Marathon Weekend 2018

[sourire]

The 2016 WDW half marathon was my first runDisney race, completed with mom and mom-in-law! It was a really fun trip, and I'm so glad we were able to do the half together and share in showing off those Donald medals afterward. And now, I'm totally hooked!

 

[TeeterTots]

2016 W&D half! Set the goal while visiting marathon weekend for my 35 birthday having never ran before and I wanted in on all that these happy runners were into!

 

[OlieRow]

2016 W&D half was my first runDisney race and first race in general! Between the medals and the new excuse to visit Disney, I was hooked.

 

[garneska]

When was/is your first runDisney race and and maybe talk about your experience with it?.

I am proud to say 2003 WDW Marathon. It was the 10th anniversary of the marathon with a great medal. The half was still run in the same day. The course was different. It was also the coldest marathon up till then, I think now second or third behind 2010 Disney on ice. I had been training in PA then, but still was not ready for that cold. I did have throw away clothes. Training for that marathon I had some injuries so going in I was nervous, it was my second marathon ever. My DH, my parents and my in laws came to cheer me on. I saw my folks at mile 16 at the entrance of AK. My dad is tall and I knew they would be some where around there so I spotted him easily. It was a great pick me up. For that race that was the only people I saw. Since then DH has gotten good A seeing me 4 places on the course. In 2018 though, he won't see me, he is finally going to run the full. He has done the halfs with me when I did my Goofy's.

 

[baxter24]

The 2012 half during marathon weekend was my first RunDisney race and my first half. I signed up on a whim a couple of weeks beforehand before my oldest was born becasue I thought it would be a cool way to lose the baby weight. I ran with my husband. He was under trained and I had an injured knee. It wasn't the best race experience I ever had but it was such an awesome feeling running down Main Street and crossing the finish line. I was hooked after that!

 

[michigandergirl]

My first and only runDisney race was the 2016 marathon, my first marathon. When I signed up in May of 2015, I had never run more than 6 miles or raced more than a 5K. Over the 8 months leading up to the marathon, I ran my first 10K, first 10 Miler, and first half marathon. It was a great experience and I have been on a running & racing roll ever since. After finishing the Disney marathon, I knew I wanted to run Dopey someday, so my friends & I decided on 2018.

 

[Keels]

I'm packing a second suitcase of just running shoes and running clothes - four of every type: capris, shorts, tanks, shirts, sleeves, etc. It'd ridiculous but with United giving us free checked bags, having 3 bags for $35 total is worth it to not have to buy stuff later on!

Of course, my experience differs from most since I drive to Orlando in mid-December for Christmas with my parents and then stay on through mid-January ... but, I can't recommend this ENOUGH. In your carry-on bag, bring your shoes and your race-day necessities, but then bring (and CHECK) everything else.

In 2016 for Dopey, it poured during the 10K - so the night before, I had to run out and buy sub-par rain gear for the half.
In 2017 for Dopey, the Marathon was basically "Day After Tomorrow" weather. The only warm item of clothing I had with me was my North Face jacket (no Trail Ears, no gloves, no leggings, no funnel-necked top to cover my mouth/throat - NOTHING), so ... again, I took a trip to Uniqlo and Walmart to buy sub-par items to get me through the race.

I don't do throwaway clothes, because I prefer to be hot over cold - and I like things to be fitted rather than loose/rolling up, etc. - which is a real mental thing more than anything ... I just don't like fussing with things.

For 2018, I'll be damned if I don't have my nice gear for every possible scenario.

 

[courtneybeth]

Of course, my experience differs from most since I drive to Orlando in mid-December for Christmas with my parents and then stay on through mid-January ... but, I can't recommend this ENOUGH. In your carry-on bag, bring your shoes and your race-day necessities, but then bring (and CHECK) everything else.

Your race experiences and suggestions are why I am doing this. (THANK YOU!) For princess I carried on a pair of running shoes and one sports bra just in case nothing made it. (Luggage made it, it was okay). But I know you have to be prepared for ANY weather. Capris, pants, shirts, sleeves, and tanks. It's over kill but so worth it so that I am ready and not freezing on race morning.

