hubby and The Child by the fence and waved, just in
case he could get a shot of me (and The Child was recording the whole thing
with her little red camera). In
hindsight, I should have gotten him the zoom lens…. Oh well!
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| See the reflector to the right of the cone? I'm the purple blurb above it. |
I pulled to the right, as walkers are supposed to, and
realized that I forgot to actually START the Garmin! I started it, and began to observe the other
racers. My plan was to walk for 20
minutes to get warmed up, since it was so crowded, and then begin my intervals. As I walked, I saw lots of girls – and guys –
heading to the woods to pee.
I can’t imagine needing to pee so quickly after starting a race, especially knowing that there would be a pottie in less than a mile, but some people’s plumbing are different from mine. I just giggled as they ran back up the embankment, adjusting costumes and whatnot.
I can’t imagine needing to pee so quickly after starting a race, especially knowing that there would be a pottie in less than a mile, but some people’s plumbing are different from mine. I just giggled as they ran back up the embankment, adjusting costumes and whatnot.
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| Seems weird, but ok! |
Someone tapped me on the shoulder and said“Team Ted!” Another Posse Princess. She said her name was
Sue. Her interval timer went off and she was gone.
The Mile Marker 1 sign came very quickly – you could hear lots of the runners say “Are we at 1 already?”
Mile 1 – Mile 2
Passing the first mile felt good. It was still dark, and we
all still had our adrenaline-heightened spirits up, so going around the bend to
World Drive
wasn’t too big a deal. Something happened to one of the runners – she was on
the side of the road in the grass with Medics. One of the medics kept yelling,
“Get off the grass! Get on the road!” to warn runners – otherwise they (the
patient and medics) would have been trampled!
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| Hey, who wants to go to the Magic Kingdom? |
This mile was one of the miles I was
really looking forward to. Cap'n Jack,
The Heroes, and of course the parking plaza gate!
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| Captain Jack Sparrow's boat in the background |
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| Those blurry lights on the left are the Parking Plaza! |
Mile 2 – Mile 3
The course narrowed to only a handful of lanes, and there
was a loudspeaker repeating “Course
Narrows; Speed Bump
Ahead” over and over. I picked a lane
and ran though!
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| Crap, I forgot my $14 to park! Guess I'll have to walk through. |
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| I'm gesturing to my cool Nautilus shell 'necklace' here. |
Mile 3 – Mile 4
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| 5k sign - only TEN more miles to go! |
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| Yes, I stood in this line. Willingly. During a race. |
The set for the villains was great. There was a skeleton pirate next to some gold, a few playing cards, fog machines and black lights, and great music. The line moved quickly, as there were 3 or 4 cast members handling cameras, and each girl ran in, posed, and left. After 8 minutes (8 precious minutes I really shouldn’t have spent), it was my turn. I ran up and told the ladies that the lineup needed more evil! I got my pic, they wished me good luck, and I was off again!
After the villains stop, I ran for a bit – my intervals had disappeared somehow - and we followed the curve into the parking lot, headed for the Transportation & Ticket Center!
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| The fence on the left is the edge of the Richard Petty Driving Experience |
This was the first time since the start that
there were spectators, and it was so great to see cheering family members, even
if they weren’t mine. It made me feel
like a superstar, and made the race seem more real. Coming into the TTC, I
stopped to take a pic of the cool Metal Mickey before we ran under the little
road that crosses the TTC tram road. It was a little hill and I hardly felt it!
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| Get out of the way! Trams will run you down! |
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| Hi Mickey! |
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| Available bathrooms right by Mile Marker 4 |
Mile 4 – Mile 5
Now we are in the actual TTC, running across the plaza, past
bathrooms, and there, by the Monorail station, were the awesome Japanese
drummers. It looked like there were at least 30 of them, banging away. It was
great!
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| I don't want to work, I just want to bang on the drum all day! |
We passed them too quickly and after grabbing water, there was a med
tent and a great guy handing out Tylenol and Kleenex. The Kleenex were all
balled up, so I had to ask if it was a CLEAN Kleenex! He promised it was, and I
tucked the Tylenol into my water bottle pouch and the Kleenex into my bra and kept
on truckin.
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| The name "Kleenex" is a combo of "Clean" and the end of "KotEX" |
I looked to my left, and in the foggy distance, I could see
the Grand Floridian. It was really pretty, and I tried to get a photo of it as
I ran by, but I don’t’ think it came out very well.
