Marathon Weekend 2016

[CheapRunnerMike]

Boards been a little slow lately... How is everyone doing? Only a few more days to the big weekend! Do you feel prepared for the race you are signed up for and are you looking forward to making the trip to Disney? One last set of question. Where are you coming from? Are you driving or flying? How long will your trip take you?

I feel prepared for the marathon only because I am doing a 3:1 run/walk/run with my wife. My base is decent having put in 30-60 miles per week (plus another few hours of swimming & biking) for well over a year now, but my long runs just haven't been there. Did a 15-mile trail run on the weekend which was my longest run since October but it isn't concerning me too much. Training for Boston starts as soon as I cross the line at Disney (okay, maybe a week after), so there just wasn't room for Novemeber/December long runs without burning myself out before 2016 even started.
We will be driving just over 2 hours from London (Canada, not England!) to Detroit and then catching a 2 and a half hour flight to Orlando, then flying back on the last flight out on Tuesday night...lots of time to enjoy Disney for a few days after the race

 

[RunDisneyDad]

1. I've been doing well, although last week's and this week's holiday's have thrown my routine off just a tad bit.
2. I feel prepared, now I'm working through race day details (breakfast, hydration, nutrition).
3. I'm mega excited...been looking forward to this for a couple of years. We are flying in from San Antonio. Our flight leaves SA at 6am, so if all goes well we'll be in the parks by 3pm!

Question regarding Marathon Support - Does anyone recall if they hand out energy gels along the marathon route?

 

[FFigawi]

Glad you are able to get back into training/running again. Are you just working in Iraq, or is that home? I hate to fly because I'm 6'-5", and a flight that long would be more painful than the marathon. Safe travels!

It's "home" for now. I'm one of the two resident expats on our project. The rest are all rotators who work 28 days on and 28 days off. I get out every few months for a business trip, vacation, or sanity break. We have a house east of Orlando where my wife lives since she's not allowed over here due to security concerns.

Question regarding Marathon Support - Does anyone recall if they hand out energy gels along the marathon route?

Yes, they hand out Clif gels once or twice along the course. They don't have every flavor, but they have most of the popular ones.

 

[kevdad]

Great questions! Interesting to hear how everyone is doing and where they're coming from.

1. Feeling pretty good. Kind of scary how mellow I am about the whole thing. By far the biggest challenge right now is literally making the first few steps out the door. I run super-early and it's been 6F and 12F the past two mornings. Sure glad it's taper-time!
2. Super excited! We are starting our trip a day earlier than planned to go to the Citrus Bowl on 1/1, then heading to the darkside for 4 nights before heading to the motherland.
3. Denver. Flying direct to MCO on SW.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and Happy New Year!

1. Hanging in there like a hair on a biscuit.

Never heard that one!

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Question regarding Marathon Support - Does anyone recall if they hand out energy gels along the marathon route?

Yes, they have in the past. Clif Shots are the gels they have handed out and it looks like it is the same again this year.
From the event guide;

A total of 19 DASANI® water and POWERADE®
stops will be located along the course. All
stops offer water and POWERADE®. There will
be five food stops located along the course.
Chiquita bananas will be available at Mile
11.4 and Mile 18.3. Clif Bar products will
be distributed at Mile 15.4 and Mile 19.4.
Sponges will be provided at Mile 17.1, and
candy will be available at Mile 22.5.

 

[LSUlakes]

I feel prepared for the marathon only because I am doing a 3:1 run/walk/run with my wife. My base is decent having put in 30-60 miles per week (plus another few hours of swimming & biking) for well over a year now, but my long runs just haven't been there. Did a 15-mile trail run on the weekend which was my longest run since October but it isn't concerning me too much. Training for Boston starts as soon as I cross the line at Disney (okay, maybe a week after), so there just wasn't room for Novemeber/December long runs without burning myself out before 2016 even started.
We will be driving just over 2 hours from London (Canada, not England!) to Detroit and then catching a 2 and a half hour flight to Orlando, then flying back on the last flight out on Tuesday night...lots of time to enjoy Disney for a few days after the race

Congrats on getting into Boston! Have you run it before or is this your first? I think I have read a blog of yours... maybe? Runners world has a great forum for Boston and the folks over there are very helpful. Being from somewhere with the biggest hills are the levee (along the Mississippi river) and overpasses, I cant stress the importance of getting comfortable with running hills when you are tired and a lot of downhill running. Good luck next week and at Boston!

1. I've been doing well, although last week's and this week's holiday's have thrown my routine off just a tad bit.
2. I feel prepared, now I'm working through race day details (breakfast, hydration, nutrition).
3. I'm mega excited...been looking forward to this for a couple of years. We are flying in from San Antonio. Our flight leaves SA at 6am, so if all goes well we'll be in the parks by 3pm!

