Hello WDW Radio Blog readers!  For those of you who haven’t read my Blog entries before, my name is Happy Keller, and I am a Coach for the WDW Radio Running Team benefiting The Dream Team Project…(and, yes, “Happy” is my real name)…

This past week there was HUGE news surrounding the creation of two new events for the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend - First, they’ve added an additional 10K Run to the Weekend which will take place on Friday (with the 5K moving to Thursday) and, Second, they’ve added a new combined event – The Dopey Challenge – which includes all 4 events (5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon) during the 4-day Marathon Weekend.

The moment Dopey was announced my e-mail inbox (wdwradiorun@gmail.com) EXPLODED with people asking about Dopey.  I just love getting e-mail from the WDW Radio audience & Running Team – everyone is so enthusiastic and ask such great questions!  So, I thought I’d use this valuable space to answer some of the most common questions I’ve received about The Dopey Challenge:

• “Do You Think I Can Do It???” - Easily the #1 question I’ve received.  If you have completed a Half or Full Marathon before, the answer is a tentative “Yes”.  Everyone is different, and I want to know more about your health & endurance running experience before giving the more enthusiastic “YES!” that most all of you will deserve.  As with the Ironman I completed last year, you must always respect the distances involved, and take nothing for granted.  Completing these events will be a challenge for everyone who signs up for it – including myself!…(did I tip my hand there???  Yes, I did – I will be signing up for Dopey as soon as Registration opens on April 9, 2013).
• “Can You Help Me Put Together A Training Schedule???” - Now here I can say an enthusiastic “YES!!!”.  If you want/need help putting a training schedule for Dopey (or any other runDisney event), please write me at wdwradiorun@gmail.com.  I will write you back, and we will work something out together.  I’ve worked with beginners, all the way up to Boston Marathon qualifiers…I’m pretty sure every reader will fall some place within this range!
• “If I Sign-Up For Dopey, What Should My Strategy Be???” - First of all, slow down a little bit! –> there is still a long time, and a lot of training to do, before we start talking about a real “strategy”.  That being said, without adjusting for training & injuries, my basic advice for this subject is…
  • 5K – Walk it…period.  It is un-timed, and you have nothing to gain by running it.  Besides, there’s a good portion of the WDW Radio Running Team that walks the 5K events, and you would have a great time if you partied with them for the 3.1 miles of the 5K!
  • 10K – Walk…Shuffle…and Run a maximum of 2 miles of the 10K.  You just want to make sure your legs still “work”, but not ruin yourself for the Half & Full.  There hasn’t been a 10K before during Marathon Weekend, so I don’t know what to expect as far as there potentially being another party opportunity with members of the WDW Radio Running Team…(but, since this is the first 10K, I expect there will be a large WDW Radio Running “blue wave” contingent).
  • Half – Now the “heavy lifting” begins!  I would advise to walk/jog as much of the Half as you can and still make the time cut-off.  The Donald medal given to the last finisher is just as gold and just as cool as the first one given out…the only goal is to go get that “Bling” without wrecking yourself for the Marathon on Sunday!
  • Full – If you feel up to it, and you want to, “Go For It!”…That being said, just remember that you won’t get the Dopey medal if you don’t finish all four events within the listed time limits.  I do expect to see a lot of Dopey participants “flaming out” on Marathon Day because they ran too hard on one (or all) of the previous three days.  Adrenaline can only take you so far, and completing a Marathon by itself is a tremendous accomplishment, let alone finishing one after finishing a 5K, 10K, and Half during the three days prior to the Marathon.

Almost as important as how you complete the four events of Dopey, is how you take care of yourself during the weeks leading up to them, as well as what you do in between the events (rest, hydrate, eat, nap, repeat).  I know from experience how difficult that is to do with all of the fun & excitement of Walt Disney World surrounding you, but I would encourage every Dopey participant to scale back their plans just a bit during Marathon Weekend event days.  Yes, you might be able to “do it all” (events + theme parks + dining out at night), but doing so does have the potential to put that Dopey medal in jeopardy.

One other piece of advice -  I came up with a unique strategy to keep myself from damaging myself during Goofy 2013 so as to not upset my training for Ironman Texas 2013 (on May 18th).  I never ran for more than a minute in-a-row, and I always walked more than I ran during my planned Run/Walk.  I easily finished both events and felt great doing it (for those of you who worry about the time cut-offs, I hope you find this encouraging).

The only thing better than finishing Goofy 2013 was getting to meet all of the awesome people who are also part of the WDW Radio Running Team.  I have never been around a group who were so consistently friendly & supportive of one another…I sure do hope that, if you haven’t taken the plunge and joined the “blue wave” at a runDisney event yet, that you will join us soon!

Oh, and to those of you on the fence regarding Dopey, they haven’t gotten rid of the Goofy Challenge –> completing Goofy (Half + Full) could be a great stepping stone toward completing Dopey later!…(and it is still a great accomplishment!)…

This Blog entry was a lot of talk about the new Dopey Challenge because it has been “in the news”, but I am here to help all of you train for any runDisney event.  I am as close to you as my e-mail address –> wdwradiorun@gmail.com…all questions will be answered!

DREAM BIG!

Happy is a life-long Disney enthusiast who is also an endurance “athlete”.  He has completed a Half & Full Ironman Triathlon, 4 Goofy Challenges, and 12 Disney Endurance events so far (in addition to other Half / Full Marathons).  He has successfully coached hundreds of Half / Full Marathoners to a successful completion of their event (including multiple Boston Marathon qualifiers).   When he isn’t training, Happy is surrounded by his wife, Pattie, two Golden Retrievers (Mocha & Kona), and his Disney watch + medal collection.  He can be reached for all running questions at wdwradiorun@gmail.com.

The post Thoughts and Advice for the NEW WDW Marathon Weekend Races appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

PODCAST:

No podcast this week due to Lou being away in Las Vegas for NMX.

ON THE BLOG:

• Submit ideas on what YOU think Lou and the gang should do to celebrate the 6th anniversary of WDW Radio by January 20th.  Read more about that here.
• Do you know why the pavement is red in Magic Kingdom?  Makena puts your Disney knowledge to the test.  Take your guess here.
• What to expect when the Disney College Program goes to your campus can be viewed here in a post by Blake Taylor.
• Learn how to “disneybound” as Mary Poppins and Bert with Fran Cassano here.

TWEETS

• For the 7th consecutive time, The WDW Radio Show wins a Podcast Award in the Travel Catagory at NMX!
• People from all over the United States joined Lou in Las Vegas for the first WDW Radio On The Road meet.
• Lou’s Utility belt for the 5K becomes a reality.
• The WDW Radio Running team is ready to go!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• The deadline to submit your ideas for the 6th anniversary show is January 20th.
• Celebrate the 6th anniversary of WDW Radio in the box on Saturday, February 9th.  Lou along with others will be trying to accomplish what YOU decide!
• The WDW Radio Cruise 3.0, which sets sail November 2nd to 9th, will be the happiest cruise that has ever sailed.  Book today!

