The Official 2013 Wine and Dine Half Marathon Thread

[DoctorK]

My 10K time was 59:30 and I'm also in E, but I have a 2:06 Half Marathon time I'll be bringing with me and hopefully get moved to D.

 

[Skampigirl]

Is anyone staying at Port Orleans Riverside for this race (or have stayed there in the past)? DH and I are debating switching to there to save some money... Last year we stayed at the Boardwalk and while it was convenient for walking back after the party, I ended up feeling so sick that I ended up walking from bench to bench with my head in my hands all the way from Canada to our room and I was still not sure I was going to make it. Though I plan to hydrate much better this time and hope to avoid repeating that whole part, last year the walk seemed eternal and not exactly a selling point. I'm just concerned about the possible lack of a fridge at Riverside, and whether the fact that we've never stayed there before might just throw me off my "mental" game. Or it might be fun! We usually avoid the moderates with multiple bus stops because of prior bad experiences, however we aren't going to be doing as much park hopping this trip, and won't have to worry about anyone but the two of us (no kids or other relatives)

Stayed there for the TOT 10 miler last year and loved it. Bus service was great to all of the events. We were staying in Magnolia Terrace and the room was beautiful - freshly refurbished (regular room, not Royal Room) and very close to the bus stop. I didn't find the multiple bus stops a problem and I'm pretty sure the post-race bus went straight to POR, not to POFQ first.

I'm staying there again for the W&D 1/2 this year and really looking forward to it! According to the POR thread, fridge replacement should be complete by early November so I think we'll be fine (long before Disney even had fridges in their rooms I just filled up a cooler / ice bucket with ice and used that to put milk/juice etc. in. It did a fine job keeping everything cold).

Also love POR for the food court. Build your own pasta / cereal / salad bowls, etc. All the healthy stuff we need before and after the race!

I'm sure you'll have a much better experience this year! Wishing you lots of

Laura

 

[kristenrice]

I did it...I went 3.37 miles in 40 minutes flat! I felt so light on my feet when I started out and I was cruising for the first mile. I finished it in 11:20! Then I told myself that I had to slow down or I would never make it home. Mile #2 was 11:47 and Mile #3 was 11:52. I slowed myself down, but still finished with a great time. Not only did my run portions feel fast, but I was even able to walk at a pretty good clip. Now, my nose is on fire because all of my recent nose-blowing has dried and cracked the skin...which is now full of sweat. My sinuses feel fine, but I have that stupid, tight cough in my chest now. I didn't have any breathing issues at all on the run and I didn't even use my inhaler. Now, I need a puff or two. Overall, though, I feel great! No muscle soreness or anything.

 

[PlutoBaby]

First of all, to all of you who have 13.1 panic setting in...RELAX!!!! It may sound like some crazy long distance, but with 14,000+runners, and all the lights, music, characters, fireworks, and energy around, you won't even notice the fact that you've passed the first 3 miles or so! For some reason I can't pull up the race program on my computer, but I'm presuming the starting area map is included and we'll get a meetup scheduled prior to start time. Unless everyone would rather meet up sometime on Friday? I know that would work better for this Wino Girl but majority can rule on this one. Once you all see faces that you can put with screen names, you may just feel yourself relaxing, little by little. Remember, this is Disney! AKA FUN!!!!

 

[PlutoBaby]

I did it...I went 3.37 miles in 40 minutes flat! I felt so light on my feet when I started out and I was cruising for the first mile. I finished it in 11:20! Then I told myself that I had to slow down or I would never make it home. Mile #2 was 11:47 and Mile #3 was 11:52. I slowed myself down, but still finished with a great time. Not only did my run portions feel fast, but I was even able to walk at a pretty good clip. Now, my nose is on fire because all of my recent nose-blowing has dried and cracked the skin...which is now full of sweat. My sinuses feel fine, but I have that stupid, tight cough in my chest now. I didn't have any breathing issues at all on the run and I didn't even use my inhaler. Now, I need a puff or two. Overall, though, I feel great! No muscle soreness or anything.

 

[kristenrice]

First of all, to all of you who have 13.1 panic setting in...RELAX!!!! It may sound like some crazy long distance, but with 14,000+runners, and all the lights, music, characters, fireworks, and energy around, you won't even notice the fact that you've passed the first 3 miles or so! For some reason I can't pull up the race program on my computer, but I'm presuming the starting area map is included and we'll get a meetup scheduled prior to start time. Unless everyone would rather meet up sometime on Friday? I know that would work better for this Wino Girl but majority can rule on this one. Once you all see faces that you can put with screen names, you may just feel yourself relaxing, little by little. Remember, this is Disney! AKA FUN!!!!

