Goofy challengers out there? Of coures there are!

[goofeygirl]

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.

Please explain the McFlurry? I know its McDonalds but is that just a thought that goes through your head to get you through the full or do you REALLY stop at McDonalds to get a McFlurry? Hmmm.

 

[goofeygirl]

Must remember to have at the ready for this Goofy challenge:

advil.
salt.
oreo cookies (I need a total sugar high, esp for the full)
water for the full
hat from sun?
some kind of electrolyte pill the I read people take for this
a gel to rub on sore muscles if they get sore.
sunglasses!!!!!!!
mp3's.
what else?
oh yeah, money - 20 dollars laced within my shoe.

 

[Goofierunner]

This will be my only Goofy. Easy half, faster full. I don't get many chances to run such a flat course and my training has been going really well. I have a really good chance to PR the full. Now, that's not to say I will have blinders on and be laser focused on getting to the finish. I'll have my camera with me both days, just in case that can't miss shot comes up.

 

[John VN]

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.

The Balloon Ladies MAKE SURE you are in front of them, at least they did for the Half and Full last year.

Please explain the McFlurry? I know its McDonalds but is that just a thought that goes through your head to get you through the full or do you REALLY stop at McDonalds to get a McFlurry? Hmmm.

Yes, I am detouring off the course at mile 15 and going to McDonald's for the McFlurry. I did it for the ToT 10 Mile race and will continue to make the detour in any future race.

 

[WVUFan]

This is my third Goofy. The first year I was injured and stopped at all the characters for the half and ran the full. Last year I tried to PR the half, but the course was crowded, so I ran at slightly faster than marathon pace and stopped at all te characters and rode Expedition Everest during the full (which I will miss this year!) There were some characters during the half that were not out when I went through during the full, so this year I'll be stopping at all the characters during both. During actually running, I'll be running about marathon pace for both. My goal is to stay injury free and have a fast recovery since I have another marathon two weeks later.

 

[FFigawi]

Must remember to have at the ready for this Goofy challenge:

advil.
salt.
oreo cookies (I need a total sugar high, esp for the full)
water for the full
hat from sun?
some kind of electrolyte pill the I read people take for this
a gel to rub on sore muscles if they get sore.
sunglasses!!!!!!!
mp3's.
what else?
oh yeah, money - 20 dollars laced within my shoe.

Just be sure not to take the Advil before you run. It's not a good idea to take NSAIDs before endurance runs because there's a higher risk of kidney failure.

 

[goofeygirl]

Just be sure not to take the Advil before you run. It's not a good idea to take NSAIDs before endurance runs because there's a higher risk of kidney failure.

Thanks..didn't know that.

I have never actually taken anything like that before a race but its more of a comfort for me...knowing I have it....

Though once I had a terrible headache in the days leading up to a half...I was downing all sorts of pills to make it go away. It actually went away the day of the half...but I couldn't run...nor jog...just walk...the whole half...I would start to do a light jog and would be out of breath...It was from the meds I had taken...they took a toll on me. Lucky it was a half with drop dead gorgeous scenery! So it was the best half to walk.

 

[SAHDad]

The Balloon Ladies MAKE SURE you are in front of them, at least they did for the Half and Full last year.

Having never seen the balloon ladies, I have to ask - are they Disney employees, or working for the race in some capacity? Because otherwise, I could see some sort of standoff, right at the start line:

"Yo go first."
"Oh no. Ladies first. You go first. I insist."
"No. We're the Balloon Ladies. You have to go first."
(etc)

Of course, that would just add to the buffer of time.

 

[liznboys]

... "No. We're the Balloon Ladies. You have to go first." ...

 

[John VN]

Having never seen the balloon ladies, I have to ask - are they Disney employees, or working for the race in some capacity? Because otherwise, I could see some sort of standoff, right at the start line:

"Yo go first."
"Oh no. Ladies first. You go first. I insist."
"No. We're the Balloon Ladies. You have to go first."
(etc)

Of course, that would just add to the buffer of time.

Didn't ask if they were CM or Race Officials but they were politely insisting that they were to be the last to start. I did start a few feet in front of them and was looking forward so I did not crash into another racer. Guess if someone wanted to make sure they were behind the Ladies an actual Race Official might just DQ the person by making a note of their number.

But every race is another start and things could be different this year.

 

[SAHDad]

Didn't ask if they were CM or Race Officials but they were politely insisting that they were to be the last to start. I did start a few feet in front of them and was looking forward so I did not crash into another racer. Guess if someone wanted to make sure they were behind the Ladies an actual Race Official might just DQ the person by making a note of their number.

But every race is another start and things could be different this year.

I'm not planning on doing it, but I am curious as to how a race official would DQ someone for having the temerity to start behind the balloon ladies. FWIW, I don't recall seeing anything officially stating that the balloon ladies had to be last.*

FWIW, I have been the last person to start a race before. Got stuck in line at a porta, behind people who were in the race that started after mine. By the time I convinced them to let me cut in line, and make my way to the start, I was a good 3-4 minutes behind the second-to-last group.


