Alzheimers or just plain dumb?

[Calcio]

Okay, 7 days ago I'm telling anyone I see (yes, I walked up to total strangers in the Disney empire) that January 13, 2008 was my last ever marathon. I'm not built for the distance, 26.22 is way too much to ask from my body, miles 18+ are pure hell, yadda, yadda, yadda.

So what did I just do? That's right folks, I signed up for the 2009 Goofy Challenge. I did the 2006 version, and apparently I've forgotten the pain, so I've not only volunteered, I've paid good money to go through all this again.

My goal for the half is sub-2. My goal for the full is sub-sweepers. Who's up to do this with me? I need someone to carry me through the last 3 miles of the half. And I really need someone to kick my butt out of bed on Sunday morning and get me into the corrals.

I understand Charlie has already signed up for this quest. Who else is ready to throw down the gauntlet? I'm counting on you!

Apparently I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree . . .

Craig

 

[AmyBeth68]

*raises hand weakly*

Count me and ScoJo15 in. We slumped into the bus seat after the marathon last Sunday and said "never ever ever EVER again". Two days later we were like...ummm....we kinda' want to try again.

And I'm with ya'. Sub 2 on the half which is totally doable. I'd love to run the full in 5....but knowing the agony of the Goofy....once again I'll be ecstatic to just finish. I

This year it was a 2:29 half/5:23 full. I wanted to run both in sub 8...so I just squeaked by LOL!

 

[Big Vic]

I'd love to help you, my brutha. But, it will only be the half for me next year.

 

[Cindylou]

Good luck to you Craig. I completely understand the short term memory loss. I thought for sure that this would be my last marathon, but I'm now figuring how to convince my husband that I need to run again in 2009. I also thought that going Goofy wasn't appealing, but after seeing everyone's Goofy medals this past week, just maybe....

I regret that I didn't get to meet you and Martha this weekend, maybe at a local race this year.

Again, lots of luck.
Cindy

 

[windwalker]

The Goofy was brutal and very satisfying to finish. I need to get my lady though some more fulls before we tackle it again.

We are doing the full so we will be on the course with you when you take on the big boy. You are strong and determined, you will be up to the challange.

Goofy Panda

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Congratulations to you! (I think) You go guy!

Is your lovely bride participating in this monumental opportunity?

 

[Calcio]

Cindy

Yes, It would be very nice to meet you at a local event in 2008. When you are committed to a race make sure we know and hopefully we can meet there.

Craig

 

[Calcio]

Lily

These are the exact words of my bride, "Lily, I love you dearly, but no." "I love you dearly, but do you think I'm dumb?"

I'm just the messenger . . .

Craig

 

[skfulkers]

Alzheimers or just plain dumb? Are you making me pick one for you?

This sounds like more of an AA meeting than anything else. So let me join in. Hi, my name is Steve. And I also signed up for the 2009 Goofy Challenge. Like so many other individuals here, I said once is enough, then someone smacked me in the head with a shovel and I thought, "Hey, another one wouldn't be too bad."

So I'll be there with you, too. Now the sub 2:00 half thing? I dunno. That sounds like a tall order with 26.2 the next morning. I may have to just catch up with you at the finish. I don't know if I'm backwards or not (well, I think all of us are backwards, but anyway.....), but last year when I trained I always did my Saturday runs somewhat slower than my Sundays. On Goofy weekend, I ended up doing them both at the same pace. But I never tried to do the Saturday runs faster. Might be worth a shot...

Congrats on your decision, Craig! When I saw Goofy filling up fast, I had this strange hunch that I might see you posting about registering.

Steve

 

[Calcio]

Steve

Just for you . . .

"Hello, my name is Craig, and it has been 2 years since I've had a Goofy fix. I've tried so hard to resist the temptation, but I simply cannot. You'd think at my age I'd be able to deal with these demons, but I find I'm unable to cope with it all."

Thank you for anticipating my decision. Dear lord, my mother doesn't understand me as well as you. I admire your ability to churn out 39.3 miles at a fast and even pace. My strategy is to take off like a lunatic and hold on with my fingernails for as long as I can.

I hope you and Krista had a great week in Orlando, and I hope it isn't too cold in Cincinnati.

