So many questions...

[klh-or]

2008 will be my first trip to DW, my first 1/2 marathon. This is a crazy, ambitious goal because I'm very overweight, though have been walking since January, progressing well, and losing weight. I'm planning to do this with 2 friends and my 19-year-old daughter, who are also overweight but working hard on training.

When we registered, we put our time down as the full 3.5 hours. Does that mean we go in the very last group to start the event? And does our time start from when we cross the actual start line or from the time the people in the front actually start, thus giving us actually less than 3.5 hours?

I'm assuming it is very congested for quite a while, which would sure impact your pace. How long before you can actually hit your own personal pace without the crowd being a factor?

Do I understand correctly that there are checkpoints along the way, and if you aren't on pace at those checkpoints, you get swept? No chance to "catch up"?

Anybody been swept before? It is horrible and disappointing and humiliating? We really want to avoid the "pokey patrol."

The route is fairly flat? Along the way I'm guessing there are porta-potties, water stations, etc?

Do you eat something along the route for an energy boost? Energy bar, trail mix?? Do you carry your own water, too, as well as grab some at the water stations?

What can we expect along the way in terms of characters cheering us on, etc? How about at the finish line?

I am trying really hard to amp up my motivating and enthusiasm, and any additional info I can learn about the event will really help!

If there are event journals from past years that I can read, please point me in that direction!!

Thank you SO much!!!!

 

[windwalker]

Doing a race is a very simple thing, everything is provided for you, really everything. Some people like to take the stuff they are used to eating and drinking but there is plenty of water and powerade. If you want food like gels and such you need to take those with you.

Your time starts when you cross the starting line, so you actually have more than 3 and a half hours.

There are more potty stop places than you could ever possibly need.

There are teams of ugly sweep police, but if you take a stick they won't approach you. Just shake your stick at them. They aren't very smart and easily frightened off.

What pace were you planning on doing? Are you running or one of those Walkers? If you are a walker then be warned that runners get upset when you pass them.

The hardest part is the waiting for the event to start. Make friends with the WISH team, there are some lurking about, but be careful some of them just "ain't right".

The site with all the jurnals and pics in DisneyRunning.com

I hope that helps and welcome.

Dave

 

[klh-or]

I'll be walking and hopefully a 15 minute mile, so that doesn't leave me much room for messin' around. Seriously, about the sweepers...do they shout at you with a megaphone "hey slow poke, get on board!" or hopefully they are a little more subtle than that? I'll be traveling from Oregon, and the thought of traveling all that way and getting swept is incentive enough to pick up my pace! Thanks for any additional info you can pass my way!

 

[littlegreydonkey]

come join the weekly thread and lots of people will help you out. My advice, focus on the distance at first and the pace will come - remember you also go faster on the day than you normally go in training (adrenaline takes over as does wanting to pass the person in front of you).

Also remember that you should never do anything on race day that you've not done before, so if you do decide to nibble enroute, then practise your nibbling on your training walks.

Characters themselves only appear in the actual parks, but they do have bands and little cheer squads on other bits of the route which livens things up a bit - plus you're surrounded by thousands of other people so you can always have a chat - or just read everyone's t-shirts - that's how I pass the time. There are characters at the finish line, high fiving you - and you can get your picture taken with Donald for the half. I carry a disposable camera en route but it does slow you down so you want to make sure you're sweeperproof before you stop for too many pics.

Definitely go onto disneyrunning.com and check out everyone's race reports (although maybe don't read too many of last year's marathon, it was hot - glad I missed it tho I think most people have signed up again) that'll really get you motivated. It is the most fun race I've ever done

 

[Hockeychic]

Welcome to the WISH team!!!! You are now part of the team.

I did my first disney race in May and was so worried about the sweepers that I fretted the entire time before the race and during and didn't really enjoy the actual run, so please "try" not to let them worry you too much. If you are at a 15 min pace you are a full min ahead of the sweepers and I found with the atmosphere and my team mates my pace was alot faster then I thought.

Looking forward to hearing about your training, please stop by the weekly thread and introduce yourself, everyone there is supportive, fun and full of valuable information.

Kim

 

[escape]

If you are a walker then be warned that runners get upset when you pass them.

