Marathon Weekend 2018

[daisyamy]

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for posting your stories, tips, and recommendations on this thread. You all helped me out tremendously while planning for this weekend. @DopeyBadger, your strategies and advice about fueling and drinking the morning of the race was a very big game changer for me!

It was really nice to meet a few of you at the HH meetup (again a huge thanks to @Keels and @FFigawi for organizing) and at the Half Marathon meetup. Thank you to @MommaoffherRocker and @mrsg00fy for walking out to the corrals with me Unfortunately I missed you all on the morning on the Full. I don't think I'll be back for Marathon Weekend 2019...maybe I'll come back for Dopey in 2023 for the 10th anniversary! It's just getting too expensive, and I'd like to take the time to focus on local races and really improve my speed on shorter distances.

I wish I was eloquent enough to write a trip report. This was my first time running the Marathon at Disney, and the stretch between MK and AK nearly broke me. But once we hit the halfway mark, and the temperatures started rising, the second half was a much better race for me. The only disappointment I had was that they had closed the line for photos with Dopey by the time I had finished and picked up my gear bag. For reference, I started in corral F, and finished in 6:59 (yes, I am not fast). I guess I'll have to come back to Disney during a Halloween or Christmas party with my medal to get that photo with Dopey!

 

[sourire]

I believe @sourire did just that this time with 10K + full. What would the name be for that. The Minnie/Mickey challenge? The "I get a nap day" challenge. I honestly really see the appeal!

And yeah, something about getting Mickey and Minnie medals is adorable.

Yes indeed! I thought it'd be great to earn a Minnie and Mickey medal, plus have a rest day in between! It was great to sleep in on Saturday and spectate the half for MIL. I'd highly recommend this unsanctioned Disney challenge.

I referred to it as the “Happy Couple Challenge”!

Love this!

 

[camaker]

Not sure if I'm going to put together race reports after the way last weekend went. After spending last week with Dopey I saw Doc today and found out I ran 3/4 of the races with bronchitis. Yuck!

 

[Ariel484]

It's started... Need to get photos in order...

Dopey Shenanigans! A Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend TR (Updated 1/10/18)

YESSSSSS Ryan!

Not sure if I'm going to put together race reports after the way last weekend went. After spending last week with Dopey I saw Doc today and found out I ran 3/4 of the races with bronchitis. Yuck!

Oh no!! I had bronchitis a few years back (caught it while at WDW, sound familiar?) and I swear it was the sickest I’d ever been...and I didn’t have to run a marathon at the end of it. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[gjramsey]

Either we were running right near each other or it's a massive coincidence. I didn't see Mulan or Jasmine and I was second for King Louie just as he was walking to his spot.

I think everything is possible in the world...I mean, it is a small world after all......

 

[BikeFan]

Got home yesterday and I just wanted to say it was great to meet several DISers at the meet-up and in the corrals. Special thanks to @Keels and @FFigawi for organizing the fun Friday meet-up! Our group had 3 first-time marathoners, including my son and my wife, and both did great and finished strong. I ran the whole full with my son and then took a bus back to Studios in time to catch my wife and run the final ~3 miles in with her as well, which was a special experience. My mom also won her age group in her first half marathon, so all around, a great weekend, except for the cold! Congratulations to everyone on your runs and I wish you all a healthy 2018!

 

[Keels]

Oh, and hey...where are my recaps, people???

I started on mine tonight, but it’s a lot sadder than I wanted ... give me a few.

 

[Ariel484]

I started on mine tonight, but it’s a lot sadder than I wanted ... give me a few.

Like/dislike.

 

[PrincessMickey]

I haven't posted on here since the early stages of this thread. I lurked here and there but especially near the end I didn't even have the time to lurk. Since it's been so long I'll reintroduce my self. Last year about this time I decided, along with a coworker, to start getting myself back in shape and we decided to run a 5k. A year ago I couldn't even run half a mile but I pushed myself and in March we did 5k. About his time my brother was talking a lot about Dopey and somehow talked me into signing up for the half marathon. He was doing Dopey through Team in Training with his work and somehow he also talked me into doing the 5k with his team. So when I signed up for the 5k they said I could also do the 10k for the same fundraising amount.
So the Happy challenge was born. Happy I didn't have to wake up a 4th morning and Happy to be done running.

