Well Here's My [Bib] Number, So Race Me Maybe - a Sept 2012 TR! P

Hey everyone, I'm back after another AWESOME trip to the World! And, without further ado, here is the TR (well, at least a start of it!).

The Facts:

• 48 hours
• 4 parks
• 7 rides
• 10 miles
• 2 Pascals
• 360 pictures
• As well as Instagram and cell phone photos!

And, amazingly I didn't even get to document it all in photo!


The Cast:
For starters, there is the MAIN cast of this TR, as well as a supporting cast... and then a BUNCH of Special Guests (sorry, Kenzie. I'm going to tell you now that I dropped the ball and forgot your stick at home! I'm sorry!!!).


For the cast, we have:
Me
Courtney, age 23, student teacher with some exciting news that will be announced possibly in this very post! Runner of the Tower of Terror 10 Miler.

Recognize the face with me? Unfortunately, he is NOT a part of this TR... especially since I didn't take a picture of him waiting at the airport for me at the end of the trip.


The other Main Cast
Claire, age 24 at the start of this trip, student teacher, and seasonal CM at the Bakery and Casey's. 10 Miler Spectator.

Isn't this such a precious picture?!


Supporting Cast
Angel, age 21, Nurse, Tower of Terror 10 Mile Runner. and Jerzy, age 21, Dan's brother, Angel's fiancee, bird lover, and 10 Miler Spectator.

And, as I said, there's other people making appearances in this TR, so keep your eye out for them!!!!
The dates: September 28 to 30th, 2012


The resort: All Star Music


So, really, my TR starts about a WEEK before this trip happened for one specific reason.

AHHHHHHHH I got accepted to DCP!!!! Which means, this trip also celebrates 100 days until my college program starts and I am a CM at WDW.




annnnd on to the weekendddddd.

So I can get my Race Bib!


Packing for this trip was a LOT different than February... Because, I only packed a carry on! You wouldn't believe how much I actually DIDN'T pack. It was kinda sad actually.


The bag all packed

Pascal is making sure that everything fits!
Well... you're going to have to sit with a teaser for now because I have some work to do for teaching in the AM!

 

[Ariel484]

Woohoo, time for the race!! Love the picture with all of the WDWMagic girls!!

 

[LindsayLoves]

I know THAT Gaston - he was the one out during the marathon! Is it sad that I am now noticing the different people who play the various face characters? No one answer that please I already know the answer.

Can't to hear more about ToT!

 

[enchanted_belle]

I know THAT Gaston - he was the one out during the marathon! Is it sad that I am now noticing the different people who play the various face characters? No one answer that please I already know the answer.

Can't to hear more about ToT!

Is it bad that I know who that Gaston dates when he's not in character? Don't answer that one either

 

[enchanted_belle]

DO IT!!!

I have a bunch of pictures from Dan and my trip that can be made into a mini TR too haha

 

[enchanted_belle]

Soon, the lines started moving like herding cattle to the starting line a half mile away... so much walking and being crammed!

But! While we were moving, Ashley found her way back to us, so we were all able to get a move on.

We attempted to get a picture of the four of us (thanks to Anastasia and Drizella who were behind us), but the lighting cast the weirdest shadow...

Empty Corrals!

Now the nerves were really starting to hit for both of us, and the only thing we could do to keep ourselves from freaking out was take pictures, and dance, and sing, and be silly.

Corral A start!

While we were walking, we heard someone screaming our names... looking over, Jerzy and Claire decided to walk with us to the start. How nice.

Getting closer........

C starting fireworks... oh goodness

By this point, the nerves were going away and the excitement was really starting to creep in.. a LOT actually! I was ready for all the promised characters and excitement that was to come (spoilers: I was a bit disappointed).

Guess who's next?

 

[Kristia]

Finally, a race!

 

[LindsayLoves]

Is it bad that I know who that Gaston dates when he's not in character? Don't answer that one either

HAHAHA, it must be *very* interesting running into people you know when they are in character.

 

[Ariel484]

Finally, a race!

Oh snap!

 

[CinderellyKelly]

Is it bad that I know who that Gaston dates when he's not in character? Don't answer that one either

I just met that Gaston this weekend!!! He's SOOOOOO TALL!

 

[joanna71985]

The marathons look like so much fun! I am determined to run one someday

 

[enchanted_belle]

I just met that Gaston this weekend!!! He's SOOOOOO TALL!

I met him on Wednesday, as well as a few long lost friends... Probably should have used the day to rest at home since now I'm really sick, but having Gaston invite me to his chateau and playing follow the leader with Peter makes sick worth it.

Another update tomorrow I promise, for now I'm gonna try to make it through my shift without having to come home early.

 

[Katherine]

Loving your trip report. It's kind of funny because it's like reading my own. I got in Friday before the race and went to MNSSHP that night and also stayed at ASMovies. So fun! It was the best quick trip I had ever taken.

Congrats on the the CP! It is what you make it! I did Fall Advantage in 2011 and loved it. There are good days and bad but it really is such a magical experience. It's been a year and a half since my first day with Disney and it's been an amazing ride!