So true. I'm one of those that gets mad. However, I'd never be mad at you Dave - you'd be too far ahead for me to do anything about it.

klh-or!

I did my first 1/2 (my first event ever) this past January at WDW. I was very overweight when I first started to train to train last August. By training to train, I mean I started exercising at a gym about 3-4 times a week before my official 1/2 training starting in October (following John Bingham's walk/run plan from his Marathoning for Motals book).

When I started training in October, I couldn't walk (much less run) a 16 min. mile. I was very discouraged. However, I kept up my training (with loads of encouragement from fellow WISH teammates) and I ended up crossing the finish line with a slightly below 15 minute pace. I think I could have finished the race with a little faster time had it not been for the heat. Oh, and by the way - I never saw the sweepers.

klh-or - the training for the 1/2 is intense and sometimes just not fun at all. But, I gotta tell you, it will be so worth it. The excitement of the marathon weekend will blow you away. The spectators cheering you on will help get the adrenaline pumping. I have faith that you can do it!

Come join the weekly running/walking thread and Dave's walking thread. You'll pick up a load of tips from these experts and as the marathon weekend gets closer, you'll get even more tips.

Good luck with your training.

 

[westcliffemom]

klh-or, this is my first half also! I'm so excited! I've been doing alot of reading to get answers to some of the same questions you have. The most I learned about sweepers was from rkyDex's post about his wife's experiences. He mentions that she trained for the distance, not for pace.

What I would recommend is training for the distance & for pace. Do a progressively longer walk/run (you didn't say which you do). You can find training plans online or in Marathoning for Mortals by John Bingham. Then do another training day, less miles, where you work on your pace. Of course, there are other workouts to add that can help, but for me, these are really important, since I know I'll have the endurance to go 13.1 miles and the pace to beat the sweepers!

The route is fairly flat, except for strategically placed overpasses.

As you start training for longer distances, you'll want to find a fuel/hydration strategy that works. I carry gatorade, there's usually Powerade on Disney's courses. I haven't started using gels, shot blocks, yet, others will have to comment on those.

There's a sticky at the top about the marathon, and I did a search and read everybody's reports. I also read all the reports on disneyrunning.com.

Have fun in your training!

 

[ultramickeymouse]

As mentioned your time starts when you cross the start line. The total time is figured when the last runner crosses the start line. Disney likes to estimate about 10 minutes on top of the 16 min pace. After 10 miles, the pace charts stop. Make it there and you are safe.

Another thing they did in 07 was have wave starts. They started at 6:00, 6:10, and 6:30. Your time will mean you will have to wait for another 30 minutes after the first group starts. This spreads out the time it takes to get to the start line. In 06 it was one mass start and it took me almost 20 minutes to get to the start line after the race started.

Good luck and see you in Jan. There are lots of pics of the races on my site. I think I took over 100 of the 1/2

 

[Hockeychic]

Robert: Do you know what the "safe" point is for the 1/2 is it 10M as well???

Kim

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Robert: Do you know what the "safe" point is for the 1/2 is it 10M as well???

Kim

It is " World Drive Ramp to EPCOT Center Drive and is mile 10.2. That is the last on ramp.

 

[windwalker]

Robert it looks like your lady is having all he fun she can stand at the moment that picture was taken. It looks as though she is thinking about all the ways she could make you suffer for this if you don't come across with some major pampering after it's over.

Dave

 

[solotraveler]

2008 will be my first trip to DW, my first 1/2 marathon. This is a crazy, ambitious goal because I'm very overweight, though have been walking since January, progressing well, and losing weight. I'm planning to do this with 2 friends and my 19-year-old daughter, who are also overweight but working hard on training.

When we registered, we put our time down as the full 3.5 hours. Does that mean we go in the very last group to start the event? And does our time start from when we cross the actual start line or from the time the people in the front actually start, thus giving us actually less than 3.5 hours?

I'm assuming it is very congested for quite a while, which would sure impact your pace. How long before you can actually hit your own personal pace without the crowd being a factor?

Do I understand correctly that there are checkpoints along the way, and if you aren't on pace at those checkpoints, you get swept? No chance to "catch up"?

Anybody been swept before? It is horrible and disappointing and humiliating? We really want to avoid the "pokey patrol."

