Marathon Weekend 2017!

[Ariel484]

Half marathon, I think rides are out. Too early, parks aren't open yet.

Marathon...Everest, of course. I've also heard of people riding RNRC in the Studios, and maybe Tower of Terror? Not sure would you could ride in Epcot...that would have you going pretty far off-course.

My BFF and her husband had a margarita and a beer in their hands as they finished (bought somewhere in World Showcase) - same guy had a mac & cheese hotdog in the Studios, so clearly he has a stomach of steel.

I'm boring...I just run and stop for the characters. If I did a ride in the middle of the marathon I feel like my body would rebel. Ditto to drinking a margarita or whatever right at the end.

 

[FFigawi]

Half marathon, I think rides are out. Too early, parks aren't open yet.

Marathon...Everest, of course. I've also heard of people riding RNRC in the Studios, and maybe Tower of Terror? Not sure would you could ride in Epcot...that would have you going pretty far off-course.

My BFF and her husband had a margarita and a beer in their hands as they finished (bought somewhere in World Showcase) - same guy had a mac & cheese hotdog in the Studios, so clearly he has a stomach of steel.

I'm boring...I just run and stop for the characters. If I did a ride in the middle of the marathon I feel like my body would rebel. Ditto to drinking a margarita or whatever right at the end.

@Keels and I are setting FP+ for ToT and RnRC during the full. I'm sure I'll have my beer stop along the way again too.

 

[Tardisblue]

@Keels and I are setting FP+ for ToT and RnRC during the full. I'm sure I'll have my beer stop along the way again too.

So what corral do you expect to be in and do you just sandbag the race to enjoy the course?

 

[Ariel484]

@Keels and I are setting FP+ for ToT and RnRC during the full. I'm sure I'll have my beer stop along the way again too.

Super advanced planning right there!

 

[FFigawi]

So what corral do you expect to be in and do you just sandbag the race to enjoy the course?

I expect to be in the D-F range, and no, I don't sandbag the race. I don't typically try for a PR at Disney, but I run my normal pace and find ways to have fun along the way.

 

[PrincessV]

All this margarita talk got me thinking. Now that I've been running Marathon Weekend a few years and am a little bit quicker than when I started, I definitely want to start "exploring the space" a little bit more and finding new things to do and aim for while running the Half and Full Marathon. So I guess what I am looking for are some things(rides, etc.) that people have done, know are available/possible to do, and food items that are purchasable along the course that are outside of the ordinary. This is coming from the perspective of a non-drinker who is still hesitant to stop for characters if the lines are too long (so I'm probably not venturing off-course for a Mcflurry), but feel free to add anything because there are probably others who could be interested.

I guess, theoretically, if a park is open when we run through that anything is on the table; but I'd be interested to hear any experiences (personal or anecdotal).

There really isn't much outside of the norm in the half because MK isn't open yet. I suppose you could grab a Starbucks or ride a Future World Ride in EP, though. For the full, I really wished I'd had some cash on me to buy a Coke from a vending machine in WWOS - that would've been nice. I'll be sure to have money on me next time, just in case! There's the shaved ice cart in Japan, soft pretzels in Germany, pastries in Italy. I saw a runner with a big bowl of guacamole from MX once, and there are churros there, too. Lots of non-boozy options!

I've not done any rides, but Everest is one lots of marathoners will ride. Most other rides either aren't open yet or are pretty far off course, though I know people have done RnR, TOT and TT.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The only park open for riders when I last ran the marathon was HS. Wanted to ride Everest but AK wasn't open yet. Have they started allowing marathon runners access to Everest before the park opens?

 

[Barca33Runner]

The only park open for riders when I last ran the marathon was HS. Wanted to ride Everest but AK wasn't open yet. Have they started allowing marathon runners access to Everest before the park opens?

I don't think so, I have run by at 8:40 in 2015 and 8:15 this year and the lines had already started forming but it was still closed as far as I could tell.

 

[Ariel484]

The only park open for riders when I last ran the marathon was HS. Wanted to ride Everest but AK wasn't open yet. Have they started allowing marathon runners access to Everest before the park opens?

Not that I know of. I remember going by in 2015 and it was 8:40ish and, like @Barca33Runner said, people were lined up already but not being let in. I didn't want to lose 20+ minutes or whatever (waiting for the ride to officially open at 9 + the ride time) so I didn't ride. My friend and her husband did later on.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Not that I know of. I remember going by in 2015 and it was 8:40ish and, like @Barca33Runner said, people were lined up already but not being let in. I didn't want to lose 20+ minutes or whatever (waiting for the ride to officially open at 9 + the ride time) so I didn't ride. My friend and her husband did later on.

