Go Ken, Go...You Can Do It!

When we last left our Hydrated Hero (please, give me something), he had just crossed the finish line of Donald Duck's race, the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. Let's pick up where we left off on Saturday morning.

After completing the half-marathon, and going back to watch Brenda finish her first long distance race, it was only about 9:30 am. I was doing my best to stretch out my legs, as they were quite tight, and I began to look ahead to Sunday. Of most critical importance was getting some rest, as I was "running" on fumes. The prior 3 evenings provided for about 10 - 12 hours of sleep. But, I was wired and did what any Disney runner would have done...sought out a photo with Mickey Mouse! And Donald! No Goofy...yet.

Unfortunately sleep in the hotel was hard to come by. However, I was looking forward to a late afternoon visit with a good friend who came to town to cheer me on. Sue and John Mulkern, and their daughter, Genevieve, made the trip to Orlando to catch me at the Disney Marathon Weekend, before heading on a Disney cruise. This was extra special for each of us, as Sue (one of my co-workers) had lost her father to a form of Lymphoma in December (an earlier blog entry), and John let me know his dad is currently a Lymphoma survivor. While I knew they were in town, and I thought it was to be at the marathon finish, I learned they were at the finish of the half-marathon and saw me finish!

We met up for dinner at the Coronado Springs - where I was able to award "My Champion" medals to them - given to race participants to share with those who support their efforts. And, of course, the littlest supporter of all gave me the biggest boost of confidence with an infectious smile and a GO, KEN, GO sign!

That evening I learned of my first wardrobe malfunction. My purple TNT jersey, to be worn on marathon day, was provided to me a week earlier and was quickly washed/dried. I happened to try it on Saturday evening, only to find it INCREDIBLY itchy on my back. Upon closer inspection, we found there was glue residue on the inside. No way I could run with the feeling of pin pricks wreaking havoc on my body. PLAN A: A quick call to my TNT coach revealed that no extra jerseys were available. PLAN B: We cut up an old cotton t-shirt from our luggage, and pinned it to the inside back of the jersey. Functional, but not idea.

About 6 hours of sleep later, Brenda and I were up and moving at 2:30 to meet with my TNT running mates. Spirits were high, smiles were abounding, and hydrating was occurring. I must recognize Brenda for being a huge cheerleader - she has been at some of my previous races, but never up so early! But her sign, made on behalf of our kids, would make it easy for me to find her on the course (I don't know about that 'winning the race' thing though...)
The next 3 hours in the parking lot waiting area and runners retreat tent went by quickly as I visualized the next 5 hours. Disney must have wanted us to get a head start on the 26.2 miles, as they had us walk .7 miles today to get to the start line! Now you read earlier this week about the need to fertilize the bushes, so I won't bore you with my multiple visits to nature's bathroom now. Rather, I'd like to share how runners are a strange bunch - specifically female runners! Most choose to wait in the line for the porta-a-lets. But I witnessed the strange bonding of women travelling "in packs" to smell the newly planted Disney flowers! Some were bold, and simply determined that venturing into the underbrush was not desirable, so they stayed on the perimeter of the forest to "drop trow". It may have been dark out, but there was more than one full moon visible! I must admit, I was awestruck...and laughing quite hard! It took my mind off the 5 hour visualization mentioned earlier. Then there were the "bodyguard packs", a minimum of three women bonding for the journey to the john. Two stand guard, backs to the 'reliever' while forming a human wall to shield their comrade from impending bullets. Let's face it - everyone has to go, and when it's time, it's time. And it is time to get on with the marathon, as I have been rambling.

100% humidity at the start of the race did not bode well for my modified jersey. It was soaking before the gun went off. That's when I realized wardrobe malfunction #2 was going to be an issue. The string used to tie my running shorts tight had slipped into the waistband and could not be retrieved. Uh-oh. This in itself would not have been so bad, had it not been combined with the fact that my shorts had pockets in the back which held my MP3 and 4 energy gel packets. That extra weight was going to cause "runners crack" within the first 1/4 mile! And, to make matters worse, I had a small hip pack for my disposable camera which was to clip to my shorts as well. Uh-oh #2. This was not how I wanted to start my 26.2 mile journey.

