The ~Totally Unofficial~ 2008 Half and Full Marathon Thread

[Dennyha]

I did the 1/2marathon last weekend, and have already signed up for the Goofy for '08.

My reasoning is as follows. I ran my first 1/2marathon in October, with a time of 2:10, and when I finished, I was beat. As we came up to the Disney 1/2marathon, my training tanked the last month, for reasons beyond my control, and my son was struggling with his training, so we decided to do the 1/2 at a leasurely pace, and not push. As we did the race, his knee worsened, and we decided to just stay ahead of the 16min/mile pace. We finished with a time of 3:25. Before the race, I was already considering going for the full in '08, BUT after we finished the 1/2M in 3:25, I felt great. I felt as if I had spent a day walking around one of the parks. I felt that with a good meal, re-hydrating, and a little rest, I would have no problem coming back the next day and doing it again. As I thought about this, I decided to go for the Goofy in '08, with the philosophy that I will take this year to train for the full. I am already looking for a few 1/2marathons to do early in the year, and I want to sign up for a full marathon about October. Then, when I get to Disney in '08, I plan to do the 1/2M with my wife and son, at a pace that we finish just ahead of the 3-1/2 hour time limit. Then I will re-carb, re-hydrate, and rest, and do whatever pace is comfortable for the full. I am confidant that I can bet the pace limit, so I will just run as much as I feel like.

Sorry for being long winded, but this explains how, in my warped mind, I jumped from doing the Donald in '07, to signing up for the Goofy in '08.

 

[mommyintn]

Let me start by saying I'm not a runner and have never been a runner (besides running a mile in school the annual Presidential Physical Fitness test). But I have set a goal for myself to start running and plan on signing up for the 1/2 marathon this week! My dh is toying with the idea also. Has anyone filled out the race entry form? What should I put in the expected race time question, since I have no idea how long it will take since I'm so new to running? Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks! One last question is the Donald the 1/2 marathon?

 

[Dennyha]

What should I put in the expected race time question, since I have no idea how long it will take since I'm so new to running? Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks! One last question is the Donald the 1/2 marathon?

First, I would suggest that you don't even put a time in that box. Basically, they are trying to get the seasoned, time-driven runners, up front. The rest of us are in the back. If you provide no time, you will go in the back, along with everyone else that provides a 1/2M time greater than 2:15.

And, yes, the Donald is the 1/2Marathon.

Congratulations on your decision to join us in January.

 

[Abra Cat]

I'm bumping this up, still hoping someone knows about how to volunteer for the 2008 half marathon. Thanks!

 

[Cruella de mom]

Keep watching the registration site and eventually they will post a volunteer registration form through Active.com

 

[scuba diver]

I'm bumping this up, still hoping someone knows about how to volunteer for the 2008 half marathon. Thanks!

My son volunteerd at the 2007 half marathon. He signed up on Active a week before the event. He was at waterstation #2.

Signing up is easy....getting there at 3 AM is the tough part, especially for a 16 year old.

 

[Abra Cat]

Thanks! Do you know whether I have a chance of getting a water station in any of the parks, or are those manned by CMs?

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I am a total newbie -- dh and I have decided to do the half in 08! We are using John Bingham's Marathoning for Mortals plan/book.

I want to register us for the half (I'm getting nervous about it closing after reading the Goofy thread titles), but I have one question -- What is a Championchip, and is this something you want or need, or is just fun to have?

We want the full experience, but we will be in the last corral and we are not trying to set any records, just finishing will be huge for us!

Thanks for any replies!

Maria

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Maria,

The half will not fill for a few months. The Goofy only allows 3,000 where the 1/2 allows 4 times that. Also, with the 15th anniversery of the Marathon, that I believe is driving the early Goofy reg.

I just use the free chip from Disney instead of buying one to have and only use once a year(actually twice)

Robert
http://www,DisneyRunning.com
Goofy #3 in 08

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Maria,

The half will not fill for a few months. The Goofy only allows 3,000 where the 1/2 allows 4 times that. Also, with the 15th anniversery of the Marathon, that I believe is driving the early Goofy reg.

I just use the free chip from Disney instead of buying one to have and only use once a year(actually twice)

Robert
http://www,DisneyRunning.com
Goofy #3 in 08

Whew! I feel much better now. I was afraid I was going to miss the registration and feel terrible. Thanks for the advice on the chip. I am such a newbie, I'm not even sure what it is for? I assume it tracks your time?

