Marathon Weekend 2025

[matt and beth]

SAFD: Was up to 16 miles on the long run on August 7. Had knee pain and pushed through it. Didn’t know I tore my meniscus. Cortisone shot and Prednisone, took 4 weeks off, and slow started back. Lost conditioning for sure. Good news is I just finished a nice 10 miler today. So I should be able to finish W&D. Probably slower than I wanted for sure. But I’ll be there. Going to have to alter Dopey training to not aggravate it. Longer rests and strength training will be a must

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD: training for dopey, and will be using it as a springboard into 50k training for a trail run next August. Still working out the thought process on if there’s time to mix in a cycle of speed training before then, but Dooey training is the base. Training has been a little more sporadic than I’d like with the kids’ sports schedule, but I did crank out an 8 miler on Friday that went really well and I felt great after.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

SAFD: Training for Goofy is going ok. On plus side, have incorporated strength work over last 10 weeks and have been happy with that and how it’s helped my legs feel during runs. Running part is going ok, but got derailed a bit on vacation last week. Not planning to run for time so will give myself grace and get back at it this week. Still undecided about a local HM the week before Thanksgiving to check fitness level.

 

[runwithperseverence7]

SAFD: I’m training for Dopey so following along the Higdon dopey plan. Not sure how I feel about the cut back weeks but I know it’s necessary so I don’t burn out and hurt myself. I have a 5K on 10/12 in my town that I hopefully can get 1st women. Was 2nd last year. Just recently did a 14 mile long run. Let’s just say, a hotdog and fries at a ballgame the night before is not a good pre race meal. Need to pull my hydration vest out to train with but it’s still so hot. But I hate carrying anything other than my phone in my hand and my flip belt is full enough. Looking forward to the cooler weather! My only struggle is trying to figure out which paces I want to run. My other marathons, I’ve been going all out but I’m exhausted once I’m finished and so sore the days after. I want to enjoy this one and meet some characters so I’m thinking of slowing it down on course since this may be my only time at wdw.

 

[Jackie Skellington]

SAFD: Currently tapering to run the Wingelass full next weekend! Had a pretty good training cycle so hoping for a PR and maybe that sub 4:30 corral b POT (if that’s how it goes this year with the POT changes). Plan will be to recover and then start focusing on marathon weekend full which will be a fun run!

Good luck on your race next weekend!

 

[WillRunForPizza]

SAFD: I'm training for the Marine Corps Marathon which is four weeks from today I would have said training was going really well until yesterday when I had an absolute cluster of a long run workout. Do not recommend. Hopefully it was just a blip.

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: I had kept a solid base of 20-30 miles a week until I did something to my hip in early July that led to 5 weeks off of running. I swam and biked but coming back to running has been a struggle! I have been slowly rebuilding my mileage, being super cautious and taking extra time off between runs if I need it. That said - I ran 5 yesterday and 10 today as a first "official" Goofy training weekend and it went really well! So I'm feeling more confident about building back my running endurance. Following a training plan that adds weekly mileage very gradually so I'm hoping that will prevent more injuries!

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: W&D and WDW Half training in progress. It’s… miserable. If we’re not succumbing to heat stroke here on the Gulf coast of FL, we’re running from hurricanes. I’m entirely over it and ready for the season to end, pleaseandthankyou.

 

[marty3d]

SAFD: I had to take a couple a weeks off this month due to business travel but overall feeling good about my training. I had already built in a month of buffer into my plan for "life stuff." What I'm feeling best about is that since I'm focused on marathon training rather than a more intense Dopey training I'm getting all my strength workouts in.

So, basically so far so good for Dopey #3.

 

[cburnett11]

SAFD: I have Indy Monumental marathon in 6 weeks and training is going okay. I just got back from a DCL Alaskan cruise about a week ago, but was able to run 6 of the 7 days easy while still enjoying the vacation. I’ll take a little time off before Dopey, but should be in pretty good shape for January.

 

[jmasgat]

SAFD: The only training I have been doing is on my wallet......small amounts to buy Disney gift cards (the Budget Board has been helpful), gradually ramping up in value. This training regimen had me buying an AP today with the GC. Next up, I will continue to build endurance to pay for the hotels I will be using during W&D and MW. Training aids include some Chase bonuses, and hopefully AP discounts.

As for running......I will run the W&D 5k. I started my usual BAA 5k plan and then promptly took tow weeks off for vacation. I think we hiked more miles than what is in the training plan, and certainly did way more elevation. Back home now and somehow totally unmotivated to run. Did one run, but will jump back in tomorrow.

 

[luv2cheer92]

I hope we still run through them, but I know there's another road that goes beside the toll plaza and I just feel like they're going to send us through there because why not chop that too?

