Texas84
Well-Known Member
I should have been reading this site from WDW. I was over being placed in O but now I'm angry again. Thanks.
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
I should have been reading this site from WDW. I was over being placed in O but now I'm angry again. Thanks.
Mad Stitch
Well-Known Member
So how did that small out and back in front of Splash Mountain work out? It was had to tell the path from the map.
Texas84
Well-Known Member
RandomPrincess
Keep Moving Forward
My husband and kids after they finished up all the races on Sunday. My kids did the dash and mile and my husband did the Dopey challenge. I must say it was very inspiring watching all the finishers during the marathon of Sunday.
imagination30
Well-Known Member
i didnt get up and watch some of the marathon in 2014 , but i did make it my goal to get up and go support the marathoners this year and it was amaizing experience!! ,, and disney at christmas is wonderful! .. got a pic with tweedle dum and dee and the in fron tof the caslte during the half!
DrewmanS
Well-Known Member
Ran my first marathon. The warm temperatures and high humidity took its toll on all of us. I trained to finish in 4:15, but completed it in 4:47. Many of the runners I started with were still near me at the end.
The crowds cheering were a huge motivator. I felt like a rock star running down Main Street. I didn't expect such a crowd in the stadium at WWoS (right at my lowest point during the race). Park guest stopping to watch and cheer in DHS. My family was with a large and loud group cheering us on the boardwalk. Finally, making the final turn out of EPCOT and seeing and hearing the crowds down the final stretch was incredible. My GPS shows me sprinting to the finish and I didn't even realize it. A big thank you to all of those who supported the runners. I might still be on the course if not for all of you!
The crowds cheering were a huge motivator. I felt like a rock star running down Main Street. I didn't expect such a crowd in the stadium at WWoS (right at my lowest point during the race). Park guest stopping to watch and cheer in DHS. My family was with a large and loud group cheering us on the boardwalk. Finally, making the final turn out of EPCOT and seeing and hearing the crowds down the final stretch was incredible. My GPS shows me sprinting to the finish and I didn't even realize it. A big thank you to all of those who supported the runners. I might still be on the course if not for all of you!
Greenlawler
Well-Known Member
All right I guess this is where we do race reports? I do a lot of writing so this will get wordy.
Arrived at Wilderness Lodge on Wednesday and took off for the Expo, love the WL, we had never stayed there before. We had a great room, with a great view. I think it is now my third favorite resort. At the Expo I picked up the new Dumbo shoes, I had no idea these were coming out. They look and feel great.
So I ran the Dopey and ran the 5k, 10k with my wife and a friend.
My biggest concern was being on a non-monorail resort for the first time in all of our years.
We dragged out of bed at 4:00 for the 5k and 3:45 for the 10k caught buses easily and had plenty of time to rest in our coral.
We took these early races easy, the weather for the 10k was rainy but it was still only a 6 mile jaunt so it did not bother us too bad and most of the entertainment was still out when we ran by. As far as the entertainment went all the early races were above average on the course entertainment. Lots of characters to meet, and maybe the biggest variety ever. We stopped for many of them and cared less about our time.
Decided for the half to do the same thing, and take it easy, but with the numbers almost doubling for the half I decided we needed to leave at 3:30 for the half. We caught a bus immediately, and my wife started giving me a hard time about me worrying so much about missing the race.....then THE BUS broke down! Seriously.
It got really tense as people started calculating how long it would take for us to walk to the start line from where we were stranded. Some people started getting mouthy but others calmed them. The bus driver got a hold of the station immediately and they went to work helping. To their credit the bus system was ready for this they were in constant communication with the driver trying to make sure we got to the race on time. We were on the front row so I heard everything. They were determined to get us there.
Another bus pulled up about a block away on another street and we were escorted to it. We arrived at our coral with plenty of time. I would estimate the whole fiasco took about 30 minutes.
