The Most Magical Marathon
Kim Creel
What's so magical about running a marathon or half
marathon you ask? How about having Mickey Mouse as your mascot for the marathon
and Donald Duck has your mascot for the half marathon. As you're standing there
in the cold, darkest of the early morning, stretching out your muscles or for
some just trying to keep warm you can feel the magic in the air. Excitement is
all around, you hear it as you're walking towards the starting line on
Interstate 4 listening to the music that is playing. Or maybe you're
eavesdropping on a conversation from some other people doing the race for the
first time, or they're doing it for a cause. Some people are so excited they
dress up as Minnie Mouse with the big red & white polka dots, others are
wearing Mickey Mouse ears or Tigger ears and there are others who run in memory
of a loved one.
It's not just another race with a starter gun going
off. This is Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon folks. The race starts
with music and spectacular fireworks. Thru the cloud of smoke appears Mickey
Mouse (on a cherry picker so everyone can see him) with some encouraging words
and the race has begun.
The temperature was in the '30's this morning a record
low for this part of Florida. But that doesn't stop the 13,000 entries for the
Marathon and another 5,000 people for the Half Marathon.
For the first few miles runners wind through and around
Epcot having cast members & spectators cheer you on; it a real rush. Once
you leave Epcot you are heading toward the Magic Kingdom Park. The course takes
you right down Main Street U.S.A. where you never know which characters you will
see. Last year I saw Cruella De Vil standing on the corner as I'm entering Main
Street. Being such a dog lover that I am I told her she was "a very mean
lady" she hissed at me as I went by. Of course the ladies behind me brought
their camera along and had someone take a picture of them with her. Going along
Main Street towards Tomorrowland you can hear the Barber Shop Quartet singing.
One year as I entered Tomorrowland Goofy was out there and gave me a high-five
as a went past him. There's something about Cinderella's Castle, that I always
look forward to going thru. The Castle gives me such a boast. Maybe it's a
landmark for us Half Marathoners that we only have 3 more miles to go until the
finish line. Marathoners continue on to Disney's Animal Kingdom Park for miles
16 & 17 and Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex for miles 20 & 21. And
since the marathon route goes thru all 4 of Disney's Theme parks they head off
to Disney-MGM Studios for their 23 mile and making their unforgettable finish
back to Epcot.
The Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon is
like no other race you've run before. They do a wonderful job at organizing,
preparing and cleaning up for this well planned event. There were twenty-one
water stations set up along the course, offering water and a sports beverage.
Along the marathon course fruit and Power Gel were also provided. Just as you
would expect from any large running event, Disney also has a Health and Fitness
expo held two days prior to the race in Disney's Wide World of Sports Fieldhouse.
The night before we go to Disney's Pre-Race Carbo Dinner with all you can eat
pastas, salads, breads and fruits. And of course Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
the official mascots are there to have their picture taken with you. Did I
mention the day before the Marathon Disney puts on a Family Fun Run where kids
run with or without their parents on a 5k Fun Run around the Epcot World
Showcase and see some of their favorite Disney characters along the way.
Both my Mom, Joanne Creel and Bob (Ecky) Eckerson have
been running this event annually since the first one in 1994. About four years
ago my mom mentioned to me that I can sign up and do the Half Marathon. The
first thing I said to her "Mom I don't run, I walk". Mom and Ecky have
always been the runners in the family, I do the other sports with short
distances. But being the type of motivating person she is; she didn't see this
as a hurdle like I had (because of my asthma). She simply said that's fine, not
everyone runs, some run/walk, some jog just go out and do it. Being a HUGE
Disney fan and having this desire to be part of this great event I did and have
since. With the exception of this year, bronchitis got the better of me the week
before we were to leave, so I watched Ecky cross the finsh line.
He came in 50th in his age group out of 361 men! (he'll
never brag so what are daughters for)
Other Cape Cod Athletic Club members that finished the
Half Marathon were Bill Riley finishing 1st in his age group and Bill Lord
finishing 3rd in his age group and Joanne Creel.
Hope to see you there, Kim Creel
Next year's race date is January 6, 2002
for more on-line information runningnetwork.com or
disneyworldsports.com