Amazon sells metallic blankets for $8 (10 blankets) and they were great to wear while hanging out in the Wonder Lot. They were dumped as I went into the corral but to have it around me as we walked the 5k to the half start was awesome.

You can learn so many things by reading the threads on here. Lurking in the past year thread I got a lot of great ideas.

 

[Keels]

Your race experiences and suggestions are why I am doing this. (THANK YOU!) For princess I carried on a pair of running shoes and one sports bra just in case nothing made it. (Luggage made it, it was okay). But I know you have to be prepared for ANY weather. Capris, pants, shirts, sleeves, and tanks. It's over kill but so worth it so that I am ready and not freezing on race morning.

Amazon sells metallic blankets for $8 (10 blankets) and they were great to wear while hanging out in the Wonder Lot. They were dumped as I went into the corral but to have it around me as we walked the 5k to the half start was awesome.

You can learn so many things by reading the threads on here. Lurking in the past year thread I got a lot of great ideas.

Exactly. And while the crap I bought was fine, it was nowhere NEAR the fit and quality of the stuff I had sitting in a drawer or closet at home. So, I'm bringing EVERYTHING with me this time around! Maybe even my tri suit, in case an impromptu swim or bike leg breaks out.

 

[Barca33Runner]

My first race was the 2012 WDW Marathon Weekend Half. I have been back for Marathon Weekend every year since, running the Marathon in 2013 and Dopey in 2014-17. I'm definitely hooked on that Weekend and getting my Disney fix while also giving myself the opportunity to stay healthy.

 

[Davidg83]

Today's Disney Question!

When was/is your first runDisney race and and maybe talk about your experience with it?

My first runDisney race was the 2013 Disneyland Half Marathon. It was also my first half marathon ever. I had decided I wanted a new challenge right before registration opened and went for it.

 

[DOOM1001]

Today's Disney Question!

Sorry guys March Madness was on the brain.

When was/is your first runDisney race and and maybe talk about your experience with it?

My answer: The 2015 Walt Disney world 10K was my first race and what got me hooked into runDisney races. It was my final time my grandma ever went to WDW before her passing so it's a special trip in my heart.

The 2013 Disney World full marathon was not just my first Run Disney race but my first real race anywhere,no 5Ks,10Ks or half's before,just jumped right in for the full.As many of you remember the 2013 full had highs around 85 degrees,living in South Florida meant that I was well prepared for that heat but I had no idea how I would handle it along with having never run more than 18 miles in training.I was placed in the second to last corral and I saw a lot of runners who were struggling during the race,probably runners who came from colder climates who haven't run in those temps for months.For me I was fine,the distance was obviously the real challenge but the temperature was not a major issue,I'm sure my time was slower due to it but it was my first full so it was all new to me.I was just trudging on,cramped up a bit in mile 18 but I felt great,even after getting barely no sleep,I was running the Disney full and seeing all the sights and sounds along the way.Towards the end it felt like a challenge all of the runners were in to get to that finish line,I saw runners with all kinds of issues,I remember one who couldn't bend their knees in one leg at all around mile 21 but was still moving forward to get to that finish line.Seeing that made me feel like,hey I'm doing great,no major issues and having a dandy of a good time.I finished in just under 6 hours and its still my slowest full out of 7 fulls I've run,my 2017 Disney full was almost an hour faster and although its good to see my time improve the 2013 full was the one I struggled with the most but also the one I enjoyed the most,weird but that's just the way I look at it.We've had a good amount of cool to cold races and although I'm sure many of you would object,I wouldn't be angry to have another mid 80's full,I would move myself to one of the last corrals and see what happens,a lot of my other Disney fulls have been pretty similar lately,even if the 2018 race is not warm I've been telling myself to move to the last corral to change it up a bit.

