Some Philosophical Statements

[Calcio]

Because that seems to be my job around here

#1. After a few of these, I've decided that weather trumps everything else in a marathon. I went through the first half in 2:14 Sunday and felt great, but then the humidity (plus a pop in that dumb right hamstring) ended any hope I had of sub-4:30 (or even sub-5 for that matter).

Talking with everyone after the race, and again Monday morning, the universal theme was "my first half was good/great, but the second was brutal." I think this held for everyone except for Dana and Steve, who really tore up both halfs (congratulations again you two, great result). There is no doubt in my mind that 10 degrees of temp and 20 degrees of dewpoint lower and we would all have done so much better. This would usually drive me nuts, so perhaps I finally am growing up after all.

#2. Everyone I know showed huge courage on Sunday, the finishers and those who intelligently decided that today wasn't the day. To hear people talking about IBT issues, feelings of disorientation, needing to lie down for a few minutes, and stuff like that was humbling. I thought I was sucking it up and toughing it out, but I didn't face anything like many of you. I'm so impressed with the innards everyone displayed out there. And to those who realized going further meant a trip to the hospital, thank you for making the right choice. There will always be other days and other races.

#3. THANK YOU SUPPORTERS, from the bottom of my heart, for being all over the course for we the runners. At every location I thought about you as I got within a mile or so, and it pulled me on. And thank you for telling me I was looking good, when I know darn well I wasn't .

#4. And most importantly, I observed perhaps the most amazing husband-wife interaction, on the largest scale, that I've ever seen. I simply cannot count the number of times I saw spouses interacting with respect, support, caring, and true love. Seeing couples who get what a marriage is all about, love and support, was pretty cool. Maybe my old gym teacher's advice to "take a lap" really works. Instead of counselling simply make married couples train for and run a marathon.

I have tried to catch every pair that I saw, this year or last, in a moment of beauty. If I missed some of you, and I'm sure I did, please accept my apology in advance, but I saw the following pairs behaving in a lovely manner to one another:

Carrie & Scott (and to us as well, thanks for everything)
Matt & Cheryl
Cam & Howard
Lily & Ted
Judy & Charlie
Kristi & Chad
Stephanie & Scott
Steve & Krista
Rhonda & Mike
Heather & Kevin
Mel & Jeff
Dave & Erica
Karen & John
Pat & Jim
Anne & Robert
Angie & Bobby
Bill & Lynnda
Jen & Mr. Jen (sorry, I didn't get his name)
Sarah & Mr. Sarah (Again)
Big Vic & Mrs. Big Vic (again)

And hopefully us as well. Holding my bride after the race, as she wore her medal, along with ice bags on both knees, was pretty magical indeed.

This wasn't my best race, but it was a wonderful weekend.

Thanks

Craig

 

[KeenHo]

Craig

You are as wise as you are competitive. Great job this past weekend despite the "pop" and the heat. Your lovely bride showed her mental and physical toughness on Sunday. I know you are very proud of her. I look forward to many more opportunities to run in your shadow in the future. If only you'd slow down enough for it to happen.

All the best,

Howard

 

[lourodrigis]

Craig - Man, you win the Post of the Week Award in my opinion. Those points basically summed it up for me. Although for me the first half of the race ended at Mile 20 and those last 6 miles murdered me. I probably would have staggered into a medical tent for salvation but I was lucky enough to have three family members waiting for me at the finish line with medical expertise (DW - ER nurse, SiL - trauma nurse, BiL - trauma surgeon). I had the best medical attention in WDW that day. Thank God my trauma team wasn't necessary!

Great post!

Lou

 

[Jen117]

Craig - Great post!! And Mr. Jen is actually Paul. He did a great job cruising around the world to see me (and all the other WISHers). Even with 2 crabby, tired kids!!!!

 

[AmyBeth68]

Great post Craig! And I concur...this was another tough year in terms of weather at Disney. I finished nearly an hour over my projected time and I'm proud as heck about it....this wasn't a year to fly...but it sure was a blast!!! I was nervous for Scott who really showed signs from the 13 mile point onward of potential trouble (thankfully he was smart and slowed down) and the heat/humidity always messes with my stomach. We toughed it out..but we just couldn't pull off that sub 4:30 that we dreamed of. Thanks as always for summing up my thoughts.

And yes...I LOVE all the couples out there. You are all so lucky to have that support and understanding...marathoners are a different breed ...it's awesome that you all understand, support, love and respect one another.

 

[SilverE]

Craig,

Outstanding observations. Thank you for your post.

I enjoyed meeting you last weekend.

 

[Sandy321]

Craig I had similiar thoughts on the husband/wife teams -

I know I'm a newbie round these parts, but I really loved how the WISH team included Tim in the SCREAM TEAM for the half - and I certainly couldnt have finished without them!!

of course we've been married 26 years, Tim has run 5 marathons, this is my first time ever training and 'racing" - I think Tim is in shock - but I see it as a beginning!!

 

[chimera]

Craig...thanks for your words yet again. We have a FL saying, "it's not the heat, it's the humidity". Bill and I will work together on improving conditions for next year

and thanks to everyone for making Jeff's experience so wonderful! He's been a member of the WISH contingent as a supporter for a long time, it was neat to see him enjoying it as a runner. And now he's addicted...already signed up for two more races and we've been home less than a week

 

[Big Vic]

Craig - Great post!

