Marathon Weekend 2025

[PrincessV]

I was just plotting out MK restroom locations for the half and I swear they purposely routed this course to make all but that first Frontierland restroom a stretch. The one in the back of POTC is an option, assuming they allow folks to go back there, but requires some extra steps. Ditto for Gaston’s. Either might be worth it if that Frontierland one is busy, though.

I was also looking at the marathon map and doing some time math to see if I might be able to spectate from AK instead of or in addition to DHS and man - that 4:30am start is really messing with spectating sleep/wake time plans lol!

 

[Ellie_]

Dittos, dittos. Waiting a day or two for better/safer conditions won't make a hill of beans difference, as my dad would say. Same if you have to shorten up your run a bit. At this point, 99+% of your training is in the jar, so IMHO even a few much shorter runs (like 10 miles) before you taper will still have you in good shape. Just my 2-cents worth. Good luck.
YMMV

Thank you! That’s a comfort to hear. I did an 18 miler on the 7th and felt great so hoping that I won’t have an issue squeaking out this last big run.

 

[The Expert]

I was just plotting out MK restroom locations for the half and I swear they purposely routed this course to make all but that first Frontierland restroom a stretch. The one in the back of POTC is an option, assuming they allow folks to go back there, but requires some extra steps. Ditto for Gaston’s. Either might be worth it if that Frontierland one is busy, though.

I was also looking at the marathon map and doing some time math to see if I might be able to spectate from AK instead of or in addition to DHS and man - that 4:30am start is really messing with spectating sleep/wake time plans lol!

"Real" bathrooms will be updated and in the "packet" @Herding_Cats, @Kerry1957 and I are working on!

 

[fatmanatee]

Meanwhile, training over here has been a rough go since getting back to it. Work has been crazy and I’ve managed to carve out just enough time to get a couple of runs in per week, and thankfully one of them is the long one, I’m not skipping that under any circumstances. Should be settling down a bit so I can get into more of a rhythm with race weekend coming up.

Aiming to do 12 miles today since it’s going to get significantly colder tomorrow but this is what I’m facing today

 

[nancipants]

"Real" bathrooms will be updated and in the "packet" @Herding_Cats, @Kerry1957 and I are working on updating!

When at AK last week I was pleased to see a bathroom immediately before the exit in Dinoland.

 

[PrincessV]

When at AK last week I was pleased to see a bathroom immediately before the exit in Dinoland.

That’s a historically popular one in past marathons and tends to get a line, but it moves fast - worth jumping into!

 

[Herding_Cats]

My secret is that the Pinocchio bathrooms are usually very available because they aren't the first 1 or 2 (or last) bathroom in MK.

 

[kristenabelle]

Question for all of you training experts! I’m doing Goofy and today was supposed to be my 10 miler with 20 tomorrow before I taper until the race. I woke up to icy conditions that will make it difficult to run outside. I could probably still do it and be fine if I go slow and I’m careful. But I’m worried about risking injuries.

I have off on Tuesday, so I was thinking of doing my 10 tomorrow and 20 on Tuesday. Would it mess up my taper if I pushed back my longest run from Sunday to Tuesday? And leave a day in between the 10 and 20?

Same here! Woke up to a fun overnight coating of snow and ice in NJ. I'm doing the same & delaying a few days. Decided to do some strength training today and get a longer run in when the trail is a bit better - hopefully tomorrow, definitely Tuesday.

I was thinking about getting a cheaper gym membership and going for it on the dreadmill, but i'm also terrified of getting sick so close to Dopey. I'm basically a hermit between now and the flight, save Christmas with my super small family.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

When at AK last week I was pleased to see a bathroom immediately before the exit in Dinoland.

Is that the one right across from or right near Triceratop Spin? Last Jan, I was able to hit TS (after being turned away at EE) and then hit that facility. Good 1-2 combo, so to speak....

 

[Herding_Cats]

It can definitely be a YMMV experience if the CMs will let you venture very far off-course for bathrooms, and if they'll have all of them open in the parks (before the parks open), but there are quite a few in MK. Maps (including where the course runs and then highlighted bathroom locations) for each of the parks, minus HS since it's only the one bathroom and the the skyliner bathrooms outside the park, are definitely included as @The Expert said earlier.

There are a few I'm not 100% will be available (the ones between Tiana and Thunder in MK) or the one that's inside Pecos Bill's (I marked it, but I'm assuming won't be available.)

Also, can anyone comment on if the bathrooms near Pinocchio are currently closed for some reason???? They are specifically not marked/listed in the map on the website.

Apparently the Pinocchio bathrooms are closed for remodeling "until 2025." *sigh* They were always empty when I used them the last 3 years and it was great to not have to wait in a line!!

 

[DHSsenior007]

Did my 20 miler today and it was definitely my worst training run to-date. It was really cold but I started feeling tired around mi 11. Perhaps I wasn't fully recovered from my half marathon last Sunday. Anyway, I was able to make new running friends who kept me going from mi 14 to 17, but once they stopped I totally struggled. Walked the last 2.5 mi, and now been so tired, forcing myself to eat/drink, etc. I'm scared as this is how I felt during my first marathon training cycle back in 2019, and I completely hated running the full marathon. I had been doing well so hopefully this is just a 1-off, but it also shows how helpful it is to run with others. Definitely open to running with someone if they're in the 10:30 mi pace (or a little slower, to be honest).

