Gear for first timer 1/2 marathon

[guardwife66]

Ok. I am training and getting in shape to the do the WDW 1/2 marathon. And I have read several threads that have talked about how much fuel and water.

But I want to know what is recommended for first timers? What are some of the things I should be looking at for this race. I am a 46 year old woman, did I say that out loud, who has not run in several years. No major health issues (knock on wood). Compression sleeves, legs, socks? Hydration belt (size)? Anything else?

What about glasses/sunglasses? I am near sighted so I would need my glasses to see any signage before I was sitting on it. But I also need sunglasses if the sun is out or here come the headaches. But won't it be too dark to have my prescription sunglasses on first thing?

Thanks. I am eagerly awaiting any and all suggestions and advise.

 

[stargazertechie]

I guess the big question is what is your goal pace? That will affect what I suggest.

At a minimum I'd suggest getting a spibelt to put your stuff in, possibly take some sort of energy gel/shot blocks if you need them for the distance.

Could you just get a pair of clip-on sunglasses to go over your glasses. It WILL be too dark to need them at the start, but probably around 7:00 AM you'll be glad you have them.

Bring a tyvek painter's suit (from your local home improvement store). They hold heat just as well as sweats, they're less bulky, and you can just rip them off after you get moving. It can be BITTERLY cold.

 

[Reep]

I think simple is best:

Sunglasses: the first 1.5 hours of the half is in the dark. I would probably skip the sun glasses. A running hat may be a better choice.

Fuel belt of pocket shorts: some way to carry the fuel you like. I don't carry water as there is plenty on the course.

Clothing: shorts, shirt, socks, shoes, favorite undies, etc.

Weather related items: tights, lycra tops (2+), stretchy gloves (2+), warm hat or headband, arm warmer sleeves and rain jacket (I used all these except the tights in 2010. I would have used the tights if I had packed them, which I didn't). You should be prepared to run in temperatures from 27 to 80 degrees.

Recovery items: calf sleeves (save them for recovery unless you are Paula Radcliffe). Knee sleeves, compression tights can also be helpful.

 

[windwalker]

One of the big mistakes people make when they decide to adventure into the world of half or full marathoning is to worry to much about it. It's really a simple affair BUT you need to address a few things.

#1: Are you walking or running or doing a combination? Once you decide that then you have to train for it. That is above all the most important and not an option. No amount of goodies will get you to the finish if you didn't put in the training.

#2: Make sure you train in the shoe brand and model that you will do the race in. Also the rest of your attire. A bad fit and chaffing during a long race is a special kind of torture.

After the above everything else is just icing on the cake. The race course will have plenty of water, sports drink, gel and banana stops. I drink the sports drinks so I get the required electrolytes and liquid. The gels and bananas are a welcome treat when those stops come up.

I wear transitions lenes myself since I do a lot of races that start in the dark and go to the daytime. As was mentioned a pair of clipons are also a good choice.

The temperture at Disney in January can be anywhere from 21 degrees to 85 degrees. I bring shorts, unlined running pants and lined pants. I bring a short sleeve top, a long sleeve top and a light, lined running jacket. You can layer the short sleeve shirt the long sleeve shirt and the jacket that way. The year it was 21 degrees it was also raining! I bought a plastic poncho at the hotel and wore it for about an hour over my layers.

There is nothing wrong with carrying gels or your favorite drinks but it's extra weight and you really don't need it. A lot of people, me included carry a small butt pack that is big enough to carry a cell phone your cards nessary to get you through the parks and into your room after you get done. I will put a couple of gels in the pack as well as a chapstick.

The medical stations have pain tablets and petrolum jelly and bio freeze. Do not use your bare hand to rub bio freeze on yourself if you don't have somewhere to wash your hands. You get that in your eyes and your race is over.

I also live in Ky, Bowling Green.

Dave

 

[stargazertechie]

Do not use your bare hand to rub bio freeze on yourself if you don't have somewhere to wash your hands. You get that in your eyes and your race is over.


Dave

Good gravy I never thought about that! Any suggestions on what to do to avoid said situation? I'm a sucker for biofreeze. I'm currently envisioning a few plastic sandwich baggies to use as a makeshift glove when approaching aid stations

 

[indygirl99]

Good gravy I never thought about that! Any suggestions on what to do to avoid said situation? I'm a sucker for biofreeze. I'm currently envisioning a few plastic sandwich baggies to use as a makeshift glove when approaching aid stations

Ask your friendly waiter (at your favorite resturant) for a couple of unused gloves from the kitchen and stick them in you spibelt. You never know when you might need them for some messy little oops.

