Music memory

When I was in college, one of my professors once discussed how memories go beyond just mental recollections. In short, remembrances are made using all of your senses - i.e., you remember things you've seen, heard, smelled, tasted, and touched.

When it comes to memories from things you've heard, I associate a lot of music with where I was when I heard it. There are also songs that remind me of certain people. This might be because I heard them singing it at some point, or because they chose to play it at specific times, etc.

Here are a couple of random examples:

- The "West End Girls" song reminds me of London. I happened to hear it on my MP3 player when I was in London. At that moment the references to the East End and the West End suddenly made sense to me.

- Hearing anything by Louis Armstrong reminds me of a friend who sang karaoke with this song using a perfect Louis Armstrong voice.

- This song reminds me of an old coworker. He played it in the office at 5:00 PM as a signal that the "official" workday was over, and it made several of us giggle at our desks. "Chaka kahn, chaka kahn, chaka kahn, chaka kahn..."

My musical remembrances cover all areas of my life, of course. From a runner's perspective, there are some songs that now remind me of certain races I've run. Examples:

- Be Like Mike reminds me of the 2011 Home Team Charity Run 10K because it was playing at the finish line when I crossed it. "Sometimes I dream, that he is me... you've got to see that's how I dream to be..."

- Gangnam Style will forever remind me of the Chicago Marathon. I heard it a number of times in several different neighborhoods throughout the day. Each time it was played, I saw a different gathering of runners/spectators dancing to it in their own unique way. =D

- As of last week, the Perculator song is going to remind me of the Carrera de los Muertos. After not having heard it for quite some time, I heard it played there two or three times just that morning. "It's time for the perculator, it's time for the perculator, it's time for the perculator... [repeat repeat repeat]..."

As of this past weekend, I have another addition to the list. I heard the song "Applause" played a few times during last weekend's half marathon. I find it very catchy. At the time, the lyrics made me think of how runners feed off the energy of spectators, e.g., "I live for the applause, applause, applause... live for the way that you cheer and scream for me..." But now I can't get the song out of my head altogether! It may need to be a new addition to my MP3 player.

How about all of you? Do you have any specific music that reminds you of certain people, places, or races?

Changing the hamster wheels

Linking up with Marcia again this week on her One Small Change challenge.

I read an article somewhere that the brain is a very "expensive" organ for the body to operate. Therefore, the brain will try to automate as much behavior as possible, even trying to run on empty if it can. This is why we become such creatures of habit. It's especially true for people as they get older.

Every time I go to the gym, I see some of the same people doing the exact same workout every single time. The same cardio machine, the same setting, the same length of time, usually even wearing the same clothes and shoes.

Hello, hamster wheel!

It wouldn't be hard to understand why those people might get bored and unmotivated to work out. I get tired of just seeing those people doing the same thing day after day after day!

The routine applies more to just working out. It applies to life in general. We all know our drills. Getting ready for the day in the usual pattern. Taking the usual route to work. Eating the usual foods. Doing the usual activities in the office in the same manner.

After awhile, our daily existence can become a collection of auto-pilot habits where our brains essentially switch off. This is the explanation behind why sometimes people have no memory of, say, driving a familiar route after they arrive at their destination.

The remedy is simple. We need to frequently take on new and increasingly difficult activities. This will help maintain the vibrancy of our minds, bodies, and lives.

Challenge accepted!

I had already begun mixing up my workout routine over the last few months, both out of boredom and out of necessity. More recently, though, I am making it a point to try changing some of my little daily "life" habits.

This includes things like taking a different route to work, picking a different spot to sit in the kitchen, grocery shopping in reverse order. I am right-handed but I've tried doing more things with my left hand, e.g. opening the door, brushing my teeth, using the remote control.

Speaking of being right-handed, trying to do some of these things with my left hand has made me realize just how right-handed I really am. Perhaps the more right-handed I am, the more right-handed I am making myself because I always cater myself towards being right handed (if that makes sense)?

In any event - just because a routine is small, doesn't mean changing it won't make a difference, especially over time.