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

YAY the race!!! And I was totally convinced Ashley was never going to find her way back to us!! thank goodness she did!!

And I will say I was quite disappointed with the characters during the race (or lack there of rather!)

 

[Ariel484]

I know THAT Gaston - he was the one out during the marathon! Is it sad that I am now noticing the different people who play the various face characters? No one answer that please I already know the answer.

Can't to hear more about ToT!

No. It means that you are awesome.

 

[Ariel484]

...[snip]...I was ready for all the promised characters and excitement that was to come (spoilers: I was a bit disappointed).

YAY the race!!! And I was totally convinced Ashley was never going to find her way back to us!! thank goodness she did!!

And I will say I was quite disappointed with the characters during the race (or lack there of rather!)

If there's one thing I have noticed from reading race reports, it's that the night races don't deliver when it comes to character meets. You ladies need to try one of the daytime races!

 

[enchanted_belle]

If there's one thing I have noticed from reading race reports, it's that the night races don't deliver when it comes to character meets. You ladies need to try one of the daytime races!

Princess is less than a month away!!!!

 

[tiaragirl]

I love that you're committed enough to continue this, girl!

Looking forward to seeing you in all our outfitted glory.. your FB posts of pictures make me happy!

 

[PartOfYourWorld]

WOOHOOOO!!!! I'm in it!!! Ahhh the ToT 10 miler was so much fun...I can't wait until I can get to another DIsney race...races around here at home just aren't the same..... <3 And yay for glow bracelets!!! My mom is always good for carrying those around Disney!

 

[Maryssa*]

Ahhh I love your halloween costume

 

[enchanted_belle]

Oh hey, remember me?
Yeah... I am the worst at finishing this TR. Blame Disney... working, playing, Princess running, starting to train for W&D in November already, applying for a management internship, and just... well, having way too much fun to be legal. But I guess that's Disney right?

Coming back from where we left off a few months ago...

Guess who's running under the start line in this picture?! ME!

The worst part about night races - pictures are the worst quality ever (my Princess pictures are a lot better), so bear with me!

Being that Angel and I were in Corral D, we started a bit behind... and got to Mile 1's marked almost a half hour into the full race since Corral A's start

See? Blurryyyyyyyyy.



Somewhere in the midst, I missed getting mile 2's marker, but I didn't miss taking a picture of running through my first park sign ever:

From other Tower reports, I'm sure you know by now that this race was HOT and that's putting it midly. This is still in the part of the race that was ok, where the humidity hadn't reached it's 90-something percentage like it did later on. It was hot and sweaty. And times got worse as the race went on... but the first 3-4 miles were ok?

These guys were out right by AK

and then these guys by Mile 3

Mainly, that picture was for Dan's benefit. He has a love for Scar. It's quite silly.

Mile 3!

Can't read the timing? Here, try this:

So, mile 1 said 29:33, and mile 3 says 1:01:10. Meaning we had to step it up to not be swept! But... there were still so many people behind us that we weren't too worried, and just kept on trekking through the race.

The course took us up and back on Osceola, which really was a very dull part of the race. There just wasn't that much to look at or enjoy... besides the smell of french fries from McDonald's as you ran past - talk about cruelty.

The worst part of the race was entering into WWoS, through this archway:

You couldn't run, and the walkway shimmied down to about 3 people abreast. And everyone was super rude - guess small space means race etiquette is out the window? (Though it was nothing compared to the lack of etiquette I experienced at Princess!)


Still trying to be in high spirits! But now it was starting to get wicked hot, and this would be the part that was most memorable (negatively) about Tower.

After what felt like forever, we were finally out of the little dirt road that would lead us into WWoS, and everyone nearby let out a collective sigh of relief. We didn't have to get super personal with those around us anymore!

Halfway through the complex, we ran into the grave diggers from HM. I'm so sad that my picture of him didn't turn out, it would have been perfect.

If only he wasn't so blurry..... le sigh.


After we made it through the rest of WWoS, it was back to Osceola to head on back to studios. I was looking forward to running DOWN a ramp for a change! Miles 5-8 were some of the worst, the hottest, and I was looking forward to the end of it all. But, this was also about the time that I actually realized the "I can do this and finish; I'm going to get a medal!" That was the best feeling of the race so far, and gave us a new step in our run... as well as increased our intervals to only having 30 second walk breaks and minute thirty runs (not the best idea in hindsight).

Finally, we were back here:

One more mile to go!

At this point, Angel left me to run the last mile straight through... I was having trouble barely walking it, so I didn't want to hold her up. As I said, changing the interval with it being that hot and that late in the game was not the best idea. Though... I got to go by LMA, that dreaded hat, and Emma's awesome red jacket from Once! I was bawling my eyes out when I finally saw that finish line, I couldn't believe I survived.

As soon as I got my medal, Angel and I made quick work of finding each other again and hugging for our mandatory picture in front of tower.

See how hot it was?

There's still the post party and one more day in Disney to go... but DTD and work is calling me so I gotta head out the door!