Marathoners--Sleep Adjustment

[sap1227]

How/are you planning on adjusting your sleep patterns so you can be up and ready by 3AM

I am so afraid that I will be so excited I won't be able to fall asleep until midnight and I will be exhausted. My current plan is to wake up early on Saturday and hope that I will be so tired that I can just crash. I am thinking I need to be up at 2AM, what are everyone else's thoughts?

Thanks!
Christy

 

[Tinks]

I am also getting up early on Saturday. Maybe not 2 a.m. though! Just early enough to tire me out so I'll sleep that night (4 a.m.?).
Plus I plan to be ready no later than 3:45 a.m. for the race (at the bus stop). You can catch the last transportation to the race at 4:00. I can't sit around fully ready at 3 a.m. because I'll worry myself to a frenzy! and I don't want to be outside freezing too long before the run. I plan to wake up around 3:15 for the race. It won't take long to get ready...throw on my clothes and grab something to take with me to eat about 1 hour pre-race. I think I'll be plenty awake after almost 3 hours of waiting to start! Hope that helps!

 

[karebear1]

We have a 3 hour difference in time zones that we need to adjust to as well! I'm taking the red eye into Orlando on Thursday night.... probably won't get much sleep on the flight. I'll be up all day Friday and won't get to bed probably until 11 pm or so. I'm gonna get up early Saturday morning- around 6 and have a relaxing day- then go to bed about 7 or 8 and get up to catch the 3 am bus. I think that'll work. I could NEVER go to sleep at 7pm normally, but with little sleep from the day before- I think I'll be ok.

 

[Aisleleven]

How/are you planning on adjusting your sleep patterns so you can be up and ready by 3AM

I am so afraid that I will be so excited I won't be able to fall asleep until midnight and I will be exhausted. My current plan is to wake up early on Saturday and hope that I will be so tired that I can just crash. I am thinking I need to be up at 2AM, what are everyone else's thoughts?

Thanks!
Christy

The best advice I can offer is to make sure you get a GOOD night's sleep on Friday night.

Last year we ate a very early dinner and tried to be in bed by 8:30-9:00 the night before the race and I'm sure I got some sleep but I remember tossing and turning a lot...

Also, be prepared to wait for the bus - don't expect that you will be able to walk right onto the bus at 3:45...there is a TON of traffic at that hour and last year, we got to the bus stop at 10 to 3 and the the bus didn't show up at the BC until almost 4 - and there were a lot of people waiting to board...we were lucky that we were on the first bus but we got to the start in the nick of time (5:45)!!! It was very stressful!

This year we decided to stay at the CR so we could take the monorail to the start and not mess with the traffic and busses.

Good luck!!

 

[karebear1]

Aisleleven- are you saying that the 3 AM bus for BC didn't come until 4 am? Or are you saying the 3:45 bus didn't come until 4 am??

 

[Aisleleven]

Aisleleven- are you saying that the 3 AM bus for BC didn't come until 4 am? Or are you saying the 3:45 bus didn't come until 4 am??

I am saying that the 3:00AM bus didn't come until 4:00AM...We were there waiting at the bus stop at about 10 to 3 and waited until nearly 4 for the bus...People did call but there was some kind of confusion (obveously)...I don't know what the mix up was.

The good part about it, if there was a good part, was that we were able to sit on the bus and not out in the cold...but very nerve racking!!!

Thankfully, I had my cellphone with me so I could communicate with my race buddy...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am waking up VERY VERY early on Saturday--so that I will want to fall asleep in the evening.

I was suppose to do EPCOT that day--but we will have to see how forgiving my back is at that point. My mother rents a scooter when she goes--but can only use it half the time as she can't walk or stand for too long or sit for too long. I could always drive her scooter when she's not using it.

 

[karebear1]

Aisleleven- Since you've done th marathon beforte, do you mind if I ask you some otyher questions?

To start- when the bus finally gets to the EPCOT parking lot, do you go directly to your corral?

 

[decaff38]

I'm a newcomer to the Marathon situation. I will be staying off site at the Fairfield Bonnet Creek Resort and will be getting a taxi to the bus . Any great ideas as to where to have the taxi drop me? I will sleep fine on Sat,.night because we will be catching a 7:00 am flight on Sat. to Orlando and I'm sure I will be up at 4;00 am that day too. I'm really concerned about the bus thing. I will reconfirm my taxi request on Sat. when we arrive. Help Any advise will be good. It will be just me for the race. My family is hoping to get to the finish line by around 8:30. Can they drive up to a parking lot near the finish?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm a newcomer to the Marathon situation. I will be staying off site at the Fairfield Bonnet Creek Resort and will be getting a taxi to the bus . Any great ideas as to where to have the taxi drop me? I will sleep fine on Sat,.night because we will be catching a 7:00 am flight on Sat. to Orlando and I'm sure I will be up at 4;00 am that day too. I'm really concerned about the bus thing. I will reconfirm my taxi request on Sat. when we arrive. Help Any advise will be good. It will be just me for the race. My family is hoping to get to the finish line by around 8:30. Can they drive up to a parking lot near the finish?

I think that you should have the taxi drop you off at EPCOT. People will be driving in for the race to watch and participate--so they should be letting cars in. I wouldn't worry about catching the bus--as you will have to be dropped off at a hotel for that. I wouldn't want you to miss the group or get stuck waiting in a long line.. Perhaps you can be the DIS greeter at the bus drop off spot--and wait for your fellow Dis-ers!

Once the parking lots officially open at 8am--your family will have to pay to park--if they can get there, say at 7:30am..the parking should be free. In either case--yes they will be able to get in...but they should plan on being there about an hour before your anticipated finish so in case you are quicker than planned or if there are any traffic snarles--they will have plenty of time to see you.

