I just want to start out by thanking Charles & Holly for organizing a great
time on Saturday night. Unfortunately I missed the Dixie Encounter on Friday
(didnt reach the hotel until midnight), but Tiffany & I had a great time at
the APD & the Post Race Bragathon.
(Personal note: this is the longest post I think i have ever done, so you'd
better have a seat) =)
On to the race report, 3:30 a.m. comes awful early, especially when you can
hardly sleep because of the anticipation for the upcoming day. Got my butt
out of bed around 3:15 and started getting ready (splash cold water on the
face, turn the coffee pot on, etc). We (Lou & I--running and Alice &
Tiff--support staff) were all able to get dressed and be out of the hotel by
about 4:15. We pulled into a great parking spot right near the staging area
by about 4:45. Lou & I made out way to the area about 5 while the girls were
smart and stayed in the warm car. We were a little concerned when, by 5:30,
they werent letting us into the corrals. Let me tell you, garbage bags,
especially the heavy duty variety do a great job of keeping you warm. The
only change we will make is to wear two. One full one on top to wear before
the race, and one half one (cut at the waist) to wear for the first mile so
you still have full mobility of your legs.
The race started about 10 minutes late and even then, it took another 5 to
get to the starting line. The 1st mile was a blistering 16 minute pace (we
couldnt get around people walking in large packs) and the second was still
only about a 12 minute pace. I saw my wife and mother in law about mile 2 &
4, but then I missed them at mile 9 cuz I was running a better pace then they
expected so I didnt see them again until the finish. After 2 miles, it
pretty well thinned out, but I had trouble getting a consistant rhythm going,
so some miles I logged at nearly 9 minutes while others I was at 10:30. The
mile through Magic Kingdom was my slowest (aside from the start) cuz I
stopped to take pictures ith a bunch of characters. I ran with my Lou G. for
a couple miles and later met up with Steve & Marilyn and ran with them for a
little while. All in all I had a great time running the half, finishing in
about 2:20 (not a bad pace for the complete lack of training that I did). My
thanks go out to Jeff for trading the half number for my full marathon number.
After finishing the half, I got my goodies and walked over to see Lou come
across the half way mark. We (Tiff, Alice & I) hopped a bus back to Epcot
(the bus driver had no idea where to get so we ended up directing him). I
had planned to get a bus to Boardwalk and then walk back along the course to
meet up with Lou, but you cant get a bus there so I begged a person at
Epcot's guest relations to give me a comp ticket to walk back along the
course. I finally met up with Lou just outside of MGM (about mile 23) and
ran the rest of the race with him. We also met up with Steve & Marilyn again
(couldnt miss them in their bright green shirts). We crossed the finish line
and headed right to the car for a well deserved soak in the hotel jacuzzi.
We met up with the gang of deads at the Bragathon and had a fantastic time
swapping stories. We spent nearly an hour in the bar (replenishing
fluids..hey beer is a fluid) with Stan & Sheila S. Sheila, you are a hoot
and we had a great time chatting with ya. I dont think there was a topic
that wasnt discussed.
All in all, we had a great time and are looking forward to next year. Now I
am back to work, UGH!!! What I wouldnt give to be running through Magic
Kingdom right about now.
Keep on Running,
Adam
