Definitely. I live in Florida (and lived in Atlanta before that), so I know about the weather sucking your energy, even when doing something low impact. People misjudge humidity.
Oh heck, forget all that I said - as a Floridian and former Atlantan, you could easily PR this one! No worries; you already know more than you'd like to know about dealing with humidity, I'll bet!
The words of caution are always appreciated though, as sometimes I'm too hard on myself, and have to remind myself environment plays a huge role.
Yep, I do the same thing - it's why I started recording weather conditions for my training runs... it's a lot easier to feel good about a really, really tough-feeling run with a slow pace when I see that it was a feels-like temp over 100 and 98% humidity.
ETA: I just remembered something very, very important. TofT has those two huge overpasses on Osceola. Those are big hills. Need to keep it slow the first mile, or I'll never make it up those hills!
Oddly enough, I don't find them to be all that bad. I swear the overpasses in the WDW Half and PHM are either longer or steeper; they seem to go on forever, while the TOT cloverleaf (same one twice) seems to go by pretty quickly. I'd say its worst attribute is really the steep camber - I feel it laterally in my ankles and hips. But again, it's over pretty quickly.
So I thanks everyone on these boards for their motivation and inspiration. Intervals got me back out there and it can only get better, hopefully
Absolutely - you've got this!
I was thinking of running intervals as well. I was concerned I might look stupid doing it, as I am new to this I just assumed everyone would be easily running this whole race and I'd be sucking wind like a Hoover vacuum as people flew right by me.
Not at all - I'd hazard to say the majority of folks at this event do some form of intervals and many, many walk all of it. You'll be in such good company, it's quite likely you'll get confused by all of the different interval timers going on around you!
This is a great suggestion! Last year, I was pretty tapped toward the end. Upright and able to still go to the bash... but my splits really reflected how much my energy was sucked from me.
Hi AnnMarie!
Can you believe we're tackling this beast AGAIN???
That's where I wound up last year - upright, but totally sapped. I PRd by a lot, and I don't regret it, but this year will be all about the fun and none about the time!
I am trying to picture it in my head... Is the incline similar to the ones at PHM? If so they weren't too bad. Pretty steady climbs not a straight uphill.
For no good reason I can come up with, I'm convinced the TOT cloverleaf is more comfortable than the PHM overpasses. Maybe it's just being in the dark and not being to see much of it?!
IDK, but they just don't seem to bother me as much.
Least the sun won't be out which will add to the draining feeling!!!
Exactly!
This will be my first runDisney event; although I have run a marathon and a couple of half marathons in the UK. This will be my first time running an event in humidity - not looking forward to that aspect!
I'm not saying running in the humid summer is fun down here, but working in EP all summer, you'll be very well acclimated - that'll make it much easier! Just remember to go by feel, especially in those first few weeks after you arrive - go by perceived effort more than actual speed and back off if you start feeling badly.
I PR'd by a lot too this past year, but it wasn't easy! I still will want to better my time if even by a minute this year... but yeah, I am hoping for more fun since I will again get to run with someone this year.
2012, I used a restroom and my friend used the changing tent. 2013 my friend warned me against the changing tent, said my restroom idea was MUCH better, but the tent was closer, so I went for it. UGH! So, really, my advice is don't be 2013 V. 