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| Look under the right part of the monorail track |
Between this area and the Water Bridge,
there were three HUGE human-operated puppets out for photos. Genie, Lumiere and
Sebastian. If it were darker out (i.e.
if I was a lot faster), they would have been lit up, and even more fabulous!
But, in the foggy dawn, they were still pretty impressive.
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| See the human? He's in yellow to blend in. |
Unfortunately, the lines (especially for
Sebastian) were way too long, so I snapped a pic as I passed by.
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Okay, so here it is, ladies.
The Water Bridge Hill.
Many
racers bemoan this part of the course because of the incline of this hill. We got another “Course Narrows!”
warning, and then we were funneled into ONE lane (so that the road could still
be passable by vehicles). I tried to
stay on the right, like walkers are supposed to, but speedy princesses kept
trying to run on my right, between me and the cones. Seriously, girls, this is NOT the place to do
that!
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| Seriously - that is WATER up there, not an overpass |
On the Water
Bridge, there was a guy
(DJ? I don’t know who that guy was) with HUGE Mickey hands dancing along with
music, pumping up all the runners. He looked like he was having a great time,
but I was focused on this hill, so I didn’t pay too much attention to him.
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| I've got a hankerin' for a spankerin'! |
Those of you who know me, know that I’ve been running on 8th Avenue,
home of one of the steepest hills in my town.
Every Sunday, when I did my long run, I hit this hill. Some of my longer runs, I hit this hill, or
equivalent hills, multiple times. And
yet, I was still worried about this hill.
The internet has a way of making things seem so much MORE than they are.
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| Gazillions of gallons of water over my head right now. |
This hill ain’t shit.
Seriously.
When I walk the 8th
Avenue Hill, I am cussing God and running out of
breath ¾ of the way to the top, and practically leaning backwards when I walk
down.
The Water Bridge Hill was maybe
half that bad, maybe half of the intensity of my hill. Conquering that hill and making it out the
other side to see the Contemporary… well, it was a crowning moment for me. I
hadn’t made it MK yet, I certainly hadn’t finished the race yet, but doing that
hill, that wasn’t as bad as I thought, it made me feel accomplished. Like, all this training was leading me
somewhere bigger than the finish line. I don’t know how to put it into words….
It was my personal “Rocky” moment, I guess.
Anyway, I made it to the top of the hill and saw Space Mountain and the mile 5 marker, right before we curved into the Magic Kingdom
backstage.
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| Look at all the bodies! |
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| Great Sign - It said "Run Pretty Girls"! |
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| When else can you get this close to Space Mountain? |
There was a cop directing traffic, and his sign said “slow” pointed
towards us. I thought it was funny and had to take a photo of it, after I took
a photo of the Mile Marker sign (a bad photo, I might add!)
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| Yeah, I am slow - what you gonna do about it? |
Mile 5 – Mile 6
Coming in to Mile 5, I looked at my camera and saw how dead
it was. I didn’t have much juice left and I was only 1/3 of the way through the
race! Oh no! I wanted to make sure that
I had enough battery power left to get my Castle Shot, so I didn’t take nearly
as many photos in MK as I wanted to.
We came onto property and ran under the WDW Railroad tracks,
which was pretty cool, and then we were behind Tony’s Town Square.
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| It would have been cool if a train was here.... |
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| Tony's is on the left; the Chapeau is on the right |
But, looking past backstage,
we could see the tops of City Hall and the Train Station, AND THE CASTLE! Oh,
glory, I’ve made it here!
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| I see the castle!!!! |
Another stop on the “Holy Shit, this is real and I’m
really doing it!” road, was coming through the gates by The Chapeau and turning
onto Main Street.
This is one of the BIGGEST draws of the race for lots of the runners. Some women say, "As long as I make it to the Castle..." (in regards to not being able to finish the entire race). I came around that corner and saw the castle
and …
nothing.
nothing.
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| "I'm walkin' right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A.!" |
All the times I imagined this moment, I welled up with
tears. When I actually DO IT – nothing. Sure,
I was very happy to be doing it and I was very proud of myself, but
there was no “I’m gonna cry right now!” feeling. Weird. I think maybe it was because, as I
walked down Main Street,
I was scanning the crowds for Hubby and The Kiddo.
