Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[cewait]

I have a training question that just hit me in the head like a low hanging tree branch. I know Higdon says walk through the water stops and then start running again, and we all know Galloway's run-walk method but after looking through his training plan (for the bagillionth time), even though it's tailored to a Disney race it's missing one crucial piece of information: how do I plan for photo stops?

I'm a 12 minute mile person in a 1/2, so I'm worried about stopping for pictures, getting behind, running faster to catch up and tiring myself out... I thought about doing the pace group, too, but then thought: buuuut, I'm going to have to stop for pictures... I'm not running through the Magic Kingdom and NOT getting my picture in front of the castle. This is a non-negotiable.

The reason is that he does not stop for photos.....

I would plan on starting my timer as I cross the start line and move forward as planned. You will have about 2 miles to get into a pattern as you leave the start line. If planning on walking water stops, then walk those as planned. Just keep to your run/walk schedule even for the water stops. You may end up running up to a stop, walking through then only getting 20-30 seconds into a run before the timer says walk. Keep your walk.


Likewise, same goes with photo ops. YOu will more than likely spend less than a minute for most all photo ops. If Brightroom (race photographer) does as before, they will have a photographer at moony of the characters but not all. Avoid the long lined character stops. So Capt Jack at Mile 6 is probably a pass unless you really have your heart set on a photo with him.

The proper way to stop for a photo is... Get in line, have your camera ready to fire, hand it to the character handler when your turn, pose, smile, grab your camera and run. If there are more than 3-5 folks in line, evaluate if that character is important. If Brightroom is there, they will snap concurrent to the character handler.

One other thing to consider is photographing the mile markers. Cheesy, but uniquely Disney

With regard to your run/walk, just as with the water stops, take off running if it is on a run or walk if in the walk interval... And just fall back into your schedule.

Finally, as I said in a previous post, if you want to pose for a castle photo, run all the way down the ramp then head off left (course goes right). There are folks there who will helps shoot a photo. It's a better angle and keeps you out of other's way.

 

[dburg30]

I am raising some o f theses post from the dead, they are old, but I still wanted to comment on them

Being a bigger girl who loves running (or waddling, be it as it may) distance, when I told people several years ago that I was going to run my first marathon everyone laughed at me. Coworkers who don't know me well enough still laugh.

It still hurts and makes me angry to hear things like that. But then I remember why I love running distance. Crossing the finish line and putting that shiny medal around your neck and wrapping yourself like a baked potato, getting high fives and congratulations from complete strangers. More people than you've ever seen before standing on the side of the road pushing you, yelling your name (if they can read it on your bib), and really getting behind you and lifting you up. There are posters of encouragement that people hold up, inspiring people that you'll run alongside that will give you a gut check, and potential friends around every corner. For every one person that says I can't run a marathon or a half marathon, or even a 5k-- there's at least a hundred that remind me I can, even if I don't know their names.

It's hard, but keep your chin up. We've all got your back.

a)getting ready to start getting into shape to train for the 2014 goofy, this the the image I keep seeing...

b)That is so true, it's so sad that many people just dont have enough self confidence that they have to project anger (although I think it's more jealousy) towards people that are doing something for themselves. I've learned you just have to ignore them....Well, maybe make sure you show them the medals after you get them

Is there a way for you to develop a 'loop' for your longer runs? You might want to come up with a 5-6 mile loop that passes by your home. That way, as the Long Runs get longer, you have a built-in 'water/medical/bathroom station' in your route every 5-6 miles.

Then you just run that loop for however long you need to.

Don't worry about the run. We have good ones and bad ones. And as long as we learn something from both kinds, we are making progress!

I was looking and I have a pretty safe traffic wise loop of ... 4.4 miles.. Now why am I excited about that?? well 3 of them is almost exactly a 1/2 so 6 would be a full... I just was excited about that!

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.

Again, I just ignore the downers and hope they find happiness ecause they are missing it somewhere

And gratz on the fat skinny jeans lol.. my wife and I are excited!!!


I'm going to follow this thread and give support when I can but I'm new at this But I cant WAIT for the 2014 thread to start!! Although I'm afraid after this being the 20th anniv this year, no one will run next years lol

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I have a question about fuel.

I bought a bunch of different fuels to try out as my mileage increases.
Now do you test them out on a run or do you do it at home?
I don't want to be out and have something taste so nasty I won't use it and then be out there with no fuel.

I also found a nice belt at the New Balance store. It's not a spibelt brand, but pretty close.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I have a question about fuel.

I bought a bunch of different fuels to try out as my mileage increases.
Now do you test them out on a run or do you do it at home?
I don't want to be out and have something taste so nasty I won't use it and then be out there with no fuel.

I also found a nice belt at the New Balance store. It's not a spibelt brand, but pretty close.

I test on long runs. If it goes badly, well, then the run goes badly. There’s no other good way to do it.

 

[Ariel484]

I have a question about fuel.

I bought a bunch of different fuels to try out as my mileage increases.
Now do you test them out on a run or do you do it at home?
I don't want to be out and have something taste so nasty I won't use it and then be out there with no fuel.

I also found a nice belt at the New Balance store. It's not a spibelt brand, but pretty close.

Yes, when I was trying to figure out what worked for me, I tried them out on a run. You want to see how timing works for you, whether certain flavors don't agree with you, etc....and you won't get the full scope of that if you try them at home.

If you're concerned about whether you'll be stuck without fuel, you could try one at home first to make sure the flavor/texture is okay before taking it out on a run.

 

[dburg30]

I have a question about fuel.

