Disney – The Backofthepacker Blog

It’s Been a While…

After my 500 mile adventure last August / September, I really went into a funk. I had spent 18 months training for the challenge of running from San Francisco to Anaheim, and the journey was incredibly special. Friends and family kept motivating me forward as I prepared for covering more than a marathon a day for 18 day – and that encouragement helped me stay focused when I would have normally slacked off. When the journey began on August 18th 2015, I felt ready athletically – but I almost lacked the the mental ability to exit the car and start running from the Walt Disney Family Museum that morning. All of that training…and I almost was unable to get myself out there and begin the actual long distance run. As the days rolled on and we got into a rhythm, getting out there and logging the miles became easier. Then, as the end of event drew closer, excitement built within me – I may actually be able to pull this off. When I finished in the concourse of Disneyland, the first feeling that washed over me was “Wow. It’s over. I made it. I survived”. The Disneyland Half Marathon felt fantastic that year – like a real victory lap shared with friends. What I didn’t realize was just how much that effort took out of me. I found that out in the months that followed.

Normally, as I prepare for one marathon, I make sure to have another one lined up after it in order to maintain my motivation for training. last year was no exception – I was scheduled to run the TCS New York City Marathon on the first Sunday of November. What I didn’t realize was that I was so emotionally drained that I completely overlooked it. I really mailed that race in – it was the first time since I began running the five boroughs in 2005 that I simply longed for it to be over. It is my favorite day of the year within the city, and all I wanted to do was move on. A sorry state of affairs.

In January, I went down to Walt Disney World to run the marathon with a bunch of friends. That was a fun time, but once more my heart wasn’t in to the race itself. The running funk had now lasted four months and I couldn’t shake it. I began looking for answers.

I realized that I pushed myself to another level last year, and I may have burned out a bit on running. So I set a new goal for myself…one that would be challenging and hopefully kick the tires & light the fires: Ironman.

I targeted the Ironman Vineman on July 30th as my entry into the event series, I purchased an on-line training program, and I set off to conquer 140.6 miles. Swim, bike, run became a daily credo. I’d hit the sack by 9:30pm, got up by 4am, and logged my run. Then I’d hit the gym, and swim a while – until it was time to transition to a spin class. I’d finish up the morning routine at 7:15am, rush home and get ready for work. Saturdays were my long run days. Sundays were BRICK days (days where I’d log a long bike ride and then hop off and run a bit). (FYI – some say that BRICK really means Bike Run…ICK!). The routine felt good after a while, and it’s one that I currently maintain to the best of my ability. However, without someone to hold me accountable – a decent triathlon coach – I failed to see strong improvement in my times for any of the three disciplines. July crept closer – and I was not ready. So I backed out of the race…and the tires deflated again. I needed to attack this issue from another angle…and the new assault on improvement had to happen quick, as my fall race schedule was bearing down on me.

I began to analyze my daily routine and then…it just hit me. I need to channel my inner Mad Scientist. I need to treat my training as my ongoing experiment. So the first thing I needed to do was come up with short-term and long term-goals that I wanted to achieve (because you cannot perform experiments without first knowing what you want to create), then analyze my my training schedule to enhance the process in order to get where I want to go.

First – the goals. Well that’s easy: I want to be faster, and I want to be able to run longer without tiring. I also want to drop weight (a dream of mine for YEARS), and get stronger overall. Those are the long-term goals. Rome wasn’t built in a day (I learned that from numerous rides within Spaceship Earth at Epcot). So what about short-term goals? That was pretty easy too: Finish the 2016 Marine Corps Marathon in five hours, then enjoy a gallop through the streets of New York City for 26.2 miles the following Sunday. Two weeks after that, finish / survive the NYC 60k in Central Park, and then continue to train for the Goofy Challenge in January 2017. From there, I’ll develop a race schedule that requires more longer-distance efforts, throwing in my first half marathon with my daughter in April. A tough 2017 race schedule should then prepare me for Ironman Vineman in late July. After Vineman….2018 has something special in store that I’ve dubbed the Florida Running Project (more on that much later).

Once I laid out my short-term and long-term plans, I realized that one thing was missing: specificity. A good scientist needs to have sound attention to detail, as proper measurements are key to improving something. So I needed to attach actual time goals for each race, in order to focus my training effectively. So I created an Excel spreadsheet, and within it I began to lay out my daily training routine. From there, I added one thing: time targets for each run, swim or bike session. There it was in black & white: specificity.

Now that I had the level of detail I believe that I needed, I needed to develop something to ensure that I focused on my targets daily. Why? Because my training begins at 4am and I’m usually a zombie at the beginning. So any time-specific goals could be written off at that hour in lieu of simply “checking the box”. I need to think of each day as an experiment, and the experiment would fail without proper focus. I came up with a two-step process to address this risk: I developed a routine where, right before I go to bed, I write down the following morning’s run goals on an index card. I review it, and then I crash for the night. That way, I wake up with those goals still fresh inside my noggin. Then I take the card with me during my workouts.

Another thing that a mad scientist needs in order to conduct experimentation is data. I decided to centralize all of my data collection from each training session within an on-line application called Training Peaks. I’ll go over the day’s data and try to analyze what was solid and what needs improvement. I think there are several factors that need to be tinkered with in order for the day’s experimentation to be successful:

Did I stick to my training plan? If yes, awesome. If not, why not? Figure out the cause and fix it. Things I’ll need to consider:
- Did I get enough rest? If not, that can screw up the experiment.
- Did I not hydrate properly during the workout? If not, the experiment could easily fail.
- Any pain? If so, it needs to be addressed ASAP.
- Did I fuel properly? I have a tendency to NOT use gels, bars or any other type of fuel during long workouts (2 hours +). That’s not smart, and part of the experimentation will be the types of fuel I’m using at the crack of dawn.
Did I stick to my diet plan? If yes, awesome. If not, why not? Address the issue and move on to tomorrow. let’s face it: without proper fuel, training will stink. Throw the wrong fuel in the tank, and training will suffer for it.
Did I stretch? I hate stretching, but I am now learning that it’s a necessary evil. I cannot stand doing it, but it just needs to get done.
Was I mentally in the zone? If my head isn’t in the game, the entire day’s experiment will crash. Some days I am fired up, and some days I dread getting up.

In addition to this sort-of high-level analysis, I’ll also evaluate my performance numerically, from heart-rate monitor data to threshold analysis in order to measure improvement. If I plateau at any point, I’ll be able to identify it…and then further experimentation will happen. I feel like Dr. Frankenstein.

Now all I need is one of those cool white lab coats…..

THAT Guy.