Though the full marathon course hasn't gone under the toll plaza in several years.

 

[stitchnj]

SAFD: Training for the full marathon in January. I have a 10K in a few weeks and that’s it on the race calendar unless something piques my interest. This weekend’s 14 miler went reasonably well. Now all the long runs will be new distances for me. I’m looking forward to it cooling off a little too! This weekend was the first one where I got to wear a t-shirt instead of a tank to run. So much more comfortable with the hydration vest!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

SAFD: Training for Dopey - going pretty well, keeping up with most of my training other than a couple of weekday runs here and there. Have a 10-miler in a few weeks and a Thanksgiving Day half. I normally like it warm when running but even I’m looking forward to some fall temps - even the slightly cooler temps here lately for my last few long runs have had sneaky high humidity, I keep telling myself it’s good Florida training!

 

[RuntheMouse]

SAFD: Training for the half for MW! Really excited to only be running one race this year as life has been unpredictably crazy this fall. Been traveling back and forth to Orlando so the heat has been a bear for me but I’m dealing with it.

 

[Disneyhanna]

SAFD: Training for Dopey, no fall races since I dealt with shin splints in the spring and didn't want to push it this fall. I did thankfully get my POT via a 10 miler in April and was on track for a 10k PR and possible HM POT corral bump in May, only to be sidelined by shin splints just in one leg the week before the race. I saw a sports orthopedist and PT one time (which cost more than Dopey itself...) and decided to back off from running for 8 weeks. I think I ran like 2 miles once per week. I thought it was never going to get better but after about 8 weeks it suddenly did, and knock on wood no issues since.

I am disappointed I had very little fitness going into marathon training but thankful for muscle memory as the miles aren't too bad. Having no trouble keeping up with Higdon's novice 2 marathon plan so far which is what I used for my last Dopey and I prefer to the Dopey plan itself (I am absolutely not willing to do back to backs in training, sorry nope, that's for medals only for me )

 

[Psymonds]

Not sure about Coke bottles but AK will definitely have stuff, I grabbed a flavored iced tea from a booth there two years ago for the same reason. Think it was from here. I believe beer is also available early in AK for those who prefer a different type of fueling.

Thanks for all of the suggestions on where to find a Coke. Does anyone happen to know how much they are in the machines and if they take credit cards or just cash?



I only take little sips of almost everything that I drink during races so I can say that the carbonation doesn't really bother me, but of course, your mileage may vary.

I ended up venmo'ing a street vendor for a coke in a park on mile 12 today because I hadn't brought enough food with me and I didn't think I could eat his other option which was chopped mango with spicy chili powder while running. Surprisingly effective, also a lesson learned about food/hydration packing by miles for me...

 

[Psymonds]

The Thirsty River bar usually opens early for runners. I get a beer, but I’m sure they’d sell you a coke too.

Every Ironman has flat coke available at the aid stations during the run. During my first one, I found myself unable to stomach the gels I had planned on using. Got myself through the marathon on potato chips, flat coke, and chicken noodle soup.

every year I've run it, the 2nd half of the SF marathon someone is handing out flat beer with a cardboard sign saying "mother nature's energy drink". It's usually in the first mile of the half so I've never been adventurous enough to try it there...

 

[Psymonds]

Good afternoon RunDisney All-Stars! Welcome to this week's edition of Sundays are for Disney (SAFD). We're at the end of September and another month closer to Marathon Weekend so let's have a training check in. Are you currently training for Marathon Weekend? Another fall race? Haven't started yet? Let's hear about it.

SAFD: I finished my last long run for a mid-October race this morning, so I'm off to the land of taper madness now. After that race, it's 3 weeks to Wine & Dine where I'm doing the 5k & Challenge. From there, I'll start an abbreviated rebuild to Dopey fitness. As far as the actual training goes, it's been a good month even if I've missed a couple of mid-week runs to the tropical deluges that have come through. So far, so good!

currently training for marathon weekend. I'm well into training DS15 is doing the half and will go clip off 3 or 4 mile runs, but hasn't started longer runs. He's training for rugby season so his prime focus is weightlifting and fall swim cross-training.

 

[FFigawi]

Good afternoon RunDisney All-Stars! Welcome to this week's edition of Sundays are for Disney (SAFD). We're at the end of September and another month closer to Marathon Weekend so let's have a training check in. Are you currently training for Marathon Weekend? Another fall race? Haven't started yet? Let's hear about it.

SAFD: My coach knows Dopey is Training Peaks, but his focus now is on the two half-distance triathlons I have in Oct and Nov. That's fine with me, really, because the extra bike and brick hours mean less pounding out long runs. Throw in the additional fitness gained from ramping up swim yardage to get ready for my Oceanman 5k in Dec, and I might avoid a long run of more than two hours.