Marathon Weekend 2017!

[Keels]

Well running my first marathon. Beyond excited. Started training using the recommended disney training program. NEED ADVICE FROM VETERANS!
1.Nutrition
2. Apparel for running in the race (looking at just using one of my gym shorts and getting a new under armor sweat wicking shirt)
3. List of things to do race weekend besides finding my way to Wide World of Sports to get stuff.
4. Anything worth mentioning/seeing/doing (and YES i do plan on going through the parks after the race) Im more concerned what to do before the race or just go to the expo at WWOS.

Thanks again guys talk to you soon!

Nutrition: I'll chime in here because this has been a hard one for me, for multiple reasons. I don't like to eat right when I wake up, and I definitely do not like to eat before I run. I learned pretty quickly that I wouldn't be able to continue that behavior and be successful at distance running. I've tried a lot of things pre-race (Honey Stinger waffles, bagels, pasta, Gu Chews, Red Bull, you name it) and as gross as it sounds, what currently works for me is either an Uncrustables PB&J OR peanut butter crackers.

Mid-run, I usually fuel with Honey Stinger Chews, ShotBloks or Gu Chews. I can definitely feel a boost from them when I run, but, frankly, I'm over the havoc they reak on my stomach a few hours after a run. I don't consume much sugar in general, so it just sends my stomach for a loop and I'm kind of over feeling gross for hours afterwards. So, a large part of this year's training cycle will be determining alternatives to chews.

For fluid, I always find I need A TON of electrolytes, but I'm also picky about flavor of PowerAde I've come to realize. It's yellow PowerAde or nothing for me. I used Nuun+ energy most recently at Disneyland (they only had blue PowerAde) in my hydration belt and was very happy with it.

As for eating the night before a run, I'm a bad person to ask. Some of my best races have come after a dinner of crazy things like rabbit pot pie, sushi, chicken alfredo or anything involving duck.

 

[croach]

Nutrition: I'll chime in here because this has been a hard one for me, for multiple reasons. I don't like to eat right when I wake up, and I definitely do not like to eat before I run. I learned pretty quickly that I wouldn't be able to continue that behavior and be successful at distance running. I've tried a lot of things pre-race (Honey Stinger waffles, bagels, pasta, Gu Chews, Red Bull, you name it) and as gross as it sounds, what currently works for me is either an Uncrustables PB&J OR peanut butter crackers.

Mid-run, I usually fuel with Honey Stinger Chews, ShotBloks or Gu Chews. I can definitely feel a boost from them when I run, but, frankly, I'm over the havoc they reak on my stomach a few hours after a run. I don't consume much sugar in general, so it just sends my stomach for a loop and I'm kind of over feeling gross for hours afterwards. So, a large part of this year's training cycle will be determining alternatives to chews.

For fluid, I always find I need A TON of electrolytes, but I'm also picky about flavor of PowerAde I've come to realize. It's yellow PowerAde or nothing for me. I used Nuun+ energy most recently at Disneyland (they only had blue PowerAde) in my hydration belt and was very happy with it.

As for eating the night before a run, I'm a bad person to ask. Some of my best races have come after a dinner of crazy things like rabbit pot pie, sushi, chicken alfredo or anything involving duck.

Have you heard of Fluid drink mix? It has both carbs and electrolytes. I used to use Nuun too but I stopped because it doesn't have carbs. You could also try salt tabs to help get electrolytes. And speaking of peanut butter crackers - I've actually carried them before and eaten them mid race. Just have to hope they don't get crunched up.

 

[Keels]

Have you heard of Fluid drink mix? It has both carbs and electrolytes. I used to use Nuun too but I stopped because it doesn't have carbs. You could also try salt tabs to help get electrolytes. And speaking of peanut butter crackers - I've actually carried them before and eaten them mid race. Just have to hope they don't get crunched up.

I started with the peanut butter crackers during the half and full of Dopey this year and I could tell a COMPLETE difference in my stomach after the races ... like, I was ready to eat and I didn't have stomach troubles.

That's the other thing about chews that bothered my stomach - I learned without them, I REALLY want to eat after I run and I feel much better later in the day.

 

[croach]

I started with the peanut butter crackers during the half and full of Dopey this year and I could tell a COMPLETE difference in my stomach after the races ... like, I was ready to eat and I didn't have stomach troubles.

That's the other thing about chews that bothered my stomach - I learned without them, I REALLY want to eat after I run and I feel much better later in the day.

