Marathon Weekend 2025

[Dopey 2020]

SAFD I used to have a playlist of what I guess would be described as fast and loud, now I find I prefer to be alone with my thoughts and just listen to whatever is going on around me. Not needing music especially on my long runs has definitely helped my mental game when I tire late into a run or race. If I’m stuck on a dread mill I will turn on some form of music or pick an action movie if it’s a long run.

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: music all the way! I have a 12+ hour playlist that I just hit ‘shuffle’ on, so it’s never the same.

If I have to run on the treadmill, I do better with something to watch, because otherwise I start to look around, and then I start to run into the side rails, and nothing hurts more than punching the end of the side rail mid-armswing

 

[The Expert]

SAFD: I'm on the treadmill more often than not, and if I'm not doing an iFit guided run, I'll watch a Housewives episode, Good Morning Football or maybe listen to a podcast like the Kelce bros New Heights, Rise & Run, etc.

For long runs, once the season starts I've got one or more NFL games on, though I can't watch my Chiefs because I get too anxious and I have stupid superstitions to uphold. I can usually knock it out during the first set of games as they typically play later or primetime.

For outside runs and for races, I've got an emergency playlist if I need it, but usually just stay in the moment or chat with other runners.

 

[DHSsenior007]

SAFD: Podcasts all the way. We'll see how things go for tempo runs this training season, but as someone else said podcasts are great for helping me keep my pace slower. Plus it distracts me from the negative thoughts that can pop up as I get tired...

 

[Cabius]

SAFD:

I usually listen to Podcasts (Progress City Radio Hour, Retro Disney World, Medfield College Film Society, Disney History Institute, old episodes of WEDway Radio, and for non-Disney listening, a religion podcast called Lord of Spirits) or audiobooks (anything about the history of Polynesia/Oceania, and occasionally a re-listen of the Tolkeinverse).

 

[Baloo in MI]

SAFD:
I can run with nothing for short periods but have found I actually get more distracted by my own thoughts than I do will I have music or podcasts going. I have several playlists with 15+ hours of music on them and have some specific to high energy and some to cruising.

Generally on long runs I start with podcasts (some favorites: House of R, Challenge Mania, Tooth & Claw, Fake Doctors, Real Friends, Rise and Run, Outside, WDW Radio and old episodes of Binge Mode). So basically it is all podcasts related to my favorite shows, movies, books and hobbies.

Like others I have found podcasts to work perfectly for long runs and will move to music if I am struggling. And I avoid the treadmill at all costs but if weather forces the issue then I usually try to pick an epic movie to watch and distract me.

 

[sandam1]

SAFD - I need something to listen to while I'm running. One of the fundamental things that I hated when I ran as a kid was listening to the sound of my breathing. So listening to something is non-negotiable. Even when I'm running with someone, I still have one headphone in, playing background music.

For long runs, podcasts and audiobooks are the name of the game. I have a variety of things queued up as I get bored with one thing (even my favorites) after a certain amount of time. For podcasts, my favorites are Rise and Run and 3-2-1 Go. My non-running podcasts are Talks about Teddy (about Theodore Roosevelt) and some Harry Potter podcasts (I've listened to HP Binge Mode in the past and just started Through the Griffin Door). My audiobook choices are eclectic - I ran from the MK to AK in my first marathon listening to Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin - but I tend to use this time to listen to books that keep me thinking about something other than what I'm doing.

When I run for time (tempo runs and speed work), I need to stick with music. I can listen to music on long runs, but I can't listen to podcasts on fast runs. I have a pretty substantial (almost 250 songs) playlist so I'm not getting bored.

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: If I'm running with friends then we just chat the miles away, otherwise it's music. On long runs, I will switch genres of music along the way to keep some variety.
I do love podcasts in the car, and I've only tried once to run while listening to a podcast and didn't enjoy it so I should probably try again. Enjoying everyone's recommendations!

