Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[cewait]

We are staying at Coronado Springs for the first time marathon weekend. Does anyone know which bus stop we will have to use Sunday morning? Wasn't sure if it was only a certain one.

While I haven't stayed there for marathon weekend, my assumption would be you will need to walk to El Centro to catch the bus...someone please correct me if I am wrong!

I thought the marathon buses still looped the resort... I may be wrong as it has been a few years since I even was on the resort property.

I would definitely look to see how the marathon buses operate Thursday and Friday. It should be the same as Race mornings.

 

[FFigawi]

I thought the marathon buses still looped the resort... I may be wrong as it has been a few years since I even was on the resort property.

Never stayed at Coronado, but at CBR, the buses circle the resort. Much shorter walk and nice to wait behind 2 people instead of 200.

 

[rocio]

I thought the marathon buses still looped the resort... I may be wrong as it has been a few years since I even was on the resort property.

I would definitely look to see how the marathon buses operate Thursday and Friday. It should be the same as Race mornings.

We stayed at POR for the princess.and I recall the race bus only went to the main building. The expo buses did the loop but on race day everyone lined up in front of the main building and it left from there. We were getting contradictory information so we decided to be safe and went to the main building.

 

[cewait]

Given to volunteers? They don't order one for each entrant since they know that a) not everyone will show up, and b) of those that do, not all will finish. It must be an interesting calculation, one that Disney usually seems to get right. Houston, among others, has had several years of getting it wrong and running out of medals for the back-of-the-packers.

They have blown it a time or two in the last 15 years - fortunately due to a logistics issue rather than a count issue.

I would love to have access to the Disney attendance models. Though, I am figuring that Disney orders more medals than we think. First for an unexpected surge between the sold entries and start count. But next for shrinkage (i.e. bad medals) and pilferage. Unfortunately, there has been a volunteer or two in the past who have taken advantage of the dark and remoteness of the medal line and decided that they needed to profit on ebay. (I helped the mouse DQ a volunteer from the Princess 3 years ago who was attempting to sell 10 medals in concurrent auctions. I think she would have been successful had she just sold them in series.

Finally, quite a few head off to the frame makers. Folks who have never ordered from Fond Memories etal probably do not realize that your frame comes with it;s own set of medals. I have no idea how many frames are sold, but it has to be in the hundreds.


My brother and I were talking about race shirts and medals at the Formula Run Saturday. He mentioned the no finish no medal thought and I then reminded him of the old school days when a race shirt was what we received for a finish. The issue there was that if one was a slower finisher one rarely got their size - unless they were extra small. We were both kind of happy to see races start to give out two shirts - a I entered race shirt then a finisher shirt. This then morphed to medals with Disney being one of the first of the biggie races to offer a medal.



Trivia Question......

Describe the first Disney Marathon Medal in general terms.
















No fair Googling



















Answer - a simple medal orb with a raised running Mickey. Walt Disney World Marathon encircled the Mickey. No ears or anything special for the very first.

 

[Terapin]

On the morning after my second half marathon I am left wondering how folks who have done Goofy or two other back-to-back races deal with muscle pain and stiffness the next day?

 

[lerxst]

Just when I think trash about winter, I see the lack of humidity and think, okay, I still love ya...

Question for former first timers: how do you pace yourselves for long runs? I did my first 15 mile run this weekend and averaged 12 min/mile (in the 11:45-12:15 range) which was the average for my last 1/2. I felt okay, I mean, I was moving forward and my last mile was my second fastest, but now I'm officially in uncharted territory.
And as a funny side story, I asked a local running group what their pace was for the Saturday long run. He said, "Oh, you know, 7 min/mile usually but then we also have people who do a more leisurely 11 minute mile." As I got to mile 14, there was most certainly nothing "leisurely" about how I felt.

12 minutes here, too. Yeah, mile 14 - 15 was brutal last week. But I am not embarrassed by 12 minutes. I own it and think it's pretty solid.

 

[FFigawi]

On the morning after my second half marathon I am left wondering how folks who have done Goofy or two other back-to-back races deal with muscle pain and stiffness the next day?

