WDW Marathon Weekend 2007 – Do The Same – Do Different – Goals For Next Year

[kareneast]

Now that the dust has settled (so to speak) from WDW Marathon Weekend, I’m interested to know what you would do the same & what you would do different (both in the race & in your training). Also, goals to work on for next year.

I am listing mine here for all to see, hoping it will help keep me on track. I also welcome any comments/suggestions.

The Same:
• Try to get to WDW a few days before race to give body a chance to adjust to Florida temps/weather (especially if it is going to be hot & humid again)
• Don’t do the parks before the race
• Prepare race gear night before the race
• If its hot….take salt pack before race start (if doing Full also take 1 half way through race)
• Use Marathoning for Mortals training plans
• Set 3-4 realistic race day goals (best day goal, worst day goal & 1-2 in-between goals)
• Study the course, break it down into sections, know what to expect next
• Continue to be a member of the WISH Racing Team
• Be part of the WISH Scream Team on the day I am not racing
• Attend WISH Meets
• Have Fun

Do Different:
• Be more organized during the holidays
• Get holiday shopping & decorating done more in advance
• Not miss any weekday workouts (shouldn’t be a problem if more organized during holidays)
• Have more water/supplies with me when part of WISH Scream Team (especially if it is hot & humid again)
• Try to take more pictures during my race (carried camera with me this year, but kept forgetting to take pictures)
• Train more for hills
• Train more for running/walking on the grass
• Work on clapping endurance (trained legs for walk/run endurance, but didn’t train hands/arms to clap for 4+ hours)
• Hopefully won’t have laryngitis again

Goals over the next year:
• Do more stretching during training
• Do more strength training
• Eat healthier
• While eating healthier – lose 10 lbs.
• Work up from walk/run to run/walk
• Increase my pace
• Participate more here on the WISH Boards

Races on deck:
• May 26, 2007 The Spring Lake Five Mile Run
• August 2007 Batsto Village 5k
• September 2007 Jackson 5k
• September 16, 2007 Philadelphia Distance Run – Half Marathon
• October 7, 2007 WDW Race for the Taste 10k
• January 12-13, 2008 WDW Half or Full Marathon
• May 2008 WDW Minnie Marathon 15k

 

[MelRhoads]

Karen - I can't think of much i would do differently. As far as the same, that is easy!! I loved running w/ the WISH team the whole way. Colleen, Dave and Steve made the race so much more fun!! I would also train on the trails again as it was more fun for me! I'm glad I did the heat training this summer as it really helped me in knowing what i needed to wear, eat and drink under the conditions in which we ran disney. Mostly, I'd just run w/ friends again.

 

[TEK224]

What I would do the same:

1. Arrive at Disney on Wed. before the race. (this allows me park time on Wed. & Thurs. and an easy day Fri.)
2. Be organized during holidays (got my shopping and wrapping done really early this year.
3. Keep up with boards here!
4. Have all my gear and food supplies ready the night before each race.

What i would do differently:

1. Train better (need to be more consistent and not let other things get in the way) Want to get a little faster so I have time to stop and take pics.
2. Better nutrition during the year (this is going to require a lifestyle change ) Cut out the junk food.
3. Use the MfM training plan
4. Attend the WISH meets
5. Find a way to prevent blisters


Upcoming races:

I don't really enter races that much. So far, onlt the Disney ones (I guess because they are walker friendly and have a generous time limit). I want to spend more time on the training to train base building phase.
So for this year, the only race I have planned at the moment is the

Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon in San Fran in Oct. I hope that will be a gauge of how well I am getting prepared to do Goofy 08.

Terri

 

[Kristi1357]

I used MfM training plan for this race. Although I love JB & his books, I very much dislike the training plans calling for minutes, instead of miles. I like to do as many walk/runs outdoors, or on a track. I think if I trained on a TM it would have been fine. But trying to calculate when to be back by home was hard. Not a big deal, but I liked training for Minnie & DL using Hal Hidgon's plan better.

I wish I took more pics during the race. At first, I wanted to try to break 3 hours, so I purposely did not take pics. Then when my Mom started having foot pain and we slowed way down, I should have started taking more pics, but didn't. My pics from ASI are HORRIBLE! I usually have a few I want to buy. Not this time!

My only other regret was not having a WISH shirt! I am fixing that in this next order.

 

[Goofyin08forErica]

Things to do the same:

1) Arrive at WDW on the Monday before the races and enjoy the Parks
2) Have race day clothes with bib pinned on laid out the night before
3) Carry a bottle of water with me during the races
4) Have as much fun as possible during the races
5) Cheer for my fellow WISHERs

Things to do differently:

1) Increase my LSD's from 1 to 2 back to back ones (Goofy bound)
2) Attend as many WISH meetings as possible
3) Take control of the camera (Dave had it this yr...very few pics)
4) Try the salt packet thing here during the summer to see how it affects me
5) Wear WISH team gear during races

There will probably be more things to do differently, but this is all I can think of at this time. I am really looking forward to the increased intensity of training for the Goofy


Erica

 

[DianeL]

I like Karen's list!

Things to work on in 2007....

1) getting faster with running more.
2) working on clapping endurance! (good one Karen!)
3) try to mimic Disney's temps/hills more in the new year.
4) More hill training.
5) Try to keep up with the main training list.
6) Attend more WISH meets on Marathon and Minnie weekend.


