The Running Thread - 2016

[ZellyB]

ATTQOTD: I've had some major runner's knee problems this year (thankfully now much better) that forced some unscheduled rest weeks. Boo! Otherwise I might do it if I've got a lot of muscle fatigue maybe because I just pushed on a really long run or something. I also typically don't run short maintenance runs if it's raining. Long runs happen regardless of rain usually, but I'll bail on a short one.

 

[Barca33Runner]

So, since I am pretty sure I am going to defer MCM in October I am considering later alternatives. Of course WDW came to mind, and I see it is still open. I have a few questions for you guys:

1)Anyone recall how late it usually stays open? I wouldn't want to sign up until I am able to run at least 6 miles comfortably. I wish rD still put up sold %s.
2)Having only ever done challenges at Disney, if I go, am I going to be miserable running "only the full"?
3)Have you flown home Sunday evening after the full? How bad was it if you did? What about early Monday am?

1) The marathon usually stays open relatively late. With Dopey spots still available, I would suspect the Marathon likely isn't that close to selling out. I could, of course, be wrong but I think I would feel pretty safe in thinking I still had a couple month to make a decision. Proof of Time cutoff is October 4th, so you may need to make a decision by then if you want to avoid the last corral and have a POT to submit to achieve that end.

2) No. You'll hear the "only" rhetoric, but mostly unintended and with no ill-will. No one on here and, likely, no one that matters would ever belittle the achievement of running or even making the attempt to run a marathon. The race announcers take some heat because they use "only" sometimes when they are doing their little spiel, but I don't think it is mean spirited; they are just trying to find different ways to get people to raise their arms and yell "Wooo!" at 5 AM. Everyone's experience will differ but there's no reason, in and of itself, that running one race (regardless of distance) would make the weekend miserable.

3) I've flown home early AM Monday the last couple years. My only real difficulty was the melancholy at not being able to stay a few more days. I've flown wearing compression socks because I've heard they are good for use during flights. Not sure if it has made much difference, but it didn't cause me any issues. So, yeah, a little extra time before flying home is preferable but flying home Sunday night or Monday AM should be doable without much added physical difficulty.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

So, since I am pretty sure I am going to defer MCM in October I am considering later alternatives. Of course WDW came to mind, and I see it is still open. I have a few questions for you guys:

1)Anyone recall how late it usually stays open? I wouldn't want to sign up until I am able to run at least 6 miles comfortably. I wish rD still put up sold %s.
2)Having only ever done challenges at Disney, if I go, am I going to be miserable running "only the full"?
3)Have you flown home Sunday evening after the full? How bad was it if you did? What about early Monday am?

I registered for "just" the marathon in mid-October two years ago...it was after the proof of time deadline and they still allowed you to submit proof of time for new registrations. The Goofy wasn't selling well that year so they split it up and made more Full and Half spots available. Might go that route again depending on how Dopey is selling later this year, but hard to know without those percentage bars.

I've run the marathon as a stand-alone (can't call it "only the full" ) the last two years and have felt quite fulfilled both years...a marathno is ALWAYS an accomplishment!

 

[PrincessV]

So, since I am pretty sure I am going to defer MCM in October I am considering later alternatives. Of course WDW came to mind, and I see it is still open. I have a few questions for you guys:

1)Anyone recall how late it usually stays open? I wouldn't want to sign up until I am able to run at least 6 miles comfortably. I wish rD still put up sold %s.
2)Having only ever done challenges at Disney, if I go, am I going to be miserable running "only the full"?
3)Have you flown home Sunday evening after the full? How bad was it if you did? What about early Monday am?

1) I registered for the 2016 full in May 2015, but I know some folks who registered as late as Dec through TAs. But like @Barca33Runner said, if you want to register yourself, I'd think about getting it done before the Oct. 4 POT cutoff.
2) I "only" did the 10K and full this year, so no challenge - and I didn't feel like I missed out at all!
3) I don't fly, so can't help there.

 

[CherieFran]

@Waiting2goback based on the post below. What do you do with your running shoes once they are no longer useful for running?

My running shoes turn into my dog-walking shoes after they have hit their distance threshold. I go through more running shoes than I need for dog-waking, though, so I donate the surplus. Most race expos seem to be collecting them, so I usually hold on to them until my next race.

This week we have the following folks with races:

20 - @rteetz - Cream Puff 5K (NG / N/A)
23 - @Baloo in MI - Grand Island Trail Marathon (4:30:00 / N/A)
23 - @surfde22 - Lift Bridge 10 Miler (1:20:00 / N/A)
23 - @CherieFran - Twilight 5k (23:50 / N/A)
24 - @Miranda - York Days 5K - (34:00 / N/A)

Good luck to each of you! If you would like to revise your goal or set one, just let me know.

