A Few of My Favorite Things & a Race, too! - Page 26 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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I think your emotions were to be expected after what all you had been through, and you came through the struggle quite well.
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Originally Posted by Russi01
Sorry that your emotions were taking over for alittle bit but you made the best of it and that is to be expected with what you had to go through over the year!!
I am normally not a very emotional person and I never let people see that side of me. Yes, this had been a long year...
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Originally Posted by Cam22
The expo page is nice! Excitement is building as you get closer to starting!
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Originally Posted by shazza
Excitement and suspense ...
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Originally Posted by lfredsbo
So excited and nervous for you!
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Originally Posted by xwewhisper
I can't even imagine the roller coaster of emotions you must have had that night! So excited to hear the rest
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Originally Posted by rhinohunter
SOOO exciting. Looking forward to the start and the rest of the story.
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Originally Posted by chezp
Oh you seriously can't stop there. I'm desperate to know what happens next....
Well...I have to keep you reading up until I get this scrapbook done!
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I'm impressed that Cammy could sleep at all. I tried sooo hard to nap prior to the Wine and Dine Half.... I was like you. Just too anxious! I'm glad you could find some comfort from the messages left here. Very cool! Those moments leading up to your first long race can be such a mixed bag of feelings. I totally get that! That's the one thing I don't like about races, especially Disney races. All the waiting around time. Thank goodness you had some friends to hang with!
OK - let's hear about the run!!!
__________________
Tanya
Every click helps feed .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. Give a quick click every day and help animals in shelters! www.theanimalrescuesite.com
***Note some these pictures are mine and others I have gotten from various trip reports and fb pages of "running friends."
Finally, we reached the starting line and it was our time to be energized by the announcer. I cannot tell you how nervous I was at this moment, it was almost an overwhelming feeling but it was good nerves…the kind that gets your heart racing and the blood pumping.
As the announcer introduced our corral I looked over at the sidelines at all the people cheering us on and found Betsy in the crowd with a poster just for me and Cammy (the other side was for Carol). She gave me a great big smile and a wave. It made me smile and know that I had someone here cheering me on besides Cammy being my support system. I knew there were lots of other people back at home, in my PTR, and facebook following along and saying prayers for me at this moment. They believed in me, I just had to believe in myself. Just about start time, my phone started to explode with texts of well wishes…note to self next put the phone in airplane mode! There was even a message from my PT who got me through the stress fracture and got me running again. I FELT LOVED as the fireworks went off and I crossed the starting line into the awesome green strobe light special effects to transport me into another dimension complete with Twilight Zone sound effects.
Cammy was there at my side, pushing me as I told her that I was going to run through until I got transported through the portal. The whole green strobe special effects probably lasted a good ½ a mile. Before the race, I studied the course map and with the help of Betsy telling me what to expect at each point, I came up with a race plan. I had decided that when I made it to the cloverleaf to run up to order to get on the main stretch of the run (Osceola Parkway) I would walk up the ramp and then start my run/walk intervals. When we approached the cloverleaf we slowed to a walk and it was there that began to think that maybe I pushed myself a little too hard, too fast and too much in the beginning. I had gotten caught up in the moment and not paid attention to what I needed to do for my body. You guessed it, my leg started telling me I had made a HUGE MISTAKE and I began to panic. Cammy knew something was wrong, but I did my best to maintain her walking pace. As we climbed the cloverleaf not only was my face hot with frustration, but the course became HOT…as in FIRE HOT. Disney special effects had set up a fire bomb (think a small nuclear bombing going off every few moments) at the base (center area) of the cloverleaf.
It was loud, hot and fun. I remember there being a photo op somewhere near the middle of the cloverleaf, maybe a cauldron but I can’t tell you what character was there…instead I was worrying about my leg. When we made it to the top and turned right onto Osceola Parkway I decided to try a run interval. BIG MISTAKE after my run start and then the cloverleaf my leg was in full shin splint mode and I told Cammy to please go on. She did not want to leave me, but I begged her to go ahead because we did not know how long her foot would allow her to continue and she needed to but space between her and the sweepers. I could tell that the pain killer that she took as we left the corral was starting to work its magic and reluctantly she left me. It was then I began to cry tears of frustration but somewhere in the tears I began to silently pray a steady prayer. At Mile Marker 1, there was a water station so I grabbed a cup (reminding myself to stay hydrated) and continued praying pushing myself through my run/walk intervals. Actually, running was a lot easier than walking at this moment. Around this time I ended up throwing my ears into a trash can. While they were staying on, the ear that I loosened in my attempts to get the glow stick working kept falling and it was frustrating me. The stretch between Mile Marker 1 and 2 was filled with prayer and pain and I honestly don’t remember anything around me, all I remember was pleading with God to pull me through this because I did not want to be a failure…I had not quit nor skipped any workouts during the last 12 months but I had plenty of reason to. Somewhere a little past mile 2...
as I approached the Animal Kingdom entrance and the course came alive again with entertainment, I pushed through the pain and was now easily working through each run/walk interval and feeling strong. At the AK entrance there were the dancers from FOLK giving up high fives, music, and more fire effects.
It was so much fun running through the entrance gate! As I rounded the bend to turn back and run the other direction on Osceola Parkway there was another water stop and bathrooms. I felt like I needed to stop, but when I saw the lines to the port-a-potties I decided that I could not afford to lose that much time and ran on. As we passed under the overpass heading back the opposite direction, there was a great big spider on top and a little farther was Mile Marker 3.
