I woke up at 2:45 am. Yep that's early. We were meeting in the hotel lobby at 3:15 am to do a team picture and get on the busses to go to the start. We got our picture taken, we all gathered together, and we walkout out to the busses together. I love my TNT teammates!!
We headed over to the race start. We gathered together outside the bag check and corrals. We hung out for a little bit, ate our breakfasts, tried to stay calm, or tried to wake up. Some of the people in our group were up this early for the second or third day in a row. They were doing the Goofy Challenge (and one doing the unofficial Dopey Challenge). The Goofy Challenge is where you do the 1/2 marathon on Saturday and come back and do the full marathon on Sunday. GOOFY...right?? So as time was getting closer, I made my way to the porta-lets to finish off business one last time. Then back to the group, through bag check (they had a great system for the bag check) and walk to the corrals with our coaches (well they got to come part way). I was lucky enough to be let in to the corral with Sarah and Phil, and Cara (doing the Goofy). See I forgot to put a qualifying race in when I signed up, so I ended up in the last corral (ooopp's). So I went into the corral before the last corral with my friends...I kinda bullied my way in.
We huddled around at the back of the corral waiting for our turn to start. It was a little cold and very dark out still. They had big fireworks at the very beginning start, and then mini-fireworks for all the different corral starts. I was in corral G, the corrals went to H. We slowly made our way to the start line, it took about 40 minutes to get there. We saw the elite runners going by before we even started (to be fair the guy who one the marathon ran a 5 minute mile for the entire race, 2:19). Finally we were crossing the start line and on our way. I stuck to my 4 minute run 1:20 minute walk for the entire race, minus the first interval which I ran the walk (because I was cold) and when I stopped to take pictures with characters, and one bathroom stop. I had an AMAZING time. I had so much fun for the entire race, no joke! Of course my feet were hurting by the end a little, but I was truly enjoying every mile, I really wasn't expecting this! It was like the PERFECT race for me. My time was nothing to write home about 6 hours and 15 minutes, but you know what, I finished it, and I had a blast! I stopped and took lot's of pictures along the way. It was so cool. I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story. I just want to add, that I wouldn't of made it through this entire journey without all the love and support of my family and friends, and mostly my TNT peeps! The coaches and support on the course were AMAZING!! The reason for doing this marathon makes my heart so happy. Finding a cure for cancer, and crossing that ultimate finish line....A CURE!
We headed over to the race start. We gathered together outside the bag check and corrals. We hung out for a little bit, ate our breakfasts, tried to stay calm, or tried to wake up. Some of the people in our group were up this early for the second or third day in a row. They were doing the Goofy Challenge (and one doing the unofficial Dopey Challenge). The Goofy Challenge is where you do the 1/2 marathon on Saturday and come back and do the full marathon on Sunday. GOOFY...right?? So as time was getting closer, I made my way to the porta-lets to finish off business one last time. Then back to the group, through bag check (they had a great system for the bag check) and walk to the corrals with our coaches (well they got to come part way). I was lucky enough to be let in to the corral with Sarah and Phil, and Cara (doing the Goofy). See I forgot to put a qualifying race in when I signed up, so I ended up in the last corral (ooopp's). So I went into the corral before the last corral with my friends...I kinda bullied my way in.
We huddled around at the back of the corral waiting for our turn to start. It was a little cold and very dark out still. They had big fireworks at the very beginning start, and then mini-fireworks for all the different corral starts. I was in corral G, the corrals went to H. We slowly made our way to the start line, it took about 40 minutes to get there. We saw the elite runners going by before we even started (to be fair the guy who one the marathon ran a 5 minute mile for the entire race, 2:19). Finally we were crossing the start line and on our way. I stuck to my 4 minute run 1:20 minute walk for the entire race, minus the first interval which I ran the walk (because I was cold) and when I stopped to take pictures with characters, and one bathroom stop. I had an AMAZING time. I had so much fun for the entire race, no joke! Of course my feet were hurting by the end a little, but I was truly enjoying every mile, I really wasn't expecting this! It was like the PERFECT race for me. My time was nothing to write home about 6 hours and 15 minutes, but you know what, I finished it, and I had a blast! I stopped and took lot's of pictures along the way. It was so cool. I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story. I just want to add, that I wouldn't of made it through this entire journey without all the love and support of my family and friends, and mostly my TNT peeps! The coaches and support on the course were AMAZING!! The reason for doing this marathon makes my heart so happy. Finding a cure for cancer, and crossing that ultimate finish line....A CURE!
