Marathon Weekend 2019

[PrincessV]

I turkey treadmilled.

Me too!

Hey everybody! So my IT band/left knee started hurting during my last long run (15 miles), I’ve been pushing on but today during my 6 miles I was only able to run 1.75, walk 2 miles, run walk the rest of the way. I have to run 16 this weekend but I don’t know how I’m going to do it. I need help, what can I do to strengthen my IT band while continuing my training? I’m training for the full.

If you haven't yet, start Googling ITBS - there's a ton of info out there and depending on what's causing it for you, there can be different kinds of remedies. I battle it chronically - have for decades. In my case, it has nothing to do with core/hip/glute strength (which is what's commonly known as the #1 cause), and everything to do with a physical deformity that can't be "fixed" (scoliosis) coupled with running cambered roads and sidewalks. For me, keeping it mostly at bay requires ALL of the following:
1. The right shoes - just enough stability, in just the right placement, to offset my unfixable wonky gait and cambered roads.
2. Foam rolling and targeted deep tissue massage: I foam roll my quads and supportive muscles around the IT Band (NEVER the IT Band itself!) every day, morning and night, plus before and after every run. I work out extreme tightness by rolling on a softball and/or using a power massager.
3. I strength train weekly, plus practice yoga and Pilates to keep the entire core chain strong and flexible.

I tried a new shoe for a half-marathon last week and both IT Bands protested loudly afterward. I needed to do 18 training miles yesterday, so I took this approach: walked the first 1/4 mile, did 30/30 intervals from there, and did an extra walk interval at each 1/2 mile. Just adding that little extra walking helped keep my IT Bands from freaking out and I got it done. (And I did it in better shoes, too.) Outer knees were a little sore after, but nothing really bad. ITBS is a beast, but try some things and see what works - it can get better, I promise!

Why do you need to get to the corrals so early? Can't you just roll in a half hour before your corral start time?

They need to move 10,000-25,000+ people from the main start area to the corrals, and then into the corrals, and that simply takes time.
In addition to what others have said, I'll add that every race, at least one bus gets lost and takes forever to get to the start. Leaving early helps ensure that if you wind up on that unlucky bus, you'll still arrive in time to start with your corral. And yes, if driving, roads close and traffic backs up: the later you hit the road, the more likely you are to wind up in a traffic jam. Once you make it to the start area, you'll find very, very long lines for porta-potties, so if there's any possibility you'll need one, work that into your time figuring, too.

Just curious because I didn't see an expiration date, but is there usually one for Clif Energy gels?

I can't remember if it was Clif or GU, but I had gels that were technically "expired" - I ate them anyway and it was fine! But I like to live on the edge.

Just had the realization that fairly soon we should see the weekend guide...It was sometime early Dec. last year right? For some reason the 8th comes to mind.

I had a not-quite-ready-for-prime-time link to it on Dec. 7 last year, so yeah - Dec. 8 is probably right for release! Waivers were Dec. 13.

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: I'm not a fan of Disney Springs. I have no interest in visiting a mall while at WDW, so most of it is lost on me. I do enjoy the parking garage, though, especially if it's a million degrees and I don't want my luggage baking in my car for hours, so I often opt to go there for lunch on arrival day, while waiting for my room to be ready.

 

[Jason Bryer]

Love hearing everyone's progress. Did my first 20 miler this weekend. It was 9 degrees when I started and had an ice cube form in my water bottle during the run. Two more 20 milers before 26.2. The last one will be two days before Christmas in Florida. Glad to have one training run in closer to race weather. Keep up the great work everyone!

 

[jhoannam]

Marathon weekend is fast approaching! When will we know our coral placement?

 

[jennamfeo]

This one time we got lost trying to find our way back to POR because apparently after a certain time they stop boating back and you have to take a bus that is all the way across Disney Springs. And then we got off on the wrong bus stop and ended up at POFQ instead of POR, so we stopped in a bar for a nightcap before walking back to POR.
And that's really all I have to say about Disney Springs.

