Marathon Weekend 2026

[RuntheMouse]

My husband met me at Animal Kingdom and I had a few sips of coke and it was AMAZING. I finished it after the race and it was the only thing I wanted at that moment. After Princess Half I had the same craving, but I was by myself and didn't think to pack a coke in my gear bag. That was when I learned that the grilled cheese truck on the way back to the parking lot has cold soda cans, and I gladly paid way too much for one.

I tried a sip of coke during a HM and it did NOT sit well with me. I’m totally with you on the after race Coke though. I rarely drink soda but for some reason Coke hits my spot after long races.

 

[PrincessV]

On the Coke topic… also consider other forms of pop/soda. I do not like Coke; I’m a Pepsi person. But I found Sprite or ginger ale worked exactly the same kind of magic in the late stages of a marathon. TBH so did a Mich Ultra, so I personally think it’s the magic combo of water + bubbles + simple carbs that does it!

 

[Naomeri]

I tried a sip of coke during a HM and it did NOT sit well with me. I’m totally with you on the after race Coke though. I rarely drink soda but for some reason Coke hits my spot after long races.

I think if I were getting soda mid-race, I'd want a fountain soda, or a pre-opened bottle that had gone a bit flat to avoid all the carbonation bouncing around in my system while I ran.

 

[jrsharp21]

I think the whole conversation of the Coke is a good example of what works well for some, may not work for others. Also, why you test out options before the race. For me, I love the carbonation and the caffeine/sugar boost. During my long runs a few weeks before MW this year, I would text my wife to meet up with me at a park that was right around the half marathon mileage. She would bring me a mini Coke. I would down it in a few seconds and be on my way. Loved it. But I get why it wouldn't work for others. Like the pro triathlon guys, watching them on tv and sometimes they grab a 2 liter bottle of Coke and pound it while continue running. No way I could do that without puking. The 7.5 oz can is just right for me. Another example, my neighbor loves Maurten gels. He gave me a bunch to use. The first time I tried them out on a run, they made me sick to my stomach. I did not love the texture either. But he swears by them. My buddy who I run with during the marathon at MW, he can't use GU. I can pound GU all day long and it doesn't effect me. The GU gels give him the same reaction that I get with Maurten.

 

[nancipants]

On the Coke topic… also consider other forms of pop/soda. I do not like Coke; I’m a Pepsi person. But I found Sprite or ginger ale worked exactly the same kind of magic in the late stages of a marathon. TBH so did a Mich Ultra, so I personally think it’s the magic combo of water + bubbles + simple carbs that does it!

I haven't tried Sprite while running, but I love it for carb loading beforehand!

 

[sandam1]

Uncrustables are a godsend for this. I brought one with me to the Expo and had it as a mid-afternoon snack.

That sounds like a perfect idea. I seem to have a lot of issues at the Expo because I always underestimate how long we are going to be there and sometimes haven't done my grocery stop yet since we tend to do it on Expo Day on the way back to the hotel. I almost always have a snack in my purse, but that only goes so far.

P.S. Does anyone have any strong opinions on the food at the ESPN Grill at the Expo? I don't remember hearing much about it one way or the other.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

P.S. Does anyone have any strong opinions on the food at the ESPN Grill at the Expo? I don't remember hearing much about it one way or the other.

I have never tried the grill, but there are several Wetzel's booths and I always get a pretzel when I'm there!

 

[sandam1]

there are several Wetzel's booths and I always get a pretzel when I'm there!

I'm more of an Auntie Anne's girl.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

I'm more of an Auntie Anne's girl.

Not gonna argue with you there! But Wetzel's isn't bad.

 

[sandam1]

But Wetzel's isn't bad.

Definitely!

 

[MissLiss279]

P.S. Does anyone have any strong opinions on the food at the ESPN Grill at the Expo? I don't remember hearing much about it one way or the other.

I used to get the standard WDW chicken strips/nuggets and fries or tots from there, and they were fine. But it seems like in January the menu was different and they didn’t have them??? (I may not be remembering correctly.) I ended up getting something at a food truck outside.

