~Philadelphia Marathon 11/23/08~

[Optimator]

DaveAs for DDs sleepover party, I have a 9-year old DD: I feel your pain, man. I'm sorry, did I say pain? I meant that: "I share the joy that you shall feel when your cherished progeny decide to gather their wonderful social circle and share them with family within the comforts of your home."

Steve - As the proud pappa of 3 lovely DD's I've somehow been lucky enough to experience only 1 sleepover. It's a little hazy but I do vividly recall dead-wakening screams when they saw a spider and a fishing expedition to retrieve a wayward toothbrush from the toilet. Ah, good times!

Dave - Great job on the race and excellent pics. Looks pretty icey. And from the looks of it, any female would have stood a good chance at placing well in her division!


Chester - Good to hear from you! Glad you're trained up and ready to go.


Sara - Hope you'll be feeling better soon. Don't know if you have any experience with the nasal steroids but they usually take a couple of days to start to work.

I've not had a chance to Chi yet (and I don't think Kathy has either). Heck, she bought me a copy of Running Times magazine the same day and I haven't got half way through that yet.

You are a Hallmark card, aren't you? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my girls. Just sometimes, I love them more when they're not around.


Howard - You get those Philly folks squared away! We don't want any snafus.


Lou - Gotta love a running shirt with a beer mug on it .


Jodi - How was the gym and the "stupid machine"? Did all the New Year Resolutioners clog the place up?

If the new proof of time sticker has you starting at All-Star Movies, it's O.K. Your just special!


Cindy - Nice job on the cold run! I got out about 5PM. It was cold but calm. Actually quite nice.


Colleen -


I did 8 miles tonight at a comfortable pace. Didn't look at the Garmin at all
and still ended up going pretty quick.

I'll walk with Kathy in the morning if she wants to brave the great outdoors, rest if she opts for the TM. This tapering thing is too easy.

 

[lourodrigis]

Chester - I like the "W" family tent idea. That seems like the easiest and simplest way to meet. I'll make sure I head over there before the start.

Sorry for the short post but I've been busy this week. On top of work, a good friend/co-worker of mine (49 years old) is in the hospital and probably won't make it until next week. She was diagnosed with ALS 18 months ago (horrible disease) and it looks like the battle is coming to an end. It's been rough on family, friends and co-workers. It really hit my company hard. She was the kind of person that got along with everyone, especially kids.

I don't mean to bring the board down but it's been a down week for me.

 

[SilverE]

Lou: I just wanted to send some positive thoughts your way.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Chester - I like the "W" family tent idea. That seems like the easiest and simplest way to meet. I'll make sure I head over there before the start.

Sorry for the short post but I've been busy this week. On top of work, a good friend/co-worker of mine (49 years old) is in the hospital and probably won't make it until next week. She was diagnosed with ALS 18 months ago (horrible disease) and it looks like the battle is coming to an end. It's been rough on family, friends and co-workers. It really hit my company hard. She was the kind of person that got along with everyone, especially kids.

I don't mean to bring the board down but it's been a down week for me.

Lou- I'm sorry you're having a down week, and sorry to hear about the health trouble of your friend. All my best.

 

[msblrobs]

Lou - So terribly sorry to hear such awful news about your good friend/co-worker. Please tend to things that need to be tended to and don't sweat anything else at this time. Lots of thoughts and prayers going out to you and yours.

 

[Jodi]

Lou - Sorry for the rough times...sending good thoughts your way...post often if it helps

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Lou - I'm very sorry to hear your sad news.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning TEAM: OK, I got in 3 miles on the TM this morning in 27:06 min/9:02 mpm pace. My left hip feels very tight. Hopefully not the start of some ITB thing going on. I definitely tried to take it easy today. I didn't want to do anymore than 3 miles. I'm heading out of town for the weekend for work tomorrow morning early - my flight leaves at 7:00am.

 

[Jodi]

OK guys, here's a couple dopey question (zip it Mike).

Do I REALLY have to get on a bus @ 4am? Can I walk to the start from Boardwalk? When I did the 1/2 in '06 I was @ Poly & we took the monorail over which was great. I think we left the hotel around 4:45. Will anything be open @ the hotel for marathoners in the early a.m. to get something to eat? Do you guys carry a camera w/ you, disposable or other, to take pix w/ characters? Or is the photographer service w/ any characters?

