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

[RadioFanatic]

are we allowed to wear headphones and listen to music during the run? I found it really helped me during my 10k to not focus on others.

if I am, would I be missing anything cool by wearing them, i.e., do they have disney music through the whole race, not just parks?

 

[LumberDad]

Thought I would be running in snow this morning, but didn't start till after I got home. Snowing like crazy now.

Thinking if I have to do a 20 mile run in December on snow covered sidewalks, I might replace it with a 3 hour run. Does anyone else do this

 

[r3ngels]

are we allowed to wear headphones and listen to music during the run? I found it really helped me during my 10k to not focus on others.

if I am, would I be missing anything cool by wearing them, i.e., do they have disney music through the whole race, not just parks?

Great question.... I can't run without my little iPod shuffle but would love to know what they have on the course

 

[jeanigor]

are we allowed to wear headphones and listen to music during the run? I found it really helped me during my 10k to not focus on others.

if I am, would I be missing anything cool by wearing them, i.e., do they have disney music through the whole race, not just parks?

Great question.... I can't run without my little iPod shuffle but would love to know what they have on the course

Disney discourages/urges you don't use anything with earphone/buds. That said, they won't pull you off the course and in fact you will probably see more runners with than without. Be reasonable and courteous and respectful of your fellow runner, either way.

In the parks, the normal park music is playing over the speakers. Along the course there are bands, DJ's, singers, all sorts of folks cheering you on.

I felt my iPod was a necessity until the Princess last year, when there was a charging issue and it was dead when I went to turn it on in the starting corral. Although it was unplanned, it was quite a pleasant time without the music. (I would however, not recommend it for the Disneyland Half....)

 

[Ronda93]

Headphones are allowed, but, as in many races, officially discouraged. There's entertainment and characters along the course. How frequently I'm not sure. My only experience was 2010 and I think the local band/support attendance may have been reduced by the low temps.

I'll have my earbuds in, but expect they'll be quiet much of the time. I like to have them in place to use the phone.

Ronda

 

[rubato]

I used my Ipod this year, but turned it off halfway through. Just didn't need it. There is someone around, or something interesting to see most of the time. There will be some draggy times, but I just struck up conversations with those around me when I hit those.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Hope this isn't a controversial post........
I got injured training for the 1/2 about 4 weeks ago. I have a stress fx in my left foot. I had no weight bearing for 3 weeks. Got re-xrayed last week & am healing but he still wanted me in the boot with only light activity for 3 more weeks. This brings me almost to Thanksgiving. There is no way I can get up to speed by race time at this point.
Has anyone ever had an injury happen & just decided to go ahead & start the race knowing there is no way you can finish & just done as much as you could? I paid my $150 which is a high price & now feel like I would at least like to experience part of the race. I would love to at least get to go through the castle. I know I will probably have to abandon at some point because I will be too slow. Has anyone done this & how does it work?

 

[cewait]

I hope my doctor gives me the clearance to start running again. It's been 6 weeks since my injury and I need to get back to training for the half in January.

Good luck!

are we allowed to wear headphones and listen to music during the run? I found it really helped me during my 10k to not focus on others.

if I am, would I be missing anything cool by wearing them, i.e., do they have disney music through the whole race, not just parks?

Disney discourages/urges you don't use anything with earphone/buds. That said, they won't pull you off the course and in fact you will probably see more runners with than without. Be reasonable and courteous and respectful of your fellow runner, either way.

In the parks, the normal park music is playing over the speakers. Along the course there are bands, DJ's, singers, all sorts of folks cheering you on.

I felt my iPod was a necessity until the Princess last year, when there was a charging issue and it was dead when I went to turn it on in the starting corral. Although it was unplanned, it was quite a pleasant time without the music. (I would however, not recommend it for the Disneyland Half....)

Headphones are allowed, but, as in many races, officially discouraged. There's entertainment and characters along the course. How frequently I'm not sure. My only experience was 2010 and I think the local band/support attendance may have been reduced by the low temps.

