To CELEBRATE Madison's Super Miraculous Achievement; turning 15 years old, we traveled to the happiest place on earth- Walt Disney World! Madison had so much fun and didn't want to come back home. Her next big adventure is attending another Big Time Rush concert on July 5th and meeting her favorite boys for the 4th time. Please continue your prayers for her health to remain stable so she can attend this concert.
Madison's Aunt Michelle ran in the Disney Princess Half Marathon while we were there. Please read below Michelle's own account of her training and experience:
"This past Feb. 26 2012, I entered the Disney Princess Half Marathon to Run 4 A Miracle - Cure SMA. Words can not describe the feeling or feelings I had as I ran and walked 13.1 miles from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom and back! It was truly magical as I felt the wings of So Many Angels carry me to the finish line!
I trained for 14 months - doing the Galloway beginner half marathon training program I think 3 times and group core and strength training one day a week with my guy Rick at Premier. I mixed up two other days with a light bike workout and kettlebell program. At first I really did not get the run/walk, so I made up run walks just to get me to 6 miles. Then by accident or fate - fate for sure- I came across a video of the Galloway run/walk -- ok I got it now!!! So I finally got comfortable doing the run/walk - 4/1 was my goal. It finally all clicked into place the last 3 months when 80% of my training runs felt good to great. You know what they say about the other 20% - they are the ones that either hurt or make you want to just puke and leave that psychic mark in your mind - why am I doing this?
I did no short races like a 5k or even a 10K - my goal was to make this as tough as possible and to be in the unknown -- just like SMA. Total cold turkey. My last big run was the Sunday before the race. We were leaving Tuesday for the two day road trip down. On Thursday morning I needed to get at least a 30 minute run in and the weather was already up in the 70's. I walked to the small fitness center at the rental house resort we stayed in - did a 30 minute motor memory run treadmill run - then ran back to the house. I felt pretty good about things especially since the next three days we would be walking Disney theme parks for a good 2- 3 hours. I was praying for cool weather for Sunday, because the three days before were in the 70's, and it happened -- it was 55 and cloudy with a touch of misty rain. Thank you Lord.
Wake up was at 2:30 am leaving the house with Fran at 3 am. You had to be at the park no later than 4 am if you were driving because they begin to close the roads leading into Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. I think all the moons were aligned - we ended up with a sweet parking space, walk to the staging area was short and sweet. Once there, we checked out a few places especially the CHEAR fan area. I had to be in my corral no later than 5 am - so I headed on over to it around 4:30 am. Wow - I've never seen so many port-a-pottys in my life! The walk was a good 20 minutes, due to trying to get around those standing in line to take the last pee or poop to the crowd of over 20,000 heading to their corral.
I was in the second to the last corral G. I found a spot and waited for the big show. They had a big screen TV so you could hear ( not well ) but see as all the corrals were started by the Fairy Godmother and a round of - yep you guessed it - FIREWORKS. So as each corral in front of me left I moved up until I was in the start area. Yep - the Fairy Godmother did the countdown and the Fireworks went off -- and so did my corral. I started out walking -on the right side like you are suppose to - then I saw the family and friends on the left side so i decided to JOG and look to see if I could see Fran -- no Fran and if she was there I could not see her because it was too dark. So I was still jogging to the first water station 1.5 mile - goal was to walk all water stations -- got through that one so I began to jog again not really thinking. I just did that to the next water station 1.5 mile again. I walked through the station again and began to jog a little then looked at my watch and saw it was not 7 am yet ( oh my corral was to leave at 6:21am but I think we left a little later). I realized I just ran- ok- jogged but I think it was a run cuz I did each mile in like 10 something. Which I did not plan on so I decided I was going to do my run walk the rest of the way. As I slowed to walk - I was next to a lady who looked to be by herself so I said hi and how are you doing? Turns out she was by herself as her friend had a sprained ankle and dropped out. She was beginning to get a blister on her foot -so i asked her if she wanted any company. So we walked ran the rest of the race about 8 miles.