As some of you may or may not know, I’m a bit of a Disney geek. When my daughter was very little, we began watching those fantastic animated movies together. We’d sing the songs in the car as we traveled. She dressed up as a princess for Halloween. She loved the stories and how they were told – and I loved the incredible creativity behind bringing stories to life the way only Disney can. I’m also a history buff – so I began reading about how the company was formed, Imagineering, and Pixar. When my daughter turned four years old, we headed to Disneyland for her first visit…and we were hooked on a whole new level. Scroll forward a few years, and we became DVC (Disney Vacation Club) members and Annual Passholders. We make at least one or two trips to Walt Disney World in Orlando a year (one to run the marathon, and another just to simply place reality on hold and enjoy a few days of laughing and fun rides).

Why do I bring this up? I have a point – just give me a minute to get to it…

Walt Disney World sits on 26 square miles of land, and it contains four theme parks – the most well-known of which is The Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom is broken up into several sections (referred to as “lands”): Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. Each of these “lands”have fantastic attractions that hundreds of people choose to wait in line to experience at any given hour that the park is open. There are also some smaller rides (Disney geeks refer to them as “B, C, or D ticket rides”) that people can experience as park attendance increases during the day. My personal favorite is The Laugh Floor. It is an attraction designed with the storyline of the hit movie Monsters, Inc., and it places the audience in a small theater that is supposed to resemble a comedy club. Monsters from the Monsters Inc. movies then take the stage and try their best to make the audience laugh, as laughter is the fuel that helps power their entire city (called Monstropolis).

I know, I know – get to the point. Bear with me – it’s coming….

Now here’s one of the fun things that is done during each performance: a member of the audience is usually selected to simply be called “THAT GUY”. His or her picture is flashed on the screen from time to time during the short 12 minute show, and the animated comedians make references to him / her as part of their act. (In comedy circles, this is called a “call back”) For instance: the monster on the stage, in an effort to make the kids laugh, will tell a joke and then say something like “…well it could be worse, kids – you could be….THAT GUY!” The audience member’s picture is shown again on the screen as the monster makes this reference, and he / she usually the participant makes a funny face – or more frequently a real sour puss. The kids then laugh pretty hard. It’s all in good fun.

OK – thanks for bearing with me – here comes the point I wanted to make….

Now, from what I’ve been told, if you want to be selected as “THAT GUY” during one of these performances, you can supposedly increase your odds by walking into the theater with a rather grumpy face on. A real sour puss. Remember: they want to single you out to make the kids laugh – so the sour the puss, the better. My daughter and I have seen this show so many times that, whenever we see someone that acts like a tool or is really rude, we normally say to each other “…things could be worse – you could be THAT GUY”. Bottom line: inside the Magic Kingdom, it’s cool to be THAT GUY. Outside of it…not so much.

So there I was, putting in a 4 miler this morning on the dreadmill, when a dude hops onto the machine right next to mine. He then proceeds to set his speed and incline, and sets off on his own solo mission. Fast-forward about 5 minutes, and the dude begins to curse. “this is NOT A 9 MINUTE F*&king PACE!!! THIS MACHINE F*&KING SUCKS!” He then begins to punch the buttons on the front of the dreadmill – because, as we all know, throwing a jab at the speed button of the machine smacks some sense into it and it automatically begins performing EXACTLY the way you expect it to – and continues to curse as his pace begins to speed up…….and speed up some more……

I guess the dude did not realize that his Rocky Balboa moment must have made the “up”button on the dreadmill stick, causing the speed to increase from a 6….to a 7….to an 8….9…10…and well into that pace that the Kenyans call home. Unfortunately for this guy, he was NOT Meb, or Martin Lel, or Paul Tergat. Instead, he was just like me – a local schmuck. His anger also clouded his rational thinking, as he failed to realize the precarious situation, choosing instead to try to hang with the speedy new pace. He lasted about 15 seconds. Then…..WHHOOOOOOOOOP! The dreadmill chucked him backward and he landed squarely on his butt.

I hit the stop button on my machine, and then hit it on his as well. I hopped off and asked if he was OK. He responded in the affirmative. At that moment, an older gentleman came over to find out if he could offer any assistance. The angry dude looked up, still squarely on the carpet, and declined any help. The gentleman looked at me and said “I saw the whole thing – wow. Never a good thing to lose your temper at a machine.”

My response: “Yup. Don’t be THAT GUY.”

The 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon: 1 Down, 11 To Go

Well, it’s one down, only 11 more to go! Last weekend I completed my first marathon of my “12 in ’12 To Support the Dream Team Project”. And I began my year-long quest in a big way: running the 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon on January 8^th. Let me sum up the festivities in a single word: supercalafragalisticexpealodocious! (always wanted to see if Microsoft Word considers that Poppins-ism a true word…but alas, it does not…) That being said, let me provide a run-down of the weekend for all of you that are beginning to consider dipping your toe into a Disney race in the foreseeable future.

First off, let me say that Marathon Weekend in WDW offers something for absolutely everyone. There are kids races that go for distances of 200 meters to the Mickey Mile. Then there’s the Family Fiesta 5k on Friday morning. Then the Half Marathon is run on Saturday and the full Marathon is run on Sunday. Regardless of the distance you choose to run, you can count on really solid support on the course, unexpected surprises and an incredibly celebratory atmosphere that motivates over 50,000 athletes from start to finish.

The Family Fiesta 5k takes the runners through World Showcase and Futureworld within Epcot. The half marathon gives the runners a tour of Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. And the full marathon allows the runners to experience all four parks….before lunch!

I ran the full marathon this year alongside over 30 members of the WDW Radio Running Team. The support and camaraderie that the team provides gives each runner a wonderful boost of motivation throughout the course. I have some pictures to share…but before I bust out the Polaroid’s, let me describe the marathon course – and my morning – to you.

My alarm went off at 2:30am. I was already half awake when my Iphone began playing “The Brain” from the Broadway musical Young Frankenstein. I hardly slept the night before, and I was hungry. (note to all future WDW marathoners: Dominos pizza is NOT the way to go for carbo-loading. That cheesy bread is not a runner’s friend). I knew I didn’t eat enough the night before, as my stomach grumbled as I came out of the shower. So – mistake number one was made: I did not fuel my body correctly. Mistake number two was in the books as well – I did not get the necessary rest. Mistake number three was also made clear as I prepared to leave the hotel for the 3am bus ride to the starting area: I didn’t drink enough water. The marathoner’s trifecta from hell.

I rode a 3am bus to the starting area, and proceeded to enjoy the company of my team prior to heading for the corrals at 4:30am. (note to Disney: it’s OK to actually give away some bagels at the starting area – I guarantee you that the company’s profit margin won’t be irreparably damaged).

The long wait in the dark was worth it, as fireworks were set off for each of the corrals, as they set out upon their 26.2 mile quest in 3-4 minute intervals. By the time I passed the starting line, I all of my mistakes made during preparation were long forgotten. Those haunting thoughts were replaced by the happiness that adrenaline pumps through your body.

