Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[jeanigor]

Ok, I honestly don't remember if I have asked this before but I know that there are a lot of people that are running their first marathon because of the 20th and are also going gusto and doing their first Goofy as well.

This seems to be very frowned upon on the RunDisney fb page where people are discouraging it but not giving reasons as to why and even stating that Disney should require proof of time from a marathon before letting anyone participate in Goofy.

I myself am being a little nutty as this will be my first marathon AND my first Goofy. I am following the Galloway training plan on the RunDisney website and do have a few half marathons under my belt. With that said, I do understand (somewhat) the mental aspect of doing a marathon & know the dedication to train. Is there any advice you can give me and those that are in my shoes but may be too timid to ask due to the potential backlash?

Thanks!

Although I am one of those being a little nutty, my thought on the issue is this:

You have to have your first marathon sometime.

Why not have it at WDW? They should mind their own business. If you train well, you can accomplish it!

 

[KSBelle77]

Ok, I honestly don't remember if I have asked this before but I know that there are a lot of people that are running their first marathon because of the 20th and are also going gusto and doing their first Goofy as well.

This seems to be very frowned upon on the RunDisney fb page where people are discouraging it but not giving reasons as to why and even stating that Disney should require proof of time from a marathon before letting anyone participate in Goofy.

I myself am being a little nutty as this will be my first marathon AND my first Goofy. I am following the Galloway training plan on the RunDisney website and do have a few half marathons under my belt. With that said, I do understand (somewhat) the mental aspect of doing a marathon & know the dedication to train. Is there any advice you can give me and those that are in my shoes but may be too timid to ask due to the potential backlash?

Thanks!

I personally think it is stupid for people to judge someone they don't know or even know what that person is capable of!!! I say good for you!! It's like calling a child that struggles in school stupid! They are not stupid but may have a learning disability! I myself am dyslexic and dysgraphic and now people probably think I have no business attending law school. It just shows how prejudicial they are being!


As long as you train you will do fine and people need to stop judging others ability! Only YOU know what you are capable of!!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I think the backlash comes from people REALLY underestimating how hard a marathon is. Add in a half marathon at an odd hour less than 24 hours before your first full, and you’re talking very, very difficult.

 

[CaptHomer]

Yes it is or was 3 weeks ago, go to the Chase Visa page and it was still there.

Scratch that.... expired as best I can tell

Yes Coach, I was thinking it expired on June 19th, which was the last day for the early registration discount.

 

[cewait]

Well, if you are a boy, you don’t really need to wait for a bathroom. I saw about a hundred men on the course last year just um, do their business on the side of the road.

Actually, I quit the tree line and make way to the canal on the far side of the corrals. It's really a poor place as the OKW folks see it all, including the FMales who file a little closer the the water...

 

[cobbler]

I think the backlash comes from people REALLY underestimating how hard a marathon is. Add in a half marathon at an odd hour less than 24 hours before your first full, and you’re talking very, very difficult.

I'm sure, but again there is no reason as to why, but basically saying, "no, you can't do it".

I have no illusion, I know it will not be a walk in the park (no pun intended), know it will be difficult, take dedication, & a mental aspect that I have yet to experience. I'm just hoping that those with experience can give those of us doing it the first time some advice to make this a good experience for us as well as help us with tips or whatever so that we can be successful.

 

[heart4dis]

Officially registered for the Marathon!! My DH and DD will be running the Half. We are staying at OKW arriving on Fri. departing on Mon. Will be looking for others that will be walking to the start from OKW. So excited, this will be my first Marathon... I have run 3 Half Marathons in the last 2 years.

I, too am registered for the race (full marathon, my second but first at WDW). I am registered for OKW as well. Never stayed at OKW...walking to Epcot a good idea??? Should we save our legs?

 

[riggins]

Ok, I honestly don't remember if I have asked this before but I know that there are a lot of people that are running their first marathon because of the 20th and are also going gusto and doing their first Goofy as well.

This seems to be very frowned upon on the RunDisney fb page where people are discouraging it but not giving reasons as to why and even stating that Disney should require proof of time from a marathon before letting anyone participate in Goofy.

I myself am being a little nutty as this will be my first marathon AND my first Goofy. I am following the Galloway training plan on the RunDisney website and do have a few half marathons under my belt. With that said, I do understand (somewhat) the mental aspect of doing a marathon & know the dedication to train. Is there any advice you can give me and those that are in my shoes but may be too timid to ask due to the potential backlash?

Thanks!

This year, I did my first Full and first Goofy together. Like you, I had a few half marathons under my belt and felt ready to commit to the training. I had read people advising not to do your first full as a Goofy, but I decided to do it anyway. I originally signed up to do just the full, but then one day I was out on an unusually great long run and I decided "what the heck, just do the Goofy!" As soon as I did that, I gave myself permission to slow down and frankly, removing any thoughts of a goal time made it all mentally easier.

