Marathon Weekend 2026

[RuntheMouse]

Last year, both races were unseasonably cold, as was marathon week. So if the trend holds, it's gonna be warm this year.

Shhhhhhh!

 

[Herding_Cats]

If I could order the weather, I'd love to have it be warmer-than-usual through Friday, and then it can cool off overnight/in the morning for Saturday and Sunday, but still get to the mid-70s in the afternoon. And then nice on Monday and Tuesday.

I don't want to fly all the way to Florida and then wear my winter coat and a hat all week again!

 

[The Expert]

As I sit here with the fire going and 24 degree weather outside, I'm still hoping for cold over warm. Last year's weather was just about perfection for me. I've never been so happy to be wearing that Merida wig, full leggings and FLANNEL than when it was in the 40s for the 5K! (I was dressed as cozy Merida from Ralph Breaks the Internet.)

 

[WDW 4 ME]

A few of us DISers put together a giant document with TONS of info on the races, where you can expect to be on the courses based on your start group and expected pace, when and where the meetups are, real bathrooms on the courses, what costumes everyone will be wearing, etc. It's handy to have all the info in one spot and to know who may end up around you in the corrals. (It's in part how @Herding_Cats and I connected before the Half at MW 2022 and we've ended up pretty much running every HM and marathon we've both done at WDW since.)

We'll post asking for info from those who want to participate in the next few weeks, then share the resulting PDF here the week before the races (ish). Timing depends on when rD releases the race weekend packet and how busy those of us who work on it are over the holidays.

You guys continue to amaze me!

 

[WDW 4 ME]

absolutely half-a$$ed my training for my first Marathon/Dopey last year. My longest run was 13.1 miles, on Thanksgiving, and my last run of any kind was about a month before race day and I didn't die or get injured

This is comforting! I went down the rhabdo rabbit hole this weekend and convinced myself I was going to get it since I haven’t been able to train the distance I want to with my ITBS.

 

[WDW 4 ME]

What better way to kick off December than start speculating about MW weather? LOL. We all know that it can change right up to day of the races, but always fun to start looking at the forecasts and seeing how it changes up to race day. This is what AccuWeather has as of right now:

Thursday, 1/8: High 75, low 57 - 60% chance of rain
Friday, 1/9: High 65, low 53 - 19% chance of rain
Saturday, 1/10: High 69, low 56 - 25% chance of rain
Sunday, 1/11: High 69, low 57 - 19% chance of rain

If these were to stay true, definitely would be ideal weather for me (minus the rain on Thursday).

I have been watching AccuWeather too! I really hope these early predictions are close to what we will have. Perfect!!!

 

[WDW 4 ME]

SAFD: looking forward to crossing the finish line of my first marathon! Also looking forward to hopefully meeting a few of you, and some quality time with my DH.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

I will have mini Coke cans for @Herding_Cats and @nancipants.

And for me please omg this is my dream. The last two years I’ve gotten the med tent around mile 21 to give me some Coke.

What does everyone else do?

This is not what I do, but from what I’ve observed: they drink.

 

[jpholic]

What better way to kick off December than start speculating about MW weather? LOL. We all know that it can change right up to day of the races, but always fun to start looking at the forecasts and seeing how it changes up to race day. This is what AccuWeather has as of right now:

Thursday, 1/8: High 75, low 57 - 60% chance of rain
Friday, 1/9: High 65, low 53 - 19% chance of rain
Saturday, 1/10: High 69, low 56 - 25% chance of rain
Sunday, 1/11: High 69, low 57 - 19% chance of rain

If these were to stay true, definitely would be ideal weather for me (minus the rain on Thursday).

Yassss! Half-tights and singlet weather please.

 

[Baloo in MI]

SAFD:
My parents are coming now so we have our daughters, a future SIL, and my folks going, really looking forward to the time with family. It is really rare to get a whole week with the people I love without the demands of the world on us, just play and run! Other things:

1) I absolutely love MW, the atmosphere, the people, the expo and the races. I just love it all.
2) Though I usually don’t get to HH, I do try to get to some of the pre-race meet ups and it is always nice to feel the support and community - you all are so great and friendly (even when I am just standing there quietly…)
3) We are trying a new resort - Old Key West, 2 BR Villa. Really looking forward to the extra space. Plus then I am clicking off one more DVC resort; got to get to all of them eventually!
4) Yummy foods - Boma I am looking at you! And fun rides!
5) Going after Dopey #10, I can’t even believe it! Plus my younger daughter and my SIL (other daughter’s) are going for their first Dopey’s. THey are both faster than me so I expect we will eventually split apart, but looking forward to teh shared experience until they leave the old man in the dust!
6) For the 10K my wife, both daughters and SIL are all doing it, so excited to for them to see Epcot in the dark with the torches blazing, all the lights and music. I think they are going to love it.

And simply it is another chance to feed my MW addiction!

