The first race I planned to do in 2013, was while I was on a cruise and I would do it on a private island. My wife and I planned our 20th wedding anniversary vacation on a Disney cruise. Yes, I can hear you all now. "You went on a Disney cruise?!?!? With no kids?!?!" Yes, we did and had a great time, eating, lots of eating, and drinking, even more drinking. Stayed on the adult side of the ship, and had an absolute BLAST.
One of the ports, or stops the Disney ship makes is at its own private island, Castaway Cay. Disney offers at 5K run on the island that is free. The Tshirt is extra. On this trip, the finishers got medals. I was wondering if we would get medals for at the finish. Sometimes they hand this out, sometimes they don't.
Our cruise was in late April so the weather was great mid to upper 80's most of the trip.
So, here's how it goes for the Castaway Cay 5K. The ship pulls in and docks. I think it was around 7:30 am. I went down to one of the bars or dance clubs to sign up and participate. There is no cost to do this. I got down there with plenty of time and then was told we needed our ship ID's to get back on the ship. I think it's so they have an accurate count at the end of the day and make sure no one gets left behind. I ran back to the room and got it, and then headed back to the club to register.
There were 2 cast members, Disney's fancy way of saying crew members, who signed everyone in and gave us our bibs. Yep, you get a bib and everything. They go all out.
The cast members said it was going to be hot. It was already pushing 80 and the humidity was at 85%. They told us to make sure we drank a lot of water.
Once everyone was signed in, about 30-40, we all got off the ship and walked together to the starting point. I've heard of Goofy being at the bottom of the gangway and pictures being taken, but no such luck. It's a 10 minute walk from the ship to the start point. The cast members weren't lying, it was toasty already.
Some of the group and some of the ambiance walking to the start line.
Once we got to the start line, they explained the course to us. It's an out and back basically, and also, you have to follow the bike loop both out and back. The island used to be used by drug smuggler's. Yes, that's right Disney owns and island that once had illegal activity on it.
I was told that they have shirts out for purchase and that they have limited sizes available. Well, there were only 5 shirts out and only one was Flint Tent and Awning size, so I seized it and bought it. As I'm finishing up the transaction, the race, well clock, was started and everyone was off. I finished up and then I too, took off. I had decided to walk 1 min and run 1 min. Well, with the humidity, that didn't last long.
When I reached the left turn to get on the runway, I was passed by a very tall guy. He was moving. I made it to the entrance to the bike loop and grabbed some water. It was brutal out already. I had only been running in Michigan, and even though it was nice weather by then for us, it wasn't in the 80's with that high of humidity. I started prolonging my walking and was about 1/4 of the way through the bike loop when the guy who passed me right before the runway, was passing me again. Yep, he was almost done already. UGH!!
I finally head out of the bike loop for the first time, grab more water, and head to the far end of the runway. Seems like this guy who is finishing up, passed everyone. I meet almost the rest of the participants on their way back from the end of the runway. I was almost continuously walking by this point. It was hot and the air was heavy. I kept at it though. Made it to the end of the runway, did a quick about face and headed back. I grabbed more water again, took 2 cups and took them with me for the bike loop. Once around the loop, I grabbed 1 last cup of water, and thanked the cast member for being out there and doing this for us.
There were a few people still behind me......very few. Once I was off the runway, I decided to try to run to the finish. I had to take a 30 second walk break, but I finished. I did it in a little over 46 minutes. I thought that was pretty good for doing it in such hot humid weather.
I then got a medal, well, a plastic medal. It's a plastic Mickey head with a Disney Cruise line sticker on it attached to a red ribbon that says, "WINNER".
The worst part of the whole thing, was after the race, I had to spend the rest of the day on the beach being forced to drink beer and other fruity alcoholic drinks. Oh, it was sssssoooo tough.
This is the view from the adults only beach. Yes, it was this crowded all day. Very tough to enjoy.
A quick shot of the family area.
Headed back to the ship at the end of the day. When heading back to the ship, I at least felt like I was not a complete slug all day and had accomplished something besides drinking on a private beach. I would do this again, especially now that I've been running more. I probably still couldn't do the whole thing without walking especially in that heat and humidity. But I'd give it a shot.
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