Race Reports

[RadioFanatic]

Well, I went from a no running ever in my life, XL, heavy person who on May 1, 2011 when I signed myself up for the race and said I would do the race in 3:30 hours so in corral H and when I started training the couch to 5k could barely complete the one minute of running to losing 70 pounds, moving up from corral H to C bc of recent race times and completing the 13.1 miles and feeling that, although tired, I actually could have run more! After marrying my husband and having my son, one of the proudest days of my life.

It did have some hiccups though. First - the buses from BCV to the race were AWFUL! We got there before 4 am and there were several hundred people in line just waiting for the buses. We didn't even get on the bus until 4:45 am. Then the traffic was awful so didn't get to the drop off point until 5:10 am. Then the walk from there to the corral was packed with people and slow. One of my group was in corral A but thankfully already intended to do corral C with the rest of us bc when we got there A had just left! We were pulling off clothes and running to the starting point to truly start! I was surprised Disney didn't have enough buses.

Then, my poor husband at mile 4 had his shin splints so bad to the point that he called me asking what to do. I backtracked to him and got him to a med tent. They immediately told him he couldn't run and deactivated his bib - didn't even give him a choice in the matter. Although we talked about not worrying about the other re times and not running together, we never talked about what to do if injury. He demanded I go on though, so feeling guilty, I did. I lost about 15 minutes helping him.

I then ran the rest and did not stop once. The most I had run before this was a 15k so I was worried about the distance but felt great the whole time - no aches, pains, nothing. Then as I got through epcot, I was shocked to hear my name and it was my sweet dh from the sidelines waving to me - he went there to see me finish! I was so shocked I started crying which then made me use my inhaler (I have asthma) but thankfully got it under control quickly and still didn't stop running.

So factoring in the 15 minutes extra, I finished about that behind the time I thought I was going to finish. I also felt like Bruce Jenner bc I'm usually the one to the far right being passed by people but this time I was a leftie passing more people than I had ever had in my racing life! I even had to go off the road and on the grass a lot to get around people.

I now want to do the race again to see how I can do without any issues - onward to 2013! and if anyone is interested in doing the marathon relay with me, I would love to talk to you!

Congrats to all!

Are there any 1/2's in disneyland this fall/winter?

 

[paxsarah]

Congrats to everyone!

I'll throw in my quick Goofy two cents. I got to the race plenty early both days (thanks to Coach Charles' driving advice!). On Saturday, I was meeting up with some other people and the last person was running pretty late. Since I was just treating the half as a "fun" race we waited around for him and then joined the mad rush to the corrals. As it turned out I ended up falling in with Corral D because my corral (C) had already started.

The half was as congested as I remembered it from last year, but I did my best not to do too much lateral movement in passing (which last year left me with some painful posterior shin splints). I stopped for a ton of character shots and two potty stops (TMI alert - I suffered from near-total sanitary failure. Note to self and others - if in a perfectly good restroom with flush toilets and sinks during a half marathon, do not say to yourself, "Oh, I probably don't need to change/empty [your preferred sanitary product here]." Just do it.), and my time ended up being 2:43. According to Garmin Connect, my moving time was 2:19, which feels about right. Because I started a corral late, and with my 2:1 run/walk, I was pretty much constantly passing people during my run segments. I did feel strong all the way to the end.

My one goal for the half (other than finishing) was to get a photo with Phineas and Ferb. I saw them in Epcot and as I ran up, they finished with their previous photo and were led inside. Thwarted!

I took the marathon a little more seriously. My plan was to do a 3:1 run/walk, which I did until the very end. I got into my corral with plenty of time on Sunday! I will say that the early miles of the race are kind of a blur - I was pretty bleary after the second day of getting up before 3am. Early on I think I freaked out Heather/Stitchfan18 a little bit by recognizing her and saying hi, but other than that the pre-MK section of the race just kind of happened. I got my first boost when I took off my gloves and makeshift armwarmers on the way into the MK - I didn't realize how much too warm they were until I took them off!

I was a little concerned that the area from MK to AK would be boring, but I actually found it to be pretty collegial - I had settled into a good leapfrog pattern with the people around me and everyone seemed to be in a good mood. When I got to about mile 16.5 I realized that I had given myself permission to pick up the pace at 16 and so I did - I actually felt really pretty good from about 15 to 21 or so. I really like the AK and was so happy to be running through it - though the uneven pavement did get old by the end.

After AK I was ready to put in my earbuds as I knew the highway wasn't the most scenic of sections. I did get into a good groove for a few songs, but honestly there was enough going on and enough music at water stops and elsewhere that I found myself pausing my iPod and not using it as much as I had expected. I would reconsider even bringing it if I do this marathon again. As for the last section of the race - through HS, the resorts, and Epcot - Disney really knows how to plan a marathon. It was getting tough for me through this section, but the crowd support and scenery were pretty great. By the last mile or so I had gone from my mantra of, "I can do this all day," to "Just 3 minutes and you can walk." I really felt like the last stretch I was barely making progress, but looking at my Garmin data I was still going at a good pace, it apparently just felt awful. I saw my SIL (my only traveling companion) cheering during the final stretch to the finish, and I ended up finishing in 4:43, which is a 16 minute PR. It was a pretty amazing feeling, and I started getting choked up even while I was still in Epcot.

