Disney Marathon Report 1999
by Charles Cohn
On January 10th, I undertook the Walt Disney World Marathon for the second time. Marathon day began when the alarm woke me up at 2:30 am, early enough to catch the buses to the start that were to run between 3:30 and 4:30. I vaselined armpits, nipples, crotch and feet and dressed in shorts, t-shirt and undershirt. This I figured would be plenty warm enough for the 50-degree temps that were expected.
I drank about a quart of water and ate a Power Bar. (This amount of water was going to complicate my life later, as will be seen.)
I left Maggie sleeping, walked to the Fort Wilderness bus stop, caught the bus and arrived at the staging area. Then it was the old hurry up and wait.
I took off my jacket, stuffed it in my bag and pulled out the two 8-ounce water bottles that I would drink just before the start. Checked my bag and then just stood around and froze. In hindsight, I should have waited until later to check my bag. I should also have brought a cushion to sit on while I waited instead of standing around all that time, and a strap so I could have stretched my hamstrings.
Finally I walked the mile or so to the start area. Had a final go at the bushes and got into the last corral, where I was assigned because I was honest about my expected finishing time.
When the fireworks went off, I drank the water I had brought and tossed the bottles out of the way. Then I slowly oozed forward; it took me 11 minutes to get to the start line.
I started off at what seemed like a reasonable pace and finished the first mile in 13:48. The second mile went a bit slower; it took me 14:19.
In the third mile I took my first PowerGel at the water station. Toward the end of the mile the course entered Epcot and passed the washrooms. I made use of the opportunity to pee without waiting, so that mile took a much longer 16:02.
Mile 4 went through Epcot briefly. It was still dark, so I could enjoy the beautiful lighting decor. That mile took 13:56.
Back on the open road, mile 5 took 13:58 and mile 6 took 13:44. In mile 7 I felt the need to stop and water a nearby bush, so that mile took 14:19. In mile 8 I took my second packet of PowerGel, lengthening that mile to 14:14. Mile 9 went faster at 13:33.
In mile 10 I entered the Magic Kingdom and used the washroom, lengthening that mile to 14:08. By then it was obvious that I was grossly overhydrated, so I quit taking fluid at the water stops, except when I took PowerGel every four miles.
Mile 11 went past the overstated Victorian decor of Yesterday's Main Street and continued through the rest of the Magic Kingdom in 13:36.
Then out on the open road again. Miles 12 and 13 each took 13:08, while mile 14 took 13:15. In mile 15 I made use of a porta-potty with no waiting, lengthening that mile to 14:25. Fortunately, that was the last pee stop I would have to make for the remainder of the trip.
Mile 16 went in 13:58. Mile 17 passed through the new Animal Kingdom park and went in 13:21. Back on the open road, mile 18 passed in 13:18. In mile 19 they handed out bananas. (The bananas were at an ideal stage of ripeness. At many races, the bananas are underripe. I think race directors should procure their bananas a few days ahead of time to give them a chance to ripen.) That mile passed in 13:16.
Mile 20 passed in 13:57, while I took a packet of PowerGel that was being handed out. In mile 21, the course approached the entrance road for Wide World of Sports, but, unlike last year, it didn't go through that facility. Instead, it turned around a short ways up and went back the way it came. (There was a chip sensor pad at the turnaround, presumably to catch shortcutters.)
It was comforting, as I retraced my path, to see a long line of people strung out behind me, assuring me that I was nowhere near last. That mile went by in 13:32.
I passed mile 22 in 14:02 while enjoying the delicious, juicy orange slices that they were handing out. At this point my legs were beginning to feel heavy but I was maintaining my pace. I found out, from a question I asked Frank Shorter after his lecture at the expo, that is how you can tell when your body is switching from burning glycogen to burning fat.
Mile 23, in 13:20, brought me to the Disney-MGM Studios, while mile 24, in 14:16, gave me a tour.
Mile 25 took me through a couple of resorts and to the entrance to Epcot. They had asphalt paving where they had plastic mats over grass last year. At this point, I figured I could pick up my pace, and did so.
Throughout the race, I had received compliments from the racewalk judges on my form. However, I now heard a judge shout, "Stay legal! Watch your knees!" So I straightened up, and probably as a result I finished that mile in a relatively slow 13:53.
Mile 26 led me all the way around Epcot's World Showcase, and out the exit toward the finish area. That one was a bit better, taking 13:23.
I took the last 0.2 mile in 2:37, finishing with a chip time of 6:02:39 (from start line to finish line) and a gun time of 6:13:19 for my thirteenth marathon finish. This was more than 17 minutes faster than last year's Disney, when I had real problems.
In the finish area the crew helped me detach my chip and hung a classy medal around my neck. The food tent was well stocked with oranges, bananas, and three kinds of delicious muffins. I stuffed myself with a clear conscience to cap off my nice little morning stroll.
I picked up my bag and drank a shake of Herbalife Bulk and Muscle Formula (which a niece who is a Herbalife distributor had given me) laced with Knox Nutra-Joint to jump-start my recovery. Caught a bus back to Fort Wilderness to enjoy Maggie's congratulations. After I cleaned up and rested we went to join some runner friends for a celebratory "bragathon" party to top off a perfect day.
Charles Cohn
chasmagc@bellsouth.net
"Live forever or die trying"
Back to >> Marathon Reviews
