The Half Marathon Comeback Run-Final thoughts(1/21) About This Page:

[katspjs]

Kim! Hope you and Mark have a great time!

[DrDolphin]

Kim- sounds like you and Mark will have a wonderful time (and who needs stainfree carpet anyway??)

[Jillybean]

Kim, you have a great attitude. I would not trade one minute of my vacations to WDW for paid bills.

I remember how organized you were from your last tr - - you're my hero!

Jill

[Colexis Mom]

Have a great trip Kim Good luck with the race

[LizardCop]

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Have a great trip Kim Good luck with the race

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[KimandMark]

Jill just complemented my on my organization, but I'll have to disagree!

I just read Terri's newest pre-trip post and realized that I'd fogotten to include the rental car, what a moron! Seriously, would you let me plan your trip?

We are renting a car from Alamo with an entertainment book coupon for $15 and our quicksilver membership. The economy car (please please please get an upgrade) will cost $67 or so. Our new, and running total for the weekend is just over $1000. Good God! Oh, and add in the $80 to register for the race and you could have yourself a nice stainless steel fridge.

(said while gasping last breath) "You should have seen the shower door we bought in 2005, ahhh, those were good times."

At least I'll earn another 6 disney dollars...

[Colexis Mom]

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At least I'll earn another 6 disney dollars...

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That's always how I look at everything now Kim

[luvnwdwgal]

Sure there's always things that you could spend the money on rather than WDW, but they aren't FUN!!!I've been waiting for new carpet for over 23 years, but you know what.....I've got 2 trips to WDW in the plans instead!!

[KimandMark]

Friday morning, no, thursday night: I went to the bank, the post office, the bagel place, Kohl's (who doesn't need new tshirts for vacation?) and then home. I made a new recipe out of Cooking Light because I wanted to finish the pork chops, did the dishes and laundry, cleaned the litter pan, and printed my packinf list. I packed our bags, very pleased that the weather report would allow me to bring a swimsuit and shorts. I even managed to get away with just 3 pairs of shoes!! (my running shoes, that I wear on the plane as they are the most important thing I need this weekend, my flip flops and my adidas slides for after the race). I even went to bad at a resonable hour, about 11 and got a full night's sleep!

Now Day One:

OUr flight was at 10:45, so I planned to be at the airport at 9:15. I printed our boarding passes last night for both legs of our flight and we had only carry on bags so we are good to go. We left the house and kitty cat behind at 8:30 and made it to the airport at 9:15 almost exactly. I dropped Mark off at the terminal with the bags and parked in the really cheap but really far away parking lot that only costs $2 a day. I secretly wanted him to drop me off, but since he did that last time and didn't really seem too keen on it this time I did the running around. My initial plan was to leave my coat in the car because I wouldn't need it and I didn't want to carry it. It was only 28 degrees that morning and I was wearing what Mark refers to as my JLo outfit (a velour/velvety sweatsuit outfit, I don't know why he calls it that) and it's not exactly windproof, so I keep it on for the run accross the highway, parking lot, road and terminal.

WE get to our gate with no problems, board with no problems and fly to Atlanta. We were right on time, had a 90 minute layover, had some lunch at Burger King and waited. We saw lots of soldiers we were at all different gates in the terminal and honestly couldn't tell if they were coming from somewhere or heading out to somewhere. We didn't see them in Orlando or in Rochester, just Atlanta. Tip for those who know a soldier: get them a lap top with a DVD player in it. It seemed that everyone of them had a lap top and were watching DVDs. Those who didn't have one were looking over the shoulders of those who did (although there was one soldier reading Guns and Ammo, I thought it funny).

We boarded again with no delay and landed in Orlando 15 minutes early at 3:15 PM to a sunny 80 degree day. The line at the Alamo desk was short and we were in our compact car (drat, no upgrades!) by 4. As we got onto property we decided to stop at the race expo before we went to the hotel. What a change from last year! Last year I didn't arrive early enough on friday to get my number at the expo and waited in the longest line ever. This time, there was relatively speaking, no one there. I walked right up to my table, discovered I was starting right behind the elite runners, got my goody bag and headed for the hotel at 4:45.

CBR was another story. I guess ALL the runners stay here! The check in line was the longest I've ever seen at a Disney hotel and every window had a working CM in it. It took about 15 minutes to get to a window, not that long really, but it felt long. The CM confirmed that we had a king room and I asked if we could be in Jamaica. She said most runners were in Jamaica and I was too. Then I asked (hoping against hope and trying not to be too picky) if we could maybe in a corner room. She said that she was pretty sure we already were, that the 01 rooms are usually on the end. COOL! Pixie dust they didn't even know to give us!

We headed over to Jamaica building 42, room 4201. We got the first parking space in the first row, found our room immediately and were very pleased. Our corner windows looked out on one of the very green court yards and made me wish I was staying here much longer than 3 nights. I've stayed here before but it was more than 15 years ago and I don't remember thinking it was this nice then! I love the two sinks with the shelf underneath (so much better than all your crap on the counter). I love the curtain that separates the areas. I love the colors and the fridge and the theme and everything!!

We unpacked our things, walked around the grounds for a bit, checked out Port Royale and the pool. Where is that darn hot tub? Our PS at Spoodles was at 6:40, so we went back to the room to change our clothes and drive over to the Boardwalk.

We drove everywhere on this trip, mostly because it was a short one. I'm a huge fan of Disney tranportation and love that I don't have to deal with driving and knowing how to get somewhere, I hate walking accross the not so magical parking lots onto the not so magical tram. But, when you want to do 4 parks in two days and run a half marathon and eat dinner at other resorts, the car is essential.

[KimandMark]

(I bet you guys want to know how I did at the race, don't you! Well, you'll just have to wait and see..... but don't things look good so far?)

[tigger22]

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(I bet you guys want to know how I did at the race, don't you! Well, you'll just have to wait and see..... but don't things look good so far?)

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How very cruel ! Great start to your report.

[Tara O'Hara]

[ QUOTE ]
(I bet you guys want to know how I did at the race, don't you! Well, you'll just have to wait and see..... but don't things look good so far?)

[/ QUOTE ] Kim, great start to your report and I sure can't wait to find out how you did!! Hurry back with more!

[Jillybean]

Great start!!! And I still think you are the organization queen!

Jill

[luvnwdwgal]

Congrats on getting such a great room, and yes, I'm anxious to hear how you did in the race!!

[DrDolphin]

Great start Kim -- I know how I did, and I know how Cheryl did -- so spill it -- how did you do (you skinny-fast you!!!)