After the Half Marathon

[disney_mommy]

For all of you experienced marathoners: what do you do after the half, or marathon? I'm trying to start planning my meals and which park to do on which days (and yes, I know it's insanely early to start planning, but it's my sickness, and I've accepted that about myself!).

So my real question here is, should I plan to go to a park after the half, or will I be exhausted? I was thinking maybe that could be my DTD day, and maybe I could get a massage at SSR... But maybe walking around a park is the best thing I could do for my recovery?

Any thoughts?

 

[ironz]

my traditional post-race is to go to Epcot and have a margarita and relax.

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

Hey Disney-Mommy!

I too have a planning sickness! It drives everyone I know insane! and it gets worse when i am nervous or excited so for Disney events its pretty bad

So I have done 2 Disney races so far (I have 4 planned for this year though ) So the first was the Minnie marathon 15k and I went straight home afterwards (I live an hour from WDW) and spent the day on the couch exhausted, then couldnt move for a good few days

Then I did the Princess 1/2 marathon and spent the day ambling around Disney (more like limping!) We took it slowly and hit a couple of rides then went for a late lunch and headed home for a nice bath, I woke up the next day slightly stiff but moveable!!

So in my opinion I would go around the parks, keep those legs moving slowly and eat whatever your body tells you it wants (and hydrate well!) I know I am not experienced but this has worked best for me. (and is what I will be doing for all my races this year, including Goofy )

Good luck and hope you have a good time in Jan

Kirsty

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I agree with Kirsty that it's best to just keep moving after the race, but not really expect to get a lot done. Oh, and eat whatever it is you want.

After the half in January, we went back to WL and showered, and then planned to head to the MK to find food.... but we ended up falling asleep for an hour and it was a totally unplanned mistake. After waking up around 11:00, we went to MK and immediately beelined straight to Pecos Bills for bacon double cheeseburgers. I'd never had a bacon double anything in my 25 years in this planet, but it seemed like a good idea at the time and it was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten.

We were stiff, but things got better after walking around the park for awhile. I think MK was a good choice because everything is relatively close together so you can walk in short spurts and then rest.

This year I'm doing the Goofy and plan to do a similar thing on Saturday, but leave the park early to rest. And then Sunday I'm planning on hitting Epcot for the previously-mentioned post-marathon margarita.

 

[GirTheGecko]

I had a celebratory twinkie at the Dolphin, a cafeteria style place for the 08 race. I can't think of the name. After focusing all my energy training and dieting for this race, it was a sweet, sweet bite of victory. Along with the Jack n cokes when we got back to the room. We ate there again this year, but no twinkie and no medal for me.

 

[dizneyfan23]

I go back into Epcot and show off my "bling"

 

[SAHDad]

Well, what I do after the race is this:

As soon as practical after the race, I drink a Boost (or a chocolate milk). You want to start replacing carbs and protein, and chocolate milk works great at that. (The Boost is shelf stable, which means I can keep one in my drop bag).

Also, keep moving. You may want to stop and rest on the ground, but you will speed recovery and feel better by simply walking around, even if it is slowly. (If you have any blisters, get them treated before you do much walking, but you want to keep moving throughout the rest of the day.)

While you probably can eat whatever you want, you definitely want to drink. And while drinks are good, there are two things to remember - one, you'll probably need water, so make sure you drink enough of that (but not too much!), and two, after a long run, most people are lightweights, compared to their normal alcohol tolerance.

I also recommend changing clothes as soon as possible, and as much as possible. I have noticed that, if I can change my shirt, shorts and socks, I feel much better.

So, in a nutshell - walk at a moderate pace, try to replenish fluids, and take it easy. Enjoy the feeling of having run the race, and show off the bling.

 

[FireDancer]

I agree that it is best to keep moving. After my first half I made the mistake of laying down...bad move. I usually get done about 7:30 so I make a character breakfast reservation as late as I can. I go back and shower and if I have to, ice the feet. I haven't had to do that after a WDW race fortunately.

Then I spend the day enjoying the parks. The next time I am down will be for the full so I don't know if I will get any character meals in. It won't be the goofy though so maybe I'll work the WISH water stop and then do a breakfast.

 

[laughinplace199]

After the marathon last year (my first marathon ), we ate, drank, etc. and walked around a lot after the finish. Then we went back to the resort, took an ice bath, then showered. We were staying at the Contemporary, so we walked over to MK and spent a couple of hours there, then headed back to CR to get ready for dinner at Cal Grill.

The next day, we were up early and hit 3 parks before heading to the airport. I never thought I'd be able to be so active after the race, but it felt great!

Have fun planning.

