OFFICIAL Jan 2011 Half Marathon, Full Marathon, Dopey or Goofy Challenge Thread

[BrianD]

Post race transportation question for you guys...

A couple of years ago, when I ran my first WDW Half, I was staying at POFQ, and the line for the bus AFTER the race was very long, and standing in line in the hot sun for 45 minutes while wasted was not a ton of fun.

Last year, I did it in style and stayed at the Poly, so transportation was not an issue.

This year, for the full marathon, I'm wanting to stay cheap and stay at an All Star resort. However, I expect the lines would be even longer for the All Stars than they were for Port Orleans. But it just occurred to me, if the lines are crazy long after the race, couldn't I just walk over to the bus stop area of Epcot and catch a bus back to the All Stars from there? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

 

[cewait]

Post race transportation question for you guys...

A couple of years ago, when I ran my first WDW Half, I was staying at POFQ, and the line for the bus AFTER the race was very long, and standing in line in the hot sun for 45 minutes while wasted was not a ton of fun.

Last year, I did it in style and stayed at the Poly, so transportation was not an issue.

This year, for the full marathon, I'm wanting to stay cheap and stay at an All Star resort. However, I expect the lines would be even longer for the All Stars than they were for Port Orleans. But it just occurred to me, if the lines are crazy long after the race, couldn't I just walk over to the bus stop area of Epcot and catch a bus back to the All Stars from there? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

yes. you are almost guaranteed a seat as most folks will see that you just ran the event and no one will want to sit next to you. though I would check the marathon bus lines for your resort first. also, you may want to check out Pop as the resort is one third the size and will have just as many busses.

 

[Caucus Racer]

Just stopping in to introduce myself...

I'm going Goofy this year after doing the Princess half last year with mom. Plan is to walk the half with mom then run/walk the marathon solo.

I'm into week 2 of training, using Bingham's plan. I'm a bit nervous about possibly being undertrained on it; it's much less aggressive than the plan I used last year, but I'd rather go lighter rather than risk injury. I run REALLY slowly, too, so it's a LONG time on my feet

 

[Bephus]

This is my first official week of training. Had some great runs this weekend and a nice easy 3 miles this morning. I spent my run today thinking about the many miles I will be putting over the next 18 weeks and how much fun I am going to have in January! Great start to my training.

 

[budpaulsaint]

Just stopping in to introduce myself...

I'm going Goofy this year after doing the Princess half last year with mom. Plan is to walk the half with mom then run/walk the marathon solo.

I'm into week 2 of training, using Bingham's plan. I'm a bit nervous about possibly being undertrained on it; it's much less aggressive than the plan I used last year, but I'd rather go lighter rather than risk injury. I run REALLY slowly, too, so it's a LONG time on my feet

I've been trolling around here daily and one thing I've read a couple of times that undertraining is better than overtraining, but that's just these people's opinions. As I've certainly learned, training can get brutal (I sat out this past week's worth of training resting some sore knees brought on by overtraining). Everyone's body is different, just so long as you listen to it, you should be fine.

 

[Bephus]

Just stopping in to introduce myself...

I'm going Goofy this year after doing the Princess half last year with mom. Plan is to walk the half with mom then run/walk the marathon solo.

I'm into week 2 of training, using Bingham's plan. I'm a bit nervous about possibly being undertrained on it; it's much less aggressive than the plan I used last year, but I'd rather go lighter rather than risk injury. I run REALLY slowly, too, so it's a LONG time on my feet

I have done Bingham twice and really liked his plan. I especially liked that the mid-week runs were for time instead of miles.

 

[princessfionasmom]

Thanks Pumbaa80 and FireDancer, I am going to check those out.

I started my official training program today. I downloaded the Runners Wrold SmartCoach app on my iPhone. Has anyone used this training program/app? I'm going to check out Bingham's and see what that's like since I see some on here have used it. Hope everyone is having great runs!

