Magical Mickey Mondays: Wine and Dine Half of a Half

my insane bag check bag

TheIt is Monday so we are linking up with another Magical Mickey with John at run.geek.rundisney and Katie from Adventures by Katie.

​The wine and dine half marathon, well technically the wine and dine half of a half marathon, was the most interesting race I've ever run. I'm not going to go into too many details as its been rehashed a lot online but will tell you what I experienced. 

We definitely took it easy after lynch. We got back to the room around 230 with a plan to leave at 730. We stretched, rolled, napped and relaxed until about 630 when we got up. We ate our leftovers from lunch, got dressed and off we went. We repacked our post race bag because of the changing weather. The line to get on the bus was insane but moved quickly. We waited about 15 min total. The traffic to get there was crazy!! I don't know what they did differently but it was bad. We got to the pre race area around 8:15. 

Went to check our bag (look above-mine was massive!), pee and got in line for Minnie and a pic. Kelly came to meet us and we got an adorable pic!

We went to chill on the ground as it started to sprinkle. Then we got the evacuation order. Uh oh. We headed to the baseball stadium to pee and then popped into the HP to wait it out. I followed on the radar and it was definitely storming but it looked to be going right around us. We waited until at 11 and then we saw the volunteers move so we hopped up and went back outside for further instructions. It was a cluster again with rumors flying what would happen and then finally they said the course was cut. 

I will never fault rundisney for the safety of the runners but I do think their communication could have been better. The race director should have given the full info-the storm moved through and hit AK hard and it is not safe for runners, there's another band coming through so for the safety, we will cut out the AK. Basically finding out through Facebook and Twitter is not the way to go especially wth spotty cell phone service. 

The race started as a cluster. I somehow ended up in the wrong corral and people were all range of emotions and a lot of people were planning on racing it fast to get to the after party. Since I was still in recovery from NYCM and technically tapering for Infinity Gauntlet, I decided to stop for every pic, no matter how long the line. 

our wait

The course headed out to Osceola parkway and then I came up to country bears and had to get a pic.

I then stopped for the fairies who thought I was tinkerbell haha

After that we turned off and headed to hollywood studios. I grabbed a picture with the green army men and then we ended up at the Clif shot area. I took one anyway and took it later on for the caffeine. I wanted to make it until 4am!

I took a pic with lilo and stitch and headed backstage to Hollywood studios. Yay-I passed the last official sweep point! I took a potty break at Rock N roller coaster.

The course was crowded as I had waited a long time in line and the speed was all over the place. I tried not to weave too much and not worry about my pace. 
I stopped for a pic with buzz and Woody which I had never done before 

We headed backstage to the tunnel and I stopped for a pic with the Incredibles-another first time stop

At this stop Kelly caught up with me (as you can tell from the pic) and we got to go through the Osborne lights together. I really felt for her as this was supposed to be her first half and she put in the training and was ready. We talked about it and definitely tried to turn it into a positive. 

Words cannot describe the amazingness of the Osborne lights especially when it's not that busy. It was very emotional for me as that was the last time I will ever see them. I cried. They are basically my favorite Christmas thing ever (well tied with the Christmas special of the peanuts) and I'm so sad they are leaving. I will always remember them and really do hope they get moved somewhere else. However, when we are sitting in a Cantina (fingers crossed!) and listening to the Cantina band, I will also be happy:) 
​
We headed backstage again and then out of the entrance. I stopped for a pic with vacation genie and Kelly continued on. 

This is where the race was a bit crazy for me. I was basically in the back of the pack and people were struggling. In all honesty, people were struggling through most of the race mainly from the high humidity. I really believe that if the full race would have happened, a lot of people would have been swept. Since I was in the back, paces were all over the place and I was basically forced to walk the path to the Boardwalk which was a bit of a bummer.

Once we got to the Boardwalk, it opened up and I was able to stick to my intervals. We went around to Yacht Club, Beach Club and through the international gateway and there was a photo opp with some old parade Floats that are out a lot so I passed.

Through backstage, through future world and I took a pic of spaceship earth as I had seen that view through 8 races in one year and it still brings me so much joy! I can't believe I'm about to complete every WDW disney race in one year(except Everest-sorry Everest)! 

Crossed the finish line in 2:03:48 (18:29 min/mile pace) and was happy and feeling good! The part that sucked was cuting off all of those miles, I was not very hungry. I had the snack pack and was good and decided I would just drink and celebrate. 

I stopped to get organized, got changed and waited for Mari and Sheryl. We headed into the park and it was a ZOO!
Definitely the busiest I have ever seen Epcot. Every line was at least 50 people long so we walked a bit more and stopped at France and decided just to brave the crowds. This definitely was the downside of the short race-it seems like everyone went to the after party. We made the best of it. 

We stopped at:

• France-Pom kir 
• Morocco-mimosa
• Brazil-cheese bread
• America-wine
• Italy-prosecco
• Germany-reisling
• Mexico-cheesecake and sangria 
• #drinkallthedrinks

We headed out of Epcot at 415! We made the full party!! We got right on the bus and passed out on the bus and got back to the room at 445 and all showered. We passed out before 530 (which was the time I got up the morning before and had like a 2 hour nap I between-crazy long day). We slept in (10am haha) and then did some laundry and relaxed before an amazing day at MK for the Christmas party. 

It sucks that the race was cut short as it definitely effected course crowding and the After party but runner safety is the most important. I wish communication would have been better but there is a first time for everything. 

It is still my favorite race. I'm not sure how the route will change but I love the night aspect and the course (AK got cut which is my fav park to run through) and of course I love food and wine and the start of Christmas. 

Will I do this race again? DUH even though I have had bad luck with it. Will I do it next year? Not sure. I want a true Wine and dine experience but I also will be finishing my dissertation and also getting back from Europe. I also will be back on Jan for goofy 2016 and would need to find people to run with it me! Choices, choices! 

Have you had a race cut short before? Have you had a good wine and dine experience? 

yes, i did bring my NYCM medal to take a pic with Mickey! it was the most epic raceation of my life!