My first Orlando trip/WDW Marathon 2010 PTR aka A Cry For Help!

[RENThead09]

Ok, not sure where to post all my questions, so I will lovingly ask for help from the amazing people of this board. Hope that is OK, if not, someone PM me and I can post somewhere else.

I have started to figure things out for my trip. Being from Las Vegas and an AP for Disneyland, I know a lot of the Disney basics, but there are some WDW specific things that are throwing me for a loop.

Here is what I have so far:

This is me about 2 years ago at Disneyland

This is me last December at Disneyland, the weekend that I decided I needed to get my fat butt moving and get in shape so I can enjoy my 3 incredible nephews for many, many years.

On December 19th, I had my first session with my 24Hr Fitness trainer. I needed a goal, so I set a couple.
1...learn how to run
2...run a 5k
3...run the Pat Tilman 4.2 mile Pat's Run at Arizona State
4...finish the Disneyland Half Marathon

This is me Labor Day when I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon.

I was so inspired and excited following the completion of the race that I wanted to sign up for the WDW Half Marathon. That is partially a lie. I saw a lot of people with those cool Coast to Coast medals and I WANTED A COAST TO COAST MEDAL TOO!!!!!! Unfortunately the half was filled. So I had 2 options. I could wait until 2011. I could sign up for the Full Marathon. Of course I did what any logical dis-geek would do...I signed up for the full.

So that brings us to where we are today.

Here are the current plans...

Flying in on Tuesday, Jan 5th
Marathon on Sunday, Jan 10th
Flying out on Wednesday, Jan 13th

I have a reservation for a standard room at Pop Century. (thanks for the info OrlandoMike! )
Signed up for the fridge exchange, so I will have one in the room for the week.

Doing most of the trip solo, but being joined by a co-worker who is flying in for the weekend to run the marathon with me. well, sorta...he decided he wanted to do it, then decided that he needed to do it under 3 hours. I am shooting more for 4.5 hours, so I will maybe see him at the start, and told him to have gatorade waiting for me at the finish while he is cheering me on. Of course he has never ran a race before, but is a 20 yr old full time amateur boxer with about 1% body fat...so he will most likely do just that.

OK, that brings us to question #1.

How can I keep 6 to 10 bags of ice cold in my room to use for an ice bath after the race. Do they sell bags of ice at the resorts? Do I need to try and use a food delivery service to bring ice on Sunday morning? Any other ideas. I figure there are ice machines around the resorts, but most likely it would take me hours to get enough ice from walking from machine to machine to get enough.

Thanks in advance for any help that you all can give me. Both that which is functional and that which may be more entertaining.

-Pat

 

[RENThead09]

OK, here is my next question. Thanks for the PM's with the help on my first one. And yes, an ice bath sounds absolutely horrid, but everyone says it is the only way to be able to walk the next day!

So, the night of the marathon, I am trying to figure out a cool place to do dinner. Not looking for a fancy schmancy place, but just somewhere nice and fun. There will be 4 of us I think, 3 of whom will be running that day. Not particular on food types. Is there anything that provides a view of fireworks at all? Or are we better off just doing the desert thing for the fireworks.

I can do my dining reservations on sunday, so just trying to figure it out before I head to Anaheim for Gay Days. I have read through threads and looked online, but there are a ton of choices and with the exception of a few fashion ideas dealing with pumps and chaps, this boards seems to have a lot of greaet suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

-Pat

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

I just wanted to pop in and say Congratulations on the weight loss. That is quite an accomplishment and you look fantastic!

Good luck with the marathon, I hope you will keep us updated. I would love to hear how it all goes (except the ice bath part - i want nothing doing with that - LOL)!

 

[geaux_half]

How can I keep 6 to 10 bags of ice cold in my room to use for an ice bath after the race. Do they sell bags of ice at the resorts? Do I need to try and use a food delivery service to bring ice on Sunday morning? Any other ideas. I figure there are ice machines around the resorts, but most likely it would take me hours to get enough ice from walking from machine to machine to get enough.

Hi Pat:
Have you taken an ice bath before? The only time I've used ice baths was when I was training for the Chicago Marathon last summer. All I used was what was in my ice maker/which amounts to a 1/2 bag of ice I guess. I also used the same amount after the race. Any more than that and I'd be afraid I wouldn't see the nads for a week or so....

A running buddy of mine got housekeeping to fill up a tub for him a few years ago when he was running the Houston Marathon.

I think even more important than the post race ice bath is making sure that you keep moving the rest of the day.

 

[RENThead09]

Hi Pat:
Have you taken an ice bath before? The only time I've used ice baths was when I was training for the Chicago Marathon last summer. All I used was what was in my ice maker/which amounts to a 1/2 bag of ice I guess. I also used the same amount after the race. Any more than that and I'd be afraid I wouldn't see the nads for a week or so....

A running buddy of mine got housekeeping to fill up a tub for him a few years ago when he was running the Houston Marathon.

I think even more important than the post race ice bath is making sure that you keep moving the rest of the day.

HAHAHA thanks for the info. Yes, I have been studying info on ice baths lately. I realize I may have gone a LITTLE bit overboard in the amount of ice that I need! Even with 2 of us running. I was thinking they need to make insulated boxers for runners to take their ice baths in.

I may actuallly do my practice ice bath after I run the half at the Vegas Rock and Roll in December. It is suppose to be my 18 mile day, so I am going to run the half, hand off my medal to one of the people I work with, and then keep running another 5 miles!

 

[RENThead09]

I just wanted to pop in and say Congratulations on the weight loss. That is quite an accomplishment and you look fantastic!

Good luck with the marathon, I hope you will keep us updated. I would love to hear how it all goes (except the ice bath part - i want nothing doing with that - LOL)!

thank you so much! It has been an incredible journey. My only regret is that I didn't do it 10-15 years ago. But hey, here I am today and doin what I can! I'm sure I will do a report from the race, but we'll make sure that we censor the ice bath pictures.

 

[wallyb]

Shrinkage!