Marathon in Pictures - From Start to Finish

More pictures, for those of you interested, in our marathon that we just completed.  Enjoy :)

The starting line.  If you look closely you can see that it is packed with people.  It is crazy the number of people who run this year after year!  Notice the flames going up in the air, it was so cold prior to starting that as soon as they went off the whole crowd went, "ahhh," because a wave of heat warmed us up for 5 seconds.  Heat never felt so good!   

This is somewhere in the beginning, miles 2-4.  The lights behind us are one of the many ginormous Christmas tress decorated and lit up throughout Disney.  This one was at Epcot center.  Too bad the picture doesn't capture its beauty.

This is between miles 10-11 - the second best part of the course!  I love the Cinderella's castle, its so magical, don't you think? I heart Disney World. 

I believe this is around mile 17 at Animal Kingdom, Dinoland to be exact.

This is at Walt Disney's MGM park and is between miles 22-23, I can't believe I am still smiling!?!  Must be the delirium.

And this is leading up to the finish line...almost there...getting a little choked up...and so very excited!

And the best part of the course...the finish line!!!  Told you I fist pumped!  This one's for you Shannon!  Try not to laugh too hard. 

Final time...3:58:25...Run Disney!

Up next??  Goofy Challenge!  Anyone?!?!

*Sorry about the low resolution of the pictures.

Marathon 26.2 - Walt Disney World Take 2

Did you know that only one tenth of 1% of the population actually complete a marathon?  Well thats what Olympian Jeff Galloway told us before the start of the marathon.  

We did it!  I ran my second marathon and Andrew ran his first and joined the club!  Our marathon weekend started two days before the big day.  The first day we got to Disney, we went to pick up or packets and enjoy the huge expo that is put on every year.  There were over 50,000 runners competing the entire weekend, so you can only imagine the massive amounts of people there at one time.  It was crazy!

"I tell our runners to divide the race into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart." Mike Fanelli

My mom and brother ran the half marathon the next day.  They did awesome!  My mom got a PR and my brother placed 119 out of 27,000.  My mom placed 43/916 in her age group.  Pretty awesome if I do say so myself!  After their race, we decided to go enjoy the Animal Kingdom Park.  It was so much fun!  All of the parks have a central interest point.  Animal Kingdom's is the Tree of Life.  It was incredible and I was obsessed with it.  The pictures do not even do it justice.  I was in awe of all of it.  Pretty sure I drove Andrew nuts about it.  And seriously thinking about devoting an entire post to "the tree."  

We also went on a safari and saw amazing creatures!  And I learned that I desperately need to take my husband to the zoo.  He loved the animals like a kid loves a candy store!  It was like he had never been to a zoo before, ever!

I think this is one of my favorite pictures of all time.  And this is an upside down tree.

The beautiful African Safari landscape. 

We carb loaded that night at Rainforest Cafe and tried to go to bed early, ha, like we could actually sleep!  3:00 am came sooner rather than later and we were up and ready for a 5:30 am start time.  We had to catch the bus before 4:00 am to get to Epcot, where we then had to walk 20 minutes to get to our corral.  There were 8-9 corrals and we were in the second one, thank goodness for that, unlike the hour it took others, it only took us two minutes to cross the actual start line!  There were tons and tons of crazy people there!  Why crazy you ask?  Because we all signed up and paid for this torture we call 26.2 miles.

It felt so cold during the hour we were waiting before the race started.  We were freeeezing.  It was so cold!  Brrrr...  Then finally At 5:35 am we were off, with fireworks and Mickey Mouse to send us on our way!  It was, as they often say in Disney World, magical.  Andrew and I kept pace with each other for the first 5-6 miles.  Then I lost him in the crowd.  Boy was it crowded!  I stopped a few times to try to find him and ended up creating more problems due to the huge crowd around me.  I was unsuccessful so I just had to keep running.  Luckily I had set us both up for tracking on our phone, so every time we crossed a certain point a text message was sent to our phone.  I ran with my phone, set to the Black Eyed Peas station on Pandora, of course, and listened for text message notifications so I would know when Andrew would cross certain points.  Since he had been so sick the week leading up to the race, I felt so bad for him and I was so worried about him the entire rest of the way.  Poor guy!  Little did I know, Andrew had torn both of his hamstrings around mile 6 of the 26.2 mile run.  He was miserable!  I do not know how he finished!  I really don't!  Probably not a race for him to remember.  Maybe I can get him to blog about his story.

