The day (if you really want to call it that) started with a team breakfast at 2:45 AM. Yes, AM. Then one last stop at the bathroom before moving to the area to catch the bus to the starting line at Epcot Center. We walked from there to the staging area, a place with all kinds of tents and hundreds of port-a-johns. By the way, it was 72 when we got up at 2:30. It just got a bit hotter through the day!
Laura & Cathy were in wave C -- the third group in an effort to keep the slow out of the way of the fast. Our wave was scheduled to start at 6:30. Our team snatched a piece of pavement and waited while waves A & B left to move to the starting line. The stat was about 1/2 mile from where we were waiting.
The race began with a bang -- literally -- fireworks, cheering form Mickey & Minnie, music and everything you could ask for at 6:00 in the morning to get one in the mood to move in a 13.1 mile loop. As we were walking over to the start the sea of people snaked on for almost the full half mile between the waiting place and the starting place. People were dressed in all manner of funny outfits. Many were princesses, a few Tinkerbells, Team in Training, other charity runners. It was quite a sight. The emcees said that there were 16,000 runners/walkers today and there will be another 16,000 tomorrow for the full marathon.
The added challenge of this race was that we had to maintain a certain pace. There were timing mats along the route and if people were not keeping up, they were picked up and taken to the finish line. No finish, no medal. The medal is the best part. We had our coaches with us, urging us to keep up the pace and finished within the allotted time. Our medals are Donald Duck's head with the year and Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon written on them.
After collecting our medals, checking in with the team tent, having a snack, we returned tired and happy to our hotel.
Laura & Cathy were in wave C -- the third group in an effort to keep the slow out of the way of the fast. Our wave was scheduled to start at 6:30. Our team snatched a piece of pavement and waited while waves A & B left to move to the starting line. The stat was about 1/2 mile from where we were waiting.
The race began with a bang -- literally -- fireworks, cheering form Mickey & Minnie, music and everything you could ask for at 6:00 in the morning to get one in the mood to move in a 13.1 mile loop. As we were walking over to the start the sea of people snaked on for almost the full half mile between the waiting place and the starting place. People were dressed in all manner of funny outfits. Many were princesses, a few Tinkerbells, Team in Training, other charity runners. It was quite a sight. The emcees said that there were 16,000 runners/walkers today and there will be another 16,000 tomorrow for the full marathon.
The added challenge of this race was that we had to maintain a certain pace. There were timing mats along the route and if people were not keeping up, they were picked up and taken to the finish line. No finish, no medal. The medal is the best part. We had our coaches with us, urging us to keep up the pace and finished within the allotted time. Our medals are Donald Duck's head with the year and Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon written on them.
After collecting our medals, checking in with the team tent, having a snack, we returned tired and happy to our hotel.
1 comment:
Now to hear from Laura.
First: It was way too early in the morning to get up, if you didn't stay up all night.
Second: There was a sea of people waddling, walking, jogging, and running this 1/2 marathon. People were diverse, representing every ethnic background, age, shape, and size.
Third: Life is Good!!! Cathy and I finished the 1/2 marathon before the sweep bus picked us up.
Fourth: The encouragement from the spectators was amazing. There were people from Team in Training, holding signs, people in wheelchairs, high school bands, people playing music out the backs of their cars and a choir anear the finish line. This is the true image of caring in community.
Fifth: My feet and back are sore. My soul is fed for the journey that was completed and begins again.
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