Tinkerbell Half Marathon Part 4
Miles 5 through 13.1!
So just a heads up that there will be no pics until heading into the finish so this will be just one big chunk of text first. I'll try to keep it non-confusing 
So we were officially backstage at this point and I had been kind of eyeing all the in park bathroom but didn't "have to go" so didn't. But now I knew we were nearing the "out on the streets" portion of the run and I decided now was a good time attend to "business" and get myself all set up for who knows what would be out there outside the Disney bubble.
So I want to alert you all to a race first...this was the first time EVER I stopped for a potty break during race. So after waiting probably two min for a ports potty which felt like so long, and struggle bussing to get already sweaty compression shorts back on comfortably (ugh!) I emerged and realized it was time to get the earbuds out and Spotify music set up (I chose the rundisney virtual race series summer playlist) and get my first gel ready for the upcoming water station. All this fussing plus gel ingesting led to a pretty slow overall 5th mile. 12:05
It didn't really reflect that I was moving really well...when I was actually moving!
Fun sidestory. As I was finishing up my cherry chocolate gel and trying not to be a litterbug so standing over the last trash can of the aid stop another lady came up to do the same thing. I said "cheers" and she held up her gel and we clinked them. It was just too funny.
After that odd reset mile I felt like I was starting a totally new race and I think that helped. 8ish miles sounds less scary than 13. And I kept thinking "just get back to the parks! The last couple park mikes will be easy". The power of positive thinking.
So out on the streets it was sunnier and a bit warmer and the crowd really spread out. The roads were a bit cambered and so I found being as far left towards the middle of the road (generally only one side of the road was closed for us) if I stayed there I was a bit higher up and it was flatter. It also helped me pass run/walkers or people stopping. There was much chomping in these next few miles (a term coined by my coach @DopeyBadger where you act like pacman and attempt to pass/chomp people who passed you at the start)
I was feeling pretty proud of my high 9:00/low 10 paces here. Just trying to hold steady but also sort of ebbing and flowing with the crowd around me.
Mile 6 through 8 were pretty monotonous out there. I can't remember too much differentiation save for a random band playing "I kissed a girl" and a sidewalk DJ. I continued to walk and double fist liquid during aid stations
Mile 6 10:16
Mile 7 10:15
Mile 8 10:03
Not as fast as I'd hoped for in a perfect world race but I felt pretty strong out there and was walking water stops and I knew mile 8 meant clif gel party zone!!!
Ummm or just some unmanned card tables full of different gel flavors.
My chocolate one from earlier was kinda hot when I took it (probably because it was getting warm in my armband...ewww) so I grabbed a citrus one. And downed it with my next water stop. And boy did I get a bit burpy. TMI??
I did miss the lack of red hat ladies. I was imagining how nice their support would have been around this mile. But they weren't here this year. Mile 9 through 11 was more of the same feeling. Lots of room to run, not a lot of spectators or entertainment. And although I was moving well (never really near long run pace, always faster) my walk breaks for water continued and my pace started inching slower. My legs were getting tired.
Mile 9 10:25
Mile 10 10:42
Mile 11 10:25
Rebounded a lil there.
I did yell "Nice Shirt" at a lady who had my same shirt on with really cool crane tights. She laughed and that was pretty much my only human interaction for the street miles.
It's amazing how long a mile can feel when you know you are nearing the finish but aren't quite there yet. I could see the Tower of Terror off in the distance but I had no idea how to get to it other than just left foot and right foot and left and right. I don't really remember the music in my earbuds too much outside of a few of my faves coming on at the beginning. I think I zoned out on the music at some point and started zoning out on watching my pace or the time. Which was fine...it was a way more relaxed outing than I anticipated for myself.
And then before I knew it we were going past hotels and entering the bus entrance to the park. There were actual park goers getting ready to line up for their day so we had some crowd support again finally. Mile 12 was 10:44
My initial strategy to "let er rip" for the last few miles was just not happening. My legs were tired and just focused on keeping them moving and what it felt faster than these paces usually feel like ...was all I could do. So I just focused on getting my body to that last portion into downtown Disney. And it felt longer than the last few miles combined. Ran past tons of cast members coming in for the day.
I walked briefly the last aid stop which I don't see on the map but I swear it was there. And then just said to myself "come on girl" and pushed after that.
Rounding to the part right before mile 13 there were finally so many people there cheering for us and I just became so choked up. And my sis was right there cheering me on. I had looked at the mile marker and knew I could sub 2:30 even after all the pic stops and the water stops and the tired legs and I just started crying the happiest tears.
Total emotional overflow!
And then the finish line was there and I was crossing it.
Hands up! One wing down but still fighting.
My first half 2:27:15
Moving time on my garmin says 2:16! Those technically aren't too accurate but that's not too shabby right? I'll never know for sure because I didn't pause or hit lap button...I just let it run.
And then
I love this medal!
The paddles are a lil cheesy but heck if I wasn't gonna grab that I Did It one and show it off! Not sure if you can tell but those are happy tears still in my eyes. Thankfully a lovely lady in a Moana outfit who was running with a stuffed Hei Hei was there to keep me laughing and not sobbing!
I didn't stick around the finish area too much. I was suddenly voraciously hungry and couldn't wait to get showered so I could put on my Tink race shirt, my medal and shove all the bacon in my face.
Below pic courtesy of Bean waiting for me in DTD!
My legs were ok. I mean they were dead weights but no knee ouches or blisters. No weird chafing. No blood. Did I just survive a half marathon in decent shape?
I did!!!
It was hard at times and easy at others. And I know I've got another PR in me under different circumstances. Thank you so much Billy for setting me up for success! My training plan kicked my butt at times but I'm glad it did. I couldn't have done this without it!
I'm also so happy my hubby supported me in my decision to do this and all the hours I wasn't home but out training. And just so happy my sis said yes to coming so I had a reason to sign up in the first place. And if I start talking about my mom I'm gonna start crying again. Sobs!
I feel like a superhero and I don't think that would have changed with a few minutes less or a few more. Just feel like I did something that so wasn't me only a few years ago. In 2015 on May 23rd I ran my first ever real running 5k. It felt like it took forever and was so hard. It's pretty sweet how far I've come.
Thanks for reading all that if you did. I promise more park pics including that bacon! And stay tuned for a bean report about being a race spectator
