Marathon Weekend 2025

[Herding_Cats]

Ok since we are in the topic of early wakeups, what is everyone’s routine like? When I get up at home I don’t just get up and go out the door. I also take time to eat and take my meds. Does the 2am wake up affect anyone else’s routine? If you take meds in the morning, do you take them when you get up or when you’re back from the races? I’m such a creature of habit that I would be afraid to not do what I’m used to. The earliest I’ve been up for races is 4 and I’ve treated it the same as my normal 5:30-6:30 wake up.

I will preface this with: we usually have a rental car and I either drive myself, or DH drives me and drops me off.

I get up between 2 and 2:30, depending on how hard a time I had getting to sleep (aka: how many times do I hit snooze?) Coffee and something light to eat, bathroom, costume (set out the night before including putting on my top and pinning my bib in the appropriate place, packing my SPI belt with gels or other supplies I may need, shoes, socks, throw-away layers, mylar if I kept one to re-use, and a bag to sit on in the corral), make an oatmeal packet in a disposable coffee cup and then it's out the door. If your meds are time-sensitive (to be taken at the same TIME every day) then do that. But if it's like....a zyrtec for allergies, stick with taking it when you would relative to when you wake up.

Anybody travel with someone that *doesn't* run? My poor DH may just decide to sleep in a different room Saturday night.

We have a 2br villa during race days this trip, and while DH may still get up and drive me over (because we like to stay as close to DS in Saratoga as we can, which is a HIKE to the bus) me may also appreciate that I have my own space to get ready and sleep in.

Speaking of....anyone else staying at Saratoga that drives over in the morning want a new friend for Sunday?

 

[StarGirl11]

Wow, go to a board game night at a friend's yesterday and then come in here late last night to find out things have absolutely blown up! It's also been quite entertaining to watch some people absolutely lose their #@#!$ over the course changes in some FB groups. I always love coming back in here to relative sanity after venturing into those places.

As for the course, I have some thoughts. They're just my thoughts and aren't intended to invalidate or criticize others' thoughts and opinions on the changes. Overall, my first impression of the change is "That's an interesting strategy, Cotton, let's see how it works out for them." Now, that's based mostly on the online reaction I've seen so far, not a verdict on the course itself. As far as the course itself goes, my first impression is "let's see how it goes". As far as specific points on the course itself, I don't ride rides or buy drinks during the race, so from my perspective:

• 4:30 Start - (I'm just not that much of a morning person)
• Starts with park time instead of jumping straight on the highway -
• Runs around World Showcase - (Sure, it's at the beginning and not the end, but WS lit up with the torches and bulding lights in the dark is pretty magical and I'm often too tired to care at the end)
• Runs through all 4 parks -
• Extra time in Magic Kingdom -
• Still runs through the castle -
• Higher likelihood of slower runners seeing the castle lit up -

I don't see too many negatives from my perspective that aren't already part of the existing course. There may be some new negatives to the course, there may be some new positives. I'm going to withhold final judgement until I've run it. All in all, it still looks like a WDW marathon to me and I'm going to have as much fun as possible with it.

I think your post made me realize why I find the opening loop to have different energy. And it does have to with the hype. Arguably going straight to the highway miles after the start means the hype train for MK leave the station at some point between the early hours and all that. Getting WS in early means you not only get that but just gives some extra energy for the long miles into MK.

Unrelated but had another friend who’s also on wheels. Says taking the contemporary the new way is easier. (She’s local and when the parks shut down in 2020 used the chance to train in places she normally wouldn’t have. Including trying that hill from the opposite way we normally do.)

My issue with the busses is separate. Wheels arrange transportation to the start with RunDisney. So I’m now having to pick what time for pickup on the first day of the expo. And having to figure out how to adjust for the new start time accordingly.

(A lot of us can’t get on the coach buses they use. And even someone like myself who is ambulatory. Finds it a bit of a struggle. Even though I don’t use my legs to propel anymore. Sitting for several hours will often lead to stiff muscles especially post full. So walking/climbing into the busses after is a whole other challenge.)

