Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[snickerboo]

I have some ? for the vets of this race (the full). I'm very seriously considering it because it's always been a dream of mine to do it but have a few concerns I need to hash out:

1) Very early start time. I'm in a time zone to the west of FL so this will be a very early start time. Did those of you from other time zones find this manageable? Did it effect race day performance? I'm used to 7 a.m. starts (so getting up at 5)

2) Booking a race smack in the middle of cold and flu season. To be honest, this is my biggest conern, being able to stay healthy for a January race. January seems to be when everyone is sick.

3) Tapering right after the holidays means training during the holidays. Were you able to manage this with all the family commitments?

4) January weather. I recall friends doing Disney around this time and complaining that it was super cold. What has your experience been with this race weatherwise?

Our only other issue is dh's company always has their Annual General Meeting around that time and he absolutely cannot miss it. We have to find out when that is.

Thanks for any advice! I have always thought, if I was going to run 26.2 being able to do it in my favorite place in the world would be a big bonus. If I don't do it, I need to book the Rock N Roll here for October.

 

[escape]

I have some ? for the vets of this race (the full). I'm very seriously considering it because it's always been a dream of mine to do it but have a few concerns I need to hash out:

1) Very early start time. I'm in a time zone to the west of FL so this will be a very early start time. Did those of you from other time zones find this manageable? Did it effect race day performance? I'm used to 7 a.m. starts (so getting up at 5)

Arkansas participant here - hello neighbor!

This next year will be my 6th year to go to the January events. I am not an early morning person but I had no issues getting up for these races. I usually went to bed around 9:00pm starting two night before. Some people go to bed around 7pm or 8pm. You can do it. Set two alarm clocks if needed.

2) Booking a race smack in the middle of cold and flu season. To be honest, this is my biggest conern, being able to stay healthy for a January race. January seems to be when everyone is sick.

Take extra precautions. Wash hands often and thoroughly and instruct your family to do so as well. I completed a marathon with a cold. However, I did not have a fever. Don't let the "what-ifs" prevent you from signing up.

3) Tapering right after the holidays means training during the holidays. Were you able to manage this with all the family commitments?

Sit down with key family members and explain your goal. Have them help you keep your commitments to the training. Make it a team challenge. Training during the holidays is a challenge but wearing that 20th anniversary marathon medal will be sooooooooo worth it. Make sure you spend a few extra days at Disney so you can show off your medal. You'll see a ton of folks with their medals throughout the parks.

4) January weather. I recall friends doing Disney around this time and complaining that it was super cold. What has your experience been with this race weatherwise?

In the past 6 years, I only remember it being super cold once - 2010. Yes, it was below freezing at the start. It was sleeting during the half and just super cold for the full. However, I really believe the cold weather helped me complete the marathon. I can't tolerate the heat nearly as well.

2006 was super cold as well -I didn't go that year, though. All the other times I've been there were on the warm side - some hot. You just never know. If you live in the St. Louis area and train there, you should be prepared for cold weather running. The heat is what I'd be concerned with. Be prepared for any weather. Take throw-away clothes and you'll be fine.

Our only other issue is dh's company always has their Annual General Meeting around that time and he absolutely cannot miss it. We have to find out when that is.

Yep! Do that before signing up.

Thanks for any advice! I have always thought, if I was going to run 26.2 being able to do it in my favorite place in the world would be a big bonus. If I don't do it, I need to book the Rock N Roll here for October.

I did the St. Louis RnR last October. I had a great time. I would encourage you to do this one sometime. HOWEVER, do Disney for your first if at all possible. It's the 20th anniversary. You won't regret it. The only real issue I see is your husband's meeting date.

 

[Stoneham92]

What kind of teacher discounts do they offer if you don't mind me asking? The boyfriend is a teacher, so that would work out for us! I don't see anything on their site..

Rates are updated in November of each year, but here was last years rates to give you a ballpark
http://www.swandolphin.com/promos/teachers/

here is the direct site, but does not have 2013 rates yet
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/sher...TEACH1&refPage=predecider&ctx=search&bedType=

 

[stitchfan18]

So what do you do when the runs... ain't so great? I have my first half marathon a month from today and did my 10 mile run today and omg... I could not get myself together at ALL. This was brutal, more so than the 7 miles I did last weekend in the humidity (which I seriously can't stand or function in), which was pretty bad, but I pushed through and finished.
on top of that my feet are getting blisters now when this was never a problem before... The blisters were bad enough that I sat on a curb in the shade and ran the remaining 4 miles without socks. Thankfully, I came home to find the Lifetime movie about the Menendez brothers was on and I have job interview next week so it didn't end on too bad a note.

Bad runs happen to everyone, but finishing those bad runs makes you stronger mentally because you pushed through a run that was tough!

