My runDisney Love Letter

My heart is so full right now after an amazing Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend.  Somewhere in the middle of the half marathon, I started to come up with this blog idea.  Don’t worry…specific race reports are coming soon, but I wanted to start with a few love notes.

Dear Expo,

Last year, you were so disappointing, but wow, what a difference a year makes.  Thanks for being controlled, stocked with merchandise, and full of space to walk around.  Thank you for listening to the fans and making the adjustments needed to make the expo a fun experience.

Dear New Balance,

Thanks for finally figuring out a process that works.  I registered and you texted be back right away.  I had a return time, and when I got there, there was plenty of help to get me the shoes I wanted. 

Dear race organizers,

Thanks for splitting up the 5k and 10k.  We were able to cheer on my mom, then she cheered for us.  There was no mistaking where to line up or who was going where.  Three early days were tough, but the smoothness was worth the early alarm.  Heck…thanks for the smoothness with everything—this weekend went off without a hitch for us!
 

Dear volunteers,

Thanks again for all you do to keep us safe, hydrated, fed, and happy before, during, and after our races.  You are always great!  A special thanks to those who were diligently checking bibs at the starting corrals.  I’m sorry that some runners were rude to you, so I wanted to give you a special shout out.  It’s not an easy job, and I really appreciate that my corral was full of runners that actually were supposed to be there. 

Dear fellow runners,

Wow…thanks for the support!  I wish I could personally thank each and every runner that ran past me giving me a high-five or a few words of encouragement.  I really, truly didn’t think I’d make it.  I mean, it wasn’t the smartest move running a race 6 weeks-post knee surgery.  Every person saying “great job” or “keep it up” got me one step closer to the finish.  I can honestly say I couldn’t do it without the support of everyone on the course.

Dear family (you know…those other Disney Runs in the Family folks & the family supporting from home),

Thanks for being there!  Thanks for pushing me in a wheelchair so I could save my legs.  Thanks for cheering.  Thanks for running too and making this a family affair.  Thanks for finding a table at Trader Sam’s.  I gotta say…by blood and by marriage, I have a pretty amazing family!

And finally…

Dear Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend,

Thank you for bringing me back to life!  Being injured and having surgery can really get you down.  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling a bit depressed and hopeless through some of the last 3 months.  What I’ve been through is in no way even close to being the worst that could happen, and I’ve seen people be much braver through much worse.  For this little blip of time, though, for me, it’s been hard.  I finally feel one huge step closer to my normal.  And for that…I’ve got lots of LOVE!

Hope all the runners had as great of an experience as I did!  I can’t wait to share more details in the race reports!