Post Goofy Review

Originally posted 01.09.06

For those who have been keeping up, I completed Disney's Goofy Challenge over the weekend. The Goofy Challenge consists of a half marathon on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday. The details are below, so I don't need to go into them again. These are just a few tidbits that were not included.

I was pretty dazed when I finished the marathon. I was probably more delirious than anything. I was really just stumbling around, trying to go in the direction people were pointing when I heard the word "Goofy" and finally realized I had done it. Now I was focused on the Goofy medal. That was my only focus. In my current mental state, which was relatively incoherent, I could have cared less about anything else. So I start walking up to volunteers (such wonderful and understanding volunteers) and the only words I can say are "Goofy medal" and people are pointing again and I am still confused.

Thankfully, those Disney people are smart. In order to get to the Goofy tent, you first had to get your medal (Mickey) for finishing the marathon. Believe me, at that point I wanted no part of no mouse. I just wanted my Goofy Medal. But, I did get my Mickey Medal, so the trifecta of medals (Donald for the half, Mickey for the full, and Goofy for doing them both) is intact.

Then you have to go through the water line. By this time I am less delirious, but starting to get irritated because I cannot see the Goofy tent. However, I am also a little more coherent and I am actually beginning to have intelligent thoughts such as, "you really should get some more fluids into your body."

So I grabbed a bottle of PowerAde (blue) and made my way to the food line. I did mention that I was becoming more coherent, but I was not completely there yet. At seeing piles of bananas, my first and only thought was "fonk this" and I ran screaming from the food tent.

OK, that is actually a lie, I did not run screaming from the food tent. But there had been more than enough bananas in my life during the weekend and the last thing I wanted to see was more bananas. So to be accurate, I stumbled out of the food tent. I also was not screaming because speech had not fully returned as a function yet.

Alas, to my right, like a shining beacon, there it was: Shangri La. Better known as the Goofy Medal tent. A nice lady by the name of Nancy gave me my Goofy Medal. At least I think her name was Nancy. OK, I don't remember...

I walk out of the Goofy Tent and there is all this bling around my neck. People are congratulating me and I am trying to say "thanks," but I think I am mumbling more than anything as I am on the borderline of getting really emotional. Why? Because I had found my wife.

I had Goofy and I had my wife and I didn't want anything else. Except wings. And a steak. And a big beer...

It is really hard to describe all of this. Your body has been through a lot and just wants to shut down. Your mind is spinning, trying to comprehend, but your mental state has been sapped. You are trying to understand what to do next, but even the simplest of thoughts or words don't quite make sense.

It was joyful, it was tearful, it was crazy, it was delirious, it was pandemonium, it was happiness, it was confusion, it was over.

Other stuff:

I think I did everything right for the Goofy Challenge. I hydrated well; I ate right; I did my stretching. I took an ice cold bath after the half marathon and rehydrated and carbed for the full marathon. For both events, I chose the right clothing and the right number of layers. I think the only thing I did wrong was I underestimated how hard it would be on my body. I took it easy during both events. I did not race the clock or anyone else. But it was much tougher than I anticipated.

I did not think it would be easy. That said, I did not think it would be as hard on my body as it was. Anyone who completed the challenge deserves congratulations for doing so. They have done something that is unique and requires perseverence. Each one had to meet their own challenges on their way to the finish line.

When it comes down to it, each person that participated in the Disney Marathon Weekend should be congratulated. It does not matter if they did a half marathon, a full marathon or just the 5K. They got out there, they did something, and they met the challenge.

Listening to: Somebody told me - The Killers

I was pretty dazed when I finished the marathon. I was probably more delirious than anything. I was really just stumbling around, trying to go in the direction people were pointing when I heard the word "Goofy" and finally realized I had done it. Now I was focused on the Goofy medal. That was my only focus. In my current mental state, which was relatively incoherent, I could have cared less about anything else. So I start walking up to volunteers (such wonderful and understanding volunteers) and the only words I can say are "Goofy medal" and people are pointing again and I am still confused.

Thankfully, those Disney people are smart. In order to get to the Goofy tent, you first had to get your medal (Mickey) for finishing the marathon. Believe me, at that point I wanted no part of no mouse. I just wanted my Goofy Medal. But, I did get my Mickey Medal, so the trifecta of medals (Donald for the half, Mickey for the full, and Goofy for doing them both) is intact.

Then you have to go through the water line. By this time I am less delirious, but starting to get irritated because I cannot see the Goofy tent. However, I am also a little more coherent and I am actually beginning to have intelligent thoughts such as, "you really should get some more fluids into your body."

So I grabbed a bottle of PowerAde (blue) and made my way to the food line. I did mention that I was becoming more coherent, but I was not completely there yet. At seeing piles of bananas, my first and only thought was "fonk this" and I ran screaming from the food tent.

OK, that is actually a lie, I did not run screaming from the food tent. But there had been more than enough bananas in my life during the weekend and the last thing I wanted to see was more bananas. So to be accurate, I stumbled out of the food tent. I also was not screaming because speech had not fully returned as a function yet.

Alas, to my right, like a shining beacon, there it was: Shangri La. Better known as the Goofy Medal tent. A nice lady by the name of Nancy gave me my Goofy Medal. At least I think her name was Nancy. OK, I don't remember...

I walk out of the Goofy Tent and there is all this bling around my neck. People are congratulating me and I am trying to say "thanks," but I think I am mumbling more than anything as I am on the borderline of getting really emotional. Why? Because I had found my wife.

I had Goofy and I had my wife and I didn't want anything else. Except wings. And a steak. And a big beer...

It is really hard to describe all of this. Your body has been through a lot and just wants to shut down. Your mind is spinning, trying to comprehend, but your mental state has been sapped. You are trying to understand what to do next, but even the simplest of thoughts or words don't quite make sense.

It was joyful, it was tearful, it was crazy, it was delirious, it was pandemonium, it was happiness, it was confusion, it was over.

Other stuff:

I think I did everything right for the Goofy Challenge. I hydrated well; I ate right; I did my stretching. I took an ice cold bath after the half marathon and rehydrated and carbed for the full marathon. For both events, I chose the right clothing and the right number of layers. I think the only thing I did wrong was I underestimated how hard it would be on my body. I took it easy during both events. I did not race the clock or anyone else. But it was much tougher than I anticipated.

I did not think it would be easy. That said, I did not think it would be as hard on my body as it was. Anyone who completed the challenge deserves congratulations for doing so. They have done something that is unique and requires perseverence. Each one had to meet their own challenges on their way to the finish line.

When it comes down to it, each person that participated in the Disney Marathon Weekend should be congratulated. It does not matter if they did a half marathon, a full marathon or just the 5K. They got out there, they did something, and they met the challenge.

Listening to: Somebody told me - The Killers