Official WDW Marathon Weekend 2013 Thread

[Reep]

For those who have run the DL half and the WDW half, any thoughts on the difference in the speed of the course? I know there are some overpasses, but DL has a few also and the lower temps and lack of sun (for the first 1:30) at WDW seem like they would be a big speed advantage. Any thoughts?

 

[JCH]

They had discounts on tickets for the 2012 marathon.

Are you sure about that? I don't remember seeing any. If you look here: http://www.rundisney.com/travel/disneyworld/ you'll see every race mentions a place to get specially priced tickets EXCEPT for Marathon weekend, where it just says you can buy MYW tickets.

 

[cewait]

For those who have run the DL half and the WDW half, any thoughts on the difference in the speed of the course? I know there are some overpasses, but DL has a few also and the lower temps and lack of sun (for the first 1:30) at WDW seem like they would be a big speed advantage. Any thoughts?

Actually, I think the mile 9.6 incline at DL is worse than anything at WDW.

Saying that. You really have a cleaner course at WDW since the first 5 miles are highway and parking lot. Once you hit the curvy MK the course has thinned. The issues for WDW are the three overpasses and the uturn at the Christmas Tree. (the lake end of Future World in Epcot). The last year I ran the two, I was exactly 7 minutes faster on the WDW douse than I was DL.

 

[cewait]

Anyone using a garmin 610 and having issues with gps accuracies? I ran the Cars Land 5K and my watch gave the distance as 2.9 miles and the half marathon measured 13.6 miles. I'm so bummed that it was so far off. I have done all but the last update. I bought it at REI so I can return or exchange it but don't know if I should try another model and stick with the 610. Any advice?

SOme of it is course but I recently learned that there is a firmware update that you need to install. I have a friend who ran a marathon with his brother and one was about .7 miles longer than the other... They ran side by side the entire event. The once who measured long updated his firmware and then ting normalized.

 

[cewait]

I just hope they keep this notorious out and back out for good Since I'm not doing it til 2014..

I'll post about the feeling in January, but the newest version of the course has more out and back than any to date. The only good thing is the loop at the far end of the out.

 

[Reep]

Actually, I think the mile 9.6 incline at DL is worse than anything at WDW.

Saying that. You really have a cleaner course at WDW since the first 5 miles are highway and parking lot. Once you hit the curvy MK the course has thinned. The issues for WDW are the three overpasses and the uturn at the Christmas Tree. (the lake end of Future World in Epcot). The last year I ran the two, I was exactly 7 minutes faster on the WDW douse than I was DL.

Thanks. That is helpful. I too don't like the sharp turn and hill right before mile 10 (or the up and down ramps of the stadium). I don't mind longer more gentle hills. In addition to the cooler weather, I'm looking forward to having more people to pace off of. It always helps to have someone close to pull you along. At Disneyland, toward the end there is usually a 20-30 second gap between me and the person in front of me toward the end. WDW looks to have a lot more fast runners so this will help when looking for motivation in the final miles. I would settle for a 2 minute improvement.

 

[cewait]

Folks often ask about the running surfaces in the marathon. Many folks think the race is mostly concrete. However, over the last few years, the breakdown for the marathon have approximated 20 miles asphalt, 6 miles concrete and 0.2 miles wood.

Earlier the course was a little more wood with maybe a half mile since we ran the Boardwalk side of Crescent Lake. My first year also included about 20 feet of plywood on the sidewalk between DHS and Boardwalk. The sidewalk had a spot that was not fully constructed at that point in time.

With the new course, we get a little more variety of surfaces with the addition of the race track and WWoS.

Here is an approximate breakdown of running surfaces

Asphalt - 18.96 miles
Concrete - 6.6 miles
Dirt (baseball warning track) - .24 miles
wood - .2 miles
Synthetic running track - .18 miles
Grass - .02 miles


Yes, the official certification map lists the 100' grassy stretch between the race track and Bear Island Road as part of the course. I am betting that it will be plywood but we will see.

These are unofficial distances based on map my run measurements.

 

[kmg148]

I'm going to try to ask a question that hopefully makes sense!

I want to sign up for a half marathon during my training but the only weekend I have available is in October and the long run in the training schedule is 17 miles. What should I do to complete the extra 4?

 

[Goofierunner]

Park two miles from the start line, run to the race, race, then run back to your car.

 

[cewait]

I'm going to try to ask a question that hopefully makes sense!

I want to sign up for a half marathon during my training but the only weekend I have available is in October and the long run in the training schedule is 17 miles. What should I do to complete the extra 4?

Park two miles from the start line, run to the race, race, then run back to your car.

Or, just not run the extra 4. You really will do fine without the 4 miles.

If you really feel the need to add the 4, then do as above, or run the 4 post race or run the 4 in the evening. Note the evening option will not give to the true effect of running hte entire 17 and you will more than likely want to bag the run.

 

[irishtwins1112]

I am currently doing the Galloway Beginner Marathon Training. Last Tuesday I became ill with a cold and various digestive issues. By Thursday the digestive issues were gone but the cold was still there. I did my 30 minute workout on Thursday and continued to do well on my 9 mile that Saturday. I didn't feel that bad over the weekend. I had my cold and a little nausea here and there. On Monday I spontaneously did a Labor Day 5k in my town and came out with my average pace. Today, I went to work out (like I would normally on an off day because I had counted the 5K as one of my 30 minute Galloway days) and was completely drained. The cold is still hanging around and I am afraid it is moving into my chest. I could not do half of what I normally do on the cardio machines before I had to leave. I am thinking of taking a few rest days. 11 miles is coming up this Saturday. Any advice as to how long I should take off to recover from the cold thing. I don't want to get too behind in my training but I don't want to make myself so sick that I have to take off for even longer either. Advice?

