Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[FFigawi]

I thought the same thing when I read those posts! Reassuring indeed. What advice do you repeat customers have for us newbies?

My advice: enjoy the weekend. By the time you get there, you'll have put in all your training, so don't stress over if you'll be able to finish it or not. Go out and have as much fun as you can during both races. I don't believe in racing the half and surviving the full on dead legs. I think it's more enjoyable to back off for both races, go at close to the same easy pace as my weekly long runs, and spend my time taking pictures with characters, chatting with the people around me, and making new friends along the way. There are plenty of other places and races to set PRs, but there's only one place to be Goofy. Oh, and wear a fun costume. That helps with the being goofy bit.

 

[SAHDad]

We even joked with the CMs and entertainers that were out there about how those of us at the back of the race were so much more fun than the frontrunners.

I think there is some truth to that - you look at the pics of the leaders, in the middle of the race, and they are focused, determined, and kind of grim. The runners and walkers who are toward the back look like they are having a lot more fun.

I am planning on doing the Goofy (need to sign up tonight), but I did find something curious - on the Run Disney FB page, they used a pic from this years Princess race for people to "like" if they were excited for the 2013 marathon weekend. I wanted to see a pic from the first marathon, myself.

 

[cobbler]

Hubby and I are signed up for our first full marathon AND our first Goofy.... I'm anxious, excited, and terrified all at the same time....

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

There are quite a few people that finish around the 7-hour mark....including me. For the first full, I finished around 6:37. It was hot that year; I had blood blisters on the bottom of my foot. I was miserable at the end. I was glad to have finished that race.

When I did Goofy a couple of years ago, I finished around 6:50. It was cold that year. I could have gone faster the 2nd time but the friend I was walking with had foot issues and couldn't go as fast. Really, I enjoyed going slower and finishing feeling great. If I do the Goofy again, I'd like to do the same speed and hope I feel as great afterwards as I did the first time.

The point is...if you are a back of the packer, you won't be alone. We call it the party zone.

LOL I am definitely in for the party zone! OK I feel much better about it now, I just didn't want to be the lone walker out there. I think if I paced myself there is the chance I could do both events.

My advice: enjoy the weekend. By the time you get there, you'll have put in all your training, so don't stress over if you'll be able to finish it or not. Go out and have as much fun as you can during both races. I don't believe in racing the half and surviving the full on dead legs. I think it's more enjoyable to back off for both races, go at close to the same easy pace as my weekly long runs, and spend my time taking pictures with characters, chatting with the people around me, and making new friends along the way. There are plenty of other places and races to set PRs, but there's only one place to be Goofy. Oh, and wear a fun costume. That helps with the being goofy bit.

This is what I always thought too. Disney seems like a nice place the run and fun to boot.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I think how much fun you have depends on you. A lot of people have fun trying to beat a PR and run a sub-3 for example. Others want to walk and finish without being pulled off the course. The back isn't fun if you didn't plan to be there.

 

[Reep]

I think how much fun you have depends on you. A lot of people have fun trying to beat a PR and run a sub-3 for example. Others want to walk and finish without being pulled off the course. The back isn't fun if you didn't plan to be there.

Agreed. I got my first Boston qualification at WDW marathon. I made an effort to high-five every character I saw on the course to keep my spirits up. It was great!

Last time there, broke 3:00 and hit my goals. Wasn't quite as much fun, but 27 degrees without the wind chill might have had something to do with that.

Having said that, I was injured for one race and had to run it much more slowly than usual. Did it in costume. Was fun being cheered on by everyone. And where else can you drop your Peter Pan hat in the middle of the race and have it picked up by a man in a cow costume (true).

My favorite part is after the race interacting with everyone in the parks. It's fun to hear all the first timers tell about their experiences and also to meet so many fun people.

 

[slp1650]

I think how much fun you have depends on you. A lot of people have fun trying to beat a PR and run a sub-3 for example. Others want to walk and finish without being pulled off the course. The back isn't fun if you didn't plan to be there.

I totally agree. I like taking certain pictures and having fun in certain areas, but I definitely don't like being towards the back. I get stressed out and the competitor in me just hates it. So for me, a good or fun race is me running around the middle, enjoying what's around me, and stopping for the occasional pictures.

 

[dreams91]

OK, I want to do this. I want to do the 1/2 with DH, not sure if his back will hold out though, we need to talk to his ortho. He has 2 torn disks but they are holding off on surgery because he's so young. I think he could probably walk most of it with me. We might do intervals too.
I'm nervous! I'm trying to not let the self doubt creep in. I did better then expected on the Everest challenge last year and I've lost some weight since then so I think I could hold my own on the 1/2.

So how fast does this usually sell out? Do we have time to decide? I need to check money because we will just be returning from WDW 2 1/2 weeks before the race. Flights right now would be about $500 for the 2 of us through United. Southwest isn't out yet.

I'll be turning 40 in 2013 and it's also our 20th anniversary that year too. I want to start off with a bang! Please tell me I can do this!

Yeah Buffy!!! You could join the rest of 'us'. Carrie, Mandy, me, possibly Robin and Jenn. You can totally do it! I didn't think I could do it last year, but as Carrie told me, it's mile by mile. I'm doing the full and would gladly cheer for you!!! (BTW, you on facebook yet? If so, msg me the details....).