I tolerate gels ok but I would always prefer real food. Just not easy to manage carrying them. That's one of the interesting things about ultras - aid stations are stocked with all kinds of foods a lot of times.

 

[camaker]

Well running my first marathon. Beyond excited. Started training using the recommended disney training program. NEED ADVICE FROM VETERANS!
1.Nutrition
2. Apparel for running in the race (looking at just using one of my gym shorts and getting a new under armor sweat wicking shirt)
3. List of things to do race weekend besides finding my way to Wide World of Sports to get stuff.
4. Anything worth mentioning/seeing/doing (and YES i do plan on going through the parks after the race) Im more concerned what to do before the race or just go to the expo at WWOS.

Thanks again guys talk to you soon!

I think a lot of points have been covered very well, but I'll toss in a couple that I've found as I've embarked on my running journey. First off, shorts. I started out just like you with a pair of gym shorts (wicking) and my regular underwear. Then I ran across a pair of Nike shorts on clearance with the integrated briefs, decided to give it a try, and now won't go back. Why wear nice wicking shorts if the cotton underwear under them is just going to soak everything up and defeat the purpose? The dry fit integrated briefs have made things a lot more comfortable.

Second, don't underestimate the potential for nipple chafing when choosing shirts. Be prepared to body glide or bandaid them. Or, what I've found is that if I run in a compression shirt or have one as a bottom layer, the problem goes away. Also, be aware that the chafing may be mileage-dependent. I can wear any shirt I want with no issues for 12 miles or less. A half marathon starts to get uncomfortable and the full I ran in a loose dry-fit shirt without countermeasures ended up being Hell!

As for questions 3 and 4, you're going to be at Disney World! There is plenty to do. Race-wise, not too much worth mentioning outside of get your package at the Expo and show up on time for the races.

 

[camaker]

I tolerate gels ok but I would always prefer real food. Just not easy to manage carrying them. That's one of the interesting things about ultras - aid stations are stocked with all kinds of foods a lot of times.

@croach I see you're listed as being from Roanoke. Have you run the Race 13.1 Roanoke course? I may need to switch from my June 4th race in Raleigh due to my daughter's graduation and Roanoke could be an option. Any info you can pass along on it would be appreciated.

 

[croach]

@croach I see you're listed as being from Roanoke. Have you run the Race 13.1 Roanoke course? I may need to switch from my June 4th race in Raleigh due to my daughter's graduation and Roanoke could be an option. Any info you can pass along on it would be appreciated.

I've not run it but I'm familiar with the early/late parts of the race. They do this pretty much all the greenway here which is nice. I watched the video on their site and didn't realize they had the couple climbs in the middle. Never run out there before put I might add it to a future run and then I could tell you more. Think it's in July right? So could make it hot. If you think you might do it let me now and I can give more info if neeeded.

 

[rteetz]

3. List of things to do race weekend besides finding my way to Wide World of Sports to get stuff.

Things to race weekend...

Your at Disney! Go to the parks! Go to Disney springs! Go to resorts! Have fun!

 

[camaker]

I've not run it but I'm familiar with the early/late parts of the race. They do this pretty much all the greenway here which is nice. I watched the video on their site and didn't realize they had the couple climbs in the middle. Never run out there before put I might add it to a future run and then I could tell you more. Think it's in July right? So could make it hot. If you think you might do it let me now and I can give more info if neeeded.

Thanks for the info! Sounds like a pretty typical Race 13.1 route. The race date is June 18th, IIRC. My choices for the race are either Roanoke in June or Charlotte in September. Both are ~3 hour drives for me. Never been to Roanoke, but I used to play in Ultimate Frisbee tournaments in Blacksburg so I know it's beautiful up there. Charlotte is the week before a Disney trip and right in the middle of my marathon training so the timing isn't the best.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Well running my first marathon. Beyond excited. Started training using the recommended disney training program. NEED ADVICE FROM VETERANS!
1.Nutrition
2. Apparel for running in the race (looking at just using one of my gym shorts and getting a new under armor sweat wicking shirt)
3. List of things to do race weekend besides finding my way to Wide World of Sports to get stuff.
4. Anything worth mentioning/seeing/doing (and YES i do plan on going through the parks after the race) Im more concerned what to do before the race or just go to the expo at WWOS.

Thanks again guys talk to you soon!

