Well of all the nerve!

[windwalker]

You have done it now, you have entered the lair of the Evil Panda and now you are trapped inside. There is but one hope for your continued freedom, you must pay the toll.

Your toll and ticket to freedom is to tell your master plan for finishing your race in January. You know you have thought about it, now lay it out for everyone to see.

My plan is to walk at an average pace of 15 min a mile including photo and potty ops. That and have a lot of good conversation with my pace group. Then when the going gets realluy tough at 20 and beyond there is a time buffer. It's more comforting to know that you can do the last few miles at over a 16 min per mile pace if you need to.

Now what's your plan? Don't try to sneak out of here without paying everyone saw you come in.

Evil Pandapirate:

[Steffwalks]

My plan: Get back in shape and make it to WDW in 2010! But first, I will watch y'all on the computer and you run, walk, and hop your races!

:grouphug:

[suzannews]

My plan is one foot in front of the other going in the right direction. Hoping race day excitement takes over early on. My goal is to finish, doesn't matter the time, doesn't matter how many finish ahead of me, doesn't matter if I am last...I just want to finish!!

[JimB.]

My "Goofy Plan" is as follows:

1. Do not do anything stupid in the next 2 weeks and get hurt.

2. 1/2 - Run 7 minutes & walk 1, making sure to hydrate and fuel effectively during the race. Make sure I fuel immediately afterward. Stay loose that afternoon. Maybe get an IV bag or massage afterward if I think I need it.

3. Full - Run 5 / Walk 1. Drink adequately & keep the carb intake going all race. Take some ibuprofen prior to the race. Hang on for dear life.

That's about it!

[Roxy]

My Goofy plan is to dance the entire way to a GOOD TIME... I could be crawling at the end though.:rotfl:

[BamaEd1]

I plan on trusting my training and going for it. I'm also told (WDW will be my first full marathon) that it will be tough to hold back at the start; that I would want to go out too quickly. I plan on staying close to the Cliff's pace team for the 4:30 finish. If I can do that and still feel good around mile 24, I plan on passing the above pace team, but that is a big if. I will be ex tactic with finishing and wearing my new medal proudly!

You are a mean and viscous panda, despite your cute little heart pillow.

[windwalker]

I plan on trusting my training and going for it. I'm also told (WDW will be my first full marathon) that it will be tough to hold back at the start; that I would want to go out too quickly. I plan on staying close to the Cliff's pace team for the 4:30 finish. If I can do that and still feel good around mile 24, I plan on passing the above pace team, but that is a big if. I will be ex tactic with finishing and wearing my new medal proudly!

You are a mean and viscous panda, despite your cute little heart pillow.


Yes within the gentle panda beats the heart of a pirate.pirate:

I go to the races to drink the booze and frolic in the company of the pretty princesses.

Evil Party Pandapirate:

[bubba73]

My plan to is to finish. I know I can do the Half in less than 3 hours but I don't have too. I am planning on staying with some friends so we can motivate each other all the way to the finish line and my first piece of "bling".

[goofyinohio]

My goofy plan is as follow.

Finish in the time allowed. Get my medals and have a good time.
I plan to run until I can't, then walk and then run some more.
I plan to Feed off the energy of the crowd and my fellow Wishers and DR group. I know I can hold back. I've done it in all my races so far.

I'm scared to death and excited as can be.

I'm goofy and I'm going goofy aint life grand? :banana:

[dsnyfan21]

My Plan for the weekend:

1. Stay healthy and injury free for the next 2 weeks!!!

2. Friday 5K - Chill out and relax with my new/old friends and hang with Dave - finally get to walk with Dave!!!! Watch my Mom with excitement as she crosses the finish line of her first 5K!!

3. Try not to do too much walking on Friday before the WISH meet. Then socialize with all my WISH friends later and then go back to the room and relax.

4. Half Marathon - this will be my 6th Half. I just plan to try to still with a good 14:30 - 15min per mile pace. May jog a bit esp down the "hills". Take photos along the way and encourage everyone I see. DOn't be surprised if you hear me singing as you pass me or I pass you. I tend to do that for some strange reason. Finish however I can with a big smile on my face!!

Dory says, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..." ... just keep putting one foot in front of the other until its over- even if your feet are SCREAMING at you!

5. Scream team for all my buds at water stop 11 during the full!!!

That's my plan and I'm sticking to it.

