A question for you Marathoners

[wtpclc]

Was this your vacation trip? It would be for me (too many factors to decide if it will happen, yet, but starting to think about it). I think I'd want ot arrive before the marathon, and continue my trip into the next week. WIll I be too exhausted to enjoy it if I've trained properly? Did any of you do this? I think if I arrived teh week before the marathon, I'd be too worried about getting rest and such to enjoy my vacation. Please let me know your experiences. TIA!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes&No--but I live fairly local. It was supposed to be a mini-vacation for us until illness changed that.

I think the going tip is to plan the vacation the week before your marathon. Your park hopping can be part of your taper that week. Don't do much the day before except walk a little around the resort.

The day after the marathon--relax, do a little walking to help (Schedule a massage ). My recovery took longer than expected--today is the first "normal" day for me, but I was recovering phsyically from the marathon AND the flu.

Or do what Karebear did and go on a cruise

 

[MelanieC]

Hi there,

This wasn't my vacation trip because we had gone down for two weeks in November/December and are going down again the last two weeks of June. I came by myself because of this. There were a lot of people who made this a vacation week.

I definately think a few days before the marathon is good. So you can do the expo and get accostomed to the weather and get over any jetlag. Afterwards will really depend on you. I did go to EPCOT and walk around all afternoon by myelf after the race. It was peaceful and it kept my muslces moving. I was sore the next day but not so sore it kept me from going to the parks. By Tuesday I was feeling great, just had a sore toe. Once I got home I have noticed I have been tired at night around 8pm. My muscles are completely back to normal and my toe pain is going away. I was nervous prior to the marathon and if I was with my family would probably prefered to spend most of my "vacation" time afterwards so that I was done. I came home Tuesday and was ready. I would have felt different if I had my family there. I was really missing them and ready to share my excitement with them.

Hopefully someone else can give you some insight what it was like to tour after the marathon with family.

 

[TammyNC]

This was a vacation time for us. We arrived Friday before the race on Sunday. We to the Expo on Friday and then dinner with friends that evening. On Saturday we went to AK for the day and then dinner with the WISHer's. I did go back to the room early and DH took the kids out until later on that evening. I was asleep when they came in and they didn't bother me (I had everything laid out for them for bed). I had a wake-up call the next morning for 2:30am and it didn't bother them. I had already laid everything of mine out for the morning so we didn't bother each other. We didn't have a problem being in the same room, thankfully. Sunday after the race, we moved to SSR and I rested while DH took the kids to Epcot, I met them at Boardwalk for dinner (still moving really slow).

I would definitely do things differently next time (although I might not have felt this way if I had trained). I would come the week or so before the race, then go to the Expo and take it easy the day to day and a half before the race. Monday was really tough for me in the parks with the family. I did stay in for part of the morning on Tuesday and that helped. I have soaked in the tub and pampered my feet, but I haven't been able to keep up with the family like normal.

Again, this is just how things were for me. I had not trained so it may be different if you train properly which is what I plan to do for next year.

 

[welovedis]

Hi Carrie-
I think I am the anomaly when it comes to this. Last year I did the 1/2 and while I prepared for it for most of the previous year (lost weight, kept on a great schedule, started following the 1/2 training plan), I got off track about 7 weeks before the marathon after the death of a family member.

When January rolled around, we were going no matter what, but I actually had not been to the gym in 7 weeks and hadn't walked more than around the block, and gained almost 10 pounds. We arrived on Thurs and I told my DH I would at least start the race, if I didn't finish then so be it. I finished with a time just under the offical end (3:29:26) after having had a nose bleed for at least 4 miles. I was sore but not to the point where I couldn't walk. I got a long massage later that day and that seemed to help plus I took a cold bath, as cold as I could stand it.

We toured the parks for another week and I have to say it wasn't that bad, sore on the Mon & Tues but was really fine after that. The only thing I would say is that my legs felt weird the next day, like I couldn't bend them the right way.

we are planning to follow the same schedule in 2006-arrive during the day on Thurs, pick up race packet on Thurs or Fri, then do the 1/2 & the Family Fun 5K on Sat and tour the parks until the following weekend. I feel that if we train properly then we'll be fine!

I hope this helps to answer your question.

 

[10nis]

I participated in the full marathon 2005. I really toyed with the planning of our trip --- to go early or stay later. In the end we decided to arrive on Friday evening before the marathon and stay into the next week to Park Hop. Our decision was based on crowd levels at Disney--I thought with the event the week-end after New Years the crowds might still be high the week before the Marathon.