SNEAK PEEKS INTO NEXT WEEK:

• Watch for  LOTS of conversation about the NEW MyMagic+ experience announced this past week.
• Expect recaps and sharing about the WDW Radio running team at Marathon Weekend!
• Check out the return of the Farkle v. Farkle series, as well as a NEW “Our Home Went Disney: Mouse Ears edition”!!

POLL OF THE WEEK: Inspired by the RunDisney events this weekend:

Here is what LOU’S utility belt looked like at this year’s Family 5K!

The post WDW Radio Week in Review for 1/6: Tweets, News, and runDisney POLL!! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hi WDW Radio Running Team Members (and future Team Members)!  My name is Happy Keller, a ‘Coach’ of the WDW Radio Running Team, and this is the Blog for October 2012.

This month will be a departure from previous WDW Radio Running Team Blogs, as I have invited others from our Team to join me with their reflections, advice, and observations.  Joining me today are Joe Kolinsky…

[Joe] I’m a real back of the packer that’s made every dumb marathoning mistake one can make…so do as I say, not as I do!

 [Happy] Yeah, a “back of the packer” who has happened to run 10 Marathons of the 12 he’s promised to do during 2012 as part of the WDW Radio Running Team

Steve Drew…

[Steve] In the spring of 2007, I was a 48 year old couch potato. My first race was the 2008 WDW half marathon. Now I am looking forward to my 5th Goofy Challenge in a row in 2013.

[Happy] Before I was lucky enough to be allowed to help the WDW Radio Running Team members, I already knew of Steve from several WDW Radio shows with Lou.  After receiving e-mail from several of our team participants, I would say that Steve has “Legend” status among those who have met, and run with, him.

and Brian Johnson…

[Brian] Hey everyone! My name is Brian and I joined the WDW Radio Running Team in 2010. I started out running just wanting to lose weight, but then found the team and have enjoyed getting involved supporting the Make-a-Wish foundation. Sixty-five pounds and seven runDisney events later I am still having a great time! I like that everyone on the team is so supportive and you’ll find everyone from those walking 5Ks to those running Boston, ultra marathons and Ironmen. It’s a truly diverse and accepting group but enough about me/us!

[Happy] One of the most enthusiastic of our team members, Brian decided that 26.2 miles in a single day just wasn’t enough…so he’s taken to running Ultra Marathons.  You “Go For It!” Brian…a Goofy Challenge over two days is enough for me!

During this Blog, and in honor of Halloween (as well as being an homage to one of Lou’s WDW Radio Show staples), we are going to discuss our “Top 10 Scary Things About Distance Running (And How To Overcome Them)”.  We’ll do this in a rotating fashion, and we will lead-off with Marathon-a-Month Joe:

#10 – [Joe] “…do I have to RUN all 26.whatever miles?!?!?!?”

Well – you need to COMPLETE 26.2 miles – but every step of the way doesn’t need to be at Kenyan speed. Keep things simple – one foot in front of the other, and you’ll get to the finish line!

[Happy] Just seeing the Marathon distance printed out as “26.2 miles” makes me sick to my stomach sometimes…boy, that’s a long way!…I can do it (and so can you), but I always respect the distances we run.

#9 – [Steve] Speaking of being sick to your stomach, that leads into fear #9 on my list.

One of my biggest concerns going into a race is how my stomach’s going to feel after running a few miles.  I try to eat around 5pm the night before a race and try not to overdo it with large portions or spicy food. When I wake up on race day I will eat an energy bar and a muffin and then another energy bar about an hour before the race.

During the race I will eat some Gu and Shot Blocks along the way along with Powerade, water and bananas.

#8 – [Brian] – One big fear that I had in the beginning was that the training I had completed wasn’t good enough to get me through the race. At first I didn’t have a training plan. I was just trying to lose weight by hitting the gym six days a week and eating better. Then I chose a training plan off the Internet, but who knows if it was what I needed!  Heck, the plan was free!  Were my long runs long enough?  I never actually did a full 13 mile run before my first half and now I’m trying to double that distance!??!  (Note to self….see a psychologist because I must be nuts! …26 miles?)

Then I realized that the most important part of a half marathon or marathon training plan is just being on a plan and sticking to it for the duration.  I found from reading a lot of books and online blogs like this one that a good plan will steadily add mileage to my long runs, but also avoid over-training.  I learned I could cross train and didn’t have to run every single day.  If you’ve followed 90% of a plan then have confidence that you will cross the finish line. You will be prepared! I had to stop letting that little voice in my head whisper about those fears that get to you over the course of 13 or 26 miles.  I had to tell those voices that my training is good and that I’m crossing the line!  (2nd note to self…don’t mention the voices to the psychologist)

#7 – [Happy] So difficult to pick one, but here’s a very popular question I get in my Inbox (wdwradiorun@gmail.com)… “I am so very afraid of getting swept! What can I do???” - First of all, take a deep breath and stop chewing on your fingernails…you are frightening me!  Thank You!  Next, I want you to know that if you follow this checklist there is a 99.9999% chance you will not get swept:

a) Train Regularly – The vast majority who I have seen swept didn’t lack ability…they just didn’t train!…(or train enough).  You should target training at least 3 times per week, with one of your runs being a significant distance Long Run.  Of course, if you are injured, you need to confirm with your doctor that you are healthy enough to continue with your training / event

b) Give Jeff Galloway’s Run/Walk System A Try – I haven’t seen many Run/Walk people get swept.  I’ve seen far too many “Run Only” people go out way too hard and get swept because they have nothing left after their halfway point.  Even if you don’t run a “Magic Mile” to figure out what your correct segments should be, most of you could do a 10 second Run / 50 second Walk and not get swept.  I can help you with this, if you need help

c) Understand when the “Sweep Timer” starts – The person with the broom doesn’t get to start their clock until the last person in the last corral crosses the Start Line

d) RELAX!!! – Especially on Event Day!  All the extra stress of worrying will just burn energy you need to reach the Finish Line without being swept

#6 – [Steve] Fear #6 for me involves race strategy.

No matter how many times I tell myself to start slow and keep a slower pace for the first half of a race or long training run, I think I feel great after the first mile and think that this could be the day that I set a new world’s record!

I’ve been working on this on my long weekend runs and have found that I can enjoy my last miles at a faster pace if I cut my pace back around 1 min./mile in the first half.

It feels a lot better physically and mentally when you feel good and are passing other toward the end of a race rather than crawling past the finish line.

[Happy] – I agree with you wholeheartedly that this is a big area of fear for endurance athletes of all experience levels.  As a Run / Walk person, I set up my segments on Event Day to be less run / more walk for the first 20 minutes.  That way I force my overall pace to be slower at the beginning of the Event.