I'll have my earbuds in, but expect they'll be quiet much of the time. I like to have them in place to use the phone.

Ronda

As in above, officially discouraged. 2011 WDWM stepped up the entertainment frequency. You may not need them as often as in the past

 

[goofyinohio]

Hope this isn't a controversial post........
I got injured training for the 1/2 about 4 weeks ago. I have a stress fx in my left foot. I had no weight bearing for 3 weeks. Got re-xrayed last week & am healing but he still wanted me in the boot with only light activity for 3 more weeks. This brings me almost to Thanksgiving. There is no way I can get up to speed by race time at this point.
Has anyone ever had an injury happen & just decided to go ahead & start the race knowing there is no way you can finish & just done as much as you could? I paid my $150 which is a high price & now feel like I would at least like to experience part of the race. I would love to at least get to go through the castle. I know I will probably have to abandon at some point because I will be too slow. Has anyone done this & how does it work?

Have you been able to or are you able to get to a gym for some kind of cardio (Spinning maybe?) It may not be the same as running, but if you can keep your cardio up you will still have 5-6 weeks once the boot comes off to get your legs back at it. You may not be trained to where you want to be, but hopefully it could get your through the castle (About half way or so.) Coach Charles hopefully can give you some advice here.

What kind of time did you submit for the race?

 

[cewait]

Hope this isn't a controversial post........
I got injured training for the 1/2 about 4 weeks ago. I have a stress fx in my left foot. I had no weight bearing for 3 weeks. Got re-xrayed last week & am healing but he still wanted me in the boot with only light activity for 3 more weeks. This brings me almost to Thanksgiving. There is no way I can get up to speed by race time at this point.
Has anyone ever had an injury happen & just decided to go ahead & start the race knowing there is no way you can finish & just done as much as you could? I paid my $150 which is a high price & now feel like I would at least like to experience part of the race. I would love to at least get to go through the castle. I know I will probably have to abandon at some point because I will be too slow. Has anyone done this & how does it work?

Not controversial in the least.

Can you cycle either upright or recumbent? Swim? Row machine? Anything to get your cardio system off couch mode in the mean time will help. Once out of the boot, understand that you will have a lot of make up ground between Thanksgiving and he half. If you can get 3 miles that first weekend, 5 the next, 7 the next, and then 4ish on Christmas and 6-8 on New Years.... you have a great chance of finishing. It will not be pretty and it may not be fun, but you will surely get through MK and fro there all you really need is mile 10 and then you are home.

Note that the above is not a preferred schedule. It does run risk of failure but it gives you a fighting chance of finishing. I have had more runners than I can count finish an event with a long training run of 50% distance. Just make sure to listen to your body and pull up in training if you feel something coming on.


Go for it.

 

[ironz]

Hope this isn't a controversial post........
I got injured training for the 1/2 about 4 weeks ago. I have a stress fx in my left foot. I had no weight bearing for 3 weeks. Got re-xrayed last week & am healing but he still wanted me in the boot with only light activity for 3 more weeks. This brings me almost to Thanksgiving. There is no way I can get up to speed by race time at this point.
Has anyone ever had an injury happen & just decided to go ahead & start the race knowing there is no way you can finish & just done as much as you could? I paid my $150 which is a high price & now feel like I would at least like to experience part of the race. I would love to at least get to go through the castle. I know I will probably have to abandon at some point because I will be too slow. Has anyone done this & how does it work?

I am betting you will be ok, but a question? How much mileage (long run) were you up to before the stress fx?
Definitely do what Coach Charles said, and stay active...elliptical (if you can tolerate it), deep water running, or bike.

I was developing one before I did Goofy in 2010, and it became symptomatic about 5 weeks before the race. I finally saw a doctor about 3 weeks out and got put in a boot. I did a LOT of deep water running (before and after seeing the doctor), all the way up until the race weekend. I also did a fair amount of time on the bike/trainer.