"If you feel bad at 10 miles, you're in trouble. If you feel bad at 20 miles, you're normal. If you don't feel bad at 26 miles, you're abnormal."  Rob de Castella

 
Needless to say, everything that could possibly go wrong with Andrew's marathon did.  I feel bad saying this, but everything that could go right for me went right for me that day.  I ran well, with little pain.  Thank you God!  My first five miles were at an 8:59 minute mile pace and then all the way to mile 22, my pace was around an 8:40 - 8:45 minute mile pace.  Except for my feet throbbing, I felt great!  Mile 22-26 were a little rough.  My calves were starting to ache a little and my feet throbbed harder, but I don't remember hitting the wall nearly as hard as I did my first marathon.  I can remember around mile 19, seeing a sign that said, "Pain is temporary, pride is forever."  Along with praying, I recited that to myself the rest of the way.  Then I can remember singing along to a song at mile 22 with some of the other runners around me, delirium setting in?  I think so.  The miles in between were filled with awesome cheerleaders, and running through the ever famous four Walt Disney World Parks, with the Magic Kingdom Castle being my favorite.  The course also had all of the famous Disney characters scattered the entire way.  It is magical, it really is.  I finally crossed the finish line at 3:58:25, that is 3 hours, 58 minutes and 25 seconds.  I beat my first marathon time by 2 minutes and got a sub 4 marathon time!  I got a little emotional too, who wouldn't?  Such an awesome feeling, runners high for sure!  And you better believe I fist pumped at the finish line, told you I would didn't I?!?  Oh, and our medal is so freaking awesome!  You better believe I run for a medal!  As do others, just ask all the silly people who wore their medal everywhere the next few days, probably even in the shower. 

We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.  -Emil Zatopek

The Walt Disney World Marathon is incredible!  Put it on your list of things to do!  Run Disney!  You will not be disappointed.

A special thank you to my awesome family and friends who have been so supportive to Andrew and I.  We love you guys and truly appreciate all of the encouragement you have given us.  More pictures to come soon!

"I've learned that finishing a marathon isn't just an athletic achievement. It's a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible."  John Hanc

Marathon training weeks 16 & 17.5 - Life happens

All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me...  

Walt Disney

I am waaaaay behind!  As most of you know, we just finished the marathon!  More about that in a bit.  For now, I want to tell you all about our last few weeks of training.  Week 16 consisted of running 5, 8, 4 and a 12 mile long run.  It was pretty uneventful.  Week 17 was a 4, 6, 3 and an 8 mile long run.  Our training week was cut a little short due to our mini vacation to Colorado to bring in the new year with Andrew's family.  I ran my 8 mile long run on the Thursday before the weekend as opposed to actually running the long run during the weekend like we were supposed to.  Andrew was not able to run the long run, due to waiting until the last minute to pack time constraints.  We left for Colorado on Friday and I must tell you, I had every intention on running while we were there; however it did not happen.  I went 6 days without running and then finally did my two last training runs, that were 4 and 3 miles, until the marathon.  Was this smart of me?  I dunno.  Looking back now, I think so!

The inevitable happened for Andrew though....He got the flu on our trip, 6 days before the marathon.  He was only able to run a short 2 mile run during the week and a half prior to the big day.  Life stinks happens!  He was pretty stressed during the week before race day.  And I don't blame him one bit!  I can only imagine the thought of putting in all the time training over the past 3 months and then to get the flu.  Oh how I wish he would have gotten a flu shot!  Better luck next year, along with getting a flu shot for sure!

