Thursday 2/23
After work, my friend/coworker gave me a ride to the train station so I could catch the Amtrak train up to Union Station. I got there about 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Shortly it was announced that the train was delayed. I waited inside the waiting area where it was announced that it would be further delayed. A Metrolink train arrived and the conductor announced that they would also be accepting Amtrak tickets, so I hopped on board. It was pretty crowded as they were picking up most of the stranded Amtrak passengers. From Union Station, I made my way over to the Patsaouras Transit Plaza to catch the LAX Flyaway bus over to the airport.
I was dropped off at terminal 5 for Delta airlines, but my gate was actually in terminal 6. I got through TSA security and made my way to my gate before I started looking for a place to get dinner. I ended up eating at the Habit Burger Grill. I ordered the usual Double Char with cheese and raw onions. I added a side of the tempura green beans.
Boarding in zone 3 was a bit hectic since it was the last zone. They were already tagging roller bags to be gate checked. Fortunately for me, they were not checking duffel bags probably because they're much easier to fit in the overhead bins. During the flight I watched The Magnificent Seven. I could barely stay awake for the entirety of the movie.
Friday 2/24
I landed at the Orlando International Airport early in the morning. I made my way down to the first level of side B to catch the Disney's Magic Express motorcoach to my resort. Since it was so darn early, there were no lines at all and I got to ride in my very own motorcoach.
Once I was dropped off at All Star Sports, I made my way to the front desk. Even though I had already checked-in online and knew that my room would not be ready, I wanted to be sure everything was okay and it was. There was a race weekend schedule posted in the lobby near both entrances. After checking that out, I hiked over to McDonald's to get some breakfast. I was able to get 2 sausage egg McMuffins for $3.50 using the McDonald's app on my phone.
Race weekend schedule
Breakfast at McDonald's
After eating my breakfast, I walked back to my resort to catch the shuttle over to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the race expo. It was the usual packet pick-up process. I first went inside the HP Field House to pick up my Glass Slipper Challenge bib and race shirts. I was photographed with my bib to make sure that I don't transfer my bib to somebody else. On my way over to the Jostens Center for the expo, I got to say hello to Phillip, the doctor that I volunteered with during the WDW Marathon weekend earlier in January.
Over in the Jostens Center, I breezed through most of the vendor booths. I mainly wanted to check out the official merchandise and get an early peek at the medals for the Tinker Bell races. I liked the updated Pixie Dust Challenge medal as well as the pink Coast to Coast medal that I'll be running for in May.
Expo
Tinker Bell medals
As I was getting ready to leave the expo, I heard over the public address system an announcement concerning my name. Rarely do I ever hear my name mentioned in public. Apparently my magic band had come off and I was so tired that I didn't even notice! It was turned in at the runDisney booth, so back I went to retrieve my magic band!
On the way out of the Jostens Center, they had a very cool Beauty and the Beast background setup in the location where they normally have the stage for featured speakers. There was a long line of people waiting to take a picture in front of it. I was able to snap a quick pic in between people.
Beauty and the Beast
Obi-wan!
Back at the resort, I found a nice spot to charge my phone while waiting for my room to be ready. While waiting, I stopped in the End Zone food court to pick up an Odwalla smoothie as my light lunch. Just as I was almost done with my drink, I received a text that my room was ready. The text conveniently included my room number. Just like back in January, I was back in the Home Run Hotel section again.
Room
Once I got settled into my room, I went through my race shirts. I really liked the 10k shirt and the half marathon shirt wasn't too bad either. Pink isn't my color, so the Glass Slipper Challenge shirt was my least favorite. I also got out my flat runner for tomorrow's race before taking a shower and taking a much needed nap.
10k flat runner
I woke up to go get dinner. I normally eat at McDonald's the night before a race. However I was too lazy to walk over. I ate one of my favorite menu items at the End Zone food court, their baked chicken dinner. I got it with green beans and corn.
Baked chicken dinner
Fossil
Saturday 2/25
Even though I had set 3 alarms, I woke up a bit later than I had originally planned. I got ready and boarded the bus at about 3:45 am. The instructions said to get on a bus no later than 4 am, so I still had a little bit of cushion. Once we were dropped off at the Epcot parking lot, we all followed the crowd over to the staging area. I walked to the stage area to check out the photo opportunities. There were 2 lines where you can take a photo with Disney princesses. Each line rotated between 2 princesses. They changed every 30 minutes. 1 line had Ariel and Aurora, the other had Mulan and Jasmine. Since they would be at there at the finish, I decided to get ready for my race instead of waiting in line.
