26.2 miles with my pants on inside out

This whole blog started out as my running log. I would hold myself accountable for how I trained that way and that is why it is called, "It's kinda fun to do the impossible." It is a quote from Walt Disney himself, supposedly. And I like it! A year ago running a marathon seemed laughable, but I signed up for it anyway. I had a year to train.... So I started running while I lived with Sara in Boise and it was hard for me to run 1/2 a mile without gasping for air and hurting all over. I stuck with it and by May was able to run 7 miles without completely dying. Summer started and I slacked off with the training. Fall came, I moved to Florida and it was so hot I avoided running outside. Neither of us had enough motivation to run in the heat and running at night wasn't any better with the humidity. We both knew we were setting ourselves up for failure. And then I got a job in housekeeping, where I am moving quickly all day and building up my endurance and muscles. It really has been a blessing. I have lost 20 pounds since I started working and being in better shape helped immensely when Travis and I finally started training for the marathon again.

Friday before the marathon we picked up our race packets and tried on our really cool marathon shirts. Saturday night Sarah made us chicken fettuccine alfredo to help us stock up on our carbohydrates and it was delicious! I could go for some more of that now actually. Then we went home and got our stuff ready for the morning. 4:15 rolled around way too quickly and we were on our way to the starting line. Sarah was awesome and dropped us off so we wouldn't have to worry about finding a place to park. I don't remember how cold it was, but it was freezing! I had two shirts, two sweatshirts, shorts, pants, gloves and a beanie on and was still shivering. Maybe as much from nerves as from the cold. Then at 6 am our wave was finally able to go... here is a mile by mile account, well as much as I can remember anyway.

Mile 1: I was cold and we had to weave through walkers.
2: still cold, but started to warm up a little. Dozens of guys were going to the bathroom on the side of the route, and I was wishing I could do the same.
3: Got to EPCOT and I waited 10 minutes to go to the bathroom. I sent Travis on ahead of me since he didn't have to wait in line.
4: Feeling great and not tired at all.
5: Out on the road again and headed to the Magic Kingdom. I was two minutes behind Travis at this point.
6: Still cold. Water from the water stop was freezing on the road and I almost slipped. My feet started going numb and I had pins and needles every time my feet hit the pavement. Not fun.
7: On the road to the Magic Kingdom ... still.
8: Passed through the Magic Kingdom toll booths and the sun started coming up. Still cold.
9: Where is the freaking Magic Kingdom?!?!?!
10: Finally on the sidewalk that leads to the Magic Kingdom. Still cold. Caught up to Travis right before Cinderella's Castle.
11: Splash Mountain. cold.
12: Left the Magic Kingdom and passed the Grand Floridian. The water was still frozen during the water stops. PowerAde is a little too thick for me. I started to appreciate Biofreeze and the little gel packs they hand out.
13: Half Marathon baby! Wahoo! Wait, we have to run that far again? We are only half way done? Still cold.
14: Passing a sewer plant. I don't know who planned a marathon route right next to one of those, because it sure didn't help with breathing. Feet still killing me and still cold. "If you're going through hell" came on my iPod. So true.
15: I was working my way around the plant. It was big.
16: Getting into Animal Kingdom. The bananas were even frozen.
17: Mount Everest in the Animal Kingdom.
18: Sarah caught up with us and took a picture of us with the sign.
19: I felt good during this mile. I was high on Tylenol and gel packs.
20: On the road to Hollywood Studios. Pretty boring and cold.
21: Someone thought it would be funny to run 1/2 a mile down the road to just double back and run that same 1/2 mile again for this mile. Not funny!
22: Still on the road to Hollywood Studios. I was really feeling it at this point and wanted to chop my feet off. Everything else was great, except it was cold.
23: Entrance of the Backstage Tour in Hollywood Studios. People kept yelling that we were almost finished. They didn't understand that the prospect of running 3.2 miles after you have run 23 is not pleasant. You are not almost done. It seemed to last forever. I enjoyed seeing Studios during the day though.
24: We made it to the Boardwalk tennis courts!
25: France. I hate France. Why do they have hills? I was still cold.
26: Leaving EPCOT and started making the final push towards the finish.
26.2: Travis said, "Lets hold hands as we cross the finish line." So we did. It kinda messed up my rhythm, but we looked cool crossing the finish line :) It was cold.

I'm glad we were able to run the marathon and even more happy that we finished it. Now I'm sore and already looking forward to training for next year.