Marathon Weekend 2027

[radiodome21]

SAFD: I hated running when I was younger. During Covid, however, I took up running because my gym was closed. Each day had its own 5k route and somehow I was the thinnest I had been in years. Flash forward to 2024. We had just returned from a wonderful European vacation and I couldn’t help notice I looked a little heavier. So I saw an ad for the SS 10k and I figured I should challenge myself because my current fitness plan at the time wasn’t working. Plus I’d never run longer than a 5k. At the end of the year my blood work came back from my physical and all my numbers were bad. So I really took the SS to heart. And loved it. Did I run a good race? Not really but I finished. After the race I kept thinking about how much I loved that runDisney race. And regretted not getting into running when I was younger.

After the SS I ran a 10 miler at Solider Field and then a month later I got into the Wine & Dine HF. I started with the Galloway Method (120/30) and still do it in my longer runs but I have progressed significantly. I ran this years SS 10k straight through this year and rewarded myself with a beer at the end. The SS ignited the spark and I love running. I did another HF the day before Easter along Lake Michigan. It was cold and rainy and but there wasn’t a place I’d rather be at the time. My blood work has returned to normal levels and I’ve lost weight since I started running. I’m still fat but I’m probably in the best cardiovascular health I’ve ever been in.

 

[matt and beth]

SAFD:
Running because…
1. I gained way too much weight during my wife’s first pregnancy. Tried to keep up at the table

2. My father died with persistent heart problems at 63.

3. With our son’s brain tumor, running was my path to release a LOT frustrating negative thoughts.

4. Running continues to be a release of cortisone and high anxiety in a very intense job.

5. My daughter loves Disney and running WDW weekend. How could I possibly let her down?

I want to enjoy some retirement as a healthy individual if at all possible

 

[Naomeri]

I keep running because I don't want to go back to that old me and I find it helps immensely with my mental state. I've let some control slip here lately, so I need to rededicate and get things back under control.

This is exactly where I'm at right now. I know that running regularly will "fix" my brain (so to speak) but the chaos keeps trying to take over my life.

 

[Psymonds]

For the record, this was a great SAFD topic. I've really enjoyed reading everyone's answers, especially if you opened up and shared what you were comfortable with.

I'm happy to see so many posts with 10-15 likes.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

SAFD: The DW wanted to go to a baseball game, and we did, with DD2 driving up from college to surprise her at the game. Got home and with the cooler temps I took my self for a run while the DW napped. Things were feeling pretty good so a nominal 3.5 or 4 mile run stretched to 5 miles at a 10:48 pace. Sweet!

I run both for fitness and the overall feeling of wellness from the regular exercise. I ran off and on since junior HS, but nothing serious. For years I did the Peachtree Road Race after coming in to work one July 5th and hearing my coworkers just buzzing about the prior day's race. Signed up for it and did my first 10K July 4,1993; ran it semi-regularly for years. The ex and I used to go to WDW regularly and I had mentioned how cool it would be to run there, and then found out there were races through the parks! (I think from being there on a race weekend). Trained for my first half and ran it at WDW in 2009, returned two years later for a Goofy and my first full marathon. With each new race distance, I was venturing into territory that I thought was for other people, not me. The feeling after finishing my first marathon? I can do anything!

Two years later, I learn about the Dopey, and that became my next hill to conquer, but I still had years before I was able to make that happen.
After several weeks of 10-hour days when Covid hit, I decided I needed some activity and started pushing back from my desk (at home) each afternoon to go walk. Walks became jogs became runs, with Dopey always whispering in the back of my head. It became clear that work, life, visitation with my kids would all line up in 2022 so I signed up for the Dopey and stepped up my training. Joined this forum and was very thankful for all the useful information that I needed for what to expect. Came down, did costumes, did my first HH meet-up, had a blast, and the rD addiction began.

I keep running for my health, weight control, and because it makes me feel good. Running is a natural anti-depressant, and I find it good for my mental health. Work/life can be making for a very bad day, but going out and running seems to diminish it, and I feel better afterward. Plus as the weight slowly comes down and the muscle tone goes up, I feel better overall, staring with getting out of bed in the morning. I just turned 60, and my peers at church and from HS are amazed that I'm doing this. I tell them that I'll do it until the day I can't, but today isn't that day.

To echo what others have said, I watched my dad decline sharply after a couple of years of sitting in a recliner during covid. And saw other relatives become shut-ins due to diet, lifestyle, and lack of exercise. It may sound a bit irrational, but I have a phobia of becoming trapped by my own body. I broke my hamstring two years ago and missed the 2025 Goofy. I'm healed up and back to where I was before that in terms of pace, and looking forward to 2027 Dopey, and now this year's Space Coast marathon (both with DS2 joining me!)

