Carrying The Bear January 21, 2008
Posted by anton in : Race Report , add a comment
You have to “Embrace the Mouse” when you go to Disney World to run the races there. I think it makes for a much better fun. Look at the Men’s winner this year. Adrian Bastos garnering his 5th Disney Marathon win…running the whole distance in a Goofy Cap! He gets it. The guy who dressed up as Tinker Bell..he gets it. So do all the Minnie’s, Goofy’s, Donalds, Jack Sparrows who run the race in costume. It’s great fun.
Then you get the folks who don’t get it…who complain about the traffic and the early hour and the wait for the start and think the starting gun fireworks are a bunch of garbage. Sad, those folks.
Disney puts on the best road races. Period. The Masters of Magic know how to show folks a good time.
Mary Lou and I went down to Disney World for the Marathon Weekend, January 12th and 13th. ML ran the Half on Saturday and I ran My third Goofy Challenge. Run the Half on Saturday and the Full Marathon on Sunday.
Got into Florida with no problems, although I was a bit paranoid about the flight getting messed up and not getting to packet pick-up on time…But not to worry. Got in on time, got to the hotel and off to the expo to pick up numbers and snacks for the run. Ten packs of Gel don’t fit into a one quart plastic bag, and I refuse to check bags in this day and age…and with good reason. Evidence the woman we met on the way back to the hotel. The airline had lost all her bags and she had to buy new everything for the race, including shoes.
I’m always nervous before races even after years of this, so I know Mary Lou’s stress level was up heading into only her second Half Marathon.
I knew she would do well. She had trained well, tapered well and was uninjured. She was fit and her attitude was just stellar.
Race Morning at Disney is always a hoot. Up at two in the morning. Get organized and catch the busses to the start area at three.Everyone walking around with slits for eyes. The race starts at six. This is all made better by the Runners Retreat, which you pay extra for. Carpeted, with chairs and bagels, coffee, tea and Mickey and Minnie! AC if it’s hot, heaters if it’s cold. Sa -weet.
We wait around till about five when we begin the hike over to the start area…an easy twenty minute walk. We are in different corrals, based on previous times. ML moved up a corral this year! Wishing each other luck we part ways for the next few hours. Gobs of people around and I chat with a few, waiting for the starting gun and Fireworks to go off. After the anthem and greetings from Mickey (Man! That mouse is everywhere!) The darkness is banished with loud bangs and whistles and star shells and red bursts of light…
It’s warm. Like, 62 degrees warm. You really can’t get going at a good clip right off the bat because of all the folks…but that’s ok. It’s Disney!
It takes me five minutes to get to the start line. It will take Mary Lou fifteen. Thanks goodness for chip timing! Your time doesn’t start until you cross the start line.
I keep my pace easy as I have to run a marathon tomorrow. Eating and drinking as needed I’m soon at the Magic Kingdom heading up Main Street and aound to Cinderella’s Castle. Through the Castle, finish the Magic Kingdom and back on the road to Epcot and the finish line.
I pass the tail end of the race heading in the other direction at 1:20 race time. I’m approaching mile ten they are at mile three, closely followed by the SAG wagon who will pick them up soon because they are going too slow. Races have cut off times. They have to. You can’t have a race be open ended. Train harder and smarter and come back next year.
Soon, I’m zipping into EPCOT and before I know it the finish line is there and I’m done…1:59. Now all I have to do is wait for the Babe. I get some food and go through a coke, a bottle of water and Power Aid while chatting with other guys who are waiting for their spouses. Finally she comes through the food tent and big hugs ensue… her time? 2:45. A PR by fifteen minutes over her time of last year! I’m about to bust my buttons, I’m so proud of her! We get a picture together holding up our medals and her vacation can begin…I have to do this tomorrow and longer.
We go into the parks in the afternoon and on the way back on the bus meet the most delightful young woman from Brazil, Carol. She is running the Marathon in the morning and is full of questions… We become fast friends. She tells us that in Brazil you don’t hit the wall in a Marathon. You “Carry the Bear.” What a hoot! and really, thinking about all the times I’ve hit the wall, “Carrying the Bear” seems much more apt!
Race morning number two and the ever supportive ML is up with me, although I encourage her to sleep in. The same rig-a-marole as yesterday and I’m in the Runners Retreat chatting with Roy and a table full of Brits who are here for “Making Dreams Come True” foundation. I talk to Raj.
He’s nervous. Aren’t we all?
The hike over to the start at five, the wait around, the gun, the fireworks. It’s warm. 65 degrees warm and humid. Humid, like you can see it humid. I find out later the humidity is at 100%. I run the first half mile and am soaking wet from sweat that’s not evaporating. It’s will be a day like that. Well, as Yogi Bera once said…”It’s not the heat, it’s the humility.” We run through Epcot and head off to the Magic Kingdom after making a big loop and passing the start line again. The rumor is that that some folks walked off into the woods after the start and rejoined when we came back by four miles later. Shame. They missed a timing mat at 3.1 miles and would be DQ’d if it’s true.
I love this race…Lots to see and hear..High School bands, cheerleaders, a high school steel drum band, DJ’s, Characters and great aid stations.
