Walt Disney World Marathon - RunMarathon

Corrals A, B and C ran a different first three miles than the other corrals. Earl and I started out pretty easy as our first three miles ran on some back roads behind Epcot before turning in near England and then out a few countries later. At mile 3, I told Earl I was hitting up the medical tent for Bio-Freeze and Earl said he was going to keep going. We said our good lucks and off he went. I started up again and turned on my iPod. I just kept a steady, slow, comfortable pace. I stuck to my nutrition plan used in training and for the half - a GU every :30. I also drank the poweraid on the course and hit up every possible medical tent for BioFreeze (for my knees).
We ran a similar course as the half (the road north towards the Magic Kingdom). We ran through the parking lot (this time it was 70's music and 80's music). I was searching for Marna at this point since I knew she was somewhere around her volunteering as a "screaming fan". We ran past the Contemporary and into the Magic Kingdom. At this point, I really thought I missed seeing her and I was so bummed! As I ran down Main Street, I heard someone yelling my name and there was Marna - right near Mickey and Minnie! She convinced me to wait in line to get my picture taken with them before I was off again. I saw Trixie near the tea cups and yelled her way. She and tri take me away caught up to me on the other side of the castle. We continued to "leap frog" eachother for a bunch of miles.
The long stretch after the MK to the half way point was challenging. It was getting hot and I was progressively getting more sore.
I saw trixie and tri take me away again and they were encouraging each time we passed eachother.
The course turned down a long, boring road which took us past the water treatment plant (stinky) before going into Animal Kingdom. They had a bunch of animals on the side of the course (an eagle, some rabbit thing, a turtle, etc). We ran past the new Everest ride and into Dinoland before leaving AK. Trixie and fitphd are two of the most entertaining people I've ever met. Their energy is addicting and I found myself running whenever they passed me. I swear, they made the time FLY BY!!! It was too bad I couldn't hold their pace...
I found myself walking a lot more than running at this point (I wasn't the only one) and walked about the last 6-7 miles. It was nearly 80 degrees at this point and was super sunny with no shade. The aid stations also ran out of water and only had power aid. WHAT?!
We did a short out and back before heading into MGM. They had some sprayers there misting water and had candy which was YUMMY!
We then exited MGM and headed towards the Boardwalk and Epcot. We ran/walked by the Yacht and Beach club before going into the side entrance of Epcot....where else, but at England again! ARGH! I was only walking at this point and my feet/arches and knees were killing me. The course took us around the countries before heading towards Spaceship Earth. Since the finish for the full marathon was the same as the half, I knew when I wanted to start running. We passed one last band before the 26 mile marker at which point I started running. I heard Marna and her two friends screaming for me as I ran towards the finish line.

Umm...not run 13.1 miles the day before.
Not have surgery to remove my appendix three and a half months before the race.

Found Brad and Earl, got my Goofy medal and then headed back to the hotel to stretch and eat.


The half marathon the day before, the sun/heat and major surgery 3.5 months before the race which delayed training.


I would give this race a 5 if they didn't run out of water at the aid stations. The course was for the most part fun and the crowds were great when they were there.
It was awesome to meet and run with BTers. Their energy carried me those miles!
I'd definitely do this race again (no, not the Goofy....just the marathon).