Does anyone know of anything to use to prevent chafing so it's possible to wear the skirt without the shorts?

Good old Vaseline works best for me. I use body glide as well, but there isn't a reason to pay more for it when you can get a whole jar of vaseline at the store for a whole lot less.

 

[cobbler]

When do they offer the special race retreat tent things?

Hubby and I are doing Goofy for the first time and we are thinking we will want to have some extra comfort.

 

[Ariel484]

So what do you do when the runs... ain't so great? I have my first half marathon a month from today and did my 10 mile run today and omg... I could not get myself together at ALL. This was brutal, more so than the 7 miles I did last weekend in the humidity (which I seriously can't stand or function in), which was pretty bad, but I pushed through and finished.
on top of that my feet are getting blisters now when this was never a problem before... The blisters were bad enough that I sat on a curb in the shade and ran the remaining 4 miles without socks. Thankfully, I came home to find the Lifetime movie about the Menendez brothers was on and I have job interview next week so it didn't end on too bad a note.

I guess just maybe see if there's anything you can learn from it (i.e. my run yesterday was terrible - it was too hot and super sunny - lesson learned, it's worth it to GET UP EARLY!) and then move on to the next one...and try to appreciate the really great ones. We all have a bad run once in awhile. Sometimes you just need to develop a short-term memory when it comes to running!

That's so cute, I really want since my tshirts have become cumbersome and way too hot...

When I first made the change to moisture-wicking shirts, I had a lot of good luck finding stuff at TJ Maxx. I found a lot of Nike/Reebok/New Balance t-shirts and tank tops for $15 or less. It really makes a HUGE different over cotton t-shirts, especially in the summer.

Does anyone know of anything to use to prevent chafing so it's possible to wear the skirt without the shorts?

I use Body Glide in the - ahem - bra area But I'm not sure how well it would work on the legs...never tried it.

I have some ? for the vets of this race (the full). I'm very seriously considering it because it's always been a dream of mine to do it but have a few concerns I need to hash out:

1) Very early start time. I'm in a time zone to the west of FL so this will be a very early start time. Did those of you from other time zones find this manageable? Did it effect race day performance? I'm used to 7 a.m. starts (so getting up at 5)

I've run 2 Disney races and haven't changed time zones, so I'm not sure I can help here. But as someone that normally gets up between 5 and 7AM for races, I really didn't have a huge problem getting up at 2:45. I found that I was so excited that it was FINALLY RACE DAY and just wanted to get to the starting area!

2) Booking a race smack in the middle of cold and flu season. To be honest, this is my biggest conern, being able to stay healthy for a January race. January seems to be when everyone is sick.

I feel you here - in the weeks leading up to the races I ran, it seemed like EVERYONE around me was sick. All I could do was try to quarantine myself in my cube and wash my hands obsessively. In general, just try to take good care of yourself, get enough sleep, get a flu shot, etc. That's really all you can control. I agree with escape - it's a valid concern but I don't think you should let it deter you from signing up for the race.

3) Tapering right after the holidays means training during the holidays. Were you able to manage this with all the family commitments?

Yes. I am pretty OCD when it comes to my running schedule, so I just tried to schedule stuff around holiday commitments and got up early to get stuff done when I had to. You're right that you'll be tapering by then, so that helps knowing that you won't have to cook Christmas dinner and run your 20-miler in the same day.

4) January weather. I recall friends doing Disney around this time and complaining that it was super cold. What has your experience been with this race weatherwise?

I think escape is right that 2010 was the worst in recent memory, with sleet, snow, etc. I just ran the marathon this year and we had great weather...just a bit warm at the end of the race.

Our only other issue is dh's company always has their Annual General Meeting around that time and he absolutely cannot miss it. We have to find out when that is.

My husband is a teacher, so we have to make these trips short weekends. Since I'm going Goofy in 2013 I'll be there one day before he gets in, which is going to be weird...but we'll make it work.

When do they offer the special race retreat tent things?

Hubby and I are doing Goofy for the first time and we are thinking we will want to have some extra comfort.

I read a blog post on this where the writer got a race retreat pass at the Princess Half for free in exchange for blogging about it. I think it offers warmth/access to a climate-controlled tent (I walked by it this year and saw lots of heat lamps), pre- and post-race food (bagels, fruit, etc. before and hot breakfast after), private bathrooms, and separate bag check.


----------------

SparkleSkirt follow-up: I wore the skirt again today for a 10-mile run, and it was great. I had no chafing issues and the skirt was really comfortable.

