Goofy challengers out there? Of coures there are!

[goofeygirl]

I signed up for this...it maybe the one and only time I do it (assuming all goes to plan) or I may want to do this again.

What is your plan? Both novice and experts.

Run both races?
Walk half and run full?
Run half and walk full?
Walk half and walk full?

Realizing of course the ultimate goal is to cross the finish line injury and pain free.

My plan is to walk the half and jog walk the full.

 

[cewait]

I am surprised this has not come up earlier.

I used to be teased by my long time running fiends as I set Half PR's in the 06 through 09 halves.... and in the 06 full.

I think that most folks heading into the weekend think "I will just take a long time and possibly walk the half." The issue with this is that if one has not trained to walk 13 miles, they may end up even more fatigued and /or injured than if they ran the half.

On the other hand, there is only one race you will have fresh legs... the half. So there is a camp that says run the half and survive the full.

Then there is a middle of the road camp that says run both runs at your marathon training pace. With this pace you are not on your feet or using leg muscle in a different manner.

I would err to the run both runs at training pace and if feeling racy, run the half 20-30 seconds faster. With what I perceive as a lack of quality training on my personal part, I am running training run pace in both events.

For the full, the old left or blue was was a great way to start. At mile 1 the Blue course would exit the highway into the Epcot Parking Lot across the last bridge the half covered the day before. THis was a great little spot to wake the leg up by hitting the hill with purpose. With the new course, the race will cover a smaller hill at mile 1. It is not as steep and more crowded so the ability to charge the hill for a leg warm up is not as easy. I think regardless of the path taken on Saturday, there is a little longer time on Sunday before the legs wake up.


I should add that Saturday post race is all about staying loose, moving, recharging stores and hydrating.

 

[goofeygirl]

So advice for the finishing the half (before the full if you are doing the Goofy)
is to stay hydrated and move around...stretch I guess. No hot tubs because I read that is BAD in a situation like this.

Cewait you should post something on tips (perhaps you already have) on newbie goofy people...what to do when finishing the half to prep for the full.

I took some time today and was checking out the rundisney page on results...the Goofy one. I noticed a bizare trend in my brief breeze through it...for example...someone did the half in 2.5 hours but the full in well over 6 hours. Someone else did the half in nearly 4 hours but the full in 5.5 hours.
Its really all about what you do in the half I think...

 

[cewait]

So advice for the finishing the half (before the full if you are doing the Goofy)
is to stay hydrated and move around...stretch I guess. No hot tubs because I read that is BAD in a situation like this.

Cewait you should post something on tips (perhaps you already have) on newbie goofy people...what to do when finishing the half to prep for the full.

I took some time today and was checking out the rundisney page on results...the Goofy one. I noticed a bizare trend in my brief breeze through it...for example...someone did the half in 2.5 hours but the full in well over 6 hours. Someone else did the half in nearly 4 hours but the full in 5.5 hours.
Its really all about what you do in the half I think...

What is not seen in these times are who was running with the Goofy person in either of the two races. I have a friend who runs the half as a race (sub 1:30), trying to place in his age group then cruises/walks with full with his wife; barely finishing in 7 hours. You are correct that there are some usual patterns in the races.

 

[mickeymorse]

Good luck to the both of you. I contemplated doing the Goofy this year but decided that getting my DW to the finish line at the marathon the most important goal. Its her first and probably last full.(she wants the mickey medal real bad) I'm hoping to get her in under 4:30 but don't want to ruin the experience for her so we will play it by ear.

 

[goofeygirl]

What is not seen in these times are who was running with the Goofy person in either of the two races. I have a friend who runs the half as a race (sub 1:30), trying to place in his age group then cruises/walks with full with his wife; barely finishing in 7 hours. You are correct that there are some usual patterns in the races.

So your friend focuses his energy on the half as a race...but the full he enjoys doing with his wife at a more leisure pace...so no stress for him once the half is done - aside from the stress of walking 26miles.

