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| Walt Disney World Marathon (Read 490 times) |
| view log "I'm going to skip it" |
posted: 1/23/2008 at 8:13 PM |
Long overdue but here it is:
Walt Disney World Marathon Jan. 13, 2008 6AM
The first fact I would like to point out is the start time. 6AM. Now to be at the start they had us up at 3AM. I didn't even know that there was a 3am. To wake up at this ridiculous hour I had to go to bed at 9. Now I havent gone to bed that early since middle school. Needless to say I got little sleep. I was wide awake when that 3am wake up call came. I got up, got dressed, ate a powerbar and headed for the bus.
I arrived at the staging area at 3:30. To my surprise they had a live band rocking out. Gotta give to Disney, they know how to keep their guests entertained. At around 4 the band finished their set and we were greeted by the toy soldiers from Toy Story 1&2 (both available on Disney dvd.) Sarge explained to us that it was time to start to move to the starting line, conveniently located 1 mile away. After hitting the bathroom, for what turned out to be the first of many stops, I headed to the start.
I made it to my corral with about a half hour until the race. They had a countdown clock up on the main screen. During this time they talked to many famous runners and some not so famous. A highlight was to see Jeff Galloway talk. He was running the race and is one of the few who has run all 15 of the Disney World Marathons.
3 minutes till start....The wheelchairs start. Everyone counted them down, quite a thrill seeing them take off . The crowd was ready.
The famous Disney characters took the stage to send us off. Since it was the 15th anniversary we started the countdown at 15. With each second a burst of fireworks exploded behind us.
7 minutes later I crossed the starting line.
http://adisneyworldsports.disney.go.com/media/dwws_v0220/en_US/pdf/08MarathonCourseMap.pdf
Due to the loss of blood to the head the following events may or may not have happened:
The first three miles was a shuffle/walk/light jog. With so many people it was very hard to develop any kind of rhythm early on. Running through Epcot at 6:30 in the morning was truly exciting. The park was empty but lit up, truly breathtaking. I would be running through Epcot again in another 4 hours under much different circumstances.
Next up 4 miles of boredom until the Magic Kingdom area is spotted. I should now mention the fan support. On the highways there was none. Although they did have live bands and music to keep us fired up. When you entered the parks the fan support was terrific. I forgot I was even running when I was in the parks.
Miles 11-16 were unforgiving to say the least. At this point I forgot I was in Disney World. 5 miles of boring highways. All my mistakes are now realized. One powerbar in the morning, not enough. Racing flats, not for anything more than 15 miles. My feet are beginning to turn into bricks. The top of my left foot would be sore for the next three days.
But I still managed a smile...
...If it can be called that.
I struggled the rest of the way. I had a resurgence after mile 15 where I realized I could run strong I just had to believe I could run strong. Well I ran strong for about 5 miles and then I realized that I had gassed myself and there was still 7 miles to go. Just one step at a time. Keep moving those feet. Alright they dont want to run, lets walk for a bit. Ok long enough run some more. Just a little more. Please feet.
Eventually I made it back to Epcot and once I saw that big ball I realized that this was it. You make your way through a large crowd and you think the finish is just ahead. But its not. You take a corner and there is a choir singing you home, the final .2 miles. What a finish. A grandstand filled with people. Suddenly I realized it, this is why I did this for this feeling right here. After running 26 miles I could see the finish this was it. I'm going to finish strong and I did.
In no way was I happy with my time but I did finish and thats really all I care about.
Well I like to think that this is the start of my report. I left out a lot of the little details and the post race festivities. But I've been writing for awhile so lets just call this part 1. |
| Thanks4giving 5 Miler 11/27/08 |
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| view log esq. |
posted: 1/23/2008 at 8:20 PM |
Great race report and hot shorts!!
Oh, and awesome finish line photo! |
| 2009: BQ? |
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posted: 1/23/2008 at 8:43 PM
modified: 1/23/2008 at 8:53 PM |
Trent - congratulations on finishing! That joy in that last .2 makes up for all the pain in the previous 26!
Trishierunner-
Sorry to hijack the thread...but is the picture in your profile taken at the Marriott before the 2007 Richmond Marathon? I think that is me and some of my friends in the background! |
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Hi-Ya!! |
posted: 1/23/2008 at 8:49 PM |
| Awesome race report Trent! Great commentary and love the pics! Thanks for sharing! |
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| view log "I'm going to skip it" |
posted: 1/23/2008 at 9:23 PM |
Thanks everyone.