The biggest bonus is that I could fit my giant phone (a DROID X, which is a bit bigger than an iPhone) into each of the pockets. This is a huge deal to me because it doesn't fit in any of my other running bottoms...the ones that have pockets, that is, and while it does fit into my fuel belt, it never leaves and room for my Gu Chomps. I started with it in the zip-pocket on the waist band (the skirt is reversible, and I prefer the pocket in the back) but had to stop at 0.25 miles to move the phone to a leg pocket because the stupid thing is so heavy I felt like it was pulling the skirt down. So I guess the waist band pocket isn't great for heavier stuff...it sort of made me wish the skirt had a drawstring. Once in the leg pocket, I didn't even feel the phone. I had to check a few times to make sure it was still there...it really didn't bother me at all. HOWEVER, and this might be TMI, when I got home the phone was pretty damp with sweat, which made me nervous. I guess I'll need to put it in a plastic bag?

But yeah, successfully wearing the skirt for a 10-miler makes me confident that it can survive a half. I'm going to try it out for my half coming up at the end of May, and if I like it well enough there, I'll wear it for the WDW Half and grab a second one for the WDW Full. I'm excited at the possibility of not having to bring a fuel belt to WDW Marathon Weekend, and even more excited that I'll be able to have my phone on me. That's a huge plus.

 

[snickerboo]

Thanks escape! What races have you done around here that you really enjoyed? Always interested to hear.

STL is a bonus as a runner because it trains you for everything: cold, sweltering heat, humidity, wind, massive hills! LOL We moved here in 2011 so I'm still adjusting but the balmy winter this year was great for running.

Dh going to check with the company on Monday and, if we can avoid the meeting, I'll officially sign up. If I dod this Disney for January, I might still do the RnR but just the half in Oct. That should fit fine into my training plan.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Anybody here struggle with shin splints? I figured out the cause (too many miles on my shoes), but despite icing, resting and working on my core, my gait is still funky a week later.

 

[kimmiepcft]

Anybody here struggle with shin splints? I figured out the cause (too many miles on my shoes), but despite icing, resting and working on my core, my gait is still funky a week later.

Look up some exercises you can do to strengthen them, it will def. help. A marathon runner who has run many told me to walk around on my heels with my toes pointing up for 3o seconds, then to the sides for 30 seconds each day to build them up. There are other things you can do as well that will help.

 

[cobbler]

Ariel484-
Interesting, thanks for the info...

I know I will not be blogging about it as I barely have time to get on here all that much and other stuff at times. I know during this last race I saw that it was available for purchase but I haven't seen it on the runDisney website yet so I'm wondering if they offer it later or what...

 

[escape]

cobbler - In the past, I *think* it was offered sometime late summer/early fall. I think they now have a Goofy package that will save you a little if you want the race retreat tent for both days. It certainly is a nice treat.

Ariel - I'd like to check into getting a running skirt. Is your skirt polyester or nylon? A rep at the sparkleskirts.com said that the nylon was more for cooler weather. I like the idea of having pockets in the skirt. I, too, have a Droid X that is rather bulky. I know I carry too much stuff with me but I'd rather be over-prepared than not enough.

snickerboo - I hope it works out that you can do Disney this next year. I really haven't participated in a lot of races in the area but I know there's a lot of good ones to do. You're just a hop, skip and a jump from Chicago and I know there are lots of good ones to do there. I'm sure St. Louis has a lot as well. I'm thinking seriously of doing the Kansas City half (Waddell and Reed) on October 20. I'm also planning to do the Tulsa Route 66 Half in November and maybe the Memphis St. Jude half in December - all to help me prepare for the WDW full (or maybe, Goofy) in January. I have participated in the Tulsa and Memphis races. I highly recommend them.

MightyDuck001 - I feel for you. I've had horrible training runs. As stitchfan18and Ariel said - you work through these runs and you learn from them. A horrible training run does not mean you'll have a bad race. As for your blisters, do you know what caused them? I used to get them quite frequently....especially in hot/humid weather. The right socks and shoes can help prevent them. I've tried numerous socks and shoes and good ones alone don't help me. Before a long run or race, I have to use Body Glide and/or Vaseline in addition to taping trouble-prone areas on my feet. It's all a matter of trial and error until you know what works for you.

roomthreeseventeen - ouch! I used to get shin splints. No fun. For me, it was a matter of going out too fast at the beginning of a run. Adding in some specific exercises like kimmie mentioned will probably help. It may take a little more time to get your groove back as well. Good luck!

 

[VernRDH]

Regarding the Race Retreat: FIL and I did it in '10-the year of Disney on Ice. What a wonderful thing it was!!! I probably would have enjoyed it even if it hadn't been 32 degrees and raining out when we finished. The "private" porta potties alone made it worth the money for me. The food afterwards was great too, but again, my opinion may be jaded due to the fact that it was colder in FL than it was here in NY that day!

We are not doing it this time, as we have a pretty good support crew and we have to jet directly from the marathon to Port Canaveral to catch our cruise, but I would recommend it for sure.