 

[Duanerice]

Hi all,
after my first marathon (never ran a half until the Goofy) I did all the right stuff for the first few hours. I went back to the hotel, drank a recovery drink, in my case Slim Fast then took an ice bath. While I was in the bath my wife went to the food court to get us lunch. After lunch I took a short walk around the hotel grounds. So far so good.

Within the hour my wife got sick. Not saying it was food court related but it happened pretty quickly. We had plans to go down to Pleasure Island that night, remember that place, but had to scrap those. So, we pretty much sat in the room most of the day. Seriously, at the time I wasn't too upset. I was beat, it was rainy and it felt good just to lie around. Big mistake!

Next day I could barely walk. My advice, don't lay around all day

After the half this last year I did what most people said. Had a recovery drink, ate, then went out for awhile. No ice bath this time but I did ice my knee quite a bit. We didn't have park tickets so we went shopping. I took it easy because I knew I had the full the next day. No soreness the next day.

So, I'd say just grab a recovery drink, something to eat then you are a go. You don;t have to save yourself for the next day so there is no worry about overdoing it. You'll be more tired about getting up at 3 a.m. (after not sleeping well) than from the race probably.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[wdw4us]

I had a celebratory twinkie at the Dolphin, a cafeteria style place for the 08 race. I can't think of the name. After focusing all my energy training and dieting for this race, it was a sweet, sweet bite of victory. Along with the Jack n cokes when we got back to the room. We ate there again this year, but no twinkie and no medal for me.

you will have your Jack and Coke and your Twinkie and your medeal in 2011!

I guess it depends on how much training you do. I trained more in 2009 than 2008 and felt better in 2009. Not very sore and like others have said, it worked to keep moving.

We head back to the room, have some bagels, and orange juice, a shower and a nap then head out to the boardwalk to walk and sit. The day starts so early having to get to the bus WAY BEFORE dawn so by the time your done the race your ready for a nap. AT least we were.

Good luck!

denise

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

After my first Disney race, we went to Starbucks and then to AK and Epcot to ride rides and show off my bling. I definitely overdid it and was totally dead and sore by 5:00. It was a fun day, but I tried to do WAY too much.

I would plan some light Disney activities - plan to have fun, but take it slow and easy. A massage at SSR actually sounds perfect.

 

[jmasgat]

My post race strategy...back to the room, shower, dress, go to the appropriate park and find my race namesake character for a (free) photo. This year, I got Frontier Donald at MK.
Plus, it's always fun to have Cast Members Oooh and Aaah over your medal and tell you how great you must be!

Maura

 

[disney_mommy]

Thanks, everyone, for the great info. This will be my first race ever, so any tips are greatly appreciated.

I can see myself sitting down on the bed for a quick break and waking up 3 hours later, so I'll make a mental note to stay off the bed!

And I definitely wouldn't have thought to leave the medal on, so I'm glad that was mentioned.

Also, I love the thought of getting a picture with the character on the medal, so I'll try for that as well.

Thanks for the great advice, all!

 

[liznboys]

Thanks for this thread disney_mommy!! I'll be doing my first ever half in Jan too and this is great info. I was wondering what I should plan to do after the race.

 

[tmanaster]

Love this thread!

I am planning to do the full in January. It will be my 3rd marathon, my first Disney. I am so excited! I get teary watching the videos!

Good luck all with training!

 

[emh1129]

Great thread. The 1/2 in January will be my first ever race & I am so nervous!

 

[CampbellScot]

I was just wondering this exact same thing...what to do after the race! I will be running the Donald in January along with my husband. His thought was "we'll be so tired after the race, no need for park tickets that day...let's rest..." Clearly this would be a BAD plan. If we need the motivation of park tickets we paid for and do not want to waste to keep us moving after the race, then that is what we will have to do!

I'm so very excited about this race...I also get teary when I watch the videos of people running and finishing!

 

[SAHDad]

I was just wondering this exact same thing...what to do after the race! I will be running the Donald in January along with my husband. His thought was "we'll be so tired after the race, no need for park tickets that day...let's rest..." Clearly this would be a BAD plan. If we need the motivation of park tickets we paid for and do not want to waste to keep us moving after the race, then that is what we will have to do!

I'm so very excited about this race...I also get teary when I watch the videos of people running and finishing!

Well, you don't need park tickets. You could stroll downtown Disney, visit some of the other resorts, etc, but you definitely do not want to spend all day resting on a bed/in a chair/lounging by the pool. If seems counterintuitive, but really, walking around after you finish the race will actually make you feel much better - and it really pays off the next day.

 

[Joanna71985]

Great thread. The 1/2 in January will be my first ever race & I am so nervous!

Me too! I really hope I do well.