Princess Weekend -- Sunday Part 2

Ahhhhh... the post-race shower. Nothing quite like standing in a nice hot shower holding a plastic cup full of champagne. You feel classy and clean all at once! (Little did I know, Tricia and Lili were busy drinking the rest of the bottle while I was cleaning up!)

I kept self-assessing after we got back to the hotel. Was I able to walk? Yes. In pain? Only a little. My only real complaint was a crabby blister on my foot. And frankly, the experience was well worth it. I felt so blissful. Literally FULL of bliss.

Tricia wanted a nap ASAP (I was reluctant to lie down for fear I might stiffen like a cadaver). Heather and Chris were scheduled to arrive at some point around noon. Lili and I were very hungry.

A few calls and texts later, a rough plan was hatched. Lili and I would go grab a snack and wait for the Williamses, and we'd let Tricia get some sleep in peace. Wheeee! Then, hopefully we could all manage a group lunch.

Ok, can I just say, the sandwich that I had at the All Star Movies food court (turkey and muenster on focaccia) was freaking DELICIOUS? It could be because I was hungry and tired, but it was heavenly. Actually, it wasn't just random hunger - I was NOT into the pasta salad, so that sandwich must have been good! We opted to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather, so we got to see a lot of other runners coming and going after the race. I was surprised to see quite a number of ladies checking out with luggage and getting on shuttles to the airport. I can't imagine sitting on a plane after running a half marathon! I hope they all got home safe and sound and with minimal acheyness.

Not long after our "snack" (read: lunch number one) Heather and Chris arrived. Chris was heading back to Atlanta, but Heather was there to attend the post-race party with us and spend the night. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Tricia had risen from her nap and was ready to go out and about. We did manage to convince Chris to eat lunch (that makes number two for me!) with us gals, and we ended up at T-Rex in Downtown Disney. I inhaled an enormous and delicious dish of tortellini and guzzled a cotton-candy cosmo. Oh, yes, you read that correctly. It was HEAVENLY.

One of the best things that kept happening all during the afternoon: texts from friends congratulating us on completing the race. It was so warm and fuzzy, knowing our friends were thinking of us. I'm a lucky girl. It's amazing to have people like Brian and Stephanie tracking our progress and letting other people know where we were during the race and when we finished. Amazing people in my life!

By the time our late lunch was over, it was 3:30 - time to head to the Happily Ever After Party at Hollywood Studios!

We said good-bye to Chris and headed to the park. When we arrived, one of the cast members at the entrance asked us if we were there for the party. When we said yes, she directed us to our fabulous red carpet entrance to the side of the regular turnstiles. It was a really cute touch.

Once inside the park, I automatically headed towards the Villains store. Once that rush was over, we sort of meandered. Tricia and I were a little slower than usual, but we did ok. Dinner at the Brown Derby (grapefruit cake, I worship you), Toy Story Midway Mania (one of the best rides I have ever been on), the Great Movie Ride (where I fear we saw my future as an aging Disney cast member... sigh).

We never did ride the Tower of Terror or the Rockin' Rollercoaster, but we did run into Mark and Courtney for a brief chat. (The only time we saw them all weekend long, despite being in the same race and staying at the same hotel!)

We were all worn out little pumpkins by the time we straggled out to the car. On our way out, we received a lovely gift - a set of four lithographs, each one depicting one of the WDW parks. Sigh. I love me some Disney.

Back at the hotel, displayed in most of the windows on our floor were runners' bibs and medals from the race. I loved seeing all of them -- good to know we were surrounded by other princesses!

Knowing our trip was coming to an end was sad, but also felt good. I was surprised at how fast it all went by, but I also felt so accomplished, so good about myself in a completely new way. I missed my Brian and the kitties, and I was definitely feeling ready to see them. As I settled onto the pillow that last night, I felt like I was going to bed knowing I would wake up an entirely new person.

I already have rabies for next year's Princess.
Registration opens May 1st!