Goofy 2007 Expo and Parks

Well, year number 2 of Goofy was drastically different in terms of weather.  Goofy #1 cold, Goofy #2 EXTREME HEAT!  When I say extreme heat I am talking about it approaching 90 degrees and over 80% humidity at 3:30 in the morning when you leave for the start.  

At the Expo

After the expo back at MK

Mom and I spent a week at Disney this time and visited the parks in the days leading up to the race as well as after.  My aunt Patty and uncle Danny drove down and had fun at the parks with us.  They weren't quite sure of all this marathon stuff so they wanted to check it out.  I had gone to packet pickup prior to their arrival and talking about the expo they wanted to go.  The first visit to the expo I just got what I needed and left so I could go back to the park (priorities here).  The second visit to the expo was a lot of explaining the purpose of the shoes/stick/runner gels/etc...to my aunt and uncle.  We did happen to stop at the scrap paper booth and to our surprise a photo of me from the previous year was being used in the example book.  Back at the room my aunt gave me a scrap book she put special paper in and decorated the cover so I could put photos from Goofy #2 in it.  They were calling for a break in the weather, starting Monday so no luck with racing, but it is what it is.

my own scrap book

scrapbook at the expo

fun at the expo

Goofy the First Year

Fireworks at the Start 

Being the first year of the Goofy race my mom was of course there to support and cheer me on.  I brought along my boyfriend at the time (now my husband) who had never been to Disney.  We flew down on Thursday afternoon and went to pick up my packet.  After we went to the campfire sing-a-long and watched fireworks on the boat.  (one of many Disney traditions my mom and I have with each other)  Exhausted back at the hotel room my mom decides she's going to the lobby to get some milk to put on ice for me to have in the morning and some chocolate covered donuts for breakfast.  I take a shower and am half asleep while Luke is watching t.v.  My mom comes in the room followed by my Papa Bear!  They found a flight dirt cheap earlier in the week and my dad decided to surprise me and fly down to watch me run my first Goofy.  They went through a lot of trouble to keep it a secret from me, even making special arrangements with the Magical Express so that I would not have found out.  

I wasn't sure what to expect with the Goofy race.  I had finished both race distances before, but not in back to back days.  All I remember (and know now) is that I'm glad they have the half marathon the first day.  If it had been the marathon day one I may not have returned for day two.  Having been at 3 RunDisney events prior I felt comfortable with the starting and staging area.  

Captain Hook (1/2)

Magic Kingdom (1/2)

With the new half marathon course we entered Magic Kingdom around mile 4 instead of 10, meaning it was quite dark out.  Notice my lovely orange bib?  I was also issued an orange bracelet that I needed to wear until the completion of the half marathon.

The characters  in Magic Kingdom did not disappoint.  Although it was very early the flash on my disposable camera worked fine and I've got these wonderful pictures to prove it.  I am glad that Disney has done a better job in recent years with having photographers with the characters as well as more photo savvy cast members to take pictures.

Magic Kingdom (1/2)

 After winding through the castle and the rest of Magic Kingdom the course severely narrowed as it was almost an "out and back."  The later corals were going into Magic Kingdom while the earlier corals were headed back to EPCOT and the finish line.  I remember looking at the course map, but not paying that much attention to it.  At the finish I was half expecting to go around the lagoon but instead we made a u-turn around the Christmas tree and then finished the same as the marathon.

Magic Kingdom (1/2)

Day one of the Goofy Challenge completed.  I went to a tent marked Goofy Challenge and had my orange bracelet cut off only to be replaced by a blue bracelet (which coordinated with the blue bib for the marathon).    Of course my mom decided that it was a good time to start a new Disney tradition with this Goofy race.  Not a Mickey bar (which I did have) but also going to a character breakfast to stuff my face and get fueled up for the marathon the next day.  I could barely keep my eyes open for breakfast.  On top of that I had the genius idea to volunteer at the expo.  The experience volunteering was great, but not one I recommend if you have run and have more running to do the next day.  My mom and I helped give directions to spectators while my boyfriend (now my husband) helped with packet pick-up).  My dad went and took a nap/explored back at the hotel.  His last minute decision to come meant he wasn't signed up to volunteer. 