As for the race itself, the half and up to mile 20 of the full were really no problem. The last 6 miles felt like a death march. My longest training run was only 20 miles, so that certainly made a difference. I honestly think my biggest issue with the Goofy was getting hyped up on day two. I like a big race and feel like I get a huge boost from the thrill of the whole thing. So on day 1, DH and I were sending pictures to our kids from the bus at 3am and had a blast doing the pre-race warm ups with the P90X guy. We were all energy and couldn't wait for the race to start. But on day 2, the thrill of the early morning hype was gone!! My sense of humor was no where to be found and there was no way I was doing jumping jacks in a parking lot before dawn. So, I felt like I started out the race on low energy and that made the race even tougher.

All that said, I finished and couldn't be prouder of my Goofy medal. But this year, I'm just doing the full. The Goofy was a bucket list experience, but I don't see any need to do it again!

Best Wishes!
Leslie

 

[cobbler]

This year, I did my first Full and first Goofy together. Like you, I had a few half marathons under my belt and felt ready to commit to the training. I had read people advising not to do your first full as a Goofy, but I decided to do it anyway. I originally signed up to do just the full, but then one day I was out on an unusually great long run and I decided "what the heck, just do the Goofy!" As soon as I did that, I gave myself permission to slow down and frankly, removing any thoughts of a goal time made it all mentally easier.

As for the race itself, the half and up to mile 20 of the full were really no problem. The last 6 miles felt like a death march. My longest training run was only 20 miles, so that certainly made a difference. I honestly think my biggest issue with the Goofy was getting hyped up on day two. I like a big race and feel like I get a huge boost from the thrill of the whole thing. So on day 1, DH and I were sending pictures to our kids from the bus at 3am and had a blast doing the pre-race warm ups with the P90X guy. We were all energy and couldn't wait for the race to start. But on day 2, the thrill of the early morning hype was gone!! My sense of humor was no where to be found and there was no way I was doing jumping jacks in a parking lot before dawn. So, I felt like I started out the race on low energy and that made the race even tougher.

All that said, I finished and couldn't be prouder of my Goofy medal. But this year, I'm just doing the full. The Goofy was a bucket list experience, but I don't see any need to do it again!

Best Wishes!
Leslie

I too feel like the Goofy will be a one and done type thing - of course I'm sure an anniversary medal might convince me otherwise

 

[BriarRabbit]

I'm sure, but again there is no reason as to why, but basically saying, "no, you can't do it".

I have no illusion, I know it will not be a walk in the park (no pun intended), know it will be difficult, take dedication, & a mental aspect that I have yet to experience. I'm just hoping that those with experience can give those of us doing it the first time some advice to make this a good experience for us as well as help us with tips or whatever so that we can be successful.

Train hard. Race easy.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

Not just boys!!! During princess I saw tons of women make a b-line for the tree line!!!

Include me. I drank all the water they were offering up to the corrals and right before the start, I thought I would die!! When the 1st PoP came up, the line was WAY too long. Hubby and I headed for the bushes. To bad it was dark and I couldn't see that the bush was SHARP!!!! Fun memories, LOL

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I don't think people should judge whether or not someone other then themselves can do something. I do think a Goofy has to be extremely challenging but who am I to say what someone can or can't do? I think the Dopey is pure madness but I guess some people think what's another 5 miles? LOL Personally, I will wait until I have a full marathon under my belt before attempting the Goofy and crossing it off the bucket list, but that's just me.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Not just boys!!! During princess I saw tons of women make a b-line for the tree line!!!

During Princess I waited till TTC but used the men's room. No line at all

 

[Terapin]

This is my perspective: I am one of the perhaps foolish folk who signed up for Goofy as my first full. It will be my second half, and I will have done the ToT 10 miler, too. However, I am going to run the half as my goal race and take the full super slow and just try to finish. If it is too much I will DNF the full. I know myself well enough to know that I will respect my body, but I also have the dedication and strength of will to finish if it is possible and safe for me to do so.

I have a lot of training to do between now and then to get there, I realize that. My half in October will give me a really good training experience and I plan to continue from there to the full training. If I can't do it, well, I can't do it. But I tried. I plan to give the Goofy my 100% - what ever that ends up being. I *will* put in the training and I do bring complete dedication.

I compare everything hard I do to childbirth: running is WAAAAAY easier. I had terrible, painful and looooong labours with no pain relief. If I can stay focussed and push out 10 pound babies three times over, I can train for a marathon. Besides, it is the training that is hard I hear. The race is the easier part.

I'm the only one who will tell me what I am or am not capable of doing.

Of course, I am all bravado now only in the 3rd week of my half-marathon training! We haven't started the hill repeats yet!

