Disney Marathon Goal But No Clue How

[ExtinctJenn]

This week I decided to take control of my weight and my health. I've started a weight management plan and have begun to focus on eating more healthy etc. etc. As soon as I can I plan to head up to Rack Room to buy a new pair of sneakers so I can start walking/jogging in the mornings before work.

Planning all this out and mentally prepping for it all lead me to a decision... my goal is to be in one of the Disney marathons. Here's my problem... all I know about them is that they exist and people run in them (LOL). I found the official site that has a page about each but before I really get into deciding which one to aim for, I wanted to ask all of you some questions and your opinions...

1. What is your favorite marathon and why?
2. To participate in a marathon do you need park tickets?
3. Does it cost anything to participate?
4. What are the benefits of running in a Disney marathon over any other (outside of the obvious factor of getting to run around my favorite place in the world)?
5. Is there any sort of special recognition for running in a marathon?
   • What if you win?

I know these questions are probably answered all over this forum but finding all the information in one place was proving difficult so I'm hoping you all can help! Thanks in advance!

 

[imagination30]

hi , welcome to the community . we are one big runing family here that are disney NUTs!.. congrds on your Goal.. just stick with it and it will be fun.. and we will be here to support you along the way.. i love it here.. made some new friends as well.. --
http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/wdw-marathon/
that should get you set!
and as galloway says " see you out on the course"

 

[JillC LI]

This week I decided to take control of my weight and my health. I've started a weight management plan and have begun to focus on eating more healthy etc. etc. As soon as I can I plan to head up to Rack Room to buy a new pair of sneakers so I can start walking/jogging in the mornings before work.

Planning all this out and mentally prepping for it all lead me to a decision... my goal is to be in one of the Disney marathons. Here's my problem... all I know about them is that they exist and people run in them (LOL). I found the official site that has a page about each but before I really get into deciding which one to aim for, I wanted to ask all of you some questions and your opinions...

1. What is your favorite marathon and why?
2. To participate in a marathon do you need park tickets?
3. Does it cost anything to participate?
4. What are the benefits of running in a Disney marathon over any other (outside of the obvious factor of getting to run around my favorite place in the world)?
5. Is there any sort of special recognition for running in a marathon?
   • What if you win?

I know these questions are probably answered all over this forum but finding all the information in one place was proving difficult so I'm hoping you all can help! Thanks in advance!

Good for you Jenn! Committing to running a marathon is the first and biggest step. As many on this forum will tell you, if we can do it, anyone can do it. I was the kid who had a doctor's note in high school saying that I had "bad knees" so I could avoid running the dreaded Mile. But at age 36 I trained for and completed the NYC Marathon. It just takes time and commitment, and realistic expectations. I will never win a race, and I couldn't care less. That's not why most of us run.

If you are a Disney fan, a Disney marathon is a great place to start. There's tons of support and fun things on the course including character meet & greet photo opps. There is a hefty fee to participate, but most marathons do. I have run a Disney race, but not the marathon, so others will be better able to give you details about that race. If you decide to do it, I highly recommend a book called The Non-Runners Guide to the Marathon" by David Whitsett. It prepared you mentally to go along with the physical training. Then pick a good beginner's marathon training plan, and stick with it. However, first get started as you described with a good pair of running shoes, and build a solid base. In my opinion, it is harder going from being able to run 0 miles tobeing able to run 3 miles than it is to go from 3 to 26.2! Good luck!

 

[Texas84]

What is your favorite marathon and why?

1. To participate in a marathon do you need park tickets?
2. Does it cost anything to participate?
3. What are the benefits of running in a Disney marathon over any other (outside of the obvious factor of getting to run around my favorite place in the world)?
4. Is there any sort of special recognition for running in a marathon?
   • What if you win?

Start off with a WDW 5K to get a feel for it. They are low stress and made for fun. Do a few half marathons before your full marathon.

I like the night runs for the after party.

1) Nope
2) Oh yes! Not cheap.
3) Running with 20-30,000 Disney freaks. The volunteers are great and really keep you going.
4) Cool medal for everyone!

Good luck!