For race weekend, I had semi-clearance from the doctor to go ahead with the races, provided I would be SMART and stop if it got painful. I wore the boot all the time, except for when I was racing, just to keep my foot protected. During the races, I did a modified Gallowalk pattern of running 3 minutes ez and walking 2 minutes. Got through the 1/2 marathon ok. Was hurting starting around mile 22 of the full marathon, but by then, I was so close to my Goofy, I just finished it out.
Amazingly, even with the relatively large amount of walking I did, I finished the half in about 2:40 and the full in about 6:00.
Then stayed in the boot another 6 weeks to be sure. Because I knew that I probably set back the healing of the stress fx by doing the Goofy, but it was my informed choice and being prepared to deal with the consequences.

 

[ironz]

are we allowed to wear headphones and listen to music during the run? I found it really helped me during my 10k to not focus on others.

if I am, would I be missing anything cool by wearing them, i.e., do they have disney music through the whole race, not just parks?

There is a lot of entertainment on the course. There are some quieter areas, but there are plenty of other runners around you.

My main request...PLEASE!! .... is to not have the volume so loud that you can't hear people who might need to get around you, etc. The course gets really congested in parts, esp. around the parks, including where you enter and exit each park. If you can't hear people that need to get by, do not be too offended if you get a slight nudge or other physical contact. Also....I really hate cheering on runners who are so into their music that they don't hear me. So don't expect crowd support or from your other runners if you are tuned out. It's way more fun to actually interact with the runners and the race environment.

also, if any of you ipod-dependent people have any dream of doing triathlon, you will have to break your habit.
Yes, I run with an ipod when I'm on the treadmill. But not in races. I know it helps, but your legs will move without it.

 

[goofyinohio]

are we allowed to wear headphones and listen to music during the run? I found it really helped me during my 10k to not focus on others.

if I am, would I be missing anything cool by wearing them, i.e., do they have disney music through the whole race, not just parks?

While they discourage it they do allow it. I've run all of my races with headphones on. I always keep the volume low and in most races only use one ear bud. It allows me to stay out of people's way and if there is an emergency I hear it coming.

Outside of the parks which is where you spend most of the time they will have bands, cheerleaders, etc to keep you entertained.

The crowds/volunteers/workers at Disney are amazing! If people are allowed to go somewhere they will be there.

 

[cewait]

I am actually REALLY EXCITED that the relay is here this year!. No I am running the full so I can try to keep the goofy streak alive.

What I am pumped about is the visual/audio cues returning at mile 13....

"Relay to the left, Full to the Right...Relay to the left, Full to the Right...Relay to the left, Full to the Right...Relay to the left, Full to the Right..."

It's morphed some from 'half on the left' but that was one of the best things on course. That signals the coming turn to the right down Bear Island Road and the half!

Yeppers, it is the simple things.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Thanks so much everyone for the responses.

Have you been able to or are you able to get to a gym for some kind of cardio (Spinning maybe?) It may not be the same as running, but if you can keep your cardio up you will still have 5-6 weeks once the boot comes off to get your legs back at it. You may not be trained to where you want to be, but hopefully it could get your through the castle (About half way or so.) Coach Charles hopefully can give you some advice here.

What kind of time did you submit for the race?

I have not been doing much cardio since the fx. I was told no weight bearing for 3 weeks. It happened on Oct 9th & I went to the MD on the 10th & was put in boot & on crutches. We had a Disney cruise scheduled starting on the 23rd so I was in the wheelchair most of that with a little bit of walking on the boot. I went back to the MD last week & was told to continue with the boot for 2-3 weeks & to start weaning myself off the boot gradually. I have been walking on it in the boot quite a bit more. I will start doing the recumbent bike if that will help.

Not controversial in the least.

Can you cycle either upright or recumbent? Swim? Row machine? Anything to get your cardio system off couch mode in the mean time will help. Once out of the boot, understand that you will have a lot of make up ground between Thanksgiving and he half. If you can get 3 miles that first weekend, 5 the next, 7 the next, and then 4ish on Christmas and 6-8 on New Years.... you have a great chance of finishing. It will not be pretty and it may not be fun, but you will surely get through MK and fro there all you really need is mile 10 and then you are home.

