Official inaugural Tower of Terror 10 miler thread. September 29, 2012

[lthiesfeld07]

I used Galloway to train for and run the Princess and the Nashville half both.
If you are serious about using his plans I strongly recommend getting one of his books where he explains it much better than he can on the website.

For example, right now, with the heat--work on getting your distance up to the 10 miles and don't stress pace as much. Also, he is constant about using rest days--especially for older runners (like me!)--he calls those extra "gotta get mileage in days" junk miles.

As far as the walk breaks--on your weekend run take them from the start at the pace you are training at (not your goal pace). Yes--it initially feels ridiculous to take a break after 30 seconds of running but do it. I used 1:1 intervals for the Princess (goal was 12:30 pace) but trained with 30:30 at a 15:00 pace to build my distance. For Nashville I used 40 seconds: 20 seconds

My goal for the Princess was just to make it to the Castle--I did finish.

For ToT--my husband is with me. He's a walker and has the distance but is too slow right now. He does not have a 10K time so we will be in the last corral. We're transitioning him to running using Galloway. He starting with intervals of 10 seconds running: 50 seconds walking. The goal is to have him at 30:30 by September. As for getting swept....I was doing the race anyway--rather than just buy a ticket to the Villains bash for him, it was more fun to register him. We've agreed that if the sweepers catch us, he'll take the bus and I'll stop walking, start running and meet him in Hollywood Studios.

What helped me most when everyone was freaking about being swept at the Princess was to adjust my goal--finishing would be great but more important was having fun and, for me, the Castle. For ToT, Ken's would like to finish, but our goal is enjoy ourselves walking and taking pictures while doing so (probably won't stop) and then have fun at the Villains Bash after. If the characters we want aren't there--we're going to Mickeys Not So Scary on Sunday night and lots of the villains will be out then.

Good luck with your training!
emacek

Thanks for your information!!
I need to get serious. My goal is to finish and not get swept. I'm not worried about my time at this point. 10 miles is a lot!

Thanks again!

 

[minniebeth]

No.......

You are looking at a cut and paste error. You will have 160 minutes or 2:40 for an official finish at a 16 minute pace. 3:30 is for the half.

With regard to sweeping and where they sweep... you are ALWAYS subject to being swept if you fall behind the moving 16 minute pace. As stated above, that clock starts at the instant the last runner in the last corral crosses the start line. Your best bet is to train for a 15 minute pace just in case you have issue during the race. That gives you a small buffer. Yes, that even holds true in the traditionally 'safe' areas that we speak of in the other Disney races.

So saying all this, and looking at the map, it looks like from about mile 8.2 until the finish one may have a little buffer from the sweeper. This is the point where the race leaves public streets and enters the DHS parking lot. Once off public streets, the race will usually allow a runner the freedom to finish, as long as they continue to make reasonable progress. So roughly speaking, if you were the last runner and make mile 8.2 in 2:31 from the start, you should be able to continue.

Hope this helps

Thank you so much! Yes, it helps clear the reality up for me. I know you are the expert! It does say on the Galloway training plan for the ToT race the course is open for 3:30 (right under Stitch in his bell hop uniform!) so that's what made me wonder how it would work~ not sure if that's a print error or what. Makes me think people new to the (Disney) runs and unfamiliar with them may think they really do have that much time.

 

[JordanM407]

I was injured so I wasn't sure I would be able to do Tower of Terror 10 miler. Now registration is closed. I would love to buy a bib for this race. Please help.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I ran my half marathon today, in the time of 2:15.36. That was the clock time. There was no chip time. I started my watch as I crossed the start line, but I forgot to stop my watch when I crossed the finish line. When I remembered to stop it, the time on it was 2:15.58. Which was after a little bit of walking. The race was run under a yellow flag, due to temperatures in the upper 70's. I suspect temperatures will be somewhere around there for the TOT, so I know I can do it. During this race I walked up the hills and other sections of the course. Especially, a longer section between mile 11 and mile 12. I was enjoying an ice pop and putting ice down my clothing. Now, I'm officially in training for the TOT. I'm using the runDisney 18 week Galloway program, time improvement, for experienced runners.