I was looking at the map, and I gotta say...those first three miles look B-O-R-I-N-G! I assume that they pack that area with entertainment and such because it looks like three miles down a straight stretch of roadway. It doesn't look difficult, per se, just "bleh". Same goes for miles 7-9. I don't mind the first three miles being a little boring because I will have all of the adrenaline and excitement going, but by the time I hit mile 7........but miles 10-13 look like there is plenty of stuff to keep my mind off my burning legs and concrete feet.

 

[DoctorK]

I was looking at the map, and I gotta say...those first three miles look B-O-R-I-N-G! I assume that they pack that area with entertainment and such because it looks like three miles down a straight stretch of roadway. It doesn't look difficult, per se, just "bleh". Same goes for miles 7-9.

Actually, if you look at it, for the first 9 miles you spend a little less than a mile in Animal Kingdom and the rest on highways and parking lots. I would expect a lot of entertainment along those miles!

 

[Figment1990]

Actually, if you look at it, for the first 9 miles you spend a little less than a mile in Animal Kingdom and the rest on highways and parking lots. I would expect a lot of entertainment along those miles!

Hate to break it to you all but I do not remember a ton of entertainment on the course at that point last year. There was some bandstand with music, some electrical parade floats, and.... I just remember the volunteers at the water stops being so helpful and cheerful and after the 10k mark, I remember seeing sporadic spectators with signs, cowbells, and just smiling faces. I was disappointed in the on course entertainment last year, actually until DHS. But i didnt mind too much. Coach said something in his tower of terror write up about how the darkness makes it seem less lengthy - bc u can't see the highways going on forever and ever. He's right on that!

It was surreal though- running around the WDW property in the middle of the night with 11,000 people and many of them in costumes or funny shirts. It was still very fun!

 

[jpeka65844]

Saw the chiro today. He seems to think I'm really really really tight. He took an x-Ray just in case. Did some stimming and some manual stretches. I go back in the AM to go over the film, more stretching, and to come up with a plan to get me 13.1 miles.

So all is not lost. I'm still a little despondent but we'll see.

 

[belle2211]

Gah..I too am injured! It started at the DL half. My Achilles hurt for the first time ever, then when that went away, I realized the bottom of heels were killing me. That lasted for 2 weeks and I realized it was worse when I put on my running shoes. I had a race the next day so I did a big no-no. I went and got fitted for new running shoes. I've never had a problem in new shoes before, so I ran a 15k in them. And while my heels felt good, my left knee started KILLING me!

My other shoes (the ones I ran in all summer and the Dumbo) got rid of my knee issue on my other knee, so I went back to those and my heels still felt fine so I took the new shoes back.

I took the week off and then ran a half marathon on Saturday. I used KT tape for the first time but I didn't think I did it right because my knee still bothered me.

Meanwhile, I'm icing and foam rolling every day. And I take the week off again but had the ToT on Saturday. My knee felt great from Tuesday until the race. Absolutely no pain whatsoever. So I figured the rest had worked. And I was fine until Mile 3 when it started aching. By Mile 5 it was excruciating. I didn't let it slow us down but it felt like every step, someone was kicking me in the knee.

And now I'm stressing. I have marathon training and a 10 Miler I have to use for my corral placement for WDW half at the end of October. I am taking 2 complete weeks off this time. But I can't decide what's wrong with my knee. It seems to be in the right area for IT band issues, but when I foam roll, I can't find any painful spots anywhere! I'm so frustrated! I don't really want to go to a doctor because I know they're just going to tell me to ice and rest. Or like last time tell me automatically that its IT band syndrome (when it wasn't...they finally listened to me after a month that it didn't sound right).

Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[peachygreen]

What a wonderful night for a run! It's a shame this beautiful weather won't last long. I could get used to running in temps in the upper 60's and 50% humidity. I took advantage of it with a nice 5.2 mile run.

 

[PlutoBaby]

I was looking at the map, and I gotta say...those first three miles look B-O-R-I-N-G! I assume that they pack that area with entertainment and such because it looks like three miles down a straight stretch of roadway. It doesn't look difficult, per se, just "bleh". Same goes for miles 7-9. I don't mind the first three miles being a little boring because I will have all of the adrenaline and excitement going, but by the time I hit mile 7........but miles 10-13 look like there is plenty of stuff to keep my mind off my burning legs and concrete feet.

