The Last One???

[TEK224]

I read some posts from people saying they think this will be their last Disney Marathon. Are you one of them? I've kinda been thinking that,too.
I really like the event and I'll admit my chest puffs out (no comments guys! ) when I say I finished a marathon. But, at this time, with work and family issues, I'm finding it very hard to get the long miles in to train for the full. I'm thinking I may just do 1/2 marathons for the foreseeable future (until I can get life's issues in a more orderly fashion). Eventually, I'll have to get back to fulls so I can try to finish an Ironman triathlon, but I don't think that's happening in the next few years.

What's your reasons? (if you don't mind sharing)

Terri

 

[chimera]

Teri--

I'm kinda in the same place as you are. I don't want to say "Last", but it's been really hard training for the full with family and work commitments. I think it might be easier if I were faster and didn't have to devote 3 to 5 hours to the really LR, but there's still the SR during the week and the XT that I never manage to get to.

And to be honest, 16 miles really hurt. I somehow managed to hurt my back during the run and the bad ankle on the L and PF on the R required a couple of extra rest days to recover. I'm really nervous about 18, 20 and 22 I have left, not to mention the 26.2. I think the half is a friendlier distance, challenging but still doable.

Of course, my plans have to include the family. I would most like to continue doing the half at WDW as an annual tradition, but if DH wants to do the half again next year, I'll probably register for the full. We have childcare issues so only one of us can do a big race at a time and I'd rather train up for the full again than miss out altogether.

 

[scoolover]

I am with you. I have been thinking about it for a while and training for a full is just such a pain in the butt. I have been working 60 hours a week, and am a single dad. Combine that with the fact that I have a new girlfriend that takes up a lot of time and throw in some yard work. I just don't have time to train. I would have no problem keeping in half shape but the full is just too much of a commitment.

I will go into the Goofy vastly under trained this year.

 

[princessmomma]

Count me in too!

I plan to go back teaching full time in the next few years and I know I won't be able to put in the time needed to train. I also want to spend more time with the kids on the weekends, hiking, biking, canoeing, water rafting, etc., instead of spending 3-5 hours walking/running LR's solo.

That being said, I still want to keep in contact with my WISH friends. This is why I threw out the idea of the WISH group cruise to ALASKA! It is always great to travel with friends! I may still do a few half marathons, definitely Minnie to complete my collection. I also hope to do a few sprint tris next year, my body with thank me for cross training when I am 70!

 

[Big Vic]

I'm doing this marathon for purely selfish reasons. Mid-life crisis to be exact. This will probably be my one and only, so I can say, "Been there, done that." I seem to run out of hours to train too.

I want to continue running at WDW in January, so I think the 1/2 will be my race of choice in the years to come.

We'll see.

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

This is my first full marathon....and apart from coming back for the Minnie in 2008 that will be my last Disney race for awhile. I'm okay with the time committment for training for a full (right now, anyway), but there are so many races I really want to do (that will require plenty of $$ and vacation time) that it is hard to justify going back and doing the same race multiple times given how far I have to travel.

So what is on my to do list?
- London - 2009
- NYC
- Marathon du Medoc
maybe Rome....who knows.....so many races, so little time!

 

[windwalker]

What ever you guys decide, don't give up the lifestyle. Your best years for being an adult athlete are in your 50s and beyond. Be prepared and ready when you reach your golden years. Then your kids are grown, you are well established and usually have a few bucks to spend.

Erica and I both still work but we have revised our schedules so we can find time to train and to still have a regular life. The LSDs are done together and are the best kind of quality time. We might just zone to the iPod or have deep conversations and make major decisions.

But it's harder to get back in shape after 50 so you don't want to let yourself go and then start from scratch. Stay on the healthy, active path and you will be ready to go strong into your 70s and 80s. Wouldn't it be amazing to celabrate your 90th birthday with a 5K instead of a cake at the nurseing home.

I told this story after returning from the Senior Olympics: During the 5K racewalk compitition, a very hilly road race, a 92 year old man tripped on a place in the asphalt and went down hard. The volunteers rushed to help him but, cut and bleeding from several scraps, he brushed off the help and continued on. Later that day, all bandaged up, he had the gold medal for the 90 to 94 age group placed around his neck. You think he believes in the magic?

You will, God willing, see Erica and I on that road when we are in our 70s and 80s and maybe even our 90s. Because we believe in the Magic of taking charge of our own life and choosing happiness and health.

There is nothing wrong with just doing 5Ks, 10ks or Halfs. The marathon and the Goofy do take a lot of time and require much more committment than the shorter races. We will probably do the Goofy from now on but we are walkers and that takes less toll on your body than running.

The WISH partying is just as good if you come for the 5K or the half.

