Marathon Weekend 2016

[SunDial]

Hope my timing is not accurate for next week as I just woke up. Rut row.

 

[LSUlakes]

Good morning folks. It's finally here, it's race week!

Update on Weather:
Looking a little warm and wet. It's still early and I'm praying for a change. I'll post a more detailed forecast on Monday.

QOTD:
What are you most afraid of happening during your race?

ATTQOTD: The things that worry me the most are things I don't have control over. One of those is the weather. We all have a ideal forecast for race day and the current one isn't mine. The other one is being at another large race. The odds of something happening are unlikely, but I guess the thought of being in a similar situation again will always be a thought in my mind.

 

[Barca33Runner]

QOTD:
What are you most afraid of happening during your race?

GI issues. I've never found the right recipe for success to avoid having some issues during basically all of my races longer than 10K but I've never had an embarrassing disaster either. I'm hoping that I eventually find the right mix for me and I can find something else to obsess over.

 

[NurseRunner]

QOTD:
What are you most afraid of happening during your race?

It might sound dumb, but crowding. All of my previous races have been smaller town races, this will be my first big race in terms of population, rather than distance. At my last race in september there was crowding at the start, and I felt like it slowed me down a bit. Still hit a PR of 3:11 in the half but I'm sure you know the feeling that I could have done better.

 

[PCFriar80]

It might sound dumb, but crowding. All of my previous races have been smaller town races, this will be my first big race in terms of population, rather than distance. At my last race in september there was crowding at the start, and I felt like it slowed me down a bit. Still hit a PR of 3:11 in the half but I'm sure you know the feeling that I could have done better.

QOTD:
Ditto this. More specifically, clipping a runner in front of me, being clipped or turning an ankle while making "lane" changes!

 

[SarahDisney]

QOTD:
What are you most afraid of happening during your race?

ATTQOTD:
I've got two big fears:
1 - Being swept while in a character line. I know I'm fast enough that I can stop for a few characters, but I'm still nervous that the lines will be so long that I end up being swept while waiting in a line (or right after I get out of the line, because I'm guessing they don't actually sweep the lines). I know this is unlikely because they warn you when you're in danger of being swept (so I can just get out of the line and run ahead of the sweepers), but I'm still afraid of it.
2 - My knee giving out. This has been my fear since I started running. My knee was okay for a while, but over the past few weeks it's started bothering me again. I'm so worried that not only will I not be able to run, I won't be able to walk, and I'll just have to limp to the nearest medical tent for help.

 

[Keels]

Live, Accu-Weather forecast from my patio in the 32836 Zip Code:

It's chilly, drizzly and I need a hoodie.

Also, Florida weather is pretty bipolar, and sometimes dumb.

#science

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD:
What are you most afraid of happening during your race?

I'm not racing, so my only fear is the airport here getting closed again during Russian airstrikes and preventing me from getting home to see my wife and have a beer or four with @Keels after she finishes Dopey.

GI issues. I've never found the right recipe for success to avoid having some issues during basically all of my races longer than 10K but I've never had an embarrassing disaster either. I'm hoping that I eventually find the right mix for me and I can find something else to obsess over.

Probably too late now, but the best way to avoid GI issues during a race is to be very mindful of what you eat in the 24-36 hours before the race. Simple carbs, simple proteins, and plenty of water can help keep GI problems at bay.

It might sound dumb, but crowding. All of my previous races have been smaller town races, this will be my first big race in terms of population, rather than distance. At my last race in september there was crowding at the start, and I felt like it slowed me down a bit. Still hit a PR of 3:11 in the half but I'm sure you know the feeling that I could have done better.

Being worried about crowding at a Disney race is not dumb at all. You'll be out there with 25,000 other people, and unless you're in one of the very first corrals, the course is going to be crowded at many points along the way. The key is to not let it bother you. You'll spend more energy weaving in and out of people all over the road than you will if you just wait a few seconds for a good time to get by them with a step to the side, a friendly "on your right" to let them know you're passing, and a "thank you" as you go by.

 

[Keels]

Yeah - FYI, @FFigawi is easily going to win the award for "Supporter Who Traveled the Greatest Distance" for run weekend, for those of y'all playing along at home.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Probably too late now, but the best way to avoid GI issues during a race is to be very mindful of what you eat in the 24-36 hours before the race. Simple carbs, simple proteins, and plenty of water can help keep GI problems at bay.

Not too late. I've tried most things and have had varying degrees of success; like I said, I've never had a disaster. I think I just have a finicky stomach. I certainly try not to eat anything too rich before races, but it's a little difficult at Disney.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD:
What are you most afraid of happening during your race?

