The Goofy Challenge

I should start off by explaining what the Goofy Challenge is, for those who didn’t see my many facebook posts last year, the Goofy Challenge consists of running the Disney Half Marathon on the Saturday, for which you receive the Donald Duck Medal, and running the Disney Marathon on Sunday, for which you receive the Mickey Medal, run them both and you also get the Goofy Medal for completing the Goofy Challenge.          

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!

 

 

This was the first time I participated in a US Team in Training event and the inspiration dinner the night before was amazing!! Over 900 people from across the globe gathered to share stories of inspiration, survival, and progress as well as memories of those who had lost their battles. It was an incredibly emotional evening.

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.

 

Medals in hand, the first thought was to get back to the room for a nap. Short lines for the shuttle bus made this a non-event. A quick shower followed by a nap and it was time to meet up with the  Team again for the celebration dinner.

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

Oh and one other thing Disney does extremely well that NEEDS to be mentioned about Coronado Springs Resort at least....buffet breakfast with multiple Bacon Stations...and not that gross half-cooked bacon you normally get at a buffet, but hot, crispy, tasty bacon goodness the way it should be...that really was "MAGICAL"

Well I think that about sums it up…possibly, no definitely my longest blog post EVER, but that in a nutshell was my GOOFY weekend this past January, not what I would call “MAGICAL, but even with the wake-up call and other Disneyisms, I’m glad I did it, a truly unforgettable experience!

 

Missed it by...that much...

Nice cool morning for a race, my fav temperature by the way.  Got there with plenty of time to spare and go through all the normal pre-race rituals.  It’s been about 4 years since I ran a standalone 5k (e.g. not part of a DU), so the rituals were a little different, including 5 minutes of strides, the last time I ran a 5K was only the 3^rd race I had been in, so it was just about making it across the line.

The goal was to PB with a time under 25 min., got to the start line with 30 seconds to spare and plenty warmed up, weaved my way through the crowd to get to a spot where I could run my pace without breaking my stride, and was feeling pretty good about the pacing and energy reserves, found it odd that after only 1.5k we were heading back to the start since the race director had stated it was a single loop course.  On the way back from a turnaround at about 2.5k I was really beginning to question what was going on as the start/finish line was in sight again, and there was a crowd of people standing there.  Turns out the lead runners ran past one of the volunteers at a key corner early in the race and missed the actual course route.

The race director apologized profusely and offered refunds, but also offered the option of running the full 5k race as they had managed to stop about 2/3 of the participants after the 1.5k loop.  So with about 1 miute of rest (after about 3k on the first attempt) the race was re-started, I decided since I was already out there, I may as well take advantage and get 2 races for the price of 1.

I had to weave through even more people to get to the spot where I could get into my own pace this time out. In hindsight, I started the second race a little too fast, and at around 3.5k, my legs were feeling really heavy and my breathing was laboured, but I just kept the runner ahead in sight, 3 other runners passed me but I could not keep pace.  Fortunately for me, I’ve been running a lot of down hills and there was a sharp but short decline just before a gradual incline to the finish, which meant I could really get the legs turning over and finish with a strong (to me) kick.

I finished in a time of 26:08, about 20 seconds slower than my PB, but I will get another chance at it in a couple of weeks at the Santa Shuffle, so I’ll just keep going with the speed work and trust that it will pay off on a course that hopefully will have no routing issues J

Long time no blog

The last time I wrote, I was heading into the Marine Corps Marathon focused on having the best race I could on that day and leaving behind the goal of a 4:30:00 finish.  The weekend brought a few interesting twists.  It took me over 10 hours to get to DC due to airline issues and the day before the race there was snow, leading to lots of speculation about what race day would hold, in spite of a forecast that called for 13, and sunny. 

Race day was not one of the challenges, all of the normal pre-race rituals were followed, I even got out for a short walk/jog to test the clothing options I had selected and got to the start with time to spare. 

One thing that must be said for the Marines, before, during and after the race, those folks knew every detail, if you had a question about anything race related and you asked a Marine, they knew the answer, no hesitation, no asking around, they knew their mission!

Running the race was an incredible experience, the scenery was beautiful, the monuments spectacular and every step of the route had something interesting to see.  Crowd support was the most amazing I have ever experienced.  At dinner the night before the race I met some folks who had run MCM before and they told me “If you are wearing your name on race day, you will feel like a Rock star!” They were absolutely right.  Every 10 feet someone was cheering me on by name, the crowds were 3-4 people deep for most of the course with Marines at every water station always ready to respond to a runners shout of “Ooorah Marines” goose bumps every time! On the final climb to the Iwo Jima memorial, the crowd support was over the top, people were screaming names and encouragement at the top of their lungs, bells ringing, horns blowing, hands clapping, it was surreal!

I crossed the finish line with a chip time of 4:32:50, a third PB for the year at a third distance.  What an incredible feeling!  To then be greeted by a Marine, who thanked me for running and supporting their mission and awarded me with the finisher’s medal, which is the Marine Corps emblem, was truly humbling!

Shortly after crossing the line I was able to meet up with my running pal Jane, who although she started in a coral behind me, finished the race ahead of me, proving once a for all that she is the running MACHINE we have all known she is for some time.  I also got to meet up with her husband Chris and his buddy Prav both of whom were running their first marathon, and they DID it in style!! Hanging out with the three of them post race was the icing on the cake.

If you’re looking for a great destination race, or if you’re looking for an incredible first or next marathon, I HIGHLY recommend the Marine Corps Marathon, I hope to be back for their 40^th edition assuming I’m still moving forward relentlessly at that point.