"The Hay's in the Barn"

Happy 20-sweet-16, everyone! 2015 was absolutely one for the history books, filled with new highs, new places, & lots of new friends -- but 2016 certainly doesn't seem like it'll be a let-down, from all early indications, by any stretch of the imagination. As a matter of fact, Clan Cook is making preparations for an adventure later on this very week that'll mark a happy return to the House of Mouse.
Walt Disney World, we're coming for you.
Specifically, my dad Pat and I are making our first dynamic duo outing as Disney Marathoners; hankering for a 26.2 challenge outside the heartbreaking hills of Boston, we've been preparing over the last few months for the Most Magical Race on Earth in the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Prep arguably began allll the way back in the dead heat of summer 2015, as we slogged miles across the wild, wild West

From bounding through the Narrows of Zion

To the rugged Yosemite wilderness. Eat your heart out, Ansel Adams.

If there's hills like this in EPCOT, we're in trouble

While in Vegas, Dad practiced waving to adoring crowds along the marathon route. Whether we actually see costumed characters like this out along the course, or whether they'll be the product of our dehydration-addled delusions, remains to be seen.

Heather's idea of the "Golden Gate" is the purple, character-adorned archway over the road into Disney -- so this particular landmark was a bit problematic.

As we headed into the Fall and Winter months, we began ramping up our mileages to start preparing for the longer distance - 26.2 miles is 26.2 miles, after all, no matter where you're running it.
**Cue Rocky-style training montage (or would Hercules or Mulan be more appropriate, given the context? Asking for a friend)**

This is clearly a job for tough, battle-hardened runners. Let us know if you find any.

Our runs through Northern Massachusetts took us into all kinds of scenery in all kinds of weather; a particular highlight was this jaunt around nearby Walden Pond, of Henry David Thoreau fame (we felt all literate and such)

It's a straight and narrow road on the way to a marathon

One of the most special things about this particular training season was the chance to stretch our legs for the first time on an entirely new continent: I've detailed the unfortunate reasons for our recent trip to England in previous blogs, but we spent some of our time over there lacing up the running shoes to take in the incredible local sights. One of those famous London double-decker buses couldn't have showed us more of the good old town than our own two feet did.

We got in good speed work high-tailing it away from an angry pursuit by the Queen's guard

International Men of Mystery

Our motto's always been that we run to have a good time, not make good time. Expect that to hold true in Disney too...

After running through Arundel castle, which looked like it was torn right from the pages of a fairy tale, Cinderella's should be no problem at all

And through it all, of course, there was the requisite photobombing you've come to expect from this quality blog.

Of course, no training season is complete without its requisite tragedies.

When expected stops at local donut shops are closed for the morning, for example -- oh, the sheer, naked horror!

As unbelievably cold and harsh as last year's winter was, this one's was freakishly temperate. It meant we had to trade in a picturesque white Christmas for a rare green one, but you'll not hear a word of complaint from us fools bound for Florida's tropical temps. The last time either of us participated in a Run Disney event, our final Massachusetts run was in the throes of 2014's polar vortex; I finished up a three mile run with icicles literally dangling off my eyebrows, the cold was so intense, so Orlando's muggy humidity came as a bit of a shock in comparison. This year, blessedly, I don't think it'll be such a drastic change. Someone up there, we owe you, BIG TIME.

How many Christmases can you say it was warm enough outside to run in shorts and flippin' t-shirts?!?

Sampling the kind of hardware we'll undoubtedly be snagging in less than a week's time as we cross the finish line as triumphant champions...more or less

Well, as my high school track coach always used to say, "the hay's in the barn" now. We've logged the miles; we've narrowed down which flavors of Gu energy shots are the least disgusting; we've researched which Orlando emergency rooms have the best customer service; in short, to paraphrase one of the more well-known battle cries amongst the E-Streeters, "LET'S DO THIS."

Stay tuned for what promises to be an absolutely epic trip, and have no doubt there'll be lots of posts covering all the best highlights of it. Dad, I'm proud as hell already of all the hard work that's gone into training -- now comes the fun part, the payoff. This is normally when I'd ask for good thoughts and well wishes, but seriously, knowing the amount of effort that's gone into it already, I know they're not needed (but still appreciated nonetheless!). 

Raise a glass to the hope there'll be plenty of hot tubs like this for sore feet on the other side!