Official 2015 Disney Marathon Thread

[Nole95]

For my long runs I am out running around 5am on any given week. I much prefer to do that than the afternoon run, and with it behind me I can focus on the rest of my day.

My body just does not respond well to long runs in the afternoon. I have never done good on a long run in the late afternoon hours.

This does serve me well since I have no problems waking up when it counts.

 

[Ariel484]

Ditto this. It stinks when that alarm goes off, but the few times I've tried to run later in the day have been just terrible runs for me. I feel so much more sluggish on an afternoon run. I love the way I feel the rest of the day when I've had a morning run and really, once I'm up for 10 minutes or so it's just not that big of a deal. It's just that first motion of swinging myself out of bed that's tough! Not to mention that once summer hits full on, the heat in the afternoons makes running unbearable.

Totally agree, actually waking up for it is the hardest, and worst, part.

Like others, switched over about 3-4 years ago from afternoon workouts to morning workouts. I usually am able to get a 5-miler in before leaving for work. However, I usually have to rise by 4:15/4:30, drink a small cup of coffee to get the ....body going (unless I only want a 2-miler ), then off I go. Weights and cross-training same thing. All on an empty stomach.

Same for me. It's hard for me to get anything down that early.

For my long runs I am out running around 5am on any given week. I much prefer to do that than the afternoon run, and with it behind me I can focus on the rest of my day.

See...I know this is the smart thing to do, but I find myself lazing around, watching TV, messing around on the iPad...then I finally get out in the afternoon and am kicking myself for not getting it done earlier!

 

[Nole95]

Totally agree, actually waking up for it is the hardest, and worst, part.

Same for me. It's hard for me to get anything down that early.

See...I know this is the smart thing to do, but I find myself lazing around, watching TV, messing around on the iPad...then I finally get out in the afternoon and am kicking myself for not getting it done earlier!

My schedule is pretty set at that hour.

Wake up
Get Dressed
Eat a Clif Bar with some PowerAde (sounds like an odd mix, but it works for me)
Out the door thirty minutes after I wake up.

Last week I did not feel like waking up at all, but I forced myself to. I thought I would have a bad long run, but it ended up being the best one I have done. I usually do not look at my GPS watch until well into my run. I just go with what feels good on that morning. I was surprised when I saw the pace I was running, but I guess all the tempo runs and speed work are starting to pay off.

 

[PrincessV]

FWIW, I am NOT a morning runner and, apart from races, I don't get out at 5am to run. Ever. I tried a few times and it just wrecked me; exercise doesn't energize me at all - it wipes me out! So running the evenings is how I tackle summer heat during the week - I eat dinner then head out shortly before sunset, when the sun is low and the trees' shadows are long, shower and go right to sleep. Weekend long runs are in the morning, only because it's a safer bet to avoid our monsoon-like summer weather, but I don't head out until sunrise and run a route that's mostly shaded. When the heat really gets bad in late summer, I'll do the first hour+ outdoors, then finish up on a treadmill in AC.

 

[jerivera]

Isn't the morning vs afternoon runs a temperature/heart rate thing also?

Early morning = colder temps/little direct sun = slower heart rate = faster/less water loss/more comfortable runs.

Afternoon = hotter temps/sun-beating-down-on-you = faster heart rate (not for good reasons)= slower/sweatier(more water loss)/harder runs.

I've only just switched to morning runs due to the temperature rise of mid-late spring (TX gets hot pretty quickly). And boy, can I tell the difference!!!

 

[Nole95]

Isn't the morning vs afternoon runs a temperature/heart rate thing also?

Early morning = colder temps/little direct sun = slower heart rate = faster/less water loss/more comfortable runs.

Afternoon = hotter temps/sun-beating-down-on-you = faster heart rate (not for good reasons)= slower/sweatier(more water loss)/harder runs.

I've only just switched to morning runs due to the temperature rise of mid-late spring (TX gets hot pretty quickly). And boy, can I tell the difference!!!

I've done some afternoon long runs in cooler temperatures as well, and they still did not really work well for me. Yes, the sun was beating down on me, but each time, the air temperature was very nice. If I need to do a short 3-5 mile run in the afternoon, I can suck it up, but those long runs just don't work well for me at all.

I would not even think of going for an afternoon long run outdoors during the summer. The mornings are even tough sometimes depending on the humidity.

I have a 10 mile run tomorrow where the temperature will be 15 degrees warmer than it was last week when I ran the same distance. I am going to be curious to see if I get the same results.

 

[PrincessV]

Isn't the morning vs afternoon runs a temperature/heart rate thing also?

Early morning = colder temps/little direct sun = slower heart rate = faster/less water loss/more comfortable runs.

Afternoon = hotter temps/sun-beating-down-on-you = faster heart rate (not for good reasons)= slower/sweatier(more water loss)/harder runs.

I've only just switched to morning runs due to the temperature rise of mid-late spring (TX gets hot pretty quickly). And boy, can I tell the difference!!!

It all depends on where you live... here, on the Tampa Bay coast, mornings are not cooler in summer. Technically speaking, the temp might be a few degrees lower - say 85 vs. 90 - but the humidity is at its highest, sea breeze nearly nonexistent, making an early morning run feel like swimming through a swamp. The Gulf of MX traps humidity here like a bubble; I've also run early mornings in WDW in summer and it's so much more comfortable there! Still, it's even worse here once the sun's all the way up, and I can pretty much count on no lightning in the early hours, so I suck it up and run my long runs in the early mornings.

