Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[disney_runner]

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????

Oh yes, that sounds familiar. March 12, 2011. I had it pop 4 times before I could bare the pain any longer. Yep, I had a torn meniscus. I chose some popular doctors and had to wait 1 week for the MRI, another 10 days for the results, and then 1 1/2 months for surgery. After surgery and physical therapy, I was back to faster/speed walking in about 6 weeks, and was back to running in about 10 weeks after surgery, by the first week of July-ish. I did do the W&D Half that Oct. 1.

If it is in fact a tear and you require surgery, depending on how quickly you can get in and out, you could conceivably still do marathon weekend - but ideally walking a majority of it.

Good luck, I hope it's not a tear!!!!

 

[disney_runner]

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.

Sounds awesome, Liz! I've only done one small back to back, 5 and 8. Feels silly even calling it a b2b!! I'll be doing 4 more though, next week is 7 and 15. Then in December I'll have a 6 and 12, 9 and 18, and 8 and 16. My Thanksgiving trip is interrupting my training!

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

Can I just say I despise winter? I am so unmotivated to get outside to do anything! Blah!!!!

 

[Reep]

Can I just say I despise winter? I am so unmotivated to get outside to do anything! Blah!!!!

You may not fully appreciate this, but enjoy winter. I ran outside today in 90 degree heat. Fortunately it is supposed to drop into the 60s this weekend for my next race. I don't like running in the cold, but prefer it to the heat.

 

[John VN]

Can I just say I despise winter? I am so unmotivated to get outside to do anything! Blah!!!!

Sounds like it's pretty bad now but Winter doesn't get here until Dec. 21 at 6:12AM EST.

 

[jimandami]

Anyone know of any tour groups that have 1/2 spots left? We have a couple friends that would like to come down and run the Donald!

 

[mufasa0505]

I didn't realize that they sent the buses to the resorts! I thought my husband had to get up at 3:30 to drive me!

Can families take transportation to the Expo with the runners, or is it for runners only? Just curious; we'll probably drive, anyway.

 

[Ariel484]

I didn't realize that they sent the buses to the resorts! I thought my husband had to get up at 3:30 to drive me!

Can families take transportation to the Expo with the runners, or is it for runners only? Just curious; we'll probably drive, anyway.

Expo and transportation to the expo are open for all...more opportunities for people to spend $$$!

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

Congrats to everyone on the weekend PRs and long runs. Sandy had me side lined for most of last week. I was worried about the lost miles, but I'm just picking up this week and forgetting about what couldn't be. Unfortunately, I do my long runs on Wednesdays and another storm is forcasted for then. Worst case I'll shorten it and try to add a few extra miles to my run over the weekend. Keep safe out there running in the dark!. I bought a red blinking light, but I think I'm heading to Walmart to buy a reflective vest before I tackle another evening run.

 

[guava]

I was hoping some more experienced runners might be able to provide some advice regarding the upcoming marathon.

First some background, I started running in March 2011 at age 41. I've since completed two half marathons (Disney in Jan. 2012 and Gasparilla in Mar. 2012.) My ankle bothered me just before I started tapering for both halfs but by the end of the taper I was good to go. I started seriously training for the full marathon in August. By mid-September I had built up to 25 miles/week with a long run of 12 miles before my ankle began hurting again. X-rays negative but advised to get an MRI and stay off it for six weeks. Got the MRI results this past Wednesday and my Ortho found no sign of stress fractures or tendonitis so he cleared me to run. However, he thinks I may just be "one of those people" who can only tolerate 25 miles a week???

Assuming I haven't lost too much aerobically (I have been cross training-swim/bike-these past 6 weeks) do you think I have a chance to get back on track in time? And if so, what's the best plan? I'm at a loss. My goal is simply to finish. I'm not opposed to walking some. I'm also fine if this is my one and only full but I REALLY want to cross that finish line in January.

Thank you so much for any guidance!