I run slow and easy during Goofy, so I'm not nearly as sore as I am after a race when I really race. That said, I still do my usual routine of walk around after the finish; ice bath; compression socks; nap; walk around the rest of the day; lots of walking the next day; short run two days after.

 

[FFigawi]

My brother and I were talking about race shirts and medals at the Formula Run Saturday. He mentioned the no finish no medal thought and I then reminded him of the old school days when a race shirt was what we received for a finish. The issue there was that if one was a slower finisher one rarely got their size - unless they were extra small. We were both kind of happy to see races start to give out two shirts - a I entered race shirt then a finisher shirt. This then morphed to medals with Disney being one of the first of the biggie races to offer a medal.

Had no idea that they were one of the first to give medals. Very cool. One of my friends just entered Berlin and had to pay extra in advance for a finisher shirt and medal. That's not cool.

 

[cewait]

On the morning after my second half marathon I am left wondering how folks who have done Goofy or two other back-to-back races deal with muscle pain and stiffness the next day?

I run slow and easy during Goofy, so I'm not nearly as sore as I am after a race when I really race. That said, I still do my usual routine of walk around after the finish; ice bath; compression socks; nap; walk around the rest of the day; lots of walking the next day; short run two days after.

DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) can be limited through much of what John just said. It is a function of learning how to recover after the half (or full for that matter). It starts immediately post half with a nice recovery drink, then following a program of ice or heat, stretching and movement. In addition, one needs to learn a little about fueling between the races.

I am going to miss the older marathon course on Sunday. Up until 2011, if one was starting on the left side of the race, they had a nice little mile jog for a warmup followed by a hill at mile 1 (the very last hill of the half). Charging that hill at a hard effort was a great little wake up for the legs on Sunday.

 

[Reep]

This then morphed to medals with Disney being one of the first of the biggie races to offer a medal.

Boston and Chicago were giving medals out in the mid 80s. Although, they weren't much to look at. Boston's still aren't.

 

[Reep]

I am going to miss the older marathon course on Sunday.

I have mixed feelings. I always liked running through Epcot twice, but really probably didn't notice it that much the first trip through. While I think running the race track and hitting the big party at mile 20 will be a lot of fun this year, I'm glad I'm going Goofy and not racing it. All those turns will really slow down times--at least for me. I had my GPS at DL this year and it really showed where I dropped my pace going around the turns at the parks.

It will also seem strange to hit Animal Kingdom at the halfway point, when I'm used to having it be my marker for when to start breaking through the wall.

 

[cewait]

I have mixed feelings. I always liked running through Epcot twice, but really probably didn't notice it that much the first trip through. While I think running the race track and hitting the big party at mile 20 will be a lot of fun this year, I'm glad I'm going Goofy and not racing it. All those turns will really slow down times--at least for me. I had my GPS at DL this year and it really showed where I dropped my pace going around the turns at the parks.

It will also seem strange to hit Animal Kingdom at the halfway point, when I'm used to having it be my marker for when to start breaking through the wall.

Agree... I am actually kind of fearful that the mind will say only 10 to go as we pass the pachyderm pooh pen at the entrance to the backstage of AK. It's only 3 miles delta but can be significant on the back half of a Goofy. It will be interesting to see what the mile 20 thing holds for surprises. I am hoping for segway tours to the finish. I am also kind of looking forward to the out and back separated by the 3 mile loop. It should take out some of the 180 degree uturn sting out of the past courses.

I do guess that there is a nice little warmup hill at mile one on the 2013 course. Its grade is a little less and will be harder to charge as the course will be a little more crowded.

 

[Reep]

I am hoping for segway tours to the finish.

Although can you imagine running 20, and then standing still on a Segway for six miles and then trying to get off? Marathon shuffle big time.

 

[cewait]

Although can you imagine running 20, and then standing still on a Segway for six miles and then trying to get off? Marathon shuffle big time.

