2007 Marathon Weekend Race Reports

[Big Vic]

HELLO WISHERS!!!

We just got back home a couple of hours ago. We had a GREAT time!

This was my very first race, let alone a 1/2 marathon.

The Friday night meet was awesome. It's so nice to be able to put a face with a name, and I want to tell everyone, it's an honor and a privilege to be part of this team. I'm glad I found you guys, and you let me hang around. I do need to tell you about the Sheriff ball cap. I don't normally wear things to draw attention to myself. But, it actually was the only lime green piece of clothing I could find, and because the Sheriff reimbursed me my entry fee. So I was representing our agency in the 1/2 and there were two others in the full. I figured it was the least I could do. ::cop:

Slept pretty good Friday night until around 0130, and then I was wide awake. Got up at 0300, stumbled around in the dark so I wouldn't wake the DW up and departed for the bus at 0330. Forgot to put Bodyglide on my nips. Won't forget again.

Sunny - Please forgive me for not meeting up with you at POFQ.

After arriving at Epcot I made my way over to the VIP Lounge (Yeah, I bought a ticket). Had two cups of coffee, a bottle of water and a Clif bar. That comes to $12.50 each. That's pretty close to Disney prices, isn't it?

Hung out until it was time to make our way to the corral (Wave C). Like I said, having never done this before, I just followed the herd, and a herd it was.

Once we started I could never get into a rythym. Too many people and not enough room to spread out. I had to speed up and then slow down, speed up and then slow down. Not complaining, just need to rethink some strategy I guess.

When we got to the first water stop and there was no water or Powerade, I thought we were in trouble. Luckily the rest of them had plenty of both. I did see a lady cross into the return lane (there was water there) and almost take out an elite runner. That could have been ugly.

The WISHers, the scream teams, the cheerleaders, the bands, the characters, the volunteers, the cast members, FHP, the Sheriff's Office, everyone, were great and I'm glad they were there to make the race enjoyable. Running through the MK and Epcot was cool!

Ended up walking about half of the race and finished at 3:20:17. I finished within the time frame, and that was my goal. Next year it will be under three hours. But, I saw the Mickey medal, and I want one. I may have to change my plans.

The deal with the medals at the finish was kind of weird. First they didn't have any and then they did. I found a guy walking with a box of them, asked for and got one. This was after they said they would send them to us. Wonder if I'll get one in the mail?

All-in-all, it was a great experience and a great weekend. I truly believe this is going to be my big race of the year for many years to come. Don't know if I'll ever do the Goofy, and may only do the marathon once, but I plan on being at WDW each and every January.

To all of my fellow WISHers, it was nice meeting you (To those I haven't met yet, hopefully we'll meet next year), congratulations on your race(s) if you were running/walking, and EVERYONE'S inspiration is much appreciated.

Take care.

 

[andromedaslove]

And sincere apologies to the lady I saw in front of Rose and Crown wearing her Mickey medal. I'm pretty good with faces, but didn't recognize you and feel like a total idiot . Please tell me who you were.

It was ME!! I tried to catch you and tell you that I had changed my shirt after the race, but you seemed like you were in a hurry, and I was carrying my little one trying to put him to sleep. Don't worry, it wasn't a big deal, I am sorry I didn't get to chat with you a little though.

Dana

 

[hockeygirl]

You are all such an inspiration!! Hearing all the great stories from the weekend makes me even more motivated.

drdelsol--your story is amazing, congratulations on fighting through your injuries and completing the race, you are truly amazing!

Keep the stories coming, I LOVE reading them, and thinking about how it will be me next year!!

Laurie

 

[thndrmatt]

Speaking of unmasking strangers, during the full, I saw a herd of WISH'rs heading towards the right turn towards the TTC just after passing the racetrack while I was opposite them heading back after the MK towards AK, and I screamed GO WISH GO a few times, which caused a couple of thems to swing their arms up wildly and smile while looking all around, but they never did spot me. We may just have to snag those shirts for next year...

 

[drdelsol]

Hockeygirl-you are way too kind

The guy running on two crutches or the lady I saw with an artificial leg, the people like them are the really amazing ones. I didn't even catch up to them until around mile 6.

If you were to look at me with a long sleeve shirt on you wouldn't think anything had happened to me. I have been very blessed during the accident and with my recovery. Still can't juggle for my daughter again yet but the wrist is limbering up and I'm getting closer. It will come.