The biggest snafu seemed to be the bag check that line was eternal, so I simply folded our clear bag up and wore my hoodie. Skipped that line and safely made it to our coral by 4:55. Anyways nothing else really special about the half, we again took it easy. Characters were once again great! Oogie Boogie out for the half was super cool. Seemed like characters were everywhere.
So everything was going according to schedule, none of us felt worse for wear on Saturday and we took the day off to rest for Sunday. We went to Riverside to do the Create Your Own Pasta deal and that's when our little pleasant trip suddenly changed.
I have this thing about Riverside, our last two trips there ended in disaster: Stomach bug for all five of us and an ER by ambulance trip the next time for our youngest. So I should have known.....
For the rest of the weekend it was one small disaster after another
We left our backpack on the bus, which held about $400 of our money, luckily three hours later we got a call from MK saying they had it, whew.
Went to bed early, and slept peacefully until 11:30 when I started getting texts from some stranger, and could not sleep till well after midnight. Woke up tired at 3:15 because now after "busgate" we were paranoid.
Went to my coral and actually slept for 30 minutes. I had trained to run a 3:55 but as soon as the race started I knew I was in trouble. It was just one of those days. I was sweating profusely at mile 2. The 3:35 pace team left me in the dust by mile 3. My stomach started hurting at mile 4. I was still running 8:30 minute miles but by mile 6 I was creeping up to 8:45. That's when nausea set in, I was dehydrated and I knew it. I would get water and it would settle my stomach, for about half a mile. I knew I had to slow down or I would be risking my health. I had no clue it was so humid.
I was drinking two cups of water at every station by mile 10, and I was running 9 minute miles at this point.
I decided to just get to 13 and then see what happened, I still had an outside dream of getting a sub 4. But when I arrived at 13 I knew there was no way, without collapsing first. So It was decision time, swallow my pride and stay healthy or push myself and risk my health? I chose wisely.
The 4:00 pace team passed me by sometime around mile 14.
Even if I had tried to push for that sub 4 there is no way I could have done it. I was spent. By mile 15 I was lucky to be doing 11 minute miles. Then my hamstrings started to go, and the nausea was not going away. Heard my first ambulance at mile 17, and saw a collapsed man at mile 18 with paramedics working on his chest. Suddenly I was reminded of and, very aware how dangerous this thing is.
At mile 20 I could hardly run, 13 minute miles at best. Nausea and leg pain running wild, took more and more water, and was even drinking powerade by then. This is a far cry from the easy 3:49 I ran just one year ago! What the heck happened? I did not think my training was that off? I mean I can remember still running sub-9 minute miles at mile 20 last year.
Maybe it was the humidity at race start? Maybe it was my 15 extra pounds, or maybe I just did not hydrate as well as years prior.
Heard my first "You're almost there" at mile 19...seriously 19? I mean I had 7 freakin miles to go!
Anyways the 4:35 pace team schooled me at mile 20 and I was starting to worry I would end up in the 5 hour group. But at this point I was hurting so bad I just wanted to finish. This has never happened to me. Even when I was a much slower runner I had never felt this waisted. I started looking down just barreling forward which caused pain in my back and shoulders.
Thankfully I found a rhythm at mile 22 just shuffling along at a steady 13 minute mile pace. It was still a challenge and I knew I could not go any faster by this point even if a wild boar was behind me. I entered Epcot just welling up with tears (I know, I know drama king right). I could not conceive how miserable I was. Then I got to the finish and I "acted fine" for the bleachers. Waved at the announcers for them to acknowledge my Titans shirt, which they always do, and limped forward to medical for water, ice, and massage not necessarily in that order.
I was relieved and content with a 4:47 finish. But amazed at how I had fell so short of last year. It had to be dinner at Riverside, right?
But it gets worse
My wife had even a worse race than I, and suffered a stress fracture at mile 17, of course she had no clue she had done that she just felt pain she endured. She limped all the from 17 to 26. Finishing at 6:35.
So that night we had plans for Ohana and Trader Sams.....
Our friend was sick and stayed in, my wife got sick while there, and I was the only one who ate. We went in early at 7:00 and I sat on our balcony by myself watching people.