Tapering Tracy

[windwalker]

My Plan for the weekend:

1. Stay healthy and injury free for the next 2 weeks!!!

2. Friday 5K - Chill out and relax with my new/old friends and hang with Dave - finally get to walk with Dave!!!! Watch my Mom with excitement as she crosses the finish line of her first 5K!!

3. Try not to do too much walking on Friday before the WISH meet. Then socialize with all my WISH friends later and then go back to the room and relax.

4. Half Marathon - this will be my 6th Half. I just plan to try to still with a good 14:30 - 15min per mile pace. May jog a bit esp down the "hills". Take photos along the way and encourage everyone I see. DOn't be surprised if you hear me singing as you pass me or I pass you. I tend to do that for some strange reason. Finish however I can with a big smile on my face!!

Dory says, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..." ... just keep putting one foot in front of the other until its over- even if your feet are SCREAMING at you!

5. Scream team for all my buds at water stop 11 during the full!!!

That's my plan and I'm sticking to it.

Tapering Tracy


Well Gee I was thinking Hey I get to walk with Tracy:banana:

Happy (I mean Evil) Pandapirate:

[postesf]

My plan for the Half is to have fun and try to stick around a 15 -15:30 pace. I'm hoping the crowd encouragement and the adrenaline will kick in and help me and my non-training DH finish! I plan to walk and then at each mile marker run for a 1-2 min.

I'm excited! Can't wait!!!

[TnTsParty]

I am hopefully going to stick with a 12 minute pace - that might slip to 13 minutes if it has too. I am anxiously looking forward to getting my 20 miler done either tomorrow or Saturday morning. I have to get my new shoes tomorrow morning and then I might set out (unfortunaltely I think it might be way hot tomorrow by time I am able to get out. I tried to a few miles this afternoon on the TM while waiting to go over to my dad's and for some reason there is now something wrong with the TM - and I think I made it worse)

Other than that I am somewhat glad that Christmas is over so now I can focus on the marathon. I also am somewhat nervous and just wish it was Jan 12th already so I can start my Disney vacation with the Mickey medal around my neck. But if that is the case then that would mean that it will be over way too soon!!!

[hockeygirl]

For the half, I plan on doing a run/walk combo of jog 2 min/walk 3 min. I am really going to take it easy to save myself for the full. After the half, I will take an ice bath and stay loose in the afternoon while visiting one of the parks.

For the full...the plan is to run 3/walk 2 for as long as I can. And of course, stop and get pics with the characters!

All I want to is to have fun! I have no time in mind to beat, I just want to finish and get all three medals!!!!

[bunnyfoo]

Run like the wind and think about the medal at the end! Actually I have no idea :) I'm bringing my camera but I'm only going to stop if I see rare and elusive characters ... oh who am I kidding! I'll probably stop for everyone :thumbsup2

[getnthinr]

So many good plans! So many smart marathoners!

Dave, as I'm going goofy again, my plan is to (as others have said) finish the races within the time allowed. I need to nab some character photos along the way to give me something to look back on and smile, but I expect I'll take fewer this year than in years past because I'll be nursing an injury and so be a bit closer to the time limit than I usually am. I expect there will be ice and ibuprofen involved, as well as my now-traditional massage after the half (before the marathon) to try to keep my Achilles tendonitis/bursitis from flaring up too much.

Aside from my race-day plans, I also hope to enjoy the company of my WISH friends, my Disney Deads friends, and my Disney Running friends. How blessed we are to be able to fellowship and draw advice and encouragment from folks from around the world via the Internet! And I hope that when I gather with my WISH friends on Monday morning to bid them goodbye before beginning the long drive back home that I am wearing four medals and a great goofy grin!

[twoWDWfools]

Plan on spending the 5K with DH and friends from here and DR.

For the half I'll cheer on everyone and be sure I'm at the finish to get pick of DH coming across the line.

As it's my first full on Sun, I just want to finish. I'll be with friends including the fantastic Panda so planning on enjoying...taking pics....and hopefully dragging my happy butt across that finish with a smile.

[Villains_Rock]

I plan on running with the 5 hour pace team for awhile then hopefully speeding up a bit. I was going to variate my pace, but I found on my last 20 miler that I'm better off keeping it on an even keel. Keel? Is that the word? :confused3

Anywho...I'm hoping to keep my pace and get across the finish in sub-5...provided my extensor tendinistis doesn't cripple me into crawling.

All I know is that I have had a GREAT team to bring me this far and I WILL FINISH!!!

