I finally got over my bout of strep throat - that took two full weeks to feel better. Hopefully the last 12 months of running will make up for the last two weeks of being down and out.

I'm getting excited!! I fly out two weeks from tomorrow. I got my ME booklet, bought new running shorts to wear, have my ex lined up to come out and stay with my kids. The next two weeks should fly by, with Xmas and New Years.

Is everyone ready to go? Happy Holidays, all!

I finally got over my bout of strep throat - that took two full weeks to feel better. Hopefully the last 12 months of running will make up for the last two weeks of being down and out.

I'm getting excited!! I fly out two weeks from tomorrow. I got my ME booklet, bought new running shorts to wear, have my ex lined up to come out and stay with my kids. The next two weeks should fly by, with Xmas and New Years.

Is everyone ready to go? Happy Holidays, all!

Hi everyone! We are getting psyched up here - just to go somewhere that is not covered in snow sounds good! Last Sunday's 32Km through snowbanks and unplowed sidewalks was not a lot of fun!

My wife and I have our books, hotel reservations have been made, plane tickets bought. As far as we can tell everything is ready to go!

Have a happy holiday, and see everyone on the 7th and 8th!

Brian

We're ready, except for having our race packets...which we still do not...we're ready.
I feel strong, shoes are comfortable and anxious to see a temp above 30!

Denny J

Pardon my late entry, but I just discovered this forum. It's nice to see that there are other Goofy Challenge participants here. I've read that there are 3000 of us, but I haven't bumped into many on the running boards. I also haven't seen much talk about the marathon on the Disney forums. It's great to be with people who understand both obsessions!

We just completed the New Las Vegas Marathon on December 4. We celebrated with a long weekend at Disneyland. Now we are ready to be Goofy. Good luck to everyone.

Pardon my late entry, but I just discovered this forum. It's nice to see that there are other Goofy Challenge participants here. I've read that there are 3000 of us, but I haven't bumped into many on the running boards. I also haven't seen much talk about the marathon on the Disney forums. It's great to be with people who understand both obsessions!

We just completed the New Las Vegas Marathon on December 4. We celebrated with a long weekend at Disneyland. Now we are ready to be Goofy. Good luck to everyone.

DatabaseDiva, I have friends who did the old Las Vegas marathon course - what's the new one like?

Pardon my late entry, but I just discovered this forum. It's nice to see that there are other Goofy Challenge participants here. I've read that there are 3000 of us, but I haven't bumped into many on the running boards. I also haven't seen much talk about the marathon on the Disney forums. It's great to be with people who understand both obsessions!

We just completed the New Las Vegas Marathon on December 4. We celebrated with a long weekend at Disneyland. Now we are ready to be Goofy. Good luck to everyone.

Yeah! its always great to meet a fellow Psycho! Lets Go "Goofy-ies"!!!!!!:D

Denny J

DatabaseDiva, I have friends who did the old Las Vegas marathon course - what's the new one like?

The first seven miles are fabulous. You start in front of the Mandalay Bay, and head north up the strip, using the soutbound lanes. The 6am start time made it just dark enough to see the fire works. It was a sunny day, but there wind gusts as high as 30mph. We were dressed for the weather so it wasn't too bad. Running the strip was fun, but my favorite part was running up Fremont Street. After Fremont Street, the course is pretty boring for the next 18 miles. It goes through industrial, commercial and residential areas. The last couple miles go past the back of the big casinos, which makes it more interesting. The course is mostly flat with a small hill near the end. Except for a portable toilet shortage, support was excellent. Spectators were sparse, but enthusiastic. We are already making plans to do it again in 2006.

I'm doing the half on Saturday the 7th. We are flying down on Friday morning first thing. I'm starting to get a bit nervous, but I think I'm about ready. This will be my very first foray into anything in the running sports - aside from 2 local 5K's in the past 6 months. This all started as a goal to get in better shape and lose a few pounds, about 11 months ago. As far as my pace goes...as of now it looks like I will be finishing around the 3 hour mark. Many people keep telling me that the mood and the spectators and support really help, and just "being there" will help me keep going after mile 10. 10 miles is my longest "go" - which I did on Christmas Eve. I'm not very fast. I'm 5" tall with short - stubby legs, and I carry at least 25 extra pounds. i won't be able to run the whole thing, I'm going in 10 min. run, 5 min. walk stints I think....but I damn sure will be finishing BEFORE that red bus!

