Marathon Weekend 2022

[Baloo in MI]

SAFD:
I am proud of my effort this year. Like many of you have shared, 2021 was a tough year. Work has been very difficult, I had Covid, lost a family member to it and could not travel to the funeral. I saw the impacts of the difficult year on my children, staying home was tough, loss of big significant events was sad and everything just seemed dreary.

From a running perspective it was a challenging year. Getting Covid knocked the wind out of all my plans this year. I had my eyes on my first 100 miler this past fall and this was already a huge stretch for me so when I got Covid those plans went out the window.

However, I set my sights on Dopey 2022 and am feeling ready. I have good plans for 2022. So I am grateful for what 2021 has taught me and I look forward to this next year!

 

[Neon Cactus]

SAFD: From a running standpoint, I’m proud of my achievements this year. Going into this year, I’d done four marathons but all with at least a year in between. This fall, I did two about a month apart after healing from a broken bone in my foot. Then did a 10k and half challenge last weekend to bridge to Dopey.

Usually I struggle getting prepared physically but I’m ready mentally. This year, it’s the mental aspect I’m struggling with. I know I can do the distances physically but it’s been tough getting myself motivated mentally. It was 34 degrees before the half in Dallas last week and I seriously considered not doing it. I ultimately did it but it’s been hard this year being motivated. I know at least that won’t be a problem with Dopey.

 

[Livelovedance]

SAFD:
I'm proud of learning from what was a very rocky end of 2020-beginning to middle of 2021. This summer I turned things around and made my emotional, mental, and physical self a priority, something I never really did in the past. I said no to things I normally would've said yes to. I got more sleep. I bought a Peloton bike and found joy in self-care again.

Most importantly, I registered for a full marathon, started a training plan, and stuck it out despite many challenges along the way. I haven't missed a mile, which is huge for me. As much as things are starting to decline again, I'm trying to stay positive and focus on the things I can control. I'm looking forward to celebrating at the start and finish line of the 2022 WDW Marathon!

 

[lookingforsunshine]

SAFD part 2: Today I discovered my cold weather leggings (Athleta Rainier Tights) have elastic that I could pull tighter so for the first time in over a year I was able to use them without having to pull them up every other minute

 

[lookingforsunshine]

Proud of myself for doing my first Ironman event in 3 years - a 70.3 in Memphis.

A muddy endeavor from what I’ve heard! Way to go. I did Augusta in 2016 very undertrained. I was too slow and they took my timing chip from me less than a mile from the finish. They still let me cross the finish line though. I hope to get redemption someday!

I bought a Peloton bike and found joy in self-care again.

I also got a Peloton and am loving it! I wish there were more Disney classes.

Most importantly, I registered for a full marathon, started a training plan, and stuck it out despite many challenges along the way. I haven't missed a mile, which is huge for me.

This is so amazing!!!

 

[pluto377]

SAFD- I’m proud of myself for recommitting to running and following my training plan 100% (until last week). I had a rough early 2021 but since august my running has been great. Thanks @DopeyBadger for the great plan!

I’m also proud of continuing to advocate for my son to get him the services he needs.

I’m sure there’s more but my brain is a foggy mess of Christmas to do right now.

 

[Jason Bryer]

SAFD: I'm proud I and my family survived it. Really. It has been a difficult year mentally for everyone. School is tough, but I think we are coming through stronger.

From a running perspective, I completed two marathons in 2021 and PR'd a bunch of other distances (half, 15k, 5k). Can't wait to get Dopey #2 started.

 

[GreatLakes]

SAFD: I'll separate this into 3 categories.

Work: I have a stressful job with a lot of responsibility. This year was a great success not just for me personally but for my staff. I can say without hesitation that my team is the best in the company and most of my peers would agree. I will take some credit for putting the right people in place but their work ethic and drive to do their job makes me proud of them.

Personally: The second year of COVID has been rough. The two of us working with our son home more often than normal makes for a lot of added stress but we managed to get or job done while giving him as normal of a time as possible.

Running: I had my highest mileage year by far and while there have been some challenges this training cycle I've never done more mileage or race spacific workouts that for this one. You never know what will happen on race day but I think I will finally get that BQ unless there is something abnormal that happens.

