A PR can change a man.

It's done. A year later, and it's done. I ran another half marathon. Leading up to this run I really doubted not only my ability to run and finish, but whether or not running was in my future. I set a pretty ambitious schedule for myself this summer, and thought I would have no trouble meeting it. I loved that all the people I knew thought I was crazy for continuing to train while the mercury kept rising. Of course, I also knew that the only way I would have a chance of running the Wine and Dine was to keep running over the summer.

But as the heat got higher and the humidity increased, I started having more and more difficulty hitting my  distances. Then, stupid me bought a sports watch. Not just any sports watch, I decided to spend what little "extra"money I had on more watch than I will ever fully use. So I kept finding myself watching the stupid thing and watching my heart rate go up while my pace went down. I was becoming demoralized. Demoralized and heat stroked.

So when we arrived at the Wild World of Sports for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon for the sports expo, I went in wearing the shirt I bought for my first halfathon just ten months ago.

The excitement totally started to build. It was almost as if I was a real athlete. I have never been an athlete, not so sure I will ever be one, but when you're at the expo, and some strange guy is rubbing your calf with a stick discussing the pliability of your muscles and the number of rough knots therein, you find yourself saying things like, "Yeah, well they've been really tight since that last 8 miler I did." Blah blah blah muscle muscle muscle run run run.

Picked up my shirt and my packet then we walked the grounds. I wasn't looking for anything in particular except maybe some cool Disney stuff. Of course the only other shirt I really wanted they didn't have in my size. I did however, find a shirt that was a little close to home:

 Yup, there it is, the shirt that says it all. Considering what would await me later that night, it was kinda funny I saw it. Did you know that in the sunlight, it actually shows blood coming out from under the band aides? They even had a uv light at the expo to prove it! No, I didn't buy it. Why buy it, if I wear a white shirt I could live it! Yipee!

 I really started to feel not just excited but relaxed. The race was still several hours away, I knew I was going to have some fun at a park and we had no where we had to be. So after the expo, we decided it was time to eat. I had a calorie regiment I wanted to keep and was sucking down water everywhere. So I bought a hat (I really do like the hat), and we headed over to Hollywood Studios. Using the lines app (gotta love Touring Plans) we managed to sketch out a quick tour of the park and work in lunch. We were trying to stay on budget, so we just ate at the Backlot. Couple of turkey sandwiches. Lovely, but the complex whole wheat toast was as good as any pasta, but the turkey and cheese was a great protein combo.

After our lunch, and some hearty laughs watching the tourists at Hollywood Studios, we decided to hit the park quick for some fun. Five minute wait for Star Tours 2.0 meant we could have two quick rides to see as much of it as possible. Two rides and not one repeated sequence! Woot! I finally got the Hoth sequence I wanted so bad (it was awesome and we were dead center first row!) Two bad the Rebel Spy wasn't working at all on any ride vehicle that day. My wife had never been on the ride, and she still hasn't it seen it pick a random person and exploit them for fun!

By this time our fast passes for Rockin Roller Coaster were up, so away we went. As always it was a fantastic ride and over way too soon. but I love how the guy behind me and I had the best expression!

 We rode a couple more attractions, but got the heck out of the park before the parade began. I wanted to get all checked in at the hotel and maybe get a little rest in before we headed back out to EPCOT. We ended up having some problems with our room, but you can read all about that at my Disney blog, over at Grimgrinningghost at blogspot.

Now it was time to be off to EPCOT. Here is where I have more critique of the experience. I was running the race, but my wife was going to wait for me. She had a spectator ticket for the party. So we decided to both go to EPCOT on Disney transportation then, I could hop the busses from there to Wide World of Sports for the start of the race, while she waited 'patiently' at the park. But the busses leave EPCOT to WWoS at 7:00 and all of the materials suggest getting on them immediately. So of course, being the person that I am, I get on the first bus leaving for the starting line. That means I'm going to be out at the starting line for three hours until the start of the race. I brought calories and my race food, but I hadn't brought enough hydration to last. Moreover, what was I going to do for all that time? Note to self, they give you way to much time to sit around than you need. I have read of these people who miss the start of the race, but they must really screw up! As I was waiting and watching all the pre-race merriment, I did finally begin to get my game face on. I was getting worried. I knew I had been training, but as I looked around at the crowd, the faces were younger and bellies smaller.


