Marathon Snacks

[TEK224]

I think I asked this before, but can't find the info.

I'll be scream teaming for the full somewhere around the 18-19 mile mark (on the road by the on-ramp above the McDonald's - can't remember the name of the road).

What type of snack do you think you might need around that point to give you an extra boost? (licorice, pretzel sticks (for the salt), water, orange slices, bananas, etc.)

I plan to be out there from about 8:30am-noon-ish. By then everyone should be passed that point due to the cut-off times.

Let me know what you think so I can start making my shopping list.

Terri

 

[Duanerice]

Terri,
I'm not going this year but have been the last few. First of all, thanks for getting out on the road and cheering. That is a great spot to cheer at because it is pretty desolate out there. Long stretch from Animal Kingdom to the Studios.

Others will answer but I couldn't tell you what I'd want at that point. Not water because there is usually enough out there. I like candy, like little snickers, gummy bears or something like that. Others like the pretzels and some like licorice.

Just wanted to say thanks for getting out there.

Duane

 

[cewait]

I echo the thanks....

The intersection is Buena Vista and Osceola. AKA...
The All Star Exit
The McD's Exit
Coronado Spring Exit - maybe not that.

Duane and I will differ one one thing... no chocolate unless you are aiming to a few folks who request. Chocolate tend to stick to the back of the throat. I would also avoid oranges and other fuit (even though that is what I am craving there) since the race will be handing out the same a mile later.

Simple sugars like licorice sticks, sprees or other candies. IT's a great place for this since it is the first of the three Osceola hills and the begining of the 'bite me zone' Also, Disney will have an aide station within a mile after this.

 

[FFigawi]

That's a great spot to be. Thank you so much in advance for being there. If you're taking requests, I'll go with Duane and second the request for chocolate. Tootsie Rolls are one of my favorite snacks during a long run. You really can't go wrong with anything sugary or anything salty, though.

 

[SAHDad]

Thanks for being there. I won't be at Disney this year but the other suggestions are good ones. (Although, on a hot day, the best refreshment I ever had at the 18-20 mile point involved fermented grains. . . just sayin'. )

 

[Kristi1357]

Anything you have will be greatly appreciated, Terri! Thanks so much for being out there to cheer. I know that I will be thrilled to see a familiar face along the route!

 

[verticalchaos]

I'm only doing the half, but I've found that pretzel m&ms are AMAZING in-race snacks. Just enough chocolate for some sugar, but not as much as a full m&m or candy bar, and a little salt with the pretzel. I stumbled onto them as an in-race snack and fell in love!

 

[fashionista311]

i ran my first full this past november, and at that point i was feeling pretty..ok..very..bad. i had a hard enough time getting down my sports drink and food...i don't think there was any way i could of eaten solid food.

here are some things that i think might work based on my experiences...

a) not sure how this would work if you are handing it out to strangers, (i wouldn't take anything that was unsealed. i mean as amazing as the nyc crowds were, come on...it's still new york city.) but what about having different flavors of gatorade then what the course has? i personally don't love the lemon-lime they always have the course but i suck it up because i know i have to. i had my boyfriend and sister bring me fruit punch flavored gatorade when they met me along the course, and it was such a treat to have a few sips of something i actually liked.

b) luna bars make mini snack-sized bars - those are still a sport food (even though it's a bar) so it might be easier to digest for some. and since they are snack sized, they might be easy to go with on the run.

c) i saw some spectators in new york city handing out dixie cups full of vasonline with little popsicle sticks in them to help out those with chafing issues or chapped lips. i personally didn't take it but some people looked very, very grateful for them

d) maybe not for every person you see because a dollar a person can add up quickly, but if you have a group that you are looking for, what about grabbing a few rolls of those "charmin-to-go" mini toilet paper rolls. they are small enough to carry in your pack, and at the point, people might have already used up what they had on them, or just not even think of having it on them...and i'm sure by mile 18-19 the bathrooms can get pretty funky if you know what i mean.

thanks so much for doing this! i unfortunately won't be running this year, but from past experiences, i think spectators like you are the real unsung heros of the day

 

[verticalchaos]

c) i saw some spectators in new york city handing out dixie cups full of vasonline with little popsicle sticks in them to help out those with chafing issues or chapped lips. i personally didn't take it but some people looked very, very grateful for them

Just make sure you tell them what it is in case they didn't read Runner's World's marathon tips this year!

