Marathon Weekend 2024

[jrsharp21]

SAFD: I am not a big eater before a run. I just feel sluggish if I don eat before a run. Last years MW, I stopped at Target on the way to WDW from the airport and grabbed a stack of stroup waffles. I ate one each morning walking from the parking lot to the gathering area. For the 5k, no fuel packs. 10k, I will pop a gel pack after 3 miles. For the half, I take a gel pack every 4 miles. For the marathon, I also pop a gel pack every 4 miles. During the full marathon, I will grab something to drink at every stop. In the beginning it's water, but as the run goes on I switch over to Powerade. I will also grab a banana each time one is offered in the second half of the run.

Usually I use salted watermelon GU. But I have a friend who gave me some Crank e-gel to try out. I will say that the flavors are really good and so far have worked well during long runs. I tried a new flavor today, vanilla strawberry slam, and it may be the best flavored gel I have tried. Problem with the Crank gels is that the packets are large. There is no way my running belt will hold seven of these. I may bring those for the 10k and the half and then stick with the salted watermelon GU for the full.

 

[matt and beth]

SAFD: This year I had a bagel, peanut butter, half a cup of coffee, and water before the 10k, half, and full. For the half and full I also had a Huma gel and water 15-20 mins before the start and then approx every 30-45 mins. Water at all stations. Huma gel w/ caffeine about half or 3/4 way through.

But in real life I run in the mornings and don’t eat before hand (except for a Huma and water 15-20 mins before a long run), so this year I’m going with more of a ‘don’t do anything different’ approach. Eating and the coffee before the race seemed to throw me off on stomach/bathroom timing in a way I didn’t like, so sticking with what I know this time.

I am also going to try carrying my own bottle so I can add Huma powder from time to time. I was hesitant to do that this year but saw people doing it pretty frequently so seems easy enough.

Funny the alcohol talk, not that I’m some lush but WDW usually = vacation and I found avoiding my usual favorite spots and beverages very hard!

Yah, agree. Not getting a hang over but I’m going to enjoy myself. Favorite spots?

 

[matt and beth]

SAFD:
I’m still playing around to figure out what works best for me.
I’ll generally force myself to eat an English muffin with almond butter and honey while waiting for the buses.
During the races, I don’t stop for water or fuel for the 5k or 10k. For the half and full, starting at around 20ish minutes, I’ll take a cliff block every 15ish minutes, then half an hour later take a gel, then 20ish minutes later do that again. I’m still figuring out water. I was scared of the heat/humidity everyone was talking about, so took two waters at every water station. I over hydrated and ended up needing to stop to pee over 4 times.

Be careful with too much water. It can be life threatening believe it or not. 2 waters every stop is borderline. IMHO

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Yah, agree. Not getting a hang over but I’m going to enjoy myself. Favorite spots?

I’m a sucker for the park bars/lounges….so, all of them? . Places like Nomad, Dawa, Thirsty River, that bar next to Restaurantosorous, Baseline, Brown Derby lounge, Cava del Tequlia, etc. Gotta throw in the resort lounges too… Tambu and Geyser Point would be favs.

I had lunch and a few brews at Geyser Point either Thursday or Friday last year. Could have easily sat there all afternoon, had to pull myself away.

 

[accm]

Be careful with too much water. It can be life threatening believe it or not. 2 waters every stop is borderline. IMHO

2 waters at every stop is probably less water than I drink in that amount of time while at work, so I was definitely ok.
But I do know that too much water can be an issue when not consumed with the appropriate electrolytes.

 

[Grabnar]

2 waters at every stop is probably less water than I drink in that amount of time while at work, so I was definitely ok.
But I do know that too much water can be an issue when not consumed with the appropriate electrolytes.

Depends on how much you're sweating at work, you're generally burning through electrolytes much more quickly unless you do heavy manual labor.

I'm a heavy, heavy sweater and I usually have 1 powerade/1 water at each stop depending on the heat.

 

[accm]

Depends on how much you're sweating at work, you're generally burning through electrolytes much more quickly unless you do heavy manual labor.

I'm a heavy, heavy sweater and I usually have 1 powerade/1 water at each stop depending on the heat.

I don’t sweat much. I also never take any electrolytes while running and have never had an issue. I did however, end up dehydrated during a half where I did not drink enough water for the gels/blocks I consumed. After that experience, I’d much rather a few extra washroom breaks.
I appreciate the concern, but 2 of those little cups of water is far from dangerous. For me at least.

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: After lots of trial and error over the years, I've figured out what works for me:
5K/10K - half a Clif bar and a cup of coffee before, water only during.
Half - whole Clif bar and coffee before, Tailwind during.
Full - Clif bar/coffee before, Tailwind during the race (I carry a baggie w/ extra for refills on course), Clif shot bloks every couple of miles starting around mile 10 or so.

After all races - refuel with banana and oatmeal. After the full I make a special effort to take in extra salt/carbs, especially if it's a hot day.

