Marathon Week - What we have learned - Please share

[Scott H]

For starters we have learned to arrive just a couple of days before the race, to take advantage of our living at altitude and cut down on the 10 miles a day of hitting the parks.


2. Bring those toss a way clothes from home, we did find the $1.99 t shirt shop.

3. We did have some cash for a massage after the 1/2, this was well worth it.

4. We had trash bags from mouse keeping, but will bring from home, next time.

Feel free to add you tips and ideas.

 

[tigger2esq]

definitely the trash bag and an old towel or sweatshirt to sit on after you arrive at the staging area. It was warm enough that I didnt need my sweatshirt for race morning so it was nice and cushy to sit on. and I randomly stuck $20 in my race belt and it was a godsend for that massage at the end.

lay out everyhting the night beofre. I pinned my racenumber on, tied on my chip, got together my breakfast and packed my checked bag and throw away bag and put everything by the front door. it REALLY helped me get out the door in record time at that god awful hour of 3am... LOL

I didnt have a place to stick my cell phone during the race but I stuck it in the pocket of my track pants that were in my checked bag. it was another good idea as I was able to use it to track down my DH post-race in the chaos. also--whomever said to put your Crocs in your checked bag--- THANK YOU!!! wow what a good idea. I was able to get my sneakers off and into my comfy crocs.. sigh. every little bit helps after 26.2

dont get in line for the port o johns at 5:30 for a 6am race start. I never dreamed it would take me 25 mnutes to get to the front of that line (ok can I ask what the heck the 10 people were DOING in there that took so much time?? LOL!). I was then in panic mode to get into my corral (which was JAMMED) before the start. we DID make it (barely) but I was a nervous wreck--not the best way to start the race... LOL

 

[windwalker]

Good topic Scott.

I think arriving a week before the race weekend helped us acclimate to the heat and humidity of Florida, and the walking helped keep us loose and our legs used to moving for long periods even if it's strolling.

I learned that if you use your DDE card to buy beers at the bar in the Rose and Crown the bartender treats himself to an 18% tip for 30 seconds work. 4 beers at $7.50 each comes to about $5.40 tip for drawing 4 beers. I didn't like that. I don't mind tipping a waitress well who gives me good service but drawing 4 beers after you wait 15 min to be served is a bit much.

I think we will take food from home like oatmeal and microwave soups and maybe some sandwich stuff for when we really don't wanna get out for a while especially after the races when moving is a chore.

Next year we are going to be on the WISH Scream team for the half since we are only doing the 5K and the Full. We need to learn where to be on the course so we can be an asset to the WISH teamers doing the half.

Plan more WISH casual gatherings. We had an oppurtunity to spend some good time with Robert and Linda, Scott and Lynn and Kim and Mike but there are so many fun people we didn't get to spend much time with.

The garbage bag idea is good we forgot to take anything like that, Erica had a throwdown hoodie and we both had throwdown gloves but it was to warm for them.

Thinking Panda

 

[lourodrigis]

1. Respect the weather - for people, like me, coming from cold weather climates you need to be prepared for the high humidity that you have not run in for months. I was dressed properly but did not know how to deal with the hydration (see #2).

2. In Mexico they say "don't drink the water", in WDW I would say "don't drink the Powerade". I train for LR's by drinking water only and bring Powerbar Gels. I brought my own Gels but made the mistake of drinking some Powerade early in the race. It NEVER sat well with me. Keep in mind when you approach each water stop that the Powerade comes first. I kept running to each stop and grabbing Powerade by mistake. By Mile 20 the Powerade I had drank earlier felt like shots of Jack Daniels in my stomach!

3. Relax - It is so easy to get caught up in the hype at WDW. I found myself running around like a nut in the early part of the race trying to pass people. I ended up running an extra 0.4 miles because of this mistake. Run in a straight line and try to run tangents at every curve.

4. iPods - I love to run with my iPod. WDW was the first race (out of 5 in 2007) that I ran where iPods were not common among runners. Most people did not run with them. WDW had these monster boom boxes hooked up to generators in the dead parts of the course that BLASTED annoying music at you. It was so loud it drowned out my iPod and began to bother me a lot. I finally took off the headphones and gave in. You may want to try to run a few LR's before the race w/o your iPod if you are someone who likes to use them.

 

[Scott H]

Crocks in the checked bag, I forgot, thanks, my shoes and socks were soaked.

