LONG POST ALERT!!! I really enjoyed sharing the lead up to the race with everyone here, so figured I would share my story...
It has been nearly two weeks now since the marathon in and life is slowly returning to normal. DW and I left for Disney on Friday morning and hit the expo shortly after landing to pick up my bib and we took a very quick tour of the booths while we were there. Pretty much the same old same old and any items I would have wanted to get were already sold out, so I was able to save a few bucks.
After bib pick up we set headed over to DW's Aunt & Uncle's condo where we were spending our first night. We had a great night with them, which included cards and a wonderful pasta dinner made with the runner in mind. The next morning DW and I got out early for a quick shakeout run before having a nice breakfast and then saying our goodbyes as we went to check into our resort. We were staying at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort, which is our home resort for Disney Vacation Club. We arrived before noon and to our surprise our room was ready. They were even able to accommodate all of our room requests, a nice bonus for sure.
We quickly settled into our room and then went to the Magic Kingdom to pick up our Annual Passes and enjoy the afternoon. We took it easy there as I didn't want to do too much walking and burn out my legs and before too long it was time to go for our senior's supper at 5:00. Nothing fancy, just straight-up linguine and meat sauce at Olive Garden (and unlimited bread sticks!) to get my last carb load on. Then back to the resort for a quick soak in the hot tub and off to bed by 8:00.
The alarm(s) went off at 2:15 on Sunday morning as we had a date with the shuttle bus at 3:00. I was up easy after a great night's sleep (which happens approximately NEVER before a race) and grabbed my breakfast of oatmeal, a banana and bagel. I had avoided coffee and caffeine the last couple days and stuck to it race morning, so just a Powerade to drink. We made the first bus out and arrived at the Epcot staging area around 3:30. I was up in Corral A and the race kicked off at 5:30, so DW and I just hung out for a little bit as we both had time to kill. I tried (quite a few times) to get my "runner's business" done before heading to my corral but I was unsuccessful. Guess I could have used that coffee to get the system flowing
Eventually I gave DW a kiss goodbye and began the long walk to my corral. It was a cool morning and I thankfully had my throwaway sweats to keep me warm waiting for the start. Once in my corral I found Shan, one of the runners I follow on Strava. We knew we were both running and in Corral A, so we were hoping to catch up with each other before the race. It was nice having someone to chat with and help pass the time. It was such a weird experience leading up to the start though as I really wasn't nervous at all, not even anxious even. I just wanted to run. I knew I had busted my butt for the last 4 months and had done all I could do, so now it was just time to cash my chips in. Shan and I were both chasing Boston Qualifying times, 3:10 for me and 3:05 for him, so we knew we would be running similar paces. We also both were after loftier goals of going sub-3, which was the goal I was really after though I was trying not to tell people. To be honest, if I "only" got my BQ with a time around 3:10 I would have been disappointed
as awful as that sounds it was the truth. If I ran a 3:10 my paces would be slower than I had run in months.
Before long the countdown began and we were ready to run
Shan and I wished each other luck and figured we would see each other again on the course at some point. Our corral set off at 5:35 and the conditions were great for running
12°C/54°F with no noticeable wind.
Epcot to Magic Kingdom - Miles 1 to 5 (7'16", 6'55", 6'57", 6'48",6'38")
I knew that I would be tempted to go out quickly with the crowd but I resisted the urge and ran the first mile at 7:16. The fastest pace group here was 3:05 and they were out of sight in no time. I figured I would catch them eventually but for now I just had to run my own race. I took some water at the second water stop and decided I was warm enough that I could ditch my last cold weather item, my gloves. I started to settle into a quicker pace after 5K when my legs began to feel nice and loose. As we approached the crowds at the Ticket & Transportation Center I kept my eyes peeled for DW
she had decided to camp out there this year instead of in the craziness of Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom as she would be able to scoot over to the Polynesian Resort and see me again. I saw DW (well, I heard her first
she isn't quiet!) and it was a nice boost at the 4 mile mark. She told me afterwards that she was a bit worried as the 3:05 pace group came through a bit earlier but I managed to catch up to them shortly by running my own easy pace. I joined up with them at the underpass where the Seven Seas Lagoon meets Bay Lake, just before the Contemporary Resort. Up ahead I could see the lights twinkling on Cinderella's Castle
we were about to enter the Magic Kingdom!
Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom - Miles 6 to 13 (7'01", 6'51", 6'58", 6'54", 6'53", 6'56", 6'41", 6'44")
The run down Main Street USA during the marathon is simply incredible. There is so much energy and excitement you can't help but get a boost from it. I had decided that I would stick with the 3:05 pace group for a while to make sure I didn't go faster than I should
the last thing I wanted was to bonk and have to drag myself through the last half of the run, as had been my experience in my first two marathons. I saw a few characters along the way through the Magic Kingdom (none of whom had any lines whatsoever) and as much as I may have wanted to jump in for a picture, I had my sights set on my goal. We came out of the park and ran past the Grand Floridian and Polynesian Resorts where I was able to see DW again before doing a lap of the Disney Speedway. The 3:05 group and I came out of the Speedway and crossed the 10-mile point at 1:09:48. We set off down the service road towards Animal Kingdom. I ran until mile 12 with the pace group and decided that was enough
my watch was showing my pace at 4:18/km (6:53/mile) and I needed to be under 4:15 to go sub-3, so I figured it was time to make my move if this was going to happen. I dropped my pace at bit and set off to run my own race as I headed into Animal Kingdom. I made the turn towards Expedition Everest and made my Yeti-scaring face just like last year, then blew kisses to Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck in Dinoland before exiting the park.
