Marathon Weekend 2026

[The Expert]

SAFD: I really just started training a few weeks ago, but I'm "only" doing the first three races. I have a decent base and have really focused on Pilates and strength training for the last several months. At the W&D 5K I stuck to my intervals and pushed a bit on the runs, which felt super strong, so I'm getting a bit cocky and considering diving into a serious training plan and maybe even finding a coach for Chicago after recovering from MW and PW at Disney!

DW and I are headed to Scotland to celebrate our 20th anniversary

Scotland is AMAZING! Happy anniversary and have a great trip.

If I don’t see a big improvement in the next couple of weeks I will start to seriously consider contacting Rundisney about a refund/GC as I’m not interested in making it way worse and DNF’ing the half or full.

Well that just sucks, but I'm glad you're being smart about it. I hope you get to make the trip, but if not I will hold out hope for Princess!

 

[JackosinDIS]

SAFD: I’m following my Runna plan quite strictly and hitting the paces and distances it’s telling me to do, although I’m still not sure I can do it over the full 10k distance! Starting to enjoy it though even though we only have 9 hours of daylight at the moment so struggling to fit everything in around work. Getting close now though and I’m getting excited

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: Training is good. We were supposed to do 20 miles this weekend, but after doing ATL 10 miler, and W&D 5k, 10K, and half over the last two weekends, we needed some recovery time, so we decided to do a usual 6.5 miles Saturday and make adjustments to the plan.

@Herding_Cats Prayers for quick healing. MW and DATW wouldn’t be the same without you and DH!!

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: I'm not doing MW, but I am doing Princess, so I need to at least think about doing training or something. I'm not naive enough to think I can keep pulling off pretty decent races without at least doing some half-a**ed training at some point

I've got a 15K next Saturday, and a Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving. I've been managing to at least do a little (and I mean a very little--30 minutes or less) on the treadmill in my office building on occasion, but that's about it. Regardless, The Loony Challenge went really well at the beginning of October, my 10 miler time was only 4 minutes slower than last year, and last year was my ideal weather and I only did the 10 miler, not Loony.

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: I'm not doing MW, but I am doing Princess, so I need to at least think about doing training or something. I'm not naive enough to think I can keep pulling off pretty decent races without at least doing some half-a**ed training at some point

I've got a 15K next Saturday, and a Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving. I've been managing to at least do a little (and I mean a very little--30 minutes or less) on the treadmill in my office building on occasion, but that's about it. Regardless, The Loony Challenge went really well at the beginning of October, my 10 miler time was only 4 minutes slower than last year, and last year was my ideal weather and I only did the 10 miler, not Loony.

Oh, to be young and able to pull off races with little training! And we will miss you, too, at MW!

 

[jpholic]

SAFD: Training has been going well. I have had a lot on my plate running wise and it's all self inflicted. A case of the FOMO. Five half marathons in the past two months, a fair amount of 10k's, and track work. The 20 mile runs and simulation are hitting soon and it's getting cold... yay, but feeling really good about Dopey. I originally I had goals going into MW for POT needs but I hit all those with W&D and DL Halloween Half so the pressure is off. New goal is to have fun!!

 

[nancipants]

SAFD: Training is going well. I’m doing runs to gear me up for the marathon, but shifting focus to improve speed for half marathons. My big goal is a proof of time (2:30), which I’m going to attempt at the Donna half marathon on February 1. I know I’ll have the endurance for it!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Well that just sucks, but I'm glad you're being smart about it. I hope you get to make the trip, but if not I will hold out hope for Princess!

Prayers for quick healing. MW and DATW wouldn’t be the same without you and DH!!

Oh we’ll still be there! No worries about that! Just starting to doubt the fitness for the hm and m at this point. I haaaate our spin bike (it’s soooo uncomfortable) and walking seems to irritate things too, just not as quickly as running.

 

[AZMermaid]

My training hit a major roadblock a month ago with some tendonitis in my ankle. It still hurts in the mornings but II’ve been back at it about a week or so again. I did my first longer run of 7miles today. My legs were dead at 5.5 but the ankle held up. I’m still nervous about being trained enough but also feeling much better about it. I have a plan to get me to 16-18 miles and if I can get there…. I think I’ll be good based on all your encouragement!

 

[pluto377]

SAFD- not going well. I mentioned in one of these threads I’m recovering from pneumonia. Was feeling good earlier this week so I went for a walk on Wednesday. On Thursday I got a uti. On Friday I seemed to have pneumonia relapse with burning chest and so much coughing. Today it seems I’m not responding to the antibiotics after all as my uti symptoms are back. As soon as I’m able I will start training again but I’m very doubtful at this point that I’ll be able to finish the marathon.

 

[Dopey 2020]

SAFD training never really stops, at the moment I feel pretty good. The usual I’m getting old aches and pains but ready to ramp up the mileage and feeling confident for MW

 

[Grabnar]

SAFD:
I’ve never felt less prepared. Achilles tendinitis (in both legs, though significantly worse in one) means my PT has requested that I don’t run during my first few weeks of treatment. Even walking around at XC meets for my kids has made things sore. If I don’t see a big improvement in the next couple of weeks I will start to seriously consider contacting Rundisney about a refund/GC as I’m not interested in making it way worse and DNF’ing the half or full.

