Marathon Weekend 2025

[jrsharp21]

Fourth-ing this. Tried the curry pizza at Connections in epcot the day before the springtime ten miler. I was very glad it was only a ten! Save the fun exciting stuff till after the races!

I don't remember what it was I ate at the Grand Floridian Cafe last year the night before the 5k. It was some type of chicken and I also had some of my wife's steak. But I didn't even make it to the 5k last year. Some of you may remember that I was posting at like 3am that I wasn't going to make it. There was no chance of me getting off that bathroom floor last year. So this year is the revenge Dopey Challenge for me.

 

[dobball23]

In-Race Nutrition and Hydration

As for fueling during the race, I'm planning the following:

minus 15 min - Maurten 320
45 min - Tailwind Concentrate
60 min - Maurten Caff gel
75 min - Egel
105 min - Tailwind Concentrate
120 min - Maurten Caff gel
135 min - Egel
165 min - Tailwind Concentrate

I've adopted this strategy and it seems to work well for me, too. Although I usually carry six or seven gels, so I can take a Maurten at 180 minutes and an Egel at 195 minutes.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Everyone is talking about food issue causing stomach issues... also remember to pack Imodium. I have a nervous stomach so no matter what I eat if I have a big thing that day... my stomach has issues.

 

[Disneyhanna]

I try to eat relatively plain foods at WDW before the half/full but I keep things interesting on training runs to train my stomach for anything. Before my last 20 miler I had salmon nigiri and oysters for dinner

Last marathon weekend I actually ended up ordering Uber Eats a few times because I was sick of the counter service at my resort and I wanted an early dinner in my room. I had Twenty Pho Hour delivered a couple times and let me tell you, that hit the spot! Pho is carbo loading, right?

 

[fatmanatee]

I was also wondering what time people typically leave their resort for the buses on marathon morning? I'm staying at BWV and while I don't necessarily need to catch the first bus, I certainly don't want to get the last one, either. Just trying to figure out when I should set my alarm for that morning

Hard to say what's typical since they're now starting the marathon 30 minutes earlier and as a result, it looks like the buses start earlier as well. 2:00 am for the marathon. IIRC I set my alarm at 2:30 in 2022, going to be really tough to move that back much further.

 

[nancipants]

Everyone is talking about food issue causing stomach issues... also remember to pack Imodium. I have a nervous stomach so no matter what I eat if I have a big thing that day... my stomach has issues.

Me, too. I call them nervous poops.

 

[PrincessV]

My recent-ish issue with WDW food is that the chefs designing menus seem convinced that vegetarians want to eat only spicy and/or highly acidic foods. It’s gotten really hard to find simple vegetarian QS items that aren’t spicy, acidic, or greasy. All my Kingdom for a basic tuna, avocado, egg salad, or chickpea salad sandwich at each QS! Enough with the fancy Impossible burgers and Tex-mex rice bowls. I had a really unpleasant 5 days of theme park eating last week.

 

[pluto377]

I try to eat relatively plain foods at WDW before the half/full but I keep things interesting on training runs to train my stomach for anything. Before my last 20 miler I had salmon nigiri and oysters for dinner

Last marathon weekend I actually ended up ordering Uber Eats a few times because I was sick of the counter service at my resort and I wanted an early dinner in my room. I had Twenty Pho Hour delivered a couple times and let me tell you, that hit the spot! Pho is carbo loading, right?

Does Uber Eats come to your room or you meet them in the lobby?

I have terrible anxiety about food poisoning on a normal day. Throw in a race and I'm a basket case. Probably going to bring a lot of food with me this year (and a lot of Xanax, lol)

 

[sandam1]

Don't go off your feed! Some people bring all their food with them or get Instacart delivered to their room. I bring protein bars and snacks to the room and otherwise eat at the resort or in the parks, but mind what I'm eating so that I don't have any adverse reactions during races. YMMV.

I can't echo Mr_Incr3dible's advice enough. I always try to remind people when they are thinking about where to stay to look at the quick food options available to you and let those guide you.

It's been said before, but Dopey is different from the other race weekends. You can "power through" and "make do" on other weekends in ways that you just can't with Dopey. I think that's is a combination of the marathon at the end and the four days in a row (I've done 3 day events in another sport, but when I stretched it to 4 days, the same phenomena popped up).

I plan for there being times when I need substantial food (not snacks, but something that would represent a meal) immediately available. To that end, we always go shopping (I have a car) and pick up food (Publix has a wide variety of ready to eat/heat items). Last time I did Dopey, there were two times that I remember distinctly saying "this was the BEST thing that I ever did" as I chowed down without having to leave my room. I'm staying at Cabana Bay at Universal and they have a great food court which also helps.

I know what everyone says "I want to enjoy the wide variety of foods that Disney has to offer." Enjoy it on your next trip or after the races are over. Go with simple and safe to get you across the finish line.

 

[Disneyhanna]

Does Uber Eats come to your room or you meet them in the lobby?

