Dopey Challenge – Race #1 – Pluto 5k

My hands shook and my teeth chattered as the final seconds counted down to the start. Rising at 3:30, I had spent only a few minutes getting ready before heading up to catch a bus over to Epcot. This morning was the first of my 4 Disney races. The 5k race started at 6:15 AM.

Before letting the door shut behind me, I did one last check of the weather forecast. The temperature was hovering around 40 degrees (nice for running) but the wind was expected to be blowing which really “bites”. Yeah, at 21+ mph it definitely does (Not so nice).  I grabbed an extra layer of clothes and the “good ole handy dandy” trash bag (best wind coat around). All the time, hoping this would be enough.

I “chilled” pun intended here with all other runners. The cold was still seeping through even with 3 layers on. Several runners standing next to me were wearing nothing but shorts and a singlet. Oh, they had to be suffering.

We were herded into precorral pins and then led to the starting line. I ended up just one row back from the starting line more by choice than anything else. The runners on the starting line shielded the rest of us from the wind.

After the national anthem, the wheel chair athletes headed out. There was about a 2 minute gap and then they sent us off.

 I just settled into a nice comfortable pace. Having not been able to do my normal warm up, the first couple of miles would be my warm up.  6:10 for the first mile. Second mile was 5:50. Third mile was 5:45. Yes, I was starting to feel better. 18:55 for 3.20 miles, no, I didn't sprint to the finish.

The course looped around EpCot and took us around the World Show Case. As I felt better, I began to pick off a few people each mile.

The scenary even at night was very cool to see. They had the torches burning which surprising put off some serious heat. The footing was a little treacherous because it isn’t very well light. More than a few times, my feet found the tiny rises which my eyes didn’t catch.

After the race several of us were talking about the pole that was in the middle for the road coming to the finish. Just before the final 300 yard to the finish, the race exits from EpCot back into the parking lot. This section wasn’t very well lite, and there was the nice pole in the middle of our path. I just missed running into it. Hitting it would not have been a good thing.

I made a mental note to look for it tomorrow morning during the 10k.

So, I finished the race. Got my Dopey check-in complete. Headed for the baggage check. Oh, those clothes felt good.

Waited in line for the buses back to the hotel, and then watched as the bus driver took us on the scenic tour by Magic Kingdom. Funny how a 10 minute bus ride to the start in the morning turned into a 40 minute ride back to the hotel.  Such is life at Disney.

Now, I just have to recover and do it again tomorrow. This time twice as far.

 

Sharing my thoughts from the Happiest place on Earth,

The Cool Down Runner

 

 

 

 

 

My hands shook and my teeth chattered as the final seconds counted down to the start. Rising at 3:30, I spent a few minutes getting ready before heading up to catch a bus over to Epcot. This morning was the first of my 4 Disney races. The race started at 6:15 AM. Before leaving, I did one last check of the weather forecast. The temperature was hovering around 40 degrees (nice for running) but it was the wind that really “bites”. It was expected to be 21+ mph (Not so nice).  I grabbed an extra layer of clothes and the “good ole handy dandy” trash bag (best wind coat around). All the time, hoping this would be enough.

I “chilled” pun intended here with all other runners. The cold was still seeping through even with 3 layers on. Several runners stading next to me were wearing nothing but shorts and a singlet. Oh, they had to be suffering.

We were herded into corral pins and then led to the starting line. I ended up just one row back from the starting line more by choice than anything else. The runners on the starting line shielded the rest of us from the wind.

After the national anthem, the wheel chair athletes headed out. There was about a 2 minute gap and then they sent us off.

 I just settled into a nice comfortable pace. Having not been able to do my normal warm up, the first couple of miles would be my warm up.  6:10 for the first mile. Second mile was 5:50. Third mile was 5:45. Yes, starting to feel better.

The course looped around EpCot and took us around the World Show Case. As I felt better, I began to pick off a few people each mile.

The effects are very cool to see. They had the torches burning which surprising put off some heat. The footing is a little treacherous because it isn’t very well light. More than a few times, my feet found the tiny rises which my eyes didn’t catch.

After the race several of us were talking about the pole that was in the middle for the road coming to the finish. Just before the final 300 yard to the finish, the race exits from EpCot back into the parking lot. This section wasn’t very well lite, and there was the nice pole in the middle of our path. I just missed running into it. Hitting it would not have been a good thing.

I made a mental note to look for it tomorrow morning during the 10k.

So, I finished the race. Got my Dopey check-in complete. Headed for the baggage check. Oh, those clothes felt good.

Waited in line for the buses back to the hotel, and then watched as the bus driver took us on the scenic tour by Magic Kingdom. Funny how a 10 minute bus ride to the start in the morning turned into a 40 minute ride back to the hotel.  Such is life at Disney.

Now, I just have to recover and do it again tomorrow. This time twice as far.

 

Sharing this thoughts from the Happiest place on Earth,

The Cool Down Runner