At this point, I was fretting the humidity, with visions of the recent Chicago Marathon debacle dancing in my head. And worrying about how my running would be impacted when my shorts were around my ankles. And that's when I realized I had made tactical mistake number #3 with the wardrobe. It was 6:00 am, and sunrise wasn't until about 7:25 am. Yet I had my sunglasses and cool max running hat with me, only adding to the sweat pouring down my face and back. Remember when I said Brenda would be on the course cheering me on? I could have easily given these to her to give back to me when I would see her at mile 9. Dummy.

Anyway, the first 13 miles were quite uneventful. I was managing a comfortable 10:00/mile pace and feeling quite good. Running through EPCOT at miles 2 - 3 provided the opportunity I had been dreaming about for months - a photo with a princess! In this instance, it was Jasmine and Genie (oh, I wish for mile 25...). Big smiles, good photo, and off and running again in the darkness. Mile 9 allowed me to drop off my hat, glasses and hip pack with Brenda - each of which I had carried in my hands since the start of the race. I only kept the camera for photo opps in the Magic Kingdom.

The jog through the Magic Kingdom was outstanding, just like the day before. Thousands of spectators and wonderful energy led to big smiles for the camera coming through Cinderella's Castle. While Alice may not be an official princess, a blond girl in an apron provided many thoughts (c'mon, I was in Fantasyland! Work with me here. I am a writer, not a porn star...although I wonder what the dude with the video camera was doing??). Even Woody and Jessie gave me a pat on the back in Frontierland before sending me on my way....for the longest 13 miles of my life!!!

Brenda and I connected around mile 13 at the Grand Floridian hotel. It was at this point I unloaded the camera, grabbed my sunglasses, and told her "this is when the race begins. I am going to sprint to the finish!" HA! Jokes on him! I was still managing a 10:00/mile pace, but felt that the miles were beginning to take their toll. I was hydrating at every mile, alternating between water and Powerade, but was forcing it down. By around mile 17, we had passed through the Animal Kingdom (quite uneventful), and for the first time I stopped to drink my water, and grab a sponge they were providing on the course. Carried that damn sponge for the next 9 miles, wetting it every mile. The sun was peeking in and out of the clouds, and while the humidity was letting up, it was too little, too late to provide any form of relief.

Let me clarify something - I was not miserable or complaining! This is what running a marathon is all about - pushing the limits and fighting the mind games. I was counting down the miles one at a time, and pushing away thoughts about walking. I was remembering Omar from the TNT dinner two nights earlier, who shared his emotional story of overcoming renal failure, a kidney transplant, and a form of lymphoma to complete the Disney Half Marathon last year. I thought of Sue's dad and her presence supporting me. I kept thinking about the t-shirts I had seen all weekend long "If you think completing a marathon is hard, trying doing chemotherapy". I thought about my grandmother, who suffered a stroke 5 days earlier, and was going to have a much more difficult road ahead to recovery than I would after completing 39.3 miles. And I thought of all of my sponsors - the great supporters who helped me get this far and believed in me! I was 9 miles from the finish of an incredible journey and was going to push through! Unfortunately, I am not sure all the spectators and Team-In-Training coaches stationed along the course saw it that way! I may have looked like I was on death's doorstep.

I was tired and fading. As I often do when running, I began to focus inward rather than on my surroundings. My sunglasses dropped from being propped on my head down to their rightful place - concealing worried eyes. Acknowledging those calling out my name (as it was on our running bibs) went from a wave and smile early in the marathon, to small lip movement (I hope it wasn't perceived as a snarl! Do I even know how to snarl???), and a barely perceptible "thumbs up". I thought to myself, "I am never going to do this again."

