Greetings folks!
I'm proud to say that this past Sunday I took place in a life changing, positive, amazing event at Disney's California Adventure. I was one of the (approx) 1700 to cross the finish line of the very first triathlon held in Disneyland Resort!
The day before the event, my mom and I headed up to Disneyland with my bike in the back of the SUV. We checked in at the Paradise Peir and went into Disneyland for a couple rides (Pirates and the Haunted Mansion). We then took a long route to walk to the Anaheim Hilton and Towers for the expo! I got my race packet (consisting of my numbers, swim cap, tote bag, and champion chip) and listened to Sally (one of the great "Iron Women" of the triathlon world) give a VERY encouraging speech about being a triathlete.
During the speech, she mentioned that she'd be at the end of the triathlon as the very LAST person. She mentioned, "If someone comes up to you on the course and says, 'Hi, my name is Sally,' you know you're dead last." It was all in good humor, but it became my mission from that moment on not to meet Sally! :lol: She also said, "We will not crawl over the finish line. We will not puke. We will cross it with our arms up screaming 'Yeah!'". I nervously replied under my breath, "Speak for yourself."
Trek was there, having a raffle for a free bike and offering test rides on others. Danskin (of course) was hocking their wears as well, and Jelly Belly was giving out samples of their new "Sport Beans." Larger than regular Jelly Belly's they were packed with energy and vitamins (and were actually quite good!). There were a couple of other small vendors.
My mom (my lone spectator) offered to get me something so I settled on a lavendar race jacket (that I LOVE).
I was trying to get her one of these little numbers, but she passed:
On the way out, they wrote my number on me (with permanent ink that took 2 days to come off, but I didn't mind one bit):
We went back into Disneyland and rode Finding Nemo Subs.
After a short break at the room, we had dinner at Yamabuki, meeting a friend of mine who was competing in the Triathlon. For the record, the food was really good (sushi) and cost LESS for 4 people than it would have in my home town of Escondido.
I went to bed early. Wake up call (4:15am) rolled around REALLY early!
I made some breakfast in the room (Kashi hot cereal, an apple, and a vitamin water), got dressed in my swimsuit, jeans, and new jacket. I double checked my race bag I'd packed the night before and headed down to pick up my bike from bell services. They took great care of it and wished me luck as I headed out to find the starting point.
(Game face!)
I walked the bike across the street, through the Grand Californian lobby (getting some smiles and well wishes from the cast members there). Yes, it felt a bit odd walking my bike through such an elegant lobby, but the friendly cast members understood and didn't hurry me along. Finally, I reached Downtown Disney.
Once there, I had a "Magical Moment" all my own. I hopped on my bike and casually rode through Downtown Disney. It was so peaceful! The cleaning crews hard at work just smiled, waved and said hi as I passed. Security didn't seem to mind me either as I rode through the unmanned bag check point and across the area that seperates DCA from Disneyland. Did I mention how beautifully peaceful it was without the sun even really up yet?
I followed my fellow bikers into the set up area in the Timon parking lot and was overwhelmed by the number and the energy of those there. It was a nervous energy, but it was also coupled with adrenaline and a "team spirit" environment (though the race was every woman for herself)....
More later!
I'm proud to say that this past Sunday I took place in a life changing, positive, amazing event at Disney's California Adventure. I was one of the (approx) 1700 to cross the finish line of the very first triathlon held in Disneyland Resort!
The day before the event, my mom and I headed up to Disneyland with my bike in the back of the SUV. We checked in at the Paradise Peir and went into Disneyland for a couple rides (Pirates and the Haunted Mansion). We then took a long route to walk to the Anaheim Hilton and Towers for the expo! I got my race packet (consisting of my numbers, swim cap, tote bag, and champion chip) and listened to Sally (one of the great "Iron Women" of the triathlon world) give a VERY encouraging speech about being a triathlete.
During the speech, she mentioned that she'd be at the end of the triathlon as the very LAST person. She mentioned, "If someone comes up to you on the course and says, 'Hi, my name is Sally,' you know you're dead last." It was all in good humor, but it became my mission from that moment on not to meet Sally! :lol: She also said, "We will not crawl over the finish line. We will not puke. We will cross it with our arms up screaming 'Yeah!'". I nervously replied under my breath, "Speak for yourself."
Trek was there, having a raffle for a free bike and offering test rides on others. Danskin (of course) was hocking their wears as well, and Jelly Belly was giving out samples of their new "Sport Beans." Larger than regular Jelly Belly's they were packed with energy and vitamins (and were actually quite good!). There were a couple of other small vendors.
My mom (my lone spectator) offered to get me something so I settled on a lavendar race jacket (that I LOVE).
I was trying to get her one of these little numbers, but she passed:
On the way out, they wrote my number on me (with permanent ink that took 2 days to come off, but I didn't mind one bit):
We went back into Disneyland and rode Finding Nemo Subs.
After a short break at the room, we had dinner at Yamabuki, meeting a friend of mine who was competing in the Triathlon. For the record, the food was really good (sushi) and cost LESS for 4 people than it would have in my home town of Escondido.
I went to bed early. Wake up call (4:15am) rolled around REALLY early!
I made some breakfast in the room (Kashi hot cereal, an apple, and a vitamin water), got dressed in my swimsuit, jeans, and new jacket. I double checked my race bag I'd packed the night before and headed down to pick up my bike from bell services. They took great care of it and wished me luck as I headed out to find the starting point.
(Game face!)
I walked the bike across the street, through the Grand Californian lobby (getting some smiles and well wishes from the cast members there). Yes, it felt a bit odd walking my bike through such an elegant lobby, but the friendly cast members understood and didn't hurry me along. Finally, I reached Downtown Disney.
Once there, I had a "Magical Moment" all my own. I hopped on my bike and casually rode through Downtown Disney. It was so peaceful! The cleaning crews hard at work just smiled, waved and said hi as I passed. Security didn't seem to mind me either as I rode through the unmanned bag check point and across the area that seperates DCA from Disneyland. Did I mention how beautifully peaceful it was without the sun even really up yet?
I followed my fellow bikers into the set up area in the Timon parking lot and was overwhelmed by the number and the energy of those there. It was a nervous energy, but it was also coupled with adrenaline and a "team spirit" environment (though the race was every woman for herself)....
More later!
