Disney Marathon!

[kacie tri-ing]

Hello!

I know it is a few days late, but I survived the Disney Marathon! It was SO much fun, and I actually did better than I planned! My friends and family signed up to track me, and here are the updates!

KACIE DARDEN, 00:56:49 @ 5 Mile. Pace 11:21, Predicted 04:57:35.00.
KACIE DARDEN, 01:46:52 @ 10 Mile. Pace 10:41 , Predicted 04:40:06.00
KACIE DARDEN, 02:17:43 @ Half. Pace 10:30 , Predicted 04:35:17.00
KACIE DARDEN, 03:25:42 @ 20 Mile. Pace 10:17 , Predicted 04:29:37.00
KACIE DARDEN, 04:29:28 @ Finish. Pace 10:16


So my goal pace was 11 minute miles, and I ended up finishing with 10:16, and I am SO incredibly happy with it! I am not a very fast runner, but as you can see, I am a pretty stubborn runner

It was such a fun race! Every half mile or so there was some kind of entertainment. There were characters and music everywhere!

My legs are exhuasted, and I think they deserve to be.

I am going to try to attach a picture, and I hope it works!

[Aggie_Ama]

Great job Kacie! Was this your first?

[kacie tri-ing]

It was my first marathon

[OakLeaf]

Way to go Kacie!!!!

Negative splits all the way through, and plenty fast, great job!!!

[Deborajen]

Congratulations! That was a great run - you should be proud. I haven't heard of many runners going faster as they proceed through the marathon - that's amazing!

I've always thought the themed events (with entertainment every mile or so) sound like fun. Tell us more about that - and about the run (was it hilly? windy? hot/cold? crowded? good support?) - and how you're doing now. And are you going to do another?

Again, great job!

Deb

[Aggie_Ama]

It was my first marathon

Awesome! I am planning to Disney as my first (Maybe only lol). Since my birthday is in February we are targeting 2011 for my 30th. A little pre-birthday milestone. Seems like a long way off but I know it isn't, I am just getting back into running right now.

Got anymore pictures? Anyone snap you out on the course?

[kacie tri-ing]

Congratulations! That was a great run - you should be proud. I haven't heard of many runners going faster as they proceed through the marathon - that's amazing!

I've always thought the themed events (with entertainment every mile or so) sound like fun. Tell us more about that - and about the run (was it hilly? windy? hot/cold? crowded? good support?) - and how you're doing now. And are you going to do another?

Again, great job!

Deb

Deb--Thanks! I was very happy with my negative splits. I just felt good, so I kept speeding up, and the last three miles I just tried not to let go of the pace

The entertainment was great! The race started in epcot. There were fireworks at the start. It started at 5:50, which is a downside in my book. They have to get it over with so that they can open the parks.

After Epcot, you run up through Magic Kingdom. You get to run through the castle, which is a blast! Then, there is a fairly slow part between Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Along the way, they have music (and they progress from 1994 to the present!). They also have signs with trivia.

Before animal kingdom, there are keepers with animals out, which I loved!. You end in hollywood studios and finish right past the giant ball at epcot.

There are tons of characters out too! Mickey, minnie, goofy, donald, daisy, cinderella, Mr. Incredible, Toy story people, Alice in wonderland group, pocahontas, chip and dale, and so many more actually! There are lines by the characters to take pictures with them during the race! I waited to get my picture at the end! There were a few high school marching bands, and a beatles impersonation band. There were tons of water/powerade/food stops, and well stocked medical tents. At the end, they kindof shove you through a tunnel to grab drinks, and then you have to go to buy them in a concessions later on (made my DH mad).

It was packed. There were a few times I chose to run in the grass on the side of the road. Of course, all of my long runs were on trails, so I prefer running on the softer surface anyway!

The course was really flat! The only hills were going over a couple of bridges. I can't complain about that part!

The race started in the mid 50's and ended in the mid 70's. I am from atlanta, but I will pretty hot during parts of the race. They had sponges to squeeze on your head, but I think I was a little in the zone when I passed them!

Me--well, I am actually doing pretty well. I downed some powerade right after the race, and threw it right back up. Then I took a nap, woke up and felt like a new person. My legs really really hurt the night of the marathon. They were very very sore yesterday. A 6 hour drive home did not help the soreness at all. My running friend went on a walk with me when i got home, and I felt a little better. My legs are sore today, but they feel a lot better than yesterday!

On April 5th, I am doing the New orleans half ironman, so I have to recover and jump back in! I have a great coach, and he is helping me actively recover so I will be ready for april. Then DH and I are bike touring across the country this summer. I have no idea when my next marathon will be, but I really want to do another one. I really liked it (if you can really like suffering for 4 hours and 29 minute )

[katluvr]

AWESOME!
I have done the 1/2 and it was great.
My goal is a marathon in 2010...not sure if it will be Disney or not. I live close so that is a perk. It is fun--another perk. Being at starting area at 4 AM--not so perky!

Great job! Hope I can finish in a time as awesome as yours!

[michelem]

YAY FOR YOU!!! I'm so happy for you. Sounds like a really fun race (which, really is what it's all about anyway, right?).

Sounds like you have an action-packed year ahead of you. I'm really looking forward to reading more about your upcoming adventures.

P.S. What a great photo -- I love that you have such a joyous smile on your face (me, I'd be grimacing at that point!).

[kacie tri-ing]

Well--that picture was somewhere between finishing and getting sick :-) Those were the happy moments.

Here is the official site with more pictures. If I get any of them I will post them up :-)
http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_e...329&S=230&PWD=

I ran a mile yesterday on a soft track, and my legs felt like lead. Off to a massage tonight, and I am terrified!!!

[teigyr]

You did a fantastic job and it sounds like you had SO much fun Due to your description, I am seriously thinking of signing up for next year.

Definitely take it easy for a while. I know the urge to get back to running but there are also physiological things that go on (so I read) that are harmful if you start back too soon. OUCH re the massage. How was it?

I can second the active recovery. Going for walks was good (stairs though were bad) and really light jogging with low mileage helped too.

So, will you run another one?! Inquiring minds want to know

[Running Mommy]

Kacie-
Congrats on your first! Now can I suggest NYC?? I've done that one four times, and it is an AWESOME experience!! If you think WDW had a lot of support, you should see the tunnels of people cheering you at NYC.

I did WDW a few years ago, and did not like it.
There were too many miles spent out on the highways and roads between the parks. It was very cool inside the parks, but once you left the park it was a let down to be baking on the pavement of a highway for large stretches. And then there was that stretch that took us by the wastewater plant. UGH!
Of course I am a MUCH slower runner than you, so I had more time to "take in the atmosphere", so maybe that had a lot to do with it.
Being from such a dry climate the humidity killed me, so I walked it from the 10th mile on.
I guess that's the key- RUN FAST!

Anyway, congrats on #1!

[kacie tri-ing]

I would love to do NYC. How do you get in? Isn't it a lottery?

[alpha_omega]

I would love to do NYC. How do you get in? Isn't it a lottery?

For most it is a lottery. You apply for three years and if you aren't selected in those three consecutive years you are guaranteed a spot.

There are guaranteed ways to get a spot: you can also qualify in a series of races sponsored by the NY City running club, raise a $2500 donation, or have been a 15 time finisher.

I think registration opens up around mid-February, so throw your hat in the ring, you never know.

BTW, CONGRATULATIONS on finishing the Disney!

[Urlea]

Woohoo!!! Yay Kacie!!! Awesome job, that's a time to be proud of.

So glad you enjoyed yourself & despite being sore are looking forward to doing another one sometime in the future.

Best wishes on your recovery.