Combining the marathon with park visits

[Tiggeroo]

DH and I are training to do the marathon next year. Our kids will be going with us. It's a bit of a trip and so we want to get some vacay in too. If you did this how did it work. Were you up for doing the parks and stuff after the marathon. I would think that doing them before would leave me tired out. We want to go for a week. One day for the race and then???

 

[welovedis]

Well, I have posted that we are probably the anomaly but we arrived Thurs, went to the expo on Fri, DH did the 5K on Sat,then I did the 1/2 on Sun (this was in 2004). I was sore the next day but we toured the parks for the week following. The worst part was bending my legs, they just didn't want to work properly, lol!

We are planning on doing the same in 2006, with the exception of Sat, when DH & I will both be doing the 1/2 and then walking the 5K with our DS who wants to finish it.

I think it depends on your training schedule before and how well you stick to it, plus your overall health. If you train and plan ahead you probably would be fine, but there is no guarantee either way.

The reasons we aren't going the week before the race:
Don't want to get sick for the race, we seem to always pick up *somthing* during our trips. Although we could just as easily get sick at home, we just don't want to do it that way. Plus there is a bit less crowds the farther you get from the NYE holiday.

Just my .02!

 

[MelanieC]

I arrived on Friday and did the Expo and dinner that night. Saturday we went to MK till about 3:45pm and took the boat over to Fort Wilderness and had dinner at the Trails End. Sunday after the 1/2 marathon I went back to the room and took a shower and headed over to EPCOT to have lunch (walking up the huge staircase in JAPAN!) and walked around WS about 4-5 times back and forth. Went back to my room and took a 45 minute nap (BIG MISTAKE) before going to dinner. The nap got me tired, stiff and I got the chills from sleeping on top of the covers with the A/C on. Monday we went to MK, I went to AK for a few minutes to pick up something, back to the hotel and then to MGM for the evening. Tuesday morning we had breakfast at the Boardwalk and spent the day until about 3:30pm in EPCOT.

Would I do it differently?? I might rest more on Saturday. But yet I like the parks so I'm not sure. I was sore on Monday, but it felt better to be out moving around. I guess it depends on how sore you end up, whether your feet have blisters, etc. It probably depends on how well you trained for the event too. Every person is different.

 

[wiskband]

WELL...........if you've read any of my marathon posts lol.
You'll notice, I was hurting after the marathon.I couldn't imagine hopping afterward. Howver, there are many people who did this and were fine with it! Actually someone mentioned that perhaps all the moving around after helped them NOT be so sore. That make sense. I got right int he car after the race and headed home so I was cramped up for hours. I am still going with the expected pain theory however next year, but I will stay an extra day in relax!


good luck.
renee

 

[tw1nsmom]

I did the half this year. We arrived on friday and I made it a point to take it easy on friday and saturday. Met some great people for dinner and spent a lot of time hanging out by the pool. On the day of the marathon I spent more time at the pool resting and then went out for dinner. I was so tired at dinner that I started to fall asleep with my head in my hand before dessert. I fell sound asleep at 8pm and slept until 6:30 the next morning.

We did park hop monday through friday. I was definitely experiencing the marathon waddle for the first couple of days and stairs were a comical and painful experience. I lasted until about 2pm on monday, but quickly began to recover over the next day or so. I think what saved me was that DH's back was acting up and our twin 4 year olds wanted to walk, so we took it real slow and stopped to rest and see all the little things. It turned out to be our best trip ever.

Dawn

 

[NCRedding]

I arrived on Friday, signed up at the expo, and got settled into the room. On Saturday, I got up early and did some park hopping, but took it fairly easy, went to dinner at Trails End, and was in bed by about 9 or 9:30.

After the half marathon, I had planned on doing some heavy park hopping--that just didn't happen. I also had the "waddle", because the bottom of my feet were sore--no blisters though. On Tueday, I did the Keys to the Kingdom tour which is a TON of walking and standing. If I were to do it again, I would probably go earlier, do the parks, and take the day before as a leisure day.

 

[littlegreydonkey]

I think it really does depend how much exercise you're used to doing - but don't underestimate how much sleep will help. I did the half the year before, did the expo and an afternoon at Magic Kingdom on Friday, Saturday I ran the 5k, then did half a day in animal kingdom, raced sunday, went to bed for a couple of hours went to disney quest for a few hours, then started officially park hopping the next day with a full day at epcot. But every night I was in bed by 9pm and except race day got 10 hours sleep each night. I was fine - but I also run a lot so my legs are used to moving when they don't want to. This year I'm doing the full so, it might be a different story, but here's hoping.

 

[wiskband]

I agree with grey, it does depend on your body and how much you noramlly exercise which is why I saw so sore!

however, what twins said sounds nice.
turned out a nice peaceful trip!
I love those kind of WDW trips. Being that we go every year, we have "DONE" it all. RIght? NOT! so much to see there.
We usually end up meeting family or friends there pretty much every year and that means we become tour guides.
This year, we brought freinds who had never beent here before and had obne day to do two parks. So I was pooped.

