Marathon Weekend 2025

[The Expert]

If the goal is just to be at the front of EP when you finish, he can drive or take a regular parks bus later - Early Entry starts at 9:30am, so buses should start running at 8:30.

From the Boardwalk (and assuming he has park admission) he could also just come in from the WS entrance and walk to the front and/or finish area. I wouldn't deal with road traffic in that area while the races are still going if he can avoid it.

 

[PrincessV]

For your amusement: I ordered that cheap running jacket to replace the too-big hoodie in haste and only just noticed IT HAS NO POCKETS!!!

It’s been canceled and replaced with another jacket that has pockets for $10 more. Will I ever again wear an orange jacket? Probably not. But in the end if $28 ($22 after using some rewards points - booyah!) will provide better comfort and/or better weather, I consider it a solid investment.

Oh, and the 12-pack of cheapo “touch screen” gloves I ordered? Do not work on touch screens. Fortunately neither have any of the throwaway gloves I’ve used for years, so I’m a pro at pulling out a thumb as needed. Pro-tip: once unlocked, a nose works well enough to tap an app to start. You’re welcome.

 

[garneska]

Pro-tip: once unlocked, a nose works well enough to tap an app to start. You’re welcome.

Do this all the time. I am usually on my daily update work call when i am walking the dog (efficiency is what i call that), many a times i hang up with my nose.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I will wish for the holy grail from the FL weather machine. I would like 45 and dry for the races with 75-80 and sun for the pool. Make it happen, thank you

This is what I want. 4 days of that would be amazing, and what this vitamin D starved northerner needs.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

More random advice for MW:
1. Take napkins, paper towels, bath towels, for when your nose starts running in the cold. OK, maybe the bath towel is a bit much, but I will grab a number of napkins from the commissary and stick them in a pocket for when my nose starts running. I even do this for local training runs when the temps drop.
2. Study the course map to get an idea of distances between points so that mentally you can break the race up into smaller segments. I’m talking primarily about the half and the full. The stretch from MK to AK used to seem like about 10 miles, and ditto the 8 or 9 miles down Western Way to BB and then HS.
If you’ve done this before you know the reality is that the segments are more like 3 miles, but out on the course they seemed longer, at least the first couple of times. Having a bit of a mental map in my head made it easier to finish some of those less populated stretches so that they did not seem so long.
And some el cheapo sunglasses for when the sun does come up. I tuck mine (cheap, light, and plastic from Amazon) in the back of my shirt collar and they stay there with no issues and no chafing.
YMMV

 

[catsrgr8]

Question about what I should do during Taper week….

Super excited too be running my first RunDisney event at WDW and first full marathon! I’m looking for advice on what to do regarding one of my runs next week. My final week of training looks like this:

Saturday: 7 mile (mostly zone 2 with 18 min of race pace intervals)
Sunday: 25 min zone 2 easy run
Tuesday: 30 min zone 2 easy run
Wednesday: 35 min run (mostly zone 2 with 6 min of race pace intervals)
Friday: 25 min run (mostly zone 2 with 8 min of race pace intervals)
Sunday: race day!!

So the question is related to my run on Friday. We’re flying from CA on Thursday morning and hitting the parks Friday (resting Saturday). Do I still get in my run Friday morning and then walk all day in the parks? Try and move the run to 4:30 am Thursday before we fly? Or just skip it because we’re walking a bunch in the parks?

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

Question about what I should do during Taper week….

Super excited too be running my first RunDisney event at WDW and first full marathon! I’m looking for advice on what to do regarding one of my runs next week. My final week of training looks like this:

Saturday: 7 mile (mostly zone 2 with 18 min of race pace intervals)
Sunday: 25 min zone 2 easy run
Tuesday: 30 min zone 2 easy run
Wednesday: 35 min run (mostly zone 2 with 6 min of race pace intervals)
Friday: 25 min run (mostly zone 2 with 8 min of race pace intervals)
Sunday: race day!!