Its interesting what different people do. Some do the opposite of that, walk the half and really go for it in the full.

I really don't know what would work for me. I am going to take it easy for the half and wing it for the full. I will probably be walking across the finish line with your friend and his wife.

 

[goofeygirl]

Good luck to the both of you. I contemplated doing the Goofy this year but decided that getting my DW to the finish line at the marathon the most important goal. Its her first and probably last full.(she wants the mickey medal real bad) I'm hoping to get her in under 4:30 but don't want to ruin the experience for her so we will play it by ear.

I think its best to play it by ear.

 

[Ariel484]

Good luck to the both of you. I contemplated doing the Goofy this year but decided that getting my DW to the finish line at the marathon the most important goal. Its her first and probably last full.(she wants the mickey medal real bad) I'm hoping to get her in under 4:30 but don't want to ruin the experience for her so we will play it by ear.

Wow, 4:30? I had zero time goals for my first full, just wanted to make it out alive. She is braver than I am.

 

[goofeygirl]

I asked this question on another post and am posting it here because its the new worry on my mind.

Are there balloon ladies walking the full?
I know there are white vans that had been in the half last year but never saw balloon ladies...

I am in the next to last corrall and I don't want to START the race being just barely out of sight of the 'balloon ladies'.

 

[John VN]

I asked this question on another post and am posting it here because its the new worry on my mind.

Are there balloon ladies walking the full?
I know there are white vans that had been in the half last year but never saw balloon ladies...

I am in the next to last corrall and I don't want to START the race being just barely out of sight of the 'balloon ladies'.

C corral for 2012 Goofy but started with the Balloon Ladies in BOTH races and last person over start line in 5K.

2011-walked 5K and Half with DW then speed-walked full in 4:56:28.

2012-walked 5K by myself since DW volunteered then speed-walked Half but knees acted up at the Castle, slowed down and finished in 2:23:30 then walked marathon with Cho-Pat knee straps and calf compression sleeves in 5:26:54.

2013-walk 5K with DW, might start in assigned corral D and go for a walking 2:00:00/2:10:00 PR or not then start with Balloon Ladies on Sunday, pull off course for M&M McFlurry at mile 15 then back on course and chill-out till the end while enjoying the McFlurry. Might add some jogging into the races but not sure. Have to see what the knees feel like.

 

[cewait]

C corral for 2012 Goofy but started with the Balloon Ladies in BOTH races and last person over start line in 5K.

2011-walked 5K and Half with DW then speed-walked full in 4:56:28.

2012-walked 5K by myself since DW volunteered then speed-walked Half but knees acted up at the Castle, slowed down and finished in 2:23:30 then walked marathon with Cho-Pat knee straps and calf compression sleeves in 5:26:54.

2013-walk 5K with DW, might start in assigned corral D and go for a walking 2:00:00/2:10:00 PR or not then start with Balloon Ladies on Sunday, pull off course for M&M McFlurry at mile 15 then back on course and chill-out till the end while enjoying the McFlurry. Might add some jogging into the races but not sure. Have to see what the knees feel like.

Pretty much my same strategy in a better trained year... push the half and run the full. I may be back with you and the balloon girls and then push up to escort the brother through his last half of the race.

 

[John VN]

Pretty much my same strategy in a better trained year... push the half and run the full. I may be back with you and the balloon girls and then push up to escort the brother through his last half of the race.

Looking forward to meeting you. Going to stop for the McFlurry?

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I signed up for this...it maybe the one and only time I do it (assuming all goes to plan) or I may want to do this again.

What is your plan? Both novice and experts.

Run both races?
Walk half and run full?
Run half and walk full?
Walk half and walk full?

Realizing of course the ultimate goal is to cross the finish line injury and pain free.

My plan is to walk the half and jog walk the full.

Welcome to the madness!
I will be starting in G as I did last year. The goal for me is a 3:25 half and a 6:55 full. That being said, last year was a 6:15 full, so I am capable of a teeny bit faster stepping depending on weather. I try to take it easy and enjoy the views for both events.