It was here that I could see the end of the stream of runners on the other side and estimated that they were just about a mile behind me, which meant I had probably about 20 minutes between me and the end. As I continued my intervals, it was scary watching the course be taken apart on the other side. Amazing that the father I went there were no signs of a race even happening on the other side of the parkway. I had a cushion, but not much of one so it was important that I pushed on as much as I could. Between Mile Marker 3 & 5 I experienced some of the loneliest moments of the race (and with experience they seem to be the hardest mentally when doing longer runs for me). I watched groups of people running together, encouraging one another. Most importantly these groups were having fun together, just like what I had envisioned in my mind with OCD Princesses Belle and Jasmine. While I was enjoying the moment, there was also lots of sadness because I was here all alone. I have to admit that I shed quite a few tears. There were character tops along the way, but I just could not allow myself to stop….I remember seeing the Queen of Hearts, Dr. Facilier, the Evil Witch and Jack/Sally sometime in this stretch.
There were also lots of people cheering us on with signs and words of encouragement.
I stopped for a bathroom break…note to self sweat and humidity are not friends when trying to pull down a sparkleskirt in a dark port-a-potty! I felt like it was back in my swimming days with a wet suit. LOL…and trying to pull it back up and worrying about time does not help either. I kept my intervals going strong and I knew if I could just make it through WWOS and just past Mile Marker 7 without seeing the balloon lady, I would be able to finish this race! But that was still 2 1/2 miles away and with the luck I have been having my body could do anything during these miles...
OH you know how to keep the suspense!! Can't wait to find out how you did!!
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Originally Posted by MayraLR
So much excitement!
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Originally Posted by disney_duke
And you're (almost) off!!
I'm impressed that Cammy could sleep at all. I tried sooo hard to nap prior to the Wine and Dine Half.... I was like you. Just too anxious! I'm glad you could find some comfort from the messages left here. Very cool! Those moments leading up to your first long race can be such a mixed bag of feelings. I totally get that! That's the one thing I don't like about races, especially Disney races. All the waiting around time. Thank goodness you had some friends to hang with!
OK - let's hear about the run!!!
I was pretty shocked she slept too...Cammy is always going at full speed...
I did appreciate all the messages here! It sure helped.
Next race, I am going to have to figure out how to go to bed early and then get up early...PHM 2015 here I come! This may prove to be even harder then to sleep in the afternoon. Thinking I may take some sleepy time tea!
It was nice to have people to hang out with...but I doubt that Carol, Betsy, and Cammy had much fun with me! Is it time...Is it time...Is it time...
oooooooohhh, you're halfway there! I hear ya on starting out too fast and too strong. I still do that after all these races. It's so very hard to pull back the reigns and keep it slow and steady with all that adrenaline and excitement in that first mile! I hope you were able to hear some strangers' words of enouragement and use them for yourself. Sounds like you sure needed it at this point. Aww, makes me want to be there and help you work through it.
I had no clue about that twilight zone thing with the lasers at the start. So cool! The characters are so unique to this race!
__________________
Tanya
Every click helps feed .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. Give a quick click every day and help animals in shelters! www.theanimalrescuesite.com
Oh please don't stop - I am completely caught up in this now and want to know what happened with the end of the race. I really feel for you reading this and all the emotions you were going through. If it makes you feel better, you've encouraged me to run a mile on our treadmill for the first time since October - 9 minutes 22 seconds, which is Ok, but I know I can do better if I keep it up regularly, so thanks for inspiring me to do that this morning.
oooooooohhh, you're halfway there! I hear ya on starting out too fast and too strong. I still do that after all these races. It's so very hard to pull back the reigns and keep it slow and steady with all that adrenaline and excitement in that first mile! I hope you were able to hear some strangers' words of enouragement and use them for yourself. Sounds like you sure needed it at this point. Aww, makes me want to be there and help you work through it.
I had no clue about that twilight zone thing with the lasers at the start. So cool! The characters are so unique to this race!
Yep, almost at that 1/2 way point. I never can figure out how to start a race...grrr! I did hear lots of words of encouragement and the people lining the course are the most awesome people to be up at this time of the night cheering everyone one! Would have loved to had you there with me...but I knew you were there waiting for me on PP!
The strobe light and music at the start were AWESOME! Really set the tone of the whole race. From what I understand RunDisney heard the complaints a year ago and really amped up the course entertainment. Seeing all the villains was fun...I just wish I would have allowed myself a picture break somewhere along the way! My one regret.
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Originally Posted by rhinohunter
WOW!!!!! My legs are hurting just reading how you were going. I never thought about the need of bathroom breaks on the run. You are doing great.
Oh yes, you need a potty break! Spending the whole afternoon keeping hydrated and then nerves and sweat...thank goodness there are lots of stops along the way.
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Originally Posted by Russi01
You are almost there! Congratulations on working through the pain!!
Thank you...I was not going to be swept off the course by caving into the pains...that would have been defeating!
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Originally Posted by Cam22
I found myself almost holding my breath reading this update, and wanting to help you push on.
LOL...on another Disney Board...I am known as the QUEEN of CLIFFHANGER TR updates! Although I think on this other board my former friends have been scaring people from my TR...
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Originally Posted by chezp
Oh please don't stop - I am completely caught up in this now and want to know what happened with the end of the race. I really feel for you reading this and all the emotions you were going through. If it makes you feel better, you've encouraged me to run a mile on our treadmill for the first time since October - 9 minutes 22 seconds, which is Ok, but I know I can do better if I keep it up regularly, so thanks for inspiring me to do that this morning.
LOL...promise to update tonight. I have everything written but waiting on photobucket to resize pictures is a pain.
I am so happy that you are running. WOW...already lots faster than me! Keep going...you can do this and plan yourself a DisneyRace to Run...I am doing PHM 2015! Always welcome to join in the craziness!
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I'm desperate to know what happens next....
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Pixie Dust
Excitement is building as you get closer to starting! 
Deb
Aww, makes me want to be there and help you work through it. 
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