#5 – [Brian] I have a fear of those three letters some may not recognize…DNF which stands for “Did Not Finish”. While “getting swept” or being pulled from the course because I can’t keep a minimum pace is one way to look at this the DNF I’m speaking of is due to some other ailment whether it be stomach issues, migraine, or worse some kind of injury. I’ve only come close to a DNF once and if I hadn’t had a friend with me to make me take it slow and push me to finish I may have taken a ride from the nearest passing medical golf cart.

After racing a while I realize that DNF doesn’t stand for “Did Not Finish”. It really stands for “Did Nothing Fatal”. There are a lot of races/events I want to do at Disney and around the world, so any one race isn’t worth a big injury that may put me out of running for a long period of time or worse out of running permanently. So if you ever have to DNF because of a twisted ankle or just “the runners trots” (See other posts for an explanation or google it) have no fear. DNFing on one event just means you get to the after party that much quicker! There is no fear in giving it your all and failing exceptionally well!

#4 – [Happy] “I am afraid what all of the other runners will think of me.” – Sometimes it is how you’ll be dressed (we do all run with very little clothing on most of the time), and sometimes it is because of your running style.  My advice here is…

• Running Clothes – Unless you are in a costume (and please be extra careful about potential chafing if you are running in costume), other runners are not going to notice how you’re dressed – they are too busy thinking about how their race is going for them.  The family and friends of people running will only be hunting for their loved one(s) in the pack (a tough job when trying to find one person in a pack of 20,000+).  Of course, if you’re part of the WDW Radio Running Team “Blue Wave”, people might come up to you to ask if you are Lou or Beci!
• Running Style – Don’t worry about how you run!  Once you get out there on the course, you will realize there are 20,000 different valid running styles among the 20,000 runners (except for mine…my running style is a disaster [but it gets me to the Finish Line]!   ).

#3 – [Joe]  ”…Is It true that everyone hits The Wall at mile 20?”

Answer: Usually, yes. But that’s what we as marathoners sign up for. It’s the last 10 kilometers that makes this race special. So instead of fearing The Wall, look forward to it and prepare for it. Make sure you take the proper fuel at around mile 18 (or sooner, as per your training runs), and you’ll bust down that wall on your way to accomplishing an amazing accomplishment.

[Happy] No matter how we do this, we are going to end up with more than a “Top 10”!  Since the price of electronic ink is getting expensive, I want to ask each of you for your #1 item.  Brian???

#1a – [Brian] One of the scariest things about long distance running for me was…duhn DUHN duhn (that was supposed to be ominous)… “Finishing Last”.

But why? Well, probably because for the first race I ever entered after I started running in December 2009 I did exactly that. I came in dead last. No one else is behind me! They are closing the course! Pardon me sir, but do you need a ride?

This really shouldn’t have bothered me because it just doesn’t matter. I look back and chalk it up to male ego now. As a friend of mine once said, “99% of us are at no risk of winning this thing.” And most important of all I still received the same finisher’s medal, or ribbon rather, as the girl who finished ahead of me. I also received the same ribbon as every other person who ran the race except the top three people. Their “medals” were different colors than the rest of us “finishers”. That was the only difference. As I crossed the finish line everyone cheered, applauded, and yelled “good job” or “nice finish” in total support of the “loser” which I really wasn’t because I was only competing against myself.

So if you have this fear then fear not! I actually wonder what it would be like to come in last at a Disney race like the marathon or half marathon. I bet the fanfare from the emcee would be spectacular AND Mickey and Minnie would cross the finish line with you! Hmm…

#1b – [Steve] My #1 fear is not getting up on time on race day.

I’m an easy going guy when it comes to just about anything but when it comes to punctuality I am a total spazz.

The night before a race I will have all my clothes laid out, race bib pinned on my shirt and my favorite socks and watch tucked in my shoes.

I arrange a wake up call from the hotel, set the alarm on my iPhone and have my wife set the alarm on her phone.

After all that preparation, I usually am up before any alarms go off. I can’t sleep! I have a bus to catch at 3 am!

[Happy] – I always have the Disney Resort (or other Hotel) give me a wake-up call (in addition to Steve’s tremendous suggestion of having multiple alarm clocks).  Even if you can’t sleep, you are better lying down and resting than being up reading or watching TV.

#1c – [Joe] One of the scariest things that new marathoners fear is the aftermath. I’ve heard this one a few times: “I’m afraid that I won’t be able to walk the next day. How bad will the pain be in the morning?” Well – let’s start by saying that it’s a marathon. So it’s not easy, and you have to sacrifice. So when you sign up for one, there will be some pain / discomfort. However, this can be managed by a smart recovery process containing an ice bath, some stomach-friendly food and some yummy (yes I said yummy – tease me all you want because I’m already ridiculing myself for that one) chocolate milk. And rest. Lots of post rest! Steve – Happy – Brian: any other post race tricks to ease the pain?

[Steve] I learned a trick from a fellow runner after a marathon a couple of years ago. If your legs are hurting after a race, walk backwards down the the bus steps or in the park. You’ll look like a dork but it your legs will thank you.

[Happy] I’m going to steal from Lou (again) and say “Keep moving forward!”  One of the best things you can do after a Half / Full Marathon is to not just sit around and do nothing for the days following your Event(s).  So, you just finished a Half / Full Marathon, and you are at Walt Disney World…where can one walk around and recover???  Hmmm…Get up, and drag yourself through any / all of the Theme Parks.  If you are hobbling, others will be very understanding if you are wearing your medal(s).

#1d – [Happy] “I’m afraid that the other members on the WDW Radio Running Team won’t like me!” -  Are we really that scary???  Trust me, we really aren’t!!!  In fact, we’d love to have all of you join us at a future runDisney event.  We have a lot of fun together, and (most of us) will even hug you after your event while you’re still sweaty!

Please come to http://www.wdwradio.com/running to find out how to join the WDW Radio Running Team.  Our team benefits The Dream Team Project, which raises money for The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.  Help us make dreams come true for others while you live out your dreams!

I want to thank my esteemed guests, Joe Kolinsky, Steve Drew, and Brian Johnson, for taking time out from their training to help me write this “Top 10”!

Thank you for reading this “Top 10” Blog!  Next month’s Blog topic → “Top 10 Ways To Use Turkey Legs In Your Endurance Training”!

Happy is a life-long Disney enthusiast who is also an endurance “athlete”.  He has completed a Half & Full Ironman Triathlon, 4 Goofy Challenges, and 12 Disney Endurance events so far (in addition to other Half / Full Marathons).  He has successfully coached hundreds of Half / Full Marathoners to a successful completion of their event (including multiple Boston Marathon qualifiers).   When he isn’t training, Happy is surrounded by his wife, Pattie, two Golden Retrievers (Mocha & Kona), and his Disney watch + medal collection.  He can be reached for all running questions at wdwradiorun@gmail.com.