 

[jrsharp21]

For the expo, the quesadilla truck outside is really good! I always grab one on expo day.

 

[RuntheMouse]

P.S. Does anyone have any strong opinions on the food at the ESPN Grill at the Expo? I don't remember hearing much about it one way or the other

DH and I actually really enjoyed the Impossible Burger there a few times.

 

[FFigawi]

I think if I were getting soda mid-race, I'd want a fountain soda, or a pre-opened bottle that had gone a bit flat to avoid all the carbonation bouncing around in my system while I ran.

Aid stations during most longer distance triathlons have flat coke. It can be a race-saver if you're not able to handle anything else. I ran the marathon during my first Ironman on flat coke, potato chips, and chicken noodle soup because my stomach didn't want any more sugar.

 

[KCO5988]

Aid stations during most longer distance triathlons have flat coke. It can be a race-saver if you're not able to handle anything else. I ran the marathon during my first Ironman on flat coke, potato chips, and chicken noodle soup because my stomach didn't want any more sugar.

I volunteered at Lake Placid one year and I have fond memories of violently shaking coke bottles and then slowly trying to release the air bubbles at the aid station while waiting for the runners to get to us. And chicken noodles soup was a life saver on my first and only ironman when I had sunburn chills in the dark when the temps dropped.

 

[accm]

SAFD: A lot of it has already been covered, but after ending a race very dehydrated, I cannot emphasize making sure you're drinking enough water for the amount of fuel you're consuming. This particular race the water stations were not where they said they'd be, so now I always bring a bottle with me just in case unless its a runDisney race.

 

[sandam1]

now I always bring a bottle with me just in case unless its a runDisney race.

Personally, I don't even trust runDisney and always plan to be a self-sufficient as possible.

During my first Dopey, they were out of bananas by the time I got to the first banana stop (which probably started some of my underfueling issues later in the race) and at the next aid station they were out of Biofreeze. This past year, they didn't have anyone available to refill personal water bottles and I had to eventually take multiple cups to do it myself. Everything eventually worked out in each case, but I'd rather have a plan in advance than be wasting brain cells that I don't have figuring it out on the fly.

A secondary benefit is that this gives me the ability to help out other runners too. I've been able to pass out packets of Biofreeze (I always carry at least one) and fuel to people who aren't prepared when the race lets them down. I was running with someone at a local half recently and she asked if I was always a "running mother." Well, yes, I guess I am.

(And sidenote - reminder that Disney has bottle refilling stations near a lot of the bathrooms in the parks. I found them afterwards.)

 

[nancipants]

Personally, I don't even trust runDisney and always plan to be a self-sufficient as possible.

During my first Dopey, they were out of bananas by the time I got to the first banana stop (which probably started some of my underfueling issues later in the race) and at the next aid station they were out of Biofreeze. This past year, they didn't have anyone available to refill personal water bottles and I had to eventually take multiple cups to do it myself. Everything eventually worked out in each case, but I'd rather have a plan in advance than be wasting brain cells that I don't have figuring it out on the fly.

A secondary benefit is that this gives me the ability to help out other runners too. I've been able to pass out packets of Biofreeze (I always carry at least one) and fuel to people who aren't prepared when the race lets them down. I was running with someone at a local half recently and she asked if I was always a "running mother." Well, yes, I guess I am.

(And sidenote - reminder that Disney has bottle refilling stations near a lot of the bathrooms in the parks. I found them afterwards.)

Next marathon I need to make a list of all the bottle refill stations along the course route.

(Related, they need to add MORE of them. Like one at every water fountain!)

 

[Naomeri]

Next marathon I need to make a list of all the bottle refill stations along the course route.

(Related, they need to add MORE of them. Like one at every water fountain!)

That would be an awesome thing to add to the magical DisBoards runDisney Marathon Weekend Packet of Useful Info

 

[WillRunForPizza]

On the topic of this week's SAFD: a cost analysis of various gels/hydration mixes!

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Cheapest: Carbs Fuel ($0.04/gram of carbs)
Most expensive: Maurten ($0.138/g)