Thank you! My goal is looking pretty unlikely but I'm not really sure what to revise it to. The forecast for race day right now is for a high in the upper 90s with a heat index possibly as high as 110. The race starts at 8:30 pm so it will have cooled down some, but I'm not sure how much. I'm probably not going to determine my goal pace until I'm at the start line and see how hot it actually is!

QOTD: What are some signs that your body gives you that lets you know that a URD (Unscheduled Rest Day) may need to be taken?

I'm most likely to take an URD if I have a morning run planned and had a bad night of sleep the day before. In the past, I've let myself skip a lot of runs out of laziness/lack of mental strength to force myself to get out there, but I've done a lot better with that since I started keeping my training journal on the boards!

 

[Kathymford]

ATTQOTD: Since I don't run as many miles, I try to at least do the distance even if I'm not feeling it. Even if it means just walking it out. Yesterday felt like one of those days. I think it's part of building my sore leg back up, but it really bothered me a lot. Could have been the fact that I wore heels to work that day. I need to stop that. Funny thing was, it felt great after my run. I'm thinking I needed to stretch it a little bit more before I started.

I think I'm always afraid that one URD will turn to many.

THIS. I just got into running consistently. I'm afraid to fall back into old habits ...

 

[huggybuff]

ATTQOTD:

I'm most likely to take an URD if I have a morning run planned and had a bad night of sleep the day before.

Me too. Nights where I've woken up multiple times or only fallen asleep around 2am are killers when the alarm goes off at 4am.

 

[LSUlakes]

Im running my first 2 mile run (other than a vitural 5k that I walked) on Saturday! Looking forward to posting my time!

Good luck with your race! If you let me know the name of the race I can add it to the main list if you would like.

 

[jhorstma]

So, since I am pretty sure I am going to defer MCM in October I am considering later alternatives. Of course WDW came to mind, and I see it is still open. I have a few questions for you guys:

1)Anyone recall how late it usually stays open? I wouldn't want to sign up until I am able to run at least 6 miles comfortably. I wish rD still put up sold %s.
2)Having only ever done challenges at Disney, if I go, am I going to be miserable running "only the full"?
3)Have you flown home Sunday evening after the full? How bad was it if you did? What about early Monday am?

I "only" ran the full this past January and will only run the full (well, and the 5K too, but likely at a very leisurely pace) this coming January. I simply can't imagine running a full marathon the (early) morning after running a half marathon - I'd either have to walk the half or walk most of the full. The full marathon is a beast unlike anything else I've experienced.

 

[jhorstma]

My resting heart rate stays higher than normal, and I have a hard time sleeping when I am over-training. When that happens a single day does not help - I need a week of slower and shorter runs to fully recover and get back on track. I am there now, but I expected it and built a light week into my schedule this week.

I have never needed a single unscheduled rest day from running. Frankly, I am not sure what this would help physically. It might give some folks a mental break from running, but I use running to get a mental break from everything else so not running doesn't help me mentally - it hurts me.

Have you considered hydrating with beer?

 

[Keels]

1) The marathon usually stays open relatively late. With Dopey spots still available, I would suspect the Marathon likely isn't that close to selling out. I could, of course, be wrong but I think I would feel pretty safe in thinking I still had a couple month to make a decision. Proof of Time cutoff is October 4th, so you may need to make a decision by then if you want to avoid the last corral and have a POT to submit to achieve that end.

Just a quick update to this!
When RD went fully automated with Active for registrations, they've been allowing PoT AFTER the official date ... but ONLY for registrations purchased after that date AND only at the time of registration.
I had a friend just register for Disneyland Weekend and she was allowed to submit PoT - we're 45 days out from the race.
And when my girl group went to Tink in May, we all registered after the PoT deadline but were allowed to submit PoT when we purchased the registration. The only issue one friend had was that her PoT race was AFTER the PoT deadline, so they wouldn't accept that ... which is fair, I guess.

Also, for Marathon Weekend, I know for a fact that @mbwhitti registered for the Marathon WELL after PoT closed and she was not only allowed to submit a PoT, but it was accepted as well and she wasted being slotted in a great corral to run with me.

 

[Castle2Castle]

Just a quick update to this!
When RD went fully automated with Active for registrations, they've been allowing PoT AFTER the official date ... but ONLY for registrations purchased after that date AND only at the time of registration.

Yep! We discovered this as well yesterday when we signed up for Disneyland Half. I have verbal and written confirmation from both TrackShack and runDisney since it seemed a sensible thing to do, but it's been years since there's been a race we could do with slots open so late.

