Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[Ariel484]

...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.

Hmm...I am going to have to check. I believe it is mostly polyester, and I did find it to be pretty warm the first day I wore it (one a really sunny day, temps in the mid-70s). I don't know if I just wasn't used to the warmer weather or what.

The pockets are awesome. One the website they say that the zip pocket on the waistband is 12 inches long...the leg pockets are 4x4 inches. Like I said earlier, when I put my phone in the waist pocket I kept having to tug the skirt up, so I moved it to a leg pocket...but then the phone was damp with sweat when I was done. So I'd recommend putting your phone in a ziploc or something. I have a case and screen protector on mine, but it still made me nervous.

And yes, the X SO bulky. I'm looking to either get a Razr Maxx when I can upgrade (August) or...gasp...switch to an iPhone.

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.

It looked incredible when I read about it...I had no idea it was in a private tent. Maybe someday I'll treat myself. You're lucky that you had it the year you did!

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...

I thought of something else - were your shoes tied tight enough? If they are loose, your feet may be slipping around, and that might contribute to blisters.

LOL at the wet t-shirt! I HATE running in the rain.

And I've LOVE a commission from SparkleSkirts! Are you getting the red Minnie or the pink Minnie? I think I want the pink for the WDW Full and I see they are currently out of one of the sizes (not my current size, but the size I expect to be by January) for both red and pink. I think it's smart to get yours early so that you can get the size/color you want and, just as important, so you can make sure that you actually like it.

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?

I'm pretty sure that the only discount out (besides the early registration discount) is the Disney Visa discount. There's also a small discount if you're a DVC member...but I believe the Visa discount is better.

http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?CHECKSSO=0&EVENT_ID=2020523

I've heard you don't necessarily need a Disney Visa to use the above link, but I'm not completely sure about that.

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.

NICE! Wave to the rest of us as we're shivering outside of your tent!

I just looked on runDisney.com and I see that they have Internet to check live results after the race - so cool! And you get Marathon Weekend socks! Too funny.

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......

Same here! My husband missed the marathon last year and was pretty disappointed, so he's determined to be there and cheer me on this year.

But if that doesn't work out...can you make it a solo trip?!

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 @$$.

Ouch. Definitely make it a fun weekend with your mom.

...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!!!

Re: The part I bolded. WHAAAA???

Where I am from, they really ramped up the advertising for our marathon/half marathon last year, and I remember listening to the DJs on one of our local stations saying that these races are a big scam - why pay to run when you can just do it on your own? You're right, people just don't get it.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thanks everyone. I really wanted to do it with him because it's the 20th race and our 20th anniversary but whatever. I might just register myself and if he wants to go he can, if not then stay home. DS15 would do it with me but he's not old enough yet.

I'm going to keep reading my book and taking the steps to train and get healthy and we'll see what comes of it.

I have another question. We are going to Disney for 10 days in December and we get home only 2 weeks before the race. How should I train while there? I don't want to get off schedule and mess up my chances of finishing the race. We are staying at Fort Wilderness so I've already printed out their walking trails but since we are going with friends (who have never been before) I want to make sure we spend time with them but I still do what I need to do to stay in shape.
I can bring my computer to cross train in the mornings outside the RV (that will be funny to watch )but what do I do about my long run?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

It depends when exactly you’re going. If you’re going during your taper, I’d keep the running light and not worry a whole lot. If you’re going during your last peak weeks (40-50 mpw), I’d do as many of the scheduled runs as you can.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

what's a taper?

we're going from the 17th - 28th with 2 days of driving on either end. Is that during the taper?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

what's a taper?

we're going from the 17th - 28th with 2 days of driving on either end. Is that during the taper?

Taper – when you taper down from your heavy mileage, so that your legs are fresh for race day. Most people do a 3 week taper. So the race being on the 13th, the week of December 16th - December 22nd would be your last week of very heavy mileage, and your last 20 mile run.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

OK, cool. I can probably do something that week, they'll just have to go to the parks without me for a bit. It seems that most of the paths at Disney are only a few miles so I'll just have to do loops. Maybe between MGM and Epcot.

I found a good article about tapering so I printed that to read. Thanks for the info! I'm learning a lot here.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

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!!!

Because it's not about the destination, it's about the journey!!

 

[DEA]

Hi folks. My DW (myweegirls on the boards) and I have signed up for the half-marathon. She has recently taken up running, and I am getting back to it after some time off. I have done a few 10-milers and one half-marathon, but those were back before the turn of the millennium. Part of the draw for signing up for the 2013 race was to have a reasonable goal toward which to work, as well as another reason to go to WDW.