Good question. I guess not finishing or having a bad race would be what I'm most afraid of but I feel pretty confident. This is my first half marathon so it will be an experience.

 

[Keels]

QOTD:
What are you most afraid of happening during your race?

Everything.
Like, just picture worst possible scenario and that's where I am right now when I think about Sunday.

 

[rteetz]

Everything.
Like, just picture worst possible scenario and that's where I am right now when I think about Sunday.

You'll do great Keels!

 

[FFigawi]

You'll do great Keels!

Yeah, what he said! You've put in all the work. Trust your training, let @mbwhitti keep you occupied and entertained during the race, and you'll be just fine.

 

[Dopey Devon]

ATTQOTD
Definitely sleeping in! I had a nightmare the other week I slept in for the 10k and begged Disney to let me run around Epcot later on, which they didn't! This, combined with excitement, will probably result in me not sleeping so well before the 5k.

Just set off on my 6 hour journey to Gatwick! Still over 24 hours til I will be at Disney though

 

[SunDial]

I have to answer yesterday's QOTD first.

If just a running event I would have to go with the marathon for all of the challenge and accomplishment reasons already given. It is also going to be a big part of my longer accomplishment goal of finishing a full Ironman before the 17 hour limit. I did my first sprint triathlon in August and enjoyed that challenge and the feeling when I crossed the finish line.

Today's question.

Would have to be of not sticking to the fueling plan and possible cramping/crashing towards the end.

I have to agree with the weather aspect. Not so much of the warmer temps as this is what I train in year round but lightning. This year's W&D is a good example.

Disney has their 10 mile lightning rule which is all good for just about everything. The fear part is what if after a RunDisney event has started and the lightning boundary line is not only broken but broken by quite a few miles. Our Florida storms can pop up out of no where. How do you pull that many runners off course safely.

Also a little humor side note relating to crowding for me. When I got into running 3 years ago, the first few events were all at Disney. I was brought up with crowds so to speak. When I ran in my first local 5K' i got some strange looks and chuckles on race day morning when I asked about the corrals. That first 5K had only had about 400 to 500 runners.

 

[Berniemgr]

Bit behind on yesterday's question. My fave race distance by fast is the half. I usually end up pacing 5Ks with my kiddos or others I know, so I rarely get to enjoy the speed option. I've only done one 10k and again I was pacing my DS so although I completed it and it was fun, I didn't get to enjoy it the way I would have liked. It sounds pretty self centered when I say it out loud, but the nice part of halves are the time I get to myself, to do my thing, listen to my music, get in and out of my own head, etc. HM really are about me and I kinda enjoy that part.

So today's question:
My biggest concern is not finishing due to some circumstance out of my control (ie injury, etc.) I know it'll happen at some point in my running career, but I'd like it to NOT happen in this particular race please and thank you.

 

[derekleigh]

Good morning folks. It's finally here, it's race week!

Update on Weather:
Looking a little warm and wet. It's still early and I'm praying for a change. I'll post a more detailed forecast on Monday.

QOTD:
What are you most afraid of happening during your race?

I have trained my body to hit the bathroom before the start of any race and 9/10 times it works beautifully. But that one time....which is why I plan to do a quick easy mile before a leave my villa to help the process along.

 

[michigandergirl]

I'm behind on QOTD, so...

From 2 days ago: My out of the ordinary thing happened yesterday. I slipped on ice and took a nasty fall, badly bruising my butt & back. I'm hoping it doesn't affect my running too much and hopefully I'll be fine by next Sunday. Horrible timing!

From yesterday: half marathon

Today's QOTD: I'm most worried about hitting the wall at mile 20. I don't think I've quite mastered fueling on my 20 milers and seem to start breaking down around mile 17. I think maybe I need to eat something more substantial than just gels or bloks but never had a chance to try this and not sure if I should during the race.

 

[DOOM1001]

So today's question:
My biggest concern is not finishing due to some circumstance out of my control (ie injury, etc.) I know it'll happen at some point in my running career, but I'd like it to NOT happen in this particular race please and thank you.

I've only run one race where I was not right physically,the Miami Beach Halloween half this year,my hamstring wan't quite right,it wasn't as bad as when I totally pulled it a few years ago but it was a bit tight.However that wasn't the major issue in that race as after the first few miles the hamstring tightness was almost gone but my ankle was actually killing me from like mile 5 on.I believe my newer pair of Hokas was actually the culprit especially since that was the last time I ran in them and the pain has gone away,something about that particular shoe in the ankle area just doesn't work,the cushioning is light and too high hitting my ankle.I'm almost certain if I had the pain in my ankle I had that day and had to go the full distance I would likely have my first DNF.