Ageless Panda

 

[littlegreydonkey]

It'll probably be my last January Disney race as I'll have all the medals and it's sooooo far for us to come, plus moving it back a week means we have to be home at Xmas (which I hate) or it's too much time off work for Tim.

I'll still do more halves though, and will travel for them as it's a good excuse to make tim take some holiday - I do want to do the ToT if it's still around as I've never been to the US at Halloween and want to come. That's going to be about two years off though - we have to try and time trips round new rides.

As for Disneyland, I'll run that again when it's not on Labour Day weekend. It fits in perfectly as my stopover to the UK but I'm not keen on battling holiday crowds on my own.

 

[gatorphipps]

I am not doing WDW 08. $$$ reasons mostly and I have done 4. So, I would like to do some other marathons (NYM is one on my list) and Tris so not sure when we will be doing WDW again.
Depending on how My 12/8/07 marathon goes, I may start focusing more on tris...I want to do a 1/2 Iron Man in May...but again, $$$ is the issue! I normally keep up my milage so I do not have to retrain my body.

Totally agree with WWDave though. Even if you do not do more marathons, keep healthy. I have a good friend (we call him the professor, and he loves the ladies ) who is in his 90s and still runs marathons and other races. He normally wins his age group!

 

[windwalker]

Totally agree with WWDave though. Even if you do not do more marathons, keep healthy. I have a good friend (we call him the professor, and he loves the ladies ) who is in his 90s and still runs marathons and other races. He normally wins his age group!

Yep, WISH stands for We are Inspired to Stay Healthy, doesn't say anything about having to do races at all. They are just rewards we give ourselves for staying healthy.

Stuffed Panda

 

[Jen117]

I can never say "never" again since I did say last fall that I was only doing ONE 1/2 marathon and that was it.... I did 3 this year. And I also said I would never EVER do a full... and here I am doing one. BUT, I am doing this purely for myself. And the reason I am doing it this year is because I have done 3 1/2 marathons and I don't know if I will ever be at this point again. After training for a full, I do think 1/2 marathons are much more my style. I also want to focus on getting faster since there really is no need to go longer distances one I have done a full. So I plan to step back after January and do some shorter distances while I work on losing more weight and gaining a little more speed. And yes, I will continue to do Disney as long as it fits with my schedule!!!

 

[Kristi1357]

I haven't done a full yet, but I really want to do it once in my lifetime. I was secretly hoping to do it this year, but I really don't think my toes can handle it. They are so sore after anything over 7 miles. I also can't justify the huge time commitment with a FT job, commuting to Boston, and a 4 year old. I can barely squeak by in a Half with what training I can get in.

I think for now, I will do halves. I will someday walk a full just to say I did it, and am 100% sure it will be Disney. But it will probably have to be years down the road when Zack is a teen & more self-sufficient.

Mel - you could probably work out some babysitting if that really does become a problem. I could share a Fairy Godmother or maybe a relative that we coerce into coming along! Chad is going to try to keep doing Goofy every year - so we will be in the same boat for the Half. This year we are leaving him home with my in-laws, but normally, he will be with us.

All I know is that I must keep doing some sort of race. That is the only reason I ever exercise. Without a race "threat," I fall off the bandwagon immediately. Besides, I'd miss my WISH buddies terribly!

 

[gatorphipps]

BUT, I am doing this purely for myself.

I have learned that you have to do this for "YOU". The training is hard. I hate to say this, but, no one really cares or understands what you are doing. All of my friends think I am crazy. Heck, even most of my family thinks I am totally nuts for wanting to run 3+ hours or bike 100 miles. My DM is sure I have some sort of disorder and all this running/biking is going to kill me. But that is another story.....

I run for me!
Who knew being selfish would require so much discipline.

Yep, WISH stands for We are Inspired to Stay Healthy, doesn't say anything about having to do races at all. They are just rewards we give ourselves for staying healthy.

WWdave...you are wise!

 

[skfulkers]

I think WDW 08 will be my last marathon for awhile. I'm ok with the training time, as we don't have kids yet, so if I ever want to have time to do this stuff, now is the chance.

But I think I want to focus more on tris next year and maybe for the years beyond. I just feel so much better (mentally and physically) when I train to swim, bike and run instead of strictly running. I have had issues with the knees in the past, but when I'm swimming, biking and lifting and only running as an equal part of that plan, I tend to have less injuries and aches overall.

I'm eyeing the Steelhead Half IM next August in Michigan, but I'll have to see how training goes. I know a half IM is nothing to joke around about, so I want to make sure I'm properly training if I decide to attempt it.

