Andy Gapin

The decision has been made, I’m going to run the half marathon in Disney World this upcoming January. It conveniently falls right in the middle of a trip I was already planning on taking there so I feel like I have to do it. I actually can’t believe how much I want to do another one. The first one was one of the most physically intense things I’ve ever done, during the last three miles of the race, I hated myself for doing that to myself. Despite that, it didn’t take long to forget about those feelings and want to do it again.

There are a few half marathons that all fall on the same day this October, but unfortunately, my fiancée and I will be away that weekend so we won’t be able to make any of them. Since we both love Disney World and got engaged there, we felt like it was almost fate that it fell on a day in which we were already planning on being there. I mean, I don’t really believe in fate, but you know.

This time around, I plan to train more intensely with more longer runs and a faster pace. I was insanely happy with my time in the last race, but I want to do better this time. I think with the right training, I can take a few minutes off without a problem. My biggest concern about the race is that it’s right in the middle of a vacation. It took me a couple days to recover after the last one to the point where I could actually walk without much soreness. I don’t want that to happen again, I don’t want to lose a couple days of Disney because of the race. If we have to take the rest of race day easy, that’s okay, we’re going to be there for a full week, but the next day, I want to get back to having fun. Going to Disney World is a very walking intensive trip and since we’re going with a group, I don’t want to slow anyone down. The other thing is that for a couple days before the race, I want to be careful how I eat so that I don’t have anything in me that’s not going to feel great around mile nine or ten.

I’m hoping that some solid training starting now will help a lot with those issues. I want to get my body to the point where 13 miles isn’t such a shock. I think if 10+ mile runs are more the norm for me by then, I should be able to get through the race with a great time and without being sore for a few days afterwards.

We shall see!