Monthly Archives: January 2010

With the cold weather seeming to be here to stay for a while I am trying to find a good pair of mittens for running.  I read the other day that mittens offer better warmth and protection for your hands because they keeps your fingers together which creates more heat.  The gloves keep your fingers seperated and makes it harder to keep warm. 

Of all the things that suffer in cold weather nothing for me suffers like my hands.  Even in the 40′s my hands begin to hurt while wearing gloves.  I have had to wear three pairs to keep them warm.  I might try the mittens and see if it helps.

Two years ago, I decided to run a marathon just a few weeks after running the Disney World Marathon.  The marathon was scheduled three weeks after the Disney.  It was going to be my fourth marathon.  I was working to break 4 hours and thought a nice flat course could help me do the trick.  Well starting at about mile 15 my IT band started killing me.  I could hardly walk and was in pain every step.  Near the end I added calf cramps to the list of problems that day.  I did finish though.

To this day I try not to think much about that race.  It still hurts just to think about.  I was truly humbled that day and I still don’t like to think about or talk about that race.  That was a race that taught me a lot and sent me back to the drawing board on how I run the marathon and train for it. 

After having run a few marathons I know it seems strange to say but the marathon is not a natural good distance for me.  I have really had to work hard at being able to feel good about the race and the finish.  This particular distance has been a real struggle for me as I know it , however it has been tougher than I expected.  The problem has been me as I typically know only one way to run, full tilt and hang on to the finish.  Which is why I have learned so much as these races have taught me patience.  I still feel going into each marathon I just never know what I am going to get.  I will run a 5K, 10K and a half marathon and am certain of a time that would be worst case scenario and almost sure what best case would be.  The marathon has been anything but that which gives it the excitement that I have enjoyed so much.

Next weekend I plan to go back to my nemesis.  A place that I can only associate with pain!  They no longer run the full but just the half which is just fine with me.  The course is nice and flat and I hope to just enjoy the run and create a new memory of Tybee Island!  A happy memory.  Happy running and stay warm.

Interesting article and not really news to any of us in the running world as we have talked about this the last couple of years but still an informative read.  I have raced in flats for a few years and done more and more training in the same minimalist shoes.  I feel like it has done me well.  I have not done too much in the way of barefoot running but racing flats I do enjoy.  The funny thing is that after a race my feet have never been a problem when wearing the racing flats which is when I first decided to take a closer look at that type of shoe for training as well.

http://www.livescience.com/animals/running-shoes-barefoot-running-100127.html

I get questioned on a regular basis for some of my races, runs and perhaps on occasions the questioning of my IQ.  I guess I can say, well…at least I don’t do this….

I listened to a good podcast this week (Run the Ultra’s).  On the podcast they interviewed Karl King of Succeed Sportsdrink.  It was a good interview with a lot of great information.  What is frustrating for me in a distance race is my lack of follow through and execution of hydration.  Many times I know what I should do and I just don’t execute and then sometimes I don’t do enough on the front end and need to learn more about hydration.

I spend months training for an event and then when the event comes I will treat one of the most important factors of my race lightly.  Listening to the interview and the signs of dehydration was frustrating to realize too many of my races I have all of those signs.  It was something I will begin to try to tackle better this year.  Even in my training runs I treat this issue with a lack of importance.  Just something for me to work on this year.

Last year was a good year from one running perspective in particular.  I stayed healthier than I have in several years.  The biggest thing I can point to is recovery.  The previous two years right after a January marathon I jumped right back on the training plan.  In fact two years ago I ran a marathon three weeks after my marathon trying to run at a pretty good pace.  Three years ago I started right back training for a marathon in March.  Both years I suffered the entire spring with IT Band issues.

Last year I had my 50 mile ultra in March but kept it very low in mileage and slow on speed the weeks after the marathon.  I decided why not try the same plan.  I was miserable the two previous years in the spring when great weather started up and I was on unable to run.  So this is a good time to get refreshed physically and mentally.

