Team Voice Member of the Month time. Last one of the year. Can you all believe we are down to just weeks before the WDW Marathon Weekend??
This is you LAST CHANCE Marathon Miles. You should be smoothing out the bugs in your long runs, got your gear prepared and know what you are going to wear and what works. Start the taper no later than 12/26/09. Meaning don't run your really long runs. Run shorter ones, cross train, but do not stop all the way.
Here is your Team Voice Member of the Month:
Hi I am Rae. I am the creator of Team Voice. Team Voice was created off of Jonathan chanting The Voice. And at the Mouse Fest, the Team Voice logo was created by E. I still have the sketch.
I love Disney. I grew up on the Original Mickey Mouse Club. They were reruns in the early 70's. I do not remember alot about my first trip to Walt Disney World in 1974. Other than I cried when Mickey Mouse ran away from me. I can remember when Space Mountain open, and you had to sit in the lap of the person that was with you, and you had to put your stuff in a locker before you could enter the mountain. I also remember when they use to hand make the rock candy there om Main Street and the Penny arcade. I remember when they changed the characters shape and colors. 20,000 leagues, Mr Toad, Birthday land. We made the 3p parade late cause my group{band} rode Space mountain and got stuck on it and had to wait for them to get us down, and then escorted to back stage to get dressed for the parade. :) After high school I never made it back to the world. 2005. 16 years later I went back as a parent. That is an experience I will never forget. :)
2005: Found online about the marathon weekend. WOW!!! I would love to do that. ME? I don't think so. Then I learned about the other races, made friends on the boards. And started walking. It sure was not an easy thing to do. I could not even run 4 houses and my lungs hated me. I was sore all the time. I pressed on and made it to 4 miles and then in 2006 I slipped and fell had to have knee surgery. I thought I was done. My ortho doctor said just walk the races. Do not run them. If you can keep the pace do it. He is an ironman,marathon, ultra runner guy too. SO... I was back at it.2007 I tore a muscle.My doctor said go get fitted to shoes and you will stop all these small injuries. SO I did. Tower of Terror was my first race. Met people from the boards, and made lasting friendships. I do not remember to much of the race after mile 5. All I do remember was I wanted to sit on the bench in Hollywood studios, and the played the song Chariots of Fire!!! How corny!!! If it wasn't for E I would have sat down, and never finished. I was wheeled out in a wheel chair. I could not enjoy the after party. I felt bad enough as it was.
I was done with running and woging at this point. I was done. Then we went to a turkey trot, and I did not get sick. I felt good. 2008 I did the Minnie. Met more friends from the boards and made more lasting friendships.
Then we enrolled for the 2009 half marathon. It was on E's birthday. I had lost 40 pounds at this point. I felt good trained hard. No injuries. In great company. Stood in the bathroom line with some of my close friends, and then it was time. I was time to line up for the Half marathon. It looked like there were tons of people out there. Holy Cats!!!! Most of us stayed together and the rest went to their assigned corral. It took 20 minutes to get to the start line for us. ME, E, Jeff W., Matt and Jonathan. We all crossed together and we all went at our pace. I has so much fun that day. We were walking as fast as others were running. I did it!!!
Then I did the Princess Half made another couple friends, good friends. And jumped in a season of duathlons, placed second in points in the category I was in. Now here I am with the Full marathon coming up in 2010. And a triathlon series to start in Feb. 2010, sponsors, and a Ironman Florida 70.3 in May 2010. Where else? At Disney.
Never ever would I ever say back in 2005 I was going to do an Ironman in 2010, or a marathon, or a 5k. Or loose 50 pounds!!! And find and make friends who love Disney as much As I do. And create a support system. Team Voice. I couldn't have done any of it without anyone from Team Voice.
The experiences and friends I have made I will cherish forever. I have learned alot about myself. And I am not done. Not by far. I have the bug and my ultimate goal is Ironman Kona. And I am glad to have Team Voice with me.
And my biggest fans, My family.
Wow this is long I didn't know I had so much to say about myself!!! Holy Cats!!! 2010 is going to be a great year. I can feel it. I have new things I want to do with Team Voice and move in new directions.
Happy Holidays to everyone who reads this.
I can't Wait to see everyone in Jan.2010 And those who are not going to there you will be missed dearly.
What?? 2011 Goofy??
Saving the best person for last I see. Thanks for the story Rae. Can not wait to see everyone in a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteAbout time you put your story up :)! Thanks so much for all you do for Team Voice. I know I would have continued running on my own, but it's a lot more fun with all of you to share it with me.
ReplyDeleteas I always say...You're a inspiration to us all and never cease to amaze us. :-) Thanks for sticking with it and creating a platform for which we can all succeed and share in our success as a team, it's a continuously amazing experience for me (and I'm sure everyone else as well).
ReplyDeleteOh, and I think you're going to have company for 2011 Goofy...I know I'll be there :-)
ReplyDeleteJust a little example of what can be done with self determination and not succumbing to excuses:
ReplyDeleteEric Patterson's Journey. He's only been running for a little less than two years. Ran the Rocket City Marathon yesterday in 3:11 (note, that NOT a half-marathon time!). Lost 80-90 pounds along the way. And qualified for the Boston Marathon! And, yes, he has a job, kids, job travel requirements, yet he still gets his runs in...