WALT DISNEY WORLD MARATHON

The Goofy Challenge Weekend

For our first marathon in 2006, Lenore and I selected the Walt Disney World Marathon near Orlando, Florida, on January 8^th.  This year for the first time, a Goofy Challenge was offered for the weekend. 

The participants who registered and completed Saturday’s half marathon and Sunday’s full marathon would receive a Donald Duck medal for the half, a Mickey Mouse medal for the full AND a Goofy medal for doing both of them. 

Then there were those of us who were called Dopey for adding Saturday’s 5K Family Fun Run to our weekend efforts.  We could add a Chicken Little Medallion to our collection!  What a deal…. four medals from three races in two days!!

I didn’t want to consider myself a wimp, so I signed up for the 5K that would follow the half marathon on January 7^th and received my third Walt Disney World race T-shirt.  It was a runners/walkers holiday, and I wanted to make the most of it.  I was joining the 16,000 participants in the half, the 14,000 in the marathon and the 4,000 in the 5K Race, and I was one of 3,000 who would be doing the Goofy Challenge.

Even though we were over 3,000 miles from our Washington State home, we still saw many friends and made the acquaintanceships of many more.  Rick Nealis, race director of the Marine Corps Marathon, was the first one we met at the Expo as we visited his race’s booth. 

Lenore saw Martin Rudow, editor/publisher of Northwest Runner magazine, at the marathon finish line.  She had a busy weekend volunteering in the finish area for race photographer Jay Sutherland of Action Sports International as she had done at the St. Jude’s Memphis Marathon on December 3, 2005.

It was great to visit with 50 Staters, 100 Marathon Club members and Marathon Maniacs over the course of the weekend.  Henry Rueden of Wisconsin was there to run his 425^th marathon.  His marathoning was interrupted by a military tour of duty to Iraq, but he’s back running weekend doubles again.  (His 400^th marathon was at San Francisco last summer!)

Larry Macon of Texas is the most prolific megamarathoner whom I know.  He ran 79 marathons in 2005!!  He ran an ultramarathon on the 7^th and the Walt Disney World Marathon on the 8^th, so he’s off to a strong start in the New Year.

Rosemary Evans, a 100 Marathon Club Member/50 Stater, from Flemingsburg, KY, ran 32 marathons last year and is nearing her #200 marathon milestone.  She ran a 2:14:17 in the half and a 4:51:54 in the full.

We visited the Expo on Thursday and Friday, and the treat of the day on Friday was to be entertained by John “The Penguin” Bingham at the Seminar Series.  Before his talk, he introduced me and mentioned that I would be running my 375^th marathon on Sunday…..adding that I was actually 37 years old and was showing the effects of my megamarathoning!  John and his wife, Coach Jenny Hatfield, gave a presentation on “Why Marathoning is Actually Fun.”

The night before we had joined Larry Herman, an assistant race director of the Frederick Marathon at Frederick, MD, for dinner in a restaurant at the Wide World of Sports area.  We had become acquainted with him at the Marine Corps Marathon’s Race Directors Boot Camp last October.

There were similarities to both race days.  We arose at 2:30 and 3:00 a.m. to drive from our motel in nearby Kissimmee to the staging area at the Epcot Theme Park parking lot.  It was cold there with the temperature in the mid 30’s.  I wore winter clothing and then peeled off layers during the race as the temperature rose to the 50’s on Saturday and to the 60’s on Sunday.

The staging area was well organized with baggage tents, many porta potties and rock and roll music.  There was a short walk to the starting corrals on a nearby highway for the 6:00 a.m. start.

A cannon signaled the beginning of the races, and we took off running or walking in the darkness.  A pleasant surprise was to find the first aid station with Powerade and water at a quarter of a mile into the race.  In the marathon there were 22 beverage stops and three nutrition stops (oranges, bananas, Cliff gels) along the way.  Body fuel replacement was certainly adequate. 

Darkness was with us for the first hour of each race, but floodlights at course intersections and near road hazards helped.  A nice touch was the lighted, huge, rubber, column marker at each mile.