Next day we still tried to do the parks, in fact we did all four, it was our best day. Everest, Festival of Lion King, Tower of Terror, Toy Story, Grand Fiesta and LeCellier, and Wishes to cap off the night.
On the return flight I sat next to a screaming two year old the entire time, I developed a fever somewhere over Georgia, the airport lost our luggage, and my truck would not start when we got to the lot. Took the wife to the doc and got her boot after waiting 3 hours at the office.
On the other hand, I am alive, our luggage is back with us, my truck is fine, my wife is in good spirits, and I am looking forward to next year! LOL But I will never step foot in Riverside again...hahahaha
Arrived at Wilderness Lodge on Wednesday and took off for the Expo, love the WL, we had never stayed there before. We had a great room, with a great view. I think it is now my third favorite resort. At the Expo I picked up the new Dumbo shoes, I had no idea these were coming out. They look and feel great.
So I ran the Dopey and ran the 5k, 10k with my wife and a friend.
My biggest concern was being on a non-monorail resort for the first time in all of our years.
We dragged out of bed at 4:00 for the 5k and 3:45 for the 10k caught buses easily and had plenty of time to rest in our coral.
We took these early races easy, the weather for the 10k was rainy but it was still only a 6 mile jaunt so it did not bother us too bad and most of the entertainment was still out when we ran by. As far as the entertainment went all the early races were above average on the course entertainment. Lots of characters to meet, and maybe the biggest variety ever. We stopped for many of them and cared less about our time.
Decided for the half to do the same thing, and take it easy, but with the numbers almost doubling for the half I decided we needed to leave at 3:30 for the half. We caught a bus immediately, and my wife started giving me a hard time about me worrying so much about missing the race.....then THE BUS broke down! Seriously.
It got really tense as people started calculating how long it would take for us to walk to the start line from where we were stranded. Some people started getting mouthy but others calmed them. The bus driver got a hold of the station immediately and they went to work helping. To their credit the bus system was ready for this they were in constant communication with the driver trying to make sure we got to the race on time. We were on the front row so I heard everything. They were determined to get us there.
Another bus pulled up about a block away on another street and we were escorted to it. We arrived at our coral with plenty of time. I would estimate the whole fiasco took about 30 minutes.
The biggest snafu seemed to be the bag check that line was eternal, so I simply folded our clear bag up and wore my hoodie. Skipped that line and safely made it to our coral by 4:55. Anyways nothing else really special about the half, we again took it easy. Characters were once again great! Oogie Boogie out for the half was super cool. Seemed like characters were everywhere.
So everything was going according to schedule, none of us felt worse for wear on Saturday and we took the day off to rest for Sunday. We went to Riverside to do the Create Your Own Pasta deal and that's when our little pleasant trip suddenly changed.
I have this thing about Riverside, our last two trips there ended in disaster: Stomach bug for all five of us and an ER by ambulance trip the next time for our youngest. So I should have known.....
For the rest of the weekend it was one small disaster after another
We left our backpack on the bus, which held about $400 of our money, luckily three hours later we got a call from MK saying they had it, whew.
Went to bed early, and slept peacefully until 11:30 when I started getting texts from some stranger, and could not sleep till well after midnight. Woke up tired at 3:15 because now after "busgate" we were paranoid.
Went to my coral and actually slept for 30 minutes. I had trained to run a 3:55 but as soon as the race started I knew I was in trouble. It was just one of those days. I was sweating profusely at mile 2. The 3:35 pace team left me in the dust by mile 3. My stomach started hurting at mile 4. I was still running 8:30 minute miles but by mile 6 I was creeping up to 8:45. That's when nausea set in, I was dehydrated and I knew it. I would get water and it would settle my stomach, for about half a mile. I knew I had to slow down or I would be risking my health. I had no clue it was so humid.
I was drinking two cups of water at every station by mile 10, and I was running 9 minute miles at this point.