“If you’re not comfortable with yourself, you can’t be comfortable with others.”  Sydney J. Harris

As I ran under the bridge I would head to The Jennifer Hudson mile 7.  Over the next couple of miles the course opens up a good bit.  We pass a water stop and begin to approach the race track on the right hand side.  The excitement will begin to build as we get closer to the TTC and the Magic Kingdom.  Typically the crowds begin to increase before we even make it to the TTC.  We make our way through the Magic Kingdom parking lot and I see the TTC in the distance after I passed The Kim Smith in Celebration of Esther Gregg mile 8.  I knew my mom and dad would be here and probably on the left hand side.  The problem with this area is you go in and out so quick and the space is so thick with people it is difficult to spot someone.  I did spot my dad as I went through.  That was a little bump in spirit to see them.  Right after this point we hit The Kim Smith in Celebration of Esther Gregg Mile 9.  One thing I begin to notice as I drink my iced water and iced powerade is the cold drinks are keeping me nice and cold.  I think they are lowering my body temperature as I can’t seem to get warm.  Usually no matter what the temperature I get warm as I go.  And as a grab the drink my hands and my gloves get wet and my fingers suffer.  Oh yes!  And one hand seemed much colder than the other!  Nice…  Missing that glove now

We get some encouragement from a DJ on the way to the Comtemporary Resort.  My favorite quote from him was, “Everyone told you that you were crazy but look at you!  Who is crazy now?!”  My first thought was those people who said I was crazy are in their warm beds, so I guess that means they were right!    But he was good and motivating.  We approached the Disney Hill in front of the Comtemporary Resort and with it mile 10.  We would begin our journey back stage into the Magic Kingdom again.  It is different than the day before as we would run through the Magic Kingdom in daylight.  Main Street would be packed and the excitement is the same.  The worst part is the trip down Main Street seems all too quick.  We make our way into Tomorrowland, Fantasyland and through the Castle.  We run through Liberty Square and exit the park in Frontierland as we run past the Pirates.  With the backstage water stop again I notice how slick it is but watch my footing.  As we exit here we pass The Dan and Janice Norman Mile 11.  We exit out on Floridian Way which is the same as the day before but we can see.  This is a lonely isolated stretch of one lane road for us.  However our accordion player from yesterday came with friends today!

As we approached the Grand Floridian resort we passed The Dan and Janice Norman Mile 12.  The one thing I seemed to tell a difference in this year because of the weather was the crowd again seems much thinner than the past.  I would soon see my parents again at about The Dan and Janice Norman Mile 13.  We would soon make our turn on the road I like the least Bear Island Rd.  After today that feeling would only increase.

As I would make my turn there is a water stop just ahead.  I begin to reach for the cup and my finger would just miss it.  Logic would tell you to run to the next cup but for some reason logic left me.  Instead I would take a reach back with my hand and when I did my right foot hit a slick spot of ice is what I would assume.  The next thing I remember was landing on my right hind side.  My two little boys love to fall at home and make it an art form.  They love to get me to join in the fun.  I have to tell them it is a goal of an adult to not fall!  Falling is no longer fun as a 38 year old.  In fact as I write these words chills are running up my neck from that asphalt!  Well I would lay there and first try to collect myself and make sure my parts are moving and everything is in place.  Many good people offer some help and check on me.  I would love to say the only thing that was hurt was my pride however my butt hurt more!  The good news is that it would only hurt when I would stride!   

I got going as quickly as I could, knowing the longer I waited the more I would tighten up.  I would soon pass The Dan and Janice Normal Mile 14.  The one thing Disney did better this year was on this isolated stretch of road.  In the past they would throw up some speakers and blast some music and leave it at that.  This year they had some actors and characters and kept it more entertaining.  At this point I am just concentrating on one step at a time.  Keeping my head down and trying to get through this worst stretch.  I know once we make it out of the Animal Kingdom we can make it home.  We get to Mile 16 and are in the Animal Kingdom Park.  Also thank you Animal Kingdom for indoor plumbing.  Enough said on that!  However while in the restroom is where I noticed I had frost all over me.  What the Heck!  We would make our way around the park past Everest and through Dinoland and pass The Sondra Shasky in honor of Cheryl Rodriguez Mile 17.  As we exit the Animal Kingdom they usually give us sponges soaked in water, shocked but they offered no frozen sponges for us.  

