I've started this about 5 times, always too long. Let's see if I can
shorten it up. LOL.....fat chance......
We had 5 nights at Disney, and we made it there despite some weather issues
(hour and a half delay getting out of Detroit). We sat next to an official
from Do-It Sports on the way down......that was interesting. They are
working on some cool new things.
We got there ok, we ran the 1/2, we finished, we got medals, we are ok and
hosting our own individual little bragathons.
Longer: We spent too much time in the parks Thursday, Friday, Saturday. We
missed the Penguin buffet because of it. We went to bed early but I couldn
t sleep. I started the race sleep deprived (slept about an hour and a half)
It was too warm and humid for me, and I was tired.........and not as well
trained as I wanted to be (that always seems to be the case for me, and I
usually do just fine, but slow).
At about 2 miles I had abdominal cramping. Stopped at the restroom near
Mexico, then felt a little better, but lost about 3 minutes. Had a hard
time drinking - either water or Power Ade, but knew I needed to. At the
first station, they had only water. I sucked down a GU at about 4 miles. I
met up with my travel companion at the merge area (I had registered for the
full, she for the half), and we were on the same pace. We decided to stay
together. We finished together at 3:26:18 chip time, 3:34:09 clock time (I
bailed at the half, but had planned on doing that). I never noticed before,
but posted pace time is based on clock time, not chip time. Our average
chip pace: 15:42:1; clock pace: 16:20:8. Cathy could have done better......
.....I slowed her down with my stupidity.
We passed the now dreaded 10 mile point at 2:45:27. We were disappointed
that we weren't allowed to run up Main Street USA, but got routed behind
tomorrowland instead but didn't know why at the time. The racebook said
spectators could view us on Main Street until 8:50 am, and we were within
that margin, and would have been earlier but it took us 8 minutes to reach
the start. That was a major disappointment for me, and for my friend who
was running not only her first Disney half, but also her first race ever.
When we later heard the stories of the sweep at 10 miles, we figured we must
have been right on the edge, but it didn't seem right to me to be diverted.
One of the runners in the area said she heard a castmember, or maybe it was
some race official?, say they needed to "open the parks to guests"..........
..well, what the heck were WE?? Did we not pay lots of $$$ to be there? We
stayed 5 nights, ate their expensive food and drinks, paid to run, bought
lots of stuff we really didn't need.............were we not "guests"? I'm
one of Disney's biggest fans, but there's a little dent in my enthusiasm
right now. I defended their right to sweep...........I understand they can
t have people out there on the course forever because of the roads, and they
can't have them behind the scenes after the allotted time, but it seemed
like they must have made a mistake with an early sweep or something.
Apparently, that was so. I also found the course to be congested. Often we
wanted to run, but couldn't because of the congestion.
Anyway, I finished, with just 5 minutes chip time remaining. The heat and
humidity took it's toll. It was the WORST performance I have ever done. I
couldn't run. I still had some stomach cramping. I couldn't drink. I
couldn't eat. I would have quit, but Cathy wouldn't let me.My ASI photos
are going to be AWFUL !
The finish line was a mess. We had a mylar thrown on us, which lasted all
of about 5 seconds. We couldn't find chip removal for my friend (I have my
own).........they were sitting on the ground. Can't they put up a tall sign
for it? Then I couldn't find the marathon table I was told I had to go to
to claim a medal (I had registered for the full, so they had a different
table for us...........but hard to find......). I'm not complaining about
this, really, I'm grateful for the medal at all, but how about some tall
signs for us to look for so we can find them? The photo lines were long and
slow. After running 13 miles, the last thing I wanted to do was stand
still and pass out. The food at the finish was awesome........much better
than last year at the full finish. They just need to help the runners out
with some direction........or was it there and we just didn't see it????
The bus line was ridiculous. We walked over to T/T to get the monorail to
EPCOT so we could watch my son finish the full. We never made it. It was my
fault.
I nearly passed out on the monorail (that car cleared out SO FAST!!!), just
before it got to EPCOT, so we just headed back to CBR. (Thank God for my
travel companion who is an RN...........I have no doubt I would have had EMS
taking me to Celebration Hospital for IV fluids and O2 if she hadn't been
there.) Obviously, the heat, the lack of sleep, the inability to drink, etc,
got to me...........a clear case of heat exhaustion. We went back to CBR
and I went into the pool clothes and all (yeah, people looked at me like I
had lost my mind!) Some food, some rest (sleep), and lots of fluids, and I
was fine a few hours later. We went to EPCOT and sent emails from IBM at
Innoventions.
Not a fun thing, and I learned a good lesson. Sometimes I have to be hit
over the head I guess.
BTW: 43 yo son finished the full with a time of 4:29:24 clock time. Yea!
He lives in Florida, so I guess the heat didn't bother him so much.....or he
s stubborn like his mother!!! It was his first Disney marathon, and I think
his first full since high school.
On the plus side, I did meet some Penguins, and we did have fun. I'll do a
lot of things differently in the future. Lessons learned, fun had, new
friends, beautiful weather, and 5 days at Disney. I'm going back to WDW Feb
27 with DH who couldn't make this trip. I still love the place.
I still want to run again next year, but with the split, I'm not sure which.
..............I'd like another Mickey to go with the other 2 and now 2
Donalds, but today I just can't decide. It'll be interesting to see how
fast it fills up. I want to volunteer one of these times, so maybe it'll be
the half and volunteer for the full??
I'm sorry for all those who got wrongfully swept. I hope you won't give up.
I haven't seen these problems before, and I think someone got ahead of
themselves. I think it would be appropriate for EMMI to send out an email
of explanation. I hope they do.
Heather mentioned she has letters to write. How about sharing that address
Heather? I'll be writing EMMI to express my disappointment in the lack of
Disneyesque-ness. But if you have other addresses, let me know.
In the meantime, I'm taking the week off, don't plan to run until at least
Sunday. ..... might be a walk.
Louise (safely back in northern Michigan)
