OFFICIAL January 2012 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Goofy or Dopey Challenge Thread

[stitchfan18]

My question...the pace groups, are they in a certain corral and how would I know where to meet up with one?

I'm not sure how Disney does the pace teams, but last weekend at RNR St. Louis the pacers had a booth at the expo and told people interested in running with a pace group which corral they could find the pace leaders in. Of course RNR didn't have anyone checking bibs to get into corrals, so they obviously aren't as strict about where you start as Disney is. If you have a proof of time that would support a finish close to the pace group you want to run with, then it should work to get into that corral. I don't know how the pace groups would work for people who are running their first marathon, or trying for a goal that they don't have a proof of time to match with.

 

[KippWade]

Hey cool! I'm doing the half with my husband (a Goofy!), so we'll be sure to watch for the band and send them lots of cheers and thanks. What is their school?

University High School. The marching band theme for this year has been Reflections. When I was down the week of Labor Day, it was their first home game for football. At halftime, they began to play and I'm like "Thats Reflections of Earth from Epcot!"

 

[FFigawi]

My question...the pace groups, are they in a certain corral and how would I know where to meet up with one? A 4:30 marathon would be great for me, I think. I'm am horrible about pace right now...first mile today 9:04 last 12:04. Actually the first 16 miles were pretty even..after that first mile around 10.

At the expo, you can stop by the Clif booth to meet the pacers (assuming that Disney will be using the Clif Pace Team again). They will tell you which corral they will be in, and they're pretty easy to spot on race day - they hold balloons and a sign with their finishing time on it. The Clif pacers are the best in the business, so if you're really worried about staying on a certain pace and finishing at a certain time, you can't go wrong by sticking with them.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

At the expo, you can stop by the Clif booth to meet the pacers (assuming that Disney will be using the Clif Pace Team again). They will tell you which corral they will be in, and they're pretty easy to spot on race day - they hold balloons and a sign with their finishing time on it. The Clif pacers are the best in the business, so if you're really worried about staying on a certain pace and finishing at a certain time, you can't go wrong by sticking with them.

That sounds great, though I wish they had a 4:45 pacer.

 

[joan4mickey]

Thanks for all the pace group info. I will be looking for the pace groups at the expo. My DS is running the first half of the relay so he may want to hook up with a group too. He hasn't run a race (he is looking for a 10k to get a corral placement), but he is a tall thin athletic kid that would go out with me in the early morning as a "bodyguard" and run 10 miles.

I know WDW is flat (I've run the Princess Half 3 times) so it will be easier than my rolling hills and crossing a busy street every 3 miles.

 

[runningmomof5]

Hello everyone,

My training has slowed down due to pain at the back of my heel (it hurts when I walk and if I push on the bone) and I am seriously losing my motivation and stressing out! 2 months to go... Yikes! I might have to walk the Goofy challenge if this continues.

I wanted to ask those who have done the Disney marathons, which resort would be better: the Yacht club resort or the Polynesian? Both would cost around the same according to the quotes I got from Disney and my travel agent.

I understand that the Polynesian has the monorail so I could "sleep in" a bit but I have also seen people mentionning that the Yacht club is great since you could walk back from the races instead of taking the bus or monorail.
Which beds are most comfortable?
Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[papaof3]

Hello everyone,

My training has slowed down due to pain at the back of my heel (it hurts when I walk and if I push on the bone) and I am seriously losing my motivation and stressing out! 2 months to go... Yikes! I might have to walk the Goofy challenge if this continues.

I wanted to ask those who have done the Disney marathons, which resort would be better: the Yacht club resort or the Polynesian? Both would cost around the same according to the quotes I got from Disney and my travel agent.

I understand that the Polynesian has the monorail so I could "sleep in" a bit but I have also seen people mentionning that the Yacht club is great since you could walk back from the races instead of taking the bus or monorail.
Which beds are most comfortable?
Any info would be greatly appreciated!

