Marathon Weekend 2024

[WillRunForPizza]

SAFD: Last fall I was trying for a 1:53 HM (for POT for what turned out to be corral A for the marathon), and my training had not been going all that well. More specifically, I really struggled with several of my HM pace runs, and I really didn't think I could do it. But, since I already had a slower qualifying time, as race day approached I decided to just go for it, and if it blew up in my face I could use the other race and just be in a later corral. But, after feeling surprisingly good at mile 6 and then reaaallly having to dig deep from about mile 10, I got my POT! Moral of the story, even if your training feels like a struggle, that doesn't mean you can't achieve your goals. Especially if you're training in the summer...which is definitely relevant right now...

 

[striker1064]

SAFD: It's definitely running the Rock n' Roll Half Marathon here in DC this past March. For the first time probably ever, I finally cleared my mind of all the stuff going on in my personal life and ran the race of a lifetime. It helps that I PR'ed and also got under 1:50, but even if I run faster HMs in the future it's more than that. I can paint a straight line to the moment in that race when my life turned around, and I'm a better runner and better person because of the experience I had that day.

 

[BikeFan]

SAFD: My best running memory is my first BQ, at the Richmond Marathon in 2013. I'd started running (again) in 2011 to finally get serious about my health and lose some weight, but I was never a natural athlete and just signed up for races as motivation and to get some shirts and medals (which I still love!). I ran my first marathon at Richmond in November 2012, followed by running Goofy two months later in 2013 with my brother. Those were fun and I was surprised at how good I felt at the finished, but my first full (3:56) was so far from the 3:25 I'd need to BQ that I never really gave it any serious thought. I wasn't one of those Boston runners - those folks were serious and talented, and I was neither of those things. Still, I continued to increase my miles, lose weight, and improve my fitness.
In April 2013, I ran a local 5K with my family, and was stunned to come in at just over 21:00, good enough for third in my age group! I plugged that result into a race equivalency calculator, and it suggested a marathon around 3:20 was possible. Wow - I'd never even thought I could do something like that. I checked into running Richmond again in 2013, and saw it would be on my 44th birthday. I took that as a sign and decided to put everything I had into toward going sub-3:20 that day. I bought the Hanson's Marathon Method book and cleaned up my diet as best I could. The training plan was tough, as I'd never "trained" before - just run as far and as fast as I felt like doing each day. Also, starting in July in the South was brutal, but as summer became fall, the temperatures cooled and I could feel I was getting faster.
I was nervous as heck on race day, but I was also 20 pounds lighter than the year before and as fit as I'd ever been. There was no pace group for 3:20, so I just struck out on my own and felt pretty good once I calmed down. As I got closer to the finish and maintained pace, it became clearer I'd be able to finish sub-3:20. Coming downhill in the final half-mile of the race, I heard my brother cheer for me and I just let out a scream of relief and excitement. I finished in 3:19 that day and got a BQ by 5+ minutes. I've run faster and farther since, but I'll never forget that marathon.

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: Certainly things like finishing my first marathon are great memories, but the one I keep coming back to as motivation when I feel like I can't do it is when I ran the virtual Goofy in 2021. I was so frustrated at that point about all the disruption Covid had caused in our lives, and not being able to go to WDW for MW was such a bummer. So I decided that it wasn't going to stop me from doing it and I ran the Goofy challenge on my own home turf. I was able to talk a friend into doing the half with me, but no takers on the marathon - that was a LONELY 26.2 miles in the January cold, but I frequently remind myself that if I can do that, I can get through a race!

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD:
Finishing my first marathon with my SIL. We both finished after the published cut-off time, and when the guy on the bike started checking on us more frequently after mile 23ish, every time he showed up we asked if they were pulling us from the course. I finished in something like 6:09 or 6:11 (I don’t remember) but I was pretty sure that as long as we looked ok and we’re making progress that they would allow us to finish over the 6hr “limit.” We both learned so much during that race. There were a few DNFs that we passed, and even though it was “underperforming” for me, it was a great first marathon.

