20thingamabobs
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2010
By this point, we'd been running for about 2 hours. Our whole bodies ached and we were starting to feel tired. We hadn't trained with Gu packets so we skipp the handout. However, we did pop a few of the energy reboost jelly beans that Jelly Belly sells for endurance. These taste a lot like the regular beans and are easy to chew/swallow when running. Finally, we reached Mile Marker 10:
Right after Mile Marker 10, we ran under an highway underpass where we could see the other runners up above us. After we ran under it, we were directed to head to the right up the on ramp. There was a music playing and a Green Army Man yelling for the runners to keep pushing through. Once we were up on the bridge/overpass, we could look down at the runners that were coming up behind us. We took another 1 minute walking break then started running again. I believe it was now that we ran back past the Winnie the Pooh characters again but I'm not sure? Then we saw Mile Marker 11:
And these cool guys from the Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It Street Party:
And finally, Epcot started to come into view. We were running along the road to the left of the main entrance so we were more or less looking down on it and I snapped a quick pic of the sign:
Along this mile, there was a group from AllEars.net that was ringing bells and cheering all the runners on which was really nice. Also, we passed Tinkerbell again who was joined by Terence, Fawn, and Iridessa. Right before we entered Epcot, we passed Mile Marker 12:
Right after the marker, there was a stage set up where Off Kilter was performing for the runners. It was really cool and the live music was a nice touch. There had also been several places through the course where local cheerleading squads and bands were cheering on runners and playing music which I thought was really nice... I mean the poor kids got dragged out of bed so early.
Then, it was time for the last mile of the race. We entered Epcot from a backstage area where we stopped real quick to take some pics:
Then we taped a video of the actual entrance into the park. As you'll see, we pass Stitch on the way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU7PjxwYt8I&feature=player_detailpage
Once we exited backstage and entered the actual park, DBF snapped this pic:
We had entered from the right and turned right to head towards World Showcase. I took this picture after we first entered:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG5uJxqNBus&feature=player_detailpage
Now, we had just passed Spaceship Earth and were starting to pass Innoventions when I saw it. The one character spot that I just had to stop for. I looked at DBF and said "Omg, we have to stop, we just have to... PLEEEEASE." Haha, he just kind of laughed at me and agreed. Luckily this character spot had by far the shortest line we'd seen all day (probably because it was so close to the finish) and there were only two parties in front of us. We waited briefly for our turn and then stepped up to get our picture taken with...
Phineas & Ferb!
I love Phineas & Ferb and since they typically don't come out in the parks (as of now) I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. And, what was really cool was the fact that one of the "parties" in front of us was none other than Al Roker, so DBF snapped a pic too:
After our pic, we started running towards World Showcase again. As soon as we reached the World Showcase Plaza, we followed the CMs direction and made an immediate u-turn back towards Spaceship Earth again. We snapped this pic as we approached:
Then, after we passed, DBF took this picture of the two of us running:
I figured it was a good sign that we were still smiling in it. Then we made our way out another backstage entrance and headed back towards the Wonder Parking Lot where the race had began. Right before Mile Marker 13, this choir was signing and DBF snapped a pic:
And I took this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fNP41obzgw&feature=player_detailpage
I thought they were really good and the music was a nice touch to end the race on. As you can tell from the video, we passed Mile Marker 13 right after:
We rounded right around the corner and the .1 mile to the Finish Line came into view:
We gave it everything we had left and made our way to the finish line.. here's a video as we finished:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnflwRzXgZ4&feature=player_detailpage
Crossing that finish line was an amazing feeling. We had done it, I had done it. I'd ran 13.1 miles without anyone telling me I had to, I'd done it purely for myself and that's a really amazing feeling. After we crossed the finish line, we walked forward and were handed our medals:
They were also handing out those plasticy thermal blankets to people. Before we exited the area, we stopped and asked a CM to take our pic:
It had taken us just over 2 1/2 hours. Overall, the race was a lot of fun, an amazing experience, a big accomplishment, and one of the coolest things I've ever done. I hope you enjoyed reading the running portion of this trip report and I hope you stay tuned to read about the rest of our short weekend trip to WDW. Still to come...
We're going swimming with Nemo!