1. Like Keels, nutrition is the toughest for me. I haven't quite figured it out for marathons yet myself. For a 1/2 it's no big deal to me. On local races I have a huge breakfast and that is enough to hold me over. For a full it is different. So, try what works for you. You have a few months to test it all out. I find the gels and gu's make me feel like I am going to have the runners trots. Not the best feeling when you have 15 miles left to run. I try to bring real food when I can. This year I brought Swedish fish for the sugar because, well, I love them, it gives me a reason to eat them and not feel guilty, and they don't bother my stomach.

2. For a full marathon you DO NOT want to go cheap on the clothing in any way. If you do you will understand why when you're done. Blisters and chaffing are not fun at all. Spend the money and get good running clothes, socks, and shoes. It will be money well spent.

3. Do what you enjoy while trying to take it easy on days leading up to the race. I ran the 2014 Tower of Terror race. I didn't get one blister all year training. I was trying to get so much done the weekend I was down there and I got HUGE blisters before the race. Needless to say, running 10 miles on giant blisters hurt pretty badly. You need to be careful with your eating before the race to avoid bathroom issues during the race.

4. If you want to make sure you can enjoy the parks after the race make sure you put in the time for training. The more you train the better you will feel after the race.


One other thing to be aware of is the amount of people you will be surrounded by during the race. If you haven't run a Disney race before then it can be overwhelming. I posted my video from this year's marathon earlier in this thread if you want to watch it and get an idea how crowded the race is. I would try to run a race for a proof of time, as suggested by a previous poster. Also, staying at a monorail resort is ideal if you can afford it. Sure made getting to and from the race so easy this year.

Nutrition: I'll chime in here because this has been a hard one for me, for multiple reasons. I don't like to eat right when I wake up, and I definitely do not like to eat before I run. I learned pretty quickly that I wouldn't be able to continue that behavior and be successful at distance running. I've tried a lot of things pre-race (Honey Stinger waffles, bagels, pasta, Gu Chews, Red Bull, you name it) and as gross as it sounds, what currently works for me is either an Uncrustables PB&J OR peanut butter crackers.

Mid-run, I usually fuel with Honey Stinger Chews, ShotBloks or Gu Chews. I can definitely feel a boost from them when I run, but, frankly, I'm over the havoc they reak on my stomach a few hours after a run. I don't consume much sugar in general, so it just sends my stomach for a loop and I'm kind of over feeling gross for hours afterwards. So, a large part of this year's training cycle will be determining alternatives to chews.

For fluid, I always find I need A TON of electrolytes, but I'm also picky about flavor of PowerAde I've come to realize. It's yellow PowerAde or nothing for me. I used Nuun+ energy most recently at Disneyland (they only had blue PowerAde) in my hydration belt and was very happy with it.

As for eating the night before a run, I'm a bad person to ask. Some of my best races have come after a dinner of crazy things like rabbit pot pie, sushi, chicken alfredo or anything involving duck.

Keels, you know what I use that may work for you is Kashi Trail Mix bars. They have nuts in them for sustained blood sugar (hopefully your not allergic) and are organic so they don't have a bunch of crap in them. They don't bother my stomach at all. The only problem is they take up more room than gu's. But I will probably just get another Roo pouch for my next marathon to carry them.

 

[FFigawi]

As for eating the night before a run, I'm a bad person to ask. Some of my best races have come after a dinner of crazy things like rabbit pot pie, sushi, chicken alfredo or anything involving duck.

Sushi is my go-to meal before a big race. Salt (miso soup), easy to digest proteins (sashimi), and simple carbs (rice) washed down with a beer. What more could you want?

I tolerate gels ok but I would always prefer real food. Just not easy to manage carrying them. That's one of the interesting things about ultras - aid stations are stocked with all kinds of foods a lot of times.

This is very true. I've seen and eaten a wide variety of food during my ultras, everything from meatloaf to pizza to soup, but my favorite is salted potatoes.

 

[camaker]

One other thing to be aware of is the amount of people you will be surrounded by during the race. If you haven't run a Disney race before then it can be overwhelming. I posted my video from this year's marathon earlier in this thread if you want to watch it and get an idea how crowded the race is. I would try to run a race for a proof of time, as suggested by a previous poster.

I don't think this can be emphasized enough. Disney races are crowded. And the closer to the back of the pack you get, the more crowded they become. Anything you can do to (legally) improve your starting corral position, even if just by a corral or two, will increase your enjoyment of the experience. I've had a number of friends at work decide to run Disney and the number one piece of advice I give them is to get a proof of time to improve corral position. Even if you're below the minimum required to submit a PoT, I'd put one in anyway as it will help Disney slot you appropriately. As an example, Marathon Weekend requires PoT if you plan to finish in <2:45. However, if you look at the Half Marathon corral chart from 2015 (the most recent I could find easily), there are roughly 6 corrals consisting of 7,500+ runners (not counting Goofy and Dopey runners) from the 2:45 mark to the end of the field. Most any PoT is going to move you ahead of a few thousand runners.