Heck, just coming up with the little daily things to change has been a nice challenge. That by itself is a good way to keep the mind fresh, no?

Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon race recap - Part 2

Continuing from here. (Get ready for a gazillion pictures in this part of the recap!)

The course departed from ESPN and started out along the roadways in between the parks. Our first theme park destination was the Animal Kingdom around mile 3.5, but I knew that there would be plenty of entertainment along the way. I decided to keep my phone out and run with it in my hand the whole time so that I would be immediately ready for any picture opportunities.

At the start, there were several deejays spaced out along the course playing a great selection of music with lots of neon lights. Here is one of the deejay vans:

Then, I saw the first of many Disney characters along the course that were available for photos. Each set of characters had official race photographers to take pictures. Additionally, a cast member was available to use your personal camera to take your picture if you liked.

We came across a giant TV screen broadcasting a variety of Disney cartoons (unfortunately the TV didn't photograph well in the darkness):

There were aid stations approximately every 1.5 miles with plenty of enthusiastic volunteers handing out water and Powerade. There were also portapotties available at every aid station.

Here is something I've never seen before at a race. Each of the portapotties had big numbers on them, and volunteers were stationed nearby with flashlights. The volunteers helped direct runners to any open portapotties by number. That was very well-appreciated. What great customer service!

Check out the awesome mile markers - each one had a different travel destination pictured on it:

Then I came upon the next set of characters available for photos:

Many of the volunteers along the course were wearing Mickey Mouse gloves and giving high fives and course directions with those gloves. It was cute and they were very informative, e.g. "Watch out for the speed bump coming up ahead!" or "There's a sharp right turn coming up!"

There were also several people wearing "Coach" shirts stationed along the course, encouraging runners and offering running advice as needed. Nice!

The miles flew by and I arrived at the Animal Kingdom. It was such a surreal experience running through the park at night. All the lights and decorations were on, but other than the runners and the course marshalls, it was completely empty. Quite a change from the usual mobs of park-goers that I am used to seeing!

Here are some pictures from the Animal Kingdom:

Animal Kingdom's main gate

Holiday tree near the Animal Kingdom entrance

The Tree of Life

Mount Everest

Holiday-decorated buildings

Festive animal-themed lights

I saw at least six different sets of characters available for photos around the Animal Kingdom:

We didn't get to see any of the animals, given that it was nighttime and they were probably all sleeping. However, I loved seeing the gorgeous African-inspired backdrops and scenery along the course.

The course exited the Animal Kingdom around mile 4.5. Next stop: Disney's Hollywood Studios near mile 9.5.

Somewhere around mile 6.5, another giant TV screen was set up. This one was broadcasting footage of various spectators from the post-race party back at Epcot. The spectators being filmed were saying things like:

"Can't wait to see you back at the finish line!" 

"We've got a big celebration waiting for you when you get here!"

"We are so proud of you! Keep it up!" 

It was so uplifting. I loved it.

At the mile 8.4 aid station, volunteers handed out Clif Shots in an assortment of flavors.

Near the 9-mile marker, there was someone from one of the U.S. military units taking pictures with runners. Someone (not sure if it was the military person or another person I didn't see) broadcasted humorous remarks over a loudspeaker while playing Yankee Doodle Dandee. I remember one thing in particular that he said, which was:

"Runners, after you have finished this race, you have earned the right to indulge yourself. When you get home, it'll be time to have some deep-fried Cocoa Puffs with rainbow sprinkles covered in Alfredo sauce!" 

I literally laughed out loud.

There were more deejays along the course playing different varieties of music. I started hearing the twang of Elvis Presley. My ears perked up, as I knew this might mean a photo opportunity with one of my very favorite Disney characters - Stitch!!! Sure enough, there he was with Lilo! I immediately got in line to have my own picture taken with them.

From left to right: Stitch, me, and Lilo

Aloha!!!

This was actually the only character photo I chose to take of myself along the entire course. I immediately texted it to Adam, who was waiting for me at the post-race party. This photo was too key not to share immediately. (Adam told me later that when he first saw my text come through, he got nervous since I'd never texted him while in the midst of a race. But then when he saw the photo, he understood its magnitude. =D )

I got back on course. The mileage continued to fly by. All of a sudden, the course made a turn, heading through one of the back entrances to Disney's Hollywood Studios with the Tower of Terror arising in the background.