I gave my medal to my wife right after the race because if she hadn't done extra work household and otherwise for me, I wouldn't have time to practice for it. I just wanted to prove the guy could put me down and unfortuneatly really mess me up financially but he couldn't beat me as a person. Plus, hopefully it will be a lesson to my daughter in the future that you don't give up. Thats the real point I was trying to make to people here- go ahead and try it, don't give up. I hope I wasn't coming across as look at me. There were many there in what appeared to be worse shape then me trying. I was impressed by them.

 

[SRQbird]

I was a first-timer in the half marathon. I really liked the fellow runners, although, it is a bit overwhelming to be in a crowd of more than 12,000 runners.

Volunteers and spectators were terrific, too. Their support was much appreciated.

I finished at 3h25m and there were no medals. After maneuvering the massive crowd looking for the information tent, found the Loooong line at the information tent that was growing longer by the second. A man told us that we didn't need to wait in line, that they knew who didn't get medals, and would send them to us. So I left with no medal. Hoping for the best, but not expecting much. Bummer.

Great news! Of course, Disney is making it all right!---that's why we love them. I just got the following note from Disney Marathon folks:

SRQbird,

Unfortunately, it was a complete error on our part, in misplacing the medals that were not at the finish line. It is with great regret that we sincerely apologize for this inconvenience. We appreciate your participation in the 2007 Marathon Weekend and would like to ensure you receive your appropriate medal. At your convenience, please send us your telephone number and address where we can send you a half marathon medal. Again, please know that all of us at Disney are extremely sorry and will do everything in our power to make this right. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Kind Regards,

Disney Marathon Weekend Staff​

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't think it's what WDW intended, but I kinda got the impression that Wave C was the second-class citizens of the race. Potties and water were all set up in waves A and B and anytime a wave C runner tried to go past the C staging area, they were reminded where their wave was supposed to wait.

What is a Wave?


(btw I got the same impression at the end of the half when the Goofy tents were first and they had no water immediately avialable if you didn't have a wrist band. Bugged the tar out of me).

Glad it was a good weekend for all and glad we could pop in for a visit on Friday.

 

[andromedaslove]

Well.... here's the short report for everyone!!

At miles 5 I was running an 11:38 pace, which put me in at 58:10.

At miles 10 my pace between 5 and 10 was 11:22, so I crossed at 1:54:51.

At the half the pace between 10 and 13 was 14:24, I crossed at 2:38:29. I'll take that considering I stopped to take pictures with characters, hey it's my first marathon!!

At mile 20 my pace between 13 and 20 was 14:52, I crossed at 4:20:04.

At the Finish my pace between 20 and 26.2 was 14:27. I finished at 5:49:40!!

Granted, it wasn't anywhere near the time I was shooting for, I am ecstatic to have finished. There were times I wasn't quite sure I would. Around mile 18 as I was leaving Animal Kingdom into the parking lot, someone yelled "Go Dana" and I don't know why but I started to tear up, and as soon as that started all of a sudden I couldn't breathe. Literally my chest felt so tight. I made it to DH and the family, and luckily my MIL made my DH bring my inhaler which my dumb behind left in the room. So that helped a little but I never got completely over the tightness. I think that cold I had before leaving, and kept convincing myself it was just a head cold is more in my chest than I wanted to believe. I did alot more walking after mile 18 that I would have hoped for. I had to slow down to a run2/walk1, and literally every time I passed another WISHer or some stranger reading my name and screaming for me I would start to cry and that is when I would start having trouble breathing again. My legs felt really good the entire race, no cramps or anything like that, the only other problem I had was a blister that popped up between mile 19 and 20. I had to stop and have them put second skin on it, which by the way is a God send for blisters. It was at this stop I ran into one of the guys I ran with a couple of times here in Jax. We had ran a couple of miles together back before we got to the Magic Kingdom and then he went on his way while I stopped to take pictures. Unfortunately, his hip had caused him alot of discomfort and he was out of the race. I felt really bad for him. "O" and one more slow down was my precious little 2 yr old Lucas, who both times I ran by them ran out after me and I had to catch him and take him back to his Daddy. But you definately can't hold that against me, he is just tooo cute!!

I tried to stay around and cheer on as many people as I could after the race, but I couldn't wait for evryone in the W tent. My family was going to eat lunch before I finished, but my 5 yr old Michael told them that it wasn't nice to eat without me and that to be fair they had to wait for me. So my entire family waited for me to finish and then drug me off to lunch!!

Congratulations to everyone that finished!! to those that couldn't. I'll be back later to post pics for everyone.

Take Care,
Dana

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I was a first-timer in the half marathon. I really liked the fellow runners, although, it is a bit overwhelming to be in a crowd of more than 12,000 runners.

