Marathon Weekend 2027

[accm]

I did something similar for my first Dopey - had family come with who rarely go to Disney, so I was their guide. I barely woke up for the half, and then crashed hard afterwards. The walking personally wasn't an issue for me, since I was on my feet and walking all day at work anyways.

I think more than the walking, the hardest part will be sleep/rest. I'd have a conversation with your friends to set clear expectations about what you can and can't do.

 

[WDW 4 ME]

have made a habit (though not as religiously in recent years) to stay on my feet after a long run. I'll (generally) shower of course, but depending on the season I'll mow the yard, walk the dog, grocery shop, run errands with my wife, etc

Same for me. With few exceptions, I do not lay around after my long run. Get my post run stretch in, fuel and then run errands, do yard work, run the vacuum, laundry, walk the dog, etc. for several hours afterwards. Not necessarily for training purposes but rather there’s too much to get done and I already spent my fun hours “off” to go running. I do think it’s helped with my recovery, both from a physical and mental standpoint. Instead of “how can I go out later when I ran 12 miles this morning”, it’s “this is normal for me.”

 

[Naomeri]

It serves two purposes in my mind: it conditions my body to not be "done" after a long run and expect more time on my feet, and I firmly believe it helps me recover faster.

I learned my lesson (against my will, I want to be clear) about sitting around after a race after my very first one, the Twin Cities 10K in 2021. I unexpectedly had to drive 3 hours away about 2 hours after I got home, and then turn around drive right back home again. I could barely walk for days because of how much my muscles tightened up.

This is also why I use the stairs at my Disney resorts, even after a race or at the end of a long park day (but not with luggage, I'm crazy, not stupid ) My calves are the biggest culprits for tightening up and stairs seem to do the trick.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

I trained for the parks during race weekend by going to Disney and doing my training miles while also still going to the parks

Obviously not a realistic option but it did work for me. I had a Christmas trip once that was basically at the end of peak week— I did my Sat long run of 3.5 hours, flew out, did the Sun semi-long run on the Coronado treadmill and then was walking the parks and doing my other runs.

I’m not really giving this as advice because I know it is unreasonable for most ppl— I just think it’s funny in retrospect.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Me:
Who is Allyson Felix?
Who is Emma Bates?
What is UCan? And what division is their football team in? (Not kidding. I'm that clueless sometimes)

@Naomeri What sort of person would ever do a thing like that?
Depends on whether or not I recognize you.... ;-)

>> and talking the ears off of all the guys I run with about how excited I was to be challenging myself with Dopey.
I sortof did this when training for my first Dopey. It was my way of putting myself out there to the point where I had to be committed to go through with it. Probably annoying to nearly everyone else, but it worked.

In the parks on a race weekend:
After the full marathon, I am a Slow Moving Object, and not moving well enough to warrant a park visit. Also, any rD full that I've done has been as part of a Goofy or Dopey, so dealing with cumulative fatigue.
That said, I have always been in the parks after the 5k, 10k, or the half. What I've learned (the hard way) is to keep moving and minimize standing in a line, and to not overdo it. I did Epcot with the DW after a PW half and wound up walking what amounted to another half. I met the DW at Epcot immediately after the half and thus suffered from a lack of sleep. (Her: you kept nodding off every time we weren't moving). My preferred method is to go back to the room, get cleaned up, maybe a short nap, and then off to the parks. That said, for my one Dopey that I've done, I went to the parks for breakfast right after the 5K and 10K.

I'm seeing a headline that London may expand their marathon to 100K people, but over two days.
If so, it'll be interesting to see how well that goes and if other majors start doing it.
Which could mean more of us being able to get into a major...

 

[smrt1]

Question…
How do you factor in to your training plan going to the parks with family/friends during race weekend?

For the most part I go solo, so I go normally to the parks on expo and 5k day, 10k i stay off my feet as much as possible…

This year a group of friends will go to w&d weekend, none will run, and for most of them this is their first Disney trip (as adults) therefore Im the designated tour guide LOL…

So… i’m thinking whether I need to train ahead to be able to hold standing/walking plus the races… or just trust the training and that I should be in a better fitness shape now (2 yrs ago I overdid parks in w&d and ended up with shin splints since mile 6 or 7 at HM)

Appreciate your thoughts, thanks!

Honestly, just run a little more. Maybe add a mile or two to your current runs, and/or add a run to your week. It takes a lot less time than walking and it’ll give you better endurance. Obviously I don’t know your age/physique/free time but at some point with running your body gets to a point where walking isn’t even an effort anymore. Other than maybe attempting to take it easy the day before the full I don’t worry about it. I do make sure to be back in my hotel room before 6:00 (for all the races) so I can try and get some sleep. I go to bed normally around 8:30 when not in Disney and for about 20 years I had to wake up at 2:15 for work, so the early mornings don’t really bother me. I figure if I’m at WDW with my kids (who are 9) I want to be able to enjoy it with them. I made it to Epcot after the full this year by 9:15. I used the idea of meeting my family in the park as my motivation to get me through the race. We always go to Biergarten for lunch and then make it a point to stay in Epcot for the fireworks (man, how I miss you Illuminations) the day of the full. To me it’s kind of like the closing ceremonies. Is getting up at 2:30am, running a marathon, spending a day in Epcot and dancing at Biergarten exhausting? Sure. But that’s what we’re there for. I’m not trying to say you should spend the race days wearing yourself out in the parks, but definitely don’t scare yourself into sitting in your hotel room because you’re worried about a race. If you’re doing Dopey, run the half fairly easy. Going out too hard on the half can make the full seem like a death march. A little extra training can make the whole experience a lot less painful. Good luck.

 

[jrsharp21]

I met the DW at Epcot immediately after the half and thus suffered from a lack of sleep. (Her: you kept nodding off every time we weren't moving).

Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, Nemo, Tres Caballeros, are some of my favorite rides after a race. As soon as I sit down on the ride, it's wake me up when it's over. LOL.

 

[smrt1]

Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, Nemo, Tres Caballeros, are some of my favorite rides after a race. As soon as I sit down on the ride, it's wake me up when it's over. LOL.

It’s always fun climbing in and out of those boats after the marathon. Epcot is always always always the post marathon park. It’s like a big party.

 

[RuntheMouse]

It’s always fun climbing in and out of those boats after the marathon. Epcot is always always always the post marathon park. It’s like a big party.

My struggle was climbing out of the Space Mountain vehicle after the marathon this year. Not so graceful

 

[The Expert]

My struggle was climbing out of the Space Mountain vehicle after the marathon this year. Not so graceful

That's a tough on on a normal day!

 

[WillRunForPizza]

My struggle was climbing out of the Space Mountain vehicle after the marathon this year. Not so graceful

I still remember getting off Guardians after the marathon in 2023 and suddenly remembering there were stairs. Why would you do this to me, Disney?