So the question is related to my run on Friday. We’re flying from CA on Thursday morning and hitting the parks Friday (resting Saturday). Do I still get in my run Friday morning and then walk all day in the parks? Try and move the run to 4:30 am Thursday before we fly? Or just skip it because we’re walking a bunch in the parks?

Definitely skip it. It won’t help you at that point. You want to go into the race feeling strong, not worn down.

 

[nancipants]

Starting the new year off right by skipping today’s run because I woke up with a headache. The hay is already in the barn, right?

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

@FFigawi will tell us when the hay is in the barn. He is the only one authorized to do so. I trust him on these matters.

 

[PrincessV]

Not to gloat, but I had the most amazing 10am run in 65º with the perfect mix of sun and breeze! Cold front has arrived and it was glorious to feel perfectly warm before what looks to be two weeks of constant cold. We’ll be into the 40s overnight.

 

[runwithperseverence7]

I’m taking my Christmas decorations down today even though I don’t want to. I’m normally a leave it through January 6th person. But I don’t want to have to pick it all up once I’m home after MW. Plus I want to get the outdoor decorations down before it gets cold tomorrow.

Watching the snow/ice chances like a hawk for Sunday/Monday.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I’m at WDW and also had a fantastic hour run this AM (screen shot taken at end of run), figured it might be the last run in shorts and short sleeves. Still pretty humid so I decided to look on the bright side and think about the less-soupy conditions next week. Not sure we will but if we’re blessed with any sunny mornings, don’t overlook the need for sunglasses - not that we all need more gear to think about!

 

[nancipants]

I’m at WDW and also had a fantastic hour run this AM (screen shot taken at end of run), figured it might be the last run in shorts and short sleeves. Still pretty humid so I decided to look on the bright side and think about the less-soupy conditions next week. Not sure we will but if we’re blessed with any sunny mornings, don’t overlook the need for sunglasses - not that we all need more gear to think about!

View attachment 925728

AirFit always has a booth at the expo and I LOVE their sunglasses. Probably more than Goodrs.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Question about what I should do during Taper week….

Super excited too be running my first RunDisney event at WDW and first full marathon! I’m looking for advice on what to do regarding one of my runs next week. My final week of training looks like this:

Saturday: 7 mile (mostly zone 2 with 18 min of race pace intervals)
Sunday: 25 min zone 2 easy run
Tuesday: 30 min zone 2 easy run
Wednesday: 35 min run (mostly zone 2 with 6 min of race pace intervals)
Friday: 25 min run (mostly zone 2 with 8 min of race pace intervals)
Sunday: race day!!

So the question is related to my run on Friday. We’re flying from CA on Thursday morning and hitting the parks Friday (resting Saturday). Do I still get in my run Friday morning and then walk all day in the parks? Try and move the run to 4:30 am Thursday before we fly? Or just skip it because we’re walking a bunch in the parks?

With this description, about the only reason to move everything around to get the last run in would be if you were needing to be in peak taper for the race. So either because you're going for a PR, or because your fitness puts you incredibly close to the balloon lady cutoff. Otherwise, the effect of that last run is really only on sharpness of the legs and how tight/loose you want them to feel on race day.

 

[DHSsenior007]

Thanks for everyone's advice on how my husband can navigate spectating. The catch is he has to get back to BWV by 8 AM to wake up/feed our toddler (my parents are staying with us but she isn't used to them waking her up). We were hoping he could drive from BWV to the front of Epcot, monorail to TTC to see me there, then monorail to Epcot and drive back to BWV. However, that drive back doesn't seem easy, so he may have to scrap that and just try to meet me at the finish around 10 (via entering through the WS entrance). I will just have to run slow/take extra character stops so he and my daughter can see me finish!

 

[catsrgr8]

With this description, about the only reason to move everything around to get the last run in would be if you were needing to be in peak taper for the race. So either because you're going for a PR, or because your fitness puts you incredibly close to the balloon lady cutoff. Otherwise, the effect of that last run is really only on sharpness of the legs and how tight/loose you want them to feel on race day.

