JClimacus
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2014
@DopeyBadger that's really impressive! Nice work.
Planning to attend the Pre-race Meet-up? Duh (especially since @DopeyBadger, his mom and I were the last ones standing *freezing* before the full last year!)
Another spectator question for the Marathon...are we allowed to bring signs into Epcot?
This is a great list WillieT
- If cold:
- attach bib to outer tank or short-sleeve shirt, so you can discard underneath layers
As I prepare for my 10th straight Marathon weekend, I'd like to share a few helpful tips with my fellow DIS runners. Some of these tips are generic and not specific to Disney, but let's pretend no other races exist - at least for the next 3 weeks.
Please share any tips you have and I'll add to the list; I'll post a PDF with all the posted tips next week.
Disney Marathon Tips
My Mickey Marathon History: 2011 (4:56), 2012 (4:21), 2013 (4:18), 2014 (3:56), 2015 (3:44), 2016 (DNF), 2017 (3:34)
- Arrive early and relax/enjoy the moment! I love arriving around 3am and no later than 3:30am.
- Use bathrooms *after* bag check have shorter lines; bathrooms near start line are even shorter
- Prepare for a 2 hour wait; wear throw-away clothes for pre-race
- Bring old shirt/towel for sitting on before race in corral; get off your feet and rest
- If cold, black trash bags are awesome (especially in windy weather)
- I bring an extra box and make many new friends on cold mornings 8^)
- Do not over-dress; plan to discard clothes during race
- If cold:
- black trash bags are awesome (especially in windy weather)
- I bring an extra box and make many new friends on cold mornings
- wear thin layers for racing; a jacket is probably over-dressing and will be wrapped around your waist after mile 10
- attach bib to outer tank or short-sleeve shirt, so you can discard underneath layers
- use arm sleeves from old socks (cut off toe end); discard when warm
- bring hat or head-band/buff for ear warmer
- bring cheap gloves
- bought a few pairs for $10 from Home Depot
- synthetic, semi-plasic gloves are more water-stop friendly; better than knit/cloth ones
- do not over-hydrate morning of the race; hydrate the day before
- FYI: during my 10 FMs and 25 HMs, no pit stops for me because I stop drinking about 3 hours pre-race
- bring sunglasses; you will need them in second half
- insure you sunglasses are semi-secured in the first half (with a headband,visor or hat); I dropped/broke a pair in mile 2 in 2014, and regretted it for the next 24 miles
- do not weave around runners or start too fast. Repeat this over and over in first 5 miles.
- REPEAT: do not start too fast. please check the race results from the last 10 years and notice that 80% start too fast -- and slow way, way down in second half.
- watch for potholes around TTC
- I rolled an ankle in a TTC pothole last year but survived.
- In 2016, the 2015/2017 female winner (Giovanna Martins) sprained her ankle in a TTC pothole and did not finish the race.
- watch for the trolley tracks in Magic Kingdom
- bananas are awesome fuel (miles 12 and 19); experiment in training to test your GI tolerance
- take both water and powerade at each water stop
- don't mix-up vaseline and bio-freeze at medical tents; chafed areas won't like bio-freeze
- prepare for the Sport Beans® Energizing Jelly Beans® selection at mile 15.9 and 20.1
- Use them in training to see if you like them
- I definitely need to follow my advice as I've never had them before
- plan ahead for your chocolate selection at mile 23 in DHS
- i grabbed Mint Peanut M&M's last year; sounds good, but tasted weird
- Miles 15 and 16: Osceola Parkway may seem hilly, but the inclines are less than a half-mile each.
- Mile 18: WWoS has cool/cold towels but they are very wet; you can soak your shoes, so take care when squeezing them
- Mile 22 marker: use the downhill ramp to help you build momentum into DHS (small mental boost, but it works for me)
- Mile 25: take care on the wooden boardwalk which may be slippery
- Mile 26: treat the lap around World Showcase as your victory lap
- Mile 26 marker: wave to the Golden Choir and then to the crowd
- Finish line: always smile for the camera and raise your hands on a great accomplishment!
So ... which one is your outfit for the full?
This is a great list WillieT
I am a little confused about this item. If I am planning on discarding outer layers I usually just pin my bib to my shorts as I usually keep those on. I am not sure how you would discard underneath layers. A race belt or SPI belt with Bib holders can also be used to strap on your bib in a way that you can remove layers and still have it showing.
To be fair, I certainly wasn't standing. I was huddled in a ball trying to stay warm next to the portas. Another benefit of meeting by the portas is a great wind blocker if it's cold.
Did you all see the picture runDisney posted of the start line for the first WDW marathon? So many short shorts! And then one person in the middle with a full body suit.
Usually?
Unfortunate but still hilarious!!don't mix-up vaseline and bio-freeze at medical tents; chafed areas won't like bio-freeze
In a "normal" race, meaning one where I am seeking a certain finish time, and want to properly execute my race plan, I usually start near the back of my corral, and have even dropped back corrals and found a slower pace bunny to follow, to ensure I start slow. It is a great strategy, especially for excited (nervous) beginners!Would it be unwise to start toward the back of the corral to avoid being carried along to a faster than planned start?
Please share any tips you have and I'll add to the list; I'll post a PDF with all the posted tips next week.