Mile 18 is in the Animal Kingdom Parking lot and Mickey Mouse is usually stationed here.  Once you are there you have just over 8 miles to go.  I could feel some twinges in my legs so I decided to carry out a strategy I did in my Mississippi 50 mile run, walk the hills.  There would be some pretty good Disney Overpass hills coming up so I decided to save the legs and walk them.  We would pass the first one and pass Mile 19 and soon approach another hill.  I hear a DJ on a speaker just ahead yelling encouragement as I knew we have the tough stretch of an out and back just ahead.  In fact you pass where you will come back to which makes it worse.  At the Nikki Brush in Celebration of Alba Melton Mile 20 I was struggling.  I could feel the toll of Saturday weighing heavy on my legs.  I just wanted to get the out and back over and hit World Drive.  I had not felt worse the entire day.  I was wet and cold and the legs felt like concrete.  I also knew this was Mile 21 for Joe Marruchella (www.runfordom.com) and he would know how this felt.  I did feel better once I got past 21 and on World Drive.  The problem with World Drive today is the heavy shade which made it that much colder.  We would begin to Exit to Buena Vista Drive and pass mile 22.  We would head back stage to the Disney Hollywood Studios and pass the Tower of Terror.  I would grab a piece of chocolate and keep going.  This is a narrow section through the park with frequent turns and I knew I was getting tired because I began to drop anything that was in my hands.  Bending over was not a good option now to pick anything up either.  In the Studios I would pass The Sylvia Brush in Celebration of Joan Shanks Mile 23.  We would head toward the front of the park and the crowds were great on the way out.  Once you hit the waterway you know you can make it.  I knew I was just over two miles out.  I would grab a drink at The Sylvia Brush in Celebration of Pat Nash Mile 24.  I would also see the two strangest things I have seen that day.  I saw crazy guy run past me in just running shorts and shoes.  One spectator told me you are crazy but he is stupid.  I could not argue that.  I think I also saw Jane from Tarzan running but cannot confirm it.

We would make our way to the Boardwalk and not sure who it was but thanks for the Team Allears cheer!  I needed it.  Every little incline at this point felt like a mountain.  We headed back stage at Epcot and past the last of the water stops.  You know you are close there.  A nice crowd began to form as we would enter the World Showcase and hit The Andrew from David Hoyt Mile 25.  I started to cramp in my quads so I tried to walk it off.  That did not seem to help so I just kept running instead.  I just kept telling myself to run from one country to the next.  I also knew I would see my parents soon as they would be waiting in Epcot.  As we passed the Mexico pavilion the Christmas Tree was straight ahead and a right turn would make it downhill the rest of the way. 

After the right turn we head towards the water fountain and I do spot my parents and thanks for the shouts!  Also just before Spaceship Earth I see Mike Scopa and get more encouragement.  I never see Mile 26 wherever it is as I just want to see the finish line.  But in there somewhere I do pass The Gracie from David Hoyt Mile 26.  With some quick turns the next thing you see is the sunshine and finish line.  I don’t know my time and don’t care.  (4:37:16 I would later find out)  The one thing that always hits me is this never gets easier.  Each marathon comes with it own set of challenges and emotions.  The feeling each finish might be a little different but just as sweet each time.  

If I could sum up this marathon in one word for me it would be “Community.”  More than any other marathon I have run this one gave me the greatest sense of community than any other in the past.  From all the members of our Awesome Team Allears who were a constant source of encouragement week after week who raised over $22,000 for Breast Cancer Awareness, to all my online friends who would offer feedback and give me cheers.  The number of text messages and tweet I received over marathon weekend was overwhelming.  From the cheers I could hear to the ones I knew were there from a distance it was an incredible weekend.

As always at about mile 19 I decided this was my last marathon.  By this past weekend I am getting ready to choose the next one!  Yes the pain has been forgotten and I can’t wait to plan my year 2010.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?”  Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Good thoughts are no better than good dream, unless they be executed.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

We had dinner reservations to eat Saturday night at 630 and the wait was pretty long.  We had walked around a pretty good bit after the race as well.  It seemed to just get colder and colder throughout the day.  As we waited for dinner I was sleepy and cold and getting a bad attitude about running the next day.  I really was just sick of the cold and did not have a real desire to be out there the next morning as the forecast was for 26 and windy.

I had never used the hefty bag strategy (thank you Joe!) before but thought this would be a good time to try it out.  I stopped at the drug store on the way to the hotel and picked up some hefty bags.  I was determined for the marathon that I did not want to be cold.  I dressed heavier than I have ever dressed for a race or a run of any type.  I thought a good nights sleep and trying to stay warm might straighten out that attitude of mine.  I went to bed early and slept good.  I woke about with a much better attitude and decided if nothing else I just want to finish healthy and enjoy one of my favorite marathon courses.

You can not accuse me of not trying to dress warm on Sunday.  I started with my cold gear, two long sleeves tech shirts, one short sleeve tech shirt, one sleeveless tech shirt and one heavy sweatshirt.  Also not one by two hefty bags, one stocking cap, three pairs of gloves and a partridge in a pear tree.  When I got out of the car I could tell the difference it made already.  I felt much better and much warmer.  I did get to the starting area nice and early and actually took a nap while I waited then made my way to the corrals.