Marathon training is stupid. And I can't even really complain because my longest scheduled run on this training plan is 14 miles, you guys with your 16-20 milers -- WOOF. But yesterday I did 12 miles and that's basically a HM and it didn't end with a medal and I was tired the whole rest of the day. Not sure why I thought this was a good idea.....

 

[apdebord]

I really like Disney Springs. The town center shopping is not a must-do, but I like to see the Disney items at kate spade. I'm also a sucker for the Lilly Pulitzer store as we do not have a stand-alone one at home.

I'm in the minority about disliking Homecoming and The Boathouse. It was a service issue both times. I enjoyed the apps at Homecoming, so I'd definitely go back to the bar. We went to lunch at The Boathouse and split an entree and the server was visibly upset about it; he kept trying to tell us we needed our own entrees. Very odd experience. But we would like to go down to the pier bar next trip.

I have done apps and drinks at The Edison and thought it was great. We really STK, Hangar Bar and Sprinkles too.

We plan to do a DS crawl during Marathon Weekend. I'm excited to try Wine Bar George and Paddlefish. I've never been to Paradiso, but willing to give it a shot. When I lived in Arlington, VA, Jaleo was a frequent stop on my walk home from the metro, so I'm sure once that opens it will be a great addition.

 

[rteetz]

Will Christmas stuff still be up for marathon weekend? (apologize if this was already discussed a few hundred pages ago...)

I am thinking MK will still have some stuff up but the resorts and other parks will be down.

 

[rteetz]

I'm in the minority about disliking Homecoming and The Boathouse. It was a service issue both times. I enjoyed the apps at Homecoming, so I'd definitely go back to the bar. We went to lunch at The Boathouse and split an entree and the server was visibly upset about it; he kept trying to tell us we needed our own entrees. Very odd experience. But we would like to go down to the pier bar next trip.

That is very weird. I suggest trying the Boathouse again if you can.

 

[Jason Bryer]

Marathon training is stupid. And I can't even really complain because my longest scheduled run on this training plan is 14 miles, you guys with your 16-20 milers -- WOOF. But yesterday I did 12 miles and that's basically a HM and it didn't end with a medal and I was tired the whole rest of the day. Not sure why I thought this was a good idea.....

This literally made me laugh out loud in my office. I have had the same thoughts. I have ran at least 15 half marathon or longer runs this year, and I have exactly two medals to show for it. And when I come home, my family isn't outside cheering me to the finish line. What's up with that?! I just ran 20 miles and now have a list of chores to do!!!

 

[cavepig]

Marathon training is stupid. And I can't even really complain because my longest scheduled run on this training plan is 14 miles, you guys with your 16-20 milers -- WOOF. But yesterday I did 12 miles and that's basically a HM and it didn't end with a medal and I was tired the whole rest of the day. Not sure why I thought this was a good idea.....

I have thoughts like this all the time as well especially now that we are in freezing snow wind cold here! But, It's a good idea because you'll be at the most magical place when you run it & all the stupid training will be so worth it. You'll get amazing bling & mouse ears & snack boxes galore & cool shirts & meet Dis people & run up Main St. that can be a tear producer & it will be the most wonderful time...of the year!

 

[pixarmom]

Disney Springs. I loved it when I was a kid and it was the Walt Disney World Village. In my last year of college, the All Star resorts opened and Pleasure Island was celebrating NYE every night - amazing deal for college students! Still liked it when our now-19-year old was a baby - we thought a great money-saving tradition would be to spend our arrival night at Downtown Disney. He loved it then when it was small and uncrowded and fun. It all went downhill from there. Now with three kids, everyone in our family has had a Downtown Disney/Disney Springs meltdown. Many occur at or near the Lego Store. Many occur on the bus to/fro, due to the myriad of transportation issues we've experienced. Several relate to that hot air balloon thing that either has a long line or is down - our youngest is obsessed. We can mitigate this - take a cab, tell our relatives to stop giving the boys Disney gift cards for birthdays and holidays, go when it's less crowded, find a time to do that hot air balloon thing. But it's easier to skip it, so no Disney Springs for us. Now if they would bring Pleasure Island back, my husband and I might consider it!

