The Running Thread - 2018

[CDKG]

QOTD: At what point in training do you feel like you are prepared for a race? Is it covering a distance, pace, MPW, ect?

ATTQOTD: This answer varies depending on distance and time goals. Since there are so many options I will focus my answer towards my marathon in January. Since I have been a slacker and just recently getting things moving the last few weeks, the long runs build confidence. Last weekend I covered 18 miles. Now it was not a great run, but my attitude was to just get the miles in and not worry about pace or and walk breaks. My goal was simply to cover the distance. That was a big confidence booster for me. This week is only 13 miles and my goal is to keep the pace under 10 min/mi. The two weekends after that I have back to back 20 milers. My goal for the first one is to complete it, much in the same way as the 18 miler. That second one, my goal is also to complete it, but with fewer walk breaks. If the two 20 milers go well I will have a much better feeling about the marathon and my ability to complete it and still be able to function afterwards.

My plan, and answer, are very similar to yours. I ran 18 miles last weekend, will run 13 miles this weekend, and have two 20 milers planned for December (two weeks apart). I think I will truly feel like I am prepared after that second 20 miler! I am glad I have two opportunities to get this distance right. Since I am training for my first full marathon, my training is almost completely focused on distance. Whatever it takes to cover these crazy distances and still feel good when I am done!

 

[flav]

View attachment 367275
This might be a repeat but this is where I am with being refocused on losing some weight.

I am replacing the « it » with running Dopey 2020... And the quote did help: My Achiles tendon still hurts so I took over two weeks off running and booked an appointment with a podiatrist. I am now inspired to « working for it » and that means x-training to reinforce everything else, stretching and icing. Yeah.

 

[Baloo in MI]

ATTQOTD: I used to beleive I had to run the distance of the race in a workout for the race I was running. I followed this all the way up to the marathon. When I started ultras I had to let that go! I guess for me it is more of a feeling and since that it is coming together. Usually about a month prior to the taper when I start to really hit daily goals for multi runs and finish a long runs feeling like I could go do more. That is when I know I will be ready on race day.

 

[Smilelea]

If it helps at all, here's what I did in the summer of 2017. After Dark Side that year, I planned to start training for Light Side 2018 with the goal of increasing my speed for real. Every other time I attempted to increase my speed, I failed but since training would not start until September, I knew I had a few months to experiment. But as no further information from runDisney about the race came, I began to get discouraged. I basically dropped down to running twice a week, but no speed work at all. Then about mid September life got really crazy and I stopped running altogether. And once the cancellation of all west coast races was announced, I didn't have a reason to care just then.

Well, 3 weeks before the Avengers race last year, I decided to do something really insane and quite possibly stupid. Despite having not run at all in 6 weeks and not having run over 4 miles since April, I registered for the Avengers Half Marathon and modified a one month training plan to fit the 3 weeks I had. I'm not particularly fast. My PR is 3:02 and that was at a non Disney race that I set this year. My 3 long runs were approximately 6, 8, and 10 miles on Saturdays and runs anywhere from 3 miles to 5 miles Monday through Friday. I always took Sunday off. I entered the race feeling weirdly confident. I hoped that muscle memory would help carry me across the final 3 miles since I had managed 10 the week before the race. Including some photo stops, I finished.

A couple of months later, my attempts at increasing speed once again met disaster with severe knee pain in mid January and nearly derailed my hopes to finish all 3 Dark Side races in April. Well, with taking roughly 2 weeks off running altogether and returning at slower speeds once I did come back, I had time to recover and finish all 3 Dark Side races.

So that's my longer way of saying that consistent training before your injury will help you keep some, though probably not all fitness, once you return and that you have some time to get back to where you want to be for your race. You may have to adjust any time goals, but you can still finish.

Thank you so much for this! I didn't set a time goal since this is my first half and it is Disney. My main goal is to finish. My second goal was to run the entire thing. I may have to adjust my 2nd goal but I won't really know until I can start back running. There is no room for change with my first goal

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Thank you so much for this! I didn't set a time goal since this is my first half and it is Disney. My main goal is to finish. My second goal was to run the entire thing. I may have to adjust my 2nd goal but I won't really know until I can start back running. There is no room for change with my first goal

Well, there's no need to adjust that first goal. It's perfect as is. May I suggest modifying that second goal to something more along the lines of have fun, get photos, run (or walk sufficiently fast) pain free, et all?

I don't suggest such goals because they're more achievable. Rather I suggest goals that allow someone to have a truly enjoyable race especially for the first time. Plenty of challenges will come in pursuing those goals and you'll hopefully feel great (or at least relieved) when you cross the finish line. Honestly, I started off my first race way too fast and very nearly destroyed my running life right then and there. I had a pain that felt like shin splints. I slowed down to a pain free pace and kept going, determined to either finish the race or get dragged kicking and screaming (figuratively speaking) off the course. Shortly after leaving Disneyland, a freeway overpass proved challenging. But I refused to quit. And roughly 3 hours and 5 minutes after I started, I crossed that finish line, having stopped for no pictures at all. I didn't even take a camera with me. And honestly, it was not a fun race. I enjoyed elements of it, but I was certainly not hooked.

