Half Marathon/Marathon/Goofy Questions

[windwalker]

I thought we might want a thread for asking and answering questions about training for the 2008 events. We will be at the six months point in a few days.

There a bunch of marathon vets on here but I'm sure there are several who are taking on the chalange for the first time.

There are lots of canned training plans out there but there are lots of things that they don't cover.

To everyone vets and new challangers good luck and good training.

Dave

 

[eeyore45]

Thanks Dave,

I appreciate the links that are in the sticky - and I LOVE reading trip reports from previous marathons - so many of you "seasoned veterans" that have a link to your trip reports in your siggy line - I appreciate it!!

I wanted to give a heads up to this month's Runners World Magazine - its all about the Half Marathon - I saw it at the library, and had a hard time finding my very own copy!!

 

[windwalker]

Thanks Dave,

I appreciate the links that are in the sticky - and I LOVE reading trip reports from previous marathons - so many of you "seasoned veterans" that have a link to your trip reports in your siggy line - I appreciate it!!

I wanted to give a heads up to this month's Runners World Magazine - its all about the Half Marathon - I saw it at the library, and had a hard time finding my very own copy!!

I know whenever I do a new distance challange or go to a new location I have questions that I often can't find answers to in a link.

For example if it's a race in the late fall or early spring when it might be cold, where can I hide and do my warm-up and stretching where I can stay warm. It is very unpleasent to hang around in the cold for an hour or more with your teeth chattering. A local racer will know. I seek out the creature comforts whenever I can.

Dave

 

[andromedaslove]

Well.... believe me if Disney is ANYTHING like it was last year.... you'll be looking for a place to hide from the heat to do your stretching!! Seriously though ..... I know that last year I had about a TON of questions that I couldn't find the answers to in the thread. Someone will need to make sure that this thread gets bumped so that it doesn't fall past the first page. That way people can find it if they need to.

Dana

 

[KelNottAt]

Question: Do Goofy participants get one chip to wear twice? Or two separate chips? If two, does it matter which is worn when?

 

[wfloyd]

Question: Do Goofy participants get one chip to wear twice? Or two separate chips? If two, does it matter which is worn when?

You get two separate chips. It does matter which is worn, one is for each race. The envelopes are marked with the appropriate race so you can keep them straight.

Bill

 

[eeyore45]

We're staying at BCV - will we be able to walk thru Epcot to get to the start of the race? Bus?

TIA

 

[ultramickeymouse]

We're staying at BCV - will we be able to walk thru Epcot to get to the start of the race? Bus?

TIA

No, you will have to take the bus but will be able to walk back afterwards.

 

[Cindylou]

Hi Everyone,

I read somewhere that the buses that pick you up at the resorts to bring you to the start don't stop at every bus stop at each resort. Does anyone know where the bus stops at POR? When choosing my room, I'd like to pick a building close to where the bus will stop so I'm not wandering around in the dark trying to find the bus.

Thanks.
Cindy

 

[scoolover]

I am not sure about POR specifically but, you will be surprised at how many people are up and about at that hour. As far as finding the bus, it will be no problem. At Pop it was right outside the main building.
Scott

 

[DianeL]

No, you will have to take the bus but will be able to walk back afterwards.

Robert? Please confirm that those staying at the Epcot resort need to us a park pass to walk thru? Just a reminder to those that are doing those resorts to bring your park pass, I haven't done those for Marathon Weekend but seem to recall some team members saying something about passes.

To someone asking about POR buses on Race mornings I can't answer for POR but in 2006 at OKW there was a bus that went back into the resort but never came down our 'street' thankfully we met up with some unknown to us runners and followed them to the main street and flagged down a bus. If we were stuck in the back of OKW again we'd start walking to the front rather than wait at the bus stop by our room. In 2007 we were across from the main building so there was no problems for us.

editing to add that the buses taking you to the start haven't been Disney drivers/buses for us in 3 years of doing them. So in the case of 2006's bus driver not coming to our stop, he probably didn't know there was one down there! LOL Susan and I are pretty crazy about being on the 1st buses out of our resort. Panic attacks of missing the start LOL So we wouldn't chance waiting to see if a bus would come anymore, we'd just walk to the front and know they HAD to at least stop there.

Happy Training!!!!

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Robert? Please confirm that those staying at the Epcot resort need to us a park pass to walk thru? Just a reminder to those that are doing those resorts to bring your park pass, I haven't done those for Marathon Weekend but seem to recall some team members saying something about passes.

Yes, you will need to bring your pass. It does take admission to the park to walk through.

Sorry that I forgot to mention it

 

[TXBelle]

You get two separate chips. It does matter which is worn, one is for each race. The envelopes are marked with the appropriate race so you can keep them straight.

