So how did last weekend's Disney Marathon go, with my dad and I representing our Avengers colors, on a beautiful course filled with lots of laughs and equally as many characters and photo opportunities? In a word:
AMAZING.
I owe it to you all right now to offer fair warning right at the outset: the 2016 Disney Marathon ranks among the most quintessential Cook family events that's ever happened, and we've got the pics...
lots of them...to prove it. If you're looking for a shorter post, turn away now, or maybe just scroll real quick through this FRACTIONAL chronicle from last weekend's epic run. So, without further ado, to quote from the start of the race, "3...2...1...GO!"
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| Avengers Assemble at the starting line! The Disney parks are all still fully operational the day of the races, and the powers that be want runners well-underway by the time the sane, non-running public shows up -- which means a very, very early wake-up call |
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| In terms of race emcees to set us off at the starting line, I guess Mr. M. Mouse himself ain't a bad one, all things considered |
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| Cap, making his charge towards the Kingdom gates |
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| Ironically, you're unlikely to find stranger characters anywhere inside |
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| "The sky's falling!! The sky's falling!" 20 miles later, our dehydration-addled minds would probably be concocting similar scenarios |
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| One's the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, another's Jack Skellington |
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| What would cause people to smile like idiots at this hour of the day? Running right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A., is one surefire way to do it |
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| Getting a SERIOUS boost from all the spectators, already out on the course at 6:45 |
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| He's late, he's late, but we're the ones running to make up for lost time... that's Wonderland logic for you. |
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| We ain't under the sea, but sweating in race day's 93% humidity kinda felt like we were swimming, I'll be honest |
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| No one runs like Gaston |
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| Ladykillers. That's us. |
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| Being from New England, the cold never bothered us anyway |
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| Storming the castle |
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| For all my Inside Out people, this one definitely falls under the Joy category |
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| A special congratulations to this new couple, who had their own Joy moment with just about the most fairy tale engagement I've ever seen. Wishing you both a happily ever after! |
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| Here there be dragons |
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| Spoiler alert! |
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| She was practically perfect in every way, until us sweaty runners showed up on the scene |
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| The bestest chEAR squad in all the kingdoms |
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| As the sun came up, it really did feel for a while like we'd detoured into Hades |
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| Luckily, Elsa (and about a hundred water stops) were on hand to keep us Frozen |
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| It wasn't Gatorade she was brewing, I'll tell you that much |
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| Turns out you really do have to be as swift as a coursing river to defeat the Huns |
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| You definitely know you're on Stranger Tides when you see CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow and Barbossa out there |
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| Dang. An overwhelming majority of the characters we met up with were of dubious moral fiber, now I see them all together. |
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| Ohhh I just can't wait to be done! |
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| Andy, Woody, & Buzz. We go waaaaaaay back. |
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| HALFWAY THERE |
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We made friends with these guys during essentially a miles-long game of tag between water stops and character lines. If either of you see this somewhere out there in the wilds of Paradise Falls the Internet, thanks, and I hope you had a great finish! "Adventure awaits!" |
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| This may just be me, but I just don't see vultures out on the course as a good omen |
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| Mom and Heather would have won the entire race with Kaa here slithering up behind them |
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| Running's bear necessities for this guy |
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| Socializing with some grim ghosts - they didn't grin much, though |
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| This seemed like a fantastic idea until I had to stand back up again afterwards |
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| I generally try to give this guy a wide berth |
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| Like the person before us said -- if we had to stop for ONE photo on the entire course, it was gonna be this one |
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| Goof's a Patriots fan, we all know it |
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| Cap, Iron Man, and Gronk -- SMASH |
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| Like any Avengers fan knows, "there are no strings on me" |
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| There were an estimated 40,000 runners for the weekend - that's impressive numbers even for this Boston veteran |
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| "A good soldier never leaves a man behind" |
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| Cap got some moral support from his loyal troops |
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| As you hit the runner's wall, it's important not to let Terror get the best of you |
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| "We can be heroes, just for one day" |
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| The scariest part -- we've still got three miles left to go! |
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| Mile 23, they see me rollin' |
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| Civil War -- whose side are you on? |
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| At this point, we were ready to trade in all three (or is it a collective six?) of our wishes if this guy could bring the finish line any closer |
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| That "THE FINISH LINE, AT LAST" feeling!! |
TRULY an epic run, one that's gone down in the history books as one of our best ever. Dad, it was an honor and a blast to run the whole 26.2 miles step for step with you, Civil Wars and all. The fact that we walked around the parks all day afterwards just shows how well the training we put into this paid off, and I'm already looking forward to the unspecified but guaranteed date in the future when we'll make a triumphant return outing.
Now if only we had some triumphant, Disney-themed song about embarking on a long journey to wrap up the post with...
I am on my way
I can go the distance
I don't care how far
Somehow I'll be strong
I know every mile
Will be worth my while
And I won't look back
I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track
No I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope
But I won't lose hope
Till I go the distance
And my journey is complete