Question regarding Marathon Support - Does anyone recall if they hand out energy gels along the marathon route?

I think they hand out some sort of gel, but not sure how often and type. Someone said they hand out bananas and chocolate around mile 20 ish if that's your cup of tea.

 

[sammykster]

Hi all! Sounds like the sickness is going around - hopefully we're all better by next weekend! I am doing pretty well, finally getting over (I think) the sickness I brought back from W&D. I can't possibly imagine it's ok to go back to Disney with the same sickness I brought home is it?! I feel pretty prepared for the marathon. As much as I can be. It is my first full and I did the 20 mile run! Hoping to just enjoy it and finish in under 5:40 but we'll see how it goes I am definitely looking forward to my trip to Disney! We are going kid free (my husband isn't running and I run with my brother in law) so even though we're only going Fri-Mon I am pretty sure it will seem much more relaxed than the long trip in November. We fly in from Minneapolis (live about 45 minutes from the airport in WI) and the flight is right around 3 hours!

 

[cburnett11]

How is everyone doing? Only a few more days to the big weekend! Do you feel prepared for the race you are signed up for and are you looking forward to making the trip to Disney? One last set of question. Where are you coming from? Are you driving or flying? How long will your trip take you?

1. I haven't felt sick, but everyone around me has been so I've convinced myself I haven't been 100% the last few days. I'm just trying to avoid a few people in hopes that I can stay relatively healthy until after Disney.
2. My first marathon, so I'll know if I'm prepared somewhere during the race. 4 goals in order... Have fun, finish, break 4 hours, stretch goal of 3:45. Definitely looking forward to the trip and don't arrive until Saturday morning. Staying until 1/17.
3. Louisville, KY. 2 hour flight landing at 8:10am assuming no delays.

 

[bellanotte10]

Boards been a little slow lately... How is everyone doing? Only a few more days to the big weekend! Do you feel prepared for the race you are signed up for and are you looking forward to making the trip to Disney? One last set of question. Where are you coming from? Are you driving or flying? How long will your trip take you?

My answers.
Still a little sick, but improving ever so slowly.
I trust my training has prepared me for the distance despite a few set backs. A little concerned about hitting my time goal. Very excited about the trip and spending time with my family!
Baton Rouge, LA. Driving, about 11 hours of car time.

Hope everyone is doing well!

I am currently not feeling too hot. Dizzy and slightly nauseated. Think I need more water but I'm too sick to move from my desk at work. Don't feel prepared for the 10k at all even though I know I'm good. Looking forward to Disney though! I can't believe it's next week.

We're from Boston so flying from there down to MCO should only take about 3 1/2 hrs. Leaving around 8 landing around 1130.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Boards been a little slow lately... How is everyone doing? Only a few more days to the big weekend! Do you feel prepared for the race you are signed up for and are you looking forward to making the trip to Disney? One last set of question. Where are you coming from? Are you driving or flying? How long will your trip take you?

My answers.
Still a little sick, but improving ever so slowly.
I trust my training has prepared me for the distance despite a few set backs. A little concerned about hitting my time goal. Very excited about the trip and spending time with my family!
Baton Rouge, LA. Driving, about 11 hours of car time.

Hope everyone is doing well!

1) Doing well. In the process of moving my 6 days in a row running from Thursday-Tuesday to Tuesday-Sunday. Its causing mental moments. Missed my first scheduled run in the last few months on Christmas day but I'm not worried about it (family comes first). Also, the lightest weight I've been at since freshman year of high school (about 15 years ago) and 90 pounds lighter than when I started this running journey years ago.
2) Last hard run tonight (13 miles with 10 at marathon pace) and then easy street from here until the 5K (weather decided to make it a tad harder with 6 inches of snow yesterday!). I feel more prepared this year than the past two. As long as I can stay healthy and injury free these last few days, then the sky is the limit. I'm feeling very strong and confident that I will break all of my previous Dopey times and possibly some PRs. Very excited to be back at Disney and our first time staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Can't wait to see how my little girl enjoys this year's trip versus last year since she is more self-aware now.
3) Coming from Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Flying out of Milwaukee on Monday morning and the airplane ride is about 3 hours.

Good Luck everyone and see you in a few days!

 

[mvndvm]

Question regarding photo ops - are the PhotoPass photographers out there at numerous locations?

 

[mvndvm]

Question regarding spectator for marathon - how easy is it to get around to multiple locations to offer encouragement to your runner?