Things we did this year that I loved....
1) Saw WISH members! I loved celebrating with the group.
2) We always arrive on Thursday morning, check in at the Expo. This year we only did MGM Thursday night and no parks on Friday. In 2008 we'll probably do a half day at the MK on Friday as well since we are doing the Full. Light laid back days

Things I want to do in Jan 2008
1) I read about Cam's post-Minnie SSR leg massage thingy and want to do that.

2) Working on bringing DH or another friend along to help Mom with supporting Susan and I in the 2008 Full. Mom already has her order and park locations

3) Getting WISH shirts and the hats so we are visible to our Team mates

4) Oh and since we are doing the Full we are staying until Friday in 2008 to make up for the slow days we are crawling

Races on deck thru Jan 13, 2008

1) My goal is to do the Minnie this year. Still working that out.
2) 10K on Labor Day Weekend, 2007. Milford, MI. HILLY!!!! We've done it in 2005.

3) WDW Full Marathon Jan 13, 2008

2 possible 5Ks too (Dart Frog Dash April 21st Toledo, OH Zoo., the other is local in March)

 

[Lan]

Good Morning!!

Things I would do the same:
1. Get to WDW on Thursday and pick-up race packet from Expo.
2. Enjoy the expo.
3. Prepare for race the night before.
4. Participate in the race with my sister.
5. Body Glide!!!
6. Marathoning for Mortals

Things I would do different:
1. Not be as nervous on race day (I was so concerned about being last) .
2. Be more consistant with training during the year.
3. Stop allowing "life" to interfer with training.
4. Buy a picture frame to put one of my marathon pictures in.
5. Take more pictures during the race and stop to take pictures with characters.
6. Meet more WISHers

Upcoming Events
March 25, 2007 ING Atlanta 1/2 Marathon (still up in the air, but sister already registered)
July 4, 2007 Peachtree Roadrace in Atlanta
Oct. 7, 2007 Race for the Taste 10K - WDW
Jan. 12, 2008 Disney 1/2 Marathon

 

[magslite]

Great posts!

Things I would do differently:
1. Stretch daily
2. Remember I am part of a team
3. Remember that walkers are athletes too
4. DON'T QUIT

This years goals:
March 07 - shamrock shuffle 5k
August 07 - chicago distance classic
Jan 08 - WDW half - if dh agrees to my making 2 trips to WDW that month!

Thanks for starting this post. It's great to see these goals written down. I am going to go write them in my planner.
Maggie

 

[KeenHo]

Karen:

Just a quick note. Cam and I will be running/walking the Spring Lake 5 in May. I've run in it since 2003. Here are my times:

Spring Lake 5 May 24, 2003 5 Miles 49:40 9:56 pace
Spring Lake 5 May 25, 2004 5 Miles 50:46 10:10 pace
Spring Lake 5 May 28, 2005 5 Miles 48:45 9:45 pace
Spring Lake 5 May 27, 2006 5 Miles 44:18 8:52 pace

Cam did it for the first time last year. We usually run it with our friend, Jim, from Toms River, NJ.

It will be great to see you there!

Howard

 

[hockeygirl]

Howard, Cam, and Karen,

I live in NJ, and I was thinking about doing the Spring Lake 5 miler this year. I would love to meet you guys! We can have a mini WISH meet!!! Since, you all are planning on doing it, that is more motivation for me to sign up!!

Laurie

 

[KeenHo]

Laurie:

The more the merrier! I know the race fills up fast so do what you can to register early. I usually get a flyer in the mail from them because I've ran it the previous year and send it in right away.

Let's plan on keeping in touch to set up a time/spot to say hello at the race.

On second thought, keep in touch with Cam (Keenercam) about it. My grad school classes start in a couple weeks and I will be VERY scarce around these parts.



Howard

 

[kareneast]

I am enjoying reading everyone’s “do the same / do differents”. They have really given me a lot to think about and try for future races. I love that the one thing that has been posted over & over again is how WISH will continue with “do same” lists and be added with “do different” lists. It really shows how important the WISH Team has become to all of us.

Howard – I remember you & Cam doing the Spring Lake 5 last year. I was going to try & get over to it to cheer you on, but unfortunately was unable to make it. On Thursday nights all last summer we walked the boards from Belmar into Spring Lake. I have thought about doing the Spring Lake 5 since then. Thanks for the heads up on the race filling up quickly. I am sending in my request for an application tomorrow and I will also keep an eye for the downloadable application & on-line registration. Your times are great! I have a bunch of family that live in Toms River. John & I are in Jackson.

Laurie – Very cool that you are thinking of doing the Spring Lake 5 too. A mini WISH meet would be fun. John (DH) will be doing it too and Sean (DS) is a possibility. I see you are in Bergen County. If you don’t mind me asking, where? I grew up in Paramus (many, many years ago) and John & I lived in Garfield for a while.

 

[scoolover]

SAME:
Almost everything in the small stuff category.
Eating, Fluids, Long runs, run every other day, etc.

DIFFERENT:
I am going to talk to God and see about turning down the heat a little next year.
I will get up later. 2:45 was good but 3:15 will do.
If I can swing it, stay at a monorail hotel.
Organize my cheering section a little better.
More actively participate in WISH events.
Wear my WISH shirt on race days.

GOALS:
Go into marathon weekend at 225 lbs instead of 242.
Run two marathons before Disney 08
Recruit a running partner of join a local running club.

Good thread!
Scott