Experienced Disney marathoners

[chersheyb]

Please tell me if the Disney Full Marathon was your first Marathon experience, your fitness level going into training and how did you train specifically for lets say 15 minute miles.

I really want to participate, i have been running about 16-18 miles per week, for the last 2 months I feel that the marathon would be an ultimate goal.

I looked at some pictures from last years event and noticed there was time to take pictures and several background participants were walking.. so did anyone experience the "sweep". Please help me decide I want to register today since I missed the cutoff for the half.

chersheyb

 

[Minnie]

Check out the following thread. There is a bunch of us training for the 1/2 and full marathon. Everyone there is wonderful and have answered tons of questions for all of us newbies.

"Week of Aug 28th 1/2 Marathon/Marathon Training Info"

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=898228

 

[disnutt]

chersheyb-

The 1998 Disney Marathon was my 1st marathon. I started training on June 21, 1997 with Team in Training. I hadn't exercised prior to that since having my daughter in January 1996. I was a little out of shape to say the least!

I followed the TNT plan mixed with a plan by Jeff Galloway (check out his website) where I incorporated walking breaks with running. Back then I started out with 9 min running 1 minute walking. I can't remember my exact finish time but it was like 5 hr 20 min. I thought that was pretty good for just over 6 months of training. I did one long run per week (raising my mileage 1 mile/week) and 2-3 short runs of about 30 min each the rest of the week.

There was plenty of time to stop during the marathon for pictures. Lots of people walk it.

Last year I participated in the half with a friend who is overweight and had never done anything athletic. She lives in another state and had been telling me that she was training for the event but apparently she did not. I walked with her to help her out but we were swept just at the 10 mile mark. It was quite an experience. She was devastated. She later admitted that she had only walked about 6 miles prior to coming. I was OK with it then because I had only signed on to help her achieve her goal.

This year I'm doing the Goofy challenge. My friend is REALLY training for the half. I won't stay at her pace this year because I'm going for my own goal.

The Disney Marathon is great for a beginner. Like Minnie said check out our marathon thread.

 

[princessmomma]

I really want to participate, i have been running about 16-18 miles per week, for the last 2 months. chersheyb

chersheyb,

I think you could definitely do it since you already have 16-18 miles per week under your belt.

I am week 3 of my plan and we have 3 - 40 minute runs and 2 cross training during the week and our long run on the weekend is only about 5 or 6 miles. Find a plan you like and see how well you can fit it in.

Good Luck.

 

[10nis]

Gosh, you are already in great shape-running 16-18 miles per week! Last year Disney was my first marathon. I had never run more than a 10K in my life. I used the Hal Higdon training guide and really, really liked it. You can find it on halhigdon.com. There are so many training guides out there, search and find one that might suit your taste. I met several people doing the 9 min run, 1 min walk technique -- last year at the marathon. That seems to work for alot of people. I do think a formal training schedule is the best way to go to prevent injury and to be adequately prepared for race day.

We recently decided to run Disney again in 2006. My husband is also running the full this year, last year he completed the half marathon after having back surgery in September of 2004

The best thing I did for the marathon was run in an 18 mile race to prepare--it is a little early -- mid-November, but still is great prep for the marathon. I highly recommend finding a long run to participate in before the marathon -- at the minimum a half marathon.

good luck, sign up quickly if you haven't already--it is filling up quickly.