Marathon Weekend 2024

[sandam1]

When did he drop it to 3 days a week, with only one run longer than 30 minutes?

The Galloway plan has (amost?) always been three days a week and it does work! I've used it for multiple races and actually subscribe to the Galloway customized training program (https://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/customized-training/). Through CTP, I see people ALL OF THE TIME doing half marathons, full marathons, ultras, you name it by "only doing three days a week." It is recommended to do additional cross-training on other days, but you can still succeed with three days.

The balance is that you have to commit to the long, long, LONG runs later in the plan. Galloway does three 20+ mile runs including a full Dopey simulation with 26 miles at the end of it. I didn't find them hard as I just built them into my life - i.e. these days I am unavailable because I am running all day - but other people do.

With Galloway, I found that my legs recovered faster and I stayed healthy. I know my body and it would never stand up to running 5-6 days per week.

 

[TimTrecker]

Well that was exciting (and stressful!). Happy to report I'll be attempting my first runDisney Marathon in 2024. Get your rest tonight and tomorrow blue card DVCers, you'll be at this again Thursday morning for annual passes.

 

[The Expert]

The balance is that you have to commit to the long, long, LONG runs later in the plan. Galloway does three 20+ mile runs including a full Dopey simulation with 26 miles at the end of it. I didn't find them hard as I just built them into my life - i.e. these days I am unavailable because I am running all day - but other people do.

I subscribe to the intervals, but not the long runs at my (lack of) speed. IME running more than 3 hours risks injury and fatigue I need extra rest days to recover from.

 

[jrsharp21]

Did Jogging Jack Sparrow not get in? His Instagram story makes it sound like he didn't get in. That would be a shame. He was awesome the past two MW. Always fun to look out for at the runs.

 

[Stitch&Co.]

W&D registration...
W&D hotel reservations...
W&D costumes...
MW registration...
MW hotel reservations...
MW costumes...

oh good, now I have something to do until Princess registration in June. I was wondering what to do with myself now.

 

[prncssjas]

Get your rest tonight and tomorrow blue card DVCers, you'll be at this again Thursday morning for annual passes.

Ughhhhh, I know....

 

[Herding_Cats]

sooo....
would there be any interest in a separate "not-so-fast MW" thread? Just thinking that there tends to be a few more solo runners who might want to find someone to team up with, etc for the longer races (and survive all those highway miles!) I am definitely looking for someone to run the marathon with since @The Expert is getter her C2C out of the way in 2024 and won't be running that one.

 

[dancingtodisney]

I'm in for the MARATHON I'm so excited! I was so tempted to add another race but decided I'd rather focus on the Marathon as my goal is improvement on this year!

So happy to be able to get a few other DISers in - the queue share seemed to work really well and I got lucky and had a few lower wait times.

 

[1GoldenSun]

Well that was exciting (and stressful!). Happy to report I'll be attempting my first runDisney Marathon in 2024. Get your rest tonight and tomorrow blue card DVCers, you'll be at this again Thursday morning for annual passes.

Lotta money going to the Mouse this week.

 

[fatmanatee]

Did Jogging Jack Sparrow not get in? His Instagram story makes it sound like he didn't get in. That would be a shame. He was awesome the past two MW. Always fun to look out for at the runs.

Sounds like he didn't, which is kinda surprising because I was toying around with links late and was able to get to the Dopey registration screen, and I think that's what he signs up for?

 

[dancingtodisney]

Sounds like he didn't, which is kinda surprising because I was toying around with links late and was able to get to the Dopey registration screen, and I think that's what he signs up for?

His post suggests he thought he was already in so maybe that's how he missed it

 

[PeppercornElvis]

I’m in for my 4th Dopey!!

I had to get a colonoscopy and the only time - of course - was 9:30 this morning. Luckily I have a great friend who snagged a Dopey bib for me! Colonoscopy went great too so now I’m considering lottery maybe???

 

[Disney at Heart]

Ok, ok, fellow runDisney addicts, I signed up for Goofy again, despite the fact that I never want to train for the marathon distance ever again. DH got in early with his perfect Goofy link, and today I could not help myself. I hope this old(er) lady can do it ONE MORE TIME!

 

[sandam1]

I subscribe to the intervals, but not the long runs at my (lack of) speed. IME running more than 3 hours risks injury and fatigue I need extra rest days to recover from.

You might think so, but that just isn't the case. And Jeff has thousands of runners as data points.

The key is to SLOW DOWN the long runs. Like really, really slow down. He recommends you going no faster than two minutes slower than marathon pace. And that is as fast as you can go (a speed limit so to speak). You can go slower if you need to or even walk. The key is to just get the miles done and the time on your feet. Yes, it is rough. My 26 miler took me almost 8 hours. But the recovery was super easy. On almost all of my long runs, I felt 100% within 24-36 hours and was doing my next tempo run with 48 hours. If you go too fast, yes, you will have issues recovering.

