Official 2013 Tower of Terror 10 Miler

[bumbershoot]

I think it's also the fact that I'm running an hr or 2 after dinner. Probably not the best time to run, but I've gotta work it in somehow, lol. Being on Nutrisystem has helped with the weight too. They actually have a pb&j bar that I eat for lunch! I'm pretty sure my problems are just a mental issue. I gotta start telling myself I can do this

So are you doing nutrisystem fully? Does the plan have any sort of addition for when you're working out hard?

I'm doing Weight Watchers while also training for the TOT (and the Half in January), and I *have to* eat my "activity points". That's extra food based on the activity I do. It still works out to a net deficit in calories, BUT adds about half of what I burned back in. If I don't do that, I can't work out. I get weak and the workouts are just bad, even on the elliptical, let alone while walking briskly or doing my slow jog. (and I might have to start eating more soon as my runs gets longer b/c for me even my slow jog burns a LOT of calories)

So Nutrisystem has such a plan in place? If so, please consider using that if you aren't. If not, consider eating a bit more food. It might help. It's hard enough to train like this, let alone if you really aren't taking in enough calories to fuel the workouts.

I used the waist one for about a year and did not like it. I had to cinch it very tight to keep it from bouncing when it was full. I switched to the 70 oz backpack about 10 years ago and love it. I make sure that I remove all of the air when I fill the reservoir, so I do not hear any sloshing, and it does not bounce at all, even when completely full.They no longer sell the exact backpack that I use - the closest thing is the Classic, though the Marathoner Vest also looks like it would work well.

Good to know, thank you for the specific recommendation!

I personally limit what I "carry". I have a great water bottle. (an amphipod.) It holds enough water...and my beans. It has an easy top that comes off. I usually, take it off just before eat water stop (I don't even need to stop running to do this) I then grab a water cup and dump as I run... grab another and dump. I am usually able to completely refill my bottle while running by doing this. The bottle itself slides over my hand.. I can grip it lightly if I wish...or if my fingers are tired... I can completely let go and it stays put. My only complaint is that the zipper to the pouch is on the right side. If I were to wear it on my left hand I would probably work better. I wear it on my right.. and have to reach over to open the pouch. It is kinda akward. Still... it holds all the beans I need it too. As far as on my waist.. I will carry a spibelt to hold a camera.. but anything that might slosh or be heavy I don't think I could handle. However... you will not be alone wearing a full gear belt...or a camel back. I have seen various degrees of "additions" at every event I have been to. (well, except the color in motion..probably for obvious reasons)

I used to have a bottle like that, and I lost it. I think it fell out of a bag at an airport or something. Maybe I'll buy another, see how that goes.

If it still doesn't work, good to know that others will be wearing packs and belts and such!

 

[PrincessV]

For anyone who's done night race costumes before, I saw at W&D a girl who had battery powered lights sewn into her tutu. Does anyone have any recommendations for lights? I'm looking for pink and purple ones for my Cheshire cat costume...

Don't hold me to it, but I feel like I saw such a device at Party City. Worth checking their website!

I know it's more of a mental thing, but I'm wondering if it's also a weight thing as I'm over 200 lbs. I am slowly getting faster though as well as being able to last longer than when I started

For the mental part, try thinking of your long runs in smaller chunks, and maybe even in terms of what the course may be... 3 miles to the turnaround, 3 more to WWOS, 3 to DHS, 1 to go!

But seriously, talk to me about carrying fluid on a race. I'm just getting used to a small waistpack, I'm not sure I could deal with water bottles bouncing on a waistpack, and honestly I'm not sure a couple smallish water bottles will do much for me. I'm a majorly sweaty jogger.

For perspective, I went through over 60oz in last year's race. I carried a 10oz handheld bottle and did as annemarie did - grabbed a cup or 2 to dump in at each station. I also use Nuun, so I carried a couple tabs of it in plastic wrap and tossed them in every other refill. I recently bought a couple 10oz bottles I can attach to my waist belts and I don't mind them. I prefer only wearing 1 so i'll likely do that for the race, refilling at the stations.