[ms.mightyduck]

My plan for the 5K: enjoy the walk with my WISH buds! :)

My plan for the half: finish in the allotted time, working to maintain 15 min mile for the first 10 miles like I did for the Minnie. Take lots of photos. Take photos with characters. Enjoy the experience!

My plan for the full: cheer on my WISH buddies! Woohoo!

[Tiger Lily 03]

My Goofy plan. Pray. Crawl. Stay on level ground. Hope to get over the finish line of the full. I feel I've got the half conquered. Coming in undertrained so I'll do what I can, enjoy as I'm able and if it doesn't happen for me this time, it's ok. I will try to be good about it since I've not been good about the dedication to training.

[Valentine]

My plan... get to Disney... Hug All of my WISH friends.. do the 1/2.... dance through if I have to... just to finish!!! Then Cheer on all my WISH teamates at the full.. first at Water Stop #2 whoo hoo and then handing out my "whips" throughout the course!! They were such a hit last year.. I have started my very own tradition!! I really can't wait to see all of you!! New and old friends! And I am especially looking forward to my Keenerclanhug!

Kathy

[jam217]

My plan for the half is to run about a 12 to 13 minute mile and walking through all the water stops. What I've discovered on my training runs is that running slow can be just as difficult as running fast! And for me "fast'' is going at 9:30 pace. I find on my training runs that I'll start slow then pick up the pace. I'm planning on the crowds of people to slow me down. I'd like to finish the half around 2:45ish.

I'm still not sure what I'm doing for the full...some sort of run/walk combo for sure. I've been taking notes of everyone else's plans and I'm leaning toward the run/jog 5 min. and walk 1.

My corral placement is pretty far up --- Corral B for the half and Coral D for the full so I plan on that giving me a huge buffer in case I totally hit the wall and have to crawl/drag myself to the finish.

This is my sixth half marathon and second full marathon. In my first full (Steamtown in Scranton, PA, in Oct.) I experienced severe hip and left shoulder pain around mile 20ish. I'm very nervous about that happening again. The next day, my entire left side (arm, leg, hip) was affected....even walking was very, very difficult. The thing about Steamtown is that the first seven miles is all downhill and I'm wondering if that didn't impact my body in some way.

Unlike my other races, I'm not doing this for time. I just want to have fun, enjoy the people and the characters and get the three medals. My family and co-workers think I'm nuts.

Sorry this is a long and rambling post....just realizing now that in 2 weeks from now we'll all be out doing the half! I'm excited, but also a little scared!

[MomofCKJ]

I am doing just the Half with DH and our best friends. My plan? To finish! It is my first Half and I am not concerned with time at all, I just want to have fun and finish and have that accomplishment. For someone like me, who has never been athletic, it will be a personal achievement like no other. I can't wait!

I was doing a 3R/2W for a lot of my runs over the summer and into the start of the training. Then I started trying to push it a bit. My last couple of runs, and my longest so far (an 8), I was able to run a mile, walk a tenth, run a mile, walk a tenth, and that worked for me. So I think I'll be somewhere in there, running as much as I can with a short walk break when I need to and then resuming running.

I would have loved to sign up to cheer and scream on Sunday but we have early flights out. We are continuing our celebration in Nassau at Sandals for 4 days of relaxing there with a little vow renewal on the beach thrown in.:lovestruc

Allyson

[scoolover]

My origional plan was to get in great shape and trot the half. The next day I would go for a marathon P.R.

That won't happen so I was thinking that I would simply try to better my total Goofy time from last year.

Since I have been sick for a while and my longest run since Dec 3 is 7 miles, I will start slow and try to hold on!;) I wish I was joking about that one. I will do a 3 to 2 run walk ratio and hope my body holds up.

[Tiger Lily 03]

I am doing just the Half...AllysonHey, Allyson, JUST the half? There is no such thing as JUST the half dear girl. You are doing the HALF!
:cheer2: That is quite an accomplishment!

Congrats too on your vow renewal. How romantic. :love:

[DianeL]

You certainly are Evil! I saw your subject line and was closing my eyes as i clicked it LOL

I thought about offering up a hug and then running like heck from the thread LOL

But I guess I must pay the toll.... I plan on finishing in 3 hrs for the Half. My hope is that I pull off a 2:50 or at least closer to 2:50. I did a training 10 miler last weekend and it put me in on a 3 hour finish. That is literally had I done 13 miles that day I would have finished that day in 3 hours on a hilly course. So I have HIGH hopes that I finish under 3 hours. I say hope because I certainly didn't expect to injure my calf Labor Day weekend at DL.

