OFFICIAL 2014 WDW Marathon Countdown: WE DID IT! Congrats everyone!

[DOOM1001]

I did a half marathon and the TOT ten miler in October,but I think I'm going into this marathon undertrained as in November I pulled my hamstring and have stayed pretty much of it since.I tried to do 4-5 miles on the treadmill like 2 weeks after and once I got the treadmill to 5.5 the hamstring tightened up on me again.I went back to the treadmill last week and it was fine.I definitely didn't go past 6.0 but I did 4 miles and finished fine.I'm going back on the treadmill tonight and will try to do every stretch possible to avoid another issue.If I have to walk a bit more in the marathon that's fine but I don't want to finish injured.I did go 15 miles on the street before the hamstring injury but it wasn't a great run as rain started coming down around mile 9,I had plans to do a couple more long runs of 18+ but the hamstring stopped that and it's too late now to do that and I rather have the hamstring heal and not get overstressed and injured again.

 

[Nole95]

Are the food courts at the various resorts open in the early hours that all us runners will be up for these races? Can you get a cup of coffee, bagel, etc. at 3am if need be before getting on a bus?

 

[smallsy]

What strategy do you suggest if your running buddy in a different corral than you? Would you have them hang back somewhere to meet you? I was trying to be realistic in estimating my marathon time for goofy (slower than half and hello I'll still be sore from the day before), but that means I ended up about 3 corrals back from my BIL who put a half time. I should've just "lied" and put in my typical half time of 2hrs rather than use the full time of 4:45

 

[kmchisholm]

I apologize as I know this has been posted somewhere but can't find - did I read where the manager of AKL will provide breakfast that am?

 

[smallsy]

Nevermind, I just read on page 46 of the program that the faster runner can move back to the slower corral.

Has anyone ever had a problem with that? I can see a race official giving my BIL a hard time about being in my corral.

 

[FloridaNative8]

Nevermind, I just read on page 46 of the program that the faster runner can move back to the slower corral.

Has anyone ever had a problem with that? I can see a race official giving my BIL a hard time about being in my corral.

My husband dropped back a couple of corrals during the W&D half to be with me. They had no problems doing that, only with people trying to go up in corrals.

Shouldn't be an issue!

 

[cutigress]

What Clif products are on the course? Reading the final instructions today....

 

[steves1019]

The program is now online, and page 7 on the PDF files shows "runners will be prohibited from accessing the start corrals from Bonnet Creek Parkway or Buena Vista Drive." I'm not surprised but am happy Disney got the word out early.

Has this been posted in the guide before? In other words will it be strictly enforced? I chose POFQ so I could take advantage of the walk, I'll be really disappointed if I can't. I appreciate the fact that they let us know and it's for safety. But is still like to try if the vets think we can still utilize the walk.

 

[DoctorK]

What Clif products are on the course? Reading the final instructions today....

Clif shots - various flavors.

 

[steves1019]

Has this been posted in the guide before? In other words will it be strictly enforced? I chose POFQ so I could take advantage of the walk, I'll be really disappointed if I can't. I appreciate the fact that they let us know and it's for safety. But is still like to try if the vets think we can still utilize the walk.

I just read the guide, this is noted in several spots. Guess they are serious. Bummer cause that was the entire strategy in choosing my resort. I could have found a cheaper option. I don't want to be the person they make an example of though. So I guess I'll have to follow the rules. Would hate to lose out after all the training. Though I could wear some camo and sneak in, who's with me, lol

 

[Diskidatheart]

Has this been posted in the guide before? In other words will it be strictly enforced? I chose POFQ so I could take advantage of the walk, I'll be really disappointed if I can't. I appreciate the fact that they let us know and it's for safety. But is still like to try if the vets think we can still utilize the walk.

I believe in the past that they have just discouraged it. I think they are serious about it this year. With the bombings in Boston, I would expect tightened security in both these access areas and the baggage drop areas. Unfortunately, it was never a 100% option that you would be able to walk from OKW or POFQ and in the past they were pretty lenient on it, but I wouldn't chance it this year.

Also, as stated in another thread, it may be a good idea to get there early this year. If security is tightened, it could lead to longer waits getting through the entrances.

 

[DOOM1001]

What Clif products are on the course? Reading the final instructions today....

Are the final race instructions posted?I see the event guide but not the final race instructions,I've been waiting for them to see at just what time my corral will start with the new corral setup.

