Diving Into Blue

So there we were--it was 4:20 a.m. and about 37 degrees as we hung out at the staging area before heading to the start line.

It was two friends from work and myself at the Disney marathon. My friends were going to walk the marathon while I had decided to do a run/walk/shuffle. Instead of looking at it as 26.2 miles and counting down to the finish, we studied the race map to see where the course was going to take us. What it really boiled down to was: from the starting line, through Epcot, through the Magic Kingdom, through the Animal Kingdom, through MGM Studios, through the Boardwalk area, and back through Epcot to the finish located in the Epcot parking lot. When I thought of the miles like that, it wasn't too daunting.

I told my friends that I would start the race with them, so we could walk through Epcot and expereince the first three-ish miles together. And that's what we did!

At 6:07 a.m., we crossed the start line together, dressed as warmly as we dared, knowing that we would be shedding clothing as the miles passed. We had to buy these Tyvek jackets and pants as we really hadn't planned on such cold temperatures. These "cute" outfits made us look like marshmellows! And it was all about how cute we looked!

Kristy brought her digital camera with her on the course, and I had a disposal camera with me as well. We were serious about this race and finishing it--but we were going to have FUN and document the fun we had along the way.

It was still dark as we walked through Epcot but it was awesome! The lights were on, the music was playing, and the crowds of spectators cheered as we went past! We weren't the only ones to stop and click pictures!

And before we knew it, we were heading out one of the secret side exits through the backlot of Epcot. This is where I parted ways with Kristy and Kimmy. We wished each other luck, with the promise to meet at the finish line for group pictures with our coveted Mickey Mouse medals.