I decided to just get to 13 and then see what happened, I still had an outside dream of getting a sub 4. But when I arrived at 13 I knew there was no way, without collapsing first. So It was decision time, swallow my pride and stay healthy or push myself and risk my health? I chose wisely.
The 4:00 pace team passed me by sometime around mile 14.
Even if I had tried to push for that sub 4 there is no way I could have done it. I was spent. By mile 15 I was lucky to be doing 11 minute miles. Then my hamstrings started to go, and the nausea was not going away. Heard my first ambulance at mile 17, and saw a collapsed man at mile 18 with paramedics working on his chest. Suddenly I was reminded of and, very aware how dangerous this thing is.
At mile 20 I could hardly run, 13 minute miles at best. Nausea and leg pain running wild, took more and more water, and was even drinking powerade by then. This is a far cry from the easy 3:49 I ran just one year ago! What the heck happened? I did not think my training was that off? I mean I can remember still running sub-9 minute miles at mile 20 last year.
Maybe it was the humidity at race start? Maybe it was my 15 extra pounds, or maybe I just did not hydrate as well as years prior.
Heard my first "You're almost there" at mile 19...seriously 19? I mean I had 7 freakin miles to go!
Anyways the 4:35 pace team schooled me at mile 20 and I was starting to worry I would end up in the 5 hour group. But at this point I was hurting so bad I just wanted to finish. This has never happened to me. Even when I was a much slower runner I had never felt this waisted. I started looking down just barreling forward which caused pain in my back and shoulders.
Thankfully I found a rhythm at mile 22 just shuffling along at a steady 13 minute mile pace. It was still a challenge and I knew I could not go any faster by this point even if a wild boar was behind me. I entered Epcot just welling up with tears (I know, I know drama king right). I could not conceive how miserable I was. Then I got to the finish and I "acted fine" for the bleachers. Waved at the announcers for them to acknowledge my Titans shirt, which they always do, and limped forward to medical for water, ice, and massage not necessarily in that order.
I was relieved and content with a 4:47 finish. But amazed at how I had fell so short of last year. It had to be dinner at Riverside, right?
But it gets worse
My wife had even a worse race than I, and suffered a stress fracture at mile 17, of course she had no clue she had done that she just felt pain she endured. She limped all the from 17 to 26. Finishing at 6:35.
So that night we had plans for Ohana and Trader Sams.....
Our friend was sick and stayed in, my wife got sick while there, and I was the only one who ate. We went in early at 7:00 and I sat on our balcony by myself watching people.
Next day we still tried to do the parks, in fact we did all four, it was our best day. Everest, Festival of Lion King, Tower of Terror, Toy Story, Grand Fiesta and LeCellier, and Wishes to cap off the night.
On the return flight I sat next to a screaming two year old the entire time, I developed a fever somewhere over Georgia, the airport lost our luggage, and my truck would not start when we got to the lot. Took the wife to the doc and got her boot after waiting 3 hours at the office.
On the other hand, I am alive, our luggage is back with us, my truck is fine, my wife is in good spirits, and I am looking forward to next year! LOL But I will never step foot in Riverside again...hahahaha
Texas84
Well-Known Member
@Greenlawler, you know, dealing with the issues is part of the experience and overcoming them makes it more special.
Way to hang in there!
Way to hang in there!
surfsupdon
Well-Known Member
Great work everybody. Love that you got to run and compete.
I'm about due for my first Dopey.
I'm about due for my first Dopey.
JillC LI
Well-Known Member
Congrats @DrewmanS on your first marathon.
I'm sorry about all your struggles @Greenlawler, but I'm glad that you and your wife were able to finish the race and that in the end, you put a positive spin on everything:
I'm sorry about all your struggles @Greenlawler, but I'm glad that you and your wife were able to finish the race and that in the end, you put a positive spin on everything:
dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
So did my Dopey, some of my more fun races even though my times were far from being remotely close to anything I'm happy with. Stopped for every character during the half, and almost all of then during the full. Ended up doing the 5k/10k with my DW and DM at my DMs pace, so all 4 ended up being some variation of run/walk. This meant I was remarkably pain free and had no problems the rest of the week post race. My DS slept through his kids race in the carrier, and then proceeded to wake up the minute I walked across the finish line with him.