 

[Dopey 2020]

SAFD: I am fortunate to have had a very good 2021

Running: managed to smash my previous PR in every distance, I am on target to run or walk 3000+ miles as I beat my run the year challenge and contribute to the teams race around the world, and managed to avoid injury while doing it.

Personally: Accomplished what I started years ago when time and money was more difficult - earned my private pilot certificate - and got do it with my DD as she is completing hers as well.

Most proud of: DD - got her drivers license after her student pilot, even better could legally fly a plane solo before she could drive solo and managed to maintain top of her class while doing everything else. She is just now starting to receive college acceptance letters and scholarship offers.

Add on the support of my amazing wife and I feel lucky and blessed every day.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I have 0 marathon experience, but I’m on the tail end of a DopeyBadger marathon plan and my longest run is 11 miles. I hope the next couple weeks are kind to you and you have a safe start and finish!

Kudos on having a training plan and sticking to it. Since you did, IMHO, you'll do fine. You got this.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

SAFD: I am fortunate to have had a very good 2021

Running: managed to smash my previous PR in every distance, I am on target to run or walk 3000+ miles as I beat my run the year challenge and contribute to the teams race around the world, and managed to avoid injury while doing it.

Personally: Accomplished what I started years ago when time and money was more difficult - earned my private pilot certificate - and got do it with my DD as she is completing hers as well.

Most proud of: DD - got her drivers license after her student pilot, even better could legally fly a plane solo before she could drive solo and managed to maintain top of her class while doing everything else. She is just now starting to receive college acceptance letters and scholarship offers.

Add on the support of my amazing wife and I feel lucky and blessed every day.

Many congrats to you and the daughter for getting your pilots' licenses! Go fly and enjoy. And if the daughter has *any* thoughts of flying as a career, this is the perfect time for her to start on a track to be a commercial pilot. Tons of jobs now and in the future. For me, the flying club at my school made for getting a license as inexpensively as possible, something she might look into for her instrument rating. Or through Air Force ROTC.
I didn't pursue AFROTC or an academy appointment due to my eyesight, and was too nearsighted (in terms of maturity) to realize that I could have had a nice career as a "back seater" or in transports (who are primarily the guys who the airlines hired to fly their airplanes).

'Scuse me why I go thump my urchin on his head about his grades....

 

[kps7795]

Many already have answered this question but here is my experience from running Dopey 2020. I was a less than 2h half-marathoner and a circa 4:30h marathoner when I got there. I was in the first wave (A) for the 5k/10k and the third (C) for the HM/M. I stopped at every picture stop plus some bathroom breaks and walked the water/fuel stations. DD was with me for the 5k/10k. The marathon was extremely hot but I did not get to short-cut the course i.e I ran the Full thing.

My times are my personal worst by far, even compared to my other runDisney races (10k and my first HM in 2017):
5k: 00:58
10k: 01:29
HM: 03:39
M: 06:20

Have fun!

Thank you so much for your feedback. I believe that this is likely what I should expect. As you said, "Have fun!" and don't worry about times at a RunDisney event.

 

[CP3uhoh]

Got my long run yesterday of 3:30 and 22 miles after 1:49 and 11 on Friday so I feel as ready for Dopey as possible. Excited to get a medal after the next hours long jaunt.

 

[BikeFan]

I am in a complete funk today. Somehow, while nursing my calf issue, I have completely screwed up my hip--and no I don't believe I have changed anything about how I run. I don't know where this latest came from. So now my entire right leg has decided it just doesn't want to play anymore.

Anyone ever done a marathon with a LR of 11 miles? I'm thinking that may be all I get. So my plans of running with any group may be out the window. I just want to start, and hopefully finish. I have run races injured before, just never so "undertrained".

For an experienced runner like you, you've got years of training on your side. This training cycle may not have gone the best (I've certainly been there!), but you've still got the benefit of the cumulative effect of your past cycles. Take a deep breath and tell yourself you'll be fine. You've done this before and you'll do it again in just a few weeks! Run happy!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Anyone ever done a marathon with a LR of 11 miles? I'm thinking that may be all I get. So my plans of running with any group may be out the window. I just want to start, and hopefully finish. I have run races injured before, just never so "undertrained".

Solely looking at the LR, that looks to be about 1:50 hrs. My recent training cycle for the 2021 Madison M in November peaked at 2:09 hrs for the longest LR. So slightly longer than your peak, but not a huge difference. Of my 16 marathons, this past race was my second fastest (3:15:13). There's obviously a lot of other factors going on, but if you're solely narrowing the focus on whether a 1:50 hr LR is enough, then yes it can be enough. That's not said in a vacuum, but it's possible.

