Hello Friends!
Just returning from Orlando, Fl where I successfully completed the Goofy Challenge! 13.1 miles on Saturday and 26.2 on Sunday! I’m pooped! J We had unbelievable cold weather. There were record lows in Florida but somehow we got er’ done. Saturday was the half marathon. The temperature was in the low 30’s and we had ice pellets coming down for the start of the race. It is nothing short of amazing to see thousands of people who will brave the weather to accomplish their goal. One fan had a banner that helped me make it through the day; “Pain is temporary, pride will last forever!” The rain came down consistently throughout the day through the half marathon. We started the race at 5:40am. It was a benefit to all because we couldn’t actually see the rain coming down for most of the morning because we were running in the dark. We rain through all the Disney theme parks. How amazing it was! We started out at Epcot. The most favorite for me was running through the Disney Castle. All the characters were out and greeting us despite the bad weather. There were so many unbelievable things to see from the rides to the people to the landscape that it made the half marathon go by very quickly and the weather not very noticeable at all. Kudos to the volunteers who were there to support us donning winter coats and umbrellas. It had been awhile since I had run a half marathon. How enjoyable it was to be finished at 13.1 miles!!! I crossed the finish line and received my Donald Duck medal and high-fived Donald as I completed the run. Something one doesn’t get to do everyday!
On Sunday my brother Kyle joined me for the marathon. We awoke to 29 degrees and very windy. Not the kind of weather you expect when you are travelling to Florida. The good news was we were able to park at Epcot fairly close to the start line. We enjoyed the heat from inside the car until the last possible moment when we headed to the start. Never before have I seen people wearing heavy winter coats at the start, with scarves, blankets and garbage bags wrapped around them for warmth. Not only did they have them at the start, many of these people ran most of the race wrapped up like a pig in a blanket. It was really cold! Once we got running I was good at about mile 3. My extra sweatshirt came off and I got into my zone. I enjoyed the run thoroughly but had some blood sugar hurdles along the way. At about mile 22 the volunteers were giving out chocolate and raisins. I remember saying to myself that I didn’t care if my time suffered are not, I was stopping to partake in some of that chocolate!!! It was so much fun high-fiving the fans, especially the kids, as we ran through the Disney Parks. For those few minutes it made all the pain and suffering you were going through disappear! The final stretch of the marathon was exciting with thousands of fans cheering us on. Goofy was at the finish line to high-five you as you crossed the finish line. Once again, not something you get to do everyday. I received both my Mickey Mouse Medal and also the coveted Goofy Medal. It was awesome!! The fan was right. The pain had gone away for that moment and the feeling of pride came pouring thorough. The Goofy Challenge had been met and accomplished!!!
If there’s one thing I will leave you with today it is the suggestion not to pass up the opportunity to run the Walt Disney Marathon. It is truly a wonderful race that makes you smile despite any obstacles that may stand in your way. It is Magical! J
I received a phone call while in Florida from my little girl Katie. She had broken her thumb sleigh riding with her friend. It is her dominant hand which also presents an obstacle. Basketball season has just started and I could hear the sadness in her voice as she told me that she will miss playing basketball the rest of this year. Daddy too will miss very much watching my little tiger on the court take the ball away from the opponent. We all have our own little challenges every day, every year. I hope this challenge makes my little Katie stronger, braver and maybe even more talented in that she will have to find different ways to accomplish many things. I guess playing the piano will have to take a break too.
I am headed from Florida to California today for work. A long flight on the airplane but it has given me the opportunity to share some of my life with you for which I am very thankful. Once again, I am humbled by the people I have met and talked to who came to run the half marathon, the full marathon or the entire Goofy Challenge. My brother was running and had a couple in their sixties tell each other close to the end of the marathon, “We have come this far and we are going to complete this thing.” Determination. Our bodies are stronger than sometimes our minds will allow, but every marathon I witness people who have an incredible heart that will not allow them to give up or fail.
I wish all a great, super-fantastic 2010! Do something that scares you, you might just find out that it is the most fun you have ever had!!!
35 more states to go. Still running, still learning!
As Porky the pig says, “That’s all folks!!
KB
