Happiest Race On Earth (This is One Long Post, I deserve It)

First 13.1 mile race in 13 years - done! Did it. Very glad I picked this one as well for my re-entry into the world of running. Fun race. Maybe the most well organized event of these I have done - but it has been awhile. From moment I got there (much too early, later on that) to the use of the Med tent (later again, and on that drama) the organization was near perfect.

Anyway, the entire weekend was a blast for the family. We actually get to Disneyland once a year. Even going two-three times a year a few times since we have lived in Vegas. It is not a long drive for us. So, just when I am thinking our kids are getting a tad bored with Disneyland - forget it! Each one had a blast in both California Adventure and Disneyland. My little girl will forever be a Disney Princess. The Fireworks and night time events were a blast for us all. It also was not as crowded as we expected. We were thinking nightmare lines for a Holiday Weekend. Given it was Family Endurance Weekend/ (as if any weekend trip to Disneyland isn't already) Half Marathon Weekend we were sure it was going be a full park. However, outside of some transportation delays (ART shuttle disappeared post Race, and the Monorail died twice on us) it was overall a fantastic weekend for the Fam.

The Race. Must admit I was very much starting to dread the whole event on Saturday. One, I saw lots walking around with some pretty cool 5K medals. Wow, who gives out medals for 5K runs! Only an over the top place like Disneyland. Maybe I should have just did the 5K? Nah, silly I was there for the big one, and it is not just for the medal. Well, I convinced myself to stick with it. After rides most of the day Saturday we got over for the Expo to get my Bib number. Pretty big Expo for a Half marathon. It rivaled the one and only Marathon attempt in Seattle over 13 year ago. It was fun for the kids and well done. Everyone in my family got to make their own personal signs to hold and wave to their Dad for the race. Go Daddy Go and Go Slomohusky from my wife.

Night before. Got back early for us from Disneyland. My wife got the funky timing tag on my laces for me. I admit, somethings I do not trust myself with. There was no timing chips, but a timing strip that you had to specifically put in D shape with your laces going through the D. They gave you lots of big bold diagrams of how to NOT make a D, but very small print and little info on how to do it right. Disney even had videos at the Expo showing how to do this properly. I guess if you made a teardrop shape instead of D it would not read. I am sure plenty of teardrops would be shed over this mistake in the end. Anyway, made a perfect D and it read going across the finish which is all that matters. Got a last minute phone call from a friend for good luck. Watched a quarter of my UW Huskies playing LSU with all the great shots of Husky Stadium on the Lake. Then I crashed. Only to wake up at 1:30 AM and not being able to sleep again. No need for the 2:55 wake up call.

Anyway, even the wakeup was too early. Took a quick shower, got prepped. Said my last pre race goodbye to my wife and down to the lobby. No one. No one was up. NO runners, and just little ole me. Well, I went outside thinking someone might be up waiting for the shuttle - nope. It was just me. Just as I was rethinking leaving so early a shuttle arrived and I hoped on. I was off. Nice chat with the driver in a short 5-8 minute drive I was there. Walked across Downtown Disney - of course closed, dark with only a few security and maintenance people around. If you have ever been there - this in it self was an odd feeling. Felt like a Twilight Zone episode. I was here, where was anyone and everyone else. Finally, what looked like runners for a race. A couple from Connecticut. Very nice. This was there second Disney Half this year (other was at Disneyworld and if you do that one and this you get a really cool medal called the coast to coast - I must have this medal!).

Anyway, big nice prep/post area with DJ/music and big screen getting all who showed early pepped up. There were 5 others there at 3:50 AM when I got there. It slowly filled up, and at some point they announced all to start moving over to the start/corral areas. Once there - more wait. However, I passed the time meeting new peeps. Many who have done it before and all said their favorite race to do. Finally, after lots of loud DJ announcements/music, and info like 13,500 registered to run and 63% of these being women (aha! told ya women runners rock over men) we were finally off!

After a short run on streets near the park, into the Park! Fun. Everything seemed to speed up once in the park. I was also moving too fast. Faster than I expected. Surprising since I had slept 3 hours total. NO idea where the energy was coming from. I seemed to be passing more than were passing me. Many stops along the way to have a quick photo with a character. Sorry no camera on me! Next time. It did get very narrow around some corners, and running was impossible. However, Disney did a great job with very loud audio letting you know of a tight corner. What a blast! They even took you through some backlot areas. One of these had some incredible original character artwork on them. Plus, you have many staffers cheering you on. One I wanted to hire as my personal motivator. She was non stop and still going at it when finishing going back into the park.

Big bold clocks starting at mile 3. Couldn't believe my time - 18 minutes fast! I was so pumped going through the crowd and park. It was such a blast - just threw away any pacing plans at that point. You are out on the streets of Anaheim again by mile 4 with the only real hill in front of ya. Cool scene of packed in runners going up an overpass of Interstate 5. Blazed through that, then at the 10K point started to die. Well, not really, I felt good overall. However, I knew if I did not slow it down (mind you I had no pre-race knowledge/run thru of the course) I would be toast by Angel Stadium. So, I backed way off. Maybe too much.

Lots of entertainment along the way. Local high school marching bands, cheer squads, and even a local Latina dance group along with a Polynesian dance group. Water stops were all well stocked with big semi trailers on hand still filled with lots of water. I hit every water stop. It was humid. Humid for what I am used to running in the desert. My shirt (wore a non techie cotton UW Husky Alum T - favorite T to wear for comfort) was soaked 3 miles in, back inside Disneyland to begin with.

