Still Running - 10 Miler Down

That is another Race and another 10 Miles in .......

Last night was the Disney Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler......Glad THAT is over - LOL

Was a long day as I went to the Mickey's Haunted 5k to watch Shannon and Derek do the 5k.  (I realized that I am a better Runner than I am Spectator!)  After the kids completed their 5k, we spent the day at Epcot - Was so much fun to spend the day with the kids.  I was SURE tired as the kids saw, I took a nap in The Land while they went off for an hour and I charged my phone.  Shannon has the pics - LOL

So the Tower of Terror - WHERE do I start?!?!!?

First off, I can say that I am no longer a Run Disney "Maiden".  I have completed and finished my first - even if my name WAS Patrice McFadin.  LOL I was able to buy my bib off a fellow Mama from my Moms RUN This Town Group.  SO, I guess as LINDA I am still a Maiden LOL

Well, WHERE do I start?  At the Starting line you fool!!

While planning my weekend out, I ensured that I would give myself PLENTY of time to get to the start line.  I am glad I did as the Transportation from ESPN Wide World of Sports was CRAZY.  We boarded our buses and took the short but lengthy trip to the start up where upon arriving - all I saw was a wave of other CRAZY runners like myself.  There were soooo many people.  I never knew that many people could run a race together at one time and I RAN HOUSTON!!!!!  That was the largest for me until last night.

I thought I would take one last restroom break and went to get in line and that took FOREVER but I finally realized that the inner Port-O-Lets had shorter lines due to everyone like me was standing in the outer lines.

I finally got into my Corral and finished my stretching so that we could begin our walk up to the Start line - this was about a mile away - but that was ok.  I used that time to finish getting head ready.

While standing in the holding corral before they began the waves, I saw some amazing spectators to include my daughter and son in law.  THANK YOU Shannon and Derek for coming out.  It really meant a lot to have someone there to cheer me on and wish me luck - other than the little boy who held a sign that read, Way to Go, you have 10.0 miles to go!  I giggled and kept walking.  So are you ready for the thoughts through the race?!?!?!

I think I really like Disney Races and I will so be doing them in the future!  Ok, I KNOW I will be doing them in the future!

Start Line:
As they announced Runners to begin - they shot off Fireworks.  It was actually really cool.  We joked in our Corral that we would probably get Sparklers but we got Fireworks and at that moment I felt like a TRUE Disney Runner.  We were warned of the Speed Bump and WHEW thanks for the warning - it was there.  We headed out and ran under the Laser lights that I felt like I was running under a motion detector and that I was in one of the MI movies.  I felt like a Special Agent.  As we kept running we headed out of Hollywood Studios and again got a warning that there was "Sharp Left Turn Ahead".  Made that Sharp Left Turn only to be met by an On/Off Ramp.  I never noticed while driving just how much of a SLOPE those have.  I also realized that I need to work on Slope/Hill training.  I also realized that I would be retiring my shoes after this race.  There was SOOO much heat due to they had a "Fireball" going off now and then in the retention pond that this ramp encircled.  It sure got HOT!  I also at this point shook my head.  There were people lined up to have their pictures taken with characters.  I was wanting to run and finish and thought, "These people are crazy".  After getting up the slope, we were heading down the Parkway and before I got to Mile Marker (MM) 1, I looked across and noticed along with everyone else that the first runner was making his way down the road.

MM 1:  I was still running and that was a major accomplishment seeing as I started the race with an injury.  My KT Tape was holding well and I was happy I was following the advice from Mr. Jeff Galloway himself.  "If your pace feels comfortable, slow down some".  I was staying hydrated and kept going.

We continued on towards Animal Kingdom

MM 2 was just about the Toll Plaza at Animal Kingdom.  More Torch Lamps, Whew HEAT!  There were some amazing characters here as well and the first Water Stop.  I opted for Powerade due to my water I carried with me.  Guess what, we had another SHARP LEFT Turn, I am now beginning to feel like a NASCAR Driver.  Oh and did I mention that this was on another SLOPE?!?!?!?!

MM 3:  I picked up a Rabbit at this point.  I had been continually running - again major since I was running with a injury.  I had gotten behind a lady who kept watching her watch and I realized when she shortly after that began to walk that she must have been doing the Run Walk Run program.  So, I thought why not, I would follow her!

MM4:  Still following my Rabbit I thought I would pull out my phone to see what Map My Run said and realized that it shut off while I was putting it back into my pocket.  So, I used this time to send a text to Shannon and Helen saying super short and sweet "4 Miles in"  End of text.  LOL  Phone went straight back into the pocket on my LOVELY Sparkle Skirt and kept on plugging.  I was also just going along with the flow and my mind was going into neverland.  I kept looking at the bobbing ponytails in front of me and the man with the shirt that read I Vote for Blerch.  Who is Blerch?  WHAT is a Blerch?  Why are all of these Ponytails bobbing back and forth?  Why am I doing this?  This sounded like a really good idea last week!  Have I lost my ever loving mind?  Those are the things I kept saying to myself - The answers were Blerch - I still have no clue.  Ponytails - because we women rock and can do anything we put our minds to.  I'm doing this because Running is a mental Sport and we are all a little insane.  Also I am doing this for those who can't.  Ben can't run but I can so I am doing this for him.  Even though it sounded like a good idea last week, it still sounds like a good idea.  Keep going Linda - Keep going!

MM 5:  I had just passed the first Medical Tent and we turned on to a dirt road.  I was glad I wore my running hat due to there were spots not lit up.  I quickly got a gathering of people when I turned on my lighted hat and continued running - can't run and hurt myself now can I?!?!?!  This took us through parts of the Haunted 5k course and I confirmed I HATE Trail runs.

