Last Minute Advice For First Time Marathoners?

[Lexxiefern]

Thanks for that list Charles! I am going to print it out and memorize it!! I also need to go get a new camera. Mine is too bulky, I need a really slim one that will fit in my fanny pack - any suggestions?

Does anyone ever have a pit crew? I am planning on having a large bag of supplies (food, bodyglide, extra pair of socks and sneakers, washcloth, new water bottle, etc) my sister is going to meet me outside AK in the stretch through the parking lot and then I can grab what I need. Plus I figure about that time I will need a pick-me-up and seeing her there will hopefully help me through the last 9+ miles. Does this sound like a good idea?

Becky

 

[10nis]

Charles...that was a great post on all of the BRs! Thanks!

Becky...your plan is awesome. Are your family/friends planning on using the monorail & buses for transportation the morning of the marathon? My family got stuck at TTC when they were driving one year and never made it to AK. They actually didn't see us until Mile 24 on the Boardwalk. It was a huge fiasco and now I carry my cell phone. We thought we had devised a fail proof plan to get them around the morning of the marathon!! HA!! It failed at the first stop and is was an enomorous let down when they weren't at the designated cheer spots.

For me,the parking lot of AK tends to be a low point of the race. For some reason--that is my bummer point of the race. I have heard that alot of people don't like the out and back turn-around point out by Wide World of Sports (mile 20-21) but that part kind of fires me up because you get to see the other runners

I always carry one of the throw away camera's with me. They are light and if something happens to it I won't be out much $$. I just find the lightest/smallest one possible (with a flash--it is dark at the start!) and then have a photo CD made.

 

[tigger2esq]

back in 2002 someone at the expo was selling those disposable cameras along with a velcro clip. I bought one and clipped/velcroed it to my running shorts and it worked great (the clip stayed on your shorts and the camera had a velcro strip that attached it to your shorts, pack etc.). I am sure yiou can make one a lot cheaper than what I paid (about $15 for a $5 disposable kodak camera.. LOL)

 

[DisneyMarathon]

Renee,
Will the clip on the disposable camera "rub" on the skin? I am considering of making one myself, as you have suggested. I have only one tiny pocket on my running shirt and it is reserved for the gel.
Yvonne

 

[cewait]

Thanks for that list Charles! I am going to print it out and memorize it!! I also need to go get a new camera. Mine is too bulky, I need a really slim one that will fit in my fanny pack - any suggestions?

Does anyone ever have a pit crew? I am planning on having a large bag of supplies (food, bodyglide, extra pair of socks and sneakers, washcloth, new water bottle, etc) my sister is going to meet me outside AK in the stretch through the parking lot and then I can grab what I need. Plus I figure about that time I will need a pick-me-up and seeing her there will hopefully help me through the last 9+ miles. Does this sound like a good idea?

Becky

I only carried a camera once. It was a waterproof disposable. I am sure that most any disposable camera would work, but I sweat a bunch and was afraid of the then cardboard disposables melting.

I purcheased waterproof digital camera for my daughter's Christmas present though I am not sure I would carry something like that in the race.

As far as pit stops, my DW meets me at Miles 9 and 13 and at the gate to AK (sometimes). Traffic can create issues getting to AK so I don't count on her there unless she starts going to AK from TTC immediately. Back to the pit stop. She will have with her a set of socks, gels, and a medium sized Disney shopping bag. The socks are just in case, the gels incase I fumble early in the race and donate the gels to those following and the bag is to collect clothing I am shedding. I am not worried about the throw away stuff or the white painter's gloves you can get at the expo. But I do not want to lose my real running gloves, long sleeved tech t or ear warmer head band. We learned the first year I needed these things at Disney to have a bag handy to keep the gross out factor low.

 

[tigger2esq]

re: the camera clip, I was concerned about that but I used it for the half marathon back then and it did not bother me at all. this time I ahve small a waist pack/hydration belt and will probably clip it to that. (although I am a tad concerned about my pack. I ahve used it on training runs but find when I ahve the sport bottle full it gets irritating and heavy and I am adjusting it a lot so I am not sure it will last the entire race or I will use it without the sport bottle). we shall see. if I have to toss it mid race I am only out $20...

 

[hoosmi]

Laughing about Charles' "gross out factor." We had to ride a bus after the half this weekend. That was a stinky bus! I decided I'm going to pack an extra pair of shorts/shirt in my check-in bag in a big baggy. That way I can change if I want to and put my stinky/wet clothes in the baggy (and seal that baby up tight!) I don't exactly know where I'll change, but I want the option.

I have a reasonably small digital camera, but it always takes blurry pictures in the dark, so I'm not sure if I want to bring it or a disposable one. Why doesn't Disney do the PhotoPass thing yet for the characters during the race? They could probably make a fortune...

As far as the "pitcrew" is concerned, would you believe I told DH about Becky's plan to have a pitcrew after we talked at the ToT and he declared it was fine with him if my mom came too?! He was starting to get nervous because I was being whiny about Becky's sister bringing her clean socks. So now my mom is coming, but I'm pretty sure I'll be on my own at the races. There's not a doubt in my mind that if my family is given the choice between having to take a bus and wait for me at the AK forever with a bag of my stuff or getting say, breakfast, hands down breakfast will win.

Jen in GA

 

[tigger2esq]

LOL. I am with you there. my DH has already made plans with my friend Brents wife to sleep in and meet for Breakfast. he was not as thrilled as I was to learn he could have my split times sent as text messages to his phone becuase the first one will come in when he intends to still be asleep LOL!

when I ran my marathon last year, my DH (along with my sister and her kids and my DD) met me at Mile 20. he had powerade, a power bar, socks and lots of moral support. I passed on the power bar and the socks but the powerade and moral support were huge. if it wasnt so difficult to get around the world I might consider having him meet me at AK but would hate to have him miss the finish if he got stuck there and couldnt get to the finish.

 

[wtpclc]

Camera - I bought a little Canon SD200? for 06. I just got a remanufactured one from an onlie search, because I didn't want to race with one I had paid a lot for. If you get a small one, it will fit in an amphipod MP3 case adn you can put it on your water belt or pack belt. Works great.

 

[DisneyMarathon]

re: the camera clip, I was concerned about that but I used it for the half marathon back then and it did not bother me at all. this time I ahve small a waist pack/hydration belt and will probably clip it to that. (although I am a tad concerned about my pack. I ahve used it on training runs but find when I ahve the sport bottle full it gets irritating and heavy and I am adjusting it a lot so I am not sure it will last the entire race or I will use it without the sport bottle). we shall see. if I have to toss it mid race I am only out $20...

I went ahead and bought a disposable camera this afternoon. Now I have to figure out how to attach the velcro and clip because I am not a "crafty" person.