 

[windwalker]

I learned about the bio freeze by trial and error myself. Yes a snadwich bag will work the best is a cheap pair of those throw away latex gloves. But in a pinch the aid station will usually have some plastic sheet around that was a wrapping on something. When you have it on your hands though and you wipe sweat then it will begin to get close to your eyes from the sweat. If you do happen to get some in your eyes then flush it out fast. The time I got in trouble with it I was coming into animal Kingdom and found a restroom and scrubbed it off my hands and face.

Dave

 

[cewait]

As above, folks tend to overthink the half....

For the most part you really need to dress seasonally. You should feel cool to cold at the start corral. You WILL warm even if a 16 minute miler.

I would really consider a visor or hat over sunglasses. The only possible place that the sun will bother you would be right at mile 10.5 as you return onto Epcot Drive. FL tends to have early AM clouds just after day break so even this is not all that bad. Note if we were talking the full, I would really push the shades as Osceola is a tough stare into the sun.

If you trained with fuel, bring your fuel

Of course, if you are so inclined... bring a camera for photos.

As far as Biofreeze... It doesn't take all that much to remember to wash your hands at the next aid station. Just wash them with a cup of water and keep on keeping on. But in all seriousness, if you have trained well, you really should not need the stuff in the half.

Note if you do visit the med tent, they may ask your bib number.... IT's OK. They are tail covering just in case. You can never have enough paperwork.

 

[guardwife66]

One of the big mistakes people make when they decide to adventure into the world of half or full marathoning is to worry to much about it. It's really a simple affair BUT you need to address a few things.

#1: Are you walking or running or doing a combination? Once you decide that then you have to train for it. That is above all the most important and not an option. No amount of goodies will get you to the finish if you didn't put in the training.

#2: Make sure you train in the shoe brand and model that you will do the race in. Also the rest of your attire. A bad fit and chaffing during a long race is a special kind of torture.

After the above everything else is just icing on the cake. The race course will have plenty of water, sports drink, gel and banana stops. I drink the sports drinks so I get the required electrolytes and liquid. The gels and bananas are a welcome treat when those stops come up.

I wear transitions lenes myself since I do a lot of races that start in the dark and go to the daytime. As was mentioned a pair of clipons are also a good choice.

The temperture at Disney in January can be anywhere from 21 degrees to 85 degrees. I bring shorts, unlined running pants and lined pants. I bring a short sleeve top, a long sleeve top and a light, lined running jacket. You can layer the short sleeve shirt the long sleeve shirt and the jacket that way. The year it was 21 degrees it was also raining! I bought a plastic poncho at the hotel and wore it for about an hour over my layers.

There is nothing wrong with carrying gels or your favorite drinks but it's extra weight and you really don't need it. A lot of people, me included carry a small butt pack that is big enough to carry a cell phone your cards nessary to get you through the parks and into your room after you get done. I will put a couple of gels in the pack as well as a chapstick.

The medical stations have pain tablets and petrolum jelly and bio freeze. Do not use your bare hand to rub bio freeze on yourself if you don't have somewhere to wash your hands. You get that in your eyes and your race is over.

I also live in Ky, Bowling Green.

Dave

I am doing Jeff Galloway's walk/run/walk plan. So it is a combination. Right now I feel like it is more walking than running but my overall time is getting shorter so I'm not doing to bad.

Now I will show my ignorance - what is Bio freeze?

By the way, I am in Murray, KY (Go Racers!!!)

 

[JCH]

As above, folks tend to overthink the half....

For the most part you really need to dress seasonally. You should feel cool to cold at the start corral. You WILL warm even if a 16 minute miler.

I would really consider a visor or hat over sunglasses. The only possible place that the sun will bother you would be right at mile 10.5 as you return onto Epcot Drive. FL tends to have early AM clouds just after day break so even this is not all that bad. Note if we were talking the full, I would really push the shades as Osceola is a tough stare into the sun.

If you trained with fuel, bring your fuel

Of course, if you are so inclined... bring a camera for photos.

As far as Biofreeze... It doesn't take all that much to remember to wash your hands at the next aid station. Just wash them with a cup of water and keep on keeping on. But in all seriousness, if you have trained well, you really should not need the stuff in the half.

