Marathon Weekend 2017!

[Ariel484]

2015 was not fun. I came from Wisconsin for warmer weather not the same weather I had back home lol.

Yeah, this year during Marathon Weekend we got to experience the full range of conditions that Mother Nature had to offer.

5K - it was windy and pretty chilly (I don't like cold, so it bugged me).
10K - poured rain. Soaking rain storm.
Half - temperature was perfect but it was SUPER humid and so foggy, you could barely see very far in front of you.
Marathon - it was almost 70 with 100-percent humidity at race start and only got hotter and muggier from there. I saw so many people down on the course, it was concerning.

Sometimes being an over-packer is a good thing.

 

[CarolynFH]

RunDisney is pretty explicit about the 16:00/mile pacing requirement and they encourage training for a 15:00/mile. I'm afraid that at 23:00/mile you are mostly definitely in danger of being picked up by a golf cart and taken to the finish, but other than that, if you're planning on character stops the characters will already likely have been pulled from the course by then because of time restrictions. They're slated to appear on a strict time schedule, not a fluid schedule based on the runners on the course.

I know they swept the course at Jingle Jungle and there were reports of people being taken to the finish in golf carts during Princess, so you most certainly can be swept.

EDIT: And they did, in fact, sweep at Star Wars 5K in April. I have a FB friend that was swept and posted about it.

You're going to want to prepare for all kinds of weather. In 2013 there was a heat advisory during Marathon weekend...in 2015 there was a windchill warning.

And like @Keels said, they'll pull the characters eventually. If you really feel you'll get swept, unfortunately you may want to re-think stopping for pictures.

Right now, when it's 77 degrees & 95% humidity at 7:00 AM, DH & I are only trying to walk for 30 minutes 3-5 days a week. Hopefully by October we'll be able to start training in earnest, using the C25K app. Many years ago I could walk a 15-minute mile, so I'm sure I'll be able to finish ahead of the balloon ladies (may not get photos, but I'll finish!). OTOH DH has never been particularly speedy, so it's good to know that if he gets swept he'll still receive a medal for his effort!

And we've been at WDW in January enough times that I've already been thinking about what to wear in heat and in cold!

 

[Keels]

Right now, when it's 77 degrees & 95% humidity at 7:00 AM, DH & I are only trying to walk for 30 minutes 3-5 days a week. Hopefully by October we'll be able to start training in earnest, using the C25K app. Many years ago I could walk a 15-minute mile, so I'm sure I'll be able to finish ahead of the balloon ladies (may not get photos, but I'll finish!). OTOH DH has never been particularly speedy, so it's good to know that if he gets swept he'll still receive a medal for his effort!

And we've been at WDW in January enough times that I've already been thinking about what to wear in heat and in cold!

I hear ya. I'm training for the Chicago Marathon here in Texas and the conditions are incredibly similar. I will say that I could definitely tell a difference in speed and endurance when it go cooler because I pushed myself to train harder in the summer in those conditions!

Good luck!

 

[CarolynFH]

I hear ya. I'm training for the Chicago Marathon here in Texas and the conditions are incredibly similar. I will say that I could definitely tell a difference in speed and endurance when it go cooler because I pushed myself to train harder in the summer in those conditions!

Good luck!

We're in Texas too - Houston area - so I admire your training for a marathon in this weather!!

 

[Ariel484]

Yeah, every year I somehow forget how much harder things get when it's a little warmer out.

 

[burberryplaid]

23 weeks! I hope you're all surviving your runs in the heat. It's been oppressive in the Midwest.

This week's Sundays are for Disney question: how many runDisney events have you done and why did you choose to do a Disney race?

This will be my second RD race and 1st (and most likely last) Half Marathon. I did the inaugural Halloween 5K (which is now Jingle Jungle) which was awesome because we got to run through the castle.

The reason I am running is because I've always been drawn to it & I want to prove to myself I can finish what I start. I've also lost 60 pounds in the last 2 years and just always felt there was an athlete inside of me & I think now is the time to let her out!

 

[Ariel484]

This will be my second RD race and 1st (and most likely last) Half Marathon. I did the inaugural Halloween 5K (which is now Jingle Jungle) which was awesome because we got to run through the castle.

The reason I am running is because I've always been drawn to it & I want to prove to myself I can finish what I start. I've also lost 60 pounds in the last 2 years and just always felt there was an athlete inside of me & I think now is the time to let her out!

Congrats on your weight loss!

 

[Barca33Runner]

23 weeks! I hope you're all surviving your runs in the heat. It's been oppressive in the Midwest.

This week's Sundays are for Disney question: how many runDisney events have you done and why did you choose to do a Disney race?

This will be my first rD event. When I decided to try to run my first marathon last fall, I figured I'd go out, in case it turns out to be my only marathon. And, of course, being at the parks before and after the race provided an additional incentive.

