Official 2015 Disney Marathon Thread

[dta87]

Well, I just did my 26 mile training run! It's the most I've ever done. All I have to say is HOLY *(&@ THAT WAS HARD!!! Lol!!! Still, I'm proud I did it. And that I'm still functional after it. Question, though. Does anyone know if "total climb" (Runkeeper thing) is the same as what they post as "gain" in Mapmyrun for the Disney Marathon? I found online that it's "Gain 120 ft" from a Mapmyrun map, but not sure if that's the same as that total climb thing. I'm really hoping it's the same thing, because if it is, the Disney Marathon should be a lot less painful than the run from this morning with it's 1,463 total climb! Thanks!!

I used Runkeeper for the 2013 marathon and it showed a total climb of 1568 ft. That is still listed as my best single activity for elevation climb.

FYI: Runkeeper has a known bug with the elevation climb computation. The initial number that is given is not accurate, for my runs it shows an elevation climb of 700+ ft now when it used to show a climb of about 240 ft for the same route. To fix the problem and get an accurate climb amount you need to edit your activity by slightly moving one of the points (make sure that "snap to roads" is unchecked) and saving it and this will update the climb data to the correct amount.

 

[mr incredibleS1]

So, is it time to start a prayer dance to the Disney weather tiki gods to keep it nice and cool that morning?

<- weather prayer dance for 40-55 degree weather!

This guy from the snow belt in North Central MA who is used to running in temps in the 30's -20's would love that!

You know what worked great when I did the Goofy in '12? Disposable painters jumpsuits for keeping warm before the race when it was in the upper40's / low 50's.

 

[FFigawi]

You know what worked great when I did the Goofy in '12? Disposable painters jumpsuits for keeping warm before the race when it was in the upper40's / low 50's.

Cheap sweats work well too, and they don't just get thrown away. Pick up a pair on the clearance rack at a place like Target or Sports Authority. When you leave them at the start, Disney will collect them and donate them to people in need. They collected 26,000 pounds worth of clothing to be donated during Disney on Ice in 2010.

 

[derekleigh]

So tell me about the Cool Down Party at Downtown Disney. What is it exactly? Would you recommend going? What time do the festivities happen?

Not sure if this was directed to a single person or the board so if I'm butting in I apologize.

The cool down party at DTD wasn't anything I'd go back for unless they offer some REALLY cool FREE stuff. The discounts at the restaurants were nice if you ate there but the other stuff just wasn't worth it.

A couple of the places that we're giving away free items to ANYONE with a medal had changed it (unbeknownst to anyone) that the medal had to be a Half, full, or challenge. I ran the half so it didn't mean anything to me but other family members ran the 5k or 10k. Thus the staff seemed snobbish and I refuse to go back to those places for anything. P*ssed me off.


But wait and take a look at the virtual gift bag and see what is in store for this year.

 

[bumbershoot]

Cheap sweats work well too, and they don't just get thrown away. Pick up a pair on the clearance rack at a place like Target or Sports Authority. When you leave them at the start, Disney will collect them and donate them to people in need. They collected 26,000 pounds worth of clothing to be donated during Disney on Ice in 2010.

LOL, Disney on Ice...I heard about that one, though! Sleeting on the marathoners, right?

A friend of mine wore a brand new, tags-on, pair of sweats to the start of the Seattle Half. Since the walk to the start was about 3 minutes, and we got there 5 minutes before the start (such crazy luxury compared to a Disney run, I could barely believe it) they were not worn any more than if someone had simply tried them on. Just before the start he took them off, put them on one of the traffic barriers, and started. I thought it was pretty cool of him! (and at that race they had three locations with actual boxes to put clothing in, but they weren't really anywhere where you would want to shed clothing, so that didn't really work for them)

 

[FFigawi]

LOL, Disney on Ice...I heard about that one, though! Sleeting on the marathoners, right?

Actually, the marathon was fine. It was that lovely blue sky that you get after a front blows through. One of the coldest days Orlando has ever had (27 and very windy), but no sleet or freezing rain. Cold enough that the volunteers were using PowerAde powder to provide traction on the ground where the water was freezing after being spilled. The half, on the other hand, was miserable. Sleet, freezing rain, wind - you name it, we had it. I stayed pretty warm while running, but the wetness soaked through all of my layers once I stopped moving.

 

[jerivera]

I used Runkeeper for the 2013 marathon and it showed a total climb of 1569 ft. That is still listed as my best single activity for elevation climb.

FYI: Runkeeper has a known bug with the elevation climb computation. The initial number that is given is not accurate, for my runs it shows an elevation climb of 700+ ft now when it used to show a climb of about 240 ft for the same route. To fix the problem and get an accurate climb amount you need to edit your activity by slightly moving one of the points (make sure that "snap to roads" is unchecked) and saving it and this will update the climb data to the correct amount.

Dang.... well, here's hoping that it still won't be as bad!