On a more positive note, we did it!!!  We completed the 18 week training program recommended by the famous Hal Higdon.  I am so proud of Andrew for sticking to the plan and doing it with me.  It really takes a lot of time and dedication to even attempt, let alone finish.  Good job hunny!

Stay tuned for how the marathon went.  Coming soon!

Marathon training week 15 - The big one!

We did it!  We finished week 15 of our training!  Can I just begin by telling you how so very glad I am that this week of our training is over.  We ran 5, 10, & 5 miles during the week and then 20 miles on the weekend.  It's crazy how 5-10 miles seems like nothing now that we have run 16, 18, & 20 mile runs.  We did the 20 mile run on the river, we ran the entire path, twice!  It's such a great feeling to have that week under our belt.  It's all downhill from here and it feels awesome!

I am so proud of Andrew!  He has endured this crazy, insane training with me and never only complained a couple of times.  This is the second time around for me to train for this crazy beast, and I must say, this time has been so much better.  I think its most definitely because I get to do it with my husband!  I love being able to train for this together, sure has been awesome and will make for so great memories!

I can't believe the marathon is actually in 2.5 weeks!  Time flies when you are in pain having fun!

Week 14 - 14 miles

Last weeks training consisted of running 5, 9, & 5 miles and then a 14 mile long run.  I tried to convince Andrew to run the long run on Saturday, because it was warmer than it was on Sunday, but then again it was really windy Saturday and not so much on Sunday.  I told Andrew it was going to be cold on Sunday, but I don't think he really believed it was going to be as cold as I said it was.  He looked it up on the weather channel and it said 37 degrees, however, he failed to look at the wind chill...it said 18, brrrrr!  Needless to say, we ran on Sunday in lots and lots of clothes.  We decided to run right around our house, and then I got the brilliant idea to run across the street at the sports complex, and it was brilliant I tell you!  I give Andrew 20% of the credit, I get the other 80%.  As we were running into the sports complex we Andrew found the high schools cross country course.  It was a great change of pace!  We found 5 miles worth of trails and ponds.  We even took our psycho lab along for the run, and she loved it!  I can't wait to take her back in the Summertime when it's much nicer out, she will have a ball playing in the water! 

So week 14 wasn't so bad.  I actually feel rejuvenated now, especially since it was so much better than the week before.  This coming week though, it's going to be brutal.  I'm so excited I can't hardly stand it, ha, not so much!  The only good thing about it is that after this week is over, we begin to taper down!  We also get one week closer to Disney World!  Yippee Skippee, I am so excited!

*sorry for the boring post, and the rambling, please stay tuned.

Marathon training week 13 - Ouch!

"I've learned that finishing a marathon isn't just an athletic achievement. It's a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible."  John Hanc

Last week was week 13 out of 18 of our marathon training.  We were supposed to run 4, 9, & 5 miles during the week, but I think I ended up running 7, 7, & 5 or something like that due to my weird work hours.  We finished the week off with an 18 mile run on Sunday.  Do you remember what the weather was like on Sunday?  If not, let me remind you, it was COLD and windy and dreary looking, oh and it was cold, did I mention that yet?  Brrrr.  Andrew wanted to run it around the lake in our hometown.  The loop is only roughly 6 miles, so what did we do?  Ran it 3 times of course!  I hated it, every second of it.  I was cold and never warmed up, therefore I couldn't ever get into my "running groove."  I also did not take in enough fluids, nor did I eat anything but a piece of toast prior to the race, and prior to that, hadn't had anything to eat in 24 hrs thanks to my hours right now.  I was in a bad mood the whole time I was running, poor Andrew.  It's such a bad feeling when you can't get into the groove when you are running and let your mind wander, well it is for me anyway, and it makes for a miserable 3 hours.  Oh and guess what?  It was cold!  Andrew liked the run though.  Thank goodness he did.  He may have sworn off this dang marathon if he didn't!  Don't worry though, I learned my lesson.  I will wear more clothes and eat and drink correctly this coming week.  Yes, mother dear, I promise!

"The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win."

