Marathon Weekend Weather

[cewait]

I was not going to do this again this year and since ‘L’accuweather started with the longer period of forecasts it seemed really pointless. Well, coming from a farming community as a kiddo, I am still tuned into the weather more than many folks. We are now approaching the 10 day forecast period where models tend to have relevancy… not necessarily accuracy, but start to let you see the gross trends.

So, the norms for the race weekend are a low of 49F and high of 70F. This produces an average temp for race day of 59F. The current 10 outlook is as follow:

NWS
7-Day forecast

Weather
5k – 54F – No Forecast
Half – No forecast
Full – No Forecast

Wunderground
5k – 59F – Hi 72F
Half – 59F Fog – No forecast
Full – No Forecast

Accuweather
5k – 59F – Hi 75F – Rain >50%
Half – 57F – Hi 79F – Showers >50%
Full – 57F – Hi 79F


Note, even if we get rain, it ‘generally’ is not a real drencher. Accumulations are less than a half-inch and usually less than a tenth for an all day event. Obviously, there are exceptions but remember, this is the middle of the dry season.

 

[goofeygirl]

Please no lightening! I fear that greater than most anything else mother nature has to offer.


I saw on some weather related webpage something like this:

5k race day is raining at a high of 75 degrees.
half marathon day is raining at 79 degrees
Full marathon day is 79 mostly cloudy.

Two pairs of sneakers are in order here. In case one pair gets drenched.

 

[cewait]

AGREE 100%

The only reason for the race to be called off is if there is lightning in the area. I definitely would hate to have the race cancelled.

Though, I guess a start delay could occur for most anything that is way off... heavy rain, lightning, winds.....

 

[Reep]

I have no fear of the lightening itself, but really fear them calling the race because of it.

The forecast right now is okay I guess. 57 with light rain wouldn't be too bad. At least it's cooler than Disneyland. I just don't want 60s or heavy rain. But, I'm bringing the rain vest just in case. After 2010 I will never be unprepared again.

 

[Bephus]

I keep telling myself that I won't freak out about the heat yet, but I am not pleased. Silly FL, why can't you behave and realize it is winter? Here's hoping for a nice cold front to wonder our way this week and cool us off so that we don't have a bunch of overheated runners passing out all over the place. Should be fun no matter what and I bought a new tank top just for this reason!

 

[Tabetha]

You know, the rain is going to feel great if it really is close to 80...

And frankly, I wouldn't know what to do if it wasn't raining or snowing. Literally every single one of our long runs this training period we have had to deal with one or the other...

 

[cewait]

The latest from the services this morning.
Remember, this is the dry season and without a change in temperature from a front, the chances of anything other than sprinkles is remote. I am not seeing where Accuweather is getting the energy source for the rain on Friday and Friday evening.

This will be one of the hotter marathons in Disney history at these forecasts. Prepare NOW. Start by thinking about your hydration actions taken earlier in the fall. Mid week next week, start hydrating and making sure that you are topping off the tank by sipping all day. Think of your hydration strategy and how warm mile 11-13 or 15-26 will be when the sun is out and beating on the pavement in front of you.

Now is not the time to not think of surviving a cool morning, and I would still have in my ‘take on trip’ stack a set of cool weather clothes.

NWS
7-Day forecast

Weather
5k – 60F – Hi 76F
Half – 56F – No forecast
Full – No Forecast

Wunderground
5k – 61F Fog – Hi 75F
Half – 61F Fog – Hi 73F
Full – 61F – No Forecast

Accuweather
5k – 59F – Hi 80F – Rain >50%
Half – 57F – Hi 77F
Full – 58F – Hi 77F


The norms for the race weekend are a low of 49F and high of 70F. This produces an average temp for race day of 59F.

 

[goofeygirl]

I did the half last year and the weather wasn't too hot at all..I think it was nice...if its really hot this year...

I am going to wear minmal clothing for the full and half...covered with warm clothing...wearing a hydration belt...start thinking of hydrating myself now...even though I don't feel like it.

