Marathon Weekend 2016

[Waiting2goback]

Carbo loading the night before your race is generally not the best approach. You'll be better off having a big pancake breakfast the morning of the day before the race and a small, easy to digest dinner that night. Eating a lot of carbs the night before usually just leaves you feeling full & bloated in the morning.

My plan exactly. I am doing Via Napoli on Friday night and Boma for a big breakfast on Saturday morning. I have an ADR for 1900 Park Fare Saturday night but I may cancel it. I don't know if I want to load up too much before going to bed. I'm keeping it for now but leaning toward cancelling. I might just go to Gasparilla's and grab a pizza there.

 

[mawatcha]

Quick question:

• In previous years, what time have the half & full started at?

 

[Baloo in MI]

I take powerade/water from the course stops. I have to walk to drink though out of the cups or I just spill and gag. I've seen many belts or handhelds on course though. In training I use a handheld bottle, but for the races I would rather not hold anything especially since I have my camera to worry about.

Yes! For those of you who can grab the cup, drink it down all while still running and barely slowing down... How do you do that? I try and I end up with water or gatorade all over my shirt and coughing. Not the best look! Seriously though, anyone have a tip on how to drink on the run from one of the water cups?

 

[kevdad]

Yes! For those of you who can grab the cup, drink it down all while still running and barely slowing down... How do you do that? I try and I end up with water or gatorade all over my shirt and coughing. Not the best look! Seriously though, anyone have a tip on how to drink on the run from one of the water cups?

Try squeezing the top of the cup to make it into a funnel. Take small, quick sips.

 

[kevdad]

And instead of grabbing the cup with your arm outstretched (like a Heisman move), swing your arm back toward your body as you grab it.

 

[AThrillingChase]

Via Napoli Pizza Window? I thought that was only for a short time after it opened...does it really exist?

It was open about a week ago! I havent paid a lot of attention to it usually, so I can't comment on its hours.

 

[mawatcha]

Re: carb loading. Recommendations for pancakes?

 

[Baloo in MI]

Quick question:

• In previous years, what time have the half & full started at?

The Half and Full begin at 5:30am and then depending on your corral, which go out every few minutes, you would head out anywhere from 5:30 to about 6:15. It moves pretty quickly and rundisney does a great job of making each corral start an event. Once we get bib-numbers and corral placements it will be much easier to figure out when you would begin.

 

[Neoflynn]

Yes! For those of you who can grab the cup, drink it down all while still running and barely slowing down... How do you do that? I try and I end up with water or gatorade all over my shirt and coughing. Not the best look! Seriously though, anyone have a tip on how to drink on the run from one of the water cups?

Try squeezing the top of the cup to make it into a funnel. Take small, quick sips.

this is the best advice, when you get the cup squeeze the top at the sides to basically make a small opening and then sip instead of try to chug it, ive tried but I'm just not that coordinated whilst running so I have taken to walking through drink stops, I'm not going to be winning any age group awards or anything in any long distance race so the time lost while walking for a few seconds is not going to kill me, id rather make sure I get solid fluids in me, I can however drink from my hydro-belts bottles on the run but the have the typical squeeze spout opening and its much easier to deal with LOL

 

[FFigawi]

Re: carb loading. Recommendations for pancakes?

Our favorite breakfasts for pancakes or other carb-heavy foods are at Chef Mickey and O'Hana.

Yes! For those of you who can grab the cup, drink it down all while still running and barely slowing down... How do you do that? I try and I end up with water or gatorade all over my shirt and coughing. Not the best look! Seriously though, anyone have a tip on how to drink on the run from one of the water cups?

Here's a helpful video that provides some tips and advice in how to squeeze the cup into a "V" in order to be able to drink and run at the same time.

 

[cburnett11]

Question for the experienced marathon runners...

Do you typically wear your trainers for marathons or do some of you get more of a flat? For most all of my races, including 3 of my 4 halves, I've worn Saucony A5 flats. These are incredibly comfortable and I had no issues wearing them for 13.1. However they may be too minimal for a full. Just curious if most experienced runners here stuck to full blown training shoes for the full or something else.