- Sir Roger Bannister

Two years ago, I don't remember 18 miles being so bad, but then again, I don't really remember it at all.  Maybe it was bad and I just blocked it out of my mind?!?  Nevertheless, its over, finished and done with, thank goodness for that!  It's weeks like these where I have to look back at pictures and remember the awesome experience from start to finish...

Yep that's me with my hands in the air, at least I wasn't fist pumping like the guy next to me, I am saving that for this year!

A marathon is like life with its ups and downs, but once you've done it you feel that you can do anything. -unknown

It's time like these that I remember the runner's high and the incredible memories that were made with my family that can never be taken away.

Now, onto week 14...Gotta finish what's already been started!

We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.  -Emil Zatopek

Route 66 Half

courtesy of www.zazzle.com

This past weekend my husband, my mother, my father-in-law (Matt), one of my dear friends Sarah, and I all ran the Route 66 Half Marathon.  The run was kinda fun.  I say kinda, because well...it was windy!!!  and hilly!!!  But it was a beautiful 13.1 mile run through midtown.  There were spectators and bands scattered throughout the course to help pass the time too.  It was much better organized than years past, with water stops every couple of miles and first aid stations along the way.  Despite the hills and the wind, the race was great, one that I highly recommend.

I have ran 4 official half marathons now, well 4 that I can think of, but this one takes the cake as being the most memorable.  Why you ask?  This was my husbands first half marathon!  And he did great!!! This is the longest distance Andrew has ever run, well...until this coming weekend...this weekend is the make it or break it point in the marathon training.  This weekend is the dreaded 16 miles.  Don't ask me why, but it was at that run 2 years ago during my marathon training when I was beginning to question what I was thinking when I signed up for my first marathon in the first place.  But sshhh, please don't tell him.  If you do happen to see him though, tell him good job, I'm so proud of him I can hardly stand it!!

Matt, Andrew's dad, also completed his first marathon!  We are so proud of him too!  Poor guy, he got suckered into running these crazy distances because as a 50th birthday present, Andrew and I signed his dad up for the half marathon, what a great birthday present, right?!?! Happy Running Birthday Matt!!! 

Please pray for the fallen runner that lost his life during the half marathon and please pray that his family finds peace and comfort during this difficult time. 

Until next time...

Its official!

I am so excited I can hardly contain myself.  After months of politely begging constant nagging, my mother is finally talked into going to Walt Disney World with us to run during the marathon weekend.  (Thanks for your help dad!)  Although, we have only talked her into doing the half and not the full marathon this year, I couldn't be more excited!  Andrew, my youngest brother, my mom, and I are all going to go to Walt Disney World in January to run in the most magically happy race ever at the most wonderful place on Earth!  I know I must sound like a complete dork, but I am so freakin excited!!!

Some of you may remember this post here, but for those who don't, two years ago I decided to sign my parents, my brother, and I up for the Disney marathon, because I really really wanted to go to Disney World and that was the only way I could get my parents, who NEVER go ANYWHERE, to go on a vacation together.  It was a blast.  We had so much fun, including my mom and dad, who still talk about how much fun (and pain) we had two years ago.  My mom hasn't been on a vacation since.  Getting her to go somewhere and do something fun for herself is really like pulling extremely stubborn teeth.  (I obviously get my obsession with vacations from my favorite aunt.)  And I can't think of anyone else on this earth that deserves to have a fun vacation more than her.  So, if you can't tell, I AM STOKED!!!  Making memories on vacation with those I love the most, is one of my most favorite things in the world, as if you didn't already know that.  

And my husband and I get to run a marathon together at Disney World, a place he has NEVER been?!?!  Of course, he will probably swear off running entirely come January 9th at 10 a.m., and I am sure he will be singing me songs of praise shouting not so nice words to me along the way for signing him us for this painful 26.2 mile run, come mile 20.  But I know deep down he will be so proud of himself and the accomplishment that completing a marathon brings with it, or at least I will be so proud of him and never make him run another mile only make him run one more marathon, or maybe two, in his lifetime.

 We are at week 10 of our 18 week training program.  So far so good!