We did EPCOT Saturday morning, Chef Mickeys Sat early dinner and Magic Kingdom Sat evening for Spectromagic and Wishes (hoping to get motivation for the run on Sunday!!) After the run, we got massages-hung out by the pool and then went to MGM Sunday evening. Unfortunately, I got a stomach virus Sunday evening that dampened my spirits for a good 24 hours. But, we had no problems hopping the parks in the days after the marathon. Sunday evening and Monday we were a little "slow" but still able to walk and I think walking around helps loosen up those muscles and get the soreness out! The crowds were very low by Monday so I was happy with our decision to stay the week after the race.
When you plan your trip for next year make sure to check and see when MLK holiday falls. This coming week end is sure to be crowed at Disney with MLK day on Monday.
I know this has been said, but if you train properly you will be prepared. To be honest, I felt alot worse after some of my training runs than I did after the marathon!

 

[wtpclc]

Thanks everyone! That's exactly what I was looking for!

 

[wiskband]

that was exactly my biggest concerned last year this time.
It was vacation tme for us too. We drove fomr NY so we had to take advantage of this time there.
I arrived 2 days before the marathon and park hopped........
I tried my hardest to forget about the marathon so that I could have a good time, it was kinda hard when I saw people jogging while I saw getting a bus to go have fun! lol.
I was pretty much able to have fun and them got down to business or shall I say, it really hit me when I went to go pick up my packet at WWoS. I did that saturday morning and then had to go have fun with family and friends. ut that day, I was mostly thinking about the marathon.
Later that night I went to trails end, couldn.y stay long or even eat cause I had dinner plans with my fam and friends.
But most importantly, FOR ME!!!! now I know I couldnt park hop the days after the marathon! Please know that many folks may disagree with me so remember I can only speak for myself. I was not in any shape to hop after sunday. so I was glad it was time to go
however, the dumbest thing I did was not stay an extra night. As soon as I got back for the race, I had to take a shower and hit the road!
SO I would say, park hop look forward to the marathn in a positive way and stay at least one extra day to rest up for the trip home.

Next year, i will hop all week and then run saturday stay till sunday, perhpas let my hubby take the kids the rest of the day saturday and then leave sunday!

Just my 2 cents.........
renee

 

[wtpclc]

Wiskband - I can't believe you could move during the trip home. Run a marathon and then sit in a car. Yikes!!!

 

[wiskband]

Wiskband - I can't believe you could move during the trip home. Run a marathon and then sit in a car. Yikes!!!

I know tell me about it. that was dumb.........
thing is we had to drive home and wanted to get home by monday so I figured we'll hit the road and stop up in the carolinas.........glad next years is on saturday I can leave sunday and be home by monday.

My secret was to let hubby drive and most importantly, NOT MOVE!

I let my hubby do everything the whole trip home, change diapers, gas up and even do the laundry at the hotel in N carolina!

renee

 

[Baileymouse]

This was a family vacation for us. Arrived Thursday, checked in and took it easy. Swam some.

Friday - Animal Kingdom and later Epcot for dinner.
Saturday - Kids races in Epcot, left mid-day to swim, back to Epcot for dinner
Sunday - Race day. Came back, slept for 40 minutes, relaxed outside, then off to Epcot for dinner once again.
Monday - MK (never saw such crowds in my life for off-season). 'Ohana for dinner.
Tuesday - Check out, go to DD, then a tour of SSR before heading to the airport.

My in-laws had a fabulous time with us and are thinking of going post-holiday every year now.

 

[MelanieC]

One thing to note. Saturday was average at MK (less busy in the morning). Sunday & Tuesday were a ghost town at EPCOT and Monday at MGM was like having the park to ourselves. Starting on Sunday the parks seemed so empty. Walking around EPCOT after the race was so peaceful and quiet. I could hear the birds and you didn't have to fight to get around people. It was really nice.

 

[HookdonWDW]

We took our ds (10) with us, so it was a mini-vacation.

Friday - we drove to Ocala and spent the night at the Hilton

Saturday - We woke up, checked into OKW, went to WOS to pick up my race packet, and then spent a quiet afternoon hanging around DTD. We even went to see Neverland at AMC.

Sunday - Did the 1/2 Marathon, and then returned to the room. Cleaned up and napped for about an hour. Went to MGM, and did just about everything we wanted... the park was pretty empty. Went over to Epcot, rode a few rides, and had a celebration dinner at Le Cellier. When I got back to the room, I was sore, so I went to the hot tub, ds went swimming, and dh hung out w/ both of us . I actually felt like all of the walking helped limit the soreness - my muscles didn't have as long to tighten up.

Monday - Slept in, and then went to MK. It was a madhouse, but we had a good time.

Tuesday - headed home.

By Tuesday, I was over the major aches and pains... just twinges here and there. As of now, we're planning on doing it the same way next year... marathon and then fun in the parks. JMHO-YMMV.

 

[wiskband]

You all must be athlets to walk those parks ! lol......
I really think that perhaps my sneakers were not comfy enough!.
But hey! perhaps the good thing about hopping after is the parks are empty? Seems to be that way..........perhaps Ill rethink my stay next year.

renee