 

[Neoflynn]

Do you typically wear your trainers for marathons or do some of you get more of a flat? For most all of my races, including 3 of my 4 halves, I've worn Saucony A5 flats. These are incredibly comfortable and I had no issues wearing them for 13.1. However they may be too minimal for a full. Just curious if most experienced runners here stuck to full blown training shoes for the full or something else.

even though I havnt run 26.2 the best advice when it relates to any type of distance running is "nothing new on race day" so whatever you have been training in should be what you plan on wearing race day

 

[FFigawi]

As @Neoflynn said, nothing new on race day is good advice for shoes, fueling, clothing, etc. If you want to run in racing flats, be sure to use them in a few of your long runs so you know they'll work for you. Personally, I wear my flats in anything up to a half. For a full, I want the stability of my Asics.

 

[opusone]

Yes! For those of you who can grab the cup, drink it down all while still running and barely slowing down... How do you do that? I try and I end up with water or gatorade all over my shirt and coughing. Not the best look! Seriously though, anyone have a tip on how to drink on the run from one of the water cups?

Try squeezing the top of the cup to make it into a funnel. Take small, quick sips.

And instead of grabbing the cup with your arm outstretched (like a Heisman move), swing your arm back toward your body as you grab it.

Here's a helpful video that provides some tips and advice in how to squeeze the cup into a "V" in order to be able to drink and run at the same time.

@Baloo in MI, all the above tips together:

1. Taking the cup from the volunteer: requires some coordination to keep from spilling - focus your eyes on the cup and move your hand backwards (relative to your body) as you grab it such that you smoothly transition the cup from the volunteer's hand to yours.

2. Amount of water/gatorade in cup: as I am about to grab the cup, I also take a mental note of the amount of liquid in the cup. If it is more than half full, I will usually dump some liquid to the side of the road as I run to get it about half full. You usually need to wait until after the volunteer line to dump on the side of the road, so I usually take the cup towards the end of the line.

3. Squeeze the top of the cup: I then squeeze the top of the cup to make a V or slit (you can practice to see how much of a slit works best for you).

4. Amount to drink at a time: some people do better taking small sips from the cup, and others first put a decent amount in their mouth and then drink it over a few gulps. Again, you should practice to sees what works best for you.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Question for the experienced marathon runners...

Do you typically wear your trainers for marathons or do some of you get more of a flat? For most all of my races, including 3 of my 4 halves, I've worn Saucony A5 flats. These are incredibly comfortable and I had no issues wearing them for 13.1. However they may be too minimal for a full. Just curious if most experienced runners here stuck to full blown training shoes for the full or something else.

I wear Triumph ISO for long or slow runs (up to 16 miles), Ride 8 for Tempo (up to 13 miles), and Kinvara for Speed/just below Tempo (up to 10.25 miles). My races (including my marathons) are done in my Kinvara.

 

[AThrillingChase]

Re: carb loading. Recommendations for pancakes?

1. Captain's grille at YC. Lemon ricotta pancakes with berries (not raw I don't think) and potatoes. Also, dark chocolate waffles with cherries if you can handle those! (Both are amazing)

2. Grand Floridian Cafe. They have some citrus pancakes with mandarin oranges and I believe pecans. And also some vanilla French toast.

I like that Disney pancakes either come with potatoes or a meat for protein in addition to carbs. It forces me to eat both

 

[davyimpact]

Hi, everyone!
Don't mean to butt-in, but has anyone heard anything about what the course will look like without the racetrack? Thanks. This will be my 4th Disney marathon, 18th overall, but first post here.

 

[FFigawi]

Lots of speculation, but nothing official yet. General consensus is that they'll leave it mostly the same and not go back to one of the old (pre-2013) courses.

 

[Kathymford]

So do the race retreats usually sell out? How long do I get to decide?

 

[Keels]

Me when I found out my favorite RunDisney friend signed up on a whim to run the marathon: