ESPN’s Colin Cowherd reveals his approach for conquering Saturday’s Disney World Half Marathon

UPDATE: The only part of Colin Cowherd running tomorrow will be his nose. Unfortunately, this FrontRow post on his scheduled participation in the Disney Half Marathon was published before Colin this morning. When he awoke and arrived at work, he was immediately sent home with the flu, a malady which will prevent him from heading to Disney World.

Editor’s note: In the video above, Runner’s World guru Bart Yasso gives Colin Cowherd some distance running tips. Cowherd has some unusual preparation methods.

Everyone looks forward to going to Walt Disney World in January, especially Colin Cowherd of ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd (10 a.m.-1 p.m. M-F, simulcast on ESPNU).

Saturday, he will be among the 50,000 runners in the 20th anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, participating in the half-marathon event.

Front Row got to talk with Cowherd about the weekend.

“I never look forward to running 13 miles,” he says, obviously wishing he had registered for the full marathon instead. “That’s the myth of half marathons: ‘Ooh, I bet you’re looking forward to it.’ Nope, I’m dreading it.”

Well, he will be in good company as he winds his way along the 13.1 mile course through the Magic Kingdom to the finish at Epcot. He’ll be alongside running enthusiasts such as Ethan Zohn and Jenna Morasca, reality TV stars from Survivor and The Amazing Race; Access Hollywood co-host Kit Hoover; and Gilles Marini from Sex in the City: The Movie and Brothers & Sisters.

“I run with my shadow, and I don’t like my shadow,” he says, apparently preferring the solitude of a true long-distance runner.

At least he and his shadow are well prepared for the endurance test.

“My training is good,” he says confidently. “I don’t believe in a lot of long runs. I just drink a lot of water and eat meatloaf.”

Although entering his very first half-marathon, he’s approaching it with the warm-up, cool-down experience of a veteran.

“I don’t even walk to the finish line or jog past the finish line,” he says. “I run a half marathon — not one more step of running.”

Listeners hoping Cowherd does well will be pleased to know how seriously he is taking this endeavor, opting for the Spartan, Rocky-like approach to his visit to Disney.

“I’m not taking my family,” he says. “I don’t want to be embarrassed and humiliated.”

And knowing he has set a realistic goal will comfort those supporting him on Saturday.

“I’d be happy finishing between an hour, 30 [minutes] and an hour, 45,” he says. “If it’s over two hours, then I probably stopped at a pub, had some chicken wings and just gave up halfway through.”

Wherever he finishes, Colin will certainly cherish his mini-marathon experience forever.

“I’m not going to have a tape of it,” he says. “I’m just going to run it, then I’m coming home and say I was gone golfing for the day.”

Note: In 2012, SportsCenter anchor Sage Steele conquered her first Disney Princess Half Marathon in 2:16:09. She shared her thoughts with Front Row.