The first 2 ½ miles are spent waddling toward Epcot. By the 5k marker, I had entered Epcot and enjoyed the feeling of running past Spaceship Earth, entering World Showcase at Mexico and departing quickly through Norway. The next time I pass the statue of Grete the Great, I will be almost finished with the race.

Upon exiting through Norway, I began the long quiet waddle North, toward the Magic Kingdom. Approximately 5 miles of subdued plodding along various WDW roadways resulted in my arrival at the TTC. 9.5 miles in, I had passed the Contemporary Hotel, and I had Space Mountain in my line of sight. Half a mile more, just past mile 10, the army of runners ran down Main Street USA and into Tomorrowland. Then through Fantasyland, through the Castle, into Frontierland and finally out of the Magic Kingdom near Splash Mountain. Miles 10 through 11.5 were incredible. However, I had begun to feel the effects of my mistakes: I had become nauseous and the feeling was distracting.

Once we exited the Magic Kingdom, we passed the Grand Floridian and the Wedding Pavilion. This marked the half way point of the marathon. Four more long miles of quiet WDW roadways until I entered the Animal Kingdom near mile 17. Animal Kingdom is another amazing part of this race. Running by Everest, I noticed that some marathoners hopped on the train ride to give it a spin before continuing on their quest for 26.2! Not me – if I sat down at this point, I’d NEVER get up!

Past Everest, Finding Nemo – The Musical, Dinoland and The Tree of Life. Then out into the parking lot, past the front gate and 19 miles were in the books. At this point in the race, I hit The Wall. I had thrown up twice, I felt dizzy and weak. It was all I could do to place one foot in front of the other. Front here on, it became a mental game.

Another four miles of WDW roadways landed us at Hollywood Studios, entering near the Backlot Tour, spinning past New York Street, past the Sorcerer’s Hat and out of the park near mile 24. 2.2 miles to go.

Once we exited the front of Hollywood Studios, we ran along the concrete path that carried us to the Boardwalk. Past the Yacht & Beach Clubs, and finally arriving back at Epcot, entering near the U.K. Pavilion. It was amazing to see my WDW Radio Running teammates screaming and yelling here, as I had absolutely nothing left in the tank. I felt horrible. But their enthusiasm pulled me through – it was the perfect elixir.

Around the World Showcase – past France (I tried to buy a glass of wine and received a look of shock from the unsuspecting cast member), heading toward America. Next thing I knew, I passed the Italians….then the Germans….then the Chinese. There was hope. Less than a mile to go. Finally passing Norway (I made a quick detour to pay my respects to Grete’s statue – the Queen of marathoning) and Mexico. A right turn into Futureworld. Almost there.

Passing MouseGear and the Fountain. Less than half a mile to go. Now passing Spaceship Earth. It actually aches when I swing my arms.

Mile 25.9 is emotional: the gospel choir. It lifted my soul. No doubt I would finish now. My legs began to stretch out and I took off. Out into the parking lot, and across the finish line. Done. Finished. In the words of Dandy Don Merredith – “Turn out the lights – the party’s over”.

I got emotional as I had the medal draped over my neck. I always do. Call me a real sap, but every time I push my body beyond where I believe my limits dwell, I feel a potent mixture of accomplishment, relief, and empowerment. I remind myself that a person’s limits are dictated only by the parameters we set for ourselves. I leave the finisher’s area sore – yet proud. Weary – yet energized.

I take a picture of the medal and send it to my daughter. She immediately calls me to make sure I’m OK. I tell her not to worry – we’ve got a bunch more of these to get through!

Before I sign off, I want to remind everyone reading this that you can do whatever you set your mind to. My grandmother always said “whether you think you can or you think you can’t – you’re probably right”. Set a goal for yourself. Make it manageable. Let it involve something that you can be passionate about. And then shoot for it every single day until you achieve it. Enjoy the feeling of victory – but don’t rest on your laurels. Then set a slightly bigger goal and old on tight. For this is the essence of life: striving to improve, overcoming the bumps in the road, and dipping into our courage when we need to in order to see us through to our goals.

My next marathon is February 12^th in Jacksonville Beach, FL. I hope you’ll continue to follow my antics!

I am running to raise awareness and funding for the Dream Team Project, which benefits the Make a Wish Foundation. This is a charity that truly means a lot to me, and any donation – regardless of the size – goes toward aiding children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. While I slog through these marathons all year, I think of some of the kids I’ve met over the years. How much they and their families go through, and the strength they have to never quit. Those thoughts remind me that the pain I feel along the course is NOTHING compared to what they all deal with on a daily basis. When I feel the pain come on late in the race, it serves as a not-so-subtle reminder: I’ll push through some pain in order to give some kids a break from their’s.

Here’s a link to the Dream Team Project, in case you are interested in learning more or would like to donate: The Dream Team Make-A-Wish Foundation

A Back-of-the-Packer’s Attempt at “12 in ’12” to Benefit The Dream Team Project (backofthepacker.wordpress.com)
The 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon: 1 Down, 11 To Go (backofthepacker.wordpress.com)
Walt Disney World (WDW) Marathon Weekend (meetthemagic.com)
2012 Walt Disney World Marathon results: Costa wins second consecutive year (examiner.com)

WDW Radio Running Blog Entry #7: Time to be Thankful!

I love this time of year. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays (mainly because the turkey gives me an excuse to be lazy…..kidding!) – the air is crisp, the park is a rainbow of color, and people just seem to be in a great mood within the city. It’s a day where you simply get to spend time with family and friends, and thoroughly enjoy their company. The only present given or received is time.

As Thursday quickly approaches, I begin something that I call my own personal Annual Assessment Process. I take stock of the things I wanted to accomplish this year (usually a long list) and the corresponding number of things that I actually got done (not surprisingly a much SHORTER list). Then I literally sit down, grab a pen and a piece of paper, and list out my goals for the upcoming new year. Sounds oddly thorough, I know – but that’s the way my brain works. I then use the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas to finalize my Top Ten list for the upcoming year. The week between Christmas and new Year’s is spent bracing myself for the drastic changes that I normally enforce on January 1st…and disappear from memory by Superbowl Sunday.

So what does this have to do with Disney and running? Bare with me, because it takes me a while to get to the point…and I’m as sharp as a bowling ball….

