Walt Disney World Marathon - RunMarathon

I was fortunate to be in Corral B for this race as well. It allowed me to see all the pre race activities plus most of the people I started with were running about the same pace once we found some elbow room. I had some sweatpants that I picked up cheap to discard just before the race started, kept the hooded sweatshirt on till the 2nd mile. The first few miles there were 2 seperate courses that ran around the Epcot area before merging into one as we headed towards the Magic Kingdom. The first 5 or 6 miles are kind of wierd as it is quite crowded, but since it is so dark other than the occasional street light, I felt like I was alone on one of my early morning training runs.

About mile 8 is where I finally had to give in and hit the porto potty. Not sure since I can't seem to retrieve my lap data how much time I lost, but I have a feeling it is more than I want and missing my 4 hour goal by less than 3 minutes one of the places that cost my goal.

It is also where I lost the 3:40 pace group since I had to drop them. I had no intention or plan to run 3:40 for this race, but felt I could that pace for the first half to 3/4's and then see what happened. I was able to maintain that pace again once I got out and running again. Miles 8 through about 12 or 13 is when the sun started coming up and they take you by the Magic Kingdom parking lots, the Contemporary Resort and through the Magic Kingdom. Lots of people out cheering us on! Very motivational! The time through here just seemed to click by quickly!

Miles 13 through 16 take you through the service roads from the Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom. Nothing exciting other than the occasional DJ or Accordian association of Orlando! Kind of an easy place to hit a wall, but other than starting to feel the fatigue a bit, made through here pretty much ok. About the only change I made is that I started to walk the water stops to make sure I got a good drink of power ade. Some where I lost my salt pills, and my previous 2 marathons I needed them regardless of the temp, so I was a bit nervous of cramping later on. Plus, by this point enough people had been through and spilled enough drinks that the aid stations were skating rinks.
Animal Kingdom was cool to run through, although there wasn't any visitors in the park. There were quite a few out front cheering us on though. So that helped!
From miles 18 to 22 it is back out onto service roads. This is where the cold started to give me some minor quad cramps. But it was only enough to slow me down some, but never require anything more than that. I knew I was getting close to 4 hour pace at this point so I started skipping every other aid station. I don't think it hurt, but obviously it didn't help either. Mentally I think this section, which included an out and back was the toughest. Not sure why, other than it is starting into the distance above and beyond the training runs! But once we got into MGM Studios at mile 22 the people were out motivating us again and I felt I could make it from there without a problem.
We stayed at the Yacht Club and my parents, wife and kids (not really kids anymore) were waiting in front for me. I felt bad after, as I misread the map somehow and told them to be out in front about half an hour earlier so they were out waiting a while before I got there, but they were good sports about it and it was a big kick for me to get finished with!

From there it was into Epcot for the trip around the world and the finish. I was clomping along and a lady came up to me and said, c'mon we can beat 4 hours so I went with her. Physically I think I had some faster miles in my legs than my brain allowed towards the end, but I finished strong and with a smile! She was wrong about beating 4 hours, but it helped get me to the finish faster!

I was happy to see the finish line, but it was a bit bittersweet too. I started training for this back in July by building the run miles up after Musselman to a point that I could start the Pfitzinger plan in September. It was great to reach the finish line, but realizing this journey was over was a bit emotional! But I completed the Goofy Challenge and I was thrilled with that. Especially since I had a goal of under 6 hours and I did it! Didn't get my 4 hour marathon goal, but this probably wasn't the best venue for that along with the half anyways!

Nothing that I could control.

Wandered into the finish area and got my medal for the marathon, then to the Goofy Challenge tent for the Goofy medal. If nothing else, the medals for these races are some of the nicest I have gotten at any race! Grabbed a little food and my warm clothes which felt awesome.


I missed about 3 weeks of quality running, including the last 20 miler due to a strained hamstring. Other than that, the usual comment about losing a bit more weight would help.

I loved training with the Pfitzinger plan, I would do it again for my next marathon, maybe even one of the higher mileage plans (I did the 17 weeks on 55 miles per week plan). The hammy issue was caused by being a bit too agressive on the bike. But even missing some of the scheduled runs, I still felt comfortably prepared for these races. Plus over the course of the training, I set 2 5K PR's, a 10K PR, and I guess you can say a half marathon PR (but it was the first one I ever ran). Plus this was a marathon PR of about 35 minutes, not insignificant!

Another limiter that I need to work on is the mental focus for these longer races. I think physically I could push harder through the discomfort if my mind would cooperate!


Other than the post race food, they do a very good job. Maybe too many aid stations? But the volunteers were great! The organization is good! Not sure I would do this race on a regular basis due to cost, but I would put this in the must do marathon catagory.
One side note, I thought doing Disney would be entertaining running through the parks, and it was. I was surprised, however how few miles there actually are in the parks versus miles on access roads!