The post Top 10 Scary Things About Distance Running….. and How to Overcome Them! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

On September 29^th, I participated in my first runDisney event.  A friend of mine invited me to sign up for the “Disney Happy Haunted 5K” so we could do it together.  I looked into the details and after seeing no time minimum and, to be honest, the medal (yay!), I signed up!

The first step was to sign up online.  Signing up was quick and easy!  Then, on Friday, September 28^th, we went to ESPN Wide World of Sports to pick up our race packets.  The lines were fairly short to turn in your paperwork and receive your bib, shirt, and race information.  We also spent a bit of time going through the different vendor displays at the expo.

The next step was a little more difficult.  We pre pinned our bib numbers to our shirts and laid out our clothes before going to sleep.  Then we got up at 4:45am.  Yep, 4:45am!  We got ready and were at the bus depot around 5:30am.  We did not want to rush to catch the last bus at 6:00am.  The charter buses runDisney uses were very comfortable.  Our bus quickly filled up and we were off to ESPN Wide World of Sports!  Once we arrived we still needed to walk up and through the ESPN area to get to the field to find our corral.

On the field was an enormous pumpkin Mickey.  The photographer was there so we got into line.  Oddly enough… the photographer excused himself and never returned!  We made the best of it and took turns taking pictures with the group in front of us.

We were in Corral E, so we would be the last group to start.  This was due to signing up late.  The 5K was to begin at 7:00am.  We began a few minutes late.  They announced that they were waiting for sunrise since the route is mostly through the woods, which were not lit.  There was music and entertainment while we waited.  Then, finally, the people in Corral A were allowed to start!

By the time Corral E stepped off, the fastest runners from Corral A were crossing the finish line!  We didn’t mind.  We were in this for fun!  It was about five minutes of slow walking to thin out the group.  Then we could walk at our own pace.

On the route, there were a few characters available for meet and greet.  We had the Big Bad Wolf, the pirate’s ship, B’rer Bear, and the gravediggers!  The lines were pretty long and we decided to take character pictures but not wait in the lines.  The sun was quickly heating up the air and it was getting hot!

At each mile marker there were drink stations.  There were volunteers holding out water for everyone to stay hydrated.  We took water at each mile marker to make sure we stayed hydrated.

As we came out of the woods, we knew we were almost done.  We met up with another friend who had slowed down because her knee was bothering her.  We all slowed down a little and crossed the finish line together.

After crossing the finish line, we received our medals and had our picture taken.  We received Powerade, water, a banana and a snack box.  We hadn’t run a marathon, but we had been up for quite a while and we were hungry!

We headed back to the bus pick up area soon after finishing because we had lunch plans.  It was easy to find our bus stop.  We were disappointed that we were told the buses were running every 8-10 minutes, yet we waited about half an hour.  I was nice that the buses did not make multiple stops so we went right to our resort.

Overall, my first runDisney experience was very positive.  I would consider driving over to the race finishing area so that I could avoid waiting for the bus back to the resort, but it wasn’t something that would stop me from using the bus again.

If you haven’t tried a runDisney event yet, you should! The 5K is very doable and it is something in which the whole family can participate.

Liz Driscoll went to Walt Disney World for the first time when she was five years old, though her Disney passion began seven years ago.  She has visited Walt Disney World about twelve times in the past seven years.  In the non-Disney world, she is a teacher who enjoys bringing a little bit of pixie dust in the classroom each day!

The post On your mark, get set, run/walk!!!: Disney Happy Haunted 5K appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

This specially created milestone medal features a double spinner, not one but two iconic images of Mickey Mouse, and a pair of classic Walt Disney quotes worthy of a 20th Anniversary. To see this unique design come to life, check out the medal reveal video that was part of “The Great Medal Caper.”

Don’t miss the opportunity to earn this commemorative medal by registering for the Marathon (82% Full). And there is still time to register for the Half Marathon (73% Full), which features an all–new Donald Duck finisher medal, or Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge (88% Full).

And don’t forget the ultimate runners experience by upgrading to the Runner’s World Challenge which includes Disney Resort accommodations, VIP runner amenities and training with Runner’s World experts.

The post 20TH ANNIVERSARY WALT DISNEY WORLD MARATHON WEEKEND PRESENTED BY CIGNA JANUARY 10–13, 2013 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Editor’s Note: Joe is a member of the WDW Radio Running Team and is currently in a year-long quest to complete 12 marathons in 12 months to raise awareness and funds for the Dream Team Project.  Please  read at the end of Joseph’s post about how to support him in this amazing endeavor!

by Joseph Kolinsky

Marathon Number 4 of the 12 in ’12: Gettysburg

The three and a half hour drive from Manhattan to Gettysburg was rewarded with a wonderful town and the view of the famous battlefield that represents a key four-day span in history of this country.  Driving around the battlefield, one can almost feel the horrors that spread across the green grass.  You can picture the bravery of northern and southern men, fighting amongst 50 caliber musket fire and cannons reigning fire all about them.  It must have taken an immeasurable amount of courage to charge the field – a heck of a lot more than I have stored up, that’s for sure.  The brief tour of the battlefield was….moving.  It sent chills up my spine.

The evening before the marathon, I got to enjoy a wonderful meal with two friends and fellow WDW Radio Running Teammates in a historic restaurant a stone’s throw from the very spot where President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.  There was a tavern in the basement with an old wooden bar that harkened back to colonial days.  On the main floor the dining rooms were filled with families enjoying hearty meals and great drinks.  There was even a bard, strolling around the building singing songs from days long gone.  It was a fantastic Saturday evening.  I retuned the my hotel just outside of town that evening still feeling a bit nervous – but with a more sound perspective: running 26.2 miles on a gorgeous morning is nothing compared to the courage it took to storm that battlefield.

When I awoke in the morning, I felt well rested and as prepared as I would ever be for this race.  A shuttle bus took myself and a merry band of fellow runners to the starting area: a local elementary school.  A chill in the air made us all crave the sunlight at 7am, and we stood around waiting for the time to toe the starting line.  I had been nervous about running such a small race, because I knew that there would be nowhere to hide my slow, plodding pace.  As I chatted up my fellow marathoners, some of whom were Marathon Maniacs like myself, that nervousness began to slowly fade.  It was replaced by resolve.

We slowly made our way down the block from the school shortly before the scheduled start of the race.  The starting line was a line simply drawn in the middle of a street.  There was no fanfare.  No huge contingent of fans.  No press.  Two races in a row with such humble beginnings…..I loved it.  It felt…pure.  Before we knew it, a soft horn blew, and off we went

About a quarter of a mile into the race I had, what I like to internally refer to as a “brain-hiccup”.  Have you ever locked your home’s front door, hopped in the car, gotten half way to your destination and then, all of a sudden, realize that you’ve forgotten the one item you needed to make the trip worthwhile back on your coffee table?  Well then congratulations, you’ve experienced a brain-hiccup.  So what, pray tell, was my mental hiccup this lovely, sunny, warm, bright, not-a-cloud-in-the-sky, beach-weather morning?  My mind went over my race day checklist:

• GUs?  CHECK.
• Fully-charged GPS watch?  CHECK.
• BodyGlide (dear, sweet, wonderful BodyGlide)?  CHECK
• Pre-race port-a-john usage?  CHECK….and CHECK.
• Properly hydrated?  CHECK.
• Sun block?  …………

Let me say that last one again:

• Sun block?…………

I couldn’t have been THAT big of a doorknob.  No way.

