Marathon Weekend 2016

[Neoflynn]

I've said this once before, and I'll say it again and again: this is one of the most supportive, best group of people I have ever bumped into.

this X 1000

Someone mentioned back hurting above, but I can't refind it to quote you, anyway, that's where my pain started but is actually caused by the piriformis muscle being injured and overused, so glute stretches might be good to help your back pain!

That would be me, and unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it I know my spine is the culprit (as I mentioned in my earlier post I have mild scoliosis) but I think the stretching advice might help I know this is one area where I don't do as much as I probably should...

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 and good luck your first half!!!

So I'll be running my first ever half-marathon and just looked up my bib number (48290), which would put me in corral N for the half if things go as they have been said so far on here. When registering for the half I had no idea when I would finish, but now after training it looks like I'm going to finish in around 1:50-2:00 hours. It seems like people don't like being that far back corral wise. Are there any disadvantages to being in a later corral? I'm getting nervous now.

The real problem from starting farther back as a faster runner is you are going to run into congestion so it may slow you down a bit at first but once the runners thin out a bit you should be fine. As for Disney specific issues as someone else mentioned the more people in front of you the longer the lines for character stops if that's something you are doing.

I am feeling like I am really in trouble. At this point I just want to finish, which I will, but not in the way I wanted to. It is stressing me out big time. I really wanted to finish this race and be able to enjoy the parks but I just don't see it happening at this point. I will be sore and knocked out. All it does is remind me just how hard these races are, even the fun ones.

I know its always hard when your training doesn't go as you want it to, but the worst thing I think you can do is keep thinking about it. As is often said running is more mental than physical I think stressing yourself out about it will derail you far more than a sub standard training cycle. at this point just try to get runs in when you can and just be ready to have some fun on race day and you'll be fine. Not to mention there will be plenty of us dis'ers to give you a boost if you need it

 

[Baloo in MI]

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.

That is so true! I feel like every little thing I feel right now is leading me to thoughts of a potential injury. I am going to have to change my name from Baloo in MI to the Hypochondriac Runner! We are almost there!

 

[wdwjoe13]

Has anyone else had issues with the bib number site? I can't even find us when I enter our names. Not sure if they are only part of the way through entering participants?

 

[StarGirl11]

Well the 14 miler didn't go as planned. None of my December ones have so far but that's beside the point.

Apparently my ankle specifically has developed a dislike of our apartment gyms threadmill. And I say it's the threadmill because the minute I come off of it I'm fine.

This is a problem because I have finals next week and somehow now have to find time to squeez two runs not on the threadmill.

 

[Baloo in MI]

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 run for me will be 12/20, so not quite three weeks. Long enough to rest, recuperate and celebrate the holidays, but hopefully not too long and go totally insane!!!! Never can tell if I like the taper or not!

 

[dancingtodisney]

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.

Rectifying: if the 2015 corral remain the same, I'll be in the corral I for the half and c for the 10k!
Yaaaasss!

I am vacillating in between - I can't wait for the weekend to get here already! and OMG how am I going to run all those miles!

With last year's corrals, I am in I for the half.

We could all be corral buddies! I'm in I too!

 

[FFigawi]

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.

Couldn't have said it better myself. You really don't know how much of a taper you need the first time, which is why most novice and intermediate plans call for three weeks. That's generally what works best for many runners. Once you've done this a few times, you will have a better idea of your training load and what your body needs to recover from that, and can decide if three weeks or two weeks or even four weeks is best for you.

 

[SarahDisney]

Has anyone else had issues with the bib number site? I can't even find us when I enter our names. Not sure if they are only part of the way through entering participants?

Did you change the race from 10K to the one you're running?
If you don't have the option to change it (all it shows is the 10K), if you have a smartphone, try it there - some people have reported better success with the phone than with the computer.

 

[Pixie Heart]

We could all be corral buddies! I'm in I too!

Yay for corral I (hopefully!)

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Couldn't have said it better myself. You really don't know how much of a taper you need the first time, which is why most novice and intermediate plans call for three weeks. That's generally what works best for many runners. Once you've done this a few times, you will have a better idea of your training load and what your body needs to recover from that, and can decide if three weeks or two weeks or even four weeks is best for you.

Good point John...one thing I will add for any new marathoners is that a taper doesn't mean "don't do anything". In fact, for many people, you will be best served training at the same intensity as you have throughout your training, albeit with some significantly reduced mileage.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

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.