Volunteers and spectators were terrific, too. Their support was much appreciated.

I finished at 3h25m and there were no medals. After maneuvering the massive crowd looking for the information tent, found the Loooong line at the information tent that was growing longer by the second. A man told us that we didn't need to wait in line, that they knew who didn't get medals, and would send them to us. So I left with no medal. Hoping for the best, but not expecting much. Bummer.

I don't understand how they screwed up. Registration locks over the summer so they know how many of the darn things they are supposed to order.

I would keep on tabs with Disney to make sure you will get yours.

Shoot--3:30 is the official stop time so honestly there is no excuse for this.

If it isn't one thing--it is another.

But still a fun place to be.

 

[westcliffemom]

It's very exciting to hear all the reports, good job everyone!

 

[chimera]

What is a Wave?
Glad it was a good weekend for all and glad we could pop in for a visit on Friday.

They changed the start for the half this year. Instead of 8 corrals, they had 3 waves, each with a different start time. Wave A was the elites who started at 6am. Wave B started at 6:10am (not sure what qualifying time they were looking for). Wave C was for anyone who registered with a 2:45 or greater finish time and the start was set at 6:30 am.

The holding area was sectioned off into waves A, B and C. Water tables were set up in B and the portapotties were in a horseshoe around A and B. You could travel in different sections, but anytime a wave C runner left their designated area to go potty or get water, one of the volunteers was sure to remind them of their appropriate place.

The full had the same start as last year with red and blue and corrals. I sent an email to Disney sports today expressing my disappointment and begging for a return to the corral system.

 

[andromedaslove]

Hey everyone!! I told you I'd be back with pictures..... so here goes!! Enjoy!!

 

[andromedaslove]

This one I took for Christa, couldn't help but think of her!!

Here's one of my Michael from his first race ever!!

 

[maryliz]

Oh thank you all for sharing your stories! CONGRATS to all who participated this past weekend. I did the 1/2 in 2005 and your stories are bringing back such wonderful memories.

I will be back to do the 1/2 in 2010, and my DD is already looking forward to doing the 5K that same year. I'd be back every year if I could afford to ... it was one of the best experiences of my life.

CONGRATS again !

 

[Lan]

I was a first-timer in the half marathon. I really liked the fellow runners, although, it is a bit overwhelming to be in a crowd of more than 12,000 runners.

Volunteers and spectators were terrific, too. Their support was much appreciated.

I finished at 3h25m and there were no medals. After maneuvering the massive crowd looking for the information tent, found the Loooong line at the information tent that was growing longer by the second. A man told us that we didn't need to wait in line, that they knew who didn't get medals, and would send them to us. So I left with no medal. Hoping for the best, but not expecting much. Bummer.

I was about to leave without a medal but I was the front of the information booth line when the cast memeber said they had found some more and was bringing them to that area.

 

[monte]

Congratulations TEAM, sounds like everyone had a great time! I just hope that's it's alot cooler for the 2008 marathon.....coming from Colorado I'll probably pass out at mile marker 2. lol

 

[spot28]

I finished at 3:23 was told no medals, and then 5 minutes later they were just throwing medals out at anyone standing there. It was the ONLY part of the whole thing that didn't seem well-organized. I hope you get yours soon...email them until they send you one..YOU DESERVE IT!

 

[JimB.]

You guys all Rock!!

Congratulations to all of you!!

Fortunately, I did not find any "Down DIS'ers" during the weekend. I did check up on a couple of ya'll on sunday, but no one seemed the worse for wear....

Between the 2 days I put in about 62 miles on my bike, and is my butt SORE!!!!!!!

My anecdote for the weekend's coolest racer.......... On Sunday, coming down the ramp from Cinderella's Castle, at about 7:10, one of the wheelchair racers had a tire blowout. He careened hard right and smacked into one of the concrete piers at the bottom. Denied injury, but TOTALLY destroyed his chair. This guy had one of the Disney staff run and get him a regular wheelchair and FINISHED the Marathon pushing that heavy piece of iron around the course.

What a guy!

 

[chimera]

Jim...that's a great story about the wheelchair racer. Man...he must have gone 20 miles in that chair. Thanks to you and all your partners for being out there this weekend! I bet y'all were busy. I think the ice guy at Yacht Club was the most popular fan for the full!

SRQbird...not from Sarasota by any chance, are you?

Dana...oh, man! I'm really sorry I didn't recognize you! You guys have some great pictures!

Congrats to everyone on great races and race reports! If you haven't already joined us on the weekly club threads, please feel free to come on over!

 

[chimera]

sorry...double post