(FYI – I do, on occasion, refer to myself as a doorknob when I do something utterly asinine.  Why?  Because it’s a fun little term and it properly represents an object that I have as much intellect as at times)

……  I …..am….a….doorknob.

The sudden realization that I had forgotten sun block on a gorgeous morning where I would spend upwards of five hours in the bright sunlight was like arriving at a water stop at mile 21, reaching out for a cup of cold water, and somebody unsuspectingly handing me a cup of piping hot green tea.

I also realized that brain-hiccups are rather amusing to The Tool, since at the very moment I came to the realization that by the end of the race I would look like a distorted slab of bacon, he appeared on my shoulder with a smug look on his face.  The war of internal words began early.

Tool: “Morning.  What a gorgeous day.  So – no hat and no sun block?  This is like going to work in the morning and finding out that the boss took care of everything for ya.  I think I’ll go grab a cosmo, sink my mitts into a big ol’ bag of pork rinds, get comfortable and enjoy your stupidity.  Thanks in advance for the show.

Me: “……”

(I had no witty comeback.  I felt like this was over before it ever started.)

Within a half a mile of the starting line, the first hill presented itself.  I steadily cruised over it, knowing that each of these inclines will take a toll, and that toll will be seen in about 3 hours.

The first half of the marathon was spent either climbing up or flowing down hills.  Apparently, there are not 2 straight miles of level ground in western Pennsylvania.  For if there was, I would have paid a million Turkish Lira to see it.  By the half way point, I had already begun to feel the effects of the sun and the hills.  I was fried.  Order of Joe, well done, with a side of GU.  The highlights for me was seeing my WDW Radio Running Teammates at several points early on.  That gave me a sorely-needed energy boost.  (A HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO STEVE AND VALERIE DREW!!!!)

Fortunately, the hills dissipated by mile 15-16 I think.  Maybe it was mile 14.  Not quite sure when they ended, because the second half of the race was spent simply trying to maintain forward momentum.  I was alone at times, just as I feared.  The experience of being out there, on a quiet country road, 16 miles into a marathon without a bunch of fans providing the peer pressure I required to keep waddling on was really difficult to adjust to.

It was around mile 17 that I realized how pure of an event this was.  500 marathoners.  Quiet country roads.  Hills.  Sun.  Just the right amount of volunteer support to keep you going.  Just the runner and the road.  Either you finish or you quit.  No one around to throw you a lifeline or bail you out.  You signed up for this – now you take care of business.  I may have been cooked by the sun and drained by the hills, but I hadn’t quit.  And boy did that ever piss The Tool off.

The Tool: “Nine miles left.  Why don’t you shut this one down.  You bit off more than you could chew.”

Me: “Oh shut up.  Nine miles is less than I had to go ten minutes ago.  Let’s get this over with and head home.”

The Tool: “Wow…you’re remarkably masculine today.  What a change from the usual whiner I’m used to.”

Me: “I might not be the fastest boat in the water, but no one’s gonna paddle harder than me.”

The Tool: “Oh please.  Who do you think you are? Henry Wadsworth Dumbfellow?  You know what – I’m leaving you to fail on your own.  I need a Tylenol with a Absynthe chaser just to wash away the stupidity flying around your dense cranium.  Later sucker.”

The last nine miles was spent willing myself to keep moving forward.  I ran as much as I could – but I needed walk breaks.  As the miles added up and mile markers 22….23…24 went by, I allowed myself to experience the roller coaster ride of emotions that marathoners go through.  I can honestly say this: I run 26.2 just to take that roller coaster ride.  I cannot describe it.  I apologize for lacking the creativity to paint the literal picture of these feelings.  However, I believe it was Ken Doherty that once said that “…to describe the agony of a marathon to one who’s never run it is like trying to describe color to someone born blind”.

There’s something about that last 10 kilometers.  Pain.  Loss of focus.  You feel like you are going to break.  And then – somehow – you manage to hold it all together and soldier on.  You break the tape realizing that you willed yourself to finish.  The body alone could not have gotten you to this point.  Running a marathon is all about the journey.  And what a journey this 26.2 was in Gettysburg.

I finished feeling sore, exhausted and relieved.  And in dire need of aloe.

The long ride home was spent contemplating the day.  My mistakes – SUN BLOCK!  My need to focus on my endurance.  Drop weight.  Focus more on my diet during the week – consider proper eating an additional daily workout.  Train harder.  I need the work.

Four down.  Eight to go.  I need to train harder…just not this week….for my next 26.2 was scheduled for the following Sunday in New Jersey.

____________________________

If you’d like some information on The Dream Team Project or would like to make a donation to their amazing cause, please stop by the website:  www.wdwradio.com/the-dream-team-project  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I really believe in what The Dream Team Project stands for.  It raises money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, helping to grant the wishes of children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.  Being s former wish-granter for the NYC Chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, I can tell you first-hand just how much of an impact this organization makes in the lives of children.  Please consider donating to this worthy cause.  Thanks!

…and if you’d like a bit more information on the WDW Radio Running Team, please check out the WDW Radio Running Team Facebook page 

The post Running Disney: Marathon #4 of 12 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

As time goes on, the beads of sweat get larger and larger on my brow…until gravity forces them to stream down my face.  Some drops flow into my eyes, and the salt sting from the sweat causes me to blink more quickly to try to make it go away…it doesn’t work…

Now Roger Federer hits his final forehand winner, and collapses with joy to the turf on Center Court Wimbledon.  He has just won his record-tying 7th Wimbledon title!

