Done aaaaand Done : )

So its all done. This is the very last page of the Disney Marathon 2k9 chapter of my life. I cant believe it went that fast, but it's true. So here is a recap of the whole marathon experience, although words couldn't capture how wonderful it really was:
I flew into DC Wednesday night, and set out on the road trip to Florida very early on Thursday morning. The group was composed of myself, Matt, Bobby, and Robbie. The whole roadtrip down to Orlando ended up taking 23 hours (no- thats not a typo. 23, as in almost 24 hours) because we went via Tennessee, and we also had to stop and see some essential roadside attractions, including Foamhenge (a foam replica of Stonehenge) and the original Chik-Fil-A. So it was an extremely long 23 hours, but absolutely well worth it.
On Friday we went to Magic Kingdom, and that was another activity that was totally worth whatever sleep I lost doing so. Disney World is...really a dream come true. I mean, I know this is probably exactly what the marketing employees are going for, but seriously. Walking down Main Street at sunset, wearing a sundress because its 75 degrees, looking up at the Castle with a chocolate ice cream cone in hand and fresh memories of a Sleeping Beauty Meet and Greet fresh in your heart is just perfect. There are few moments in my life that I could describe as perfect, and most include a beach or something non-commercial (which is the opposite of Disney), but mmhmmm. It was wonderful.
So Saturday was a rest and recovery day, so we just hung out in orlando and took full advantage of the amazing pool that the Sheraton Downtown has. We carbo loaded at Olive Garden, and I wore a sundress, and really that doesnt sound like a lot, but it was enough to fill my day with plenty of delight.
Sunday morning began at 3:45 am, and before I knew it, we were at the starting line for the marathon. I had tried not to hype myself up too much because then I just get anxious and sick to my stomach. But by the time I crossed the start, the excitement was completely positive and I was feeling great. I kept up a great pace all the way through about mile 14, and I found it quite unbelievable that those miles had passed when they did. It wasn't until about mile 20 that I thought about being tired, and I hit the wall hard. But fortunately, Robbie and Brooke, who were the cheerleaders this year, could only find cheering room at the side of the road between mile 20 and 21, which was JUST when I needed a boost. Also, everyone's name was on their bib, so the crowd kept seeing my name, my tiara, and would yell "go princess sydney!!!" and if thats not motivation, what is? So it was perfect timing, and I somehow drug myself to the finish.
Anyway, the good news is that I ran the whole way (even though Im pretty sure that the pace I was setting at mile 23 could have easily been twice as slow as a lazy walk), and as an added bonus, I ran the whole thing in 4:47. Breaking 5 hours was a hope of mine more than a goal, so I was extremely excited to have done that.
Anyways, I am super stoked about the outcome, and I definitely enjoyed the whole process. I will be running another marathon soon, so be prepared.
Thanks for coming along for the ride : )