Marathon Weekend 2025

[The Expert]

Sharing this useful chart from onceuponamarathon on IG. It shows what pace you need to keep to stay ahead of the balloon ladies based on your corral start. I know this is pretty easy to figure out, but it's kind of cool to know from the start.

 

[garneska]

SAFD: Short trip for us but am glad we are able to make it this year. We will be driving down on Thursday. Going straight to the expo, hopefully there about 3, then to BWI. Planning dinner at Kimono’s. Only running the 10k on Friday. We are planning BF at Garden Grill after that. We will be at HH for the meet. Cheering on Sunday from BW. We head out Monday so no DATW this time, but still happy to make the trip.

 

[superchime]

SAFD: Add me to the early morning Tuesday flight group. My flight leaves at 7am. We're staying at OKW, which is new for me so I'm excited. Having dinner at La Creperie that night, another first for me. I should be at the expo fairly early on Wednesday. No solid plans for myself after that but I hope to make it to all of the pre-race lightpole meetups, maybe HH, and definitely DATW. Can't wait to see everyone!

 

[SheHulk]

SAFD: I'm running *just* the marathon this year, and this is a quick race trip, so I'm arriving Friday and leaving Sunday. DH is meeting me at the airport, and we will Uber to the Dolphin, drop our things, and head to Poly for a Kona lunch reservation. I'm running with a friend this year, and he and his wife are not Disney people so we are just hanging out around the Boardwalk/Disney Springs Friday/Saturday. Dinner at Flying Fish after we pick up our bibs Friday, Homecomin for brunch Saturday. We currently are sitting on 3 dinner reservations for Saturday so we will have to sort that out.

Otherwise looking forward to catching up with friends we don't see often enough, and having a great first WDW marathon for my friend running with me. He did the 2024 DL Half as his first rD race, and thought it was really fun, and to my mind the WDW races blow that race out of the water.

 

[fatmanatee]

SAFD: flying in Tuesday night. It’s a busy work time so I’ll be at it at least Wednesday and Thursday but I’m hoping to be in a position where I can take off Friday or have a half day. Lots of Guardians LLs lined up , I’m finishing the checklist of songs this time!

 

[marty3d]

SAFD: DS and I are on a 6:30a flight on Tuesday arriving just after 10. Managed to finally get a reasonable rate on a rental so will pick up the car and head to the Swan - drop off our (many!) bags and walk over to HS. Didn't book any LL in case of flight delays. We have a late dinner booked at Trattoria al Forno. We plan to get to the expo early Wednesday as well as we will be heading straight to MK after.

Look forward to meeting up! Safe travels all!!

On the weather front - these changing forecasts are making me consider packing more! The one thing I had pulled from my packing list was shorts (for parks - not running - those I'm bringing). Now I'm second guessing that. Maybe I should just pack everything I own.....

 

[azrivest]

SAFD: Leaving Wednesday night and arriving around midnight at MCO. I'm having breakfast with a group at A&C (RIP Blueberry bacon bancakes ) on Thursday morning and heading to the Expo later that day.

Friday is Epcot day with a Guardians LL.

Sunday after the marathon I booked Tron then Cali Grill for a special celebratory dinner. I'm taking advantage of being solo and not having to pay a bazillion dollars for my kids to eat chicken nuggets.

@fatmanatee did you book one for Monday? I have exactly 0 plans for the day, but might as well combine Guardians and DATW

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: flight out of MSP at 6:20 Tuesday morning, connecting through STL, landing at MCO 12:30. Catch a Mears bus to Saratoga to get rid of the luggage and grab a bite to eat, then it's off to Magic Kingdom. I've got Lightning Lanes booked after 3:30, so I'll be able to get a few rides in.

Wednesday is Expo and AK, Thursday is 5K and HS, Friday is 10K, Epcot, DIS mini golf and HH meetup, Saturday is Half and AK, Sunday is Marathon, Beaches & Cream celebratory dinner, and MK, Monday is DATW and MKAH (yay for double the fireworks to cry during ), Tuesday is HS, and Wednesday is MK and departure day (flight leaves MCO 5:45, connects through MDW, and arrives in MSP 10:10)

 

[fatmanatee]

@fatmanatee did you book one for Monday? I have exactly 0 plans for the day, but might as well combine Guardians and DATW

I did! 5:50, so I’d guess on the tail end of DATW. Doing MK after hours after that.

 

[rick1zoo2]

Wife (Erika10021) and I taking 6am flight Wednesday, drop luggage and heading straight over to the expo. We were crazy enough to sign up for the Dopey Challenge, not sure if we will actually do the marathon. After starting running only about a year and a half ago, we completed both the Springtime Surprise and the Wine and Dine challenges this past year. We have found that doing some walking in the parks post-race helps recovery (and naps). Over the past week we have shifted our sleep to 8pm-4am to help with the early wakeups.

Looking forward to staying at the new Polynesian Tower, breakfast at Kona Cafe after the Half Marathon.

Today I am agonizing over running shoes - I seemed to have developed a cramping type pain in my right second toe which arrives about 7-8 miles into long runs. Trying to figure out if its due to the newish Brooks Glycerins I have been using recently. Trying different lacing to loosen up the toe-box, hoping that will help. Or I just might stick with the old shoes.....

 

[fatmanatee]

Wife (Erika10021) and I taking 6am flight Wednesday, drop luggage and heading straight over to the expo. We were crazy enough to sign up for the Dopey Challenge, not sure if we will actually do the marathon. After starting running only about a year and a half ago, we completed both the Springtime Surprise and the Wine and Dine challenges this past year. We have found that doing some walking in the parks post-race helps recovery (and naps). Over the past week we have shifted our sleep to 8pm-4am to help with the early wakeups.