 

[moonlitelace]

So are you doing nutrisystem fully? Does the plan have any sort of addition for when you're working out hard?

I'm doing Weight Watchers while also training for the TOT (and the Half in January), and I *have to* eat my "activity points". That's extra food based on the activity I do. It still works out to a net deficit in calories, BUT adds about half of what I burned back in. If I don't do that, I can't work out. I get weak and the workouts are just bad, even on the elliptical, let alone while walking briskly or doing my slow jog. (and I might have to start eating more soon as my runs gets longer b/c for me even my slow jog burns a LOT of calories)

So Nutrisystem has such a plan in place? If so, please consider using that if you aren't. If not, consider eating a bit more food. It might help. It's hard enough to train like this, let alone if you really aren't taking in enough calories to fuel the workouts.

It's a little different, they offer meals and protein shakes, but they also let you choose from a list of what they call smartcarbs and powerfuel. An example of smartcarbs would be 1 cup of blueberries or half a cup of orange juice. Powerfuels would be 1 piece of low fat string cheese or 3oz of crab meat. You can have 2 powerfuels and 2 smartcarbs per day in addition to the meals, desserts and shakes.

 

[bumbershoot]

For perspective, I went through over 60oz in last year's race. I carried a 10oz handheld bottle and did as annemarie did - grabbed a cup or 2 to dump in at each station. I also use Nuun, so I carried a couple tabs of it in plastic wrap and tossed them in every other refill. I recently bought a couple 10oz bottles I can attach to my waist belts and I don't mind them. I prefer only wearing 1 so i'll likely do that for the race, refilling at the stations.

Thanks for the info!

It's a little different, they offer meals and protein shakes, but they also let you choose from a list of what they call smartcarbs and powerfuel. An example of smartcarbs would be 1 cup of blueberries or half a cup of orange juice. Powerfuels would be 1 piece of low fat string cheese or 3oz of crab meat. You can have 2 powerfuels and 2 smartcarbs per day in addition to the meals, desserts and shakes.

Do those have enough calories in them help to make up for the calories you're burning? It's hard to translate nutrisystem to WW.

I just hit the top of my healthy weight range (started at over 200 lbs nearly 1.5 years ago) last week, and an hour of my walk/jog burns more than 500 cal for me according to my HR monitor. If I do an extra half hour I'm up in the 800 cal range. And my calories-burned has gone down quite a bit as the weight has come off (which makes sense as I become a more efficient runner and it takes fewer calories just do keep me existing).

One highfat string cheese calculates into about 3 WW points, which would be half to a third of the Activity Points I would eat after an hour or hour and a half long walk/jog. Lowfat obviously would be lower. Of course I don't know the calorie content of the rest of the food in the program.

I just want to make sure you're eating *enough*, especially since you are saying that your training runs have been tough on you. I don't know how long you've been training; if you started with a C25K program then decided to tackle the TOT (that's what I did! though I did the C25K program two full times before thinking I might be able to do more) or if you just jumped in with the TOT training program, or something else. So I don't know if it's because you're new to the training and just getting used to it, or if maybe it's too much work without enough fuel.

I don't want you to pass out. Seriously, I did it a few months back. Did a HARD training run and increased my mileage way too much (this is before starting the TOT stuff, I was just doing stuff on my own), had accidentally had double the caffeine that day without enough water, and had left the bulk of my food for dinner and dessert (AFTER my run). Got DS, got home, got in the shower while DH made dinner and whammo. Passed out, hit my head on the faucet and the back of my shoulders on the tub (that HURT by the way). And couldn't think straight for weeks.

I don't want that to happen to anyone else. I know very well that it's hard to train for something like this and keep at a calorie deficit. It's a fine line. Hopefully my thoughts help a little.

 

[chrispel]

They posted the course map on the Run Disney site, it looks the same as last year

 

[annmarieda]

They posted the course map on the Run Disney site, it looks the same as last year

Did you not like last years course?