Have to drink early and often today, the sweat just pouring out. I’m not alone in thinking it’s nasty. Although, at one point I pass these two women who happen to remark “Isn’t this weather great?” (75 degrees and 100% humidity) “Where are you from?” I ask. “Tampa!” is the reply.
I run through the Magic Kingdom and see Alice in Wonderland. I shout “Hey Alice!” She Jumps up and down and waves and pointing says “Hooray for you!” Passing by the back of the Grand Floridian Hotel I spy Mary Poppins. She’s with Bert and the Penguins. “Mary Poppins!” I shout. She looks and makes eye contact. “Mary Poppins, would you be good enough to explain all this?” (A line from the movie) She looks at me and says ‘Why, I don’t know what’s going on here!” She missed her cue. Everyone knows the correct answer is “I never explain myself!” Oh well…can’t let the little things ruin your race. Like the weather. It’s not the best weather conditions but I don’t end up “Carrying the Bear.” In fact It’s not too bad. I eat every 3 miles and drink and walk through every aid station. It must have been bad though for some. We are told at the start that 18,000 people are starting. 12,964 finish. Even if 18K sign up and you have the usual 5 to 10 percent no show…that’s over 3,000 Did Not Finish.
Off to the Animal Kingdom, over to the Hollywood Studios and the almost constant crowd support from mile 22 to the end. Into EPCOT and around the World Showcase to the finish past Space Ship Earth in 4:50.
The finishers medal for the Marathon this year is a beauty to celebrate fifteen years. The Goofy Medal for doing both is new too. Nice. Back to the Retreat and a great sandwich and coke…my baby arrives and off we go to spend a few more days in the magic.
“Uh-huh! Garsh!” January 5, 2008
Posted by anton in : Training , add a comment
One week away from the Disney races. Mary Lou will be running her second Half Marathon there and I’m in for my third Goofy Challenge.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, the G.C. is quite simple. Run the Half on Saturday. Run the full Marathon on Sunday. No problem.
It’s the other stuff that’s hard!
Getting up at 2 a.m. both days and catching the bus and the waiting around at the race venue till the 6 a.m. start. Not that bad really…and everyone else is in the same boat and it’s quite the party atmosphere so no one seems to mind.
I’m at the usual place in a race taper where I feel fat, dumb, and ugly, having cut back on the training and still eating normally. Legs feel good. Ran my last run of consequence today …a short 7 miler. The other runs this week will only be 30 minutes or so. Mary Lou admits to feeling a little of the same. This year however she has gotten through training without a knee problem and while admitting to a few butterflies, is stoked.
I am too…stoked… this will be our last Disney race and my last Goofy. Time to move on and do other things, race wise. It will be fun to be there for the 15 annual Marathon. They are promising a new style finishers medal to reflect that anniversary.
The ankle that caused so much problem last month (see the blog entry “Oh Snap. Crackle. Pop.”) is much improved. It’s not at 100% but it feels strong and it should be fine on the roads at Disney. I am a little concerned about it for trail running. I’ve noticed I’m a bit gun shy now about spraining it again and trashing my whole racing season…after Disney it’s back to the weight room and work to strengthen it. I would have liked a few more miles in my legs, and at least another long run, but had to take two weeks off after the ankle incident. Still feeling fit from having trained for the JFK 50 miler though.
A week out from the races and the weather looks like it will be a tad cooler than last years 80 degrees…but only just a tad. Sunny too, so the heat could be a problem. Go at a good clip till the sun comes up and the heat gets oppressive. Last year The medical tent was full and there were folks down everywhere the last few miles of the Marathon.
Will post a race report and pics on the return…
Hope all your workouts are going well.
If you’re not working out…start.
“It takes a lot of work.”
Posted by anton in : Training , add a commentPeople tell me all the time…”I can’t believe you’re 53! You look like you’re in your early 40’s.”
I tell them… “It takes a lot of work.”
In 2007, this is how much work it took:
Swimming: 82 kilometers ( about 50 miles)
Biking: 4,800 miles
Running: 1,480 miles
Hours: 680 (which also includes strength training and some yoga and hikes.
I’m lucky. Right now in my life I have the time and the desire.
But YOU don’t have to put in that much time to have a better you. Thirty minutes to one hour, five times a week. This stuff you hear about thirty minutes three times a week is bunk. Period. Yes, that will help you lose a little weight and will improve your heart some…but real change to your body and mind doesn’t come on that. You have to put in the work. Real work. Real sweat, heavy breathing, sore muscle work. Once a week you have to do it for more than an hour, at least, and once a week you have to have a short workout where you think you might puke. That’s it. Simple. Anyone who says different is telling you what you want to hear, not what you should hear.
Five sessions a week, including one long suffer fest, one short puke inducer and three easier workouts that are enjoyable.
Will this help you live longer? No.
You only have the moment you are in right now…no matter how fit you are.
Will this help you have a better quality of life as you get older? Yes.
Will you feel better and feel better about yourself. Yes.
You don’t have to live your life on the couch.
There is a direct connection between your weight and how much TV you watch. No amount of Wii is going to help you lose 50 pounds. That kind of TV doesn’t count either.
Change your life.
But be advised:
It takes a lot of work.