 

[smileyanna]

SAFD:
Looking forward to sharing this weekend with a bunch of friends! We fundraised with a group and we are heading down to Orlando together (mostly for the half marathon but some for Goofy)!

Also looking forward to seeing folks again at the light pole before the races. I made it to two meetups last year and loved putting names and faces together!

 

[MissLiss279]

Didn't they also do something different with the backstage area in Epcot during W&D? Some re-routing? I can't remember since I didn't run it and didn't pay too much attention.

ALSO, do we know if the USATF certs for the 5k and 10k at W&D were labeled "season" or if they existed at all?

I just looked at the USATF site and it looks like the 10k is labeled ‘2025 runDisney 10k’.
It also looks like the measured a ‘runDisney 2025 10 Miler’ that was measured in September - so maybe for next year’s Springtime Surprise?? The actual maps don’t load on my phone, just the certificate part of it. Can anyone else see the maps?

https://certifiedroadraces.com/search/

 

[accm]

I just looked at the USATF site and it looks like the 10k is labeled ‘2025 runDisney 10k’.
It also looks like the measured a ‘runDisney 2025 10 Miler’ that was measured in September - so maybe for next year’s Springtime Surprise?? The actual maps don’t load on my phone, just the certificate part of it. Can anyone else see the maps?

https://certifiedroadraces.com/search/

crappy screenshot, but this is what the 10 miler course looks like:

 

[KCO5988]

Phew, we've been traveling since last Friday (the 21st) and just finally finished catching up on this thread!
Missed last week's SAFD but for this week, the thing I'm most excited for is just being back in the parks. I haven't been since Princess and I'm dying inside hahaha.

 

[cburnett11]

3) We are trying a new resort - Old Key West, 2 BR Villa. Really looking forward to the extra space. Plus then I am clicking off one more DVC resort; got to get to all of them eventually!

@Baloo in MI We did OKW 2 or 3 straight race weekends and it was super relaxing. If you are looking for a bunch of energy, it might be the wrong place because it is very laid back. There were a number of times midday when my wife and I were the only ones on the park buses. It seems like there is a decent percentage of resort guests that just hang out at OKW without running all around hitting every park. The quiet pools and hot tubs are nice. We really liked staying there.

 

[fatmanatee]

crappy screenshot, but this is what the 10 miler course looks like:
View attachment 1028512

This would be a change from prior years, for both Epcot and HS portions. I think it's driven more by the HS construction though, and as a result they have to adjust the last mile to get the total mileage right. This year's map as a comparison...

 

[accm]

SAFD:
1. Looking forward to seeing my friend I haven't seen in a while, and running her first Dopey with her!
2. Maybe getting over myself and making it to one of the dis meetups. My social anxiety always gets the best of me
3. Having a longer trip with my family, where we have more time to do the little things. My oldest is excited to go to a Pin Tuesday drop (I'm not as excited since that'll mean $$$)

 

[accm]

This would be a change from prior years, for both Epcot and HS portions. I think it's driven more by the HS construction though, and as a result they have to adjust the last mile to get the total mileage right. This year's map as a comparison...

View attachment 1028556

I didn't catch while looking at it yesterday, but the start is different/longer before you get to into the park. I wonder if we'll see that in the marathon course instead of more parking lot loops. Scratch that, that's how the marathon starts already.

I also just noticed that the new course runs under Spaceship Earth, which to me is a big win

 

[AK1994]

Slightly freaking out. I just completed my 23 mile run last Friday, and the last 5 miles I was battling IT band issues. I pushed it out to get the run done and I know, I should’ve just stopped. I started cold plunging everyday to recover, went on a walk on Sunday about 2 miles, and then tried running yesterday for 3 miles, about 2.5 miles in it flared right back up. I’ve done marathons before, but this will be my first dopey.My plan is to continue to cold plunge daily, leg exercises daily to strengthen the IT band and muscles around it. As well as changing my runs into walks. I still have 1 more run for 26 miles slotted for 12/19, but debating on changing that. I’m not looking for a great time, but just to be able to do all races within the time allotted.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Slightly freaking out. I just completed my 23 mile run last Friday, and the last 5 miles I was battling IT band issues. I pushed it out to get the run done and I know, I should’ve just stopped. I started cold plunging everyday to recover, went on a walk on Sunday about 2 miles, and then tried running yesterday for 3 miles, about 2.5 miles in it flared right back up. I’ve done marathons before, but this will be my first dopey.My plan is to continue to cold plunge daily, leg exercises daily to strengthen the IT band and muscles around it. As well as changing my runs into walks. I still have 1 more run for 26 miles slotted for 12/19, but debating on changing that. I’m not looking for a great time, but just to be able to do all races within the time allotted.

Get to the start line as healthy as possible. A 26mi run isn't going to do anything significantly beneficial for you from a physical training standpoint (I know Galloway includes them, but I feel that it's more about the mental training) but it could absolutely aggravate a known on-going issue.