 

[FFigawi]

Any advice as to how long I should take off to recover from the cold thing. I don't want to get too behind in my training but I don't want to make myself so sick that I have to take off for even longer either. Advice?

I'd recommend resting until you and your body feel better. Missing a few miles here and there during a long training season won't hurt your training any, but pushing your body too hard when you're sick just might. Listen to your body and get back out there when it tells you it's ready.

 

[coco392]

I'm going to try to ask a question that hopefully makes sense!

I want to sign up for a half marathon during my training but the only weekend I have available is in October and the long run in the training schedule is 17 miles. What should I do to complete the extra 4?

hi kmg

don't sweat it- do the 13 mile half- you will naturally run it a little faster cause it is a race and you will have adrenaline etc that you wouldn't have on a normal Sunday run. it won't effect your long term planning.
probably wouldn't do a run that night- go for a swim, ride - something to move but with no stress. less chance of injury

good luck

 

[cewait]

I am currently doing the Galloway Beginner Marathon Training. Last Tuesday I became ill with a cold and various digestive issues. By Thursday the digestive issues were gone but the cold was still there. I did my 30 minute workout on Thursday and continued to do well on my 9 mile that Saturday. I didn't feel that bad over the weekend. I had my cold and a little nausea here and there. On Monday I spontaneously did a Labor Day 5k in my town and came out with my average pace. Today, I went to work out (like I would normally on an off day because I had counted the 5K as one of my 30 minute Galloway days) and was completely drained. The cold is still hanging around and I am afraid it is moving into my chest. I could not do half of what I normally do on the cardio machines before I had to leave. I am thinking of taking a few rest days. 11 miles is coming up this Saturday. Any advice as to how long I should take off to recover from the cold thing. I don't want to get too behind in my training but I don't want to make myself so sick that I have to take off for even longer either. Advice?

I'd recommend resting until you and your body feel better. Missing a few miles here and there during a long training season won't hurt your training any, but pushing your body too hard when you're sick just might. Listen to your body and get back out there when it tells you it's ready.

John's right.... Take a day or two off and let the cold pass.

A general rule of thumb for running with a cold is run if the cold above the neck and rest if the cold is below the neck.

 

[rocio]

Since many of you are asking similar race/training schedule questions, I'll jump in with my own. I am registered for a half at the end of the month. The weekend before I am supposed to run 13 miles. The weekend after is supposed to be 15 miles. The weekend of the half I am only supposed to run 4. Should I run less the weekend before? And then just go forward? Keep the training plan as is and skip the low miles that week?

 

[kimmiepcft]

Since many of you are asking similar race/training schedule questions, I'll jump in with my own. I am registered for a half at the end of the month. The weekend before I am supposed to run 13 miles. The weekend after is supposed to be 15 miles. The weekend of the half I am only supposed to run 4. Should I run less the weekend before? And then just go forward? Keep the training plan as is and skip the low miles that week?

Swap the 13 and the 4. I have had this come up in my schedule and I just swapped the long runs. This way you are tapering for the Half. The 15 miles one week later might be tough on the legs, but you could run/walk with emphasis on walk lol

 

[cewait]

Since many of you are asking similar race/training schedule questions, I'll jump in with my own. I am registered for a half at the end of the month. The weekend before I am supposed to run 13 miles. The weekend after is supposed to be 15 miles. The weekend of the half I am only supposed to run 4. Should I run less the weekend before? And then just go forward? Keep the training plan as is and skip the low miles that week?

I am going to differ from Kim.

I am thinking Galloway based on your post so the program goes...

4-11-4-13-4-15-4-17.. Correct?

Here is what I would do as your coach

4-11-4-13-13-4-10-17-...

The problem with Jeff's build is that running a long race on the off week upsets the body and the training rhythm. Take the week following off for recovery, then the next week that would have been short, make it an intermediate distance to get back up and on the plan.

 

[rocio]

I am going to differ from Kim.

I am thinking Galloway based on your post so the program goes...

4-11-4-13-4-15-4-17.. Correct?

Here is what I would do as your coach

4-11-4-13-13-4-10-17-...

The problem with Jeff's build is that running a long race on the off week upsets the body and the training rhythm. Take the week following off for recovery, then the next week that would have been short, make it an intermediate distance to get back up and on the plan.

Thanks Kim and Charles. I am doing Galloway. Coach, I like your idea but if I follow it, I have to admit that the jump from 10 to 17 miles scares me. A half marathon is my longest distance ever so anything beyond that seems daunting right now. 15 seems manageable, but 17 seems like a big psychological hurdle to me right now. Maybe I can amend the 10 miles to 14 to make it seem a little more baby-step-like.

 

[cewait]

Thanks Kim and Charles. I am doing Galloway. Coach, I like your idea but if I follow it, I have to admit that the jump from 10 to 17 miles scares me. A half marathon is my longest distance ever so anything beyond that seems daunting right now. 15 seems manageable, but 17 seems like a big psychological hurdle to me right now. Maybe I can amend the 10 miles to 14 to make it seem a little more baby-step-like.

That works....

OR

Just reduce all long runs by 2 for the rest of the program. Leaves you with a final long run of 24. Not a perfect execution of the plan, but close enough. Those lost 2 miles will not break the bank in any way.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Full marathon is at 98%. I suspect we'll see a closed race this week!