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

[satman1962]

Finally got the last 20 miles in, and it wasn't pretty. Last 3 miles were at a snails pace, don't know where I'll find the last 6 from. It'll be all heart from there.

 

[Outonarun]

Finally got the last 20 miles in, and it wasn't pretty. Last 3 miles were at a snails pace, don't know where I'll find the last 6 from. It'll be all heart from there.

Congrats on your final training 20 miler... I feel the same way about the last six of the marathon. And, it is not uncommon for the last miles of my long runs to be much slower than the previous miles.

This morning, I was wondering if anyone is still running long. I have been contemplating doing one more before the WDW races, for added confidence and anxiety reduction. Your post motivated me to set the alarm for tomorrow and head out. Thanks

 

[creativeamanda]

I don't intend to run too much more except for a couple of maintenance runs, but no more 20-milers.

I was so sore afterwards with the 20-milers, I don't know how I will be able to move the day after, but we'll see.

 

[Outonarun]

I don't intend to run too much more except for a couple of maintenance runs, but no more 20-milers.

I was so sore afterwards with the 20-milers, I don't know how I will be able to move the day after, but we'll see.

If I slow my average per mile pace for the entire long run, I don't get sore. Maybe you can try that, if not this training cycle, in a future one.

I remember the aftermath of a Goofy race a couple years ago, when I could not walk up even the smallest curb, and had to go down stairs backward, supporting my weight with my upper body lest my leg muscles fail. I was very well trained, but ran too hard, too fast. I love running as fast as I can, but I get really sore if I do that on long runs. This marathon, I am going to try to moderate my pace. Good luck to you

 

[satman1962]

This morning, I was wondering if anyone is still running long. I have been contemplating doing one more before the WDW races, for added confidence and anxiety reduction. Your post motivated me to set the alarm for tomorrow and head out. Thanks

Glad to help! I just had to wait for a break in the cold weather and today was a balmy 36F!

If I slow my average per mile pace for the entire long run, I don't get sore. Maybe you can try that, if not this training cycle, in a future one.

I remember the aftermath of a Goofy race a couple years ago, when I could not walk up even the smallest curb, and had to go down stairs backward, supporting my weight with my upper body lest my leg muscles fail. I was very well trained, but ran too hard, too fast. I love running as fast as I can, but I get really sore if I do that on long runs. This marathon, I am going to try to moderate my pace. Good luck to you

Good advice, I think I started out a bit too fast and faded at the end... by the time I got in, I could hardly bend down to un-tie my runners

 

[kmchisholm]

IT band issues anyone? My left is severely flaring up (to the point I was unable to run 30 minutes yesterday!). I already have a bum right knee from a skiing injury two years ago. I am stretching and foam rolling, plus am going to book a massage for next week. Any other advice anyone? I am beyond worried!

Yes, been fighting since my last long run in mid-Nov. Running in the pool helped significantly. While I've done mainly land work for the past two weeks I'm going to mix it up to give it rest before the full - only two more weeks now!

Also, have been doing weekly massages with emphasis on that area and it helped massively!

 

[steves1019]

Well, my training has gone very well. No injuries, made most my runs and stayed healthy. Coming down with a slight cold, still got my 12 miles in today but bummed the cold is coming on. At the same time I feel "lucky" because we still have 2 weeks till go time, I should easily be over it by then and I've never gotten 2 colds or any other sickness back to back. So I'm paying my dues now for a sick free marathon ;-)

 

[MightyDuck001]

IT band issues anyone? My left is severely flaring up (to the point I was unable to run 30 minutes yesterday!). I already have a bum right knee from a skiing injury two years ago. I am stretching and foam rolling, plus am going to book a massage for next week. Any other advice anyone? I am beyond worried!

