WDW Half Marathon 2015 Trip Report
Last week I ran my first Half Marathon during the WDW Marathon weekend. It was a mixed bag for me race wise. Lets start with a pop quiz:
In preparation for this first race of the New Year did I:
1. Do no training runs for pretty much all of December
2. Put on about 6 pounds of holiday cheer
3. Get a grand total of 2 hours sleep before leaving for Florida?
4. Have a flair up of
viral arthritis the morning of the race in my right foot making every step painful?
The answer of course is All of The Above. Not my proudest moment in race preparation. Still the trip was mostly pre-paid/non-refundable so what the hell off we go.
Transportation and the Expo
I landed at Orlando International Airport Friday morning and used the
Disney Magic Express Bus to transition to WDW. Id booked a room at the Port Orleans French Quarter because its right next to where the Corrals are located. Which it turns out was pointless because you are prohibited from walking to the corrals from any of the resorts. You must use the bus. Lesson learned. I landed at 9:30am, was on the bus by 9:45, the bus arrived at my hotel at 10:40am. From there I headed to the Expo. During race weekend Disney runs dedicated buses from all the resorts to/from the Expo so I arrived at the Expo at 11:20am. Total time from landing at the airport to entering the Expo using only free Disney transportation: 1hr 50min. Not bad.
The Expo itself as a total zoo. Getting my waver turned in, and my race packet picked up was a 5-min task. As was getting the T-Shirt and race bag, but the main floor of the expo was so packed you could hardly move. I quickly gave up and beat feet for Animal Kingdom. Hit up a few attractions before heading back to my hotel, and a pasta dinner at the Port Orleans Riverside cafeteria. They have a custom pasta bar that was just the thing, then back to my room and was fast asleep by 6:00pm (made easy I suppose by the two hours of sleep the night prior).
Pre-Race
For me race day started at 3:00am when the first of my three separate alarms went off (phone, watch, hotel clock-radio Having backups makes me sleep easier). I got out of bed, only to wince in pain from my right ankle, and the aforementioned Viral Arthritis. A condition that seems to dog me pre and/or post colds. Really bad timing, but knowing this happens from time to time I always travel with some good Anti-Inflammatory pills (Advil in this case). I popped my pills, ate a banana, had a quick shower and was out the door by 3:30am heading for the race bus. Burrr, it was a cold morning. I brought with me a pair of old sweats, I think they were my sons when he was about 12, so I looked ridiculous but at least I stayed warm and tossed them to the side of the course as the race was about to star. The mood was festive despite the cold weather. Do note, its over a mile from the bus-drop off to the corrals so be sure to leave time for that walk. I really enjoy the pre-race banter with the other runners. Thats the main reason I like to get to the corral as soon as they open. I was in Corral L . Meaning 11 corrals went off ahead of us. Each time one left we would be marched up one more spot until it was finally our time to start. I was right next to the 3-Hour balloon pace team as we crossed the starting line.
The Race
What I can say, it was miserable for me. A combination of my pathetic preparation and the fact that every step sent a dull sense of pain up my leg did a lot to sap my spirit. Still being a stubborn old man, I refused to give up on my goal to finish in less than three hours so I took off at a good clip, leaving the 3-hour pacer behind me. In fact around mile 4 I spotted an earlier race pace balloon guy, I was pretty excited at my pace and decided Id do my best to catch them and then just hang with them until the end ensuring my sub 3 hour finish. So another mile later, I caught up with them only to find out Id been struggling to catch the same guy I started next to. *sigh* At some point they had passed me and I never saw them. That was a dark moment. I was angry. Very angry. At myself, at those stupid balloons, at pretty much everyone and everything. It turns out anger trumps pain. By the time we left the Magic Kingdom I had a good lead on the 3-hour balloons, and I never looked back. I finished at 2:57:12. Numb and shaking, but still standing. Ill never again enter a race that unprepared (more on that soon).
Post Race
After the race, I had a good cool down period, felt good enough (just) to visit the Magic Kingdom, had a nice lunch at the Be Our Guest restaurant, hit a few attractions before meeting an old Imagineering friend for a nice crab dinner in Downtown Disney. Chatting with random race folks the entire day is always a great part of the RunDisney Experience. An instant extended family, I love it!!! I cant wait for September at the
Disneyland Resort to do a Dumbo!
Expecting you to smash the Dumbo 