Looking forward to staying at the new Polynesian Tower, breakfast at Kona Cafe after the Half Marathon.

Today I am agonizing over running shoes - I seemed to have developed a cramping type pain in my right second toe which arrives about 7-8 miles into long runs. Trying to figure out if its due to the newish Brooks Glycerins I have been using recently. Trying different lacing to loosen up the toe-box, hoping that will help. Or I just might stick with the old shoes.....

How new? And what are the old ones and how old are they?

 

[KellyKateri]

SAFD: Lots of logistics, I am taking the Brightline for the first time Wednesday morning to MCO. Meeting my sister and boyfriend at terminal C as they are flying in from JFK and DCA (praying the winter weather leaves DCA alone!) then it’s an Uber to Caribbean Beach. Fingers crossed that we can get a room in our requested location, I know nothing is for sure, but it would be nice! Then over to the expo for merch. Epcot plans for the afternoon and a ILL on GOTG. Finally, hoping to get dinner at the new bar at the Polynesian. After writing this I am feeling that it is going to be a bit ambitious, but luckily we are only doing the 10K and the Half this time.

 

[cburnett11]

Safd:
Flying in early Tuesday evening. Staying at POP with no park time and several breakfast ADRs and a couple dinner plans. Mostly resort hopping and just relaxing. Dopey for me and we fly back out on Monday afternoon. Hoping cooler weather sticks around for the running. Will probably go to expo Wednesday afternoon to minimize lines.

 

[PrincessV]

Good morning RunDisney All-Stars! Welcome to this week's edition of Sundays are for Disney (SAFD). It's here! I can't believe we've made it all the way to race week! It doesn't seem that long ago that we parted company after MW 2024. When and how are you heading to Disney and what are your plans when you get there?

SAFD: “only” doing the half, so I’ll drive over on Fri to hit the expo, settle into my room, and maybe have time to hit EP for a couple hours. I leave on Monday, so only a couple days to spend with some friends I don’t get to see often enough - I’ll be doing whatever they want to do!

Today I am agonizing over running shoes - I seemed to have developed a cramping type pain in my right second toe which arrives about 7-8 miles into long runs. Trying to figure out if its due to the newish Brooks Glycerins I have been using recently. Trying different lacing to loosen up the toe-box, hoping that will help. Or I just might stick with the old shoes.....

I started having a similar issue, only for me it’s my big toe joint. Started after doing a short run in new Cumulus 26s and now I can’t wear anything other than a couple old pairs of Altras. I’m absolutely certain that for me, the issue is lack of forefoot flex and a rockered sole, as I have no pain at all barefoot or in very flexible, low-drop shoes. Sharing in solidarity and hope you can find a solution quickly!

 

[Cliff Secord]

SAFD: I'm only running the full (my first!), so this trip is centered around Sunday's race. Flying-in Friday night, heading to the expo on Sat morning, running in the wee hours of Sun morning, then flying home to Atlanta first thing Monday morning. My wife has a CM friend that may be able to get us into a park on Sat or Sun afternoon. Otherwise it's a focused trip with no frills or planned fun time.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

SAFD: Heading down Wednesday. I pick my brother up from the Atlanta airport around 9:00 and then we will ride down together. Plan is to go with him Thursday while he does his photography thing at a couple wetland reserves in the area and then watch the ND game that night. We wil do light parks Friday before the HH meetup and have a celebratory dinner Sunday night at Yachtsman.

Safe travels to everyone and can't wait to hear about everyone's adventures next week.

 

[Herding_Cats]

We are currently taxi’ing to our gate at MCO. Our flight “left” at 6am, but we had a 20min delay for de-icing and then had to power walk across all of o’hare to get to our next flight. We plan to enjoy the sunny weather tomorrow and then get back to my scheduled plan for the week. At Saratoga the whole time.

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

SAFD: We are dropping off the dog for boarding when the kennel opens on Thursday, then getting on the road. I always overpack, but all the weather possibilities make me really glad we drive, so I can bring everything I think I might want (everything I own). When we get there, we’ll either head straight to the expo, or go buy park tickets at SoG, then to the expo. We were upgraded from Pop to POR, so we’ll go check in after.

On Friday, we’re both running the 10k, and then plan to spend most of the day at HS. That’s the park we go to least, and it’s been a while since we were last there. We’ll join the group for the HH meetup, then we have a dinner reservation at Mama Melrose’s, and plan to see Fantasmic (assuming I still have any energy left!).

Saturday, we have a brunch reservation at Olivia’s, then we’ll plan to hang out at the resort and rest most of the day. Sunday, DH is running the marathon, and I’ll be spectating. I’ve only been a marathon spectator once a couple of years ago, and that was interesting, particularly the Main Street part. We have Boatwright’s dinner reservations that night.

On Monday, we’re moving over to Beach Club (new resort for us!), and joining DATW for the first time. We have dinner reservations at Spice Road Table.

Tuesday, we’ll head home, and start planning for next year!

Safe travels, everyone!

 

[nekonekoneko]

NO no no no no no no no no no no.... PLEASE DO NOT BE 66 for the start of the Half!!! ::crying::

That's the craziest outlier I've found. A few of these weather sites seem to do that, trying to be "edgy" for the "I told you so" when it does happen. But it's random who does what.

 

[rick1zoo2]

...and just like that, we added two more days to the trip. Port Orleans with an AP discount, not too bad.