I am back! and survived the Marathon (barely...)

[tigger2esq]

it was a fun weekend. and I had a great time meeting lots of WISHers both the mornign of the 5K and marathon morning. Everyone was so friendly and of course I remember no-one other than Tiger Lily and Lou from South Jersey from Marathon morning and of course Lisa Princess Runner who delivered to me my brand new very cool running skirt.

The weekend was overall a blast. But the marathon was rough for me. Yes I finished. and that makes me very happy. But it took me a whole 45 minutes longer than my marathon from 2006 and the heat and humidity did me in at mile 22 so we walked the rest of the way to the finish. my official chip time was 6:33. it was a LONG day. part of my problem was I had registered for the 5K before getting the nerve to run the full. I debated long and hard whether or not to run and decided to go for it as I needed a short final training jog anyway that day. Well I ended up running it way faster than I should have (at about 10:30/11 min miles rather than at my marathon pace or slower) which gave me sore/tired legs for Saturday and not a full recovery for Sunday. During the marathon I started feeling poorly after leaving the Magic Kingdom at about the half marathon point. that run rto Animal Kingdom seemed to take forever... thank god for all of the humorous Sharpie signs... The stretch on the Oscecola parkway was pure torture. no shade, full sun etc.

I am glad I stuck that $20 bill in my belt before the race... the massage REALLY helped. and I was able to join my DH and DD the following day for a full day of the Magic Kingdom and Epcot without too much much trouble.

I am so excited to have my Mickey medal but I guarantee you I am sticking to shorter distances for the future. That Minnie 15K is sounding MIGHTY nice right about now... LOL

Welcome home to everyone who made the trip and THANK YOU to all the great volunteers and cheering fans.

 

[lourodrigis]

Hey Renee - Congrats on finishing! I think you were one of the few WISH people I actually met during this marathon. I was the only person at the start area without a WISH shirt (black hooded sweatshirt). I was the guy from New Jersey sitting next to you.

Don't feel bad about the time. I had the same problem with humidity that you had at about the same time. I was shooting for a 4-hr time and was in good shape until Mile 22. In fact, I was ahead of schedule at that point. Then I just broke down. My legs felt fine but my stomach and head were in bad shape for the last 6-8 miles. I ended up with a 4:15 which I feel good about today.

I think we would both agree that it's impossible to train for 100% humidy and 70-degree temps when you live in the Northeast. It's even colder where you live. I met a guy from IN who ran Boston in 2007 and said his WDW time was 1 hour over his Boston time.

Glad we had a chance to meet! Let me know if you run any races in the area and I'll try to catch up with you again.

Lou

 

[tigger2esq]

hey Lou!! It was really nice meeting you at the marathon start. it was quite the day thats for sure. I am not disappointed in my finish (my goal was JUST to finish) but I was really feeling poorly there at mile 22. once we decided we were no longer running, my friend Matt and I had a blast stopping for lots of pictures in Hollywood Studios (the villans were awesome there near the hat!) and joking about when we would start to run for the big photo finish. and at the end they announced my friend Matt's name as we crossed the finish line which was really cool (he is from Hershey so we heard this big discusion from the announcers over the PA system about chocolate and hershey park etc. which was fun!)



re: PA races---I am still considering the Broad Street Run. if I decide to do it I will definitely let you know.

 

[angietuck2]

I think we would both agree that it's impossible to train for 100% humidy and 70-degree temps when you live in the Northeast. It's even colder where you live. I met a guy from IN who ran Boston in 2007 and said his WDW time was 1 hour over his Boston time.

Lou

I don't know if it helps or not but as someone who lives and trains in FL year round I still struggle at every race with the heat and humidity. I can not even imagine how much harder it must be for you guys. Ex. last year we did Gasparilla 1/2 in Tampa 6 weeks after Disney 1/2 and took 16 minutes off our time because it was about 20 degrees cooler.

angie

 

[lourodrigis]

Renee - You did it the right way. I was so frustrated entering MGM that I didn't want to see, hear, or touch any of the characters. I even had these 2 actors calling out my name as I was leaving but I was in no mood to joke around. I just wanted to see that ball in Epcot.

I'm seriously considering Broad St. The only problem is that the NJ Marathon is the same day and I really wanted to run a marathon in early spring. I may just have to find another marathon because I have always wanted to run Broad Street, especially now that I have run a marathon. I used to live in South Philly so that would be a great experience. If they added a medal I would be in 100%.

Angie - As for races in warm climates, you are right. Low temps and humidity are what you want. I would love my next marathon to be in a cool dry place.

Good luck to your SF Bulls next year. Those pesky Scarlet Knights of Rutgers had to play spoiler this year. At least I know who that team is in the green jerseys now.

 

[MouseDogMom]

Renee - Glad you finished okay; sorry your time wasn't where you wanted it to be. The humidity was a killer, even on Saturday for the half. I met you Friday morning at the 5K before the start while I was waiting for DH & DD to run. I was curious how you did on Sunday!