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD:

This year I'm proud of making reasonable goals AND for meeting a lot of them (from a running/exercise standpoint.) I haven't gone back and peeked, but I feel like I've done pretty well with my list from the running thread. I'm so glad that I stepped outside of my comfort zone of only doing sports that I'm good at and into one that I will never be the "best" or whatever other comparative adjective you can put on running. Major kudos to @DopeyBadger for suggesting and crafting training plans that allowed me to fit running into my life, rather than trying to arrange my life around running.

Checking some of those goals off my list has been tremendous for me mentally, and allowed me to be an example to my kids about working hard, having measurable and achievable goals, taking steps to reach those goals, and doing YOUR best and not worrying about other people. We are a very competitive group, and embracing my "WOO HOO last place!" finish was good for all of us, I think. During our marathon, SIL had a long discussion about never wanting to hear "I can't/I could never" from our kids....when we at around mile 21 and feeling awful, but still moving along.

 

[PrincessV]

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.

I am usually not at all motivated my medals, outside of how much I can fetch for them on eBay. This time? I'd really like that full 50th set. Enough to suffer terribly for them? Maybe not. We'll see!

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.

I don't think much will change at WDW: they're packing people into the parks, both indoors and out, so I can't see the races being any different in that area. My one concern re: races happening is medical - can they go ahead with races if they don't have enough medical staff because of COVID? IDK. I shudder a bit if I consider the possibility of a freakishly hot marathon + COVID + flu (which is also running rampant here) with inadequate medical staffing. I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see the marathon course cut (again) if medical becomes overwhelmed.

At a personal level, it's all a real bummer. I'm in a high risk category and my booster is waning, so being around a ton of people is less than ideal. I was very, very careful during W&D and still wound up very sick for a week after, so I'm doubling down on my efforts to be safe this time: I'll be masked the majority of the time, including during races, with N95 and KN95 masks. And I'm avoiding socializing for the most part, as well as spending more than a few minutes at a time in indoor public spaces. It's going to be a very different kind of race weekend.

Having a rough week over here too. Did my long run Wednesday and got my booster a few hours after. Felt horrible all day Thursday, fever, chills, sweating. Woke up yesterday with my armpit swollen to the size of an orange and also painful. Today I've got an itchy rash at the injection site and still the swelling. I know all my hard work is done and missing a few runs this week won't ruin anything, but I'm so frustrated that I've put in all this hard work and I feel like it's falling apart at the last minute. Coupled with general COVID fatigue and constant anxiety about the new variant I'm just feeling crappy. Trying to get some rest today and hopefully tomorrow will be better and I'll be able to get back on track. Hang in there everyone!

If it helps to not feel alone, I'll share that I've had pretty severe and long-lasting effects from all 3 doses - like, 6+ weeks of issues. But I promise once they did finally wear off, running felt okay again! Hang in there.

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: honestly? I'm just proud that I've managed to survive the last 5 months of 2021. It hasn't been easy.

And while this doesn't really fall into an "I'm proud of..." theme, I'll take the opportunity to share that I managed to pull off my finally Dopey 3/5/12/20 simulation this past weekend. Weather for my 20-miler was a starting temp of 70*, finishing temp of 80*, and a feels like of 85* with high humidity: think 2020 WDW Marathon. NOT. ideal. I can't say I finished feeling strong, or pleased with my effort, or proud to have gotten through it - mostly I was just hot, nauseous, and kind of out of it lol - but I did come away with a really strong confidence that I am 100% okay with saying, "no thanks" if the race itself is hot again, or if the pain is too much. That's a big win for me, as I'm stubborn and not inclined to letting myself not finish what I've started, to my own detriment. So yay me!

But.

If it could not be hot again this year? That's would be really nice.

 

[Herding_Cats]

could it also not be cold? Like 50s-60s during the races would be great, and then 70s in the afternoons. Thanks.

 

[PrincessV]

could it also not be cold? Like 50s-60s during the races would be great, and then 70s in the afternoons. Thanks.

TBH, I'm willing to take 30* at this point, if it's between that and 85... but yeah, I'd much prefer 50s!