Disney half Marathon

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Hey all,

Just checking in with everyone and wondering if there are any other DVCers, who are going to be participating in the Half Marathon this year.

A friend talked me into to it and then backed out, I have never ran a race before so this will be my first (maybe last) and I figured it might as well be at Disney.

If anyone has any advise or tips, I would really appreciate it!!

Thanks in advance,

Tom

 

[gortman65]

Tom,

My wife and I are going to be walking the half marathon. I am far from an expert but here are a couple of things I can throw your way:

1) We entered a couple of local fitness events this fall to get some experience with walking/running in a crowd. That is a suggestion you will see in many books/websites devoted to races.
2) If you don't have a training plan yet, you might want to check out a reference like John Bingham's Marathoning for Mortals. Lots of good advice and some very specific training plans in his book.
3) You can get a lot of good advice from marathon and half-marathon veterans on the W.I.S.H. board here on the DIS.
4) http://www.disneyrunning.com is another resource you might want to check out.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Thanks for the help, while you were replying I went to the Disney Marathon website and just noticed that I am going to be in the last Coral unless I submit a time to them by the 15th of Novemeber.

I am planning on finishing in 2 hours (at least that is my goal), so I really don't want to be in the back. I know there are a lot of people who walk for Race for a Cure and other charities, and would feel aweful about trying to make my way thru in order to achieve a time, I want it to be enjoyable for them and me.

I am going to check and see if there are any local races that i could possibly do this weekend to get a time in. The only problem is, the most that I have ran in training so far is 8 miles, have done it in 1 hour and 10 minutes, but to try and run 13 already might be over the top.

I guess if this is the only problem that I have right now, that I really should be thankful instead of worrying.

Again, thanks for the information, I really do appreciate the help.

Tom

 

[blizzard]

I am going to check and see if there are any local races that i could possibly do this weekend to get a time in. The only problem is, the most that I have ran in training so far is 8 miles, have done it in 1 hour and 10 minutes, but to try and run 13 already might be over the top.

You can submit a time for any race 10K or over. If you want to be seeded around a 2:00 finish time, you should submit a 10K time of about 54:30. You should be able to find a 10K race, and if you are running around 8m now, that should fit in with your training.

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Blizzard,

Thanks for the insight, I just found a 10K that is this Sunday, but it is run on a high school cross country course. Must have to run it twice, I have not ran on anything but a treadmill and outside on sidewalks and streets, but I really want to move up from the last coral.

It is not what I wanted, I really wanted to experience my first race at Disney, but I can't have it both ways.

Thanks Again,

Tom

 

[blizzard]

You do have a couple of options without running a race in the next 11 days:

1) Sign up for a 2:45 time - then you don't have to submit proof, and you will be ahead of anyone who put in a time between 2:45 and 3:30.

2) In the past, you have been able to be moved up at the Expo. Bring your proof of time with you, and they will put a sticker on your bib to indicate the new corral. It is expected that they will do this again this year, but not guaranteed.

Hope that helps

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Carol,

Thanks again, I am going to run this Sunday, just signed up online. I also just took a look at your blog, and congrats on all of your accomplishments, it is great.

I have never really been a runner in my whole life, but i lost over 30 pounds last year just by running and watching what I ate. That is when, I decided to run the half along with 4 ladies from the small town in which we live, I noticed that you are planning on running the full next year. If all goes well with the half I might be joining you.

Good Luck in all you do and keep blogging,

Tom

 

[Deb & Bill]

Good luck, Tom. My husband has run the full marathon at least three times, the half twice (once was the inaugural Goofy Challenge - half on Sat, full on Sun). You'll have 3.5 hours to complete, but two hours should be great. Be prepared for just about any kind of weather. Some of our trips for the marathon have been hot (in the 70-80s) during race time, others were cool (in the 50's) once it was cold (near 40 at the start).

He won't be there this year - he's running the Tulsa marathon in two weeks instead.

Make sure you get to the Expo and check out all the booths. You'll want to buy one of the framed finishers's placques with your time, your photo (you'll need to buy one of those too) and the date. We've got several up on our walls.

 

[lenshanem]

DH and I will be running the half. Go over to this board's WISH forum. Check out the sub-forum Competition. There is a HUGE group of DISers running that weekend. There is quite a community over there.