Marathon Weekend 2025

[GuinnessRunner]

For those who don’t know, it DID snow at MW in 2010. I wasn’t running, but I was there to witness it!

I'm a 2010 Marathon survivor . As much as the black ice at some of the water stops was an issue, what was worse for me was the water in the cups starting to freeze! While I learned quickly to squeeze the cup to break up the ice on top, it would feel like little ice knives when you would accidentally swallow some of it! Of course that race was also my marathon PR so just goes to show you can still have a great race even in less than ideal conditions.

SAFD: Nothing that hasn't already been shared for staying warm. The advice I would give though is to keep in mind that bag check is likely to be much busier too so make sure you plan accordingly when deciding how early to head to your corral.

 

[kristenabelle]

Jersey long forecast just convinced me to get outta dodge Sunday instead of Tuesday. Booked Universal for a great rate, fingers crossed it wasn't a bad move

 

[cburnett11]

FWIW, I just bought fleece blankets to use in the corrals at Walmart for $2.50 yesterday.

Same

 

[marty3d]

Just ordered a four pack of balaclavas from Amazon, so I’m doing my part to make the forecast get warmer!

Doing the same. Been hitting up Amazon for cheap gloves (just ordered a 6 pack) and will be visiting my local running store for an extra pair of running pants (I have 3 I cycle through in the winter but want a pair for each race)

I’m now thinking of actually bringing some of my warmer running gear - at least for the 5 and 10k since I wouldn’t have to toss it and only use disposable running layers for the longer races.

Sure will mess up the 10k costume though!

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: Everybody has had great ideas for staying warm. The older I get, the more the joints and muscles don’t move very well below about 45! And when my ears get cold, I get piercing pain, like a bad ear infection.

So for the half, worst case, I’ll have fleece leggings with sweatpants that I can take off and toss. A short sleeved shirt on top of long sleeves that I can push up. A jacket that I can tie around my waist or old sweatshirt to toss when it’s time. Mylar or trash bag if it is damp/raining/snowing. Two buffs around my neck, so I can pull one up on my face. Gloves with hand warmers inside. Fleece hat with ear flap. My warmest running socks and shoes.

For the full, I will go with an ear headband and hat instead of fleece hat, so as the sun comes up, I can remove the headband, and hopefully take off the gloves too. Also I’ll can add sunglasses for sun or wind protection.

I’ll also have alternatives for if it warms up: capris or running skirts, limit shirts to just a long sleeve or short sleeve, and drop the ear and face protection, gloves, and jacket. (I can hope!)

 

[jmasgat]

A possible upside of the freezing weather--maybe I'll have success getting a VQ for Tiana. Of course, whether I'll want to ride it is a while different matter!

2010 was my first marathon. I loved the temps and apparently blocked our all the nasty stuff (although I think the brain fog of doing a marathon takes care of that)

 

[lahobbs4]

While I really don't want to stand around before the race in super cold temps, all this talking is making me feel like a kid waiting on a snow day!

I will pack everything for all temps and plan on having a great time no matter what! In 2017 we all huddled around some of those tall space heaters (that weren't even working bc the wind kept blowing them out) shivering together and making new friends. One of my favorite memories.

 

[OADad]

A couple questions from a race newbie (the MW half will be my second ever half marathon):

- If I expect to start the race with one or more throw-away layers, can the bib go under those? Do they need to be able to see the bib?

- Once in a corral, how easy is it to discard a blanket before a race starts (i.e., are these so crowded that it is hard to get to the side or wherever?) (I am expecting to be in B, if that matters)

- And one for my son (who would be mortified if he knew I was asking here) - he is expecting to be in Corral A, and is looking to PR with a sub-1:20 time - is crowding early in the race an issue with the A crowd, such that he should be very early to try to be at the front of the corral?

 

[The Expert]

A couple questions from a race newbie (the MW half will be my second ever half marathon):

- If I expect to start the race with one or more throw-away layers, can the bib go under those? Do they need to be able to see the bib?

You'll need to be able to show your bib to get into the corral staging area and your corral itself. Once there, you'll only need it visible for photopass photographers or any security who may ask to see it. Be sure you don't have any mylar layers over the bib as that can block the timing chip from tracking your start/finish and any timing mats along the course.

- Once in a corral, how easy is it to discard a blanket before a race starts (i.e., are these so crowded that it is hard to get to the side or wherever?) (I am expecting to be in B, if that matters)

Super easy -- most folks toss it on or over the boundary fencing. If you get stuck in the middle of a crowd, just pass it over and your fellow runners will get it to the edge for you.

- And one for my son (who would be mortified if he knew I was asking here) - he is expecting to be in Corral A, and is looking to PR with a sub-1:20 time - is crowding early in the race an issue with the A crowd, such that he should be very early to try to be at the front of the corral?

I've never run in A but I'm sure one of our faster runners can answer this with expertise. I have heard there's a bit of jostling for the front of A.

 

[Herding_Cats]

A couple questions from a race newbie (the MW half will be my second ever half marathon):

- If I expect to start the race with one or more throw-away layers, can the bib go under those? Do they need to be able to see the bib?

you will 100% have to show your bib to get into your corral. A good compromise here is to attach your bib to the thigh of your shorts because lower-half layers are less likely to be taken off.

