Marathon Weekend 2023

[DisneyMountainWoman]

I do have one and was thinking about that… but I suspect lugging it around is likely to cause more damage to my body than bringing a big beach towel to fold up and sit on. I just need to MacGyver a way to stick a sign to the top of my hat so it’s high enough for runners to see lol!

I’ll just caution this: do not try to bank time by running the first half hard. It will almost certainly come back to bite you later. Take it at a comfortable pace and you’ll be fine, time-wise, and will have the energy to pick it up a bit at the end when you’re losing time to stops.

A note for you and your mom in MK: it’s SO hard to find each other in that crowd - make sure you both know what the other is wearing, have her hold a bright sign, and touch base as you pass the CR to let her know you’re near And find out exactly where she’s located.

Technically I am not banking time (meaning running faster than I am suppose too), I am just running the pace I am suppose to be able to do. I have trained this pace at 13:30 with Jeff Galloway customized program for my marathon. I just know I suck in heat/humidity... so I am just planning that my pace will slow down no matter what I do with the temps rising like they are. So I just want to use my time wisely while it is dark and not waste a single sec on the cooler times. So not going to stop at character stops till MK.
Good point at princess I called my mom at the TCT center and she explained to me where she was so I knew where to find her, so I will do that again.

 

[DopeyRunner486]

non-running related: GotG VQ question (because I don’t want to wade through the 30+ page thread in tpas)

If we are starting our day in AK and hopping to Epcot in the afternoon, can we try for the VQ at 7am, or do we have to wait for the 1pm drop?

As @Bree said you need a park reservation. You can however book an individual lightning lane for the afternoon after park hopping begins tho. That would be the only way without a park reservation.

 

[SheHulk]

Technically I am not banking time (meaning running faster than I am suppose too), I am just running the pace I am suppose to be able to do. I have trained this pace at 13:30 with Jeff Galloway customized program for my marathon. I just know I suck in heat/humidity... so I am just planning that my pace will slow down no matter what I do with the temps rising like they are. So I just want to use my time wisely while it is dark and not waste a single sec on the cooler times. So not going to stop at character stops till MK.
Good point at princess I called my mom at the TCT center and she explained to me where she was so I knew where to find her, so I will do that again.

Tell your mom I said Hi! She spotted me on Main Street too if I remember correctly.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Tell your mom I said Hi! She spotted me on Main Street too if I remember correctly.

My mom says hi back!! She loves cheering on the other disboard peeps, too.

 

[Livelovedance]

Here to say that if you need someone else to obsess over this for you and try to create plan c, d, e, or f that I’m happy to have something to do with all of my excess energy this week. And I would totally be your personal shopper at the expo if needed.

You are the BEST! Thank you, I’m actually teary eyed reading this. Messaging you now

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

non-running related: GotG VQ question (because I don’t want to wade through the 30+ page thread in tpas)

If we are starting our day in AK and hopping to Epcot in the afternoon, can we try for the VQ at 7am, or do we have to wait for the 1pm drop?

As someone else said, you can't try for the VQ at 7 unless you have a park reservation for Epcot. For the VQ at 1:00, you have to have entered Epcot (although you don't have to be in Epcot at the time). When you hop at 2:00, check the VQ - sometimes it is still open past 2:00 (although this happens less frequently during busy weeks).

On Mondays, there is a VQ at 6 pm for Evening Extra Magic Hours for deluxe resort guests. This is separate from the other VQs, so if you get a VQ at 7 or 1, you can still try at 6 pm. But you can only get a VQ at 7 or 1 - not both.

Finally, you can book an ILL regardless of reservation, but you shouldn't be able to book one until 2:00 or later if your reservation is not for Epcot. You can book an ILL and a VQ on the same day.

Hope this is clear!

 

[XoxoAmy]

non-running related: GotG VQ question (because I don’t want to wade through the 30+ page thread in tpas)

If we are starting our day in AK and hopping to Epcot in the afternoon, can we try for the VQ at 7am, or do we have to wait for the 1pm drop?

I highly recommend just buying the individual lightning lane $$ right at 7am. You can pick your time of day, which is the best. And it's 100% worth it if you haven't been on it - it's the best ride at WDW! (IMO)

 

[Herding_Cats]

Well it's a good thing I asked about that because I figured it was the same as stacking LLs through G+ and that all I needed was to be tapped in to the first park. Boo on that, Disney!
(I was also secretly hoping they would get rid of the 2:00 rule for hopping during MW since there were some rumors about that happing in "early 2023", but it doesn't look like that's going to happen in time for it to matter for us.)

 

[Cabius]

I’m thinking about spectating the half, and as much fun as MK seems, I’d prefer to avoid crowds and absolutely cannot be on my feet the whole time. I’m thinking the GF or Poly are good options, no? I’d drive to EP before roads close and monorail over.