 

[rocio]

If the temps stay this warm, do you recommend bringing our own water given the year they ran out at a few stations? I run about an 10:30-11:30mm pace (depending on picture stops) and will start in D if that makes any difference. I rather not have to carry more than I need to but want to be smart about this .

 

[Ariel484]

Sounds like it probably won't be needed, but here's what my local running store told me to do to dry out wet running shoes. It works pretty well.

Remove the insoles.
Stuff newspaper into the shoes for 1 hour.
Take that newspaper out and replace it with new newspaper. Leave it in for 2-3 hours.
Take that newspaper out and replace it with new newspaper. Leave it in overnight.

I know the resorts don't deliver newspapers anyone, but I think you can get them at the front desk...?


My runs lately have either been on the treadmill or in 20-degree weather with wind and snow...so hopefully I'm prepared for anything at this point.

 

[cewait]

I did the half last year and the weather wasn't too hot at all..I think it was nice...if its really hot this year...

I am going to wear minmal clothing for the full and half...covered with warm clothing...wearing a hydration belt...start thinking of hydrating myself now...even though I don't feel like it.

Actaully, last year's half was 44F... I ran it with a short sleeved shirt and no throw down clothing... cool and a little uncomfortable until the gun. Once on the run, it was great.

 

[cewait]

If the temps stay this warm, do you recommend bringing our own water given the year they ran out at a few stations? I run about an 10:30-11:30mm pace (depending on picture stops) and will start in D if that makes any difference. I rather not have to carry more than I need to but want to be smart about this .

I carry a Gatorade or bottled water bottle with me for the staging area and the first 4-9 miles of the race. I do this because my hydration regimen is different that the aid station layout. In 2007, the race did have issues with heat (67F start) and water stations. I was running a sub 10mm pace and saw tables being folded in the mile 13 area. I ended up slowing way up due to other issues and ended up finishing with a 13:30 pace. We did not have any liquids in the 20 mile area.

I personally do not think that will happen again. The rD folks took a lot of heat from that and Disney rarely gets fooled twice on the same issue. However, if you feel the need to have the security of knowing you have water with you, I would pack your belt and bring it to Orlando. You can always not wear it or fill only a couple bottles for security. I know there are veterans of 07 who carry a supply regardless of the expected heat

 

[cewait]

Sounds like it probably won't be needed, but here's what my local running store told me to do to dry out wet running shoes. It works pretty well.

Remove the insoles.
Stuff newspaper into the shoes for 1 hour.
Take that newspaper out and replace it with new newspaper. Leave it in for 2-3 hours.
Take that newspaper out and replace it with new newspaper. Leave it in overnight.

I know the resorts don't deliver newspapers anyone, but I think you can get them at the front desk...?


My runs lately have either been on the treadmill or in 20-degree weather with wind and snow...so hopefully I'm prepared for anything at this point.

I have 4 pairs of these... though not pink
http://www.amazon.com/Stuffitts-Original-Drying-Inserts-Shoes/dp/B007KL6M9A

 

[buckeyecinderella]

So if I don't carry my own water, and Run
Disney runs out, can I buy a bottle of water from a vendor as I run through the theme parks, like AK, DHS, Epcot? Just wondering how close we'd be to the eateries and vendors along the route.

Thanks for starting the weather thread, Coach. I was hoping you would!

 

[rocio]

I carry a Gatorade or bottled water bottle with me for the staging area and the first 4-9 miles of the race. I do this because my hydration regimen is different that the aid station layout. In 2007, the race did have issues with heat (67F start) and water stations. I was running a sub 10mm pace and saw tables being folded in the mile 13 area. I ended up slowing way up due to other issues and ended up finishing with a 13:30 pace. We did not have any liquids in the 20 mile area.