I have a signed copy of JG's "Running until you're 100", and I'm going to see how close I can get to that number before I can't. So far I have been blessed with an absence of knee issues, and foot issues that are under control.
I had a regular checkup last week, and when asked about exercise, responded candidly. The doc told me that his advice to patients my age was to walk, not run, in order to mitigate the pounding on the joints. I told him that I was going to respectfully decline, and continue the running while I could. He laughed and replied, "Respect!".

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD, part two: can I add an addendum to my previous answer?

An outside factor that's motivating me more and more lately are ultra-marathons. I touched on this briefly in the Running Thread, but to expand on it a bit: I enjoy watching "regular" running - track, road marathons, etc. - but I don't find seeing the elites pound out sub-2:00:00 marathons relatable in any way. They don't train like me, move like me, fuel like me, or even dress like me. Impressive? Absolutely! Motivational? Not in the least. Mostly, I come away feeling a bit less-than, because for reasons that cannot be overcome I'll never, ever be able to run anything like they do.

But watching ultra runners push through a world of hurt to finish, usually in beautiful surroundings? HUGELY motivational! Sometimes they walk. Sometimes they interval. Sometimes they freaking SLEEP mid-race! They eat all sorts of things. They wear whatever feels comfortable and preforms for them for the long haul. They don't always finish, and they're mostly okay with that. They often don't get everything right in a race, and they're mostly okay with that, too. They LOVE watching others of all levels and experience get something out of the same races they run: they believe strongly in community. I find all of that so much more relatable to what running is to me and how I choose to enjoy it. I started following ultras 15ish years ago, but there was very little coverage then. Today, so many big races, and some smaller races, too, have live streams and live tracking, and pre- and post-coverage via pods, and so many more ways to follow along as a fan. I'm 1000% more inspired and motivated to dig into Goofy training after following Cocodona 250 all last week than from watching a couple hours of Boston.

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD: what motivates you to put all of this time and effort into this sport?

Currently I can't really answer this question because I'm largely unmotivated to run (or do anything...YAY end-of-the-school-year stress!) In the past? Doing something that most people I know can't or won't do AND shiny things. I'd love to say weight-loss, but I gained weight.

I will say that I feel like I'm a little at a loss for goals for running since I've done "all the things" that are realistic for me without going down the rabbit hole on getting significantly faster (which is something I don't really have time for.) I've done Goofy, Dopey, standalone marathons, and a trail 50k. All that's left is going further (the 50k was really over my limit for training and I burned out badly) or try to go faster (and that sounds like too much work.) And without a goal to work toward I'm having a hard time finding the motivation or the discipline needed.

In the past medals were a good motivator, but I still haven't put up my goofy set from January.

On a different note, running was generally helpful for my mental health, especially during the winter when SAD was becoming a real issue for me, AND the fact that a lot of my extended family have pretty poor health/mobility from a sedentary lifestyle. Being able to keep up with my kids is important to me.

 

[pluto377]

SAFD: Like many of you, my motivation has changed over time. I originally started running with a charity running group as a way to make friends after moving to a new city. I kept up with it with varying degrees of intensity over the next few years. In 2018 with a 7, 4, and 2 year old that were very high maintenance I turned to running as stress relief and a way to get some time to clear my head.

These days, my boys are much more self-sufficient and fun to parent so it's not so much stress/anxiety management, but the fact that I enjoy it. I love getting up early and getting out there. I feel great on the days I run because I know I've done more before work than most people do all week. I do tend to feel that anxiety creep in though if I have to miss too many days for any reason. Also part of my motivation now is that I get a solo trip to Disney every January if I stick with it!

 

[lahobbs4]

SAFD: last month, my mom died unexpectedly. She lived with Parkinson's since 2017. That wasn't the cause of her passing, and I often thought of her while I ran because of her physical limitations so I ran with gratitude for a body that worked.

Now? I run because it's the only thing that seems to make the grief not feel as hard. The physical pain can quiet the emotional pain for a bit.

I wish my motivation was positive and uplifting at the moment, but that's the incredible thing about running. Its purpose can shift throughout life's seasons.

Before her passing, I had already committed to raising money for the Parkinson's Foundation for Marathon Weekend in my mom's honor. Running that race in her memory will be so incredibly challenging

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

In a bit of reply to the posts since mine regarding motivation:
My prime motivations at this point are a sub-5 hour marathon with a better execution of RWR (hello, Space Coast), and to finish the Dopey and enjoy the half with my son. Plus simply staying active. I don't see becoming significantly faster as realistic, so I'm going to stick with having fun and trying to stay injury-free.