So onto the weekend. I worked Tuesday night until 10, slept maybe an hour, then back up to catch a 5:15am flight...what was I thinking. At least I could sleep on the plane. After landing I had to rent a car and drive 2 hours to pick my kiddos up from their dad's and drive back. Went straight to the expo. The merchandise line was way too long, especially with the kids with me. Checked into the hotel and into bed early.

I decided early on I would not have time goals and just wanted to have fun so that's exactly what I did. I did character stops and just enjoyed myself. I utilized the TNT tent mostly to stay out of the wind and a few degrees warmer and to hang with my brother. We went our separate ways at the corrals though. I trained doing run/walk/run and did not stick with it at all. The 5k I just started out at a nice steady pace and used character stops as a quick breather. The 10k was pretty much the same but added a few walk breaks in toward the end.

The half I started out not planning to do many characters, I just wanted to finish since this was my first half. I went out really strong the first half with only a few walk breaks. Once I got into MK my plan went out the window. Running down Main Street and seeing he castle I changed my strategy to just having fun!! I stopped for several characters and after the mice I decided no more, I still had to finish after all. Until I saw Cinderella and decide one more stop. I picked back up and was doing good until I got about 2-3 miles from Epcot where it was narrow and I was surrounded by mostly walkers. I ran when I could on the grass but it was so crowded. As I got closer to Epcot it started to thin just a little but and I was able to run the rest of the way in and felt so strong at the end I could have run more. My sis in law and mom came out to spectate so they brought kiddos to the finish line to cheer me on. Brother finished ahead of me so he joined them too, what a boost that was and emotional to have completed my first half and having my family there to see me!

For the full I slept in a bit than we all made our way to the finish line to cheer on my brother. Overall, it was a great weekend despite the cold and I am so proud of myself. In 1 year's time I went from no running at all to running a half marathon. I lost 15 pounds along the way and feel so much better about myself. I'm keeping my options open for the next year but I had so much fun and the atmosphere was amazing. And this was definitely more my type of running, run, run, run, ooh a character and stop, and repeat. Probably because I felt so good after the half, I am seriously thinking about making a run for my first marathon and possibly Dopey. Not sure how my new work schedule will work out with training, back to graveyards I go starting Sunday. It'll take some time to get int a routine so in a month or so we'll see how adding in running into the mix will go.

 

[Anisum]

Dragging an old topic back up, but I was thinking more about Goofy vs. Dopey this morning...the other reason why I think I'm good with not doing Dopey again is that when I did it in 2015 I had a basically perfect experience. I could see how if someone was injured/sick/had the half canceled last year they would want to do it again to get redemption or have a full Dopey, but I feel satisfied with my Dopey "career."

Having said that, I think I'd skip Goofy altogether. I'm sort of over the half marathon course that Disney uses for WDW and Princess weekends (it's my least favorite course at WDW). I think I'd be more likely to do the marathon alone or the 10K and the marathon for future race weekends.

I feel like this sums up my experiences entirely. I did Dopey. I had a great time doing it and it was such an accomplishment but the consecutive wake up calls in the morning and my least favorite half marathon course (that I've run at least) in Disney doesn't make it appeal to me. I would rather focus on one or two races knowing they were the ones I would really enjoy.

I believe @sourire did just that this time with 10K + full. What would the name be for that. The Minnie/Mickey challenge? The "I get a nap day" challenge. I honestly really see the appeal!

With regards to this particular idea. I think if I do Marathon Weekend again this is the exact set of races I would do. @sourire truly picked the best combo. The marathon and running through all of the parks is amazing and the 10k course with that lovely boardwalk loop is awesome.

Oh, and hey...where are my recaps, people???

That is a thing I have to do. I'm still trying to finish collecting my thoughts.

 

[Pluto0809]

I want to put a big old thank you out there for the DISer that handed me a hand warmer at the 5K. I was an idiot and left my room without my gloves. Your hand warmer saved me! I didn't even get your name so I hope you read this and realize how much I appreciated the hand warmer.