Jackie

 

[RutgersAlum]

Hey, popping in to congratulate you on such a mighty achievement. This is phenomenal, you may have run it on tired legs, but wow, wow, wow, you finished 26.2, wow!

Congrats, savor your great achievement, I admire you!

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

Congrats on doing the marathon! I hope to run it next year in 2009, but I have to get myself in shape first As soon as my knee gets better I can start running again, maybe next week it will be back to normal. I did last through the 5K. I am not sure if I met you or not at the 5K but my daughter was dressed like Jack Sparrow so if you saw a mini pirate running around it was probably her.

it was a fun weekend. and I had a great time meeting lots of WISHers both the mornign of the 5K and marathon morning. Everyone was so friendly and of course I remember no-one other than Tiger Lily and Lou from South Jersey from Marathon morning and of course Lisa Princess Runner who delivered to me my brand new very cool running skirt.

The weekend was overall a blast. But the marathon was rough for me. Yes I finished. and that makes me very happy. But it took me a whole 45 minutes longer than my marathon from 2006 and the heat and humidity did me in at mile 22 so we walked the rest of the way to the finish. my official chip time was 6:33. it was a LONG day. part of my problem was I had registered for the 5K before getting the nerve to run the full. I debated long and hard whether or not to run and decided to go for it as I needed a short final training jog anyway that day. Well I ended up running it way faster than I should have (at about 10:30/11 min miles rather than at my marathon pace or slower) which gave me sore/tired legs for Saturday and not a full recovery for Sunday. During the marathon I started feeling poorly after leaving the Magic Kingdom at about the half marathon point. that run rto Animal Kingdom seemed to take forever... thank god for all of the humorous Sharpie signs... The stretch on the Oscecola parkway was pure torture. no shade, full sun etc.

I am glad I stuck that $20 bill in my belt before the race... the massage REALLY helped. and I was able to join my DH and DD the following day for a full day of the Magic Kingdom and Epcot without too much much trouble.

I am so excited to have my Mickey medal but I guarantee you I am sticking to shorter distances for the future. That Minnie 15K is sounding MIGHTY nice right about now... LOL

Welcome home to everyone who made the trip and THANK YOU to all the great volunteers and cheering fans.

 

[princessrunner]

Renee: So glad to hear you did it!! Sorry the time was not what you wanted but the humidity sapped it out of everyone from the sounds. I hope you at least enjoyed it. You make me glad that I graciously bowed out of the 5K before the half because I probably would have done the same thing!!!

It was so great meeting you and, hopefully, in future WDW races, I will see you again!! I hope you like the skirt, I love, love, love mine. I ran the half in a gray one and my only chafe mark was where I took a potty break and did not get my belt totally back over my skirt. Discovered that one in the shower...ouch!!

Congratulations on finishing your marathon. I have my half done, my full is hopefully in the fall and then it is Goofy 2010 for me????!!!!!

 

[tigger2esq]

Lisa! I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new running skirt --both cute and functional. I cant wait to wear it in my first race (probably a 5K in march). glad to hear you survivied the half. Good luck on that goofy training (better you than me! ha!)

Jackie! How did your DH and DD do in the 5K? It was so nice having someone to hang out with and chat with during that early morning in the AK parking lot. Glad to hear you survived the half.

My DD was so cute, she took her kids race medal into daycare today for show and tell....

 

[padisneyfan]

Renee-- Enjoyed your report. The heat and humidity was terrible, I struggled from mile 18 on but was able to finish the race somehow. We must be near each other as you said your running partner was from Hershey. I live in York.

Congratulations.

Nancy

 

[tigger2esq]

Hey Nancy... Yep I work in downtown Harrisburg and live just over the river near Enola so you are right dnow the road!


congrats to you as well for finishing the marathon. My friend Jennifer and I usually do the Lady White Rose 5K in York every year. If you will be there let me know and we can meet up!

 

[padisneyfan]

Since I am a walker I have never registered for any of the local races. However, someone told me I should do them since I am a fast walker. So I will let you know if I decided to do that race.

I ran into someone from work during the Expo who's BF was doing the half. It is really a small world.

Nancy

 

[tigger2esq]

it really is a small world. We went to the Disney Magic Meet in Camp Hill PA last July and sat with several people we had never met before at our table (all rabid Disney fans! LOL!). On Monday the day after the marathon we were in line for lunch at the Harbor House inside the magic kingdom and the one couple that was sitting at our table at the magic meets was in line right next to us! I had forgotten that at the meet they had mentioned they were coming down in January for the marathon. It was so weird just running into them again like that.

 

[padisneyfan]

By the time I realized that there was going to be a Disney meet in Camp Hill it had sold out. However, we met up with friends from Canada who came to that meet that we had met on the Disney Magic. Disney fans seem to have a special bond. My friend that I did the race with we met on DCL boards several years ago and have done alot of things together since then.

Nancy