I appreciate the experience of those here who have done the races before, and am happy to hear all the tips and tricks you can offer. I know it's mostly one foot in front of the other, but there are enough logistics to deal with that those are my big worry at this point, rather than the mileage.

 

[snickerboo]

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

Also looking at the KC and Memphis if I can't do the Disney! Indianapolis has one on the 20th as well.

I'm signed up for the 1/2 this year, then RNR St. Louis the next day this year

If I don't do the Disney, I will probably do the RnR Full here in STL. If I do sign up for Disney I'm thinking the MO Cowbell half which is just outside STL in St. Charles and the weekend before the RnR. I can't believe you're going to do both together! You're a warrior, stitchfan!

 

[stitchfan18]

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?

I do a lot locally and travel to Disney along with some others where I have family or can drive. I love running races out of town though, it makes the race more exciting when I haven't run the course before!

Also looking at the KC and Memphis if I can't do the Disney! Indianapolis has one on the 20th as well.


If I don't do the Disney, I will probably do the RnR Full here in STL. If I do sign up for Disney I'm thinking the MO Cowbell half which is just outside STL in St. Charles and the weekend before the RnR. I can't believe you're going to do both together! You're a warrior, stitchfan!

The full in St. Louis is fun, but tough! Whoever planned an uphill portion of the course at mile 19 for 1 1/2 miles was really cruel! If I wasn't doing both I would probably run the full in KC alone, but since I'm training for Goofy it's a good little test of how back to back long runs are going to feel later this year!

 

[MightyDuck001]

Thanks everyone. I really wanted to do it with him because it's the 20th race and our 20th anniversary but whatever. I might just register myself and if he wants to go he can, if not then stay home. DS15 would do it with me but he's not old enough yet.

I'm going to keep reading my book and taking the steps to train and get healthy and we'll see what comes of it.

I know the feeling-- I've been trying to get someone to run it with me but to no avail, but all those Negative Nellies and Debbie Downers can just bite me. My cousin did one marathon and all she did was lecture me on how I run too slow to do a marathon, I'm not an athlete like she was, blah blah blah.

As for not winning, I'm sure many of you will understand what I mean when I write that my old "skinny" jeans are now big enough on me to be my new "fat" jeans, all because I wanted a medal with a mouse on it and started running for it. If that alone doesn't go in life's win column, this glass-half-empty girl doesn't know what does.

 

[sunshine269]

I am still on the fence about signing up for the full A part of me really wants too, but it seems impossible right now. I've done 3 half's, but I'm very slow. If I do it, I'll be running by myself. I'm torn and scared to sign up

Jennifer

 

[ColleenG]

As for not winning, I'm sure many of you will understand what I mean when I write that my old "skinny" jeans are now big enough on me to be my new "fat" jeans, all because I wanted a medal with a mouse on it and started running for it. If that alone doesn't go in life's win column, this glass-half-empty girl doesn't know what does.

That is absolutely a win!

I am still on the fence about signing up for the full A part of me really wants too, but it seems impossible right now. I've done 3 half's, but I'm very slow. If I do it, I'll be running by myself. I'm torn and scared to sign up

Jennifer

Jennifer, you won't be alone! We will all be there with you! I am still on the fence too. I'm leaning towards doing it and I will be going solo too. Trust me, I am not fast by any means! Especially for the full I think I would have to slow down even more just to make it to the end!

 

[regul8ter18]

I have found most other runners to be supportive of other runners only a few who point their noses down at me. Most of those runners who point their noses down at me do it because I like to run in RunDisney races.

I like how those who don't even attempt to run are the ones who have to most to say about running.


On another note I got run 6 miles one the beach here in Florida which is a nice change from the Chicago Burbs.


Courtney

 

[Ariel484]

Hi folks. My DW (myweegirls on the boards) and I have signed up for the half-marathon. She has recently taken up running, and I am getting back to it after some time off. I have done a few 10-milers and one half-marathon, but those were back before the turn of the millennium. Part of the draw for signing up for the 2013 race was to have a reasonable goal toward which to work, as well as another reason to go to WDW.

I appreciate the experience of those here who have done the races before, and am happy to hear all the tips and tricks you can offer. I know it's mostly one foot in front of the other, but there are enough logistics to deal with that those are my big worry at this point, rather than the mileage.

I am writing about my experiences at the Princess Half (same course as the WDW Half). You are totally right that having a Disney race to work toward is great motivation!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2910984

I know the feeling-- I've been trying to get someone to run it with me but to no avail, but all those Negative Nellies and Debbie Downers can just bite me. My cousin did one marathon and all she did was lecture me on how I run too slow to do a marathon, I'm not an athlete like she was, blah blah blah.