The flat course followed wooded streets except for a running tour on sidewalks around Epcot Lake that passed lightbulb-trimmed restaurants representing different ethnic cuisines.  Later, in the daylight, the pine forests and small lakes of Disney World were in view.  The only “hills” were at the underpasses, overpasses and associated ramps. 

On both days we passed through the Magic Kingdom Theme Park which was the most ornate in architecture, and the cheering of spectators was the greatest.  Music was provided in the four theme parks, and there were many Disney characters in costume interacting with the runners and posing with them for photographs.  I remember what John, the Penguin, had said, “Go slow, and take pictures!”

For my part I enjoyed the exotic natural history of Disney World.  While running, I saw my first two armadillos, a great blue heron, snowy and great egrets, white ibises, wood storks, black vultures, turkey vultures, crows, grackles and rusty blackbirds.  The forest was composed of long leaf pine, cabbage palmetto, low saw palmetto, bald cypress, a yellow-flowered shrub and white-flowered sticktights.

In the 7^th mile of the half marathon an aid station was serving bananas.  Because I was walking, I felt that I could peel and eat two halves without breaking stride.  Wrong!!  As I looked at my banana while peeling it, I stepped on a discarded banana skin, slipped and fell down hard onto the pavement.  It was another “first!”  I struggled back to my feet and was thankful that I hadn’t broken any bones.  I moved on more cautiously.

It’s always nice to come across friends on the road and visit awhile before they run off.  On Saturday, John Bozung of Orem, Utah, told me that he was going to run with and propose to Marcy Van Roosendahl at the finish line of the marathon.  Just five feet before they finished the next day, John knelt on one knee, took a beautiful solitaire diamond from his waistpack and placed it on Marcy’s finger.  When they shared the good news with Lenore a few minutes later, she offered to provide everything for a wedding at the finish line of our April 1^st Yakima River Canyon Marathon.

Mike Smith from Indianapolis was running with Mike Brooks from Danville, Maine.  Paula Boone (Texas), Virginia Farneman (Ohio) and Dave Bell (Colorado) finished the half marathon together…..as did Layne Reibel and Rosemary Evans.  Ruth Ripley and Cathy Troisi were there from New York.  Cathy passed me each day near the finish and let Lenore know that I was “looking good and would be in soon.”

We became acquainted with David Goodrich and David Bates, Goofy Challengers from Holton, Maine, at Thursday’s Expo presentation by the race director.  In the huge parking lot on Saturday morning they were directly behind us, so we were able to continue our visit.  We met again the next morning and after the marathon……all by chance!

Another “chance meeting” was when Nicole Rous, 19, and Katie Burns, 19, of New Jersey found us among the thousands of people gathered in the staging area before the half marathon.  We first met these enthusiastic young runners at the Marine Corps Marathon in late October.  Both are students at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and are avid distance runners.

My races went well.  I walked every step of the way on Saturday in the half marathon and in the 5K.  My strategy was to minimize spine tilting and to “save” my running legs for the marathon.  I finished the half marathon with a 3:07:56 and held a 14:30 average pace throughout.

In the 5K there were a lot of families with children, and everyone seemed to be having a good time as we toured the Epcot Theme Park and made a lap around Epcot Lake.  We started at the Epcot staging area and finished where the longer race concluded.  I walked this race in 45:23 (14:40 pace).

First to cross the finish line of the half marathon were two runners from Rochester, MI, in a time of 1:08:12.  John Eberly, 25, was listed as the winner, and John Moen, 23, as the runner-up.  A third runner from the same town soon followed.  Jeff Gaudette, 23, finished in third place with a 1:08:22.

The Rochester sweep continued with Melissa White, 24, winning the women’s race in 1:18:33.  In second and third places were Dorothy McMahan, 29, Rochester Hills, MI, (1:19:01) and Cassie Hintz, 18, Stillwater, ME, (1:19:20).