I love the Poly which you can take one monorail ride from to the race start and finish. If you want to walk back to the yacht club you have to use a park ticket to get thru epcot, plus the park has to be open for the day which it will not be for most half marathoners. You would then have to bus back. But also depends on how many nights you are sraying and if epcot is your favorite park. I like going to magic kingdom and the monorail resorts for dining which is why I like the Poly.

 

[runningmomof5]

thanks! Could I ask you what time do you leave for the races if you take the monorail?
I presume that if you can take the monorail for the races then it should be as easy to get to Epcot for dining and leisure? Did the Poly have good breakfast choices the mornings of the races? I'm not difficult... bagel and peanut butter is good enough for me
Also, how did you find the rooms at the Poly? I am a little concerned because some reviews talk about roaches and other bugs that quite frankly I'd rather not share my room with!

 

[papaof3]

thanks! Could I ask you what time do you leave for the races if you take the monorail?
I presume that if you can take the monorail for the races then it should be as easy to get to Epcot for dining and leisure? Did the Poly have good breakfast choices the mornings of the races? I'm not difficult... bagel and peanut butter is good enough for me
Also, how did you find the rooms at the Poly? I am a little concerned because some reviews talk about roaches and other bugs that quite frankly I'd rather not share my room with!

I've stayed at the Poly twice and both times were fantastic. Every hotel at Disney gets complaints I have learned. So many people coming thru it is bound to happen.
I got on the epcot monorail line by walking from the poly, less than 5 minutes if you are in the buildings to the south, and I think I got on it at 4:15am. Had plenty of time to spare. They say 4am at the latest just in case there is a problem. But we did the vip tent thing before the marathon and ended up hanging in the tent for what seemed like an hour. In my mind this is the best mode to get to the races, walk to monorail from poly.
Not sure but I think the counter service rest at the poly was open that morning. I went ahead and like things to be ready, so we would go and buy some things the day before to eat in out room. less hassle race day. It is bad enough waking up on vacation at 3:30am, didn't want to make it earlier. The racers retreat had nice breakfast spread which we took advantage of. I would not recommend eating foods you are not used to eating at the early hour before the race, for fear of stomach being upset while lining up for the race start.

 

[RadioFanatic]

Someone gave me this link to the weekend program (thanks papaof3!)

http://as1.wdpromedia.com/media/ewwos/pdf/rundisney/marathons/wdw-marathon/WDW12Program.pdf

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Officially booked the Poly from Thursday-Monday, with a 3 day park hopper. This is getting real.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

The new course maps have been published on the race website. Has anyone seen these yet? I was a little disappointed because they do not show the mile markers or where aid stations are located. I liked the look of the old ones better.

Also can you tell if the marathon course still runs past the Yacht and Beach Club resorts? I almost looks like it does not, according to these new maps.

 

[UNCBear24]

The new course maps have been published on the race website. Has anyone seen these yet? I was a little disappointed because they do not show the mile markers or where aid stations are located. I liked the look of the old ones better.

Also can you tell if the marathon course still runs past the Yacht and Beach Club resorts? I almost looks like it does not, according to these new maps.

It looks like the exact same course as last year, so it would run past Yacht and Beach Club resorts.

 

[runningmomof5]

The map is different. It does not show us going by the Boardwalk resorts but apparently from most comments on the Run Disney facebook page, it's a mistake. The new booklet that is on the ESPN Disney Marathon website states that the runners will run by those resorts so according to the booklet, it should be the same as last year. A few have mentionned that they do this often (change the map on the site)... Hopefully, it will get sorted out so we know where we will be running!

 

[IamTrike]

Someone gave me this link to the weekend program (thanks papaof3!)

http://as1.wdpromedia.com/media/ewwos/pdf/rundisney/marathons/wdw-marathon/WDW12Program.pdf

Thanks for posting this.