I recovered pretty quickly - I was a little sore in the quads for a day or two, but I felt good enough to drive home seven hours on Monday. I went to donate blood today, and when they took my pulse it was low enough they had to ask if there was a reason for it - "I guess you could say I'm a marathon runner," I laughed. That was good enough for them.

 

[JimB.]

I'll add my quick two cents in.

Friday morning 5k with my luscious, lovely bride. She walks a lot faster than I can, so I kind of meander back and forth. I agree with previous posters in that I think the race should be "officially" timed. Don't mind the "medals" though. I actually kind of like them because they are so colorful. My DW, who did her first 5k 3 years ago and absolutely HATED it in just at the 16 minute/mile pace, cranked this one out in about 12:20 (& did I mention, is now 45 lbs lighter and in going to do the ToT 10 miler in the fall?)

Saturday 1/2 was pretty fun. Started in Corral B, finished in 2:06. Only issue was that my feet hurt HORRIBLY. After chatting with my previously-mentioned Lovely Luscious Bride, we decided to go back over to the expo and investigate some new shoes (I have been running Brooks Adrenaline's for the last 5-6 years). After trying on a few pair & interrogating shoe reps, I bought a pair of Pear Izumu something-something-something or other. Don't remember the name right offhand, but they are REALLY bright GREEN.

In direct conflict with EVERYTHING I have ever been told, I decided to use them for the Relay on Sunday.

The relay was also a Corral B start. I was hoping to break a 2 hour 1/2. A friend of mine who is a sub-3 hour marathoner was running with me to try to help me along. First 4-5 miles were all about 8:30-45 pace (which for me is FLYIN'!). We slowed to about a 9 minute pace and were just cruising along when I stepped on/in something or maybe just planted my foot wrong, but after that my left knee started getting intermittent spasms just below the patella that just kept getting worse & worse &...........well, you know..

Ended up slowing way down due to this and finished the first 1/2 of the relay in 2:09. My race partner Bridget (who IS 22 years younger than I) turned up the heat a bit and finished her half in 1:59. Our overall time was good enough for 52nd out of 416 coed teams and 99th out of 787 teams overall.

And the shoes (surpisingly) worked out quite well.

Fun time! Great Weekend! Can't wait till next year (with the DL 1/2, ToT, W&D and a few other things tossed in between)

 

[cewait]

Sarah, it was nice meeting you in the staging area!

 

[WVUFan]

I finished my second Goofy. I had a rough marathon in November, so I went in planning on trying to PR the 1/2 and having fun during the full. After 3 miles of trying to get to my anticipated pace, I gave up and settled into a much slower pace. It didn't seem to open up until mile 10. I wish I could've run it faster, but on a positive note I wasn't sore on Sunday morning.

I had a blast during the full. It was my slowest marathon, but I rediscovered the joy of running. I stopped at every character and was thrilled to see the Wicked Queen who is my favorite. I took lots of random pictures, enjoyed the crowds, hung out with one of the volunteers for awhile, and rode Expedition Everest. I needed to have a fun run and it was a huge success. I wasn't very sore, other than two huge blisters on my feet. Altogether, it was a great Goofy!

 

[John VN]

Betsy, great meeting you and thanks for the cheer when you came over. That was so cool. Sorry about your injury.

Friday I started the 5K as the last person over the start line. Took things slow to check for knee problems. Seemed OK.

Saturday I started in front of the sweep balloons. Intended to catch DD and DW at mile 10, they started in E, then walk to finish with them. Caught them after the rise at CR and was feeling so good I took off. Knees started going after MK then left calf cramped at 10. Slowed down big time finished walking half in 2:23:33.

Sunday I again started in front of balloons. Wore DW's compression socks for left calf and 1 mile into full things were good. At 1.5 miles my knees went away. Called DW and asked if she could meet me with Cho-Pat knee pads as I went into EPCOT. We have RV parked in EPCOT lot so she got the pads, we met, I sat down, put them on and off I went. Did great until AK when feet swelled, compression socks became too tight and toes got cramped. Just wanted to make it to the end so again I slowed down. Disappointed in the 5:26:+change walking time but managed to complete my 2nd. Full and 2nd. Dopey.

Be back next year as a 62.5yo for some more expensive fun, pain and third Dopey.

 

[CaptHomer]

5:26 walking the whole way is a good walking pace. I didn't finish must faster than that and I "ran" more than I had to walk. Excellent job!

 

[ironz]

Charles, you're right...a couple of the aid stations were different. Just the "herd mentality" cracks me up... same at the portapotties before the 5K...HUGE bank of portalets, and people lined up 6 deep at the first dozen or so, when there were at least 3 dozen more that were completely unoccupied (and very clean at that point!) Just funny.

JohnVN...nice to meet you briefly. It did make me feel better to get back out there and cheer on friends (old and new) for the full. Dropping out was totally the right thing to do with my injury. No need to risk a longer recovery. Booty is still giving me some trouble, so I have promised no running until I can have a normal run gait. I had also hurt my shoulder at the trapeze lesson, and did find out yesterday that surgery won't be needed at this time, but very likely in the next year or two. So hopefully, I can get through this season and get back for that Goofy medal next year!