Walt Disney World Marathon 2025

As much as I love the runDisney races I will be the first to say that getting up in the morning for them is a challenge all in itself.  This year the marathon was backed up to a 4:30 AM start which meant a 1:30 AM alarm for me.  Considering that I usually go to bed just after midnight, this presented a bit of a problem. Thankfully I was able to take the previous few days at Disney to adjust my sleeping habits a touch. I was actually able to fall asleep early and managed to feel vaguely human when the early alarm sounded.

The weather had turned considerable colder from the half marathon the day before and, thankfully, also drier.  I had prepared yet another Chef Gusteau mashup costume, this time a bright yellow chef coat with embroidered roses as a tribute to Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Remy would once again be my running partner, and he was already sporting his yellow ascot and red rose.

Remy got to meet Mayra as we boarded the bus at Pop Century. They hit it off well and seemed to be immediate friends. I enjoyed visiting with my fellow runners on the bus as I inhaled multiple Uncrustables sandwiches.  I rarely eat the things outside of Disney race weekends, but they work wonders for me for long-race fueling.

In the race staging area I followed my usual routine.  I enjoyed a great visit with my friends from the Rise & Run podcast and made my pilgrimage to the porta-potty holy land.  As usual, I scolded Remy for needing the rest room as we headed over to them. I think some of the people around us were questioning my sanity. Fair enough.

I also positioned myself at the entrance to the staging area again and spent a good amount of time welcoming everyone to the race. I absolutely love the chance to connect to everyone before the race.  I saw many friends and acquaintances and took pictures with so many great folks. There was definitely a more positive vibe for this race than the gloomy day before. Still, you can always feel the weight of the marathon distance before this race.  26.2 miles is no joke, not even for those of us who have done it many times before.  This was to be my 50th total marathon, and I had more than my share of nervousness about attacking this beast yet again.

I finally made myself stop visiting at the entrance and headed to the D corral.  I am looking forward to submitting my new faster running times to Disney for the races next season to go up a few corrals.  I am happy running out of any corral, but it would be nice to finish a little earlier so I can go back to Boardwalk and cheer other runners on after my race is completed. That would be amazing.

I made some new friends in the corrals including a fellow fine arts teacher and administrator.  We talked shop and the minutes of waiting flew by.  It was quite cold standing still for that long, but I thought I had my multiple layers of clothing planned properly again.  The entertainment was back to normal with the improved weather. Again, I visited all the way to the starting line. During one of the pauses between waves I found myself immediately across the fence from Jogging Jack Sparrow. We had the chance to chat a moment before we moved on again.  I have mad respect for his dedication to his character.

At the starting line I had the honor of talking on camera with race announcer Riley Clermont.  I stayed back for the interview as my wave left running and became an honorary member of corral E. I enjoyed the chance to thank the runDisney community for being so important for holding me accountable during my recent weight loss journey. I encouraged the other runners to be safe and run their own magical race before turning my attention to getting ready to run myself.

As the fireworks started the beginning of corral E on their marathon I waved at the dedicated race supporters slowly freezing in the stands just past the starting line.  It takes special people to be able to be in the cold that long for a quick glimpse of their runner and a hastily shouted encouragement.  I appreciate these folks so much.

I quickly realized that I was already running better than the day before.  Remy was in rare form waving to people over my shoulder – and often accidentally startling people.  I guess it can be a bit surprising for a large rat to suddenly appear over the shoulder of the runner in front of you and start waving madly at you. Most runners graciously forgave him for the jump scares and had a good laugh.

One of my favorite parts of the marathon course over the last few years is the early morning tour of World Showcase in Epcot. I decided to really soak up the experience since we would not be coming back to World Showcase at the end of the race this year.  There is just something so beautiful about Epcot in the dark with beautiful lighting everywhere. As is often the case, I had to keep Remy from making a break for the France pavilion and his ride.  He finally gave up the attempt and resumed greeting the runners around us.

We made our way to the Magic Kingdom in a similar manner as the half marathon.  It seemed like more lighting had been installed to help people through the tight sections in the construction zones which was appreciated.  Upon making it to Seven Seas Lagoon, I was once again thrilled to find the Electric Water Pageant in all its glory.  I called out thank you to the crew that staffs the barges.  What a treat seeing it again!

The Magic Kingdom was its usual joy.  I find the energy of Main Street USA so palpable that I am often exhausted after running though it from greeting all of the spectators.  We left Main Street to be treated to the best running tour of Magic Kingdom EVER – even better than the day before.  We went everywhere including up to Big Thunder Mountain, through New Fantasy Land, and even under the Tron ride.  Good stuff.

The next leg of the journey took us past the Contemporary Resort through the Ticket and Transportation Center.  In no time, we were touring the Magic Kingdom parking lot.  And I do mean touring.  The course gave us quite an exploration of the parking lot including a fairly long out-and-back.  Many of my fellow runners were not amused by this part of the course, but it didn’t bother me.  I liked seeing the people coming  from the other direction.

It was during this section that I realized I was catching up to Jogging Jack Sparrow.  I decided to have some fun.  When I caught up to him, I stayed silently behind him and started copying his very distinctive running style.  Not wanting to be left out, Remy joined in on the fun.  After several minutes of this, I ran up beside Jogging Jack and told him what I was doing.  He was pleased that someone had finally taken the merits of his running technique seriously.  I ran on ahead and had him judge my form.  He gave me an 11 out of 10 and told me I could call myself Puppet Rummer any time I wanted to.  What a great interaction! (It was made even better when I discovered later that a fellow runner managed to get part of this silliness on video.)

After crossing the halfway point of the race, we journeyed through a long stretch of woods.  Disney had decided on some very different theming this year.  After a few Star Wars character stops, we found ourselves running through the Battle for the Moon of Endor.  We could hear the sounds of the battle, see explosions of smoke and flashing lights, and generally expect to be taken out by either a laser blast or an angry Ewok at any moment.  It was all quite well done and very immersive.  I can only imagine how cool it must have looked for the faster runners who saw it in the dark.

