Words will never describe the emotion that overcomes me when I reflect back on this magical weekend. It’s true, Disney IS the happiest place on earth and we are the happiest Cathletes as a result. By now I imagine most of you have returned home with a memory card full of pictures. Thank goodness for pictures, right? If you are like me, you are probably feeling a little blue since all the excitement of the past weekend had us on such an enormous high. I find myself not wanting to do much else but look at our fun pictures and relive the weekend.
Thinking back I remember the intense energy upon arriving at the hotel. Many Cathletes arrived early and came around to check out where everything was going to take place (and it was so fun to meet the few of you I saw that night). We were all so excited as we checked out the Disney shops, hotel stores and eateries.
Then Friday after registration the first class was Athletic Training. What an amazing experience to be with all of you together under one roof sweating it out (some highly decorated with Mickey clothes and Mickey ears….loved it). You were working hard, and wow, that was even a modified version. Just wait until the DVD gets in your hands. After class, many warm hugs and pictures were taken. Loved your happy faces and bubbly energy. Then we all showered up and headed over to dinner….yummy! I thought the food was amazing all weekend. Healthy and very lightly seasoned. Our final class of the night was Yoga. Ahhhh, felt good to stretch out the nerves that led up to this first day I think it hit the spot perfectly. We capped off Friday night with a Q & A and some fun conversation out on the terrace. How about my mother and her outrageous QVC spending habits….lol
Saturday was NON-STOP. From the moment the alarm went off, the day was packed with events. After our early morning group photo (how about that intense sun in our eyes, ouchie), we got underway with our first class, Bootcamp ( you can do anything for a minute), followed by Cardio Core Circuit ( a huffer puffer for sure), followed by lunch (omg, that was sooooo delish) and finally our last class of the day, Lower Body Blast (did somebody say DIXIE CUPS???). Next up, Cycle Max auditions. I tried so hard to make all of you relax and I hope I succeeded. A big high five to our participants. Thanks for your effort and enthusiasm. You all did a wonderful job and I’m so proud of you.
Sunday morning we all crawled out of bed. Ok, maybe not crawled, more like FELL out of bed, as we made our way out the door for our final step class before Mickey arrived to see the kids. It was a little shorter and a little kinder to the body since we were all feeling a bit of DOMS creeping in now. After class all the kids and parents came into the room with big wide eyes waiting for the most famous mouse in the world to arrive. Suddenly out of the opposite corner of the room, Mickey and Minnie came running in and greeted us with a warm hugs, kisses, and pictures. The kids were soooooo excited. Way too precious!!! My eyes watered as I tried so hard to keep it together. It’s pretty special watching a child’s face light up as they meet Mickey. After Mickey left we all enjoyed a fitness class with the kids. Mickey and Minnie were supposed to join us but they were on a tight schedule and we took a little longer getting our photo’s (which was definitely more important to the kids ). Was that a fun time or what? I was impressed with how nicely your kids followed right along. Their jacks and push ups were amazing too. I can see they work out right along with you at home. After class we earned ourselves a huge delicious breakfast and boy did that taste good!. The weekend workouts were completed and lot’s of refueling was going on with that meal. YUM!
After breakfast we were all free to go off and do whatever we wanted until Monday night dinner and fireworks show. Many went to the theme parks with their families and some stayed by the pool at the resort. Monday night came so fast as we loaded the buses to eat our final healthy and very tasty dinner before boarding the bus to Epcot for our dessert party. We were all escorted through the park (stay between the red lights everyone, ha) and arrived to a spectacular waterside view of the park. We enjoyed a delicious spread of desserts before the fireworks show started. Then everyone looked into the sky with complete amazement as boom after boom went off. The show was choreographed to a beautifully synchronized display of bright light, big booms and bursting energy. The finale was something words can’t describe. It was rapid, loud and intense, filled with color, clarity, and emotion. In fact it left everyone speechless as they sat there in complete amazement when that last round of thundering fireworks set off. Now that’s what I call a GRAND FINALE!!!! A goosebump moment for sure. After the show we were free to go to Epcot park or go back on the bus to the resort.
I want to do the whole weekend over again. I can’t believe its already been a week ago that I was packed and waiting for my Thursday morning flight.
Thank you to each and every one of you for coming and sharing your families with me. Your families are precious! The love and support they give you is so very sweet. You, your kids and husbands all had huge smiles on your faces all weekend and that made me feel so good. Thank you, too, for your lovely notes and kind words of appreciation. It touches me deeply and I want you to know that you all inspire me every day.
I’d also like to thank Cyndi, our behind the scenes photographer who never tires of capturing our smiles. So cute to hear her say “One, two three….” I adore you Cyn. Thank you also to every single one of the staff members at CathedotCom. Your endless hours of planning both behind the scenes and at the resort were greatly appreciated and the reason why everything went so smoothly. I love you all!
And now, in closing, I will leave you with the same energy we shared at the roadtrip fireworks dinner. Are you ready? On the count of three ……one….two….three….
CATHLETES ROCK!!!!!