For the past several years, I’ve placed some goals on my Top Ten List that have proven to be challenging, yet very fun. They’ve involved running some Disney races, including:
• The Expedition Everest Challenge (the medal you are awarded is extremely cool!)
• The Wine & Dine Half Marathon (do the mental math with me: 13.1 miles waddled + 2,000 calories burned + ending at Epcot’s World Showcase = absolutely NO GUILT while ordering funnel cake from the American pavilion, pizza from Via Napoli and nachos from La Hacienda de San Angel…in that exact order
• The Disneyland Half Marathon (Grand Californian – I looooooove that place!)
• The Walt Disney World Marathon (I can actually say that I was in all four parks in one day before 12pm, and I scored a picture with Abbey Mallard)

They’ve also included some easier, more relaxed goals, such as:
• Figure out whether there’s a jogging path from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom (answer: not unless you also feel like swimming)
• Enjoy a jog from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian (I HIGHLY recommend this one to all my fellow Disney Geeks that are thinking of taking up jogging…)
• Run the paths around Saratoga Springs and the Port Orleans resorts (sooooooo enjoyable)

Why not find a quiet spot, grab a pen and a piece of paper, and begin thinking about your goals for the upcoming year, and put ideas to ink? For those of you thinking about trying jogging / running (or waddling like me!), pick a goal or two. Make one of these goals a really fun, shorter distance run – like a Disney race. Put the idea to paper. Do the research, grab your sneakers, get out there and enjoy in 2012!

Part of the fun is in the preparation – the journey is just as important as arriving at the destination. So look at this time of year as an opportunity to check your compass and see which way your winds will take you. In my next blog entry, I’ll share with you my own goals for the upcoming year, which shockingly include time spent waddling through the Disney parks and resorts, and WDW Radio Running Team! Until then, make sure to double-knot your shoe laces, get out there and get moving!

My original blog post Running Disney: Time to be Thankful! can be found hereon the WDW Radio Blog. Please check it out!!

My Fifth Post for WDW Radio Running Disney: Let’s Get it Started!

My original blog post Running Disney: Let’s Get It Started can be found here…please check it out! I hope you like it!!!

In my last couple of blog entries, I provided a very brief description of the Run Disney calendar, as well as a few notes from each of the races that Disney offers throughout the year. In this installment, I’d like to provide you with some simple tips on how to begin the journey toward earning your first Disney medal. I’ll gear this entry toward those who never ran an organized race before – but hopefully those of you that already have some running experience will also grab a interesting piece of information before we are done.

In my first couple of blog entries, I wrote about the wonderful, accepting atmosphere that the Run Disney series of races provides the new runner. For those of you who are reading this and thinking to yourself “maybe I’ll give this thing a shot, and earn myself some Disney bling” (…ok, I just read those words back silently to myself – and I apologize), I’d like to offer up some of the basics to help you get started:

1) Go to a running store and pick up a decent pair of running shoes.

It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner, who mixes in jogging and walking. It doesn’t matter whether you are walking a half mile or running a 10k race. Hight….weight….age….it doesn’t matter. Good running shoes should be the el numero uno item on your running to-do list. Go to a running store, and talk to a representative. Let him / her help you pick just the right shoe for your training. Their expert input will hopefully result in resisting some of the normal annoyances that plague us friends of the asphalt.

Note to all of you: I picked up my first pair of running shoes simply because they were 70% off…..without trying them on first…..because I liked the cool colors. And yes – I agree – I need a checkup from the neck – up.

2) Look at the Run Disney calendar. Pick a race. Circle the calendar and BINGO! That’s your target. Now you have something to focus on. Something to aim for. A Mickey-shaped carrot to chase.

The act of selecting a race and entering it into your calendar makes the training you are about to begin worth the effort. It also gives you the motivation you need on those less-than-perfect days. And let’s face it: planning a visit to Uncle Walt’s Backyard is flat-out fun!

3) Pick a nice location – a park, a path alongside a quiet river, or anywhere else that is safe to run on or along – and just begin putting one foot in front of the other.

I’m fortunate. I live in New York City, so my back yard is Central Park. When I wake up in the morning, I lace up my shoes and hit the park, and the sights, smells and sounds of the early morning flood my senses and clear my mind. By the time I get home, I feel energized. Awake and alert. Ready to take on the day. In the evening, after work and the stress of the day has my nerves slightly frayed, I lace up my shoes and hit the park. There’s something about the connection between the body and the environment that washes away the stress while I jog along the park’s bridal path. The great thing about running is that you can really do it basically anywhere. Use running to explore – your neighborhood, or wherever your travels take you. If you’re spending time in Walt Disney World, running around the resort property is a WONDERFUL way to see little touches that the Imagineers have placed all over (more on that in a later blog entry).

That’s really all there is to it! 3 simple steps. Grab a proper pair of running shoes, select a Disney race to use as your motivation to stay focused, and just get out there and get moving. It really is that easy.

Some beginners get self-conscious. They feel like people will look at you walking / jogging / running and judge you. That feeling is pretty normal. Let’s face it: when I began, I ran like a penguin. Waddled around, flailing my arms like a 8 year old on Dinosaur! But I realized that the only person that made me feel this self-conscious was…….me. In actuality, no one was staring at me. No one teased me. No one looked at me as if I was some oddball. It was all in my head. Once I got over that feeling of self-consciousness, I hit the park every chance I got. still do. And the exercise has improved my outlook on life, made me look and feel healthier, and helped me realize that I can achieve any goal that I put in front of myself, as long as I put it on my calendar, plan for success, stay motivated and just keep trying.

I guess that’s the goal of my blog entries. I get a lot of joy out of my DisneyGeekdom (if that’s a word…). I also found tranquility in running. I found that combining these two things resulted in amazing experiences thus far, and many – MANY -more in the years to comes. There are MANY dates circled on my calendar that combine these two aspects of my life…and when each one of these days end, I feel a sense of accomplishment. My newest motivation is to share these with you all – fellow DisneyGeeks that “get it”.

Until next time, make sure to double-knot your shoe laces, get out there and get moving. If you have any comments / questions / suggestions / thoughts, please share them with me. Drop me a line any time at joseph_kolinsky@yahoo.com.

The Run Disney Calendar, Take Two

Here’s my fourth blog entry, Running Disney: Run the Disney Calendar, Continued! for WDW Radio. To read my original post visit here:

As mentioned in my previous blog entry, the crown jewel of Run Disney’s calendar is its first race of the year, WDW Marathon Weekend. However, there are other races throughout the year that really are special and deserve the consideration of my fellow DisneyGeeks that either currently enjoy running…or are looking for a reason to purchase their really cool first pair of gel-infused Nike’s. So I’ll paint a quick picture of each race, hoping that some of you might be motivated to earn a run Disney medal in the near future.

The newest race on the run Disney calendar is the Tinkerbell Half Marathon, scheduled for its inaugural running during the weekend of January 27^th-29^th 2012. This race goes off three weeks after the WDW Marathon, in Disneyland. No other real details are available as of yet – but I’ll keep you posted on any details I may hear.

Walt Disney World’s Princess Half Marathon occurs annually in late February (the next run is scheduled for the weekend of February 24^th – 26^th 2012). I’ve heard nothing but great things about this race! It’s slated as a women’s half marathon, although approximately 300-400 men ran it last year, I believe. As a father of a 12 year-old daughter that’s just dipping her toe into running, I think this race is absolutely fantastic. It’s a true celebration of women’s’ strength.