Steve

 

[DianeL]

i keep saying I'm not doing another but i'm afraid if i say 'never training for another one' will jinx me LOL

I said I'd NEVER do another DL after finishing 2006, the ladies surrounding me (not from our group, just strangers) said 'never say never'. That was my best recovery from a 1/2. I was bounding up stairs the next day on Big Thunder. I was walking ahead of my group. I felt great! By the time I was boarding the plane to come home Tuesday night I was already looking forward to returning but in a few years as Leanna said there are so many other races we want to do and I too don't want the Labor Day weekend. So I'm waiting a few to see if they delay it a few weeks.

I finished the 10K & 5K Flying Pig. I said to wonderful Paul (goingthe distance) that I was NEVER doing a 1/2 in Cincinnati. To which 'never say never' was the reply. About a month after I was starting to entertain doing the 1/2 Flying Pig in 2009 or 2010 depending on what Disney decided to do those years (doing Minnie in 2009 now).

I will most likely keep a weekend a month at a higher mileage day just in case I change my mind and do another Full but I think I can guarantee that I will ONLY do a Full at Disney World. I am ok doing a 1/2 elsewhere but I like the road closures at WDW. I like that I'm not near traffic much during the race and to have the distractions of the parks I hope will pull me thru to my 1st Full Finish in Jan2008.

Susan was talking to a co-worker who has done Boston and other fulls (he's done CRIM I know) and does Full Marathons every other year because of the time it takes to train. So perhaps after we finish in 2008 we'll take a break and do the 1/2 in 2009 or another race (we are drawn to the PF Chang 1/2 too) and then train for whatever Disney we feel like in 2010.

With everyone also looking at other races that is kewl too because than others who had been looking at a non-Disney race like we did with Cincy will say lets go for it there will be WISH members present. Just the encouragement needed to take the plunge

Helen when they release a non-Labor day DL Race I'll be right there in line with you signing up

Regardless of what you all decided to do race wise don't even think of not posting around here, your dedication continues to inspire and I know for me that it's most appreciated and needed to look at my team and say 'they are doing it get off the couch and get out there'

Never say never! Many of us NEVER thought we'd do a 1/2 heck I NEVER thought I'd do a 5K. Do report back on the other non-disney races. Love hearing about them.

Happy Holidays! Hey we get to eat cookies with these miles! Maybe I WILL do another Full

 

[windwalker]

DianeL, we are not doing the Pig next year because it's the same weekend as the last Minnie. Erica wants a Minnie medal so of we go, Hi Ho Hi Ho!!

We may do the Pig in 2009 or the Nashville Country Music Half/full. We only live 60 miles from there so it's a good choice and we have never been. It's a lot warmer than the Pig.

Traveling Panda

 

[chimera]

We've had some excellent WISH team presence at various races around the country this year...the Pig, CDC, MCM and looks like Philly is on the table for next year already.

I'll keep doing WDW races of some sort for the foreseeable future because they're 'local' for me. Maybe we can get the team to nominate some cool races that are local for them and plan WISH team events at other races. I know I have a WISH list of races I'd like to do in each state (RnR, MCM, Shamrock, Grandma's, etc). I could potentially travel for one non-WDW race each year, especially since most of y'all are so nice to come all this way to ours

 

[DianeL]

Dave, Susan and I are signed up and following you and Erica to the Minnie in '08

Mel that is an excellent idea!!! I thought that since the ToT messed up the Marine's Marathon plans that a few were looking at doing it in 2008, which is great. I think Susan still holds that on the list for us too maybe not in 2008 but who knows. I really need to review the list we have of the team's races schedule for 2008 to see if there are any that we can fit in that i never knew existed which are tons since we're so new to this still

 

[msblrobs]

I said it would be my last WDW in '08. I plan on running many more marathons but after doing 4 WDW's I feel the need to tackle other races. We live in NY and make a yearly vacation out of the WDW race so a lot of time and funds are expended. The marathon is my favorite distance to run so it's not the mileage that is my deciding factor but more the BTDT feeling of WDW. I want to run other well-known marathons and travel with my family to other locales to run. I will still try to do WDW races throughout the year if I can make a weekend jaunt solo out of them .

 

[rKyDeX]

I plan on continuing to do the WDW every year since it's a somewhat "local" race. I also plan on participating on the other Disney events for the same reason. In fact, I'm seriously considering the Disney tri in September.

I'm fortunate in that our children are 18(Son) and 16(Daughter). Since my daughter turned 16 and started driving, it has really freed up time that used to be spent toting her to and from school, and to pratices, games and excetera. I never regretted one second of the time it took to get my kids to their comittments, yet now I do feel an emptyness.

I plan on spending my new found time by upping my "maintenance" miles, so that I can pickup Marathons in states other than Florida without going into a full training program. My goal is to one day qualify for Boston. At the rate I'm going, it won't be until I'm 80. So I need to stay healthy and active to ensure I'll live that long.

Chester
W.I.S.H. Half-Fast Missing Link Marathon Team