Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[ILoveToRun]

Woooo I just signed up! I can't wait, is it January yet? I signed up for Goofy but I'm going to go Dopey when I get paid Friday.

I'm going Jan 9-14 and then I'm going to DLR for Tinker Bell Jan 18-20!

 

[tedhowe]

I'm in.

I just signed up for the Half. It will be my second Half Marathon (first is scheduled for November in Philly).

I can't wait. I've always thought it would be cool to do the WDW Marathon... I'm not there yet, but I'm going to be at least half way by January.

I just completed a C25K program a couple of weeks ago, and am training up to 10K now.

At 43 I found out that I love running... who knew?

Ted

 

[Mickeyfan74]

Awsome Ted!

Experiencing the same feeling myself. I tend to do alot of walking with my job so I put my legs to good use and heard of the 2012 WDW Half and said sure why not? Now as the the others tell me it is additctive and alot of fun.

Recently learning Archery also. So yes you can teach an ol' dog new tricks.

 

[mrs cinderella]

Eeeep! Just signed up DH and myself before we had too much time to back out!! Ever since I saw an ad for the WDW marathon in Runner's World a few years ago, I've dreamed of doing this. I've been a Disney fanatic since birth (well, maybe not that early, but it started very young ) and have really gotten in to running recently, so this seemed like the perfect combo of everything I love! If you're gonna run 26.2 miles, why not do it in the most magical place ever?!

This will be a lot of firsts: our first marathon, first Run Disney event, first time running a race away from home; the list goes on and on. We are both very excited, but nervous! I've been reading lots of posts on planning and I'm getting some good ideas and happy there is such a supportive community here!

 

[jmasgat]

Hello Everyone!

I'm registered for Goofy - yikes! I've done one full marathon and eleven half-marathons but it is still a little scary to think about. I'm sure it will be a lot of fun though!

Looking forward to hearing about everyone's training and plans for the races. Now that it is official I'm starting to look at resorts. I've done two Expedition Everest Challenges and stayed at AKL both times. This time I am pretty sure I'll stay at a moderate, just not sure which one is best. Any tips?

Happy training!

Karen

I'm also doing my first Goofy--and it is a little daunting, but I feel comfortable that I can make it through no matter what--just need to set my goals to be realistic. No PR for these races, just "nice and easy" (I hope!)

As for the moderate.....I stayed at POR this year because they had the room only discount. I had booked into PO-FQ because I really wanted to stay there, but when the discount came out, no FQ rooms were available (no surprise--they don't seem to release those for discount or else there are just a few) so I switched and saved a couple hundred bucks.

I like POR. I have stayed there 3 times--once in the Magnolia section and twice in Alligator Bayou. I like the feel of the bayou. I had a car, but took the bus to the race start. I didn't have issues--walked right on--but some people did. The food court is good, and the night before my race I had a kid's meal of turkey, mashed potatoes and corn. It was a good value. They also had a pasta bar (with long line of racers!) where you could get pasta/sauce/add-ins of your choice. I did that in 2010.

Good luck picking your resort.

Now time for me to go rent some DVC points. I am trying to decide if I want to splurge for a 1BR at OKW.

Maura

 

[KSH]

Yeah, that's what I'm worried about. 20 is a big deal. And as crazy as it sounds, because I'm so not a runner, the 20th whole would be awesome because it's also our 20th anniversary but I don't know if I can do 26 miles.

You can definitely do it! All it takes is committing to the training. I have done a run/walk for all of my half-marathons and the one full I did. It helps to get with a training group, it definitely holds you accountable for getting out there and getting the miles in - plus it makes it a lot more fun!

I'm also doing my first Goofy--and it is a little daunting, but I feel comfortable that I can make it through no matter what--just need to set my goals to be realistic. No PR for these races, just "nice and easy" (I hope!)

As for the moderate.....I stayed at POR this year because they had the room only discount. I had booked into PO-FQ because I really wanted to stay there, but when the discount came out, no FQ rooms were available (no surprise--they don't seem to release those for discount or else there are just a few) so I switched and saved a couple hundred bucks.

I like POR. I have stayed there 3 times--once in the Magnolia section and twice in Alligator Bayou. I like the feel of the bayou. I had a car, but took the bus to the race start. I didn't have issues--walked right on--but some people did. The food court is good, and the night before my race I had a kid's meal of turkey, mashed potatoes and corn. It was a good value. They also had a pasta bar (with long line of racers!) where you could get pasta/sauce/add-ins of your choice. I did that in 2010.

Good luck picking your resort.

Now time for me to go rent some DVC points. I am trying to decide if I want to splurge for a 1BR at OKW.

