Marathon Weekend 2019

[AFwifelife]

@margot31. I really think just going to Epcot at the end may be the best and least frustrating for everyone.

+1

Oh and I forgot my celebration plans. We will also be at Storybook Dining on Marathon night. Maybe they will get the hint that so many of us will be celebrating and there will be something extra special.

 

[CDKG]

Hahaha!!!! I feel like a penguin when I get out of bed and waddle my way downstairs.

When my hips/glutes get this bad, the only solution is to have my massage therapist work on them. She really digs into my hip flexors and it makes a world of difference! To maintain in between, I use yoga. Here is one of my favorites:

 

[Sakigt]

I’m leaving my kids 6 and 3 behind with my friend. They’re just going to hang out and hide rocks. Not worth the hassle.

Training is good. Barely running. Mostly weightlifting. Will probably do one more long run this week and Saturday and that’s it.

Celebrating at Epcot with no real plans. Artists point with Dopey that Monday PM. Can’t wait

 

[TeeterTots]

SAFD:

Training: I’m officially tapering! So far injury free and feeling really good about things!

Strategy: continuous run. Hoping to PR and should achieve it if all goes well. May leap frog with 4:45 pacers as I’ve learned I’m a pack animal.

Hotel: I mostly stay at AKV and poly but a Grand villa at BLT would be pretty awesome!

Post race: rest, hot tub, Jiko

Resolution: Enjoy running with less stress and pressure. Maybe a HM PR?

 

[run.minnie.miles]

How is everyone's training going? Are we all tapering? Feeling good and ready to rock in less than two weeks?
Finished my last double digit run yesterday and feel ready to “go the distance!” Now just to avoid the sickness that seems to be all around! Overall, I just feel really excited!

What's your race strategy going to be (running, run/walk, stopping for characters, going for PRs, drinks, rides, etc.)?
I run intervals and have been doing both 3/1 and 2/1, so we’ll see how I feel on race day (how tired my legs feel from the parks). My real goal is just to finish my first 26.2, hopefully with a smile!

If you could stay at any hotel for race weekend, where would you stay?
Cinderella’s Castle. Duh!

How are you celebrating after your race(s)?
Parks! My main celebratory dinner will be on Monday night at Be Our Guest.

 

[huskies90]

How is everyone's training going? Are we all tapering? Feeling good and ready to rock in less than two weeks?

Training has been great. I am doing Goofy and this is my first marathon. Even with a very busy Fall/Winter, I only missed one mid week run in October. Knock on wood - no pains or issues. I am in taper mode now but for me that is mainly reducing my long weekend runs. I did 20 miles last week, 13 today and I’ll do 8 next weekend. My mid week runs will be pretty much the same until race week, where I will significantly drop mileage to prepare for the race.

What's your race strategy going to be (running, run/walk, stopping for characters, going for PRs, drinks, rides, etc.)?

I feel pretty prepared for the marathon and if I was doing just the marathon and for a PT, my goal would be to break 4 hours - And I feel pretty confident I could do that. But since I am doing the half the day before, it is going depend how I feel on Sunday. If I feel good, I am going to keep running if I don’t and end up walking a lot of it, I will stop for characters and drinks but probably not rides. I plan to take the half slow at my easy pace and make some character stops - trying to save energy for the marathon.

If you could stay at any hotel for race weekend, where would you stay?

We are staying in a 1 bedroom at BLT for the race which is one of our home resorts. I like having the washer and dryer in our room especially with 4 runners.

How are you celebrating after your race(s)?

Good question. I will make a dinner ressie somewhere. Just not sure where yet. My kids are flying back to their respective schools on Sunday because their classes start on Monday so it will be just me and my wife. I like the 'Ohana idea. I know there are no ressies out there but maybe I stalk it for the next few weeks.

If resolutions are your thing (Disney-related or otherwise) and you want to share those, feel free.

Not a resolution guy. But for the last year, this marathon has been a huge focus for me. I am not sure what I am going to do when we get back. Not sure I want to do the training again for a marathon but I am sure I will prepare for a half marathon in the Spring.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

What's your race strategy going to be (running, run/walk, stopping for characters, going for PRs, drinks, rides, etc.)?

Strategy is to finish Dopey, therefore, the 5K/10K/Half distances will be taken easy and will be a fight to keep it slow. For the marathon, it's start slower than I think I should, slow down even more, and don't get swept. I figure if I conserve wisely at the start, the tank will have it when I need it. Since this is my first marathon and I'm slow to begin with, the goal is to finish. I'm anticipating a time of between 6 1/2 to 7 hours.