I made my way to the front of corral A when we were released. I wasn't even close to the front row as there were a lot of hams in some pretty cool costumes that ran and pushed their way to the front for some camera time. They were definitely more for show than for running a race.
10k start line
I started off at a pretty decent effort. I was surprised that some of those hams kept up with me for even the first 200 meters. Soon after they would fade and you would see the speedsters fade off into the distance. I reached the first mile in 7:15 before making the first u-turn. This course was identical to the Walt Disney World 10k. I eased off a bit on the pace for the next two miles as I knew that I wasn't in shape to hold a 7:15 for 5 more miles! Shortly after reaching the 5k marker, I had to pull over and take a walk break. My head was throbbing as my body can't handle the higher humidity. I slowed significantly over the next 3 miles taking 4 more walk breaks whenever the head felt like it was going to explode.
10k finish line
Finish: 50:21
Click here for my Garmin data.
I guess I'm consistently bad as I had finished the same course back in January in 50:14 with pretty much the same identical race pattern and the late epic fade. I should've been easily under 50 minutes, but overall I was satisfied with the fact that I was running at faster paces again.
I picked up my medal, Powerade, water, a banana, and a post race snack box before heading over to the stage area to wait in line for some photos with the Disney princesses. I took one with Mulan, Ariel, and Jasmine. I didn't want to wait for Aurora, so I headed over to the area to catch one of the motorcoaches back to my resort.
10k medal
Entertainment stage
Mulan
Ariel
Jasmine
Back at my room, I cracked open the snack box and ate some of the snacks. The rest I would save to take back home for my coworkers. After that I took a shower and took a nap. I would be awoken by housekeeping. I was so lethargic that I didn't drag myself out of the room until it was time for a late lunch. I strolled over to McDonald's and used the app to get free 10 pieces of chicken McNuggets along with a Grand Mac meal. I knew I should've installed their app earlier! :)
Post race snack box
Lunch at McDonald's
Again, I vegged out in my room. I think the red-eye flight ready wiped me out! It was also possible that I was coming down with something. I didn't go back out until it was time for a late dinner. I got the carved turkey dinner with green beans and corn at the End Zone food court. I made sure to get another Odwalla smoothie to try and boost my energy level. After dinner, I got my flat runner ready for tomorrow's half marathon before hitting the hay.
Carved turkey dinner
Half marathon flat runner
Sunday 2/26
I got on one of the buses at about the same time as yesterday. It was the same routine. We were dropped off at the Epcot parking lot and then herded over to the staging area. Since the starting line for the half marathon was farther away, I started making my way over. Once I arrived at the corrals, I used one of the portapotties there before making the long walk up to corral B. With the course being the same, this half marathon felt like it was a make-up race for the canceled Walt Disney World half marathon last month.
No boys allowed in corral A!
Half marathon start line
The legs started off feeling a bit awkward, but they moved pretty well. My only goal for the race was to finish in under 2 hrs, so I ran at whatever pace my legs wanted to run. Everything went well and felt fine, but the legs were done by mile 8. There were no headaches like yesterday. My endurance was just not quite there as I could not get the legs to turn over. At about mile 10 while I was taking a walk break, I was passed by a fellow Disneyland half marathon legacy runner that was nice enough to say hi. The last 5k was a bit of a grind as there were absolutely no zip in my legs. I got a nice shout out by my friend, Rudy, the race announcer as I approached the finish line!
Half marathon finish line
Finish: 1:56:19
Click here for my Garmin data.
After getting my half marathon medal, I walked through the finisher chute picking up a water bottle and Powerade along the way. Then I went through the tent area for the challenge medals where they verified my identity with the mugshot that they took at the expo before giving me the Glass Slipper Challenge medal. After taking a finisher photo with my medals, I got my banana and post race snack box. They then gave me a pink Princess half marathon drawstring bag. That was a very nice item to receive at the finish line so that we can carry all of our snacks and drinks.
Half marathon medal
Glass Slipper Challenge medal
Post race drawstring bag
I then made my way over to the lines to take pictures with the 4 Disney Princesses. For today's race, there was Pocahontas, Merida, Tiana, and Belle. Merida was the best. She really got into her character and her interaction with everybody was really fun. By the time I got to Belle, I was really pooped. I just wanted to get back to my room and rest.
Pocahontas
Merida
Tiana
Belle
Back at my room, it was the same routine. I ate some of the snacks, took a shower, and then took a nap. I woke up to go get lunch at McDonald's. This time I got a buy one Grand Mac, and get one free deal using the app!
Buy one Grand Mac, get one free!