 

[wilkeliza]

Did you not like last years course?

When it went behind WWS complex it was awful. The gravel path was small and was where even the best runners started to get slowed down because no one wanted to slip on a pebble and be out.

 

[moonlitelace]

Thanks for the info!

Do those have enough calories in them help to make up for the calories you're burning? It's hard to translate nutrisystem to WW.

I just hit the top of my healthy weight range (started at over 200 lbs nearly 1.5 years ago) last week, and an hour of my walk/jog burns more than 500 cal for me according to my HR monitor. If I do an extra half hour I'm up in the 800 cal range. And my calories-burned has gone down quite a bit as the weight has come off (which makes sense as I become a more efficient runner and it takes fewer calories just do keep me existing).

One highfat string cheese calculates into about 3 WW points, which would be half to a third of the Activity Points I would eat after an hour or hour and a half long walk/jog. Lowfat obviously would be lower. Of course I don't know the calorie content of the rest of the food in the program.

I just want to make sure you're eating *enough*, especially since you are saying that your training runs have been tough on you. I don't know how long you've been training; if you started with a C25K program then decided to tackle the TOT (that's what I did! though I did the C25K program two full times before thinking I might be able to do more) or if you just jumped in with the TOT training program, or something else. So I don't know if it's because you're new to the training and just getting used to it, or if maybe it's too much work without enough fuel.

I don't want you to pass out. Seriously, I did it a few months back. Did a HARD training run and increased my mileage way too much (this is before starting the TOT stuff, I was just doing stuff on my own), had accidentally had double the caffeine that day without enough water, and had left the bulk of my food for dinner and dessert (AFTER my run). Got DS, got home, got in the shower while DH made dinner and whammo. Passed out, hit my head on the faucet and the back of my shoulders on the tub (that HURT by the way). And couldn't think straight for weeks.

I don't want that to happen to anyone else. I know very well that it's hard to train for something like this and keep at a calorie deficit. It's a fine line. Hopefully my thoughts help a little.

I didn't think about that as I've been more focused on staying hydrated. They're 210 calories, plus you add in a powerfuel for lunch so depends on what you pick for the powerfuel and guys get to add a smartcarb for lunch too.

 

[PrincessV]

It's a little different, they offer meals and protein shakes, but they also let you choose from a list of what they call smartcarbs and powerfuel. An example of smartcarbs would be 1 cup of blueberries or half a cup of orange juice. Powerfuels would be 1 piece of low fat string cheese or 3oz of crab meat. You can have 2 powerfuels and 2 smartcarbs per day in addition to the meals, desserts and shakes.

I just want to make sure you're eating *enough*, especially since you are saying that your training runs have been tough on you.

I'm gonna echo bumbershoot here. I tried Nutrisystem about a year and half ago, just as I was starting my distance running journey. I was fine for the first 5 or 6 months, when my longest distances were in the 5K - 5 mile range. But I was in bad shape when the distances got longer; I just wasn't getting enough calories or carbs to fuel those runs. And that's the downside to distance running; it's very, very hard to eat so as to feel good running long and lose weight. I encourage you to chat with a Nutrisystem counselor and explain your situation; see if they think you're okay on calories or need a bump around long runs.

When it went behind WWS complex it was awful. The gravel path was small and was where even the best runners started to get slowed down because no one wanted to slip on a pebble and be out.

Yeah, I'm not thrilled about that path. It didn't matter last year, since I was hobbling by that point anyway, but I intend to be uninjured this year and really don't want to either slow down or twist an ankle there. Dare we hope that they've since widened and paved it over?!

 

[chrispel]

Did you not like last years course?

The rock path and the exit off of the baseball field sucked. I almost ate it turning out of the baseball field and going down the little ramp. Also running on Osceola Pkwy most of the race was not fun.

I guess I thought they were going to change the course this year since they posted that video of them mapping the course and the price increase. Oh well, I will have to deal with it and hope I can beat my time from last year.