 

[westcliffemom]

Bring comfortable shoes for wearing the rest of the day at the parks. My feet hurt so bad, and the sandals I brought didn't help!

No powerade on the course for me either, I didn't like the watered down taste. I stuck with sport beans & water.

Check the shirts @ the expo better, there was one I really wanted after seeing the back of the shirt. After the half, they only had XL.

 

[tigger2esq]

I second re: checking the stuff out at the expo. we mistakenly assumed there would be stuff in other retail outlets. and when we got back to the expo on Saturday--not much left.

re: powerade, it depends on what you train with. I knew there would be PA on the course so I trained using it. I dillute it so at the water stops I took one cup of PA and one of water and mixed them and drank half. as my stomach had already been used to the mix it worked well.

 

[tigger2esq]

oh one more--if you run the family fun run 5k on Friday--treat it like a slow recovery jog and do NOT NOT NOT run it like any other 5K you run. otherwise you will start the marathon on sunday with tired sore legs. not good!

 

[Bunnylee]

To add to the great tips already posted:

Bring extra food for post marathon---something I find that helps me a lot is a salty item such as pretzels and or nuts


I often bring two pairs of shoes in case one pair gets wet pre-race and I usually put my chip on the night before. During the Minnie last year I made a big mistake--found myself at the start line with the wrong pair of shoes on---yep....the ones with the chip were back in the room! I would have cried had this occurred at the marathon. So what I did this time to make sure I wouldn't do that again (though I think I thoroughly learned my lesson!) was to hide the non-chip shoes in a dresser drawer.

Bring toilet paper for pre-race portapotties--they often run out.

 

[Scott H]

oh one more--if you run the family fun run 5k on Friday--treat it like a slow recovery jog and do NOT NOT NOT run it like any other 5K you run. otherwise you will start the marathon on sunday with tired sore legs. not good!

Here Here on this one, I ran a PB on this 5K and lost a couple of min on my 1/2 marathon time, next year is the Goofy so a walk might be in order for the 5K.

 

[hoosmi]

Try to balance better between racing and being with your scream team. I paid for a massage after the half, but mistakenly thought that was enough and didn't do an ice bath so we could get to Epcot. (I did a very short lukewarm shower ). I ended up with a painful IT band in the full. I don't know if an ice bath or less walking at Epcot would have helped, but it certainly wouldn't have hurt.

When you are packing your checked bag, remember you'll have to carry it with you after the races! I walked back through Epcot both days- my bag went from being slightly annoying before the race to dragging me down after.

It at all possible, try to come earlier and stay longer! I didn't make any of the meets except at the start, and I regret it- looked like fun!

Jen in GA

 

[escape]

Here's one from experience:

DO NOT TRUST YOURSELF TO PUT THE CHIP ON YOUR SHOE THE MORNING OF THE RACE! DO NOT DO IT! EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE CHIP PLANTED RIgHT BY YOUR SHOES. You may miss it if you don't turn on the light in the room you shoes are located. However, if you get to the corrals at the start line and you discover you have no chip, have a family member or friend bring it to you on the course, if possible. You will still get a finishing time and hopefully, a finisher's certificate provided you completed the course in regulation time based on the actual start time of the race. I'll let you know if this is not possible.

Another tip, carry salt packets (like the ones from a fast food place) with you if you don't have any other electrolyte substitutions just in case the powerade doesn't work for you. On hot and humid race days, John Bingham/Jenny Hadfield recommended taking one before the race and at least another half-way through.

 

[Hey Mickey]

. I often bring two pairs of shoes in case one pair gets wet pre-race and I usually put my chip on the night before. During the Minnie last year I made a big mistake--found myself at the start line with the wrong pair of shoes on---yep....the ones with the chip were back in the room! I would have cried had this occurred at the marathon. So what I did this time to make sure I wouldn't do that again (though I think I thoroughly learned my lesson!) was to hide the non-chip shoes in a dresser drawer.

I did something very similar and very stupid thus year -- I brought 2 pairs of running shoes, one for each race. I used the older, just about done shoes for the half, newer ones for the full. I put the chip on the newer ones the night before the full and put them in my bag of gear for the next morning. The next morning, without a lot of brain power at 4:00 a.m., I automatically put on my older shoes, grabbed my bag and left. It wasn't till I was standing in the corrals and the guy said to look down and check that I realized I had checked my shoes and my chip! Grrrrrr.......