The good news it is a backwards step off.

otherwise, guess I better just keep on movin' on

 

[John VN]

Wouldn't bother me at all if medals were only for first, second and third place.

Having only done 2 WDW Dopey Weekends, I really don't mind the new marathon course at all. Actually, it now provides me with the opportunity to get that McFlurry I wanted in 2011 and 2012. Unlike others, DW, DD and I are there to finish and enjoy, not for a PR so turns are not that bad.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

Had no idea that they were one of the first to give medals. Very cool. One of my friends just entered Berlin and had to pay extra in advance for a finisher shirt and medal. That's not cool.

What if you don't finish? I guess you still get your medal?

Agree... I am actually kind of fearful that the mind will say only 10 to go as we pass the pachyderm pooh pen at the entrance to the backstage of AK. It's only 3 miles delta but can be significant on the back half of a Goofy. It will be interesting to see what the mile 20 thing holds for surprises. I am hoping for segway tours to the finish. I am also kind of looking forward to the out and back separated by the 3 mile loop. It should take out some of the 180 degree uturn sting out of the past courses.

I do guess that there is a nice little warmup hill at mile one on the 2013 course. Its grade is a little less and will be harder to charge as the course will be a little more crowded.

Aaaah. This is the good thing about being a marathon newbie. I'm sure once my Nike+ says I'm at the 1/2 way point, my body will start shutting down.

The good news it is a backwards step off.

otherwise, guess I better just keep on movin' on

Segways at the 20 would be AWESOME!!!!

 

[Pungodingy]

Pixie dust please...

Running a local Half yesterday, felt a pop, then a burn, then had to finish the race walking, primary care feels it may be a torn meniscus, going to ortho on Wed to find out...any chance I'll be able to run by marathon weekend????

 

[cewait]

Pixie dust please...

Running a local Half yesterday, felt a pop, then a burn, then had to finish the race walking, primary care feels it may be a torn meniscus, going to ortho on Wed to find out...any chance I'll be able to run by marathon weekend????

Could be that or just a simple sprain/tendonitis. May even be an inflamed bone spur site.

In general, the answer is - it depends. Make sure to quiz your doc on their thoughts and opinions. If your ortho is not a runner or affiliated with sports teams, be prepared to seek a second opinion. The safe play is to have you rest your knee for 2-6 weeks. Obviously, this is not something you want to have happen and there are more aggressive treatments.

I am not a doctor - but I would not be afraid of seeking a cortisone injection this week to rid the knee of inflammation and allow you to carry forward with training in the next few days. Obviously, your doctor will have a 1000% better view of you and your knee and may feel like this is not the best course of treatment. They may want to try oral NSAIDs first - as most patients are not looking for the quicker fix.

Note that there are differing grades and types of meniscus issues. None of them really require an immediate fix - if your knee does not swell tremendously from inflammation, if your knee is not locking and if you have little or no pain.

Thoughts are with you as you head into the ortho. Hopefully, you will draw a great doc who will take a picture, help with the inflammation and say come back in a couple weeks if not better.

 

[liznboys]

How are those training for Goofy doing? I did my first "big" back to back this weekend. 9 on Saturday and 18 on Sunday. I didn't notice any difference in how I felt on Sunday, and actually my pace was better than the 17 miles I did a few weeks ago (with no run the day before). And, I feel good today! It feels great to have a big back to back under my belt. I'm planning on two more of them.

 

[Reep]

How are those training for Goofy doing? I did my first "big" back to back this weekend. 9 on Saturday and 18 on Sunday. I didn't notice any difference in how I felt on Sunday, and actually my pace was better than the 17 miles I did a few weeks ago (with no run the day before). And, I feel good today! It feels great to have a big back to back under my belt. I'm planning on two more of them.

Good job on the back to backs. I don't have any of those in my schedule as it is really hard for me to get out on Sundays. I'm sure it's good for confidence and knowing how to deal with the muscle soreness.

I did 58 this past week, but am tapering this week for a 1/2 marathon on Saturday. Hopefully a good test and marker to see where I am at in my quest for a Donald PR. Mickey will be dessert.