Note that the above is not a preferred schedule. It does run risk of failure but it gives you a fighting chance of finishing. I have had more runners than I can count finish an event with a long training run of 50% distance. Just make sure to listen to your body and pull up in training if you feel something coming on.


Go for it.

Thanks Coach. I have been pretty lazy & was hurting quite a bit for the first 3 weeks, but now I am feeling better & walking more in the boot. I can start doing the bike & maybe some short walks & then try as you suggest. I would love to at least give it a shot & at least get to the castle.

I am betting you will be ok, but a question? How much mileage (long run) were you up to before the stress fx?
Definitely do what Coach Charles said, and stay active...elliptical (if you can tolerate it), deep water running, or bike.

I was developing one before I did Goofy in 2010, and it became symptomatic about 5 weeks before the race. I finally saw a doctor about 3 weeks out and got put in a boot. I did a LOT of deep water running (before and after seeing the doctor), all the way up until the race weekend. I also did a fair amount of time on the bike/trainer.

For race weekend, I had semi-clearance from the doctor to go ahead with the races, provided I would be SMART and stop if it got painful. I wore the boot all the time, except for when I was racing, just to keep my foot protected. During the races, I did a modified Gallowalk pattern of running 3 minutes ez and walking 2 minutes. Got through the 1/2 marathon ok. Was hurting starting around mile 22 of the full marathon, but by then, I was so close to my Goofy, I just finished it out.
Amazingly, even with the relatively large amount of walking I did, I finished the half in about 2:40 and the full in about 6:00.
Then stayed in the boot another 6 weeks to be sure. Because I knew that I probably set back the healing of the stress fx by doing the Goofy, but it was my informed choice and being prepared to deal with the consequences.

Before the fx I was at the 6.5 mile week of the training plan. I was always planning on walking the majority running some & turned in the max finish time since I knew I would mostly be walking. I was pretty well on target with 15-16 minute miles when it happened.


Thanks so much for being understanding. I want to do as much as I can & didn't know if it would be frowned upon to start if there was a big possiblity that you can't finish. You guys are great!

 

[run2relax]

My son and I are running the half. Has anyone purchased the Race Retreat package before and found it beneficial? Thanks

 

[Goofed98]

By the way, new course maps, with mile markers, are posted on rundisney this morning.

Also, my apologies if I've missed it, but can you watch runners participating in the 5k? My niece and nephews will be running, and I'd like to surprise them. Plus, I won't feel as guilty when my brother drags them out of bed for the rest of the weekend to watch me.

 

[cewait]

By the way, new course maps, with mile markers, are posted on rundisney this morning.

Also, my apologies if I've missed it, but can you watch runners participating in the 5k? My niece and nephews will be running, and I'd like to surprise them. Plus, I won't feel as guilty when my brother drags them out of bed for the rest of the weekend to watch me.

Shame that the map still has a couple of interpretive issues. Though much better.

With regard to spectating the 5k. Yes and no. You can see the start and watch them fly around the parking lot. From there, you can make your way to the finish line and watch them appear from the cast member exit and run through the finish. No in the park spectating.

 

[cewait]

My son and I are running the half. Has anyone purchased the Race Retreat package before and found it beneficial? Thanks

It's all about what you want. I would have paid triple the price in 2010 but even then, the tent was still cool to cold.

You will find compelling reasons for doing the retreat and for not. It's all about budget and whether the price is worth a carpeted area prerace to relax on, a set of private (though still crowded) porta potties, drink and food. If the whether is nice and you want a great spot in the corral, the tent's greatest perk is that you are released early to the corrals. I keep thinking some year I may pay for the tent, but its not happening this year.

 

[jmasgat]

Finally, a good week of training. Sunday's long run was decent overall (a couple of ugly mile splits), speed work--finally made it through without having to stop and today's tempo run felt nice and relaxed. Hope to keep up the groove. Will need to juggle schedule a little since we're headed to LA for Thanksgiving, but should be good.

Maura