Question on booking a vacation around a 1/2 marathon

[WalkingintheFog]

Hey all, planning to do my first ever (half) marathon in Toronto in late September-- it's on a Sunday, and registration + marathon expo starts on Friday before.

I plan to make it a mini-vacation, visiting the ROM, the Toronto Science Centre, maybe Wonderland, and for sure some shopping, not to mention visiting family.

I'm wondering if anyone can offer insight on whether I should plan more time after than before the marathon date. I'm thinking 4-5 nights stay.
I'll be doing it as a run/walk, just looking to finish, not win the thing!
(and then maybe 2011 will be the Everest Challenge)

Thanks!
And if there's already a similar thread, feel free to point me to it!

 

[johde]

I know several people on the Disney thread said their plan was to split the difference. Do some light touring before and after the half. That way, if you get too worn out after the half, you will have still done some touring. You didn't mention it but I would also recommend going up in the CN tower. I went up several years ago and it is a neat experience.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I would also recommend keeping your touring light before the half marathon - the ROM and Toronto Science Center wouldn't be bad at all, but I'm not sure I would want to do Wonderland the day before a half marathon. However, keeping in mind that Wonderland is only open weekends after Labour Day, that will probably be your only choice.

I like to stack my days after an event so that I can walk out any stiff muscles, and tour without worrying about tiring myself out!

 

[WalkingintheFog]

Thanks all.
Good points offered! Keeping it light beforehand and then having time to walk it out after makes sense! And by actually having done a bit beforehand, if I'm too sore after, I'll still have accomplished some "vacation goals"!

CN Tower is out! Way too high! Although I did manage to psych myself up to ascend 2x in past years! Once we had dinner in the revolving restaurant: I had worn high heels all day (younger and foolisher! lol) and slipped them off at the table....when we were finished, my shoes had disappeared to the other side of the restaurant!

 

[treehugnmama]

I did my first half in disney in march. I did a run/walk and did lots of training. I arrived on the friday and the race was sunday I stayed thill the following Friday.

The day before the plan was to take it easy BUT I was in DISNEY and couldn't help it ended up having a marathon of a day the day before the half. The day of the half was kind of a right off after the race but I was good to go the following day.

I would say I will have the majority of my days after the race again as I felt like my holiday didn't begin till my race was done. It was my first though

 

[WalkingintheFog]

treehugnmama,
How did you feel for the race? Were you saying "I wished I only visited the parks for the morning/afternoon/couple hours"?