Animal Kingdom to Wide World of Sports - Miles 14 to 17 (6'34", 6'51", 6'42", 6'41")
The worst stretch of the entire course, Osceola Parkway between Animal Kingdom and Wide World of Sports. Just highway, nothing else. Sure Disney tries to spice it up with a few characters (the Haunted Mansion gravediggers were here) and the DJ dance party, but this stretch is the most boring on the whole course and it is at a tough time for a lot of runners as it is right after the halfway point. I crossed the half-marathon timing mat at 1:30:58 which was right where I should be, but it also meant that if I wanted sub-3 I would need to put up a negative split. I was still feeling really good though so I pushed on and kept the pace strong. I navigated the highway overpasses (the only real hills on the course) and asked for some McDonald's fries from spectators who were standing by the Golden Arches (they didn't fulfill my request). There was also a runner just in front of me that went and got a kiss from his wife and hugs from his kids, so when I ran past I asked her for a kiss too
she opened her arms and said "bring it in big boy" (or something to that effect), but alas I couldn't stop for the smooch, I was on a mission.
Wide World of Sports to Hollywood Studios - Miles 18 to 23 (6'38", 6'39", 6'31", 6'42", 6'43", 6'38")
If the stretch towards WWoS is the worst, WWoS itself is a close second. It is nice to have scenery and lots of great support again, but the course itself is brutal. It is full of turns as you wind your way through the complex for a full 5K. You run between soccer fields, do a lap of the running track and even run the warning track at Champion Stadium, the Spring Training home of the Atlanta Braves. The scenery and support must have helped though as I was able to dial up some more speed through WWoS. One thing that the Hansons training plan kept preaching was that they were preparing you for the last 10 miles of the marathon while most plans get you ready for the first 20 miles. I was into the last 10 miles now and was feeling great, and it was clear that those around me were struggling. It is a huge mental boost to pick off other runners at this stage of the race instead of being the one being passed. Once we left WWoS there was a little bit more highway running as well as the biggest hill on the course (the ramp from Osceola to World Drive), which had one of the Toy Story Green Army Men barking out orders for you to "get your butt up that hill!" Once we were up the hill it was just a short run into Hollywood Studios, which is the best part of the race, the homestretch!
Hollywood Studios to Epcot Finish - Miles 24 to 26.2 (6'26", 6'21", 6'18")
I turned into Hollywood Studios back behind the Tower of Terror and then ran through the smoke-filled costume tunnel from the old Backlot Tour (seriously terrible idea having us run through a smoky tunnel at mile 23, Disney
). Then it was past the soon to be removed Sorcerer's Hat and down Hollywood Blvd and out of the park. We followed the pathway along the water to the Boardwalk area and I was now flying, knowing that I was in the last 5K. I would look back afterwards and see that I ran my last 5K in 19:31, my fastest stretch of the whole race. Just before I got to the Boardwalk I saw a familiar face up ahead of me
I had caught up with Shan. I said hi and gave him some encouragement to push through to the finish and continued on my way. When I made it to Epcot I could smell the finish and knew that my sub-3 goal was within reach. I was now in full-on race mode and was pushing with all I had
as crazy as it sounds, I was crossing the 25 mile point and was just then feeling the first bit of fatigue in my legs. How was this happening? I had long since crashed at this point in my other marathons and would have been at least walking the water stops, but I was still going STRONG.
My last mile was my fastest of the day at 6:18 and I felt like I gave it all I had. I rounded the Epcot geodesic sphere (or the 'ball' for those not in the know) and ran past the Hallelujah Chorus into the finishing chute. I knew I had my sub-3 and after 4 months of hard work I was certainly caught up with emotion. Then I saw/heard DW cheering me on and I kinda lost it
I crossed the line and had a finish time of
2:58:20, 12 minutes below my BQ time and a 17-minute PR. I ended up with a negative split of 3:36 which is HUGE
my half marathon PR is 1:29:16 and I ran a 1:27:22 second half. Incredible. I ended up coming in 52nd overall (out of nearly 20,000 finishers) and I felt amazing afterwards. I have never felt so good during or after a marathon!
Truly just grateful to finish given I went to the ER and was diagnosed with kidney stones a month before, and I hurt my foot in the half. 
One woman grabbed 5 Smalls off the rack, and that was the end of them. I asked a CM and he checked that there were no more, and NO Mediums were ordered. 
I was incredulous at this, and this glitch of trying to find these jackets really threw a wrench in our Expo plans that day - I should have avoided getting sucked into the chase of it.
The contents of the igiftbag are can be seen via the runDisney website for this race.
. I know it was blue cups at least! I keep looking at pictures and blogs and some parts are totally a blur to me (I was sick so maybe that's why it was a blur or just so much to take in), like the flamingo campsite area (or whatever it was) I totally forgot about until seeing a photo! 
