DisneyRunning.com- Your Guide to Running at Walt Disney World

Wow what a great time! This was my first Disney Race. I am running the marathon in January and want to run a couple of Disney Races just to feel that much more comfortable when the big day gets here. I'll also be at the TOT race. Besides, I get to go to Disney and race too! How can it get any better than that?

We drove up on Friday leaving a little after 2:00 p.m. hoping to get my race packet that night. It is usually only a 3 hour drive, if that, but of course a train was stuck across the tracks on one of the roads crossing the state. Normally who cares, but I have a packet to pick up! We found our way around this and made it to Wide World of Sports by 5:30. I was expecting some lines, but there was no one there. Walked right in and picked up my packet and tickets, stopped by the "expo" which was really 3 or 4 racks of stuff. The only RFTT item I saw was a a brown t-shirt but I passed. They gave us a RFTT glass which is enough.

We were staying at Pop Century so we went and checked in then my wife wanted to go over to the Premium Outlets. YAHOO! The highlight of my day :) I actually like to shop so that's not a problem at all. Had a Philly Cheese Steak for my carb loading meal. OK, I told my wife it was for carb loading. It did have bread! Went back and just kicked around the room until bed.

Up early on Saturday to visit EPCOT and the Food and Wine festival. This was awesome. You need to check it out. Lots of food and liquid refreshments. But boy, the lines were long. We just strolled around a bit and hand a late lunch at le Cellier over at Canada. Great restaurant. We will go back. We headed back to the room kind of early around 7:30. Grabbed some great Chicken Noodle Soup at the food court before heading to the room. I put all my gear together so I wouldn't have to worry about it in the morning.

I don' t know about you guys, but I couldn't sleep very well. I went to sleep early enough but kept waking up every 45 minutes. Finally Mickey calls and wakes me up for good at 5:00 a.m. I piddle around a bit then head out. I was going to EPCOT but decided to just go over to WWOS instead. It was only 5 minutes away. As usual, I am early. Had plenty of time to go to EPCOT and take the bus but hey, this worked out OK.

I walked around a bit and met a few people from the WISH team. Sorry, but I forgot your names. I couldn't stand still so I walked around a bit. Over to the start, back to the Porta Potties, back to the start, over to the Porta Potties... you get the picture. They had a ton of Porta Potties, but there were still long lines. They had a DJ cranking out music at the start line and they were also giving out out bananas as you walked towards the start. With about 30 minutes to go I went over to the start line and stayed there. At about the 15 minute mark I went and walked on the road a bit to warm up. I debated on wearing my hydration belt with the pouch, but ultimately decided against it. I do want to get used to racing in it as I plan on wearing it for the marathon. But, since I didn't wear it, I didn't have my camera so no pictures.

I have to admit, it was more exciting in the front as you see and here everything that goes on. Once they have the pictures up, take a look at the start. I was in the front row for the picture. Probably far left in the bright green WISH shirt. I quickly moved out of the way because these people were FAST! For the first mile or two the road was pretty wide so passing, or being passed, wasn't an issue. We headed off from WWOS then turned left at the next intersection of Osceola Parkway. Followed this for a bit until we reached World Drive. then we turned right. We ran the same road that you take to MGM. The first water stop was set up here and just in time. We ran almost up to the parking toll booths until we turned left into the park. The fun begins! I couldn't tell you exactly how we went through the park because there were so many twists and turns that I would have been lost without all the other people in front of me. I did get to see myself up on the big video board in I thinks it's the car thrill show. I know real Disney people will know what I am talking about.

We eventually left MGM and made our way to the Boardwalk area. Ran past the Swan, Dolphin and the Yacht and Beach club. I think. Never stayed at any of these places so that's what I assume they were. All I know is that across the lake was a great view of the Boardwalk area. As we were leaving the Boardwalk a woman told me she was following me so she could read my shirt. Right, she was probably just checking me out :) Like that would ever happen. But at least the shirts give people something to read.

We entered EPCOT around England then immediately turned right and went up a mountain. Ok, it was a small hill over the bridge, but it felt like a mountain. I can't wait until mile 25 or so of the marathon and running into this monstrous hill. YOW! Now, I was in EPCOT on Saturday walking this same area with refreshment in hand. It sure felt different today. I was getting tired because I was running a bit faster than I normally do. The hard part was looking over and seeing Mexico way off to the left. I mean way off to the left. I knew I had to get past there to get to the finish. By this time in the race I've settled down and pretty much stayed close to 3 or 4 other people going my pace.

We finally passed that far away Mexico and were headed towards the home stretch. All the volunteers kept saying "almost there" "just around the corner". Yea right. Let me pause here to commend all the volunteers that were along the course. I tried to say Hi to as many of them I could and thanked them for being there. They make the race happen.

Anyway, as we are round the last corner, well I thought it was the last corner because a volunteer said "the finish is right around this corner", I kicked it into overdrive (OK as much overdrive as I had left). Two corners later when I rounded the real last corner I saw how far away from the finish I actually was. Ugh! It was to late to stop now so I kept going and made it without falling :) Might have got a good picture as the photographer was right before the finish and I think he got a good shot of me. We'll see.

Right after the finish they handed out water and warm PowerAde. Shortly after that they have an area where you get your picture taken which leads into an area with fruit, bagels and bananas I think it was. I tried a little fruit cocktail but could only manage a few bites. I wasn't really hungry right then. A little ways away were the other food tents. I tried a bit of each item but I can't do it justice because I wasn't really in the mood to eat what they were offering. Heck I didn't eat until after noon.

Sorry to all the other folks I wanted to meet. I planned to hang out, but we had an unexpected family issue so I had to catch an early bus back so we could get back home. After packing and a quick shower we were on the road before 10:00 a.m.

My goal was to break 1 hour but not sure if I could do it because that would be the fastest I have ever run 6 miles. But I did it in 56:05 and averaged 9.:01.04 per mile. Even though I was excited to hit my goal now I'm thinking jeeze if I could have just been 7 seconds faster I would have been below 9 minutes per mile. Ya just can't please me :) I started out a little too fast, but still had enough left for the finish. Actually my last mile was faster than all but the first mile.