I did stop about halfway down Main Street, near The Plaza, and asked a
few different voluntEARS to take a photo of me. Once that was done, I saw Hubs
near the Hub, and I made a beeline for him! He asked questions, but damn if I
can remember them now! The Kiddo dug out
a PowerAde for me.
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| Note that even my backpack matches my Ursula costume! |
I gave her my packet of Kleenex that I’d been carrying
around – the plastic package kept slipping out of my SparkleSkirt pocket, and
it was driving me crazy. I got hugs, then let Hubby take a pic of my with the
good camera, and then I headed to
Tomorrowland.
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| What a half-assed pose! |
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| Can I take a moment to hit the PeopleMover? No? Okay... |
Once we got into Tomorrowland, there was a lot more space to
spread out, and it wasn’t nearly as claustrophobic. I chugged the hell out of
that PowerAde and it was gone by the time I got to Monsters Inc Laugh
Floor. Rounding the corner by Merchant
of Venus (not Mickey’s of Venus, as was pointed out to me later that weekend!),
I debated a restroom break, but the lines were long, and it looked like a CM
was NOT letting women into the men’s room. I held it and kept going.
I saw that Buzz was meeting, but he wasn’t worth stopping
for (Sorry, Buzz! Maybe next time). We
came into the beginning of Fantasyland, and I eyeballed the potties by Cheshire
Café. Nah, too far off the route, and I couldn’t tell if they were ‘in play’ or
not. I kept going. There’s a castle up
there, and 364 days of this year, it may have Cinderella’s name on it, but today, it has MY name on it.
Before we got near the new
castle walls, I saw two ladies in front of me, wearing
pink shirts and tutus. On the back of
their shirts was Sweet Brown, the internet meme lady who “ain’t got time fo
dat!” Of course, I had to get a photo of
them!
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| Ain't nobody got time to make a GOOD tutu! |
We turned near Winnie the Pooh, and OMG the lines for Gaston
and Belle were horrific! Gaston’s was
about 1/3 of Belle’s, but there was NO WAY I would be able to wait in those
lines.
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| As a character stop, it's intimidating - oh what a line! Gaston! |
I tried to snap a few pics with my dying battery before coming down the
home stretch to the castle’s back door. I pulled to the side and got another shot, and took a few of the Royal
Trumpeteers and readied myself to run through the castle.
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| You wouldn't have seen it if I didn't point to it! |
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| I LOVE this photo!! |
There was no running to be done.
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| Mooooooooooooooo |
There was a HUGE bottleneck in the castle
tunnel. People were off to the sides
taking photos with the mural. People were off to the other side getting Fairy
Dusted by Fairy Godmothers in Training. There was just no way that anyone
could run through that. It was like Main
Street after fireworks on the 4th of
July.
Nonetheless, the Woo Girls could
not help themselves, and there was lots of Woo-ing as we passed through the
tunnel and came out the front. MarathonFoto was at the exit of the tunnel to catch runners, but because there were so many people, and I was trying to stay out of everyone else's shot, I never got a photo of ME coming out of the
tunnel!
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| Pay no attention to the villain behind you.... |
But I knew exactly where to go – to the LEFT! MarathonFoto had a half-dozen photographers camped out in the Castle Forecort to get photos of the runners individually in front of the castle.
My battery was almost drained at this point, but I was able
to eke out ONE more photo, courtesy of the princess behind me (for the rest of the race, I had to use my
iPod for photos.) However, neither that photo or the one from
MarathonFoto was a good photo – did they both take a pic while I was talking?!?
Oh well – it was the other of the TWO photos I promised myself that I’d stop
for, and I did.
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| Photo courtesy of MarathonFoto - I still have no eyebrows... |
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| Am I flying? Am I bowing? What's up with the pose? |
I saw Hubby and the Kiddo by the Partner Statue (behind the
ChEAR Squad area), and tried to get their attention (thinking back now, why
didn’t I CALL them rather than trying to yell?)
I wanted to give them my now-dead camera, but they couldn’t come up to
get it. A really nice ChEAR squad guy took my camera and handed it back to
Hubby, and, after one more photo, I took off, headed to Liberty
Square.
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| Stop takin' my picture, old man! |
Speaking of Liberty Square, I could go for a funnel cake right about now!
No?
Okay, let’s keep moving.