 

[cewait]

I was hoping some more experienced runners might be able to provide some advice regarding the upcoming marathon.

First some background, I started running in March 2011 at age 41. I've since completed two half marathons (Disney in Jan. 2012 and Gasparilla in Mar. 2012.) My ankle bothered me just before I started tapering for both halfs but by the end of the taper I was good to go. I started seriously training for the full marathon in August. By mid-September I had built up to 25 miles/week with a long run of 12 miles before my ankle began hurting again. X-rays negative but advised to get an MRI and stay off it for six weeks. Got the MRI results this past Wednesday and my Ortho found no sign of stress fractures or tendonitis so he cleared me to run. However, he thinks I may just be "one of those people" who can only tolerate 25 miles a week???

Assuming I haven't lost too much aerobically (I have been cross training-swim/bike-these past 6 weeks) do you think I have a chance to get back on track in time? And if so, what's the best plan? I'm at a loss. My goal is simply to finish. I'm not opposed to walking some. I'm also fine if this is my one and only full but I REALLY want to cross that finish line in January.

Thank you so much for any guidance!

Yes, you have more than enough time to get to the line. It will not be a pretty race and may not be fun but your goal between now and Christmas is to steadily work your long run up to 15-17 miles. There is not really enough time to go much longer than this.

Also, work on intensifying the week day runs and make sure to throw in strenuous x-training.

It has been my experience that I can get a runner through the full with a long run as short as 13-15 miles - assuming they have a great base to start from, they are uninjured and they are fairly strong mentally. Also, one should be running faster than minimum pace as we enter into the race. Trying to short train and only being able to run a 15 minute pace is a recipe for failure.

Race day will be an exercise in sticking with your training pace... no faster. As you go 3-5 miles past the longest training run you will find the wheels wanting to come off. Understanding how to defeat the mental negativity is the key to pushing through these miles.

In short, give it a try and see how you feel coming into 2013. The worst case is that you cannot get your long runs up to the range mentioned and you just do not start the race. If you were able to get the miles up, then its all about trying to have fun during the race. Go into the race thinking you will make it and working to keep on a training pace and relaxed. You will be surprised.

 

[Goofierunner]

Can I just say I despise winter? I am so unmotivated to get outside to do anything! Blah!!!!

Sigh. Me too.

 

[FFigawi]

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.

I loved going through Epcot twice too, and actually enjoyed it more the first time. There's something about the quiet and solitude and the flickering of the gas torches that just put my mind at rest and ready for the rest of the morning.

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.

I'm disappointed in the new course only because I had planned on slowing down enough to hit the Everest coaster at mile 17 this year. I mistimed it last time by 10 minutes and figured that a few more character stops and an even slower pace would get me there right at 9. Still, it's always nice to do something different for a change.

 

[cewait]

I loved going through Epcot twice too, and actually enjoyed it more the first time. There's something about the quiet and solitude and the flickering of the gas torches that just put my mind at rest and ready for the rest of the morning.



I'm disappointed in the new course only because I had planned on slowing down enough to hit the Everest coaster at mile 17 this year. I mistimed it last time by 10 minutes and figured that a few more character stops and an even slower pace would get me there right at 9. Still, it's always nice to do something different for a change.

I recently found a a few old race reports and the first loop of Epcot came to mind....

I described the old Blue start as surreal as we ran in front of the American Adventure and could barely see the glow of SpaceShip earth through the early morning fog.

 

[RENThead09]

Any thoughts on the whole race track running? Just stay as low as possible to minimize and angle there may be? Make a run through pit row to get some fuel and new wheels. Hehehe. Starting to look at the race mile by mile and this part intrigues me.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Ariel484]

I loved going through Epcot twice too, and actually enjoyed it more the first time. There's something about the quiet and solitude and the flickering of the gas torches that just put my mind at rest and ready for the rest of the morning...

Yeah. Epcot is not my favorite park, but I was weirdly sad when I realized that the new course doesn't go through Epcot first. That was my favorite part of the race. WAHH!