The Tower of Terror

Wow!!! So cool!

Here are more pictures from Hollywood Studios:

Sunset Boulevard

Rock N Roller Coaster

Mickey's Sorcerer Hat

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights from a different angle

Disco lights set up in the Studio Backlot Tour path

Running through the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights was an especially magical experience. I haven't started getting into the holiday spirit just yet, but seeing those beautiful lights put an enormous smile on my face. There were many, many other runners stopped during that portion of the course to take pictures.

There were at least four different character photo stops at Hollywood Studios:

The music was also really great at Hollywood Studios, since it was all movie-based. I remember hearing the themes to Rocky and to Star Wars, among many others. What a great way to keep all the runners pumped up!

We exited Hollywood Studios close to Mile 11. Next on the course: running through Disney's Boardwalk during miles 11 and 12, then entering Epcot around mile 12.5 to head to the finish line.

Normally miles 10 or 11 are where I start breaking down both mentally and physically. However, this evening I was so fired up and exhilarated from all the sights and sounds that I barely felt the mileage at all. I seriously couldn't believe how quickly the miles had flown by.

I only took one picture along the Boardwalk:

However, since we were now running past several of the Disney resorts, there were a growing number of spectators camped out along the course. They had lots of signs and were giving us high-fives while cheering everyone on. I enjoyed seeing the diversity of college- and professional sports-team gear that I saw amongst the spectators. Truly the spectators represented travelers from all over North America.

After entering Epcot around mile 12.5, I finally reached the point where I was ready to cross the finish line. I stopped to take these few photos within Epcot, then tried to complete the remainder of the course without stopping.

Mouse-ear lights!

Aladdin (sorry for the blurry picture, you can tell it was taken close to the end of the race)

There were so many spectators along the final stretch at Epcot. It was awesome!

We went through a big curve underneath some colorful spotlights. (In my rush to finish, I didn't stop to photograph the spotlights, but now wish that I had since it was really cool.) There was the finish line!

I actually took this photograph of the finish line much later after the race had concluded, hence why there are no runners pictured.

My finishing time was pretty much irrelevant for this race, given all the photo stops and other pauses I had taken, etc. However, my official time was 2:35:21.

There were volunteers stationed past the finish line handing out the medals (here is a picture of the medal), bananas, bottles of water and Powerade, and individual boxes of food that held quinoa chips, hummus, graham crackers, Clif bar sample, fruit puree, almond pops, and a moist towelette. Excellent.

I retrieved my bag from gear check. Gender-specific tents were provided for runners to change their clothing, if they desired, prior to attending the post-race party. It was crowded inside but I found an open patch and changed as quickly as possible into a warmer set of clothing.

Back outside, I followed the crowd towards the race exit. I skipped the beer line, but volunteers and cast members were handing out individually-sealed glasses of either white or red wine so I took a red wine. Then, time to re-enter Epcot for the post-race party!

Spaceship Earth (aka the giant golf ball) at Epcot

Adam and I had picked a hierarchy of three post-race meet-up spots. However, given the crowds and the distances involved, we ended up just coordinating our reunite location via cell phone communication.

We checked out a couple of the rides that were open for the post-race party (Spaceship Earth and Soarin'). There were almost no lines for any of the rides or activities, which was nice.

Unfortunately, at Soarin', we saw one runner exit the ride and then nearly collapse along the wall. Another runner apparently passed out while on the ride. The cast members halted operations for a few minutes while they contacted medical personnel for assistance. (I have to imagine that the cast members that work the Wine and Dine post-race party are accustomed to seeing a higher-than-usual number of health incidents due to runner exertion.)

After Soarin', we went to the World Showcase. In conjunction with the International Food and Wine Festival, there was a wide variety of booths offering tapas-sized food and beverage tastings from all over the world (above and beyond the usual countries represented at the World Showcase). It was packed.