After I was done with my meal, it was back to the room to rest and watch TV. I was again disturbed by housekeeping. I wish they would just give me a 'do not disturb' sign and leave me alone. She kept asking if I needed more towels or anything even though I had told her that I was fine and didn't need anything. She kept poking her head into the room.
Again I didn't leave my room until it was time for dinner. This time I got the salmon dinner and again with corn and green beans. It was pretty good, but it was one of their most expensive items on the menu. Back at my room, I called to arrange my pick-up time with the Disney's Magical Express shuttle service for tomorrow's trip home.
Salmon dinner
Monday 2/27
Time to go home. :(
I got up a few hours before I needed to check out. While I was getting ready, I was again disturbed by housekeeping. This time I didn't bothered putting on shorts, so I answered the door in my boxers. I told her that I would be checking out at 11 am and to come back later. Again she kept trying to poke her head into the room, so I shut the door on her. She was one aggressive cleaning lady! Once I got everything packed away, I took my bag down to the lobby and had them store my bag. Then I hopped on the shuttle to head over to Disney Springs.
Disney Springs, formerly known as Downtown Disney, has changed quite a bit. The Disney bus transportation center is only on the side close to Planet Hollywood and the movie theater. The other stop on the eastern end of the marketplace is now for non-Disney buses and shuttles. I checked out the many new shops that they've added. It reminded me of the outdoor mall that I had walked through while I was at Disneyland Paris. I ended up buying a pair of Chip & Dale knee high socks for my friend while going through the World of Disney store.
Socks for my friend
Marketplace Co-op
I made my way over to my favorite restaurant, Ragland Road Irish Pub, for lunch. Since I was by myself, I found a seat at the bar. It's times like these where I kind of wish I was still drinking alcohol. Instead I got an iced tea. Since I ran two sub-par races, I ordered their citrus salmon salad. If I had run better races, I would've gotten their bangers and booz. Salads are my "punishment" which will definitely help me in the long run! :) The salad didn't look that great, but it tasted pretty good.
Iced tea
Citrus salmon salad
On my way out, I stopped in the restaurant's gift shop. I saw a pretty funny t-shirt that again would be appropriate if I were still drinking. Plus I need another t-shirt like I need a hole in my head!
After I was done exploring the updates of Disney Springs, I made my way back to the bus transportation center to catch the bus back to my resort. Back at the resort, I retrieved my bag and hung out in the lobby until it was time to catch the bus ride to the airport. It was a good opportunity to charge up all of my electronic devices.
Bus back to my resort
It was a full bus headed to the airport. I was in one of the seats way in the back. I kind of dozed off. I was at the airport before I knew it. Since I didn't put any bags in the cargo hold, I was able to walk straight into the airport and head towards the TSA lines. I finished off my bottle of water before getting in line. It looks like the TSA finally fixed the line issue. There weren't so many choke points this time and everything was moving smoothly.
Since I didn't see anything that looked appealing at the restaurants and fast food places, I got a pre-made smoked turkey and Gouda sandwich at Cibo Express. It was not bad.
Dinner at the airport
Again I was boarding with zone 3. The folks in front of me took the last available overhead bin space near my row, so I had to go back a few rows in order to store my duffel bag. Then once I got seated, I found that my video screen was not working. So I plugged in my music and tried my best to catch some z's. Thank goodness at least I had a window seat.
Once we landed and I was able to get my bag, I made my way out to the curb and took the A bus (airline connections) from terminal 6 to terminal 1. From there I walked over to the Crowne Plaza hotel. It was pretty cool to walk through my old stomping grounds as I used to work in that area on Century Blvd. Check-in took a bit longer than usual since the lady was saying that the computer was acting slow. Anyways once I got to my room, it was heavenly to find that the bed was extremely comfortable. I fell asleep in no time.
Crowne Plaza hotel
Tuesday 2/28
Early next morning I got ready, checked out of my room, and made the walk over to the airport to catch the LAX Flyaway bus over to Union Station. I timed it perfectly as I only had to wait a few minutes before the bus showed up. Once I arrived at Union Station, I had about an hour to wait for the Metrolink train to take me into work. I stopped in the Trimana convenience store to buy a snack and a drink. I then found a seat in the waiting area to wait for my train. While waiting it got quite uncomfortable since the security lady started waking everybody to check for train tickets. Only ticketed passengers were allowed to wait in that area. Apparently she agitated one guy that decided to play the race card. She had to call for backup. However she was giving the 3rd degree interrogation to everybody including me (Asian) and a Hispanic lady. She didn't seem to think that the ticket on my phone app was valid. Oh well, because it was time for me to go get on my train.
Breakfast at Union Station
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