Marathon Weekend 2017!

[DopeyBadger]

@DopeyBadger Hey are you planning on doing that spreadsheet thing again like you did this year? If not I'd be willing to help out or do a similar one. I know we still are far out from the weekend but I like planning ahead.

Absolutely planning on it. I was waiting a little bit until people start to find out bib numbers, corrals, and start to estimate their finish times. That'll help everyone find each other within corrals and pre corral.

 

[Baloo in MI]

I've never done Ohana for dinner so I'd like to try it since I've heard good things about it.

I have gone the past two years. It is really good, lots of food though! Come hungry!

 

[IamTrike]

I have gone the past two years. It is really good, lots of food though! Come hungry!

It's been our post Marathon Celebration dinner for the past couple years. On our last trip we had really bad service, (waiter only took half the tables drinks, brought the dessert out while people were still getting meat to eat... etc) it felt like we were being rushed through. I think we may try whispering canyon this year.

 

[Curiouser&curiouser!]

How do most people feel they can handle the parks after a race? We are doing our first 1/2 marathon (still to be seen if it will be the first of many or our *only* 1/2 marathon!). We aren't planning any other parks that day, but a celebratory dinner that night after resting. We are trying to decide if we want to do a park on Sunday.

 

[croach]

I just realized there's is like two weeks until I can start making ADRs! I guess I have to decide where I want that celebratory dinner after dopey.

July 8 if you're arriving on Wednesday right?

I get irrationally excited about dining for some reason, especially for a solo traveler. I spend way too much time thinking about where I want to eat.

 

[PrincessV]

How do most people feel they can handle the parks after a race? We are doing our first 1/2 marathon (still to be seen if it will be the first of many or our *only* 1/2 marathon!). We aren't planning any other parks that day, but a celebratory dinner that night after resting. We are trying to decide if we want to do a park on Sunday.

In my experience, you get to know what your body can handle post-race during training. By race day of my first half, I knew what I needed after a long run was plenty of time to rest, stretch, eat and generally be off my feet. But I was with friends who wanted to hit the parks right away, so I rushed to go with them - I survived, but it wasn't ideal. Since then, I've made my post-race needs a priority. But plenty of people can hit the parks for hours and hours immediately after a race.

 

[ZellyB]

I just realized there's is like two weeks until I can start making ADRs! I guess I have to decide where I want that celebratory dinner after dopey.

I was realizing that too earlier this week and I really haven't given too much thought yet to meals. We've done Biergarten twice before as post-race dinners and enjoyed it, but we want to try something different this year. Just don't know what yet.

How do most people feel they can handle the parks after a race? We are doing our first 1/2 marathon (still to be seen if it will be the first of many or our *only* 1/2 marathon!). We aren't planning any other parks that day, but a celebratory dinner that night after resting. We are trying to decide if we want to do a park on Sunday.

Everybody is different, but we always go to the parks after the races. I think continuing to move around and walk is the best thing to do for recovery and no better place to do that than Disney. Now, I walk slow and stiff, but I walk.

 

[rteetz]

How do most people feel they can handle the parks after a race? We are doing our first 1/2 marathon (still to be seen if it will be the first of many or our *only* 1/2 marathon!). We aren't planning any other parks that day, but a celebratory dinner that night after resting. We are trying to decide if we want to do a park on Sunday.

After my half this past year I showered and went right to the parks. We stayed at Epcot until maybe 7:00ish then went back to our resort and got ice cream at Beaches and Cream.

 

[rteetz]

July 8 if you're arriving on Wednesday right?

I get irrationally excited about dining for some reason, especially for a solo traveler. I spend way too much time thinking about where I want to eat.

We're arriving on Monday.

 

[Curiouser&curiouser!]

Everybody is different, but we always go to the parks after the races. I think continuing to move around and walk is the best thing to do for recovery and no better place to do that than Disney. Now, I walk slow and stiff, but I walk.

