Marathon #3 - Disney

Yes, I did it again!! Am I crazy? Somewhat, I think I am, or maybe just addicted to the whole culture of marathons and the people who come back time after time to this challenge. There is something cult-like about this whole experience. After each marathon I have said, "This is the last one - maybe a few half marathons - maybe!" But, then, I do a few half marathons and it's just not enough. After all, if you are not totally wiped out, where's the challenge?

This was the second time I completed the Disneyworld Marathon, and I spotted some of the same people on the course. Once again, I wore my bright orange Tennessee jersey, and I guess it made enough of an impression last year that the same people recognized me again. At about mile 16, I caught up with the LSU fan who was doing the marathon with his daughter. He told me that LSU fans love their new coach from TN - former defensive coordinator John Chavis. Then there was Mary, from Morehead, KY; at age 63 she has done 22 marathons. And, you think I'm crazy?!

And the results are - drum roll......... 7 hrs 3 min. Not my best time, for sure, and 3 minutes short of my goal. I really just needed to step it up a bit for the last 5 miles, but I just lost track of the time after I left MGM at mile 24. My pace through mile 20 was just fine at 5 hrs 17 min, and it should have only taken me another 1.5 hrs to finish the 26.2. Oh, well.... what can I say.... I finished, I got the medal and the t-shirt. Of the more than 20,000 who started, only 15,000 finished, so I'm proud to be part of the 75% who finished.

Best of all was having my own cheering section - Marci and Ryan, Jim and Martha Fallis, and - best of all - my wonderful husband, who practically ran the race with me. I saw him at miles 2, 9, 12.5, 19 and he actually walked with me from mile 22 to 23. Marci and Ryan were at mile 16 in Animal Kingdom and mile 24 in MGM. Martha and Jim were at mile 9 and at the finish, where Martha had her camera working overtime. At all those spots they showed up with nutrition bars, oranges, bananas, Gatorade etc. and an extra measure of moral support. And, at mile 20 I got a text message from Jimmy cheering me on - the wonders of technlogy!!

Will I do it again? Probably. Right now, I'm cooling my heels in Big Sky and praying for fresh powder so I can hit the slopes. When we get back to Florida in a few weeks, I'll start back in training for the Nashville half marathon. The amazing thing is that after this marathon, I had no physical problems. A few aches and pains were worked out immediately after the finish with about 20 minutes of stretching, a couple of Tylenol and the requisite ice bath. The next day, I was totally mobile with none of the blisters that crippled me last year for a week.

So, yes... I think there are some marathons left in me. The day after I finished, I got an email announcing the inaugural "Rockin' the Strip" marathon in Las Vegas in December 2009. Sponsored by Elite Racing, these Rock 'N Roll marathons are terrific events with bands at every mile. Disney has been fun, but it does cut into my skiing time.

So, here we go again. There is something to be said for "use it or lose it", and I fully intend to use it as long as I can. The answer to the question, "Why do you do it?" will always be, "Because I can!!"

Christmas Limo

OK - I know it's not Christmas anymore! But, the limo ride in Nashville and the Christmas lights were the best. Marci and Ryan had arranged for a PT Cruiser limo to pick us up just at sunset and we set off for tour of some of the gaudiest Christmas lights I have ever seen.

This tradition goes back a long way with our family. For years, we would all jump in the car the week before Christmas and find the "tacky Christmas lights" in Chattanooga. We never did the tour in a limousine - this was a first.

When we went out to get into the limo, Will immediately exclaimed, "It's a movie star car!" The car was stocked with hot chocolate and cookies. It was decorated with tinsel and Christmas light bulbs and the driver was decked out in a red sport coat and drove like a frustrated Indy car driver. If you have ever ridden the Rockin Roller Coaster at Disneyworld - you get the picture!

The tour started in Bellvue and wound through west Nashville all the way down to Brentwood and Franklin. At George Jones' home in Franklin, we found Santa Claus sitting in a gigantic rocking chair. Will climbed up in the chair and got a coloring book and crayons, and a Christmas card from George and Nancy Jones.

The last house we visited was the ultimate Christmas house. Not only did the owner decorate his own house, but he also decorated every neighbor's house who would let him. The whole street was lit up with displays depicting Santa Claus playing basketball, a green dragon, a toy dump truck, pink flamingos (no kidding!!) in addition to the more traditional stars, Christmas trees, icicles on the roof eaves, etc.

When we got back, we ate the delicious dinner Marci had prepared, went to bed and got up the next day to go to see the Grinch on Ice. I was preparing for the marathon, so I did a 21-mile workout instead.

OK - now my Christmas blogging is finished!