My goal was to finish so I was not in a hurry to make some record time and then be dead the next day. And the time went faster with a new friend. I felt great the whole time - as if i could have JOGGED the whole thing ( which I am glad I did not). Or even did my run walk - 4/1.
We passed through the Magic Kingdom toll booth heading to the Contemporary then the back way to Main Street USA and the Castle is in front of you. How cool is that!!! Way cool!!!! Right turn to Tomorrowland past Space Mountain, The Tea Cups and around the corner to the back of the Castle. The Trumpeter tooted a royal toot as you ran through the Castle and out the front and down to Liberty Bridge. Then I saw Jan at the 6 mile area - I gave her a sweaty hug and off to Frontierland. I was hoping the turkey leg stand was open but no luck there. Good thing I had one the night before. We then pass Splash Mountain heading towards the back lot of Adventureland which takes us to the road to the Grand Floridian and back to World Drive. At the 8 mile mark we get GU -- yummo!! I milked my three GUs for the next mile. Next thing you know it we are at mile 10-11 the big clover leaf exit ramp back to Epcot. WOW what a ramp -- it was banked and it was elevated - the most elevation you can get on the mostly flat course. Your left buttock cheek was feeling it now. Then there is mile 12 - Epcot, the golf ball, the water fountain to showcase bridge- then turn around and see it all again. Now you are getting to the finish line which is again taking us to the back cove of Disney productions ( only where the eyes of cast member are to see) - AND THEN there it is the finish line-1 mile to go!
It took me 3 hours & 24 minutes to do but it was the best 3+ hours of my life! I crossed the finish line, got my princess medal, took a photo op with it, walked around and was thinking -- I did it -- after 14 months of training and a 3 hour tour of Disney World - I did it and felt great!!!
I am glad I did no runs before this and I am glad I trained the way I did. I do not think I would have felt a great accomplishment if I had done a few races before this. Defeating the unknown is the most rewarding feeling ever. Oh - and staying with keeping it as hard as possible - I did the Princess in shoes I did not train in!! I bought a pair of Brooks two weeks before the race. However, I tried them on 4 times before buying them. The UNKNOWN!!! Just like SMA!
In doing this run - it has made me want to continue a journey to Run to help Cure SMA.
So because of the Princess Run I am going to BE A CHAMPION and run in The Nationwide Children's Hospital Half Marathon on Oct 21, 2012 -- RUN 4 A MIRACLE CURE SMA.
Remember I did my first ever road race at the Disney Princess Half Marathon Feb. 26 2012. After that unbelievable experience - I have decided to add more to my list - so before the Columbus Half Marathon - I will be doing the Color Run, Dublin Emerald Run, Columbus Ruckus and the Hell Run (going for the SuperWomans Cape).
If you plan on doing the Nationwide's Children's Columbus Marathon and DO NOT HAVE A CAUSE to run 4 then join my team and RUN 4 Madison's Angels Cure4SMA.
Please DONATE to SMA Gene Therapy Research at Dr. Brian Kaspar's Lab Madison's Angels Cure4SMA
YOU CAN JOIN MY TEAM- all you have to do is go to Madison's Angels Cure4SMA and hit the link JOIN MY TEAM. You will raise awareness and funds for SMA Research. You can do this the REAL way by entering the Columbus Marathon and joining me on the streets of downtown Columbus or the VIRTUAL way by running or walking in YOUR city (if not Columbus) or running or walking in your Columbus neighborhood -- mileage of your choice.
Remember SMA or SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY is the #1 genetic killer of children under 2.
7 million Americans or 1:35 people UNKNOWINGLY carry the SMA gene.
SMA is untreatable, under funded, incurable and FATAL.
Columbus HAS the TOP 2 SMA Research Teams in the world at The Ohio State University and The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital."- Michelle Worrellia
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