But a few months later I decided that I really wanted a Coast to Coast medal. I knew that I could put up with two more races to earn that medal and then I could leave running behind forever. But a funny thing happened in both those races. I had fun. A lot of it. And opened up my eyes to all sorts of new possibilities as a runner. I have since done things I once literally thought impossible for me. I'm working on Dopey as part of my first marathon after having often said I would never run a marathon. My speed still isn't very fast so I've done all these things starting in the second to last or last corral. But more than anything, I realize that none of my subsequent running dreams would have happened if I had not made it through race number one.

So whatever goals you set, I strongly encourage that at least one of them involve having fun and truly enjoying the experience. And perhaps above all else, go in with a positive mindset. I failed to do that in my first race and it nearly cost me my goal of finishing. Do your best in training and then let the race take care of itself. I'm confident that consistency even if interrupted by forced time off will help carry you across the finish line.

 

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD: At what point in training do you feel like you are prepared for a race? Is it covering a distance, pace, MPW, ect?

ATTQOTD: This answer varies depending on distance and time goals. Since there are so many options I will focus my answer towards my marathon in January. Since I have been a slacker and just recently getting things moving the last few weeks, the long runs build confidence. Last weekend I covered 18 miles. Now it was not a great run, but my attitude was to just get the miles in and not worry about pace or and walk breaks. My goal was simply to cover the distance. That was a big confidence booster for me. This week is only 13 miles and my goal is to keep the pace under 10 min/mi. The two weekends after that I have back to back 20 milers. My goal for the first one is to complete it, much in the same way as the 18 miler. That second one, my goal is also to complete it, but with fewer walk breaks. If the two 20 milers go well I will have a much better feeling about the marathon and my ability to complete it and still be able to function afterwards.

It depends on my goal for the race. If my goal is to run for fun and just to finish, I usually don't worry about that. I know if I start I will finish unless there is a major injury or something that happens. If I am racing for time I don't feel good until I finish.

When I have the "it" feeling. It comes at the end of the training plan where you have that sudden feeling of being invincible. It usually only happens once or twice and the hope is that it shows up on race day as well. "It" can also be referred to as the feeling of peaking. It usually comes in 2-3 week windows (i.e. it occurs on one day and then not again for another 2-3 weeks). If I could bottle that feeling up and ran that way all the time it would be glorious!

Those days where you run and it feels effortless are the best. Anytime one of them happens I try to remember what happened leading up to the run so I can try and duplicate it for race day. Of course I realize it just happens and there is nothing I can duplicate but oh well.

I am replacing the « it » with running Dopey 2020... And the quote did help: My Achiles tendon still hurts so I took over two weeks off running and booked an appointment with a podiatrist. I am now inspired to « working for it » and that means x-training to reinforce everything else, stretching and icing. Yeah.

Good, I am glad it helped. Sometimes I wonder if the quotes help anyone.

 

[Waiting2goback]

 

[cavepig]

I feel prepared for a race when it's a few weeks out and I know I did everything I could to get there & I'm mentally excited for it. I went into Dopey 2016 not the best trained due to injury so my long runs weren't, well that long, but I knew I did everything I could at that time even if it wasn't all the mileage.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Not so much running related. Where are you staying for marathon weekend if you are participating this year? Any particular reason why?

ATTQOTD: Marathon weekend is our last family trip of our year of Disney. We got AP's in April and January is our 3rd family trip, 4th for me. Our goal was to stay at a different resort category each trip. April was Value at Pop, September was moderate at POFQ, so marathon weekend we are going all in with our very first stay at Grand Floridian. It helps a lot not having to purchase park tickets. Will most likely be our only time to stay there and the Disney Visa card promotion made it a little less expensive. Looking forward to many trips on the monorail! Another reason for the monorail resort is it will be much easier for DW to get the double stroller and two kids to Epcot for the finish of the marathon.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: Not so much running related. Where are you staying for marathon weekend if you are participating this year? Any particular reason why?

Pop because I got a good deal and don’t spend a lot of time at the resort.

 

[DustyWA]

ATTQOTD #1: When/If I feel ready for a race depends on my goal. If my goal is only to finish, I feel ready when after I've run at least half the distance without any pain. I never feel ready if I have a time goal.

ATTQOTD #2: We'll be staying at Caribbean Beach. The value resorts would feel a bit cramped and the additional amenities will be nice for the two days we don't plan on going to the parks (half and full marathon days). We considered staying at Shades of Green, but transportation to/from the resort wasn't as convenient, my wife wanted full Disney immersion, and the moderate resorts were only a little bit more expensive.

 

[PrincessV]

I have a fob. I keep it wrapped in plastic wrap because it takes less room than a Zip-lock bag. When I take the car in for service, the service manager looks at me strangely until I say I’m a runner and have to keep the sweat out of it!