 

[MightyDuck001]

MightyDuck001 - I feel for you. I've had horrible training runs. As stitchfan18and Ariel said - you work through these runs and you learn from them. A horrible training run does not mean you'll have a bad race. As for your blisters, do you know what caused them? I used to get them quite frequently....especially in hot/humid weather. The right socks and shoes can help prevent them. I've tried numerous socks and shoes and good ones alone don't help me. Before a long run or race, I have to use Body Glide and/or Vaseline in addition to taping trouble-prone areas on my feet. It's all a matter of trial and error until you know what works for you.

Thanks everyone for the advice--I will definitely try out the Vaseline for blisters. I think the hot weather and mileage increase definitely helped, and thinner socks are on the top of the shopping list. Once I took the socks off it felt a lot better. The 5 mile run today also went much, much better. For the first time I did 5 miles in under an hour!

And I learned something new-- running in the rain is great, it definitely cools you off but the wet (white) t-shirt show I provided for the police officer driving up and down the street was awkward...

Ariel484 -- they should give you a commission because that statement about the phone pocket has prompted me to buy the skirt in the Minnie mouse pattern. I rationalized the purchase by saying I'd wear it for the Wine and Dine since I planned on dressing like Minnie anyway, and if I buy it now I'll wear it even more...

 

[trainerfrank]

Hey all! I am going to sign up for the Goofy Challenge with a buddy of mine but heard from someone that sometimes there is a discount code to save a few $$$ when you register. Is this true? Does anyone know a discount code for Goofy?

 

[DisneyRunnerGirl]

Race Retreat packages are available now. You can find it under Event Details. I am doing my very first full, so I have already treated myself.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Well that was deflating.

DH doesn't really seem on board with doing the marathon so now I'm not sure what to do. I haven't registered us yet, which I guess is a good thing. But at this point I'm going to train like we or I am doing it.

 

[dreams91]

Well that was deflating.

DH doesn't really seem on board with doing the marathon so now I'm not sure what to do. I haven't registered us yet, which I guess is a good thing. But at this point I'm going to train like we or I am doing it.

My dh is going, but not running. His job is to root me on. So you can still go......

 

[stitchfan18]

I hope it works out that you can do Disney this next year. I really haven't participated in a lot of races in the area but I know there's a lot of good ones to do. You're just a hop, skip and a jump from Chicago and I know there are lots of good ones to do there. I'm sure St. Louis has a lot as well. I'm thinking seriously of doing the Kansas City half (Waddell and Reed) on October 20. I'm also planning to do the Tulsa Route 66 Half in November and maybe the Memphis St. Jude half in December - all to help me prepare for the WDW full (or maybe, Goofy) in January. I have participated in the Tulsa and Memphis races. I highly recommend them.

I'm from KC and did the Waddell and Reed marathon for the first time this year. Great race! I'm signed up for the 1/2 this year, then RNR St. Louis the next day this year. I signed up for both at the expos and didn't realize they were on the same weekend until I put them on my calender a bit ago. It'll be a great mini goofy challenge a few months before official goofy! If anyone in the midwest is looking for back to back races that are big and within driving distance of each other, this is the best option I've found so far!

 

[ColleenG]

Well that was deflating.

DH doesn't really seem on board with doing the marathon so now I'm not sure what to do. I haven't registered us yet, which I guess is a good thing. But at this point I'm going to train like we or I am doing it.

I'm still on the fence about doing the full, but if I do, DH is definately getting left at home. He is such a Debbie Downer, or Dan Downer. What about going by yourself? If you train for it, you should at least havethe reward of getting the bling!

I ran my second half this week end and my sister and cousin who ran it faster than I did were waiting for me at the finish line along with DH, the kids and his parents. Everyone hugged and congratulated me except for him. When I told my mom I might do the full she said she would definately come up to cheer me on. (my parents go to FL for the winter). Sometimes DH can be such an @$$.

 

[escape]

I'm from KC and did the Waddell and Reed marathon for the first time this year. Great race! I'm signed up for the 1/2 this year, then RNR St. Louis the next day this year. I signed up for both at the expos and didn't realize they were on the same weekend until I put them on my calender a bit ago. It'll be a great mini goofy challenge a few months before official goofy! If anyone in the midwest is looking for back to back races that are big and within driving distance of each other, this is the best option I've found so far!

That's a GREAT idea! I wouldn't mind doing it but my DH will be with me in KC and I know he won't want to drive to St. Louis after the race. ;-) I keep forgetting, Heather, that you live in KC. You travel a lot, though, to different races, don't you?

Colleen, some people just don't get the whole running thing. I can't really talk to my co-workers or some family members about my races. They are so not interested and they think it's foolish to drive or fly out of state to do one. They also ask me why I do these races if I can't win them. If you can and want to do the race, you should really think about going for it. It's the 20th anniversary!!!