Current mood:	happy
Entry tags:	marathon

The (not so) eagerly anticipated Goofy Challenge race report
In the interest of making this readable for those people who don't get geeked out by mile-splits and hydration strategies, I'll try to stick to more descriptive measures with the mile-split recap at the end.

In all, this was two great days of racing. My times were far from blazing, but more than acceptable. The course was a blast. Organization was comparable to New York. I enjoyed almost every minute of it. I would highly recommend Disney for anyone pursuing their first attempt at either distance, especially if they have any affinity for things Disney.

Saturday, The Half-Marathon:
The day before was fairly low-key. Claire and I went to the Wide World of Sports complex to pick up race packets and check things out at the Expo. The expo was a bit nuts, but I found a nice shirt of "I did it!" for the Goofy Challenge, and risking the bad juju, picked it up. Just to be safe, I left it untouched in the bag until after Sunday's race. We spent a few hours in Epcot, checking out some of World Showcase, and our favourite rides in Future World. The day before beginning my journey was NOT the time to ride Mission: Space, so we passed on that. A nice dinner at the hotel, and a better than expected night's sleep set me up well for the morning. I was up before the alarm at 3, and after a quick change of clothes and a good-luck kiss, I headed out to catch my bus. There was a crowd waiting for the bus, and luckily I got on the first one to arrive. It was a cool morning (low 30s), so while nibbling my breakfast (Powerbars and mini-bagels) I tried to stay warm. We were called to the start area at 5, so I checked my bag and clothes, and lined up in Corral A (right behind the Elites. They must think I'm fast.) The hour of waiting in the cool weather was a bit unpleasant, but there was loud music, and a giant screen showing some pre-race interviews with folks in the crowd. Before you knew it, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy all appeared to send us on our way. A countdown from 10 ... and right at zero there are fireworks overhead (well-timed, very cool).

And, we're off. The first few miles are from the Epcot parking lot along the highway on the way to the Magic Kingdom. Surprisingly, there were people cheering along the roads here at 6 in the morning. High school bands, members of running clubs in ridiculous outfits. The energy is great. As we passed a band, a woman beside me commented that it's crazy for these kids to wake up early to play music by the side of the road. I said it was crazier to wake up early to run 13 miles. (Since this was mile 2, it was still funny. At mile 11, that joke would probably get me punched in the head.) With the bands and cheerleaders, those first few miles passed quickly. Around mile 4, we could start to see things from the park, mainly Space Mountain peeking out from the distance. A few characters would pop up, mainly Captain Hook and Mr. Smee at a water-stop manned by Disney Cruise employees. We entered the Magic Kingdom around mile 5 through a backstage area at the start of Main Street, USA, and were welcomed by screaming supporters. Just like at NYC, this will always pick you up. The Christmas tree was still up and looked nice in the early light, then you turn and see Cinderella's Castle, all lit up. It was something to behold. The course took us into Tomorrowland, where I knew the bathrooms were open and made a stop (Powerbars and bagels can move quickly through the system). Back on course, it's through Fantasyland and Frontierland, before leaving through another backstage area. Disney employees were in packs through the park, and characters along the route included Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Queen of Hearts (by Tea Cup ride), the Country Bears and Woody (from Toy Story). In the backstage area were all the floats from the Disney parades. Now begins the slog back to Epcot, as the sun is starting to come out. The course now is mostly roads, with lots of people from the resorts out to cheer (huddled in jackets, drinking coffee ... the bastards). I haven't had any difficulties so far (minus the bathroom break), and the pace is manageable. Again, we sneak into Epcot through a backstage entrance. Just entering the park I almost killed a squirrel. It ran out from the bushes, stopped directly in my path, skittered back and forth trying to juke me out until it stopped directly under where my foot was going to land, and only a spasm to change my footstrike saved his life. Folks around me commented on my agility to avoid disaster. These last miles are an out and back through Future World to the edge of the lagoon, then back to the parking lot. At the Mile 13 marker was a gospel choir, which was nicely uplifting for the last few meters. I hit the line, stopped my watch (thus ruining my finish line photos) and started the process of recovery. Got my Donald medal, exchanged my Goofy wristbands, ate some recovery food and went to meet Claire near the entrance to Epcot, to meet her Dad and cheer for her in the 5k fun run. Thus ends my half-marathon adventure.

The splits (goal time: 2 hours=9:00/mile avg):
1- 9:00
2- 8:23
3- 8:22
4- 8:17
5- 8:08
6- 11:17 (bathroom break)
7- 8:22
8- 8:18
9- 8:14
10- 8:12
11- 8:16
12- 8:12
13- 8:16
13.1- 1:05
Chip time of 1:52:11

Sunday, the Marathon:
After running Saturday, we had a quiet afternoon, a little more wandering around Epcot, and a nice dinner at the Wilderness Lodge (lots of protein and carbs from pulled pork and mashed potatoes). Another good night's sleep, and again I'm off to the start area shortly after 3. This time there was a line of buses, so I jumped on the first one, and relaxed on the road to the start. More bagels and Powerbars for breakfast. Today we were called to the line at 4:45, meaning over an hour in the corral. This time I wore my sweatshirt and sweatpants to the corral, knowing I could throw them away (to be donated to charity) right before the gun goes off. Here's where my mind started playing little tricks: Was I halfway done because I finished 1 of the 2 races, or was mile 7 the halfway point, after I'd covered 20 of the 40 weekend miles? How was I going to feel today? Would any stiffness work itself out, or would it cripple me in the late miles? Again, the characters come out for the countdown, and fireworks start us off.

