Last April I registered for the Walt Disney World 1/2 marathon. It was a resignation, after 3+ years of going through physical therapy for a mysterious hip ailment and seeing doctors regularly for a general feeling of ill health I decided it all must be in my mind. A goal towards good health to begin the year 2000 seemed like a logical path. Almost as certainly as the confirmation of my entry came I was smacked with the answer to my ill health. I had gallbladder disease and it had progressed to the point of shutting down the other organs in my body. It was very touch and go getting me stabilized, but I had a good surgeon and once stabilized he worked magic. I couldn't do much for a couple months but recover.
My recovery went well and I got back to running. It didn't seem any easier without a gallbladder, but I found I had much less gastrointestinal concerns. Returning to work was a good sign and I felt certain my training for Disney would be tougher, but I might still be able to do the 1/2 marathon. My happiness of returning to work was short lived, 3 days into the job I went home in such pain I was glad it was the weekend and I could recover. Running it seemed would have to again take a back seat to recovering. My answer to the problem hip had surfaced. It seems as though I have been touting a hernia for several years. Left undiagnosed it had ruptured. I waited a week for an operating room since they felt there were no complications. I awoke from surgery to the worst words a person could hear. My surgeon was looking down at me and said "I'm so sorry...." Complications had arisen and my simple surgery had turned major. Recovery was going to be long and hard.
I took my first steps one week after surgery and it wasn't pretty. I could barely walk a shuffle of 100 feet. In exhaustion I collapsed on the bench in my back yard and knew I would never make it to Disney in January. I was in tears, so many years searching for answers had really packed some pounds on me.
I'm a computer geek, I'll admit it. I have stayed motivated over the last few years by training virtually over the internet with a group of runners, the Penguin Brigade. They help keep my desire to run and I have learned a new gratification knowing I may not be able to run fast myself, but, I can coach new runners and help them accomplish things they never thought possible I was planning on meeting some of them at Disney. I told them I couldn't imagine making it. They wouldn't hear of it and refused to let me give up. They wanted me there weather I could compete or not. Some would be running their first marathons and I didn't want to miss this. On October 9th I could barely walk 100 feet. The Surgeon told me not to return to work to give it 2 months and get re-evaluated, but I could walk. On January 9th I did the Disney 1/2 marathon.
I didn't run it, I speed walked it. My training went from short walks at a snails pace. It took quite some time to be able to complete the block (2 mile loop). In November I could maintain 17 minute miles for 5 miles if I really worked at it. It all seemed so crazy to keep the hope to go to Disney. Something inside me said I could do it. Whenever I felt uncertain I could do it I would get an e-mail from one of the group dripping with excitement over going farther or faster than ever before. It kept me focused.
January 9, 3 AM. I awoke, put on my summer running attire. Made sure my chip was on my shoe and race # pinned securely. Clipped my water carrier on and put a couple granola bars in the pouches. I headed for the Disney bus to the staging area. The crowds were unbelievable. I couldn't imagine how they could handle this many runners for both the 1/2 and the full. At 5 AM an announcement came for us to follow the glow sticks into the darkness. The 1/2 marathon was to follow the pink sticks. The air was humid and thick with fog. It was in the upper 50's, a great temp for my skimpy attire. We walked .6 of a mile to the corrals. I chose the back one, not by my seeded #, but based on the fact I had managed to work my way up to 13 miles at a 15 min. pace. Disney has 16 minute mile minimum pace requirement.
Keith Brantley was in the front of the first corral. He had intended to run the full as a training run for the Pittsburgh Olympic trials, but a hamstring injury had him change to the 1/2. I figured I'd chase Keith today.
A booming voice came across the loudspeaker, something about the first run of the new millennium. There were fireworks and in true Disney form - great music. We were off. I was surprised, for such a large race it was faster to the starting line than at the CVS. It seemed strange not to break into a run when the field started to give room, but I had committed to training to speed walk and I was sticking with my plan.
A couple miles later we were entering Epcot at England. The Millennium Celebration music was playing. The 1/2 marathon would meet with the marathon runners at 3.3 miles into the course. They were saving running through the countries until the end of the marathon. As I ran around the world, the different countries were lit up. The path was dark so it gave an eerie light. With the music playing and the people from all the different countries cheering us on in their native garb I had an easy time making up time I had lost at the start.
We joined the marathoners and left Epcot for the dark roads outside the Disney parks. We would stay behind the scenes until our last 3 miles that would take us through the Magic Kingdom. The miles were broken up with the presence of Cruella De'Ville. She was doing a run/walk and searching for her puppies. The also were along - all 101 and true to form running all different paces. This was courtsey of the Dead Runners Society. It was just what I needed to distract me from the dripping humidity and long dark miles. The sun started to peek over the horizon just as we passed an employee entrance. The 7 dwarfs were there and they were blasting "HI HO, HI HO, it's off to work we go" The song made me laugh, yes indeed we were in the "work" miles. I was looking forward to what surprises lay ahead. I wasn't prepared for my reaction when I entered the Magic Kingdom. The sun shone brightly as we entered the park. The fog magically lifted as if Disney had somehow orchestrated this moment. There were so many people cheering. The music came from every corner of the park. I was going down Main Street to Zip-A-De-Doo-Dah. The characters were all there giving us high-fives. I started to cry. I realized I was going to make it. The emotions that poured over me couldn't be stopped. I tried. The spectators were cheering loudly and would look at me strange. They wouldn't understand. I was on the same parade path my son had taken at spring break with his high school band. I had slipped into town just long enough to watch him and left. I didn't go with him for that week like so many parents, he needed to learn to fly on his own. It had marked the day I realized he had learned to overcome his Autism and was going to make it. Here I was listening to the same music from that parade and realizing I was also going to make it.
Buzz Lightyear gave me the thumbs up sign. The Magic Kingdom was magical, we came through Cinderella's Castle and into the light. We frolicked and skipped our way through the entire park and exited through a backlot point. We passed all the floats from the electric parade. The music still playing. The back roads were covered with more Disney magic. As I came to the finish some of my friends were waiting. Everyone doing the 1/2 marathon had waited for me to finish. Everyone was jumping, screaming and hugging. They knew what this meant to me and I knew what it meant to them. They placed my Donald medal around my neck and we headed for 25 mile mark of the marathon.
I sat in England, sipping on Guinness and eating fish & chips and cheered all the runners on. One by one, my "marathoner" came past. I didn't need to be at the finish, the medal and their family members would be there for them. No, I remembered mile 25 of my first marathon. I knew it was the perfect location for a little boost.
Since the race, I have been working harder on my running. My speed and distance is slow in coming, but it was a long slow deterioration... I'm already training to run the CVS in the spring. My intent is to run - not walk. I committed to run the Marine Corps Marathon in October with some new marathoners.
I really recommend this race to everyone. It was well organized, a nice little warm break from cold snowy northeastern Ohio and, well just plain magic.