Thanks for any input.

Sara - Glad to read that the Chi book is helping out!! I knew it would!

 

[lourodrigis]

Hey guys - Thanks for the kind words. It really has been a tough week. ALS is a horrible disease that really doesn't get much publicity. It's been tough watching someone I know, who was very outgoing, just wither away over the course of two years. Although this last part was inevitable it's been rough not knowing if this is going to be the last day/hour. Enough said, I'm certainly not dealing with it at the level of her immediate family. I just ask that you take note of any ALS events/fundraisers that may come up in your areas in 2008 because it really is a terrible disease that needs more attention (and funding).

Jodi - Actually those are some good questions. This is my first WDW marathon and I'm also wondering if I really need to get up at 3AM. If I jump on a bus at CBR by 4:30AM I'm thinking I'm good, right? I'm also planning on running with a small digital camera that can take digital videos. However, I really don't plan on stopping but we'll see how it goes.

 

[skfulkers]

OK guys, here's a couple dopey question (zip it Mike).

Do I REALLY have to get on a bus @ 4am? Can I walk to the start from Boardwalk? When I did the 1/2 in '06 I was @ Poly & we took the monorail over which was great. I think we left the hotel around 4:45. Will anything be open @ the hotel for marathoners in the early a.m. to get something to eat? Do you guys carry a camera w/ you, disposable or other, to take pix w/ characters? Or is the photographer service w/ any characters?

Thanks for any input.

Sara - Glad to read that the Chi book is helping out!! I knew it would!

Jodi—I just happened to jump over to the thread to see how all you guys are doing, and I think I can answer at least a few of your questions.

The 4:00am thing—yeah, you really do need to catch a bus or drive from the Boardwalk. The International Gateway (back entrance to Epcot), or for that matter the Epcot park itself, is not open that early, and that would be the only way to walk from the Boardwalk to the start. Unless you cut through streets and back woods, but I wouldn’t recommend that. So if you wait till 4:45am to catch a bus, you may run the very high risk of either not making the last bus or your bus could get stuck in the marathon traffic. Worse yet, if you drive and leave that late, you might end up getting stuck outside of Epcot as they close the main roads around the park sometime around 5:15.

Regarding food at the resorts—I’ve never stayed at the Boardwalk for marathon weekend, but I know at the POP, POFQ, All Stars, etc, they have opened the food court around 3:00am so that runners can get food. I believe one resort had an option to buy bag breakfasts with bagels, apples, etc. Don’t worry, they’ll give you some options and logistics for food at that early hour when you check in, as this is what I’ve seen every year that I’ve checked in for marathon weekend.

ASI will have photographers on the course, but they’re just there to take pictures of you in various locations as with any other race photo organizer. They don’t take pictures of you with the characters. From what I have seen, some people bring their own cameras and have the cast members “assisting” the characters snap their photo with the character. But I think you’d have to carry your own camera for this.

Ok, that’s all the answers I have. Wow, this is the longest post I’ve had on the Philly thread EVER, and I’m not even going to run Philly!

Steve

 

[nucpharm29]

So, here I am back lurking again (taper madness has hit and I can't get off the WISH boards--someone help me, or get me a xanax--whatever is easiest!)

Jodi--I just now noticed that you're gonna be at BW--so are we--if you don't mind meeting up with complete strangers we can stagger out to the busses together at 4am!

 

[Theta]

Jodi--I just now noticed that you're gonna be at BW--so are we--if you don't mind meeting up with complete strangers we can stagger out to the busses together at 4am!

Hi Stephanie,

There you go Jodi, bus over with Stephanie! She will take good care of you!

Stephanie, what corral are you and DH in?

Steve, good job answering all Fretting Fannie's questions!

To reiterate, Jodi, yes, you need to catch a bus between 3 and 4!! You won't be sleeping anyway, besides you will have good company both on the bus and when you get to the portapotty pen.

 

[Theta]

ALS is a horrible disease that really doesn't get much publicity. It's been tough watching someone I know, who was very outgoing, just wither away over the course of two years.