Yes, I sweat profusely while watching sports on TV.  Imagine how much I sweat when I am actually trying to run?!?!?  Hopefully this fact will give me a little credibility as I type to you regarding my tips for surviving the summer heat & humidity!  Here are my “Top Tips” for running in the heat:

• Reschedule Your Runs (if you can) - This might be really obvious, but temperatures drop when that big burning yellow orb (The Sun) isn’t in the sky…sometimes not by much, but when conditions are severe, every little bit helps!  If you can run early in the morning, or after the sun goes down at night, you can make things easier on yourself.  If you run when it is dark, please wear reflective clothing and/or a headlamp to help keep yourself safe.
• Wear Clothing That “Wicks” Moisture Away - This means your WDW Radio Running Team shirt (and the Bondi Band headband too!).  Basically, you should not be wearing cotton when you run.  Your sweat will fill it, it will get heavier, and you will be miserable in the heat.  Shirt & Socks are the most important to have wicking material; shorts don’t need to, but should not be cotton either.
• Slow Down! - One of the things that people ask me about when discussing Jeff Galloway’s Run/Walk system is that he suggests that your pace change by 30 seconds for every 5 degrees above 60 degrees during your Long Run.  I want you to consider doing this for all of your runs, regardless of whether or not you are a “Run/Walk” person or a “Run Only” person.  Your body will thank you for it, and you’ll recover from your runs more quickly by not taxing yourself as much during your training.  This does mean that you won’t have any “personal best”s during your runs in the heat, but the best time for you to run a “personal best” is during your runDisney event, not a mid-week run by yourself!
• Learn Your “Sweat Rate” - This will go hand-in-hand with my next suggestion, but it is important to know how much fluid your are sweating out of your system so that you know how much fluid to replace it with during/after your training. Here is one site with an easy-to-use Sweat Rate Calculator.  Follow the instructions, and you’ll know how much fluid per hour you are losing.  This will help you with…
• Rehydrate (During Your Training)!!! - There are hand-held bottles, single bottle belts, hydration back-packs, and multi-bottle belts (this one in WDW Radio Running Team BLUE) for hydration.  No matter which one you choose, if you are going to be out there (especially in the summer heat) for an hour or more –> YOU MUST REHYDRATE TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE!  If you are a member of the WDW Radio Running Team, and you want/need a FuelBelt, please e-mail me at wdwradiorun@gmail.com for discounted pricing details.  For “Long (Weekend) Runs”, you will need to refill your bottle(s) during your training too.  Just know one thing –> If you feel thirsty / dry-mouthed during your run, you aren’t drinking enough!
• Rehydrate (After Your Training)!!! - After you are done with any run of longer than an hour, I highly recommend drinking a pint of low-fat chocolate milk to help you recover (for those of you who are lactose intolerant, Ensure or Muscle Milk can offer you similar recovery calories & nutrition).  In addition to the chocolate milk (or milk-a-like), you should also continue to hydrate for the remainder of your Long Run training day…Just don’t chug a lot of liquid quickly, or you could suffer my post-Ironman fate!

My more basic advice is to just admire the fact that while you are out running in those tough & sticky conditions, most other people are whining about the heat while being inside in air conditioned comfort!  Be amazed at your own perseverance in the face of adversity…it will serve you well at your runDisney event!

As always, if you have a training question, please feel free to e-mail me directly at wdwradiorun@gmail.com!

Dream Big!

Happy is a life-long Disney enthusiast who is also an endurance “athlete”.  He has completed a Half & Full Ironman Triathlon, 4 Goofy Challenges, and 12 Disney Endurance events so far (in addition to other Half / Full Marathons).  He has successfully coached hundreds of Half / Full Marathoners to a successful completion of their event (including multiple Boston Marathon qualifiers).   When he isn’t training, Happy is surrounded by his wife, Pattie, two Golden Retrievers (Mocha & Kona), and his Disney watch + medal collection.  He can be reached for all running questions at wdwradiorun@gmail.com.

The post Advice for Training in the Summer Heat for a RunDisney Event appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Editor’s Note: Joseph Kolinsky is running 12 marathons in 12 months to raise money and awareness for the Dream Team Project.  At the time of publication, Joe finished his third of twelve marathons yesterday in Cape May, New Jersey.

As I’ve mentioned in my past few blog entries, my goal for 2012 is to run a marathon during each calendar month of the year in order to generate awareness and donations for The Dream Team Project.  Well I am happy to report that I survived marathon number two on Sunday, February 12^th.  I completed the “26.2 With Donna Marathon” run in Jacksonville, Florida in a time of five hours and fourteen minutes.  I’d like to briefly share with you the day’s experience, because it truly was amazing.

As I walked out of the hotel which was wonderfully close to the start/finish line of the race alongside the Mayo Clinic campus, I realized that I may have bitten off a bit more than I could chew this Sunday morning.  As the doors swooshed open, cold air blasted me right in the face. Should have looked at the temperature before getting dressed….it was 28 degrees.  With a strong wind.  Which was currently whacking me in the face.  I ran upstairs to my room and changed into long pants, 3 shirts and a sweatshirt (which represented approximately 85% of the clothes that I actually brought on the trip).  I never ran 26.2 miles in long pants before….but there’s a first time for everything I guess….

This marathon has grown substantially since its inception five years ago, and its growth can be primarily evidenced in the quality of the Runner’s Village.  What a great setup.  I cannot recall another marathon offering oranges, bananas, and freshly-baked chocolate chip muffins that immediately reminded me of the Boardwalk Bakery in Walt Disney World (a personal favorite of mine whenever I’m hanging out in La Casa de Walt).  What a great way to kick off a really cold morning.  The chocolaty goodness took my mind off the freezing temperatures, that’s for sure!

After I dropped off my bag (along with my sweatshirt – hello wind chill) and headed to the starting line, a couple of people asked me about the WDW Radio Running Team.  So I gave them the quick explanation of The Dream Team Project, and why running for the team means so much to me.  They, in turn, shared their own experiences running for another cancer charity…and it was wonderful to listen to the passion in their voices as they were so grateful to get an opportunity to do something to help a cause that was close to their hearts.

Before you knew it, the gun sounded and off we went!

The first mile presented an immediate challenge: a rather long incline.  Fortunately for me I chose to run with the five hour pace group – a bunch of runners slowly plodding along together, following two “pacers” that carefully watch their GPS devices while running with several balloons attached to a three foot stick in their hands (the balloons attached to stick act as a target for runners that begin with the pack that may fall off pace due to a water stop, pot-o-potty break, or simply because the time that they were shooting for did not correlate to their actual pace / training). I had hoped that the chill that ran down my spine from the cold temperature and rather impolite wind (oh trust me – the wind was rude…no manners whatsoever) would dissipate as my morning exercise commenced.  Boy was I wrong.

The five hour pace group ran using The Galloway Method.  Now if any of you reading this have not heard of this distance running method and are interested in possibly attempting a distance event of any sort (from a 5k to a marathon – it doesn’t matter), I highly suggest reading Mr. Galloway’s books on running.  They emphasize taking “walk breaks” throughout your run, in order to allow your body to “rest” for a minute or two between periods of jogging / running.  Sticking with this group from the start was a wise move for me (and I usually only get about 5-8 wise moves a fiscal year, so I have to use them sparingly), because it provided a welcome distraction from the miserable conditions and the 25 miles looming ahead.

Miles two through five carried us in to the Jacksonville Beach area.  This neighborhood seemed quite sleepy at this early hour, although the streets were lined in pink.  The bright decorations on the homes signified that the residents were with us in spirit…but 6:30am was a bit early for them.  We weaved our way through the town’s streets, winding up on Jacksonville Beach at mile six.  The pace group synchronized 2 minutes of running at about a 9:20 pace with 60 seconds of walking.  At this point in the race, a 9:20 pace was just fine with me.  Things were looking good thus far, from a course strategy standpoint.  But this is me we are talking about – it’s just a matter of time before the fit hits the shan.