My sister heard about running at Disney in August 2011 and wanted to run the 2012 WDW Half Marathon to help get in shape after having her second child and I signed up because she wanted someone to run with her and I, as I have my entire life, needed a kick in the pants to get in shape. We both finished and had a blast. We have been back for Marathon Weekend each year since; running the Full in 2013 and the Dopey in 2014-2016.

My motivation has always been finding a healthier way to live. I didn't train very well the first year, but over the last five years I have lost over 60 pounds and I fully intend to lose another 40 in my quest to be the best runner I can. Keeping the Dopey on my schedule each year helps me make sure I continue to train even though I don't keep a heavy race schedule.

 

[sammykster]

23 weeks! I hope you're all surviving your runs in the heat. It's been oppressive in the Midwest.

This week's Sundays are for Disney question: how many runDisney events have you done and why did you choose to do a Disney race?

This will be my first rD event. When I decided to try to run my first marathon last fall, I figured I'd go out, in case it turns out to be my only marathon. And, of course, being at the parks before and after the race provided an additional incentive.

I have done three race weekends now and four total races! I have two more planned with Dopey being the last one for a bit (so I say now). I LOVE Disney and wanted to start running. The weekends give me something to look forward to and train for with an added bonus of a Disney trip!

 

[Nole95]

My first race longer than a 10K was the 2012 Wine & Dine. It sounded like a fun race to do my first half, and DW and I had a great time.

After saying we would never do a full, we returned for the 2014 Disney Marathon. This after running a few more local half marathons.
Once again, after thinking my friend was crazy for running Goofy, I decided why not. I put in a lot of training and did a double PR in both races in 2015.
This year we did the first Star Wars Dark Side races.
In 2017, the whole family is running the 5K during marathon weekend, while DW and I run the half.
All this in preparation for DW and I hopefully running the Dopey in 2018.

 

[dburg30]

24 weeks, everyone!

This week's Sundays are for Disney question:

What's the first thing you plan to eat or drink right after the marathon (or your longest race)?

I think I'm going to head into Epcot and get the biggest margarita I can find. I'm typically more of a beer guy, but a margarita sounds really refreshing and the extra booze should ease some of the aches and pains.

Going to knock out 2 at once and get caught up!!!!

Eventually whatever sounds / looks good. It'll take an hour or two at least. After the full, last thing I wanted was food... Had to get that 'feeling' gone before I even tried anything as I almost paid the price in DHS when they were handing out little candy bars... It SOUNDED and LOOKED so good at mile 22? 23?.. but OMG just about made my day take a bad turn.. Guess that's why they say NO CHANGES on race day to your plan!!!

23 weeks! I hope you're all surviving your runs in the heat. It's been oppressive in the Midwest.

This week's Sundays are for Disney question: how many runDisney events have you done and why did you choose to do a Disney race?

This will be my first rD event. When I decided to try to run my first marathon last fall, I figured I'd go out, in case it turns out to be my only marathon. And, of course, being at the parks before and after the race provided an additional incentive.

I've done exactly 4 to date.. the 2014 5k, 10k, 1/2 and full I had already planned on doing the WDW weekend and when the Dopey came up, I'm one of those, go big or go home people, so.. yea..
It was my first full, but my third 1/2 in like 6 months. And I knew it would be a well put together, FUN weekend, and it was.. Even the getting up at the butt crack of dawn...

Yay, I'm not a week behind on replies now... Now if I could get get motivated and get more serious about my training!!! has been a terrible struggle this time for some reason..

 

[Jaxasaurous]

23 weeks! I hope you're all surviving your runs in the heat. It's been oppressive in the Midwest.

This week's Sundays are for Disney question: how many runDisney events have you done and why did you choose to do a Disney race?

This will be my first rD event. When I decided to try to run my first marathon last fall, I figured I'd go out, in case it turns out to be my only marathon. And, of course, being at the parks before and after the race provided an additional incentive.

I've done the 2015 and 2016 10k and Half marathon over Marathon weekend, and the 2015 Wine and Dine "half" half marathon.
I've always wanted to do one of the Princess half marathon races but my sister shot that idea down so we agreed on doing the marathon weekend races in 2015. That weekend turned into a family event where I ran my first half marathon, my brother and sister signed up for Dopey, and my parents signed up for the 10k. Since that race weekend we've made it a family running vacation for 2016.
The Wine and Dine race in 2015 was over my sister's birthday so we decided to try that race weekend, and my parents wanted to do the 5k race, sadly our brother couldn't get the time off from work and to travel to Florida before Thanksgiving so he couldn't join us.
I'm running the 2017 Goofy challenge, I was originally planning on running just the marathon (my first) to see how I could do it before I committed to running the 2018 Dopey, but when RunDisney announced the anniversary for the half marathon and the special shirt and medal I knew I couldn't say no to that. My sister and I signed up for Goofy, my brother the half, and my parents the 10k- another family run-cation!
Wine and Dine half marathon 2016 fell on my sister's birthday and again we decided to do the race even before the challenge was announced, she wanted the medal with her birthday on it. Once the challenge was announced we both decided to do it together, again our brother is missing out on this race weekend, and my parents signed up for the 10k. Almost a family runcation but without our brother.
The Disney races are fun and it's a good excuse to get my family together in Disney, and run together and cheer each other on.