The other reason I have high hopes of a faster finish is like Wendy said, we truly are blessed with our team mates. Last year doing the Full I was so surprised that I would turn my head and there would be another team mate. Seeing those faces in the middle of the race both on the sidelines and on the course with you definitely lifts the spirits and makes you soar.

Scott!!!! I was out for most of Dec 2007 and while I didn't have the time I wanted in the race my earlier training still pulled me across that finish line. I have even more faith in your training and ability to pull this off. PD that you continue to feel better and stronger. :wizard:

WENDY! :hug: That totally sucks that the injury is still holding on. I know your spirit and inner strength will pull you thru because you certainly pull me thru races. Keep that brillant smile going! :hug:

Same as everyone else on the stay healthy for the remaining days. Cheering for the 5K and Volunteering and then Cheering for the Full.

I can't wait to test that clock with my friends beside me. Bring on the course! :cheer2:

[Cruella de mom]

My plan is one foot in front of the other going in the right direction. Hoping race day excitement takes over early on. ...I just want to finish!!

My Goofy plan. Pray. Crawl. Hope to get over the finish line of the full. I feel I've got the half conquered.

Perhaps I shouldn't answer this while I am still wet from a 20 mile run in the rain.... the above quotes are pretty close to what I am thinking right now.

I did 20 at an 11 minute mile pace including the mile that we drank a cup of coffee. Yeah, I stopped and bought a cup of coffee at mile 13. It worked way better than gu or jelly bellies too. My pace improved the last 7 miles. Anyone know a good place to buy coffee on the marathon course?

Cecilia

[JimB.]

Anyone know a good place to buy coffee on the marathon course?

Main Street in the MK!!!

[Cruella de mom]

IT won't be open when I get there. Will it? ... I will probably have to find something in Animal Kingdom.

[deekaypee]

Arrgh. Trapped by a tricky Panda! My tentative plan for the weekend:

1) Stay sane, calm and relaxed in the days leading up to the marathon. My ILs are doing Disney with us pre-weekend, so it's important that I fuel, hydrate, and sleep well even though family outings tend to disrupt those things. It also means prioritizing my stretching and short walks.

2) Go to the Expo on Thursday, before it gets too crazy.

3) POP meet, hugs, lots of fun!

4) Volunteer at Water Stop #1/11 for the half, with DOOD, and cheer all participants on. I think this might be my favorite part of the weekend.

5) I'm planning on walking the marathon due to an injury and undertraining. I've been maintaining a 13:30-14:00 mm, but plan on walking with WISHers at a comfortable 15:00-16:00 mm.

6) The one thing I regret about last year's Goofy was being more focused on my pace than on the experience. So I want to hang with friends, take photos, and just enjoy myself this year.

7) To prevent blisters--I've very prone to getting them, especially when I walk--I'll be stopping every 1 1/2 or 2 hours to reapply Vaseline to my feet, socks, and even the insides of my shoes. Lily gave me this suggestion last year, and it really works! :thumbsup2 I've timed this reapplication--it takes me less than 5 minutes, and it's so worth it!

8) Finish with a smile on my face. Get the medal, collect DOOD, and have a finisher's picture that doesn't make me wince. (Hey, a girl's gotta have goals.)

9) Ditch the ILs and party with WISHers!

[JimB.]

IT won't be open when I get there. Will it?

Casey's Corner will be (most likely). When I have played bike medic in the past it has been. It opens soon after MS is open to spectators. But you have to go off of the course & get through spectators to get to it.

Why not carry a can/bottle of Starbuck's with you instead? it won't be hot, but it will be chocked full of caffeine,

[ms.mightyduck]

When the batteries in our camera died during the Minnie, they wouldn't let DH buy more. Instead he had to wait on the course and a cast member ran and got them for him. Maybe you will have to do the same!

[Duanerice]

Great topic.

I plan on jogging the 5K on Friday. Easy run for the half, around 2:10. Trying to break 4:30 for the full. This is a stretch goal and might not be able to do it, but I have to try.

For the half and the full I plan on walking through all the water stops. I also take 1/2 GU every 2 miles starting at mile 4. Used to take a full one every 4 miles or so but that would crank me up too much. One half every 20 minutes seems to keep me on an even keel.