Note if you do visit the med tent, they may ask your bib number.... IT's OK. They are tail covering just in case. You can never have enough paperwork.

I just used a held water bottle since it also had a pocket for my keys and phone and filled it with the Gatorade I usually use so I could drink that and get water at water stations and brought Disney Princess fruit snacks for fuel. I didn't have a special belt, just had my normal cheapo sunglasses on my head, and didn't even think about biofreeze or KT tape. I do always wear compression socks or sleeves as I suffered from compartment syndrome in college and do not want that again! I just used my phone for pictures. I guess I felt like less is more as I didn't want a ton of stuff.

 

[Bephus]

I tend to bring as little as possible for a half, one thing of "fuel", my phone and my self.
I would use a hat or visor instead of sunglasses.
As others have mentioned, prepare for a wide range of weather patterns (I always bring a skirt, capris, a tank top, and a long sleeved top). My first Disney race it was 80 degrees and 90% humidity by the end, my last one it was high-30's at the start.
Most of all - do what works for you!! and have fun

 

[Tabetha]

Here's what I experienced at the Princess Half. My first, so take this for what it's worth...

If you're prone to calf tightness or shin splints, then I'm guessing it couldn't hurt to experiment with compression socks or calf sleeves. I always use them for any run over 5 miles because I'm prone to tight calves and I'm still recovering from achilles tendinitis. My legs feel fresher after runs when I wear them, too.

You likely won't need to carry water, since they pace it out pretty well, but for myself, I needed fuel before the 9 mile mark (where they were handing out Clif Shots). We drank water from the aid stations, but my husband also wore a Nathan fuel belt (2 10 oz flasks) with Accelerade, since we were used to that and the sports drink they served on the course didn't do it for me. We also carried and ate Honey Stingers, and took Endurolyte tablets halfway through (it was the first time I finished a run without sausage fingers!).

It may seem like overkill, but my blood sugar level has never been a friend to me, and I was glad we had all that stuff, since it perked me up and kept me going any time I felt a little sluggish.

We had cloud cover for our whole half last February, so we didn't need the sunglasses we had perched up on our head, but better to have and not need, right? Cheap clip ons may well be your answer.

I'll see you at the starting line!

 

[guardwife66]

Here's what I experienced at the Princess Half. My first, so take this for what it's worth...

If you're prone to calf tightness or shin splints, then I'm guessing it couldn't hurt to experiment with compression socks or calf sleeves. I always use them for any run over 5 miles because I'm prone to tight calves and I'm still recovering from achilles tendinitis. My legs feel fresher after runs when I wear them, too.

You likely won't need to carry water, since they pace it out pretty well, but for myself, I needed fuel before the 9 mile mark (where they were handing out Clif Shots). We drank water from the aid stations, but my husband also wore a Nathan fuel belt (2 10 oz flasks) with Accelerade, since we were used to that and the sports drink they served on the course didn't do it for me. We also carried and ate Honey Stingers, and took Endurolyte tablets halfway through (it was the first time I finished a run without sausage fingers!).

It may seem like overkill, but my blood sugar level has never been a friend to me, and I was glad we had all that stuff, since it perked me up and kept me going any time I felt a little sluggish.

We had cloud cover for our whole half last February, so we didn't need the sunglasses we had perched up on our head, but better to have and not need, right? Cheap clip ons may well be your answer.

I'll see you at the starting line!

Thank you so much. You and I sound like we have a lot in common. I too have sausage fingers after a run. I thought I just needed to drink more water. And my blood sugar does fluctuate so I will be looking into those Honey Stingers. I've seen various forms. Do you use the gel shots, the chews, or the bars? Or a combination? Is one better than the other?

Also I am prone to shin splints. No matter how much I warm up, I get them. So compression socks are now on my list.

I am going to see how much it costs for transition lens but the cheap clip-ons seem like the solution.

I am not a big sports drinker. I am not overly fond of any I have tried. I don't care for water either but at least it doesn't leave that unpleasant after taste in my mouth. Does the Accelerade taste ok?


Again thanks to you and everyone for their wonderful advise. I actually am feeling better now. Didn't want to spend $$$$$ on a race that already costs quite a bit with the other "mandatory" stuff like Disney tickets, Disney resort, and Disney souvenirs.