But ... it's one of those big marathon experiences. Do I really want to miss it out on this essential marathon experience?
I know, run my own race, do what I want. But there are so many other things in life that I miss out on, do I really want to miss out on more? I already can't do some of other things people do (mostly the food, but also some of the boozes) to make the marathon extra fun, and here's something I can do - should I be doing it even though I don't know that it's really my #1 must do thing.
Make the marathon experience the one you want it to be. You have valid reasons for being concerned about riding Everest. Others have equally valid reasons for wanting to ride Everest. The marathon experience is what you make of it. None of us will think any less of you if you choose to not go on any attraction during the race, let alone one that has caused issues for you in the past. To my way of thinking the greatest marathon experience is finishing it. However you choose to safely enjoy your experience leading up to that is fine.
This past marathon was the first time I rode EE during the marathon after 5 Disney marathons. It was great, but it didn't make the marathon exponentially better. I've always had soooo much fun on the marathon even the ones where I didn't ride a ride or buy a drink.. You do you and I guarantee you, you'll have an amazing time. Coaster, beer or not. Those are unique and cool things about the Disney marathon, but they are not essential elements to what makes the race unique and awesome.
I love this. As a slower runner, I long ago had to make peace with where I'm at in comparison to everyone else. So while I choose to skip some photo ops because the line is too long for my comfort, I still have a great time with the stops I do choose to make. We talk a lot about the race experience we want. It's important to remember that finishing the race is arguably the most important component of the experience.
I really just need to embrace the concept of Disney races are for fun and other races are for performance.
Who has a couch I can lay on so we can sort through these complex issues?
Perhaps setting fun race goals becomes part of that. Maybe instead of setting a time goal, you set a fun goal. Such as I will stop for x number of characters even or maybe especially if you're not a character person when visiting Disney for non race purposes. Or I will eat food from a location along the course.
I think we continue to pay the money for runDisney races for the overall experience. So what part of the
Disney experience do you want? Is it the characters? The theme? Running through the parks? The on course support? The medals? The multi race challenges? The parks after the races? The food?
I learned a lot of lessons from half number one in
Disneyland. I was so terrified of being swept that I didn't dare stop for photos. So I didn't. I finished in 3:05. That remains to date my fastest time. It also remains to date my least fun race. I missed out on some unique photos that race. From that race I learned that I have a little bit of time to play with. I will treat my first marathon differently than my first half. As in I won't be afraid to take brief stops to enjoy the uniqueness of runDisney.
Thanks. Assuming normal health, I’m not too concerned about finishing, more just how to approach the races from a pace, fun, pics, etc. perspective.
My thoughts on pace would be to run the pace that feels right that day between your desired fun breaks. Just take time along the way for fun. When I see a line, I try to determine what it's for. R2-D2? I'm stopping if it's reasonable. A character I have no real attachment to? Keep going.
Just do what you feel comfortable doing. Much of it is a race day decision for everyone.
I second this. I had some very minor post nasal drip issues the morning of the Avengers Half. Caused some uncomfortable and almost disastrous coughing fits early in the race. I realized that I needed to tweak my pace and go with what didn't cause trouble. I knew I was undertrained, but not dangerously so. I was able to make some great photo stops and still finish strong.
Or, if you're me, you only race the WDW marathon and each year say, "What if I either get faster to do all the stops AND PR, or what if I ran at the same effort with no stops - how fast might my time be then?!"
That's me. Still chasing that sub 3 hour half. Maybe I'll reach it someday, but I'm having too much fun with Star Wars themes in most races.
I have no idea how I'll run Goofy, most likely game day decisions on character stopping & even how I'll run, like mile by mile decisions. When I did Dopey or any Disney race weekends, it was the same way, day of deciding. I do run with a small waterproof camera, I hand hold most the time. It's like a deck of cards and I hardly notice I have it. I do have a gopro but don't like anyway to wear it, on my head no way, harness no way.
I'm very much in the game day decision crowd. This year for Dark Side, I wanted to use my photo time for characters that I passed on last year. So I made sure to see the Ewoks this year and the Emperor. This also meant having to pass on Chewbacca during the race, but that's okay. I saw him last year and he's available in the parks afterwards.
If I see a good photo, I determine if I like the line length and try to compare that against prior photos I've taken and possible future photos and where I'm at in the race. I can handle a very long line at the end of the race, but not at the beginning. If I don't like the line length, I simply move on. I use my cell phone for pics plus runDisney if they are stationed there.
While I would love a return to what I saw in 2012 when the Disneyland Half posted the in park characters and locations before the race, that may not happen again. At least then I knew the two stops I really wanted and made sure to push myself before, between, and especially after those stops.
Halloween candy has been out for 2 weeks here in CT!