 

[McMonsters]

My first Disney race was Wine and Dine 2015 and I've done 2 challenges plus a half since then at Disney. I'm staying at Fort Wilderness for Dopey because I love having my own bed and kitchen. Having my own food makes it so much less stressful for me. I really like being able to relax at the Fort during a race weekend in our trailer and I imagine the cabins would give you the same feel.

 

[FFigawi]

When was/is your first runDisney race and and maybe talk about your experience with it?

My first rD race was Goofy during Disney on Ice in 2010. As cold and nasty as the weather was on Saturday, I still had a great time. Until I finished, when all the sweat and moisture from the sleet & freezing rain condensed on me. Then I was teeth-chattering miserable. I loved the marathon on Sunday mostly because the course at the time went around World Showcase in the dark for the first few miles.

 

[bryana]

My first rD event was the inaugural Glass Slipper Challenge in 2014. We, as I'm sure most do, made a girls weekend out of it. Out of the four of us (my mom, aunt, and cousin), I'm the only one who did any races but it was so much fun regardless. While I have plenty of friends you run and do races, I'm slower than all of them so I'm used to doing races on my own. Aside from how damn humid it was, it was a great overall experience. I have a picture of the Magic Kingdom toll booth and it actually looks like it was raining because of the flash lighting up all of the moisture in the air. I followed that race up with the Marathon in 2015 and didn't do any last year as I pretty much stopped running after the marathon for a couple of years. Burned myself out good in 2014. Looking forward to getting back!

 

[PCFriar80]

Today's Disney Question!
When was/is your first runDisney race and and maybe talk about your experience with it?

My first RunDisney race was the 2006 1/2 marathon with my DW. This was our first 1/2 running together and the first year they had the 1/2 on a separate day from the full. We've been running the 1/2 ever since with one slight detour for me in 2010 to run / skate the full marathon!

 

[steph0808]

When was/is your first runDisney race and and maybe talk about your experience with it?

2013 WDW Marathon.

I had just started running in January 2012 when I came across info on the marathon in June or July. I saw a sale offering $20 off the marathon, I believe, and it was the 20th anniversary with a cool medal and a "20 mile extravaganza!" (hahahaha). I was up to 7 or 8 miles at that point and pulled the trigger.

Got the stomach flu on Thursday before the race, puked on the plane down. Ate nothing on Thursday, barely ate anything on Friday and Saturday, still ran the full on Sunday. It was hot as Hades (85/90?) and my stomach flu had morphed into a cold. I took forever, but I still finished.

And hopefully the 25th anniversary is my redemption race!

 

[kywyldcat03]

Today's Disney Question!
When was/is your first runDisney race and and maybe talk about your experience with it?

My first runDisney race was the 2016 Darkside 10K followed by the Darkside Half the next day. I had a great time and PRd both races and they are both still my fastest times for the 10K and Half. Nothing gets me pumped more than Star Wars. My favorite parts were high fives from sand people as I was leaving Animal Kingdom, Kylo Ren at Hollywood Studios, and stormtroopers everywhere. I really enjoyed how they made it seem like we were training to be a stormtrooper and each race was one step closer.

 

[mbwhitti]

My first rD race was PHM 2014 (my avatar photo is from that race!). DH had a conference in Orlando the week before and we had some Delta flight credits, so I decided it was time for our first Disney trip together. I had read about Disney having races so I did a quick internet search and found out that we would be there during Princess. I had to do some double research to make sure they let men run, so DH could run with me. DH doesn't like to stop in races for anything so we had decided that we would only stop if we saw a princess (which I didn't know weren't out during the race at the time). So we did no character photos... I lost DH around mile 9 because it was stupid humid and his shirt was cotton (lesson learned). We had beer and champagne after and it was a blast. We got in the car and I started looking at the "upcoming races" list and was determined that we were running Dopey in 2015, so we did!

 

[Anisum]

When was/is your first runDisney race and and maybe talk about your experience with it?

Glass Slipper Challenge 2016. I started running with the goal of doing a runDisney race because they looked fun. I had a wonderful time. The excitement and environment were amazing. I will admit I could have done without the heat but overall races, while being much slower than my usual pace were great to see characters and things.