So - yeah, I'm excited and nervous. a little concerned but looking forward to it. For me it's about finishing this thing - a goal. I just want to finish.

Good luck to everyone!

I'm doing the half on Saturday the 7th. We are flying down on Friday morning first thing. I'm starting to get a bit nervous, but I think I'm about ready. This will be my very first foray into anything in the running sports - aside from 2 local 5K's in the past 6 months. This all started as a goal to get in better shape and lose a few pounds, about 11 months ago. As far as my pace goes...as of now it looks like I will be finishing around the 3 hour mark. Many people keep telling me that the mood and the spectators and support really help, and just "being there" will help me keep going after mile 10. 10 miles is my longest "go" - which I did on Christmas Eve. I'm not very fast. I'm 5" tall with short - stubby legs, and I carry at least 25 extra pounds. i won't be able to run the whole thing, I'm going in 10 min. run, 5 min. walk stints I think....but I damn sure will be finishing BEFORE that red bus!

So - yeah, I'm excited and nervous. a little concerned but looking forward to it. For me it's about finishing this thing - a goal. I just want to finish.

Good luck to everyone!

its sooo much easier when you are "Herd" running (in a large group of people). Just remember to be aware of where you are and the time. Make sure that if you are talking with others that they are also in pace to fininsh in the alotted 3.5 hrs.

Good luck to you

Denny j

I'm doing the half on Saturday the 7th. We are flying down on Friday morning first thing. I'm starting to get a bit nervous, but I think I'm about ready. This will be my very first foray into anything in the running sports - aside from 2 local 5K's in the past 6 months. This all started as a goal to get in better shape and lose a few pounds, about 11 months ago. As far as my pace goes...as of now it looks like I will be finishing around the 3 hour mark. Many people keep telling me that the mood and the spectators and support really help, and just "being there" will help me keep going after mile 10. 10 miles is my longest "go" - which I did on Christmas Eve. I'm not very fast. I'm 5" tall with short - stubby legs, and I carry at least 25 extra pounds. i won't be able to run the whole thing, I'm going in 10 min. run, 5 min. walk stints I think....but I damn sure will be finishing BEFORE that red bus!

So - yeah, I'm excited and nervous. a little concerned but looking forward to it. For me it's about finishing this thing - a goal. I just want to finish.

Good luck to everyone!

I'm sure you have nothing to worry about timewise. As other posts have mentioned, you get a big lift from running with a crowd. Also, 3 hours should be easily attainable with a walk/run program. I walked my first half marathon in 3:13, so you should have no trouble at all.

I think we are ready to go. The long runs have been done, cross-training is done, now it's just maintenance and tapering off to try to keep the body ready for the distances!!

With less than 2 weeks to go until the race (races for those of us doing the Goofy!!) Good Luck to all! :)

does anyone know if there will be one more installment of the marathon column before we all head south?

I don't know - is there anything left to cover??

I wish it were here already!! One week from tomorrow I fly out. Wha-hoo!!! I went up to the local ski resort on Monday and took a snow board lesson with my daughter. What was I THINKING??? After my 4th or 5th fall I realized that I was being STUPID (2 weeks before my run). So I quit and sat in the lodge, sipping hot cocoa and dreaming of WDW.....

does anyone know if there will be one more installment of the marathon column before we all head south?There are no more installments before the race.

I'm doing the half on Saturday the 7th. We are flying down on Friday morning first thing. I'm starting to get a bit nervous, but I think I'm about ready. This will be my very first foray into anything in the running sports - aside from 2 local 5K's in the past 6 months. This all started as a goal to get in better shape and lose a few pounds, about 11 months ago. As far as my pace goes...as of now it looks like I will be finishing around the 3 hour mark. Many people keep telling me that the mood and the spectators and support really help, and just "being there" will help me keep going after mile 10. 10 miles is my longest "go" - which I did on Christmas Eve. I'm not very fast. I'm 5" tall with short - stubby legs, and I carry at least 25 extra pounds. i won't be able to run the whole thing, I'm going in 10 min. run, 5 min. walk stints I think....but I damn sure will be finishing BEFORE that red bus!

So - yeah, I'm excited and nervous. a little concerned but looking forward to it. For me it's about finishing this thing - a goal. I just want to finish.