I could do a faster half, but I am afraid that if I do then find out I'm really tired in the full, it will be too late. So, taking it easy so I can finish the full and get that beloved Goofy medal.

enjoy,
Duane

[ms.mightyduck]

Duane, I was thinking today that life would be better if I could half-gu. What do you do with the open gu? Doesn't it make a mess?

I am truly baffled at the logistics of saving half a gu for later. Unless you just suck down half and toss it. I'm too cheap to throw half a gu away, which is why I always take a full one...

[TnTsParty]

you know I was thinking the same thing Duckie.

[ms.mightyduck]

Great minds, Tricia. Great minds.

I can hear my DH now as he watches me stuff half a gu in my pocket....

[twoWDWfools]

Great minds, Tricia. Great minds.

I can hear my DH now as he watches me stuff half a gu in my pocket....

I've started doing the half GU too. Bring along a snack size zip baggie and put it in there. Gets a little sticky but not too bad especially if you remember to fold over the top of the GU before putting it in the baggie and not put it behind your camera. Or so I've been told...:rolleyes1

[Duanerice]

Hi All,
I just use a little clip thingy. Fold over the top then put the clip on. Back in my earlier days - long ago - they might have called it a roach clip, I heard. Some of the more mature crowd here will know what I am talking about.

I just clip it and put it in my pouch. I don't use a baggie.

enjoy,
Duane

[DianeL]

Duane your a genius! :teacher: Great idea! I have to take my GU early on and I think your plan would help me even more in planning my full next year.

Liz! The baggy idea niffty too! I use a belt so I can clip that clip there and not lose it in between uses.

We all really should talk more often ;) LOL

Thanks!!!!

[ms.mightyduck]

Doh! Plastic baggies that seal, clips on the gu.... Sadly, none of these things occurred to me. :sad2: But thanks to all of you, I now have an idea! :)

Of course, Liz, as you know, DH carries most of my stuff, so I still suspect he is going to say, "NO! Finish that! I'm not putting half-eaten sticky stuff in my pocket!" But it's worth a try. ;)

[twoWDWfools]

Duckie - that's why the baggie works best in your case. Can tell him "look, nothing sticky going to get on you just take it". Or tell him to finish it if he doesn't want to carry it. Oh man, I can see the look on his face for that one! :rotfl2:

[ms.mightyduck]

LOL! :rotfl2: It's worth a shot, if for nothing else than to see his expression!

[bubba73]

Hey Gang! I don't know if this is the best place to share this but I had to share it with someone (and who better than my WISH teammates).

Today, at work, I had one of my vendors give me a call. She is also a major Disney fanatic who comes onto the disboards. I told her about the WISH threads and also about how I was going to be going down to do the Half in January. Well, she called me up today to tell me that there was a lot of people (that have never met me) that was cheering me on from Massachusetts. (Did I mention that I told her about this about 5 months ago when I signed up and she still remembered?)

Now, I am going down solo but with all of you there aiding me along and now this, how can I not finish my first Half?

Anyway, I just felt like sharing that.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.
Bryan:cheer2: :yay:

[DianeL]

but with all of you there aiding me along and now this, how can I not finish my first Half?

Exactly! Those at home and those there and everyone lining the course from our group to the water stations to complete strangers. Embrace those cheers, smiles and hollers! They'll keep you going in the right direction :thumbsup2

Go Bryan Go!!! :cheer2:

[jeanneg]

I've done the work. Now my plan is to go and enjoy every minute of the experience. 2 years ago I would have never thought doing a marathon was within my realm of possibilities. Because of you, my WISH buddies, I have accomplished things I never dreamed I could. Thank-you so very much.....I look so forward to seeing all my old friends and meeting new ones. I love you all.

[bubba73]

I am going to paraphrase a line from a movie that I saw a long time ago.

The training is over.
The brain is shot.
But the race
we still got!
(For anyone who wants to reference this, it is from the movie "Cocktail" with Tom Cruise.)

This time next week we will all be together. We will be having our own New Years Celebration, just a week late. Thank you all for this past year. Now, I just hope I don't make a fool of myself at the races.:confused3 :rotfl2:

Bryan

[Cruella de mom]

I have changed my plan. My new plan is to have Bryan piggyback me through the half and then run the full without seeing a yellow flag. :lmao:

There are no fools in the race, the fools are still sitting on their couches.

[jeanneg]

There are no fools in the race, the fools are still sitting on their couches.


Very well said!