Mile Marker Signs (Full)

Day Two

Magic Kingdom (Full)

This was hard.  Getting out of bed was hard.  Why did I decide to do this again?  I was achy and tired.  As you can see it was chilly (the long sleeve never came off).  The first two or three miles hurt.  Bad.  I was sore and hobbling.  How was I going to make it?  Well, eventually I loosened up and warmed up enough to feel good again--at about 5 miles.  Around mile 10 I was about to enter Magic Kingdom.  My favorite!  I was feeling pretty good.

Briar Rabbit (Full)

At the 13.1 mile mark I was like, ha!  I'm 2/3 of the way done while everyone else is half-way.  I have to think that way to get myself motivated to keep going sometimes when it's really tough and I feel like I'm falling apart.  At least I had plenty of time if I needed to walk the rest.  

Next stop, Animal Kingdom!  At this point in the race I always feel like there are 10 miles left and this kind of stinks.  Can't it just be over now?  There is a smile on my face from the characters and is no indication of how I was actually physically feeling.  Part of the motivation to keep moving forward is to see what character or piece of excitement is just around that next corner.  It was ideal running weather (chilly but not excessively cold) so there were lots of characters to be seen.  I had to be a little choosy since I only had one disposable camera.  I'd used the camera the day before for many of the first 13 mile signs so I had more room for pictures on Day 2 with characters.  As you can see it was a beautiful day!

Safari Mouse Crew (Full)

Jammin' Parade Float (Full)

And the the hard part, Mile 20.  Thanks to my Papa Bear for hanging out for hours near mile 18 with a sore back so that I could have something to look forward to in the about 5 mile stretch of highway in the toughest mental part of the race for me.  I gathered my Pez candies from him and stopped to stretch a bit before limping off to finish the race.  If anyone ever comes with us to the race we politely request that they "ChEAR" for me at this location since it is where I seem to be most challenged each year.  

MGM Studios (Full)

When I arrived at MGM Studios I was like, here we go!  It was going to be a tough last 3 miles but I was going to do it.  This photo cracks me up every time.  I'm trying to smile but as you can see I am still somewhat afraid of the villain characters.  They are intimidating.  

Having run the half-marathon the day before I was  not sure what to expect for a finish time.  It was going to be very close to under 4 hours, I just had to keep moving and not stop to walk the last mile or so.  My mom spotted me from her place in the bleachers at the finish.  She decided to record the finish instead of snapping photos.  It's not the best video out there, but it's me breaking 4 hours in the marathon...just imagine if I hadn't run the day before how things may have turned out.  I was elated!  

FYI--this is the ONLY time my mom has ever recorded me finishing out of all the races she's gone to. 

Results:

Half Marathon Clock Time of 2:20:20

Half Marathon Chip Time of 1:59:27

Marathon Clock Time of 3:59:53

Marathon chip Time of 3:58:38 

Medals 

Shirts and Bracelets

2003 and 2004 Disney Half Marathon

This was the first of many future Mommy and Me trips.  Mom is the one that accompanies me to the majority of marathon races with my papa bear tending to go for the ones closer to home (that local 5K or 10K).  
I remember running 2003 in a pair of black shorts and a white tank top with a Coca-Cola logo.  The race was fun and I was starting to learn what to expect with the start and race.  I was still full of nerves, but having finished a marathon before I was excited.  I laced up my adidas gazelles (which were only used for distance races during track at this point).  I felt bad for the marathon runners that had to keep going when I was the one heading to the left towards the finish.  Mom was at the finish this time and of course I later went on to have that Mickey bar.

2004 1/2 Marathon

2004 was much more fun.  I found a lime green dress at the store.  My mom and I cut the dress and paired it with wings for a Tinkerbell costume.  I've run with wings at Disney ever since.  I felt like I was flying that year.  I was in my senior year at college and was able to pull together an amazing race, even stopping to visit characters along the way.  My mom and dad came that year.  We went to the awards ceremony (which was held on Monday morning) on a whim.   I finished 4th in my age group and was given a plaque.  

My First Marathon...EVER!