 

[Simba's Girl]

Marathon training is stupid. And I can't even really complain because my longest scheduled run on this training plan is 14 miles, you guys with your 16-20 milers -- WOOF. But yesterday I did 12 miles and that's basically a HM and it didn't end with a medal and I was tired the whole rest of the day. Not sure why I thought this was a good idea.....

My longest training runs are about right there with you mileage wise. When I did that run last Saturday I was all happy and stuff because I burned almost 1900 calories on it and we were going to 2nd Thanksgiving at ILs. Come to find out it wasn't really Thanksgiving food and I was so bummed because I wanted to stuff my face so bad.

 

[Keels]

I am thinking MK will still have some stuff up but the resorts and other parks will be down.

Yeah, I would be surprised if any of the resorts still have Christmas stuff up past Wednesday.

 

[JeffW]

Will Christmas stuff still be up for marathon weekend? (apologize if this was already discussed a few hundred pages ago...)

As others have mentioned, we'll be right on the border this year since the dates have shifted back out. The crews seem to work on a particular area at a time, so one resort may still have the decorations while another doesn't. I remember in 2013 checking into Wilderness Lodge and the lobby was completely decorated. We walked out of our room the next morning and there was nothing left. Overnight they had un-decorated the entire resort. It was crazy how efficient they were.

 

[rteetz]

As others have mentioned, we'll be right on the border this year since the dates have shifted back out. The crews seem to work on a particular area at a time, so one resort may still have the decorations while another doesn't. I remember in 2013 checking into Wilderness Lodge and the lobby was completely decorated. We walked out of our room the next morning and there was nothing left. Overnight they had un-decorated the entire resort. It was crazy how efficient they were.

Everything is done over night. The Holiday services team always does that to make sure there are minimal guest interruptions. Wilderness Lodge in particular people will spend the entire night in the lobby watching the team put everything up.

 

[jennamfeo]

It was crazy how efficient they were.

Meanwhile, I still have Halloween decorations up at my house....

 

[rteetz]

Meanwhile, I still have Halloween decorations up at my house....

 

[PCFriar80]

Marathon weekend is fast approaching! When will we know our coral placement?

Corral assignments were released on 12/13/17 for the 2018 Marathon weekend which officially kicked off on 1/3/18. If history is our guide then expect them to be released some time around the 13th or slightly thereafter with the later start date next year.

 

[Simba's Girl]

As others have mentioned, we'll be right on the border this year since the dates have shifted back out. The crews seem to work on a particular area at a time, so one resort may still have the decorations while another doesn't. I remember in 2013 checking into Wilderness Lodge and the lobby was completely decorated. We walked out of our room the next morning and there was nothing left. Overnight they had un-decorated the entire resort. It was crazy how efficient they were.

Same thing happened to us last yr cking into BC. The chocolate merry go round was up around midnight but gone the next morning. We were glad we got pictures of it before we went to bed.

 

[Keels]

Same thing happened to us last yr cking into BC. The chocolate merry go round was up around midnight but gone the next morning. We were glad we got pictures of it before we went to bed.

Last year, everything came down on Thursday night (I know this because my friend's DME bus couldn't get into the port cochere at BC because the box truck for loadout was blocking the whole area!) - like completely gone by 3 a.m. Friday morning.

THIS year ... I want to say decor at YC came down on Thursday night again. We were hanging out at Ale & Compass Lounge when they came in (this was around 10:30-11 p.m.) and started trying to take all the wreaths down. While people were sitting in front of them ... it was kind of annoying.