WDW Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge

The picture run down.... Me with Minnie Mouse was taken at Pasta in the Park, then I have two pictures with my husband from the half marathon, also from the half marathon I have a picture with our AWESOME pace leader Deb. For the full marathon there is a picture of me crossing the finish line, running through Hollywood Studios, and getting an awesome picture with Chip and Dale. (Anyone remember the Rescue Rangers?)

Thanks to Alett we stayed at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter. Fantastic choice! Not only did we have a newly renovated room, we were walking distance to the start. Although they say you have to be in your corral by 5 am that's not true. We were there about 5:15 and people were still piling in LONG LONG after us. Wish I had known that because I apparently drank water too close to going to the start. The first day we met up with Alett and her husband and a few others to walk to the start (since we didn't know where we were going.) It was chilly but nice out.

My husband let me guide the pace since I wasn't feeling so good injury wise. My hip hurt the most so we started at a 14 min pace. Then almost half a mile down the road I needed the port-a-potty. Once that was over the Garmin then read 18 min pace. So despite the hip, we ran. Not too far after that (once we got it to the 16 min pace), I saw Winnie the Pooh. I LOVE Pooh bear! We stopped (which was a very very long wait, but who can complain, it's Pooh!) After that is when we found Deb and her 3hr pace group. I heard her talking about walk breaks and I asked Steve if we could just join her. She was so fun! I've never done a pace group but she was amazing. I didn't even notice the miles fly by. We didn't get to stop for pictures again but it was worth it. The pain somewhat numbed around mile 4 so after that it was just getting in the groove. Scary was my heart rate but I felt good so I plugged along. I smiled the whole time and LOVED it! We finished and had our photo taken together. It was insanely crowded though.

Day 2 - The marathon

When the alarm went off I silently asked myself why I wanted to do this. To twitter I went and I started waking up. Joking around about how badly I needed coffee. I overdid it on Saturday after the race and hadn't got enough rest so I just wanted to sleep. Things were a little stiff but nothing hurt (yay.) I woke up did some warm up exercises in the room and then stretched. It was MUCH colder than Saturday but I'm out there so long so I layered up. Just before the start I tossed my fleece pants. About a mile in although I was still cold I was sweating so I tossed my fleece top. I held onto my mittens. Next year I'm going to make sure I have a hat and scarf because I could have kept those on longer.

No pace group for me this time. They only went up to 5:30 hours (which is ridiculous since the race goes to 7 hours; a 6 hour group would have been nice.) I was worried about going out too strong, about my injuries and about running for a second day so I played in conservatively. My goal was to keep the Garmin at 15 minutes. I found a wonderful mother and daughter from Calgary who were keeping that pace just walking so I joined in. The daughter (also a Jen) was also doing Goofy. As we walked along we found MANY Goofy people just wanting to finish and have a good time. We talked and stopped for pictures. I should have stopped for more but I liked having company so I kept with them. Unfortunately my stomach was having problems (wish it had waited one more day, but oh well) so for the first time ever I made about 5 bathroom stops in this race. Lucky for me I had trained well AND been going slow so I was able to easily make up for lost time. A very nice woman named Petra joined us before mile 9. I ended up hanging out with her until mile 23. At that point I still had so much energy that I had to use it. With a couple walk breaks (there were about 3 inclines that I chose to walk) I ran the rest of the way to the finish line (I think my Garmin said a 12 min pace.) My dad jokes that I sprinted across the finish line. I just felt so good. My pictures show such funny faces though and I could have sworn I kept my hands loose. Oh well! I finished feeling good and the only complaint was the leg and my right knee (hurt it in high school and acts up every now and then.)

I received an awesome text from Alett that made me light up. My husband finished with a 25 min pr. Friends and family were waiting at the finish for me. I finished with tons of pictures, feeling good, AND shaved 11 minutes off from last year. Now I know 11 minutes isn't spectacular at my pace, but lets review the facts... 1. I was injured .... 2. I ran a half marathon the day before ... 3. I got a TON of pictures .... 4. I was having stomach "issues" .... 5. I felt fantastic where last year I cried a lot and felt completely miserable

There you have it. Great marathon. TONS of pictures. I LOVED what ASI did this year so that I didn't have to carry my camera. Just wish they were at EVERY character stop. My sister in law loved the energy of everything so now she wants to do the half next year and wants me to do it with her. I wanted to do the full and see what I could do... Looks like I'll be doing Goofy again. I have to train well enough that I can still get all my character photos. Also regardless of speed I'd like to be in the back again. Everyone was just so happy and friendly in the back. I want lots of pictures again next year but I want to get under 6 hours. I believe I can do it. I know more what to expect and I know where to tweak my training. Who's with me?