I do! Right side. KT tape has helped a lot, as has modifying my pace and avoiding downhills. It was terrible on my 20 miler yesterday, I think because I pushed the pace too much the day before on my 10 miler. I'll be spending a lot of time icing and stretching going forward.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

Need encouragement! I had a really bad last long run yesterday. I am training for Goofy. Things were going pretty well until I hit mile 13. Then everything went downhill fast. Managed to finish 3 more miles most of it walking. Severe tightness in right hip/quad. I ran 20 two weeks ago no problems. So I have no idea what happened yesterday. It was supposed to be a run to boost my confidence and it did just the opposite.

I don't have as many long runs as I hoped but did ok-. 15, 18, 20, and yesterday's 16 all spaced about 2 weeks apart. I was out for a week or so with a bad cold. Just don't know why the 16 mile run went so badly yesterday. Weather was good too, just windy and a little too chilly for my taste. Wah! I hope it will be the case of bad rehearsal = good performance...

Anyone else had a bad last long run but good race?

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Need encouragement! I had a really bad last long run yesterday. I am training for Goofy. Things were going pretty well until I hit mile 13. Then everything went downhill fast. Managed to finish 3 more miles most of it walking. Severe tightness in right hip/quad. I ran 20 two weeks ago no problems. So I have no idea what happened yesterday. It was supposed to be a run to boost my confidence and it did just the opposite. I don't have as many long runs as I hoped but did ok-. 15, 18, 20, and yesterday's 16 all spaced about 2 weeks apart. I was out for a week or so with a bad cold. Just don't know why the 16 mile run went so badly yesterday. Weather was good too, just windy and a little too chilly for my taste. Wah! I hope it will be the case of bad rehearsal = good performance... Anyone else had a bad last long run but good race?

What training plan are you using? If you got almost all of your runs in, then one bad run won't make a difference. Everyone has bad days.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

What training plan are you using? If you got almost all of your runs in, then one bad run won't make a difference. Everyone has bad days.

I'm using a combination of plans because I got off track with weeks and thus kept modifying as I went. Goal was to get in an 18, 20, 18 then taper. I've been doing cross training as well as a couple of back to back runs to practice Goofy. I "failed" on that last long run but since I am only on a two week taper, I am more concerned about how i felt rather than the shorter mileage. Today I have muscle soreness esp in quads as if I haven't run in awhile. Now what was different on yesterday's run is it was the first long run outside in trails in about a month. Could that have made the difference? It was windy and muddy in a few places. A few little hills but nothing big. Still maybe that is the difference? If so it is good that I ventured outside yesterday else I think the race weekend would be really bad.

I'm out of panic mode and refocusing and hopefully race weekend will go better. Trying to forget the bad stuff from yesterday and thinking that run just made me stronger. Oh what we go through for a few medals!

 

[goofeygirl]

I think most of us are in a similar boat. I did my 23.2 miles on the mill a few weeks ago with big plans for these last few weeks...nothing! I came down with something then Christmas and traveling and so forth. Today I originally planned to do 13 miles which then went to 10 miles and I ended up doing 8!

It was cold...I have remnants of what might be a cold and I was winded. This will pass by next week.


I am just relying on my 23.2 miles that I did a couple of weeks ago...I was sore afterwards but I was able to get around and drive around too...and the next day I was fine...nothing.
Having wrote that, I did not do anything back to back in quite some time...perhaps Oct or early November.

At this point I am not doing any distance...I would like to do 8 miles on New Years day and see what happens the weekend.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I'm using a combination of plans because I got off track with weeks and thus kept modifying as I went. Goal was to get in an 18, 20, 18 then taper. I've been doing cross training as well as a couple of back to back runs to practice Goofy. I "failed" on that last long run but since I am only on a two week taper, I am more concerned about how i felt rather than the shorter mileage. Today I have muscle soreness esp in quads as if I haven't run in awhile. Now what was different on yesterday's run is it was the first long run outside in trails in about a month. Could that have made the difference? It was windy and muddy in a few places. A few little hills but nothing big. Still maybe that is the difference? If so it is good that I ventured outside yesterday else I think the race weekend would be really bad. I'm out of panic mode and refocusing and hopefully race weekend will go better. Trying to forget the bad stuff from yesterday and thinking that run just made me stronger. Oh what we go through for a few medals!

