Marathon Weekend 2024

[apwoodr]

Long time lurker here...sorry I didn't do any of the meet ups. I've been running shorter distances for years and did a Star Wars half a few years ago but this was my first full. I learned so much from all of you, including how to get through the crazy registration frenzy, submit POT's, what to wear, what to drink, and what to expect. I spent the last 6 months training really really hard, so hard i injured my left foot and knee less than 3 weeks ago. All week I've had so much anxiety about being able to even finish today. I started off feeling really well with a good run walk pace, but my foot and ankle started giving out at mile 9, then my left knee, then my left hip...then the rain came. I thought I was going in the bus for sure, but I limped through and finished the race on one leg... literally dragging the other along on the pavement (sorry for anyone stuck behind me LOL). Fortunately I trained so much that I had the strength to do it on one leg, but here's the best tip one of you gave that absolutely SAVED me. Uncrustables!! I packed one in my gear bag for post race and one in my pocket and ate it while going through AK. Shortly after that I got my second wind and immediately knew I was going to make it today. So on behalf of us lurkers, thanks again for the inspiration and tips each of you share here. You never know who you're going to help when they read it.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I did see a bit of commotion off to the opposite side of the road near the Contemporary, but they had moved us all the way to the other side at that point and we couldn't hear what was happening. Just figured someone had a medical issue or something going on with their costume/clothing, but now I'm thinking it was this. Crazy!

@Baloo in MI I'm not sure I'd have pulled it together to even start with all that going on. Glad your pup is okay but sorry about the wife.

<raises hand>. I was part of that commotion, and it was indeed a roll of trash bags and we were passing it around after pulling a bag off. I was glad to have it as it kept the worst of the rain off me. I pulled it off before entering the magic kingdom, but kept it in my hand until several miles later after it was clear that the rain passed according to my racecourse weather person …

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I’m about to turn in with my Garmin showing 72,409 steps, or appx 36.5 miles.
After recovering this afternoon, I went over to the Magic Kingdom for medal photos and to try to ride the Tron ride. I did not manage to get a virtual queue earlier, so I was turned away. But I did get to ride space mountain and then met @AJruns for a yummy dinner in the castle. We then headed back over to Tron where she helped get me past the entry monitors (thank you!) and onto the ride and with it being so late we were able to run back around and ride it a second time as well. Front row both times! We then went back and were able to get some more photos in front of the castle as the park was shutting down. Long, long day, but a good one.

 

[Z-Knight]

well...its 2:23 am and I just woke up, again, without ANY alarm and without any race to run. I guess my 2025 training has started.

 

[kps7795]

Proud coach moment! A runner reached out with a HM PR of 3:40, a previous DNF at the M, and wanted to finish the Dopey Challenge. I told her it would take a tremendous amount of work on her part. She was consistent for months and months of hard work. She ran a HM a few weeks ago as a test run and ran it at just over 4 hrs. I told her not to be overly concerned about it and to trust the process. Long run of 9.5 miles outside of the HM race, but was consistently putting in 7.5 hr training weeks. I've been texting back and forth with her all morning just after the start. I'm happy to report she just became a Dopey Challenge finisher with a 3:46 HM split and 7:41 M finish. I'm tearing up just now writing about this.

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She should feel DAMN proud of herself. That‘s a great accomplishment!

 

[disneyrunnergrl]

Congrats to everyone who toed the line today!!!

It’s 11pm and I’m just getting into bed, which says a lot about spectating instead of running for the first time in 8 years. I just… couldn't leave EPCOT until it closed tonight.

I cheered for two years, then ran my first marathon in 2016. And then kept doing it for another 6 straight years, including a handful of Dopeys. This was my first time since of not running the WDW Marathon… and it was amazing, Truly. Watching you and so many others get it done was incredible. It was an absolute honor to spectate and cheer and encourage today and I hope I helped some folks along the way! I thought I might feel really sad about not being part of the marathon this time, but I wasn’t at all.

Thank you for cheering! I finished around 10:30 and decided to cheer near the finish line and ended up staying until the very end. I’ve never done that before and it was such an experience! Seriously has me considering cheering next year instead of running!

 

[dobball23]

Thank you for cheering! I finished around 10:30 and decided to cheer near the finish line and ended up staying until the very end. I’ve never done that before and it was such an experience! Seriously has me considering cheering next year instead of running!

My (non-runner but excellent cheerer) wife and I went to Hollywood Studios (by the bus stop/Skyliner) to watch runners after I finished and showered. We loved it and plan to do it after any future Disney marathons that I run. We weren't planning on being there as long, but we stayed until the balloon ladies passed. And we even saw a couple of DISers running!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Not the first to ask this, nor the last. How do I get a medal replaced? My DH’s Dopey doesn’t light up….TRAGIC!!!!!!! Best way to handle it?????

Mine doesn’t either. But since it’ll just hang in my room, it doesn’t matter to me. I would email rundisney. Sometimes they have replacements they can ship, but not always.

