The Most Magical Marathon

~ Kim Creel

What’s so magical about running a marathon or half marathon you ask? How about having Mickey Mouse as your mascot for the marathon and Donald Duck has your mascot for the half marathon. As you’re standing there in the cold, darkest of the early morning, stretching out your muscles or for some just trying to keep warm you can feel the magic in the air. Excitement is all around, you hear it as you’re walking towards the starting line on Interstate 4 listening to the music that is playing. Or maybe you’re eavesdropping on a conversation from some other people doing the race for the first time, or they’re doing it for a cause. Some people are so excited they dress up as Minnie Mouse with the big red & white polka dots, others are wearing Mickey Mouse ears or Tigger ears and there are others who run in memory of a loved one.

It’s not just another race with a starter gun going off. This is Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon folks. The race starts with music and spectacular fireworks. Thru the cloud of smoke appears Mickey Mouse (on a cherry picker so everyone can see him) with some encouraging words and the race has begun.

The temperature was in the ’30’s this morning a record low for this part of Florida. But that doesn’t stop the 13,000 entries for the Marathon and another 5,000 people for the Half Marathon.

For the first few miles runners wind through and around Epcot having cast members & spectators cheer you on; it a real rush. Once you leave Epcot you are heading toward the Magic Kingdom Park. The course takes you right down Main Street U.S.A. where you never know which characters you will see. Last year I saw Cruella De Vil standing on the corner as I’m entering Main Street. Being such a dog lover that I am I told her she was “a very mean lady” she hissed at me as I went by. Of course the ladies behind me brought their camera along and had someone take a picture of them with her. Going along Main Street towards Tomorrowland you can hear the Barber Shop Quartet singing. One year as I entered Tomorrowland Goofy was out there and gave me a high-five as a went past him. There’s something about Cinderella’s Castle, that I always look forward to going thru. The Castle gives me such a boast. Maybe it’s a landmark for us Half Marathoners that we only have 3 more miles to go until the finish line. Marathoners continue on to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park for miles 16 & 17 and Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex for miles 20 & 21. And since the marathon route goes thru all 4 of Disney’s Theme parks they head off to Disney-MGM Studios for their 23 mile and making their unforgettable finish back to Epcot.

The Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon is like no other race you’ve run before. They do a wonderful job at organizing, preparing and cleaning up for this well planned event. There were twenty-one water stations set up along the course, offering water and a sports beverage. Along the marathon course fruit and Power Gel were also provided. Just as you would expect from any large running event, Disney also has a Health and Fitness expo held two days prior to the race in Disney’s Wide World of Sports Fieldhouse. The night before we go to Disney’s Pre-Race Carbo Dinner with all you can eat pastas, salads, breads and fruits. And of course Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck the official mascots are there to have their picture taken with you. Did I mention the day before the Marathon Disney puts on a Family Fun Run where kids run with or without their parents on a 5k Fun Run around the Epcot World Showcase and see some of their favorite Disney characters along the way.

Both my Mom, Joanne Creel and Bob (Ecky) Eckerson have been running this event annually since the first one in 1994. About four years ago my mom mentioned to me that I can sign up and do the Half Marathon. The first thing I said to her “Mom I don’t run, I walk”. Mom and Ecky have always been the runners in the family, I do the other sports with short distances. But being the type of motivating person she is; she didn’t see this as a hurdle like I had (because of my asthma). She simply said that’s fine, not everyone runs, some run/walk, some jog just go out and do it. Being a HUGE Disney fan and having this desire to be part of this great event I did and have since. With the exception of this year, bronchitis got the better of me the week before we were to leave, so I watched Ecky cross the finsh line.

He came in 50th in his age group out of 361 men! (he’ll never brag so what are daughters for)

Other Cape Cod Athletic Club members that finished the Half Marathon were Bill Riley finishing 1st in his age group and Bill Lord finishing 3rd in his age group and Joanne Creel.

Hope to see you there, Kim Creel

Next year’s race date is January 6, 2002