 

[Baloo in MI]

I have to agree with @camaker. Two years ago I ran the Goofy Challenge and without a POT was placed in the last corral. This past winter I ran the Dopey and provided a POT that put me in Corral D. Running from Corral P and running from Corral D were both incredible and I loved the experiences. Both were filled with really cool people, lots of support and cheering and friendly faces; how can you go wrong running through the Magic Kingdom! However I dealt with significantly less crowding, was running with people of similar pace so I did not need to weave, cut stride, etc nearly as much when in corral D. Not an issue of trying to be faster/competitive, but more about being able to run at a natural pace among other runners of similar pace. For those reasons it was a more enjoyable race. Getting the POT is well worth it.

 

[PrincessV]

Well running my first marathon. Beyond excited. Started training using the recommended disney training program. NEED ADVICE FROM VETERANS!
1.Nutrition
2. Apparel for running in the race (looking at just using one of my gym shorts and getting a new under armor sweat wicking shirt)
3. List of things to do race weekend besides finding my way to Wide World of Sports to get stuff.
4. Anything worth mentioning/seeing/doing (and YES i do plan on going through the parks after the race) Im more concerned what to do before the race or just go to the expo at WWOS.

Thanks again guys talk to you soon!

I'm basically reiterating what's already been said, but I'm not sure it can be said enough: NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY!!! 1 and 2 for sure, and sort of 3 and 4, too, all need to be tested during training. You'll quickly learn what works and doesn't work for you by trying different foods/drinks/clothes/etc. on training runs. And when you find something that does work, stick with it! No need to mess with a good thing

3 and 4 fall into that, too, in that by race day, you should have a good idea about what your body needs as far as rest, recovery, etc. Some people can hit the parks every day, all day, and still run well. I'm not one of them: my body needs tons of quiet downtime and I cannot skimp on sleep or recovery efforts. So yeah, things you can do include going to the parks, but you won't really know how much of that you can handle until your mileage starts picking up. I think I'd err on the side of cautious optimism and make plans that can easily be changed as needed.

As far as the race goes, the only thing you need to do is go to packet pick up at the expo and be at the start on time! The rest is gravy

 

[RunDisneyDad]

wear your medal to the parks

This is my favorite post race thing...CM's and other guests will go out of their way to congratulate you and it feels pretty darn good. Plus, you will likely engage with other runners on their experience. Its really a neat deal.

 

[Ariel484]

This is my favorite post race thing...CM's and other guests will go out of their way to congratulate you and it feels pretty darn good. Plus, you will likely engage with other runners on their experience. Its really a neat deal.

also a non-verbal way to explain why you are hobbling/walking weirdly (at least in my case).

 

[slp1650]

Sushi is my go-to meal before a big race. Salt (miso soup), easy to digest proteins (sashimi), and simple carbs (rice) washed down with a beer. What more could you want?

Never thought of sushi before, but that is a terrific idea! I will definitely be adding that to my pre-race meal plans!

 

[MeridaAndAngus]

Sushi is my go-to meal before a big race. Salt (miso soup), easy to digest proteins (sashimi), and simple carbs (rice) washed down with a beer. What more could you want?

I'll echo this. Pretty much any variety of east or southeast asian food is my favorite for a pre-long race meal: Pho or bun from any good Vietnamese restaurant (there are some great places a few miles from Disneyland), chicken fried rice, teppanyaki, ramen (the good, authentic kind...not the college/grad student meal kind), pad see ew with chicken, and also sushi. Okay, now I'm hungry.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

This is my favorite post race thing...CM's and other guests will go out of their way to congratulate you and it feels pretty darn good. Plus, you will likely engage with other runners on their experience. Its really a neat deal.

I agree, and I am not a medal guy. Only at WDW do I wear my medal after leaving the race area, and I think that it is because it makes me feel like I am part of something bigger than myself. I will only wear my medal for a day or two after the races, but that is mostly because they are so HEAVY. I love my pictures in the parks with family, friends, characters and even strangers while wearing our medals.

 

[ZellyB]

I've also found sushi to be a good pre-race meal, but honestly I don't have a go to. My stomach is pretty tolerant and I usually just eat what sounds good.

And wearing medals in the parks after is one of the absolute best things about runDisney races!!