marathon

Tuesday’s on the Run: I am a Marathoner, but…

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I am a marathoner, but…

I am not sure why I am struggling with accepting that I am a marathoner, probably because I feel like a fraud.  I have been trying to give myself time to process the experience of my first marathon and make sense of what happened during those 11 hours from the time I left my resort hotel until the time I returned. 

I envisioned the moment I crossed the finish line of the Walt Disney World Marathon at least 128 times in my head over the previous 10 months. I saw myself proclaiming, “Best Day Ever” as the medal was placed around my neck and whisking away on the monorail to my Happily Ever After. The classic Disney ending, but that is not what happened…

Instead, was the WORST DAY EVER and while the physical pain has faded, there is still no Happily Ever After.  I am trying to work through the depression, anger, and guilt to get back to some sense of normalcy in my running. There were so many things that went wrong…

  • The Weather (Upper 80s with 95% humidity).
  • A Delayed Start coupled with the release of corrals faster to make up for the time lost.
  • Going out too fast because I was going with the “flow” and worried about the heat.
  • Crowded race conditions.
  • Running most of the race alone and wallowing in my misery and self-defeating talk.

Almost all of these things where beyond my control, but still I cannot accept the title of a marathoner for 2 reasons…

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I wanted to QUIT and I can’t shake the disappointment that I have in myself. The race was BRUTAL and if you did not experience from middle to back of the pack, you have no idea what the sun can do to you both physically and mentally. I literally watched many people go down around me and passed others laying on the side of the road waiting for medical to get to them. The Walt Disney Marathon was the hardest thing I have ever ENDURED (this coming from a woman who had 2 ½ babies with no pain medication). I wasn’t expecting it to be so hard and nothing that I did during my training could have prepared me for race conditions that I experienced.  I can’t fault my training BECAUSE I DID TRAIN EVERY MILE at a pace that would have given me ample time to cross the finish line and did not rely on pixie dust. I went into the race well prepared, hydrated and confident.  

According to my tracking device, I ran well over 26.2 miles but… 

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I did not complete the entire course, officially I ran 24.54 miles, if the social media calculations are correct for the shortened course.  I know that this was completely the right decision by runDisney to put up the BLACK FLAG and I was thankful at the moment that it happened, so much so that I feel guilty for my feelings. However, the shortened course leaves unanswered questions as to whether I would have been able to complete the ENTIRE course that day.  I know my time with 6 miles to go and I know exactly how far in front of the “unofficial” pacers, the aka Balloon Ladies I was; but I continue to question myself over and over, would I have made it 4 more miles keeping in front of them to the point I knew I was safe on the course? I know the answer is YES, but I don’t know with 100% certainty that I would not have seen the inside of a parade bus because I can’t predict if I would have caved to that inner voice pleading with me to stop. 

Something mentally changed after I realized that I was being diverted, you might even say a little Disney Magic came into play that prevented me from stepping off the course and quitting..

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a well-timed sign along the course reminding me that I had too many people watching me and I did not want to be labeled a failure. 

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And then there was Rita, a friend from a Facebook group, who found me around mile 20 and suddenly I was not physically alone anymore. I had someone to cry and whine with. Together we…

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and by the time we made it into Epcot, I knew I was making my ONLY stop during the last 6 ½ hours (okay, actually I did stop for the bathroom, but I never allowed myself more than a run by character photo)…

I did not care if balloons passed me at this point.  I was DONE with hydration and wanted not to toast my victory but to raise my glass in defiance of yellow PowerAde, (which I will NEVER drink again). The drink did not make it to the finish line, but I did…

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The only thing I can do is accept what happened and move on.  I was able to dig a little deeper and not quit. I crossed the finish line on my own 2 feet, which was the goal that I had sat for myself last March when I accepted the challenge of 26.2 miles. I already was already a marathoner a few weeks prior when I went the distance but elected not to step on the timing mat for an official time, just so I could say my first marathon was the Walt Disney World 2020 Marathon. 

Crossing was not the real victory for me, it was the 413.65 miles I did before I crossed the starting line that morning.  I did EVERY run that I planned! 

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I am so proud of myself for putting in the training that got me to the finish line. It was in each of those 128 runs that I truly earned my medal & Mickey Ears and the title of a marathoner. 

So what is next in my world of running, other than NEVER drinking YELLOW POWERADE again?

I don’t know, as of right now I am one and done with the marathon distance.  I am hoping that the pain and misery of January 12th will be like the pain and misery I experienced 3 other days in my life (May 3, February 2 and August 3), forgotten replaced with knowing how blessed I truly am.  

I AM A MARATHONER!!!

Tuesdays on the Run: What do you need to know about a runDisney race?

