Walt Disney World Marathon
January 7, 2007
Orlando FL
Time: 5:25:54 (12:25/mile)
Overall: 6328/10936
Gender: 3870/5780
Division: 550/772
Short Version:
This was by far the most difficult physical thing I've ever done. I finished the race, but way slower than I wanted to / anticipated. I had a great time, I'm already signed up for next year, and I'm pretty sure I'll set a new PR next time
Long Version:
We got to Orlando about 5PM on Friday. We made it over to the Wilderness Lodge by about 6, had some dinner and sat out on the back porch overlooking the pool. Got to bed about 11. We slept in on Saturday and made it over to the expo about 10:30. The expo was huge! I got my number and my goody bag by about 11 and then we wandered around. Bought a couple of shirts and some other stuff and then headed over to the All-Star Cafe for lunch. My wife noticed that Jeff Galloway was due to speak at 12:30 so we made it back over to the expo floor and into the room where he was to speak. His topic was supposed to be about running a personal best but he dropped the topic after about 2 minutes. He said something to the effect of "It's gonna be a hot one - there will be no personal bests tomorrow" (The man is a prophet!). I got to meet him and talk to him after his talk. He's a cool guy. This was his 136th marathon.
We went to Epcot Saturday afternoon. We got there about 2 and stayed until a little after 7. For dinner I ate steamed rice, stir fried chicken, and vegetables at the Nine Dragons in China. We got back to the hotel about 8:30 and I was asleep by 9.
We woke up at 2 Sunday morning. Got down to the restaurant for breakfast at 2:30 (The restaurant was open 24 hours on Friday and Saturday to accomodate runners in both the half and the full). Ate bagels with peanut butter and bananas. Drank about 20 oz of powerade.
Got dressed and made it to the bus by 3:20. We got to the staging area about 4. I kissed my wife goodbye at 4:30 and made my way over to the runners-only staging area. At about 5 they started moving us to the start corrals. It was a long walk from the staging area to the start corrals (I thought they should have counted that as part of the marathon ) At about 5:45 they started getting us ready to start. At about 5:55 the wheelchair folks started. At 6 Mickey Mouse counted down from 10 and started the race. There were fireworks and flames shooting out of the start house and Paul Oakenfold's "Ready, Steady, Go" was blaring over the speakers. Man I wanted to sprint! I was in corral G so it took me about 7 minutes to get over the starting line.
Miles 0 through 5 were in and around Epcot. I settled into a pretty good (albeit relaxed) pace. Miles 6 through about 9 were transitioning over to the Magic Kingdom. The sun was just rising and it was very humid. Miles 10 and 11 were through the Magic Kingdom, including running right through the center of the castle. Cinderella and Prince Charming were standing over the arch in the castle waving. There were characters all over the place. Miles 11 through 15 or so were heading over to the Animal Kingdom. I turned the half at 2:18, feeling great and thinking that 4:20 - 4:30 was in the cards. I was absolutelely drenched and very hot by the half but I was really feeling ok. By the time we got to the Animal Kingdom there were lots of people in the park and everyone was cheering. Everyone had their name on their bib and people were yelling out my name and cheering. It was a little weird but it was pretty cool too! I came out of the Animal Kingdom at mile 17 starting to feel some pain. I had a blister on the ball of my left foot that was really starting to hurt. Miles 17 through 20 are on the way from the Animal Kingdom over to the Wide World of Sports.
I had stuck religiously to my hydration and nutrition plan. I drank a half cup of water and a half cup of powerade every other water stop. I had a gel every half hour and I had an e-cap every hour. The plan seemed to be working fine.
There was a Beatles tribute band playing at mile 20. I am a huge Beatles fan (hey, with my last name I HAVE to be!). By this time the sun was up and it was just friggin' hot. There's no other way to say it. I walked through the water station just after 20 miles. I drank the powerade and dumped the water over my head. I got ready to start running again and my body just said "nope, I'm done." It was so strange. I just couldn't run! It was just like someone flipped a switch! I just walked and walked. I tried to start running again but my legs started to cramp every time I ran a step. I just kept walking.
Miles 21 through 22 or so were through MGM. Again, lots of crowd support and lots of characters. We exited MGM and ran (walked!) by the Swan and Dolphin hotels. Miles 23 and 24 were around the Beach Resort (or whatever it's called) and into Epcot. Miles 25 and 26 were through Epcot. I was still walking but I made up my mind that I was going to run across the finish no matter how bad it hurt. I started shuffling along right before mile 26 and I got my stride back just after the mile marker (makes me think I should have tried sooner!). There was a 50 (or so) person gospel choir at the 26 mile marker - right under the spaceship earth ball. The crowd support in the finish chute was amazing. People were yelling and cheering and there were characters all over the place high-fiving you as you ran past. It was a moment I'll never forget.
I hit the finish line and just threw my hands up in the air. I had three emotions hit me all at once - (1) Man, I'm glad that's over! (2) I can't believe I did it! (3) Geez my time was awful - I wish I could have been faster!
I walked down the chute and got my medal and headed over to the reunion area. I slammed a powerade and a banana and then sat down and waited for my wife. She was there in about 10 minutes. We got on the bus and headed back to the hotel. I took a shower and a 15 minute nap. We then had some lunch and after that I just went and sat in the pool. It felt really great just to let my legs hang suspended in the water. We went out to dinner later that night and celebrated. I then slept solid for 10 hours. We got up and headed home. Got back to Atlanta about 5PM.
The good: I finished. I'm smiling. I'm pumped about doing another one. I executed my hydration and nutrition plan perfectly. I'm satisfied that I couldn't have done any better on that day.
The bad: I bonked at 20 miles.
The ugly: My time. I was hoping for 4:20 - 4:30. Oh, well, there's always the next one.
Note: This was the most difficult physical thing I've ever done. I can't even imagine doing that AFTER a 112 mile bike ride and a 2.4 mile swim. I have a whole new respect for all you Iron people. Y'all are my heroes!
Thanks for reading!
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Cliff
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