Good luck to everyone!


Good luck with the race!

One of the things you might want to consider is to not hold religiously to the 10 min. run/5 min. walk plan. You might want to allow the aid stations to help you out in that regard. Run to an aid station then walk 5 minutes after that. You'll want to slow down at the aid station anyways to pick up water, and it won't help you if you're 2 minutes into your 10 minute run when an aid station hits.

There should be a course map with aid station locations marked out. See if that will help you.

I'm no longer ready. I'm sick. I've got myself worked up over this darn thing. I'm worry about finishing. I'm not an "athletic person" per se...I'm not a "runner" and I don't have a runners body. I've gone from hives to now becoming physically sick. I've followed the training schedule. I've done the long runs. But there is no bar to hold onto at the end of a 9 mile run like there is on a treadmill...I'm scared and worried of making a fool of myself when my trainer/cousin has worked so hard to help me and is even coming down with me to run this thing.

I'm going to go cry or throw up. Or both

Oh Les - don't do either, please!

You've been a real inspiration to me while you've been preparing for this!!! You've really worked hard, and that medal at the end is going to be your reward - and the look on your kids' faces when they see that you (and them!)can do anything if you just work at it!

Hang in there and have FUN with this!

I'm no longer ready. I'm sick. I've got myself worked up over this darn thing. I'm worry about finishing. I'm not an "athletic person" per se...I'm not a "runner" and I don't have a runners body. I've gone from hives to now becoming physically sick. I've followed the training schedule. I've done the long runs. But there is no bar to hold onto at the end of a 9 mile run like there is on a treadmill...I'm scared and worried of making a fool of myself when my trainer/cousin has worked so hard to help me and is even coming down with me to run this thing.

I'm going to go cry or throw up. Or both

Don't! (Well, maybe throwing up might get some bad stuff out of your body).

If you're physically sick now, it's the RIGHT time to be sick. Your training is done, you've worked yourself hard, being sick now will give your body a chance to rest from the hard training you've been doing.

Your race-day plan is a good one. You'll do fine. Don't worry about this recent illness. It will hurt your fitness less than overtraining this last week would have.

Yeah this is all good advice. I ran 3 miles yesterday and was planning on 4 miles today, but I'm tired...I may even be abit burned out from 6 mos of training.

But its OK, better to have a few days of quality rest then to risk injury from not paying attention or over stressing.

See yourself crossing the finish line in your mind, not on the time or the miles. You "crossed the finish line" when you decided to run in the first place. Remember for all of us on the board, Its all about some fun days to spend with our favorite mouse!

You'll have so many people cheering you on, you won't have time to stress!

Denny J

Ericles, my friend, I'm going to tell you what I tell my kids. This is suppose to be FUN!!! This is a hobby, something you are doing for yourself. When it quits being fun, then quit doing it. (But don't quit) Really, it's not the end of everything if you can't finish (you'll finish!!) You might finish walking instead of running - big deal. You'll finish! And you know, if you get down there and you don't want to run - then don't do it. You just bought an expensive tee shirt ;) You do not HAVE to do this. But since you're going anyway, give it a shot. If it sucks, then quit. Or finish and don't do it again. I think you'll surprise yourself, have a great time, and wear that medal proudly.

I, too, am not a "real" runner. I'm 49, I walk more than I run, and I'm doing this because it's FUN and I'm doing it for me - no one else. OK, and I want the medals :)

There are a few elite runners at these things, and the rest of us. I admire the elite runners, but I love the rest of us - we're there for fun, for our health, and just for the heck of it! You'll be fine.

PS - Once you cross that finish line, it was all worth it.

Of all the books & articles I read when beginning to train the one quote that stood out above all else was by John Bingham. He said your goal should be to get to the starting line - because that is the hard part. You've trained and kept yourself motivated, healthy & injury-free for months and months. Hundreds of people started training when you did, but the majority of them have given up by now - you didn't! Just trust that if you get to the starting line, you'll get to the finish line.

Another thing he says (I think I may be a John Bingham groupie...) is that no matter what you are feeling/thinking/doing the week before the race is normal. You may have extreme emotions that seem crazy to everyone around you, but it's normal!

Take Care - I'll see you at mile 13.1!

Mara

:) you guys - thanks! I am feeling better this morning, after sleeping on my "lousy attitude"! Thanks for the good thoughts and encouragement.