A Procrastinator's Super Late 2011 Marathon Trip Report!

Hi All! As I await our trip in November, I spend a lot of time reading others trip reports and I really enjoy them. It immensely helps to pass the time before we embark on yet another trip to our favorite vacation destination. I had always planned on writing a trip report on our Disney Marathon, but life got in the way and I didn't get around to it. I keep receiving emails about next year's marathon and it brings about mixed feelings. On the one hand, I am happy to not have to put in the grueling miles of preparation to prepare for it but also pangs of jealousy for those that are doing it because it was such an awesome experience.

So to relive the experience and to psych myself up for the next trip, I decide to write this much delayed trip report. I think it will be mostly pics with a short narrative as so much time has passed. I hope you enjoy!

On to the report!
Cast of Characters: My husband, Dan and myself, Kristi
Stayed at Coronado Springs from Jan 7-14, 2011

My short backround story to our madness begins in October of 2009 when I read Hollybelle's Marathon Trip Report. I thought it sounded like such a great time that I somehow convinced my husband that we should do it in 2011. Keep in mind that I have never been a runner. I could barely run a mile when we started training. We started with the Couch To 5K program. We entered a few 5ks then a 5 miler. In August, I injured my knee and it looked as though the marathon was in jeopardy. Luckily my husband is a PT and rehabbed my knee. We continued training with me back to running in October. In December, we had worked up to a long run of 15 miles. That was the longest run we were able to get in before the marathon, so we were a little worried but figured we would just go, have fun and make the most of the experience.

We took a later flight on Friday from Atlantic City to Orlando. The plane left around 6:30 pm. We landed in Orlando around 9 pm. The line for Magical Express was pretty long.
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I was surprised because we usually land in the early morning and are able to get right on the bus. We waited about 45 min before we were able to board the bus. We were starting to get pretty tired and hungry. We were looking forward to seeing Coronado Springs since this is the first time we would be staying at this resort. We were the second stop and starving by this point.

We checked in at a empty registration. We had done online check in but I guess that didn't matter since we were the only ones.

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By the time we got there, checked in and dropped off our luggage, the counter service was closed. There was a menu stuffed under our door for a pizza place that delivered. Dan talked me into letting him order pizza. Unfortunately it would take 45 min for the pizza to be delivered. That meant dinner at midnight! Yay! And we had to be up and on a bus around 3 am to cheer on my friend who was running the half marathon.

The pizza delivery guy would call Dan on his cell when he arrived at the front of the resort. I wandered around taking some pics while waiting.
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Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We continue to run through the backlot.

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I don't have pics but we got to run through the tunnel that goes through the soundstages and costume departments. Quite a different perspective when you are running through there and not on a tram.

Mile 23! Just a short 5k to the end right? We can do a 5k in our sleep right? Wrong! Not after 23 miles! Ugh. I was really feeling the pain but I could still manage to run slowly.

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Here are some ASI photos from Studios.

Dan checking to make sure I am still behind him!
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At least we are still running at this point. This would not last much longer.
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4 parks down! With a final jaunt through Epcot we will be done and we can rest!

We were entering the last leg of the race and my legs just did not want to go anymore. I told Dan that I had to walk for a bit. I planned on walking just for couple minutes, but when I tried to run my legs said "No freaking way!" We just had a short trip by the Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin, Yacht and Beach and then into Epcot. That was soooooooooo long for me. Of course we are walking past Boardwalk and there are people who have finished and are wearing their medals cheering us on. That was really nice of them but I was so jealous that looked all clean and rested :p

I think around the Boardwalk we hit Mile 24.

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Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Coming up to Yacht and Beach Clubs. Did anyone else see the elderly woman on a scooter at Beach Club (I think)? She had a sign on her scooter that said something like "Hello stranger! I am proud of you!" She was sitting by herself and waving at runners. I thought that was so nice.

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Finally! We slowly enter Epcot.

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What do ya think? Do we look like we have had enough?

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We reached Mile 25 as we came over the bridge into France. There was a nice lady standing at the marker. As we came over she said "Give me your camera and let me take your picture at the marker. I am the unofficial photographer of Mile Marker 25!" She was just a person on vacation that took the time to do this. So many nice people out there! :sohappy: Made me forget about some of the less magical people that we sometimes see on vacation.

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Mile 25-26 was the mile from hell! At one point, I had to lay on a bench so Dan could stretch my cramping legs.
 

Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Somehow we managed a smile for this photographer.

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We passed Mexico and saw 2 of the 3 Cabelleros.

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Exiting World Showcase! We pretty much walked until we saw...........

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Somehow, we mustered the energy and broke into a run. We had to finish the last 0.2 miles at a run! Suddenly we saw the gospel choir. Hallelujah!!!!

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The final stretch! Where did I get that energy?!