 

[dreams91]

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.

I'm slow...we could do it together. And I turn the big 4-0 right before the race (Dec 30).

 

[poohs4me]

So I booked my hotel today. I called both the IRUN disney number and the regular reservation number. The IRUN was over $50 more a night. This was for Poly garden view room. I know IRUN comes with minature golf, but anyone know what else would push the price up.

 

[sunshine269]

Thanks Mickey'sfriend and BernardandMissBianca, If I decide to do this, I will definitely be in the back. I finish my half's around 3:10, so I can't imagine I would finish anything under 6:30. My goal would have to be to simply finish and not feel like death.

Jennifer

 

[sunshine269]

Has anyone used The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer? I'm thinking about using it, but it has the longest run at 18 miles. Can someone explain the logic to that? I'm nervous about whether that's enough or not

Jennifer

 

[Burkelands]

Excitedly, this will be my first marathon. The ambitousness in me wants to do the Goofy, but maybe next time. Anybody else coming from South Jersey?

Definitely looking forward to this!

 

[slp1650]

Excitedly, this will be my first marathon. The ambitousness in me wants to do the Goofy, but maybe next time. Anybody else coming from South Jersey?

Definitely looking forward to this!

I was thinking about signing up for the Goody even though it is going to be my first marathon, but a friend of mine who's been running full marathons and has done the Goofy advised me otherwise. So now, I'm waiting and I'll be doing Goofy in 2014 I think!

 

[kbeth0310]

I just registered for my 1st half...and my 1st 5K ever is this Sunday. Talk about starting from the bottom...before January 2012 I had NEVER been to Disney. DH & I went for a week getaway in Jan, now taking the kids in Sept for a week AND swing down for marathon weekend in 2013.

I'm hooked!

 

[kaj1436]

Not sure if this is the best place to ask this question but anyways.....
Historically, has there ever been any type of package deals offered in and around the dates of Marathon weekend?
I'm looking to book some hotels and wondering if I should lock in to renting from DVC members or book a regular package and hope that some kind of deal is offered later on in the year.

 

[jmasgat]

Not sure if this is the best place to ask this question but anyways.....
Historically, has there ever been any type of package deals offered in and around the dates of Marathon weekend?
I'm looking to book some hotels and wondering if I should lock in to renting from DVC members or book a regular package and hope that some kind of deal is offered later on in the year.

There are generally discounts offered. Here is some historical info on discounts...

http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html#codetrends

For 2012, there was a room-only discount, but the free dining package didn't start til the Marathon Sunday.

 

[ColleenG]

Excitedly, this will be my first marathon. The ambitousness in me wants to do the Goofy, but maybe next time. Anybody else coming from South Jersey?

Definitely looking forward to this!

I'm in Point Pleasant. I running the Asbury Park Half on April 21 and hopefully going to sign up for the full after that. I've been nursing a few injuries lately so I want to make sure I can do the half straight through before I sigh up for the full. Just did the Princess as my first half this year. I had such a blast! I stopped at just about every picture spot, so I want to see what my "real" time would be.

 

[MightyDuck001]

Excitedly, this will be my first marathon. The ambitousness in me wants to do the Goofy, but maybe next time. Anybody else coming from South Jersey?

Definitely looking forward to this!

I'm coming from central Jersey and doing my first full! After I hit the registration button I began panicking and thinking, "If it's anything less than zombie Walt Disney back from the dead at mile 20 I'm not going to be happy for the last 6.2!"
I'm hoping to finish and thinking of it not as a 26.2 mile run but as more of an "ultimate park hopper"/"commando" way of doing 4 parks in a few hours. This makes it feel less insane and more manageable for me.

 

[Burkelands]

I'm in Point Pleasant. I running the Asbury Park Half on April 21 and hopefully going to sign up for the full after that. I've been nursing a few injuries lately so I want to make sure I can do the half straight through before I sigh up for the full. Just did the Princess as my first half this year. I had such a blast! I stopped at just about every picture spot, so I want to see what my "real" time would be.

I'm coming from central Jersey and doing my first full! After I hit the registration button I began panicking and thinking, "If it's anything less than zombie Walt Disney back from the dead at mile 20 I'm not going to be happy for the last 6.2!"
I'm hoping to finish and thinking of it not as a 26.2 mile run but as more of an "ultimate park hopper"/"commando" way of doing 4 parks in a few hours. This makes it feel less insane and more manageable for me.

I'm actually moving to from Upstate NY to Pennsauken at the end of the month. It's going to be so different for me with trying to find new places to run, driving with "jug-handles," and archaic liquor laws. Cies la vie!

Also, my thought plan of attack is to think of it as 4-10k's and an extra mile-plus to think of how I didn't die.

I was thinking about signing up for the Goody even though it is going to be my first marathon, but a friend of mine who's been running full marathons and has done the Goofy advised me otherwise. So now, I'm waiting and I'll be doing Goofy in 2014 I think!

I plan to do Goofy then too. Hopefully the (by then) misses agrees. She'll want me to start saving money for it now.