Marathon Weekend 2016

[IamTrike]

Now back to our regularly-scheduled running discussion... Do people wear their MagicBands while running these things? Any issue with discomfort? I'm thinking it would be a good way to pay for that post-run bottle of suds.

I wear mine. I wear a watch while running. Putting a magic band on the other wrist balances me out so I don't run around in circles.

I had an absolutely terrible run yesterday. Here's hoping I don't get swept at Avengers this weekend! HA.

I had a bad run saturday morning. I was slow and nothing felt like I could go. Sunday morning I ran a half and it was my second fastest time. ( I was almost 2 minutes a mile faster on Sunday than Saturday).

Never underestimate the power of adrenaline on race days.

Never let one bad run determine what you think you can do.

 

[DopeyBadger]

I had an absolutely terrible run yesterday. Here's hoping I don't get swept at Avengers this weekend! HA.

Brush it off. Everyone's entitled to a few bad days. Remember that positive thinking while running can go a long way!

 

[DopeyBadger]

All good advice, Thanks! This is my first marathon and I'm not at all fast - my easy pace is somewhere between an 11:30 and 12:00 minute mile. I'm not even sure what my goal race pace is exactly. In October I ran a half marathon with an average pace of 10:45 but I'm thinking the full would be more like 11:00/11:15. This is all new to me and I'm sort of figuring it out as I go, but it's going pretty well so far considering I have never run anything longer than a 10k prior to this year.

Congrats so far! A 10:45 min/mile half would be a 2:20 roughly. This would correlate with an estimated full of 4:55 (11:15 min/mile) according to McMillan. So your goal time is in line with where you could end up being at the end of your training. My pacing sheet I use for different workouts also agrees with your easy pace of 12:00 min/mile for your long run. I would suggest not going much faster than 12:00 min mile on any of your long runs unless you're specifically working on your kick (or fast finish). Looks like you're doing really well with your goals and training paces. In an effort to keep building endurance, any pacing between 12:00-13:32 min/mile will be good for you. Listen to your body once you start to do the 20 mile weekends because at your pacing it will take you into 4 hour training runs and those can be rough.

 

[Kathymford]

Brush it off. Everyone's entitled to a few bad days. Remember that positive thinking while running can go a long way!

Honestly, this is the hardest part for me: the mental game. I absolutely break down and almost have a panic attack (totally happened yesterday). I have no mental toughness.

 

[cavepig]

Now back to our regularly-scheduled running discussion... Do people wear their MagicBands while running these things? Any issue with discomfort? I'm thinking it would be a good way to pay for that post-run bottle of suds.

I wore mine, I put it a little tighter (like one more hole) than I normally wear it in the parks so it doesn't move around at all. I didn't notice it at all. Without it I couldn't get back in the room and don't want to check it or smash it in my already full belt.

 

[kevdad]

I wore mine, I put it a little tighter (like one more hole) than I normally wear it in the parks so it doesn't move around at all. I didn't notice it at all. Without it I couldn't get back in the room and don't want to check it or smash it in my already full belt.

Good point about getting back in the room. The rest of the family will be at Animal Kingdom on Sunday, so if I don't want to spend the day in stinky running clothes I better have a "key" to the room!

 

[mckay94]

What happens if you get "swept up" by the balloon ladies, getting nervous at this point in my training (or lack of) and just want to be prepared if this does happen. Anyone have any experiences to share? Do you get a medal still if you get swept up, I ask because I read somewhere that you do and found that a tad strange so just curious if that's true or not!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I run with my MagicBand. I don't like checking a bag so I just wear it. It's not uncomfortable for me and I don't really worry about losing it or anything. I know some people find them uncomfortable, but if you don't have problems wearing it around normally it shouldn't be an issue running with it.

Same here - I don't even notice it when I am running.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Honestly, this is the hardest part for me: the mental game. I absolutely break down and almost have a panic attack (totally happened yesterday). I have no mental toughness.

You have to make this a part of your routine. I have mental approaches that I practice on almost every training run. Things like mantras, positive imagery, math problems to do in my head while running, mind tricks (only running one mile at a time, rinse, repeat during a 20 miler). I also purposely sabotage some runs to make myself deal with really bad runs occasionally.

You will not become a stronger runner (mentally) unless you take that training as seriously as you take your physical training.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Honestly, this is the hardest part for me: the mental game. I absolutely break down and almost have a panic attack (totally happened yesterday). I have no mental toughness.

I totally get it. And for the marathon, my self doubt and negative thinking is partially to blame for me underachieving on my goals too.