Into Frontierland we go, and finally, I gotta hit a potty
before heading out of the park. There will be no more real bathrooms until
Epcot, and I sure as hell ain’t gonna stop at mile 12 to pee! I head to the
potties that are in the walkway between Adventureland and Frontierland and
there is NO LINE! Thank you to DIS and
my Posse for cluing me in to where the good bathrooms are. I slip into a stall
and do what I need to do then attempt to pull up my sweaty, fully-loaded
SparkleSkirt.
Have you ever gone to the pool or beach and had to go to the bathroom, so you go to the restroom, pull down your tank suit, do your business and then try to pull that cold, wet suit back up your body, doing that swaying/jiggling/tugging dance, to get that suit all the way back up?
Have you ever gone to the pool or beach and had to go to the bathroom, so you go to the restroom, pull down your tank suit, do your business and then try to pull that cold, wet suit back up your body, doing that swaying/jiggling/tugging dance, to get that suit all the way back up?
Yeah, it was like that.
Oh, and a helpful tip – take extra seconds to make sure
that your undies are up where you want them. Chafing in that special area isn’t
fun. Neither is trying to readjust while
you are walking with thousands of other girls!
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| Someday the finish line will come |
Mile 6 – Mile 7
The Mile 6 mile
marker was near the Frontierland Trading Post. I snapped a quick pic before
heading to that little walkway near Splash
Mountain. I’d been here
before too, on the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. I stopped to take a photo of the
train with it’s Engineer and Conductor, but the line was too long for a photo
(and by too long, I mean – there WAS a line, and I just know I’ve been going
way too slow).
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| I think I can, I think I can! |
Backstage again.
There’s a huge warehouse back here, where they store the parade floats, and all but
one of the floats are currently in storage. The best float, though, is out in full view – the
mirrored, multifaceted Castle float!
Right now, Aurora and Prince Phillip are meeting and the line is almost
obnoxiously long. (I heard that Cinderella and Prince Charming, and Snow White and Prince Charming also had sets here) Again, I snapped a pic as I walked by.
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| Aurora & Phillip (yes, they have names!) |
Past the float, between
what I assume is the show building for Splash and that large parade float
warehouse, we come to the 10k mark! I
grab water and powerade, and keep on truckin’, on onto Floridian Way.
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| 10k Sign - 6.9 miles to go! |
Floridian Way is VERY tight – it’s a two-lane road, and only
one of the lanes are open (so that traffic can still get by). Again, we have runners trying to slip by on
the right, when they should be over on the LEFT, and it’s really starting to
tick me off.
Rounding a curve, I hear “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys. I
hate this song. Honestly – Keys has a
good voice. She can play the piano well. But, really???? Stop with the yelling!
However, no matter how much I hate this song, it means a
hell of a lot more to me now, because this song signified the HALFWAY
POINT! That’s right, just before mile 7,
I reached the halfway point. Of course, took a photo. One of my Posse girls said that when she got
to this sign she screamed “My thighs are on fire!” Can’t not think of that now,
either….
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| This song is SO much better with goats. Seriously, go check out the video. Now, go do it - I'll wait. Oh, and don't be drinking anything either. Really. |
Also at this point, one of my headphones decided to die, so
I had to one-ear it from this point on. Remember this – it’s important! I guess
my headphones were getting as tired as I was. I was draggin’ ass at this
point….
Mile 7 – Mile 8
Mile 7 is a blank to me right now. I don’t really
remember a lot. There was a DJ, blaring that damn song, and there was a fire
truck with some hot guys. Going by photos, it looks like Mile 7 was just before
the Grand Floridian (you can see the red roofs - rooves? - in the background).
Oh shit.
There are two people, on either side of the road, waving
orange flags.
Orange flags mean that you are behind pace.
Behind pace means that the Balloon Ladies have already
passed you.
Balloon Ladies passing you means that you are going slower
than the required pace, and you can and WILL be swept if you can’t go faster.
This is the first time in the whole race that I’m scared
that I won’t be able to finish. I’m scared because I know that I have it IN me
to finish, but I’m scared that I’m already too far behind to make up that time.
The good news is that, at Mile 7, I was only 2 minutes behind
pace.
Right after this mile marker sign was the best character
stop ever – Nanny Poppins, Chimney Sweep Bert (Burt?) and a few ‘extras’. I was actually PISSED that I couldn’t stop
for this photo.