 

[Kristia]

This week I decided to take control of my weight and my health. I've started a weight management plan and have begun to focus on eating more healthy etc. etc. As soon as I can I plan to head up to Rack Room to buy a new pair of sneakers so I can start walking/jogging in the mornings before work.

Planning all this out and mentally prepping for it all lead me to a decision... my goal is to be in one of the Disney marathons. Here's my problem... all I know about them is that they exist and people run in them (LOL). I found the official site that has a page about each but before I really get into deciding which one to aim for, I wanted to ask all of you some questions and your opinions...

1. What is your favorite marathon and why?
2. To participate in a marathon do you need park tickets?
3. Does it cost anything to participate?
4. What are the benefits of running in a Disney marathon over any other (outside of the obvious factor of getting to run around my favorite place in the world)?
5. Is there any sort of special recognition for running in a marathon?
   • What if you win?

I know these questions are probably answered all over this forum but finding all the information in one place was proving difficult so I'm hoping you all can help! Thanks in advance!

Hi and welcome to the running forum! This is a great place to get running advice from those who have all levels of experience and abilities.
1. So far I have only done the full marathon at Disney, so it is my favorite so far!
2. No but if you want to visit the parks after the race you need tickets. Although you run through the parks, you start and finish outside.
3. Yeah, they cost alot but I think they are worth it. Alot of the bigger marathons are pretty comparable in price. The price for the marathon this year is anywhere from $150-$190 depending on when you sign up. The longer you wait the more expensive.
4. Disney races have people of all abilities from elite athletes to people completing their first race. Some run the whole way, some walk the whole way and some run/walk. I really have no desire to do a full marathon outside Disney. The whole reason I started running was to complete the 2011 marathon and amazingly I have kept up the running and will be doing the Goofy Challenge in 2013. Disney races are just so much fun and have so many diversions that I need to keep my mind off the fact that I am running a marathon! There is so much spectator support which is awesome too. You can also stop for character visits and pics! What other marathon has that?!
4. Not sure what you get if you win, but that will never happen for me! I compete with myself and just run for fun and to better my times.

Good luck in reaching your goals! I think Jill said that she found it harder to go from 0-3 miles than 3-26 and I totally agree! Getting moving is the first step. Don't worry about speed. That will come later. I started with Couch to 5k plan and then started marathon training. Before the marathon, I only had some 5ks and a 5 mile race under my belt. I had planned to do a half marathon in the fall but an injury sidelined me. It may not be for everyone to go straight to a marathon but I was determined and it worked for me.

First step is go to a running store and get properly fitted for shoes. You will avoid alot of injuries this way! They aren't cheap but it is soooooo worth it! Check out the Couch to 5k program on coolrunning.com. It is free and I know the smartphones have apps that go with it. Good luck and you can do it! Floating around the trip report section is my marathon trip report. Check it out if you want to see how much fun the marathon can be!

 

[Ariel484]

This week I decided to take control of my weight and my health. I've started a weight management plan and have begun to focus on eating more healthy etc. etc. As soon as I can I plan to head up to Rack Room to buy a new pair of sneakers so I can start walking/jogging in the mornings before work.

Planning all this out and mentally prepping for it all lead me to a decision... my goal is to be in one of the Disney marathons. Here's my problem... all I know about them is that they exist and people run in them (LOL). I found the official site that has a page about each but before I really get into deciding which one to aim for, I wanted to ask all of you some questions and your opinions...

1. What is your favorite marathon and why?
2. To participate in a marathon do you need park tickets?
3. Does it cost anything to participate?
4. What are the benefits of running in a Disney marathon over any other (outside of the obvious factor of getting to run around my favorite place in the world)?
5. Is there any sort of special recognition for running in a marathon?
   • What if you win?

I know these questions are probably answered all over this forum but finding all the information in one place was proving difficult so I'm hoping you all can help! Thanks in advance!

Hi and welcome!

Check out this article on RunnersWorld.com from someone wanting to run their first marathon...good advice here:

http://beginners.runnersworld.com/2012/07/10-tips-for-beginning-marathoners.html

I don't have much to add to what has already been said...getting fitted for shoes at a running store is definitely step 1. And when you start running, RUN SLOWLY. It is going to take your cardiovascular system time to adjust.

As for your questions...

