Peter Westcott -- Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge
Walt Disney World, FL, 6 & 7 January 2007
"Goofy is as Goofy does" so they say, and that's what it takes to run a half marathon and a full marathon on consecutive days. 3,000 people registered for Goofy's Challenge this year, topping last year.
I tore my left medial gastrocnemius in the Marine Corp Marathon in October 2006 and hadn't run since. Dr. Peter B. gave me some great advice to prepare for Goofy: continue my cardio workouts and strength training, stretch a lot more, and avoid running. I headed into my second Goofy Challenge determined not to re-tear my muscle.
For the first time ever I chose not to carry a water bottle. Hydration stations are plentiful and it was very relaxing not having to cart around and refill the bottle and fiddle with the strap. I drank doubles at each station and found that was enough, plus some additional electrolytes.
I arrived January 5 in Orlando to near-record heat and humidity. This wasn't last year's record-breaking cold -- shivering at the starting line and avoiding road ice. Instead it was bare minimum gear, sunscreen, and bugs.
Walt Disney World Half Marathon (aka Donald's Half Marathon) Saturday, January 6
Almost 16,000 people registered for the half-marathon race. The starting temperature was in the high 60sF with moderate humidity; fortunately, high clouds reduced the heat during the race, though the temperature at 9:00 was in the mid-70sF. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy started the race with fireworks at 6:00 a.m. The race began near EPCOT and went to the Enchanted Kingdom park. Runners went down Main Street and through Tomorrow Land, Fantasy Land, through Cinderella's Castle, and through Adventure Land and to the Park's back lot before going out and returning to EPCOT. Many Disney characters were along the course shaking hands and posing for photos -- I stopped at each to get my pix taken. And at the EPCOT finish line I scored my Donald Duck Half-Marathon medal. Then off to the rides "just to keep my legs stretched".
Before the race I stretched lightly and meditated some. I purposely kept my pace at slower than 15-min/mile for the first few miles, baby-stepped the little Florida hills, and stretch my calves thoroughly at mile 3. After that I kept my pace as slow as I could stand, finishing happily with the back-of-the-packers and no pain at all in my calves, and then stretching thoroughly post-race. Woo-hoo! One down, one to go!!
Walt Disney World Marathon (aka Mickey's Marathon) Sunday, January 7
Over 12,000 runners registered for the full marathon. The starting temperature was in the high 60sF with high humidity; no cloud cover left a fog-like moisture layer that boosted the heat index. By 9:00 the temperature was near 80F with the same humidity. Mickey and the gang started the race with fireworks at 6:00 a.m. The race began near EPCOT and went through the Enchanted Kingdom Park following the half-marathon route. Once out of the Enchanted Kingdom the course wound through the Animal Kingdom, Disney's Wide World of Sports, Disney-MGM Studios, the Disney Boardwalk, and finally back into EPCOT for the finish. At the finish line I scored my Mickey Mouse Marathon medal.
While I hadn't had any pain in my calves the day before, I was taking no changes now. Before the race I stretched lightly and meditated. I purposely kept my pace at slower than 15-min/mile for the first few miles, baby-stepped the little Florida hills, and stretched my calves thoroughly at mile 4. After that I kept my pace as slow as I could stand for the next four miles. By this point I felt so good I couldn't stand it and "took off" at a blistering 10-minute mile pace which I kept up for most of the rest of the race, then stretched thoroughly post-race. Woo-hoo!!
Goofy's Race-and-a-Half Challenge
As part of Goofy finisher tracking, race crew affixed a wrist band when I picked up my packet on Friday; changed my wrist band in the half-marathon finish line area on Saturday, and then exchanged my second wrist band for a Goofy medal in the finish line area on Sunday. Also, Goofy runners had slightly different bib designs from the standard Half- and Full-marathon bib designs.
Will I continue my streak? Yes, I am already registered for the 2008 race. See you there!!