Was impressed a bit with the characters. A bunch of randoms/rares popped up, and large amounts of couples/groups as well. The only downside was they seemed to swap out the pairs both at once which meant time when the runners were just waiting.
Character recap
5K
Chip/Dale road by the boneyard
Rafiki in Africa outpost
Bolt in USA
Marie in France
Lilo/Stitch (swapped out) by Character Spot (normal Chip/Dale M&G location)
10K
Anna/Elsa on overpass ~.25M
Darkwing/Launchpad ~.6M
Atta/Flik 1M
Mulan/Mushu - China
Remy/Emile - France
Mike/Sully - ESPN Club
Tweedles - International Gateay
Phineas/Ferb - Character Spot
Half
Wreck it Ralph/Venelope by old speedway turn
Oogie Boogie
Mike/Sully in Tommorowland
Tweedles/Queen of Hearts - Teacups
Mime/Villains from Rapunzel FoF float by Friars Nook
Anna/Elsa on castle
Clarabelle Cow by Country Bears
Hook/Smee/Peter Pan/Wendy/Lost Boys w/Pan FoF float by parade barn (along with Croc float)
Mary Poppins/Bert/Penguins by GF
Stitch
Golf Goofy
Random streetmosphere golfers fighting Ginger
Green army men - hill to overpass
Tourist Genie - By Showcase Plaza where we round the planter
Full
Chicken Little/Abby Mallard - by old speedway straight
Wreck it Ralph/Venelope by old speedway turn
Jack/Sally
Lilo/Stich in Tomorrowland
White Rabbit/Alice - Teacups
Sebastian/Ariel w/legs - Ariel ride
Cogsworth - Belle's cottage
Anna/Elsa/Kristoff on castle
Louis/Tiana/Naveen - Liberty Square
Liver Lips/Big Al/?? - Country Bears
Bear Rabbit/Brer Bear/Brer Fox - Briar Patch gift store
Malificent float from FoF w/stilt walkers/dancers by parade barn
Mary Poppins
Golf Goofy
Random streetmosphere golfers fighting Ginger
Hades - After turn right off world drive heading towards AK
Old Hag (break just when I got there)
Shan-Yu (ditto)
Jack Sparrow/Barbosa w/pirate ship just before sewage treatment
Jafar (just before new dogleg)
Random streetmosphere tourists w/RV at end of dogleg
Timon - backstage at AK
King Louie/Baloo in Asiaish
Brer Bear just before Dinorama exit gate
Grave diggers ~14.6M
Phineas/Ferb
Koda/Kenai ~16.6M
Soccer Mickey bottom of WWoS stairs
Baseball Donald WWoS
ref/ump Chip&Dale WWoS
Random streetmosphere fishermen WWoS
Green Army men - DHS overpass
The Incredibles - DHS backstage before tunnel
Boo - DHS after tunnel
Sully - by Monster Inc M&G
Tourist Genie - Atlantic Dance Club area
Aurora - France
Belle - France
Jasmie - Morocco
Snow White - Germany
Mulan - China
Uncle Scrooge - Showcase plaza area
Was impressed a bit with the characters. A bunch of randoms/rares popped up, and large amounts of couples/groups as well. The only downside was they seemed to swap out the pairs both at once which meant time when the runners were just waiting.
