Finally after two years of wanting to and dreaming about running Disney
I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last year I trained right up until the week of
the race and then my doctor told me I should not be running the marathon
before I had some tests to check out something's on my heart. So I
didn't go.This year I have been very quiet not wanting to get my hopes
up too high after what happened last year. But what a great week end. We
had planned on coming into town on Friday night but as last week came to
a close better than half the people that were coming to Disney came down
with very bad colds and my wife, Jan was having trouble with her asthma
and bronchitis. So we cancelled coming into town on Friday and came on
Saturday with myself, Angela my daughter and Maggie my granddaughter.
Went to the Expo and then checked into the motel and then off to the APD
dinner. Need to thank Charlie for his arranging a great dinner and
Jackson and Craig for the wonderful job they did on singlets and polo
shirts! Maggie loved that she could color on the paper table cloth with
crayons and she really loved being able to take all the Dalmatian dogs
home. As we were leaving Holly called Maggie over and gave her a whole
handful of them! The best part of the dinner was meeting so many
wonderful people and seeing for the first time people that I only knew
by email or pictures on the Disney dead web site.
Now to the race..it was a bitter cold morning. We got up at 3 and
arrived at Disney right at 4. Stood around waiting in the cold for about
15 minutes and then we went back to the car and I put sweat pants on and
we sat in the car until about 4:45 and then Angela and Maggie stayed in
the car and I went to wait some more in the cold cold parking lot. I
have always been a warm weather runner. This is the coldest weather I
have ever run in. Even living up north when it got cold I didn't go
outside and run. When they lined us up in the coral I took my sweat
pants off but left my sweat shirt on. At the start of the race it took
me less then two minutes to get to the start line. I think the idea of
having two different start lines was a great idea! At no point did I
feel the race course was too congested. I have run with an even larger
crowd of 22 thousand at the Bix in Davenport Iowa and that was very
congested. Did almost have an accident at the start. Some guy came to a
dead stop in the middle of the course with no warning and I just
happened to be running right in back of him! I just about ran him over,
but just missed him. He said "I am sorry but when you have an itch you
have to scratch it" I didn't say anything back..guess the cold had my
mind numb. I can sure think of a lot of thinks I would like to tell him
now!! I loved it when they played the song "At the YMCA" by the Village
People and watching a whole throng of people on the other side of the
median do the hand gestures to the song that was cool. Didn't care too
much for Just around the River Bend with Pocaonaus..not to inspiring.
Did like the Jazz band and the Drum band...That really pumped me up.
Loved turning a corner in main street USA and seeing Angela and Maggie
cheering me on!!!! Stopped and got a full bottle of power aide and a
kiss from Maggie and I was off. Maggie had a great time at that spot
because Mickey and Minnie had been there and they spent a lot of time
with Maggie. Guess Mickey took the sign that Maggie was holding for me
and run up and down the course with it because he wanted her to put her
hands in her pockets to keep them warm. Maggie did not want to put the
sign down because she was afraid I would not be able to find them with
out the sign. She is such a worrier and a planner! But I did find them
and then it was off running again. Had my picture taken with Mickey and
Minnie and with boo bear(I think that was his name...needed Maggie
there to introduce me!) then with a lion king character and several
others. Will have to get my film developed so I can remember them all. I
felt very strong up until about mile 14 and then I could feel a blister
developing on the left side of my left foot. My first ever blister. I
thought that would be a real problem later...but it never became anymore
uncomfortable that what is was at mile 14 so I guess I was pretty lucky
in that respect. At right around mile 21 the leg cramps started in. I
stopped and stretched and did more walking after that. I didn't stick
with my original plan which was to do some walking each mile. I didn't
start that until after mile 13. It was too late by then. But I did
finish the race standing up and a smile on my face. My time was 4:43:50.
I was very happy with that. Sunday I was not sure about doing another
marathon...but it is Tuesday night now and I am sure I will be out there
again...just have not decided which one yet. I saw the same gal in a
wheel chair that Craig talked about in his race report. She was a very
determined individual with a lot of guts and a lot of heart. She was a
real inspiration. After the race I met up with Angela and Maggie. We
walked a bit and then I did some stretching. Maggie joined in to stretch
her leg muscles too! Think we may have a future member of the Disney
Deads there!!! We came home Sunday afternoon. Had to go to work on
Monday and wanted to get home to make sure Jan was okay. The week end
was a long time in coming....but it all past far to quickly. It was
great week end and wonderful meeting every one and I look forward to
being able run with all of you in furture marathons.
Bob
