Walt Disney World Princess Half Marathon - Trip Report

Okay - let's get the important part out of the way.

I completed the Princess 1/2 Marathon!! And - I managed to NOT be carb free all weekend - and even indulge a bit - and come back the same weight I left at. 357. So - now we just go back to normal - and keep going. With a new weigh in next Monday.

Now that the formalities are out of the way - let's get down to brass tacks.

I arrived Thursday night - checked in a Bay Lake Tower - had a nice studio with a lake view. Could still hear the fireworks, but they weren't deafening. Also could hear the electric water parade. Pretty much checked in, figured out how to get to the expo (Contemporary was not a host resort) - and went to bed.

7am Friday. Dressed - headed to the monorail. Took it to the Poly. Was on the first expo bus to the expo. The expo wasn't being done INSIDE the Josten's Center this time - it was in a tent out back (at least packet pick-up was). I got in line with some folks I'd met on the bus and looked around for Amanda. We caught up to each other inside while I was re-printing my waiver form. Then we headed to the merch room together. All the while, we were chatting about goals and preparation. I'll be honest - I was feeling nervous. And a little unsure of myself.

The tech shirt is nice. But ZERO boy official merchandise. All girl stuff. I get why - but still. So I bought myself a sparkly princessey bondi band (seen above) and a gift or two for home. Amanda and I walked back to our respective busses, and agreed to meet up at the Studios after. I wanted to try out for Idol again.

I hit Studios around noon (long commute issues) - headed straight for Idol - and Amanda came in as my manager. Although the producer loved my voice, they'd already filled their slots for my "kind" of singer for Friday - so she encouraged me to come back Saturday. So Amanda and I hit some rides. Star Tours - GMR - Tower - Coaster - even saw the Magic of Animation movie. Had a BLAST touring the park with her - and getting to know her better. We shared a nice dinner together at the Hollywood Brown Derby (I had the chicken cordon bleu, and it was quite nice). Then we again split up for the night. I wanted to be asleep early so I'd be up early.

It didn't happen that way. I just couldn't sleep. I was missing my dad something fierce. And really doubting myself. I was up until after 1:30am just lying in bed feeling awful.

And then the 5am alarm I'd set came all too soon. But I fought the urge to go back to sleep - and forced myself awake. I'd heard my friend Jason was in town, so I hoped to see him today. At 8 I headed out to the Studios to try again. I rode with a nice birthday girl named Melissa who was also trying out. At the audition gate, they weren't ready to open, so we sat and chatted. Then a nice girl named Bailey came over. She's a musical theatre major at NYU. We talked quite a bit.

Then it was finally audition time. We'd all become fast friends. And we'd added a 16 year old girl named Mikala to the group. And we all auditioned. Sadly Melissa didn't make it on the show. But the lineup for the 12:30 show was: Me, Bailey, and Mikala.

AWESOME.

So I texted Amanda and Jason, who came over to watch. I sang "Circle of Life" in honor of my dad (Saturday was 2 years to the day) - and really gave it my all. Bailey sang "Alone" by Heart. Mikala sang "Bubbly". I think it was probably really close between Bailey and myself, but Bailey won - and deserved it. She was VERY good.

Jason, Amanda and I walked to the Friendship boats to head to EPCOT (although Jason had to go back to his work commitments) for the afternoon.

Amanda and I hit Imagination, Spaceship Earth, a few shops, and a nice walk around showcase before it was time for our early dinner at Teppan Edo. Always a fun restaurant. LOVED it.

Although it was only 6 - we headed back to our resorts, and agreed to see each other at the race. I conked out around 8.

RACE DAY - 2:30am - alarm. I had reserved a 3am taxi to the Poly. But there wasn't one there. There were also about 7 other people looking for a taxi - but hadn't reserved one. Finally one showed (but it wasn't mine) - he agreed to take ALL of us. So 8 of us piled into a sedan. Hit the Poly - got right on a bus - and off to EPCOT we went.

I found Amanda immediately. She looked severely at me. "Okay - how bad do you want this?" It was before she even said hi. "I do. I do want it." "Good. I'm going to make sure you get it. We're going to do it together. We'll run a bit of every mile, and then keep a good walking pace. Deal?" "Um. Yeah!"

We found the WDW Radio Running team - said our hi's. And headed to our corral (mine - since Amanda was slumming it in a corral earlier than she should have). Sat down and waited. I was a bit nervous about this idea. But excited at the same time. I'd had minimal to zero side pain all weekend - and felt sure I'd make it past that mile 7 medical station. But I wasn't sure about my speed overall.