 

[DopeyBadger]

This was my Princess 2023 timing:




So with a 30 min earlier start, I would just shift everything appropriately. So I'd be getting up at 1:00am, eating breakfast about 1:15-1:30am (90-120 min prior to my last bathroom opportunity given my evacuation timing which would be around 3:15am given corral opening timing), and then getting on first bus at 2:00am.

As far as past timing goes (all subject to change):

5k/10k
EPCOT area opens ~2hrs prior to race start time (so 3:00am)
Corrals open ~70 min prior to race start time (so 3:50am)
Corral A starts walk-up to start line ~35 min prior to race start time (so 4:25am)

HM
EPCOT area opens ~2.5hrs prior to race start time (so 2:30am)
Corrals open ~90-105 min prior to race start time (so 3:15-3:30am)

M
EPCOT area opens ~2.5hrs prior to race start time (so 2:00am)
Corrals open ~90-105 min prior to race start time (so 2:45-3:00am)

 

[fatmanatee]

@DopeyBadger Is that the same pair for both the 10k and half? Have been wondering if I should rotate pairs (same shoe) between races for Dopey after my issues earlier this year. Finally settled on Gel Kayano and it's going well so far.

 

[DopeyBadger]

@DopeyBadger Is that the same pair for both the 10k and half? Have been wondering if I should rotate pairs (same shoe) between races for Dopey after my issues earlier this year. Finally settled on Gel Kayano and it's going well so far.

My recollection was the Next%2 listed were two different pairs of the same shoe. I believe one was a little older than the other. But when I did Dopey (2014-2018), I almost always rotated shoes between races. I would commonly bring 2-3 pairs of racing shoes in case of inclement weather. Pair A was 5k, then Pair B was 10k, then Pair C was HM, then Pair A was M as long as not wet.

ETA- Found some old running checklists I had. Don't know the years on these.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

Anybody travel with someone that *doesn't* run? My poor DH may just decide to sleep in a different room Saturday night.

Yep put me in the "that's why this is now a solo trip" camp. After chasing me around with the kids for the first few, my DW said no more. We are lucky enough that we can drive to WDW so that provides us more flexibility to plan trips outside of RD weekends. Works better for everyone since I will not wake them up at 'o dark thirty to catch the bus and then they don't feel bad when we decide to stay at a park late, eat dinner at a normal time, etc.

 

[cburnett11]

Have been wondering if I should rotate pairs (same shoe) between races for Dopey after my issues earlier this year.

For Dopey I will wear pair A for 5k/HM and then Pair B for 10k/full.

 

[Disneyhanna]

I don't really plan to change my schedule with the early start. I took the bus around 3:00 for the 5k/10k and 2:30 for the half/full since I like to meet up with people or do photos beforehand. Glad we don't have that long walk to the start for the half/full anymore. Let's just say I sure hope it doesn't take the bus two hours to get me to the race

Regarding sleep...I just don't. I try to be back to my resort by 6-7PM, in bed by 8-9, but in reality I never get to sleep before 10. I think I got 14-16 hours of sleep across all four nights both times I did Dopey. Usually adrenaline keeps me going and the only time I'm sleepy is Sunday afternoon Luckily I function alright with minimal sleep, but waking up definitely stinks.

I keep thinking I should just pull an all nighter at the start, but I don't want to sleep during the day!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I guess one good thing about the early World Showcase loop - abundant large/clean/quick access bathrooms early in the race. That’s a plus for me!

 

[nancipants]

I guess one good thing about the early World Showcase loop - abundant large/clean/quick access bathrooms early in the race. That’s a plus for me!

This is true. I usually jump out the back of the start chute for one last pee, but for the 10 miler this year I didn’t bother and hit the restroom in the UK before leaving the park. No one was in there and it was way nicer than a porta potty in the dark!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

This is true. I usually jump out the back of the start chute for one last pee, but for the 10 miler this year I didn’t bother and hit the restroom in the UK before leaving the park. No one was in there and it was way nicer than a porta potty in the dark!

Ha! Yeah, one thing I have never been able to figure out is how to start a runD race without needing to go.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Ha! Yeah, one thing I have never been able to figure out is how to start a runD race without needing to go.