Our trek next took us by Disney’s water treatment facility. This place is definitely NOT on the standard guest tour, and, sadly the wind was not blowing in the right direction this year. The buzzards were out again too, sitting on a light pole and looking at us like we were going to drop and provide them with a meal at any moment.  I told them they weren’t getting me this year and ran on.

The course led us next through the animal habitations and care facilities behind Animal Kingdom.  I was feeling the miles at this point, but my legs were still maintaining a great pace.  I had decided before the race not to worry about running a good time and to just have a good time.  My legs apparently decided they could do both. I hoped they were right or the end of this race would be painful indeed!

We emerged into Animal Kingdom.  I have come to truly love this park and find the theming beautiful and immersive. I was tempted as always to hop on Everest for a quick ride but kept myself moving forward.  I made sure to say goodbye to DinoLand since it would probably be gone before I made it back to Animal Kingdom.  I forgot that this was the last day for Triceratops Spin or I might have hopped on it to say farewell. Instead, I exited Animal Kingdom for the long trip through the backstage area and back to Western Way.  A lengthy section of this part of the course runs beside the runners coming into Animal Kingdom, so it always provides a great chance to see and encourage other runners.  Remy made sure to do a lot of waving, and I enjoyed the chance to encourage others while appreciating the amazing costumes.

We emerged on Western Way which has become, in my opinion, one of the more challenging parts of this relatively new course design.  This road is on the far side of Disney property that has not been greatly developed.  Other than a few distant glimpses of attractions and, eventually, Coronado Springs Resort, the scenery is primarily trees and standard Florida landscape.  The 20-mile marker comes up during this section which is often the distance where many runners hit the proverbial wall and begin struggling.  I was still running well, but I felt fatigue creeping in and the usual aches and pains of distance running.  I motored on and kept trying to connect to other runners when possible.  We finally turned for the trip to the Blizzard Beach parking lot.

Now, I don’t hate this part of the course like some, but it is certainly not a highlight of the course.  We run an out-and-back to get to the entrance of Blizzard Beach to run the full perimeter of the parking lot and exit the way we came.  Disney did have music and aid to help us along, but I wish they would do something to make this part of the course a bit more special.  I liked the year we got to run through a small part of the water park itself, but I know that was challenging due to the more narrow paths.

The final part of the course took us up the overpass leading towards Hollywood Studios.  This is a rough climb for runners every marathon.  I did it much better than usual – I didn’t need any walk breaks – but I was definitely feeling it as we entered Hollywood Studios through the Fantasmic theatre area.  You have to be careful not to blink through this section of the course or you will miss it.  We spend only a fraction of a mile in the park before exiting out the side of Sunset Blvd.  While I do enjoy the energy of that brief visit, I do long for the more extended tours we get in some of the other races.  I know the challenge is that the park is open at this point which would make a full tour a logistical nightmare.

I do really enjoy the area in front of Hollywood Studios though! So many people are there to help power us through the final few miles.  We turned past the Skyliner station, past the buses, and into the pathway that leads past the Epcot resorts towards Epcot itself.  I absolutely love this area.  I enjoy looking at the resorts, running by the water, and seeing the people.  I especially liked our quick visit to Boardwalk and the many supporters who lined that area to cheer us on.

We re-entered Epcot through the International Gateway and headed through World Celebration, past Mission: Space, and out through the final backstage area.  After several turns we were being serenaded by the final music group – a youth choir – before emerging into the Epcot parking lot just a few hundred yards before the finish line. I ran into David Powell, a running friend from Georgia.  I had told him at Disney Springs the day before that if I caught up with him during the race I would be having a shockingly good running day.  To my surprise, I was about to run my fastest marathon in 15 years – without even trying to run at a faster pace!  

Remy and I waved furiously at the crowd as we dashed to the finish line.  We flew across it with our usual jump.  When I came down, I found myself insanely excited.  It’s not like me to roar after a race in triumph, but I roared and fist-pumped down the finishing chute to celebrate with David.  I have a long way to go with improving my race pace, but this was a huge – if unexpected – step.  Beyond the improvement in speed, I still can’t believe I have now run 50 races of the marathon length or longer. It was definitely a moment worthy of celebration.

I collected my mylar blanket, beautiful (and heavy) medal, and snacks.  I had a small moment of sadness when the Goofy Challenge folks branched off to collect their medals.  I was unable to get a Goofy bib and, though I was able to run the half and full on separate registrations, I was not entitled to the anniversary medal.  Thankfully, I run for the experience and the joy of being with my fellow runners and the lost bling was quickly forgotten.  I celebrated with the other runners in the reunion area, got my picture taken with my medal, and found the bus for the trip back to Pop Century for another hero’s welcome and, you guessed it, more breakfast totchos.

Amazingly, I finished this marathon largely pain-free.  After a short nap, I was walking normally and felt great.  I have come so far with my health over this last year.  To be able to run every step of a marathon without any walking breaks and feel that good afterwards is a true blessing.  I am already counting the moments until my next runDisney experience in February!

Walt Disney World Half Marathon 2025

The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is my favorite running event.  I loved it even before I had the deep connection to the runDisney community that has developed through my puppet running, but it is even more special now.  Part race, part reunion, part party – this weekend is the best.

I had to change my reservation at the last moment to add an extra day and wound up having to change resorts to Pop Century.  Now I’m not sure I want to stay anywhere else for Disney race weekends. This resort loves runners and treats everyone in such a special way. It was an absolute joy to be sent off to the race buses each day by the legendary Mayra. She is incredible.  Let me tell you, the bus experience for races at Pop is so different from other resorts. What a highlight!

A few weeks before the race I was given a beautiful and extremely large bird puppet that we named Zander. The moment I saw him, I wanted to run at Disney with him. I scrapped my original costume idea and put together a tribute to The Enchanted Tiki Room. I was a bit concerned by Zander’s weight but figured I would be fine for a half marathon.

