When I woke up at 315 the morning of the run, I didn’t know if I could do it.

When we arrived at the starting line, I didn’t know if I could do it.

When the starting gun and fireworks went off at 630, I didn’t know if I could do it.

I’ve never felt as much stage fright as I felt as I moved towards the starting line.

I might have turned away from nervousness had Kellie not been right there with me.

Together we would get this thing done.

One foot in front of the other.

We set a pace that worked for the two of us.

It was dark – the sun not yet risen as we headed down the road that led to the Magic Kingdom.

Along the way we passed Disney Characters, cheering and posing for pictures.

There were highschool bands playing fight songs.

Kellie and I ran for the first 4 miles without stopping.

Finally we admitted that water and PowerAid from the hydration stations were more easily consumed while walking.

We chose to walk through every water break after that.

Call us wimps, but we were well hydrated.

And I didn’t have to worry about my blood sugar.

The sun rose as we entered the back door of the Magic Kingdom.

With the sun came spectators holding signs and cheering us on.

My favorite sign?

“Run total stranger! Run!”

Loved it!

We ran down the middle of Main Street.

The cheering was awesome.

Right before we turned to run through Tomorrow Land we found our own personal cheering squad.

Scott, Jerry, and Robbie.

So fun to see familiar faces.

We ran past “It’s a Small World”.

I saw Rapunzel – I wish I had taken a picture with her.

We turned a corner and were suddenly running towards the castle.

I might have yelled a little screamed at the top of my lungs as I ran through the castle.

As we ran through Frontier Land, all that hydration hit.

We’d been told that the best place for a potty break was in the park – not the miles and miles of porta-johns that lined the route.

Someone was brilliant to suggest that.

I was not brilliant to decide that this was the one time I’d “hover”.

I was very well hydrated and had run 5ish miles at that point.

“Hovering” did not go well.

Kellie and I headed out another backdoor of the park.

Disney has a lot of backdoors…

We found them standing in line to get a picture with Jack Sparrow.

Catie and her sisters.

We hugged, we snapped pictures, and Kellie and I kept going.

I have no problem admitting that it felt a little bit good to pass Catie.

The back door we ran through led us past the Grand Floridian.

Jerry works at the Grand Floridian.

The cheering and signs were a great boost.

That’s were I saw my favorite sign.

We turned right before we ran past the Disney Fire Department.

At this point in the race the road was lined with small signs giving the history of the creation of Donald Duck and his family.

This might have had something to do with the fact that the race was the “Donald Duck Half Marathon”.

Somewhere in here Catie and her sisters past us.

Grrr….

Ahead we saw a Cliff Bar station.

They were handing out “goo”.

I was excited about trying the product.

Kellie and I were handed mocha flavored goo.

We traded it for raspberry a few feet later.

It was nasty.

But I ate all of it as the nutrients were pretty important to me at that point.

Some people had not eaten all of the goo before they dropped the packets on the ground.

I felt like I was trying to run through glue for the next half a mile.

Kellie and I paused to take a picture with the Army Guy from Toy Story.

He was shouting “encouraging” orders over the loud speaker.

I might have jumped a little has he shouted “Oorah” right as I passed the speaker.

Ahead of us seemed to stretch miles of road covered with runners.

I was in awe of the number of people.

We ran up a clover leaf and could look back as those coming behind us.

Again – thousands of people.

Somewhere we passed Catie again.

I had to pause to tighten my shoes – every time I put my foot down it moved all over inside the shoe.

Catie passed us as I was tying my laces.

We didn’t see her again until after we had finished.

About a mile before the finish line stood someone with a microphone.

He was encouraging runners and asking people where they were from.

I run right up to the mic and shouted “Go Hokies!” as I ran past.

Sooo not me.

I don’t even like the Hokies.

We saw a guy with two prosthetic legs.

He was running.

If he could run this thing I could run this thing.

Epcot began to peek above the treeline.

Kellie and I both began to realize we had this thing in the bag.

We got our second wind and began passing people like they were walking.

Oh wait – they were walking.

With less than a mile left in the run, I almost dove over the sidelines to look at the cool EMS carts as we ran past.

We rounded a corner and there is was.

The finish line.

We crossed it together.

It. Was. Amazing.

3 hours, one minute, 18 seconds.

13.50 minute mile.

I did it.

I didn’t know I had it in me.

“There will be days I don’t know if I can do a Half-Marathon. There will be a lifetime knowing that I have.”

Tuesday has become my crazy, insane, rescue squad day. Its all good though. I like rescue squad crazy. But 46 hours of it last week was a little much. I’m trying not to repeat that this week.

I made the greasiest hamburgers ever last night. Bottom layer of bacon, blue cheese, and then beef. Seriously, I’ve mopped my kitchen floor twice – it’s still greasy. But, oh! The flavor!!

I no longer have wireless internet in my home. Nope. I’m using my phone for wireless. It works pretty well…most of the time. There are some glitches that can be frustrating. But thus far I’ve not been frustrated enough to go back to paying 79 dollars for something I now get for free.

I’m having a rough time getting back into the exercise routine I had before Disney. I’ve run once, and done the Wii several times. Not having a goal seems to be hurting me.

Did I say I didn’t have a goal? Catie just made me promise that I’ll do the Princess half marathon with her next February. She said something about running in a tutu. I also have a friend who mentioned something called a “Spartan Run”. Spartans, Princesses? My friends can talk me into the craziest things…

I did read Coup D’etat over my vacation. Review coming shortly. I’m still thinking deep thoughts over some of the things in the plot. Seriously though, Ben Coes is brilliant.

I think tomorrow’s post will be my last with Disney photos. That makes me sad. I really hope it doesn’t make you happy.

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

I have no epic stories of creative non-food waste. Mainly because I’ve actually eaten my meals as planned this week. Well, except last night…

So lesson learned – if food is eaten as planned, food doesn’t go to waste.

Sometimes my brilliance amazes me.

We spend at least an hour at the finish line waiting for Catie. There were fun shenanigans going on down there! Unfortunately, I was having a bad camera day – so stuff is blurry. There’s also the whole “I need a better zoom lens” thing.

Dancin' with Goofy (before crossing the finish line...totally messed with his times)

Team Hoyt

I might have cried a little when I saw Team Hoyt…just a little…

Probably the most mild costume...

Someone lost a bet!

Not at the finish line, but I had to share this one!

I have decided that finish line people watching is even better than airport people watching.

“Whatever.” said the woman that cries at Hallmark commercials.

This is a lousy picture. After about 10 (literally) attempts to get a decent picture, I gave up. No runner needs a stalker… The caption explains that the runner is running in memory of his son – who died of cancer. Yeah, I lost it just typing that. Something tells me there is some symbolism in the Yoda backpack as well.

This guy passed us multiple times – I lost it every. single. time.

Gospel Choir

This choir was dancin’, and clappin’, worshipin’ and singin’ mere feet from the finish line. We passed them, rounded a corner, and there it was. Their singing was the last thing we heard before the cheering of the crowd. I wish I could remember what they were singing – it was a great song!

I had a hard time hiding my tears from Kellie.

The starting line. I'm right under that back row of fireworks.

Wow, I look like a real runner or something.

Crossing the finish line!

Yeah, we rock!

On a side note – I had no idea my scanner would produce such good looking pictures!