If you were running on trails and dealing with mud your step may have been different than normal. Doing that for miles might make your quads hurt since you were probably tensing them when you were running around those muddy spots. Who knows, but it's taper time and you will be filled with adrenaline on race weekend. When I ran the marathon two years ago, my quads killed me the day after the race. I never had pain during training. But long training runs are at a much slower pace. I would be careful to not run too fast or hard during the 1/2. You don't want to be in pain the morning of the full. Have fun and good luck!

 

[RnbwSktles]

My biggest concern at this point is that I can't stop gaining weight. The holidays are killer! I'm afraid I'm going to feel the extra weight on race day.

 

[nemmie]

My biggest concern at this point is that I can't stop gaining weight. The holidays are killer! I'm afraid I'm going to feel the extra weight on race day.

THIS!
I thought I would lose so much weight training for a marathon. WRONG!
I will be glad to go back to half distance and be able to control myself around food again!

 

[garner384]

Expo busing question.
Do they have buses that run from the Expo to the parks? We will hit he Expo Wednesday to pick up bibs and will have to head back to the hotel to drop of all the shirts and bags. On Thursday we will be at the kids races and would like to head directly to EPCOT after the 100m dash.

 

[MightyDuck001]

I have another bus question... how's bus service from the Boardwalk to the start lines?
I stayed there for W&D and it took over an hour to get on the bus because they kept filling up at the Beach Club and then just never stopping at the BW--I know I can't walk to the start through Epcot which kinda blows, since I would just do that.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Expo busing question.
Do they have buses that run from the Expo to the parks? We will hit he Expo Wednesday to pick up bibs and will have to head back to the hotel to drop of all the shirts and bags. On Thursday we will be at the kids races and would like to head directly to EPCOT after the 100m dash.

in the past they have not had bus service from the expo to the parks. i'm pretty sure they won't again. you could take a bus to an epcot resort and walk to epcot.

I have another bus question... how's bus service from the Boardwalk to the start lines?
I stayed there for W&D and it took over an hour to get on the bus because they kept filling up at the Beach Club and then just never stopping at the BW--I know I can't walk to the start through Epcot which kinda blows, since I would just do that.

like with regular disney bus service, one person can have a great experience while the next staying at the same resort may have a terrible experience. just get up early and get in line early and hope that it works out.

 

[Diskidatheart]

I have another bus question... how's bus service from the Boardwalk to the start lines?
I stayed there for W&D and it took over an hour to get on the bus because they kept filling up at the Beach Club and then just never stopping at the BW--I know I can't walk to the start through Epcot which kinda blows, since I would just do that.

I may be a little off base here, but it seemed like last year, when we stayed at the Boardwalk, they had their own buses from the resort. I don't recall stopping at the other resorts first. On the way back was a different story as we had to stop at BC, YC, and Swan & Dolphin. My issue last year was that they had a designated bus stop for the race pickup, but then the buses were stopping near the main entrance. When a bunch of us moved up there, the buses began stopping at the designated pickup spot, so we had to move back down. We lost about 30 minutes...and due to the high volume of traffic and slow walk to the starting corral, I barely made it on time.

 

[goofeygirl]

I think one year they had buses that would pickup for different Epcot resorts. Last year I was at the Dolphin and it was just for the Dolphin guests.

My guess is that perhaps it is based on how many guests are at each resort? If they have a lot of guests booked for a marathon package rate maybe they are basing it on that...

I agree with what was posted before...I know for the Dolphin the 'q' for the bus gets longer as longer...the later it goes. I aim for the earlier buses...the line is not as winding and long.

You are going to be waiting around anyway. You can wait in your room until the last bus and then wait in a long long line...or you get on an earlier bus and wait at the starting area.

Either way ... you are going to be waiting around.