Okay...so.. The Marathon...was it ....

[Jynohn]

I am just now feeling fully recovered from the marathon, but I have to say that all in all it was easier than I anticipated. Aside from not planning on the heat, I felt like my training was pretty much on target. I did most of it on the treadmill, which I was afraid would be much different than running on the road, but all in all I did ok.

I finished the full marathon in just over 6h 30min. (chip time) which wasn't a great time, but I did take of opportunities to enjoy the scenery and stopped and took pictures with all of the characters along the way.

Here's what I learned for next year....

Definitely lose the fanny pack. The only thing I had in there that I really used was my disposable camera and tissues. Everything else I needed they had plenty of along the way (sunscreen, water, powergel, vaseline, etc.) Hopefully next year I'll be able to find a very small holder for my camera, otherwise I won't bring it at all.

Remember to use PLENTY of vaseline or bodyglide around areas that will chafe. The most pain I experienced was after the race where I neglected to lubricate my upper thighs and under my breasts. I could barely walk from the pain of my legs rubbing together, and let's just say that the chafing marks under my breasts from my sports bra look like incisions from "surgical enhacement"

Next year I will hopefully have DH home to run with me. Running by myself was very lonely, and even though I had the comraderie of all the other runners, it just wasn't the same as having a friend or family member with you.

Hopefully this helps. I have to say that even though everyone thought I was crazy for attempting a marathon, and after mile 20 or so I was beginning to believe it myself, it was actually one of the best things I've ever done for myself. The feeling of accomplishment is unbelievable, and it was truly one of the most memorable experiences of my life

 

[wiskband]

rachel, I agree with you completely! The volunteers were absolutely wonderful but, not much of disney magic on the course! I exepcted more of that myself. i didnt see any characters at the finsih either, however, they may have been there, I had my mind on other things! lol. i wish there had been more of the disney stuff too!
renee


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[pixiedust27]

I noticed that there were a lot more characters at around mile 14 or 15 so if you did the half marathon then there were only the characters in Magic Kingdom. I was totally expecting characters on every mile so at mile 9 when I still hadn't seen any I turned to my aunt and was like "WHERE are the Characters?!" I think that they only have them out in or really close to the parks and that's why there weren't that many for the first 10 miles??
There were a few (Scrooge, Princess Atta) on the road approaching Animal Kingdom. Then I remember that Donald, Mickey, Minnie, CM's on stilts (dressed kind of like Festival of the Lion King) were out in Animal Kingdom. I know that there were others but I was REALLY miserable at this point so I don't remember all of this. I think maybe Koda was out? It was definitely a bear.
Then in MGM I heard that Belle and Beast, Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the Green Army Men were out but I didn't see them. I saw the Green Army Men walking inside to take a break.
Goofy and Pluto were high-fiving people at the finish.
I thought that the CM's and volunteers were sooo nice but I agree that I thought there would be more Disney magic around.