Marathon Weekend 2016

[cavepig]

Long time lurker but first time poster here. Just wanted to thank everyone in this board for their tips and inspiring stories. Now that bib numbers are out its getting real! I am running my first half and couldn't be more excited! Less than thirty days and counting!

Welcome! Good Luck on your first half, you picked a great place for it!

 

[AThrillingChase]

So getting bib numbers did finally make me motivated again! I have only run a couple of times the last 3 weeks since W&D because that crushed my running spirit, and then I got sick. TWICE. Figures! But I went out again yesterday and felt great. I am doing the half and since I've been training for that distance since the summer, I am not super worried about having taken the time off. Just going to get in a 5, 7, 9 in training to keep limber and then start tapering to stay fresh.

PHM was my first time doing the half distance and I crashed around mile 8-9. Partly due to the MK excitement dropping off suddenly, not taking a gel early enough, and getting excited and going out too fast...but mostly due to being smacked in the face suddenly by the sun and the temp quickly jumping up to 80. A lot of people were making that same comment later that day in the parks. So here is to hoping for a slightly cloudy race day! Going back to the same course feels like challenging my rival to a redo.

 

[CamColt]

Like getting our bib numbers yesterday wasn't exciting enough, I just got my cruise docs and the cover of the booklet actually specifies "Castaway Cay Challenge 2016". I wasn't expecting that.

Is anyone else here doing the CC Challenge? I haven't heard much talk about that.

 

[michigandergirl]

Based on last year, I'll be corral I for the marathon. I'm getting really excited now but also very nervous. I've been feeling a lot of aches & pains lately, especially after long runs - nothing major but I am so afraid of getting injured now that we're getting down to the wire.

 

[emindc]

I'm both slow and chronically hypoglycemic, so I MUST carry fuel on long runs. For 20 miles the other day, I carried and ate: 2 Honey Stinger waffles, 2 gels, and an Uncrustable. I fuel every 45 mins, without fail, to avoid a dangerous blood sugar crash. I use skirts/capris with pockets to carry it all - easy!

Thanks, that is helpful. I wear my cycling jerseys for running to carry my keys, ID and snacks. I guess I took for granted how handy those pockets are! It's also quite cool here now so I'm running in a jacket with pockets. I'll find someplace for it all.

I wouldn't worry about it just yet until the official waivers/corrals come out. This year's POT was different than year's past (before it was during the registration process), but this year you had to go to a separate website at trackshack (linked on rundisney) to enter the POT. Do you remember doing this like a month or so after registering when the link appeared? Did you happen to take a screenshot of your accepted POT submission as well (I know I didn't but others have stated they did)?

Okay, this explains it. I have no memory of this at all. I registered for three other events this year though so my recollection is a bit hazy. I must have forgotten I was supposed to do this separately. Thanks for solving the mystery.

Liz

 

[RunDisneyDad]

Wow, it's been fun going through a bunch of the posts in this thread! I was posting on here last year leading up to Marathon Weekend and decided to check in to see who was running this year

Welcome Back! I didn't run last year's Marathon, but did lurk on last year's thread and really enjoyed your posts and your race recap. You nailed it last year and proved not only can you PR at Disney, but you can go really fast!

Best of luck to you and your wife.

 

[Ariel484]

Based on last year, I'll be corral I for the marathon. I'm getting really excited now but also very nervous. I've been feeling a lot of aches & pains lately, especially after long runs - nothing major but I am so afraid of getting injured now that we're getting down to the wire.

Are you tapering? Aches, pains and paranoia are all things I experienced last year during taper...

 

[michigandergirl]

Are you tapering? Aches, pains and paranoia are all things I experienced last year during taper...

Not tapering yet. I haven't decided if my last long run should be the 13th or the 20th. How long does everyone taper? Is three weeks the norm? Again, this is all new to me...

 

[JClimacus]

Not tapering yet. I haven't decided if my last long run should be the 13th or the 20th. How long does everyone taper? Is three weeks the norm? Again, this is all new to me...

The Higdon plan I'm using (Intermediate II) has the last long run on 12/20. Really a two week taper. That's been plenty for me.

 

[LSUlakes]

Not tapering yet. I haven't decided if my last long run should be the 13th or the 20th. How long does everyone taper? Is three weeks the norm? Again, this is all new to me...

Most plans would have your last 20 miler (or long distance of your choosing) on the weekend of 19/20, with a 3 week taper. Every plan is different and depending on your situation that could change.

 

[Ariel484]

Not tapering yet. I haven't decided if my last long run should be the 13th or the 20th. How long does everyone taper? Is three weeks the norm? Again, this is all new to me...

Mine was a 3-week taper. I went a little nuts.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Not tapering yet. I haven't decided if my last long run should be the 13th or the 20th. How long does everyone taper? Is three weeks the norm? Again, this is all new to me...

Last Long Sunday run (16 miles) is on Sunday 12/20/15 for me (21 days out). However, my last hard workout is on 12/30/15 (13 miles with 10 at marathon Tempo). This will be 8 days before my 1st race (5K) and 11 days prior to the marathon.

 

[StarGirl11]

I start tapering the 27th. So two weeks, like last year. I was originally going to be doing 3 but I've been fightting a funny bug on and off this week so I missed my post Thanksgiving long run. And yesterday's for that matter but I am just going to do that tonight after I get back from class.

 

[cavepig]

Not tapering yet. I haven't decided if my last long run should be the 13th or the 20th. How long does everyone taper? Is three weeks the norm? Again, this is all new to me...

Plan was to have my last really long run 3 weeks before, then a mediumish run 2 weeks before, but I'm actually tapering now & have been since I'm injured...I'm going batty. If you are feeling anything painful don't be afraid to taper earlier and shorten those long runs, better to be a little undertrained than injuried.

 

[AmynVal]

 

[Kathymford]

Wow. The thread exploded! How exciting!! And I really hope the corral placements are like last year's! That would put me in J for the half based on bib numbers, but it doesn't match up in the time required column, so maybe just more slow people this year? LOL.

So, I went back to the running store and decided to try some different shoes. I go to Road Runner Sports and as part of their VIP program (paid membership) you can return shoes even after wearing them within a 90-day window. I was about 2 weeks past my 90-days window (of course), but I thought I would try. The salesman was amazing. He brought out every stability wide-width shoe (I have mutant feet) he had in stock in my size and I tried all of them. He also had me try this one pair that was not wide width, nor stability (Altra ... anyone wear these?), and those were amazing too.

Needless to say I found two pairs that I think are perfect AND they still let me exchange my old ones. I've done two runs in my new New Balance and I can already tell the difference in my run. It is amazing. Honestly, having the right gear is so important. I PR'd my 5k time (just training, no race) by almost 2 minutes. I'm so, so happy. I'm not sure this happened soon enough for it to help my half in January, but at least in the long run (pun intended!) I'll be better off.

 

[DopeyBadger]

I'm wondering if there is a discrepancy between last years corrals (and time required) and this year's bib #s (using the old corrals) because a number of people forgot to go back and add a POT when the link appeared a few weeks after registration. It will be interesting to see the size of the last corral vs the previous two years.

 

[GrandAdmiralStrife]

so IF the corals translate, I'll be in K. A shock to be sure, as this is my first marathon and I've only run a 10K and half marathon that were timed.

 

[LSUlakes]

Based on last years info, is anyone making it into corral A this year? If so what was your projected finish time?

 

[RunDisneyDad]

Based on last years info, is anyone making it into corral A this year? If so what was your projected finish time?

I got A (Bib 82)...that was with a 1:25 half.