I felt much warmer than I had Saturday and the legs felt good also.  I enjoyed getting to know Dan who was leading the 3:50 pace group and hearing some running stories from the group.  My original plan was to try and stick with the 3:50 pace group at the start.  I never really thought I would stay with them but my plan was to at least start with them.  As we approached start time I got rid of the hefty bags and we all crept toward the start.  To my delight my corral B was part of wave 1.  I wanted to get started and not wait another 10 minutes.  As soon as we started I pretty much lost the pace group.  I could see the balloons the first few miles but did not want to spend a lot of energy trying to catch a group I did not plan to stick with. 

I really do enjoy this course, that being said I like the red course better.  If you have not run this course they start you off on two different sides of the road.  One course (blue) goes back stage earlier and runs around the World Showcase and the other runs right through the main entrance of Epcot under Spaceship Earth.  The courses meet at about the 3.5 mile mark.  My first year was on the red course, since then the last three years have been on the blue course.  The elite runners run the red but the corrals A,B and C with faster runners run the blue. 

The first few miles are always very crowded with so many runners and narrow paths.  Mile 1 had me at about an 8:50 pace which I was OK with.  Mile 2 on the marathon course is located about where mile 12 on the half course is.  The difference will come when you get in the park you go back stage and come out where the World Showcase is and enter in around the UK area.  This early in the race is just so very crowded it is hard to imagine.  The World Showcase is lit up at this time and just looks fantastic.  The one thing about running around the World Showcase for mile 2 is that I can enjoy it.  I won’t see it again until mile 25, I don’t enjoy much at mile 25 anymore. 

We come out of the World Showcase quickly followed by mile 3 and we are backstage again.  When we connect with the red course, thankfully there are not many runners joining us at that time.  I have been at that area before where the bottleneck is incredible with thousands of runners coming together backstage.  I am still feeling pretty good and soon hit mile 4.  Each of my miles are staying in the 8:40-9:00/mile pace so far.  It is way to earlier to be concerned about pace as you just try and run.  Too many people around the excert so much energy.  After mile 4 we go back past the start area and this is where chaos ensues.  It looks like there were quite a few runners that missed the start time and are now bolting across the road in between runners trying to get to the other side where the start of the red course is.  I see three or four collisions and narrowly avoid one myself.  I am getting water and powerade at the stops.  The one thing that concerns me is the cups are pretty empty without much in them.  I don’t want to double back and get two or three cups.

I hit mile 5 at the first tracking mat and staying under a 9 minute/mile pace.  Because the runner tracking had not been working too good on Saturday and I wanted my parents to know where I was at I told them I would text them at the tracking points to make sure they were updated.  To make it easier on me I typed the mile marker in a message the previous night and saved them as a draft so I would just have to open and hit send.  The only problem is with 3 pairs of gloves I could not operate my phone.  This meant I would have to take of my gloves and send it.  I did this at mile 5 but one problem, I dropped a glove in the process.  There was no way I would stop in the middle of that traffic jam to go back and find it.  Not only that it was dark.  That glove was just lost so I was down to two pairs of gloves on one hand.  By this time I also just did not worry about catching the 3:50 group as that would just take up energy I did not want to expend.

I also made another decision at mile 5.  I decided to turn off my Garmin.  I have never done that in a race.  I knew if I kept it on I would become obsessed with it today and not enjoy the run.  The only person who cares about my pace is me and I did not want to today.  I am running 39.3 miles in two days and I want to enjoy this experience.  I knew this would put my eyes on the course and get my pace off my mind.  It was a relief to turn it off. 

After we pass mile 5 we go back down the same cloverleaf we came up on Saturday.  At this bottom of this hill is mile 6.  At this point I start to notice something concerning to me, the powerade and water have ice in them.  I also notice as we get to the water stops they are slick with ice as well.  All the water be spilled is making a thin layer of slick ice at the water stops.  I begin to think I should be careful at these water stops today.

I am not quite sure why this is but it seems like I don’t run a race without a couple of good stories or something bad or strange happening at the event.  I am finished with the race and go to pick up my Donald Duck medal and go to the Goofy Tent to exchange the wrist band.  I get some hydration and a little food and my next goal is to get warm and watch my parents and Team ALLEARS finish.

I decided to go to the car and get changed.  I always bring a change of clothes, socks and shoes.  I get to the car and I think I was so consumed about being ready for the race that I forgot about after the race this time.  I have nothing except a hoodie and sweatpants.  By this time it has started to rain and it is coming down pretty good.  Everything I have is wet.  My gloves, my socks, my shoes and soon my sweatshirt.  Once everything gets wet in this cold weather staying warm is next to impossible.