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And there it was! The finish line! We crossed together hand in hand. It was an awesome feeling. One of the high points of my life. I forgot about all the pain at that point.

Oops, I left Donald hangin'! He tried to give me a high five, but I didn't even see him till I saw the video after the fact. I think I was just so focused on the finish line, I could see anything else!

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And finally us with our bling!

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fractal

Well-Known Member
That is awesome! Congrats on finishing. The most I've run in a race is a 10K. I can't imagine doing a marathon. That is something you should be incredibly proud of. Great report on it!
 

Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Now for the relaxin' part of our vacation! We grabbed our bags from the bag check and found my friend who has watched our finish. We refueled with a muffin and some bananas and found our bus to go back to Coronado. It was a bit painful climbing onto our bus, but worse getting back off after sitting for the short trip back to the resort. I had to laugh when we all got off the bus to make our way back to the rooms. 90 year-old would have walked better than the motley crew that got off our bus. We slowly made our way back to our room. We took nice warm showers (I know hardcore runners say this is a no no but it felt so good), massaged our aching muscles with The Stick (great tool for runners) and took a short nap. We didn't want to be inactive too long for fear that we would feel worse later. We headed out to 'Ohana for a celebratory dinner with my friend and her family.

I am sorry though....I know everyone looks forward to the food pics, but I was very neglectful this trip and did not take any.

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Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
After dinner, Dan and I decided to go to MK for a little while. We walked around and enjoyed the lights. We saw a few other marathoners that night, recognized my their medals and their awkward gaits. :lol: We went to the Laugh Floor and TTA. After a short evening we traveled back to Coronado for an early bedtime!

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Love these windows!

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Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
On TTA

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I should add that we didn't do any major rides tonight because I wasn't sure whether I could get in and out of the rides without some major pain!

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Hopefully more tomorrow!
 

Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
That is awesome! Congrats on finishing. The most I've run in a race is a 10K. I can't imagine doing a marathon. That is something you should be incredibly proud of. Great report on it!

Thanks so much fractal! I hope to do it again!
 

Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I almost forgot! We finished with a time of 6:48 and some change. We were on track to finish under 6 hours till the last 3 miles which took us forever!!
 

lbrad

Well-Known Member
WOW! Thats's AWESOME ... love the TR ... so happy you fininshed the marathon "hand in hand with your Prince" ...Love it!!!

I am not a runner. I have done a few 5k's (jugging/walking briskly). They were all fundraisers. I enjoyed them all. So I started training last year for this years F&W 1/2 marathon (I have always wanted to do a 1/2) ... hurt my knee... don't know what I did to it ... anywho had to stop running :cry:
Wish my hubby was a PT's ... some day I hope to get back on track but I'm not getting any younger.

Looks like you both had a wonderful time ... CONGRATULATIONS :sohappy:
 

Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
WOW! Thats's AWESOME ... love the TR ... so happy you fininshed the marathon "hand in hand with your Prince" ...Love it!!!

I am not a runner. I have done a few 5k's (jugging/walking briskly). They were all fundraisers. I enjoyed them all. So I started training last year for this years F&W 1/2 marathon (I have always wanted to do a 1/2) ... hurt my knee... don't know what I did to it ... anywho had to stop running :cry:
Wish my hubby was a PT's ... some day I hope to get back on track but I'm not getting any younger.

Looks like you both had a wonderful time ... CONGRATULATIONS :sohappy:

Ugh! Those knee injuries are the worst! Luckily I had enough time to heal mine and enough time to continue training. I had a subluxing patella where the knee cap doesn't track right and the knee goes out. Painful! I had to build up the muscles that track the patella. It stems from a highschool injury 20+ years ago. Hopefully you will heal and can make another attempt. I hear the not getting any younger thing :lookaroun Where does the time go???
 

Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The next morning we slept in till about 9 and then headed to AK to meet my friend and her parents.

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We went on KS first and saw quite a few animals. The weather was a little cool so the animals were out and about!

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Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Next up was Dinosaur. We subjected my poor friend's parents to the ride. I am not sure they were digging it since they got jostled around pretty good.

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Utoh! Looks like there some rain coming. My friend and her parents went back to their hotel but Dan and I stuck it out for a few more hours. We agreed to meet at Boatrights that evening (they were staying at POR) for dinner.

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We did some shopping to wait out the rain.

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Hmmm....what will Dan bring home from this trip?

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Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
This trip report is so fun and tiring at the same time! Congrats on your great finish!

Thanks Lynn! The first half of the trip was very tiring, but the second half was the relaxing part :ROFLOL: Thank goodness we did the marathon part first!
 

Kristia

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Pretty soon the rain came to an end. We headed over to see ITTBAB.

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Finally we were seeing a bit of sun! We decided to take a hike on the Maharajah Jungle Trek.

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