The Running Thread - 2026

[fatmanatee]

Wow, I see RunSota already has vids up of everything but the full.

 

[AZMermaid]

Manny Runs Disney ran by me at the AK out and back. It’s up already but it’s edited and I didn’t make the cut! But it’s still a long video.

 

[AZMermaid]

Manny Runs Disney ran by me at the AK out and back. It’s up already but it’s edited and I didn’t make the cut! But it’s still a long video.

 

[Naomeri]

For the record I'm not in favor of this, it's already very crowded. But that's how I see it going. Maybe we get more characters on course at least?

If they add 5K capacity and don't add more characters, it's going to be a disaster, the lines are already so long

 

[IamTrike]

I’ll take a cynical guess at the new marketing/GMA/higher cap push…

The parks in general have subscribed to a push for fewer guests, more new guests, more spend per guest. Figure a large percentage of rD racers are returnees - a fair number of those are like me: BT/DT, aren't buying a ton of merch (I haven’t bought ANY in years), aren’t registering for every race anymore, aren’t spending a bunch in the parks, aren’t doing long stays with more nights on property. That’s not their target audience anymore. Maybe the new rD push is to better align with the parks goal: get more new, high-spend runners into the field, those who are likely to drop a lot more cheddar while visiting. Entice them with Insta-worthy marketing that makes every minute of racing look like it could turn into a viral post. rD/WDW doesn’t need to care about whether races are congested or lacking support or leave runners feeling like they didn’t get their money’s worth if the goal is make quick bank off folks who are one-and-done.

I don't know that that's really all that cynical. Disney has a data science team (I think they used to have a data science conference too) and a huge focus is on revenue optimization. I remember a Len Testa podcast where he was talking about that team and how it must be kind of wierd to have your life's work be "I built a model that proved Disney could make an extra 25 million dollars a year by increasing the price of a Churro 14 cents."

 

[IamTrike]

thanks all for the tip on travel with Josh and Taylor. I had seen their videos show up in searches before but hadn't ever watched them.

 

[jrsharp21]

Does anyone run in the Nike Alphafly 3? That is probably a silly question, LOL. For those that do, is the shoe a tight fit on top of the fit or does it tend to be flexible given the knit upper? Looking to give these a try but I essentially have a bone spur on top of my right foot that will start to rub the shoe as my foot swells in long distance runs. No stores in my area have any stock of Alphafly, so was hoping to get some feedback from people who wear them.

 

[Zutroy]

Does anyone run in the Nike Alphafly 3? That is probably a silly question, LOL. For those that do, is the shoe a tight fit on top of the fit or does it tend to be flexible given the knit upper? Looking to give these a try but I essentially have a bone spur on top of my right foot that will start to rub the shoe as my foot swells in long distance runs. No stores in my area have any stock of Alphafly, so was hoping to get some feedback from people who wear them.

I ran this and last year’s marathon in the Alphafly 3. It’s a knit upper that fits like a sock, similar to the fly knit in the OG Vaporfly 4%. I love the shoe and didn’t experience any rubbing. It’s not really a tight fit since the mesh conforms to your foot and expands around it.

 

[KCO5988]

Does anyone run in the Nike Alphafly 3? That is probably a silly question, LOL. For those that do, is the shoe a tight fit on top of the fit or does it tend to be flexible given the knit upper? Looking to give these a try but I essentially have a bone spur on top of my right foot that will start to rub the shoe as my foot swells in long distance runs. No stores in my area have any stock of Alphafly, so was hoping to get some feedback from people who wear them.

Alphafly is my marathon race day shoe. I find the tops flexible but tight, if that makes any sense at all. I find that they also come up higher towards my ankle on the top of my foot than any of my other shoes (not sure if I'm describing that well). Just something to keep in mind depending on where exactly your bone spur is.

 

[AZMermaid]

So around mile 16 of the marathon, the side of my left knee started twinging and by 18 it was full on pain. I finished and maintained some sort of slow interval the whole time. Yesterday, I tried to go for a short run and by the second mile, the pain was back and increasing so I walked home. Last night, it was an issue when rolling in my bed, but is not hurting normally.

Dr Google tells me this is probably an IT Band injury. I found some strength exercises and did those today. I’m running the DL half in two weeks. Anyone have any tips or advice on this situation? I’m for sure gonna go and try. Should I keep trying every few days here beforehand? Or just rest, stretch, strength? I do have a massage scheduled for tomorrow as well.

 

[FFigawi]

This will help

 

[jmasgat]

Or just rest, stretch, strength?

This. Everything you do is not really about the IT band, but the surrounding muscle. And it just takes time for the whole area to calm down. Be careful if you decide to foam roll—it’s not something I would recommend if the area is painful. Some people have used IT band straps to try and immobilize/support the area—YMMV. I have used them and had a mixed bag with relief.

Good luck.

 

[avondale]

So around mile 16 of the marathon, the side of my left knee started twinging and by 18 it was full on pain. I finished and maintained some sort of slow interval the whole time. Yesterday, I tried to go for a short run and by the second mile, the pain was back and increasing so I walked home. Last night, it was an issue when rolling in my bed, but is not hurting normally.

Dr Google tells me this is probably an IT Band injury. I found some strength exercises and did those today. I’m running the DL half in two weeks. Anyone have any tips or advice on this situation? I’m for sure gonna go and try. Should I keep trying every few days here beforehand? Or just rest, stretch, strength? I do have a massage scheduled for tomorrow as well.

So, you can't stretch the IT band itself since it's fascia, but you can stretch the associated muscle groups. @FFigawi already linked to some resource for that.

I have found that foam rolling (gently) and massage gun can help. Obviously you should not do these things on the outside of the actual knee joint, since these are not things you do on bone. The IT band runs up the outside of your thigh, so I would foam roll and massage gun that area.

Unfortunately IT band pain is very much an issue you have to rest to get past. After that, then look for appropriate strengthening exercises.

Good luck!

 

[jrsharp21]

So around mile 16 of the marathon, the side of my left knee started twinging and by 18 it was full on pain. I finished and maintained some sort of slow interval the whole time. Yesterday, I tried to go for a short run and by the second mile, the pain was back and increasing so I walked home. Last night, it was an issue when rolling in my bed, but is not hurting normally.

Dr Google tells me this is probably an IT Band injury. I found some strength exercises and did those today. I’m running the DL half in two weeks. Anyone have any tips or advice on this situation? I’m for sure gonna go and try. Should I keep trying every few days here beforehand? Or just rest, stretch, strength? I do have a massage scheduled for tomorrow as well.

When I did my first Dopey, my IT band flared up during the marathon and I essentially limped to the finish line. This video here got me back and running in like 2 weeks. I did the exercises daily. Anytime I feel the IT band even remotely start barking, I go right back to these.