The first weekend in March brings us to the Champion 5k race, run as part of ESPN the Weekend in Walt Disney World. March is a great time to run in WDW – the humidity is low, the temperature is just right, and a 5k distance is a wonderful entry race for any new runner. If you’ve never run before (or haven’t run in quite a while), and you are looking for a manageable distance with a fun atmosphere, put this one on your calendar!

In early May, the Everest Challenge is run in Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. This race is….well…unique. I just ran it about 3 months ago, and had a really fun time. It’s run in the evening, and it is more than just a 5k jog past the home of the Yeti. The race begins in the parking lot of the park, sends you through the front gates, and winds you past the Tree of Life. At several points along the next three miles, you have the added challenge of maneuvering up, over, and around various obstacles in addition to your evening jog. Once you cross the finish line, the challenge is only half complete! You are then handed a tiny flashlight, a pen and a map, and sent back into the park on a scavenger hunt! The prize? An extremely cool medal that doubles as a compass!

The Run Disney race series takes a bit of a break from mid May through the end of August as school’s out for the summer and, let’s face it, it’s more fun to work on our tans than train for a race!

The Disneyland Half Marathon is run each Labor Day Weekend. I ran the inaugural race in 2006, and it was an absolute blast. Through the streets of Anaheim, around the warning track of the Anaheim Angels’ baseball stadium, and through Disneyland itself, the sites and sounds of this race were a joy to experience. I’m sure that, 5 years later, this race has consistently improved. If you’re thinking of a first half marathon, this could be the one for you. It’s flat and fast, and the finisher’s medal rocks!

The Wine and Dine Half Marathon is run in early October (the next one is scheduled for the weekend of September 30^th – October 1^st 2011). While I don’t want to end this blog entry on a sour note, I do need to be honest about this race: I ran the inaugural one last year, and was quite disappointed by the lack of proper lighting on parts of the course (it’s another night time race), as well as the lack of organization within the finishers area and the afterparty in Epcot’s World Showcase. That being said, I am sure that Disney received a ton of feedback on how to improve this race…and I look forward to seeing the positive changes in less than 2 months.

So there you have it – the Run Disney calendar at a glance. In my next entry, I’ll begin to share some ideas on how to pick the right race for you, as well as how to get started on your trek toward finishing your first Disney race. Until then, make sure to double-knot your shoe laces! And if you have any feedback, comments, etc., please feel free to email me at joseph_kolinsky@yahoo.com

My Thoughts Regarding the WDW Marathon Weekend, Running Disney: Running the Disney Calendar

My original blog post Running Disney: Run the Disney Calendar for WDW Radio can be found here ….and yes…my 3rd blog entry for WDW Radio…..have I bored you yet? No worries – I’ll get back to whining soon…..

In this blog entry, I’ll begin to summarize for my fellow DisneyGeeks the Run Disney calendar of events. For those of you that are already runners (but haven’t given a Disney race a shot yet), hopefully these descriptions will help you select the race that sounds best for you to dip your toe into the Run Disney water. And for those of you that are considering taking up walking, jogging, or running, maybe these descriptions can help you select the first race you enter. As a reeeeeeally slow runner, I know that I need a carrot to dangle in front of myself in order to stay focus while I’m training. Is there any bigger carrot to dangle in front of my eyes than a trip to WDW? Not for me there isn’t!

So the Run Disney calendar kicks off in a BIG way, with what has become their signature event: The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. There are shorter distance races for kids, a 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) race on Friday, followed by a Half Marathon on Saturday and, to put a huge bow on the racing weekend, The Walt Disney World Marathon goes off on Sunday. Some absolutely crazy runners actually run the half marathon on Saturday, and then wake up the next morning to run the full marathon. Let’s face it – you gotta be Goofy to do that, right? So if you run both races on this weekend, you travel home with not 1….not 2….but 3 medals! A Donald Duck medal is hung around the necks of all Half Marathon finishers. A very shiny Mickey medal is all yours, as long as you run all 26.2 miles on Sunday. And….if you dare to run both….you also earn the Goofy Challenge medal, thereby making it clearly evident to those around you that the cheese must have fallen off of your cracker a loooooong time ago. (I ran the Goofy Challenge in 2009, and most of my buddies have taken that act as firm confirmation that I’m slightly…well….askew).

This weekend of races has historically been held the second weekend in January. The next WDW Marathon weekend is slated for January 5^th – January 8^th, 2012. As of June 30^th, the half marathon and the full marathon were at 50% of their overall participant capacity (which reminds me – I got to sign up soon).

The Family 5k Fun Run held on Friday, January 6^th takes the participants through Epcot. I think this is a great opportunity for teens (or tweens) to get their first taste of running in a large group with a runner pinned to their shirts. Fun runs like this aren’t held with a fierce competitive overtone to them, so each person can go at his or her own pace and feel the satisfaction of finishing a distance that maybe they’ve attempted before!

The Walt Disney World Half Marathon will be held on Saturday, January 7^th. The race takes the runners through the Magic Kingdom before a big finish in Epcot. Runners have the opportunity to run through Cinderella’s Castle, down Main Street USA, and through the World Showcase. There are characters and photo opportunities everywhere, so most runners don’t come into this race with a goal time in mind…but I bet they run with a camera in their hands!

The Walt Disney World Marathon will be held on Sunday, January 8^th. This race is truly special, because it’s the only race on the Run Disney calendar that allows the participants to run through all four theme parks. The number of characters out along the course, rooting for the runners, is amazing. By finishing this race, each runner can say that he or she was in every one of the four theme parks….before lunchtime (or, in my case, before a late dinner – I really need to stop running with a grand piano on my back….but I digress…)!

Volunteer support throughout the weekend is fantastic. Water stops and medical facilities are always available. Cheering spectators can be found lining the various courses all weekend, helping you to achieve your goal. By the time you pack your bags for home, you cannot help but depart with an incredibly positive vibe that you’ll carry with you for weeks….hopefully months!

Another good thing about this Marathon Weekend is the time of year that it’s scheduled for. Early January provides comfortable temperatures and slightly lighter crowds within the parks. So you can celebrate your achievements by riding Splash Mountain, beating a family member at Toy Story Mania, or simply strolling down Main Street USA, taking in the splendor, unparalleled creativity and unique ingenuity that is Walt Disney World.

So get out there, get moving, and make sure you double-knot your shoe laces, because Marathon Weekend is only 6 months away! In my next entry, I’ll continue to share with you brief a description of the other races that Run Disney offers. In the meantime, if you have any general running questions, feel free to drop me a line at joseph_kolinsky@yahoo.com. I’ll try my best to offer advice – and I’m more than willing to offer motivation to get your ears in gear! I’m not a doctor, specialist, elite athlete or coach – I’ve just run a few of these races and I’ve made every single dumb mistake a runner can make. If I can help you not to duplicate my utter stupidity, I’ll do my best!

