Is this a sane plan for the final miles of the full?

[goofeygirl]

I did the Goofy this year and will do the Dopey in '14. My biggest regret was not enjoying that final mile in the full marathon. I lost my mojo at mile 21 and had mentally struggled through those final 5.1 miles. All I wanted to was finish. I did not enjoy going through Hollywood studios with the crowds cheering us on nor did I enjoy the best bit which was Epcot...and I don't want that to happen for this coming year.


So this is what I thought of....

What if I carried a few Oreo cookies with me. Would if I only ate them as I approached the Hollywood studios. That would probably be about 3 miles out from the finish. If I ate the Oreo cookies (double stuff) down that road towards H.S. then by the time I enter H.S. I would be feeling the sugar high from the cookies. I am hoping that that high would last me until I crossed the finish line and would give the mental pep to move faster.
By the time the sugar crash would occur, I would have been over the finish line and so it wouldn't matter.

Now has anyone does this? Is it a sane plan? I want to enjoy those final miles as they are clearly the best (well outside of going through AK too)

 

[jmasgat]

I don't know if you'd gain any physical boost from the Oreos, but I bet you'd have a psychological or placebo effect. They used to give out chocolate right when you entered DHS. Can't remember if that was the case this past year (I've blacked out the marathon)

I am all for doing whatever it takes to get through the rough miles--walk, talk, sing, dance, eat, drink,etc. If you think your plan will work for you, then do it. At that point in the race, a few oreos isn't likely to throw your system off.

Maura

 

[goofeygirl]

I don't think they gave out anything before entering into HS. I don't think they did throughout the whole race. Maybe at some point banannas? But nothing chocolately.

I feel at that point, its so close to the end that it cannot do harm.

 

[cewait]

A couple thoughts....

First, the 'bite me' miles are just that, those miles where you have to draw from the mental games and tricks you learned through your training runs to get through to the end.

I can only think of one of my 20+ marathons that I enjoyed much or any of the last 10k. That was one race was the perfect storm of energy, zoning out and pace... I can find bits and pieces of good things in most of the others, but not the entire distance.

For the food plan... First, train multiple times with your idea. Many runners find that chocolate is very difficult to take on in the last miles of a marathon. Combine that with a fat load and, well just practice with them. I would look to a hard and sweet treat like sprees or something like that. I am a gel fueler. I find that it is in my best interest to bring 2-3 flavors of gels and randomly mix them pre-race. This mixing is so I do not consume the favorite in the first half. I reserve a special gel for mile 21 of the race. IT is kind of my goto gel. This would be where I would find your ice to work and work well.

Final thought, in general, the fuel you take on does little for a 20-40 minutes. There is no real sugar rush, only a mental rush. Taking in a special treat in DHS will not really hit the system until the finish for most runners. For that reason, think about taking on the special treat at the mile 21 or mile 22 stations. As you run the course through your mind, you will see that the mile 21 station has a lot of merit. Just following the station is the right turn up and over the DHS entrance road. Having the mental boost there can help pull you by the Green Army Man and down onto World Dr. The mile 22 station is on the up ramp off of World. It has its issues, but since the shade is there, that little hill seems a lot easier than the previous. By taking on the fuel at 21, you will fell the pick up in the BW or Epcot area.

Not sure I really answered your question.

 

[cewait]

I don't think they gave out anything before entering into HS. I don't think they did throughout the whole race. Maybe at some point banannas? But nothing chocolately.

I feel at that point, its so close to the end that it cannot do harm.

Gels at miles 14 and 19, bananas at 17 and chocolate at 23 - the backstage entrance to DHS.

 

[Lexxiefern]

I think it's a great idea! My DH always meets me with a cold coke outside Boardwalk and this year he had mini snickers. It was awesome! I look forward to that part of the race starting around mile 18! Definitely practice with it, but I think it will be a good little pick me up even if it is only mental and not physical.

 

[Bookwood]

I think Oreo cookies would be ok if they aren't too dry. This may not be an issue for you but as a mouth breather (TMI I know but I have sinus issues) I'm not sure I could swallow a cookie without something to drink. My WDW marathon I had to have water to wash down the M&M's they gave us (it was an extremely warm race.) As coach said practice with them and see if it works, if it works go for it.

 

[ironz]

I had a Coke on the 'Highway of Death' last year, and it was oh so good....

 

[MightyDuck001]

I don't think they gave out anything before entering into HS. I don't think they did throughout the whole race. Maybe at some point banannas? But nothing chocolately.

I feel at that point, its so close to the end that it cannot do harm.

I can attest to the fact that chocolate was indeed given out in Hollywood Studios. In the backstage area just after we passed Tower of Terror before we ran past the costuming area and there were indeed also wonderful people who had taken it upon themselves to set up a twizzler station right outside Hollywood Studios (WISH people, actually).

But if you think an Oreo is going to help you, I say you take as many double stuff oreos as you can carry (or find someone to hand off to you).

 

[goofeygirl]

Okay thanks for the replies. This is what I just learned. I will take coaches advice and plan for something special at mile 21. That's where I lost my mojo this year and by the time it kik's in...I should have a little something of a boost...

Perhaps Oreo's are not the best choice and someone mentioned small snickers...they have chocolate which will help but peanuts too...and I know they will be mushy but....

I was not aware that any chocolate was handed out at any part of this race which awakens to me to how out of my mojo I was. The fact I passed a chocolate hand out station and was unaware is very unlike me...or perhaps I did see and actually chose to pass it! That meant I was so totally completely out of any interest of anything...not such a great place.