 

[irishtwins1112]

I did my longest miles yesterday , 20 miles. It felt really good. No pain other than a couple of blisters. I wear thorlos which has helped. Starting taping my heels and that keeps those ones away.....but I got one on each foot between the ball of my foot and under my toes. Busted on both feet before I got done in the tender part of my foot, between and under the toe. I tried taping the balls of my feet a few weeks but that just sucked and was not comfortable. Considering wearing compression socks under my thorlos.....in the past I have tried vaseline on my feet(didn't help)....thoughts? Or maybe packing a change of socks for halfway through the half( I really need to not start the full with blisters)?

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Dang.... well, here's hoping that it still won't be as bad!

Trust me, it's not bad at all...seriously pancake-flat. I just checked the elevation from my Nike watch from last year and it was only 34 metres, which is around 115 feet. My watch totals elevation by simply adding up the inclines, so it is a pretty good indicator of how much "climbing" you'll need to do.

It sounds like there's a bug messing with elevation gain on RunKeeper...the only way you could legit get over 1000 feet for the Disney Marathon is if you left your watch on while riding Everest!!

 

[GBBTomorrow]

It's not quite in the barn yet. Most of us still have our peak runs in the next two weeks. Getting close though. The main focus for your last few long runs should be practicing your fueling and hydration like it's race day.

It may not be in the barn, but it is on the wagon and heading that way.

 

[FFigawi]

It may not be in the barn, but it is on the wagon and heading that way.

Yup. Two more long runs and the barn door closes and tapering begins.

 

[FFigawi]

Dang.... well, here's hoping that it still won't be as bad!

It's not that bad at all. One underpass on the way to MK, one overpass after AK, one exit ramp leaving Osceola, and one exit ramp to DHS are the only steep-ish ones, but all quite short. The small ramps & inclines through BW and Epcot are noticeable on tired legs but not really much elevation change.

 

[RD-SOX]

Actually, the marathon was fine. It was that lovely blue sky that you get after a front blows through. One of the coldest days Orlando has ever had (27 and very windy), but no sleet or freezing rain. Cold enough that the volunteers were using PowerAde powder to provide traction on the ground where the water was freezing after being spilled. The half, on the other hand, was miserable. Sleet, freezing rain, wind - you name it, we had it. I stayed pretty warm while running, but the wetness soaked through all of my layers once I stopped moving.

I think I might like 27... hahaha I ran a couple weeks ago when it was 9, us NH folks are used to the cold.....

 

[bumbershoot]

Actually, the marathon was fine. It was that lovely blue sky that you get after a front blows through. One of the coldest days Orlando has ever had (27 and very windy), but no sleet or freezing rain. Cold enough that the volunteers were using PowerAde powder to provide traction on the ground where the water was freezing after being spilled. The half, on the other hand, was miserable. Sleet, freezing rain, wind - you name it, we had it. I stayed pretty warm while running, but the wetness soaked through all of my layers once I stopped moving.

Brr.

You've just reminded me of the low 20s Seattle half, with the earliest runners having done the "toss the cups to the ground" thing resulting in 9 skating rinks for the slower folks. Not sure what people are thinking, though I'm a cup-in-the-trash-can person even when it's not freezing out.

 

[Ariel484]

This is the elevation output from my Garmin (2013 course...so pretty similar to what we'll be running in a few weeks) for the marathon:

half marathon:

As others have said, it's pretty flat overall.

 

[derekleigh]

I think I might like 27... hahaha I ran a couple weeks ago when it was 9, us NH folks are used to the cold.....

That's right! During the half one year I was wearing a t-shirt tech and was fine ( think it might have been 50 degrees. A few FL residents asked me where I was from and couldn't believe I wasn't freezing. When I told them a few weeks ago I was running in subzero temperatures, they looked like I had rocks coming out of my ears.

 

[disneyhorselover]

I think I might be the oddball here....I'm also in freezing cold New England, and I would be content with a warm and humid race day...training in our brutal summers doesn't bother me at all.

However, for everyone else's sake, I'm hoping for more like 50-60 at the start...and definitely no rain/sleet! If there is another Disney on ice like in 2010, there is a fair chance I will refuse to leave my hotel room! Lol

 

[Fruto76]

Ok, I guess I'm a weather wimp! I started yesterday in the sun, wearing shorts at 60-65 degrees ... ended at dusk and was so chilled on my thighs I felt like I was barely shuffling... It was 50 when I got in the car. Tights or capris if the sun is not out from now on, I suppose.
On a good note I did the entire run using 5:1 run/walk intervals and my final pace was my regular run pace (I have struggled sticking with the run/walk... I feel like I have to run) but I kept to every interval yesterday and man do I feel good today! My last 20 is next week and Im planning the same 5:1 and I have a 10k on Saturday.... then it's taper time!

 

[ell13]

Here's my elevation map from the 2013 marathon as well with a different look:

 

[dta87]

I agree that the marathon route is flat (definitely compared to the Marine Corps Half). Those spikes and valleys in my graph correspond to the overpasses mentioned in a previous post. Over the course of 26.2 miles those slight elevation changes definitely add up.