I passed at just past 9:00 in 2014 and heard the operator mentioning the ride was open and had no wait. My only previous marathon I had finished in over 7 hours and I had no idea going on a ride was even an option so I decided to keep going and not tempt fate. I finished in 5:20 and it remains my biggest running regret that I didn't hop on Everest that day. I don't think another opportunity for that particular ride is going to present itself.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I don't think so, I have run by at 8:40 in 2015 and 8:15 this year and the lines had already started forming but it was still closed as far as I could tell.

Not that I know of. I remember going by in 2015 and it was 8:40ish and, like @Barca33Runner said, people were lined up already but not being let in. I didn't want to lose 20+ minutes or whatever (waiting for the ride to officially open at 9 + the ride time) so I didn't ride. My friend and her husband did later on.

Thanks - I was hoping that they had changed the policy. Really would love to ride Everest during the race.

 

[Ariel484]

I passed at just past 9:00 in 2014 and heard the operator mentioning the ride was open and had no wait. My only previous marathon I had finished in over 7 hours and I had no idea going on a ride was even an option so I decided to keep going and not tempt fate. I finished in 5:20 and it remains my biggest running regret that I didn't hop on Everest that day. I don't think another opportunity for that particular ride is going to present itself.

I regret it too (I've had 3 chances now and never done it), but I feel like riding Everest at the almost-halfway point would just end me. I can only do that ride once per day on a normal day (crap, does this mean I'm getting old?! ). I think the backward portion would just mess with me too much at that point in the race, and that sitting down into the car and getting back up would be really hard on my legs...and I know I'd get totally stiff after sitting for that long...

...can you tell I'm trying to come up with reasons to make myself feel better about skipping it?!

 

[Ariel484]

Thanks - I was hoping that they had changed the policy. Really would love to ride Everest during the race.

You'd have to time it just right...in your case I think you'd have to drop back a few corrals or majorly slow down your pace to make it happen.

 

[Barca33Runner]

I regret it too (I've had 3 chances now and never done it), but I feel like riding Everest at the almost-halfway point would just end me. I can only do that ride once per day on a normal day (crap, does this mean I'm getting old?! ). I think the backward portion would just mess with me too much at that point in the race, and that sitting down into the car and getting back up would be really hard on my legs...and I know I'd get totally stiff after sitting for that long...

...can you tell I'm trying to come up with reasons to make myself feel better about skipping it?!

I've never gone on it period. The only time I've ever gone to AK was pretty early after the park opened some time in the 2000-2001 range and it didn't exist at the time. I'm sure I'll get to ride it in the future as we are planning to hit more parks during our future visits, but it would have been cool to have rode it for the first time during the Marathon.

I have also noticed that my equilibrium is not what it once was after riding thrill rides. I refuse to believe it's because I'm getting old.

 

[Ariel484]

@Barca33Runner *nothing new on race day!!*

 

[ZellyB]

My sister bought us a pretzel in Germany when we ran Goofy in 2015. It was delicious!! I've yet to stop and get a beer, but planning on that in 2017!!

 

[ZellyB]

Oh, and, I so badly want to ride EE. We've gone past it when it's open, but my DH who runs with me couldn't stomach it and I don't want to make him wait on me to ride it.

 

[Barca33Runner]

@Barca33Runner *nothing new on race day!!*

There's my perfect excuse. I shall no longer feel any regret. You're good at that whole "come up with reasons" game.

 

[Keels]

@Keels and I are setting FP+ for ToT and RnRC during the full. I'm sure I'll have my beer stop along the way again too.

Shhhhhh. Y'all don't tell @FFigawi, but this is ALL part of my master plan to finish ahead of him in the Marathon!!

I expect to be in the D-F range, and no, I don't sandbag the race. I don't typically try for a PR at Disney, but I run my normal pace and find ways to have fun along the way.

Speaking of "fun", I think you should run up Sarge's Hill backwards!!!

But yeah, fun is the key. I think Miles 23-25 were my favorites during the Marathon. My husband and friends were right outside Boardwalk before the Swan & Dolphin bridge with a cold beer and a soccer chant for me. And then I saw John outside Yacht Club (and threatened to kill him, but it was all in love), and then Beth got us a Grand Marnier slush to drink on our way to Mile 25.

I think my Mom is planning to be outside the Beach Club with the cooler this time around, so everybody just look for the tiny blonde lady with the Yeti cooler!

 

[Ariel484]

My sister bought us a pretzel in Germany when we ran Goofy in 2015. It was delicious!! I've yet to stop and get a beer, but planning on that in 2017!!

Okay, I could totally get onboard with a pretzel!!

There's my perfect excuse. I shall no longer feel any regret. You're good at that whole "come up with reasons" game.

I try.