Marathon Weekend 2026

[WDW 4 ME]

SAFD: I’m scared to be cold but I run hot. So I tend to always be ill prepared. Gloves are a must in the cold, even if I still have shorts and tank on. I hate the sensation of sweating in cold weather so do try to keep layers to a minimum. I have an issue with wind giving me earaches and major sinus headaches/bleeding nose, etc. So I am that person who will have cotton in my ears to block the wind. I gave up caring about what this says about me a long time ago!

 

[Zutroy]

SAFD: I’m scared to be cold but I run hot. So I tend to always be ill prepared. Gloves are a must in the cold, even if I still have shorts and tank on. I hate the sensation of sweating in cold weather so do try to keep layers to a minimum. I have an issue with wind giving me earaches and major sinus headaches/bleeding nose, etc. So I am that person who will have cotton in my ears to block the wind. I gave up caring about what this says about me a long time ago!

You should look into merino wool for cold weather gear. It regulates temperature so you’re never too hot or cold by insulating you while also wicking away sweat and being breathable. I’ll wear either the Tracksmith Harrier shirts or Brighton base layers if the weather is 40s or below, and they keep me the perfect temperature. The shape of wool fibers traps heat close to your body (keeping you warm) and absorbs moisture which evaporates (keeping you cool). This is the opposite of cotton, which loses its insulation ability once it gets wet. There’s an old hiking saying that “cotton kills” because it can lead to hypothermia if you get wet in the back country.

 

[scrowl]

You should look into merino wool for cold weather gear. It regulates temperature so you’re never too hot or cold by insulating you while also wicking away sweat and being breathable. I’ll wear either the Tracksmith Harrier shirts or Brighton base layers if the weather is 40s or below, and they keep me the perfect temperature. The shape of wool fibers traps heat close to your body (keeping you warm) and absorbs moisture which evaporates (keeping you cool). This is the opposite of cotton, which loses its insulation ability once it gets wet. There’s an old hiking saying that “cotton kills” because it can lead to hypothermia if you get wet in the back country.

I second the wool suggestion and just ordered another Brighton base layer last night! I don't think I can keep washing the one I have with the multiple-day Dopey training

My go-to for determining what to wear is dressmyrun.com. I used to always doubt what it recommended in colder temps (below 50), but it seems to be pretty spot on for me!

 

[PrincessV]

Thirding the wool suggestion. It’s too warm for most of my runs in FL, but I have a SmartWool jacket that is superb when the temp drops below 50 - even if it gets damp it keeps my temp just right. I only wear merino wool socks year round, even when it’s 100°.

 

[The Expert]

I live in Vermont and am outside a lot in all kinds of weather. The key to staying warm, dry and comfortable is thin layers that fit close but not too tight. You want a breathable, non-cotton fabric against your skin that will wick sweat but dry fast. Smart wool or even a silk blend is great for a base layer. Add something lofty over that (like fleece or a heavier wool) and a water/wind resistant layer on top if it's super cold or you're likely to encounter wind, rain or snow. I like to look for zippers, buttons and openings on the top and middle layers to allow for venting and airflow when you need it but don't want to strip anything off.

Add something for your ears, head, feet, and hands (mittens are warmer than gloves) as needed, and voila!

 

[Zutroy]

I second the wool suggestion and just ordered another Brighton base layer last night! I don't think I can keep washing the one I have with the multiple-day Dopey training

One of the main benefits of wool is that it is naturally antimicrobial, so you can wear it multiple times without washing it. I sweat pretty heavily, and once it dries, my clothes get pretty stinky. When wearing merino wool, I’ve soaked a shirt with sweat and then wore it the next day without an issue. It’s my go-to travel shirt now because I’m not toting a bunch of smelly workout clothes around.

The only thing to be aware of is merino wool takes a little more care when washing. Hand washing in cold water is recommended (yeah right), but I’ve found the gentle cycle on low temps is fine. Just make sure to lay flat to dry and not put it in the dryer.

 

[radiodome21]

SAFD: Great question as I have been trying to figure out how to continue running in this Chicago winter. Last year, when I was training for the SS 10k it was primarily treadmill runs. I think I went a solid 3 months without running outdoors. Not going to do that this year.

I have a pair of Vuori joggers I bought during the pandemic when they were on sale and they’re great because they’re windproof. I might just wear those over my half tights I use now. I also bought a pair of lululemon surge running tights but the jury is still out on them, as I definitely found myself chafing with them and every other pair of full running tights I’ve tried. However I’m hoping my chafing sticks can help with that. I’m a huge merino wool fan so I’m planning on looking at some Smartwool mid layers and a hat and gloves to update my current cotton cheapo options. I’m also going to use the Brooks long sleeve runDisney shirts I just picked up at the Food & Wine run this weekend for base layers too. Why we got long sleeves this weekend is another question for another day but they’ll be put to good use. I’m thinking my current shoe set up will remain unchanged even though they’re not “winterized”. Either way looking forward to seeing what everyone else does.