If it wasn’t so mind-numbingly cold, I would have really soaked in the incredible view that Jacksonville Beach presented from miles six through eight.  The wind was 10-15 miles per hour off of the water, making the group waddle the miles together like a bunch of emperor penguins.  It was between miles seven and eight where The Pain announced his presence with authority.  As the cold really began to work its way through my damp upper layers, I let the growing discomfort distract me from the business at hand.  The little man decided that it was time to engage the enemy.

“Wow.  It’s cold,” the little nuisance muttered in my ear.

“Yeah.  I noticed.  Thanks, Captain Obvious.”

“Well I couldn’t help but notice that we’re only at mile eight.  If my math is correct, that means there are eighteen more miles to go,” he said.

“Well check out the CPA over here.  Glad to see you can do simple math.”

To which, he responded: “….I can see you’re busy.  I’ll check in later.”  …and then he let out a chuckle that sounded something like Dr. Evil from an Austin Powers movie.  Not a good sign.

By mile eight, we turned away from the beach and back on to town streets.  This far into the race, my body had not heated up enough and the cold was becoming a distraction that overpowered by ability to focus on the job at hand.  I resigned myself to the simple fact that this wasn’t going to get any better, and I just need to soldier on.

Unfortunately, the next twelve miles went by in a haze.  Two minutes of running at a 9:20 pace, followed by one minute of walking.  Run.  Then walk.  Run again.  Then walk.  The only way to distract myself from how horrid I was feeling was to focus on the two minutes of running.  Two minutes at a time.  This marathon was going to be run in 120 second increments.  This went against my race strategy…but it was working so far, so why screw up a good thing?  Small yet sturdy groups of fans braved the cold and provided the warmth we all needed to continue waddling onward.

By the time we approached mile twenty two, we transitioned to running along a major roadway – J Turner Butler Blvd.  It was at this moment of the race – with only four miles to go, where the wheels began to come off.  I began to falter.  I slowed down to grab some water and detached from the pace group.  I hustled to catch up, trying to pace at 9:00 while the group clipped off their 9:20.  As I attempted to catch up, I ran right into The Wall, face first. And guess who was right there, waiting for me.  Bingo.  That little 4cm tall man.

“Well good for you.  You at least made it this far.  Too bad you are broken”, uttered the little imp.

“Shut up” was my witty retort.

“Four point two miles is still a bit of a trip to the finish.  Look – you never quit before, so there’s no shame of quitting now.”

I didn’t have the clear head to fire a solid come-back line.

“It’s so hard to motivate yourself to begin running again after you’ve been broken, isn’t it?”

He had a good point.

“Hey look – there’s mile marker twenty-three.  A long way off.  Let’s shut this down for the day and grab a burger & fries.”

A burger and fries.  Man did that sound good.

The next two miles were spent in just this fashion, with The Man whispering nonsense into my ear as I tired again and again to locate some of the momentum I had long lost.

Shortly before reaching mile twenty five, a large hill greeted me.  The mile marker sat atop the rather rough-looking incline, like a twelve foot-tall carrot hanging in front of my overly-pale face.  The final obstacle loomed.  I was still on my feet and somewhat coherent, so I took that as a sign to get my rear-end in gear and finish this.

The last mile is basically a downhill coast to pay dirt: a wonderful finish line and a quick waddle back to the nearby hotel.

I truly recommend this race for someone who is looking to participate in a distance event without the feeling of pressure to reach a specific time goal.  I would rival the friendly atmosphere of this event to that of the Walt Disney World Marathon – only at a much, MUCH smaller scale.

Any of you that have read my prior blog entries know that I have a passion for the ING New York City Marathon and ALL Disney races. However, I can honestly say that I will definitely run this race next year, since the experience was enjoyable, memorable, emotional and very motivational.  It would definitely be a great event to fit into your schedule on your way toward preparing for a Disney event!

Next up for me: marathon number three in my year-long odyssey: The Ocean Drive Marathon in Cape May, New Jersey on March 25^th, 2012.

In my next installment, I’m planning to offer up some tidbits on how to stay focused during your run, regardless of the distance.  Until then, make sure you double-knot your shoe laces, get out there and get moving!  And remember: you can do anything you set your mind to.  There are no limits.

If you’d like some information on The Dream Team Project or would like to make a donation to their amazing cause, please stop by the website:  www.wdwradio.com/the-dream-team-project  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I really believe in what The Dream Team Project stands for.  It raises money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, helping to grant the wishes of children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.  Being s former wish-granter for the NYC Chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, I can tell you first-hand just how much of an impact this organization makes in the lives of children.  Please consider donating to this worthy cause.  Thanks!

…and if you’d like a bit more information on the WDW Radio Running Team, please check out the Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/WDW-Radio-Running-Team/163606410344409

The post Running Disney: 2 Down, 10 to Go! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

As I’ve mentioned in my past few blog entries, my goal for 2012 is to run a marathon during each calendar month of the year in order to generate awareness and donations for The Dream Team Project.  Well I am happy to report that I survived marathon number two this past Sunday, February 12^th.  I completed the “26.2 With Donna Marathon”, run in Jacksonville, Florida in a time of five hours and fourteen minutes.  I’d like to briefly share with you the day’s experience, because it truly was amazing.

First off: this marathon weekend offers runners the choice of running the full marathon, a half marathon, or participate in a marathon relay.  I chose the full marathon – but I can tell you that the half marathon distance was extremely popular!  So let’s dive right in and talk about the course.  Then I’ll Tarantino this blog and backtrack to the Expo experience.

The course is very flat until the last mile…then you are exposed to Jacksonville’s version of Heartbreak Hill.  Since the hill is right near the end of the course, it truly is manageable.  You get to run along the beach, through the wonderful little towns, and experience small yet boisterous crowds all along the course.  It was an incredible feeling to have total strangers coming up to me as I waddled along the course, thanking ME for RUNNING.  Are you kidding????  It’s me that should be thanking YOU for YOUR SUPPORT!!!

As I walked out of the hotel which was wonderfully close to the start/finish line of the race alongside the Mayo Clinic campus, I realized that I may have bitten off a bit more than I could chew this Sunday morning.  As the doors swooshed open, cold air blasted me right in the face. Should have looked at the temperature before getting dressed….it was 28 degrees.  With a strong wind.  Which was currently whacking me in the face.  I ran upstairs to my room and changed into long pants, 3 shirts and a sweatshirt (which represented approximately 85% of the clothes I brought on the trip).  I never ran 26.2 miles in long pants before….but there’s a first time for everything I guess….

