the disney half.

the half marathon started very early for me! the race was held on saturday, january 9. disney wants you there early, early, early! thankfully, we stayed at the polynesian resort, which is on the monorail line, so i didn't have to deal with buses. i got on the monorail at 4 a.m., (i woke up from a broken night of sleep at 3 a.m.!). the ride over to epcot was quick and we arrived there by 4:15 i would say. the forecast was 30 degrees with a 25 degree windchill, which got worse with time, with a chance of sleet, snow (it did, watch the video posted in an earlier post), and rain. the sun never came out that day. i had on so many layers i did not check my watch, i was cold, a little nervous more so over the wait to come in the very cold, and i couldn't find my watch underneath my layers! got off the monorail and made the trek to the wonder parking lot at epcot where the marathon festivities were. i got there to thousands of people just sitting around, some dancing to the dj to keep warm, and very cold air! note to self, the race retreat could be a good investment with the chance to wait indoors! so i found a spot and just stood and people watched. i had on a garbage bag over my toss away clothes over my running clothes! this is how i was layered: running tank top, long sleeve running shirt, long sleeve running jacket, 2 pairs of gloves, a sun visor (for my face to keep out the sleet and rain predicted), head band to keep my head/ears warm, toss away arm warmers (men's tube socks), lined running tights, toss away fleece jacket, toss away sweatpants, and a garbage bag! i got my toss away clothes from the thrift store and spent about 4.00 on it all! disney donates tossed clothing to charity. anyway, we waited in the cold, and snow (yes, it did snow!) for about 2 hours. it was a good 15 to 20 minute walk to the corrals. i was in corral e. corrals went from a to g. the first start was wheelchair/masters at 5:35, and then wave 1 at 5:40. I think my wave started at 6. each start started with a countdown by mickey, minnie, donald, and goofy along with fireworks, it was quite exciting! started to run and was warm by mile 2 and i tossed it all. i thought, this isn't bad! i had my camera in my hand, and i had a waist pack on, but it was easier to hold it to snap a pic real quick! there were high school bands and cheerleaders, a "lounge" type of singer who was just funny, and even an accordion player, all over the route, as well as fun mile markers, and character photo ops. along one road even little signs to make you think and keep your mind occupied. it was fun! it sleeted the whole time! it was just about sunrise when i got to the magic kingdom, and it was magical to run up main street looking ahead to the castle. it was also where i saw my mom and aunt. i did not cry! i was too busy being in the moment of it all. i had envisioned this moment through many training runs. it went fast but was awesome! as i ran through tomorrowland (stopping to see stitch) and into fantasyland to the castle i kept thinking, "this is it! after all these months, it's for real i am running through the park!". another great but fast moment as i ran through cinderella castle! it was awesome! we headed out of the magic kingdom by way of frontierland, back to epcot. there was entertainment of some sort during each mile, which was so nice, b/c i was beginning to get cold. it felt like it was getting colder as time went on. if it weren't for the obvious disney signs, i would have thought we were back in ohio! some points were so crowded that i couldn't get around the people in front of me, so i had to slow down. i think b/c of that and the stops for pictures, my time was slower than anticipated. when we finally entered epcot around mile 12, it was just as exciting, you knew the end was near! at the 13 mile mark i got choked up, i realized that was my first 13 mile marker ever! at the 13th mile mark was the gospel choir that i had heard is at every race, at that point, and you know you don't have much further to go. that is when i got a big lump in my throat, and it got bigger as i ran past my mom and aunt with their signs ("run maggie run", and "maggie's magical triumph"). i crossed the finish line with a time of 2:50:48. i was so excited, and teary! i did it! all that work paid off. it was hard to believe it was done. the next thought was i am so cold. the shaking started not long after stopping, and did not stop til a couple hours later and a hot shower! so my first half was so fun, and what i had hoped it would be, i did not hurt, i made it through and had fun! i am ready to try it again, and i hope the weather will be better! it was my magical triumph and i did it. i dreamed, believed, achieved!

below are my pics from the race, come run along with me.

{just about to cross the start line}

{mile 3, the clock was about a half hour or so ahead of me}

{running past the road sign to mk parking}

{fun photo ops abound in this race}

{mile 5 in front of the contemporary resort}

{entering main street from "backstage"...and yes it was still all "holidayed up" at the parks}

{something i envisioned all year....running up main street toward the castle}

{the castle...sigh....}

{heading into tomorrowland}

{me and stitch!}

{had to potty! it was nice to use the park bathroom rather than a porto!}

{the mad hatter, tweedle dee, alice, and the queen....who scolded me?!!}

{fantasyland....running past dumbo}

{by the castle....thumbs up!}

{taken after running through the castle}

{the country bears}

{this was backstage, just past splash mountain.....pirates ahoy!!!}

{captain jack.....for aunt linda........and his mateys, including barbosa}

{where the parade floats are kept}

{having a blast! look at the wet drops on me!}

after mile 7 i seemed to have stopped taking photos....i think i was starting to get colder and needed to focus more....also i know i took gu and that was hard with camera in hand, those few miles were the more "boring" of the race...

{just entered epcot past mile 12...almost finished!}

{ran past spaceshipe earth to the turn around at the epcot christmas tree}

{just about to cross the finish line....i was teary here....as i saw my chEARleaders}

{sooo cold, but soo happy!}

{had to get my photo with donald the next night at dinner, with my donald medal on!}

{cards from cousin marla, and my mom and aunt}

{along with the card from my mom and aunt, was a gift card to use in the parks, and a necklace}

{the necklace says..."remember the magic"....and i will!}

{my medal}

{i did it!}

posted below are 2 short videos i took while running....they uploaded out of order, so to view them, view the bottom one first(in fantasyland approaching castle), then the top one (running through castle)!

so i did it. a year later after deciding to take on this feat, 12 months after i started running consistently, this non athletic person ran 13.1 miles in a sport i hated to do. and now i love it. it was worth the wait, and i want to do it again! i challenged myself and didn't give up. i won. i kinda feel like i can do anything now! i may not be ready for a marathon, but i know i can do the half! disney made it so magical, i am hooked! i was a part of disney race history with the weather for this race.

i will always remember the magic. it is not something i will soon forget.

thank you to all those who supported me through this, gave encouragement, especially when i needed it, and never gave up on me, even when i did. thank you from the bottom of my heart.