Thanks for letting me vent. Now to try to feel better for my husband's birthday dinner tonight...

 

[fatmanatee]

Meanwhile, training over here has been a rough go since getting back to it. Work has been crazy and I’ve managed to carve out just enough time to get a couple of runs in per week, and thankfully one of them is the long one, I’m not skipping that under any circumstances. Should be settling down a bit so I can get into more of a rhythm with race weekend coming up.

Aiming to do 12 miles today since it’s going to get significantly colder tomorrow but this is what I’m facing today

View attachment 922756

Update: going shorter today bc the wind is ROUGH, will bundle up and tough it out for a long one tomorrow.

 

[Zutroy]

Back when W&D started in the MK parking lot and went through AK, the best bathroom to use was on the walkway from Africa to Pandora. Big, right on the course, easy in and out. Plus you got to then fully enjoy running through Pandora in the dark.

Looking at the course map, I would suggest maybe the bathrooms right by the Nemo show. It’s a little off course, but since they’re by a huge capacity show, I’d imagine no waiting. You enter Dinoland USA right after that, and then you take the backroads out of AK where they usually have animals out and some portapotties. I think the next portapotties after that are in Blizzard Beach.

After that, another great set of real bathrooms is leaving the Studios right before you take the walkway to the Boardwalk area.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

After that, another great set of real bathrooms is leaving the Studios right before you take the walkway to the Boardwalk area.

Yeah, I was recently getting in a long run on property and stopped a couple of times there as I was running loops. Also a bank of vending machines, one with mobile pay (since there was some recent talk about carrying a credit card) and also a bottle fill station that’s actually kind of cold’ish water.

 

[marty3d]

Add me to the list of people dealing with frigid/ icy temps today. There's no other day this week I could fit in my 20 mile run so I did it at the gym on a treadmill. I don't do well on treadmills and I think this might be my longest ever run on a treadmill. Needless to say it was probably my worst run - and didn't feel great afterwards- likely due to poor fuelling because it messed with my routine. The good news is with character stops, attractions and adult beverages, I should be averaging about 2-3 min per mile slower in the marathon than today's run so I'm pretty confident I'll be ok in 3 weeks. Super excited to be going into the taper. Now I remember why I made 2023 a "no marathon training" year.

Good luck to everyone wrapping up their long runs!

 

[Zutroy]

Yeah, I was recently getting in a long run on property and stopped a couple of times there as I was running loops. Also a bank of vending machines, one with mobile pay (since there was some recent talk about carrying a credit card) and also a bottle fill station that’s actually kind of cold’ish water.

Mmmm, nothing like the fresh taste of Disney tap water right when you hit mile 24.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

Did my 20 miler today and it was definitely my worst training run to-date. It was really cold but I started feeling tired around mi 11. Perhaps I wasn't fully recovered from my half marathon last Sunday. Anyway, I was able to make new running friends who kept me going from mi 14 to 17, but once they stopped I totally struggled. Walked the last 2.5 mi, and now been so tired, forcing myself to eat/drink, etc. I'm scared as this is how I felt during my first marathon training cycle back in 2019, and I completely hated running the full marathon. I had been doing well so hopefully this is just a 1-off, but it also shows how helpful it is to run with others. Definitely open to running with someone if they're in the 10:30 mi pace (or a little slower, to be honest).

Thanks for letting me vent. Now to try to feel better for my husband's birthday dinner tonight...

Don't panic over one bad run. It's very normal to have a bad run or two at this point - your body is tired. (Especially if you raced less than a week ago!) The taper will help you get back to your bright-eyed and bushy-tailed-est.

 

[EDS19]

We've been having cold and icy weather here too so I've taken my training indoors. I'm training for the half and really couldn't stand the thought of running 13.1 on a treadmill so I went to the local rec center and ran around their indoor track 118 times to equal 13.1 haha. People would come and go and I just kept running.

Also for the Half I always hope for little changes to the course because I like to see different things and mix it up, yet I also get nervous about the changes... Haha I keep worrying "what if this course is harder than the one I'm used to..." I know it will be fine, but does anyone else get stressed out about stuff like that even though you're excited for the course changes.

 

[Disney at Heart]

Last long run of 20.2 miles done, 15:30 intervals, 13:03 pace, felt great. Yay! I was definitely glad I did not have to do another 6 miles, but I am ready. Doing Goofy and taking both the half and full slow, but feel good about them at this point.

 

[sandam1]

I'm training for the half and really couldn't stand the thought of running 13.1 on a treadmill so I went to the local rec center and ran around their indoor track 118 times to equal 13.1

I did 36 out of 45 miles during my Dopey sim on a 9.5 lap per mile track. It takes a lot of determination to walk into the track, knowing how long it's going to be before you leave.