Thanks! I will keep that in mind. I think the current plan is to play it by ear and see how we feel by Saturday Evening. If we do parks Sunday will be our only park day.

 

[camaker]

July 8 if you're arriving on Wednesday right?

I get irrationally excited about dining for some reason, especially for a solo traveler. I spend way too much time thinking about where I want to eat.

I'm the exact opposite. When DW and I go, we look for the ADRs that we really want (Raglan Road is a tradition). When I go solo to a race, I don't usually make any ADRs or go to any table service. It's all counter service for me. Columbia Harbour House and Tangierine Cafe and I'm good to go!!

 

[Sailormoon2]

How do most people feel they can handle the parks after a race? We are doing our first 1/2 marathon (still to be seen if it will be the first of many or our *only* 1/2 marathon!). We aren't planning any other parks that day, but a celebratory dinner that night after resting. We are trying to decide if we want to do a park on Sunday.

Everybody is different, but we always go to the parks after the races. I think continuing to move around and walk is the best thing to do for recovery and no better place to do that than Disney. Now, I walk slow and stiff, but I walk.

I'm going to agree with @ZellyB that I need to walk after my races, sitting/relaxing would leave me with more stiffnesss. Admittedly my feet get super tired, but I find my legs can manage just fine

 

[croach]

I'm the exact opposite. When DW and I go, we look for the ADRs that we really want (Raglan Road is a tradition). When I go solo to a race, I don't usually make any ADRs or go to any table service. It's all counter service for me. Columbia Harbour House and Tangierine Cafe and I'm good to go!!

I usually try to do a couple especially with so many options but yeah mostly counter service. Only definite I know of right now will be Sanaa because bread service of course. But I'll also probably do Via Napoli pre race and something good on Sunday.

 

[Sailormoon2]

I usually try to do a couple especially with so many options but yeah mostly counter service. Only definite I know of right now will be Sanaa because bread service of course. But I'll also probably do Via Napoli pre race and something good on Sunday.

I too am totally trying to fit Sanaa into my plan, but it's just not working with my park days, bedtimes and race finishing times. The bread service is amazing, and I seriously am desperate to eventually stay at AK just so I can have easier access to all of their fantastic restaurants. LOL!

 

[croach]

I too am totally trying to fit Sanaa into my plan, but it's just not working with my park days, bedtimes and race finishing times. The bread service is amazing, and I seriously am desperate to eventually stay at AK just so I can have easier access to all of their fantastic restaurants. LOL!

Hoping to go there Wednrsday - airport, expo, Sanaa, hotel, sleep is how I envision that working out. And all the dipping sauces! Lol.

 

[greewe]

How do most people feel they can handle the parks after a race? We are doing our first 1/2 marathon (still to be seen if it will be the first of many or our *only* 1/2 marathon!). We aren't planning any other parks that day, but a celebratory dinner that night after resting. We are trying to decide if we want to do a park on Sunday.

I have the same question! I am running my first, and probably only Marathon in 2017. Thoughts on if we should plan on going to a park? Will we want food right away? I read somewhere that there is post race snacks, and I know I will be training with the gel things...but we were trying to figure out food for the day-like time for breakfast?

Any help would REALLY be appreciated, especially if there is a thread on this that I am missing! Thanks! *scared newbie*

 

[DOOM1001]

I have the same question! I am running my first, and probably only Marathon in 2017. Thoughts on if we should plan on going to a park? Will we want food right away? I read somewhere that there is post race snacks, and I know I will be training with the gel things...but we were trying to figure out food for the day-like time for breakfast?