 

[freepixie]

I ran my half marathon today, in the time of 2:15.36. That was the clock time. There was no chip time. I started my watch as I crossed the start line, but I forgot to stop my watch when I crossed the finish line. When I remembered to stop it, the time on it was 2:15.58. Which was after a little bit of walking. The race was run under a yellow flag, due to temperatures in the upper 70's. I suspect temperatures will be somewhere around there for the TOT, so I know I can do it. During this race I walked up the hills and other sections of the course. Especially, a longer section between mile 11 and mile 12. I was enjoying an ice pop and putting ice down my clothing. Now, I'm officially in training for the TOT. I'm using the runDisney 18 week Galloway program, time improvement, for experienced runners.

Excellent time! Great job, especially with the temps!!!

 

[Carolina Blair]

I ran my half marathon today, in the time of 2:15.36. That was the clock time. There was no chip time. I started my watch as I crossed the start line, but I forgot to stop my watch when I crossed the finish line. When I remembered to stop it, the time on it was 2:15.58. Which was after a little bit of walking. The race was run under a yellow flag, due to temperatures in the upper 70's. I suspect temperatures will be somewhere around there for the TOT, so I know I can do it. During this race I walked up the hills and other sections of the course. Especially, a longer section between mile 11 and mile 12. I was enjoying an ice pop and putting ice down my clothing. Now, I'm officially in training for the TOT. I'm using the runDisney 18 week Galloway program, time improvement, for experienced runners.

Excellent time! You should be in a good spot for the ToT.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Thank you Carolina Blair and freepixie. Over the last few days, I purchased my DD's Bash ticket and my MNSSHP ticket. I called and was able to do will call for the Bash ticket. I didn't want to pay $5 for shipping.

 

[sumlee]

Awesome time, DisneyRunner!

 

[PrincessV]

Hi all - happy Monday! I was out of town last week and didn't check in, so I'm enjoying catching up over lunch. Sounds like training's going well across the board!

On the subject of distance/pace/run-walk intervals/etc., I had some interesting experiences this week...

First, I completed 6.2 miles for the first time last Fri.! I had to dial the training back a lot just before getting to 6 miles a few months ago due to injury and then work my way back up, so that felt like a HUGE accomplishment.

Then, I put in a short run while on vacation... high up in the NC mountains, between 3400 and 3700 feet above sea level. I live on the coast of FL and all of my running's been at, below or slightly above sea level until last week. Did you know there are muscles really high up above the buttocks, like Super Glutes? I didn't. I do now. Turns out, that's what you use when climbing and then descending, oh, about 300' in altitude over less than half a mile. Did I mention it was raining? It was an interesting run. BUT, what was really interesting was that, due to the rain, I didn't use my intervals on Runkeeper; I just winged it, running as much as felt comfortable, pushing it a little more, then walking for a bit to recover and do it again. The result was a LOT more running than I usually do - and at altitude, to boot!

I did a bunch of hiking the rest of the trip, but no more runs until I got home. This past Sun. was a planned 3-miler and I decided to try pushing it again - 2:00run/1:00walk intervals. Being back in hot, muggy FL was miserable and there was nothing pleasant feeling about the run, but I had no problem maintaining the 2:00/1:00 intervals and wound up with a respectable 12:25/mile avg pace. Could I do it for 10 miles? Nope, not even for 5. Yet. But now I know that it really is possible to adapt to longer run portions over time.

 

[Mickeyfan74]

As I understand it, sweeping happens no matter why you are slower than the pace required. This from the RunDisney site - I think that is why they suggest training at a 15 min pace, to be able to stop for photos, restroom, etc.

