It's January 6, 2008, so we are only 7 days from Marathon Sunday. As the race approaches I visualize many of the things I'll see and hear out on the course, as these help pull me along, especially during the tough sections. To paraphrase Julie Andrews, "these are a few of my favorite things."
1. The starting corrals aren't just the start, they are the end of a very long journey. Signing up for the marathon is the easy part. The months of work between sign up and 5:30 a.m. on marathon day are the hard part. As you stand in the corrals with thousands of your closest friends, take some time to reflect on what you have accomplished. No matter what happens out there on the course, you set a goal, and in a few hours you're going to achieve it. Just making it to into the corrals is so difficult for we adults with the many other demands on our precious time. We all faced tough stretches in our training, both mentally and physically, but you made it. Congratulations. Stand in the corral and breath the atmosphere. The excitement. The nervousness. The anticipation. Chat with your fellow runners around you. A great victory has already been won.
2. When the gun goes off, take it easy. It will take a while to cross the starting line, and once your across it will be a bit crowded, but not too bad. Both sides are 3 lanes wide, so there is lots of space. And don't get caught up by that dumb DJ yelling to go faster. You have 26 miles to go.
3. Entering EPCOT is a total trip. 1 group comes in the front, and friends and family will be there yelling as you come towards the entrance. The other group comes in the back, which feels surreal in the dark with shadowy figures all around. Once you hit the park the lights and music come up. The stretch around World Showcase in the dark is my favorite part of the course. Lights, music, torches, totally awesome.
4. Leaving EPCOT is the danger area. Both groups turn off the lake and meet behind China. This stretch is thin, and when the groups join it gets very crowded. Plus the gutters on the road are sharply sloped down, and there are speed bumps everywhere. Be doubly careful here that you don't get knocked down or trip. As you leave backstage you bend to the left and run past the starting area again. This is funny mentally, you've run 4 miles are are back at the start
. The 2nd water stop is here.
5. The course is wide for almost a mile here, and as you follow the road you keep shifting to the left. You begin to climb and will go past a local runners club. I don't know who these folks are or where they are from, but they are THE BEST. They will be dancing to their music and giving encouragement. Be sure to hollar out a big thank you to this group.
6. As you go over World Drive be sure to look down and see all the runners who have already cloverleafed down and are underneath you. This is a cool site, seeing a mass of humanity running in a line. Soon you'll be down there are well. As you hit World Drive you'll almost immediately see the entrance booths to the Magic Kingdom parking lot. They look so close, and they are!
7. Soon you'll come up on the race track on your right. As you look ahead and to the left you'll see the fast runners coming back and turning away. This is always humbling. You've run 8 miles, and that group is at mile 14 . Don't worry about them, since they aren't worrying about you.
8. You'll turn sharp right into the MK parking lot, then left towards the ticket & transportation center. As you approach it and go under the road, you'll see the crowd cheering. Although they are cheering for their friends and family, pretend they are all cheering for YOU. You'll veer right and run under the monorail track, headed to the Contemporary Resort. You get to run under the water link between the 2 parts of Bay Lake, this is always cool, running on land under water. And be careful, this down and up isn't long, but it is steep. In a car it's nothing, on legs in mile 10 it's something.
9. Past the Contemporary you turn hard left and run along the hedges of the Magic Kingdom. The train tracks are just on the other side! You go under the tracks (I always hit the metal strip in the center, bang!!) go through backstage, and are about to hit the coolest thing you're ever experience . . .
10. You come through a side gate and are looking straight at the flagpole at the base of Main Street. The area is packed with cheering F&F (all for you!) and is wicked cool. You turn right and it gets better still. You see the castle in front of you, and Main Street is split down the middle, F&F on the left, runners on the right. This feels like you're in the Tour de France, running down a narrow road with screaming lunatics cheering you on. This is the best.
You go to the central plaza, turn right, run into Tomorrowland, then bend left to Fantasyland. At the Carousel you turn left and go into the Castle from behind. As you come out of the Castle look down Main Street and see all the runners behind you coming towards the Castle. Come down the ramp (there is always a bank of photographers there, so pose and smile), turn right into Frontierland, run left along the lake, go past the Country Bear Jamboree at the 11 mile point, then up a short hill past Splash Mountain and then down a sharp hill into the backstage area. Turn sharp right at the bottom and you'll see all the floats from the parades. There is a major fuel and water stop here, so be careful. As you leave back stage you go over a canal on a metal bridge (bang, bang, bang), then turn left into a tough stretch mentally.