Any help would REALLY be appreciated, especially if there is a thread on this that I am missing! Thanks! *scared newbie*

My first race ever was the 2013 Disney full,no 5Ks,10ks or half's,I went straight to the biggie.After that race I pretty much had it in my plans to go to the hotel food court,eat and head to my room and sleep,which I did.Since that race I've done like 18 half marathons,6 full marathons and some smaller races,what I've learned over the years is that you will get more sore if you basically head straight to bed after a half or full,its better to head to a park even if for just a few hours and walk some.Also for whatever reason after a half or a full it tends to take me like 2-3 hours before I'm hungry,I think its due to all the water you drink throughout the race and all the gels or chews you also take in,but when I do get hungry a few hours later I REALLY get hungry!!The one exception was in 2015 when I did Goofy,I was pretty much starving from mile 10 to the finish of the full on Sunday,I guess after doing the half on Saturday my body just needed more than I had taken in, I must have burnt a good amount of calories those two days and my body was telling me I needed food bad!!!They do have Run Disney boxes and bananas after you finish,the boxes tend to have small bags of chips,some cheese for the chips,a protein bar,maybe some fruit snacks,etc...

 

[croach]

I have the same question! I am running my first, and probably only Marathon in 2017. Thoughts on if we should plan on going to a park? Will we want food right away? I read somewhere that there is post race snacks, and I know I will be training with the gel things...but we were trying to figure out food for the day-like time for breakfast?

Any help would REALLY be appreciated, especially if there is a thread on this that I am missing! Thanks! *scared newbie*

I agree with Doom and others who have said that walking some after the race will actually feel better then just sitting down. Walking the next day will suck though. I always hit the parks up after a race but be flexible and do what feels best for you. As for food, I never been overly impressed with the post race good but that's ok. I'm usually thinking ahead to a good meal later in the day anyways.

 

[MeridaAndAngus]

FYI - updated Galloway training plans for marathon weekend races are *finally* available on the rD website:

http://www.rundisney.com/training/running/

 

[Barca33Runner]

I have the same question! I am running my first, and probably only Marathon in 2017. Thoughts on if we should plan on going to a park? Will we want food right away? I read somewhere that there is post race snacks, and I know I will be training with the gel things...but we were trying to figure out food for the day-like time for breakfast?

Any help would REALLY be appreciated, especially if there is a thread on this that I am missing! Thanks! *scared newbie*

Finishing a marathon leaves you with a lot of conflicting emotions and desires. On the one hand, you have a ton of adrenaline and euphoria running through you because finishing a marathon is awesome. On the other hand, you woke up between 2:30-3:30 AM (conservative estimate) and just put forth a tremendous physical effort. So figuring out what you want to do, should do, and are able to do after a marathon can be a difficult thing.

Like so many things, I think most of this stuff comes down to individual preference. The general consensus, and my own personal preference, is to continue to be active throughout the rest of the day. This can be accomplished with or without going to a park and I have seen my share of runners who do not appear that they would enjoy such an activity in the condition they are in after finishing the race (I was one of them after my first marathon). I think it's a relatively safe assumption that you would be able to do a park after the marathon if you wanted, but there are plenty of other options to stay active that might not require as much forward planning if you are concerned about how you will feel after the race (activities around resort/hotel, Disney Springs, etc.).

As for food, there are probably others who can help better with the breakfast thing. I usually don't have anything other than some toast or pretzels out of concern over having stomach issues so I'm not much help. As for whether you will want food right away, that's probably another individual preference. I won't say I have an overwhelming need for food after running a marathon, but I'm hungry after I finish and prefer eating relatively soon (shower takes precedence). There are post-race bananas and snack boxes they hand out after each race. The snack boxes had some tortilla chips, cheese dip, Oreo cookies, dried fruit, and probably a couple things I'm forgetting. It's nothing too fancy, but it could certainly tide you over for a little while in a pinch. I am sure the contents of the box can change depending on their sponsors. Personally, I'm partial to the Oreos so I hope they stick around.

And as others will probably attest, "probably only" is a dangerous qualifier for the WDW Marathon. I thought my first would be my last and I've ended up running the next three and have signed up for a fourth with no end in sight. It's an addictive experience and there's nothing quite like crossing that finish line to make you forget all the times you swore you'd never do it again during your training and during the race.