Thanks for your super-rapid response!

 

[Cruella de mom]

Congrats on your commitment Maria!

You will love the Disney half!

Yes, the chip tracks your time. Only people who run several chip timed races a year need to consider buying their own chip. I ran 4 races last year but I always use the ones the race provides and I haven't had a problem yet.

Marthoning for mortals is great. I loved it when I started. Be sure that you are working on getting that base in over the next 6 months. It will make your official training much much easier.

Good Luck!
Cecilia

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Yes, it tracks your time so you will get a "real" time from when you step across the finish line to when you cross the finish line. It will also show your splits at different distances.

Good luck and you should read some of the reports on my website also for a good feel from others who have done it over the years.

Robert
http://www.DisneyRunning.com
Goofy#3 in 08

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Oops, got beat when sending my post

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Yes, it tracks your time so you will get a "real" time from when you step across the finish line to when you cross the finish line. It will also show your splits at different distances.

Good luck and you should read some of the reports on my website also for a good feel from others who have done it over the years.

Robert
http://www.DisneyRunning.com
Goofy#3 in 08

I am definitely going to check out your website. I need to learn everything I can. It's like my first day of Kindergarten

 

[fabumouse]

I am definitely going to check out your website. I need to learn everything I can. It's like my first day of Kindergarten

I feel that way, too! And there's all the big kids (second graders) who know so much - and I don't know enough to know what I don't know!

The only thing that stressed me a bit about the Marathoning for Mortals book is he recommends that people who haven't been exercising regularly need to take a year and a half to get ready for the half marathon. I quit exercising for the end of my pregancy and a few months after - and I'm definitely climbing that steep hill again. But the idea of not being able to run until 2009 just isn't working for me.

The champion chip is totally wasted on me, but I bought it anyway. It has mickey on it and has its own little number. Just like my mickey running gear, makes me feel like an official Disney runner.

 

[crzy4pooh]

I feel that way, too! And there's all the big kids (second graders) who know so much - and I don't know enough to know what I don't know!

The only thing that stressed me a bit about the Marathoning for Mortals book is he recommends that people who haven't been exercising regularly need to take a year and a half to get ready for the half marathon. I quit exercising for the end of my pregancy and a few months after - and I'm definitely climbing that steep hill again. But the idea of not being able to run until 2009 just isn't working for me.

I just wanted to add a bit of encouragement. I started running in early May 2004 from really just walking periodically (no set exercise). I used the couch-to-5K plan on CoolRunning.com. I did my first 5K in July, and my friend and I decided we should try for the WDW half in January 05. We used Galloway's plan and worked on running/walking intervals. Guess what? We finished and had a terrific time after having only been running/walking for 8 months!!! I even signed up for the full in January 06 just a couple days after finishing the half.

I know several of the books say you need a year or more of training to train, but really just work on getting a good solid base, and you'll be fine. By a "base" I mean being able to do 3 miles consistently and fairly comfortably within the time limit. Many of the training programs start you from 3 or 4 miles for your first long run. As long as you are consistently training to train for these next few months, you should be great!

We'll see how well I take my own advice... I am due for a c-section in April, and will have to start from scratch to be ready for the Donald in 08. We can do this!!!

 

[Kristi1357]

Yeah, what Lynnda said!

I only started any exercise about a year ago. I finished the Minnie 15k last May, then the Disneyland Half & the WDW Half. I did not have a year & a half of training to train. Honestly, I think I would have given up if it took that long for me to get any 'bling' outta this!

 

[Cruella de mom]

I did not have a year and a half base before I started training for the WDW MARATHON. I didn't even have a full year. I ran it in pretty good time too and never had a serious training injury.

Remember two things about all training prograns:

1) They have to limit their liability by saying things like that. Lets face it, anyone thats run for a year and half probably doesn't need to buy a book. 2) They write those plans KNOWING that people will miss some of the training runs so they put extra ones in. I know this because when my coaches told a certain author that I had not missed any of my training that author was shocked. "thats unheard of"

That said, it is in your best interest to get as strong a base as you can before the official training kicks in. I promise it will make the training more comfortable, and the race more fun.

Cecilia

 

[GoofyDisney]

Joining ya'll!

 

[fabumouse]

Well, guess we're getting closer and, er, I'm worrying more.

Does anybody know how bad the humidity is in FL, in January???