On race day, I was very happy with my decision to go with the Galloway plan. My body (particularly my feet) knew what the miles felt like. I knew what nutrition and hydration I was going to need to be out there for that long. And mentally it made all of the difference to know, with 100% certainty, that I could do the mileage.

I've found that different training plans work for different people and to each there own on this. But the most important thing is to find that works with your body and your life and follow it.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Fresh off of my marathon registration, I was checking out the Galloway training plans.

When did he drop it to 3 days a week, with only one run longer than 30 minutes? Was this approved by DopeyBadger?

He certainly doesn't need my approval. He has his philosophies and others have their own. I'd advise that if someone plans on using the Galloway Beginner marathon plan with three days per week they adhere strongly to the pacing recommendations in the instructions. This includes doing the long runs at least 2 min/mile slower than where your marathon fitness has been assessed at. It also includes taking the walk breaks during the run/walk at a gentle relatively short stride and not a power walk. Lastly, like any training plan recommendation, in the midst of doing the training, if you find yourself having a fade in pace during the training run, then the run needs to be over. Don't push through. As an example, if you were maintaining a 13-14 min/mile through mile 20 of a 23 mile training run, and then in 20-21 you dropped to 14:30, and then 15:00 in the next, you really need to stop the training run. This drop in pace not withstanding because of a change in weather or course elevation.

While it may seem like overkill on the surface, his Dopey training plan on the runDisney website is a much better marathon training plan than is the Beginner marathon training plan. Certainly runners can complete endurance distances using his plans. I did so myself from 2012-2015 (and also used the FIRST method which is a similar 3 day plan with recommendations of cross training). But while I advanced in my progression of PRs during that time I never felt like I was hitting my true potential with the lesser days per week/mileage compared to other available plans. Using different methodologies, I found my performance increased by a substantial margin.

With all that being said, the most important part of finding a training plan is one that matches where you are currently at in your fitness level, with something you can reasonably commit to 100% before the plan begins, and aligns with your ultimate goals for the event.

 

[Grabnar]

I've found that different training plans work for different people and to each there own on this. But the most important thing is to find that works with your body and your life and follow it.

Also talk with a nutritionist if you haven't. I realized after recalculating my macros the other day that I was undershooting 30% on my protein and it was absolutely impacting my recovery.

 

[BikeFan]

Ok, ok, fellow runDisney addicts, I signed up for Goofy again, despite the fact that I never want to train for the marathon distance ever again. DH got in early with his perfect Goofy link, and today I could not help myself. I hope this old(er) lady can do it ONE MORE TIME!

For inspiration, I have this to share. I ran the Ventura Marathon in February, and went with the 3:55 pace group to have a little company. The pacers were a 60y.o. woman and a 66y.o. man, and both were quite comfortable at a sub-4 pace. Both are running Boston this weekend too! Awesomeness comes at every age.

 

[fatmanatee]

Although this registration seems to have gone better than the past two I'm seeing a few other complaints about not having a pay button. Baffling that RD has so many different glitches in this process, seems like there's a new one every time and it's any guess as to who has to deal with it.

 

[The Expert]

You might think so, but that just isn't the case. And Jeff has thousands of runners as data points.

The key is to SLOW DOWN the long runs. Like really, really slow down. He recommends you going no faster than two minutes slower than marathon pace. And that is as fast as you can go (a speed limit so to speak). You can go slower if you need to or even walk. The key is to just get the miles done and the time on your feet. Yes, it is rough. My 26 miler took me almost 8 hours. But the recovery was super easy. On almost all of my long runs, I felt 100% within 24-36 hours and was doing my next tempo run with 48 hours. If you go too fast, yes, you will have issues recovering.

On race day, I was very happy with my decision to go with the Galloway plan. My body (particularly my feet) knew what the miles felt like. I knew what nutrition and hydration I was going to need to be out there for that long. And mentally it made all of the difference to know, with 100% certainty, that I could do the mileage.

I've found that different training plans work for different people and to each there own on this. But the most important thing is to find that works with your body and your life and follow it.

That's awesome it works for you, truly! And kudos for getting those long runs in. I would be out for 8+ hours too if I slowed down as much as I'm supposed to and I'm not sure I could commit to actually doing it.

 

[garneska]

@Disney at Heart you got this. Now my next sign up is for the Damn race. I am hoping for a better POT for the half. Training is going well. Hoping for sub 55. @OldSlowGoofyGuy no pressure