On Saturday evening Wayne and Fiona Wright of Melbourne, Florida, hosted a pizza party for Marathon Maniacs, “Antarctiacs,” and others at their hotel suite.  That gave us another opportunity to meet more “Goofies.”  And it was a time that we learned of the Wrights’ projected departure time for the marathon the next morning.  We appreciate the ride to and from that race with them and Maniac Al Harman (Vancouver, BC) the next day!

The marathon was much like the half marathon with some overlap in the course, but there was a lot of new territory to see as well, including the Disney Animal Kingdom.. 

With a time of 2:19:44 Adriano Bastos, 27, of Brazil became the first three time winner of the Walt Disney World Marathon.  Tim Keller, 24, of Park Rapids, MN, was second with a 2:31:36, and third place went to Nick Rocco, 24, Annandale, NV (2:32:34).

The women’s race was won by Paige Higgins, 23, of Littleton, CO, with a 2:51:38.    This was her first marathon!  Amy Shertzer, 28, of Monument, CO, crossed the finish line in second place with a 2:59:14, and Mary Ann Protz, 49 of St. Petersburg, FL, was third with a 3:00:40.  Mary Ann was the first women’s master runner.

At the 6:00 p.m. awards ceremony at Pleasure Island I was pleasantly surprised to win a nice wooden plaque, a 5^th place age group award for the half marathon.  The biggest surprise of the weekend was the Mickey Mouse statuette I received as the winner of the 75+ Male Division of the marathon!

We enjoyed meeting Carolyn and Thomas Hathaway at the awards ceremony.  These 73 year old runners from Indianapolis, IN, won awards in both races.  Tom ran a 2:05:03 in the half for a 2^nd place 70-74M award and a 4:55:31 in the marathon for 4^th place.  He had won two Mickey statuettes in the past.  This time it was Carolyn’s turn to take home a Mickey.  She won the 70-74F age group with a 5:31:35.  Tom and I discovered that we had attended Purdue University at about the same time.

Congratulations to George Tantzen, 57, of Covington, WA, for running PR’s in the Goofy Challenge.  His new marks are 2:01:07 for the half marathon and 4:27:07 for the full marathon.  He was accompanied by his wife Lou who competed in the half marathon. 

Congratulations also to Lance Docken, 38, of Auburn, WA, for placing in the 35-39M age group in the half marathon and to Tanner Pettie, 14, of Auburn, WA, for completing his second half marathon.

After the awards ceremony we met Chuck Struckness, 52, of Minot, ND.  He’s a 50 States Finisher and member of the 50 States Marathon Club.  He shared some personal information with us and attributes his “running and marathoning” for regaining his health and well-being.  A lot of us can relate to that.

Kudos to Marie Bartoletti, 48 of  Finleyville, PA, whose injured right leg required surgery just a few days prior to the races, yet she finished the Goofy Challenge from her wheelchair by recruiting other runners to push her through the two races.  She wins the title of “Goofiest of All!!”

 

Lenore and I stayed an extra day to be able to tour the grounds of Disney World by car.  Neither of us felt like walking after all of the exercise we had on the weekend.  Then it was time to pack up and head for the Orlando International Airport.

At breakfast there the next morning, we were approached by a group of enthusiastic marathoners from the Dallas, TX, area who noticed my Walt Disney World Marathon shirt and wanted to talk about marathoning.  Five of them had just finished their first marathon, and all of them were proudly wearing their Mickey Mouse finishers medals.

(See the partial results.)

Our first marathon weekend of 2006 is history, and we’re glad that we traveled over 3,000 miles to be a part of Walt Disney World’s first Goofy Challenge+.  In addition to three race T-shirts, FOUR finishers medals, a plaque, and a Mickey Mouse trophy, we brought home many good memories of a great weekend.  THANK YOU to race director Jon Hughes, emcee/announcer Creigh Kelly, and everyone responsible for making this event so special!!!