Alcohol - I stick to one beer the night before races. And constantly sipping water always!

Nutrition between races - I try to keep my diet as normal as possible, while still enjoying Disney food. I switched to a vegan diet 5 years ago, and that did wonders for my race related GI issues. I eat a lot of rice/tofu/veggies and not so much pasta.

 

[Disneyhanna]

SAFD: I am one of those lucky weirdos where my day of eating looks like a pyramid, I can take or leave breakfast and don't need much for lunch and then dinner is where I become the bottomless pit. It works well for races, especially at Disney when I am up so early. I can't stomach the thought of eating anything very solid at 3AM (tried bagels/English muffins and couldn't get past a bite, that usually works for home races where I am not up until like 6AM) so what I did for Dopey this year was bring a few things to the corrals. I could completely skip eating for the 5k/10k and be 100% fine but I think I did have a banana those mornings while waiting. I did the banana again for the half and full, and for the full I think I added a honey stinger waffle and applesauce pouch. I had a pack of honey stinger chews during the half and that was plenty. For the full, I think I had 2.5 packs of honey stinger chews plus half a banana during the race, and three packs of Nuun endurance (60 cals each?). I think I might have had another applesauce pouch as well. Since I was out there about 6 hours I was aiming for 600-700 cals and I believe I hit that. No bonking for me!

I ate pretty much whatever I want at WDW, and I do at home too. Including spicy food I did avoid burgers at WDW though (before the races), and had a kids cheeseburger after the marathon as my pre-dinner and inhaled it in maybe two bites

 

[jrsharp21]

SAFD: Love reading the after marathon eating habits. For me, it's anything in my path on the way to meet up with my family. LOL. Of course it is a beer at the meet up area right after getting done. Got to have the pic with the beer and medals. Then last year, on my way back to the car, I stopped at that breakfast cone food truck they had in the meet up area. That held me over until I got cleaned up and then headed back to Epcot to meet up with the family. Of course they were all the way over in the American Adventure Pavilion. I think by the time I got to them I consumed one of those giant donuts, an energy drink, a coke, some chicken fingers, and a hot dog. Then demolished some BBQ when I met up with them.

 

[sandam1]

SAFD: I need to eat - a lot - when I'm running. If I try to skimp on it, I definitely feel it.

Pre-race is triscuits, cheddar cheese, and turkey before I leave the car and a banana on the walk to security. I do this for every race although I definitely don't need to for the 5K. I usually struggle to get it down, but by now I know that I will regret it if I don't.

During everything that is 10K or longer, I use Tailwind as my drink of choice. I use sports beans at the beginning of each race (or almost exclusively for the 10K) and then move on to honey stinger waffles, applesauce and maple syrup later in the longer races. I would like to add something that isn't sugary (by the end of the marathon, I was really tired of sugar), but I haven't found anything that I like that is easy to carry.

After the race I try to eat something before leaving the reunion area. The animal crackers in last year's box and the banana worked well. Then I get some chocolate milk when I get back to the car, which holds me over until I get to the hotel. At the hotel, I make sure to eat a substantial meal as soon as feasible.

Thankfully, I can eat pretty much anything for other race weekend meals. I try to stay away from fried foods because I don't want to chance tasting them again - and again and again - when I'm running, but that's more of a preference than a necessity.

 

[Bree]

SAFD: I‘m running Dopey…..

5K & 10K - Usually bring a banana and a protein or granola bar of some sort with me to eat while waiting around for the race to start. I don’t fuel and use the water stops as needed. FYI, there is no Powerade on the course for the 5K or 10k.

Half - I eat oatmeal or cream of wheat with slivered almonds, raisins and a little bit of brown sugar & a drink some coffee in room. I also bring a banana and protein bar to eat. I flip flop as to whether I bring Tailwind with me. Sometimes I just don’t feel like wearing a hydration belt. I eat a Huma gel or Endurance Tap every 30 minutes and try to time it with the water stops so my gut stays happy. I bring tailwind recovery and a blender bottle in my gear check bag to drink after the race.

Full - Same morning routine as the half except I eat a gel right before I start. I bring Tailwind in my hydration belt, extra packs of tailwind and gels. I grab water as needed and refill my own bottle with tailwind as needed. I eat gels every 30 minutes in addition to the tailwind, I eat all the bananas and usually skip the chocolate stop. At that point I am over sweet stuff and ready to be done and dreaming of beer and solid food that is not sweet. Just like the half, I bring tailwind recovery. I brought pickles in my gear check one year and they were incredible.

I need to figure out how to better carry real food without it getting smooshed or melted for the half and full. My stomach literally growls on the course and breakfast scents around some of the resorts and park restaurants make me hangry

I don’t avoid alcohol for RunDisney weekends since I’m not usually running for time, but I try not to have too much before the races. Parking lot beers don’t count!