Maura

Thanks so much for the advice! Good to know about the pasta bar. When will the discounts come out? Saving some money sounds good to me. I need to learn about DVC points too I guess. So much to do! And I'm with you on planning to take it nice and easy both days. I want to enjoy it all, and the parks on Monday!

Karen

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

All of the hotels are available for the weekend right?
If we stay at an Epcot resort will there be busses? We might just stay at the Dolphin but could walk to the Boardwalk to catch a bus.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

You can definitely do it! All it takes is committing to the training. I have done a run/walk for all of my half-marathons and the one full I did. It helps to get with a training group, it definitely holds you accountable for getting out there and getting the miles in - plus it makes it a lot more fun!

Karen

Thanks Karen!
I see you are from Atlanta, DH was born and raised there and we used to live in Loganville! Small world!

 

[twoWDWfools]

All of the hotels are available for the weekend right?
If we stay at an Epcot resort will there be busses? We might just stay at the Dolphin but could walk to the Boardwalk to catch a bus.

Yep, all of the Disney resorts will have buses to the expo and the races.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Yep, all of the Disney resorts will have buses to the expo and the races.

...except SoG.

 

[twoWDWfools]

Both Patrick and I are doing the full. Not together though - anyone who has met us can easily figure out why.

Right now have ressies for a 1 bdrm at OKW (we're DVC) but may look to move to AKL at the 7mth mark since we'll have a friend staying with us and that will get us a 2nd full bath.

I've come across many nay-sayers and sadly they have been my family. When my one brother gave me grief about the time for my first half I stoof up, told him to put his shoes on and run a 5k with me. Now. Right now. Let's go! Considering he has never run and I doubted his ability to stroll 3 miles he shut up. For that day anyway. He still hasn't done anything but has no problem poo-pooing my time for a half, full, duathlon, triathlon. I've stopped talking to him. Made me feel better.

If you really want to do it and train for it, you can do it!

 

[twoWDWfools]

...except SoG.

Thanks, wasn't sure on that one.

 

[sunshine girl]

OH GOSH. Trying to convince myself to sign up for the full....!!!

I've done the Disney half 3 times (4 if you count the one princess half I did in 2010). I enjoy the half because I don't have to put my life on hold to train for it. But... I REALLY want to earn the Mickey medal at least once!

I've done 3 full marathons (all Chicago) but it's been 10 years since my last full. I feel like I'm starting from scratch. But this might be the best year, on a personal level, for me to go for it. (Plus the 20th anniversary... aah!)

SO HARD to pull the trigger!!

Aaaargh!!

 

[Mickeyfan74]

Yep, all of the Disney resorts will have buses to the expo and the races.

Staying at Shades. Planning on catching buses from Polynesian if possible.
Or drive over to EPCOT parking.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

Called to get package pricing for 2 adults, 2 juniors, 3 day P/H 1/10-1/14, plus registration for 2 adults to the marathon

Value - ASSp - $1,511.86

Mod - POR - $1851.82

Deluxe - WL - $2,502.04

I personally didn't think these were bad considering they included p/h's and race registration but DH is saying no because we'd need to tack on airfare since it's a school week headacheand it's too much for just 4 days.

I'm still going to try and convince him.

 

[Terapin]

Count me in! My sister and I are running our first half.

We're staying at BLT on points. Currently we have a studio, hoping to upgrade to a 1bdrm.

We were originally going to do the Princess Half but then I realized that that would mean training our long distances in January and Feb in Ontario and that sounded pretty sucky, so we switched to this race so our last 2 months of training is likely to be a bit warmer.

So excited! Wish I was ready for the full, but that will come later I hope!

 

[CrystalCastle]

Just registered for my 4th Goofy! I can't wait!!

 

[Ariel484]

All of the hotels are available for the weekend right?
If we stay at an Epcot resort will there be busses? We might just stay at the Dolphin but could walk to the Boardwalk to catch a bus.

Yep...in fact, all of the Epcot Resorts share one bus. I stayed at BCV for the marathon this past year and remember that the drop-off order after the race was something like Boardwalk, then Swan/Dolphin, then Yacht, then Beach. So I just ended up getting off at Boardwalk and walking to Beach so my knees wouldn't tighten up on the bus.

 

[groovygirls]

In for Goofy #4!

 

[kim3339]

Woooo I just signed up! I can't wait, is it January yet? I signed up for Goofy but I'm going to go Dopey when I get paid Friday.

I'm going Jan 9-14 and then I'm going to DLR for Tinker Bell Jan 18-20!

I'm doing both too! I saw you're in OR. Are you doing Portland next month?