In the words of my wise Irish grandmother,

“whether you think you can, or you think you can’t…you’re probably right.”

I’ve Added a Few New Blog Entries For WDW Radio, Running Disney: An Introduction

….and here’s my first one! I hope you enjoy it! I’ll get back to whining about my running life in just a bit….

Visit WDW Radio to read the original blog post Running Disney: An Introduction

Since you’re a fan of WDW Radio, I’m going to go out on a limb and just assume that you’re a Disney enthusiast. Am I right? I figured as much. Well, so am I. I’ve been called a “Disney Nerd”, a “Disney Geek”, a “Disney Addict”…and the list of labels goes on and on (and, frankly, I’m proud of every moniker that I’m assigned when it comes to my admiration for Walt and his works). Spending time in the parks, at the resorts, and amongst fellow Disney enthusiasts makes each trip to WDW special for me. I always seem to come home relaxed, refreshed, and with a bit of renewed creativity.

Another passion of mine is “running”. Yes, that’s not a typo – I put the word “running” in quotes, because I firmly believe that what I do while wearing a pair of sneakers can be loosely referred to as running…although it looks more like waddling. I look in the mirror each morning and the same thought passes through my rather dense cranium: I’m built for comfort, not speed. But that doesn’t stop me from lacing up my sneakers at an obscene hour each morning and logging a few miles before going to work. I know I’m slow – that I’m as quick as a turtle – but who cares! Running – just like all things Disney – puts a smile on my face.

While my appreciation for Walt Disney World was easy to establish and cultivate through my joy of being a Dad (my daughter and I first visited WDW in 2004 – when she was 5 years old – and we’ve been Disney Geeks ever since), my passion for running was one that required a prolonged incubation period. I always looked at running as a punishment. In high school, if I threw an interception in a football game, the coach would yell “take a lap!” In little league, if I struck out with runners in scoring position, my coach would yell “take a lap!” When I joined a crew team in college, the first thing my coach would yell each morning was “take 5 laps!” So let me be quite honest here: by the time I graduated college, I hated running. However this opinion would drastically change after I made a promise to my daughter to run a marathon. (I know – I should have promised her a Dole Whip and an Fastpass to Toy Story Mania – what was I thinking!) I trained for and waddled through the 2005 ING New York City Marathon – and shortly after crossing the finish line, I wondered whether Disney held any running races at any point during the year. I hopped on the internet…and eureka!

Being able to enjoy two of my passions at the same time – Disney and running – is what motivated me to begin this blog for WDW Radio. In future entries I’ll provide updates on the various races that Disney offers, as well as some motivation and recommendations on how you can start working toward a goal of earning a medal in a Disney race. All this…and a load of laughs mixed in for good measure. So stay tuned!!

The 2010 ING New York City Marathon – Part 2

“Anyone can run 20 miles. It’s the next 6 that count.” – Barry McGee, winner of the bronze medal in the 1960 Olympics

As my teammates and I crossed the halfway point of the marathon on the Pulaski Bridge (the bridge that takes us from out of Brooklyn and in to Queens), and I recorded a personal best time for the half marathon distance, The Tool decided that it was time to fire the first volley and throw his soldiers of self doubt into the fray. I accepted the internal challenge and maintained my pace alongside my two TFK buddies. But just the simple act of firing that first volley caught me by surprise. His initial plan must have worked – I had forgotten that he even existed. And then I realized: that was the key to running a great marathon – never letting your self-doubt catch you by surprise or gain control over any portion of your mind while you’re in motion. The Tool had drawn up an effective battle plan. He made himself known as a legitimate threat and I paid heed.

His initial volley scored a direct hit on my focus. Instead of thinking about the crowds, my pace, or talking to my teammates, my attention turned to my foot. It didn’t hurt yet – but I was already thinking about how I’d handle it if the pain began to show itself. Worrying about an injury makes running a race like this more difficult than it needs to be. This distraction knocked me for a mental loop, like being sucker punched by Lennox Lewis. And then, as I waddled forward in the daze that immediately follows a shot to the mental jaw like this, something wonderfully unexpected happened. It wasn’t in my race strategy. The Tool never accounted for it. And I was thankful for it: I got some help. Perfect timing.

As we came off of the bridge and were about to be greeted by the Queens faithful, I looked ahead and saw a large video screen. Surrounding the video screen was the Asics logo – now it made sense. This year, Asics sponsored three large video screens that would post pictures and comments from anyone that wanted to support a marathoner on the course. Friends and family could sign onto a website, enter the runner’s name, and then send them a picture and/or text message that would be flashed onto these large screens each time the corresponding marathoner passed over a covered marker on the racecourse. There was no guarantee that any one person’s message would be selected for viewing – I’m sure there were tons of submissions to the site to begin with. But as I passed over the covered marker, the screen changed and I received a message of encouragement that came as complete surprise. To me, it was getting a shot of pure adrenaline. To The Tool, it was like a smart bomb. Suddenly, the fog lifted.

Technology is truly incredible. In a race like this, the GPS watches a lot of us wear allows our progress to be tracked via a satellite, thereby providing accurate split times, distance covered, and overall race time. The tabs that we wear on our shoes electronically track where we are on the course and how we are doing. The applications available on smart phones and through the internet allow family and friends to track their runners for the duration of the race from any computer or smart phone in the world. And technology allowed me to receive a jolt of motivation just when I needed it the most. At that moment I also realized that people are following me….friends and family that love me are checking on my progress. So…….I better get moving.

Now it was The Tool’s turn to deal with the dull haze that comes with a harsh and surprising counter attack. I felt like I dodged a bullet. A big smile came across my face as I made the left hand turn and began listening to the Queens crowd. The noise only lasted a few minutes – this part of the course was mostly made up of office / industrial space, so residents are sparse but enthusiastic. As I ran through the quiet Queens streets on my way to the 59^th Street Bridge, I took stock of how my body felt, staying with my race plan. So I took a roll call:

Me: “Feet?”

Left Foot: “Not sure, chief. I’ll get back to you.”

Right Foot: “Hey – I’m fine!”

Left Foot: “you are such a brown nose.”

Nose: “I heard that!!! Take that back.”

Me: “Enough – I’m busy here. Ankles?”

Ankles (in two part harmony): “We’re fine.”

Me: “Calves?”

Calves: “MOOOOO!!!! ……just kidding. We’re fine, chief.”

Me: “Well that was stupid. Moving on – knees?”

Knees: “A-OK..”

Me: “Nice. Hamstrings?”

Hamstrings: “We’re good to go, boss.”

Me: “Back?”

Back: “Yo Yo Yo!!! Baby got BACK!!! …….sorry. That got away from me for a moment. I’m fine.”

Me: “Everyone’s a comedian. Abs? Abs?”

Abs: “OK dude – we’ve been listening to the stomach whine and cry all morning. Are you kidding??? A bacon & egg on a roll – and that’s it?”