I have terrible anxiety about food poisoning on a normal day. Throw in a race and I'm a basket case. Probably going to bring a lot of food with me this year (and a lot of Xanax, lol)

I choose to meet in lobby and the setting for "hand it to me" and just watch the GPS tracker which has always been accurate. I can always see the car pulling up and then them carrying a bag and it's not too awkward. I don't want to deal with tipping bell services too if they just leave it with them.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I’m just here to plug the ginger chicken ramen at the Morimoto counter (not the sit-down) in DS. Totally saved me last year for dinner after the half when I was a bundle of nerves and didn’t want to eat. It had all the things. Salty broth, ginger for my tummy, noodles, and enough protein.

 

[runwithperseverence7]

I’m getting a pair of Shokz open run pro 2 mini. We were out Christmas shopping for kids yesterday and ended up in Best Buy. I tried them on and was sold. My DH asked if that’s what I wanted and I said I’ve been wanting some but have been using my AirPods since they still work. He liked that I can hear my surroundings.

 

[Lemon Head]

Me, too. I call them nervous poops.

The final poop before you leave your house/hotel room before a Half or Full is one of the most important things you'll do that day.

My friends and I call it 'praying to the poop Gods'.

"Ready to go? Did you remember to pray?"
"Yes, the Gods were not kind to me today" (Couldn't go).

 

[kleph]

Last marathon weekend I actually ended up ordering Uber Eats a few times because I was sick of the counter service at my resort and I wanted an early dinner in my room. I had Twenty Pho Hour delivered a couple times and let me tell you, that hit the spot! Pho is carbo loading, right?

dunno about that but a few years back i was marathon training in arizona and practically lived in this chinese pulled noodle place in chandler. there's a new spot in orlando that looks very close to it which i am dying to try.

https://walalaasiannoodlehouse.toast.site/

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I’m getting a pair of Shokz open run pro 2 mini. We were out Christmas shopping for kids yesterday and ended up in Best Buy. I tried them on and was sold. My DH asked if that’s what I wanted and I said I’ve been wanting some but have been using my AirPods since they still work. He liked that I can hear my surroundings.

I’ve had two pairs of Shokz and just love them. I’ve used them till they died. I’m close on my current pair so I’ve put a new pair on my birthday list.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

My friends and I call it 'praying to the poop Gods'.

100% stealing this phrase.

 

[Let's Get Kronk]

SAFD: I am splurging and treating myself to one night in the new Poly tower on 1/7. Taking advantage of that to try to get into Trader Sam's with my running besties and then having dinner at Narcoosee's for the first time. Otherwise, I think everything is standard stuff that I've done before.

I completed the Dallas half marathon on Sunday and sadly my IT band injury resurfaced yet again at mile 11. I am trying not to completely fall into a pit of despair and I have to say that the post spelling out getting to the castle and then walking as a last resort is giving me a lot of comfort. I have trained way too hard to not complete Dopey this year and I will get across all four finish lines if it kills me. I at least got 18 miles in on 12/8 so I'm hoping that's worth something if I can't get another long run in.

I will also echo the "I am so burned out on training for a marathon/Dopey" feeling. I am absolutely not signing up for Dopey next year (this is my 2nd one in a row). I just can't spend another holiday season running so much. And throw in this injury and I just completely hate running right now. I might consider it if I get into NYC next year, but otherwise I just need an extended break.

 

[matt and beth]

Is there a comprehensive list of all potential meet ups and times? We are a reluctant fence watcher but if we put it in the calendar it would help push us to make sure we attend

 

[Naomeri]

I’m getting a pair of Shokz open run pro 2 mini. We were out Christmas shopping for kids yesterday and ended up in Best Buy. I tried them on and was sold. My DH asked if that’s what I wanted and I said I’ve been wanting some but have been using my AirPods since they still work. He liked that I can hear my surroundings.

Shokz are the best--I have one OpenRun Mini for running outside and one for running inside (I got sick of having to switch the pairing from my phone to the tv). Plus I have 2 pair of the OpenFit, which are great for doing stuff around the house or sitting at my desk, but don't keep the sweat out when running and the sound goes wonky.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Seeing the posts about having Covid before the race weekend....
When it came around to our house, the DW had the severe Covid with a high fever for a week and then... went back to normal. Nothing lingering, no loss of smell, etc.
OTOH, I had a rather mild case (I've had sinus infections that were worse) with some mild flu-like symptoms, and was left with a greatly diminished sense of smell compared to the very sensitive nose I had before. But training took a hit with lack of exercise between Covid and January weather. When I went to ramp back up, it just wasn't happening like it had before when I had a layoff. Instead of getting back up to decent runs within two weeks, it took more like two months. I kept feeling unduly fatigued, and at one point I was wondering if I was done with running. Very frustrating. Eventually, I fully recovered and was back to normal as the weather warmed up.
YMMV, but just my 2-cents that one never knows exactly how you'll react to Covid. You may feel fine in a week, or the sense of fatigue and blah may persist longer than expected. You may be fine in time for MW, but it may linger and not be worth it to push it, especially the longer races.
So no real advice other than to listen to what your body is telling you, and hope for the best, but be prepared to not be able to do the longer races if you have lingering fatigue like I did.
I hate it for anyone who is feeling ill at the moment and is hoping and wanting to be well enough to enjoy MW.