 

[morgsmagic]

SAFD: This would have to be my second half marathon I completed in May 2019. My first half was the 2018 Princess Half and although I was also proud of that one because it was my first, for my second half I surprisingly exceeded all my expectations for my finish time. I was proud I had learned from my training from the first half and developed a strong base, logging in the miles and staying consistent. My preparation shown through on my performance in that race, setting a new PR and feeling like I was flying through parts of the course. I finished strong and completely awed my family who were there to support me.

 

[DopeyRunner486]

Today’s question - Share a running memory for which you are really proud.

Every race has its own story. Each one special or memorable for different reasons.

The one that is always extra special to me is the 2021 New York City Marathon. It was my first world major, and the return to racing after a year off in 2020 due to covid for NYC. I worked hard to get into great shape for that race and to have the experience of a lifetime. My goal was to PR which given my other marathons were Disney it wasn't going to be that hard to do. The crowds and atmosphere are like no other in New York. Every inch of those roads are filled with people unless you are on a bridge. The race went extremely well until about mile 17-18 when I started cramping. I had never had that happen before but I pushed through and was still able to finish sub 4:30 (4:23). It will be forever one of my favorite races and moments throughout this running journey.

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: My best running memory is probably my first Comrades. Tackling an ~90km race with a very strict 12-hour gun-to-gun time limit was very daunting to think about. Turns out it was one of the best races I've ever run. The tradition, the 25,000 other runners, the supporters all along the entire route all made for an incredible day. Aside from the memory of being absolutely elated when crossing the line 10:40 after the gun went off, my other indelible memory from that day is the being at the finish line to see and feel the heartbreak of the first runners to be blocked from finishing after the 12-hour gun fired. Watching people be physically blocked from finishing 1 second after the 12-hour limit was reached was devastating. Made us appreciate our medals even more.

 

[Let's Get Kronk]

SAFD: Mine would have to be my first marathon which was the Austin Marathon in 2014. I had trained diligently and really wanted to be sub 4:00. I was so nervous in the days leading up to the race and it didn't help that it ended up being almost 70 degrees when the race started and super humid. I ran the first 22 miles without stopping with the 3:50 pace group but then I hit the wall really hard. I had to walk basically the entire next mile, ate a banana at a food stop, drank some powerade and ran/walked the rest of the way. I was coming up the final hill to mile 26 and I stopped to walk. Some random lady spectator came over to me and said "please don't quit now. You're almost there!" It got me running again and I ended up finishing in 3:58:48. I'll never forget her, wherever she is. An added bonus was that my (sadly now ex) husband proposed at the finish line. All in all a pretty spectacular day.

And here I am, ugly crying at my desk at work. Thanks guys.

 

[camaker]

SAFD: I think the running memory I'm most proud of is my 100k from this March. I normally train for ultras at my marathon pacing structure and then slow it down, introducing intervals, to extend out my endurance (aka, train fast-ish, race slow). Unfortunately, I'd been fighting a posterior tibialis issue since last September that ended up requiring me to switch to slower, interval-based training. As a result, I was quite undertrained going into the race.

Race day presented its own challenges, with the point to point course running directly into the teeth of a 15-20 mph headwind with gusts into the 30s for the entirety of the race. It was so bad on one of the bridges that the wind ripped one of the pins out of my good quality Tyvek bib. Running into that wind also pushed my effort level up to the point where trying to take in nutrition on-course was upsetting my stomach.

By the time I reached the halfway point, I was completely spent and told my wife, who was crewing for me, that I didn't see any way I was going to finish. Garmin had my "Stamina Potential/Body Battery" flat-lined at 1% after 5:15 of what would end up being a 14:37 race. I was able to find a second wind by making adjustments to my running strategy and figuring out how to take in just enough nutrition on the fly to carry me through to the end. The finish time wasn't what I wanted, but I got across the finish line despite everything.

Honorable mentions in this category also go to:

• Completing a marathon sub-4:00. I had a plan and executed it exactly as needed to hit a major running milestone.
• Completing 2018 Dopey while running 3 of the races with bronchitis. Stupid it may have been, but stubborn got it done.

