Marathon Weekend 2025

[Mr_Incr3dible]

SAFD: Put me down as yet another person who likes the 5K the least, because for me it is over so fast (meaning in ~30 minutes). Other than a super-local race, I spend more time driving to/from, and waiting for race start than actually running. And that really holds true for Disney. I did the 5K as part of a Dopey, but would not otherwise. Ditto the 10K during MW. Which is why I was signed up for the Goofy again. My fav distance is the HM in that it is a challenging distance and at takes more than 2 hours, so it isn't over too quickly. And that holds true whether at MW or a local Thanksgiving half.
The marathon is a love/hate relationship in that I love training for one and looking forward to it, and the sense of accomplishment when it is completed. During the marathon? There have been times when I was questioning my life choices, what I was doing there, and whether I would ever do one again.

I'm about to go to my 40th HS reunion and will see the classmate who germinated the idea of doing the Dopey after showing a picture of all the medals (that was after my first Goofy and before I knew of the Dopey). And when I realized that life and work had stabilized enough and that I had the opportunity to do the 2022 Dopey, I signed up for it and it was near the front of my thoughts nearly 24/7 until race day(s). The idea of 4 straight races, the 48.6 miles, of accomplishing that in the course of a weekend was so motivating for 9+ months of training. To this day, it is still one of my better accomplishments. And for that, I did the 5K and the 10K because they were part of the challenge. But having done it once, I don't know that I want to spend the time and money for those two days just for the Dopey challenge.

A 10-miler? Haven't done one yet, but like the idea of that distance.
As for running again? I have the consult with the surgeon in the morning. Nervous about surgery, nervous about how much damage I may have done, nervous about being able to get back to running in that I'll always wonder if I'm about to break it again. Prayers please.

 

[kristenabelle]

SAFD- I don't like racing any distance I mainly sign up for races because of the runner camaraderie and it's fun to run in places that aren't normally accessible. My favorite Disney distance is 10K because the course has the best balance between highway and park/scenic (Boardwalk area).

I'm with you here - 10Ks are my favorite courses. Least amount of highway, done in enough time to feel like I put in a good amount of work, but still went by fast. Disneyland 10K courses are chefs kiss.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

As for running again? I have the consult with the surgeon in the morning. Nervous about surgery, nervous about how much damage I may have done, nervous about being able to get back to running in that I'll always wonder if I'm about to break it again. Prayers please.

Just know these thoughts are totally normal. The biggest hurdle will be trusting your body and trusting the surgery after your PT. You're going to be nervous about pushing it when given the all clear. Even professional athletes face this. You've got this!

 

[jrsharp21]

nervous about being able to get back to running in that I'll always wonder if I'm about to break it again.

I know what you mean there. Twelve years ago, I was playing in a men's baseball league, and tore my achilles jumping for a ball. Back when it happened, I thought I would never do anything stressful again. I would read articles and forums online where people said that they retore their achiless when they got back to sport, or that they tore their other achilles. I really thought that my sports days were over. When I got back to actually being able to do activities again, I babied my foot so much in fear of re-tearing. But eventually that fear fades away. You will get to a point where you are comfortable with your body again and won't even think twice about it. Fast forward to today, and I am more active than I have been since I finished my college baseball days. Running marathons, biking, swimming, golfing, etc.. Things will return to normal. It may not feel like it now, but they will in time. Just stay positive through the recovery. That is where I had a hard time. I went into a bad place when I was laid up in a cast and having to use crutches and a scooter to get around. I think once I got into my walking boot a few months later, I started to see a light at the end of the tunnel and my mindset turned for the positive. If you can get past those few first months with a good mindset, you will be well along your way to a successful recovery and closer to being back at MW!

 

[bpr2002]

One mindset I like to teach when it comes to the time-based/cumulative fatigue training model is to change from thinking about doing a training run at 20 miles, and then seeing the last 6.22 as what remains in a race, and instead visualizing that the first 10 miles of the race were like the week's cumulative fatigue and my LR of 16 miles (or whatever distance it ends up being) is the last 16, not the first 16. So when I get to Mile 10 of the marathon, then I start counting up (or down) from 0. Because in my mind, everything prior was just like all the week's activities leading into the standard long run. Not saying one method is better than the other, but that's how I've been able to train other's mindsets in overcoming this particular issue. But it's certainly a mental hurdle.

As an extreme example, I had a runner with a 3:40 HM PR (16:45 min/mile) do nine months of training for Dopey 2024. Their peak long run was 9.5 miles which took them around 3 hrs for their fitness level (19 min/mile). They were consistently putting in 7.5 hr weekly running volume. This runner finished near exactly where we thought they would on all four races and became a finisher against all odds. One part of that was changing the mindset from "everything is new from here on out" to "everything is merely a warm up for those last 9.5 miles".