There is and has been much discussion of the event on the Events/Competition side of WISH in the many different threads. There does not seem to be one thread posted solely for Goofy strategy at this time. It is a great question you pose!

This thread is more appropriate discussion for the Events/Competition side of WISH and I will be moving it to that side.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

My strategy this year will all depend on the weather. So far, the forecast is for it to be a bit warmer than I would like, so I may just take it a bit easier with the Half and push a little more with the Full before it warms up too much. I do hope that the course changes make it a little more interesting, and I am definitely not forgetting the sunblock! I am definitely hoping for a nice cold front to make its way down to WDW.

 

[SAHDad]

I am in the next to last corrall and I don't want to START the race being just barely out of sight of the 'balloon ladies'.

I have thought about starting as close to the back as possible on the full, and then taking as much time as possible to cross the start line - just to try and give everyone else a couple of extra minutes. I suspect that race officials would be a little suspicious, since I would be hanging back and waving everyone on, taking a picture or six of the penultimate starters, once they are 30 yards away, and so on.

 

[FFigawi]

My strategy is always the same: easy half, easy full. I run both of them about 45 seconds or 1 minute slower per mile than my normal pace. Depending on how many pictures I take during the full, this usually results in a 2:10-2:20 half and a 4:20-4:30 full. This gives me fresh legs for both days and allows me to look around at the scenery, enjoy the Disney magic, and take pictures along the way. For me, Disney races aren't about chasing a PR. There are plenty of other races out there that are better for that.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I have thought about starting as close to the back as possible on the full, and then taking as much time as possible to cross the start line - just to try and give everyone else a couple of extra minutes. I suspect that race officials would be a little suspicious, since I would be hanging back and waving everyone on, taking a picture or six of the penultimate starters, once they are 30 yards away, and so on.

Not if you had a baton, were juggling or doing something distracting like that.

 

[Freight Train]

I signed up for this...it maybe the one and only time I do it (assuming all goes to plan) or I may want to do this again.

What is your plan? Both novice and experts.

Run both races?
Walk half and run full?
Run half and walk full?
Walk half and walk full?

Realizing of course the ultimate goal is to cross the finish line injury and pain free.

My plan is to walk the half and jog walk the full.

I'm a total newbie and this will also probably be my only Goofy, but for what it's worth I'm in the dead last corral and I plan to walk both races. I initially tried to train to run both but my knees just wouldn't take the punishment. So, for the last 6 months or so I've trained walking instead. My times in training have been around 2:55 for the half and 6:20 for the full. However, I do plan to take a few pictures as the situation on the ground will allow without getting too close to the sweepers.

On a side note, the imagery of the balloon ladies doesn't motivate me enough. In my mind I'm envisioning the creatures from the Langoliers movie chasing me down, if anyone remembers that.

I watched Apollo 13 last night. The part where Tom Hanks says, "Houston, the Earth is getting awfully big in the window" resonated with me...

 

[SAHDad]

Not if you had a baton, were juggling or doing something distracting like that.

If I could rent a one-man band suit for cheap, and someone would pick it up around mile 1, I would do it.

 

[scubagruba]

My strategy is always the same: easy half, easy full. I run both of them about 45 seconds or 1 minute slower per mile than my normal pace. Depending on how many pictures I take during the full, this usually results in a 2:10-2:20 half and a 4:20-4:30 full. This gives me fresh legs for both days and allows me to look around at the scenery, enjoy the Disney magic, and take pictures along the way. For me, Disney races aren't about chasing a PR. There are plenty of other races out there that are better for that.

I'm starting to agree with that last part. I thought I wanted to make this a fast marathon. I had a time in my head I was shooting for and should accomplish, but after reading the forums here I think I'll kick back some and enjoy myself more and not worry with the pace.

Still think I'll take it a bit slower on Saturday. Even if I'm not going full out Sunday.

Would like some pics along the way but I wasn't planning on taking my phone. I suspect that is what most runners use for the photos?

It's getting close!