The weather had warmed up from the much colder 5K and 10K of the previous days, but the warmer weather came at a price: rain. I was visiting and reconnecting with runDisney friends in the giant staging/reunion area in the Epcot parking lot when the rain started falling. It didn’t bother me too much since I was expecting it. I headed to the entrance to the staging area to spend a bit of time welcoming people to the race.  This has become a tradition for me and is one of my favorite parts of Disney races. I quickly noticed a change in the people walking in.  They looked grim and serious.  Wet, grim, and serious. They were also an endless sea of raincoats, ponchos, and mylar. I decided I needed to do something to lift spirits.  So, I started welcoming people to swimDisney and telling them we didn’t have to worry about whether or not it would rain anymore. I was rewarded with smiles and many warming moods.  After about 30 minutes of welcoming and posing for pictures, I headed for the corrals.

The mood was definitely a bit soggy over here too.  Much of the interaction between the race hosts/announcers and the crowd had been canceled due to the rain. Still, it’s hard to hold down the excitement of a Disney race and spirits started to rise. I always enjoy the walk from the corrals to the starting line. I try to stay by the fencing so I can visit with the corrals on the other side along the way. I saw so many of my runDisney family and had the chance to meet so many new friends. I commented that I seemed to be forgetting something I had to do.  Oh, that’s right – running.  I finally made it to the starting line and the usual fun began.

There have definitely been mixed opinions about the course this year, but I enjoyed it. I especially liked going into Magic Kingdom from the opposite direction.  Running by the Polynesian and Grand Floridian was fun. I didn’t get caught in the narrow area by the construction outside these resorts, but I know it was a challenge for later corrals. The best part was getting to run the path along Seven Seas Lagoon.  When we arrived at that path, I couldn’t believe what I saw – the Electric Water Parade was in the lagoon in all of its glory.  I was strangely emotional about seeing this favorite sight that I have been enjoying since my childhood. I’m sure the other runners around me quickly got tired of me talking about how awesome it was.

The Magic Kingdom was absolutely beautiful.  The rain had eased off, but the park was extra glittery.

We got to see so much of the Magic Kingdom, and I cherished every moment: the energy of running Main Street with the wall of cheering spectators, the rare and precious trip through Adventure Land where I posed in front of the Tiki Room, and the visits to the other lands. I left the park emotional, as always.  You would think I would be used to it by now. Nope.

The trip back to Epcot was uneventful. I did struggle to find a good pace during the whole race. I tried to run off on the side early on to get to my current half marathon pace, but that was not sustainable.  I decided to just settle in and enjoy the experience. Between the crowds and the wet pavement making pushing off the ground a bit uncomfortable, that was definitely the right choice. Besides, it’s Disney.  The experience is WAY more important than the time to me.

As always, I had the chance to visit with many people along the way. Zander was very popular with the runners and spectators and extremely fun to puppeteer. Unfortunately, he was also heavy in an odd way. Zander covers my arm up to my elbow when I perform him and his sizeable weight pulled on my arm at an unusual angle. The result was not a sore arm but a sore upper back. This pain became a bit of a distraction for the rest of the race, but I did my best to ignore it. Running with Zander was worth it.

After the “three hills of Epcot” we entered the park near the bus area as usual. I would have loved to spend more time in Epcot, but I loved the moments we had. I especially enjoyed the lights of the new Communicore Hall area and the trip across the middle of World Celebration.  After a quick area through the backstage area, we were at the finish line. I pulled off my traditional heel-click jump at the finish line with Zander flying majestically above me. I pulled a bag out of my pocket and used it to “trick-or-treat” for medal, hydration, and snacks.

I was a bit sorer after this race than I usually am after a half.  That had me nervous with the marathon coming up the next way.  I decided to quickly take my medal picture and then immediately go back to Pop Century for breakfast and rest.

I ordered my totchos on the bus back as usual, enjoyed the hero’s welcome Mayra and the Pop Century cast members gave us as we got off the bus, grabbed my breakfast, and went back to my room to celebrate another outstanding runDisney event.

New Year's 2025 - Two Race Experiences!

To celebrate the arrival of 2025, I ran races on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. They say you should start the new year doing what you want to do throughout the year, so I started my year running!

On New Year’s Eve I traveled to Athens, Georgia, for the New Year’s Eve at Noon 5K. I was in the mood for a costume, so I put together a “formal” look with a long-sleeved Vegas Gold tech shirt and a running tank to which I added bib magnets (inside out) to make it look like a vest. A sparkly bow-tie and gold hat completed the look. I was one of fewer than 5 people who dressed up, but I’m used to being the silly one in the crowd. I brought Prince Choreo for some pre-race photos but did not run with him. He’s still very new and hasn’t been broken in yet - very hard to perform. The race itself went quite well today. I enjoyed the beautiful park that contained the entire race course, especially the part that took us over a dam with great views of the lake it formed. Added bonus to park running: no traffic issues! I ran well with the fastest average mile pace I’ve had in years. My costume provided some amusement for everyone while I was amused at taking 3rd in my age group. Well-organized race all around. It was a great way to end the year.

I started 2025 with the New Year’s Day Half Marathon in Cumming, GA (near Coal Mountain, GA). It wasthe first of 5 half marathons and 1 full that I will run in January. I may have lost my mind.

This race provided me quite the run - once I got there! I had a two-hour drive there and had allowed plenty of extra time - or so I thought. If you have ever driven through Atlanta and the surrounding areas you know that anything is possible with the roads. Today was a random shutdown of a limited access highway just 200 yards ahead of me. I still have no idea what was going on - no accident, perhaps trying to stop a vehicle or maybe keep us all away from a problem much later down the road. I was relieved when we were finally allowed to move. I made it to the race with 45 minutes to spare, but since I prefer a full hour before race time I felt rushed and uncomfortable.

It was quite cold for Georgia - 39 degrees, damp, with a sharp wind. I was very pleased with the multiple layers I had worn and doubled up my gloves. There was a long line for bib pickup, but the organizers did a good job of keeping it moving. A larger problem was the porta-potty situation: 3 of them for more than 400 race participants. Not good planning. I managed to get in and out of the potty line before it got too out of hand.

