Marathon Weekend 2027

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I still don't get how people drink coffee before a race. I would be afraid to get into the corrals without a quick exit to the port a potties insight. LOL.

I am in that same boat, and so far have done OK with fixing a single cup of coffee in the resort room, and then switching to just water. I'm done with the coffee by the time the bus arrives at Epcot, so mostly enough time to go to the port-a-potties before entering the corral.
Coffee or no coffee, I'll still have to hit the woods somewhere in Mile 1, so I might as well enjoy my coffee.

 

[smrt1]

I remember you mentioning the Uncrustables at MW2025. That is what had me try it out in the long training runs up to this MW and also ate that before each run this MW. In the past I didn't like to eat before running as I didn't like that heavy feeling in my stomach, but didn't have that with Uncrustables.

I still don't get how people drink coffee before a race. I would be afraid to get into the corrals without a quick exit to the port a potties insight. LOL.

I can’t imagine ever running WITHOUT having coffee beforehand!! Also, I’m shocked that there are people that eat Uncrustables.

 

[jrsharp21]

I can’t imagine ever running WITHOUT having coffee beforehand!! Also, I’m shocked that there are people that eat Uncrustables.

Uncrustables are money! You should see the amount of Uncrustables that get consumed by college athletes. LOL. My son plays college baseball and you should see the mountains of Uncrustables they have in the clubhouse and in the dugout. I also used them in special needs bag in the IM race. Quick pit stop to down one and off you go!

 

[PrincessV]

I can’t imagine ever running WITHOUT having coffee beforehand!! Also, I’m shocked that there are people that eat Uncrustables.

I’ve tried them after seeing so many others rave about them… nope. Too sweet and sugary for me. Convenient though!

 

[Naomeri]

Uncrustables are money! You should see the amount of Uncrustables that get consumed by college athletes. LOL. My son plays college baseball and you should see the mountains of Uncrustables they have in the clubhouse and in the dugout. I also used them in special needs bag in the IM race. Quick pit stop to down one and off you go!

I enjoy uncrustables (especially the free one I snagged last Saturday at Epcot--once it thawed out ) but post-race, not pre-race. I don't want to be tasting peanut butter for the whole race.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I can’t imagine ever running WITHOUT having coffee beforehand!! Also, I’m shocked that there are people that eat Uncrustables.

Ditto on the first comment, for sure.

As for the second, my go-to Uncrustables are the PB & Honey, and the PB & Up and apple with a cinnamon and apple filling.
I'm sure the PB & Nutella is good, but that does sound too sweet for me anymore.
Would I eat an Uncrustable over a regular peanut butter and <filling in fav filling>? No. But for a combo of post-race carbs and protein that travels easily, it is hard to beat. FWIW, the PB & Grape Jelly is also quite tasty, but the honey or cinnamon apple are far less likely to stain if some drips. And our teen and post-teen kids love Uncrustables, which is another reason to choose the flavors that I like (which the kids don't like) so that mine don't disappear.
YMMV

 

[WDW 4 ME]

I'm also a mouth-breathing runner, but I've only lost my gum like 3 times

content I never thought I would hear when joining this community but it’s the content that keeps me entertained and coming back each week!!

 

[WDW 4 ME]

Also, I’m shocked that there are people that eat Uncrustables

I have a mental block with these. I know people love them, including my kids. They smell so strong when I open the package. Very yeasty, maybe? I also have a thing against any bread that’s remotely wet/soggy and even though I know it’s not, my mind tells me it’s cold and wet. I can’t bring myself to take a bite!

 

[Dopey 2020]

FWIW, the PB & Grape Jelly is also quite tasty

This is the correct answer

 

[WDW 4 ME]

I am also loving graham crackers pre run. Especially when I don’t have time for a bagel or English muffin to digest. They are light enough they don’t sit uncomfortably on my stomach, and quite tasty! Teddy grahams are great for mid run too!

 

[FFigawi]

One of my favorites for early morning long runs is eating an Uncrustable before going out. Pretty simple and easy, and don't have to wake up early! Not a fan of jelly that early in the morning, so I have been using the Uncrustables with peanut butter and Nutella or peanut butter and honey. It sounds like I was on the right track with the Nutella. At the IronMan race I just did, I learned that the pros eat crazy amounts of Nutella leading up to the race.

You should see the amount of Fanta they drink during training. Two of my friends are professional triathletes, and they, like almost all of the top athletes, rely on Fanta as their go-to carb drink during training. When they're swimming 5-6000 meters in a swim session, for example, they'll have 2L bottles of Fanta on the pool deck. They need such a massive amount of carbs and calories each day, that they take them in any way they can.