 

[cewait]

Any thoughts on the whole race track running? Just stay as low as possible to minimize and angle there may be? Make a run through pit row to get some fuel and new wheels. Hehehe. Starting to look at the race mile by mile and this part intrigues me.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I think folks are not going to be enamored with the track once they see the track up close. The course modifications for bringing in the track will be we turn left into the MK parking lot at the point where the OLD 13 mile mark was. (just like the relay point last year and old, old half finish). So left into the lot, right to follow the parking lot perimeter road up to the track. We enter the track through the tunnel on the northwest side on the track. If you look at aerial photos, the tunnel is marked with trees.

Once inside the track, we make a hard turn left then right to get on pit road (my thoughts - it's hard to tell exactly). We follow the straight (or pit road) then would take the merge/slowdown lane around the track. I seem to recall this is angled in at a 1-3 degree slope for drainage. For this description I am calling the track a 3 turn track... we run through turns 3 and 2 in a clockwise fashion and as we approach turn 1, we will be coned up to the perimeter wall and exit the track through a maintenance gate onto the parking lot exit road. We will then cross the grassy area between the park exit road and Floridian Way and then onto Bear Island Road. Mile 9 will occur in the track.

I am expecting that we will have a photo op or 2 in the track that is Cars related

 

[Reep]

Any thoughts on the whole race track running? Just stay as low as possible to minimize and angle there may be? Make a run through pit row to get some fuel and new wheels. Hehehe. Starting to look at the race mile by mile and this part intrigues me.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I don't think there will be much bank where we will be running. No worse than the rest of the roads in the race (which aren't great in some locations). ITB sufferers beware.

 

[jimandami]

To me, the biggest problem with the track will likely be crowding. When we ran the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon (granted there are 35,000 runners but they have a great corral system), the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is at miles 7 and 8 and the track was still quite crowded. With everyone trying to stay at the bottom to avoid the banking, it was pretty difficult to pass or even keep going at your desired pace. I spent a majority of the time running on the grass!

 

[Ariel484]

I think folks are not going to be enamored with the track once they see the track up close. The course modifications for bringing in the track will be we turn left into the MK parking lot at the point where the OLD 13 mile mark was. (just like the relay point last year and old, old half finish). So left into the lot, right to follow the parking lot perimeter road up to the track. We enter the track through the tunnel on the northwest side on the track. If you look at aerial photos, the tunnel is marked with trees.

Once inside the track, we make a hard turn left then right to get on pit road (my thoughts - it's hard to tell exactly). We follow the straight (or pit road) then would take the merge/slowdown lane around the track. I seem to recall this is angled in at a 1-3 degree slope for drainage. For this description I am calling the track a 3 turn track... we run through turns 3 and 2 in a clockwise fashion and as we approach turn 1, we will be coned up to the perimeter wall and exit the track through a maintenance gate onto the parking lot exit road. We will then cross the grassy area between the park exit road and Floridian Way and then onto Bear Island Road. Mile 9 will occur in the track.

I am expecting that we will have a photo op or 2 in the track that is Cars related

To me, the biggest problem with the track will likely be crowding. When we ran the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon (granted there are 35,000 runners but they have a great corral system), the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is at miles 7 and 8 and the track was still quite crowded. With everyone trying to stay at the bottom to avoid the banking, it was pretty difficult to pass or even keep going at your desired pace. I spent a majority of the time running on the grass!

I'm not too excited about the track either due to the possible slope/crowding issues as well as what I imagine will be a lack of shade (similar concern for the WWoS portion, though I'm hoping the mile 20 surprise is tons of rare characters to distract me! ). Then again, I guess we don't get shade in the parks/other areas of the course either, but I remember there being some nice shady portions on the back roads...

Ah well. Good thing I'm not going for a PR! And hey, it's certainly a part of Disney I wouldn't have seen otherwise (the track I mean) so...that's something.