Picking up from yesterday –
I started the race, and felt great. I’d spent the half marathon mainly strategizing for the marathon.
I knew the first 8 or so miles were the same both days, so I paid attention to what different parts felt like, when I’d get to go downhill, when the road would get narrower, etc. (Disney makes all that stuff really clear, but there was something nice about a test run the day before.)
My big goal was to use this early morning time weather to bank some time. I was still nervous about the heat to come with the sun, so while we were in the dark, I made a run for it (mixed in with plenty of walking still).
As many of you know who read the blog, I’m quite slow. My whole goal for this race was to just finish while the course was still open (not get swept). Thankfully, I never even saw the sweeper.
Basically, I knew that because of the corral I was in, I could finish in a 17-min/mile pace and be okay. I wanted to finish the first half in about 15-minute miles then I could take my time with the second half if necessary.
I didn’t want to waste battery on my phone, so I didn’t fire up my running app. I just looked at my phone for the time at every mile marker, then added 15 minutes for my next marker goal.
I hit every one early, and after 5 miles my dad sent me the text (from the runner tracking he was getting) that I was at a 13:38 pace. Awesome.
Random note about the morning: I was flabbergasted by the number of people in the first few miles who went out to pee in the woods. I saw one guy only go so far out as to not be seen by runners, but he was perfectly visible to the monorail still… And then of course I saw one pass by.
I just imagined families looking down. “What is happening beneath us?” But, it was dark, so probably no one saw. I guess that’s just a risk you take when you’re a guy peeing in public during a race.
Forget about men peeing. Why am I even talking about that? Back to my awesome race –
Get this! When we ran through Cinderella’s castle this morning – I did not have to come to a complete stop! Sure, everybody slowed down, but I got to keep moving! Of the three Disney races I’ve done in Orlando (Princess and the half right before this one), this is the only one where that had been the case. Perhaps it was because I was a bit faster this day (though still not fast, of course). Rock on, runners.
That was a fun, magical moment.
Speaking of magical moments – this was insane. As I was jogging along through the magic kingdom, I looked over and thought I recognized someone I worked with on America’s Got Talent two years ago. No… it couldn’t be… could it?
Yes! It was. He was wearing a pin with his name on it on the back. What are the chances I saw someone who looked just look him and had the same name?
“Rico?” I said. “Yes?” Then he saw me, and realized who I was. We both were all, “What are you doing here?!” “Uh… running a marathon!” We talked for a quick minute, and he introduced me to his sister. Then we parted ways as I took off (just to be passed by them later, I’m pretty sure).
This is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.