Marathon Weekend 2016

[DOOM1001]

Last weekend for our "long" runs. Hope it goes or has gone well for you.

QOTD:
If you had to choose only one race distance to run, what distance and why?

ATTQOTD - The marathon because I enjoy a good challenge and the distance is one that takes a lot of work to try to master.

that's a though one,it would be between the half or the full,I can only do so many fulls throughout the year,the soreness for two days after is never fun but I enjoy the challenge.I could probably run a half every other week throughout the year as I don't even get sore after them but the sense of a challenge is not as high.I prefer to continue my race schedule of like 8-10 half's a year with 1-2 fulls thrown in for a real challenge.If I could only pick one it would be a half since I could do many more yearly but I love the challenge of a full,7 days to go for my favorite full in Disney.I was a little hesitant to run my first full outside Disney at Space Coast and even though it was kind of what I expected with the race overall feeling longer than Disney as the course was much the same throughout,nice houses on one side with a river on the other,it was a great experience and I think I'm in for the full for next year even if the half isn't sold out.I think I would like to pick and choose which races to run a full,after Disney for example I'm doing the Celebration half and looking at the course for the full I dont think I would ever run the full at Celebration as you have to run the same loop like twice.

 

[NurseRunner]

Qotd: mine is the half. I've never done a full and honestly not sure if I have the desire to. Around 8 years or so ago I tore my right meniscus at work, so for me to be doing half marathons as often as I do I consider a blessing.

 

[bellrae]

I know many of you are already at WDW or about to head there. I just wanted to wish all of you the very best for next weekend - whether you are running the 5k or Dopey or any combination in between You've all got this! I can't wait to start seeing social media flooded with pictures of costumes and happy/tired runners showing off their medals.

I also hope the weather gods put on a better showing that last year (I'll not forget how cold it was in the 5k corrals last January for a very long time!).

 

[FortWildernessCamper]

I am very excited. First 10k...first anything. Just turned 64 and just started running.

 

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD:

If I could only run one distance forever I would pick the 1/2 marathon. It is long enough to make it challenging but it doesn't require as much time to train (making it more possible to do it year after year with all of life's challenges popping up).

 

[SarahDisney]

If you had to choose only one race distance to run, what distance and why?

Well, the only races I've ever done were a 5K and a 5 mile, but anyway ... I think I'd say 10K, because it's not an easy distance for me yet, and I'm scared of anything longer, but I think it will be enjoyable.

 

[mawatcha]

Goofy and Dopey runners - do you have any tips on successfully getting through the Saturday afternoon/evening?

I'm concerned about refuelling properly and getting enough sleep in.

I'll try not to go too boards crazy this week, the butterflies are here and I'm already finding it hard to sleep! Good luck everyone .

 

[DopeyBadger]

Goofy and Dopey runners - do you have any tips on successfully getting through the Saturday afternoon/evening?

I'm concerned about refuelling properly and getting enough sleep in.

I'll try not to go too boards crazy this week, the butterflies are here and I'm already finding it hard to sleep! Good luck everyone .

Depends on what you did during training. I would approach it similarly between your practice back to back runs. For me,

-Don't sprint the end of the race. Maintain whatever pace you were doing up to the finish throughout the last 400m. By sprinting, you're delving deeper into your reserves and cause more damage to the muscles.
-Take in 16oz chocolate milk within 15 minutes of crossing the finish line (aids in quicker recovery because of reasons detailed a few pages ago)
-The key replenishment zone for carbs is 15 minutes after finishing, and then within 2 hours of finishing. These two time frames have been shown to aid in glycogen replenishment the best. After 2 hours, you move into your normal replenishment zone.
-Stretch routine within 15 minutes of crossing the finish line (I've found for me I feel better the next day if I do my routine, probably more psychological than anything)
-Put on my Zenzah compression leg sleeves after stretching
-Drink enough water that urine remains light straw colored (keep an eye on this because of humidity and where you're traveling from, heat acclimatization takes about 10 days or 6 workouts)
-Eat foods that I know do well the next day
-Keep active and visit the parks taking sitting breaks occasionally
-Also planning on carb loading between the half and full and will consume about 600 g carbs throughout the day. About 500g carbs will come from liquid source. (My attempt at the Western Australian carb loading method).
-By the 3rd night, I'm usually so exhausted that falling asleep isn't an issue (but I usually try to be in bed by about 7pm, normal days at home in bed by 9pm so not a big change).

Relax and know that the hard part is actually already done, the training! Now we get to do the fun part, racing!

 

[Baloo in MI]

QOTD Response:

I run around a lake here in Northern California early morning and at dusk so lots of animals. I often seem to run across families of animals - parents shepherding their young across the bike path or running trails. The usual suspects - families of deer, squirrels, quail, coyotes, raccoons, and turkeys.

The unusual? How about a family of rattlesnakes last summer looking to sun themselves on the rocks at the turnaround point I use when I run my 10k distance. Was totally surprised by that and got the tell-tale rattles about a half second prior resulting in a serious lateral jump out of the way to give them their space...

