This weekend we went to Orlando for Disney's Race for the Taste 10K. We ran in the same race 2 years ago and decided to go back one more time before Disney changes their race schedule. We left Friday afternoon so we could check in for the race that evening and get our park passes. . . but it ended up taking us 4 1/2 hours to get to Orlando(usually a 2 hours drive). About half way there while driving down I-75 we got a flat tire, so fun when driving 80 mph!
The flat tire . . .
Mark having fun changing the tire with the jack sinking into the sand in 95 degree heat!
The culprit!
Our new tire! :-)
So after a 2 hour detour including changing a tire then driving all over back roads in FL to find a place to buy a new tire we were back on the road. Knowing we weren't going to make it to the race check in one time we decided to head to the outlet mall and see if we could find any clothes for our trip to Sweden next summer. The North Face store was kind of a disappointment but we hit a gold mine at Eddie Bauer, getting some great clothes, most for 70% off!
Mark posing with his new rain jacket and vest.
The bounty . . . rain jackets and lots of quick dry clothes.
After shopping it was off to find our hotel.
Our hotel, Disney's All Star Sports Resort . . . view from our patio of the baseball diamond pool.
Our room . . . very sporty!
Mickey Mouse ice cream bars in front of the X's and O's on the football field at the hotel.
Saturday we ate a "Disney breakfast" at the hotel and then inquired about how to get our park tickets so we could go before it got too hot.
Mark's Mickey waffle.
Since race check in didn't start again until noon, the hotel was very nice and just gave us 2 park hopper tickets! So, we headed to Epcot, went to a few attractions, went and checked in for the race, went to Magic Kingdom and then headed back to Epcot to walk "around the world" and eat at the German restaurant. By then, we were exhausted from walking around all day, and from the temperatures being in the upper 90s so we went back to the hotel and lounged in the pool for a while before the UF/LSU game.
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
Welcome to Magic Kingdom.
Us outside of Magic Kingdom, all decorated for Halloween!
Goofy, and some goofy guy sitting beside him!
Magic Kingdom.
My new Gator outfit from Eddie Bauer (the whole outfit was under $20), and blue and orange M&M's from the confectionery at Magic Kingdom.
Dinner at the German Restaurant in Epcot.
Goofing off in Norway. We're ready to be vikings!
Sunday morning was an early start as we had to be on the bus to get to the race start by 5:45am. The race began at 7am and was fun but quite hot and crowded ( there were about 5,000 participants). Mark finished in 1 hour, his goal, and I was a few minutes behind him. After the race it was back to the hotel for showers and then fortunately an uneventful drive back to Gainesville.
Official timing bands for the race.
Ready to go (except that I don't look awake and just experienced a 30 minute allergy attack!)
With our medals after the race!
Chip and Dale heading to the post race festivities and food festival.
The temperature when we got in the car at 10am to drive home . . . yes, it is still HOT here!
Bailey with her souvenir water bottle, she was quite excited!