And I hear you on the dang yellow gatorade. After volunteering at the Mile 24 fluid station all day, the last thing I want to see of smell is lemon-lime Gatorade. We'll see what they system does with lemon-lime PowerAde which I will be finding tonight to try tomorrow.

 

[wtpclc]

Terri - You rock!!!! ANythign will be wonderful!

My faves are licorice adn pretzel sticks, but I rarely take anything.

DH loves gummi bears.

Your just being there will be wonderful for us!

 

[cewait]

Honestly, I would only aim my handouts are those in lime green jerseys, and those who happen to see the hand up and want a little.

I would solicit funds at the WISH meet to help offset the cost of your offer.

I am also one of those who do not accept from most non-race folks on the side. I know 99.99% of it is perfectly acceptable but I am just cautious.

I am just looking for a few more friendlies along that stretch of the race...

 

[scoolover]

I know that the society that we live in may not be what it once was but the odds of someone handing out something tainted is so miniscule that I don't think it's an issue. I'd take something from anyone generous enough to offer. At mile 18 of the Hyannis, MA marathon a few years ago, I took a pretzle stick and then picked up a half eaten one off the ground.

 

[WDWFAN9]

I took a pretzle stick and then picked up a half eaten one off the ground.

It is amazing how my standards can change....at water-stops I always look for the person either wearing gloves or holding the cup on the palm of their hand, no way am I taking a cup from someone holding it by their fingers....but then there was the time in Nashville a couple of years ago in record heat and a guy had cut up apple on a tray. They looked really good, as I approached he picked a piece up with his bare hands and I took it! I popped it right in my mouth It was probably the best apple I've ever had!!

Anyway, Jim and I plan to be outside AK with pretzels, we won't have a car so I still haven't figured out the logistics, but we will have pretzels, and I will be wearing a glove to pass them out! If it is hot we will also have a limited number of washcloths, but it doesn't look like they will be needed.

 

[crashbb]

So sweet of you.

In addition to the great suggestions you've already received, when I ran NYC, a couple of people were handing out moistened paper towels, which were great since it was a very warm day. Sponges would have been cost prohibitive, but the paper towels were appreciated.

 

[MikeofRose&Mike]

Terri, I am not going this year, maybe 2012. It is very nice of you to volunteer like this.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[cewait]

So sweet of you.

In addition to the great suggestions you've already received, when I ran NYC, a couple of people were handing out moistened paper towels, which were great since it was a very warm day. Sponges would have been cost prohibitive, but the paper towels were appreciated.

We get sponges at mile 17 from Disney but this is not a bad idea if one could enlist a couple strong guys... A trashcan with ice or cool water would be great for rewetting the sponges....

 

[crashbb]

We get sponges at mile 17 from Disney but this is not a bad idea if one could enlist a couple strong guys... A trashcan with ice or cool water would be great for rewetting the sponges....

People did that at NYC (I don't remember what mile we got sponges). It was definitely appreciated. The race at one or two re-wetting stations, but the extras were appreciated.

 

[TEK224]

Haven't checked the weather forecast yet, but after last year the last thing I'd want is an ice-drenched towel/sponge!
Still can't believe I ran the entire half-marathon with 4 layers of clothes on.

Terri

 

[TnTsParty]

Thanks Terri for getting out and doing this for us - it is appreciated. I have always been lucky enough to get a handout from a wonderfull WISHer along the way. I unfortuantely don't wear WISH green when I am running since I am running for a charity and I wear their shirts - Red shirt that says Rally Athlete on the front - although last year I was bundled up so much that up until the end I had my jacket on so you couldn't even see my shirt.

I do want to say that my favorite pick me up was the Skittles someone handed out - and at that point I didn't even like Skittles but I love them when I am out for those long distances. I also like the Twizzlers that some WISHer's were passing out by the turn around and also outside of MGM (I think I saw Tracy there last year) Personally the pretzel sticks tend to be too dry for me after all those miles.

Anyway - Thanks for volunteering to be out there for us.

 

[Lexxiefern]

Another big THANK YOU to Terri!!! I love seeing WISHers after AK - that stretch is rough. I am def a choc lover. I really love the pretzel m&m suggestion.


Becky