 

[Dsnrunner]

Just signed up for my ninth Disney marathon...Hope this year's weather is better than 2010.............................................................................

 

[cewait]

Just stopping in to introduce myself...

I'm going Goofy this year after doing the Princess half last year with mom. Plan is to walk the half with mom then run/walk the marathon solo.

I'm into week 2 of training, using Bingham's plan. I'm a bit nervous about possibly being undertrained on it; it's much less aggressive than the plan I used last year, but I'd rather go lighter rather than risk injury. I run REALLY slowly, too, so it's a LONG time on my feet

I've been trolling around here daily and one thing I've read a couple of times that undertraining is better than overtraining, but that's just these people's opinions. As I've certainly learned, training can get brutal (I sat out this past week's worth of training resting some sore knees brought on by overtraining). Everyone's body is different, just so long as you listen to it, you should be fine.

I have done Bingham twice and really liked his plan. I especially liked that the mid-week runs were for time instead of miles.

If you were in my groups you would be a timed runner rather than a mile runner. I think that if you are competing for an age group award then the miles would naturally increase. In reading posts there are maybe 3-4 folks who would seriously need to be out for 50+ miles a week. The rest of us on the board are there for ourselves. I have not trained on Bingham’s plan but am familiar with the concepts as well as Galloway and Higdon. In any of these three plans you will be well trained at the start. There are others – way too many to mention in fact. However, the one component always skipped in many discussions is i-n-t-e-n-s-i-t-y. In all plans I would submit that two of the non-long runs should be in the upper reaches of aerobic capacity; even pushing into the anaerobic zone on occation. This assures as large an aerobic engine as one can carry into the race. Think long hills and speed intervals. Add in some tempo work to ice things off later in the season.

Let me add to these threads that undertrained is better than over trained but well trained is best.

 

[omghidanielle]

We are a party of 8 traveling to WDW in Jan for the Marathon, but only 3 of us are running (myself not included...my knee would probably give out in the first 6 minutes)

But I am excited to watch and support everyone!

 

[APrunner]

If you were in my groups you would be a timed runner rather than a mile runner. I think that if you are competing for an age group award then the miles would naturally increase. In reading posts there are maybe 3-4 folks who would seriously need to be out for 50+ miles a week. The rest of us on the board are there for ourselves. I have not trained on Bingham’s plan but am familiar with the concepts as well as Galloway and Higdon. In any of these three plans you will be well trained at the start. There are others – way too many to mention in fact. However, the one component always skipped in many discussions is i-n-t-e-n-s-i-t-y. In all plans I would submit that two of the non-long runs should be in the upper reaches of aerobic capacity; even pushing into the anaerobic zone on occation. This assures as large an aerobic engine as one can carry into the race. Think long hills and speed intervals. Add in some tempo work to ice things off later in the season.

Let me add to these threads that undertrained is better than over trained but well trained is best.

Coach - question for you. What are your thoughts on the FIRST plan http://www2.furman.edu/sites/first/Pages/default.aspx.

I do not follow it exactly, but it is the closest to what I do. One day intervals, one day tempo, one day long run - where I still pay attention to the pace, and then one easy laid back day. On other days I focus on strength training.

I am only planning the half in January, in addition to the one in October. I would do the full, but there are several other races in the Feb and March time frame that I want to do. I kind of feared getting too run down in I did the full.

Thanks.

 

[cewait]

I am familiar with the program and train on a similar program; but time based. Regardless, this is one of the few free programs online where the authors attempt to bring detailed intensity definitions into the program.

I like the program but would offer up that if you base all work on one or two 5k results then the program may be a little advanced. Saying this another way, if all you have in your running resume are a couple 5k races then the pacing may be too great. Listen to your body as the miles increase and do not feel like you cannot slow the intensities up, or go the other way and speed the workouts up.

I think I read that you are running a light run on a fourth day. If you start to feel overwhelmed, scrap the junk/light run day and cycle or work out on an elliptical on that day. I am not a big subscriber to running a light run without having a purpose; such as the first week after a hard race.

