I'm planning on registering for the 1/2 marthon in Jan. When should i book a hotel and is there any deals for the runners and their families? I've stayed at All star movies and the Caribean and preferred the movies over the Caribean. Any advice would be great.
I would register soon if I were you. I think the 1/2 is at 60% capacity, and will fill up quickly in the next month or so. I think registration is usually closed by the end of August.
As far as where to stay, I haven't figured that out yet either. There are no special rates for runners, but it is value season at WDW, which works out well for us.
30 weeks of training left! I started Hal Higdon's novice supreme program today. It has a 12 week "pre-training" period before the actual 18 week training program begins.
Lani wrote a guide to the different hotels and their pros and cons in relation to people participating in the marathon or 1/2 marathon. Here's a link. I would suggest checking that out as you make your hotel decision.
WE stayed at the Pop-Century reasort last year for the WDW marathon. It was very impressive. They open the cafe xtra early to get snacks and coffee. The only down side to the Pop is that the cafeteria has times when its jsut over filled with people.
Denny J
I have made OKW ressies for Saturday thru Tuesday of Marathon Weekend. Most likely, I will fly down Friday after work and stay with friends that night. I may add on at the end of the stay a day or two, depending on DVC points.
I have read Lani's guide, and I have been waitlisted for the same stay at Boardwalk Villas (I reeeeeally want to stay there).
Also, I will be getting my first AP this fall and I was wondering how far in advance AP rates might be out?
I might switch if I can get a great AP rate at the Poly.
Walt Disney World Marathon January 7, 200t
NEXT: Nissan Buffalo Marathon May 27, 2007
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My sister and I have reservations at the Wilderness Lodge for Thursday to Tuesday. We are hoping for AP rates too, but have seen on this board that it is very tough to get them for the Poly, not unheard of, but not very likely.
AP rates are generally published a month or two out, so you've a bit of a wait to go, I'm afraid.
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We started planning with Port Orleans Riverside, but now we're thinking of the Contemporary. Last year we stayed at the Swan because we go a great rate from allearsnet. It was a great location for walking to Epcot and the rooms were very comfortable, but we couldn't take advantage of Magical Express, and it was definitely lacking in the Disney atmosphere and service.
BTW, I got AP rates for a concierge stay at the Poly last February (peak season) so stay on the lookout...the discounts are out there, you just have to be ready to call (or if you have a Disney Specialist TA) first thing in the morning.
I have never ran in the marathon, but I have stayed on site during 2 marathon weekends (and will be staying on site again this coming year, but will be running the half-marathon!). The first time, we stayed at the Polynesian, and the second time at the Contemporary, and are staying again at Polynesian this coming year. Staying on the monorail made it MUCH easier to get around on marathon weekend, especially now that the marathon is 2 days and can eat up a lot of transportation time. From what we heard while we were there, those staying at hotels that required buses had a horrible time of getting to the parks while the marathon was being run (so, if you have family trying to see you or go to parks they will have trouble) and those running said it was easier being on the monorail for the transportation to the start line.
Hi-
My husband and I will be participating in the marathons in Jan. We've never done the Disney Half or Full. We would like to stay within the park. Does anyone have any recommendations? Do the hotels offer shuttles to the start?
Thanks!!
Check out this article by Lani Teshima in MousePlanet's WDW Marathon Guide.
Well I did it, I registered for the 1/2, my son backed out, said maybe next year. A friend at work registered to and we've been training together. We're up to 11.5 miles in 3 hrs. I know that's not good enough but were trying to take it slow so we don't end up with an injury. I'm figuring we have time. I booked our room at Pop Century. I hope we like it, never stayed there before. Thanks for the advice.
Wow! Do you mean that your long runs are up to 11.5 miles already!! My training schedule for last year's 1/2 marathon peaked at a long run of 10 miles...are you following any set training schedule - because if you are running (or walk/run intervals) over 10 miles 6 months before the race you are at risk of over training. Esp. since if I recall from your past posts you don't have a time goal, you just want to finish. If you don't have a training book I would suggest John Binghams Marathoning for Mortals, or check out Hal Higdon's training schedules at www.halhigdon.comOriginally Posted by mousedreamer
I wouldn't worry about your time right now...but for the record that is more than "good enough" that's awesome!!
Congratulations on your decision to register for the 1/2 - I'm sure you will have a great time
Tink thanks
I guess I don't know what you mean by over training. My training schedule is sort of taken from walk.com. I started walking outside first week in May prior to that I was walking on the treadmill an average 3 x a week 3-6 miles. We started outside the begining of May at 4 x week (3 at 3-5 miles and one long walk 6- now up to 11.5 miles) My plan is when I get to the 13.1 miles for the long walk then I'll just keep up the schedule but try to work on my speed. Our route is 1/2 hard gravel roads and 1/2 pavement with a few good size hills. Are you saying by over training I will wear out before the marathon? I certainly don't want to do that. I guess being a walker I'm more nevous about not being able to keep the pace. I'm assuming most of the marthoners are runners or at least joggers. Sure it would be nice to finish closer to the 3 hours instead of the 3.5 but as a first time marathoner at almost 50 years old that was goal enough. I have Jeff Galloways marathon book, but it's mostly about runners
Oohhhh - I thought you were a novice runner already running 11.5 miles at a time!! That's why I worried that you were overtraining (not to mention putting me to shame!!) I don't really know the protocol and training for walking the half marathon (although I have to admit I was passed by more than a couple
) If you are following a program geared toward walkers than it sounds like you are really on the right track!
BTW - I went to make a reservation at the Contemporary and only Tower Concierge rooms are available for marathon weekend...so it looks like Port Orleans Riverside for us!
We tried to make reservations at Contemporary and they said the same thing... but they told us that some hotels don't release all of their rooms yet (they had no idea why they wouldn't release them)... we wanted to make a reservation, so ended up getting a garden room at Polynesian, which was about the same (or less) than a room at Contemporary.
~Mike
When's my next race??
Sometimes we don't realize we are overtraining until it's too late.
Last September I decided to run the half-marathon distance one day just to proove to myself that I could do it.
I ran the distance and had a decent pace, just over 12 minute miles, but I had to sit out a week and recoup...running for 3+ hours can really wear you down.
My plan this year to to try and stay under 10 miles in any of my training runs.
The shot of adrenalin I get during the half-marathon will more than carry me through the extra 3 or 4 miles.
So far the farthest I've run this year was a 15K (9.3 miles) and that was on the mini-marathon weekend in Orlando.
Other than that I don't think I've gone more than 7 miles.
Training for the marathon is like the mrathon itself...steady and slow as she goes.
It's important to slowly build your stamina...speed will come.
Train wisely.
Having run the Disney Marathon 4 times, Disney and Boston back to back last year and planning the Goofy this year...this is great advise. To the person already walking/running 11+miles... your ahead of schedule!
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