Opinions please : )

[Zela]

I did a half marathon in March in 2:59:59 and I did the Disney marathon this year and it took me 7 hours and 20 minutes (due to some cramping issues and an exploding blister). I am tempted to sign up for the goofy. My regular pace is normally 15 minutes per mile. Is it possible to improve my pace enough in the course of a year to finish both without getting swept.....of course i know it depends on how hard i train and everything but i was just curious opinions wise what some people thought.........I know I can do the marathon again with no problems.....but the Goofy is so mysterious . I just wanna try it!

 

[AmyBeth68]

I think absolutely you could train to maintain your goal pace and not get swept. This year the marathon conditions were pretty tough and a lot of folks lost more salt than expected due to the humidity. It was a great learning experience for many and we'll be more prepared for those conditions next year. So I'd say that since you know what it takes to run both a half and full...and you've run them in pretty warm temps.....AND you have an entire year to train....if you have the desire to tackle Goofy....GO FOR IT!!!!

My only concern is for folks who have never run a marathon before. Not that it can't be done..but as you and I know...a marathon can be grueling and add that race the day before and it can be a bit much. But with proper training it is not only possible to finish...but possible to have a ton of fun in the process! I enjoyed my experience immensely this year.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Go for it. You have plenty of time. A 15 min pace gets you a 6:30 marathon which gives you plenty of time ahead of the cuts. I would concentrate on endurance(meaning miles or time). You will be tired at the end and the key is to keep moving forward no matter what. I did the Goofy with little training becuase of injury(long day of 4 miles 7 weeks before the Goofy). Main thing is to stay healthy and listen to your body. Better to be undertrained and healthy than overtrained and injured.

BTW, better sign up soon! See you in Jan on Sat & Sun

 

[MiniGirl]

Zela, my longest race was this year's 1/2, and it took me almost 4 hours to finish. I think you can do it though. It sounds like you have a great base already. Just train smart and try to remain as healthy as possible.

The real reason I'm posting though is to congratulate you on your weight loss. You've done a remarkable job. It sounds like you're a person who makes a goal and does what is needed to meet it. Good job. That's very inspiring, so thanks for that.

 

[monte]

Wow, that's an awesome weight loss, may I ask how you did it? I'm trying to loose 40 pds. and I'm having a hard time loosing it.

How do you know that you finished in 7.20? Did you get an official chip time because Ifinished alittle after 7 hours and did not receive an official time? Anyway I definately think you can do the Goofy in 2009 you have plenty of time to train and you seem to have a good pace. Let us know what you decide.

 

[Zela]

As far as the weight loss goes.....I was 262 when I decided to start being healthier. I mainly started walking an hour a day and then I did the weight watchers point system. I lost about 80 pounds over the course of about 9 months by myself. I didn't want to go to the weight watchers meetings because they were expensive. I posted on the disboards during that time. Then, about one year later I joined the w w meetings and staying with them for about 6 months. I lost down to 152 but had to eat a weird diet and the leader gave some questionable advice to some of the participants (something about taking a laxative after Thanksgiving Dinner.....which I think is horrible of them to tell a group of already weight conscious women to use a laxative to get over a meal......thats like throwing the temptation of bulimia in their face........I was also told that various fruits and vegetables make u retain water.......and that taking diet pills is a good idea) So I shyed away from the meetings and went back to doing it on my own(the healthy way). Eating normally I stay between 160 and 165 and I like that weight. I don't want to be a nazi crazy weight loss lady . As long as I stay within my points range I stay about the same.

 

[Zela]

Oh yeah....and the finishing time.....I know I finished in that time because the time clock was still on in my finish line picture. But the chips were already turned off. I didn't really care about the chip time......I was just happy to get my awesome mickey medal

 

[Zela]

Oh yeah......and I just did it. I signed up for the goofy I am gonna try to keep my journal pretty frequent if ya'll wanna see how the training is coming.

 

[Cruella de mom]

Good Luck Zela!

If nothing else, the Goofy will keep you motivated for the entire year!

If I were you, I would find a half marathon to train for this spring and then one in the early fall. This will give you a couple short term and (by now) managable goals to work towords until it is time to get super serious about training for Goofy.

I found that the second year of marathon training was much easier than the first. I felt better and stronger the entire time. I think it also helped that I trained all year and went into Goofy training with a very solid base.

I hope you have an amazing experience! I will have to look up your journal and follow along.

Cecilia

 

[monte]

Wow, that is so awesome Zela, good for you! I'm not planning to return to WDW til 2013 for the 20th anniversary of the marathon and by then I'll be an old woman,. ha.ha. Good luck to you Zela!