The cheering kept me going. Mile 19 turned to mile 21, which turned to mile 23 going through Hollywood Studios. Still managing that 10:00/mile pace. Behind the Tower of Terror, volunteers handed out chocolate (yippee - a smile - barely), and I grabbed a Nestle Crunch bar and put it in my back pocket (you see, that was ok to carry and weigh down my shorts, because it was chocolate. There are trade-offs one makes in life, and I chose chocolate over butt-crack).

I honestly don't remember much of running through Hollywood Studios. I saw Woody and Jessie again (damn, they were quicker than me!), the red Power Ranger (my son, Ryan, would've given him a high five... I simply moved my lips - snarl), and Tow Mater from Cars looked all guilty just sitting there (hey - give me a tow to the finish!). I was determined to run through the main street area there, where more people were lined up....and then I needed to walk. I gave in once outside the Studios. Three miles to go and I was fried. But the people in line to get into the Studios were still cheering me on...telling me I could do it...calling me by name...telling me I was almost there. Guilt set in, and after about a minute I started running again...only to stop a few minutes later. At this point, I decided it would be wise to switch to an alternative training method - the run/walk method (ok, it wasn't really a method for me, I was a necessity). I walked when I was tired, only to find out my right shin hurt badly and the only way to make the pain go away was to...run. Damn. Somebody wanted me to finish! I contemplated that for a moment while I ate my Nestle Crunch bar - didn't want it to melt in my shorts after all.

Two miles to go. The Disney Boardwalk area became a blur. Go feet, go. Walk. Run (crawl?). Anything to keep moving to the end. I wish I could have enjoyed the run through EPCOT at mile 25 more, but I had pulled into a shell....until we hit the crowds lined up in Future World with a 1/2 mile go. Sudden inspiration!!! Energy!!! Pride!!! And the gospel choir!!! They were so uplifting that I raised my arms up with them in praise - and applauded them for their efforts. I knew the finish line was 200 yards ahead, and when I rounded the final bend, I would step out into the cheers of the thousands of family, friends and others who came to support someone in the marathon.

I wish everyone could share the feeling I had at that moment. Total elation! The adrenaline I had thoroughly spent for the past 26 miles came back in a final rush. My lips curved upward and formed a smile - bigger than ever! My thumbs moved with the rest of my hands...and arms...high into the air...and I waved to the crowd.! I knew that somewhere in the stands were Brenda, Sue, John, Genevieve and my TNT coaches were cheering me on...and as I approached the finish line of my journey (which truly started over 18 months earlier)...where I would be able to rest for the first time in 4:28:35...I felt as if I could go another few miles! I had completed the Goofy Challenge - 39.3 miles...and in the process created memories that will never be forgotten!

Since this was the 15th year of the Walt Disney World Marathon, finishers were awarded a special Mickey Mouse commemorative medal. I got the bling! But more importantly, I was reunited with those who supported me that day...and the emotions came through. And where was that Goofy? I was due for praise - and one final photo!

On Sunday evening, TNT had a celebration dinner for participants. Running stories - good and bad - were shared. My running partner fo the past few months, Lynn, had finish one minute ahead of me and was feeling good. Pictures were taken. Smiles were plenty. And discussions of new marathon conquests had already started. I could do this again...

If you have made it with me this far...congratulations to you as well...I am sure it isn't easy reading about someone else's journey. It may be like seeing 100's of pictures of somebody else's family vacation. However, since you have come this far, stay with me for another few days for some final thoughts on the 39.3 and Counting journey!

Marathon Mile Split Times:

1 - 10:06

2/3 - 21:56 (Jasmine was waiting!)

4/5 - 20:43

6 - 9:35

7 - 9:36

8 - 9:11

9/10 - 18:27

11 - 9:50

12 - 9:18

13 - 9:33

14 - 9:36

15 - 9:59

16 - 9:32

17 - 9:50

18 - 10:26

19 - 10:27

20 - 10:51

21 - 9:59

22 - 11:03

23 - 10:35

24 - 11:35

25 - 13:00

26.2 - 13:19