I was awake at 4 AM this morning for my 6 AM flight to Orlando for this year's marathon weekend. This is the fourth year I have attended and the second year that I am doing the Dopey Challenge (5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon). My flight landed before 9:30. I was at the Wilderness Lodge to drop off my luggage by 10 AM and was on the bus pulling into the ESPN Complex for the expo around 10:30 -- not too bad. Last year I came in the afternoon and dealt with terrible crowds and lines to buy merchandise, so I was determined to avoid that this year.
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| Another year of the Marathon Weekend! |
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| Outside the merchandise area |
There was no real line to get my Dopey bibs and shirts and after those were secure I headed over to the official merchandise area. Even though I was there before 11 (the expo opened at 10), I still had to wait in a line to get in!
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| Better than last year's line which was outside in the cold |
Luckily, the line moved quickly and I waited less than 20 minutes to get into the merchandise. I knew what I wanted to buy (the usual souvenirs -- wine glasses, pint glass, headband, magnet, shoe ornament) but I also enjoyed looking around at all the new apparel.
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| So very true -- I love Disney desserts! |
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| I thought this would be perfect for Mike and my parents! |
I also briefly looked around the area where all the different vendors were set up. I needed a couple Gu's for Sunday so I was able to pick them up. I was back on the bus before 12:30 so I spent less than 2 hours there which I'm happy with.
Now to rest up for the next four very early mornings and running 48.6 miles!
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| Ready for Dopey! |
❤️ the Sleepy shirt!
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