Monday, January 16, 2006 - 12:32 AM

Disney thought only a select few were crazy enough, like me, to enter the goofy challenge but were in for a big surprise.

Since 1993, Walt Diisney World has held a marathon on the first Sunday not including new years day, winding its course through its many theme parks.

In 1998, WDW added the half marathon to its venue. Since doing that, WDW noticed that the half fills up faster the the full & worse, many full marathoners quit at the half point, causing a fiasco in the numbers (more finished in the half than were even registered). Also, running both events on the same day required more logistics (course, crew, etc) & for me personally, prevented me from doing the half since i would do the whole (forced me to choose or committ to only one).

Some genius last year decided to move the half to Saturday & keep the full on Sunday, to account for the logistics. The same individual also realized that some people may be crazy enough to do both. Being that I already completed a similiar challenge at the Gasparilla Race Weekend (PT Cruiser Challenge in Tampa that began under similiar logistical circumstances 3 years ago), this was up my alley.

The goofy race and half consists of the half marathon on Saturday followed by the full on Sunday. Finishers of both events received the inaugural goofy medal, in addition to those of the individual races. The PT Cruiser Challenge was better organized but barely drew a hundred participants in its inaugural because of its magnitude & the fact that no one ever offered this. Based on that, WDW was correct in its assumption. However, WDW forgot that not only those who did that would do this but its venue its more attractive (theme parks) & popular, hence the reason nearly 3 thousand entered & about that many finished; I'm proud to be among that number. see yall next year!

jasper, a 'top' florida runner