- Once in a corral, how easy is it to discard a blanket before a race starts (i.e., are these so crowded that it is hard to get to the side or wherever?) (I am expecting to be in B, if that matters)

It's very crowded in the start chute, but it's not super wide, so you can usually give something a throw and get it outside the barricades. OR, you can just keep your blanket for the first tenth of a mile and then drop it on the side of the course. Disney expects this sort of thing and has people working for the first half to three-quarters of a mile to pick up discarded layers.

- And one for my son (who would be mortified if he knew I was asking here) - he is expecting to be in Corral A, and is looking to PR with a sub-1:20 time - is crowding early in the race an issue with the A crowd, such that he should be very early to try to be at the front of the corral?

I've read there can be quite a bit of jostling at the very front of A, so if your son is looking to avoid that, it might be less stressful to start toward the back of A unless PR'ing is the most important thing to him. But others can chime in on this with more experience.

 

[OADad]

Thanks, Kim!

 

[kps7795]

Doing the same. Been hitting up Amazon for cheap gloves (just ordered a 6 pack) and will be visiting my local running store for an extra pair of running pants (I have 3 I cycle through in the winter but want a pair for each race)

I’m now thinking of actually bringing some of my warmer running gear - at least for the 5 and 10k since I wouldn’t have to toss it and only use disposable running layers for the longer races.

Sure will mess up the 10k costume though!

Can you please share a link for the gloves that you found?

 

[WillRunForPizza]

- And one for my son (who would be mortified if he knew I was asking here) - he is expecting to be in Corral A, and is looking to PR with a sub-1:20 time - is crowding early in the race an issue with the A crowd, such that he should be very early to try to be at the front of the corral?

If he's concerned about gun time, then he'll want to be at the front. A still has 3-4 mini-waves that get released every few minutes.

However, if he only cares about chip time, the course opens up pretty quickly even from the back of A. I raced the Princess 10K last year from the back of A and didn't have any real trouble, and the half should have fewer people walking from the start since it's harder to lie about your time when you have to submit a POT.

If he can be at the front of a mini-wave, that would be a good solution - he should have a pretty wide-open course without having to get to the corral as soon as it opens. Before the race starts, volunteers will draw a ribbon across the corral at several points to designate the mini-waves.

 

[OADad]

If he's concerned about gun time, then he'll want to be at the front. A still has 3-4 mini-waves that get released every few minutes.

However, if he only cares about chip time, the course opens up pretty quickly even from the back of A. I raced the Princess 10K last year from the back of A and didn't have any real trouble, and the half should have fewer people walking from the start since it's harder to lie about your time when you have to submit a POT.

If he can be at the front of a mini-wave, that would be a good solution - he should have a pretty wide-open course without having to get to the corral as soon as it opens. Before the race starts, volunteers will draw a ribbon across the corral at several points to designate the mini-waves.

Thanks - appreciate the detailed info

 

[Herding_Cats]

@OADad if you watch the first 1:30 of this video, it'll give you a brief idea of the corral release. At one point you can see one of the groups snaking through the start chute area while others wait behind the barriers, and then it cuts to when they are in a mini-wave before they start, and then finally the mini-wave where the camera operator starts running.

 

[The Expert]

LAST CALL for the Run Dis list is TOMORROW! Read the first post on this thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/dis-list-for-mw-2025.3958689/ to find out what it's all about and submit your info over there. When I "like" your post there, it's been added.

 

[jmasgat]

Just came back from a run in "MW conditions" --38 feels like 30 wind 12 mph. Made me think of a couple more tips....

1) Don't forget the wind. If there is any, make sure you have a windproof/resistant layer--especially before the start. Fleece is fine, but when the wind blows, it goes right through. Mylar, rain ponchos, windbreakers, etc are your friends.

2) Consider carefully your character stops. It won't take long standing in line for your body temp to drop and for you to get cold. It's not a pleasant cycle to deal with over and over in a race.


@OADad You'll be fine with your bib pinned on to whatever location/ under whatever layer you choose--just lift up whatever is covering it to show the people checking at the entrance to the corrals. I have always pinned mine to my running shirt and just "flashed" it to whoever need to check it.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Hey W&D runners....can you tell me if those string bracelets with the rundisney beads/charms were selling out on the first day of the expo? These are something that I think SIL might want, and I'm trying to figure out if I should plan on grabbing any for her on Wednesday.

Pic for reference:

 

[pluto377]

Another 2010 survivor here and I also set a PR that year. I remember being cold, but I must have blocked out all the other unpleasant elements. I do remember being excited to stay at Poly for the awesome pool, but then it was closed because of the weather :-( One bonus was that the parks were totally dead!

 

[Dopey 2020]

- And one for my son (who would be mortified if he knew I was asking here) - he is expecting to be in Corral A, and is looking to PR with a sub-1:20 time - is crowding early in the race an issue with the

As others said he can maneuver to the front or back, wherever he feels best. From personal experience I would say head to the front as early as possible but will also say I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I have been in the front, back, and middle of A and while there are a lot of people running the event, I am out of any crowding in within a minute of my start and I’m not nearly as fast as him. And any crowding that may be there is generally moving at a good pace.