11. Coming out of the mental rush of the MK you are now in the piney tree wilds on central Florida. The road here is coned off so we runners only have the left lane and it is thin and a bit crowded. Mile 12 is tree-lined wilderness, but soon enough you'll see the Grand Floridian complex on the left. The staff will be out in formal attire cheering just for you. You'll go by the GF, the Wedding Chapel, and see the Polynesian, all on the left. On the right is the golf course, so be sure to feel superior to golfers riding on electric carts. You'll hit mile 13, and at 13.11 go over the sensor mat, and hear your own chip BEEP. Congratulations, you've 1/2 way home.
12. As you pass the half way point you may see runners coming past mile 8, just like you did a while back. If you do, be sure to cheer them on. Those folks have earned your support. You'll turn right soon and head up into the void, a good mile plus of nothing but a 2 lane road and tall pine trees. After a while you'll see the WDW nursery complex, and have the pleasure of running past the sewage treatment plant. Yes, it smells terrible. Then you get another mental lift.
13. You'll see the trees change to Animal Kingdom-looking. There will be a double decker bus at the back entrance to the AK, plus characters. You enter the AK, and run all throught the east side of it. Over bridges, along the sidewalk, and past Expedition Everest. No joke here, last year I ran by a 199 foot tall mountain and didn't even notice it! So be sure to look up and left as you pass it. You slip out of the AK at mile 17, and there is another big fuel and drink stop here. Now you run a gradual right curve along hedges, the AK on the other side. You'll come right up to the entrance to the AK and then turn and go up and out of the parking lot. Mile 18 is here, then you go under an overpass and turn left onto the Sun's Anvil.
14. You are on the concrete, running due east, with no shade, no trees, and if it's hot and sunny, this part gets tough. There are 2 overpasses you need to go up and over. In the car they are a laugh, but right now no one is laughing. Mile 20 takes you over World Drive again, you go about 1/2 mile, then do the U-turn and you are headed for the finish now. This is a great mental lift to know it's to the finish now.
15. You come to world drive, go over a slight hill (there is no such thing really at this point of the race), then turn right. After a mile or so you climb again and turn right on Buena Vista Drive. You go down and see runners ahead of you turning right into backstage of the Disney Studios. You run behind the Tower of Terror, and weren't a lot of us in this same place 2 months ago?? Bending left you enter the tunnel of the old backstage tour, and as you pop out you have 5K to go. We've all done too many 5K's so we are nearly there. Up New York street, left past the Commissary, to the hat, right down Hollywood Boulevard (there are always photographers here, so smile and pose, it's tougher now than before, eh?) and out of the park. Do watch out for total fools, er I mean park guests, who think you can avoid them when they jump in front of you. No joke this is a dangerous stretch, just be careful.
16. Out of the park and bend right along the lake/canal. Bend left, and down onto the walkway, underneath the road, and you come up on the Boardwalk. There will be a good crowd of folks here, all cheering for you. Along the walkway, past the Boardwalk, then you have to go up and over the little bridge between the BW and YC. That's correct, there are no small hills now. Down, turn right, along the YC, past the pool complex, and to the BC.
17. I've heard a rumor that a large group of complete ne're-do-wells will be out here with cowbells. My thanks to all of you in advance. I will be thinking about you guys for at least 1 mile before, and depending on my physical and mental state, perhaps 5 miles before. Be sure to recognize our friends here. Over another "small" hill, left to backstage EPCOT, right and out at the UK pavillion right at the red phone booths. Right, past the pub, then over, yes, another small bridge and hill, into France.
18. Mile 25 is here, bend around the lake, and this is a killer. You can see all along the lake, and the ball at the end. The finish is just past the ball, but it seems every step and it gets further away. Count down the countries; Morocco, Japan, USA, Italy, Germany, China (weren't we just here a few minutes ago?), Norway, Mexico. As you get to the main sidewalk turn right towards the ball, past the fountains, under the ball in the cool shade.
19. Turn right and here is another great treat. The gospel choir is on your right, all in gold. Be sure to applaud the choir, bless them for being there for us. Past the choir, left and right bends, and you'll see the crowds and the finish. At this point you are supposed to apply your finishing kick, but you probably left it out on the course somewhere. Smile for the camera when you finish, and you get to stop running
.
20. Now you get to stagger to the nice people who will cut off your chip. Try to raise you leg, and thank them. Get the foil wrap, and get your mickey medal. Get the food and drink, and wander over to the "W" tent and now you get to brag to your friends how it was so easy, heck, I could do it again tomorrow.
Well I guess I'm mentally ready for this, and from reading everyone's thoughts, it appears you all are as well. I'll see you on Friday, and good luck to everyone.