Bill

If you have your own Champion Chip, you can wear that for both races. I bought my DH a Goofy Challenge Champion Chip for Christmas last year. He brought it with us to the Expo, and Runner Relations registered his chip for the races. Maybe Santa will bring me one this year . . .

 

[Cindylou]

Did anyone go to the awards ceremony or post race party last year? What's that like? Do my DH and kids have to pay to get into the party? I'm trying to plan my ADRs for Sunday night. Wondering if I should make them for somewhere near DTD?

Cindy

 

[westcliffemom]

I was reading Kathy's trip report, and her DH's half report, and found out that for a fee they had a booth that you could get your name & time inscribed on it. Is there any other neat things like that around the finish or at the expo that I should know to check out? TIA!

 

[WDWFAN9]

I was reading Kathy's trip report, and her DH's half report, and found out that for a fee they had a booth that you could get your name & time inscribed on it. Is there any other neat things like that around the finish or at the expo that I should know to check out? TIA!

You can also get your medal engraved at the Christmas store in DTD. It is $2 per line. I just dropped my medal off and picked it up later, no waiting in a long line at the end of the event. I brought my castle medal from DL last Sept with me and had it engraved too.

 

[hoosmi]

Cool tip about engraving!

Question about dates: We are about 4 hours away by car. I was thinking we'd go down on Friday afternoon (we'd maybe pick DD up early from school), then drive home Monday. DD would only be taking off part/all of Friday and then Monday. She's in the second grade, so I don't think she'll miss something we can't handle. (I hope!)

Is that enough time or should I maybe go back Tuesday? I've never taken DD out of school for a trip, so I don't really know the drill. We drove back from Minnie on the day of the race. I got really, really stiff in the car and more importantly, couldn't make any WISH meets or wear my medal! Any thoughts?

Thanks

Jen in GA

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not a veteran of goofy....

but my planned training thus far.....


Commence full training plan at 18-20 week mark....
Commence half training plan at about 14 weeks or so (whatever the Bingham book has as the time line).

My "half training plan" will consists of a long power walk on Fridays before my full long run on Saturdays.

I am doing the half with my sister and the full with my husband. So my strategy--is to have a buddy who will drag me across the finish line. Carry me if necessary.

Also we may be modifying our trip plans to stay at my brother's house for free. He lives by the airport and quite frankly it appeals to me to have a cool or warm place to park my fanny while waiting for the race to start. Take a nap if necessary. Pack a port o potty. Okay, maybe not that.

But want to save a few bucks since we started following DR and we don't NEED to spend the money at the hotel. I haven't cancelled it yet though, so we will see.



My other tip....that folks I know who have done Goofy--Have TWO pairs of shoes. One for your half day and one for your full day. WHY? Well, it could rain, you'll sweat, you may be ready to throw them in the trash....any reason. But mostly b/c they won't be dry especially if it rained on the half day and that is NOT a good way to start the full.


Re: Busses, when we stayed at CBR 2 years ago, they only picked up by the lobby. So for that resort they definitely do NOT go through the resort. We ended up driving to the lobby b/c it was FREEZING and we were not in the mood to do a warm up at 3am (team in training so that is when we met up for the bus).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Cool tip about engraving!

Question about dates: We are about 4 hours away by car. I was thinking we'd go down on Friday afternoon (we'd maybe pick DD up early from school), then drive home Monday. DD would only be taking off part/all of Friday and then Monday. She's in the second grade, so I don't think she'll miss something we can't handle. (I hope!)

Is that enough time or should I maybe go back Tuesday? I've never taken DD out of school for a trip, so I don't really know the drill. We drove back from Minnie on the day of the race. I got really, really stiff in the car and more importantly, couldn't make any WISH meets or wear my medal! Any thoughts?

Thanks

Jen in GA

Plan for Tuesday and you can always leave on Monday if you are up for it.

But I do think your muscles may revolt if you sit in a car for 4 hours on Monday.

And the WISH breakfast on Monday is usually a fun little rehash of the weekend.

 

[DisneyaHolic23]

I so appreciate this thread, and look forward to lots of advice and ideas!!

Here are my questions, for my first Half Marathon in January:

1. We are staying at the Grand Floridian - can we take the monorail to Epcot?

2. I would love to hear about the awards celebration at PI:
A. What happens there?
B. Do we need to buy a PI pass if we want to visit the clubs in addition to the party?

3. Is the $50 fee worth it for the Runner's Retreat?

4. If we don't do the Runner's Retreat, are there any treats for runners at the end?

5. Is the last timed checkpoint at the 10 minute mile? What if I make that, but then slow down considerably?

6. I am confused about the end. Where does the race end? It seems like it must be the World Showcase, since us slow runners may finish at 9:30, which means that Epcot is already open...

What else do I need to know??