In November I hurt my back.. Some call it a overuse injury.. Some call it old age.. Some call it.. karma.. I call it a WAKE up call. I hurt it so bad I was unable to get out of the chair for a week. I began rehab and resumed my love / hate relationship with the Doctor. I couldn't stand up.. much less work out or train. Which was a problem because I had found myself signed up for the dopey challenge again in January. I watched the weeks tick by. I could walk 1/2 a mile then I would hurt.. The doctor would say you are pushing it too far.. So I had to back off. No biking.. no elliptical. Just rest. More days went by.. months. I would negotiate with the Doctor to let my exercise.. but it didn't matter because I couldn't my body physically would not let me. About two weeks before we left I was able to walk about a mile.. not fast at all.. BUT I did at least do it. I knew that the Dopey challenge was out of the question.. I thought I would do the 5k.. and then start the 10k. half and full and then ride the Disney bus home. I was frustrated. But my body was hurt so bad I couldn't do anything about it..
The 5k came along. and I found myself in the corral. I started to think about how I couldn't do it. I started to hyperventilate and thought Oh great now I am going to pass out. I sent Phil a text saying "; I cant do it. I'm having a panic attack. He told me to get out of the crowd and relax. My corral started I didn't. I stayed against the railing and tried not to hit the ground. The next corral came I decided I should try to go. . I started. Mile one came and went . I was not fast. But I was doing it.. Mile two in Epcot. I loved it. I was so happy. I kept moving. and mile three came. It was slow. BUT I did it. I was reminded again how much of a mental race it was.. I was proud to finish the 5k.
I was in a quandary . What to do for the 10k. I knew I had to keep a 16minute mile pace.. I knew I couldn't due to my back. But I figured I could start the race and see what happened. So there I was at the starting line again.. This time .. no pictures. I was surprised how fast I could go.. It was not a 16 minute mile but it was not that far off. I was enough ahead that I just kept going.. I was not able to stop for pictures.. At mile 5 the pacers passed me.. But I figured I was safe since I was inside Disney parks again. I decided I could stop for a few pictures and who am I kidding I saw Pooh and Tigger and I could not resist. Then I saw Goofy in a spacesuit and jumped in line for him too.. I did finish. MUCH to my surprise.. It was not record breaking.. BUT Pooh and Tigger....
Day three.. The half marathon.. I cant lie. I was tired. BUT I wanted to start the half.. At least try.. I realize that makes no sense. BUT does the entire challenge really make sense? The weather all day had been calling for a storm. Around 10 I got word that they cancelled the half due to Lightning .. WHAT .. I call that divine intervention..
So that only left one day remaining.. Day four.. the marathon.. There was no way I could finish but I might as well start and see where I end up right? So there I was 430 am .. it was cold. The coldest race I have ever done.. I had to go out and buy running tights since I didn't expect it to be cold in Florida. This time in the corral I didn't panic. I just was proud that I was there. I knew I couldn't keep pace .. I did for 8 miles.. Into the castle and all around the Magic Kingdom. I just kept going . I knew after the Magic Kingdom I should stop.. So I found the parade bus and got on it.. I was happy. I had come short of my goal.. But considering where I was a week before I was thrilled. I was proud of myself. I love the Dopey Challenge but I am done.. I realize I say that a lot. BUT I really do think I am done with the full distance.. Three fulls are enough. They tear up my body. I will do another Disney race.. Just not Dopey.. BUT I promise you it will always be one of the highlights of my life. I will always be proud of the fact that I have never run a full when I haven;t done a half the day before.. And the characters. Seriously.. The characters..
I learned a lot about myself this past year.. and rehabbing this back. I promise you in the end I won that challenge a million times over. I am Dopey but I didn't need a race to prove that did I?