If I take the Snickers...or whatever at mile 21 by the time I hit DHS I should be feeling better. Physically, well I cannot do much for that at that point but mentally at least better.

I was doing well up until mile 21. I was happy and feelin' it and mile 20 was great around the baseball field...very nice...but something happened to me at mile 21 where it all went down...like all my mental energy was just flushed down the toilet...and I couldn't get it back.

 

[WhereInFlorida]

Perhaps Oreo's are not the best choice and someone mentioned small snickers...they have chocolate which will help but peanuts too...and I know they will be mushy but....

If I take the Snickers...or whatever at mile 21 by the time I hit DHS I should be feeling better. Physically, well I cannot do much for that at that point but mentally at least better.

This could be one of those Snickers commercials, some crazy sweaty mess celebrity running until they eat a snickers....then you are yourself

Now running with snickers will be MORE than mushy, I am thinking they would be liquid by mile 21.

 

[cewait]

This could be one of those Snickers commercials, some crazy sweaty mess celebrity running until they eat a snickers....then you are yourself

Now running with snickers will be MORE than mushy, I am thinking they would be liquid by mile 21.

especially this last year. I would suggest freezing them but if we have another Disney on Ice year like 2010, they could still be rock hard.

 

[goofeygirl]

I had a Coke on the 'Highway of Death' last year, and it was oh so good....

Lol. A proper name, Highway of Death. When you get to the top of that mile 21 sign ramp and you look down the road...all you see is more highway of death but it is so much worse because you are on the final miles.

As for weather well I just started the Disney marathon weekend in the year 12 and I did the half. I remember the morning being freezing....bloody freezing...but it got better and the day turned really nice.

My concerns for this year was the opposite. I remember stepping out of my hotel room balcony at about 3am and felt warm...not a good thing. It was marathon sunday....starting the day feeling warm was not good as I knew it would get hotter.
I would rather do cold...and let it warm up slowly....

As for the mile 21 mojo breakdown....whatever I end up packing I am dedicating those two dreadful miles (21 and 22 because I think after that is entry into DHS) to the victims of the Boston Marathon. So I am dedicating the most difficult time to them and also take something that will boost me.

 

[wiigirl]

I had a Coke on the 'Highway of Death' last year, and it was oh so good....

 

[DOOM1001]

I was not aware that any chocolate was handed out at any part of this race which awakens to me to how out of my mojo I was. The fact I passed a chocolate hand out station and was unaware is very unlike me...or perhaps I did see and actually chose to pass it! That meant I was so totally completely out of any interest of anything...not such a great place.

If I take the Snickers...or whatever at mile 21 by the time I hit DHS I should be feeling better. Physically, well I cannot do much for that at that point but mentally at least better.

I was doing well up until mile 21. I was happy and feelin' it and mile 20 was great around the baseball field...very nice...but something happened to me at mile 21 where it all went down...like all my mental energy was just flushed down the toilet...and I couldn't get it back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV9v9UTzWxM

Fast forward to 16 minutes 50 seconds to see the chocolate stop

 

[jmasgat]

As a chocolate lover (putting it mildly), I have to say that during my first marathon at Disney in 2010, I actually took, attempted to eat, then spit out the little Hershey fun size pieces they were giving out. Just couldn't hack it at that point. This probably is the ONLY time in my history that I have refused chocolate!

Maura

 

[kmorganj]

I always think I'm excited for the chocolate at DHS until I get it near my mouth. . . You just never know what you're body is going to want at that point (besides a desperate urge to finish!). Last year I kept it clutched in my hand for a few miles-also a melty, messy mistake. I've heard complaints about the Hershey minis because of nut allergies, so I always wonder if they will switch it up... Whatever you bring it's probably going to be hot/melty/damp if you've been carrying it with you for 20+ miles.

Just one thought on the Oreos... Make sure you take a good swig of water with your cookies so your Finish photos don't have that infamous Oreo-teeth grin!

 

[flatlandcycle]

I tried to purchase a coke from a cart while leaving Hollywood Studios, during the marathon, and created some confusion with the woman managing the cart. Her register wasn't open so she just gave it to me for free. I wasn't running like I stole it.

There's the Los Angeles Times article reporting on the study showing that Oreos are as addictive as cocaine:

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-oreo-cookies-addictive-cocaine-20131016,0,3166408.story

 

[cewait]

I tried to purchase a coke from a cart while leaving Hollywood Studios, during the marathon, and created some confusion with the woman managing the cart. Her register wasn't open so she just gave it to me for free. I wasn't running like I stole it.

There's the Los Angeles Times article reporting on the study showing that Oreos are as addictive as cocaine:

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-oreo-cookies-addictive-cocaine-20131016,0,3166408.story

Funny, last year I was running the second worst marathon ever. Seems I had the flu and did not know it at the time. Anyway, for the first time I was running the world showcase after 11 AM. I was parched when in the Germany area I saw a lady with about a third of a large cup of beer. She had purchased the beer and talked the CM into three extra cups. I really wish I could repay here.

 

[Aimros]

Just did my first marathon and they handed out candy and flat soda at 22. It was an out and back from 15-23 or so, so you ran by the candy table on the way down and saw all the offerings before you actually took any. Anyway, I set my eyes on a peppermint patty and dreamed about it for the next 7 miles and at mile 22 I had the best peppermint patty I've ever had.

Good luck to you figuring out a strategy. I think having anything to look forward to can help - but don't put too much pressure on yourself to enjoy every second, because you never know how your mind and body may react that day.