Saturday, January 9, 2010

The Highs and Lows of Running In The WDW Half Marathon

You figure out which is which!
  • Starting the race in sleet
  • The lady who said "that is not cool" when I climbed over the barrier to get into the corral
  • Wearing 2 pairs of pants, 2 shirts, a sweatshirt, a plastic trash bag, gloves, and a hat, and believing that you'll make a good finish time
  • Driving the car to the race start instead of taking the race bus - because you can stay in your car until the last minute
  • Fireworks at the beginning of the race
  • Seeing the lead runner on his way back - and you're only at Mile 1
  • Running through the Magic Kingdom
  • Seeing the characters along the route
  • Being in the middle of the crowd when you go through Cinderella's castle, so you probably won't get a good picture
  • Passing somebody - anybody
  • Everybody passing you
  • Cheer squads and volunteers along the race route
  • Water + Powerade + GU/Cliff Shots = a very confused stomach
  • Walking to the car after the race as it starts to sleet again
  • Starting the race with Maribeth, only to watch her speed up, but find her again at Mile 12.5 and finishing the race together
  • Gospel Choir at Mile 13 - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM!!!!
  • Seeing Mickey and Minnie at the finish - usually they don't hang around for people at my pace
  • The first few miles in the dark, and the cold dark at that
  • Seeing all the clothes discarded along the road by runners who have warmed up, and knowing that the clothes will be laundered and given to shelters
  • Finisher medal
  • Post-race lunch, until the confused stomach gets even more confused
  • Post-race HOT shower and warm clothes
  • Being done with this race
So there you have it. As with most of life's activities, there are good things and bad things that happen. You have to take both and decide the end result. Yes, today was cold and wet and now my legs are stiff. But I finished 13.1 miles in crazy Florida weather. All in all, a good day!
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Things that make today great: All the above; Nashville server at Big River; afternoon napping

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