I have had a few vacations were no one was there just us, and it was so relaxing! we got to just hang around and like twins said see the little things that we never stop to see.

Our best memories so far are things such as renting a boat @ fort wilderness and riding the pony there.

I must say twin, great observation and you turned a could have been painful trip into one of the best vacations!


renee


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[Tiger Lily 03]

We arrived on Friday, did WISH get togethers then race Sunday and parks the remainder of the week. I think if I had it to do again, I would do the same. I would have been WAY to nervous/excited to go to parks first. I was much more relaxed, albeit a bit sore because I had to let go of some of my training at the end. I would have been way too stressed to enjoy anything before. It was my first experience with the half and the greatest distance I have ever traveled on foot at one trek. Perhaps if I were a seasoned participant I would also have felt better about going before race day. It did take a couple of days to recover and feel normal to enjoy the parks, but I wasn't too bad. I saw some folks really having a tough time walking around the next couple of days.

So, I guess the answer for you is, it depends.

 

[Tinks]

I agree with all the above!

Arrive on Thursday next year. Check in. Do the expo packet pick up. Sleep.

Take it easy on Friday. Pick one park, but only stay for a bit and don't run around trying to do everything. We rested for an hour or so and had a casual, restful dinner. Then we got our stuff ready, made sure we set our alarms, read and watched t.v. for an hour and went to sleep by 9:00.

After the race, we did some more parks on a slower pace. I think it really helped with recovery. I feel that I would have been more stiff and sore had I not been moving that day and the following days.

If my kids were little (which they are! 9, 6 and 2) I would not bring them. Sorry! I tried to bring mine the previous year and it was too much! If your kids are old enough to "get it" then have fun!

Good luck! It is a great weekend.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Thanks guys. My kids are older teens. They will largely be on our own. So dh and I can hobble around at a slow pace together afterwards. The kids may not even stay the full week. They might only be there for 2 days. I can't wait though.

 

[decaff38]

My experience was a little different. I also have older teens and that was good. I did not get much sleep for the 2 days before because of early flights and packing (prepareing to be gone from work). I flew in Sat. afternoon and registered at the Expo at 6:20pm. Got to bed at 10:00 ,up at 3:00. Thank goodness for the adrenaline!!! I ran/walked my 1/2 marathon. I went back to the timeshare and soaked in a cooool tub for 20 minutes and then a 2 hour nap. After I woke, I headed for the pool and lazyriver for about 3 hours. We ate at the timeshare and into bed about 10:00. I felt great the next morning. I could feel the muscles and a few aches but overall felt great. We did Magic Kingdom Mon., MGM and Epcot Tues., Animal Kingdom and Blizzard Beach on Wed., Islands of Adventure of Thurs. Fri was a down,pool day, Sat. was Universal and Sun we flew home. I saw many people with the marathon waddle as we toured. It was fun to see my fellow marathoners and be able to pick them out of the crowds.I would plan to arrive a full day before and relax and enjoy the resort /hotel and your family. Same thing after the race. Eat well the week before, tons of water and as much sleep as you can get!! Hope you have the greatest trip!!!

 

[decaff38]

great trip

 

[wiskband]

Tiger lily is right!
I was nervous days before, so much the day before saturday! Once I picked up my number, the vacation was over for me! lol. All day we hung out and my friends was just telling me today how quiet I was. I could not eat the night before, however, now that I have done it and know what its about, I wont be nervous.
hey eitherway, hopping before or after, its
DISNEY WORLD

how could you not have fun!

If I had planned my vacation where I was staying a few days after the race, I would have hopped no matter how much it hurt! But I do believe hopping after will help sooth you as well.

renee


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[CarolA]

Did anyone get a massage afterwards? I am thinking that maybe my reward will be a spa treatment at SSR.

 

[10nis]

Yep. I got a massage after the full marathon. I believe my appt time was 1pm, maybe 2pm? The therapist explained that they can't massage deep after such strenuous activity--the lactic acid has to "work" its way out, they just try to help "ease" it out. I guess if they massage deep it just makes matters worse?? I am glad that I had the massage, I do believe it helped! I think if I was to do it again I might get the last massage of the day? I had it done at The Boardwalk, but Disney contracts a company & they provide the therapists for all the resorts, including SSR and GF Spa. Boardwalk was booked solid after the marathon so make your app't as early as possible.(I don't recall when those app'ts open up, sorry)

We also park hopped AFTER the marathon and had a blast. We arrived late Friday, did the EXPO then. Saturday we went to EPCOT in the morning, Chef Mickeys for dinner and MK for WISHES and Spectromagic. I got a stomach virus after the marathon but everyone was else was up and moving Sunday evening at MGM. Monday morning we went to AK with no problem. If you train properly you should have no problem park hopping after the event. I do believe it helps to move around and get the lactic acid out of the muscles! Have fun!