I bought a bunch of different fuels to try out as my mileage increases.
Now do you test them out on a run or do you do it at home?
I don't want to be out and have something taste so nasty I won't use it and then be out there with no fuel.

I also found a nice belt at the New Balance store. It's not a spibelt brand, but pretty close.

I've not had to experience it before, but what I've read is that you want to try them while actually running with them. Things taste different / react differently when you are running as opposed to just standing still. So it would make sense to try them 'in action' as opposed to sitting on the couch one night I guess during the training run you do run the risk of it 'tasting so nasty' but better to find out under training then race conditions

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Yeah, I was figuring I could maybe cut one into small pieces just to see if the flavor was ok, I did avoid 90% of the fruit punch ones, I hate fruit punch anything.
But if I'm on a run, I guess nasty fuel is better than no fuel at all.

I got wafers, honey stingers (pink lemonade and orange), shot blocks (strawberry and sports beans. The sports bean, they only had fruit punch so I figured I would try it.

Are there any other recommendations?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

How often do most people take an energy chew? I think I read something about every hour?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

How often do most people take an energy chew? I think I read something about every hour?

That's about what I do. 5 miles or an hour, whichever comes first.

 

[Ariel484]

I like GU Chomps (strawberry and blueberry pomegranate)...

How often do most people take an energy chew? I think I read something about every hour?

That's about what I do. 5 miles or an hour, whichever comes first.

And I take 1/2 bag of GU chomps every 4 miles. You can start at an hour and adjust from there.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

OK that works.

So if I'm out there for more than an hour or 2 training I'll bring one with me each time just to see how it goes. Then when I find ones I like I will stock up for the runs that get really long.

Do you take one before you start?

I figured I'd just have a light breakfast before the race and burn off that first.


God, I feel so stupid sometimes asking these questions because I feel like if you're gonna be a runner you should know this stuff. But I know myself and will use my lack of knowledge as an excuse to quit. I don't want to screw this up, so I'm trying to do it right!

Thanks for bearing with me!!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

OK that works.

So if I'm out there for more than an hour or 2 training I'll bring one with me each time just to see how it goes. Then when I find ones I like I will stock up for the runs that get really long.

Do you take one before you start?

I figured I'd just have a light breakfast before the race and burn off that first.


God, I feel so stupid sometimes asking these questions because I feel like if you're gonna be a runner you should know this stuff. But I know myself and will use my lack of knowledge as an excuse to quit. I don't want to screw this up, so I'm trying to do it right!

Thanks for bearing with me!!

Depends on the day. I will sometimes take one about 20 minutes before I run, no matter if I’m running long or not. It depends how much I’ve eaten that day.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I like GU Chomps (strawberry and blueberry pomegranate)...

Oh they didn't have those at EMS, I will have to look again.
They don't sell them at the grocery store do they?

 

[Ariel484]

Oh they didn't have those at EMS, I will have to look again.
They don't sell them at the grocery store do they?

I get them at my local running store...I've also seen them at Dick's Sporting Goods near the cash registers.
ETA: https://guenergy.com/ustorelocator/location/map/

I have found that I like the gummies better than gels. I just like the feeling that I am sort of eating something on a long run, ya know?

 

[randomiam79]

I do a gel every 45 minutes on long runs. With the chomps, I will do one every 10 minutes or so starting at 90 minutes. There are 5 or 6 in a pack so sometimes I'll do one per mile toward the end

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I get them at my local running store...I've also seen them at Dick's Sporting Goods near the cash registers.
ETA: https://guenergy.com/ustorelocator/location/map/

I have found that I like the gummies better than gels. I just like the feeling that I am sort of eating something on a long run, ya know?

I don't think I'm coordinated enough to do the gels, which is why I stuck with the gummies.
But they did have one gel that was chocolate and one that was mocha. I wonder how those taste.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I don't think I'm coordinated enough to do the gels, which is why I stuck with the gummies.
But they did have one gel that was chocolate and one that was mocha. I wonder how those taste.

I like Chocolate Outrage, Peanut Butter and the Peppermint. However, be advised that gels MELT. If it’s a hot day, the gel is gonna be gross by mile 6.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Oh, I didn't think about that. OK, gels are out! LOL

 

[lmb80129]

Anyone have experience staying at the Yacht/Beach Club for Marathon weekend? My kids want to stay there but I vaguely remember reading about problems with race transportation from the Beach Club. I'm torn between Yacht/Beach and an AOA suite. TIA!

 

[Ariel484]

I don't think I'm coordinated enough to do the gels, which is why I stuck with the gummies.
But they did have one gel that was chocolate and one that was mocha. I wonder how those taste.

This is why you need to try the flavors! I tried the chocolate and it was too much like frosting for my taste. Hard to explain...like, it was GOOD, but not what my stomach wanted on a run, ya know?! Same with the mint chocolate flavor.

Anyone have experience staying at the Yacht/Beach Club for Marathon weekend? My kids want to stay there but I vaguely remember reading about problems with race transportation from the Beach Club. I'm torn between Yacht/Beach and an AOA suite. TIA!

I stayed at BCV during Marathon Weekend 2012 and liked it. I didn't have any problems with transportation, but I ran the full and was on my bus before 3:30 AM...I think I heard the problems were the morning of the half. Be aware that ALL Epcot area resorts - Yacht, Beach, Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin - share buses to and from the expo and races. Again, this wasn't a problem for me, but I could see someone panicking at the 4th or 5th stop.

If you're running the full, this would be a great place to stay! Your kiddos can just walk out the door and watch you during mile 24!