This race used a four-loop course through a school complex and a nearby fairly rural road with some small hills. There were 349 people for the concurrent 5K but only 64 or so for the half. We had to do a bit of dodging through the 5K participants, but it was not a problem. I ran great and continued to improve my half marathon time. I even placed in my age group again, 2nd this time. The award was a 2nd Place pin to go on the medal ribbon. I really like this idea for awards. My new year is off to a great start. All the best to you for a wonderful 2025!

2024 Mount Dora Half Marathon

After a week of camping at Disney World, I am finally getting around to doing a race report on the Mount Dora Half Marathon in Mount Dora, Florida. This is an OUTSTANDING race.

I was not able to pick up my packet the day before, so I grabbed it early in the morning of the race. This process is a bit unusual at Mount Dora since the packet pickup is held at a different location than the race itself. However, it's not far (3/10 of a mile or so) and lets you see the beautiful holiday lights that decorate downtown Mount Dora. This is a beautiful town, quirky and picturesque with a very cool vibe. Parking can be a little tricky - small lots are scattered across the city - but the organizers sent out great instructions with the areas marked.

The race itself starts in a lakeside park with quite a pre-race party vibe. A giant inflatable Santa makes it very clear where the starting line is located!

As for the race itself, I absolutely love the course. It shows off the city of Mount Dora well, gives a great tour of some cool homes, and offers lovely views of the lake. The half marathon also has views of apparently every hill in Central Florida. Florida itself is generally flat, perhaps because they all were pushed into Mount Dora. This is, without a doubt, the hilliest race I have ever run in Florida. Luckily, I love hilly races since I train in a very hilly location anyway. It was a bit cold at the start of the race but warmed up steadily as the sun came up. Santa and I enjoyed waving to the friendly locals cheering on the runners as we navigated the hills. Support on the course with hydration and police was outstanding although one stretch of lakeside out-and-back where we shared the road with traffic was a bit awkward.

The finishing stretch -- largely downhill! -- through the middle of the town was energizing and the festive stilt-walkers at the finish added a great touch. Factor in a great medal and technical shirt, outstanding food at the finish line, and free race photos and you have a superb race experience. When I walked back to my truck I even found a local street festival in full swing with outstanding food and merchandise for sale. I was able to enjoy empanadas from a vendor to wrap up an outstanding half marathon.

If you are in Central Florida over the holidays, you need to run this race!

Disney's Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend

FRIDAY: ARRIVAL AND EXPO

I made the decision a few weeks before Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend to change my plans and drive in on Friday evening so I could get up early on Saturday to cheer on the 10K runners. I was unable to get the Challenge (10K and Half Marathon) during registration (and multiple attempts afterwards) but decided that I wouldn’t be kept away.  Since I basically just needed somewhere to sleep, I added one night in a Kissimmee hotel close to Disney property. My trip down went so smoothly that I realized I had a chance to hit the Expo right before it closed that night.  I pulled into ESPN Wide World of Sports with 40 minutes until closing.

If you have never experienced the joy of a runDisney packet pickup, just think of it as an initiation to see if you are worthy of running the race.  The ESPN WWoS complex is quite large with multiple arenas, stadiums, fields, etc. for many varieties of athletic competition.  I actually really like this area having brought my competition dance team here multiple times for competition. That being said, the pickup process can be a bit overwhelming for new Disney runners. It’s not too bad once you figure it out – especially if you come at a later hour like I did. I like to think of it as running the bases on a baseball diamond backwards. You walk all the way though the buildings at the heart of the complex and go to the arena on the far left.  In the bottom of this basketball-style arena you pick up your bib and have any registration questions answered.  You are then sent to the arena next door where you must walk completely through a vendor expo to get your shirt.  Final step, for those who feel so drawn, is to walk back towards the front of the complex on the right side to yet another arena (this one for dance and cheer competitions) which is full (hopefully) of runDisney merchandise. I followed this path, picked up bib and shirt, and had a quick look at the vendors in the expo.  I planned to come back to the expo on Saturday, so hurried to the truly important part of the expo: the vendor selling pineapple cider. I had remembered to bring my runDisney cup from a previous race to get the less insane refill price.

I had Remy with me in his backpack (peeking out, of course) but I only brought him out a few times when asked about him.  I have found in the past that most people are so focused on getting what they need at the expo that interactions with my puppet friends are not appreciated. That’s understandable and fine with me.  I was stopped by a family on my way to the merchandise building and had a nice conversation about running with puppets. Upon making it the merchandise arena, I was mildly disappointed with the selection available.  I had heard that much of the Figment merchandise was already gone, but I was very sad to see the green shirts honoring all the weekend events were very limited in sizes. I finally decided on a commemorative cap and hoped restocking of shirts would happen before Saturday morning.  I walked out of the building just as the expo was closing.  Good timing, but a rushed experience.

I spent the evening tracking down food in Kissimmee (delicious kofta wrap) as well as some replacement running supplies.  Brilliant me had left home with all sorts of bags and bundles but neglected to bring my running bag. Not smart. Luckily, all I really needed from that bag was anti-friction balm, salt/electrolyte tablets, and medical tape.  I was able to find some of this at the expo and all of the rest at a convenient (and very well-stocked) CVS near my hotel. I didn’t feel great and hoped it was just the typical malaise that comes from spending 5-6 hours driving followed by a sprint through the expo and Kissimmee. I headed back to my hotel, the Galleria Palms, for a few hours of sleep. The hotel was small and simple, but very clean with friendly staff and decent amenities. I appreciated the room on the ground floor very close to the lobby.

