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Comments: Warning: Excuses ahead! The plan was to stick to my 7:08 and if I felt good eventually take it down to 6:56. I decided to ignore the clock and the mile markers and to run against the watch like I do every Saturday. Mind you I know my foot pod isn't perfect but I try and check it once a week against geography or against the track to make sure its as close as it can be. I'll get back to that. I started along side the 3:10 pace group and ran with them the first mile. They went out quick so I didn't mind and I heard to pacer say as much. I left them at mile 2 and surged ahead and pretty much ran on my own for the next 4 miles. According to my watch I ran miles 1 and 2 around 6:45 and miles 3 and 4 around 6:56. I decided to ease back the throttle to my 7:08 pace for mile 5. Soon after mile 5 I hear all this pounding. The 3:10 group is right on me and I'm running around a 7:02-7:05 (BTW a 3:10 is 7:15). WTH! I looked down at my watch and confirmed it at the next mile marker - my pod and watch were off. Now what?! Does that mean I was under trained? Had I been running at this slower pace the whole time? Had I been lying to myself, Jen, my friends and my coach? What should I do? Try and recalculate or follow the 3:10 group and if I do will I blow myself up around mile 20? My head was swimming and the next 5 or 6 miles were a blur. I stayed with the 3:10 group during that time. Made it through the Magic Kingdom and then it was if someone let the air out of my tires. I couldn't keep the 3:10 pace any longer. It was a strange feeling - I just lost heart and concentration and couldn't get back that sharp edge or my stride. My nutrition was spot on and I took in lots of fluids and kept myself plenty cool. Occasionally I would get bursts of energy and would be able to pick it up again but every effort was short lived. At mile 21/22 I succumbed to the 3:30 group, raised the white flag and let myself walk. I was done. The last 4 miles were walk and very slow running. What would you do differently?: I had a good game plan and couldn't make the mental adjustment to slight adversity. Physically I was fine but mentally I lost it - again. Proof - Monday I actually felt pretty good in the legs. I have never felt that fresh after a marathon. By Wednesday pretty much any trace of soreness was gone. Sure I'm a little tight but I've also had marathons (including the one previous in Philadelphia in November) where for the week after I thought my legs were going to fall right off at any given moment. I didn't leave it all out there.  Post race
Warm down: Got a banana, got some water, got my hammer recoverite, changed and headed back across the parking lot and through Epcot to the back entrance by the Beach Club Resort to watch for Jen. It was one long arse walk. In order to get through Epcot I had to go through like a regular park guest. I had my pass with me and was carrying my gear check bag which then had to be checked by security. I did my best to warn them of the bags contents and they were more than happy to let me right through (ick). Right prior to Jen I spotted Ross and Marion Hauser and gave them a huge cheer. Marion was running her first marathon and Ross was completing the Goofy's Challange (1/2 on Sat and the full on Sun). When Jen came up she fully expected to have me say that I had BQ'd. When I told her "no" she started to cry. It was like she was holding on to that last little thread to get her through her race and I let her down. I walked with her for a bit and told her how proud I was of her and then sent her on her way to finish. She finally got her Mickey medal. She is a rock star! What limited your ability to perform faster: I blame the government. I also partially blame Regis Philbin and the evil monkey that lives in my closet. Event comments: Leave it to Disney Parks to put on a class event. Every volunteer made you feel like one in a million. Every park is a show. Even having a bad race my pictures show me smiling. It was impossible not to. A truly great race that is serious if you need it and as fun as you would expect it. One of my favorite parts was the post race food tent that seemed to be staffed with all my grandparents - and their smiles and congratulations made me feel as if they really were. Last updated: 2007-01-30 12:00 AM
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United States
Disney
65F / 18C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 530/12964
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 86/1368
Got up at 12:00am to take in some food and again at 2:45am. Had everything ready to go so the routine in the morning was pretty pedestrian. Left the resort at 3:30am for the start via the Disney provided bus. Making cordial small talk with the guy next to me was keeping me calm. HR stayed pretty low (100-115) compared to my usually high pre-race anxiety HR. It was humid but a little cool for my sleeveless but not to worry Jen and I purchased the privilege of the warming tent. All kinds of food (if you so desired), coffee, water, Powerade (yuck), our own johnnys and pictures with The Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Donald. I made good use of the johnnys and made sure I was plenty empty - front to back.
Along the half-mile walk to the start I parted with Jen after a short prayer and a good luck hug and kiss. There was a good stretch of road to get in some light jogging and some strides to break a sweat. Took in an e-gel and some last minute water and headed off to the start. I got Corral A from running adequately in the Detroit Half. Fortunately I'm unassuming looking enough to squeeze my way to the front. HR still low. One last breath and tally ho.