Thanks @RunDisneyDad! Last year was a great race for me and you're certainly right...if you want to run fast at Disney the course does lend itself to that. It looks like you have been running really well and you have a good shot at a PR yourself. Good luck!

 

[Pixie Heart]

I have been solo many times. It is awesome. But, if you want to join me on any of my ADR's, or if you are in a corral near me and want someone to run with, you PM and let me know. I totally get the solo thing but if you want company I am game as well.

I offered to help Keels the other day but she won't need me. She's gonna kill it!

I'd love that!
Thank you for inviting me!

I have few ADRs as well, but I can always manage them to meet a new friend! I'll send you an inbox message with my schedule. Hopefully we can share a few miles or a table somewhere!

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

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

I've got an 'A' bib (1:22 HM PoT) but I'll be starting with my wife back in 'I'...there's no 'I' in team but there's a team in 'I'
I checked my bib number versus last year as a few others have...I have bib 53 and 53rd place last year was 2:58:09. Funny thing is that I recognized the 54th place finisher...it was me! haha

 

[JClimacus]

I've got an 'A' bib (1:22 HM PoT) but I'll be starting with my wife back in 'I'...there's no 'I' in team but there's a team in 'I'
I checked my bib number versus last year as a few others have...I have bib 53 and 53rd place last year was 2:58:09. Funny thing is that I recognized the 54th place finisher...it was me! haha

So are you going to run it for pace or for leisure? If for pace, say hello when you blow by me. It looks like I'll be starting in C but will probably be running somewhere around a 3:45 or 3:50. My partner and I will be wearing light blue shirts with two race listings on the back and "Iron Rail Runners" on the front. (Same for anyone else out there who happens to see us... I'd love to say hello to anyone.)

 

[rteetz]

We could all be corral buddies! I'm in I too!

I'm in I for the half as well if corrals stay the same.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

So are you going to run it for pace or for leisure? If for pace, say hello when you blow by me. It looks like I'll be starting in C but will probably be running somewhere around a 3:45 or 3:50. My partner and I will be wearing light blue shirts with two race listings on the back and "Iron Rail Runners" on the front. (Same for anyone else out there who happens to see us... I'd love to say hello to anyone.)

Running for leisure all the way @JClimacus ...it's my wife's first marathon and I'm there to support her. There's no way we'll be passing you guys, so all I can ask is that you save me some beer at the finish line I'll keep an eye out for the blue shirts though. Not sure what my wife has planned for costumes, but I have a feeling a Sparkle Skirt may be in my future. Seriously, I think I'm just an accessory for her race

 

[Ariel484]

@CheapRunnerMike you wouldn't be the only man in a SparkleSkirt. Enjoy the pockets!

 

[IamTrike]

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

.
My buddy is 30087 for goofy which was an "a" bib last year. I think he submitted a 1:35 half time.

So are you going to run it for pace or for leisure? If for pace, say hello when you blow by me. It looks like I'll be starting in C but will probably be running somewhere around a 3:45 or 3:50. My partner and I will be wearing light blue shirts with two race listings on the back and "Iron Rail Runners" on the front. (Same for anyone else out there who happens to see us... I'd love to say hello to anyone.)

I'm going to be in "C" too our group will likely be running a little slower though. There will be 4 of us and we will be discussing a different state for every mile.

If you are in c and around a 4 hour pace feel free to join us with your favorite state trivia.

 

[JClimacus]

.
My buddy is 30087 for goofy which was an "a" bib last year. I think he submitted a 1:35 half time.


I'm going to be in "C" too our group will likely be running a little slower though. There will be 4 of us and we will be discussing a different state for every mile.

If you are in c and around a 4 hour pace feel free to join us with your favorite state trivia.

I'll definitely try to say hello before the start. I'm not exactly sure what our pace will be... 4 might work for us. We're just running for fun, and I'm recovering from a knee issue (got fired up with cortisone yesterday. Stuff is "magical".)

 

[CamColt]

So now I'm getting into a bit of a panic. I felt pretty good after 20.5 Saturday and I just did the elliptical for the past 2 days. I was going out for a 5 mile run today and about 3 miles in, my hip started to hurt. I finished the 5 but its definitely not right. Of all the issues I have been dealing with this is totally new. I'm hoping it's just something that if I lay off the running for a few days it will work itself out, but of course my mind is going in every other direction. I was so pumped yesterday and now today I feel almost crushed.