1. The jukebox in my head was in full force. As we were walking to the corrals I was singing "Defying Gravity" from Wicked and "Past The Point Of No Return" from Phantom of the Opera.
2. No fear. There was not a single point on Sunday Morning that I ever doubted I would finish the race. Well, that is not entirely true as running under the Water Bridge scared me and made me claustrophobic, I really had no idea I could move quite that fast.
3. Strength. I never in my life have felt as strong as I did for those 3 hours and 8 minutes.
4. Running through Cinderella's Castle with my best friend, Jenny. I mean it truly doesn't get any more magical than that. It was so magical in fact that my emotions spilled out my eyes.
5. Mile 5-6 looking at Jenny and yelling, "Look at me, I am running a 1/2 marathon." Jenny's response was "You are just figuring that out?", me "Yeah, kind of.". I think that getting to that point in the race and feeling so very amazing made me realize I was realizing this goal. The only race I did in preparation was a 10k. I think nearing that distance and knowing I had a ways to go made it very, very clear.
6. Tears of Joy. I really could not stop crying. I cried as I crossed the start, the Magic Kingdom Parking gate, relief at making it through that stupid bridge, seeing the Castle, running through the castle, Mile 10 marker (maybe 11 and 12, too), seeing Spaceship earth and knowing all I had left was to run around it and to the finish line, and just after crossing the finish. The tears at the finish were definitely the ugly cry.
7. Jenny had told me at some point towards the end she would look at me and yell "Balls Out" because that is what Joshua said. Around mile 10 I looked at her and said "This is a woman's race it should be Boobs Out" I think the other runners actually cheered for that one.
8. The lovely lady on the overpass somewhere between 9 and 10 that when we neared the top told us, "Look to your left." We did and her response was "They all wish they could be where you are right now, they will all finish behind you, you are doing great.". God Bless that lady.
9. The lady in the Epcot parking lot with the sign that said "I don't know you but I am proud of you."
10. Overwhelming Joy. Shawn took a picture as I was running towards them where they watched us. The picture is focused behind me but all I could see was the smile on my face. When I did the 15k a few years back he took a picture where I look frustrated and that was in view of the finish line. Sunday I looked thrilled and we hadn't even made the halfway mark.
11. The marching band changing the song to "Eye of the Tiger" as we ran by.
12. The gospel choir at mile 13 that gave as many runners as they could high fives as they passed.
13. The finish line. My goodness, I never thought I would get here. I signed up after being able to run only 1/4 a mile.
.1. Rocket propelled toilets make it very hard to sleep the night before a race.
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