But the been-there/done-that aspect is beginning to rear its head. For instance, going into the dresser drawers for a shirt to wear, and there are several of the "I did it!" shirts. They were great when I bought them, but now that I've done it several times, they've lost their shine a bit.

All of which is why I've started looking into how to do more than just run at WDW. I'd love to be a rD race-day volunteer/cast member for a day that I'm not running. Or maybe a pacer for one of the slow(er) groups. Unclear what path it will be, but I'd like to do more than just run the parks (and parking lots....) and collect hardware in between what has become the real fun of race weekends, which is meetups with you guys.

 

[jmasgat]

SAFD: I have avoided this question, as I am in a bit of a funk. I got into running as something new to try the year I turned 50. I have had many successes, and a few failures, and still remain proud that I accomplished the things I did.

But while I am still running, it is not for specific goals—my days of time PRs are well behind me, and honestly, the idea of racing is not compelling. This means my day to day running lacks focus, and for me that is less than optimal.

But I am still running—that is not going to change.

 

[The Expert]

my days of time PRs are well behind me

I used to think this, starting this run thing at 45 years old. The trick is to be clueless, a bit lazy with your form and training, and assume you're just naturally slow for the first 10 years, then you can set all kinds of PRs!

 

[DianaMB333]

SAFD: last month, my mom died unexpectedly. She lived with Parkinson's since 2017. That wasn't the cause of her passing, and I often thought of her while I ran because of her physical limitations so I ran with gratitude for a body that worked.

Now? I run because it's the only thing that seems to make the grief not feel as hard. The physical pain can quiet the emotional pain for a bit.

I wish my motivation was positive and uplifting at the moment, but that's the incredible thing about running. Its purpose can shift throughout life's seasons.

Before her passing, I had already committed to raising money for the Parkinson's Foundation for Marathon Weekend in my mom's honor. Running that race in her memory will be so incredibly challenging

Sorry for your loss..
hope that running in the MW is very rewarding as a celebration of her life..

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: last month, my mom died unexpectedly. She lived with Parkinson's since 2017. That wasn't the cause of her passing, and I often thought of her while I ran because of her physical limitations so I ran with gratitude for a body that worked.

Now? I run because it's the only thing that seems to make the grief not feel as hard. The physical pain can quiet the emotional pain for a bit.

I wish my motivation was positive and uplifting at the moment, but that's the incredible thing about running. Its purpose can shift throughout life's seasons.

Before her passing, I had already committed to raising money for the Parkinson's Foundation for Marathon Weekend in my mom's honor. Running that race in her memory will be so incredibly challenging

Sorry for your loss. She would be proud of you for running to help others who are going through this disease like she did. Prayers that your heart will heal a little more with every training run.

 

[Psymonds]

I used to think this, starting this run thing at 45 years old. The trick is to be clueless, a bit lazy with your form and training, and assume you're just naturally slow for the first 10 years, then you can set all kinds of PRs!

Seriously. I have left rom for improvement out there.

 

[Fenway1970]

Seriously. I have left rom for improvement out there.

Me too. Now I just need to figure out how to access all that untapped potential.

 

[WDW 4 ME]

I’m jealous of everyone losing weight by running. It’s had the opposite impact for me!!!

 

[nancipants]

I’m jealous of everyone losing weight by running. It’s had the opposite impact for me!!!

It was the same for me. I had to start tracking food and adding strength workouts to finally lose some pounds.

 

[lhermiston]

I’m jealous of everyone losing weight by running. It’s had the opposite impact for me!!!

I think I’ve lost weight when sticking to lower distances (3-6 miles) at a steady frequency (3-5 times per week), but I generally don’t believe distance running is conducive to serious weight loss. If you go from being completely sedentary to distance running, then yeah. But when I'm running longer distances, my body goes into fuel storage mode and I’m consuming as much as I’m burning.

 

[camaker]

Good afternoon RunDisney All-Stars! Welcome to this week's edition of Sundays are for Disney (SAFD). We spend a lot of time talking about the parks, their attractions and their food, but there's more to Disney World than the parks. What are your favorite things to do at the World outside the parks?

SAFD: This is a tough one for me because I tend to spend my time either in a park or in my room. As a result, I'll have to take the easy route out and just say "Disney Springs". It's still hard for me to refer to it as Disney Springs and not Downtown Disney, too. I enjoy the shopping there, although I do miss the days of the eclectic collectibles shop Hoi Polloi and feel like replacement of shops like that with generic Marvel and Star Wars storefronts has been a net loss to the area. Raglan Road is one of our favorite restaurants and a trip just doesn't feel complete without a Ghirardelli dark chocolate fudge sundae. Pro tip, don't indulge in the sundae the evening before a half marathon! I know there's much more to do outside the parks than DS, so I look forward to everyone else's answers.