Approaching England

In England

Approaching France

View of the Epcot lagoon with Japan in the background

By this point, it was after 3 AM. Adam was fading rapidly due to the late hour. My race adrenaline was also starting to dissipate and I was starting to get tired as well. At that point, we called it a night; however, the party was still going VERY strong when we departed!

The next day was definitely a bit rough with the whole self-induced jetlag factor, LOL. But it was well worth it!

In summary...
The Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon was an incredibly magical and exhilarating experience that was unparalleled in so many different ways. I loved the energy, the entertainment, the camaraderie, the music, the lights, the attention to all the little details, everything. If time and resources permitted, I would run this and any other Disney race again in a heartbeat!!!

When can I come back for my next Disney race!?!?!?

My next race (and my final race of 2013): the PNC YMCA Turkey Trot 5-miler on November 28

Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon race recap - Part 1

I have a LOT to share about my Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon experience. Therefore, I am going to break up my recap into a couple of more-manageable posts. (In case you missed it, here is my post about the race expo.) Today I'll talk about my history leading up to the race, some of the race-day logistics, and the starting village.

My history leading up to this race
When I first heard about the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon during its inaugural year in 2010, I immediately added it to my "must do someday" list. I love Disney, travel, food, and running; and this race covers all four! How could I not get excited about an event like this?

After a few years, the opportunity finally came up to attend this year. However, in the months leading up to the race, I actually kind of lost track of the personal magnitude of this event for me. I signed up for so many other races this year, started a new career that required a lot of focus, and have been doing more and more non-running workouts. I did an obligatory 11-mile training run two weeks prior to this weekend; otherwise, this weekend really snuck up on me. Therefore, I didn't spend too much time thinking about how to handle some of this race's unique challenges. Namely...

Race Day Timing and Considerations
The Wine and Dine Half began at 10:00 PM, with the later corrals starting as late as approximately 10:40 PM. (Note that I said PM, not AM.) Then, the post-race party took place at Epcot and took place from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM. Basically, the race's festivities took place during the exact opposite of what you would expect from an AM/PM perspective.

Post-race party admission was included for all runners, and spectators that wanted to attend the party had to purchase a separate ticket. Spectators were allowed admission into Epcot starting at 10:00 PM with free parking.

Going into the race, I was concerned about the late-night event timing. I wouldn't call myself an early-bird, but I am definitely one who turns into a pumpkin/zombie by the time midnight rolls around.

Pumpkin zombies (aka what I look like when I don't get to bed at a reasonable hour)

I was in a corral which would be kicking off at 10:12 PM, so I knew that I would be finishing the race somewhere around 12:45 AM. YIKES! I had been assured that adrenaline and the excitement of the race would keep me going, but I was still nervous.

Having to wait the entire day to run the race didn't help calm my nerves. I am very used to running early-morning half marathons. For every half marathon I've ever done, basically I just got up at some ungodly hour, threw on my running clothes, ate breakfast, and headed out the door before I even had time to think too much about anything. Most of the race-day prep is done the night or the days before the race.

Comparatively, for this race, I had literally ALL DAY to think about the race. I spent the entire day wondering if I was fueling/hydrating properly, hoping that I wasn't on my feet too much, considering what activity might be enough/too much, worrying about whether or not I had trained adequately, analyzing every injury-related twinge of discomfort that I felt. I went to take a nap around 3:30 PM, but my mind was racing so much that I had trouble falling asleep. It was pretty nerve-wracking.

The race guide advised us to eat around 6 PM, and to have a snack approximately an hour before our starting time. I was hungry by 5:30 so I stuffed myself with some pasta. Then I wondered if that half hour would make a difference, so for good measure I ate some more pasta at about 6:15. I packed a granola bar and a Clif Bar sample for my pre-race snack.

All runners had to get dropped off at Epcot, where we were to board shuttle buses to the race's starting line at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. The shuttle buses began running at 7 PM and we were asked to be on the buses no later than 8 PM. At the race expo, I had been instructed to get dropped off for the race shuttles closer to 6 PM because of potentially long lines. However, since I wasn't going to be starting until 10:12, I made the executive decision to arrive closer to 7:20. Enroute, I was as nervous as I had ever been to run a half marathon.

