Marathon Weekend 2026

[StarGirl11]

I just got an email from rD announcing the guide is out. There's a section at the bottom pushing pre-sale merch! I'm surprised it's still open, but maybe they got the stock in and realize they've over-ordered. It's only for the spirit jersey and unisex t-shirt.


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Also has the passholder there if your a passholder. Like nothing I wanted to preorder by the time I got a steady income unfortunately. Might have just put it on there regardless of how much was left?

Will someone who is smarter than me tell me if there are any on ramps post DAK? lol

Yeah should be noted the hill being reffed at 23 is the Fantasmic Hill. All my brain remembers from last year is swearing it looked near vertical (side effect of being on wheels probably). Cause I took one look at that and went 'No way am I getting up it without an assist'. Hopefully this next year will go better.

Its horrendos both ways for wheels. Going down in it tends to put us into crowds since they like to put a water stop there depending on the race. Going up is just stupidly steep.

I’m with you… so much road.. Going through the castle is worth it… but they could have done an effort through Epcot..

I like the 10k course better

Also mood on the road/sidewalk. I know we -fingers crossed- might get the Electrical Water Parade with the route again. But I absolutely hate the sharp turns around Grand Floridian. I'm faster and better at this now than last year. But that turn onto the sidewalk is not fun. There is a reason there are hay bales right there, and it's to make sure if one of our wheels is there and tips, we have a relatively soft landing.

I kinda look forward to the day when that construction is done.

 

[cburnett11]

It's my first time staying at Pop this year. What are the lines like? I'm not a first bus person, but I can be if I think I'll get stressed

Pop will have a ton of buses.

 

[Naomeri]

While I am asking random questions I have a second one to add. If I plan to be done with the marathon around 8:00-8:15 AM, and my family is staying at CBR without park hoppers, whats their best options for getting to the finish line? Should they take a park bus to epcot or will the marathon buses allow them on to the finish line? How early should they leave to get to the finish line in time? 7:00 AM? I think Epcot opens officially at 10 AM marathon morning so the buses probably wont start running till after 8 AM. So surely they will have a resort to finish line bus running later in the morning for families and not make them wake up at 2 AM and sit around the finish line area in the dark... Worse case they just see me at the International Gateway via the skyliner or at the boardwalk but not make the finish...

They should be able to hop on one of the buses dropping finishers at the resort--my grandma took one from Music to see me finish the 10 miler at Springtime. I'd say 7 is a good time for them to try to get on a bus so they have time to get there and walk to the finish area.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Re: rundisney pushing pre-order merch. Maybe there was more yesterday, but as of this morning all that's available is the spirit jersey and the passholder bundle. And I'm wondering if they have "extra" spirit jerseys because they cancelled the original pre-orders when they changed the design.

 

[FFigawi]

I looked at this chart forever trying to interpret it. LOL. Now I do not know if I should go the bus or monorail route.

Monorail. Always take the monorail. It’s faster, less crowded, and if you go through security up front, it’s easier than the general line at the race area.

 

[rick1zoo2]

Monorail. Always take the monorail. It’s faster, less crowded, and if you go through security up front, it’s easier than the general line at the race area.

Staying at the Polynesian, it is a bit quicker to walk to the TTC to catch the EPCOT monorail directly, instead of taking the resort monorail loop first.

 

[The Expert]

I have posted the call for entries into the DIS LIST (aka the Awesome Amazing Spreadsheet) for MW 2026 over here in this thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/dis-list-aka-the-awesome-amazing-spreadsheet-for-mw-2026.3976131/

Participation is optional. We'll post the final docs here and over there closer to the race and everyone will have access regardless of whether you submit your info. It's HAPPENING!!!

 

[garneska]

I have posted the call for entries into the DIS LIST (aka the Awesome Amazing Spreadsheet) for MW 2026 over here in this thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/dis-list-aka-the-awesome-amazing-spreadsheet-for-mw-2026.3976131/

Participation is optional. We'll post the final docs here and over there closer to the race and everyone will have access regardless of whether you submit your info. It's HAPPENING!!!

Does this mean it is time to start the weather conversations?

 

[The Expert]

Does this mean it is time to start the weather conversations?

Oh those already started last weekend. Did you miss it?