 

[UNCBear24]

I completed an 18 mile run today about 30 seconds per mile slower than when I did 15 six weeks ago. It seemed so much harder even tho I slowed my pace.
Is this common for the longer runs. Today's 18 was the farthest I've ever gone.
I'm a bit discouraged since I was able to hold my pace for the last 3 of a 15 miler, but have since done 16,17, & 18 and haven't been able to keep my pace.
I'd welcome any thoughts or advice.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[stitchfan18]

I completed an 18 mile run today about 30 seconds per mile slower than when I did 15 six weeks ago. It seemed so much harder even tho I slowed my pace.
Is this common for the longer runs. Today's 18 was the farthest I've ever gone.
I'm a bit discouraged since I was able to hold my pace for the last 3 of a 15 miler, but have since done 16,17, & 18 and haven't been able to keep my pace.
I'd welcome any thoughts or advice.

Thanks,

Dave

No advice really, but my 16 and 18 mile runs were my toughest. Those were the runs I tried to keep my pace at 1/2 marathon pace, and ran out of gas. I have a 1/2 marathon PR of 2:10, but my best marathon time is a 5:13, and I thought I wasn't going to make it towards the end of that one. It's normal to be a bit slower for the longer distances. Probably not as much slower as I am, but 30 seconds slower seems to still be a great time!

 

[Dagny]

We have two months to go I really need to get my butt in gear! I have not ran one mile since the Wine & Dine (sigh).

Terrible on my part!!!

On a happier note, I booked the Boardwalk Villas for January 4 - January 11th - woo hoo

 

[cewait]

The new course maps have been published on the race website. Has anyone seen these yet? I was a little disappointed because they do not show the mile markers or where aid stations are located. I liked the look of the old ones better.

Also can you tell if the marathon course still runs past the Yacht and Beach Club resorts? I almost looks like it does not, according to these new maps.

Just in case you want to see the real course on a real map....

Full - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/516484/

Note the water stops are make with the first aid sign and the Exchange point for the relay is marked with an 'X'

Half - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/4106815/ (Water stops marked with a water drop.

5K - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/4106815/

For all maps, if you want to see detail of what you are passing, go to Map Options in the upper left of the map and select Open Street. It has ride names as well as parking lot names....

Note, the water/aid stations are based on traditional locations. I am hoping that EMMI takes seriously the need to move the station at mile 24...otherwise, I notice that the stops are fairly consistent from year to year.

Enjoy

 

[cewait]

I completed an 18 mile run today about 30 seconds per mile slower than when I did 15 six weeks ago. It seemed so much harder even tho I slowed my pace.
Is this common for the longer runs. Today's 18 was the farthest I've ever gone.
I'm a bit discouraged since I was able to hold my pace for the last 3 of a 15 miler, but have since done 16,17, & 18 and haven't been able to keep my pace.
I'd welcome any thoughts or advice.

Thanks,

Dave

I am thinking your body is looking for a little break but lets clear all variables.

1) Weather plays a huge role. If the temp is up just 5-8 degrees from your 15 miler that alone could account for the delta.

2) Diet - if you do not have the best fuels in the tank you will suffer either in the ability to run distance or pace or both. Review wha thou ate in the 2 days prior to each run and try to hone in on a light and balanced diet with maybe a few extra carbs.

3) Alcohol? Hate to ask but one drink in the days before can cause these feelings.

4) Hydration. Were you peeing a light yellow the night before and this morning? Hydration really becomes a 7 day a week need at this point in training.

5) Your schedule. Hate to say it and I could be dissuaded from this opinion if I saw the four weeks before the 15, I think your body is begging for a pull back week. Typically we build on a schedule where we grow miles for a three week period then pull back for one... and repeat. Running 15, 16, 17 and then 18 traditionally would have a 12-14 in the place of the 17. If you ae on one of the newer 6 week build plans then you may want to modify back to a 3 week build as described.

It may also be the difference between a 30k and and 25 k run. 30 seconds is a large decrease but if you pushed out the first 4-6 miles a little hard, then that 5k adder can make a huge difference.

Hope this helps some....