This gives me hope as I am currently following a training plan that uses this philosophy with a long run that will max out at around 3 hours. And I am very slow -- a back of the packer for sure! This will be my first full marathon and I am terrified!

 

[Herding_Cats]

This gives me hope as I am currently following a training plan that uses this philosophy with a long run that will max out at around 3 hours. And I am very slow -- a back of the packer for sure! This will be my first full marathon and I am terrified!

I've used a DopeyBadger training plan for all 4 of my marathons, with my longest long-run capping at 13.1mi (about 3 hours) and that, coupled with the cumulative fatigue of the plan, has gotten me across the finish line every time. And I've been a functional person too! You can do this!

 

[bpr2002]

I've used a DopeyBadger training plan for all 4 of my marathons, with my longest long-run capping at 13.1mi (about 3 hours) and that, coupled with the cumulative fatigue of the plan, has gotten me across the finish line every time. And I've been a functional person too! You can do this!

Thank you for the encouragement, @Herding_Cats . Three hours will get me to or very close to 13.1 miles in weather other than summer in the southern US. And I have three shorter runs in addition which do add to the cumulative fatigue. The goal of completing the full marathon just seems so daunting.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Thank you for the encouragement, @Herding_Cats . Three hours will get me to or very close to 13.1 miles in weather other than summer in the southern US. And I have three shorter runs in addition which do add to the cumulative fatigue. The goal of completing the full marathon just seems so daunting.

So around a 13:51 min/mile long run pace (180min/13 mi)? So fitness level around a 2:40 HM (12:12 min/mile) if continuous runner or 2:35 HM (11:51 min/mile) if run/walker? You put in the training four days per week (LR + 3 days) and get over 5.5-6hrs per week total run volume on a consistent basis then you're more than golden in finishing the marathon. For marathons as a solo event, I usually recommend someone be able to do a 3:20-3:30 HM with good training to finish the marathon before the balloon ladies coming from the first non-POT corral. So if my guesses/estimates prior are correct, then you're not even close to needing to worry about your ability to finish if you put in the training. In fact, you're probably estimated to finish a good 90 min before the balloon ladies would.

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: absolutely none. There is not any distance I want to race, as in against others for time. I am 100% a purely recreational runner and happy with that lol!

Races for fun, not time? IDK - I’m feeling pretty sour on long distances lately, but my last half was the shortened WDW Half and I’ve only recently started building pre-W&D mileage in the infernal heat of FL summer. Maybe I’ll feel differently about the longer distance when things cool off?

I really do enjoy the 5Ks at WDW, but can’t justify the price tag anymore.

I guess by default, if I want a shorter distance that isn’t a 5K, that leaves the 10Ks.

 

[bpr2002]

So around a 13:51 min/mile long run pace (180min/13 mi)? So fitness level around a 2:40 HM (12:12 min/mile) if continuous runner or 2:35 HM (11:51 min/mile) if run/walker? You put in the training four days per week (LR + 3 days) and get over 5.5-6hrs per week total run volume on a consistent basis then you're more than golden in finishing the marathon. For marathons as a solo event, I usually recommend someone be able to do a 3:20-3:30 HM with good training to finish the marathon before the balloon ladies coming from the first non-POT corral. So if my guesses/estimates prior are correct, then you're not even close to needing to worry about your ability to finish if you put in the training. In fact, you're probably estimated to finish a good 90 min before the balloon ladies would.

My last HM was a 13:37 min/mile pace in the rain. I felt great afterward because I didn't go my top speed. I don't think I'm quite as fast as your estimates but I know that I've gotten faster. I do consistently run around 6 hours a week. The heat this summer kept me going much slower during my training runs.

 

[DopeyBadger]

My last HM was a 13:37 min/mile pace in the rain. I felt great afterward because I didn't go my top speed. I don't think I'm quite as fast as your estimates but I know that I've gotten faster. I do consistently run around 6 hours a week. The heat this summer kept me going much slower during my training runs.

Do you have any recent races (within the last 8 months) where you did try to run at top speed for that distance? If you don't have anything recent, then you could do a mile time trial just as a check-in. Just do a 15-20 min easy warm-up, a couple of strides (15s pickups of pace, but not sprints, with about 60-90s between reps), then do a mile time trial at near full effort. The goal is to run each 0.25 mile split nearly even, but regardless of what is happening with the splits finish it out. You can then use that data in a calculator like Galloway or Daniels to estimate other race distance finish times and appropriate training paces. It might be wise to slow down your long run even further if you don't think you're in 2:40 HM (12:12 min/mile) if continuous runner or 2:35 HM (11:51 min/mile) if run/walker fitness shape, as the LR of 13:51 is appropriate for those. That'll reduce the overall length of the long run, if capped at 3 hrs, but I'm confident you'll be alright.