Best
Craig

 

[Kristi1357]

Craig - Chad will be going Goofy with you, Charlie & Stephen.

Apparently some wife of his mentioned a couple years ago that he should do the Goofy every year (since he did it the first year). And maybe at like the 10th anniversary of the Goofy Challenge he'd be on some 'special' list of all those crazy...I mean, brave enough to do all the Goofy races.

I do think he wants to do a sub-2 half as well.

 

[Optimator]

Alright Craig, here's a deal. I'll do the Goofy again as long as you promise to never utter the words "I'm not built for..." or "My body isn't made for...".

How many marathons have you run? I'd say your body was buit for it just fine (ignoring the need for a well placed icebag here and there ).

As for your strategy of bustin' out a fast half and holding on for the full, I was thinking of the exact opposite. I think I paid the price a bit for running a decent half this year and was considering saving it up for the big boy in '09.

Maybe with another year of training under my belt I'll be able to sustain the effort through both events. I'm sure it will be a race-weekend decision.

Welcome back!

 

[Theta]

Okay, 7 days ago I'm telling anyone I see that January 13, 2008 was my last ever marathon.
Craig

Yes, I heard these words uttered, in fact, I think I said the same thing back to you, now I am looking for a hotel room in Philadelphia and thinking well....maybe....Disney again.

 

[SilverE]

Who's up to do this with me?

I'm in! No, maybe I shouldn't No...I'm definitely in! Then again...

OK, OK I AM IN! I just registered. For heaven's sake, do not tell DW (I'll break it to her around next October ) (Did I say "Break" it to her; I meant I'll politely ask, beg quite a bit, then purchase her several salon/day spa gift certificates. )

 

[Kristi1357]

(Did I say "Break" it to her; I meant I'll politely ask, beg quite a bit, then purchase her several salon/day spa gift certificates. )

 

[wfloyd]

Looking at the statement from a technical point of view, you can commit to doing Goofy each year and still have the statement be true. You are doing over 26 miles a weekend so by doing ultra-marathons you won't be going back on what you said.

At least Martha has a little sense and can now keep you in line during training.

Fast forward to January 11, 2009, Craig is waiting at the finish line wondering why the rest of the Wish group didn't finish in 4 hours after doing the half in 1.5 hours.

Bill

 

[Cruella de mom]

I want to run Goofy again!! That was so much fun! awww. Alas, I can not run Goofy again in 2009.

As for the sub 2 hour Half:

Take a look at the Goofy 2008 results. Basically there were 4 different types of athletes that ran. I only looked at my age group (women 40-45) but I imagine you could find the similar results for your age group as well.

Group#1: the "not human" group of runners that finished the entire thing in 3 or 4 hours. We won't discuss them.
Group #2: These are the sub 2 hour Half marthoners. In my age group, only two women who had a sub 2 hour Half took more than 5 hours to finish the full.
Group #3: By far the largest group. These women had a 2 to 2:30 in the half and a respectable 4 to 5:30 in the full.
Group #4: These folks got their money's worth. They were on the course close to the entire time. One woman did the half in 3:28 and the full in 6:58. That is amazing timing! She must have had an almost perfect pace.

So spend some time looking at the results in your age group and figuring out where your level of fitness needs to be. I chose not to run fast for the half because I just don't have the years of training that most serious runners my age have in their legs.

I had an amazing weekend. I felt fantastic on Sunday and I think I could easily have run a PR. I chose to stay with an injured teammate instead. I doubt I would have had as much fun if I had pr'd. I was literally dancing to the finish line - I wish everyone had felt that good at the end.

Goofy shouldn't be about time, it should be about the esperience. Treat the entire year like an adventure!


Good Luck!

 

[Honeibee]

Judith Anne dialing..."Hello, Martha?"

 

[aladdinsgirl]

Congrats to everyone going Goofy in 2009!!!! I obviously can't go Goofy next year, but I'm seriously thinking about Goofy 2010.

Krista

 

[Maherae]

I was one of those that heard those words come from Craig's mouth!!! What happened??!!! Those of you who are choosing to do Goofy are super human in my eyes. I'll be out there cheering for you!!!