 

[surfde22]

23 weeks! I hope you're all surviving your runs in the heat. It's been oppressive in the Midwest.

This week's Sundays are for Disney question: how many runDisney events have you done and why did you choose to do a Disney race?

This will be my first rD event. When I decided to try to run my first marathon last fall, I figured I'd go out, in case it turns out to be my only marathon. And, of course, being at the parks before and after the race provided an additional incentive.

This will be my first rD event as well. I opened my mouth saying I could beat my brother's Dopey times from 2014 and now it has evolved into a race between the two of us this year. So, yeah Dopey it is for my first rD event and first marathon.

 

[ZellyB]

I first heard about runDisney from a friend in a local running group. Shortly after I started looking into it and found @Ariel484 trip reports on the races and I was hooked!

I've run

2013 WDW Marathon
2014 WDW Marathon
2015 WDW Goofy Challenge
2015 Wine & Dine Half (course-shortened due to weather BOO )

Registered for
2017 WDW Goofy Challenge

Planning for
2017 Pixie Dust Challenge (still a big maybe)
2018 WDW Dopey Challenge (with everyone else in the world!)

 

[Ariel484]

@ZellyB

also...

Planning for
2017 Pixie Dust Challenge (still a big maybe)

 

[Tardisblue]

23 weeks! I hope you're all surviving your runs in the heat. It's been oppressive in the Midwest.

This week's Sundays are for Disney question: how many runDisney events have you done and why did you choose to do a Disney race?

This will be my first rD event. When I decided to try to run my first marathon last fall, I figured I'd go out, in case it turns out to be my only marathon. And, of course, being at the parks before and after the race provided an additional incentive.

Got back into running over the winter of 2012/2013. In January of 2013 a lady in my local running group brought in her medals from the Goofy Challenge that she had just completed. If I'm not mistaken the marathon was the 25th anniversary (help me out experts)? I decided then I'd do a runDisney race at some point and then when they announced the Dopey Challenge later than spring I signed up for it and asked my DW afterwards. Had a great experience running the inaugural Dopey Challenge but couldn't justify the cost to do it again. This year I decided to sign up for the Goofy Challenge. It will be my 5th marathon and 2nd RD event.

 

[ZellyB]

Got back into running over the winter of 2012/2013. In January of 2013 a lady in my local running group brought in her medals from the Goofy Challenge that she had just completed. If I'm not mistaken the marathon was the 25th anniversary (help me out experts)? I decided then I'd do a runDisney race at some point and then when they announced the Dopey Challenge later than spring I signed up for it and asked my DW afterwards. Had a great experience running the inaugural Dopey Challenge but couldn't justify the cost to do it again. This year I decided to sign up for the Goofy Challenge. It will be my 5th marathon and 2nd RD event.

2013 was actually the 20th anniversary of the Marathon. Still my favorite medal ever!!

 

[PrincessV]

This week's Sundays are for Disney question: how many runDisney events have you done and why did you choose to do a Disney race?

Mine are in my signature - I have to post so I can see them and add 'em up, lol!
ETA: looks like 22 races done so far.

I've been running for many, many years, but never knew regular folks like me even could race, let alone at Disney. I loved the idea of running in my Happy Place

 

[singastory]

I just got my POT on Saturday! First race ever and I beat my PR for 10k at 9:38/mi. It was crazy how different I ran during the race than during training. There was a steep hill each mile which I have NOT been training for and I didn't have to walk any of them! I was technically on call that weekend and as soon as the race started my phone rang, almost in sync with the air horn. I had an entire work conversation in the first few minutes. Life has been crazy so I haven't been running much. I can really only fit in one to two runs a week until summer is over and then I plan to pick back up in the fall.

 

[Baloo in MI]

23 weeks! I hope you're all surviving your runs in the heat. It's been oppressive in the Midwest.

This week's Sundays are for Disney question: how many runDisney events have you done and why did you choose to do a Disney race?

This will be my first rD event. When I decided to try to run my first marathon last fall, I figured I'd go out, in case it turns out to be my only marathon. And, of course, being at the parks before and after the race provided an additional incentive.

I have run two Disney Challenges, both as part of Marathon Weekend. I ran the Goofy Challenge in 2015 and the Dopey Challenge in 2016. I will be returning in 2017 to run Dopey again and hope to come back the following year for the anniversaries happening that year. I chose to do a runDisney race after reading about them on a blog. It just sounded like so much fun. It allowed me to put my favorite vacation place and my favorite hobby together. I was hooked 6 miles into the half marathon when I ran down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. It was still dark the castle was lit up, the crowds were awesome and I knew I would be coming back in the future!