Tower of Terror 10 Miler 2014

[transformer67]

I'm in the same boat as some of you. It's been a summer of change for me as I had to deal with finding and renting a new apartment the last month and a half. Before that I had myself in a good spot and was running 10-12 miles a week. I've only ran 9 miles in the last five weeks. So now that I'm all moved in and settled as of yesterday I can get back to work, I did 3 miles yesterday and my cardio was there still, but I can definitely tell I lost foot speed and bounce. I'm so nervous and excited for this. I can't believe its almost here!!!

 

[klam_chowder]

Great to read how everyone is doing, fun to hear about costumes - this thread is getting more active as the event draws near! Thx for all the tips on running in the heat, course notes, etc...wonderful to hear veterans' experiences.

PrincessV, thx a mint for posting the event brochure - I had missed it so it was awesome to see it here. I'm so excited for my first rD event, I even read it while on vacation!

Re-thinking my plans for the ToT race day. Was going to go to Epcot until about 4pm. Do you think I'm better off spending the day mostly off my feet and say just go to DTD for a bit and lunch?

Good luck all with your training - we can do this!

cheers,

 

[PrincessV]

PrincessV, thx a mint for posting the event brochure - I had missed it so it was awesome to see it here. I'm so excited for my first rD event, I even read it while on vacation!

I was having a rough day yesterday... so I re-read it to lift my spirits

Re-thinking my plans for the ToT race day. Was going to go to Epcot until about 4pm. Do you think I'm better off spending the day mostly off my feet and say just go to DTD for a bit and lunch?

This is one of those things that falls into the "Know thyself" category - some folks really can tour all day and run the race just fine. I am not one of those folks - I always arrive at WDW on race day, so I check into my hotel, then head to WWOS for packet pick-up and lunch. And then I chill - in my room if it's available, or somewhere cool where I can sit and read otherwise. I really need the time off my feet before a race, and especially before a night race.

 

[PrincessV]

A word to those worried about falling behind in training...

If you've gotten up to 6 or 7 miles, you're in pretty good shape. I do not suggest piling on miles now, trying to get up or past 10; that's just inviting potential injury into your life! (Er, yes - BT/DT myself.) Rather, maybe try running up to your last longest distance - say 7 in this scenario - and add another mile of walking at the end. Another run of 8 with a mile of walking a week or two after. As others have said and I'll repeat endlessly: this is a HOT, HUMID race and is not the place to push for time unless you've deliberately trained for that. In my experience, adding a couple miles of walking is pretty easy if you've run up to 6 or 7 already, so finishing shouldn't be a problem - so long as you respect the environmental conditions! Finishing = winning in this one

 

[StayCool]

A word to those worried about falling behind in training...

If you've gotten up to 6 or 7 miles, you're in pretty good shape. I do not suggest piling on miles now, trying to get up or past 10; that's just inviting potential injury into your life! (Er, yes - BT/DT myself.) Rather, maybe try running up to your last longest distance - say 7 in this scenario - and add another mile of walking at the end. Another run of 8 with a mile of walking a week or two after. As others have said and I'll repeat endlessly: this is a HOT, HUMID race and is not the place to push for time unless you've deliberately trained for that. In my experience, adding a couple miles of walking is pretty easy if you've run up to 6 or 7 already, so finishing shouldn't be a problem - so long as you respect the environmental conditions! Finishing = winning in this one

Thanks for this! I've gotten to 7 and am stressing over the rest! I did try to train when it was warmer but I live in NY and it is already starting to cool down. I am terrified I will injure myself in the next few weeks. lol

 

[spideymike]

If you're in training and the weather is starting to cool off, I recommend wearing something warmer on top just to have you practice with a more humid climate. It's still humid here in Cleveland this week so it's good for training so far.

 

[AThrillingChase]

If you're in training and the weather is starting to cool off, I recommend wearing something warmer on top just to have you practice with a more humid climate. It's still humid here in Cleveland this week so it's good for training so far.

It certainly is humid - I had a stellar time last night! hello fellow Clevelander

 

[AmynVal]

I was wondering if anyone else ran during princess weekend this year and have run the tower run? How's does the weather compare? This year the princess run was horribly humid and warm and I'm just wondering how the tower run compares.

 

[DOOM1001]

I was wondering if anyone else ran during princess weekend this year and have run the tower run? How's does the weather compare? This year the princess run was horribly humid and warm and I'm just wondering how the tower run compares.

I have only run TOT but did a quick search and found the temperatures for ToT in 2013 and Princess this year and its not even close,Princess has glorious weather compared to TOT.This years Princess had a high of 77 with a low of 63 in a much lower humidity month.TOT in 2013 had a high of 89 with a low of 72 during early October which still has high humidity as its the tail end of the hot humid months.You also have to figure TOT is run at 10pm,during nighttime but the heat of the day is still sticking around,while Princess is run in the morning during the coolest part of the day.I finished TOT drenched in sweat,its hot and humid,the temperatures in Orlando don't start cooling down until late October and that's only if a cool front were to come through and drop the highs from the mid to high 80's to the upper 70's low 80's.Early October is guaranteed hot.

