Marathon Weekend 2025

[Mr_Incr3dible]

For the corral: el cheapo towels and/or blankets to sit on or for warmth. I've learned my lesson about standing for hours before a race. My new method is to get there and find a spot next to the fence, sit down and rest my back and maybe gently stretch. Either sit on a folded up towel or a pillow. Again, the cheapest ones at Wally World are well worth the $$ and get donated to charities. Ditto for a sweatshirt for the corral and early miles of the race if weather requires. FWIW, I went on Amazon and bought the Tyvek paper painter's jackets. Totally non-glamorous, but windproof and good for warmth. Last Jan, it was warm enough I wound up checking mine, and then wound up using it as a disposable rain jacket later in the day when the rains came.
Oh, and if you have sensitive hearing, bring ear plugs; it gets loud in the corrals.

 

[Naomeri]

Another solution for something small-ish like arm covers that you want to remove, but not abandon, is to drop it down the back of your shirt (if you have your shirt tucked in, obviously )

I did that with a pair of under-the-insole shoe inserts in my first Disney half at Princess 2022. I had used them with no problem in training, including 2 half distance runs, but I'd never stood around in them for hours like we do pre-race, so halfway through the half, they were killing my feet and I had to get rid of them, but since they were $50 inserts, I wasn't about to throw them on the side of the road. While I waited (ironically) at the Cinderella and Charming photo stop, took them out, dropped them down the back of my shirt, and didn't even notice them for the next 6+ miles.

 

[Z-Knight]

This is a stupid question/request - I'm mostly curious. Can you like/hate/wow/angry/care/love THIS post if you plan on meeting up during the race mornings at our super light pole. I am just curious to see if our group has grown compared to last year and past years.

 

[FFigawi]

I've never had a 4am start before though. I've heard if you take your 'waiting layer' off too early, you freeze. If you take it off too late, you sweat in it and will start to get cold.

My philosophy is to ditch the outer layers about 5 minutes before the start. I find that’s enough time to get acclimated to the ambient temperature. If I’m wearing multiple layers, the last ones come off as soon as I feel sweat on my arms.

 

[Lemon Head]

When you say that you ditched them, did you just throw them away? I'm not sure that I could do that unless they were really cheap.

As I said, I buy them from charity stores so am fine tossing them away because the money went to a good cause.

 

[runwithperseverence7]

This is a stupid question/request - I'm mostly curious. Can you like/hate/wow/angry/care/love THIS post if you plan on meeting up during the race mornings at our super light pole. I am just curious to see if our group has grown compared to last year and past years.

I’ll see how the mornings are going and decide if I want to come say hi. I know I won’t make it 5k morning. I’ll have my family with me so I’ll be with them. I get super nervous on race mornings plus im kinda a shy person until I get to know you. But it would be nice to meet everyone and maybe find a running buddy. I’m usually a solo runner.

 

[Disney at Heart]

My philosophy is to ditch the outer layers about 5 minutes before the start. I find that’s enough time to get acclimated to the ambient temperature. If I’m wearing multiple layers, the last ones come off as soon as I feel sweat on my arms.

Being cold natured, older, slow, and in a later corral, sometimes I ditch just before start, but I sometimes wait until I start to warm up and then ditch outer layers. That may be before the first water stop or maybe never, depending on the weather. One year I ditched layers early and wished I didn’t. (I thought I’d freeze before I got to MK when the sun finally came up). And one year I crossed the finish line still wearing sweat pants, ear covers, and a light jacket over my running clothes. I forgot which year it was that cold. This year I’ll keep in mind that if we start the marathon at 4:30, the coldest temperatures don’t happen until around dawn!

 

[nancipants]

This is a stupid question/request - I'm mostly curious. Can you like/hate/wow/angry/care/love THIS post if you plan on meeting up during the race mornings at our super light pole. I am just curious to see if our group has grown compared to last year and past years.

I will definitely be there before the marathon because I will be freaking out and need a distraction. And to (hopefully) find a running buddy (or several) in my corral or to meet up with later.



Also, all this talk about cold weather running pretty much guarantees we're going to have a hot race weekend.

 

[jmasgat]

If anyone hears (from another forum/social media site) of charity bibs becoming available with waived fundraising requirements, can you please post? A little late to decide it might be fun to run a 10k or half, but whatever. I am totally willing to make some kind of charitable offering, but probably not at the level of current fundraising requirements.