I will stop for characters and photos when I feel like it if the line is short enough. So I may have no character stops, but lots of park icon stops. There are certainly characters I would stop for, but if the line is too long I'll wait. Fortunately for me, the most important characters for me are also in the parks after the race and/or in Star Wars so they won't be on the course.

If you could stay at any hotel for race weekend, where would you stay?

Probably the Polynesian, but I did opt to spend more for POFQ than Pop.

How are you celebrating after your race(s)?

Hobbling my way around the parks with a huge grin on my face and at least one medal around my neck. Spice Road Table Illuminations for dinner, tentative Storybook Dining with Dopey the next day and Le Cellier lunch/Star Wars dessert party on Tuesday which is my last full day.

The taper is underway. I've even pulled certain nicer running shirts out of the rotation because they're under consideration for marathon weekend. Cold weather gear is already out of the rotation.

 

[TCB in FLA]

SAFD:
How is everyone's training going? Are we all tapering? Feeling good and ready to rock in less than two weeks?
I got behind in my training for Dopey in the long run part, maxed at 17.Dealt with a double ankle injury in late Sept, then weather issues, friends cancelled a half runcation i was really excited about, had a “catered long run” event go south on me, more weather issues, started a new job. Excuses, excuses, excuses but the main issue is I lost my running mojo. I have nothing planned after Dopey as there’s not another single event I’m even the bit interested in. I did have a really good run today once past the first mile — giving me hope Dopey is going to help wake me up some.

What's your race strategy going to be (running, run/walk, stopping for characters, going for PRs, drinks, rides, etc.)?
My BFF from age 13 on is joining me for an excellent girls’ trip. She and I will run the 5k and 10k together and plan to squeeze every ounce of fun out of those races. Then she gets to sleep in while I head out for the half and full. Going with my run/walk strategy, staying with a pace group at least to MK, will stop if a line is short and def a margarita in AK, plus Everest if it’s open.

If you could stay at any hotel for race weekend, where would you stay?
Beach Club or somewhere similar to walk into Epcot

How are you celebrating after your race(s)?
With as many margaritas as possible

If resolutions are your thing (Disney-related or otherwise) and you want to share those, feel free.
I want to find my drive for some kind of event/competition again. Running and training has been a part of my life for so long, and I usually love having a plan in place, marking off the boxes each week. Unless something else gets me excited, I guess I’m going to try for a 5k PR at the small race my boys’ former middle school holds each year in early April. I am going to enter the NY marathon lottery, or will consider W&D if the budget allows once DS#1 starts college in the fall.

 

[mankle30]

How is everyone's training going? Are we all tapering? Feeling good and ready to rock in less than two weeks?

I'd say, overall, things are going well. I felt strong on my most recent Tempo run although my 10-mile long run today was sloggy at the end (although I deliberately didn't bring any nutrition with me for the 2h+ run). I actually feel pretty confident that I can hit my goal and that the ankle twist I had the other day won't affect me.

For my last marathon, I had some illness take away some training time (a couple of weeks) but in this cycle, the most runs I've missed in a row due to illness or injury has been 3, so that's a big win.

What's your race strategy going to be (running, run/walk, stopping for characters, going for PRs, drinks, rides, etc.)?

Run at my pace. Enjoy the view and the run. Probably won't stop for characters/drinks/rides because I have a hard time getting going after I stop, particularly later in the race, but I'll definitely have my phone handy for photos!

If you could stay at any hotel for race weekend, where would you stay?

So many! Wow, well, we're staying at Pop Century which we haven't stayed at before, so that's going to be fun, but I'd love to stay somewhere like Animal Kingdom Lodge or Polynesian if we had the resources to do so.

How are you celebrating after your race(s)?

We're heading to Chef Mickey's! I know, it's not the best restaurant, but my wife and I thought it would be cute and we wanted to experience a character meal at some point (we haven't yet in our two previous trips to WDW).

If resolutions are your thing (Disney-related or otherwise) and you want to share those, feel free.

I just try to live life better and usually fail or succeed based on how important the goal is to me. The time of year that I decide to start is not always based on new year.

 

[lhermiston]

How is everyone's training going? Are we all tapering? Feeling good and ready to rock in less than two weeks?

I'd say, overall, things are going well. I felt strong on my most recent Tempo run although my 10-mile long run today was sloggy at the end (although I deliberately didn't bring any nutrition with me for the 2h+ run). I actually feel pretty confident that I can hit my goal and that the ankle twist I had the other day won't affect me.

