BOB & JANET'S FITNESS BLOG: WALT DISNEY WORLD'S GOOFY'S RACE AND A HALF CHALLENGE

As if life in general isn’t difficult enough, for the past five years my wife and I have voluntarily thrown ourselves into the fire and brimstone abyss by signing up for Walt Disney World’s “Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge,” a self-destructive, body annihilating running event that is also known as Disney World’s “Goofy Challenge.” And to add insult to injury, we paid lots and lots of money to be physically brutalized at our own choosing. It may be safe to reason that we are platonic masochists of sorts.

First off, one may wonder what the hell is Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, aka, the Goofy Challenge. Please allow me to boastfully explain.

The “Race” part is a full marathon, all 26.2 miles of it, run on the second day of this distinguished two-day event and run though all of Walt Disney World’s theme parks as well as many linked roads. The “Half” is a half marathon, 13.1 miles of roadways and two Disney World theme parks blissfully encountered on the first day of the double event. The “Goofy” part is exactly what we are for signing up in the first place, goofy. And the “Challenge” is precisely what the word implies, a challenge to remain alive and well during two days of back-to-back, long-distance endurance runs.

There is a happy side to this insane madness, though. For beginners, we thoroughly enjoy our pre-race meals with friends and family. For the most part, all pre-race meals typically include pasta in some shape or form. We may even opt for pizza. Anything high in carbohydrates! This year’s pre-race meals were enjoyed at Macaroni Grill and Uno’s Italian Restaurant, both located in the bustling resort town of Lake Buena Vista right down the street from our budget resort, Disney’s All Star Sports Resort.

We also enjoy the camaraderie and occasional comedy of suffering alongside a few of our equally goofy friends as well as with those who have not gone off the deep end. Not alone in our demented choice of running events, a small group within our local running group ventures with us into the world of unknowns, unknowns such as Disney World’s January weather. Central Florida’s unpredictable weather this year is a story in itself.

This year's Goofy Challenge, however, was no different than the past four Goofy Challenges, except for one thing. Wait, make that two things. I'll get to the second one in a moment.

When packing our sport duffel bags in preparation for our four day Disney get-a-way, in amongst our multiple running equipment, stuff like running shoes, shorts, socks, singlet’s, many sweatshirts and sweatpants in case we were met with cold temperatures, even buffs and ski caps, we also included many doubts whether or not we would even be able to complete the double runs. With Janet not being properly trained because of her relentless work schedule and me with my nagging back and knee issues, we had numerous anxieties regarding our potential to even complete 39.3 miles of walking and occasional running.

Anyway, despite the many weather forecasts that I so graciously sent out to our running group on a daily basis, who would have guessed that we would be running and walking while sleet occasionally stung our exposed faces? Or who could have speculated that we would be watching light snow flurries drift down to earth, visible only when we would run near a lit street lamp? Or how about slipping and sliding on ice patches when gingerly passing through several of the water stops? The sub-freezing temperatures and steady wind were brutal by themselves. Throw in a preview of the popular "Ice Capades," or "Disney on Ice," and that immediately raises the event’s degree of difficulty twofold, maybe even threefold.

Back to the race itself, we managed to survive the 39.3 miles despite the inclement weather and despite our slower than normal running/walking pace. You see, Walt Disney World doesn’t just make you complete the designated mileage, they also set up a finishing time limit in which you must adhere to unless, of course, you wish to be embarrassed and humiliated by being picked up by the slacker’s bus. Being picked up by the bus would be devastating to anyone’s ego. Seeing as though I’m a man of sky high narcissistic principles, I would rather die than be picked up by “the dastardly bus.”

Because I have personally completed the past five Goofy Challenges within Disney’s allotted time frame, the very first Goofy Challenge taking place in the year 2006 (Jan ran only the full marathon that year, pacing me each mile of the way), Disney World labeled me and all others within that distinguished group, “Perfectly Goofy.” I, as well as everyone else in the group, I’m sure, feel honored and exalted

beyond our wildest imagination for holding such a gratifying title. The feeling of accomplishment and completeness is overwhelming.

But is this ecstatic feeling enough to prompt Janet and me to sign up again for the sixth year in a row?

Athletes are constantly reminded to listen to their bodies, not just in running but in all sports. Pain and discomfort are nature’s way of telling us to give it some serious thought before blindly leaping into another event or game.

Janet had an upper back issue while walking and running this year's Goofy and I had a lower back issue. My back problem is Spinal Stenosis and Janet’s is still undetermined. And then there is my left knee matter that is related to a knee operation going way back to 2001. Janet must also consider her lack of time to properly train for a double event such as the Goofy.

Meanwhile, we have a half marathon coming up in two weeks, the ING Miami Half Marathon, an event that we’ve run and completed the past seven years. We’re shooting for

ten straight.

Even though money is secondary to our long-term goal of excellent health, we must grudgingly consider the high price of signing up again for the Goofy Challenge. In my opinion, well over $600.00 for a two-day running event is quite excessive when compared to the price tag of similar running events elsewhere. I don’t care if the event is in Walt Disney World or God’s own heavenly sports arena, the amount of money it takes to run the Goofy is preposterously exorbitant.

I haven’t even mentioned the higher-than-average asking price of staying in Disney’s resorts, a must when running Disney events. I must add, though, that the just-over $100.00 per night at the All Star Resort is well within our fixed, poor man’s budget.

Having said all that, the jury is still out regarding our future running status in Walt Disney World. Look before leaping is inexplicably foreign to me, but for the first time in our recorded history we will allow ourselves to mend before leaping into the online sign-up arena.

During our current deliberations, we are 70% sure that we will not be signing up again for the Goofy Challenge or any other 2011 running event in Walt Disney World. However, 70% chance of rain means that there is a 30% chance of clear skies.

And speaking for both of us, we are not playing the age card. Even at 68 years and 49 years respectively, age to us is completely irrelevant in our diminutive decision-making quorum.

Our two furry kitty cats have already cast their votes for us to remain home. Santana and Gigi reportedly missed us terribly while we were away.