If using run/walk, then aim for roughly 2 min/mile slower than your estimated M Tempo which you can get from either Galloway or Daniels calculators. That's not to say that I think those marathon predictions are accurate on those calculators and what you should expect for race day. Only about 6% of people hit those marks. But the calculators can help set training paces.

If using continuous, then look at the suggested training paces outputted by the Daniels calculator based on your recent race performance. They're in the same general area as the M Tempo * 1.09 I use (ex. 13:55*1.09 = 15:10).

 

[bpr2002]

Do you have any recent races (within the last 8 months) where you did try to run at top speed for that distance? If you don't have anything recent, then you could do a mile time trial just as a check-in. Just do a 15-20 min easy warm-up, a couple of strides (15s pickups of pace, but not sprints, with about 60-90s between reps), then do a mile time trial at near full effort. The goal is to run each 0.25 mile split nearly even, but regardless of what is happening with the splits finish it out. You can then use that data in a calculator like Galloway or Daniels to estimate other race distance finish times and appropriate training paces. It might be wise to slow down your long run even further if you don't think you're in 2:40 HM (12:12 min/mile) if continuous runner or 2:35 HM (11:51 min/mile) if run/walker fitness shape, as the LR of 13:51 is appropriate for those. That'll reduce the overall length of the long run, if capped at 3 hrs, but I'm confident you'll be alright.

If using run/walk, then aim for roughly 2 min/mile slower than your estimated M Tempo which you can get from either Galloway or Daniels calculators. That's not to say that I think those marathon predictions are accurate on those calculators and what you should expect for race day. Only about 6% of people hit those marks. But the calculators can help set training paces.

If using continuous, then look at the suggested training paces outputted by the Daniels calculator based on your recent race performance. They're in the same general area as the M Tempo * 1.09 I use (ex. 13:55*1.09 = 15:10).

Thank you, @DopeyBadger
This is very helpful information. I will do a mile time trial this week. I'll let you know how it goes!
You have made me feel a lot better.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

SAFD:
My fav is the 10 mile races. I feel super proud about it cause I ran into the double digits but I still feel good after it... I don't hit a wall.

My least fav is the marathon, training for it just sucks up my life and I will end up crying during some part of it. And then in Disney marathon we have the worst part of the whole course around mile 20 with the parking lot from hell (blizzard beach parking lot), I ask myself why am doing this... (Now I do love the accomplishment of doing it and the bragging rights... but I don't do marathons just for fun and after I do my first Dopey... I will not do another Disney marathon again... I want to do one of the majors to say I have done it and then that is it, that will be the end of marathons for me in the foreseeable future.)

 

[nancipants]

SAFD: I haven't done many races, so I'm not really sure of my answer. I've only done one 5k outside of Disney, two Disney 10ks, one Disney half, and a Disney 10 miler. I think of all those, the 10 miler was my favorite distance because it didn't require a ton of training and it was long enough to be a challenge but I didn't feel like dying afterward (except for it being hot). I loved the half marathon but mostly because it was in Disney. I like the 10k distance, but at Disney it's too crowded to feel enjoyable. I'm running a 10k next weekend and I'm excited to see how it feels racing one with actual room on the course.

TBD on how I like the marathon.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I know what you mean there. Twelve years ago, I was playing in a men's baseball league, and tore my achilles jumping for a ball. Back when it happened, I thought I would never do anything stressful again. I would read articles and forums online where people said that they retore their achiless when they got back to sport, or that they tore their other achilles. I really thought that my sports days were over. When I got back to actually being able to do activities again, I babied my foot so much in fear of re-tearing. But eventually that fear fades away. You will get to a point where you are comfortable with your body again and won't even think twice about it. Fast forward to today, and I am more active than I have been since I finished my college baseball days. Running marathons, biking, swimming, golfing, etc.. Things will return to normal. It may not feel like it now, but they will in time. Just stay positive through the recovery. That is where I had a hard time. I went into a bad place when I was laid up in a cast and having to use crutches and a scooter to get around. I think once I got into my walking boot a few months later, I started to see a light at the end of the tunnel and my mindset turned for the positive. If you can get past those few first months with a good mindset, you will be well along your way to a successful recovery and closer to being back at MW!