 

[jmasgat]

Got home yesterday and I just wanted to say it was great to meet several DISers at the meet-up and in the corrals. Special thanks to @Keels and @FFigawi for organizing the fun Friday meet-up! Our group had 3 first-time marathoners, including my son and my wife, and both did great and finished strong. I ran the whole full with my son and then took a bus back to Studios in time to catch my wife and run the final ~3 miles in with her as well, which was a special experience. My mom also won her age group in her first half marathon, so all around, a great weekend, except for the cold! Congratulations to everyone on your runs and I wish you all a healthy 2018!

Great to meet you there on Friday! And see you on Saturday?Sunday? in line at bag check (The days did get a bit blurry!). I also saw you on the Western Way stretch of the course---you were casually conversing and running, making it all look easy!

 

[Chaitali]

I’m catching up and enjoying people’s stories about their marathon weekend . I look forward to reading full recaps as they come up. I’m still at Disney for a couple more days and having a couple days distance from getting swept at the full has given me some more perspective. I think I’m going to try the full again, just have to decide if it will be Disney or another race. I really enjoyed the full until the issue with my knee started but the hours of waiting in the cold before the race were really tough. I’m going to take the first half of the year to think about it and to work on strength training to rehab my knee plus train for getting faster for my April half. Hopefully that will put me in a better place to begin marathon training later in the year.

@DopeyBadger thanks for the offer! I may take you up on it . How long before a full do you like people to get in touch with you?

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

I think I’m going to try the full again...

Yay!

 

[DopeyBadger]

@DopeyBadger thanks for the offer! I may take you up on it . How long before a full do you like people to get in touch with you?

Optimally, get in touch about 18 weeks before the event. This gives me two weeks to write a 16 week plan. A 16 week plan allows two mini-cycles within the bigger scope of the plan and is an ideal training plan length.

 

[Sailormoon2]

I want to put a big old thank you out there for the DISer that handed me a hand warmer at the 5K. I was an idiot and left my room without my gloves. Your hand warmer saved me! I didn't even get your name so I hope you read this and realize how much I appreciated the hand warmer.

That was me! You are more than welcome-I'm glad it actually helped (some).

 

[Mickey Momma]

I think I’m going to try the full again, just have to decide if it will be Disney or another race.

This makes me happy!

 

[BikeFan]

Great to meet you there on Friday! And see you on Saturday?Sunday? in line at bag check (The days did get a bit blurry!). I also saw you on the Western Way stretch of the course---you were casually conversing and running, making it all look easy!

Thanks and likewise! The full was a new PW (personal worst ) for me, but I was just running it with my brother and my son, who was completing his first full. We stopped for a bunch of character pics, met a few people out on the course, and had a grand time.

 

[lhermiston]

My plan is to sign up for Dopey and take the following approach:
5K - 70 percent effort, emphasis on appreciating Epcot ambiance, possibly get video, few character stops
10k - 80+ percent effort, no stops
Half - fun run, whatever effort that entails, stop for whatever characters I want, but not necessarily all
Full - 100 percent, or as close to it as I can after three prior races.

At this point, I’m more focused on the accomplishment of running four straight races and enjoying the half than setting a bunch of PRs. Knowing myself and my overly competitive nature, these goals are definitely subject to change.

 

[Nole95]

My plan is to sign up for Dopey and take the following approach:
5K - 70 percent effort, emphasis on appreciating Epcot ambiance, possibly get video, few character stops
10k - 80+ percent effort, no stops
Half - fun run, whatever effort that entails, stop for whatever characters I want, but not necessarily all
Full - 100 percent, or as close to it as I can after three prior races.

At this point, I’m more focused on the accomplishment of running four straight races and enjoying the half than setting a bunch of PRs. Knowing myself and my overly competitive nature, these goals are definitely subject to change.

This is basically what I did. Took it easy on the 5K and 10K, and really easy during the half. Put everything into the full, which translated into a 14 minute PR. Kind of wonder what I might have been able to do had I not had to do the half the day before.