Enough said, I'm certainly not dealing with it at the level of her immediate family. I just ask that you take note of any ALS events/fundraisers that may come up in your areas in 2008 because it really is a terrible disease that needs more attention (and funding).

Lou, I too send out prayers to your friend, her family and friends.

Unfortunately, I know of this terrible disease all too well as my father passed away from it when I was 18. At first the doctors thought he had suffered a mild stroke, but when he started to drastically deteriorate, ALS was soon diagnosed. He only lived for another 5 months. This was almost 25 years ago now and there are still so many unanswered questions about this disease.

It is commonly know as Lou Gehrig's Disease, Lou Gehrig, an American baseball player died in 1941 from ALS.

 

[lourodrigis]

Lou, I too send out prayers to your friend, her family and friends.

Unfortunately, I know of this terrible disease all too well as my father passed away from it when I was 18. At first the doctors thought he had suffered a mild stroke, but when he started to drastically deteriorate, ALS was soon diagnosed. He only lived for another 5 months. This was almost 25 years ago now and there are still so many unanswered questions about this disease.

It is commonly know as Lou Gehrig's Disease, Lou Gehrig, an American baseball player died in 1941 from ALS.

Colleen - Thanks for the prayers. They are needed now. I'm also sorry to hear about your father. My friend suffered from similar symptoms and was also initially diagnosed with things like a mild stroke or pinched nerve.

After being exposed to ALS I just think it needs much more exposure. My mom is a breast cancer survivor and I have been to some breast cancer walk/run events and they get enormous response, as they should. Pink clothing is everywhere to remind people of breast cancer.

In comparison, I have been to a local ALS event (walk-a-thon) that was well attended but paled in comparison to the breast cancer events. The sad thing is that there are no ALS survivors. Hopefully, they will come up with a cure.

 

[nucpharm29]

Colleen--ahem, um, as of right now DH and I are in the LAST corral (bib no. 17,xxx )! He didn't want me submitting proof of time with my entry b/c he didn't have any yet. We are bringing our proof to the expo and will move up--hopefully to C--aren't a bunch of ya'll in that area???

 

[Jodi]

Colleen - Fretting Fannie???? Is this a canadian saying?? . All right, I'll stop wiggin' out!

Steve - Thank you very much for answering all of my questions quite succintly (no i can't spell)!! I look forward to meeting you & Krista!

Stephanie - I'll DEFINITELY meet up w/ you & your hubby...strangers indeed...nobody's stranger than yours truly .

Dave - Have a safe trip & great job on the running

Cindy - Keep on truckin' mama!!

I'll catch up w/ everyone else tomorrow. 6 miles planned (did nothing today...but eat). Heading over to the accupuncturist/massagetherapy dude in the a.m.!OUCH

On to the ALS discussion...so sorry Colleen, that you lost your dad to this horrible disease. I promise to participate in the next event i see that benefits this charity

 

[Theta]

Colleen - Fretting Fannie???? Is this a canadian saying?? . All right, I'll stop wiggin' out!

:

I think that may be a southern saying (or I just made it up) perhaps Yankees are more familiar with Nervous Nellie?

You can't stop wiggin' out, I am finding it quite entertaining!

 

[Theta]

We are bringing our proof to the expo and will move up--hopefully to C--aren't a bunch of ya'll in that area???

Yes do it!

Most of us will be there, but since I am still nursing my knee injury I will be walking 3/4 of the marathon. I will just give you all a hearty wave at the start!

 

[msblrobs]

Colleen - Nervous Nellie would be the proper Yankee term !! So very sorry to hear about the details of your Dad's passing .

Jodi - Glad to hear you're all hooked up with a bus buddy already !! Also, I have a car if you need me to do a grocery/food run for you.

Stephanie - Get in corral "C" with the fun MCM/Philly folks .

Steve - Thanks for popping in and offering advice to calm Jodi's nerves !

I'm going to bang out 8 miles in the a.m. on the TM as of now. No taper madness for me to date probably because my blood is nearly standing still in the sub-zero temps. I'll try to bring some cool weather with me to WDW for next weekend.

Happy final taper weekend