 

[DopeyBadger]

SAFD: Dopey 2018. I was still perfect Dopey, but knew that the 5th iteration would be my last as I wanted to be able to focus elsewhere. I had been attempting the Sextuple PR Challenge in each of the previous four Dopeys. The goal was simple, attempt a PR at all four races. I had come close with a miss here or there along the way in each. But with Dopey 2018 being my last of the perfect stretch, I wanted to give it all.

The 5k opened at 20:06 which was a 24 sec official PR. I got a side stitch part of the way through the 5k, and felt like I had more to give.

During the 10k, I ran inspired and about as hard as I ever have. I came across the 5k split in 19:27. So I beat my official PR from the day prior, and then came across the 10k line in 39:54. So no matter what, I had definitely run a sub-20 5k. The 10k PR was a 3.5 min improvement.

Then came the HM. My hamstring were super tight pre-race, but I just went for it. Crossed the line in 1:30:35, which was a PR by over 8 minutes.

Lastly, the marathon. My body was so tired entering that race. My legs were sore. But I laid everything on the line and attacked that race as best I could. I was aiming for a 3:14 M which was what I had run just a few months prior as a standalone M. When I hit the 20 mile mark of the Dopey marathon, I looked at the runDisney clock and did some math to determine how close I was to hitting my goal. I knew as long as I maintained faster than an 8 min/mile I should have that PR. But as each mile passed and I stayed under that limit, the runDisney clocks seemed to be painting a different picture. As I hit the Mile 25 mark, I realized something had gone wrong with the math, and I was just going to miss it. I ended up finishing in 3:15:59. Turns out the clock at Mile 20 was wrong, and I put too much trust into it. Regardless, I ended up finishing with 5 of 6 new PRs, finished in 20th place out of 7620 Dopeys based on cumulative time, and ended my perfect streak as the #2 perfect runner.

I look back on that accomplishment and remain very proud of myself. I've run several 5k, 10k, HM and Ms since, but those times from five years ago remain my #1 official 5k time, #1 official 10k time, #2 official HM time, and #3 official M time out of 11x 5ks, 12x 10ks, 24x HMs, and 17x Ms. According to VDOT, the 10k time of 39:54 still remains as my best individual race performance. So Dopey 2018 was a truly magical race weekend for me.

 

[dis_or_dat]

SAFD: hmmmm so many. I should say my first marathon because I got into Boston. But honestly, it was the half marathon I did afterwards. I burned out during training and doubted I could achieve my goal but everything clicked and I got my NYC qualifier despite going the wrong way for a bit. I also think I really pushed myself during the race and didn’t run as conservatively as usual.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

SAFD: I currently use Brooks Ghost for training and racing. I ran in Glycerins until Brooks put too much cushioning in them and triggered my first posterior tibialis issue. I'm wondering if they've done the same with the Ghosts at this point, though, and have picked up,a pair of Trace 2s to try out for a bit. Fingers crossed that will help with the tibialis.

I have a pair of Glycerins and a pair of Ghosts that are soon to be retired. I went to buy another pair of the Glycerins (I think) and was dismayed to discover they felt very different, so I returned them. Headed to my local running store and now have two pairs of Mizuno Wave Riders that feel great.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

SAFD: Dopey 2018. I was still perfect Dopey, but knew that the 5th iteration would be my last as I wanted to be able to focus elsewhere. I had been attempting the Sextuple PR Challenge in each of the previous four Dopeys. The goal was simple, attempt a PR at all four races. I had come close with a miss here or there along the way in each. But with Dopey 2018 being my last of the perfect stretch, I wanted to give it all.

The 5k opened at 20:06 which was a 24 sec official PR. I got a side stitch part of the way through the 5k, and felt like I had more to give.

During the 10k, I ran inspired and about as hard as I ever have. I came across the 5k split in 19:27. So I beat my official PR from the day prior, and then came across the 10k line in 39:54. So no matter what, I had definitely run a sub-20 5k. The 10k PR was a 3.5 min improvement.

Then came the HM. My hamstring were super tight pre-race, but I just went for it. Crossed the line in 1:30:35, which was a PR by over 8 minutes.