Recently, every time doubt or negative thoughts start to creep in my mind whether its a race or during training I just start to smile. After smiling, I try and think of all of the cool/fun things I'm seeing.
"Hey, look at that funny sign!" OR
"Man, that guy's costume is awesome! I wonder how he made that." OR
"I'M AMAZING!" OR
"I wonder what those birds are thinking about? I bet they're more tired than I am. Hey, Larry you mind taking the lead here my wings are exhausted."

I also think back to all those people who told me I couldn't do something. Whether it be a coach who said I wasn't good enough, or a teacher who told me I'd never succeed, or a friend who said it wouldn't be possible for me to run a race. I won't let them be right.

Just smile! The less you worry about your pace, and just let the race happen the better you'll do. As long as you've done the training and internally you know what 16:00 min/mile feels like, you're golden! And even if race day isn't your day, that's ok too (and trust me I have had more bad race days than good ones). Remember that as long as you stay healthy you can always try again.

 

[DopeyBadger]

What happens if you get "swept up" by the balloon ladies, getting nervous at this point in my training (or lack of) and just want to be prepared if this does happen. Anyone have any experiences to share? Do you get a medal still if you get swept up, I ask because I read somewhere that you do and found that a tad strange so just curious if that's true or not!

Found two quick blog posts about it.

http://www.mouseplanet.com/10713/Dont_Fear_the_Sweeper

http://everclevermom.com/2015/03/i-got-swept-at-a-disney-race-my-princess-half-marathon-story/

From my understanding, you do receive a medal for that individual race that you are being swept for. However, if you are participating in a challenge (Goofy, Dopey, Glass Slipper, Dumbo, etc.) you do not receive the challenge medal.

 

[mckay94]

What happens if you get "swept up" by the balloon ladies, getting nervous at this point in my training (or lack of) and just want to be prepared if this does happen. Anyone have any experiences to share? Do you get a medal still if you get swept up, I ask because I read somewhere that you do and found that a tad strange so just curious if that's true or not!

Found two quick blog posts about it.

http://www.mouseplanet.com/10713/Dont_Fear_the_Sweeper

http://everclevermom.com/2015/03/i-got-swept-at-a-disney-race-my-princess-half-marathon-story/

From my understanding, you do receive a medal for that individual race that you are being swept for. However, if you are participating in a challenge (Goofy, Dopey, Glass Slipper, Dumbo, etc.) you do not receive the challenge medal.

Awesome resources! Going to check them out now! Thanks dear!

 

[Pixie Heart]

Now I'm nervous....I was seriously planing on stop for each and every character.
Will I be swept because of that?

 

[mckay94]

Now I'm nervous....I was seriously planing on stop for each and every character.
Will I be swept because of that?

tbh idk how I will even be able to manage a potty break much less photos. I'm pretty much determined to take a selfie in front of the castle and make a bathroom break in the parks (porta potties are yuck!) and that's about it and even THAT seems like a time crunch. I'm hoping I can really improve my speed over the next 2 months though, so fingers crossed!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Now I'm nervous....I was seriously planing on stop for each and every character.
Will I be swept because of that?

It depends on what race you're running, what pace you could keep if you weren't trying to stop for characters, and how far ahead you'll start of the balloon ladies. Is this in regards to this weekend's Avengers or Disney Half in January? If Avengers. what bib # do you have? I could give you an estimate of how far ahead of the balloons you start.

 

[roxymama]

Honestly, this is the hardest part for me: the mental game. I absolutely break down and almost have a panic attack (totally happened yesterday). I have no mental toughness.

This may sound weird, but I get anxieties and doubt and all that fun stuff to. When thoughts creep in like "how am I gonna finish this, it's only 1.5 miles" or "I feel good now but can I really keep this pace up" and all that fun stuff...what I do is I mentally "lasso" myself to someone in front of me that is running about that pace that I am...and I stay mentally tethered to them. And I give up my worry and give it to them. I basically just use strangers as pacers for myself and they never know it. And then I eventually get past the bad thought and pass those people up or let them go and run my own race. I attach myself to people probably 9-10 times per race. Sounds a little crazy when put that way. But man did "green shirt guy" help me up the hill on Roosevelt in Chicago this Sunday. You can even see my best friend "red-shirt" guy cross the finish line a foot in front of me in the online videos. So yeah, when I'm not mentally tough I just make other people be tough for me.

 

[IamTrike]

I also think back to all those people who told me I couldn't do something. Whether it be a coach who said I wasn't good enough, or a teacher who told me I'd never succeed, or a friend who said it wouldn't be possible for me to run a race. I won't let them be right.