For my last marathon, I had some illness take away some training time (a couple of weeks) but in this cycle, the most runs I've missed in a row due to illness or injury has been 3, so that's a big win.

What's your race strategy going to be (running, run/walk, stopping for characters, going for PRs, drinks, rides, etc.)?

Run at my pace. Enjoy the view and the run. Probably won't stop for characters/drinks/rides because I have a hard time getting going after I stop, particularly later in the race, but I'll definitely have my phone handy for photos!

If you could stay at any hotel for race weekend, where would you stay?

So many! Wow, well, we're staying at Pop Century which we haven't stayed at before, so that's going to be fun, but I'd love to stay somewhere like Animal Kingdom Lodge or Polynesian if we had the resources to do so.

How are you celebrating after your race(s)?

We're heading to Chef Mickey's! I know, it's not the best restaurant, but my wife and I thought it would be cute and we wanted to experience a character meal at some point (we haven't yet in our two previous trips to WDW).

If resolutions are your thing (Disney-related or otherwise) and you want to share those, feel free.

I just try to live life better and usually fail or succeed based on how important the goal is to me. The time of year that I decide to start is not always based on new year.

Enjoy Pop and Chef Mickey’s! We’ve stayed at Pop twice, including marathon weekend. It’s great.

 

[mankle30]

Enjoy Pop and Chef Mickey’s! We’ve stayed at Pop twice, including marathon weekend. It’s great.

Thanks! Looking forward to it! We also have Hoop-Dee-Doo and 'Ohana booked earlier in the week, but we're definitely taking it easy on the reservations because last time, we had the dining plan and concluded it was just too much food, and too much pressure to get all the ADRs in (and, since the park hours are shorter after New Year's, it's harder to justify so much sitting time when there are things to do!).

 

[run.minnie.miles]

Now that Christmas is over and the “hay is in the barn,” I’m basically giddy over Marathon Weekend!! So I apologize if I’m a crazy over poster for the next 9 days.

With that said... any leaks on shirt colors?? Also looking forward to the first merch pics!

 

[FFigawi]

Here is Charles' post from 2014 about the hay in the barn....

"The Hay is in the Barn"

Coach Lackey used to yell that as we finished up practice before the big game. It was a groaner to a teen as we really did not understand the meaning of the phrase. It’s a simple way of saying trust all the work you have put in this fall and let the race come to you. You may not feel well trained or are suffering through injury or illness or worse; both. Relax.

Think back as you pack and think of how hard it was to run 2 miles last July and now how short a 10 mile run feels. Think of all the trials you went through and how you developed the tool set to pull a run out and finish it rather than throw the towel in and head home. There is an inner peace that you have now that will help carry you through the race(s) this weekend.

If you are in the lack of training or injured camp, trust that the miles put in will help get you to the finish line. I know some have run little since Thanksgiving and yes, you too are able to finish. Keep a positive outlook as you start and it will help carry you to the line.

It is very normal to be a little nervous today; especially if this is your first event. It may be difficult to work as you loop through the what more could I have done list, over and over and over. Note that even those with 20+ marathons have some of the same nerves. The causes may differ just a bit, but the nerves may be just the same. Take a deep breath and relax as you work through this short work week.

Hydrate starting today. You may be snowbound and think that is silly but if you amp up the daily intake by just one glass or two every day this week your body will thank you. Make sure to buy a bottle of water for the plane. Air plane will suck the hydration down.

Make sure you have everything on your check list. I have seen a couple versions floating around, make sure they fit what you have trained with this fall. Carry your race shoes and clothing in a carry on. It does not happen often, but you really do not want your running shoes in Hawaii while you are in Orlando.

Make sure you do not amp up eating once you arrive. Disney has really amped up portion sizes and buffets are just bad news if you fail on self control. You want to maintain a nice balanced and well portioned diet from now until race morning. You simply do not need to gorge on a ton of pasta, a simple and light pasta meal should be more of a celebration of race eve than a thanksgiving meal wannabe.

The weather looks warm and worse humid, I urge a cautious pace on race morning. You know what your training pace has been; start with that or maybe 30-60 seconds slower. Dew point (or wet bulb) temperatures are the statistic to look for. When they are above 60F, caution is needed.

Race morning can be an all nerves on deck period. Take a few deep breaths and make sure you do not walk out the door missing something important – like your bottoms. Ok Bib. I find that I allay most nerves by laying out my clothing in a stack; especially in a hotel type room. The first thing or bottom of the stack are my shoes then socks, HR monitor, Shirt, Bottoms…. That way you are pulling the first item needed from the top of the stack, then the next and so on.