I actually sat in the car for a bit and tried to get some updates on my phone of where my parents were.  The problem is that the updates were just not working.  The first update I got for my mom had me concerned she would get swept and I was not getting an update on my dad until half way through the race.  At this point when it showed me their projected finish times I realized the updates could be wrong.  I decided to go and watch runners where I have in the past near where they enter Epcot right after mile 12.  I was here for a good while and getting rained on and colder by the minute.  I had stayed warm during the race since I was moving but was stinkin’ freezing now.  I sent my mom some encouragement on her iPhone and was hoping for the best.  As updates would come in I thought I still had a long time to wait.

I decided to try to get warm again.  I went back to the car to warm up for a while but just could not sit there.  I figured I would get some coffee and go back and watch.  I really was not sure why I was even wearing my gloves anymore.  They were cold and wet and I could no longer feel my fingers.  When I got some coffee my hands were shaking so bad my coffee began spilling all out of my cup.  I never knew this would be my greatest challenge of the day!

I headed back to watch and cheer the runners and from a distance I saw the familiar run of my dad.  I could not believe that I was going to miss him after all of this.  Well I decided to run and catch him.  I was wearing large oversized sweatpants just to stay warm that were falling down as I was running to catch him.  I did not look like much of a runner sprinting to catch my dad with one hand holding up my pants.  I did catch him though and he seemed like he appreciated the encouragement.

My biggest concern now was my mom.  I had not received any updates for a while about her so I did not know what to do.  I decided to head to the finish area and at least get my dad.  After I had been there for about 10 minutes or so I got an update from her tracking that said she finished! 

My dad finished in 3:00:03 and my mom finished in 3:07:55.  Of all the things that would happen this weekend nothing could make me happier or more excited than that.  This would be my dads third half marathon.  The first year he finished in 3hours 37 minutes and shaved off about 20 minutes last year with a blister the size of a baseball.  This year he hit his goal of 3 hours.

The other part of the story is my mom.  She had been given the bad news weeks earlier that she had plantars fasciitis.  The longest run she had completed was 8 miles and her foot suffered because of it.  She could hardly walk after this run.  Weeks before the event she had mostly doubts she could even be a part of it.  Through the help of a physical therapist, doctor, shoe insert and her taking care of herself the last few weeks she did it. 

I had told her at one point not to worry about the miles as she was conditioned to run this race just take care of that foot.  Watching the joy, happiness and pain on their faces was incredible to see.  I told her if she did not have the faith in herself to borrow mine.  I think it helps to have someone you can trust and who gives you confidence.  It is always great to hear others talk about the emotions they feel at the end of a race.  The months of training and hard work are so visible in your mind.  You can see the faces of those who love and support you.  You can hear the cheers of strangers and know they represent your friends and family cheering from a distance.  I am always amazed at the different feelings I get at each one of these races and loved to hear about my mom’s and dad’s thoughts and emotions.

Running was a place of connection with my family when I was young and it excites me today to realize it still is.  I always have and will continue to appreciate a sport that brings families, friends and communities together.  When we toe the line your background does not matter, your net worth does not matter, your title does not matter, your problems don’t matter and when or where you finish does not matter.  A different purpose might have brought each one of us to the start line but we all have one common goal.  To conquer the distance one more time and push ourselves to a point we never would have dreamed.  What you will learn about yourself comes with the distance, what you choose to do with it is up to you.

Our next goal:  turn on the HEAT and the FREAKING HOT SEATS!!!!!  It took and hour to get out of the parking lot but we were warm so we don’t care!

We took off and I felt pretty good.  A nice warm-up got me good and ready.  I also felt like the pace I was searching for was right on the money.  I was hoping to stay in the 7:54-7:59/minute pace range.  Mile number 1 ended up at 7:53.  Mile 1 was uneventful and pretty quiet.  As we left the start line I could hear them getting the next corral ready to run.  You can also begin to hear one of my favorite sounds at a race.  Once you leave the start area I just enjoy the quiet pounding of feet by the thousands and the concentrated breathing of runners around me.  It is what we all do on our training runs alone but there is something special about the sounds together that I enjoy.  There is not much to see on the course for mile 1.  The road is nice and wide at this point so there was plenty of room to run.  As we begin to approach mile 2 if memory serves me correct the road began to narrow and we made a turn on World Drive to head towards the Magic Kingdom. 

