The course wound into EPCOT during the early miles and I was greeted by a few of the Main Street Electrical parade floats from the Magic Kingdom...another great day was in the works.
Welcome to the first Character greeting of many along the way... Hola Panchito and Jose!
The newest Disney Princess, and I didn't even have to wait in line for over an hour to see her!
I have to admit that Disney did a fantastic job this year of having characters along the course and music/entertainment. Here is just one of the quirky things that made me continue to smile as the miles wore on. She was threatening to "let the croc out" if we didn't get moving faster!
Approaching Animal Kingdom we get to see a "behind the scenes" road that is also near the sewage and water treatment plant. It stinks here and I am always amazed at the people who decided that they need a walk break at this point. Keep it moving folks, the smell is gone in a mile!
I was going to lay down and play dead, but I didn't want to get dirty. The joke is on the diggers though cause they should have trekked down the road 2 miles and they'd have had a few more takers. Most people "hit the wall" around mile 20-22 and these guys were at 18.
Going up the last "hill" on the course was an army guy from Toy Story. He was encouraging us to keep it moving and "suck it up troops, you're almost there." And in Disney language hill is the same as expressway ramp. He asked me why I wasn't more tired at this point since he saw me running yesterday... had I not had enough punishment.
I am still feeling great and usually by this point I'm starting to hurt. Must be the chocolate bar I'm still chewing while having my picture taken with the Incredibles. Probably my favorite part of the race, entering Disney Hollywood Studios and finding out what candy we get this year.
And then it hit me about mile 24. The legs stopped wanting to move as easily and they began to cramp up. But I was further in the race when this happened than usual so it was a good thing. I am usually "done" with the running part around mile 20 and take frequent walk breaks from there. I could suck it up for 2 more miles. This is a photo looking back on the course as it comes out of Hollywood Studios and winds down the boardwalk towards EPCOT.
Hola Panchito and Jose! I'm back!
Although it was almost my slowest marathon ever I had tons of fun. Shortly after I snapped this photo I was escorted to the Perfectly Goofy tent to get my special lanyard and Goofy medal. I can't wait 'til registration opens in March for the 2012 race and a half.
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