So... I started following this thread because I graduated from high school with Jackie, the winner. This doesn't really have anything to do with the Disney races, but I've seen at least one post along the lines of, "Oh, well, I walked most of it, so..." as if that makes it any less of a finish. May I please share a condensed version of my story? (Well, you're going to get it anyway, but you can stop reading here if you'd like... I'll never know!
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When I was born, I had a bunch of physical problems that no one could figure out. I was very far behind in gross motor "milestones" and didn't walk until I was about 2 1/2. In elementary school, I had an IEP (individual education plan) only for physical reasons. Then when I was nine, I had major hip surgery for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). They had checked for DDH when I was born, but didn't noticed anything then, so it wasnt' caught until I was nine. (They don't think that's why I walked so late.) After the surgery, I was in a "hip spica" cast that went from my ankles, up both my legs (spread apart in a V shape) to the bottom of my rib cage, for over a month. Then it was almost like I had to re-learn how to walk. Things were going well for me until my late 20s, when I started having hip pain. (I never had pain when I was younger). At age 27, I found out I had severe arthritis in my left hip, and at 29, I had a hip replacement. Yes, that's young. I know.
I had always wanted to complete (not really compete in...) a 5k. I discovered the Color Run 5k has essentially no time limit. 1 year and 2 months after my hip replacement, I completed my first 5k. I walked the entire thing, and it took me nearly an hour and a half. Since then, I've done 3 more (about to be 4 more) Color Runs since, and in each of those I have/will walk in honor of a child going through DDH, where I walk with a sign on my back that says "Walking for [first name] and DDH awareness." I still can't run really at all. It still takes me almost an hour and a half to complete a 5k (though I can't really say I train much for it.) But I finished!
Bottom line: Don't feel bad if you have/had to walk. You still did it! And you were still probably faster than me.
If you'd like to hear my full story, please respond here or send me a PM. I love sharing my full story with others.
K. I'm done now. Back to your reguarly scheduled race talk.