One thing that was tough is I usually use my Garmin to check my pace during the mile to make sure I am staying at my target.  Well 90% of the race for me would be run in the dark and I did not want to stumble around the entire race trying to check my pace so it made it more challenging than usual to pace myself.  Not sure why but mile 2 was a little quicker and was 7:34.  As we finished mile 2 I could hear the band in the distance with the drums and cheers.  That always gets you going good.  The other good news is at this point I was really unaware of the weather.  I can’t even remember at this point whether we had sleet or rain.  Once we got running it became a non-issue for me.  Mile 3 is flat and straight.  I could see a hot air balloon ahead in the median that was shaped like the Epcot Spaceship Earth ball.  Mile 3 would pass at 7:43.

As you begin to work on mile 4 most of it is in the Magic Kingdom parking lot which is vast and wide open.  The biggest challenge so far for me has been my footing.  There are only scattered lights on the course so watching the road is vital.  You run through the parking entrance and around the race track and down into the parking area.  The nice part so far is that World Drive and the Parking lot area give you plenty of room to run.  I am hitting the water stops and just taking water now.  I hit mile 4 in 7:50 and pleased so far with my miles with the exception of being a little quick on miles 2 and 3.

One of my favorites portions of the run is coming up.  We will begin to approach the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC).  There is always a great crowd here and always loud.  They usually line-up as you begin to approach it.  The one thing I have noticed so far is the crowd and less of it this year.  Not really surprised by that though with the weather.  We pass through the TTC and this really gets your emotions kicking.  You always pass though quick and it gives you a nice rush that mile.  I always know this is a mile I run too quick but it is hard to contain your excitement through here.  Soon the road will narrow and you will approach your first Disney Hill.  If you have run in Disney you know what a Disney Hill is.  It is man-made like an overpass or bridge.  For this hill you are approaching the Contemporary Resort and run under the water way.  You will run down and then back up a slight incline.  This one is not too bad.  After you pass this you hit mile marker number 5.  I have done a 7:39 for mile 5.

You can now see the Magic Kingdom quickly approaching.  You begin to hear the cheers and see the lights.  It is still dark as you take a side entrance to the Magic Kingdom and you enter on Main Street.  This is the first time I have run and seen the Christmas Decorations still up.  The first thing I see is the Christmas Tree on Main Street.  It was a beautiful sight.  It along with cheering fans welcome us to the Magic Kingdom.  This is not a part of the race you will run very fast.  For one thing  the path is narrow and secondly there are many quick turns.  It is just a place to run through and enjoy the experience.  This truly is your reward for running this race.  The cheers and excitement give you the rush you need to keep going almost halfway through the race.  You will hit mile 6 while in the Magic Kingdom and I am at 7:46 for mile 6.

You will soon leave the Magic Kingdom and see Pirates as you leave which are the most entertaining characters for me during the race.  The next few miles would become the most challenging part of the race.  We left the Magic Kingdom with all the excitement on a small two-lane road that had one lane open for runners and the other for traffic.  The real challenge is the darkness.  It is dark which your eyes adjust to, however it is very narrow.  While I am running this road we soon have cars coming our way and with headlights in your face seeing the next step is next to impossible.  I just kept straight in hopes I would not step on anything.  With runners still removing sweatshirts and other clothing you never know about your next step.  On this road they had one lone accordion player back here just by himself.  It seemed a little strange all by his lonesome.

As we get close to the Grand Floridian Resort we hit mile 7 and I run a 7:49.  There is a small crowd in this area and the next mile or two will be much of the same.  Still wondering around in the dark I just concentrate step after step and I have found a pretty comfortable pace.  We soon approach mile 8 near the Polynesian Resort and I run a 7:45.  We begin to see the race track again and hear a band getting louder in the distance.  I also get a good look at thousand of runners who are in miles 2,3 and 4.  I hit mile 9 back on World Drive in 7:52 after I pass the band.  My plan was to find a nice comfortable pace for the first 10 miles and see how I felt and maybe increase the speed the next 2 or 3.  However I also knew that we have a few Disney Hills to finish the race.  As we hit mile 10 we near the end of our trip on World Drive I see the very last runner who has just passed mile 2.  Not sure she will make it today.  It was great to see the band still playing and cheering for her.  I run mile 10 in 7:44.