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

This is my perspective: I am one of the perhaps foolish folk who signed up for Goofy as my first full. It will be my second half, and I will have done the ToT 10 miler, too. However, I am going to run the half as my goal race and take the full super slow and just try to finish. If it is too much I will DNF the full. I know myself well enough to know that I will respect my body, but I also have the dedication and strength of will to finish if it is possible and safe for me to do so.

I have a lot of training to do between now and then to get there, I realize that. My half in October will give me a really good training experience and I plan to continue from there to the full training. If I can't do it, well, I can't do it. But I tried. I plan to give the Goofy my 100% - what ever that ends up being. I *will* put in the training and I do bring complete dedication.

I compare everything hard I do to childbirth: running is WAAAAAY easier. I had terrible, painful and looooong labours with no pain relief. If I can stay focussed and push out 10 pound babies three times over, I can train for a marathon. Besides, it is the training that is hard I hear. The race is the easier part.

I'm the only one who will tell me what I am or am not capable of doing.

Of course, I am all bravado now only in the 3rd week of my half-marathon training! We haven't started the hill repeats yet!

I'm sorry, I read your whole post and all I can focus on is the fact that you pushed out 3 ten lb babies without meds.....You got this!!!!!!

 

[limabeanmom2003]

This is my perspective: I am one of the perhaps foolish folk who signed up for Goofy as my first full. It will be my second half, and I will have done the ToT 10 miler, too. However, I am going to run the half as my goal race and take the full super slow and just try to finish. If it is too much I will DNF the full. I know myself well enough to know that I will respect my body, but I also have the dedication and strength of will to finish if it is possible and safe for me to do so.

I have a lot of training to do between now and then to get there, I realize that. My half in October will give me a really good training experience and I plan to continue from there to the full training. If I can't do it, well, I can't do it. But I tried. I plan to give the Goofy my 100% - what ever that ends up being. I *will* put in the training and I do bring complete dedication.

I compare everything hard I do to childbirth: running is WAAAAAY easier. I had terrible, painful and looooong labours with no pain relief. If I can stay focussed and push out 10 pound babies three times over, I can train for a marathon. Besides, it is the training that is hard I hear. The race is the easier part.

I'm the only one who will tell me what I am or am not capable of doing.

Of course, I am all bravado now only in the 3rd week of my half-marathon training! We haven't started the hill repeats yet!

I was amazed at the number of Goofy runners there were at this years marathon! What an awesome achievement! This year was my first marathon and I thought about doing the goofy in 2013, but i am going to stick with the marathon only. I loved the experience this year and cannot wait to do it again.

Stick with your training and you will do great! The Disney marathon weekend is incredible!

 

[Terapin]

Ok I exaggerated a teeny bit: First was 10.5 lbs, second was 8.5, and 3rd was 9.5 pounds. However, I didn't have an epidural, two were born at home, and I laboured for a total of 47 hours between the three of them (not including early labour). I earned bragging rights with my three! All moms do, really....

Any way, I really have no idea how hard a half marathon is. I have no idea how hard a full marathon is. I can only surmise based on the shorter races I have raced (8 and 10ks), and give it all I have. If the *marathonerati* have a problem with that, I won't know it because they will be long finished before my sorry butt is!

 

[FFigawi]

Any way, I really have no idea how hard a half marathon is. I have no idea how hard a full marathon is. I can only surmise based on the shorter races I have raced (8 and 10ks), and give it all I have. If the *marathonerati* have a problem with that, I won't know it because they will be long finished before my sorry butt is!

As long as you put in the work and hours and miles during your training, you'll be physically ready for race day. The hard part is the mental part. Your body will probably want to stop at some point during the last 10k of the race, and that's where the fun begins. You'll need to dig deep and convince yourself that you can stop at the end and tough it out over the next few miles. Whether it's a mantra that you repeat to yourself for motivation or a friendly face along the way, something will trigger your brain to stop noticing the pain and just get on with it. After that, you're fine.

 

[cobbler]

Any way, I really have no idea how hard a half marathon is. I have no idea how hard a full marathon is. I can only surmise based on the shorter races I have raced (8 and 10ks), and give it all I have. If the *marathonerati* have a problem with that, I won't know it because they will be long finished before my sorry butt is!

I'm just going to keep saying to myself, Mickey Mouse medal, Goofy medal & hoping that'll help me get through the last 10k

 

[miker1251]

I, too am registered for the race (full marathon, my second but first at WDW). I am registered for OKW as well. Never stayed at OKW...walking to Epcot a good idea??? Should we save our legs?

If you walk from OKW, you will be walking to the starting corrals, not to Epcot. The bus picks runners up at the front of the Hospitality House. The distance from HH to the starting corrals to not much different than the distance of the official "walk out".