1. I ran the 2011 Princess Half and the 2012 WDW Full marathon and loved both. You can check out my marathon trip report...the link is in my signature. There is a link in that report to my 2011 Princess Half report.
2. As others have said, you don't need park tickets to participate.
3. Yes..expect to pay at least $120. This is pretty much in line with other big races.
4. There is nothing better if you are a runner and Disney fan. The environment is fun and supportive, there is tons of entertainment, great volunteers and course support (water stops are always full, for example), the tech shirts are nice, and the finisher medals are great. The races are expensive, but you get what you pay for.
5. Everyone who finishes gets a finisher medal. Most of the times the winners of marathons will get a cash prize...I am not sure if Disney does this too.

Good luck! I agree with Texas84 that a 5k is a good place to start...you can almost certainly find one at home most weekends for less than $20. Check out the Couch-to-5k training plan...I used it 4 years ago and haven't looked back!

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

And good luck with the weight loss as well.

 

[dreamfinder]

1. What is your favorite marathon and why?
2. To participate in a marathon do you need park tickets?
3. Does it cost anything to participate?
4. What are the benefits of running in a Disney marathon over any other (outside of the obvious factor of getting to run around my favorite place in the world)?
5. Is there any sort of special recognition for running in a marathon?
   • What if you win?

I know these questions are probably answered all over this forum but finding all the information in one place was proving difficult so I'm hoping you all can help! Thanks in advance!

First off, congrats on deciding to take the first step. That's half the battle.

Splitting hairs, RunDisney technically only does 1 marathon. A bunch of half marathons, and a few other random distances. So if you want a full marathon experience, then January is the time to go. If you are open to doing a half, thats a bit more down to themeing. Lots of women like the Tinkerbell half in DL and the Princess Half in WDW. They cater towards women, and are something like 95% female. I know that some people prefer to do something like that for their first race as they feel a little more comfortable. Wine & Dine half and Tower of Terror 10 miler are both at night, which is a unique experience. Disneyland half is ok, but by all accounts nothing special when compared to the WDW races.

You don't need park tickets to participate in the races.

It costs plenty. I think the 5ks are around $55 per now, with the longer races closer to $150. To put that in perspective, I can run a local marathon for the same cost as a 5k in WDW.

Benefits? The courses are pretty gosh darn flat. RunDisney events attract runners of all skill sets, and plenty of people have never run a full marathon before. They do a good job of providing plenty of entertainment and character meeting spots on course. The volunteers are great. And, you get to run through all sorts of places at WDW you normally never see.

Special recognition? Awesome bling. Thats about it. Plenty of CMs and other people will congratulate you if you wear your medal around the park the next day.
Winners get a pretty cool set of mouse ears w/ivy crown, and massive Mickey Mouse trophy. Thats only the top 3 overall I believe. They do have something for the top 3 in each category, not sure what it is as I have never won that (and those get sent to the runners house, not awarded at the race)

 

[JillC LI]

Good luck in reaching your goals! I think Jill said that she found it harder to go from 0-3 miles than 3-26 and I totally agree!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has felt that way!

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Thank you all SO much for these incredible responses. I am one of those newbies who went into this idea that all I'd need to do is get good sneakers, lose the weight and maybe start jogging around the block here and there so this information is invaluable. That said, I think I'm honestly even more motivated now to do this. Like some of you said, being that this will probably be my first official run of any type, I'll probably start with a half marathon or one of the random non-full distance ones. I had no idea there were the little goodies and character greets along the way etc. so that helps even more toward the motivation list. I'd love to see some more responses too so keep them coming! Hearing everyone's preferences on which run to do is great too!

 

[Ariel484]

Thank you all SO much for these incredible responses. I am one of those newbies who went into this idea that all I'd need to do is get good sneakers, lose the weight and maybe start jogging around the block here and there so this information is invaluable. That said, I think I'm honestly even more motivated now to do this. Like some of you said, being that this will probably be my first official run of any type, I'll probably start with a half marathon or one of the random non-full distance ones. I had no idea there were the little goodies and character greets along the way etc. so that helps even more toward the motivation list. I'd love to see some more responses too so keep them coming! Hearing everyone's preferences on which run to do is great too!

If you like the characters, check out the link in my signature to my 2012 marathon trip report...characters galore!

