My Second Princess Half (and my second half)
Two goals: 1) Photo with Royal Minnie and Mickey 2) 2:10:00
My DD and I flew down on Friday, took the ME to All Star Movie (won't stay there again as I hate the bus system, but I do like the hotel), then off to the Expo. We picked up our packets, DD did the 5K and me the half. We ordered shirts according to directions, "they run small". Our shirts are both too big for us, but we will try to get some wear out of them. We didn't really look around too much. I did buy the "I Did It" shirt with the half route on the back. Love that shirt.
We went to Down Town Disney and had dinner at Earl's-very good, a bit chilly as the sun went down. Back to room to get ready for the 5k. We got up at 5:30 and out the door at 5:50..oh my gosh, it was cold and I'm glad I could stand with my DD at the start so I could keep her "throw away clothes" for the next day-now I'd have double "throw aways" for my half. At 7am DD is on her way (she was almost at the start line) with a goal of lots of lots of pictures as her 30 minute goal becomes less important. The next time I see her is crossing the finish at 29:29. Wow, did she get photos? YES! She stopped 11 times and got photos with 19 different characters. She loved it, got her "medal" and then had her photo taken with Princess Tiana and that gang. She said her hands were very cold at first-actually stiff, but she warmed up by the first mile.
We retuned to hotel, got cleaned up, and then to HS. We fast pasted Toy Story Mania, then looked at Walt's history area. DD loves the history part of Disney and studying the films. We know we have to be at animation studio for photo with UP characters before they arrive (I think 10:30). Score! We are second in line and have a great interaction and photo session. Next, DD wants to eat a Pizza Plant..not open yet so we watch Muppets 3D, then lunch and back to use our fast pass to Toy Story.
Next we take the boat to Epcot. Something we haven't done before. We strolled the countries and picked up our Kimmulator (I spelled that wrong) in Italy. We played with that phone thing where you look for stuff. It was quite interesting with some funny surprises, but we only did two countries and then turned it in. We tried to do Soarin', but no fast passes and DD won't wait more the 30 min. in a line. We did the Disney Visa photo meet then had an early dinner at that Seasons place near Soarin'. The line is still too long for Soarin' so we go to Space Ship Earth and ride and pretty much sleep on that ride. We picked our free 5X7 then back to hotel.
DD fell asleep by 7pm and I was asleep before 8pm. She said she later woke and watched TV for a while. I woke up at 3:25 (no alarm-now I know it will be a good day). I unplugged the phone so it won't wake DD. I dress, gather my things, oh I have a text message from DS sent at 10:45 the night before, "I love you and miss you". I have to put that out of my mind and focus. I'm ready to go by 3:45, so I reprogram the phone for 4:30 so DD can get up for last bus to Epcot so that she can watch me.
Finally the Race Report:
The line for the bus is long, but I'm not worried as Disney said they would get me there and I knew they would bring the needed buses to get us there. The bus is warm and I'm thinking once I get off I could just hang out in a port-a-potty to stay warm, but I do have my mittens, two towels, a poncho, and my long sleeve shirt on. Now I wish I had let others on the bus before me and hung out at the hotel lobby a bit longer, but no looking back now...I sit near the area where we start our march to the starting gates, knowing there will be potties there. The march begins..I don't know how those girls with shorts and sleeveless shirts can stand it outside in the cold like that. I get to the beginning of Corral B and sit-most are standing, but I'm curled in a ball trying to stay warm. I get a text message, great I won't be able to read it as I don't have my glasses on, so I ask some one for help. It's a message from DD "I love you, do well". Don't I have wonderful children. At 5:50 I HAVE to go to the bathroom...no problem, I see there are no lines and the girl next to me offers to keep my poncho and towels until I return. I let her keep one of my towels when I return, she is greatful. I'm not having my usual thoughts of why did I sign up to do this. Corral A is on their way and we move up-what are the chances of being next to a male Snow White, just like last year. I keep my long sleeve shirt and mittens on to start.
And we're off, dang the first mile goes fast-too fast appox. 8:30-I have to slow down. I have to discard the mittens to take a picture of the ship and guys. The first 5K clicks away easily 28:28. I know I have the castle to look forward to. I hear my name called on Main Street, it's DD, time to stop for a photo. Next bathroom stop just past Buzz. Good to go. YES!!!!! There is Royal M & M, I'll have to wait for 4 or 5 people to take photo, but it is so worth it. Next, out the castle, another wait to take photo, but it must be done. I hear my name again, it's DD, she has moved toward the castle for one last word of encouragement, they she will meet me at the finish. Next split, 10K 1:01:13. I open my jelly beans and snack on them one at a time until mile 11. Funny thing, I can't seem to subtract 7 min. to figure out my time, so I don't know how I'm doing and just forget about the time for now. I took my photo with the group of "heros" along the long stretch. Hit the 15k with a split of 1:31:12. I feel good then at mile 10 my IT Band has sudden pain. I think oh no, I have worked so hard for 9 months (PT and had to stop running for almost 3 months) and haven't had any pain as I was building my miles in February and the dreaded banked on-ramp is up ahead. I keep going and hope it will stop, but no, I try the inside curve, then the outside curve and finally end up walking the last 1/4 of the ramp. I try running again, still pain, but I move on, then the sharp turn and up the final ramp. I do better on flat and decide to pick it up a little as I near Epcot. If the pain doesn't get any worse I can make it. I hit the 13 mile timer and suddenly my mind was working and I was able to see I could make my time, but I would have to keep up my pace. Finished 2:09:20.
I see DD, she checks her phone for update for my time, YEA! I did. (All the times above were taken from email updates I had sent home so I could see how I did) DD says " I was watching people finish and I can do it." She did do it last year and said she would never do it again, so next year it looks like we are back on for the mother/daughter event.
We relaxed at the pool while I iced my knee all afternoon. For dinner we took a bus to HS and WALKED to Beaches and Cream. Is that a mile or so? DD said it was one of her favorite meals of our vacation. Monday was MK, Tuesday we went AK and HS and Wednesday we had breakfast at Chef Mickey's, then DDD and home.
Except for the cold mornings, the weather was very nice.
http://picasaweb.google.com/baumann6/PrincessHalfMarathon2010#
This album is of our whole trip...you can click on a picture to make it bigger.