10.09.2005

10K PR at Disney

I think there is nothing quite so enjoyable as being up and on the road on a weekend race morning. You're out there at O-Dark hundred. The streets are empty. The highways are clear sailing. It's still dark and misty beyond the wash of night lights. Your windows are open. Bono and U2 are blasting out of the stereo. It's a Beautiful Day!
As you approach the race site the traffic congeals around the road into the parking lot. Runners are everywhere, stretching, jogging, chattering, adjusting, etc. It's a high in and of itself, so long as you're on time, properly packed and mentally prepared for the race. If not, well you have some other kind of training to tend to.
Today was hotter than it's been lately - 78 or so - even at 700. The humidity was at the upper limit, just short of a mist. The Disney people have a penchant for doing things in a show-bizzy way. There were two DJs on a stage talking to the runners, two "characters" with mics working the crowd at the start line and lots of inflated wine bottle balloons adorning the starting gate that might otherwise be a concert lights frame. With the start we were startled by a fireworks display to launch us on our way.
I went out at a comfortable pace. I had in mind some negative splits and a sub-50 minute run. The first three miles I turned in at sub-8:00/miles but the last three were slower, more like 8:20. That was disappointing. I PRed in 50:40, 2:19 better than my previous best in November of 2002. If it had been cooler and not so difficult to breathe, I think I'd have done better. There's another 10K next month I look forward to.

Disney Notes. Disney did it again with a goofy race gift. Some genius decided a chef's apron was more appropriate than a race t-shirt. It was a leap of bad judgment off the race theme "Race for the Taste 10K". At the first water stop they were serving cheese. I saw no takers. At the second water stop they offered Ghiaredelli chocolate and I thought of Jon in Michigan and Mia in San Francisco. I passed again. What were they thinking? At the end of the race the food was much better. Racer food included oranges, bananas, bagels, muffins, Powerade and water. The Taste booths included Turkish, Polish, Mexican and American food samples. The only thing that appealed to me was the Polish potatoes with cooked onions topping. The race wound through MGM studios, the Yacht and Beach Club Resort and around the lagoon of Epcot, out the front gate by Spaceship Earth and into the parking lot. Lots of Disney cast members cheered us on throughout the course. No park patrons were inside so there was little else to motivate. The sites were pretty. The bridges over boat canals were surprises even though they made sense. I posed excitedly for contracted cameramen when they appeared. Perhaps with my arms raised you will be distracted from noticing my weak gait.

13 comments:

Mia Goddess said...

Man! You couldn't have shaved another 40 seconds to make me right with my sub-50 prediction? I think you did it out of spite! Congratulations, by the way, and that's plenty speedy in that kind of heat and humidity... no sense in hurting yourself. Did you have the good sense to eat the chocolate *after* the race? And already thinking about next month's 10k! I love the way you described getting to and arriving at, the race site. You capture the spirit perfectly!

Running Chick said...

David! A 2:19 PR is amazing!!

Congratulations!

Cheese? Was that somehow supposed to tie in with the whole Mouse thing they got going on? Cheese? Really? I mean, at an ultra, that makes sense...but a 10k? In the heat? Of all the foods to pick!

Jack said...

Congratulations on your PR, a two minute improvement on a 10K is really good! I've never been to Disney World so it would have been a cool run for me, the food sounded good too!

Sarah said...

Nice job, David! Sounds like the weather was sub-par, but you pulled out a nice time :-) And cheese...yuck!

Oldman said...

great job on your PR! but chesse and cocolate...what were they thinking?

Lara said...

Congrats on the PR! Maybe next year they'll have some more appropriate food at the stops - like strip steaks.

ShoreTurtle said...

Congrats on the PR! I think a non-runner must have come up with the ideas for aprons and cheese!

April Anne said...

Congratulations! Cheese? That is hilarious! (Where are the race day pics.?)

Michelle said...

what a great race. i can't wait for the disney marathon. interested? it's so magical! way to go on your PR!

Rae said...

Cheese?? That is so strange! I **Love** cheese but it's never crossed my mind during a race. Disney sounds like they really put on a show along with the race, sounds like a LOT of fun!!

Jon (was) in Michigan said...

Well, geez, why weren't ya stuffing the free cheese and chocolate in your pockets? :D I think I would have had a hard time not taking some for later if I couldn't eat it then. I guess at your speed, you weren't slowing down to mess around with goodies anyway.

Excellent race, David and congrats on the PR. That's a hot race to run that pace in and you did great!

Soooo, ya don't want the chef's apron? :)

D said...

Congrats on a PR despite less than perfect weather conditions! Odd choices in food....hmmmm....Again, congrats!!

Rachel said...

that's a great PR! seeing the park virtually deserted early in the morning reminds me of the Disney marathon... maybe you should run that one or the half this year! under normal circumstances, i guess all that food would be fun to taste, but not during a race. blech!