Don't quote me on it, but I remember Chip 'n' Dale at the first mile marker. Right about then, oh, here comes Anton in the other direction, (the guy who wins it every year!) He was already halfway done just as we were pretty much getting started. There were also some dancing ostriches (I think), some funky, lit up, musical thingies and some other less well known characters. Once we got through AK and started heading back towards DHS, the numbers of spectators picked up and alot of them had some really funny signs. There's so many people around you during those stretches, and everyone is typically laughing and joking with each other, you don't even realize the miles are just flying by. At least that was my expericence.

Gah..I too am injured!
I took the week off and then ran a half marathon on Saturday. I used KT tape for the first time but I didn't think I did it right because my knee still bothered me.

Meanwhile, I'm icing and foam rolling every day. And I take the week off again but had the ToT on Saturday. My knee felt great from Tuesday until the race. Absolutely no pain whatsoever. So I figured the rest had worked. And I was fine until Mile 3 when it started aching. By Mile 5 it was excruciating. I didn't let it slow us down but it felt like every step, someone was kicking me in the knee.

And now I'm stressing. I have marathon training and a 10 Miler I have to use for my corral placement for WDW half at the end of October. I am taking 2 complete weeks off this time. But I can't decide what's wrong with my knee. It seems to be in the right area for IT band issues, but when I foam roll, I can't find any painful spots anywhere! I'm so frustrated! I don't really want to go to a doctor because I know they're just going to tell me to ice and rest. Or like last time tell me automatically that its IT band syndrome (when it wasn't...they finally listened to me after a month that it didn't sound right).

Considering myself an IT expert , I have found any kind of exercise that builds the quads/glutes seems to help. Ice, rest, rolling, and stim, if you have access to it, all help. I run with a monster brace on one leg and KT tape on the other (taping it using the full knee support method). By using all those things I listed along with a rx strength ibuprofen, I've been able to get my miles in. Oh, also, a big thing too, I've REALLY started to make sure I keep my strides SHORT! Even with doing that, I was able to average a 9:44 mile pace last night for 4 miles. So don't get discouraged! Find what works for you and stick with it! I can obviously talk ITBS to death, so if you want to know how else I deal with it and make it work, just let me know!

 

[Figment1990]

Don't quote me on it, but I remember Chip 'n' Dale at the first mile marker. Right about then, oh, here comes Anton in the other direction, (the guy who wins it every year!) He was already halfway done just as we were pretty much getting started. There were also some dancing ostriches (I think), some funky, lit up, musical thingies and some other less well known characters. Once we got through AK and started heading back towards DHS, the numbers of spectators picked up and alot of them had some really funny signs. There's so many people around you during those stretches, and everyone is typically laughing and joking with each other, you don't even realize the miles are just flying by. At least that was my expericence.

I completely forgot about that! I remember seeing those people and thinking, O.M.G. I know I started 25 minutes after them but WOW they are fast! Then there was the whole stretch after exiting Animal Kingdom that I kept looking back over my shoulder trying to make sure there were still people behind me because in my head I was convinced I was last.

Oh, in animal kingdom, they had a runDisney guy with a microphone asking how many people were running their first race. I remember throwing my hands up cheering and then darting out to use the bathroom. I had been running behind a guy that was the perfect pacer for me up to that point. Never did find him again though I kept looking. The alligator at the end of AK scared the bejezus out of me, he's CLEARLY fake (and dressed up with a santa hat), but I was so zoned out that when I glanced over and saw him beside me I jumped a foot!

Here's another rookie thing that happened to me. When I went into the bathroom at AK, my garmin lost satellite. I TOTALLY panicked and freaked out and then I forgot about it. Last night, I ran through a tunnel and my watch beeped that it lost satellite and all of a sudden my pace went from 10:30 to 17:30. When I came out the other side, my mileage and time adjusted and all was ok. So..... don't be like me and panic if you have to pee!

*(This doesn't happen in Port-a-potties. in fact, at my last race, I was going before getting lined up to start and that moment in there was when my watch 'found' the satellite. good chuckle from that)

Pluto dear - I'm having knee pains in my good knee. I'm being a good distance runner and trying not to panic just yet but just in case, where exactly should I be rolling or massaging in case it's my IT band??? Usually in this knee, it is tightness, not tendonitis that gives me grief.

 

[CamColt]

Here's another rookie thing that happened to me. When I went into the bathroom at AK, my garmin lost satellite. I TOTALLY panicked and freaked out and then I forgot about it. Last night, I ran through a tunnel and my watch beeped that it lost satellite and all of a sudden my pace went from 10:30 to 17:30. When I came out the other side, my mileage and time adjusted and all was ok. So..... don't be like me and panic if you have to pee!