Miles 7-9. I just hated these miles in my training and they were not the happiest during the run. I still felt strong though. No pain at all. Somewhere after 8 miles you hit a bike trail that for some reason my shoes really liked. I just took off on this stretch passing a number of runners. Then the BIG A! You could see before, but once I got into the parking lot of the Stadium, I just felt like I was running out of gas. Once inside though - pumped again! Seats filled with Cub and Boy Scouts shooting water blasters at ya. This, seeing yourself on the big screen and just being on the field of a beautiful ballpark was all I needed. At least for a half mile or so. It got slow again - my running nickname is what it is.

Miles 10-12 were a real slog. Yet I would not stop. I was at my jogging pace here. I just could not do the run/walk thing. I just could not walk it. I had to keep whatever running motion pace I could going. Which I did. Before going back into the park I passed a group of what seemed like a High school Football team. They were pretty quiet for some reason, so I decided to interrupt my pace and do a little Rocky arms/hands in the air thing for them. They got pumped and started yelling out my name (which is on our bibs) and waving their fists in the air. It was a fun scene and I thought my last burst of any energy.

Back in the park for the finish. The whole time drained and going around all the turns and corners of California Adventure. Of course workers there cheering you on telling you just 1 mile to go which is the same thing the staffer half mile ago said! Finally, I could see around a corner the 13 mile clock with the finish after it. Disney had grandstands set up as you approach the finish (nice touch). It was some point past the 13 mile clock I could see them. MY FAM! Finally! Big quick hugs to my 4 kids and a kiss for my wife and a ending sprint to the finish. FANTASTIC feeling. Felt so good crossing the finish. Body - everything felt good. Walked passed an area where runners were getting knees iced. Then finally got my medal. Heavy and big. In fact, a clasp broke on mine because it was so heavy.

Made it over for my post run hydration and snacks which Disney had plenty of. Plus lots of staff helping out. I was doing great - then drama. Downed a whole bottle of powerade (which I am not a fan of). Through a half orange in my mouth - and it hit me. Felt dizzy, and nauseated at the same time. I felt like I was going to pass out. All this time my wife was trying to find me with the kids. I found some shade finally. It was underneath a tree that no one was sitting under because you would have to sit on some bark. I did not care. I felt awful! Laid down underneath not knowing if I could physically get myself back up. Tried to drink a little more and eat. No help. My wife finally found me. I was seeing white edges on everything by then. My wife said she had never seen my face so amazingly grey. After a few moments of what to do I sent her off for help. By the time she came back I was feeling better, but a overly dramatic wheelchair ride to Med Tent was needed. I rested on a make shift pool side looking furniture lounger. While my son kept pouring water in my cup and on me. Great attention from the nurses and two Docs on staff their from St. Josephs Hospital. I was really feeling better by the time of the over dramatic wheel chair ride. However, I am very glad they were there.

I think it was a blood sugar thing, but I was told it was dehydration. I hit every water stop though. However, after it all was done - the first 3-4 miles at blazing speeds for me, plus having to run in 30% humidity v. 5% I am sure was the issue. I also had little sleep that night. Plus, I get far more hydration training in the desert with my Camelbak over the quick gulps from the race day half filled cups. The thing is I brought my Camelbak, but decided I would look too dorky wearing it? Mistake. I saw others with them as well.

NO matter. It was a BLAST! Had a great run. My time was better than I expected and no problems beating course pace limit. So, no scenes of Donald Duck chasing me off the course (smile). Great Feeling. Plus, my kids get to see their Dad doing this. My youngest, my 4 year old boy can't wait for the next one at the Beach for the Big Sur Half (actually he just wants to go to the beach, but he was running around the hotel room that night as he said, "just like my Daddy"). Loved seeing them at the finish with their hand made signs. My wife just can't believe she saw her husband doing this. Also, even more personally, as I ran this quietly in honor of my Sister who passed away recently of a long battle with Cancer. I cannot begin to tell you how emotional I got when everything was hard after mile 7 at times. Whatever pain I was going through - I would think of her unwanted pain and struggle to live a little longer to Teach and raise her family. There was one point leaving Angel Stadium, I just said to myself, "strap yourself on my back Sis - and lets go for a ride back into Disneyland. I did it for her and my kids. Nothing more. But now, I need to do this run every year. Fantastic 13.1 miles!

Just want to thank Disneyland for this event. I am sure it is a money maker for this profit making machine, however, I really enjoyed it along with my family. Great organization and course! I also want to thank the new peeps I met at the race. Runners are the best people in the world! Met a great guy from Eugene, Oregon sitting on a bench outside the Castle for the firework show. I could not walk or move my legs anymore by this time. Feet were beyond dead. We sat there swapping stories as my four year old fell asleep in between us. While he was the more experienced runner, once he got up to leave - I could tell we had one or two experiences in common. Legs and feet that were toast after 13 miles and all day of walking around Disneyland. Over dramatic wheelchair ride please!

A big thanks to the running blogging world out there. What a fun, happy, supportive community it can be. Runners are the best! Thanks for your kind comments and support. It was felt. Especially, to Happy Trails, Meg Runs, Running Fat Guy and RPD.

Thanks especially to my wife and kids putting up with their Dad at 3:30-4:00 AM for the last three months training for this and months prior. I am not afraid of this kind of pride - I have the best family, wife and kids anyone should be allowed to have. What a great blessing. Now, if you can just deal with my running addiction for the rest of my life?

More to come. I need to heal up a sore heel. Rest and recover, then start training for Big Sur Half and the Big Dance in Vegas for the Full Marathon in December.

Life is Good! Cheers!