……………………………..Written by Bob Dolphin

Partial Results:  Walt Disney World Marathon, January 8, 2006

3:28:29  Al Harman, 44, Vancouver, BC, Marathon Maniac (MM)

3:52:41  Deo Jaravata, 40, Granada Hills, CA, MM

3:59:08  Thomas Timbol, 41, Dallas, TX, MM

4:01:46  Robert Lopez, 39, Seattle, WA, MM

4:02:08  Andrea Hill, 28, Columbus, OH, MM

4:02:56  Diane Harty, 50, Keene, NH

4:08:56  Mieka Gerard, 55, Oldsmar, FL

4:14:06  Craig Bizjak, 44, Basking Ridge, NJ

4:16:24  Stephen Velott, 21, Harrisburg, PA, MM

4:17:21  Rick Korecki, 37, Estero, FL, MM

4:21:36  Wayne Wright, 57, Melbourne, FL, MM

4:26:53  Francesco Criniti, 61, Philadelphia, PA, 100 Marathon Club North America

              (100 MC)

4:27:07  George Tantzen, 57, Covington, WA

4:31:41  Danny Howard, 40, Ovilla, TX, Third Marathon

4:32:27  Steve Boone, 56, Humble, TX, MM, 100 MC

4:41:47  Ruth Ripley, 58, Pennellville, NY

4:49:30  Lisa Spence, 49, Houston, TX, MM

4:51:54  Rosemary Evans, 52, Flemingsburg, KY, 100 MC

4:54:50  Fiona Wright, 43, Melbourne, FL, MM

4:54:55  Karen Utterback, 53, Chicago, IL

4:54:56  Christine Humble, 52, Scottsdale, AZ, MM

4:55:31  Thomas Hathaway, 73, Indianapolis, IN

5:05:12  Chuck Struckness, 52, Minot, ND

5:07:59  Harry Hoffman, 65, Port Salerno,FL, MM

5:09:06  Andrew Edwards, 34, Columbiana, AL, MM

5:20:00  Angela Bazan, 22, Desoto, TX, First Marathon

5:21:23  Larry Herman, 39, Frederick, MD

5:22:38  Marcy Van Roosendahl, 43, Sandy, UT

5:22:38  John Bozung, 52, Orem, UT, 100 MC

5:24:04  Benji Allen, 32, Cedar Hill, TX, First Marathon

5:31:03  Mike Brooks, 60, Danville, ME, 100 MC

5:31:16  David Bell, 43, Highlands Ranch, CO, MM, 100 MC

5:31:35  Caroline Hathaway, 73, Indianapolis, IN, 1^st in Age Group

5:34:12  Cathy Troisi, 59, Seneca Falls, NY, 100 MC

5:42:42  Wendy Prindle, 45, Newbury Park, CA

5:46:09  Marie Bartoletti, 48, Finleyville, PA, MM

5:47:42  Bob Dolphin, 76, Renton/Yakima, WA, MM, 100 MC, 1^st

5:48:32  Marcus Vail, 24, Cedar Hill, TX, First Marathon

5:54:59  Lauri Fauerbach Adams, 35, Philadelphia, PA, MM

5:55:41  David Goodrich, 49, Houlton, ME

5:58:49  John Hutchinson, 34, Granada Hills, CA, MM

5:58:49  Jennifer Beck, 32, Mason, OH, MM

6:00:37  Dave Bates, 47, Houlton, ME

6:03:42  Henry Rueden, 56, Depere, WI, 100 MC

6:13:16  George Braceland, 77, Sanford, FL, 2nd

6:16:12  Virginia Farneman, 68, Powell, OH, 100 MC

6:22:55  Karla Holyfield, 22, Waxahachie, TX, First Marathon

6:26:34  Oliver Bragg, 78, Sterling, VA, 3rd

6:31:26  Larry Macon, 61, San Antonio, TX, MM, 100 MC

6:31:57  Paula Boone, 39, Humble, TX, MM, 100 MC

6:34:38  Laura Garrett, 49, Copperas Cove, TX

7:04:00  Jeff Calvery, 38, Midlothian, TX, First Marathon