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Congrats on getting into Boston! Have you run it before or is this your first? I think I have read a blog of yours... maybe? Runners world has a great forum for Boston and the folks over there are very helpful. Being from somewhere with the biggest hills are the levee (along the Mississippi river) and overpasses, I cant stress the importance of getting comfortable with running hills when you are tired and a lot of downhill running. Good luck next week and at Boston!

Thanks @LSUlakes! Yes it will be my first Boston...I will need to check out those RW forums and see what those folks have to say. We have some decent rolling hills around here and lots of elevation changes when running the trails, so hopefully that will get me comfortable. You may have read our blog, 3CheapRunners...although it has gone from a daily-poster to basically my race recaps this past year

 

[rteetz]

Boards been a little slow lately... How is everyone doing? Only a few more days to the big weekend! Do you feel prepared for the race you are signed up for and are you looking forward to making the trip to Disney? One last set of question. Where are you coming from? Are you driving or flying? How long will your trip take you?

1. I'm doing good.
2. I feel prepared for my first half. My training hasn't been as great these last two weeks but I'm still confident.
3. I am definitely looking forward to Disney who doesn't?
4. We are flying from Milwaukee it's about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Also, the lightest weight I've been at since freshman year of high school (about 15 years ago) and 90 pounds lighter than when I started this running journey years ago.

THIS is amazing...getting yourself healthy for both yourself and your loved ones is a far greater award and accomplishment than anything else. This race will just be the icing on the cake!

 

[LSUlakes]

Question regarding photo ops - are the PhotoPass photographers out there at numerous locations?

I believe the photos from the marathon are from a third party, maybe MarathonPhoto. It is a separate package. Can anyone confirm this? Talking about marathon photos, I never really wanted to purchase them, but in 2014 I ran Boston and wanted to. When I get the e-mail with my pictures, they didn't have one of me crossing the finish :/ I searched for hours looking for one doing detective type work and not a single finish picture coming down Boylston St.

 

[SarahDisney]

Question regarding photo ops - are the PhotoPass photographers out there at numerous locations?

I believe the photos from the marathon are from a third party, maybe MarathonPhoto.

Yes, runDisney uses MarathonFoto for their pictures. MarathonFoto photographers will be stationed throughout the course, including at most/all character stops. They will get pictures of you running, and hopefully will get a picture of you finishing, and these pictures will be available on their website a few days after the race (it's all organized by bib number - you put in your race and bib number and they show you the pictures they have of you).
These are NOT Disney photographers and the pictures will NOT be included in a Memory Maker package (which is sad for me, because we're getting Memory Maker for the first time this trip). However, you will be able to purchase a package with all of your photos from MarathonFoto, and they often sell discounted packages (or something like $100 of pictures for $75) in advance (or possibly at the expo).
There will also generally be a CM with each character to take your picture, and if you ever want a picture and don't see a CM, feel free to ask your fellow runners - many will be happy to take a picture for you with your phone or camera.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Question regarding photo ops - are the PhotoPass photographers out there at numerous locations?

I believe the photos from the marathon are from a third party, maybe MarathonPhoto. It is a separate package. Can anyone confirm this?

All photos during the races are taken by MarathonFoto. They have photographers all over the courses. The past couple Dopeys I have ended the races with around 100 photos for the four races without trying too hard to hit every photographer and stopping for a relatively small number of characters. There are no bargains when it comes to their pricing, but they do usually have an expo "deal" offering a $100 digital coupon for $69.95. Can't guarantee they'll continue that offer, but it might be the only chance you have for a discount. As far as I know there are no PhotoPass opportunities on course.

 

[mbwhitti]

I'll play too!

1. Feeling a little tired after the holidays. Slight knee pain with some bruising. Hoping I hit it something and don't remember it. 8 hours in the car today for a quick trip to Dallas to see friends for the new year.
2. Eh, my longest run was 15 miles. Before my first marathon I only made it to 17 and still finished in 5:27 so I should be okay. @Keels will push me through! I'm in it for the fun, friends, booze and bling so I'd say I'm as prepared as I'll get.
3. Flying out of Memphis too! Direct flight about 1hr 45min! T-minus 10 days until I arrive at MCO!

 

[DopeyBadger]

THIS is amazing...getting yourself healthy for both yourself and your loved ones is a far greater award and accomplishment than anything else. This race will just be the icing on the cake!

Thanks! Almost verbatim what my doctor told me almost 4 years ago to the day. "If you want to be able to appreciate the lives of the children you wish to have some day, and be there for them as you get older, then you need to make lifestyle changes. This includes eating healthier and making sure you exercise." I owe a lot of my accomplishments since then, to that very brief 60 second conversation. It was one of those pivotal moments in my life that I will always look back on and smile.