The first two miles use some of the highway of the previous day, before doubling back towards Epcot. Again, there are people bearing the cold to play music and cheer by the road. Folks who come out in those situations should be nominated for sainthood. Mile 3 passes through Epcot on almost the same path as mile 12 the day previous (the "out" of the out and back), before leaving the park after passing Norway. My only real moment of irritation was here, when three members of Joints in Motion were running side by each on a narrow stretch holding up everyone behind them. Another runner elbowed his way through, and I passed through the new opening, saying to them, "Could you please (I made sure to phrase it as a question and say Please) leave room for others to pass?" The response was "Just let us know", which doesn't work, because based on their speed, they were going to be passed 5000 times. After leaving Epcot, the route was the same as the day before on the way to the Magic Kingdom. More bands (including another round of Rocky's Theme, which makes me run too fast) and lots of fans. I had to make a port-a-pottie break around mile 6. At my pace, there was a good number of people around me, but we weren't elbow to elbow. I'd imagine it was a bit more congested further back. As we passed mile 8.5, on the other side of the road was a lone runner coming towards us. This was the race leader, just past mile 13. That puts my speed in perspective. The entrance to MK was the same, but now the sun was out when we arrived. More fans lined the street, and I spotted Claire among the crowd. I mouthed that I loved her, and gave a little thumbs up, and continued en route with a big smile. Another break was required in Tomorrowland. The cold weather was keeping me from sweating, so all the fluids I was taking down had nowhere else to go. Most of the same characters from Saturday were out again, but were joined by Mr. Incredible, Elasti-Girl, Buzz Lightyear, and Goofy and Pluto in colonial dress. I wanted to slap hands with Goofy, but he started to run alongside the woman in front of me, so he wasn't paying attention as I passed. No biggie, still 15 miles to go. Once more, the roads after Magic Kingdom were more isolated, but lots of supporters, including some soldiers from a local base. The Grand Floridian had a huge group of couples in wedding dresses and tuxes, wearing the bride and groom mouse-ears. This is the road towards Animal Kingdom, so you pass by a water reclamation plant. Not a pleasant smell. I guess they drove a number of characters out to these miles, since I passed Darkwing Duck and Launchpad, and a few others (I can't quite recall right now). Once entering Animal Kingdom, there were lots of employees cheering, in various styles of African or Asian dress, including a few people on 5-6 foot stilts. The park has unlevel footing, so I was careful through here, and ran past Expedition Everest, a new roller coaster they're building. The mountain is huge. A quick glimpse of the Tree of Life, and we exited the park to the cheers (and sometimes just polite applause) of the folks waiting to get in. This is another long stretch of road heading towards MGM Studios. Mile 19 required another pitstop, but my pace has felt great, and I'm passing people pretty regularly now. With the sun out, it's a nice day. Just before arriving at MGM, around mile 22, I had an urgent need for another bathroom break. Number 2 was beckoning. I was slightly distracted through the park, while scanning for somewhere I could stop, and finding nothing. The urgency passed and I figured I could survive to the end. I told you that to tell you about a sign held by a fan just outside the park: Don't Crap Your Pants! It's mile 23.5, and I'm laughing. I feel great and will finish strong. Mile 25 goes past the high-end resorts, and the road is lined the whole way with enthusiastic spectators. One nice thing Disney does is put your first name on your number, so fans who are paying attention see this and cheer you on by name. Lots of "Go Drew"'s and "Looking good, Drew"'s in this stretch. Then it's back into Epcot right at the United Kingdom, a quick loop around the rest of the countries (except Canada, what's up with that?) and the same finishing stretch as before. The knowledge that I was going to finish this thing carried me through those last miles. I hit the line, posed for this photo, got my Mickey medal, traded my wristband for a Goofy medal, more food, and met up with Claire, getting a big congratulations hug and kiss for all my efforts (even if I was probably pretty stinky). That's the end of the running. Thanks to all the people who supported me, or didn't laugh at me (to my face) when I signed up for this. As I said, lots of fun. A great race, and an accomplishment I can look back on with pride. Not only am I amongst the few who finished a marathon, I'm among the fewer who've done a half and a full in two days. And I have the shiny objects to prove it!

The splits: (goal time: 4 hours=9:00/mile avg)
1- 9:18
2- 8:31
3- 8:31
4- 8:20
5- 8:25
6- 9:15 (pitstop)
7- 8:16
8- 8:26
9- missed (didn't I miss 9 at NYC too? What is my aversion here?)
10- 16:39 (8:19 avg)
11- 9:37 (pitstop)
12- 8:16
13- 8:13
14- 8:23
15- 8:20
16- 8:25
17- 8:31
18- 8:30
19- 10:50 (long lines at the port-a-potties)
20- 8:13
21- 8:12
22- 8:18
23- 8:24
24- 8:00
25- 8:35 (not sure why slowed down here)
26- 8:00
26.2- 1:36
Chip time= 3:44:15