 

[cewait]

Has this been posted in the guide before? In other words will it be strictly enforced? I chose POFQ so I could take advantage of the walk, I'll be really disappointed if I can't. I appreciate the fact that they let us know and it's for safety. But is still like to try if the vets think we can still utilize the walk.

I think the advice in last year's program was a safety warning... It was loosely written and along the lines of "We discourage the use of headphones..." This language is very specific and in the program no less than three times AND it comes after the A Holes in Boston. Having run the ToT and been near the start of the W&D, I would not advise walking. Recall I have been a proponent and even furnished maps showing a non road path to the start. Please take the bus or Drive. This is not a joke in my read and I do believe a runner will be turned if they attempt a walk. Basically, anyone who will have access to the course in a park will have to go through some form of security. In the fall races dogs and other not so obvious measures were in place.

For the record, I will be looking over from my corral on Saturday to see how tight the security is at the cross over.

 

[cewait]

What Clif products are on the course? Reading the final instructions today....

Answered about but wanted to add that in addition to Cliff Shots there are Cliff Blocks as well

At least for the 11 mm runners and faster

 

[steves1019]

I think the advice in last year's program was a safety warning... It was loosely written and along the lines of "We discourage the use of headphones..." This language is very specific and in the program no less than three times AND it comes after the A Holes in Boston. Having run the ToT and been near the start of the W&D, I would not advise walking. Recall I have been a proponent and even furnished maps showing a non road path to the start. Please take the bus or Drive. This is not a joke in my read and I do believe a runner will be turned if they attempt a walk. Basically, anyone who will have access to the course in a park will have to go through some form of security. In the fall races dogs and other not so obvious measures were in place. For the record, I will be looking over from my corral on Saturday to see how tight the security is at the cross over.

Thanks and makes sense. Just sucks. Owell I'll be in Disney so not all that bad ;-)

 

[steves1019]

Speaking of headphones. You running with or without?

 

[John VN]

I think the advice in last year's program was a safety warning... It was loosely written and along the lines of "We discourage the use of headphones..." This language is very specific and in the program no less than three times AND it comes after the A Holes in Boston. Having run the ToT and been near the start of the W&D, I would not advise walking. Recall I have been a proponent and even furnished maps showing a non road path to the start. Please take the bus or Drive. This is not a joke in my read and I do believe a runner will be turned if they attempt a walk. Basically, anyone who will have access to the course in a park will have to go through some form of security. In the fall races dogs and other not so obvious measures were in place.

For the record, I will be looking over from my corral on Saturday to see how tight the security is at the cross over.

The apparent increase in security has me wondering if I will be able to leave the marathon route for my McFlurry at mile 15 and then return. With the thought of not being able to due so, I have decided to bring a McFlurry to the start of each Dopey race. They should still be in good shape since our motorhome will be parked in the EPCOT lot and I will not be heading to the starts until the last minute. 3 weeks away and one down.

McFlurry John

 

[buckeyecinderella]

Without more than likely. I may carry them just in case I need extra motivation, but I generally don't like to run outdoors or in races with them on.

 

[cewait]

Speaking of headphones. You running with or without?

It's kind of funny. I rarely train with them and only bring them to a marathon distance race. I will wear them if I am feeling undertrained... such as this year. So that was a long way of saying, yes the ear buds will be with me along with the iPhone and Garmin Live App. I will probably not have them in until mile 9 or so.

I am remembering a funny thing about the USATF, sanctioned races and headphones. In the 08 or 09 time frame, the USATF decided to make race directors of sanctioned races the heavy in their no head phone policy. Several races in front of Disney went as far as DQ'ing runners based on finisher photos with headphones in. Disney was toeing the group line but had a problem when it came to anyone taking them seriously. The second place winner in the Princess was on a lot of the literature with headphones. Before marathon weekend, the USATF relaxed their unenforceable policy to the advisory you see today.

 

[cewait]

The apparent increase in security has me wondering if I will be able to leave the marathon route for my McFlurry at mile 15 and then return. With the thought of not being able to due so, I have decided to bring a McFlurry to the start of each Dopey race. They should still be in good shape since our motorhome will be parked in the EPCOT lot and I will not be heading to the starts until the last minute. 3 weeks away and one down.

McFlurry John

I heard that they were moving a run through window up the hill just for you