OK gut check time. I know there are a few folks who are worried about the balloon ladies, sweepers, or just failing. I cannot emphasize enough that you especially need to trust you training. Come on and start with us. It is a great experience to be at the race and in the start. The forward momentum of the morning can create a newer level of energy that may well carry you 5-6 extra miles beyond expectation. Keep one very simple thought as you move through the race …………… The Relentless Pursuit of FORWARD Momentum. It’s that simple. Rather than worry once you pass Start, focus all thought, effort and action to the simple goal of the Relentless Pursuit of FORWARD Momentum. Keep you stride light. Head up. Shoulders back and arms freely swinging with a RELAXED grip. Smile, yes SMILE and take a deep and cleansing breath every so often…. Make the Relentless Pursuit of FORWARD Momentum your race day mission. Track your personal time from the start line. Make a pace list if you need so that you can check your personal time at every mile point i.e. :16; :32; :48…. If you are not building a buffer on those splits stay focused on your race day mission; the Relentless Pursuit of FORWARD Momentum. That may mean skipping a photo op, pushing through and avoiding a potty break, or simply knuckling down.

I know that there will be a few who try and try with all their might yet find themselves in a bus seat. It’s ok. Understand that you are part of the 1% of the world’s population who will start a marathon event this year. Hold you head high and enjoy the fact that you are not sitting on a couch or you are not the grumpy guest miffed at the runners who are keeping him from easily walking to a ride. You are one of the few who decided to be healthier and fitter last year and this is YOUR celebration and party. Enjoy the race while you are in it and know that even in an apparent failure, you are still a winner. You have moved off the couch. Take lessons learned and apply them to your next race.

Everyone, have safe travels and enjoy the race.

One final thought….
I wish I could say something classy and inspirational, but that just wouldn't be our style. Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever. – Shane Falco


Get out there and make it a great run!

_________________
Coach Charles
Perfectly Goofy 2006-2014
Endurance Coach
Running Disney since 99 "

 

[StarGirl11]

Good morning, runDisney all-stars, and welcome to the final Sundays are for Disney of 2018! It's hard to believe the year is almost over and, oh yeah, marathon weekend festivities kickoff in nine days!

So, let's finish the year with a bang and some of the questions I have left on my little SAFD list. How is everyone's training going? Are we all tapering? Feeling good and ready to rock in less than two weeks?

What's your race strategy going to be (running, run/walk, stopping for characters, going for PRs, drinks, rides, etc.)?

If you could stay at any hotel for race weekend, where would you stay?

How are you celebrating after your race(s)?

If resolutions are your thing (Disney-related or otherwise) and you want to share those, feel free.

I started tapering this past week. My final long run (17 miles) was mostly good, but finished a little rough. But, I'm pain free and feel appropriately trained. I missed one run this past week thanks to icy sidewalks, but I'm not sweating it too much. Definitely not worth risking an injury.

Race strategy:
- 5K: easy pace, get photo/video of Epcot in the dark with the lanterns lit, will stop for any really awesome characters
- 10K: not quite as easy as the 5K, but not pushing it, stop for awesome characters and @Keels hydration station
- Half: similar pace to 10K, stopping for whatever characters look fun and don't have long lines
- Full: Aiming to beat my previous PR for this course, but that's all. I'm not giving it maximum effort and will scale back as necessary. Not planning on character stops.

I'd love to stay at the Polynesian or any of the Epcot resorts, but I'm very much looking forward to returning to POR.

Nothing planned for after the 5K, 10K and half except maybe a parking lot beer. Marathon celebration is Sunday at Ohana. Dopey celebration/recovery will be DATW and Boma on Monday.

Have a great week, everyone!

Strategy: Walk the 5k stop for all the photos
Walk run the 10k/half stopping for what characters I can with a 11:30-12 pace.
Same strategy for the full along with riding Everest 12:30-13 pace allows.

Celebrating after the races by hitting the parks.

As for the hotels if I had to pick one Poly. The Geophysics nerd in me has always wanted to go swimming in their pools more then anything else.

Starting my taper today. Logged a final 18 miler. Accidentally found my half vs full pace boundary on the run. Not what I was aiming for but hey no time like now to find it right? Short version I can push into sub 12 miles up to about 13-14 miles. And then I have to slow to a 12:30 and up pace. So now I know what to be aiming for on the races to prevent bonking at ESPN hopefully.