All athletes entering The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ 10-Miler or the Disney Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run must maintain a 16-minute per mile pace throughout the race. Anyone not able to maintain the respective paces may be picked up and transported to the finish. You may be picked up at any point along the course and transported for not maintaining pace. It is suggested that you train at a 15-minute per mile pace.

Having just done one WDW event in Jan I walked the half with a 15 min mile pace also. But after I got home about 2 weeks later I went onto active.com and looked up the finish times. There were people completing the WDW Half with 22 minute mile pace! I saw the people on bikes that supposedly pull you but I never witnessed anyone being pulled. Just seeing them made me pick up my pace for sure!!! LOL.

Planning on 13 min mile for TOT this year.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Awesome time, DisneyRunner!

Thank you.

 

[annmarieda]

For any of you who booked your room through rundisney... I have a question. On the site it lists a 2 night stay at a value for $98 based on double occupancy. I assumed that was a total of $98 for the two nights. However, when I called the cm corrected me and told me it was per person....so like $200 for the two nights. how is that a discount? Was I truly wrong or was possibly the cm who was wrong?

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

For any of you who booked your room through rundisney... I have a question. On the site it lists a 2 night stay at a value for $98 based on double occupancy. I assumed that was a total of $98 for the two nights. However, when I called the cm corrected me and told me it was per person....so like $200 for the two nights. how is that a discount? Was I truly wrong or was possibly the cm who was wrong?

I don't understand how the rates runDisney promotes are discounted, either. I've found ways to stay on property cheaper than that.

 

[annmarieda]

I don't understand how the rates runDisney promotes are discounted, either. I've found ways to stay on property cheaper than that.

Ok, so a value does come out to be about $100/night with the "discount" Unless of course you have more people in the room then it is more?

Yeah... looking on the site it is like $95/night (I assume then tax needs to be added) but still...

 

[jeanigor]

I don't understand how the rates runDisney promotes are discounted, either. I've found ways to stay on property cheaper than that.

Perhaps they don't expect anybody to do any research or have a travel agent and walk blindly into the night. But for the cost of registration, it is nearly criminal to filch our pockets for such high rates for accommodations.

 

[minniebeth]

Our sports "package" at POR through RunDisney was cheaper than anything I could get myself online on Disney's website, even with the discounts that were being offered when I booked. I can't remember, but I think I priced it out on my own with a regular rate, room only discount and free dining which was available right before that weekend. That included park tickets, but not dining. With the race, I wanted the flexibility of doing dining the way we want and will probably spend less money than the dining plan since we share a lot of meals. We are doing the F&W Festival at Epcot for our park days, so the ddp wouldn't work for us anyway.

I would price out rooms with RunDisney and on your own and compare costs~

 

[ShannonMarie]

I think the bigger discount actually is in the park tickets. The room only isn't a big discount but combined with the discounted park tickets, it was a pretty good deal.

 

[es45]

Our sports "package" at POR through RunDisney was cheaper than anything I could get myself online on Disney's website, even with the discounts that were being offered when I booked. I can't remember, but I think I priced it out on my own with a regular rate, room only discount and free dining which was available right before that weekend. That included park tickets, but not dining. With the race, I wanted the flexibility of doing dining the way we want and will probably spend less money than the dining plan since we share a lot of meals. We are doing the F&W Festival at Epcot for our park days, so the ddp wouldn't work for us anyway.

I would price out rooms with RunDisney and on your own and compare costs~

The same for me. I priced out two rooms at POFQ and they were cheaper through runDisney than any other discounted rooms. This is the first race where I've been able to get a cheaper room through runDisney.

 

[es45]

I think the bigger discount actually is in the park tickets. The room only isn't a big discount but combined with the discounted park tickets, it was a pretty good deal.

And you don't have to book a room to get the discount either. Prior to booking a room through them, I was able to purchase a discounted 1-day ticket.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I have FD booked at the moment, but I am going to try and book a bounceback room only offer. Then, purchase any park tickets through runDisney. I want to make this trip, as economical as possible. My family also, shares meals.