The line to get onto the shuttle buses was indeed long and this picture doesn't even begin to do it justice:

Thankfully the line moved quickly and I was on a bus in less than 10 minutes. I sat next to a very nice woman who was running Wine and Dine for the fourth time in a row. She shared stories of how amazing and fun the race was, and that helped calm me down a little bit.

Starting Village
Once the buses dropped us off at ESPN, I went through security bag check and then entered the start village. It was filled with runners in costumes, spectators, people stretched out on the grass, Disney cast members, race officials, photographers.

I waited in the long line for the portapotties, then checked my gear bag. Afterwards, I still had almost two hours before I was scheduled to begin the race. I wasn't sure how I was going to fill the time.

I wandered around for a bit. There were several Disney characters available for photos, but the lines to do so were very, very long.

Runners in line waiting to take pictures with the Disney characters

A giant TV screen was set up in one area broadcasting a deejay who was rocking out a big dance party (unfortunately I didn't get a picture). In an effort to preserve my energy, I opted not to join the masses of dancing runners. Instead, I got some water and found the entrance to my corral.

The corrals weren't open yet, so I found a spot on some asphalt to sit down. Unfortunately I didn't bring a blanket, and some gravel ended up sticking to my legs where I had applied BodyGlide. I brushed the gravel off, worrying that I had also brushed off the BodyGlide and might end up with some chafage before all was said and done.

While waiting, I observed the runners and costumes around me, semi-eavesdropped on conversations taking place nearby, listened to the deejay entertaining the crowd, and used my phone to read blogs and surf the internet. Eventually, the corrals opened. I entered and found another place to sit down and do more of the same.

Runners in the starting corrals

There was a different deejay working the start-line area. In between playing music and sharing jokes and last-minute tips and instructions, he went through the crowd jovially interviewing runners. He talked to several folks who were first-timers to the half-marathon distance and/or had not done a lot of training. This included one man who cheerfully said that the longest distance he'd ever run in his life was 8 miles (which reminded me of myself during my first half-marathon experience.) It demonstrated how much this race is more so about people just enjoying the Disney experience and having fun, as opposed to being competitive and trying to nail a PR. He also talked to folks who had traveled from all across the U.S., Canada, and other international locations to participate.

Jeff Galloway is a runDisney training consultant and he spoke to the crowd for a few minutes prior to the start. He was running the race himself, and I think he said he was planning to utilize the race as a Boston qualifier. I was too far away to see him speaking. However, I use a lot of his training advice, so it was cool to hear him.

Jeff Galloway high-fiving Mickey during another runDisney event

After a stirring rendition of the national anthem, the race started right on time with a display of fireworks. I thought that they would shoot off fireworks only for the initial race start, so I was pleasantly surprised that they shot off fireworks to release every starting corral. Closer to the start line, they were also blowing off a huge cloud of bubbles, too. It was so festive!

Fireworks during the release of each corral at the starting line

At 10:12 PM on the dot, my corral was off. The corrals were nicely spaced out so it was not at all crowded. We were buoyed by a large crowd of enthusiastic spectators, including lots of Disney cast members, race officials, and volunteers also cheering us on. As per usual at large races, it was hard not to get swept away in the excitement.

To be continued!

Where the magic begins

Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon completed last night!

It was an amazing, incredible experience. Disney sure knows how to throw an unbelievable race and party! I couldn't agree more with those who have said that every runner needs to run at least one Disney race at some point in their running lives.

I'll post a full recap later with many, many, many photos. In the meantime, here are a few summary pictures:

The starting line. When each starting corral was released, they shot off fireworks!

Running past the Tree of Life in the Animal Kingdom

Passing Mickey's sorcerer hat at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Runners in front of Spaceship Earth (Adam and I call it "the giant golf ball") at Epcot

Lots of photo ops with lovable Disney characters along the course! Here I am with Lilo and Stitch.

The post-race party at Epcot, which takes place on the final night of Disney's International Food and Wine Festival

More to come!