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| Totally stole this pic from Twins Run in our Family's blog |
Well, technically, I COULD stop for the photo, if I wanted
to A) run like hell for 10 minutes straight to get back on pace or B) give up
and get on the Sweeper bus. I wanted to
do neither, so I kept walking. (Next time, I WILL STOP for that photo!!!!!)
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| See the lady in the orange vest - she is waving the flag. See the bus? That's the Loser Bus |
Mile 8 – Mile 9
At Mile 8, the flags are still there! I’m still behind pace. At this point, I’m trying to figure out when
the Balloon Ladies passed me. They must
have passed me way back in Frontierland when I was in the bathroom. It’s the
only way they could have gone by without me seeing them or hearing all the
girls talk about them…..
I remember passing the Golf Course, with it’s fun Mickey
Golf Cart (ain’t nobody got time fo dat) and the Wedding Pavilion set up, with
the men in gorgeous suits (ain’t nobody got time fo dat, neither). My working earphone conked out on me, so I
pull it out and have no music at this point. I wrap up the cords and stuff the earbuds into my bra (hey, my pockets are full, what can I do?)
A lot of the ladies around me are plodding along with their
heads down, looking dejected and beaten.We aren't having nearly as much fun as we were 3 hours ago.
I keep going.
Mile 9 – Mile 10
We pass the Poly, with their handful of spectators – by now
I’m sure, most spectators have gone to meet their runner at the finish line.
It’s just us turtles in the back… I’m
dragging so bad. And I’m mad.
I’m mad that I’m behind pace. I’m mad that I didn’t keep up
with my intervals (I don’t know what happened to them - did they stop playing on my iPod? Did I hit a wrong 'button' and stopped them? Did taking the headphone cord out to use the iPod like a camera stop them? I just don't know!). I’m mad that there’s a
real possibility of my not finishing. I’m just mad.
I’m trying to push harder, but by now, my toes feel like
they are being shoved back up into my feet and my quads are fire (My Quads are
on FI-YAH!)
Mile 9’s water stop also included Clif Gels. Not one to turn down a freebie (and, I don't feel bad, they had like a thousand of them, and not a lot of runners to give them to!), I grabbed two vanilla, two
razz and a citrus Clif Shot, stuffing all but the citrus one into my sparkle
pockets.
I bucked the idea of “No new stuff on race day” and tried
the citrus Clif Shot. It was great. Well, as good as those things can be
anyway. I’ve perfected the art of getting a blob, then chasing it with water so
that the goop doesn’t really ever spread around my mouth. It gave me a little
pep in my step, and I pushed on, right to the Med tent, where I got a palmful
of Biofreeze, which I rubbed onto my quads as I walked. I’m sure that was sexy!
Near the Hess Station (right before you pass the Parking Plaza), a Bike Lady rolls by and tells
us that there is a HARD SWEEP at Mile 10. This means that if you are not to
Mile 10 at such and such a time, you WILL be removed from the course, via bus,
and transported to the Finish Line. These buses are called “Sag Wagons.” I
don’t know why they are called Sag Wagons, but they are and I never want to be
on one. (ETA - a little googling tells me that SAG Wagons are "Supplies and Gear" Wagons, and are good things. It's the BROOM Wagons - the ones that sweep you off the course - that you have to watch out for!)
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| The Dreaded Sag Wagon - at least they are comfy buses... |
We were told that we had about 11 minutes to go .7
miles. I really didn’t know if I was
going to be able to do it. I talk a big game about how awesome I am, but I think that those
11 minutes were longest of my life. I jogged til I couldn’t and
walked til I could, the entire time keeping an eye on that bus, just sitting
nonchalantly near the overpass. It was
already running, but idling in park. A few Bike People were milling about near
the bus. One Bike Lady kept circling us,
giving us time updates and whatnot (“You have 8 minutes….” Etc)
I wonder now, in hindsight: If my earbuds hadn't died, would I have kept up with my fast playlist and not had to worry about the sweepers? If not, would I have even HEARD the sweepers? Would I have been swept? Hmmmmmm....
I wonder now, in hindsight: If my earbuds hadn't died, would I have kept up with my fast playlist and not had to worry about the sweepers? If not, would I have even HEARD the sweepers? Would I have been swept? Hmmmmmm....