Me: “I know, I know. A mistake. But let’s get through it.”

Abs: “Fine – but you owe us a week without any plank exercises. Got it, bucko?”

Me: “Fine. Deal. Just shut up. Arms?”

Arms: “All we can do is swing like this? Can’t we do something more….fun? We can wave our hands in the air…..We can do the YMCA without music….we can even flip off random spectators!!”

Hands: “YES!!! We LOVE THAT!!! Please please please!! Please let us give the finger to that dude eating the hero sandwich as we pass by!!”

Me: “Arms – keep swinging. Hands – SHUT UP. Thank God I don’t know sign language.”

So aside from my left foot, everything appeared to be going as planned. But as is the case with most feature films nowadays….isn’t that when things begin to get FUBAR? (for the uninitiated: if you don’t know what FUBAR is – google is your buddy). Some twists and turns through Queens, and then my teammates and I began to close in on the 59^th Street Bridge. 15 miles into the race. I’ve averaged approximately a 10 minute per mile pace. My progress was faster than I ever had expected from myself. But The Tool was right. I went out too fast. 12 miles into the race, the 10 minute pace felt fantastic. Three miles later…the pain began.

As I passed from mile 14 to mile 15, The Tool unleashed hell. First, my left heel began to hurt. The pain came suddenly, and it surprised me even though I had been worried about it for weeks. Things were going so well – I just figured that I was going to get lucky and the injury would not show its face all day. No one is that lucky.

And then – like a general sending his reserves into the field of battle for the purpose of making the enemy retreat, I come face to face with the 59^th Street Bridge. If you’ve read this blog to this point, you know that this bridge has been my nemesis for the past 6 years. Each time I’ve arrived at the base of this transverse, I became intimidated and had to walk to Manhattan. I vowed that this would be the year that I conquered this bridge. I looked inside myself and I found the will to keep running – but the pain in my foot quickly escalated as I began the climb. I told my team mates that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with them – that they should carry on and I’d try to catch up with them.

The Tool sensed victory. He pressed the attack. The pain was felt in my heel and my ankle. How quickly it spread again caught me by surprise.

The incline was a steep. And if I tried to run this hill, I’d have nothing left and there’s still 10 miles to go. My pace got slower. 11 minutes….12 minutes per mile. My feet were shuffling now, and every time I landed on my left foot, it hurt.

I was now alone. I thought of using my Ipod for motivation – an obvious move of sheer desperation. My team mates were no longer beside me – I felt no peer pressure to maintain the 10 minute per mile pace.

…13 minutes per mile pace now. About halfway up the span of the bridge. The wind off the water gave me goose bumps. Around me, several runners began walking. The foot hurt. I was getting hungry. I wish I didn’t forget those pop tarts. And I was never able to maintain a 10 minute pace for 26 miles before – what made me think I could do it now? Maybe if I just walked for a minute of two I could gather myself….

….The Tool claimed victory. He was king of the moment. He had a plan and he executed it to perfection. My strategy for the course was left on the span of that bridge. The next 10 miles would now be about simply finishing. Any chance at finishing with a personal best time in a full marathon was set adrift on my ocean of daydreams. I began to walk. The Tool raised his boney arms over that bulbous head and exclaimed “Victory!” As I began to walk the remainder of the incline and crossed the mile 16 marker, I looked out at the Manhattan skyline. The United Nations. The Empire State. The Chrysler Building. I drempt of hitting 60^th street feeling fantastic. I wanted to be able to high-five strangers as they leaned over the barricade. I wanted to bask in the feeling of the sunlight on my face as I glided up first avenue. With my foot in this condition, however, any dreams of that glorious gallop would have to wait until 2011. Now, instead of entering the borough feeling like a champion, I felt like Leonidis and his 300 Spartans when confronted by a million Persians. If I wanted victory, I would have to think of a quick response to dealing with the pain. As I began the descent into Manhattan I realized…I better think quickly.

The grin on The Tool’s face was broad. He felt that all he’d need to do was tighten the screws a bit, and I would fold. I’ve felt horrible during marathons – I once ran 3 in a month (which qualified me to join the Marathon Maniacs), and in the middle of this 3-race ordeal was the 2009 Marine Corps. Marathon – which felt like an 8 mile run immediately followed by an 18 mile death march. I was sick to my stomach that day, constantly having to throw up on the side of the road before continuing on. The Tool knew I had a high threshold for pain – but this was different. I was never truly injured before. This was uncharted waters for me – and he was trying to steer me right into the rocks.

As I continued the descent toward the loving arms of the crazed fans in Manhattan, I had to quickly develop a plan to deal with what existing circumstances. If I fight the pain, it will only get worse. If I try to tell myself that the pain doesn’t exist, the rest of my body will openly rebel against me. I have to contain the issue. I have to accept it. Then I remembered how U.S. Special Forces deal with moments of pain: they try to embrace it. Feeling pain is better than dying. Feeling pain motivates them to finish the task at hand. Pain can keep a person aware and alert. Embrace the pain. Easier said than done, because I am the very definition of a pansy.

I took a deep breath, muttered to myself “this is gonna hurt”, and then slowly began to jog off of the ramp of the bridge and onto 60^th Street. Half a block of screaming fans, four rows deep, yelling and screaming in the shade of the bridge. Immediately you can hear people yelling “Joe!! Looking good!! Keep going!!”, “Go Team for Kids!!”….that helped me.

I had taken The Tool’s first assault. Some casualties were assumed. But I kept moving. It was a mental smack in the face to The Tool. And that pissed him off. Now the battle would only grow more intense.

As I slowly jogged down First Avenue, the only word that accurately describe the scene is…NOISE. LOUD, LOUD NOISE. As I passed under the bridge and into the sun, I was greeted with a corridor of noise. The fans were at least 5 deep on both sides of the avenue, for three miles. The buildings caused the yelling and screaming to hover in the air, which added to the moment. As I made my way down the avenue on my way to the Willis Avenue Bridge and the brief dip into the Bronx, I originally thought I’d feel the strength to release my inner Kenyan and take off at a 9:30 per mile pace. But the foot injury negated that possibility all together. I mixed jogging and walking through miles 18 and 19. They handed out sponges and a horrible-tasting gel to take in that give runners a quick energy burst. (It’s not made by Godiva, so I politely decline). At Mile 19, The Tool snapped out of his fog and began to execute the next wave of his onslaught. All the way up First Avenue the only words I could mutter to myself over and over again was “pain is my friend”. Yeah….what a buddy. A real pal.