Character recap
5K
Chip/Dale road by the boneyard
Rafiki in Africa outpost
Bolt in USA
Marie in France
Lilo/Stitch (swapped out) by Character Spot (normal Chip/Dale M&G location)
10K
Anna/Elsa on overpass ~.25M
Darkwing/Launchpad ~.6M
Atta/Flik 1M
Mulan/Mushu - China
Remy/Emile - France
Mike/Sully - ESPN Club
Tweedles - International Gateay
Phineas/Ferb - Character Spot
Half
Wreck it Ralph/Venelope by old speedway turn
Oogie Boogie
Mike/Sully in Tommorowland
Tweedles/Queen of Hearts - Teacups
Mime/Villains from Rapunzel FoF float by Friars Nook
Anna/Elsa on castle
Clarabelle Cow by Country Bears
Hook/Smee/Peter Pan/Wendy/Lost Boys w/Pan FoF float by parade barn (along with Croc float)
Mary Poppins/Bert/Penguins by GF
Stitch
Golf Goofy
Random streetmosphere golfers fighting Ginger
Green army men - hill to overpass
Tourist Genie - By Showcase Plaza where we round the planter
Full
Chicken Little/Abby Mallard - by old speedway straight
Wreck it Ralph/Venelope by old speedway turn
Jack/Sally
Lilo/Stich in Tomorrowland
White Rabbit/Alice - Teacups
Sebastian/Ariel w/legs - Ariel ride
Cogsworth - Belle's cottage
Anna/Elsa/Kristoff on castle
Louis/Tiana/Naveen - Liberty Square
Liver Lips/Big Al/?? - Country Bears
Bear Rabbit/Brer Bear/Brer Fox - Briar Patch gift store
Malificent float from FoF w/stilt walkers/dancers by parade barn
Mary Poppins
Golf Goofy
Random streetmosphere golfers fighting Ginger
Hades - After turn right off world drive heading towards AK
Old Hag (break just when I got there)
Shan-Yu (ditto)
Jack Sparrow/Barbosa w/pirate ship just before sewage treatment
Jafar (just before new dogleg)
Random streetmosphere tourists w/RV at end of dogleg
Timon - backstage at AK
King Louie/Baloo in Asiaish
Brer Bear just before Dinorama exit gate
Grave diggers ~14.6M
Phineas/Ferb
Koda/Kenai ~16.6M
Soccer Mickey bottom of WWoS stairs
Baseball Donald WWoS
ref/ump Chip&Dale WWoS
Random streetmosphere fishermen WWoS
Green Army men - DHS overpass
The Incredibles - DHS backstage before tunnel
Boo - DHS after tunnel
Sully - by Monster Inc M&G
Tourist Genie - Atlantic Dance Club area
Aurora - France
Belle - France
Jasmie - Morocco
Snow White - Germany
Mulan - China
Uncle Scrooge - Showcase plaza area
JillC LI
Well-Known Member
What a comprehensive list! Glad to hear you had fun and remained pain-free in your non-Minnie-Dopey! Kudos.
Kermit262
Active Member
Greenlawler - looking at your training paces before the race, I would have bet money you would have cracked 4 hours. But don't feel too bad - I only beat my time last year by 42 seconds, and I was much faster throughout this year than last year. I should also have been close to 4 hours but finished at 4:50. First time I've ever had to walk in a race. Somedays, you just have a bad race. This was my bad race day. But I was thrilled I worked through it and was reminded all too well why they call this distance a marathon.
Greenlawler
Well-Known Member
Thanks, still clueless on why I was that far off. Just seems so weird, but next year is a new day.
lukacseven
Well-Known Member
Did anyone else get the email from runDisney regarding the January registration dates? It lists the Goofy Challenge as being the half marathon + 10K. $365 USD. Gotta be a typo.
Mad Stitch
Well-Known Member
Interesting, it may not be a typo. Ever since the Dopey Challenge was introduced it seemed like the Goofy Challenge was slow to sell out as most challenge runners upgraded to Dopey. Turning the Goofy Challenge into a half and 10k would make it comparable to the challenges in other race weekends and appeal to people who don't want to commit to a full marathon.
dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
I didn't get the email (Yet again. Disney, fix your communication mediums, please). But yeah, it's gotta be a typo. RunDisney.com still has events listed as
dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
Dopey, 10k, and 5k all on hold ~8 minutes after pre reg opened.
dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
12:30, the 10k and 5k have gone off and back on hold twice.