The worst hill we have is just after mile 10.  It is a long curving clover leaf that we run the opposite of what you drive to the top of the overpass we just ran under.  Because of the slant I don’t know that there is a good way up this hill.  I saw a couple of the wheelchair athletes on this hill and can only imagine how their arms felt.  Being a Peachtree Road Race runner I have seen many wheelchair athletes hit the breaking point on Cardiac hill after mile 3 in Atlanta.  I gave them my cheers and knew they would keep pushing.  I finished mile 11 in 7:50 knowing the worst of the hills were finished but I still had two more.  The next two would be less steep and more rolling so no worries.  I had a boost of energy for the next mile from Sylvia Brush (Mom!) in celebration of Kathy Haddock.  I also saw members of our Team AllEars holding a sign for us and they saw my Team AllEars shirt.  It was nice to see our team represented near mile 12 which I finished in 7:40.

After mile 12 the hills are pretty much finished.  The crowds begin to thicken and excitement rises as you see Epcot getting close.  You run into Epcot and under SpaceShip Earth (huge ball) and you run to the Christmas Tree straight ahead.  This is where you do a little u-turn and off to the finish.  Cast members and characters are cheering you to the finish.  I am also inspired by running this mile for Sylvia Brush in honor of Bev Maday.  I alway like to make the last mile the fastest.  I felt great and would finish my last 1.1 miles in a pace of 6:59. 

I was really pleased with my run, felt good and was not overtired.  I finished in 1:40:58.  I did it quicker than I had hoped but figured that would happen and just glad I did not push it even faster.

I was very pleased but also not aware the biggest challenge of the day would be after I ran and not during.

So anytime you have to schedule a 2am wake-up call always makes you wonder what you are doing.  There was not much of a chance I was going to oversleep on this morning or night or whatever you call 2am!  I had the alarm on my phone, I had a wake-up call scheduled and the alarm was set on the clock in my room.  I did not sleep much at all that night but I usually don’t.  However I did lay down early so just the idea that I was getting rest was good.  I actually felt good and rested when I got up.

I went to pick up my parents at their hotel and we drove to the Epcot parking lot (start area).  So far no rain, sleet or snow so that was good news.  It was just cold and windy.  Once we arrived at Epcot I could not help but looking at the trees blow and sway in the wind.  My thoughts were on just how cold that looked.  I felt like I was prepared for the weather.  I had a layer of cold gear on top of a running shirt and had also been wearing a throw away sweatshirt on top.  We sat in the heated car for a good hour and enjoyed out hot seats!  I put on a couple of pairs of gloves and we headed out.  For some reason my hands are always the problem.  No matter how warm the rest of my body gets I can never seem to get my hands warm.  I was hoping two gloves would be fine.

We took care of business and things that needed to be done before heading over to the start line.  The thing that hit me first was the wind.  In fact it was quite funny to look and see groups of people huddled in certain areas to protect themselves from the wind.  Behind tents, in tents and behind building and just gathered in groups of hundreds.  We decided to do the same for a few minutes until heading to the start area.  As we began to walk to the start line we could see in the lights something falling from the sky.  The way it was falling we could tell it was snow.  I would much rather have snow though than rain so it did not bother me.  We had heard on the forecast that the best time for rain, sleet or snow was between 5am and 9am.  Well, doesn’t that work out well.  That just happens to be the time we are running.   

It is always an interesting walk to the start line.  Thousands of feet walking at different paces in the cold and dark.  A lot of concern and quiet pondering about the distance they are about to be challenged with.  Small quiet conversations mixed in around you.  A pleasant surprise for me once I reached the start area was a good place to warm up.  For the full marathon the corrals take up both sides of the road and just don’t give you much room to warm up.  Thankfully for the half marathon the corrals only take up one side of the road.  This gave me plenty of room to warm up and also get my blood pumping. 

Another thing Disney does really well is helping pass the time.  I really felt before I knew it we were ready to get started.  However I was in Corral A so I am not sure my parents in the last Corral share that same feeling with me.  Just a few minutes before the start the sleet started to fall.  At this point I just did not care one way or another.  We were so close to the start time and I was warm enough for now that I was ready to go.  It did start to come down pretty good though.  They sang the National Anthem and let the wheelchair athletes go and I knew we were just minutes away.  I felt warm and decided to ditch the sweatshirt.  The runners in my corral started to slowing move forward, fireworks went off and we were ready to go.  13.1 miles to start my weekend of 39.3….

I had been checking accuweather and keeping up with the forecast the best I could the last week or so.  I was prepared for most anything as far as clothing went.  At the end I was not sure if I was packing for a two week safari or a race.  It looked after it was all said and done like I had packed for a family vacation but it was only me.  We headed down early Thursday so we could get to the expo without a problem and take our time while giving us Friday to get ready without travel.