 

[jenljeffers1989]

You would like the Taco Bell race!!! You have to stop and eat at several Taco Bell’s along the way, and order specific things. So it can’t be cinnamon crisps at each stop. It’s Mexican pizzas and chalupas!

I'm doing the taco bell 50K in DC this year and have not remotely trained on how to eat all of that and keep running

 

[WDW 4 ME]

I'm doing the taco bell 50K in DC this year and have not remotely trained on how to eat all of that and keep running

Ooohhh!! Please keep us posted!!!!

 

[smrt1]

I'm doing the taco bell 50K in DC this year and have not remotely trained on how to eat all of that and keep running

I want to do that. I’m hoping someone gets one going in the Phila. area.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

You should see the amount of Fanta they drink during training. Two of my friends are professional triathletes, and they, like almost all of the top athletes, rely on Fanta as their go-to carb drink during training. When they're swimming 5-6000 meters in a swim session, for example, they'll have 2L bottles of Fanta on the pool deck. They need such a massive amount of carbs and calories each day, that they take them in any way they can.

Grrrr. I know they are burning insane amounts of calories, but insert pithy, unprintable comment from porky me who is trying to limit carbs and calories...

 

[frozengirl]

Side note: I'm also now deep down the rabbit hole of researching hydration belts and (maybe) vests. I do most of my runs on a treadmill, but tried an outdoor run this weekend and actually enjoyed it -- despite all the hills in my area and the bouncy (NOT running) vest that I decided to stuff all my things into. Mixing some of these hilly runs in will definitely help me figure out what will work for me on the course in Chicago. At Disney I rely entirely on what rD provides for hydration, but I don't want to have to do that. I'm leaning toward belts because I get hot easily and Chicago doesn't allow vests with back bladders (but you can have bottles in the front pockets).

Hi! I would 100% recommend the Salomon active vest 4 (so much that I have gifted more than once!). It is small but mighty (I can fit my car keys, headphones, gloves, many gus, candy, two bottles, & phone). I have never been overly warm running in it. I do take both of my water bottles, fill half way with water or tailwind mix and freeze the night before so I have a cool drink throughout my run. I would say that there is a big difference with the less expensive Amazon running vests. It was much heavier and more awkward feeling.

 

[lhermiston]

It's fascinating to see how carb intake has increased for endurance athletes over the past several years. It used to be that 25-50 grams of carbs per hour was considered all you needed to run a solid marathon or long distance triathlon. Now, the top athletes are ingesting 150-175 grams per hour, and us mortals are even up to 80-100 grams per hour. Mars Blackmon aside, it's not all about the shoes.

“I understood that reference!” - Captain America

You would like the Taco Bell race!!! You have to stop and eat at several Taco Bell’s along the way, and order specific things. So it can’t be cinnamon crisps at each stop. It’s Mexican pizzas and chalupas!

When it’s time to put me out to pasture, this is how I want to go: in a Taco Bell and Hard Mountain Dew-fueled blaze of glory.

 

[The Expert]

Hi! I would 100% recommend the Salomon active vest 4 (so much that I have gifted more than once!). It is small but mighty (I can fit my car keys, headphones, gloves, many gus, candy, two bottles, & phone). I have never been overly warm running in it. I do take both of my water bottles, fill half way with water or tailwind mix and freeze the night before so I have a cool drink throughout my run. I would say that there is a big difference with the less expensive Amazon running vests. It was much heavier and more awkward feeling.

Thank you for the suggestion. I went down a Salomon rabbit hole after this thread and @nancipants comments on my training log, and I've ordered this from Running Warehouse: https://www.runningwarehouse.com/Sa...n_4_Set_Pack_Dusky_Orchid/descpage-SAW41.html

 

[cburnett11]

At Disney I rely entirely on what rD provides for hydration, but I don't want to have to do that.

@The Expert My experience is that Chicago has the most impressive hydration stations of any marathon I’ve run in. They are massive and each “stop” always follows a particular order… Gatorade, then water. I think they have about 20 and from my recollection they will always have on both sides of the road.

 

[cburnett11]

@The Expert i think you’ll really like the Salomon vest. I do my longer training runs wearing a vest, but I don’t race in it because I’m decently skilled at grabbing water from someone holding a cup. But when I’m in a fairly serious training block, I try not to stop on my runs… so carrying those 2 soft flasks works well for me. I’ve even thrown a 3rd in the back that I could swap out if necessary. I have the Adv Skin 5 and absolutely love it.

I’m returning to Chicago in October after taking a hamstring-induced DNF in 2022.