 

[STILLWISHING]

It was 100% humidity and 70 at start time for PHM - while temps were lower at start, sun came up and it was beastly with people falling out along the route. Prepare yourself as best you can and take it easy.

 

[Waiting2goback]

A word to those worried about falling behind in training...

If you've gotten up to 6 or 7 miles, you're in pretty good shape. I do not suggest piling on miles now, trying to get up or past 10; that's just inviting potential injury into your life! (Er, yes - BT/DT myself.) Rather, maybe try running up to your last longest distance - say 7 in this scenario - and add another mile of walking at the end. Another run of 8 with a mile of walking a week or two after. As others have said and I'll repeat endlessly: this is a HOT, HUMID race and is not the place to push for time unless you've deliberately trained for that. In my experience, adding a couple miles of walking is pretty easy if you've run up to 6 or 7 already, so finishing shouldn't be a problem - so long as you respect the environmental conditions! Finishing = winning in this one

Unfortunately I have to keep pushing the miles to get ready for my marathon. I am trying to find the line between pushing myself and taking it easy to avoid injury.

At this point the ToT will be a maintenance run for the marathon. I never would have thought when I signed up for this race a few months ago that it would be a warm-up race for me. I probably bit off more than I can chew with the marathon but oh well. It will still feel good to add a medal from a marathon to my "collection" even if it isn't a good time.

 

[PrincessV]

I was wondering if anyone else ran during princess weekend this year and have run the tower run? How's does the weather compare? This year the princess run was horribly humid and warm and I'm just wondering how the tower run compares.

I've run both the past two years... PHM and TOT are like night and day - literally, lol! Seriously, PHM was nothing at all like TOT weather. In winter, even if our days warm up here, it's cool at night, which brings down the ambient temperature. Not so in summer (and early Oct. is still summer in central FL): it's hot all day and all night, so surfaces like, say, the roads, never cool down much. Add their warmth to the higher air temps and it feels easily twice as warm as PHM. According to my data, start temp for this year's PHM was in the mid-60s; start temp for TOT was hovering around 80. HUGE difference! The upside is no sun in the mix. Drink up, slow down, stay safe, though, and TOT will be fine

 

[VAfamily1998]

I was wondering if anyone else ran during princess weekend this year and have run the tower run? How's does the weather compare? This year the princess run was horribly humid and warm and I'm just wondering how the tower run compares.

Tower of Terror was hotter--but I actually found it easier to run than Princess. I may have just been better trained for TOT--it was a few weeks before a full Marathon I was running, whereas Princess, I only trained for the half.
Also, for TOT I was just wearing regular running clothes, and for princess I wore a Tutu--I think that was a HUGE mistake--it was hotter and also my sweat dripped into the tulle and collected and just looked GROSS!

 

[ValnAmy]

Ok thanks everyone I'm from nw Florida and I have run in every type of weather and at every time of day you can imagine except snow. I just remember the air being so thick during princess weekend I was just curious about the difference. With that being said I have never run a 10k one day then a half the next. Thanks everyone good luck.

 

[spideymike]

Today I was practicing hill repeats for ToT due to the slight elevation of the overpasses on the ToT course. Trying to aim for a PR for this year's race and be done in under 90 minutes.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Today I was practicing hill repeats for ToT due to the slight elevation of the overpasses on the ToT course. Trying to aim for a PR for this year's race and be done in under 90 minutes.

I'm still debating whether to run "for time" or to stop and enjoy it. Last year I stopped at some of the character photo ops. The first one (I think the old lady from Snow white?) I waited several minutes, but after that, I was able to walk right up. I only stopped for about 4 though, some of the characters just didn't appeal to me.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

What the story on them this year?

I see they are mentioned under the info for Runners, but no link.

This is my fourth runDisney event, and it seems to me there were coupons or offers that you could access by now?

 

[wilkeliza]

What the story on them this year?

I see they are mentioned under the info for Runners, but no link.

This is my fourth runDisney event, and it seems to me there were coupons or offers that you could access by now?

They are a little busy with Disneyland half. I imagine we will see our race packets this week or next.

 

[DOOM1001]

They are a little busy with Disneyland half. I imagine we will see our race packets this week or next.

I may be wrong but I think I read somewhere waivers would be emailed 2 weeks before,I know that's not normal but I think I read it somewhere and don't remember where.Normally I believe it's about a month out which is where we're at right now,hopefully the sooner the better.

 

[butiflfeet]

I've hit a roadblock in my training plan but it's not one that I'm too sad about either. DH has a work trip to Orlando the weekend of the 20th and they are letting me tag along so we can squeeze in yet another trip on our annual passes

The problem is, that weekend was going to be my last long run before the race. We are leaving Thursday night and coming home Monday night. We'll have all day Friday in the parks and half days on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I'm not expecting the schedule will work out to be able to get my long run in that weekend.

Do you guys think I'll be ok? I've worked up to long runs of 12 miles the last few weeks and will get two more 12 mile runs in this weekend and next. I'm pretty sure I'll be alright but having to mess with my training this late in the game makes me nervous