I haven't posted about my training for the Goofy. I am now two days out from the Goofy Challenge and my legs work just like normal. They are a little sore and the hamstring I pulled during the full is still angry with me, but I feel incredible. So much so that I am having a hard time believing that I actually finished a half and full marathon a mere 48 hours ago. Since I haven't updated on the training I will probably add a few thoughts on that to the 39.
1. The best moment of the races was my husband telling me he now wants to start running and do a race with me.
2. In two different races with 25,000 + people at the start line, I found a runner that had done the half with Jenny and I. It was incredible to find him nearing the finish line of our Goofy.
3. The half was the most amazing day. I cut 10 minutes off my Princess time.
4. It seems unreal that the sunburn will last longer than the muscle pain.
5. Social Media is a powerful tool. I realized the day before the race that I was doing something amazing when an Ironman wished a couple of us Goofy runners good luck. My friends came through with positive comments, prayers, and good thoughts when I thought I was done in mile 9 of the full.
6. Bio Freeze rocks.
7. Did you know monorails have horns?
8. I told my fellow half participants what the lady had told me on the overpass into Epcot. I had another runner look at me and say "I needed to hear that, thank you.".
9. 3 sunrises over Disney are beyond magical.
10. Disney does magic best. The concierge at the hotel was handing out flowers to the finishers when we arrived back at the hotel. I cried.
11. Magic = Defying Gravity coming on my iPod as I rounded the corner to the finish of the Marathon.
12. To the man with the "One day you may fail, Today is not that day!" sign at mile 24, Thank you.
13. The most hilarious sign was "You're halfway there" at mile 4. The girl next to him had a sign that had an arrow and "Bad at Math".
14. I started in the last corral. I looked around during the half and found that I was mostly running with people that started 2-3 corrals in front of me.
15. One of the larger charity teams had volunteers spaced throughout the race to cheer on their runners. During the full one of these groups loudly said "You need to cheer for these people the most they probably won't make it." as I was running by. I almost believed them. Luckily my long distance cheerleaders were louder.
16. Can't is a powerful word. It is even more powerful when you prove that you can.
17. At mile 22 a Florida Highway Patrolman was telling us all we had to stop at the water station at the top of the hill. The heat was brutal.
18. There were nurses at the finish line that wouldn't let you pass until you had started drinking your water or sports drink.
19. I didn't stop at any of the medical tents during the half. I made up for this by stopping at all the ones that had Bio Freeze during the full. (A third of them had run out.)
20. On the Speedway just after I realized I had likely pulled a hamstring, I saw the pacer bus. It scared me. Terrified me actually. I hobbled to the next med tent, slathered as much Bio Freeze as I could on said hamstring and never saw that bus again. The next 15 miles weren't pretty.
21. Miraculously I finished in the allotted time. I was told that once you were in the parks you could go over the time limit because they wouldn't sweep from the Studios or Epcot. I was not in the mood to test this theory.
22. The number of hours from the finish of the full marathon until I decided I would like to run another.
23. It took another 26 hours to decide to do another Goofy.
24. I had experienced marathoners tell me I was crazy to do my first marathon as part of the Goofy. They were right. However it makes the accomplishment that much sweeter.
25. Runners are a generous group. I had people offer me candy and salt during the full.
26. Runners ability to lift each other up is incredible.
27. The Medic that walked a runner over the finish line deserves a special medal of his own.
28. Disney shoots the confetti cannon at the finish for the winners and the very last finisher.
29. If you are running an endurance event, pack your own nutrition. The conditions of the race can vary in ways that cannot be anticipated. Knowing I had enough Gu in my pack allowed me to not stress when the Clif bar team had run completely out at the first stop, and only had two flavors left at the second. Mile 19 is not the place to discover if you like/dislike a new flavor of energy gel.
30. Walking around Magic Kingdom on Marathon Monday, wearing my medals, knowing I had wanted that moment for 10 years, was the most amazing feeling.
31. I ran the Goofy to challenge myself. I sincerely congratulated every race finisher I saw. I was amazed at how many said "I just did the half/full" as if it were a lesser accomplishment. Getting out there and doing any type of endurance event should never be discounted. Never.
32. I have done two half marathons and one full. I have all my toenails and haven't had a blister. The right shoes make all the difference.
33. My new goal is to get all of the East Coast Disney medals.
34. I have heard many times "The first steps are the hardest." this was true when I started training. Although I know think this is never more true that the 48 hours post marathon. Once I am moving I am good but starting from sitting can be a bit dicey.
35. If you go to a race expo or watch a race you will see people wearing funny calf sleeves/knee socks. These are compression garments. These people are smart, follow their example. I am convinced these have played a major part in my recovery. I also switched to properly fit compression pants during my training. The recovery from my 17-21 mile long runs was better than the shorter ones with non-compression pants. They are amazing.
36. I do not have a picture of the finish lines once they were in my sights like I do for the Princess. The palm of my hand switched to video as I was running. I was upset at first until I watched the one for the half. It is hilarious. I did it again on Sunday for the full. I obviously did not learn a lesson on Saturday. I am so thankful for this video now. I can hear the sob/laughs and some off key singing along to Elphaba.
37. Three medals are heavy.
38. This weekend contained so much joy. I am going to hold on to that joy and try to not let the memory of the fear prevail. I am so thankful to my cheerleaders.
39. The number of miles I ran at least a little bit of. Next time I will run more. I cannot wait to continue this journey.