Next year, I'll get it all together. Really.

Oh, here's another helpful thing I learned -- if you are going to want to stop for a potty break, look far down the road to spot one and start moving over to the correct side asap. I took my life in my hands just after the race track when the potty I desperately needed was on the left and I was all the way on the right.

 

[Sandy321]

Disclaimer - this is my list only - lessons I learned.

1. Take it all in - do your best and take what others give to you!
2. Know that Disney is special - if you cry at the thought of going down Mainstreet, you might not need your ipod!! I always practiced with my ipod, I loaded, and rearranged my music till I had it perfected... Day of the race - I wanted to hear the cowbell, I wanted to hear the sounds around me, so I kept putting off the ipod - mainstreet came, and I LOVE the music on mainstreet - over and over, there were sights and sounds and I took it all in!! I know most people take their ipods, and need them, and it may have helped me to focus better - but I'm glad I was there and heard and saw it all for my first time.
3. NO MORE fannypaks!! I think I will invest in the raceready shorts with pockets to put the goo blocks in - that pak was obnoxious mile 12! and I stopped to take pictures because I could!
4. GOO BLOCKS!! I sure hope I can find a supplier up here!! They're like knox blocks jello - not so gummy as gummy bears, but so much better than the goo, and not as sweet as jelly beans...
5. WISH shirt is a must! Spirit of the WISH Team is strong!!

 

[JimB.]

In regard to the chip - I also do not trust the little Zip-tie thingie they give you to hold it on.

Redundancy - a way of life.


Since I don't like to lace it up into my shoe ('cause then i have to UNLACE it at the end), I alway use (at least TWO) safety pins in addition to thi zip-tie.

It may be a bit paranoid, but I have not lost one yet..........

 

[Scott H]

Just a thought on I-pods, I always just use one ear piece, even when training, that way I can hear all that is going on, (and traffic when training). It is not that loud, but on the race, when nothing else was going on, it was loud enough to keep me on pace.
Lynn

 

[Pungodingy]

I learned that not finishing is not "really" the end of the world (though it felt like it!!!)

 

[scoolover]

My mid section was cramping pretty badly after the full. I tried to correct it with powerade and water but it didn't really work. I sucked down two salt packets from the food court and the cramping went away. Combine that with an ice bath and I felt 98% better that night than I had the year before.

 

[Duanerice]

Great tips!

1) Always wear your WISH shirt if you have one. It was so great that people could easily recognize me because of the shirt. Having the WISH supporters helped tremendously.

2) If you can, use the fuel they will have at the race. I started using PowerAde in my training because I knew that is what they would have. But, I continued to use GU and probably should have switched to what they had which is Power gel or something like that. I'm thinking the Espresso with double caffeine they were giving out towards the end would have been really helpful! I only took 1 small bottle of water because I knew I could drink what they had.

3) I used my IPod for maybe 15 minutes the entire marathon. There was so much going on that I didn't need it. Every time I'd start it up, there would be spectators or something I wanted to hear. I did wear the ear buds the entire race but didn't have the IPod turned on.

4) train with what you are going to bring on the course. About 6 weeks ahead of time I tried to decide what I wanted to carry on the course with me. Number of Gels, water, phone, etc. I loaded up my hydration belt and practiced with exactly what I was going to carry during the race. I actually started to feel uncomfortable without my belt as I was so used to it. I even wore it on my short runs.

5) As was mentioned earlier, buy early at the Expo. I wanted one of the white tech shirts and by the time I got there, they only had XXL and small.

6) Stay after the race. I enjoyed my visiting time before the race and the time actually went by pretty fast. After the race I didn't hang around too long. I wish I would have stayed for another 30 minutes or so just to soak up the environment.

7) last but probably the most important is enjoy the race. I made it a point to thank spectators and volunteers, take in the scenery and have an all around good time. OK at least until mile 23 then that "have a good time" stuff was out the window. I was in survival mode from 23 on


enjoy,
Duane

 

[TEK224]

Angie - I agree with you. I learned sometimes it's just not your day. As bummed as I was, I was realistic enough to know I just couldn't make my body go any faster. I also learned I need to get in more long training runs before my next full marathon. There are no shortcuts or easy way-outs in completing 26.2 miles.

I learned (but I already knew it, too) that we have the best group of WISHERS around. Everyone was so friendly, supportive and helpful. I don't know how I'll get through other races without having Wishers out there on the course.

Terri