I'm working on that myself. I try to limit caffeine now, which hurts but the last two races I did I didn't have to go right away. I used a porta potty behind DCA in January since there was no line, and then I did a race in August and didn't need one at all. Thank goodness because it was local and no porto in sight.

 

[jrsharp21]

For Dopey I will wear pair A for 5k/HM and then Pair B for 10k/full.

I use that same plan/rotation also.

 

[runwithperseverence7]

It’s nice to know I’m not the only one that makes lists of everything I need so I don’t miss anything. Although, it looks like I need to up my list making game to catch up with @DopeyBadger

 

[kristenabelle]

My irrational anxiety about transportation (despite my lack of issues to date, knock on all the wood) means I'm at the bus stop at least 20 minutes before the first bus is set to leave. Most of the time I'm first in line, sometimes I'm not! But I'll usually chug my iced coffee at the room and have my breakfast on the bus/onsite. I feel a lot better once I'm at the start and take time to do all my wakeup stretching/get ready/final pit stops there.

I love sleep, can never get enough. I went to bed at 7 before the full and didn't fall asleep until 12:30 with a 1:45 AM alarm set Hoping that was a first-timer thing - that hasn't happened for any other race before or after

 

[StarGirl11]

Someone posted a basic approx of the new course with a flyover. It has a few inaccuracies and goes a bit off track in some spots. But still interesting to see.

First time I noticed they took out that funky turn hill going into DHS. Which omg thank you runDisney. That thing is fine when we start it but is so steep at the end it’s become infamous with the wheels. Still got to deal with the steepness but coming at it straight on means we don’t have to break to turn for the climb which should make it easier arguably. Which means so much more momentum to use.

Also somehow I just realized we are going through Adventureland in MK. Which I think either is a first. Or at the very least it’s been a long time.

(Seriously it came up unprompted in a conversation of CA vs FL at Halloween weekend. With a couple of non wheels while I was getting my cycle ready for the 5k.)

Now realizing the circle of doom that was in the early miles (not fun for similar reasons to the funky turn hill. Starts out okay gets steep real quick.) Which yes please keep that change forever it’s circumference with the steepness made it the definition of a bad time.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I massively doubt it, but WHAT IF we don't get the WS loop at the end because they're starting FOTA in epcot on 10k day? It would make more sense for them to keep us out of WS during park hours if that happens to be the case.

 

[GollyGadget]

I massively doubt it, but WHAT IF we don't get the WS loop at the end because they're starting FOTA in epcot on 10k day? It would make more sense for them to keep us out of WS during park hours if that happens to be the case.

First time I read this, I thought you were asking if the 10k course would be changed for FotA. I highly doubt it because the 5am start (and assuming all runners start by 6am), the last finishers should be done by 7:45. That's still well before park opening.

But now you've got my hopes up that FotA will begin MW

 

[camaker]

I massively doubt it, but WHAT IF we don't get the WS loop at the end because they're starting FOTA in epcot on 10k day? It would make more sense for them to keep us out of WS during park hours if that happens to be the case.

I would love to see a FotA overlap with Marathon Weekend!

 

[disneyrunnergrl]

Someone posted a basic approx of the new course with a flyover. It has a few inaccuracies and goes a bit off track in some spots. But still interesting to see.

First time I noticed they took out that funky turn hill going into DHS. Which omg thank you runDisney. That thing is fine when we start it but is so steep at the end it’s become infamous with the wheels. Still got to deal with the steepness but coming at it straight on means we don’t have to break to turn for the climb which should make it easier arguably. Which means so much more momentum to use.

Also somehow I just realized we are going through Adventureland in MK. Which I think either is a first. Or at the very least it’s been a long time.

(Seriously it came up unprompted in a conversation of CA vs FL at Halloween weekend. With a couple of non wheels while I was getting my cycle ready for the 5k.)

Now realizing the circle of doom that was in the early miles (not fun for similar reasons to the funky turn hill. Starts out okay gets steep real quick.) Which yes please keep that change forever it’s circumference with the steepness made it the definition of a bad time.

I think we may have partially gone through Adventureland during the half or full in 2023? Not the entire thing like 2025 but I think we went through the underpass from liberty square/Frontierland where the restrooms are, coming out and turning right towards jungle cruise/magic carpets?