But I MUCH prefer my short, mid-week runs in the evening! We've usually had a big storm pass through, which cools down the asphalt and sometimes takes the air temp down a couple degrees. With the sun low, I can run mostly in shadows, which is a BIG help to physical comfort, and the sea breeze is usually kicking by then, which helps, too.

 

[derekleigh]

Random question - DOes anyone think the medals will drastically change from 2014 WDW Marathon Weekend? I know the 2014 medals had a BIG overhaul and the 5K "medal" changes every year. I really love this year's marathon medal and 2015 will be my first full. Just curious.

Also any idea as to the theme for the 2015 WDW 5K?

 

[FFigawi]

Random question - DOes anyone think the medals will drastically change from 2014? I know the 2014 medals had a BIG overhaul and the 5K "medal" changes every year. I really love this year's marathon medal and 2015 will be my first full. Just curious. Also any idea as to the theme for the 2015 WDW 5K?

I'm going to say Star Wars just to get the masses all riled up.

 

[annmarieda]

I'm going to say Star Wars just to get the masses all riled up.

 

[jerivera]

I would not even think of going for an afternoon long run outdoors during the summer. The mornings are even tough sometimes depending on the humidity.

Yep, I apologize. I forgot about humidity. It isn't usually a big factor here. But of course, since I forgot about it, TX decided to slap me in the face with it during yesterday morning's run...

<-- that's me sweating during the run.

 

[annmarieda]

I apologize in advance. I will post this to various threads I am sub'd to. So if you see this more than once...

Anyway, who doesn't love a deal? So while it does not work for me I thought it might for some. There is a seriously deal on a couple of the brooks pure line here

The two shoes (flow and cadence) are both from the "2" line. The pure flows are just $39.95. Shipping I think is free. The Cadence is just $10 more. I did wear the 1's and now the 3's (2's didn't work - gave me blisters) Makes me wonder though if for $40 I shouldn't try to make them work.

Hope it works for someone.

 

[sumlee]

Heading out for a nice 11-miler in the sunshine! Have a wonderful Memorial Day, everyone!

 

[annmarieda]

Heading out for a nice 11-miler in the sunshine! Have a wonderful Memorial Day, everyone!

that is awesome! I am jealous: I can't wait to get my mileage back up.

 

[WDWarchitectureguy]

I'm in for my first Full Marathon and why not go full in, so I went Full Dopey. My wife is doing the 10K and the 1/2.

Anyone in the Dallas area running?

 

[Weluvdisny]

We're getting close to the 7 month mark people!!

I'm so excited but also so nervous to run my first marathon! Just the thought of running for 4-4.5 hours seems so overwhelming. I have run 2 1/2 marathons and many 10 milers but never a marathon. I'm thinking about starting to do my long runs on the weekends. I just don't want to wait and not be prepared in December in case the bad weather makes it hard to get out. Time to get cracka-lackin'!

 

[Outonarun]

We're getting close to the 7 month mark people!!

Yes! Thanks for the temporal update!

I am so excited for the upcoming races, for myself and for all participants -- It's going to be great, y'all! And, I feel extra-excitement for the first-time marathoners!

 

[Ariel484]

We're getting close to the 7 month mark people!!

Woohoo!!!

I'm so excited but also so nervous to run my first marathon! Just the thought of running for 4-4.5 hours seems so overwhelming. I have run 2 1/2 marathons and many 10 milers but never a marathon. I'm thinking about starting to do my long runs on the weekends. I just don't want to wait and not be prepared in December in case the bad weather makes it hard to get out. Time to get cracka-lackin'!

This will be marathon #3 for me. The best advice I can give you is to pick a training plan that you think will work for your body/schedule, and stick to it. Trust in your training plan.

I thought the whole thing was nuts when I was training for the first one, but I remember coming home from an 18-miler at some point in November/December and I just KNEW. I knew I was going to finish. If you work hard over the next few months, you'll be ready.

 

[derekleigh]

We're getting close to the 7 month mark people!!

I'm so excited but also so nervous to run my first marathon! Just the thought of running for 4-4.5 hours seems so overwhelming. I have run 2 1/2 marathons and many 10 milers but never a marathon. I'm thinking about starting to do my long runs on the weekends. I just don't want to wait and not be prepared in December in case the bad weather makes it hard to get out. Time to get cracka-lackin'!

Mine too! I've got that excited/nervous feeling. I've laid out my longest runs (20+) for Oct- Nov and (if weather permits) another 20+ miler in Dec. December is a real wildcard month in New Hampshire; it could be 40-50 degrees or it could be snowing!

 

[sumlee]

Woohoo!!! This will be marathon #3 for me. The best advice I can give you is to pick a training plan that you think will work for your body/schedule, and stick to it. Trust in your training plan. I thought the whole thing was nuts when I was training for the first one, but I remember coming home from an 18-miler at some point in November/December and I just KNEW. I knew I was going to finish. If you work hard over the next few months, you'll be ready.

Thanks for these encouraging words! I'm sure hoping you're right! I've done 6 half marathons now, but the thought of doing double that distance is mind boggling! But then again, I remember (not too long ago) when the thought of doing 13.1 seemed absolutely impossible!