Before I knew it we were starting. I had my music on, but one headphone out. And MapMyRun going as well. We ran at EVERY mile marker (30-90-120-150 seconds - depended on what we felt okay doing) - and then kept a brisk, but not uncomfortable walking pace. According to my app, around 16:22/mile. But we were right there in the pack. Loving every minute of the course.

Around mile 4 (contemporary) DeeDee came and found us. And the next thing I knew - we were on Main Street. It was FILLED with people. The WDW Radio crew was still there. And I started to think to myself "how long has it been since I have hit Main Street and had it still be CROWDED? Maybe...maybe I can do this." Hardly the powerful mantra I'd planned....but it struck a cord.

As we exited the Magic Kingdom - and I saw the medical station from January 2012 - Amanda pointed out I was passing it. My response was "You're damn right!" She laughed. That suddenly felt more mantra like. So I used it. A LOT on the course.

"Look - mile 9!" "You're damn right, Mile 9!"

As we approached mile 10, my side had already begun hurting, but not badly. I was able to keep in under control with breathing. We started on the overpass, and it rained on us a bit. But once we crossed the overpass, I realized something. I'd now outperformed January 2011, as well. And Wine and Dine 2010. In fact, I realized that I hadn't actually crossed a finish line since September 2009 (Disneyland). And as that realization hit me - I saw Spaceship Earth for the first time. And I felt the tears welling up in me.

Let me say at this point, that I LOVED this race. The energy on the course was so awesome. People were friendly - they asked about my running shirt (THANK YOU JUSTIN) - and when I told them my stories everyone was SO supportive.

Mile 12 hit, and we saw Lou and WDW Radio again - apparently Amanda and I made the show! And then - we were INSIDE Epcot. My feet were killing me. But I was almost there.

Round Spaceship Earth - Amanda looked at me - "Hey - no slowing down - get up here next to me!" She was cracking me up. But I sped up.

We rounded the corner at mile 13 - and broke into a jog. Halfway to the finish, something hit me. And I took OFF. I sprinted towards the finish. My body was screaming in pain - and I was literally growling at the finish. As I stepped across, I was now completely winded. And crying. Amanda quickly grabbed me and told me I'd done it. And that my Dad and Amber and Elizabeth were proud of me. So was she. The tears were now sobs. "Did you honestly think you could do this today?" I shook my head. I'd never even considered that I might finish. I thought I'd get picked up somewhere for being too slow.

"I knew you could. And I knew you didn't. So I thought I could help you believe in yourself again. You've been so hard on yourself lately. So I wanted to see what you could do if you pushed."

3:43 was our time.

I was so grateful as I got my medal. And called Amber. I sobbed. I was having a hard time breathing. But I was so happy. So emotionally and physically spent. Amanda walked me to the monorail, and I thanked her repeatedly. But I don't know that I can thank her enough. She helped me do something I'd forgotten how to do. Believe in myself.

Then things got weird. Waiting for the monorail, a wave of nausea hit me. As I sat down on the monorail, I nearly passed out. I realized quickly that I was dehydrated. BADLY. A girl on the monorail gave me a bottle of powerade, which I sipped. And after they got off, I laid down on the monorail. The world was spinning. I realized I'd hydrated enough on the course, but FORGOT that I'm on a diuretic. So I hadn't hydrated enough. And I'd pushed harder and longer than I had before. As the powerade hit me though, it started to get better. Sadly, I was still lying on the monorail, and wasn't sure I could actually walk. A cast member found me after 3 loops on the monorail. He helped me up, and into a wheelchair. He pushed me to the resort monorail. At this point, I was feeling a bit better. So I walked the rest of the way on my own power. But that was SCARY. I found a place to sit in the Outer Rim lounge and just drank some water.

Then the shakes started. After about 15 minutes, I got up and walked around more. I bought a sweatshirt. And decided I needed food. Good decision. As soon as I had a piece of bread at the Wave, I started feeling immensely better. And whatever it was that had happened passed. It took about 2 hours. But it was gone. I had one hour until the airport.

When I arrived at the airport, I was greeted at the gate by my new friend - who's name I honestly don't know. But I'll have it soon since she has my email address. She's a runner as well - and I met her in January on the way home. And we flew down on Thursday night together. And she saw my medal, and congratulated me. She knew my struggles. And was so happy for me! And I was so happy for me too!!

It really felt like a change in things. And a change in me.

I now have about six months until Disneyland. That gives me a few months to focus solely on WEIGHT LOSS - before kicking the training up into "racing speed". And somehow it feels like 2009 all over again. Like I'm heading towards more success instead of more failure. Like maybe things really are headed in the right direction finally.

And if THAT doesn't at least get an "attaboy" from mgreene - there's gonna be problems!!! ;)

Alright everyone - let's hear what you thought of the trip!

EPCOT AWAITS!