SATURDAY: 10K CHEERING, EXPO AGAIN, FANTASIA GARDENS, DISNEY SPRINGS

The bed was quite comfortable, but I did not get to test it out for long.  The 3:00 AM alarm was just as jarring as ever.  Since Sunday’s alarm would be earlier, I tried not to complain. I quickly dressed in my Pleasure Island chef costume, a tribute to Disney in the 90s with a pink chef coat, tall yellow hat, and blue apron trimmed in crazy geometric patterns.  Remy was wearing his usual chef hat also trimmed with the crazy fabric.  We were preparing for the 10K – not to run, but to be a full-time cheering section.

I drove onto Disney property and took a route that I hoped would avoid the runners heading for the start and the various road closures. It worked perfectly, and I pulled into a very deserted-looking Disney’s Boardwalk Resort at approximately 4:00 AM. The resorts have been fairly tricky to park at over the last few years, so even though I was about to check into a different Disney resort I had a plan to be allowed to park at Boardwalk.  I had made a breakfast dining reservation at Trattoria del Forno, an Italian restaurant on the Boardwalk.  I could tell the guard I was coming for my breakfast reservation – only about 4 hours early to cheer on the runners.  As it was, I need not have worried. The guard took one look at my costume, grinned, and waved me in without a word.  I’m not sure if he recognized Puppet Runner or just figured anyone dressed that strangely deserved a parking space, but I was thrilled to be into the resort.  I had determined earlier that Boardwalk was about the only decent place accessible on the 10K course for cheering.  I had arrived an hour before the race to stake out the perfect spot!

Remy and I (along with a backpack full of finger puppets, caffeine, and snacks) made our way to the Boardwalk itself.  Several race monitors and security personnel gave me odd looks as I wandered around the area looking for a good spot.  A few quick waves from Remy and a good morning from me seemed to ease their concerns.  As I examined the area, I realized that I had a problem: the Boardwalk had multiple PhotoPass photographer stations set up all along it and race viewers were being restricted to one side of the course.  I worried about setting up near the photographers since people occasionally stop and talk with me when I cheer for a race.  I did not want anyone’s perfect Boardwalk picture messed up by a pink and yellow chef and his friendly rat.  I decided to search for a better spot.

After a tactical shortcut through Boardwalk’s roller coaster-themed pool area, I found the perfect spot right beside the course just across from the Swan perhaps 100 yards or so before the runners would turn into the Boardwalk area.  I had a nice area of pavement set off from the course, my own bench, and even a garbage can.  A lifeguard, pressed into runDisney morning duty for the first time, was assigned to a sidewalk 20 feet away. She reminded me that this was a quiet area, and that I was not allowed to cheer loudly.  I thought this was a bit of a bummer, but I also considered it a reasonable request since so many sleeping guests were in the building immediately behind me.  I assured the cast member that I would keep my boisterous self under control.  We had a nice conversation.  I’m sure she expected to have a nice, peaceful race experience. As it turned out, not so much.

We heard the fireworks begin the race for the wheelers and then the runners right around 5:00 AM. I had the advantage of being able to hear the cast member’s radio which let the team know when the lead runners passed each mile marker. I figured out the lead runner’s pace and had a good idea when he would be getting to me at about 4.5 miles. Remy and I were ready and waving as the lead runners came flying through. As one would expect, these fast folks were focused and did not need our encouragement, but a few smiled and returned our good mornings.  If I was running that fast, I would not be able to talk. Or breathe. Or do anything else.  As more runners started pouring past us, our interactions got better and better. I was trying not to be too loud, even telling the runners that "these people behind us are sleeping while you are out here killing it!”  to both urge them on and explain my relative calmness. As the course got more and more crowded, many people started recognizing me. Many asked me if I was keeping my shorts up okay thanks to a long series of posts on the subject I had made on social media. I enjoyed the inside joke with them and handed out finger puppets to anyone who asked for one.

Suddenly, runners started stopping for a picture with Remy and me. MANY runners. I absolutely loved the chance to meet new people and old friends, encourage them one on one, and be part of their race. Remy, being the attention magnet that he is, was having a blast. What I wasn’t prepared for was the sheer volume of people stopping.  It got so crazy that I had to encourage folks to step up on my sidewalk area so that we didn’t create a roadblock in the relatively narrow race course. The poor cast member assigned to this area now had a full-blown character stop to manage. She took it all in good humor and just instructed me to keep the cones lining the course in place. That was no easy thing since one of them kept tripping my visitors, but we made it work. I did not keep count of how many friends I had come up to take a selfie with me, but a conservative estimate would probably be at least 300 people. The interactions with the 10K athletes were amazing. Many asked why I wasn’t running with them, concerned that I may be injured. They seemed genuinely pleased to hear that it was just a registration issue and that I would be running the half marathon the next day.  Their kindness in worrying about me in the middle of their race was beyond touching.  I told the people streaming by that they were the best parade in the world, the only one I would get up at 3 AM to see, and I meant it. If you have never cheered for a runDisney race, you need to give it a try. You will be so inspired and moved by the stories you see in front of you.  You will be entertained by the costumes and impressed by the creativity. You will be awed to witness people overcoming physical challenges to finish the race. You will be blessed to be part of their journey, if just in a little way.  I said earlier this year that cheering for a runDisney race changed me forever. It was not hyperbole. It’s a piece of magic that few know about and more should embrace.

As happened to me the last time I cheered for a runDisney race, I found myself overcome with emotion as the final walkers came in front of me. These were the people who were barely staying in front of the Balloon Ladies, the sweetest and yet most feared women on the course. If the Balloon Ladies pass you, you are in danger of being removed from the course and being a non-finisher. I did my best to will each of these amazing people to a finish, telling them they were strong and they could do it.  I’m not sure why this affects me so deeply each time.  Maybe it’s because I know how much work many people put into getting ready for this sort of race. I want their runDisney experience to be magical and getting swept (though done with utmost kindness and respect by the Disney cast members) is not the ideal way to end a race.

I cheered until every last competitor had passed.  The course seemed oddly empty and quiet after being so full of energy and joy for the last few hours.  I took a moment to talk with the lifeguard who got a little more than she bargained for this morning and apologized if I made her job harder. She was very kind and seemed to have enjoyed her first runDisney experience.  I gave her a finger puppet as a thank you and headed to keep my breakfast reservation.