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It’s Tuesday, so that mean’s I am linking up with Patty, Erika, and Marcia for

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Recently, I crossed paths with an old friend, as we proceeded to catch each other up on major events in our lives she mentioned seeing my endless FB posts about runDisney and was thinking about giving it try.  Well, Cindy as promised here what you need to know…

1. All Magic Comes at Price

runDisney events are not cheap.  While a local half marathon registration will cost you $50-100, a runDisney half marathon registration will be in the range of $200.  That is a lot of money for a t-shirt, medal and bandana.  Then when you factor in the cost of making it a run-cation the expenses go up significantly.  But trust me after you finish your first race, you will never have sticker shock again and somehow your eyes will never even gaze at the price, your finger will just click on that registration link.

2. Lots of Runners Want in on the Magic

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runDisney events have gained significant popularity the last years and many of the event weekends and distances are likely to sell out VERY quickly, some within minutes.  You need to make sure you are aware of registration dates & times, as well as be familiar with the registration process.  runDisney races are also huge events in the terms of participants, in 2016 almost a 250K runners took part in a runDisney race. The 2016 Princess Half Marathon had 37.000 registered runners.

3. Races are not Sleeping Beauty Friendly

Most runDisney events have a start time between 5-6 am, which means a 2:30 am walk up call is in order so that you can get dressed, make it to the bus on time, take care of your personal needs and get in your race corral ready to start by race time, all in the dark.  Most runners compete in the challenges (multiple races over the course of the weekend) and will repeat the early mornings 3-4 days in a row.  Princesses are off to bed early and have to limit times enjoying the parks.  You have to get in the mindset of you are here for “work” first and play afterwards.

4. Hi-Ho Hi-Ho, It’s Off to Train I must Go

Pixie Dust will not get you through a runDisney race.  You must take your training seriously and put the time into it to have a successful and enjoyable race. There is no room for excuses, only commitment. A great motivation for training is to pull out your registration and remind yourself of how much you are paying for this experience.

5. Magical Race Experience for Everyone

Whether you are a serious or causal runner, runDisney races can be magical for both skill levels and everyone in between.  With Jeff Galloway (leading running mousekeeter of the run/walk method) as the official race trainer, expect there to be a lot of run/walkers out on the course making a runDisney event a race that most everyone can be successful in.  Also, it is perfectly acceptable to stop occasionally and take in all the magic around you, including running through the castle or underneath Spaceship Earth. If you are brave enough, riding Expedition Everest in the middle of your full marathon, my personal goal. For those really wanting to celebrate the finish line, cross with a margarita in hand from the Mexico pavilion.  Also, make sure you take pictures and selfies along the way, documenting the magic you are having.  runDisney uses Disney Photopass photographers to capture the magic as you are running, but don’t be afraid to hand your camera off to a Cast Member too to help you capture the magic.  As long as you keep a 16-minute mile pace and are ahead of the “balloon ladies” you will finish the race.

6. Red or Blue?

While costumes are entirely optional, you will want to get in the spirit of a runDisney race after you see everyone else around you.  It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, but it does need to be runner friendly so make sure you try it out during a run BEFORE you wear it for a race…chaffing is not fun.

7. Like Chocolate to Elsa & Anna, an Addition

Okay running is not fun or most people, me included.  But something happens when you compete in your first runDisney race and that medal is around your neck…. you suddenly forget about the training runs in the middle of summer (or winter), the blisters, the sweating, mile 9 when you are ready to die…all the bad stuff is erased and you begin thinking about the experience of running through the castle and only hear the clinking of your next medal.

So Cindy, are you ready to runDisney with me…

 

 

 

 

Tuesdays on the Run: Scenes from My Runs

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It’s Tuesday, so that mean’s I am linking up with Patty, Erika, and Marcia for

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I refuse to whine, but I am on the verge of giving up the thoughts of ever getting back to walking let alone running again.  Last Wednesday I had my latest check up with the podiatrist, one that I hoped would finally clear me to at least start building walking miles again in with hopes of returning to running in the fall…

Let’s just say the appointment did not goes as I had dreamed.  I am STILL not cleared to begin walking for exercise for another 3 months and physical therapy is going to get a little more aggressive with less stretching and more machine…meaning more ultra-sound and electrical current treatments to the ankle.  And the only miles I am going to be doing will continue to be in the pool.  Worst of all while the boot may be on the sidelines, it needs to be put into the game to relieve some stress on the ankle at times…

Honestly, I am not sure how much more of this I am going to be able to take before I finally just give up.  At this point I WANT TO AND NEED TO RUN/WALK for my own mental health…

Since this week is all about scenes from my run, I thought I would take a look back at some of my favorite views I have had during a run in the hopes of reminding me (or depressing me further)…

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Estes Park Half Marathon (Estes Park, Colorado)

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Rock & Roll Half Marathon (Dallas, Texas)

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Angel Fire Half Marathon (Angel Fire, New Mexico)

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Piazza Novena (Rome, Italy)

Epcot’s World Showcase (really any place at Walt Disney World, lol)

I have run in some pretty amazing places, but there is no place like home with canyon trail runs and morning sunrises that will take your breath away (the view that I miss the most). Patience…

I have so many more places that I see while running…inspire me with your favorite places and add to my running bucket list!