I kept my eye on the bus, growing closer to it. I swear to
God, with the bus idling, it sounded like it was GROWLING at me. Very unladylike cuss words began repeating
through my head with each step. It turned into a cadence. Left foot "Mother", right foot, well, you know.
I pulled up even with the bus’ back tire and IT DROPPED INTO
GEAR! Seriously, was it LAUGHING at me right now?
I’m passing it, here’s the
driver’s side window, I’m passing it, and it makes that psssstt air pressure
noise, but I’m past it!!!!!
I missed being swept by ONE MINUTE.
THIS = DETERMINATION.
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| After this Mile Marker, we go up a ramp to get onto that overpass |
Mile 10 – Mile 11
Yay! I’ve passed the Sag Wagon!!!
Boo, I'm still behind pace, and Bike Lady says that we
have 14 minutes to get to Mile 11.
Okay, I can do 14mm (minute mile) pace. I’ve done that all fall. Of
course, I’ve never done it after already going 10 miles in 93% humidity….
And even worse? Mile
11 is AT THE TOP OFF A FREAKIN’ OVERPASS!
Cue Bill Cosby here – who puts a mile marker UP at the TOP of a hill?
Sadistic bastards!
We go up the cloverleaf up-ramp, which seems to go on
forever, I'm in "Get the hell out of my way!" mode, weaving in and out of the crowd, veering into the grass, running on the right, walking on the left, whatever I can do to get up that damn overpass. And when I finally get to the bridge, I look down and see the Bus of Doom,
where I just was. There were no other racers there. The course had been swept.
Again, this = Determination.
As we continued to Mile 11, all of us who were in a group
together started complaining that we were so far behind, and were trying to
figure out where the beginning of Epcot property was (because, as Princess Lore
has it, once you are on Property, they will not sweep you). This is also where I learned (duh) that the
Balloon Ladies had passed us a LONG time ago.
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| Top o' the Second Overpass |
Mile 11 – Mile 12
We make it to the top of the overpass (this was the 2nd
of 3), and all of the Bike Ladies are on the side of the road by the Med Tent (just behind the mile marker sign).
They are no longer riding their bikes, but only standing next to them. I asked one of them if they were done chasing
us, and one said that they were going to chase us to the end. Not cool, lady. I'm one tired-ass princess who ain't got time for jokes.
I look forward, still trying to figure out what consititutes
On Property at this point and I can’t tell. I’m pretty sure that Mile 11 is On
Property, but I’d feel better if I KNEW that.
There’s no real line of demarcation.
As we passed the Epcot Parking
Plaza (we are walking
parallel on a separate road), I assumed that we are On Property. Still not going to let my guard down though, until I’m IN the
park!!!
We took a hairpin turn from one road to another, then
climbed the final overpass.
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| Taken from the Monorail - entering into Epcot |
We did it! We are ON PROPERTY!
There are lots of cars coming towards us, exiting the parking lot –
finishers and their families, going home. They are honking, woo-hooing and
flashing their lights at us in Princess solidarity! Some keep their windows down and blare music.
Some shout words of encouragement.
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| Thank you for encouragement, Mr Volvo! |
It was really touching that, even though
they were done and tired and sweaty and looking forward to a shower, they could
still offer up support for us.
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| There is a song called "Almost There" from Princess and the Frog - very funny, Disney. I'll laugh tomorrow. |
Mile 12 – Mile 13
We made it down the overpass (lots of ups and downs at the
end, in more ways than one) and into the parking lot, then headed towards the Bus Parking Area. At the
end of the Bus Depot, was this great lady who is a member
of the Pacebook Running Club on Facebook and comes out to all the races with a
sign that says “Hello Complete Stranger! I am proud of you too!” I’ve never been so happy to see a complete
stranger in my life!
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| Best Sign Ever! |
I took a photo of
her and thanked her for being there as a spectator, and kept going, entering Epcot’s
backstage.
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| Headed backstage on The Seas side of the park |
There were a handful of cast members back here, all very encouraging.
There was one guy, drinking a beer, so I don’t know if he was a CM or not (!)
who just kept repeating over and over “You are amazing! You are awesome!” He
was amazing, and hearing that at that stage of the race was awesome.