Wow, You need to spend more time in here. We are much more encouraging.



+1 on Mantra's. I also have pick me up songs that I can play that seem to motivate me. Right now I like "immortals" from the Big Hero 6 soundtrack. I can state with certainty that "Rainbow Connection" is the antithesis of a pick me up song. Its on one of my Disney running playlists and always make me want to sit down and sigh.

At the highest level though, if I'm struggling with a run usually the solution is to change stuff up.
1. Did I shoot for too big/too hard of a goal? I adjust my pace goal or focus on getting the to next "x" Maybe it's I'll take a gu in 3 miles or the next water stop is in 3/4 of a mile? I pick a milestone that's shorter than my overall goal and just focus on getting there. They whole "swallowing the elephant one bite at a time thing"
2. I focus on my form usually for me this means lowering my hands/arms so that my hands are going back and forth across my hips instead of beside my obliques.
3. I pick a person out in front of me and mentally tie myself to them. I don't worry about my pace or anything else I just have to match that persons pace.
4. If its a race I try and interact with the crowd. If I can get everyone to cheer and scream it gives me a nice burst of energy. (the only hard part is getting the crowd to scream and yell for you usually entails waving your arms around and screaming at them and I don't always have enough energy to do that.

 

[IamTrike]

Now I'm nervous....I was seriously planing on stop for each and every character.
Will I be swept because of that?

There are a lot of variables there. In the higher corrals the lines for characters aren't that bad. As you get farther back in the race the Character lines get longer. I have friends that had to wait 30+ minutes just for their Mickey pic during the Marathon 2 years ago. Not only did they loose time waiting, it was really hard to get going again after standing in a line for 30 minutes. They started in Corral I and would typically do a sub 5 hour marathon. It was hot that day and they stopped for a lot but not all the pictures and I think it took them closer to 6.5. My guess is that 45 min- and hour of their time that day was due to waiting inline for pictures.

Maybe someone that's done all the pics can comment, but I'd guess if you are in the latter corrals you'd probably want to budget between an hour and an hour and a half for pictures minus however far in font of the baloon ladies you start.

 

[SarahDisney]

Now I'm nervous....I was seriously planing on stop for each and every character.
Will I be swept because of that?

tbh idk how I will even be able to manage a potty break much less photos. I'm pretty much determined to take a selfie in front of the castle and make a bathroom break in the parks (porta potties are yuck!) and that's about it and even THAT seems like a time crunch. I'm hoping I can really improve my speed over the next 2 months though, so fingers crossed!

In terms of stops ... it depends on a lot of things, including when you start, your pace, and lines (for both characters and restrooms).
If you're worried, try to get to the corrals early so that you can be towards the front of your corral - that'll give you an extra minute or two, which may not be much, but if you're in the last corral and your average pace (including stops) is 16:05, this minute saves you from being swept.

The most important thing is to monitor your pace. If you have a Garmin, check your pace every so often (if you're using your Garmin to check overall pace including stops, make sure "Auto Pause" is off - if it's on, it may pause when you're waiting in line). If you're faster than 16:00, you're fine. If you're slower than 16:00, you may want to hustle a bit. Your pace probably won't be 100% accurate unless you run all the tangents, but at least it gives you some idea of how you're doing and if you have time for stop.
If you don't have a Garmin, use an app on your phone (I use MapMyRun, but others use Runkeeper ... there are a million apps out there, but again, make sure "Auto Pause" is off).
If you don't have a smartphone (or won't have it on you), I'd recommend getting a cheap watch with a stopwatch (if you don't already have one and are okay running with a watch) to help you keep track of how long you've been out there, and either be good with math in your head or have a printout of what the mile markers should be for a 3:30 half or 7:00 marathon (aka 16 min/mile).
Basically, the more aware you are of your pacing, the easier it will be to make an informed decision about whether or not you have time to stop.

 

[cavepig]

Now I'm nervous....I was seriously planing on stop for each and every character.
Will I be swept because of that?

As others said depending on your corral and what race, character lines eat into your time. I personally pick & choose on longer lines. If there's no line or just a few people go for them, but at this years marathon the long lines I saw from corral G were Pirates, Jack & Sally, Princesses, Donald & Goofy golfing & villains. I waited in Donald & Goofy & villains and each took about 5-6 minutes. All my other waits were under 2-3 minutes probably. I think I stopped for 8 character stops and 2 bathroom breaks in the full and that was about 30 minutes of my total time just to give you an idea. Just watch your time/pace I guess to make sure you stay ahead of the sweepers. My brother hit all but maybe 3-5 character spots but that was from corral B with like no waits.