Also with that in mind I should probably be looking at a half for next years PoT submission and not a full. I’m pacing within the limits to get a PoT for a half. But I now know for certain I’m not there yet with the full. Getting close but I still have some work to do. Since a 5:30 sub is about 12:36 pace. And while that’s in the margin I have better odds pulling it off at a half distance.

Got one run left in the taper. Going skiing after the New Year. So that’s why I’m not doing that much running in the taper. Lots of cross training though.

Want to talk improvement: last year I was pacing around 13:30 on my long runs. Today I logged my fastest 18 miler around 12:12 which is faster then I should have gone but still what a change in a year. If this keeps up I should be pacing around 11:30 this time next year.

On a slightly different topic has there been any talk about maybe doing the character group text like last year? Just being curious that was a huge help last year.

 

[UNCBear24]

Training/tapering - Training has gone well and I'm glad to be done with all my long training runs! Enjoying the taper right now.

Race strategy - For the 10k, no stops and I'm shooting for a sub 49:00. I will run/walk the marathon with a goal of getting near or under 4:20, but if I don't feel like that is attainable as the race progresses, I will back off, stop for characters, and ride Tower of Terror. Can't believe it will all be over in two weeks.

Hotel - I'm staying at AS Sports, but would love to stay at Boardwalk some day.

After race - Dinner Sunday night at The Boathouse with my son. DIL, and a few friends.

Resolutions - Find a SO in 2019 that enjoys running like I do.

 

[rteetz]

Latest Weather from Accuweather

1/9 - H 76 L 48 Shower possible
1/10 - H 74 L 49
1/11 - H 71 L 46
1/12 - H 75 L 51
1/13 - H 70 L 52
1/14 - H 63 L 42 Afternoon shower (hopefully no rain for DATW!)

 

[at227]

Hi all!
Can't believe how close we are!
Anyone have any experience nursing a possible broken middle toe this close to race time?

 

[Neon Cactus]

What's your race strategy going to be (running, run/walk, stopping for characters, going for PRs, drinks, rides, etc.)? I have a good playlist and try to run 2 songs, walk 1, and that works pretty well for me. My training this time around has been awful and I'm going to run 13 miles on New Year's and just hope to survive the full and have fun doing it. I'll stop for characters as time permits, not sure about rides yet.

If you could stay at any hotel for race weekend, where would you stay? I'm at Pop and I liked that last time. I'd love Beach Club or Boardwalk.

How are you celebrating after your race(s)? Thanks to a new job who was fine with me taking all of Monday off, I pushed back my flight and I'm going into DHS Sunday afternoon and evening and then EPCOT on Monday and DATW (or at least part of it) before flying home that night.

 

[Keels]

What's your race strategy going to be (running, run/walk, stopping for characters, going for PRs, drinks, rides, etc.)?

As always, my race strategy is Don't Die. I'm doing a NYE double tomorrow (half marathon in the morning, 5K in the evening - could've done two halfs but I'm not a masochist), and that will probably help me decide what my race weekend will look like. Only real goal is that the Saints play at 4:40 p.m. on Marathon Sunday, so I have to be somewhere to watch them.

If you could stay at any hotel for race weekend, where would you stay?

I'm actually checking off the bucket list for this one - I'm spending Tuesday and Wednesday night at a resort on the Loop for my first time ever. Otherwise, I can't imagine staying anywhere other than BCV (or YC/BC) for a race weekend. It's my home away from home.

How are you celebrating after your race(s)?

Parks and meals with some of my favorite people. Obviously, DATW to celebrate the whole weekend and then my most favoritest thing of all - an Illuminations cruise!!

If resolutions are your thing (Disney-related or otherwise) and you want to share those, feel free.

No resolutions for me, other than to have 2019 be better than 2018. Which isn't saying much, since my 2018 was pretty pretty garbagey.

 

[JulieODC]

I’m only doing the 10k, but when I first signed up I was coming off an illness and honestly wasn’t sure I would be able to run it. So, the fact that I have no concerns anymore is a pretty awesome thing. Training has been good!

My first strategy is to not eat like a crazy person the day/night before. And to do 2:30/:30 intervals - trying to maintain my 10k speed during the run part, and make a few character stops.

I think I’d say YC for the hotel. I do love Poly and WL, but I’ve come to prefer being walking distance to multiple parks/Boardwalk. We are close by at the Dolphin and it was free on points though, so can’t really argue that!

No big celebration - but am looking forward to Artist Point on Saturday, and late night hours at MK. So glad our girls are getting a little older and more flexible!

NY resolutions include adding more strength training, baking more bread/cooking more, and taking more time to meditate and disconnect on a daily basis. I’d also love to lose 10 lbs.