 

[Keels]

Yep! We discovered this as well yesterday when we signed up for Disneyland Half. I have verbal and written confirmation from both TrackShack and runDisney since it seemed a sensible thing to do, but it's been years since there's been a race we could do with slots open so late.

Just to be on the safe side, I took my printed registration AND a printout of my PoT with me to Tink. I ended up having to go to Runner Relations anyway (I was corralled incorrectly) - but the error was COMPLETELY my fault. When I put in my PoT, I didn't select the correct Estimated Time of Finish that corresponded with my PoT. But they showed me what I did wrong and fixed my corral. They were REALLY great about it!

 

[keahgirl8]

QOTD: What are some signs that your body gives you that lets you know that a URD (Unscheduled Rest Day) may need to be taken?

It's hard. Sometimes it's good for me if I push through it, other times not. If I really figure it out, I'll let you know. Last time I really knew for sure was when I was exercising/running like a maniac and it had been over a week since I had a rest day.

When I stay at Pop, I run around the lake. It is a loop of 1.25 miles and is shaded for about half the route early in the morning.

Ooh...I bet that's nice. I like running at POR. There's actually a map with a running trail marked out.

@keahgirl8 Yah, my main shoes cost waaaaaay more than $80, it's the justification of getting additional "side-shoes" that is easier when they are cheaper. Plus I have a bargain hunting addiction.

Actually I am too! I haven't paid full price for shoes in a while because whenever they're on sale, I stock up!

I registered for "just" the marathon in mid-October two years ago...it was after the proof of time deadline and they still allowed you to submit proof of time for new registrations. The Goofy wasn't selling well that year so they split it up and made more Full and Half spots available. Might go that route again depending on how Dopey is selling later this year, but hard to know without those percentage bars.

I've run the marathon as a stand-alone (can't call it "only the full" ) the last two years and have felt quite fulfilled both years...a marathno is ALWAYS an accomplishment!

Yeah...I've never run a full, but I think it's still a full, even if there's no challenge attached!

THIS. I just got into running consistently. I'm afraid to fall back into old habits ...

Yeah...I've had various health issues for the last couple of years, so it's kind of hard for me to tell. Yesterday for example, I wasn't feeling well. I decided to go ahead and try running as scheduled and stop if I needed to. It was my best run in probably a year! There was a time that I would have just decided not to go because I would have been afraid I'd feel worse.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Just a quick update to this!
When RD went fully automated with Active for registrations, they've been allowing PoT AFTER the official date ... but ONLY for registrations purchased after that date AND only at the time of registration.
I had a friend just register for Disneyland Weekend and she was allowed to submit PoT - we're 45 days out from the race.
And when my girl group went to Tink in May, we all registered after the PoT deadline but were allowed to submit PoT when we purchased the registration. The only issue one friend had was that her PoT race was AFTER the PoT deadline, so they wouldn't accept that ... which is fair, I guess.

Also, for Marathon Weekend, I know for a fact that @mbwhitti registered for the Marathon WELL after PoT closed and she was not only allowed to submit a PoT, but it was accepted as well and she wasted being slotted in a great corral to run with me.

Makes sense. I'm glad they allow people to submit PoT when they sign up after the deadline. I guess it's probably becoming necessary with many races still having availability after the PoT deadline.

 

[derekleigh]

QOTD: What are some signs that your body gives you that lets you know that a URD (Unscheduled Rest Day) may need to be taken?.

Generally, if my muscles are tight, sore, and/or tender and if I'm feeling sluggish, I'll clear my day's activity and sub in an easy yoga session. Yoga helps with my stretching, relaxation and resting.

 

[Keels]

Makes sense. I'm glad they allow people to submit PoT when they sign up after the deadline. I guess it's probably becoming necessary with many races still having availability after the PoT deadline.

I know they come across as hard about what the rules regarding PoT are, but I also think that the race directors have realized that it's in EVERYONE's best interest if people are corralled correctly, even if something happened and a PoT wasn't submitted in time.

At Princess, I was standing in line at Runner Relations with a lady who was running her first RD event and didn't know about PoT (I know, I know ... anyway), she was a Boston Qualifier that had decided last-minute to do the half because she was in town for a family trip and was able to find a bib through a TA. She went up to the desk at RR (right next to where I was getting a bib tag issue straightened out) and the gentleman at Runner Relations was basically like "Can you show me ANY race result on a website and I can help you out.". She showed him something and voila, she went from next-to-last corral to B. Everyone has a better race when they get to start where they belong. I know there are some runners that want to stop and meet characters and take pictures but that don't have the cushion as some of the runners up at the front of the race. That said, I stopped for almost every character at Princess during the half and never had a wait of more than three minutes - and that was with the Princes at the VERY start of the race.

