Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[Ariel484]

I haven't tried this so I can't vouch for it, but I saw the Schwaggle for today and immediately thought of you-- It might be cheap enough to give a shot.

http://schwaggle.active.com/deal/10...-with-free-shipping/national?cmp=24-4-70028-1

Ooh, cool. Thanks! I will definitely look into this.

Hi everyone! I just signed up for the full yesterday One of my students who does cross country had the brilliant logic of "even if you don't finish, you've still done a half. And if only try the half, you've still only done a half". 8th grade logic at it's finest to push me over the edge!

Most training plans I've found say if your goal is just to finish, you really only need to get to 20 mi in your training. Do you agree with this? I am just hoping to have enough energy to enjoy whatever is at Mile 20 and then limp across the finish line if I have to!

Congrats! I used the Hal Higdon beginner plan (and got his book from the library...lots of good info!) for the 2012 WDW full. That plan tops out at 20 miles, but the day mine was scheduled we had a giant snow storm, so my longest training run was 18...but I remember finishing the 15-miler a couple of weeks before, coming home and telling my husband that I knew I'd be able to finish the marathon. I finished the full in pretty decent shape and am using another of his plans for the Goofy.

I think you'll find testaments from many people that have successfully used all of the plans cewait mentioned...as he suggested, pick the one that fits your schedule and stick to it. I am sure you will be successful!

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm already starting to get nervous about doing the Goofy! I know I have plenty of time but I missed almost 2 weeks of running from a sinus infection. My marathon training last year was partially derailed by, well, life and I'm worried about that even more with the Goofy.
Please tell me that I'm not the only having doubts already???

Amanda

 

[cewait]

I'm already starting to get nervous about doing the Goofy! I know I have plenty of time but I missed almost 2 weeks of running from a sinus infection. My marathon training last year was partially derailed by, well, life and I'm worried about that even more with the Goofy.
Please tell me that I'm not the only having doubts already???

Amanda

Hi Amanda, welcome to Goofy! You can really do this. The hardest part is getting up both mornings. Ok, well maybe its the tender joints during the first mile Sunday.

It is more than normal to have kind of a 'buyer's remorse' period just after signing up. It's a long time until the fireworks fire so plenty of of time to work through anxieties.

 

[ColleenG]

Woohoo! I booked my flight for marathon weekend! Now I just need to remember to call DVC and book my room. Holy cow! I am really going to do this! I can't wait for all the fun! Especially since the party poopers (aka DH and kids) are staying home.

 

[kimmiepcft]

Woohoo! I booked my flight for marathon weekend! Now I just need to remember to call DVC and book my room. Holy cow! I am really going to do this! I can't wait for all the fun! Especially since the party poopers (aka DH and kids) are staying home.

wooohooooo! what airline did you book?

 

[DrMomof3]

Hi Amanda, welcome to Goofy! You can really do this. The hardest part is getting up both mornings. Ok, well maybe its the tender joints during the first mile Sunday.

It is more than normal to have kind of a 'buyer's remorse' period just after signing up. It's a long time until the fireworks fire so plenty of of time to work through anxieties.

Thanks Coach!!!
I usually get up at 5:30am so the early mornings scare me less than the miles (not that a 3am wake-up isn't much earlier than 5:30 but I figure my early mornings still put me at an advantage over, say, people from the West Coast! ). I just spent the last 2 weeks fighting a horrible sinus infection that kept me from running for 10 days. I did get back into the swing of things this week. I have a 10K in 2 weeks and my recent illness will definitely change my time goals.
I feel like every time I finally get into a training groove LIFE happens and messes it all up!
Last year when training for my 1st Full, my son was hospitalized for 2 weeks and then I had some minor injuries that made my training less than ideal. I did finish the race but definitely felt it would have been a better experience if I had been able to do all of my long runs. At least I did one 20 mile run before the race...

Amanda

 

[kim3339]

Coach and past Goofy runners ~ quick question for you. Would you do a back to back on your last long run, something like 8-9/20. I know we only need a couple of back to backs, but wasn't sure if we should do one last long run or earlier. I know it's early, but it popped in my head this morning and figured better to ask now and write it down than forget it in 6 months. Thanks!!

