Marathon Weekend 2026

[The Expert]

They've been announcing the full schedule in January lately.

Another reason I still think we'll see a realignment of the rD season to match the calendar year. They changed the Club membership to that last year, since it was super confusing. And it makes sense to start off your race year with the biggest event.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Replies to recent topics....

• Route: Having missed MW 2025, this will be my first time with the new reverse routes. Not looking forward to it because, well, change from what I know. OTOH, I'll follow the crowd and finish. Nice thing about mid-pack is not getting lost, saying that after having missed a turn in a half last week. Oops....
• IT band and 20+ miles: No way that you need to push the 20+ miles to complete the training plan, especially if you are having any sort of joint or pain issue. At this point, the hay is in the barn (to use an expression I like), and as others have noted, you've done most of the distance. Continuing to aggravate the IT band is diminishing returns. If it were me, I'd take 3 or 4 days off to let it recover (saying that as someone who hates taking days off to recover) and stick to 5 to 10 mile runs between now and MW just to stay race ready. Also, unless you are trying to use your MW weekend races for a POT, you'll be stopping for character and castle photos, something you won't be doing on your training runs. Those in-race breaks count for a lot in terms of not needing to run full distance in training. And I'll echo what others have said about do what works best for you. If I were to run hard for the 5 and 10K, it would definitely negatively impact my half and full. My state of fitness is that for a Dopey it is walk (stroll) the 5K, jog the 10K, RWR the half and the full. I will agree that only walking the 3 longer races will set you up for soreness and issues, so definitely break up the walking with some jogging or running. I learned that lesson the hard way. IMHO, save the hard training for a race where you are after a PR or POT.
• Meetups: I circled Hurricane Hannahs for at least 15 minutes the first time trying to figure out which was our group and then to approach the group and start talking. I also circled the light pole the first time and didn't talk to anyone because I didn't realize that was our group. Someone started bringing signs, which has helped. As someone else has said, you are a stranger only for the first minute. Once I introduced myself and others did, and I matched screen names with IRL faces, then it was talking to friends, so absolutely walk up and say hi. We will be glad to see you!

 

[dobball23]

Meetups: I circled Hurricane Hannahs for at least 15 minutes the first time trying to figure out which was our group and then to approach the group and start talking.

I did the same thing my first (and only) time! I stood there on the path trying to ID if it was the DisBoards group. Luckily, when I approached, I was right!

 

[rick1zoo2]

Getting in the miles in all kinds of weather:




The paths/road in the park were mostly cleared up from yesterdays storm although we had to avoid one area that had ice. We were going to run on the indoor track today but saw it will be even colder on Friday. We try not to go indoors unless weather is really bad.

 

[The Expert]

Meetups: I circled Hurricane Hannahs for at least 15 minutes the first time trying to figure out which was our group and then to approach the group and start talking. I also circled the light pole the first time and didn't talk to anyone because I didn't realize that was our group. Someone started bringing signs, which has helped. As someone else has said, you are a stranger only for the first minute. Once I introduced myself and others did, and I matched screen names with IRL faces, then it was talking to friends, so absolutely walk up and say hi. We will be glad to see you!

I also circled, then joined the WRONG group! We had common enough language and topics that I didn't actually realize it until I came back here later that day. d'oh! It was still a lovely conversation, and continues to provide a good laugh a few years later. The next day I was looking for specific costumes and found the right people, so no harm done.

 

[Naomeri]

I got lucky with my first runDisney weekend: DopeyBadger was there and he was very recognizable, even to someone who might fail to recognize their own mother in a crowd

 

[BradleyCB]

Just received my Club runDisney early expo access! I am so excited for this benefit after seeing the run on Dopey items last year. I cannot wait for marathon week/weekend!

 

[WDW 4 ME]

I was battling IT band issues

Ugh! I’m so sorry. We need to start an IT band club, as there are a few of us on here currently battling this!

 

[WDW 4 ME]

Not a running topic but still relative as it is for race week…any book lovers out there? I’m doing my trip shopping and trying to decide on a good book to bring. Something to distract me but nothing that takes too much digesting and thought, as I fear I won’t have much focus! Any good recommendations?!

 

[jillinastoria]

Book editor here! What genre do you generally like?

If you like to read about running, I personally edited Des Linden’s Choosing to Run, and I suspect many people posting here would like it!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Not a running topic but still relative as it is for race week…any book lovers out there? I’m doing my trip shopping and trying to decide on a good book to bring. Something to distract me but nothing that takes too much digesting and thought, as I fear I won’t have much focus! Any good recommendations?!

I read a bunch (plus write for a magazine now) and always looking for new reading fodder.
In recent years it has been Tom Clancy and Jack Reacher type books, but also a couple of the Galloway books. And when they were first out, I tore through the Harry Potter books. Picked up the first one to see what all the hullabaloo was about and found that I really liked them.
I'm thinking this needs to be a separate thread. I'll see if I can start that.

 

[Herding_Cats]

On the note about books, if you have Spotify premium, there are quite a few audiobooks available included with your subscription. Kara Goucher’s book is one of the first I listened to.

 

[KCO5988]

Book editor here! What genre do you generally like?

If you like to read about running, I personally edited Des Linden’s Choosing to Run, and I suspect many people posting here would like it!

I LOVE her book! I have watched the coverage from her Boston win too many times to admit and tear up every time

 

[scrowl]

I LOVE her book! I have watched the coverage from her Boston win too many times to admit and tear up every time

I love the references to both Kara and Des! I just got my Spotify summary this morning and it showed their podcast as one of my most listened to, along with Fuel for the Sole! My kids thought it was funny that it said my listening age is 67

 

[KCO5988]

I love the references to both Kara and Des! I just got my Spotify summary this morning and it showed their podcast as one of my most listened to, along with Fuel for the Sole! My kids thought it was funny that it said my listening age is 67

Fuel for the Sole is favorite! Love listening to it on easy runs.

 

[lukemorenus]

I see the expo website is live... patiently awaiting the course maps, LOL

 

[Herding_Cats]

I see the expo website is live... patiently awaiting the course maps, LOL

i've been keeping an eye on that as well. it was still on W&D yesterday, and is on the password screen today, so maybe we'll get it next week? probably wishful thinking that it'll be that soon.

 

[SheHulk]

I see the expo website is live... patiently awaiting the course maps, LOL

i've been keeping an eye on that as well. it was still on W&D yesterday, and is on the password screen today, so maybe we'll get it next week? probably wishful thinking that it'll be that soon.

Haha glad to see I'm not the only one... I don't check it regularly but I do have it in my bookmarks so I just randomly checked for the first time this season yesterday and saw it was updated to MW but with a password protect. Didn't realize that had just happened so recently.