There’s nothing quite as entertaining as walking into a nice restaurant fully costumed as a chef with your puppet friend Remy riding joyfully on your hand.  I was a little early for my reservation, but they were able to seat me immediately.  The maître d' seemed particularly amused by this spectacle in front of him and made sure both the big pink chef and the little chef got a delightful table overlooking the open kitchen at Trattoria al Forna. He was very approving as I got Remy settled into his own chair before settling into my own.

I had never eaten at Trattoria al Forna before, but I greatly enjoyed it.  My server was extremely friendly and called me by name as she provided exceptional service throughout breakfast.  The breakfast pizza, prepared before my eyes in a wood-fired oven, was delicious as were the breakfast potatoes. While this restaurant is a bit pricey for lunch and dinner, the breakfast is quite a value – not much more expensive than eating at one of the resort food courts.

I had several visits during breakfast from people who recognized me as Puppet Runner including a few who had recently heard my interview on the Rise and Run Podcast.  I found out later that multiple people in the restaurant were highly amused by the grown man having breakfast with his rat puppet and had surreptitiously taken pictures of this unusual sight.  Thankfully, some of these pictures have made their way to me. We definitely were something different in this environment, that’s for sure.  I took a few pictures with other guests as we were leaving.  I will return for breakfast here, that’s for sure!

The bright side of Disney races starting so ridiculously early is that when they are finished you have a whole day in front of you! My plan was to cram as much as possible into the day while still getting to bed at a reasonable hour.  First stop was a quick trip back to my hotel to check out and then relocate to Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that my room was available even though it was still mid-morning.  I was assigned a very pleasant 3rd floor room overlooking the pool in the Home Run Hotel section of the resort. 

Next stop was a return trip to the Expo.  I had run through everything so quickly the night before that I felt that a return visit was merited.  Remy came with me, riding in his traditional backpack.  We popped into the Disney merchandise area first.  I was pleased to see that they had done some restocking overnight.  While the Figment merchandise was still long gone, shirts in my size had appeared in several styles including the green race weekend shirt which included a picture of Figment.  Perfect!  Over on the vendor floor, I had a chance to check in with the kind folks from Bolder and add yet another pair of their amazing running shorts to my collection.  They are more known for their running skirts, but they make some legit shorts for guys too.  I enjoyed seeing the collection of other running merchandise, promised the Flying Pig Marathon folks that I would definitely make it to Cincinnati one of these days to run their race with a pig puppet, and waved at Jeff Galloway as I walked by.  I decided a snack was in order, this being Wine & Dine Race Weekend, so I tried the Columbian arepas as I was leaving the building.  I am VERY glad I did.  I am from South Florida, so arepas are not new to me.  These were absolutely delicious, way better than I had expected.  I juggled my arepas, new purchases, and Remy and made my way back to my vehicle for the short drive over to Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf.

I had been secretly wanting to play mini golf on this trip thanks to discovering a series of videos on YouTube that explore mini golf courses around the country.  I had only previously visited Winter-Summerland at Disney World, so the Fantasia courses were high on my list.  David, a fellow Georgia runner whom I have had the pleasure to run with at the Peachtree 10K the last few years, asked me a few days before I traveled down if I wanted to do something on the Saturday of race weekend, like resort hopping or miniature golf.  It was the perfect chance!  The course was very crowded in the early afternoon and it took about 45 minutes to get a chance to start the Fantasia Gardens course.  We had a blast.  I am a HUGE Fantasia fan, so I enjoyed the theming of the course.  Some of the hole designs were quite clever.  I especially liked the one where we got to make music with our shots.  Very fun.  Remy peeked over my shoulder to help out with my rather rusty putting skills.  If you are looking for something that is active to do during race weekend without involving miles of walking, I highly recommend Fantasia Gardens.  I owe a big thank you to David for suggesting it and for a thoroughly pleasant round of golf and conversation.

I bid David goodbye, managed to figure out the parking ticket validation (free parking by the Swan Reserve for mini golfers!), and drove over to Disney Springs to squeeze some more fun into the day.  I tried out the top of the Orange Parking Garage for the first time and rather liked it.  It’s bright and sunny and could definitely give you a very hot car but it had lots of room and a convenient elevator. I made my way into the Springs and, like apparently everyone else at Disney, headed over to Gideon’s Bakehouse to get a place in the virtual line for a chance to buy their delicious cookies.  My family was not able to travel with me this time, so bringing home Gideon’s for them was a requirement! Unfortunately, my quoted waiting time in the virtual queue was about five hours. I was going to need to be back in my resort by then, so I planned to try again on Sunday.  I hurried to the food truck area of Disney Springs for a meetup with the wonderful people from the Rise and Run Podcast.  I was honored to be a guest on their show the week before and looked forward to talking with this friendly running community in person. I was impressed with how many people made it to the meetup and had the chance to make lots of new running friends and distribute more of my little finger puppet friends.  Remy, of course, had to come out of my backpack to visit.  I missed out on Gideon’s cookies but had a chance to enjoy the wonderful homemade ones at Rise and Run – the habanero cherry cookies were especially memorable! After a nice long visit, I left the group with a promise to visit with them again during their next race weekend meetup and headed out looking for a late lunch.

I am not a food blogger, but I do love food so you will have to deal with me gushing over tasty things from time to time.  I had heard of a new burger over at D-Luxe that needed to be tried.  It was the Beef Wellington Burger and came on a puff pastry bun with horseradish aioli, mushroom duxelles, prosciutto, and cheese.  Dear heavens.  It was spectacular, perhaps the best burger I have ever had on Disney property (and I have had MANY) and a decent price for the quality.  It was also the single most messy burger I have ever had, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing!  Feeling very satisfied with myself, I made my way back to All-Star Sports for a restful few hours of watching football, laying out my gear for the half marathon, and convincing myself to fall asleep way earlier than my body wanted.