Thanks for this. Surgery is scheduled for Tue afternoon next week.
I've been worried about whether too much time has expired since the injury, and how badly I've injured myself (pulled my hamstring right off the top attach point, apparently), and if it is repairable. And I freely admit that even after I'm cleared I'll be worried about reinjuring myself, at least for a while. Glad it isn't just me.
Met with the surgeon this morning and he seemed fairly nonchalant (in a good way) about the surgery, recovery, and going back to being fully active. Sounds like it'll be just under an hour of operating time and appx 3-inch long incision and I'm back home in the afternoon. Then recovery and start PT in about a month. I'm lousy at being inactive, so I'll be going stir crazy with idleness, but easier to do when I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm still not looking forward to surgery, but I can now better see the path forward. Target now is MW 2026. Thanks for listening. BTW, rD did de-register me from MW and sent an electronic gift card that is a defacto partial refund and which will get consumed by an entry fee in the future....

 

[dobball23]

Thanks for this. Surgery is scheduled for Tue afternoon next week.
I've been worried about whether too much time has expired since the injury, and how badly I've injured myself (pulled my hamstring right off the top attach point, apparently), and if it is repairable. And I freely admit that even after I'm cleared I'll be worried about reinjuring myself, at least for a while. Glad it isn't just me.
Met with the surgeon this morning and he seemed fairly nonchalant (in a good way) about the surgery, recovery, and going back to being fully active. Sounds like it'll be just under an hour of operating time and appx 3-inch long incision and I'm back home in the afternoon. Then recovery and start PT in about a month. I'm lousy at being inactive, so I'll be going stir crazy with idleness, but easier to do when I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm still not looking forward to surgery, but I can now better see the path forward. Target now is MW 2026. Thanks for listening. BTW, rD did de-register me from MW and sent an electronic gift card that is a defacto partial refund and which will get consumed by an entry fee in the future....

There are probably a ton of injury-to-recovery stories from everyone, but I want to echo that you will be fine in the long run. I had a piece of cartilage removed from my knee nine years ago (I just looked up the exact date and it was 9/16/15, so almost exactly nine years ago). I was not permitted to put weight on it for about six weeks. I got a blood clot in my leg during the period of inactivity on the couch. I was terrified when my PT first had me make a full pedal rotation on the recumbent bike. Even with all of that, I've done four Dopeys, five marathons and been just as active after my surgery as before even though I'm now in my mid-40s.

Good luck!

 

[nancipants]

you got this, @Mr_Incr3dible!

 

[kps7795]

Thanks for this. Surgery is scheduled for Tue afternoon next week.
I've been worried about whether too much time has expired since the injury, and how badly I've injured myself (pulled my hamstring right off the top attach point, apparently), and if it is repairable. And I freely admit that even after I'm cleared I'll be worried about reinjuring myself, at least for a while. Glad it isn't just me.
Met with the surgeon this morning and he seemed fairly nonchalant (in a good way) about the surgery, recovery, and going back to being fully active. Sounds like it'll be just under an hour of operating time and appx 3-inch long incision and I'm back home in the afternoon. Then recovery and start PT in about a month. I'm lousy at being inactive, so I'll be going stir crazy with idleness, but easier to do when I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm still not looking forward to surgery, but I can now better see the path forward. Target now is MW 2026. Thanks for listening. BTW, rD did de-register me from MW and sent an electronic gift card that is a defacto partial refund and which will get consumed by an entry fee in the future....

Good luck with your surgery next week. Take your time with getting your fitness back. Patience and consistency is your friend and you'll be better than you were beforehand.

 

[kps7795]

I'm not certain where to post about my woes, but I was supposed to begin my training for Dopey 2025 last week and I got Covid. The only other time that I got Covid was following Marathon 2022 and I experienced myocarditis which hampered my return to running. I also had similar experiences to a lesser degree whenever I would get a Covid vaccine booster. Regardless, I took last week off and started easy running this week. It is incredibly frustrating because I felt like my fitness was getting better and better, but I'm now running a minute slower per mile than I was two weeks ago in order to keep my heart rate in Zone 2.

From what I have read, it should take approximately six weeks to return to my pre-Covid fitness which places me at the second week of speed training. Fortunately, I had gotten my mileage up to 40 miles/week so I don't believe that the distances should be an issue. Hopefully, I am not being overly naive about how this will affect my training. I know that this is the exhausted statement of this decade, but Covid really freaking sucks!

 

[GuinnessRunner]

I'm lousy at being inactive, so I'll be going stir crazy with idleness, but easier to do when I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Wishing you the best and look forward to seeing you on the course again in 2026! Happy to meet you over at Black Diamond anytime you need an excuse to get out of the house (although I suppose not the healthiest option for recovery).