My PT has me doing this range-of-motion test and something in my hips/hip flexors is super tight and not allowing me to move the way I’m supposed to in my hips. It’s all annoying and worrisome as basketball season is imminent (DH has games tomorrow.)

Sorry to hear that, similar boat here with my hip. I've been able to ride my exercise bike without aggravating everything at least but it's not the same at all. I did W&D and walked the whole thing which killed my knee keeping pace, so I'm really worried about MW.

Signed up for a local HM in Feb that I'm much more optimistic about at this point.

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

SAFD: I haven’t been training regularly lately. I was in a good rotation of strength work, yoga, with some running until we went to Boston for DS27’s wedding about three weeks ago. Since then, I haven’t done much—just a workout here and there. I do usually wear a 15 lb weight vest when I walk the dog each day, and I was dismissed from PT recently (but told to keep doing the exercises). I’m doing the half for MW and for PW, so I just need to get into an actual training schedule, which I plan to start tomorrow. That gives me 10 weeks, so I should be okay as long as I actually follow my plan. I don’t have a time goal at this point, but would like to feel strong and prepared.

DH is doing the Space Coast Marathon again this year, so he’s on week 12 of that plan, and hasn’t missed a workout yet! He will then go into maintenance between that race and MW, so he’s in great shape.

 

[matt and beth]

SAFD:
I’ve never felt less prepared. Achilles tendinitis (in both legs, though significantly worse in one) means my PT has requested that I don’t run during my first few weeks of treatment. Even walking around at XC meets for my kids has made things sore. If I don’t see a big improvement in the next couple of weeks I will start to seriously consider contacting Rundisney about a refund/GC as I’m not interested in making it way worse and DNF’ing the half or full.

My PT has me doing this range-of-motion test and something in my hips/hip flexors is super tight and not allowing me to move the way I’m supposed to in my hips. It’s all annoying and worrisome as basketball season is imminent (DH has games tomorrow.)

Seriously try the Strasburg sock. Stupid looking and awkward but they 100% work.
https://www.amazon.com/Strassburg-Sock-White-Regular-around/dp/B00JB2UDTQ

 

[sandam1]

SAFD - I'm "just" doing the 10K and half marathon this year and, up until the past two weekends, I wasn't sure where I was. Due to some physical issues and some motivation issues, I've been wildly inconsistent with my runs. I've been getting the long runs in, but I wasn't sure that it was enough.

But I did a 10K last weekend and a half marathon today and both went surprisingly well. Technically, right now I'm training for the Space Coast half marathon, but the plan for that is "party at the back" so I think I'm on track for MW.

 

[radiodome21]

SAFD: I’m not technically doing a runDisney event until the 2026 SS 10k. But I’m always trying to get into a race when my runDisney alerts pop up. It worked for the HF last weekend. Next race is a Turkey Trot on thanksgiving morning and maybe the Chicago Shamrock shuffle in March.

As for training I too have been dealing with an Achilles issue that seemed to get worse after the HF a week ago. Blisters on my toes didn’t do me any favors either. I went to the gym on Tuesday morning just to do a recovery walk on the treadmill and I quit after 6 minutes. So I took the whole week off. It’s getting better and I’m going to try and resume my maintenance runs tomorrow or Tuesday. I picked up a running vest and matching base layer this weekend on sale that I’d like to start using this winter

 

[WDW 4 ME]

Monday is DATW at Epcot. We walk and sit. It’s great for recovery.

DATW??

 

[WDW 4 ME]

SAFD:
I’ve never felt less prepared. Achilles tendinitis (in both legs, though significantly worse in one) means my PT has requested that I don’t run during my first few weeks of treatment. Even walking around at XC meets for my kids has made things sore. If I don’t see a big improvement in the next couple of weeks I will start to seriously consider contacting Rundisney about a refund/GC as I’m not interested in making it way worse and DNF’ing the half or full.

My PT has me doing this range-of-motion test and something in my hips/hip flexors is super tight and not allowing me to move the way I’m supposed to in my hips. It’s all annoying and worrisome as basketball season is imminent (DH has games tomorrow.)

Oh no! So sorry to hear this! So frustrating to have the desire but be held back because of injury. Sending positive vibes and healing wishes your way!

 

[WDW 4 ME]

SAFD- not going well. I mentioned in one of these threads I’m recovering from pneumonia. Was feeling good earlier this week so I went for a walk on Wednesday. On Thursday I got a uti. On Friday I seemed to have pneumonia relapse with burning chest and so much coughing. Today it seems I’m not responding to the antibiotics after all as my uti symptoms are back. As soon as I’m able I will start training again but I’m very doubtful at this point that I’ll be able to finish the marathon.

That sounds terrible! Hope you feel better soon

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: I have also been dealing with some ankle tendonitis which put me a little behind on training but it's been (mostly) feeling better and I am back on track with a 14 miler last weekend.
I haven't been getting in all the weekly miles I would like, but I am doing a lot of cross training stuff (swim, bike, strength training).
I'm just SO slow these days - I run a good minute+ slower per mile than I did even just a few years ago. I blame it on getting older and struggling with a lot of injuries over the past year and a half, but I just try to be grateful to be able to run at all because I know there are many who can't.