As for not winning, I'm sure many of you will understand what I mean when I write that my old "skinny" jeans are now big enough on me to be my new "fat" jeans, all because I wanted a medal with a mouse on it and started running for it. If that alone doesn't go in life's win column, this glass-half-empty girl doesn't know what does.

I hate when people get all judge-y when it comes to others' times...that really grates on my nerves. Some guy made a snarky comment to my brother about our time for the WDW Full and it still bothers me a year later.

YAY for the jeans!! That is awesome!

I am still on the fence about signing up for the full A part of me really wants too, but it seems impossible right now. I've done 3 half's, but I'm very slow. If I do it, I'll be running by myself. I'm torn and scared to sign up

Jennifer

you won't be alone! You will be surrounded by thousands of new friends!

If you have done 3 halfs you are totally capable of doing a full. It'll be a blast.

 

[dreams91]

I am still on the fence about signing up for the full A part of me really wants too, but it seems impossible right now. I've done 3 half's, but I'm very slow. If I do it, I'll be running by myself. I'm torn and scared to sign up

Jennifer

Oh don't be scared. I'm slow and have only done one half at this point. I also have asthma and am on a medicine to make my heart beat faster (bradycardia) so when I run I unfortunately end up anaerobic. So if I can do it, you can do it. And I haven't done it...just signed up. Oh and I'm running alone (or with the thousand friends I meet along the way...)

 

[dreams91]

Oh and I'm signed up for the Disneyland half (and my coast to coast), but for some reason I can only focus on the full marathon at this point.

 

[snickerboo]

you won't be alone! You will be surrounded by thousands of new friends!

I think if you've done three halfs, you can do it. It sounds like a lot of runners choose the Disney as their first full marathon (myself included). I have a pretty good half time but I expect I will have to take it down a notch to complete the full. I always figure, it doesn't matter what the time is because you're doing it. Some people can run a 2.5 hour marathon, some a 6 hour. The 2.5 person doesn't negate how hard the 6 hour person to get there, too. We have until January to train, we can do it!

Maybe we need a "first time full at the Disney" thread? It would be good for all of us who sign up to stick together and support one another from now until race day.

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 @$$.

Is your dh fit? I hate to say it but I think the dh's can have a hard time watching their wife do something so amazing if they've let go of their fitness themselves. I've seen this with several couples.

The full in St. Louis is fun, but tough! Whoever planned an uphill portion of the course at mile 19 for 1 1/2 miles was really cruel!

Welcome to St. Louis! LOL It just is not at all flat here. I don't know that they can avoid it.

 

[dmott33]

I think if you've done three halfs, you can do it. It sounds like a lot of runners choose the Disney as their first full marathon (myself included). I have a pretty good half time but I expect I will have to take it down a notch to complete the full. I always figure, it doesn't matter what the time is because you're doing it. Some people can run a 2.5 hour marathon, some a 6 hour. The 2.5 person doesn't negate how hard the 6 hour person to get there, too. We have until January to train, we can do it!

This. Time is irrelevant. At end of day we all just did the same distance. Last Jan was my first Full. Finished with a good time, but went back after showering and cheered on the last bunch coming through Hollywood Studios. They were working as hard or harder than I did. It's about finishing. Thats the amazing thing about running. One runner may want that 3:05 BQ time. And another might finish in 6 hours. Both feel same pride at the end.

And there's plenty of people running, spectating that believe me you won't feel alone. It's worth it.

 

[stitchfan18]

Is your dh fit? I hate to say it but I think the dh's can have a hard time watching their wife do something so amazing if they've let go of their fitness themselves. I've seen this with several couples.

Maybe this would explain my DH some. He's mostly supportive of what I do (although he hates how many races I run because of the $$ involved,) but he wouldn't be caught dead at one of my races. I always invite him and he politely declines. He came to my first 5k because I guilted him into driving me since it was downtown. Surprisingly he showed up at the finish of my first marathon, then he was at the marathon finish at disney this year since the rest of my family was there. I've run over 25 races and I'm just used to the fact that I don't have a fan club at the finish. It's amazing having total strangers cheering you on though. I had a really rough half this past weekend and was the only person in the finisher chute when they called out my name the crowd went crazy, I felt like an elite, it was amazing!

Welcome to St. Louis! LOL It just is not at all flat here. I don't know that they can avoid it.

For some reason going into the race I was under the impression that St. Louis was mostly flat. I didn't realize it was so hilly until I was in the corrals and started talking to a group of ladies from the area who told me it was a super hilly course. I'm used to hills from running in KC, but I thought I was climbing a mountain during that hill, it never seemed to end!