The route is fairly flat? Along the way I'm guessing there are porta-potties, water stations, etc?

Do you eat something along the route for an energy boost? Energy bar, trail mix?? Do you carry your own water, too, as well as grab some at the water stations?

What can we expect along the way in terms of characters cheering us on, etc? How about at the finish line?

I am trying really hard to amp up my motivating and enthusiasm, and any additional info I can learn about the event will really help!

If there are event journals from past years that I can read, please point me in that direction!!

Thank you SO much!!!!

klh-or!!

Yes, there are sweepers, but they are a bit more subtle than that. The time cutoffs are published on the official marathon website, but if you have a 15-minute per mile pace, I'm sure you'll be fine. You get a 10-minute "grace period" in addition to the 16-minute per mile pace as well (due to the congestion at the start). Usually it takes a few miles to get in to your pace due to the crowds.

The route is net-flat, but there are some overpasses and I would recommend doing a bit of hill training during your workouts to get used the the feel.

Most of us use suppliment gel (Gu, Powergel, etc) during the race to keep the energy up. They do have plenty of water stops along the course, so I wouldn't worry too much about carrying water with you.

You will find characters in the theme parks to cheer you on and plenty of entertainment along the course to keep you motivated.

And, just in case you want some additional motivation, this is my race report from 2006, in all it's lengthy detail: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1041919&referrerid=&highlight=marathon+man

Please join us over on the weekly training threads if you haven't yet!

Kevin

 

[Honeibee]

Oh Kevin I'm so glad you posted the link to your race report.

Everybody - Read Kevin's Race Report! I printed it out and read it over and over before my first WDW race. Even with my first Half done his report STILL gives me goosebumps, chills and gets me tearing up. It's a great report, Kevin. Thanks for reposting it.

Going off to read it again....

 

[rKyDeX]

klh-or

So, you want to know about the sweepers. I can only relate to what I experienced during last year's Full.

The sweepers were 2 men on bicycles that were equiped with flashing lights. It is very obvious who they are. I Believe that they start after the last runner and maintain a 16 mpm pace. If they pass you, you will be picked up by a bus and transported to the finish. Likewise, you will also have to be infront of them at the specified check points.

The sweepers were very friendly to my wife and will encourage you to stay in front of them. But, if they sense that you are struggling, they will suggest you leave the course if you can't make an upcoming landmark by a certain time.

If you can maintain a 15 mpm pace you should be ok. But remember, you are only "banking" 1 minute per mile over minimum pace and if you should have to make an early unscheduled pit stop, you could find you self behind the sweepers. Take it from my wife, it's a terrible thing to emerge form a port-o let, continue merrily on your way, only to be pulled at the next check point because the sweepers passed while you were stopped.

So, my advice is to start training for endurance, but as quick as possible and no later than half way through training, build your pace to a minimum of 15 mpm or less.

Happy training,

Chester
W.I.S.H. Half-fast Marathon Team

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

klh-or, Welcome to WISH!

It appears that all of your concerns were answered. Please do join us on the weekly walker/runner thread. You will find that the training you are doing will increase in fun as you share it with others. We are here to help you enjoy and make it happen!

Come on over!

 

[rake5]

Hi. I'm one of Klh-or's friends making the trek to WDW for the Half. I'm afraid of the sweepers, and jeopardizing my buddies with a bathroom break.

My question to the veterans is this: When you are on the course, have you gone the full race without stopping for the bathroom?

Rachael

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I usually have to have at least one break. DW & I usually hit TTC as it goes right by some flush toilets. The marathon I have a couple of breaks. If you visit the porta potties while waiting by the chutes might help. Having to wait all the time plus 3 1/2 hrs of racing is tough to do.

 

[andromedaslove]

Not only is that hard to do, but making yourself go potty at 4:30 in the AM (when you aren't used to being awake that early) in a porta potty when you know that there are literally 20 people waiting on you to finish so that they can go. Can make it kind of difficult. I know that I made it to Animal Kingdom before I had to stop again and use the bathroom, so that was almost 18 miles. It can definately be done, but I was in the porta potty before the race scared to death I was gonna miss the start of the race because I was cutting it so close.

Dana