 

[geetey]

Our plan is to get some good, slow walking in on Friday visiting some parks (MK and Epcot). Saturday morning up EARLY EARLY. I am such the morning person - NOT! Anyway, I figure this will also give me a good way to see how cool it will feel the next day, so I will be able to dress more appropriately. No parks Saturday - just Checking in at WWS, and maybe some light shopping. Since I won't be allowing myself a nap, I know I will definitely be able to fall asleep Saturday night and get some sleep.

We are thinking about doing the balloon. My sister (who is 5'10") is afraid she is going to lose me in the crowd, especially if she has to stop and use the restroom. We will have our cell phones with us, but at 5'2" she just doesn't think she will be able to find me!
If you see a short lady with a balloon tied to her fanny pack, it will probably be me! I will try to remember to add a Home Depot Lime Green Mickey Head to the string so you will know it's me!

Lisa, you don't think the balloon will provide any 'drag' do you? I can't be messing with my time!

 

[Aisleleven]

Aisleleven- Since you've done th marathon beforte, do you mind if I ask you some otyher questions?

To start- when the bus finally gets to the EPCOT parking lot, do you go directly to your corral?

Well, last year was my first marathon and since I got to the start so late (later than I wanted to) I don't really know if I can answer your questions...but...here's what I remember...(I was really focused on finding my running buddy...lol)

First, if you have items to check in, you would do that first. (I didn't have anything to check). Then, I went immeadiately to my corral (keep in mind my experience was a little different cause I got there so much later than I wanted to).

I really don't know if you would go right to your corral...I think it would depend on what time you get to Epcot. If you get there really early, you will probably hang out for a bit before going to the corral...otherwise you probably will though...there are a ton of people and everyone will be working their way over to the corrals...

I've done other races at Disney (the 10K Classic) and we were there pretty early and just kinda waiting in the parking lot before we were told to go to the start....There were only 1200 people doing the 10K so there were no "corrals". However, since there will be 10 times the number of people, it will probably be a little more hectic but probably really well marked. It was very well marked last year but I was with people who had done the marathon before and I just followed them...

Feel free to ask any other questions...I hope I can answer them!
HTH!

 

[Aisleleven]

I'm a newcomer to the Marathon situation. I will be staying off site at the Fairfield Bonnet Creek Resort and will be getting a taxi to the bus . Any great ideas as to where to have the taxi drop me? I will sleep fine on Sat,.night because we will be catching a 7:00 am flight on Sat. to Orlando and I'm sure I will be up at 4;00 am that day too. I'm really concerned about the bus thing. I will reconfirm my taxi request on Sat. when we arrive. Help Any advise will be good. It will be just me for the race. My family is hoping to get to the finish line by around 8:30. Can they drive up to a parking lot near the finish?

Are you doing the full marathon or the half? If you are doing the half, the race ends at the Magic Kingdom Parking lot...the Full ends in the Epcot Parking lot...

If you are doing the Full...BRAVO to you for a 2.5 hour time!!!! (even if you are doing the half...bravo!)

Also, you should be able to take the taxi right to Epcot in the morning...don't bother with the resort busses...just make sure to give yourself PLENTY of time to get to the start...believe it or not, there is a TON of traffic at that hour...it gets really backed up!!!!

I would plan on it taking up to an hour (maybe more) to get from your resort to the start.

Good luck!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Lisa, you don't think the balloon will provide any 'drag' do you? I can be messing with my time!

TNT is recommending to teammates who wish to "stand out" from the crowd to do crazy things just as that--I wouldn't carry one of those HUGGGE balloons...a simple $2-$3 mylar from the grocery store will suffice

And if it drags down your time too much say bye bye to the balloon

 

[JRoglitz]

This year we decided to stay at the CR so we could take the monorail to the start and not mess with the traffic and busses.

Good luck!!

We are staying at the Polynesian and will be using the monorail. What time do you plan on trying to catch the monorail. It shouldn't take as long to get there as the bus I wouldn't think?

 

[Aisleleven]

We are staying at the Polynesian and will be using the monorail. What time do you plan on trying to catch the monorail. It shouldn't take as long to get there as the bus I wouldn't think?

I don't expect it to take as long as the bus...but due to my experience last year...We'll still probably head out pretty early...3-3:15...

By "We" I mean, my sister and our 3 friends who are also doing the marathon and also my cousin - Who I will have to pick up at the WL so we can all take the monorail together...I'll probably pick her up around 2:45 - just to make sure we have enough time...

It will also depend on the weather...if it is cold again, like it was last year, we might push it back to 3:30...

The good thing is that our training group trains very early on Saturday mornings, so I am used to the getting up before G-d routine...This Sunday (not the usual Saturday because we don't want to interfere with Santa) is our last 10 miles and we have to be at the beach (I live in Fort Lauderdale) at 5:00...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We are staying at the Polynesian and will be using the monorail. What time do you plan on trying to catch the monorail. It shouldn't take as long to get there as the bus I wouldn't think?

I believe they open at 3am as well--with a special notation that priority is given to the athletes over spectators.

 

[JRoglitz]

I was planning on catching the monorail about 3:30 so I guess I'll be ok. See everyone there!

 

[Baileymouse]

I guess I'm driving. I'm not sure. Wish I were staying at a monorail resort, now that I see how bad that traffic can be.

 

[Aisleleven]

I guess I'm driving. I'm not sure. Wish I were staying at a monorail resort, now that I see how bad that traffic can be.

Now that you know, you will be fine...just give yourself plenty of time to get there!

And try to get as much rest on Friday night (yes, Friday) as you can...it will make a world of difference!