This marathon has grown substantially since it’s inception five years ago, and it’s growth can be primarily evidenced in the quality of the Runner’s Village.  What a great setup.  I cannot recall another marathon offering oranges, bananas, and freshly-baked chocolate chip muffins that immediately reminded me of the Boardwalk Bakery in Walt Disney World (a personal favorite of mine whenever I’m hanging out in La Casa de Walt).  What a great way to kick off a really cold morning.  The chocolaty goodness took my mind off the freezing temperatures, that’s for sure!

After I dropped off my bag (along with my sweatshirt – hello wind chill) and headed to the starting line, a couple of people asked me about the WDW Radio Running Team.  So I gave them the quick explanation of The Dream Team Project, and why running for the team means so much to me.  They, in turn, shared their own experiences running for another cancer charity…and it was wonderful to listen to the passion in their voices as they were so grateful to get an opportunity to do something to help a cause that was close to their hearts.

Before you knew it, the gun sounded and off we went!  The first five miles carried us in to the Jacksonville Beach area, followed by miles six through eight along the beach itself.  If it wasn’t so mind-numbingly cold, I would have really soaked in the incredible view.  By mile eight, we turned away from the beach and back on to town streets.  Miles nine through twenty one gave me a prolonged opportunity to enjoy the small towns along Jacksonville Beach.  Small yet sturdy groups of fans braved the cold and provided the warmth we all needed to continue waddling onward.  By the time we approached mile twenty two, we transitioned to running along a major roadway – J Turner Butler Blvd.  Shortly before reaching mile twenty five, a large hill greets the runners and makes them work extra hard to get to the finish line.  The last mile is basically a downhill coast to pay dirt.

There was plenty of water all along the course, but I would hope to see more Gatorade in future events.  The organization of the race itself was sharp.  Mile markers and directions were clear all along the course.  I truly recommend this race for someone that is looking to participate in a distance event without the feeling of pressure to reach a specific time goal.  I would rival the friendly atmosphere of this event to that of the Walt Disney World Marathon – only at a much, MUCH smaller scale.

OK – now that I’ve described the course, let’s go Tarantino and rewind to the afternoon prior to race day.

On Saturday morning I took a taxi right from Jacksonville International Airport to the marathon expo held in a convention center downtown.  It was a very well organized, thorough event, as speaker such as Bart Yasso and Jeff Galloway graced the stage at different times during the day, spreading their running knowledge base among the masses.  Mr. Galloway was particularly exceptional during his discussion of “how to stay motivated during the run”.  That subject really made an impression on me, as I lose motivation early and often during a race.  I become distracted and, as a result, I lose my rhythm.  Then the wheels come off my tractor-trailer in a hurry, turning me into a sweaty mess in an awful hurry.  After he spoke, I got to chat with him for a few minutes!  That was pretty cool!!  This marathon offers the kind of expo where conversations like this become possible.  I left with a fantastic amount of “swag”, and a huge smile on my face.

Any of you that have read my prior blog entries know that I have a passion for the ING New York City Marathon and ALL Disney races. However, I can honestly say that I will definitely run this race next year, since the experience was enjoyable, memorable, emotional and very motivational.  It would definitely be a great event to fit into your schedule on your way toward preparing for a Disney event!

Next up for me: marathon number three in my year-long odyssey: The Ocean Drive Marathon in Cape May, New Jersey on March 25^th, 2012.

In my next installment, I’m planning to offer up some tidbits on how to stay focused during your run, regardless of the distance.  Until then, make sure you double-knot your shoe laces, get out there and get moving!  And remember: you can do anything you set your mind to.  There are no limits.

If you’d like some information on The Dream Team Project or would like to make a donation to their amazing cause, please stop by the website:  www.wdwradio.com/the-dream-team-project  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I really believe in what The Dream Team Project stands for.  It raises money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, helping to grant the wishes of children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.  Being s former wish-granter for the NYC Chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, I can tell you first-hand just how much of an impact this organization makes in the lives of children.  Please consider donating to this worthy cause.  Thanks!

A self-proclaimed Disney nerd, Joe Kolinsky also is a running enthusiast.  He has completed over 10 marathons and run 5 Disney races (including the 2009 Goofy Challenge).  When he is not running or dreaming of his next Disney vacation, Joe spends his spare time being a Dad and writing.  (You can follow his writings in his blog, entitled “Built for Comfort, Not Speed” at http://backofthepacker.wordpress.com/)

The post Running Disney: Two Down, Ten to Go!! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

After I finished the 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon I waddled very slowly back through Epcot, around the Boardwalk to my room at the Beach Club. I was one gigantic ache. Nothing and I mean nothing about me felt good physically. There was one thing that offset the pain, and that was the mental victory I earned. It wasn’t pretty, but I finished 26.2 miles with hardly any sleep, very little fuel in my tank and a complete lack of preparation. I knew that my lack of careful planning was evidence of the clear fact that I have a ton to learn.

So here are some quick takeaways for those of you that are planning to run the Walt Disney World Marathon in the future:

1) Time your sleep properly. I know that sounds simple … but with this marathon, it’s not. And here’s why: buses begin to run from the Disney resorts at 3am to bring runners to the starting line. This means that alarm clocks are ringing all over on-property resorts beginning at around 2am. Nope- that’s not a typo. 2a.m. That means, in order to get a decent account of sleep, you need to hit the hay by 7pm. At the latest. AT WALT DISNEY WORLD. How hard it THAT??? I mean COME ON!! Extra magic hours, Illuminations, fireworks, Fantasmic tons of reasons to stay up late and stay on your feet. Somehow, you have to resist the temptation to ride Space Mountain at 10pm.

2)Time your meals properly. I know another easy thing to do or so it seems. Trying to get to bed by 7pm on a Saturday evening at Walt Disney World is difficult enough. Buttryeatingdinner at 4-5pm the evening (or late afternoon?) before race day. Oy. But 4-5pm for dinner is about the right timing to follow in order to be able to get a good night’s sleep and ready to go at 3am. Oy. I called Dominos at 8pm and the rest is history.

3)Have an actual game plan for race day. Let me clarify: have an actual game plan that is more than just make sure my iPhone is fully charged so that I can take pictures all morning. Tried that game plan, and it for a lack of a better term stunk. Review the course map before race day and picture yourself running it. Establish goals or targets in your head that you will run to. Prepare yourself mentally for the 26.2 mile stress test.

Have a game plan. Get to sleep on time. Time your meals properly. Three tiny recommendations to help you succeed during your attempt at the most magical 26.2 you’ll ever run. Until next time! Make sure you double-knot your shoe laces, get out there and get moving!

A self-proclaimed Disney nerd, Joe Kolinsky also is a running enthusiast. He has completed over 10 marathonsand run5 Disney races (including the 2009 Goofy Challenge). When he is not running or dreaming of his next Disney vacation, Joespends his spare time being a Dad and writing. (You can follow his writings in his blog, entitled €œBuilt for Comfort, Not Speed at http://backofthepacker.wordpress.com/)

The post Running Disney: The Aftermath appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.