Lastly, the marathon. My body was so tired entering that race. My legs were sore. But I laid everything on the line and attacked that race as best I could. I was aiming for a 3:14 M which was what I had run just a few months prior as a standalone M. When I hit the 20 mile mark of the Dopey marathon, I looked at the runDisney clock and did some math to determine how close I was to hitting my goal. I knew as long as I maintained faster than an 8 min/mile I should have that PR. But as each mile passed and I stayed under that limit, the runDisney clocks seemed to be painting a different picture. As I hit the Mile 25 mark, I realized something had gone wrong with the math, and I was just going to miss it. I ended up finishing in 3:15:59. Turns out the clock at Mile 20 was wrong, and I put too much trust into it. Regardless, I ended up finishing with 5 of 6 new PRs, finished in 20th place out of 7620 Dopeys based on cumulative time, and ended my perfect streak as the #2 perfect runner.

I look back on that accomplishment and remain very proud of myself. I've run several 5k, 10k, HM and Ms since, but those times from five years ago remain my #1 official 5k time, #1 official 10k time, #2 official HM time, and #3 official M time out of 11x 5ks, 12x 10ks, 24x HMs, and 17x Ms. According to VDOT, the 10k time of 39:54 still remains as my best individual race performance. So Dopey 2018 was a truly magical race weekend for me.

Kudos!
And you should have asked to see Lilo about that stitch…

 

[nancipants]

SAFD: I really don't have an answer for this yet, as this year's Princess 10k was my first real timed race. But it was so fun and made me want to do the half, so I guess that's my answer for now.

 

[RunWI1265]

does anyone know what the Riviera bussing situation was this year for MW? I assume it’s shared with CB? Was riviera first or last? Any reoccurring bussing nightmares? I’m considering renting points and switching from Gran Destino to Riv but GD has been so good to me the past two marathon weekends I’m nervous to switch. Riviera has been on my wishlist for a long time what better time than MW when I’ll be in my room more than normal. But then…if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I should stay at the tower which I also enjoy. Someone help me decide!

 

[DopeyRunner486]

does anyone know what the Riviera bussing situation was this year for MW? I assume it’s shared with CB? Was riviera first or last? Any reoccurring bussing nightmares? I’m considering renting points and switching from Gran Destino to Riv but GD has been so good to me the past two marathon weekends I’m nervous to switch. Riviera has been on my wishlist for a long time what better time than MW when I’ll be in my room more than normal. But then…if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I should stay at the tower which I also enjoy. Someone help me decide!

I have stayed at CBR a couple times but not Riviera. I don't recall any major issues with buses at CBR but I also don't remember which dropped off first as its been a couple years now. Typically race mornings aren't too much of an issue as they'll have empty buses at each resort waiting to go. The return trip after the race is typically when they for sure stop at both.

 

[jpeterson]

I have stayed at CBR a couple times but not Riviera. I don't recall any major issues with buses at CBR but I also don't remember which dropped off first as its been a couple years now. Typically race mornings aren't too much of an issue as they'll have empty buses at each resort waiting to go. The return trip after the race is typically when they for sure stop at both.

I've stayed at both during race weekends and never had issues with either.

 

[azrivest]

SAFD: My 10k PR in May. It was two years in the making.

 

[camaker]

does anyone know what the Riviera bussing situation was this year for MW? I assume it’s shared with CB? Was riviera first or last? Any reoccurring bussing nightmares? I’m considering renting points and switching from Gran Destino to Riv but GD has been so good to me the past two marathon weekends I’m nervous to switch. Riviera has been on my wishlist for a long time what better time than MW when I’ll be in my room more than normal. But then…if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I should stay at the tower which I also enjoy. Someone help me decide!

CBR has been my go to for MW for the last couple of years and the buses have been shared with Riviera. As previously noted, there are usually several buses queued up at each individual stop first thing in the morning that fill up and then head out directly. Once they start running the normal circuit, though, Riviera seems to be either the 1st or 3rd stop, depending on where the bus enters the resort complex. One route has the buses stopping at Jamaica and Aruba before hitting the Riviera and continuing around the other side of the resort. The second route has the buses coming in to Riviera first and then heading out to circle the rest of the resort. I haven't experienced anything more than normal, occasional hiccups in the bus service that can and do crop up just about anywhere you stay.