RunDisney - Day 4 - Lake Buena Vista

 1/2 Marathon Day

So the third day of predawn awakenings arrived. This morning we decided that it would be best if I went with Amy on the shuttle bus to the race course. So she did her prep and I threw some clothes on and ran a brush through my hair and off we went to catch the 3:30 shuttle. 

For today's race spectators could see the runners at two points on the course. I hung around the Epcot monorail entrance for a bit until they opened it at 4:30. Then took the monorail to the Ticket and Transportation Center where the first observation post was. It was a very, very humid morning and cool pre-dawn. It was nice to chat with another mother from Jamaica and her two friends from Port Charlotte, FL and Cambridge, Ohio. While waiting the race marshals came past and said that the race start had been delayed by 20 minutes because a couple of buses were stuck in traffic. The spectator point was about 4.6 miles into the course and I caught a picture of Amy as she ran by. She was so focused that she never saw or heard me. 

I then scrambled to the Magic Kingdom via monorail to catch her there. She was obviously enjoying the run and all that she was experiencing. 

From Main Street I went back to Epcot to await her at the finish line. But then I got a text message that she wasn't feeling well (around mile 8)and thought she might have to abandon the rest of the course. By this time (thanks to the delay) the sun had gotten high in the sky and with the oppressing humidity and direct sun, it was absolutely oppressive. It was a very good decision to take care of herself and not endanger her health by continuing. I was very uncomfortable just sitting in the sun. 

But we still celebrated her for making the right decision to abandon the course. She was not the only one - nearly 30% of the challenge runners did the same. 

We made our way back to the hotel and showered and napped.

The rest of the day was spent at Epcot. The Caribbean Beach Resort was so convenient for transport to Epcot because of the Skyliner. Somehow during the run, Amy sprained her knee and with my blisters we were quite a pair hobbling around. 

The Caribbean Beach Resort from Skyliner

We thought we could find some good food at Epcot, but, not wanting walk all around in search of it, we decided on a very good mango/lime swirl ice cream. 

We walked through the International Showcase since we were coming back there for dinner and headed to Journey into Imagination with Figment and Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival. 

Then to Living with the Land. This was a relatively long ride that featured the Earth's ecosystems and cultivation. There were beautiful flowers and even pineapples!

Then it was The Seas with Nemo. The pavilion also housed many underwater aquarium tanks.

We had gone to Space Ship Earth, but it had broken down, so returned after Nemo and didn't have to wait that long to get in. It is a wonderful ride through the history of man on earth and at the end you can decide your future. We had wondered why a photo was taken when it first started and at the end it became obvious. 

From there we re-entered the International Showcase and walked through the various countries. Did the ride at the Mexico pavilion of the Gran Fiesta Tour with the 3 Caballeros. It was good to sit for a minute.

Then to China to look at the exhibits and around to Italy where it was necessary to stop for a prosecco and limoncello refreshment.

By that time the sun had gone down and the weather was a bit more tolerable. It was nearly time for dinner and so we headed over to the Canadian pavilion where we had dinner at Le Cellier. So nice and cozy, it reminded us of a real wine cellar. 

We both had the same dinner - a wedge salad and NY Strip steak with a bottle of a really nice Pinot Noir. (we were so hungry we started to eat before photoing the food!)

After dinner we headed back to the Skyliner and to our hotel. I went barefoot except on the Skyliner since there were other people in the car with us. 

I don't remember falling asleep, but when I awoke around 1 a.m. all the lights were off and Amy was sleeping soundly. 

NO alarm tomorrow.