If you missed Part 1 of my 2012 Walt Disney World Half Marathon recap, go here!
It was well after 5:00am when we finally hopped off the buses. There were actually several buses pulling in at the same time and I wondered {hoped} that they would delay the start a little because so many of us had been stuck in traffic.
We reached the staging area, handed off our bags of gear to my MIL, who was spectating, and rushed off to join the crowd heading toward the start. I was anxious and panicky and I needed to pee, but all I could focus on was reaching our corral.
Jeff and I had reached the back of the last corral when the fireworks went off and Corral A started. There was a row of port-o-potties there so we took advantage of the no lines and then somehow made it up to join with Corral C. I thought we had only made it as far as D, so I was pleasantly surprised when I realized we made it to the right corral.
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| Hello crazy! |
The thing I love about Disney races is that each corral gets their own fanfare and fireworks as they start. Whether you are Corral A or Corral H, you get to experience the joy and rush as the race starts for you. Just one of the many reasons I think Disney is a great place to experience your first half marathon.
So the fireworks went off and after some slow shuffling, we were off!
Like always, my goal was not start off too fast. Not possible.
Miles 1 and 2 were actually much slower than I had anticipated. There was a lot of passing people, being passed, weaving, etc. In retrospect, those first two miles probably felt harder than they were because we spent so much energy just trying to get somewhere.
I really feel like once you turn on to World Drive the course just starts lighting up. There is much more course entertainment and excitement. I had just started to enjoy all of the sights ahead of me when Jeff shouted “DUCK! I see a Duck!” and pointed left. We weaved through runners and joined a small line when I saw: Ludwig von Drake!
{I know. I’m crazy. I run this race for the sights, the sounds, the characters. And I love ducks. I just do.}
We also met another Donald in line who I had to take a photo with!
After two photos were back running (with me shouting “BEST RACE EVER!!), through the entry gates to the Magic Kingdom parking area and around the Walt Disney World Speedway. I knew my friend
Christine was working the
Mile 3 water stop so I took out my Yurbuds to look out for her. I never did find her but guess who we did find? Darkwing Duck!!
We had already stopped twice and we weren’t even in the Magic Kingdom yet. I looked at Jeff and I told him I didn’t care about time, I just wanted to have fun. I was already running on such an adrenaline high.
Mile 4 took us through the Transportation and Ticketing Center, where I noticed just how much more crowd support there was than in 2010. I don’t blame them, I didn’t want to be out there either! It was so much fun hearing people should "Go Donald!" and "Run Perry!" (as in Perry the Platypus - Jeff's hat).
Around
Mile 5 we hit what is jokingly called Disney’s “Heartbreak Hill”, a bizarre sharp downhill/uphill point where the road goes underwater. {Oh the magic of Disney!} The combination of steep angle and narrow roadway is what gives it the nickname; it’s congested, a lot of people walk it and it can really put a kink in your game.
I had walked this portion in 2010 (it scared me!) so I was determined to run it with Jeff this time. I was cresting comfortably on the downhill when I was
slammed into from behind. Hard. I guess another runner had tripped on the curb mid run and I think I was the only thing that prevented her from face planting. I am glad I didn’t face plant myself! I don’t remember much else other than being in state of confusion/shock and reaching the top of the hill. I did it running, though!
We passed by the area where the resort buses drop off for the Magic Kingdom and turned left through the security gate and entered backstage. It wasn’t far before we entered Main Street between Tony’s and the hat shop. We saw my MIL, waved and basked in the awe of Main Street, down to the hub and off to the spoke to Tomorrowland.
We ran through Tomorrowland, turning at Astro Orbiter, and ran past the Tomorrowland Speedway.
We stopped at a long, slow line for Alice and the Queen.
And another line for Rapunzel and
Eugene Flynn Rider.
Rapunzel told me my friend Donald was right around the corner and I should go say hi.
I flipped a lid. No joke. I had two goals this race: get the Donald medal, and get a photo with Donald in my Donald costume.
{Can you tell I’m obsessed? It’s sad, truly. I’m like a six year old. Just wait and see.}
We reached the line for Donald and Daisy right outside the back of Cinderella’s Castle. I had no sooner zipped into the end of the line when the Character Handler came over to me and said “the line is closed.” I looked at her and blinked. “I’m sorry, the line is closed.”
And I did what any sane adult would do. I begged. Hard.
“NO! Please! Please you have to let me see Donald. Look at my costume.
Please? PLEASE!”
The poor woman looked at me pitifully. “Okay, he’s coming back in 5 minutes. You can stay, but you have to wait 5 minutes.” I looked at Jeff and he nodded.
“We’ll wait.”
By some brilliant act of Disney magic, the other CM came over and told our CM that Donald would be staying out an additional 15 minutes.
I may or may not have squealed.
Photo with Donald accomplished.
I shouted another “BEST RACE EVER!!” as we ran through Cinderella’s Castle.
The rest of our journey took us through Liberty Square and Frontierland into another backstage area where they keep the parade floats and then out to a quiet path that would meet up with Floridian Way.
Miles 6 and 7 were very narrow and congested, much more so than miles 1 and 2. Despite the congestion, I was surprised to see we were running much closer to race pace than we had been before. Everyone seemed to be in really good spirits here, too. It was probably the high having just ran through Magic Kingdom but there were a lot of smiles and support/encouragement between runners. I even had a few runners sprint a head of me so they could turn around and take a picture of my costume!
Things opened up more around
mile 8 and they were handing out Cliff Shots. Our fueling had been pretty much non-existent with the stopping so we both grabbed a mocha flavored shot. I was surprised at how delicious it was (or maybe anything is delicious at mile 8?).
Around
mile 9 Jeff started feeling the same pains he experienced at the Towpath Half Marathon. Brick like calf muscles, painful hip flexors and an aching knee. Walk breaks became more frequent and eventually we stopped running altogether. I really didn’t care though; there were times when I really just wanted to run, but even if we walked the rest I was thrilled with how everything had gone.
The rest of the miles are a bit of a blur. A mixture of small attempts at running but mostly a lot of walking. And 3:11:29 later, we crossed the finish line. I had my Donald medal. I was thrilled.
We met up with the rest of our family and took some pictures at the finish line. (I had to complete my Duck collection!)
Clearly, my take on this half marathon was different than other runners. For some folks, "real runners" don't stop for photographs, wear costumes and certainly don't finish in over 3 hours. But that's okay. I don’t care too much whether or not I'm a “real runner”. I'm a
funner runner. I had way too much fun being a crazy girl in a Donald costume. We all have to run our own race, and at the end of the day, everyone gets the same medal and hopefully, the same sense of joy.
Races will come and go, but this is one experience that will bring a smile to my face forever.