 

[ExtinctJenn]

If you like the characters, check out the link in my signature to my 2012 marathon trip report...characters galore!

You got it!

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Ok so #1 - I just read your trip report and it totally inspired me! I had no idea the marathons were such "events!"

#2 - I found the official runDisney site and started checking it out. I now realize that the Tink run is at Disneyland not WDW (sadness) so after reading more about it, I think I have set a goal of starting with a Princess Half-Marathon. Now... a huge part of me wishes I could do the 2013 one but I'm not sure finances will allow it. The race is the day before my 36th birthday and it'd be a great motivator to continue my healthy habits throughout 2013. While we're hoping to make a 2013 trip, it is dependent on our lovely 2012 Tax return and there's no way I'll have that in time to register and book the trip.

I really love the fact that on that weekend there are little things that kids can do. I'd love to get my son into one of the kid's runs and have him get into the idea of running now while he's so young. It can't do anything but benefit him as he grows up!

I printed the 'official' training guide for the Princess run to just get an idea what "training" is all about. I've also checked out the Couch to 5K site (thanks everyone for that). Soon as I can get myself a good pair of shoes I am going to start getting active and get my body used to it before I start any sort of training. Thank you SO much everyone for the answers and support! I'm excited!

 

[dreamfinder]

Keep hanging out around here and keep chiming in on your progress. We are a friendly bunch and won't bite (Well, Nick may if he just did a 100 miler, but he will apologize afterwards). Good luck going forwards!

 

[Ariel484]

Ok so #1 - I just read your trip report and it totally inspired me! I had no idea the marathons were such "events!"

Yep! I had no idea Disney even HAD races until I read another WDWMagic member's report.

#2 - I found the official runDisney site and started checking it out. I now realize that the Tink run is at Disneyland not WDW (sadness) so after reading more about it, I think I have set a goal of starting with a Princess Half-Marathon. Now... a huge part of me wishes I could do the 2013 one but I'm not sure finances will allow it. The race is the day before my 36th birthday and it'd be a great motivator to continue my healthy habits throughout 2013. While we're hoping to make a 2013 trip, it is dependent on our lovely 2012 Tax return and there's no way I'll have that in time to register and book the trip.

I really love the fact that on that weekend there are little things that kids can do. I'd love to get my son into one of the kid's runs and have him get into the idea of running now while he's so young. It can't do anything but benefit him as he grows up!

The Princess Half will be a great first race for you. I ran it in 2011 and it was SO fun! And I can't be sure (as I have not run a race at Disneyland...yet), but I have heard that people like the WDW races better than the ones at Disneyland. And yes, the races are expensive, so finances is a big concern. I think they only offer registration discounts for the marathon weekend in January (if you have a Disney Visa) so the best way to save money for the Princess is to register early - as time goes on, the prices will increase. You can find those increase dates on runDisney.com.

That would be so fun if your son ran a race too! I am pretty sure that kids get a t-shirt and rubber medallion after completing a race...I bet he would love that!

I printed the 'official' training guide for the Princess run to just get an idea what "training" is all about. I've also checked out the Couch to 5K site (thanks everyone for that). Soon as I can get myself a good pair of shoes I am going to start getting active and get my body used to it before I start any sort of training. Thank you SO much everyone for the answers and support! I'm excited!

Good luck!!

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Thanks again everyone for the motivation! Since I'm pretty sure financially we won't be able to afford a trip in until maybe March or April (after the Princess Half) my goal is to run in the 2014 one. It's a ways off I know but I figure that gives me tons of time to get as much weight off as I can, get as healthy as I can, run as much as I can, train as much as I can, etc. Who knows... maybe I'll surprise myself and run in something else before that one. All I know is tomorrow night I'm buying a good set of sneakers and at least getting started with moving and getting out of the house... even if that means putting my DS6 into a baby stroller to do it! LOL!

 

[imagination30]

thought i would post this..
to give you a example..

 

[ExtinctJenn]

thought i would post this.. to give you a example..

Thank you for that!! I'm getting really pumped at this idea!

 

[imagination30]

ive been ready for a while to bad i cant do it in jan.. - but that makes christmas 2014 very special for me now knowing that i have a big christmas trip planned!