According to my running log the races are 6 1/2 weeks away. From reading the posts it appears lots of us are fatigued and fighting our training. I know I am some days (like today, pittsville). Please don't get too discouraged because the work is nearly over and the fun is nearly here.
There is no greater feeling in the world than crossing the finish line, looking at your own time, and saying to yourself "I never imagined I had that inside me." Matt was able to say that at the end of his totally excellent (dude) half last weekend, and many of you will do the same on January 6 or 7.
Here is some unsolicited and free advice. Remember, however, that free advice is worth what you pay for it.
1. Keep to your training, but if one day you feel completely beat down by the world and your workouts, take the day off. This doesn't mean you can take 5 days in a row off, but if you just don't have it that day your body is telling you it needs rest. Listen to your body. For many of us our schedule has become a taskmaster instead of a guide to success. This happens to everyone, and playing hooky will make your body and mind feel better. Being irresponsible is always a good thing (within limits).
2. Don't worry if your long runs don't reach the race distance. During training you start every workout with a tired body and mind. Many people have very successful halfs with long runs of 10-11 and successful fulls with long runs of 16-18. Yes your body and mind will complain when you stretch the distance on race day, but don't listen to them. Keep moving and you'll make the finish.
3. Make sure you are rested and fresh on race day. That means taper off your training. You cannot improve your fitness or preparation during the last 2 weeks before the races, but you sure can mess things up big time. Everyone has a different style of this, but you want to be mentally and physically fresh at 6 a.m. on the 6th or 7th. This is what allows you to go longer than your long training runs. You have fresh legs on race day and mentally you are all revved up. This allows the course to flow underneath your feet.
4. Nothing new on race day. That means food, drink, clothing, and shoes. In your training be sure to replicate race day conditions to the extent you can. This trains your body and mind for the day.
5. Be careful during the first 2 to 3 miles. The dangers here are (1) getting tripped or trampled in the mob and (2) going out like a lunatic and blowing up all over the course. You will cover a lot of miles and minutes so let it unfold easily. Being 30 second slower than plan is far superior in miles 1, 2, and 3 than being 30 seconds faster. You can always make up time later if you feel strong. If you instead blow apart your legs they will not come back for days. Too fast early is like borrowing money at 100% interest rates. When your body has had enough and asks for repayment you'll be hurting big time.
6. Run with people, which isn't a problem at Disney. Be sure not to try to stay with a group that is pushing you too hard, and don't stay with a group that isn't carrying a fast enough pace. After a few miles you'll feel you are with a comfortable group and hang with these people. It's so much easier to run with a pack of similarly paced people.
7. Have fun. Enjoy the corrals. The anticipation and excitement is so cool. Enjoy the start, but be careful. Enjoy the course. Notice the sunrise and the SE sky turning pink. Watch for the fog in the low lying areas of the grounds. Acknowledge the spectators and the nice folks who hand you water, powerade, and goo. Chat with fellow runners when you feel like it. Congratulate yourself when you reach milestones on the course. Let the landmarks on the course pull you to the next mile. Read the mile markers.
8. And when you finish congratulate yourself. You did the work to get the result. The miles aren't given to you, they have to be earned. In the words of Tom Hanks, "if it was easy everyone would do it." This isn't easy, and everyone doesn't do it. But you did.
Good luck to everyone. Right now I feel like I've spent the day in our clothes dryer, but I know on January 7 I'll be standing in the cool pre-dawn, full of juice and ready to go.
Craig
There is no greater feeling in the world than crossing the finish line, looking at your own time, and saying to yourself "I never imagined I had that inside me." Matt was able to say that at the end of his totally excellent (dude) half last weekend, and many of you will do the same on January 6 or 7.
Here is some unsolicited and free advice. Remember, however, that free advice is worth what you pay for it.
1. Keep to your training, but if one day you feel completely beat down by the world and your workouts, take the day off. This doesn't mean you can take 5 days in a row off, but if you just don't have it that day your body is telling you it needs rest. Listen to your body. For many of us our schedule has become a taskmaster instead of a guide to success. This happens to everyone, and playing hooky will make your body and mind feel better. Being irresponsible is always a good thing (within limits).
2. Don't worry if your long runs don't reach the race distance. During training you start every workout with a tired body and mind. Many people have very successful halfs with long runs of 10-11 and successful fulls with long runs of 16-18. Yes your body and mind will complain when you stretch the distance on race day, but don't listen to them. Keep moving and you'll make the finish.
3. Make sure you are rested and fresh on race day. That means taper off your training. You cannot improve your fitness or preparation during the last 2 weeks before the races, but you sure can mess things up big time. Everyone has a different style of this, but you want to be mentally and physically fresh at 6 a.m. on the 6th or 7th. This is what allows you to go longer than your long training runs. You have fresh legs on race day and mentally you are all revved up. This allows the course to flow underneath your feet.
4. Nothing new on race day. That means food, drink, clothing, and shoes. In your training be sure to replicate race day conditions to the extent you can. This trains your body and mind for the day.
5. Be careful during the first 2 to 3 miles. The dangers here are (1) getting tripped or trampled in the mob and (2) going out like a lunatic and blowing up all over the course. You will cover a lot of miles and minutes so let it unfold easily. Being 30 second slower than plan is far superior in miles 1, 2, and 3 than being 30 seconds faster. You can always make up time later if you feel strong. If you instead blow apart your legs they will not come back for days. Too fast early is like borrowing money at 100% interest rates. When your body has had enough and asks for repayment you'll be hurting big time.
6. Run with people, which isn't a problem at Disney. Be sure not to try to stay with a group that is pushing you too hard, and don't stay with a group that isn't carrying a fast enough pace. After a few miles you'll feel you are with a comfortable group and hang with these people. It's so much easier to run with a pack of similarly paced people.
7. Have fun. Enjoy the corrals. The anticipation and excitement is so cool. Enjoy the start, but be careful. Enjoy the course. Notice the sunrise and the SE sky turning pink. Watch for the fog in the low lying areas of the grounds. Acknowledge the spectators and the nice folks who hand you water, powerade, and goo. Chat with fellow runners when you feel like it. Congratulate yourself when you reach milestones on the course. Let the landmarks on the course pull you to the next mile. Read the mile markers.
8. And when you finish congratulate yourself. You did the work to get the result. The miles aren't given to you, they have to be earned. In the words of Tom Hanks, "if it was easy everyone would do it." This isn't easy, and everyone doesn't do it. But you did.
Good luck to everyone. Right now I feel like I've spent the day in our clothes dryer, but I know on January 7 I'll be standing in the cool pre-dawn, full of juice and ready to go.
Craig
Thanks for the motivational post today. I always appreciate your words of wisdom. Whenever my inspiration wanes, I try to focus on those Disney Marathon landmarks that I treasure. I am probably the only freak who cries religiously to "Who Let The Dogs Out" because one of the Orlando running clubs was out on the course playing it during my first WDW Marathon. World Showcase lit up pre-dawn is very emotional for me and 
I know I'm getting excited!
