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Disney World Marathon Weekend

ecmarcon
Jan 12, 2017
3 min read

This past Friday I journeyed to Orlando Florida to run the Disney World Marathon. The drive down was probably the worst drive I have ever experienced. The weather conditions were terrible, it pretty much poured the whole time and I could barely see. Somehow I made it safely and in one piece, thank goodness!

I stayed with my friend who works for Disney World so she knew how to navigate to places and gave me a little tour. We went to pick up my bib and t-shirt the day before so I wouldn't have to worry about getting it in the morning of the actual race. Well later that night when we got back home I was going through my things and my bib was not in my running bag. Your bib is the most important item for the race because it has a chip that records your time. Also, I was starting in corral A, which is right behind the elite runners. Well I ended up having to leave the next morning at 2:40am to get to the site early to receive a new running bib. The race started at 5:30am. I was able to get a new bib and instead of starting in corral A I had to start in corral I. I wasn't happy about this because it was cold (30 degrees) and starting in corral I meant that I would have to wait longer to actually start running. To add on I was trying to PR and qualify for the Boston Marathon.

I get to corral I around 5am and there were a bunch of people just sitting on the ground wrapped in blankets and jackets. Meanwhile I just have on what I'm running in, leggings, a long sleeved running top and mittens. I know being from Buffalo I should have been used to the weather but when you aren't layered up it is very cold! There was a gentleman beside me from Denver and a lady named Susie from California and they had me stand in between them because I was shaking so bad. It was super sweet of them to do. Before each corral started fireworks went off, which I thought was pretty cool. Right before we began Susie and I prayed together and it was an awesome way to begin the race!

I have to say it was so beautiful watching the sun rise while I was running. Also, the people who were cheering us on were so great! People were handing out cookies and candy and giving us high fives! There were high school bands that were playing along the route and Disney characters rooting for us as well! I felt good for most of the race except my right IT band was pretty tight but I just did my best to ignore the pain. Once I hit mile 21 it was pretty tough, I slowed down a good bit. I probably dropped the F bomb 20 times as well haha! However, I didn't stop and I ended up PRing and qualified for Boston! I felt like I probably could have achieved a faster time if I didn't have a cold but with each marathon you get stronger and better.