Finally, post marathon allow 26 days of recovery (or 13 days for a half) before resuming hard activity (rule of thumb is 1 day per mile of race). That does not mean you cannot go out and run after you get home from Disney, just pull back on the intensity for a while. I would not be afraid of the full if you have races in February. Not sure how intense the Feb and March races are but one could run half marathons rather easily in February, assuming no injury from the full.

 

[APrunner]

I am familiar with the program and train on a similar program; but time based. Regardless, this is one of the few free programs online where the authors attempt to bring detailed intensity definitions into the program.

I like the program but would offer up that if you base all work on one or two 5k results then the program may be a little advanced. Saying this another way, if all you have in your running resume are a couple 5k races then the pacing may be too great. Listen to your body as the miles increase and do not feel like you cannot slow the intensities up, or go the other way and speed the workouts up.

I think I read that you are running a light run on a fourth day. If you start to feel overwhelmed, scrap the junk/light run day and cycle or work out on an elliptical on that day. I am not a big subscriber to running a light run without having a purpose; such as the first week after a hard race.

Finally, post marathon allow 26 days of recovery (or 13 days for a half) before resuming hard activity (rule of thumb is 1 day per mile of race). That does not mean you cannot go out and run after you get home from Disney, just pull back on the intensity for a while. I would not be afraid of the full if you have races in February. Not sure how intense the Feb and March races are but one could run half marathons rather easily in February, assuming no injury from the full.

Thanks for the info. My best races to date tend to be 10Ks. At least they are the ones where I can usually win or come in second for my age group. I run a few 5Ks from time to time too. Wine and Dine will be my first half, though I have run up to 17 miles in training.

I do have a fourth easy day, but have been using it to run in my Nike Frees, with the goal of helping strenghten my feet and ankles. I do some barefoot running too. So that is kind of the purpose for that run. Though I probably would benefit more from a strong cross training routine there instead.

Thanks again for the input.

 

[verticalchaos]

It's official. I just signed up for the Half.

SOOOOOOOO pumped!!! (And a bit nervous...but it's good nerves.)

 

[wvjules]

It's official. I just signed up for the Half.

SOOOOOOOO pumped!!! (And a bit nervous...but it's good nerves.)

Me too! I just left the confirmed registration page and came here!

 

[verticalchaos]

Me too! I just left the confirmed registration page and came here!

Awesome!! Good luck!!!

 

[Belle1811]

verticalchaos and wvjules

Keep us posted with how your training is going

 

[verticalchaos]

verticalchaos and wvjules

Keep us posted with how your training is going

Will definitely do so!! I'm planning on using John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield's training plan in "Marathoning for Mortals". Seems to be my style - and since I've got pace even when I walk, it's really about building distance and endurance for me.

I'm psyched!!!!

 

[verticalchaos]

Ooh here's something that just occurred to me. When I got my first "real" running shoes at the beginning of July, I went to my amazing running store and did the whole run so we can see how you do it thing. I LOVE my shoes - they're comfy AND cute (I had a choice between puke green or purple trim. CLEARLY I chose purple!). But...

I remember when I asked my fit guy about how often to get new ones, he said "about every 6 months". And I just realized that will put me right about the time of the Half.

So... Will the shoes I have now be ok for run/walking the Half? Or should I plan on getting a second pair in say November and start alternating them so I've got 2 pair to choose from on race day?

 

[FFigawi]

I'd go ahead and start breaking in a new pair in early December. You want to run your half on shoes that are in as good a shape as possible. I like to have about 25-30 miles on mine before a big race. That's enough miles to get them adjusted on my feet but not too many to take that new, soft feeling out of them before running a marathon. In general, when I'm not targeting using a new pair for a specific race, I usually bring out a new pair of shoes when my current ones have about 200 miles on them. I then alternate between the two and discard the old ones when they hit ~300 miles.