Dittos to the above. And to add on, the whole reason that I started back to running as much and then to training was that the physical exertion helped clear my head after a day of dealing with all the [manure] from work and life. I've had plenty of runs where I started off feeling ticked at the world and felt much better afterward.
Maybe Coronado Springs (I’m not really sure if you could cross the road very well right there or not) - and then hop on a runDisney bus to the finish line??
I don’t have a good suggestion about where to DNF. But I did want to say that you are often a wonderful source of support and encouragement on the boards. I’d like to follow your example and just say - do what is best for you. Ultimately we run for ourselves and if the experience is not worth it calling it a day might be best. But I do hope that the spirit and energy of MW helps you to feel the desire to finish. I will cheer you on either way!
Keep in mind that characters will vary during each race and can change up on you. During 2020, the DIS group said that Belle was in France for marathon runners. Turns out that she was alternating with Sleeping Beauty. So while my timing was fortunate enough to get a picture with both, someone just a few minutes before or after me might have only gotten a photo with one of them. For what it's worth, the only park I've ever seen Peter Pan at is Disneyland.
While I think that your projected time is fast enough to stop for most, if not all the characters and not be swept if you're in a high enough corral, the trick to this question is that wait times will vary depending on the popularity and/or rarity of the characters. Rarity can also take place in that common characters from say Cinderella can all be together for group photos or you may sometimes be able to get a photo with two different princesses from two different movies. Also keep in mind that sometimes the characters are on break, but will come back in 2 or 3 minutes and you can choose to wait for them or not. I've seen character lines that were estimated to be 20 minutes and I've seen character lines that were maybe 2 minutes.
I just wanted to chime in and say that I hope you feel better about everything and find the place where you need to be at to have an enjoyable race experience. I think your posts are insightful and I too appreciate your thoughts. Having once run a race where I was in a rough place mentally, that was a long and brutal race. I was sorely tempted to take the 10K instead of the half that I registered and trained for because I just wasn't feeling it.
Is getting the medal at all important to you? I may be wrong, but I think I have read on these boards that the folks that ride the sweep bus back to the finish still receive medals. In the overall scheme of things this may well be a very minor consideration, but hopefully worth mentioning. You could also just sell it on eBay for $100+ as well.
Sorry to come in with a downer post, but I’m starting to get really anxious about this weekend. Lots of things are being canceled again because of Covid and while deep down I don’t think Marathon Weekend will, is it going to be any fun or just have a dark cloud hanging over it? It’s so unbelievably frustrating.
This close to the event, there will likely (hopefully) be little change. The requirement for masking indoors is already annoying enough, but things down south have been back to fairly normal, as compared to up north. I am planning on being there and having as much fun as possible, as normally as possible.Sorry to come in with a downer post, but I’m starting to get really anxious about this weekend. Lots of things are being canceled again because of Covid and while deep down I don’t think Marathon Weekend will, is it going to be any fun or just have a dark cloud hanging over it? It’s so unbelievably frustrating.
You are all amazing - THANK YOU! For some great ideas, and for the incredibly kind support. I don't want to share the details in a public space, but running has long been my outlet for stress and the best thing I can do for my mental and emotional health, but I had my life upended out of nowhere thanks to several massive crises, one on top of the other, over the last couple months and it's taken a toll on me physically: the lack of sleep, inadequate eating, and constant state of fight-or-flight has resulted in bone-deep exhaustion. Training has felt pretty awful... and if you've known me here for a while, you know that I usually LOVE the training more than the racing! Instead of things settling down lately, as I'd hoped, it's gotten worse. I've got some time off coming up ahead of race weekend, and I'm hoping that will help: my sole focus then will be rest and recovery. But if it doesn't help, and the marathon feels more like punishment than prize, I want to give myself permission to let it go - and I need a plan in mind to make that happen. And now I've got one, so thank you!!
ETA: my biggest concern if I DNF is getting food in me - my glucose tends to plunge dangerously once I stop running. But it just occurred to me that I don't need to get back to my resort to eat, only to a place that serves food! So any resort or park is a place to eat and sit, and I can get back to the car eventually via WDW transport.
What is the Goof Troop?
You have to do what is right for you, and take extra care of yourself when times are tough. Please know that there will be a lot of us out there on the course, ready to offer support or company if you need either. I hope things start turning around soon, and your upcoming time off will be rejuvenating for you, both physically and mentally. I’m sorry you’ve had a rough time lately, and hope things are better soon.You are all amazing - THANK YOU! For some great ideas, and for the incredibly kind support. I don't want to share the details in a public space, but running has long been my outlet for stress and the best thing I can do for my mental and emotional health, but I had my life upended out of nowhere thanks to several massive crises, one on top of the other, over the last couple months and it's taken a toll on me physically: the lack of sleep, inadequate eating, and constant state of fight-or-flight has resulted in bone-deep exhaustion. Training has felt pretty awful... and if you've known me here for a while, you know that I usually LOVE the training more than the racing! Instead of things settling down lately, as I'd hoped, it's gotten worse. I've got some time off coming up ahead of race weekend, and I'm hoping that will help: my sole focus then will be rest and recovery. But if it doesn't help, and the marathon feels more like punishment than prize, I want to give myself permission to let it go - and I need a plan in mind to make that happen. And now I've got one, so thank you!!
ETA: my biggest concern if I DNF is getting food in me - my glucose tends to plunge dangerously once I stop running. But it just occurred to me that I don't need to get back to my resort to eat, only to a place that serves food! So any resort or park is a place to eat and sit, and I can get back to the car eventually via WDW transport.
You are all amazing - THANK YOU! For some great ideas, and for the incredibly kind support. I don't want to share the details in a public space, but running has long been my outlet for stress and the best thing I can do for my mental and emotional health, but I had my life upended out of nowhere thanks to several massive crises, one on top of the other, over the last couple months and it's taken a toll on me physically: the lack of sleep, inadequate eating, and constant state of fight-or-flight has resulted in bone-deep exhaustion. Training has felt pretty awful... and if you've known me here for a while, you know that I usually LOVE the training more than the racing! Instead of things settling down lately, as I'd hoped, it's gotten worse. I've got some time off coming up ahead of race weekend, and I'm hoping that will help: my sole focus then will be rest and recovery. But if it doesn't help, and the marathon feels more like punishment than prize, I want to give myself permission to let it go - and I need a plan in mind to make that happen. And now I've got one, so thank you!!
ETA: my biggest concern if I DNF is getting food in me - my glucose tends to plunge dangerously once I stop running. But it just occurred to me that I don't need to get back to my resort to eat, only to a place that serves food! So any resort or park is a place to eat and sit, and I can get back to the car eventually via WDW transport.
I am feeling anxious as well though I think unless things take such a sharp turn that we are back to square one I think worst case sinario at this time will be outdoor masking reinstated when not actively on course and/or that character sightings will be limited to just distanced waves and no photos just to move runners alongSorry to come in with a downer post, but I’m starting to get really anxious about this weekend. Lots of things are being canceled again because of Covid and while deep down I don’t think Marathon Weekend will, is it going to be any fun or just have a dark cloud hanging over it? It’s so unbelievably frustrating.
What is the Goof Troop?