* I suspect that they are last primarily by long-standing tradition, in the same way that Helen Thomas always got to ask the first question.

 

[cewait]

Thanks..didn't know that.

I have never actually taken anything like that before a race but its more of a comfort for me...knowing I have it....

Though once I had a terrible headache in the days leading up to a half...I was downing all sorts of pills to make it go away. It actually went away the day of the half...but I couldn't run...nor jog...just walk...the whole half...I would start to do a light jog and would be out of breath...It was from the meds I had taken...they took a toll on me. Lucky it was a half with drop dead gorgeous scenery! So it was the best half to walk.

You might want to read the race program. It has one of the better discussions on when NSAIDs would be acceptable. Generally for the Goofy, not after Friday and then on Sunday not until your renal system kicks back in...

Tylenol is an acceptable form of anti-inflammatory and is handed up during the race

 

[John VN]

I'm not planning on doing it, but I am curious as to how a race official would DQ someone for having the temerity to start behind the balloon ladies. FWIW, I don't recall seeing anything officially stating that the balloon ladies had to be last.*

FWIW, I have been the last person to start a race before. Got stuck in line at a porta, behind people who were in the race that started after mine. By the time I convinced them to let me cut in line, and make my way to the start, I was a good 3-4 minutes behind the second-to-last group.


* I suspect that they are last primarily by long-standing tradition, in the same way that Helen Thomas always got to ask the first question.

As far as DQing, that was just a thought about what they could do if they take the Balloon Ladies last over start real serious. The other method could be to shut down the starting mat.

 

[SAHDad]

As far as DQing, that was just a thought about what they could do if they take the Balloon Ladies last over start real serious. The other method could be to shut down the starting mat.

Oh, I'm not saying that they could not do it, just that it seemed like a really bizarre step to take, especially if the balloon ladies do not operate in any official capacity.

 

[JeffW]

First time for Goofy, although I've run half and full marathons before.

My plan is to run the half with my wife (about 1 min/mile slower than my training pace), run the first half of the full at training pace, and see what I have left for the last 13.1. I was hoping for some benefit coming to sea level from Colorado, but its starting to look like temperature will nullify any of that.

I'm also a sucker for Donald/Goofy/Pluto, so any photo ops will trigger a "rest" period.

 

[VernRDH]

Plan for Goofy-for the half, there are a group of us (I think 6-7) that will run roughly the same pace. My FIL is running and I have been instructed by DH that if I have to fall down or fake menstrual cramps, I am to let him beat me. (long story) My running coach and I are looking at about a 2:30-2:45 finish.

For the full, we have a *little* time constraint. We are driving to Port Canaveral IMMEDIATELY following the marathon to board Freedom of the Seas for a week. So running coach and I are looking at a 5 hour marathon. I want to have FUN at both races, time is not as important to me this time. And since this is my last full, I want to enjoy it as much as one can.

 

[Reep]

I was hoping for some benefit coming to sea level from Colorado, but its starting to look like temperature will nullify any of that. .

I don't think the temps will nullify that. Your legs may get tired, but your lungs will be great. I did that from Reno one time and it was fantastic.

 

[John VN]

I don't think the temps will nullify that. Your legs may get tired, but your lungs will be great. I did that from Reno one time and it was fantastic.

Funny you mentioned that. Everytime I go to El Paso to watch my grand-children, I go from 12 feet above sea level to 4,200-5,280 feet above and I have better times and feel great.

 

[JeffW]

I don't think the temps will nullify that. Your legs may get tired, but your lungs will be great. I did that from Reno one time and it was fantastic.

I am definitely a cold weather runner (long sleeve shirt and shorts for a 30 degree run today), so I'll cross my fingers for the best. I tried a few short runs on the dreadmill last week just to try 60's again. Just need to stay up on the hydration and the salt!

 

[Freight Train]

First time Goofy, looking for guidance from vets.

I know that the sweepers operate on 16:00/mile measured from the point at which the last person stops. In other words, if you start the race 2 minutes before the last person, you are allowed 16:00/mile plus the two minute buffer without getting swept (in theory).

However, I was looknig at the Goofy race instructions, and it says that the Goofy medal will be awarded once they verify you have completed both races within the "allotted times". What that says to me is they will consider your net time (in other words, a strict 16:00/mile), not 16:00/mile plus the buffer.

I conclude from reading this that you can actually finish both races, collect your medals, and still not be Goofy-eligible if, say in the above scenario, you finish the half in 3:31.

Have I got this right? I'm not trying to skirt any rule in any way. The only reason I want to get this right is that my thought had been to try to start near the front of my (admittedly last) corral to try to take advantage of even a small buffer. If my take on this is right, it really makes no difference where I start in the corral because the buffer ultimately does me little good.

Sorry to be uber-technical on this, but I'm working with a small margin for error and I want to make sure my (limited) strategic decisions are sound. In English, I'm trying to figure out how many photo stops I can get away with given my 14:30 pace. Thanks.