 

[RuntheMouse]

I need to figure out how to better carry real food without it getting smooshed or melted for the half and full. My stomach literally growls on the course and breakfast scents around some of the resorts and park restaurants make me hangry

That bacon smell around Crescent Lake is no joke!

 

[Dopey 2020]

SAFD
Pretty much the same every race for me no matter the distance
Coffee on the way
PB&J in the coral
Honey Stinger gel every 3.5 miles
Water at the stops
Thinking about salt tabs for the marathon though, I don’t like the Powerade and need something post mile 20 or so

After races is some form of salty snack and as much food as I can find.
I am almost always very hungry for all of marathon weekend. As far as the adult beverages go, I enjoy many good beers, probably too many over the weekend, all part of vacation, right?

 

[striker1064]

This might be TMI, but how do you avoid GI issues with alcohol? I have to go zero alcohol during race weekends if I want to avoid bathroom breaks during the race

My version is a little more extreme, but I stop drinking alcohol anywhere from 1-2 weeks prior to a race. The effects of alcohol on sleep are well-documented, and we know even one drink can affect the quality of your sleep. So, depending on the importance and distance of the race, I like to give my body plenty of time to clear out and my sleep several days to regulate.

Then, post-race, I party.

 

[Naomeri]

I need to figure out how to better carry real food without it getting smooshed or melted for the half and full. My stomach literally growls on the course and breakfast scents around some of the resorts and park restaurants make me hangry

This is why I chew gum while I run, the minty flavor calms the hunger pangs. I do eventually have to put something solid into my stomach, but I can hold it off for a while with fresh gum

 

[Bree]

This is why I chew gum while I run, the minty flavor calms the hunger pangs. I do eventually have to put something solid into my stomach, but I can hold it off for a while with fresh gum

I will have to try that!

 

[jmasgat]

This is why I chew gum while I run, the minty flavor calms the hunger pangs. I do eventually have to put something solid into my stomach, but I can hold it off for a while with fresh gum

I can walk and chew gum at the same time, but run and chew? I think I would last 10 secs before it really annoyed me!

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: I’m a light eater to start, which works to my detriment when fueling long runs/races - it’s hard for me to make sure I’m getting enough calories. And on top of it, I have chronically low blood sugar that plummets with exercise. So staying on top of nutrition is a big thing for me.

At rD races with their ridiculous early timing, I’ve got a 3-breakfast system:
1st bfast: after I wake and get dressed, I get my blood sugar up to something normal-ish with either a bagel/piece of toast with PB and a banana or a cup of oatmeal with a banana.
2nd breakfast: 30-45ish minutes before I expect to start my race, a granola bar or a gel.
3rd breakfast: post-race, back in my room, cereal, a bagel with cream cheese, breakfast sandwich, QS eggs, or the like.
I also always have a chocolate milk waiting in my car to down as soon as I get there after the race - that gives my blood sugar a boost and sustains me until I can get to real food.

During a run or race, I down a gel every 45-50 minutes, and carry a 12oz handheld bottle that I’ll refill with what ends up as a 50/50ish mix of Powerade and water, or alternate extra strength Nuun and Tailwind if conditions warrant. A couple delayed starts over the years taught me to always carry an extra gel, just in case, because if I run out and my blood sugar crashes, forget it: I’m out.

I try to stick to the same kinds of foods I eat at home, which is challenging at WDW, where nearly everything available is saltier, fattier, and heavier than what I’m used to - I have a cast-iron stomach, but just don’t feel good eating that way. For marathons and Dopeys, I’ve always rented a villa with a full kitchen and prepared most of my meals as I do at home. It’s less important for 5K-13.1, but I still wind up off-campus a lot in search of better food options than I can find at WDW, and I always bring my own breakfast and snack items.

I feel best and perform better without alcohol in the mix in the days before a race, so I mostly avoid it. The occasional beer is okay early, but anything later than about 3pm interferes with my sleep, so it’s a nope.

 

[PrincessV]

Yes, this was true when everyone was using the park reservation system. Now it is pretty much just AP. It cannot be providing that much info. Especially at this level of precision. There are other ways statistically to predict crowds without making your guests jump thru convoluted hoops every time they want to visit. Heck, Len Testa has been doing it for 20+ years without the precision of a reservation system.

Exactly. I just went to MK yesterday… I literally made my park reservation walking from my car to the monorail - no way was that factored into staffing for the day, lol!

I need to figure out how to better carry real food without it getting smooshed or melted for the half and full.

Years ago, I read that Fig Newtons are basically the perfect race nutrition, so I loaded a handful into a baggie and tested it… they are, indeed, excellent! BUT. They are also very, VERY messy. And crumbly. And let me tell you, I was not aware prior that crumbs + a bra’s elastic band = extreme chafing. I know now.

I’ve also used Goldfish crackers in the past. Another good tasting open, but the problem I have with any “real” food is the bulk: it takes a LOT of them to equal the calories in a tiny gel!