SUNDAY: HALF MARATHON AND AFTER PARTY

While I am always thankful that the Wine and Dine Half Marathon often occurs during the “Fall Back” clock-changing for daylight savings time, sometimes my paranoia about whether or not I have gotten up at the right time is not worth the extra hour of sleep. Still, I managed to get up at a painfully early 2:00 AM to get ready for the race. While I much prefer being at races with my family, I do like being able to get ready without worrying about disturbing the rest of the family. Plus, when you have as many costume pieces as I do, the extra room to spread out is welcome! I layered on my usual anti-friction protection (even more important since I don’t run in standard running clothes) and prepared my much-discussed running suspenders. The Dreamfinder chef costume went on next, blue this time with black trim with the Journey into Imagination logo on back, tall black chef hat with a blue band, purple apron, and Bolder’s international food festival shorts.  While the costume has lots of layers, it was all comfortable and made to deal with warm conditions.  Remy was already dressed in his Figment costume including horns, wings, and a purple apron made to look like Figment’s dragon scales.  I loaded up my apron pockets with finger puppets, grabbed a bag of Uncrustables to fuel up before the race, and joined other brave souls who were appearing across the All-Star Sports buildings.  A quick walk led me to the race bus.  I always love this part of a Disney race.  The buses are usually very quiet with a nervous energy heading to the races. Well, they are until I explode in wishing everyone a good morning and telling them I can read their minds.  They are all thinking, I confide with them, “Who is going to have to sit next to strange guy with the puppet.” This has always gotten a laugh – probably because it is very true – but I did manage to find a seat partner who did not seem actively terrified of the prospect.  We had a great conversation on the way to the race.

I call the walk from the buses to the staging area The runDisney Race Before the Race. It’s getting longer and longer every year. This walk has such a strange feel.  People are excited, but everything feels a bit muted. People are very much in their heads, probably worried about getting to the start and handling all of those pre-race bathroom and other issues. Remy waved happily at the Disney security cast members, relieved he didn’t have to survive a pat-down like poor Winnie the Pooh did with me once.  We enjoyed some quiet interactions with the people around us, but it really felt like a solemn processional.

After finally reaching the pre-race area, I went into my traditional routine.  Remy and I sat at the picnic tables while I finished my Uncrustables and hydration. With the starting corrals and finish lines in slightly different locations, the layout of the staging area felt a bit different.  I tracked down an area of porta-potties that had not been discovered by the crowd and handled that portion of the pre-race challenge. As usual, I scolded Remy for not going before we left the resort.  That always seems to confuse people – or make them wonder about my sanity. I then visited around the area, checking in with the Rise and Run crew again. I was happy that I still had a few minutes to do one of my favorite things: serving as unofficial greeter to the staging area.  I hurried to the entrance of the area and enjoyed saying hello to many folks as they completed the Race Before the Race. I proclaimed them finishers of this challenge and suggested we should all get medals just for getting to the start line. This sentiment seemed to be appreciated. Remy and I posed for many selfies with our running friends while trying to encourage as many people as possible.

With the corrals using a different system of opening at specific times, I decided to leave my welcoming sooner than usual to make sure I was where I needed to be.  I made my way though a comically long path to get to the corral entrance.  I’m sure runDisney had some good crowd-control reasons for handling the corrals this way, but they weren’t immediately obvious. However, I try to find all parts of the runDisney race process a source of entertainment and proceeded with that mindset.  I finally made it to Corral C and settled in to visit and watch John, Carissa, and Riley on the jumbotron screens.

After a particularly excellent rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, the race began with its usual fireworks and big sendoff. Those of us in Corral C saw it from a distance as we began the serpentine trek to the starting line. I always try to stay to the right side of the group since I like to chat with Riley Clermont near the starting line. However, the path to the start does a 180 degree hairpin turn which makes the right side of the group get pushed further and further back.  Cast members and volunteers try to encourage people to go around the left where there is a lot of room, but it never quite works out.  So, I always find myself at the complete back of the corral. This is NOT a problem.  In fact, I find it highly entertaining. Corral D comes up right behind me, carrying a paper strip in front of them to denote the front of a corral. They are packed in tightly, but the area at the back of Corral C is wide open.  I can walk around, let Remy play, wave at D closing in on me like a moving wall, visit with people, and just generally enjoy myself.  I have zero concerns with starting a few waves later.

Let me pause here for a moment for an editorial comment.  In reimagining the corral system this year, runDisney made what, in my opinion, was a huge mistake.  They separated Corral E from the rest of the race.  I know the reasoning behind this was that they were using a smaller area to start us and that holding back Corral E would allow them to reuse other areas to get these folks to the finish line more efficiently. I get this conceptually, but what it actual did was separate a large group of race participants from the rest and make them feel like second-class citizens.  Add to this some confusion by volunteers and cast members about when Corral E should begin to line up and you have some unhappiness in our community. I hope runDisney will rethink this solution before they do race starts from this area again.  It shouldn’t be an issue with Marathon Weekend since they usually take us out on the roads to start, but runDisney CAN do this better and should.

Back to my race, I finally made it to the starting line. I had time for a quick on-camera visit with Riley which I always enjoy. Any chance I have to try and cheer on my runDisney family is gold. As I was hurrying to my start, Riley called me back and asked if I still had any finger puppets left. I was grinning ear to ear as I gave him three puppets and hurried across the starting line.  I got another chuckle when I saw the last video screen, perhaps 100 yards or so past the start, and was presented with a view of Riley wearing all three of the puppets on his hand. Classic!

As usual with a runDisney race, it is a relief to finally start running.  It always takes me a few miles to get comfortable with my pace, so I focused for a few minutes on my mechanics and getting to the work of running a half marathon. For some reason, I rarely have interactions with other people during this time.  It’s partly because of the darkness, partly because I think other runners are doing the same thing I am: getting used to actually running.