Awesome! Not going for a PR and not concerned with the balloon ladies! Will plan to skip the Friday run and just enjoy the parks that day!

 

[kps7795]

I like the trend we are seeing on Weather Channel. Temps are up in their forecast.

View attachment 925616

40° for the start of the marathon. I only wish that I knew what would be comfortable (for me) when running at marathon pace at that temperature. The most frustrating part is not having the frame of reference. If you know what is comfortable for you at a particular temperature, you’ll be fine if you dress accordingly.

 

[PrincessV]

40° for the start of the marathon. I only wish that I knew what would be comfortable (for me) when running at marathon pace at that temperature. The most frustrating part is not having the frame of reference. If you know what is comfortable for you at a particular temperature, you’ll be fine if you dress accordingly.

If it helps a little, my previous experience with starting the marathon that cold has been totally dependent on what it did over the next few hours. Using 2017 and 2018 as examples and keeping in mind my times were in the 6+ hour range…

2017: started frigid and didn’t warm up much due to the very cold wind. I started in non-thermal tights with a fleece blanket around my legs, sarong-style; a thin long sleeve under a thin short sleeve under a thermal long sleeve under a throwaway fleece jacket; regular (not thermal) running cap with fleece ear warmer; 2 pairs of knit gloves; neck gaiter. Ditched the fleece blanket and jacket before World Dr. and regretted it immensely. Shortly before AK, I ditched the thermal long sleeve and 1 pair of gloves. Ditched the neck gaiter in WWOS (mile 19ish) and later regretted it. Finished wearing everything else and was warm enough to not be suffering, but still felt pretty chilly. If I’d owned thermal tights then, they would’ve been more than welcome for all 26.2 miles. Finishing temp was in the 50s.

2018: started frigid, but warmed up throughout the race - less wind and more sun than 2017. Started in non-thermal tights under old flannel PJ pants; thin tank under a thin long sleeve under a thick throwaway fleece jacket; regular running cap with ear warmer; neck gaiter; 2 pairs of gloves. Ditched the PJ pants and fleece jacket in MK - probably a pair of gloves too. Ditched the ear warmer and 2nd pair of gloves in AK. Tied the long sleeve around my waist and moved the neck gaiter to my wrist leaving WWOS and finished in the tank and tights. I felt comfortably warm through the finish, then got very chilly very quickly and was glad I still had the long sleeve with me. Finishing temp was low 60s and sunny.

My takeaway that hopefully is helpful is this: layers are your friend. Looking at the hourly forecast the night before will help to see if it’s expected to warm quickly or not, but just being able to shed things one at a time as the temp rises will let you adjust on the fly without needing to think too hard about it.

 

[PrincessV]

A What to Wear question for the cold weather folks in regard to time NOT running…

I own a pair of fleece-lined running pants. The kind meant for serious winter weather. I’ve run in them when temps dip into the 30s and they were warm enough, but do items like that translate at all to non-running? Or are they dependent on the whole moving at a good clip to produce some warmth inside thing? Might I be better served by adding a pair of tights under them if I’ll be standing in place for hours? I’m struggling with what to do for spectating the marathon if it’s in the 30s or 40s. I’m good on top with wool and down layers, but the bottom half is problematic.

 

[Herding_Cats]

40° for the start of the marathon. I only wish that I knew what would be comfortable (for me) when running at marathon pace at that temperature. The most frustrating part is not having the frame of reference. If you know what is comfortable for you at a particular temperature, you’ll be fine if you dress accordingly.

For a northerner who is cold most of the time, 40 for me means gloves, something for my ears (headband), tights/leggings (normal ones would work, but I would feel cold for the first 30-45min), long sleeve over a t-shirt or tank, and a vest that I would regret 30-45min into things. And I would be waiting until the absolute last minute to take off any extra layers for the staging area.