*(This doesn't happen in Port-a-potties. in fact, at my last race, I was going before getting lined up to start and that moment in there was when my watch 'found' the satellite. good chuckle from that)

Thank you! One of my biggest concerns is the bathroom situation, LOL! It is nice to hear they do have some open. The thought of waiting in my corral for an hour before I even start is really making me nervous...to the point of I don't want to hydrate. Do you recall which bathrooms were open in AK?

 

[cewait]

Pluto dear - I'm having knee pains in my good knee. I'm being a good distance runner and trying not to panic just yet but just in case, where exactly should I be rolling or massaging in case it's my IT band??? Usually in this knee, it is tightness, not tendonitis that gives me grief.

Rolling should be focused on the entire muscle area of the leg and butt. Start with calves, there are three areas in the calf; center, inner and outer. That means three passes up and down per calf. In the upper leg, the IT band area (outer leg), the quads (slightly around towards center from the IT), the inner quad and the two middle quads. The Ham can be hit with the center and then case any tight spots. The ham roll can roll into the butt.

The proper method of rolling is to use body weight for the force, start on one end and slowly roll to the other. Stop and rock on any point that is saying ouch. DO NOT roll all the way to a joint or into a tendon (i.e. Achilles)

With respect to the Good Knee starting to hurt. In general, when one fights a long term injury on one side of the body, a secondary and often worse injury will manifest itself on the opposite side due to a really minor compensation.

 

[cewait]

Thank you! One of my biggest concerns is the bathroom situation, LOL! It is nice to hear they do have some open. The thought of waiting in my corral for an hour before I even start is really making me nervous...to the point of I don't want to hydrate. Do you recall which bathrooms were open in AK?

Any that we pass are open.

 

[Figment1990]

Rolling should be focused on the entire muscle area of the leg and butt. Start with calves, there are three areas in the calf; center, inner and outer. That means three passes up and down per calf. In the upper leg, the IT band area (outer leg), the quads (slightly around towards center from the IT), the inner quad and the two middle quads. The Ham can be hit with the center and then case any tight spots. The ham roll can roll into the butt.

The proper method of rolling is to use body weight for the force, start on one end and slowly roll to the other. Stop and rock on any point that is saying ouch. DO NOT roll all the way to a joint or into a tendon (i.e. Achilles)

With respect to the Good Knee starting to hurt. In general, when one fights a long term injury on one side of the body, a secondary and often worse injury will manifest itself on the opposite side due to a really minor compensation.

Thanks Coach! I'm thinking this little knee nag is more due to the fact that I decided yesterday was a good day to do a trail run because I was burnt out from my usual routes and my treadmill died last weekend (parts are on their way).... I could definitely feel the difference in my legs as I was running. Why is it that we runners cannot remember - NOTHING NEW BEFORE/DURING AN IMPORTANT RACE???? I know it's early though, so I think it will all shake out. And probably strengthen my leg in the process. In the meantime, I shall roll....

 

[wood8176]

Thank you! One of my biggest concerns is the bathroom situation, LOL! It is nice to hear they do have some open. The thought of waiting in my corral for an hour before I even start is really making me nervous...to the point of I don't want to hydrate. Do you recall which bathrooms were open in AK?

One of my funniest memories of the Disney Marathon '11, was that after my corral was released, about 50 people ran across the starting mats and straight to the tree line. I would not want to be in one of the last corrals and have that kind of urgency.

I don't know what the start of the W&D looks like, but there seemed to be plenty of port-a-johns just a little further after the start.

I wouldn't avoid hydrating. I've never seen so many port-a-johns in my life and AK is only about two miles long. My guess is there will be plenty just before and just after.

 

[wood8176]

Just got an email from Disney this morning that my MagicBands for this trip have shipped! Whoo, hoo! another little bit of Disney Magic to keep checking the mail for!

 

[Figment1990]

Just got an email from Disney this morning that my MagicBands for this trip have shipped! Whoo, hoo! another little bit of Disney Magic to keep checking the mail for!

Me too! Me too!!! Now I just hope my runDisney tickets get here and that I'm able to link them to MDE and do fastpass plus stuff. (once I figure it out). I was so anti-magic band and whatnot before but honestly, I don't care right now. Any email from Disney, runDisney, or Disney-related is making me more and more excited!

I. Cannot. Wait.