Marathoning with Mike and Mickey: Race Aftermath: Part I

The race was over. There were race chips to get cut off, medals to be worn, bananas to peel and eat, and water to guzzle.

Oh yes, and of course there is always the official photo of the happy medal wearers. No. I don’t have one handy.

I didn’t stay too long talking with everyone as I needed to get back to my car as quickly as possible to let Carol know I was alive. I was sure she was tracking me all this time but I wanted her to hear my voice and assure her that I was okay. It’s a promise I made ever since breaking my ankle in the 2006 Walt Disney World Half-Marathon.

After talking with Carol I answered about a dozen voicemails and txt messages before FINALLY heading back to my room.

Wouldn’t you know it, I had forgotten to put the “Privacy Please” thingy in the key lock”¦I NEVER forget to do that”¦but some eight hours ago my mind was elsewhere.

As I pulled up to a great parking space that would leave me no more than perhaps 80 feet from my room I saw one of the housekeeping folks go into my room.

Sigh. Okay, no big deal”¦I’ll just wait about 15 minutes and the room will be ready. I was kicking myself for forgetting to put that thing in the key lock.

When I got into the room I took the hottest shower ever and gave the knee a good pounding with the water. The knee didn’t feel that bad but I knew things would change.

I got dressed, placed the medal around my neck, and headed off to The Magic Kingdom.

I decided to grab a celebratory Dole Whip before heading over to the Tomorrowland Terrace for the Half-Marathon Meet ‘n’ Greet.

When I arrived at Aloha Isle I was pleasantly surprised to see my AllEarsNet colleague Michelle Scribner-MacLean and her son Evan sitting down and enjoying the tasty treat.

No sooner did I sit down and talk with Michelle and Evan when I was approached and asked, “Are you Mike?”

I don’t recall his name, I want to say Scott.

We invited him to sit and talk with us for awhile. I decided not to get a Dole Whip as time would not allow for it”¦.plus I think I would have downed it so quickly I would have suffered brain freeze.

After chatting for a while we headed over to the Tomorrowland Terrace.

I will say right now that I do not recall everyone who was there but I do know that Lou and Deanna were there as was Bryan Ripper, Mike Newell, Matt Hochberg, and I’d say about two dozen other folks who came to chat and talk about Disney and the race.

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I cannot say how pleased I was to meet so many people for the first time, especially those who had come down to do their first Half-Marathon. If any of you are reading this blog I thank you for coming over to say hello and to share your joy of running in the race with us.

For some there was no wiping the smile of their face as they looked at their medal

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The race stories were great and each of us who did the race that day had some tidbits about not just the race but everything from the time we all woke up around 2 A.M. to the point at which we crossed the Finish Line.

We talked for a long time and the early afternoon soon grew into late afternoon and early evening.

After the goodbyes I left the park and went back to my room to check on some emails before heading to the Yacht Club to have dinner with Deb, Linda, Steve, Vickie, Beci, and fellow podcaster Mike Newell.

I got there early and found a very relaxing chair in the lobby and was soon pleasantly surprised by Deb and Linda, and then not much later Steve and Vickie. Mike and Beci would join us later.

I’d like to say here and now that over the last few years an amazing transformation has taken place regarding how I see Walt Disney World. I now see my visits to Orlando as an opportunity to spend good times with colleagues and friends and frankly the parks and the attractions take a back seat to my joy of seeing my good friends and enjoying their company.

I have proof for this. During my last 19 days spent at Walt Disney World I estimate that I visited perhaps a dozen attractions. I did not miss the fact that I did not spend as much time touring the parks as in years past.

During that same time I had at least 20 occasions in which I had meetings or meals with friends. I wish there were more of those occasions.

Soarin’ is all well and good but nothing beats spending time with friends and WDW serves as the vehicle for these opportunities. During this marathon trip I took in very few attractions”¦and had no regrets. The regrets would have come had I not been able to spend at least one instance with all friends and colleagues who were also at WDW.

Diner was at the Captain’s Grill at the Yacht Club and I enjoyed the food and the company. However, sometime around 9 P.M. or so my body said to me, “Do you realize that we have been up almost 24 straight hours? Not to mention you dragged me 13.1 miles earlier today?”

The time had come that day (I should say evening) when all the adrenaline and endorphins had begun to lose power and it was time to call it a day.

I bid goodnight to my friends and headed back for a well deserved good night’s sleep.
As I walked to the car I caught another message, this one from my knee. It said, “You realize of course you put me through a lot today and there will be a price to pay!”

I didn’t have to be reminded of that.

Boy did I sleep well that night.

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