 

[annmarieda]

When it went behind WWS complex it was awful. The gravel path was small and was where even the best runners started to get slowed down because no one wanted to slip on a pebble and be out.

It was crowded at that point. It was a neat path though, so I overlooked how crowded it was..even though I was slightly injured there. (somehow a rock got kicked up so high and so hard that I had a goose egg and bruise for weeks)

My thought was they were improving that part of the course. I guess I just assumed based on the video that RD put out... but I guess there is no really confirmation of that being the case.

The rock path and the exit off of the baseball field sucked. I almost ate it turning out of the baseball field and going down the little ramp. Also running on Osceola Pkwy most of the race was not fun.

I guess I thought they were going to change the course this year since they posted that video of them mapping the course and the price increase. Oh well, I will have to deal with it and hope I can beat my time from last year.

I didn't mind the field so much. There were a couple sharp turns. My running partner wasn't really up to running much though, so I didn't really feel them all that much since we walked around them.

As for Osceola... I honestly didn't notice any difference in that than any part of the phm. Just a highway...

 

[bumbershoot]

When it went behind WWS complex it was awful. The gravel path was small and was where even the best runners started to get slowed down because no one wanted to slip on a pebble and be out.

The rock path and the exit off of the baseball field sucked. I almost ate it turning out of the baseball field and going down the little ramp.

These things are so good to know and look out for! Thank you!

 

[wilkeliza]

These things are so good to know and look out for! Thank you!

That was the exact point of no return for me (the rock path). I had never run on gravel so didn't want to slip and twist my ankle so I stopped my intervals and just walked. Once I started just walking my body felt the heat and I never was able to run very much after that. I think my intervals became 30 sec run for every 3 mins of walk

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Anyone have a sense of how long the rock path was? Doesn't sound super pleasant to me...

 

[annmarieda]

Anyone have a sense of how long the rock path was? Doesn't sound super pleasant to me...

I searched on mapmyrun Looks like maybe 600m. So like once an a half times around a track?

 

[annmarieda]

Ok, finding that on mapmyrun I mapped it myself. It is .44 miles. (give or take) So if you are walking it and keeping the 16 minute mile pace. You should be out of the woods in less than 10 minutes.

 

[cewait]

I searched on mapmyrun Looks like maybe 600m. So like once an a half times around a track?

Really just a little longer at about .45 miles or 700-750 meters.

It is well lit for the race and not really all that bad. Do yourself a favor in training and pick a half mile about 3/4 of the way through your training runs and run on the side of the path you are on or on a gravelly dirt road. Once you understand that you will need to pick up the knees a bit and shorten the stride a little, you will do fine.

 

[annmarieda]

Really just a little longer at about .45 miles or 700-750 meters.

It is well lit for the race and not really all that bad. Do yourself a favor in training and pick a half mile about 3/4 of the way through your training runs and run on the side of the path you are on or on a gravelly dirt road. Once you understand that you will need to pick up the knees a bit and shorten the stride a little, you will do fine.

Yup... corrected myself again (see above your comment) I agree... it wasn't so bad. I think the congestion was worse than the gravel. I actually thought it was a fun area and kinda envied the 5k runners from that morning since theirs was the happy haunted trail.

 

[PrincessV]

I'll call it "improved" if they ditch the big, ugly plastic bugs and fake gator. Was that dumb thing growling?!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I searched on mapmyrun Looks like maybe 600m. So like once an a half times around a track?

Ok, finding that on mapmyrun I mapped it myself. It is .44 miles. (give or take) So if you are walking it and keeping the 16 minute mile pace. You should be out of the woods in less than 10 minutes.

Really just a little longer at about .45 miles or 700-750 meters.

It is well lit for the race and not really all that bad. Do yourself a favor in training and pick a half mile about 3/4 of the way through your training runs and run on the side of the path you are on or on a gravelly dirt road. Once you understand that you will need to pick up the knees a bit and shorten the stride a little, you will do fine.

Ok... so it's not sounding THAT bad to me now... Thanks you guys!!!