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

For those who have been wondering what to bring for MW, here is the beginning of my list:

1. Shoes:
   • Half marathon shoes
   • Marathon pair of shoes
   • Shoes for the resort
   • Walking around the park shoes
   • Shoes I’m going to drive or fly in
   • Spare pair of shoes, just in case
2. A dozen pair of ankle socks
3. Toe socks for the races
4. ~12 pair of running shorts
5. Cool shirts from prior races to wear to the expo to show what kind of street cred you have
6. Other past Disney race shirts to wear to the parks
7. First aid and blister prevention
8. Toiletries
9. Race fuel
   • Stinger waffles
   • Gu
   • Tailwind
   • Untapped
10. Protein bars and food for in the room at the resort
11. Sunglasses and sunscreen
12. Race costume (if applicable)
13. Toss away items for in the corral
14. Pipe cleaners to tie around the moving parts of the Disney medals so that they do not clank and rattle as you wear them in the park
15. Earplugs for sleeping and in the corrals
16. A few $20 bills, just in case
17. New credit card with a large debt ceiling for incidentals in the parks

Mostly, just back the car up to the front door and start throwing stuff in the trunk....

 

[dobball23]

Does this mean it is time to start the weather conversations?

We're going down to Florida (from PA) on Dec. 21 and staying through Marathon Weekend. My looking at the weather has already begun, especially after the run in 8 degrees this morning.

 

[sandam1]

For those who have been wondering what to bring for MW, here is the beginning of my list:

I just got back from a vacation that included running a race (Space Coast) and here were some of the things in my suitcase:

- Biofreeze
- Body glide
- Squirrel nut butter and Happy Toes
- TENS unit
- Rain ponchos, thermal poncho and space blankets
- Thin gloves
- Arm sleeves
- Hat (great for rain and sun)

Right now everything is dumped on a table, but my plan for this weekend is to refill and repack the things that I'm not likely to use between now and Marathon Weekend. A lot of the other supplies live in one drawer in my nightstand so it's relatively simple to pull them out in a month when I'm packing.

It's hard to believe how close this is getting!

 

[rick1zoo2]

Because of the cold today, we ran on the indoor track - 45 laps, which I believe equates to about 6.5 miles. GPS does not work in the building, it's a standard college track, the inside lane is 200 meters, we calculated that running on the outside lane 6 is about 7 laps per mile. I turn around every mile or so to undo balance the turning left effect.

Looks like tomorrow will be in the 30's so that will be much better.

As far as packing - we have a Disney trip in between that we need to prepare for first! But we are planning a few runs there, so still need to pack running stuff.

 

[The Expert]

Cool shirts from prior races to wear to the expo to show what kind of street cred you have

VERY important!

 

[FFigawi]

Staying at the Polynesian, it is a bit quicker to walk to the TTC to catch the EPCOT monorail directly, instead of taking the resort monorail loop first.

Absolutely! That’s the best part of staying there, aside from Trader Sam's of course.

Also, on the packing side, shirts from previous MW races make great layers to ditch after the first few miles, as do any yellow ones received as part of the current race bundle.

 

[sandam1]

Oh, and two more packing things that you might not think about:

1. If you have trouble sleeping in a hotel room, bring your own pillowcase. I read this tip someplace and trying it was a game changer for me.

2. If you run hot when you sleep (and maybe your travel companions don't), a small battery operated fan on the nightstand is an amazing thing. I have one that is about half of an inch thick (so super easy to pack) that I got for under $10.

 

[Herding_Cats]

We always fly down, but if the forecast looks wet and we have space in the luggage, I’ve been known to bring a shoe dryer

I like to pack my costumes into a gallon ziploc bag so I’m not rooting around my suitcase looking for some accessory the night before/morning-of.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

As far as packing - we have a Disney trip in between that we need to prepare for first! But we are planning a few runs there, so still need to pack running stuff.

A Disney trip as a pre-Disney trip?


>>Also, on the packing side, shirts from previous MW races make great layers to ditch after the first few miles, as do any yellow ones received as part of the current race bundle.

Toss my prior race shirts?!!! Prior rD shirts are the ones I wear almost daily in warmer weather for my local street cred....

 

[pluto377]

Cool shirts from prior races to wear to the expo to show what kind of street cred you have

This made me laugh so hard! It's so true!

 

[WDW 4 ME]

Biofreeze
- Body glide
- Squirrel nut butter and Happy Toes

Tell me about Happy Toes. Can you not just use the nut butter on your feet as well?

Also, general pain relief cream question. Does everyone prefer Biofreeze? I’ve used it but honestly can’t tell a difference with pain relief while I’m running. When I’m standing still, I get the cooling feeling. I have heard good things about mons pura cbd roll on but it’s $40!!