Disney Wine and Dine Half

 So, on Friday morning the parents and I packed up and started the drive down to Orlando for the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon for which I had been raising money on behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training (where we- you and me- raised $2800 dollars for this amazing cause!).

On the way down we had to make a stop at the GOASIS in Brunswick, Ga.  I don't normally take pictures of rest stop restrooms, however, the GOASIS is the nicest truck stop/gas station EVER and you should know to stop there if you are passing through.  They also have a great assortment of snacks, movies, and random other treats that are not at your average stop.

 We arrived at the Disney Contemporary Resort which was where the Team in Training participants were staying and I got checked into this fabulous room.  Below and to the right are pictures of the room, patio, and garden at the resort.  My roommate was a really nice, fun girl from the Florida Chapter.

After checking into my room we left to check my parents into their room at a local resort that was very generously donated for use by a coworker.

It was then about time for dinner where we were meeting the other members of the South Carolina Team.  We were meeting at Portobello's  in Downtown Disney.  I was the only one from Columbia, there was one from Greenville, six from Charleston, and two from Hilton Head.  We had a nice, relaxing, get to know you dinner.  From there it was some looking around/window shopping then back to the room for bed. 

 

I got up early the next morning to back to packet pickup and the expo.  Where I had to put on blinders so that I didn't spend every penny I owned.  There was stuff every where from Craisin taste tests, shoes, Greek yogurt, sweaty bands (and you know I have trouble around those), Chiquita pinko, and running clothes.  The only thing I didn't see was the one (ok two) things I was looking for.  I wanted the mickey shaped 13.1 sticker and I wanted some running ears.  Sadly, I found neither. 

But I did get a lot of awesome stuff in the the goody bag and a shirt that proclaims "I am only half crazy 13.1"  I did really well restraining myself :)

 

Then it was time for our inspiration brunch where we all mingled and heard a little more about why we are/were doing what we were.  Then we learned that the Disney group had raised over $500,000 dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!  After lunch it was time to go back to the room to catch a nap before we met back up at 7:15 to get ready to shuttle to the race.

We got on our shuttle only to find out that the highway patrol had already shut down the major entrances into the Wide World of Sports (early).  So after riding around for an hour we finally found an entrance that was open.  The good news was that we were able to sit that extra hour rather than standing around waiting.

Then, around 9:30 it was time to head to the corrals.  I was in corral E so even though the event started at 10pm, my group started at 10:20. Every five minutes we inched forward a little more until finally we reached the start.

One really fun thing about Disney races is that they have entertainment along the course in the form of characters and performers. 

Along the way there were many to see, music playing, and pictures to take.  I stopped for the fairy godmothers (where I wished for the patience to deal with some of my fellow runners and to finish strong- since there was still the after party to attend) and for one of the army men from Toy Story ('cause we all know I love a man in uniform- even if he is green). 

 We got to run though the Animal Kingdom which was fun, but narrow, and is what caused me to wish for patience since people were walking five and six across and it was very hard to get ahead of them.  And we got to run though Hollywood Studios and circle the Tower of Terror.

One thing that definitely added some time to my race, in addition to stopping for pictures though out the course, and this is totally TMI, but I had to stop at every restroom I passed.  Not because I had to actually go, but because it was a night race, even though there were port-a-johns everywhere.  It was a night race.  I don't what one lit up like a spotlight, but a little light is nice.  So when I was in the parks I stopped "just in case".  Because they port-a-johns are scary enough when you can see.  If the people in front of you couldn't see I am not going anywhere near that.

And then finally I finished!  I had run for two days (hehehe).  I got my medal and I was off into the park for some fun.  I got back to the hotel around 3:30am and was wide awake (I couldn't move at this point but also couldn't sleep).  My roommate came in around 4am and we talked for about an hour.  I got up early for breakfast, but then crawled right back into the bed.

That night we went to dinner at Ohona's at the Polynesian Resort.  Which was full, so we got on the wait list.  While waiting a six top opened up, so the couple behind us sat with us so we could all eat there.  It was a family style meal that just kept coming and was amazing!  And sent me into a carb coma.  So it was to bed I went about 10pm that night.  

But first I had a purchase to make.  We were headed out in the morning and while they were not the ears I really wanted I picked up these and they are pretty cute and fun.  I don't care that I won't ever really wear them.  Although I could, maybe for another Disney race...