More commentary:
They put your name on your bib. I had lots of people I didnt know yelling at me saying "good job Trent." Its a great feeling having people directly address you like that. I remember near the end of the race I was struggling and I stopped to do a little stretch. This guy said, "C'mon Trent don't stop now you have less than a mile to go. Keep going you can do it!" That put a big smile on my face and helped me finish. |
| Thanks4giving 5 Miler 11/27/08 |
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posted: 1/23/2008 at 9:30 PM |
Nice report Trent- thanks for sharing what worked for you and what didn't. The distractions at Disney sound pretty fun.
Love the shorts too! |
Shaunna
Working my way down from 167 lbs to 147 pounds.
Currently 164 lbs. |
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posted: 1/23/2008 at 10:51 PM |
Nicely done my young friend! Now you've got about 9 weeks to get those tender feet switched over from Marathon to 5K (a much more appropriate distance for your flats). Way to HTFU and git 'er done, and nice job on your report.
At first I thought you were taking pics of celebrity runners, I can't be the only one that mistook #14817 for Justin Timberlake doing a Rocky imitation.  |
Ed
Tuesday Good Times 5K series in Lowell, MA (So sad it's over)
2008: HTFU and BQ at BayState Marathon
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy |
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| view log "I'm going to skip it" |
posted: 1/23/2008 at 11:04 PM
modified: 1/23/2008 at 11:04 PM |
Good Times will be here before you know it.
If you look closely you can also see that my middle finger on my left hand is broken.  |
| Thanks4giving 5 Miler 11/27/08 |
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posted: 1/23/2008 at 11:22 PM |
| Awesome job! I did the 10th Disney marathon and had a similar experience to you - gotta love running through those parks!!! |
"80% of success is showing up." ~ Woody Allen
"Go that way... really fast. If something gets in your way... turn." ~ Charles DeMar
God doesn't give you what you want. He gives you what you need, the rest is up to you. |
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| view log Bloody Nipple |
posted: 1/23/2008 at 11:29 PM
modified: 1/23/2008 at 11:30 PM |
Did you eat anything on your journey? (Gu?)
What they have fluid-wise?
How has your post race recovery been?
Detailed oriented minds like modal's want to know.
Congrats on running the marathon over there at Disney!
modal (who just needs to get out and run!) |
March 7 & 8, 2009 - Join the RunningAHEAD.com Texas Independence Relay Team
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My favorite online cashback tools: 1, 2 |
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| view log "I'm going to skip it" |
posted: 1/24/2008 at 1:13 AM |
On my journey I ate two bananas. I was given some Gu but I couldnt get the package open because of my broken finger. I forget what brand they were but they were the ones with a strip down the side. I pulled off the strip then was at a loss from there.
I think there was 23 fluid stops. They had water and powerade at everyone.
I swear I couldnt walk for two days after the race. It was a real struggle the next day just getting out of bed.
I'm taking a little break from running right now. Shouldnt be too much longer, I'll probably be back on the streets in a week at the most. Its just good to take a planned break every once and awhile. |
| Thanks4giving 5 Miler 11/27/08 |
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| view log Running Partner |
posted: 1/24/2008 at 1:23 AM |
Way to go Trent! and nice report. I've enjoyed Disney on severa occassions and still can't get used to that 3:30 am bus ride.
Next year you are ready for the Goofy challenge! |
Illegitimis non carborundum
2008 goals:
1) run a fall marathon (Indy)
2) stay injury free
3) PR 5K, 10K, HM & M
4) get my kids to start running with me
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| view log 2009 Goofy Trainee |
posted: 1/24/2008 at 4:37 PM |
See you at Goofy...
I ran the marathon last year and what really helped was that approximately every 5 miles they had a medical aid station where they provided vaseline, Tylenol and Bio-Freeze. The Bio-Freeze was great. I'd slap some on my knees and feel almost instant pain relief which lasted until the next aid station.
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| Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream... |
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| view log "I'm going to skip it" |
posted: 1/24/2008 at 5:11 PM |
| I dont know if I'm Goofy enough for the Goofy yet. Although that does fill up fast I would have to decide in a couple of months. |
| Thanks4giving 5 Miler 11/27/08 |
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