 

[cewait]

Coach and past Goofy runners ~ quick question for you. Would you do a back to back on your last long run, something like 8-9/20. I know we only need a couple of back to backs, but wasn't sure if we should do one last long run or earlier. I know it's early, but it popped in my head this morning and figured better to ask now and write it down than forget it in 6 months. Thanks!!

I generally guide my runners to back to back on more of a mid teen run as the longest run instead of a 20 miler. Note that I am realizing that I also have most Goofies cycling the day prior to a long run. For years I have failed to realize that we are pushing a cardio workout the day prior to all long runs. It's just that we do not go through a beat me up impact workout. The cycle workouts are usually 60 -90 minutes (i.e. a gym based cycle class).

The things one need to understand on race weekend are....

How do I feel and what can I do to get stiffer than normal legs moving. I for one will miss the old blue marathon course where we run over the rather steep bus overpass going onto backstage Epcot at mile 1. The new course will have a slightly less steep hill at mile 1.5, so you may see me share that hill for a warm up sprint. Really its all about starting off a little slow on marathon morning and then amping into a race pace.

The most important thing is to learn between race nutrition. One really needs to learn how to replenish nutrients and liquids. It's not that difficult if you grab a protein/carb recovery drink in the half parking lot, a nice protein/(good) fat oriented lunch and a light carby dinner. THrough the day alternating ater and a sport drink will help top off the glycogen stores.

We walk Epcot on saturday afternoon and end up dining in the park. Rather than find a tight spot in Italy... we head for something like the Land and have a buffet on a combined adult and kiddo menu.

Finally, I think a big part of a successful Goofy lies in how you run Saturday. I tend to run Saturday at a half training pace or just a little harder. The logic is kind of simple.... You only have fresh legs in one race over the weekend so make the best of Saturday. The other is that if you try to run the half in a manner not trained, you may have other issues on Sunday. THe smaller stabilizer muscles can over fatigue if a runner decides to walk saturday. In addition, if a runner can normally run a half in say 2:10 at a fast training pace but they decide to walk a 3:15.... That is 65 additional minutes on the legs that did not need to occur.

 

[ColleenG]

wooohooooo! what airline did you book?

JetBlue. Same flights as you guys. If you want to drive with me up to my sister's to get to the airport, you are more than welcome! I think I picked the seat on the aisle next to you.

 

[JCH]

Well, I went to the library and got Hal Higdon's book. While there, I flipped through some others, as well. One of them was "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Running a Marathon.". I opened it up and lo and behold was a list of the most popular races. No where in the list of 15 was the WDW Marathon.

Strange, I thought. I'd seen on every other list. So I turned the page to see the top "short distance" races. Who knew 13.1 miles was short? I've been lying calling myself a distance runner when doing 10 milers and half marathons!

At any rate, there was the Disneyland Half Marathon. Apparently, it is a night race held in October. Not only that, but completing the Disneyland Half at night in October will get you the unique Mickey medal!

Needless to say, I shook my head and immediately put the "Idiot's" book back on the shelf.

 

[ColleenG]

Well, I went to the library and got Hal Higdon's book. While there, I flipped through some others, as well. One of them was "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Running a Marathon.". I opened it up and lo and behold was a list of the most popular races. No where in the list of 15 was the WDW Marathon.

Strange, I thought. I'd seen on every other list. So I turned the page to see the top "short distance" races. Who knew 13.1 miles was short? I've been lying calling myself a distance runner when doing 10 milers and half marathons!

At any rate, there was the Disneyland Half Marathon. Apparently, it is a night race held in October. Not only that, but completing the Disneyland Half at night in October will get you the unique Mickey medal!

Needless to say, I shook my head and immediately put the "Idiot's" book back on the shelf.

I consider half marathons to be in the longish catagory. Not many people can do that distance.

The book may be a bit outdated. The Disneyland half is on Labor Day weekend, as far as I know it is in the day time. Wine and Dine is in the evening. But you can get the Coast to Coast medal by doing at least a half marathon on each coast. I'm debating next year to try for Coast to Coast or Goofy. Or just be totally insane and do both. I guess it really all depends on what is left in my bank account! If only I had unlimited funds I would do all the Disney races!