 

[Kristi1357]

Aww Craig!

Chad is such a great guy and much better to me than I deserve. He decided to walk the Half with me. Even though as a runner, it would require him to use different muscles and possibly be really sore for the Full the next day. I know I made my sarcastic jokes about him 'taking it easy' in the back of the pack with me. But I don't know that it was easy for him. I was beyond cranky & mad as heck at myself for not training properly. I snapped at him a few times and he didn't even desert me!

I am very lucky indeed.

 

[nepatsfan73]

**Craig** Your post, as well as everyone's race reports of personal achievement, courage and/or inspiration, makes me look forward to participating in a WDW marathon weekend even more. I was able to experience some of it at ToT already. This is truly a great TEAM.

**Lou** On a purely selfish note, will your medical team be with you in the future and do you share? This could be important in me making decisions as to future events. (Note to self: also get our WISH bike medic's cell phone number and those of other bicycle medics for 2009.)

 

[JimB.]

Craig - very nice thoughts....

As a Floridian, & somewhat accustomed to the humidity, the ONE SINGLE thing I have found that makes me feel soooo much better is to keep a DRY washcloth with me.

I use it to dry my face & neck off. I have found that if I eliminate the "sweat pourin' down my face" sensation, the humidity itself really does not bother me.

After a while, it's not dry anymore, but it's better than slogging around with that skanky sweaty face feeling.

 

[Duanerice]

Nice post Craig. Have no idea how I missed you last weekend.

My wife didn't race but she sure did support me, not only at the race all my training too. She deserved the Champion medal I got. That was a nice touch from Champion.

I too had a hard time after mile 22. I wasn't too bad up to then. The last mile I had to stop 4 times just to catch my breath and I train in S Florida. Heck, I stopped at the 26 mile mark for a few seconds because I couldn't go on.

Jim, I'm with you, I need a towel for my face although it was soaked by mile 5 this year.

And yes, the SUPPORT was awesome! That made all the difference in the world. Thanks everyone.

Debating Goofy after saying Sunday that I would never run again!

enjoy,
Duane

 

[escape]

Craig, thanks for the post. You said it much better than I ever could.

My DH, Steve, did his very first half at WDW last Saturday. He said I inspired him since I did it last year. He really enjoyed being both a participant and a spectator for the full this time around and that means a lot to me.

 

[ScoJo15]

Nice post Craig!

Put me in the same group...I did excellent on Saturday, and the first half of Sunday...then stunk it up the second half due to extreme hunger, a little dizziness and hamstring cramps that just would not go away.

Big thanks to Amy who stuck with me, and whose voice carried me through those uncomfortable last 6 or so miles. :

 

[crzy4pooh]

Craig - Thanks so much for your post!

I have to say that I am soooo proud of my DH - walking the last half of the marathon with both knees cramping. But even more, I am so proud to be his wife. He has always been, and will always be my biggest supporter - no matter what crazy ideas I come up with (like running a half marathon in January 2005...) He is definitely my champion!!!! Love you DH!!!!


--Lynnda

 

[Optimator]

Craig - Thanks for the thoughts. It was really great getting to talk to you over the weekend. You should be very proud of your results given the adversity you've battled the last month or so. You also have every reason to be proud of Martha. You both did fantastic.

On the proud of spouse front: I can't begin to express how proud I am of my Kathy for her efforts over the weekend. She really battled for the last few miles on Saturday but she kept going strong. A few minutes with some ice bags in the med tent area and she was doing great again.

Then on Sunday she got up way too early when she didn't have to and spent her morning chasing all around the World just to support me. Waiting for an hour or two just so I could get the boost of seeing her for a few seconds as I passed. It meant more to me than I'm sure she knows.

And just for the record, I'm sure I would have had a better race Sunday if I would have listened to much of her advice and did a better job taking care of myself post-race on Saturday as well.

 

[nucpharm29]

Craig--Thanks for much for more words of wisdom! Scott and I had a great time talking with you and Martha this past weekend. We talked extensively at the finish, so you know how things went for us. But I just wanted to add my thanks to my DH for being so supportive and being a great racing partner. He pulled me through the last 4 miiles of Akron and I got him through the last 8 miles of Mickey! Had either of us been alone at either of these events, I don't think either of us would've finished. Thanks again for being a great friend, and for being the wise sage of our group!

 

[wfloyd]

Great post Craig. As usual you have a great way with words. We enjoy seeing you and Martha at these races and how you drive each other on.

I am also proud of DW and the fortitude that she has to complete training and races in addition to keeping up with 2 kids. I was beaming as I saw her coming up to the finish line on Saturday. She also is great to be willing to work around my training and making sure that I don't slack off too much during the summer. Keep up the awsome work honey.

Bill

 

[wtpclc]

Great post Craig! And you've heard all of my whines about training with Scott. But, after teh first marathon, I knew I never wanted to do that alone.

This was such an odd race. GAve up tiem to humidity, but finishing with MArtha and CHad was about teh coolest thing ever, just wish MArth ahadn't been hurting.

Sandy - Tim went from what I consider an elite runner to a real WISHer so very quickly Saturday. It was fun to see him "get" how much us back of the pack people need support. Very cool dh you have!

I will never forget how many WISHers were on teh course. I love cheering fro teh half, but to be out there twice as long for the full after many did the half tehday before is amazing. Huge thanks to everyone!