Disney Marathon



In 2013 when I ran Disney, I did the "Goofy Challenge" which means I ran the half marathon on Saturday morning and then the full marathon on Sunday morning.  It wasn't as bad or as tough as it sounds, but both races start at 5:30am. To get to the start in time, you really have to wake up no later than 3:30am and doing that two days in a row was hard! For 2014 I decided to run the full marathon only.  Here are a few photos from the race day...

 

Main Street USA!  This is the funnest part of the race - there is music playing and big crowds of people and everyone knows you are coming up on Cinderella's castle in a few minutes which is the most best photo op of the day.  And it's early in the race at about mile 5, so you still have the energy to be excited!

The castle!  Do you see the guy taking his picture behind me?  No?  How about his arms that appear from nowhere out of my shoulders?  Yep, that's awesome.  

 

Disney characters!  Rapunzel and Flynn!

 

 

I like a Disney princess, but the lines to take your picture with them were all very long.  For some reason, it wasn't too bad for these guys - and personally I think Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck are about as "A-list" as a Disney character can be!

 

The finish line!!  That's my friend Beth on the right - she has been in several of my photos and was part of the group that came over to run in Lisbon last fall.  And Beryl on the left - Beryl is another Team in Training coach and she did the Goofy Challenge this year.  Another fun year at Disney!

Orlando!

The last leg of my US holiday trip was a visit to Orlando.  I had such a great time running the Disney Marathon last year, that we planned to make a return trip before we had even finished running the race last January. It was a great time to catch up with my running friends! 

 

Enjoying a pre-dinner drink with Ed and Marie!

 

 

 

If you haven't been to Disney World in years, or as an adult, you need to go.  It's hilarious - they take that "happiest place on Earth" thing very seriously!  Everyone is wishing you a Magical Day all over the place.  The wake-up call in our room was even a cartoon voice - maybe Mickey Mouse? We stayed at the Art of Animation Resort and specifically in the Little Mermaid building.  This was our room:

 

I would have died of happiness as a kid if my hotel room looked like this!  I was pretty amused even as an adult.  :)  They also had a Cars building and a Lion King building.  The pool and outdoor areas were equally covered with giant statues of characters from the movies.  There was actually a giant Ursula from the Little Mermaid near our pool and she is, and always was, scary!

 

On Friday we had to visit the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex to pick up our race packets. Apparently the Braves are holding spring training here in 2014 and they had a decorated Mickey to celebrate!

 

Since we had no other agenda and it was a beautiful sunny day, Beth and I spent the afternoon enjoying snacks and drinks at the Sports Complex.  Good times!

New Year's Eve

After a week in Oklahoma with family, I flew back to Atlanta and drove to Greenville, South Carolina to spend New Year's Eve with Emily.  I have rung in the new year for several years at Emily's, so when I knew I'd be back in Atlanta, it seemed only fitting to make the trip!

 

 

The visit in Greenville was one of the best parts of my trip home.  We had a relaxing January 1st - went out for lunch, saw a matinee movie, put together Ikea bookshelves (who doesn't find that relaxing and fun?) and watched college football.  A great day!

 

I went back to Atlanta for another week and a half to work from my home office.  Stayed at my friend Wendy's and although we didn't get any pictures together, she took this lovely gem of me by her fireplace:

 

I was in Atlanta during round one of the "Polar Vortex" and it was FREEZING cold.  Actually, probably colder than it has been all winter in London - knock on wood!  So I was hanging out inside wearing my friend Rob's crazy hat.  Good times!  Next time I am there, need to get better pictures of me with Wendy and her family!

Home for the holidays!

So now I am going totally out of order! But I had all these photos on my phone and could easily write this post while on the move. Waiting for someone to inspect my old apartment - I've moved! More on that later. 

Christmas!! I flew to OKC on Christmas Day. The airport was surprisingly busy and my flight was packed. The first time I had been in the US of A since February!  A couple of key observations during my layover in Atlanta (and keep in mind I was probably tired by the time I thought these things):

 

1. The bathroom stalls are very impersonal.  Almost all stalls in Europe are full floor-to-ceiling walls and doors.  So there is no space for a curious toddler to crawl under and look at you while you are doing your business. Back in Atlanta it felt like everyone could see my knees.  Weird because I never noticed it before!

2. The whole Duck Dynasty thing has had a much more significant impact on American culture than I thought.  Particularly in the South, where I was my entire trip - Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida. Did everyone always wear this much camoflouge in the US?  Is that a new thing?

3. People are loud. You can hear all their conversations. And they yell at their kids down through the terminals and grocery stores, etc. 

4. In Europe clothing is much more fitted. Sometimes that means tight (and not in a good way) and sometimes it's just more tailored.  But rarely is it too big.  In the US, clothes are baggy.  Baggy jeans, sweats, etc.  The fit is just bigger in general. 

 

Enough of my waxing on about differences - here are some pictures!

 

I didn't actually get to Missouri, but Mom sent this nice one of her with Mimi and Papaw.

Grandpa (aka Dad) with baby Kendall - the newest Strunk at our holiday events!  She was really into that cardboard she is chewing on there.

In fact, Kendall is featured in this year's Christmas pictures because she was the only kid mostly sitting still.  I don't even have pics of Nathan and Gracie because they were never in one spot long enough!  Kendall with Aunt Anne...

Kendall and Aunt Amy!  Look at the little wrinkled nose!! - super cute.

And finally we caught Preston too, but only at Braums with an ice cream cone and he didn't want to put it down for the picture.  That's ok, I love the ice cream there too!