So far, I've scheduled everything WRONG!

[Steve's Girl]

I am running the WDW half marathon in Jan, 2011. I have been planning this trip since the spring of this year. The more I read and research, I realize that I have planned everything wrong! We will be driving to Florida from Michigan on Dec. 26-27. We will be staying with my in-laws who live about 30 miles south of Orlando. Since I will be coming from cold, snowy weather, I thought it would be good to have some time to get used to the warmer climate. My kids will be out of school, so it was a good time for us to go as a family. Then, on January 2, my mom will be flying down to spend the week with us. She has already rented a condo off-site for all of us. (We are Disney veterans, but have never stayed off-site before). This is something my mom wanted to do for us, so we graciously accepted her offer. Now, I am realizing that getting to the race Saturday morning from off-site can be a nightmare. (We will be staying near Animal Kingdom on Old Lake Wilson Rd.) Since we will be moving to a location near Disney on Jan. 2, that means that we will be touring the parks the week before the race. I thought that might be a good taper, but now am realizing that probably isn't the best either. The better option would have been to save park touring for after the race, but unfortunately, that doesn't work for our family's schedule. And for my final wrong decision, we will be leaving to drive home Saturday afternoon after the race. Ugggghhhhh......can I get any of it right!

So...all no no's - park touring the week before the race, staying off site and driving home right after the race. Guess I'll add to that eating all kinds of Disney junk the week before the race. I have really been working hard to train for this race. I just hope my training will pay off and I won't pay for all my boneheaded planning. I'd be pretty disappointed with training this long and this hard only to flop in the race.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Maybe just keep the touring to a couple of hours in the morning, take a nice relaxing break in the afternoon and then head back in the evening for another couple of hours. As for the treats, most of them are sugary and carb-tastic anyway so no worries there - I'd just stay away from meats, fried and spicy foods

 

[Ronda93]

Someone can chime in about when to launch when coming from off site, but you'll be fine. Disney WANTS you to get there. Traffic may look bad, but think about how fast the CMs get you parked and headed to the tram at the TTC.

Your training now is what builds your fitness base and gets you through the race. You don't specify what you'd consider a flop, but if you train you will finish. The week before get enough rest, indulge in some Disney foods (+1 on no fried or spicy stuff) and find some time to run a little. Throttle back on Friday and relax.

It will be a great time!

Ronda

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

If there's one thing I could do over again about Wine & Dine, it would be to fly in the night before the race and do NOTHING on race day until the starting gun goes off.

 

[Steve's Girl]

Thanks! I tend to go, go, go when I am at Disney. I don't like to sit still. I'm usually in the parks for opening to closing every day. So, I'm really going to have to make myself slow down and take it at a slower pace this trip. We won't have dining plan this time, so that will help with avoiding the excess of food. I plan to run the whole race and would like to finish in 2:30 so a flop would be pooping out before reaching that goal. I'm doing fine in my training. So, everything should be OK. I'm just a planner and worrier (is that even a word?).

 

[Duanerice]

Other than leaving Sat after the race (driving) nothing you mentioned is that bad. Just leave early enough and the traffic won't be an issue.

As others have said, just don't overdo it in the parks at least on Friday.

You'll be fine.

Duane

 

[cewait]

First, you are not doing it wrong (loosely borrowed from Mr Mom) - maybe not best but not wrong. Old Lake Wilson Road is not all that bad drive into property on race morning. Just hop on I-4 (if it is the area I am thinking in Davenport) and exist World Drive. You will want to be middle lane until you pass Lake Buena Vista Blvd (Boardwalk/DHS) exit. Then merge into the right lane(s) and follow the crowd to the Epcot parking lot. Others will disagree but plan backwards so that you ARRIVE at the lot by 3:45-4AM. Yes, you can arrive later but eventually the road will be closed and then you would wish you had arrived earlier. Only LATE arrivers have bad traffic issues coming into the lot. If cold/wet/windy or other inclimate weather is occurring, plan to come just a little earlier. Note that on days where lots of folks do drive, it can be bad leaving the parking lot.

You had a good idea about coming early to acclimate to the ambient conditions. Your time frame is a little longer than most folks but I would take the time if I could get it. I would pull back on parking on Wednesday and Thursday and really try to refrain from Friday – or at least cut Friday short at noon. Hydration is key. Again, Hydration is key. Hydration is Key. Since you will be in the parks the week pre-race you must stay on top of hydration. That means urine stream clear and not cloudy. Keep on top of that and keep your legs kind of fresh and you will do fine.


For the drive home, I really would suggest waiting for 2-4 hours so you know you are physically OK. You really should wait for the kidneys and urine stream to kick in before heading out. Otherwise, you will be stopping on the roadside at some point along the drive. I would consider wearing compression clothing for the drive home. Triathlon clothing companies have a lot of great products but you can purchase post surgical support hose at the local pharmacy. It is a nerdy look but will help with recovery and protect from any clotting that may start to occur from sitting for a long period of time.

As far as piling up on junk in the parks it is really simple to stay on your nutrition plan. It is not always the popular thing in the park but a little planning and desire on your part and you will do fine.

 

[Disney Yooper]

I ran my first half during the Princess 2009. I also was at Disney the week before due to spring break for my husband (he teaches at a community college). We didn't have a choice. I really didn't change any of my touring plans except for the day before the race. We really took it easy that day. I had no problems due to the touring. You'll be fine.