I absolutely love the first part of this course. We headed for the backstage area of Epcot and entered near Mexico.  There is not much better in this world than running World Showcase with it still dark and all of the lights on. To me, it is pure magic.  I tried to soak in every moment of the experience.  Remy, as usual, acted up in France. He always wants to go visit his ride, I always want to continue the run.  I won this time, but he did his best to get me to turn. We crossed the bridge, said hello to the United Kingdom, and promptly left Epcot through the International Gateway.

I also enjoy visiting the Epcot resorts at the beginning of a race.  I’m used to hitting them in the marathon after I have run over twenty miles. It is way more fun to see them when I am fresh and not in pain. We had a beautiful trip through the Boardwalk area. As we were heading out of Boardwalk onto the path that leads to Hollywood Studios, I realized that I was running through the same place I was cheering at for the 10K. It was amusing being on the other side of the location.

This was the toughest section of the course for me to run, not because of fatigue, but due to the narrowness of the course and the number of people packed into it.  It was hard to run and impossible to keep my pace. I decided not to be frustrated and tried to encourage all the people around me to enjoy making new friends as we were smooshed together.  We finally emerged from the bottleneck into the Hollywood Studios bus area.  I had a quick bathroom break in one of my favorite facilities in that area, and took off for the park.

No Disney race has a better course through Hollywood Studios than this one.  It is amazing!  We had the chance to see the entire park, running through Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, the Muppets area, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, and Sunset Boulevard. Considering many of the runDisney races just hit a little corner of the park, this was a treat indeed!

I’m sure the next segment of the race was the most disliked by most of the running community.  It took us along Buena Vista over World Drive, past Coronado Springs Resort and Blizzard Beach, to finally reconnect with World Drive for a loooooooooong stretch north back to Epcot.  Disney had its usual assortment of character meetups and live entertainment along this route, but other than that the scenery was basically roads.  Honestly, it really doesn’t bother me.  These are the best times for visiting with other runners and walkers.  Remy was having his usual fun with everyone – including sitting on my shoulder to entertain the people behind me. I did claim to be nostalgic for running circles around the Blizzard Beach parking lot (a reference to what many consider to be the most annoying part of the Disney Marathon course) which earned me some laughs and jeers from those in the know.  I love talking to people above me on overpasses during sections like this.  The only part I really did not enjoy was the stretch of World Drive we ran looking dead into the sun.  I was essentially blinded for a mile or more before some trees came to rescue us. I can’t remember ever having to deal with the sun so directly in my eyes on a runDisney race before.  I did miss the out-and-back we had last year. While out-and-backs aren’t the most exciting thing on a race, they do give people a chance to see each other and say hello.  I missed that fun.

Remy and I were having lots of opportunities to meet people though! We posed for endless running selfies.  I am always amazed at how good some people are at running while taking pictures of themselves. It’s definitely a skill.

I enjoyed the Sport Beans passed out along this section of the course.  They gave me a nice surge of energy to complete World Drive and climb the endless curved on-ramp to the approach to Epcot.  Remy and I thank the volunteers at every water and aid station along the course, and we did not stop that practice here! I love telling water-station volunteers that we all owe our lives to them. I’m not sure it’s exaggeration. That water keeps me alive!

I always notice people beginning to struggle a bit along this section, so Remy and I try to increase our efforts. Florida is a largely flat state, but Epcot is guarded (on the race course anyway) by three automotive hills that have to be conquered by runDisney athletes.  We powered our way through the hills and enjoyed the downhill ramp into the Epcot parking lot and bus area.  After another visit through Epcot’s backstage area we had a chance to run the front of the park, entering near Imagination. I again tried to enjoy every moment of my time in my beloved Epcot as we headed for the other side of the park, exiting near Mission: Space. After a short backstage area we came upon the traditional choir which was singing one of my favorite songs:  “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield. I think I may have known the lyrics better than the soloist, but I appreciated the sentiment! Remy and I headed for the finish line. It was strange to have a slightly different finish to the race (not running through the area of divided pavement was odd indeed), but the energy of a runDisney finish is always a treat. Remy and I did our signature jump and heel-click over the line to complete another great Disney half marathon. 

I paid a quick visit to first aid for some pain killer/anti-inflammatory medicine as a precaution, accepted my medal (which was quickly stolen by Remy), and made my way through the hydration and food goodies.  I have learned to keep a plastic bag in my pocket to hold all of the things they give you in this area.  After a few visits with runDisney personnel and friends, I took pictures with my medal and found my way to the All-Star Resorts bus for the trip back to Sports. The energy on the bus back is so different – very relaxed and satisfied. While on the bus, I ordered breakfast at my resort.  When we arrived, Remy and I went straight for the food! We had a good time entertaining the cast members working in the food court while we waited for delicious breakfast totchos.

The remainder of the day was spent with lots of resting and a quick trip to Disney Springs for food and another failed attempt at getting into Gideon’s for cookies.  Remy and I then took a resort bus to Hollywood Studios just so we could ride the Skyliner to Epcot for the afterparty. As usual, I greatly enjoyed sampling many foods at the Food and Wine Festival, rode a few rides, and paid a visit to Karamel Kuche to make sure I had cookies to take home to my family.  While I loved the camaraderie of this event, I had to bail out before it was over thanks to exhaustion and the need to be well-rested for my drive home in the morning.  It was still a delightful end to another runDisney weekend and a joyful beginning to the 2023-2024 season.  We can’t wait for Marathon Weekend in January!

Puppet Runner is back!

It’s hard to believe how long it has been since I have added a post here at Puppet Runner. When Covid took races away, I lost the urge to write. Sadly, I also lost the urge to run. The result was me gaining a lot of weight - and I was already heavy before the virus hit. Over the last six months, I have gotten a grip on my eating and my running has come back strong. I have lost 40 pounds, and the puppets and I have been having fun at races again. I will start race reports again soon. Thanks for following my story. Run well and have fun!

Shaw the Snail Encourages Disney Marathon Weekend Runners

Shaw the Snail and Puppet Runner have words of encouragement for Disney Marathon Weekend participants!