 The field was starting to fill up and I began to see a more and more eclectic group, but realizing I was in Corral A, I wondered if I really belonged there? I had an idea of what my finish time should be. I was willing to give it some latitude considering how awful my training had been this summer. Should I really be at the front of this race with 12,000 runners behind me? I was really concerned that I would spend the entire race watching people pass me.

 So I ate my pre-race food. A package of pop tarts and lots of water (luckily they were handing out water there) and made several trips to the porta potties. (My second fear that I would be in line for the potty when they start the race).

I had eaten a complex carbo dinner with my wife at the resort before we left, but wanted to make sure I had caloried up before the race began. Not too close to the start to make me sick, but not too much in advance either.

 The time had come and runners were getting to their Corrals, so I made my way over to mine. They were stacking us in pretty tight since the corral was full and I kept getting closer and closer to the starting line. I have watched those videos of the start of the race, and have seen those athletes when the race begins taking off like a shot.

I knew what pace I wanted to keep and I knew where my trouble spots would probably be. Of course, I was plagued with the thoughts of this being my last race. That I would DNF and never want to do this again. My nip guards were in place and my spibelt loaded. I had decided to ditch my camera (I've gotta get a better phone camera) since I was dealing with enough new gear. I had new shoes (only 18 miles on them) and my headphones had broken two weeks earlier, so I was dealing with new ones. I was looking at the crowd gathered around me and was hoping that I would make a decent showing tonight. Most of all, there were the constant reminders that at the end of the line, there would be a massive party waiting for me.

With the National Anthem sung, it was only a few short minutes until the start. I had left the heart monitor behind, fired up Nike+ GPS on my phone and set my watch. (Don't ask why I still use both, I'm just a little OCD, and I look at one as a back up to the other.)

 The race started and I got into a pretty comfortable pace. I kept telling myself that I was going a little two fast for my training, but I felt pretty good. The air was cool and the initial streets were nice and wide. Being in the front meant I didn't feel too congested at the start of the race. In face, I never felt congested (although I have read some reviews that Animal Kingdom was pretty packed near the middle of the pack).

I even stopped to get my picture with Goofy. Five miles into the race I had lost both nip guards and was bleeding pretty good. Always wear a red shirt, always wear a red shirt. I will have to find a solution by the time I run my next race.

Also, my new headphones started to give me trouble. I didn't realize when I was testing them that my earings (yes I still wear them, yes I know I'm old and should grow up, no I don't know how dumb I look in them, and no I don't think I will be taking them out any time soon.) kept clicking away as they tapped against the housing. Worse, once I was completely wet with sweat they kept popping out. I knew I should have spent more time fitting them to my head. Oh well, for the last couple of miles I just held them in my hand. It didn't really matter by then. The streets outside of Hollywood Studios were filled with people cheering, and that made it not only magical but ultimately amazing.

As I got closer to the end, I tried to keep my pace 30 seconds per mile faster than my training, and when I passed through the finish line and the MC announced my finish I knew I had just recorded a personal record. I didn't shave off much, just a couple of minutes, but if I hadn't stopped for Goofy or to reapply nip guards that were going to fall out anyway, I probably could have gotten under 2 hours.

So now at EPCOT, wearing my medal with pride, I changed into dry clothes to head in and join my wife. I wanted a beer (or three) to taste some food, but mostly to walk the park feeling like a true athlete. I made it through a hard summer of training and although this really isn't the story of the run, or the story of what I think of the event, this is the story of how I made it through my training.

When I finished my first Half Marathon, I was elated that it could be done by someone like me. I remember sitting at my desk during final exams and after my students had left the room, firing up Active.com to see what other races were out there. I was so excited and somewhat lost. I needed to have another carrot and stick to keep me moving forward.

Now that I made the long stretch through the off season, I have many races on my calendar. In smack in the middle is that full marathon in January, back here at Disney.

I will write about my actual race ups and downs, and I will write a review of the Wine and Dine, but right now, I want to bask in the afterglow of the race. I feel great. It's Monday, my last rest day before I get back into my training schedule and I couldn't look more forward to lacing up and getting out there.