 

[Erika10021]

SAFD:

When it’s cold, layering two of those long sleeve rundisney jerseys is my secret weapon. I’ll wear something over them if it’s really cold (30ish) but the two long sleeve shirts are perfect for once I’m done with my warm up run.

Gloves, gator and wool socks finish the look.

 

[matt and beth]

SAFD: It someone depends on the run I'm doing. I HATE being cold so if I'm just heading out for an easy run or if the race is not a goal race, I'd rather end up getting a bit too warm than being freezing to start. If it's a goal race or a hard workout, then it's the opposite and I'm going tank and shorts down to probably 45 degrees. Would likely add arm warmers that I can roll down to around my wrists when I don't need them anymore, they make good sweat wipers and tissues.. yes I'm that gross girl blowing her nose on her sleeves because she's incapable of blowing a snot rocket (which is arguably equally gross - so everyone's just gross )

Just at Wine and Dine I saw a girl use her shirt to blow her nose. I was in my own world initially and then thought, “Did I just see that?”, then I just shrugged and thought “to each their own. Gotta do what you gotta do!”

 

[KCO5988]

Just at Wine and Dine I saw a girl use her shirt to blow her nose. I was in my own world initially and then thought, “Did I just see that?”, then I just shrugged and thought “to each their own. Gotta do what you gotta do!”

If I had been at wine and dine I would have asked you what she was wearing and assumed it was me

 

[Herding_Cats]

@Disney at Heart do you have a link for those handy glow bracelets you use when you run, or is it just a rechargeable LED bracelet?

 

[frozengirl]

I always start out with a robe or sweatshirt and lose it right away because I run hot. But when finished with a long run, I get the chills after 5 minutes. I have learned to check in a sweatshirt with the bag drop because it takes so long to get out of a Disney run and those foil blankets do not warm me enough!

The weather has turned here so I am freezing in the morning in shorts. I have tried every pant from Lululemon and am not a fan. I just round the Rainier tight from Athlete and ran 13 miles in it last weekend. They are amazing!

 

[accm]

Does anyone have a screenshot of what the trackshack live tracking looks like for race weekend? I'm making a spreadsheet to track the time between my friend and I and the balloons. I'm not sure if the live tracking gives you the time of day or chip time at each of the tracked splits

 

[Zutroy]

Does anyone have a screenshot of what the trackshack live tracking looks like for race weekend? I'm making a spreadsheet to track the time between my friend and I and the balloons. I'm not sure if the live tracking gives you the time of day or chip time at each of the tracked splits

It’s not live tracking—it estimates where you are on the course based on your splits. It’s a line that shows what distance it thinks you should be at, with an estimated finish time. It also shows your 5k, 10k, 15k, etc. time when you cross the mats. I was waiting for someone at W&D who had negative splits, so they finished before the “live” tracking said they would. But if you’re following the balloon ladies, they should have a consistent pace.

 

[accm]

It also shows your 5k, 10k, 15k, etc. time when you cross the mats.

Sorry, I didn't explain very well. I'm wondering about what it shows when you cross the timing mats. Is it your race time or time of day? And where are the timing mats? The results show 5 miles, 10 miles, half, and 20 miles. Is that the same for the live tracking?

 

[rick1zoo2]

Sorry, I didn't explain very well. I'm wondering about what it shows when you cross the timing mats. Is it your race time or time of day? And where are the timing mats? The results show 5 miles, 10 miles, half, and 20 miles. Is that the same for the live tracking?

This is my final from the Wine & Dine half. It does show both race time and time of day. And I remember it’s similar live, I was tracking four of us:

 

[sandam1]

Does anyone have a screenshot of what the trackshack live tracking looks like for race weekend?

The best person to consult about tracking the balloon ladies is @DopeyBadger . He did an incredibly impressive job of tracking them and updating us runners on their progress during last year's Marathon Weekend. There is also an alert on the Telegram app called (runDisBalloons, bought to you be the same person that set up the race open alerts) that you can subscribe to and it will send you automatic notifications about their progress.

Some people also recommend tracking the last pace group (only for the half and full). They try to stay about 1:30 ahead of the balloon ladies.

 

[accm]

That's super helpful, thank you! I'll also try to reach out to @DopeyBadger since he's so good with spreadsheets/trackers, to see if he has any additional tips. This is kind of what I was thinking of, with one of our husbands updating the times for us, and anything in the future being calculated using our actual average pace. I might also make a secondary one with every mile marker that I can try to update while we're running