If you're looking to cheer for somebody in particular, you could catch them at the TTX (mile ~3.5) and then walk over to the other side of the Poly (mile ~7.3) to see them twice.

If you just want to park and cheer on runners, of course any of those spots are nice!

 

[Herding_Cats]

I'm going to post this today, because I'm thinking about it, and we're close enough darn it!
Runner tracking text messages using the "email" option if they give that to us this year (W&D started out with just the twitter option and then added the email option.) Tracking is set to be available on the 2nd.

Assuming it's the same system they used for the '22 MW races:
where it says "number" you put your phone number and then the appropriate carrier finish for your number. And then your family/friends can track you during the races! AND, if you track yourself and the last pace group (see DopeyBadger's spreadsheet for this year's list) you can compare when you crossed the same timing mat to see how far ahead you are.

 

[Bree]

Track Shack does not have enough volunteers for the marathon. You can sign up here.

https://flowcode.com/p/LL8twSg2A

I know of no other details.

 

[DopeyRunner486]

Track Shack does not have enough volunteers for the marathon. You can sign up here.

https://flowcode.com/p/LL8twSg2A

I know of no other details.

I bet the ticket change had people think twice.

 

[pluto377]

Another item checked off the to do list- stopped by my local thrift store at lunch to get some hoodies as throwaways. It's looking like it'll be warm enough for me not to need these, but better safe than sorry and I can always use them as butt cushions!

Thanks to everyone for the GotG info, I had the same question! Guess I'll be trying for that LL at 7am during the half!

 

[steph0808]

Well, after much analysis paralysis, I booked Spirit out of the local airport and cancelled our Southwest flights for next Tuesday out of Pittsburgh.

We're flying out Monday night instead, which eases my mind about any possible delays. Will stay Monday night at a hotel near the airport, pick up rental car on Tuesday morning, and drive to VGF Tuesday afternoon and let the kids swim all day since we don't have park tickets for that day and it is supposed to be really nice!

Now all I have to worry about is keeping two suitcases under 40 pounds for two adults and two kids (including four running outfits and throwaway clothes). Oh vey.

 

[nekonekoneko]

This seem to be improving a bit with Southwest. As of right now only 25 flights for Friday canceled. This time yesterday they already had 1000 flights canceled two days out. Still something to watch.

From what I saw yesterday, the flights for tomorrow (which was 2 days from yesterday) wasn't that badly impacted, and now, 58% of the flights are cancelled. And, now, 270 flights are cancelled for Friday. So the numbers keep going up.

 

[The Expert]

From what I saw yesterday, the flights for tomorrow (which was 2 days from yesterday) wasn't that badly impacted, and now, 58% of the flights are cancelled. And, now, 270 flights are cancelled for Friday. So the numbers keep going up.

They are strategically canceling flights on some routes to get caught up on others. This will likely go on through the weekend, then start to normalize first of next week. Assuming no massive weather disruption or additional system outages.

 

[nekonekoneko]

They are strategically canceling flights on some routes to get caught up on others. This will likely go on through the weekend, then start to normalize first of next week. Assuming no massive weather disruption or additional system outages.

Yeah, I'm hoping that they can get the scheduling all fixed up in time for us to fly down. I also feel sorry for all the passengers and employees stuck in the middle of this mess.

 

[XoxoAmy]

Thanks to everyone for the GotG info, I had the same question! Guess I'll be trying for that LL at 7am during the half!

During the W&D Half I "pulled over" at 7am (or 6:59) to get the GOTG ILL, and it worked great (I was in HS/ Toy Story land at the time) and there were at least 3 other runners doing the same thing! I had to set an alarm on my watch at 6:55 because I would have absolutely forgotten about it. (I forgot about it during the 10k the day before! No one else in my family can be trusted to manage G+)

 

[XoxoAmy]

Well, after much analysis paralysis, I booked Spirit out of the local airport and cancelled our Southwest flights for next Tuesday out of Pittsburgh.

We're flying out Monday night instead, which eases my mind about any possible delays. Will stay Monday night at a hotel near the airport, pick up rental car on Tuesday morning, and drive to VGF Tuesday afternoon and let the kids swim all day since we don't have park tickets for that day and it is supposed to be really nice!

Now all I have to worry about is keeping two suitcases under 40 pounds for two adults and two kids (including four running outfits and throwaway clothes). Oh vey.

This is a GREAT plan. Good for you. Carry on as much as you can, and absolutely carry on your race clothes/shoes/anything important for the race.

 

[Dom497]

Track Shack does not have enough volunteers for the marathon. You can sign up here.

https://flowcode.com/p/LL8twSg2A

I know of no other details.

"not enough" as in "less than ideal" or as in "not enough to staff all planned water stations"?