 

[JCH]

I consider half marathons to be in the longish catagory. Not many people can do that distance.

The book may be a bit outdated. The Disneyland half is on Labor Day weekend, as far as I know it is in the day time. Wine and Dine is in the evening. But you can get the Coast to Coast medal by doing at least a half marathon on each coast. I'm debating next year to try for Coast to Coast or Goofy. Or just be totally insane and do both. I guess it really all depends on what is left in my bank account! If only I had unlimited funds I would do all the Disney races!

Not outdated, just plain wrong. It mixed the three races together. It even said the half had a "Wine and Dine" theme, but was Disneyland, and had a Mickey medal, lol.

 

[ColleenG]

Not outdated, just plain wrong. It mixed the three races together. It even said the half had a "Wine and Dine" theme, but was Disneyland, and had a Mickey medal, lol.

Geezzz, don't they check their facts. : Obviously it was not written by a Disney fan.

 

[Kandiwilde]

Coming out of lurkerdom to say I've signed up for the marathon. It will be my first one and i'm flying from the UK to do it I'm actually terrified but looking forward to it at the same time. Going to be staying at OKW which is a new experience as well Can't wait to show off that shiny medal (if i get it) round the parks for the 10 days i'm there after the marathon.

 

[kimmiepcft]

Hooray Colleen!
Hubby says he is dropping us off and picking us up (want a ride?), so we will see how long he maintains that story!
13.1 is a short distance? perhaps the title should be Marathons, Written by Dummies

 

[cewait]

Not to throw stones, but looking from a marathoner perspective 13 miles is a short distance. Since the book was a marathon book, I see where the author is coming from. Now as a coach and working with folks who have never run anything longer than a 5 or 10k, I see how a half can be looked at as long. Though with my marathon runners we always talk about who would have ever thought a 13 mile run was short just after running a 16 mile run.

Then I have a friend who runs ultras and frankly she thinks a marathon is kind of short.

It's really all perspective.

 

[ColleenG]

Hooray Colleen!
Hubby says he is dropping us off and picking us up (want a ride?), so we will see how long he maintains that story!
13.1 is a short distance? perhaps the title should be Marathons, Written by Dummies

Sure what ever works out. Or if he doesn't want to come out late when we come back, I could go up to my sisters and then drive us home. We'll figure it out as it gets closer.

 

[cewait]

Coming out of lurkerdom to say I've signed up for the marathon. It will be my first one and i'm flying from the UK to do it I'm actually terrified but looking forward to it at the same time. Going to be staying at OKW which is a new experience as well Can't wait to show off that shiny medal (if i get it) round the parks for the 10 days i'm there after the marathon.

Welcome and YES you will have a shiny mickey for the parks

 

[kim3339]

I generally guide my runners to back to back on more of a mid teen run as the longest run instead of a 20 miler. Note that I am realizing that I also have most Goofies cycling the day prior to a long run. For years I have failed to realize that we are pushing a cardio workout the day prior to all long runs. It's just that we do not go through a beat me up impact workout. The cycle workouts are usually 60 -90 minutes (i.e. a gym based cycle class).

Thanks Coach! That helps a lot. And great info about the water/powerade tip!

One more quick question and then I think I'm good! I'm doing the Tink 1/2 the following weekend in DL. I don't have anything more than finishing planned for that one unless I feel I can do more. What do you suggest during the week?

 

[cewait]

Thanks Coach! That helps a lot. And great info about the water/powerade tip!

One more quick question and then I think I'm good! I'm doing the Tink 1/2 the following weekend in DL. I don't have anything more than finishing planned for that one unless I feel I can do more. What do you suggest during the week?

That is probably tougher than Goofy.... Your best bet is to try a 6 mile run on Wednesday or Thursday after spending some park time or otherwise working to keep loose on Sunday through Tuesday.

Good luck I would plan on spending more time walking in Tink that you would possibly imagine today. Hopefully there will be little issue, but that is a little quick for another half. I am sure it is very possible, it's just getting going the following weekend