Grinning, I said to myself, "Another Disney Marathon in 2002? Of course
-- count me in for 2002... and then the next ten or fifteen. I've
already got a string of eight Disney Marathons and plan to do them all
until I can no longer run the distance!"
I've enjoyed the many race reports and have not written my own up to
now. I've been too busy catching up with my daughter who missed the trip
to Disney and wants to know if I spoke to Cruella DeVille. "Dad, did you
tell her that Lauren knows Karate and she doesn't?" My six year old
daughter, the blue belt in Tae Kwan Do, had told that to Cruella a few
weeks ago and Lauren wanted me to remind her. Fact is that when I found
Cruella on the quiet part of the course, she actually stopped shouting
mean things at the other runners and smiled the sweetest smile at me as
I approached her. It was as if she recognized me and we were good
friends... or maybe brother and sister. She went completely out of
character and smiled so nicely that I could not taunt her about karate,
though later I had to tell Lauren that I did see Cruella and that she
seemed to remember. I've also been running a bit more than the weeks
prior to Disney Marathon, doing some speed work to get ready for another
marathon in a week and to improve my times for the future.
After jogging to the start from the packet drop tent, I waited for the
start with strangers, sharing the eager, anxious looks that runners
share near the start of a certain challenge that holds an uncertain
outcome. I heard the announcer say that the temperature was 35 degrees,
which seemed like a high estimate. It was great to finally get the
signal to start, see the fireworks -- where else do you get fireworks,
bright lights, and blasting music for a race start? Almost nowhere but
Disney World Marathon! I crossed the start line for my Blue Group in
about 7 seconds from the signal and I was pumped and running well right
from the beginning. I started out with a 7:20-7:35 minutes per mile
pace, but after the crowd thinned out, decided to slow to about 8
minutes per mile. EPCOT in the dark was beautiful as usual and my color
group got to spend a bit more time in the park the first four miles than
the Red Group. Lucky for me.
One of the best things about Disney Marathon is the fact that it is not
all open roads and it is not all theme parks. No other marathon has the
excitement of passing through the theme parks at Disney World, perhaps
especially the thrill and emotion of running into and through
Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom. With all the spectators and
characters in the Magic Kingdom, it really does have a magic feeling. I
am also grateful for the stretches of open, unpopulated roadways. Disney
is kind enough to close so many roads for us and the race director
ensures that they are well supported and entertaining, with plenty of
aid stations and even more characters and music. I actually appreciate
the clear "natural" stretches of road almost as much as the theme parks
and would not want much more time in the parks -- or in crowds.
It is curious sometimes to watch my mind's wanderings as I run a
marathon or ultramarathon. There are times during marathons when I am
bombarded with sensations and outside stimulation -- cheering people and
visual input such as the theme parks at Disney, or the roots, rocks, and
incredible beauty at Pikes Peak -- and there are quiet times when I can
direct my thoughts and take time to let the running be a meditation.
Both are worthwhile and enjoyable, but the reflective moments are just a
memorable. Perhaps one reason I like the long events is that they give
me time to reflect on so many ideas, memories, and goals. I can spend
time "looking at" the way I am raising my daughter, how I get along with
friends, who or what is important to me, what I want to do in my life.
And I get to do all this surrounded by other runners who are
consciously, or even unconsciously, doing the same things, perhaps even
pondering some of the same things.
I always enjoy the dip that takes us under a canal next to the
Contemporary Resort. At about 9.5 miles, this little drop and then
uphill separates the "cruisers" from the stronger runners. It was here
that I finally saw someone I knew -- Gary Westlund, a fellow coach and a
great guy from Minnesota. Gary was out in the early morning cold to
cheer for Team D, the runners and walkers of the Diabetes Association. I
actually stopped to visit briefly on the downhill, then continued and
charged the uphill. After this point, we were about to approach the
Magic Kingdom and the run through the crowds and the castle after mile
10. Having wound our way through the park, we reached the nice long
stretch in which those attending for the Fun Run are directed to the big
parking lot for their finish of the Half -- and the real race becomes
more obvious. Those doing the Marathon are no longer distracted in their
pace by others who are running the shorter event.
After about three miles of relative quiet, we enter the new Animal
Kingdom at about mile 16 and are directed through this special park.
Though I looked, I did not find any animals -- probably just as well, as
they actually have some menacing ones in the area. We spent roughly a
mile in Animal Kingdom before beginning about three miles on open roads
leading to the Wide World of Sports. This has a great part of the course
that features close to two miles of out-and-back section. This is a
chance to see who is leading -- and who is following. In my case, this
is one of the few areas where I could see other runners I know, since
some had gotten ahead of me and others had been behind. I like cheering
for other runners, even when I am still running, so I like the
out-and-back as much or more than another theme park. I am inspired as
much by the runners behind me as those in front of me. They are all
striving, as I am, to make this as good a run as they can, to do their
best for this day, to finish with dignity and pride in the
accomplishment.
>From the turn away from the out-and-back, it is just a mile to
MGM-Disney theme park and another twisting run with its incongruous
architecture and baffled tourists. The park is open to the public, and
they seem to wonder if the marathon is just another set of Disney
staffers, dressed to appear to be runners in a race. Some of the
tourists watch in awe, unsure whether to applaud or just consider this
set of runners to be "another part of the Disney entertainment." You can
just see them wondering, yet the real Disney staff is keeping them from
unconsciously crossing in front of the runners. Bless them all...
The longest part of the run for me seems to be mile 24 to the middle of
EPCOT. It is really only about a mile and a half, yet seems to be
repetitious, as if I am running over much the same spot, the same little
foot bridge, again and again. I've run this marathon eight times, yet
this part always seems long to me. Once inside EPCOT, I feel somehow at
home, and I know that the end is near. The winding path through EPCOT is
exciting for me, as I try to put out the best effort at the end, to
speed up and get to a strong finish. After passing the giant ball, we
are guided out a side exit directly to the finish area. Spectators and
previous finishers will be waiting and there will be the glorious finish
line. I've run about 18 marathons and ultramarathons in the last year --
and about 30-35 in the past two years, yet each finish line is unique
and welcome. This one is no exception. I love to finish and finishing at
Disney Marathon is a great experience. I only wish it could be easier to
turn around and run back out on the course to cheer for my fellow
runners, to encourage hose painfully slowing too early, and to be filled
again with the inspiration of seeing others striving and winning in
their own personal races.
I congratulate all who went to the start -- and also to the finish -- of
your race at Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon. I definitely plan
to be there again in January of 2002, and look forward to meeting all of
you there and at many races along the way.
Jakson