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: I listen to the voices in my head. Actually, I generally count my steps, notice the scenery around me, greet the people I see, focus on DH’s back or shoes as he paces me, thank God for every mile, pray for people I know who are in need, question every twinge I feel (is it a budding injury?), talk myself into keeping on going when I’m ready to quit, repeat a mantra, figure percentages (1/4 , 1/2, or 2/3, etc. done!), think of what I’m doing for the rest of the day, reflect on where I’d be in a Disney race (if I would be entering MK or near the sewage plant!), all kinds of crazy stuff! I don’t think I could focus on a podcast or audible book, and listening to music makes me sing out loud and get out of breath

 

[AaronB]

SAFD: When I am outside, it is usually podcasts. Favorites being No Such Thing as a Fish, Go Fact Yourself, and Lateral with Tom Scott. I do have a music playlist of a lot of uptempo rock/metal, but I don't use it much.
For the times I am on the treadmill, it is usually Critical Role or Dimension 20 (which are D&D and RPG tabletop gameplay shows).

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: Outdoors, I never wear headphones. I pay attention to my footfall and my breathing as good proxies for my effort and HR so I don't need to look at my watch as often. If I do get stuck running on a treadmill, I'll usually put on a podcast (for base endurance runs) or music (for intervals).

 

[dobball23]

SAFD: I don't listen to anything. I think after so long of not listening to anything, it seems unsafe to not be able to hear around me for traffic, fellow runners, etc. I do a lot of math while I run, though, breaking down how many more miles I need to go.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Can anyone comment on what *time* the AH at MK tickets will go on sale on Wednesday? 10am? 6am? No one knows and you just stalk/refresh all day?

 

[Naomeri]

Can anyone comment on what *time* the AH at MK tickets will go on sale on Wednesday? 10am? 6am? No one knows and you just stalk/refresh all day?

I would guess 6am ET? My confirms from my Princess 2023 AH events say I bought them just after 8am CT

 

[Herding_Cats]

I would guess 6am ET? My confirms from my Princess 2023 AH events say I bought them just after 8am CT

8am CT would be 9am ET.....am I needing to plan for a super long queue, like a race registration? same strategies apply with as many windows as possible?

 

[Naomeri]

8am CT would be 9am ET.....am I needing to plan for a super long queue, like a race registration? same strategies apply with as many windows as possible?

I don’t think there was a queue or anything, I think they were on sale before I got up for the day, which is why I assumed 6am ET—sorry for the confusion. The AH seem to always eventually sell out, but not immediately.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I don’t think there was a queue or anything, I think they were on sale before I got up for the day, which is why I assumed 6am ET—sorry for the confusion. The AH seem to always eventually sell out, but not immediately.

I feel like the proximity to MW is going to make it a popular choice. And I like to just get things paid for and not have to stress out about missing it/having it sell out because I waited to buy.

 

[Naomeri]

I feel like the proximity to MW is going to make it a popular choice. And I like to just get things paid for and not have to stress out about missing it/having it sell out because I waited to buy.

PlanDisney says 6am ET

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD… and running is for listening to music. It’s the only sustained time I have to indulge my love of music, so I make the most of it! I have a bunch of different playlists, including a general running one with a couple thousand songs in it to shuffle up. Others are thematic: Totally 80s (which is mostly alternative 80s stuff like Love & Rockets, Adam Ant, New Order), Dead Run (all Grateful Dead), Just the Classics (all classical, mostly symphonies), Big Band Baybee (swinging big band tunes from the 40s), All That Jazz (classic jazz - everything from Sidney Bechet to John Coltrane to Miles Davis), Speed Kills Del (all fast stuff to motivate me for speed work), Runnin’ & Rhymin’ (rap and hip hop), Dark Side (all Star Wars), Flooooow (all EDM), The Nick Rhodes of It All (all Duran Duran), Go For Baroque (all chamber music with a lot of Vivaldi and Handel). Oh and special Halloween and Christmas seasonal playlists, too. I also love taking a long run to listen to an entire amazing album in recorded order, as the gods and musicians intended - if I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be The Police Synchronicity, but the TRON Legacy soundtrack by Daft Punk is a close second.

I do sometimes do a podcast if I’m falling behind on those: I prefer to podcast in the car, though.

 

[PrincessV]

do a lot of math while I run, though, breaking down how many more miles I need to go.

I wish I could math on the run! The other day, my running app went screwy .32 miles in and I needed to restart it. My plan was to do 6 miles… but then I could not figure out when I needed to head home! I know the distance home from a few points - 1.5 from here, 2 from there, 2.25 from over there - but absolutely could not math out how to adjust my timing to include the .32 I’d already run! My brain just does not math while running.