The worst? At dusk in November I was wrapping up my first 20 mile long run and it was later (read darker) than I expected...switched to the bike trail from the running trail and made realtime decision to run last mile and half cutting through a neighborhood so I would have street lights to finish run. Just before I reached the state park exit into the neighborhood, I see several sets of eyes reflecting the street light at entrance and I'm thinking cats as I've seen them in the neighborhood before. So...do black cats have white stripes down their back? You guessed it - two adult skunks with two little ones - one let loose but I was far enough away that I narrowly escaped direct hit but had to suffer running through the after-stench as the trail was way too dark to backtrack.

Fortunately I've never encountered mountain lions although signs are posted at all entrances to the parkway.

Just had to respond. I use to work as a ranger in California State Parks. The last park I worked in before moving out of the state had real issues with mountain lions. Take those signs seriously! Dusk is not a good time to be on the trails alone; especially if you are running. Sorry - my inner ranger coming out again.

 

[Baloo in MI]

Welp, folks - this is probably it for me until after race weekend and our post-race cruise. I'll check in when I can, but I just don't know how active I'll be with some much going on.

Thanks again to each one of you for everything you've brought to this discussion - all the training posts, the planning, the waiting, all of it! Hopefully I will see each and every one of you at the Expo or out on the course.

Sending good wishes and thoughts to each of you for great runs, fun times and hopes that this race weekend meets AND exceeds all you've planned and trained for.

See you all on the other side!!

Good luck with Dopey! You are going to kill it!

 

[Barca33Runner]

Goofy and Dopey runners - do you have any tips on successfully getting through the Saturday afternoon/evening?

I'm concerned about refuelling properly and getting enough sleep in.

I'll try not to go too boards crazy this week, the butterflies are here and I'm already finding it hard to sleep! Good luck everyone .

I can't come anywhere close to the detail that @DopeyBadger has already provided but can provide my "Dopey for Dummies" abridged version.

-stay active during the day, but don't go crazy
-don't eat or drink anything out of the ordinary
-keep your mind occupied with things other than the upcoming race
-have a dinner and sleep plan. You'll naturally tend to do things a little later than you would like if you don't have a bit of a plan

It's a delicate tightrope of being prepared but not being neurotic about it. My biggest problem has been falling asleep; my nerves and body clock don't exactly want to go to bed as early as my intellect tells me I should.

Also, if you're an NFL football fan (fortunately I'm not) you need to convince yourself that playoff football is unimportant.

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

I feel like I've asked this before, but what other "wacky" "unique" things can you do during the Marathon? I've seen riding Expedition Everest and grabbing a McFlurry at McDonald's by the All Stars... anything else I should propose to my friends?

Because frankly this will probably be my only Marathon ever so why not get crazy with it, right?!

 

[heyitsmejosh]

Race: Dopey
Name: Josh
Dis Screen Name: heyitsmejosh
Costume: none
Corral: I
Early Bird or Late Arriver? Late
Front Middle or Back of corral? middle
Expected Pace: 14-15mm

 

[Mickey Momma]

QOTD:
If you had to choose only one race distance to run, what distance and why?

For me, and in this stage of my life, the half is my favorite. I am not a fast runner, so long training runs can literally take me most of the day. I can see that changing as I get faster and my three kiddos get a bit older.

 

[FFigawi]

See you all on the other side!!

I'm very proud of you for all the hard work & training you've put in. You got this! See you at the BC/YC bar for all the beers!

I feel like I've asked this before, but what other "wacky" "unique" things can you do during the Marathon? I've seen riding Expedition Everest and grabbing a McFlurry at McDonald's by the All Stars... anything else I should propose to my friends?

Because frankly this will probably be my only Marathon ever so why not get crazy with it, right?!

I have my family & friends meet me at mile 24 for a beer stop. It's right next to Boardwalk, so very easy for them to do.

 

[emory2001]

Thank you for all the responses to my earlier question. I have one more - where are the ChEAR Squad waivers? I read that I have to have it with me to pick up my packet, but those waivers are not listed with the other waivers.

Bumpity bump. Can anyone help with this?

 

[DopeyBadger]

Bumpity bump. Can anyone help with this?

Unfortunately, I couldn't find the waivers for you either. I found a couple of old chEAR squad programs online and it does state that waivers could be found at the expo. So, unless someone else can point you to an online source, just know that they will be available at the expo. From the looks of the other waivers they look fairly generic. In fact the Pasta in the Park and Breakfast are exactly the same. You could always print those off in advance have them signed and if they are the correct ones then success.

 

[John VN]

January 2016 has the same day/date sequencing as the infamous FREEZING Marathon Weekend of 2010. Looks like we might be having much nicer weather this year, 53F/72F, so ENJOY ALL. My M&M McFlurry will be a cool treat at mile 15.

McFlurry John

 

[Barca33Runner]

Going to be on the back half of the marathon working toward finishing Dopey #3 this time next week. Congratulations to everyone who has taken on the challenge of doing any or all of the races next weekend. So excited that we've finally reached the fun part.

 

[DOOM1001]

January 2016 has the same day/date sequencing as the infamous FREEZING Marathon Weekend of 2010. Looks like we might be having much nicer weather this year, 53F/72F, so ENJOY ALL. My M&M McFlurry will be a cool treat at mile 15.

McFlurry John

If my timing is correct exactly a week from now I'll be just past the McDonalds,maybe with a McFlurry in hand!!