Well, if I am going to blog about my running of Disney events and park visiting I figured I should start with how it all began.  As a kid I'd never been to Disney.  My first Disney trip was during college on spring break and I've been back just about every year since.  That first trip left such an impression that the following year I managed to convince my folks that we needed to take a family trip there so I could run my first marathon at the age of 19.  The rest is history.


Here is the story of my first marathon:


I don't remember a thing about the expo or packet pick-up.  My sister grumbles as the phone rings at 2:30 in the morning to wake me for the race.  I wear a long sleeve t-shirt over a tank top and blue shorts with silver stars.  I lace up my adidas gazelle sneakers and my parents walk me to the All-Star Sports hotel lobby where I will catch the bus to the start.  I board the bus after a hug and promises of a Cheez-it box to help me spot them on Main Street USA.  It's dark out and I am alone on the bus filled with marathon and half-marathoners (this was before they split it into two different days).  I manage to choke down a bagel and some powerade.


Lots of people everywhere and a bagillion port-o-potties.  Eventually we leave the staging area and head to our corrals.  I'm not sure what to expect, I just follow the crowd.  It was very well organized.  Fireworks start the race and it is a calm, quiet despite all the people running.  The sun hasn't come up yet, but I am enjoying the cool morning air.  I remind myself of what my high school coach that I ran into told me, "alternate between water and powerade.  Keep a long sleeve tied on your waist, you never know when the wind may kick up or the weather will change."


As I approach Magic Kingdom I am feeling pretty good.  I slow my pace a bit so that I can scan the crowd for a Cheez-it box.  There is no box to be found.  This is all pre-cell phone days so I keep on moving forward and hope they are ok and I just missed seeing them.  Magic Kingdom is truly magical as the sun is coming up.  I am so lucky to be running through Disney and the parks are closed to everyone except us, the runners.  


I'm carrying a camera to take pictures along the way.  Due to the weather there wasn't much to take pictures of.  Shortly after exiting the park we pass the "exit" for the half-marathoners.  A few people jog left to their finish while I continue straight and think to myself, "a half-marathon is nothing.  Why do people think it's a good idea to do one before a full marathon?  I'm feeling great."  

Somewhere along the race course

Good feeling continues to Animal Kingdom.  I don't remember much here other than the weather started to get gray and a light rain started.  Commence putting the long sleeve shirt back on.  It's cotton, it's heavy and wet, but it's better than my tank top.  We approach mile 20 and I hit that wall they always talk about.  It wasn't a joke.  We were on  one of those out and back sections of the course near the wide world of sports.  There were these blow up people wiggling in the distance (the turn-around).  I hated those and tried to pick it up so I could make the turn and not have to see them anymore.  

Mile 23 is Disney MGM studios (now Disney Hollywood studios) and I am thinking to myself, it's only a 5K left but it's going to be the longest 5K ever!  By the time I am entering EPCOT with about a mile to go I am hobbling every step.  If I walk my knees hurt and when I jog my ankles hurt.  I am a big pile of hurt and contemplate swimming across the world showcase lagoon but fear drowning due to lack of energy.  I take off my long sleeve shirt so that my race number is visible.  I'm still quite cold and drenched, but the rain has stopped for now.


As I round the corner to head towards the finish I am greeted by a choir.  I start to get choked up and tears form in my eyes.  I cross the finish line and am promptly given a mylar blanket for warmth and my very own Mickey Medal.  I did it!  I go over to the designated family reunion tent and wait for about 20-30 minutes without any sign of my parents.  

Finishing

I board a bus back to our hotel.  "Walk backwards down the stairs."  It's the voice of my high school coach in my head.  I hobble through the lobby and by the pool towards our room.  I manage to get up the stairs and knock on our hotel door.  My mom swings it open and gives me a gigantic hug with tears in her eyes.  My papa bear gives me a great big hug.  


I later found out the crowds for viewing the course were difficult to get around and they weren't able to get to Main Street.  They were crushed they didn't get to see me run or finish my first marathon.  After the congestion of the morning they wanted to make sure to be in the room for when I finished.  I took a hot bath (yeah, I know now not the best idea) and ate oreo's before the now famous Mickey Bar post marathon tradition for me.  



I will never forget my first marathon.   The feeling I had as I crossed that finish line... as many as I've run since that first one will always hold a special place in my heart.