Sorry, about the length, but my division chair says I need to get more of my writing published.
Craig
1. The starting corrals aren't just the start, they are the end of a very long journey. Signing up for the marathon is the easy part. The months of work between sign up and 5:30 a.m. on marathon day are the hard part. As you stand in the corrals with thousands of your closest friends, take some time to reflect on what you have accomplished. No matter what happens out there on the course, you set a goal, and in a few hours you're going to achieve it. Just making it to into the corrals is so difficult for we adults with the many other demands on our precious time. We all faced tough stretches in our training, both mentally and physically, but you made it. Congratulations. Stand in the corral and breath the atmosphere. The excitement. The nervousness. The anticipation. Chat with your fellow runners around you. A great victory has already been won.
2. When the gun goes off, take it easy. It will take a while to cross the starting line, and once your across it will be a bit crowded, but not too bad. Both sides are 3 lanes wide, so there is lots of space. And don't get caught up by that dumb DJ yelling to go faster. You have 26 miles to go.
3. Entering EPCOT is a total trip. 1 group comes in the front, and friends and family will be there yelling as you come towards the entrance. The other group comes in the back, which feels surreal in the dark with shadowy figures all around. Once you hit the park the lights and music come up. The stretch around World Showcase in the dark is my favorite part of the course. Lights, music, torches, totally awesome.
4. Leaving EPCOT is the danger area. Both groups turn off the lake and meet behind China. This stretch is thin, and when the groups join it gets very crowded. Plus the gutters on the road are sharply sloped down, and there are speed bumps everywhere. Be doubly careful here that you don't get knocked down or trip. As you leave backstage you bend to the left and run past the starting area again. This is funny mentally, you've run 4 miles are are back at the start
. The 2nd water stop is here.5. The course is wide for almost a mile here, and as you follow the road you keep shifting to the left. You begin to climb and will go past a local runners club. I don't know who these folks are or where they are from, but they are THE BEST. They will be dancing to their music and giving encouragement. Be sure to hollar out a big thank you to this group.
6. As you go over World Drive be sure to look down and see all the runners who have already cloverleafed down and are underneath you. This is a cool site, seeing a mass of humanity running in a line. Soon you'll be down there are well. As you hit World Drive you'll almost immediately see the entrance booths to the Magic Kingdom parking lot. They look so close, and they are!
7. Soon you'll come up on the race track on your right. As you look ahead and to the left you'll see the fast runners coming back and turning away. This is always humbling. You've run 8 miles, and that group is at mile 14
. Don't worry about them, since they aren't worrying about you.8. You'll turn sharp right into the MK parking lot, then left towards the ticket & transportation center. As you approach it and go under the road, you'll see the crowd cheering. Although they are cheering for their friends and family, pretend they are all cheering for YOU. You'll veer right and run under the monorail track, headed to the Contemporary Resort. You get to run under the water link between the 2 parts of Bay Lake, this is always cool, running on land under water. And be careful, this down and up isn't long, but it is steep. In a car it's nothing, on legs in mile 10 it's something.
9. Past the Contemporary you turn hard left and run along the hedges of the Magic Kingdom. The train tracks are just on the other side! You go under the tracks (I always hit the metal strip in the center, bang!!) go through backstage, and are about to hit the coolest thing you're ever experience . . .
10. You come through a side gate and are looking straight at the flagpole at the base of Main Street. The area is packed with cheering F&F (all for you!) and is wicked cool. You turn right and it gets better still. You see the castle in front of you, and Main Street is split down the middle, F&F on the left, runners on the right. This feels like you're in the Tour de France, running down a narrow road with screaming lunatics cheering you on. This is the best.
You go to the central plaza, turn right, run into Tomorrowland, then bend left to Fantasyland. At the Carousel you turn left and go into the Castle from behind. As you come out of the Castle look down Main Street and see all the runners behind you coming towards the Castle. Come down the ramp (there is always a bank of photographers there, so pose and smile), turn right into Frontierland, run left along the lake, go past the Country Bear Jamboree at the 11 mile point, then up a short hill past Splash Mountain and then down a sharp hill into the backstage area. Turn sharp right at the bottom and you'll see all the floats from the parades. There is a major fuel and water stop here, so be careful. As you leave back stage you go over a canal on a metal bridge (bang, bang, bang), then turn left into a tough stretch mentally.
