Marathon Weekend 2019

[JBinORL]

I’m from Florida so I can handle heat and humidity but was totally unprepared for how cold I would be. I grabbed a trash bag for the half which did nothing but block the wind and I tossed it waaaay too early in the corrals and it took me the first 5 miles to get warmed up. Miserable.

So for the full I added gloves, arm warmers and merino long underwear plus a throw away blanket. And even then I ran with the blanket on me for the first three miles. That was a super nice blanket too. I think the long underwear came off around mile 16 or so and the gloves stayed on until nearly the end. Adding on clothing to my regular running costume made a lot more sense than buying a new “cold weather” outfit

Hey threw-away-stuff-too-early-during-the-race friend! Actually, I lost a glove during the full while trying to take a picture, then lost a jacket somewhere too. I ended up picking up a pair of gloves someone had discarded until I warmed back up! My wife and I ended up tossing two full outfits worth of warm clothing during Dopey; we had bought for all four, but never warmed up enough during the 5k and 10k to toss those.

 

[Nole95]

I usually train in cold weather in the winter, so I was prepared for how to deal with it while running Dopey this year. It was the waiting around for 2 hours that was the worst. We brought mylar blankets, throwaway blankets, hand warmers and throwaway clothes. Once in the corral, I set up my mylar blanket like a little tent and completely covered myself. This served to keep me warm enough, and I did not come out until they got ready to move the corrals. Definitely a memorable experience.

 

[PrincessV]

Before fully adopting this suggestion, keep in mind that fleece blankets will do next to nothing to block or fight wind chill waiting for the start. Mylar is much better for wind blocking. At least it is if you can successfully wrap it around you so that it doesn't become a cape! The last two years, the wind has been as much of, if not a bigger problem than, the air temperature itself.

^^This! IMO the Gold Standard to pre-race warmth is fleece (blanket or jacket) topped with Mylar. I wrapped up before I left my heated car and kept that trapped heat in until my races started this year.

If it is chilly don't forget to bring those hand warmers like hunters use. I had brought a whole bunch and we used them for the marathon. We should have brought them to the parks for those freezing days as well, why we didn't I don't know, but if it's cold this Jan. they'll be coming in the parks with me this time too.

And also ^^ this! I had one sandwiched in each hand between two layers of knit gloves, toe warmer packs in my shoes, and extra packs in my jacket pockets that I pulled out as needed to thaw my face.

But none of this will be necessary for 2019 because it will be warmer.

 

[Dis5150]

But none of this will be necessary for 2019 because it will be warmer.

I like your optimism!!

 

[jennamfeo]

But none of this will be necessary for 2019 because it will be warmer.

Let's just keep putting this out into the universe!!!!

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

To me the main advantage of fleece is cushioning. You can fold it up and sit on it and get some time off your feet in the corral. Throw-away clothes/trash bags provide the warmth.

I drive to Marathon Weekend, so this is easier for me, as I can bring as much stuff as I can cram in the car.

 

[JeffW]

Before fully adopting this suggestion, keep in mind that fleece blankets will do next to nothing to block or fight wind chill waiting for the start. Mylar is much better for wind blocking. At least it is if you can successfully wrap it around you so that it doesn't become a cape! The last two years, the wind has been as much of, if not a bigger problem than, the air temperature itself.

I make a quick trip to Walmart for a set of Fruit of the Loom sweatpants and a hoodie, generally less than $20 total for a set. I then put a big commercial trash bag, that I bring from home, over it all. The sweats provide insulation and the big bag provides the wind break and goes all the way to my knees without me having to hold it closed. I've used this strategy all the way down to a 25 degree start in light snow in Colorado, and it worked great for the past few "cold" Disney races. I've supplemented with an old beach towel folded up as something to sit on.

 

[Jason Bryer]

I love hearing people from Florida talk about cold, it's all relative. I ran 14 miles on New Years in 5 degrees (below zero when the wind was going). It was so cold the water in my water bottle froze such that I could get anything out about half way through the run. Needless to say I had no problems running the marathon in shorts. I was glad I had gloves (which I held on to and did use again) and a sweatshirt that got ditched at the start line. It's the standing still that is hard.

 

[rteetz]

It's the standing still that is hard.

Exactly which is something we have to do for about 2 hours or so at Disney races.

 

[croach]

Please be careful how much you wish for warmer temperatures. Let’s practice just the right of wishing.

 

[Jason Bryer]

All this weather talk got me to look into the weather trends for the marathon. Here is the last decade of weather. For those interested, the code and data I used to create it is located here: https://gist.github.com/jbryer/245518e632514d71951a6fe13824221b

 

[Keels]

If it's below 40 in 2019, I'm not getting out of my truck. I'm too old for that nonsense.

 

[JeffW]

All this weather talk got me to look into the weather trends for the marathon. Here is the last decade of weather. For those interested, the code and data I used to create it is located here: https://gist.github.com/jbryer/245518e632514d71951a6fe13824221b

2013 was my first Goofy. That year was brutal, so I'd like to avoid that again. I've liked to colder temperatures the last two years. I PR'd in 2017 in the marathon

 

[rteetz]

FYI southwest is running a sale...

 

[jennamfeo]

FYI southwest is running a sale...

Thank you!!

 

[FFigawi]

Exactly which is something we have to do for about 2 hours or so at Disney races.

Unless you time it right and walk into your corral as the one in front of it is being released

 

[rteetz]

Unless you time it right and walk into your corral as the one in front of it is being released

I don’t have a car to sit in John

 

[FFigawi]

I don’t have a car to sit in John

Take the last bus!

 

[rteetz]

Take the last bus!

I ain’t chancing it with Disney.

 

[leholcomb]

FYI southwest is running a sale...

The flights I have been eyeing went up with this "sale"..... sigh....