As I slowly worked my way through Spanish Harlem and onto the Willis Avenue Bridge, I remembered my game plan. This was my chance to mentally prepare myself for the last 10 kilometers. While the crowds are thin, I could concentrate on what I am doing without distraction and think about the task at hand. The Wall was a minor concern at this point. The pain, however…that was another issue altogether. It was becoming unbearable. I could hardly put weight on my left heel without yelping like a puppy that just caught his tail under a rocking chair. The pain traveled to my ankle. I also felt the back of my left knee tighten up, caused by overcompensating for my heel. “Pain is my friend….pain is my friend”….

The Tool: “Joe – shut this down. Quit. Your leg is killing you. Just stop. All of my pieces are on the playing board. I cannot turn up the pain dial any higher – it’s pegged at 10. You have nothing left. You are done. Beaten. Just shut it down. Surrender. Quit. This isn’t that important.”

This was it. The Wall. The Tool waited until this moment to unleash every weapon in his arsenal. As I wound my way past the Mile 20 marker and closed in on mile 21, my body had run out of fuel to burn to keep me going. Marathoners call this feeling “The Wall”. We all go through it. We all deal with it. I believe that breaking through The Wall is one of the reasons we actually enjoy running this distance, and why so many people come out and support the runners on Marathon Sunday. If this were a 20 mile race, The Wall wouldn’t be an issue. It’s the last 6.2 miles that make this race special. It’s THE TEST. Pass or fail – break through or quit. This is the moment that every marathoner can look back at after the medal is placed around his/her neck and say “there was a point where I felt like I couldn’t go on – then I found something inside of me that made me keep going”. The Wall allows the marathoner to find out what his/her limits are…and then redefine them.

My moment had come. Time to make a decision. Quit or finish the race. My thought process began with one simple concept: well, it’s only another 10 kilometers. Then out came my inner drill sergeant….You already banked 20 miles. You’re going to let this little 4” prick make you quit after logging 20 damn miles? Joe, you’ve gotten this far on the basis of your training, discipline and consistency. To all of this, you must now have to add resolve. There is no victory without sacrifice. Now stop complaining. Take whatever this little schmuck can throw at you, and then spit it right back in his face by NOT STOPPING. All go – no quit. Now move! I promised my friends and family that I wouldn’t quit. I promised myself I would finish. This injury is nothing compared to what others deal with.

As this inner pep rally was going on, The Tool tried to distract me. The heel. The ankle. Now the damn knee. I was a little dizzy. I started to develop a headache. The Tool was making a last ditch push to claim victory. He was so close he could taste it.

With The Tool yelling in one ear and my inner drill sergeant basically yelling in the other, my mind was in utter chaos. But in that chaos, I found a moment of clear perspective. I touched my left shoulder. Then my right. I remembered that I wasn’t alone in this. Now let me clear this up: I am not a huge religious guy. I’m not. But I guess I really like the idea of my deceased family members that I knew and loved, if only for a small amount of time, sitting in box seats right outside the pearly gates while Saint Peter hands out popcorn and diet coke, cheering me on as I compete against my own limitations and inner demons. Between my heavenly fan club (I sort of picture them as the angel-equivalents of bleacher creatures), and my friends and family rooting for me to succeed and following me electronically as well as on the course, I realized that I had the support I needed to withstand anything The Tool had left.

I slowly mixed jogging and walking until I hit the Madison Avenue Bridge, which spills the runners back into Manhattan, through Harlem. It was on this bridge, in front of the Mile 21 marker, that I confronted The Tool for the last time during this race.

Me: “OK. You tried. You failed. Whatever you do from this point on will not break me.”

The Tool: “Six more mil….”

Me: “Just shut up. SHUT UP. I am in control. You said you were the game? I played you. I won. You said you were the pain, and I couldn’t take you? Well I have. 5 miles, you little prick. 5 miles. You won’t break me. I am unbreakable today. You failed. Now sit down, shut up, and let me deal with the mess you made.”

The Tool: “But you aren’t even close to….”

Me: “STAI ZITO.” (again – for the uninitiated – google is your pal)

It was as if someone came along and unplugged the speakers at a heavy metal concert. Silence…in my head. Now all that remained was to focus and finish.

The last five miles passed by in a complete haze of pain and determination. I mixed slow jogging and walking through Harlem. A children’s gospel choir lifted my spirits. I hit Mile 22…and there was the Asics sign again. There was that message again. That lit the fire inside of me. Around Marcus Garvey Park I waddled. Onto Fifth Avenue. Up the steady incline. 23 miles logged. I made it to Central Park.

The fans were loud. Really loud. Louder than I had remembered in my other races here. I was now in my back yard. Today – Central Park was Team for Kids’ home field. The pain was miserable, but I was now close. I took the rolling hills of the park between miles 23 and 25 easy. Mixing a very slow jog and walking, I made it to Mile 25. I was very happy to exclaim “God fuck the Queen!”

1.2 miles to go. Out of the park I waddled, and onto Central Park South. The noise was music to my ears. Fans line the streets and really get enthusiastic, willing the runners forward for one final push to the tape. I began to slowly jog…and not walk. Leave it all on the street – that’s what I wanted to do. That’s what I would do.

Half a mile to go. The pain was there…but it took a back seat to the moment. The turn at Columbus Circle. Re-entering the park, only one word could describe the scene in front of me: Glorious.

As I passed under the mile 26 marker, I decided to look at my watch for the first time in 13 miles: 5 hours, 20 minutes! My God. I could do it – I could set a personal best time in a marathon for myself. I went to my arms and began to sprint. God it hurt – but the fans yelled and screamed as they saw me trying hard. I crossed the finish line in 5 hours 22 minutes.

As they placed the medal around my neck and wrapped me in a heat sheet, the emotion of the moment overwhelmed me. I began to tear up a bit, I’ll admit it. I’ve run this race 5 years in a row prior to this, and I’ve now run 11 marathons overall. This is really the first race where the event got the better or me. As I made my way to the Team for Kids area of the park to collect my bag and get some warm clothes, the one thought that kept repeating in my mind was “you never quit”. I could barely put any weight on my left leg as I hobbled slowly home in the cold…but the feeling of accomplishment – that feeling that comes with being pitted against your own limitations and then claiming victory over them through hard work – that’s the feeling that I crave. That keeps me coming back. That…..and being a hero to my daughter.

…and as I waddled home to get something to eat, a small voice whispered in my ear… “well done. You beat me – today. Enjoy your victory, because in two months you have the Goofy’s Race & a Half in Walt Disney World. And I promise you…..I….will…be….there.”

….eight weeks. Eight weeks to heal myself and prep for a 39.3 mile weekend. I’m running the Race & a Half to benefit the Make a Wish Foundation. Then it’s on to Miami, where I’ll run to raise money for MS research. Then Ft. Lauderdale a month later to run in the A1A Marathon (simply because I want an excuse to get some sun). Then it’s on to Napa and Los Angeles in March.

…eight weeks. I better get to work.

__________________________________

“Get going. Get up and walk if you have to, but finish the damned race.” – Ron Hill to Jerome Drayton during the 1970 Boston Marathon