11. Coming out of the mental rush of the MK you are now in the piney tree wilds on central Florida. The road here is coned off so we runners only have the left lane and it is thin and a bit crowded. Mile 12 is tree-lined wilderness, but soon enough you'll see the Grand Floridian complex on the left. The staff will be out in formal attire cheering just for you. You'll go by the GF, the Wedding Chapel, and see the Polynesian, all on the left. On the right is the golf course, so be sure to feel superior to golfers riding on electric carts. You'll hit mile 13, and at 13.11 go over the sensor mat, and hear your own chip BEEP. Congratulations, you've 1/2 way home.
12. As you pass the half way point you may see runners coming past mile 8, just like you did a while back. If you do, be sure to cheer them on. Those folks have earned your support. You'll turn right soon and head up into the void, a good mile plus of nothing but a 2 lane road and tall pine trees. After a while you'll see the WDW nursery complex, and have the pleasure of running past the sewage treatment plant. Yes, it smells terrible. Then you get another mental lift.
13. You'll see the trees change to Animal Kingdom-looking. There will be a double decker bus at the back entrance to the AK, plus characters. You enter the AK, and run all throught the east side of it. Over bridges, along the sidewalk, and past Expedition Everest. No joke here, last year I ran by a 199 foot tall mountain and didn't even notice it! So be sure to look up and left as you pass it. You slip out of the AK at mile 17, and there is another big fuel and drink stop here. Now you run a gradual right curve along hedges, the AK on the other side. You'll come right up to the entrance to the AK and then turn and go up and out of the parking lot. Mile 18 is here, then you go under an overpass and turn left onto the Sun's Anvil.
14. You are on the concrete, running due east, with no shade, no trees, and if it's hot and sunny, this part gets tough. There are 2 overpasses you need to go up and over. In the car they are a laugh, but right now no one is laughing. Mile 20 takes you over World Drive again, you go about 1/2 mile, then do the U-turn and you are headed for the finish now. This is a great mental lift to know it's to the finish now.
15. You come to world drive, go over a slight hill (there is no such thing really at this point of the race), then turn right. After a mile or so you climb again and turn right on Buena Vista Drive. You go down and see runners ahead of you turning right into backstage of the Disney Studios. You run behind the Tower of Terror, and weren't a lot of us in this same place 2 months ago?? Bending left you enter the tunnel of the old backstage tour, and as you pop out you have 5K to go. We've all done too many 5K's so we are nearly there. Up New York street, left past the Commissary, to the hat, right down Hollywood Boulevard (there are always photographers here, so smile and pose, it's tougher now than before, eh?) and out of the park. Do watch out for total fools, er I mean park guests, who think you can avoid them when they jump in front of you. No joke this is a dangerous stretch, just be careful.
16. Out of the park and bend right along the lake/canal. Bend left, and down onto the walkway, underneath the road, and you come up on the Boardwalk. There will be a good crowd of folks here, all cheering for you. Along the walkway, past the Boardwalk, then you have to go up and over the little bridge between the BW and YC. That's correct, there are no small hills now. Down, turn right, along the YC, past the pool complex, and to the BC.
17. I've heard a rumor that a large group of complete ne're-do-wells will be out here with cowbells. My thanks to all of you in advance. I will be thinking about you guys for at least 1 mile before, and depending on my physical and mental state, perhaps 5 miles before. Be sure to recognize our friends here. Over another "small" hill, left to backstage EPCOT, right and out at the UK pavillion right at the red phone booths. Right, past the pub, then over, yes, another small bridge and hill, into France.
18. Mile 25 is here, bend around the lake, and this is a killer. You can see all along the lake, and the ball at the end. The finish is just past the ball, but it seems every step and it gets further away. Count down the countries; Morocco, Japan, USA, Italy, Germany, China (weren't we just here a few minutes ago?), Norway, Mexico. As you get to the main sidewalk turn right towards the ball, past the fountains, under the ball in the cool shade.
19. Turn right and here is another great treat. The gospel choir is on your right, all in gold. Be sure to applaud the choir, bless them for being there for us. Past the choir, left and right bends, and you'll see the crowds and the finish. At this point you are supposed to apply your finishing kick, but you probably left it out on the course somewhere. Smile for the camera when you finish, and you get to stop running
.20. Now you get to stagger to the nice people who will cut off your chip. Try to raise you leg, and thank them. Get the foil wrap, and get your mickey medal. Get the food and drink, and wander over to the "W" tent and now you get to brag to your friends how it was so easy, heck, I could do it again tomorrow.
Well I guess I'm mentally ready for this, and from reading everyone's thoughts, it appears you all are as well. I'll see you on Friday, and good luck to everyone.
Sorry, about the length, but my division chair says I need to get more of my writing published.
Craig
)
That was really funny after 25+ miles and almost 7 hours in the hot sun. 