We came around to the back of The Seas, and there was a CM
there saying “Nemo and all his friends say ‘just keep swimmin’!” and for some
stupid reason, I holler back “Freakin’ bubbles!!” I’ve reached new levels of
tired at this point, but it seemed funny in my head!
 |
| I wonder what that building is on the left? |
 |
| At least we don't have to go around World Showcase |
As I round this planter to head to the finish, I pause for a
moment.
THIS is my Main
Street.
 |
| Yeah, I'm crying as I write this, so what? |
THIS is my Castle Shot.
This moment, looking back toward Spaceship Earth showed me just how far I’ve come, not just in this race, but in this quest to rewrite my future.
This moment, I can see how close I am to finishing this huge accomplishment.
This moment, I can see loads of other Princesses fulfilling their quests,
whatever theirs may be.
This moment will be with me forever, and no one can
take it away from me.
 |
| As with all races - glad to see I'm not last! |
One girl line-jumped, and came over without rounding the planters. She
saw that I saw her and said “I won’t make it otherwise.”I could understand
that on one level, but on another, I felt that she totally cheated HERSELF by
doing that. Looking back now, I kind of wish that I crossed over to HER side
and walked with her to prove that she COULD do it.
 |
| Thumbs up for still being vertical! |
I am so tired at this point, walking back towards Spaceship
Earth, but I still stopped to have a Cast Member take my photo with my
“Castle.”
In this general area is also
where MarathonFoto got a FABULOUS photo of me with my “Motherf^&^er” face
on. If you looked up Determination in
the dictionary, I’m not kidding, this photo would be there! I’ve never seen
someone in such a sparkly skirt look so pissed off!
We exited to backstage again, and here they were, the glorious gospel choir – everyone
who does this race and blogs about it always talks about this Choir.
 |
| I am just SO over this by now, it's all I can do to hold myself up |
 |
| You are now exiting EPCOT! Have a wonderful day! |
I was hoping that they would be singing a
song I recognized, because I had delusions of singing with them for a moment,
but I didn’t recognize the song, and honestly, I wasn’t all that impressed with
them anyway. Maybe they were just as tired of singing as I was of walking....
 |
| I wonder if they are from a school or church? |
I kept going, I am so close now.
 |
| I kind of wish that the last 1/2 mile wasn't so ugly! |
 |
| I mean, it's so boring and ugly! |
I can hear
Rudy announcing names. I reach mile 13!
 |
| A rare smile peeps out from the grumpy face! |
Mile 13 – Finish Line
Mile 13’s mile marker was right outside the gate we
exited. It says FINISH.
I’m not finished yet.
I can’t run. I can hardly walk. I’m all out of
get-up-and-go.
There is a song that I have on my playlist - I've had it on my playlist for more than 5 years, but it's never meant more to me than it does right now. Yeah, it's cheesy and not everyone's first pick for a Power Song, but it's mine. It's "Ease on Down the Road" from The Wiz. Sung by Diana Ross and the late Michael Jackson. They sum it up best:
Cause there may be times when you think you lost your mind
And the steps you're taking leave you three four steps behind
But the road you're walking might be long sometimes
You just keep on stepping and you'll be just fine.
And the steps you're taking leave you three four steps behind
But the road you're walking might be long sometimes
You just keep on stepping and you'll be just fine.
I crossed the street and headed over to the parking lot
where the finish line was. There were spectators lined up at the fence,
cheering everyone on, but I had such tunnel vision at this point, I hardly
remember anything but that finish line.
 |
| I can see it - is it real? |
I saw Mickey and Minnie at the finish line,
and I debated stopping to get a photo with them, but said screw that. I can’t stop.
If I stop, I may fall down.
 |
| So close! Let's go! |
 |
| Looks like I walked |
THROUGH THE FINISH LINE.
I finished.
 |
| I hope I didn't hit that chick in the head...! |
I really don’t understand my
emotions for this race. I just did the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life,
and I was like, okay, and…?
I think a lot of it was shock? Disbelief? I just don’t know. But….
I did it.
I finished the 2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon.
Way back in 2011, when I saw that video on YouTube, and the
first idea of possibly one day doing this popped into my head, I won’t lie, I
doubted myself.
 |
| I am a FINISHER |
All during 2012, even after doing March of
Dimes walks, 5ks, 10ks, runs in the rain, runs in Florida summers and runs in 30-degree winters, I doubted myself.
But I did THIS. I can’t doubt that.