I also noticed they've seriously cracked down on a certain charity that automatically gets their runners in Corral A because of fundraising, not time. I'm completely on-board with that change.

 

[keahgirl8]

I know they come across as hard about what the rules regarding PoT are, but I also think that the race directors have realized that it's in EVERYONE's best interest if people are corralled correctly, even if something happened and a PoT wasn't submitted in time.

At Princess, I was standing in line at Runner Relations with a lady who was running her first RD event and didn't know about PoT (I know, I know ... anyway), she was a Boston Qualifier that had decided last-minute to do the half because she was in town for a family trip and was able to find a bib through a TA. She went up to the desk at RR (right next to where I was getting a bib tag issue straightened out) and the gentleman at Runner Relations was basically like "Can you show me ANY race result on a website and I can help you out.". She showed him something and voila, she went from next-to-last corral to B. Everyone has a better race when they get to start where they belong. I know there are some runners that want to stop and meet characters and take pictures but that don't have the cushion as some of the runners up at the front of the race. That said, I stopped for almost every character at Princess during the half and never had a wait of more than three minutes - and that was with the Princes at the VERY start of the race.

I also noticed they've seriously cracked down on a certain charity that automatically gets their runners in Corral A because of fundraising, not time. I'm completely on-board with that change.

Agreed! 100%. As much as I would like a huge cushion, I don't want to be in A with people whizzing by me! I would feel like I was on the freeway riding a bicycle.

Second, what?! I did not know about this charity. That is just wrong.

 

[Waiting2goback]

This week we have the following folks with races:

20 - @rteetz - Cream Puff 5K (NG / N/A)
23 - @Baloo in MI - Grand Island Trail Marathon (4:30:00 / N/A)
23 - @surfde22 - Lift Bridge 10 Miler (1:30:00 / N/A)
23 - @CherieFran - Twilight 5k (23:50 / N/A)
23 - @CheapRunnerMike - Bluewater Olympic Triathlon (2:15:00 / N/A)
24 - @Miranda - York Days 5K - (34:00 / N/A)

Good luck to each of you! If you would like to revise your goal or set one, just let me know.

Edit to add and revise.

Good luck with your races this weekend everyone.

QOTD: What are some signs that your body gives you that lets you know that a URD (Unscheduled Rest Day) may need to be taken?

ATTQOTD: One sign is maybe some unusual aches and pains after a few hard runs, that I know if I stay off my feet for a day will lead to a much better run later on. Another example would be when a very easy run turns into a struggle to just get a few simple miles in. I am at that point now, I set out for a 7 mile easy run last night, and 2 miles in I felt like I had nothing left in me. I pushed to get in another mile, but I was done after that. So today I will have a URD.

I am not that good at figuring this out. For me it's a mix of physical and mental. Some days I need a mental break and others my legs feel like lead weights or I am too sore. But I also struggle with fighting through excuses.

So, since I am pretty sure I am going to defer MCM in October I am considering later alternatives. Of course WDW came to mind, and I see it is still open. I have a few questions for you guys:

1)Anyone recall how late it usually stays open? I wouldn't want to sign up until I am able to run at least 6 miles comfortably. I wish rD still put up sold %s.
2)Having only ever done challenges at Disney, if I go, am I going to be miserable running "only the full"?
3)Have you flown home Sunday evening after the full? How bad was it if you did? What about early Monday am?

1) I don't think it will sell out any time soon, my friend registered in late September last year and it stayed open much later than that.
2) I had so much fun doing the marathon I had wished I did the 1/2 as well but I wasn't miserable by any stretch, I just felt like I missed out on more fun.
3) I flew out on Monday night. I was dehydrated after ToT in 2014 and felt sick the whole next day. I didn't want to be flying if that happened again, not to mention sitting on a place the night of the race will cause some serious soreness.

I registered for "just" the marathon in mid-October two years ago...it was after the proof of time deadline and they still allowed you to submit proof of time for new registrations. The Goofy wasn't selling well that year so they split it up and made more Full and Half spots available. Might go that route again depending on how Dopey is selling later this year, but hard to know without those percentage bars.

I've run the marathon as a stand-alone (can't call it "only the full" ) the last two years and have felt quite fulfilled both years...a marathno is ALWAYS an accomplishment!

I agree with Mike. A marathon should never be considered a disappointment or a let down. They are hard races even if you take it a little easy, like some do in a Disney race. If you go down and "only" do the marathon be sure to wear the medal proudly, you will have earned it.

 

[Waiting2goback]