Right after Mile Marker 10, we ran under an highway underpass where we could see the other runners up above us. After we ran under it, we were directed to head to the right up the on ramp. There was a music playing and a Green Army Man yelling for the runners to keep pushing through. Once we were up on the bridge/overpass, we could look down at the runners that were coming up behind us. We took another 1 minute walking break then started running again. I believe it was now that we ran back past the Winnie the Pooh characters again but I'm not sure? Then we saw Mile Marker 11:
And these cool guys from the Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It Street Party:
And finally, Epcot started to come into view. We were running along the road to the left of the main entrance so we were more or less looking down on it and I snapped a quick pic of the sign:
Along this mile, there was a group from AllEars.net that was ringing bells and cheering all the runners on which was really nice. Also, we passed Tinkerbell again who was joined by Terence, Fawn, and Iridessa. Right before we entered Epcot, we passed Mile Marker 12:
Right after the marker, there was a stage set up where Off Kilter was performing for the runners. It was really cool and the live music was a nice touch. There had also been several places through the course where local cheerleading squads and bands were cheering on runners and playing music which I thought was really nice... I mean the poor kids got dragged out of bed so early.
Then, it was time for the last mile of the race. We entered Epcot from a backstage area where we stopped real quick to take some pics:
Then we taped a video of the actual entrance into the park. As you'll see, we pass Stitch on the way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU7PjxwYt8I&feature=player_detailpage
Once we exited backstage and entered the actual park, DBF snapped this pic:
We had entered from the right and turned right to head towards World Showcase. I took this picture after we first entered:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG5uJxqNBus&feature=player_detailpage
Now, we had just passed Spaceship Earth and were starting to pass Innoventions when I saw it. The one character spot that I just had to stop for. I looked at DBF and said "Omg, we have to stop, we just have to... PLEEEEASE." Haha, he just kind of laughed at me and agreed. Luckily this character spot had by far the shortest line we'd seen all day (probably because it was so close to the finish) and there were only two parties in front of us. We waited briefly for our turn and then stepped up to get our picture taken with...
Phineas & Ferb!
I love Phineas & Ferb and since they typically don't come out in the parks (as of now) I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. And, what was really cool was the fact that one of the "parties" in front of us was none other than Al Roker, so DBF snapped a pic too:
After our pic, we started running towards World Showcase again. As soon as we reached the World Showcase Plaza, we followed the CMs direction and made an immediate u-turn back towards Spaceship Earth again. We snapped this pic as we approached:
Then, after we passed, DBF took this picture of the two of us running:
I figured it was a good sign that we were still smiling in it. Then we made our way out another backstage entrance and headed back towards the Wonder Parking Lot where the race had began. Right before Mile Marker 13, this choir was signing and DBF snapped a pic:
And I took this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fNP41obzgw&feature=player_detailpage
I thought they were really good and the music was a nice touch to end the race on. As you can tell from the video, we passed Mile Marker 13 right after:
We rounded right around the corner and the .1 mile to the Finish Line came into view:
We gave it everything we had left and made our way to the finish line.. here's a video as we finished:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnflwRzXgZ4&feature=player_detailpage
Crossing that finish line was an amazing feeling. We had done it, I had done it. I'd ran 13.1 miles without anyone telling me I had to, I'd done it purely for myself and that's a really amazing feeling. After we crossed the finish line, we walked forward and were handed our medals:
They were also handing out those plasticy thermal blankets to people. Before we exited the area, we stopped and asked a CM to take our pic:
It had taken us just over 2 1/2 hours. Overall, the race was a lot of fun, an amazing experience, a big accomplishment, and one of the coolest things I've ever done. I hope you enjoyed reading the running portion of this trip report and I hope you stay tuned to read about the rest of our short weekend trip to WDW. Still to come...
We're going swimming with Nemo!
) I cannot tell you how much I LOVE 
Phineas and Ferb and I am insanely jealous of your picture with them!! Of course the picture of them with Al is pretty awesome as well!! 
At least it looks it as you were both smiling right before and after the finish 
Can't believe you met Phineas and Ferb, I'm not a big fan of theirs, but I know they are really rare to see in the parks! 
Talk about glycogen levels being depleted, Tinkerbell is my absolute favorite character, we passed her twice and neither time did I bother to take a picture.... I can't believe I didn't either... I have to admit though, I laughed a little when you said you thought it wasn't the "real" Tinkerbell anyway. I had a couple moments like that too! 
. We recognized the area we were in as the place where we had entered Epcot during the Half Marathon. We headed to our left and entered the building that hold the Living Seas Aquarium. Our first stop was a visit with the manatees then the dolphins. This section basically consisted of an overview of where the animals had come from, how old they were, and their care. Next we proceeded upstairs to see where all the food is prepared every day. It was pretty stinky in this area 
. Finally, it was time to head into the prepping area. We watched a brief Welcome Video and then received some general do's and dont's. Mostly, don't touch anything. Yes, the sharks are wild so please don't torment them 
. Once finished, we headed downstairs into the locker rooms to change...