MM 6:  Coming out of the darkness and into ESPN Wide World of Sports, I realized that there are some Really RUDE Runners out there.  They had set up Mister machines that would mist you as you ran by.  One lady totally cut me off and ran in front of me to get it.  She then cut me off to run to the Bathrooms.  I was really mad at her and apologized to the man I almost knocked in to and he said, "Not your fault Ma'am".  That made me feel good and confirmed that I am a better runner - not amazingly fast but I am nice!  This is where I decided that taking my Gel pack would be a good move - God it tasted good!!!!!  LOL  Running through the Baseball stadium where the Braves practice was amazing.  There were a good number of spectators there and everyone of them cheered everyone of us on.  I loved all of the signage that people held up and kept chugging along and smiling.  I quit worrying about my time at this point but kept going.  I knew that whatever I got tonight time wise would still be a PR - it was my first 10 miler so I PR'd!!!!!

MM 7:  This is roughly where I saw my favorite Spectator.  Little old lady in a wheelchair that held a sign that made me feel good and renewed my energy - or was it the gel - or maybe both.

We then made another turn back on to Osceola Parkway where I began talking to myself again.  Same questions.  LOL I need new material in my head.  By now I had long past run past my Rabbit and had been continuing on my own form of Run Walk.  I ran a song, Walked a song.  I was doing good until 'Freebird' came on for a RUN Song - LORD, That is a long song - it felt like it was 25 minutes long!

MM 8:  Brought us back to the first Slope that I really hated.  Guess what, I hated it going DOWN hill also.  Then I looked to my left and thought out loud, I just got passed by a wheelchair!!!!  The lady next to me said, "It's ok, we are going down a hill, she has the advantage!"  Then my brain thought - AND she started a good 30 minutes before you - so Nice Runner Linda let her have the down hill draft and I didn't try to catch her - like I could?!?!   Hello she was on wheels going DOWN the hill.  This brought us back through near the Start line and I realized I AM ALMOST DONE!  Then I was telling myself:

1.)  I am back on Property so I wont be getting picked up by the DNF Bus - WHEW!!!!!  

2.)  I have run the Houston Half Marathon and finished it so I GOT THIS!  I can and I will do this and I will do it with my head held high.  Here is where I sent a text to Shannon telling her "2 to go".  I also read her text from earlier that they were waiting in a specific spot so I made sure to be on that side to see her and Derek.  I thought I might need the encouragement.

MM 9:  This took us through the back side of the studios and the last time I went through there was April of 2012.  Brain talk - OMG I KNOW WHERE I AM - Where did this hill come from?  Then a couple of tenths of a mile further we run out into the public and WHOA there were soooo many spectators I felt proud.  I was soooo excited and adrenaline kicked in.  By now, I was tired of carrying my water - Sorry to any spectators if I hit you with it!  LOL  I was aiming for the ground so I really hope I didn't hit anyone.  It was one of the handheld $1.00 bottles from Wal-Mart.  I was carrying it to ensure I was staying hydrated through the race.  I kept on plugging.  I did see Shannon and Derek and I have NO Idea what they said but it felt good to see them and I knew I was going to finish.  I then finished the race on my Run/Walk to the final song that came on - Meatloaf's 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light'  Yup - I ran that whole song!  It was an invigorating song and I finished hard, strong and singing!  

Finish Line:  THANK GOD!  I finished and I was in pain.  My knee injury was really bothering me.  I collected my Chill Towel, Medal (which is AMAZING) and drinks/food and inhaled my banana while drinking some powerade - ok so I took Powerade AND water - LOL I just ran 10 miles y'all.  I made it up to the top of the hill and found the medical section and quickly turned in.  I have never in my life and running of races ever gone to a medical tent.  I went in, sat down and said, "Knees.   Ice.   Now.   Please."   After getting both of my knees iced down I sat and relaxed for a bit.  I then kept on and continued walking to find the kids.  I even opted for the Finisher Photo - she was nice and left my knees out - but I didn't care - I think I would have liked it - shows I did it!  I made my way through the rest of the backside of Hollywood Studios and the next turn I make, I make into a throng of people.  The Spectators and family members that were there waiting and cheering on everyone was overwhelming and felt great.  I was sooo honored to have run this.  Even though I didn't finish first or even in the top 10%, I was #6364 overall and out of the 12,000 runners, I was one of the 9,478 that finished!  I found the kids - took the transport back to ESPN Wide World of Sports and we headed on back to Shannon and Derek's so that I could shower and sleep.

I am definitely running this again next year and will be in a better state of training.  See I really didn't train for this and wasn't able to run any the week before.  Next year - we hope to make it a family event.  Shannon and Derek will run with me and if we can't talk Errin in to running it with us, maybe we can still talk her and Sean in to coming up to help and watch and have a fun filled family weekend.  I am also going to talk to my Sister, through Thick and Thin, Betty Sue, to see if she will come out to watch - as she LOVES Disney and see what Resort she can help us book a room or two in.  

Next up - getting serious on training and doing the other three races I have this month.

Saturday October 19th Rattlesnake 5 miler in San Antonio, FL in the morning

Saturday October 19th Neon Run 5k in Orlando with my fellow Mama's from Seminole County Moms RUN This Town

Sunday October 20th Pink Feet 10k with my Mama's again

More to come as we make this journey together - LOL you didn't know you were running with me did you?

Love you all and Have a wonderful day.

Tower Of Terror 10 Miler 2013

2:23

(Oh and it glows in the dark too)