Looking back on it I am very glad we did.  By the time Thursday night came from getting up at 4am to leave and traveling 8 hours and walking around the expo I was pretty worn out and glad I did not have to run the next day.  That would have been a bad move.

The expo was good, especially the number pickup as the have seperated the Goofy from the half and full marathon to make it much less crowded than the previous years.  The expo was good but just packed!  Hard to move around and enjoy with only a limited room in the aisles.  I found a Disney shirt or two I would have liked to buy but I think Space Mountain probably had a shorter line than the checkout line. 

All in all Disney does a fantastic job with the expo, but when you have 55,000 registered runners alone for the weekend as they said, the crowds will just happen.

Once we got to Orlando we began to pay a little more attention to the weather.  Something we wondered about is, my mom heard them mention at the expo the chance for snow on Saturday morning.  I just dismissed that idea and thought “please that won’t happen”.

Before we headed out to dinner we caught the weather and I soon would realize the reality of having some weather issues.  The weather forecast was calling for “Gropple”!  What the heck is Gropple?!  Well at dinner thanks to google we became educated with Gropple, a light hail-like snow.  Whatever that is supposed to be.  The more we looked the more we realized the weather was here.

At some point you just have to forget about it.  Thursday night I thought about it some and was a little concerned but finally you just have to move on and forget about it and realize you are here for a purpose.  We came to run so we would run.  You can’t do anything about it.  There is no need to worry about things not in your control.  I can only control me and how I run.  After Thursday night I just did not focus on it any more.  I was determined after that to just take care of business.  Besides what is a race without a good story or challenge?!

We took it pretty easy on Friday and got a nice Italian dinner Friday night.  We walked a decent amount but did not overdo it.  I hit the bed a little early and pretty much got no sleep.  Looking forward to race day and my first half marathon at Disney.  The marathon would be number four in Disney for me but my first half.  It is always exciting to run something you have not in the past.

In 2009 I got up and met my dad in the start area but did not run.  Talk about the punishment without reward.  Get up at 2am and no race or no medal!  Well this year was different so I was very excited about getting up and getting this race started.

I will be headed down to Orlando Thursday morning and I am taking care of all my last minutes things to do.  Funny thing about running the Goofy is you need double of everything for race day now.  It gives you a lot to think about it.

Just an update on our team as well.  As a team we have raised over $20,000 so far for the fight against breast cancer awareness.  I still do have some open spots for the marathon and plenty of spots open to sponsor me for the half marathon.  Just shoot me an e-mail if you would like to help (tbrush3@yahoo.com)

I am excited to be down with friends and family and watch them have a great time at the races as well.  I look forward to sharing more about it.

I will be leaving in 3 days and the first race is in 5.  The weather is forecasting for really cold.  Probably the coldest races I have run in or at least close to them.  I have run in a couple of cold ones here in Atlanta on Thanksgiving but maybe not quite in the 20′s like is expected in Orlando(Hoping the forecast will change).  The worst part will be the waiting around for the start.

Because we start so early it will also take some time for the sun to come up and warm things up a bit.  At this point I am just trying to stay healthy and take care of any of my last minute needs and things I will need to take.  The cold will make the waiting tougher but that is about all.

“No man can live happily who regards himself alone; who turns everything to his own advantage.  You must live for others if you wish to live for yourself.” –Seneca

I post this message one week from a really early morning.  I can honestly say that the weekend of the Disney marathon is the only time I see a number 2 as the first number on the clock except in the afternoons.  Seeing a 2 as the first number on the clock is just not right.  It probably is the toughest part of the Disney marathon weekend for me and even for the goofy challenge.  Back to back days of waking up prior to 3am.  Yikes!

I usually set the alarm clock, the phone alarm and a wake up call.  I have never needed more than one but I don’t take any chances.  It usually does not matter much because I don’t get much sleep in the first place.

To wrap up my year in review for myself I think the one thing that stands out this year and is a goal for 2010 for me is that I just enjoyed the run.  I stayed healthy this year and was able to enjoy what I did.

I ran my first two ultramarathons.  I set a PR in the 5K and 10K.  I ran another solid marathon and several half marathons.  All of those are great but more than anything I had fun.  Sometimes it is easy to get caught in up goals that you forget to just enjoy yourself with an activity that you love.  I do have goals for 2010 and races I have on my calendar but more than anything I want to stay healthy and just enjoy the run.