I tried cling wrap but it wouldn't stay stuck... but I haven't tried the actual brand-name Saran Wrap, and I recall it being far superior to whatever it is I have form the Dollar Store. I'll give that a try - thanks!

QOTD: Not so much running related. Where are you staying for marathon weekend if you are participating this year? Any particular reason why?

ATTOQTD: My usual - Wyndham Bonnet Creek. Because 1. I refuse to pay for parking at a WDW resort, 2. WBC is less expensive than anything else remotely comparable, and 3. washer, dryer, full kitchen, soaking tub, couch, and dining room table. Ideally, I'd love to not have to stay at a hotel at all and just go to races from my home, but this is the next best thing.

 

[Miranda]

I have that kind of key fob, and even worse, there is no easily accessible key slot, so even if I had a valet key made for it, it wouldn't really help. There's a key slot under the handle that's meant for emergencies, but not regular usage.

 

[Sanchez]

QOTD: Not so much running related. Where are you staying for marathon weekend if you are participating this year? Any particular reason why?

We are staying at the Hilton Tuscany Village (for the first time.) Why? We started looking at Disney properties when it was just my wife and I. When she found out that some friends were running the half she decided to register and invited our younger son who will be on the last weekend of his college break. She also decided to fly in our older son who lives and works in NYC. All four of us will be running the half. Of course, my wife never runs, despises running and physical activity of any kind, and the training to this point has been non-existent. Their goal is simply to finish and I am glad that the boys will be with her.

We need two rooms or a suite and given what was once a simple weekend for two is now a boondoggle including flights, multiple park tickets, race entry fees x4, and on and on and on . . .

We have a suite at the Hilton for less than $150/night.

 

[camaker]

QOTD: Not so much running related. Where are you staying for marathon weekend if you are participating this year? Any particular reason why?

I'm staying a POFQ for multiple reasons. First, it's a small resort so walking distances between rooms and bus stops, food court, boat, etc are limited. It's also pretty close to the race start points, so the bus rides are shorter with less opportunity for misdirection. The resort has also undergone a major food court renovation and, in addition to better food options it now has the "soda machines of every flavor" instead of just the limited fountain options. It's one of my favorite places to stay, regardless of race weekend or not, with and enjoyable laid back theme and a nice boat to DS. Pro tip if you're staying there, request Building 4. It makes for very short, minimized walks to both the food court and park bus stops. Last year I stayed at CSR because it's what the TA had available and I absolutely hated it due to the longer walking distances to everything and the limited food court drink options. The further buildings at CSR can be as much as a 3/4 mile walk one way to get to the food court/front of the resort.

 

[Chaitali]

I'm staying at POFQ. We stayed at Riverside before and liked it, the TA had a good deal at FQ this time, and we figured it would give us a chance to try something a little different. @camaker thanks for the tip on building 4!

 

[AFwifelife]

ATTQOTD: we will be across the street in Windsor Hills resort. Since we are all close enough to drive, we don’t have to worry about transportation and with APs, we don’t have to worry about parking fees. Also my sister has multiple dietary restrictions and even though Disney is great about them, she does better with home cooked food. Having a full kitchen makes it easier for her to make meals as needed vs bringing a ton of premade food that she normally does when we stay at a Disney resort.

Then there’s the fact that it’s way cheaper, we get two rooms and two bathrooms, and laundry.

 

[baxter24]

ATTQOTD: Staying at Pop. I stayed there last year for Dopey and it was good. None of the buildings are too far from the buses so that is nice. Plus it’s just me so it will be plenty of space for me while I’m there.

Yesterday’s question: For a half marathon, it’s about being able to hit certain times in training runs. For a full, it’s about completing those long distance training runs. After I finished my 20 mile run training for my first full, I wasn’t sure if I was prepared just becasue I had never trained for that distance before. It ended up working out fine for me so I know now that if I get the 20 done, I know I can finish the race.

 

[Disney at Heart]

I tried cling wrap but it wouldn't stay stuck... but I haven't tried the actual brand-name Saran Wrap, and I recall it being far superior to whatever it is I have form the Dollar Store. I'll give that a try - thanks!

I’ve found that a little bit of Scotch tape can solve the no-stick problem.

I have that kind of key fob, and even worse, there is no easily accessible key slot, so even if I had a valet key made for it, it wouldn't really help. There's a key slot under the handle that's meant for emergencies, but not regular usage.

My Kia is like that. So I pull the “key” part out and carry the fob only. It’s not ideal, but is as small as I can get it.

 

[Barca33Runner]

ATTQOTD: We are staying at Art of Animation. As usual, we have different people flying in and out at different times and the family suites fit our needs and the price was right. We stayed there for a short trip back in September, but I’m looking forward to a little longer experience. I’m very easy to please so I’m sure we will have a good time. Similar to others, we aren’t planning on spending much time in the room, but two bathrooms will definitely be a godsend with two Dopey’s and a couple 5K and 10K runners in the group.