 |
| Getting pumped up before the race! (Sarah and Phil) |
 |
| Yeah, we are totally getting ready...and the moon shines so bright! (Ben and Phil) |
 |
| Just chillin' at the pre-race area. |
 |
| Marie my roommate from the weekend, staying warm. |
 |
| walking to the corrals (with Sarah) |
 |
| Walking to the corrals and staying warm (Ben) |
 |
| Walking to the corrals and Phil being Phil! |
 |
| Alex trying to stay warm on the way to the corrals. |
 |
| Me with my throw away sweatshirt and $3 blanket walking to the corrals with Coach Peggy |
 |
| Sarah and Phil, cause they are so adorable!! |
 |
| Waiting for Cara at the last potty stop before we go into our corrals. |
 |
| The Start, Fireworks...but not a great picture ( on the other side of the road was all the other corrals) |
 |
| Cara and I in the corral (she was doing the Goofy) |
 |
| Heading into Epcot the first time. |
 |
| Made it to Mile 3! WOO HOO!! |
 |
| My first Character. One of the Ca bolero's |
 |
| Briar Bear and Briar Fox |
 |
| Now at mile 6. YAY!! |
 |
| The 3 Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf was coming out after I went by. |
 |
| Scotty Mc Duck, Daisy's uncle. |
 |
| ready to head into the Magic Kingdom....after a little loop around. |
 |
| Classic Car Show on the run!! |
 |
| they were cool cars! |
 |
| This one sorta looks like my father in laws car. |
 |
| and some trucks too. They had race cars before this, but I didn't they looked as cool as these cars! |
 |
| at mile 10 |
 |
| in the Magic Kingdom with Cinderella's Castle. |
 |
| Alice and the Mad Hatter (the girl running did the whole thing dressed like pinochhico) |
 |
| the back side of the castle |
 |
| Prince Charming, and the Step Sisters and Step Mom. |
 |
| Woody |
 |
| Mary Poppin's and the Chimney Sweepers |
 |
| Tigger and Pooh |
 |
| The Evils |
 |
| Mile 14!! (Over Half Way Done) |
 |
| This guy looked just like Johnny Depp |
 |
| Mile 15 and still smiling! |
 |
| Smee, me, and Captain Hook |
 |
| John Smith and Meeko |
 |
| A Screech Owl on our way into the Animal Kingdom |
 |
| My picture with a different owl |
 |
| I asked the Macaw if he wanted to run 26.2 miles with me, he said yes! |
 |
| An endangered tortoise. (they had rabbits too...the tortoise and the hare...hahahaha) |
 |
| Petting the donkey |
 |
| Me and Jiminey Cricket |
 |
| Rafeki and I in the Animal Kingdom |
 |
| King Louie and Blue from Jungle Book. |
 |
| Expedition Everest in the distance, I heard a couple got out of the race to ride it and then came back to run the rest. |
 |
| Mile 17! Chuggin' right along. |
 |
| The smallest Minnie Mouse I've ever been near! |
 |
| mile 18 |
 |
| Mickey on the way out of Animal Kingdom. |
 |
| The signs leading up to this Photo Op where things like "This may be your FINAL REST STOP" |
 |
| Made it Mile 19!! |
 |
| Up the hill and into Hollywood Studios I will go... Move it Move it!! |
 |
| How Incredible! I got to hang with the Incredibles! |
 |
| Max! |
 |
| That's right...it's Mile 24! |
 |
| And here I made it to Mile 25!! Still loving it! Back in Epcot. |
 |
| Duchess from the Arsticats. |
 |
| The Beast! |
 |
| Jasmine |
 |
| Mushu |
 |
| Another Ca bolero |
 |
| Duffy, apparently Mickey's new friend. |
 |
| Parks were open, and people thought we were crazy (I'm sure). Space Ship Earth behind me. |
 |
| Mile 26, I got a little choked up at this one. |
 |
| Right before the finish there was Minnie and Mickey, and I just had to take the Photo Op! |
 |
| I did it! And I've got the BLING to prove it! |
No comments:
Post a Comment