Disney Weekend Part 1

I'm free from the protective cocoon of the Magic Kingdom and back in reality land today. I'm so happy with the way this weekend went that I could by a year-round pass and just stay there.

We arrived on Friday and whisked through the expo for the bib and chip shuffle with no hassles. We spent the day together, Robin and I.. .lunching, hanging out at the pool, dinnering, just like a young couple. Beautiful.

A small damper on the day was that I apparently aggravated my hip after taking a few flights of stairs at the expo and I limped for the remainder of the day. As if I was there to run or something. . .

We were joined by the entourage on Saturday. My folks, sister, youngest daughter and her best friend, and my oldest daughter brought the grand kids to be with us during the day while they attended an Xtreme sports expo of some type near the area (my son-in-law designs and sells a line of apparel aimed at this market).

I took an Epsom bath during the day and decided to take another running ZERO for the day. I didn't want it in my mind that I might attempt and have to abort a run a mere day before the event. I got a few very nice last minute phone calls from my friends Karen and the Kid and all the old boys

We survived the usual fiasco of dinner for a party of 13 on a night where every living being is searching the town for noodles. Our 6:30 reservation got us a seated at around 7:30 and we were full of pasta and out the door around 10. My friend (Al)Bert and his wife met us which was very cool. I'm always calmed by Bert's very no-nonsense and methodical approach to preparing for a race. We discussed our goals. I wanted anything under 3:45 but had no idea what to expect, given my limited mileage and quality and even more so the way the previous week had unfolded. Bert was vague about a specific time but wanted to better his performance last year (which was around 2:58, I think).

We made it back to the hotel and settled in. I stacked all my race stuff in a shoe box by my bed. Jill and her friend were already in bed asleep. I thought back to the time a few years back when Jill and Amelia kept me up late the night before the race, giggling and cracking their knuckles.

I drifted off watching sports center and by the grace of God slept hard for a few hours. I found it very calming to have no expectations for what might happen in a few hours.