Last summer someone mentioned this race (more accurately
these races) to me and for some reason it just resonated with me. I’m not a huge Disney fan, but I figured that
running in mild weather in January with a company that is known for putting on
a dang good show was a pretty sweet deal.
I figured if I was going to do something that was going to
require this kind of commitment, two things had to happen, one, I’d need
sign-off, acceptance, approval, understanding, call it what you will, but I’d
have to run it by Sonia and the family since the training would mean I’d be out
running or recovering from a run for most weekends for multiple months, second,
I’d need something bigger than just the bling to shoot for, something with a
greater purpose that would fuel me through back to back long runs weekend after
weekend, month after month and especially on race weekend. My go to motivator when it comes to marathons
is fundraising for organizations that fund research and/or patient support for
people living with cancer. Turns out
Team in Training, was offering the Goofy to Alumni participants via the flex
team, PERFECT!!! I love the virtual aspect of the flex team, Cheryl is an
awesome coordinator, logistics guru and having Theresa back as a coach,
sounding board and Purple Fairy, was the icing on the cake!!
I decided that since I’d likely be training alone for at
least one long run per weekend, I was going to start carrying my iPhone with me
and listening to music, ‘cause I can only listen to my own voice for sooo long
before it drives even me batty, or is that battier? Hmmm
The fundraising was more challenging than I thought it would
be, but that’s to be expected when you’re calling on the same group of people
to support you over and over again, but I am happy to say that thanks to some
creative suggestions, generous friends, family and corporate donations, I
raised close to $5000 this time around, you all ROCK, yet again!
One of the things I LOVE about the flex team is getting to
know people over the phone, e-mail and social media, and then finally getting
to meet them at the event. This was the
second time I had a Team roommate and as it turns out the second Team in Training
coach roommate, he was racing and fundraising as a participant for this event
just like the rest of us. We hit it off
first on facebook and once again in person.
If there was a fit, fast, younger, more energetic version of me…Brock
would be that version…or maybe I’m the less fit, slower, older, less energetic
version of him?? Coincidence that we were both doing the Goofy? I think not…and
the photos are proof positive that the title fits us well!
Now for those of you who have not heard the Disney wake-up
call story…here it is (and further proof that I deserve to be a part of the
Cranky Old Men). Since we had to be up
at about 3:30 to meet the team, get to the bus and be at the starting coral for
5:00, Brock and I decided to employ as many wake-up methods as we could,
in-room alarm, watches, his computer (I think), and finally the resort
automated wake-up call.
If you don’t already know this, I am NOT a morning person,
I’ve gotten used to the annoying sounds of watch and radio alarms over the
years and have learned to accept them as a normal part of most days and almost
appreciate them on race day, knowing that they ensure I’m up and have plenty of
time for my pre-race routines….but the Disney automated wake-up call….oooh boy,
so 3:00 a.m. and the phone rings, since I set it up, I figured I should answer
and I’m greeted by some soothing music which cuts off suddenly and is followed
by this message “NO MORE SLEEEEEPING!!!!” screeched at me by Stitch, followed
by an apologetic Mickey stating “Sorry folks, ever since Stitch escaped, he has been getting into all kinds of trouble. Have a MAGICAL day!”….the look on my face
must have said it all as Brock starts asking me what’s going on…it takes me a
few seconds to shake it off and be able to answer him. Which only makes him sure of the fact that he
has to setup the call for the next day so he can “experience” it himself....I’m
guessing he’s sorry he did, ‘cause the next day it was the same call and his
reaction was similar to mine…now don’t get me wrong, I’m sure if you’re at
Disney with your kids and it’s 8 or 9 in the morning, this is a perfectly
cheery, downright Disney way to wake up, but at 3:30 with a whole lotta’
waiting and running ahead of you when you’re not a morning person or a Disney
guy….like nails on a chalkboard!! GAHHHH!