I really wish they allowed race waivers. I know people who are now unable to do the half, and their bibs will go to waste.

 

[kps7795]

Also, all this talk about cold weather running pretty much guarantees we're going to have a hot race weekend.

Yes, please. I went for an easy run this morning and it was 53. My preference is definitely between 65 and 80.

 

[Naomeri]

Yes, please. I went for an easy run this morning and it was 53. My preference is definitely between 65 and 80.

Gross, no!

I don't want to bring my MN winter weather to Florida, because that's excessive, but low 50s would be a good starting temp.

 

[MissLiss279]

This is a stupid question/request - I'm mostly curious. Can you like/hate/wow/angry/care/love THIS post if you plan on meeting up during the race mornings at our super light pole. I am just curious to see if our group has grown compared to last year and past years.

I will try to meet up at least for the 10k, since I’m joining the DIS group Epcot CM flag shirt costume. I always think about meeting up, but then I end up just going to find somewhere to sit down.

 

[Herding_Cats]

If anyone hears (from another forum/social media site) of charity bibs becoming available with waived fundraising requirements, can you please post? A little late to decide it might be fun to run a 10k or half, but whatever. I am totally willing to make some kind of charitable offering, but probably not at the level of current fundraising requirements.

I really wish they allowed race waivers. I know people who are now unable to do the half, and their bibs will go to waste.

I haven't seen waived FR requirements, but I have seen some reduced fundraising bibs. The cut-off dates is the 9th for charities to get these assigned, so I think more will start popping up this week(end.)

I have also seen a couple of charities come out and say they WON'T be doing reduced/waived fundraising, but will offer extended deadlines for the fundraising.

 

[PrincessV]

Yes, please. I went for an easy run this morning and it was 53. My preference is definitely between 65 and 80.

Agreed - I’ve had all the Florida Winter I need for the year over the past week, TYVM! I’m delighted to see highs near 80 again next week.

 

[Herding_Cats]

My tip for sitting down in a corral is to make sure you are taking up space as people filter in. Don't tuck your legs up and make yourself smaller because people WILL take up that space and you'll be stuck in your little tucked-up area.

 

[nancipants]

Agreed - I’ve had all the Florida Winter I need for the year over the past week, TYVM! I’m delighted to see highs near 80 again next week.

I'm enjoying wearing my warm weather clothes, but my ideal for this time of year is lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s.


Doing a half on Saturday and temps at the start are going to be in the 40s, so that'll be fun.

 

[The Expert]

Also, all this talk about cold weather running pretty much guarantees we're going to have a hot race weekend.

NOOOOOO! We are due for a decent or even cold MW and I DEMAND it!

I'm at the parks this week and the weather is perfection -- 40s in the morning and 60s during the day with sun. I'm personally attempting everything possible to manifest this for the races.

 

[camaker]

Yes, please. I went for an easy run this morning and it was 53. My preference is definitely between 65 and 80.

Agreed - I’ve had all the Florida Winter I need for the year over the past week, TYVM! I’m delighted to see highs near 80 again next week.

I definitely feel you both. Yesterday's evening run here started at 39 and dropped to 34 during the run. I was freezing the whole time despite tights, thermal shirt, gloves and fleece headband. It didn't help that I've been fighting a head cold that migrated down into my chest for the last week. I'm definitely ready for some warmer temps! Anywhere between 55 and 70 to start for the races would be welcome for me.

 

[Disneyhanna]

NOOOOOO! We are due for a decent or even cold MW and I DEMAND it!

I'm at the parks this week and the weather is perfection -- 40s in the morning and 60s during the day with sun. I'm personally attempting everything possible to manifest this for the races.

I am just leaving and all I could think this week was how perfect this weather would be for marathon weekend!

 

[nancipants]

I definitely feel you both. Yesterday's evening run here started at 39 and dropped to 34 during the run. I was freezing the whole time despite tights, thermal shirt, gloves and fleece headband. It didn't help that I've been fighting a head cold that migrated down into my chest for the last week. I'm definitely ready for some warmer temps! Anywhere between 55 and 70 to start for the races would be welcome for me.

I will cry if the temp is 70 at the start of the marathon.