 

[Grabnar]

Sincere thanks to all of you who stayed and cheered, I was really flagging at the end and the crowd really gave me the boost to run the last quarter mile to the finish line

 

[Disney at Heart]

Thought of a great saying to put on the back of a shirt to help keep people motivated, especially us back of packers:

Trust in the Training!

I did trust in the training and finished my first marathon and Goofy challenge. (No, I wasn’t one of those people out getting in the extra 6 miles yesterday and I think I’m ok with that). The marathon was always my main goal anyway. Even with some nagging injuries that caused me to skip the last 2 weeks of training, I was still able to see it through.

@DopeyBadger is the best with putting together training plans that work for you as an individual and with the life constraints that everyone has to deal with.

It was great to see you on the course. You were doing very well! That smile was infectious! You could tell I was having a hard time keeping up with DH and our intervals. We would have been under six hours except for my three bathroom breaks! My longest marathon to date.

Not the first to ask this, nor the last. How do I get a medal replaced? My DH’s Dopey doesn’t light up….TRAGIC!!!!!!! Best way to handle it?????

I broke one (let it fall off the bed) one year after the final race, and with no chance to swap it at the time, I emailed the regular runDisney address. They asked me to send a picture of the broken one and I got a new one in about a week. It may take longer since they are preparing for the California race right now, but if medals are available, they try to make it right.

@apwoodr So glad you came out of lurkdom. Now, are you available to join the group for drinking around the world today? It starts at Mexico, but you can join any time at any country. Check the board for updates as to where everyone is. If you see a group, just ask, “Are you Disers?” All are invited, no matter what you drink. For me, it is water, for others, maybe a margarita or beer, but it is so much fun know people!

 

[NewYKRunner]

Not the first to ask this, nor the last. How do I get a medal replaced? My DH’s Dopey doesn’t light up….TRAGIC!!!!!!! Best way to handle it?????

Mine doesn’t either. But since it’ll just hang in my room, it doesn’t matter to me. I would email rundisney. Sometimes they have replacements they can ship, but not always.

That’s what my wife did in 2020 and got a replacement.

 

[azrivest]

Have fun to all of you meeting for DATW today!

DH and DD flew out this morning so it's just me and my boy. DATW prolly isn't the most appropriate place for an 11yo.

And before I forget... A huge thanks to the gang for the prerace meetups. I really appreciated you all making me feel welcome.

Now we celebrate!

 

[lookingforsunshine]

but here's the best tip one of you gave that absolutely SAVED me. Uncrustables!!

I had one of my spectators give me food outside the GF (I know Disney says not to do this but it was not a problem), and one of those items was an uncrustable. Best decision ever.

 

[apwoodr]

I had one of my spectators give me food outside the GF (I know Disney says not to do this but it was not a problem), and one of those items was an uncrustable. Best decision ever.

I saw a little kid give a runner a whole sandwich outside HS. Not sure if he ate it, but it really made that kids day!

 

[accm]

has anyone been to MK and know if they have a photopass photographer dedicated to racers this year like last year?

 

[Blue Caterpillar]

has anyone been to MK and know if they have a photopass photographer dedicated to racers this year like last year?

Im not sure about a dedicated photo pass, but yesterday they had a magic shot I got on main Street with Mickey/ Minnie running.

 

[The Expert]

has anyone been to MK and know if they have a photopass photographer dedicated to racers this year like last year?

I went yesterday and after hearing a tip from last year (and all the photos on Main Street having lines) I went over to the garden to the left. No wait, nobody behind me, and the photographer had some good pose suggestions. I didn't get the running magic shot, but he did do a balloon one.

 

[The Expert]

Congrats to everyone who toed the line today!!!

It’s 11pm and I’m just getting into bed, which says a lot about spectating instead of running for the first time in 8 years. I just… couldn't leave EPCOT until it closed tonight.

I cheered for two years, then ran my first marathon in 2016. And then kept doing it for another 6 straight years, including a handful of Dopeys. This was my first time since of not running the WDW Marathon… and it was amazing, Truly. Watching you and so many others get it done was incredible. It was an absolute honor to spectate and cheer and encourage today and I hope I helped some folks along the way! I thought I might feel really sad about not being part of the marathon this time, but I wasn’t at all.

Thank you for cheering! I finished around 10:30 and decided to cheer near the finish line and ended up staying until the very end. I’ve never done that before and it was such an experience! Seriously has me considering cheering next year instead of running!

ALL OF THIS! I was feeing a bit of FOMO right up to wakeup time on Sunday, but that all went away once I got out on the side of the course. The energy exchange truly goes both ways.

 

[Disney at Heart]

Have fun to all of you meeting for DATW today!

DH and DD flew out this morning so it's just me and my boy. DATW prolly isn't the most appropriate place for an 11yo.

And before I forget... A huge thanks to the gang for the prerace meetups. I really appreciated you all making me feel welcome.

Now we celebrate!

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It was great to see you yesterday on the course, too! And the 11 year old is welcome. One year, I won’t say which, things got a little drunken, but most of the time it’s perfectly ok for him. You could come by at the first, and visit for a few countries anyway. And he can hang with me… a totally non-drinker.

 

[kps7795]

Has anyone compiled a list of the character photo stops for the marathon yet?