Oh and my Disney resort convenience store experience…in line
buying a few last minute hydration and nutrition supplies and the cashier who
in this case happens to be a 20 something, effervescent little thing is happily
ringing up purchases, naming each item you purchase as she waves her magic wand
over them (YES a magic wand!!) and closing the sale with “Have a MAGICAL day!”,
but that’s not the best part, the customer in front of me, a woman of around
the same age as me, smiles at the cashier and as sincere as possible says, I’m
not sure what sparkles more, your wand or your smile….AKKKK!
So now you know why the phrases “No More Sleeping” and “Have
a MAGICAL Day” pop up on my FB timeline over and over… “Have a MAGICAL Day” is
wayyyyyy overused at Disney, almost every “cast member” uses this phrase at the
close of every discussion…I know, I know…Cranky Old Man…got it!
OK, so onto the races…
Saturday 1/2 marathon:
After the “MAGICAL” wake-up call on Saturday, it was a
matter of settling into the tested and true pre-race routine, followed by
meeting up with the TEAM, onto the bus and then the long crowded walk to the
start line, hey 26,000 people shuffling around half asleep does not move so
quick…oh and of course some goofy photos with team mates and the multiple
port-a-loo stops due to the pre-race nerves.One thing Disney does that even this Cranky Old Man appreciated, they send EVERY coral off with their own countdown and fireworks display. I made the decision when I registered to run both races a fair bit slower than my normally slow pace, so I was able to enjoy the starting fireworks of multiple corals (A-G to be specific). Starting this far back had some other advantages too, it forced me to start off slow and remain slow for about the first 2k, it meant that I got a mental boost from passing people all race long AND I got to cheer on lots and lots of Team in Training purple runners.
I had every intention of stopping to grab a picture with one or more of the Disney Characters when I started the race, but as I ran by the spots where you could pull over for a picture and saw the number of people waiting, I just couldn’t see how I’d keep going if I stopped for that long, so I did my best to grab a few photos on the run and just kept moving forward.
I finished in a time of 2:12:34, faster than my planned
2:30, so I was a little worried that going faster than planned and what I had
trained for might impact my ability to finish the marathon on Sunday, but knew
that there was nothing I could do about it now other than to get the legs up,
iced and rest for the remainder of the day.
The ½ marathon gets you the Donald Duck medal, 1 big honkin’
duck face medal it is too!
Team in Training requires you to check in at the TEAM tent
post-race to make sure you’re accounted for and doing ok, it’s also a great way
to make sure you get to see your team mates post-race and chat about how their
event went. Chatted a bit, took a few photos and then headed for the bus to get
back to the room for a shower and a nap before dinner.
The great thing about 2 days of back-to-back racing, two
evenings of back-to-back carb loading…oh yeah!!Sunday Marathon:
Repeat Saturday morning pre-race routine.
Lined up in the same coral and the start of the race was
almost exactly the same, except that I bumped
into a woman from Toronto that I had met at the airport on the way down and we
chatted before the race and for the first couple of km before going our own
way.
I truly appreciated the Disney organization on this day!!
They are very well organized and supported, and they do many things right out
on the course and in the finish area! Lots of water, Gatorade and gels along
the way in the right spots and they even had Bio-Freeze gel at every second aid
station…WOW! I REALLY appreciated that this day, especially around mile 23!!
I finished in a time of 4:42:58, just a little faster than
my planned 5:00:00 and I was sooooo happy to be done.
Crossing the finish line, you get your Mickey Marathon
medal, again huge bling and for anyone doing the Goofy Challenge (identified by
the race bib), you also get to go claim a third medal, The GOOFY!! Equally
large and when combined with the Mickey Medal, almost enough to topple you from
the combined weight.
I was fortunate on this trip to not only meet and run with my
Flex Team in Training team mates from across the country, but also a bunch of
other runners and a super-friendly family from Louisiana that kept me company
on the shuttle bus from the airport and throughout the weekend as we bumped
into each other. Elle (a survivor who
ran her first ½ marathon at Disney), her sister Felice (worked her butt off all
weekend with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) and their mom Paula (Super
cheer/support crew) will always have a place to stay if they decide to make the
trek to Ottawa and it would be awesome if they came up for Winterlude…hint…hint