I personally do not think that will happen again. The rD folks took a lot of heat from that and Disney rarely gets fooled twice on the same issue. However, if you feel the need to have the security of knowing you have water with you, I would pack your belt and bring it to Orlando. You can always not wear it or fill only a couple bottles for security. I know there are veterans of 07 who carry a supply regardless of the expected heat

So when they ran out of water, it wasn't the entire course that was out, just a couple of the stops? I think I'll *gulp * trust the race organizers and hope for the best.

 

[ironz]

ELECTROLYTES. Don't forget those! Include some in your preface hydration and take them in on race day. Whether it is in the form of sports drink, products such as Nuun, salt tablets, or in your gels/blocks. If you focus too much on the water aspect of hydration, you may put yourself at risk for hyponatremia.

 

[cewait]

So if I don't carry my own water, and Run
Disney runs out, can I buy a bottle of water from a vendor as I run through the theme parks, like AK, DHS, Epcot? Just wondering how close we'd be to the eateries and vendors along the route.

Thanks for starting the weather thread, Coach. I was hoping you would!

Yes... Kind of. If the park is open, we run down the main paths in AK, DHS and Epcot and many of the vendors are open as we pass. What I had happened was a nice lady came up at John's McFlurry overpass with a case of ice cold water bottles. She handed me on and I passed it around to a couple of runners I had been playing tag with. There was also a TNT coach at the Yacht club with a shoebox full of ice. Runners were grabbing as we passed by.

So when they ran out of water, it wasn't the entire course that was out, just a couple of the stops? I think I'll *gulp * trust the race organizers and hope for the best.

What I recall was tables folding on Bear Island at the mile 14 area. Then for me, the mile 19, 20 and 21 stops were either completely folded up or nearly gone. We did have water at the remaining stops.

Again, I do not mean to put a great fear in folks, I think 2007 was an outlier and that Disney would never let this happen again. I know that communications are much better for the stations than in the past. Also, looking at the configuration of their location on the new course one can see that all are serviceable by vehicles during the race. That was not the case with some of the locations in the past.

ELECTROLYTES. Don't forget those! Include some in your preface hydration and take them in on race day. Whether it is in the form of sports drink, products such as Nuun, salt tablets, or in your gels/blocks. If you focus too much on the water aspect of hydration, you may put yourself at risk for hyponatremia.

Great catch. As the conditions near their Yellow Flag conditions, you may start seeing the rD folks suggesting every runner take PowerAde as they drink. If one has not experimented with extra electrolytes and think of adding them at this point in time I would suggest making sure the supplement is buffered. As Betsy points out, the sport drink and sport oriented fuels (gels, block, etc but not pure candy) carry some electrolytic supplementation. So MOST runners will get all they need through their training supplementation. If you are worried, a buffered supplement may not upset the GI tract. I use Endurolytes – but there are other endurance oriented electrolytes. I would not use the old fill a contacts case with table salt or sea salt method of supplementing electrolytes UNLESS you have tried in training. The solids load from that method can wipe out the GI system and actually rob the body of hydration as it attempts to deal with that immediate load.

 

[dragitoff]

I've been training with Sports Drinks with electrolytes. I had planned on not wearing my fuel belt with hydration holsters in favor of my fuel belt with only a small pocket and number clips. Does Disney offer Sports Drinks? I thought I had read they did at certain stops but not all of them. If so, which ones are they? I usually do not intake anything (food or drink) until at least 45 minutes into my run. I may need to re-think that strategy slightly if needed.

 

[magicLAL12]

Re: Water & Electrolytes.

Do they generally hand out cups of water or small bottles? I am planning to bring either Electrolyte tablets or powder with me to make my own hydration drink (which I have used during training), and was wondering what to prepare for.

Thanks!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Re: Water & Electrolytes.

Do they generally hand out cups of water or small bottles? I am planning to bring either Electrolyte tablets or powder with me to make my own hydration drink (which I have used during training), and was wondering what to prepare for.

Thanks!

Small Dixie like cups usually half filled. I usually always bring one water bottle on my belt. However it is usually not necessary to bring your own to events.