Donald's Defiant Dashers 2013

[liznboys]

Originally Posted by sissy_ib

... I have my first half tomorrow morning and I am so excited! We went to the packet pickup/expo today. It was really small, only about 6 merchants but Bondi Band was there and I picked up a few and my husband got me a gift. I think I know what it is but I don't think he is giving it to me until our anniversary in two weeks.

That's right, I meant to wish you GOOD LUCK tomorrow! I hope it goes great!

Let us know what the gift is!

[McDuck]

May I join in? My name is Jennie, I posted a bit on the 2013 Marathon Weekend Thread. My husband, best friend, and I finished the Donald Half Marathon, which was the first Half Marathon for all of us. Actually, I hadn't done a race longer than 5K. I am a HUGE Donald fan, and I figured in case I was one and done, I wanted my first medal to be a Donald medal. We finished in 3:02:37, which included a bad fall on my part in the TTC Parking Lot (thankfully landing on pea gravel, so I only tore up the heel of my hand and have a nice souvenir of ingrained dirt that hasn't worked its way free yet LOL). Of course, I am totally hooked on races now, so the Donald medal is just the first!

Right now I am planning on the Crescent City Classic 10K on March 30th, and the Back to Football 5K which was in September last year and I assume will be in Sept again this year. I am also planning on the Princess Half next year (2014). Other than that, I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for races that catch my interest and that I can register for as budget allows.

Thanks!!!

[Big Vic]

Jennie -

[DizGirl20]

Jennie - Welcome to the Ducks! This seems like the perfect group for you given our group name! Congrats on completing your first Half Marathon. I plan to do my first HM at Marathon Weekend next year

Liz - How cool that you are running in DL! When is it? I agree, you might as well go for it at this point

Carolynn - Thanks for starting the new thread

So this is my big question for everyone. Where does the Half Marathon start/finish? What about the 5K? Trying to figure out the best place to stay. I have DVC points so would prefer to use my points to stay at a DVC resort. I appreciate any input you guys have. Would like to be as close to the start/finish as possible.

I have a year to start training - ready to get started!

[airman]

Originally Posted by DizGirl20

So this is my big question for everyone. Where does the Half Marathon start/finish? What about the 5K? Trying to figure out the best place to stay. I have DVC points so would prefer to use my points to stay at a DVC resort. I appreciate any input you guys have. Would like to be as close to the start/finish as possible.

I have a year to start training - ready to get started!

Robyn: all of the races start at the Epcot parking lot at the spot that the races end. The 5K starts at the parking lot and run into Epcot. the half & full you will do close to a mile walk to get to the corrals. This year some of us stayed at resorts near the corrals, (SSR,PO FQ & OKW which is the closest). It was very convenient to walk, not having to deal with the buses and getting up so early. A draw back to walking is you loose some of the party feeling with the DJ and the excitement and you miss the chance for a last minute potty stop (no porta potties at the corrals, just an open field). All of the races end back in the parking lot in front of a grandstand.
All Disney resort including DVC are event resorts, so you won't have any problem staying at any of them. To be safe you might look into booking your home resort at 11 months. Marathon weekend is getting more popular every year. I was lucky and able to book OKW at the 7 month window, but I think my only choices at that time was SSR & OKW. I hope that is helpful.

Liz: I forgot to mention, the Best Western is a easy walk to DL. We stayed at the hotel next to it and it wasn't a problem at all. The walk from your hotel to the start of the races near the DL Hotel is simular to the walk from race start to the corrals at WDW, maybe a little longer.
I have to admit, I am looking at flights to LAX that weekend, (I really want to do those races). I will keep you informed on what I do, but I better make a decision soon, I don't thing the DDD will last much longer than the opeing date in 2 days.

I had a good swim yesterday, I pushed myself a little more than usual. I think I will keep that up another week then run again.

Have a good week everyone.

Joe

[liznboys]

Originally Posted by McDuck

May I join in? My name is Jennie, I posted a bit on the 2013 Marathon Weekend Thread. My husband, best friend, and I finished the Donald Half Marathon, which was the first Half Marathon for all of us. Actually, I hadn't done a race longer than 5K. I am a HUGE Donald fan, and I figured in case I was one and done, I wanted my first medal to be a Donald medal. We finished in 3:02:37, which included a bad fall on my part in the TTC Parking Lot (thankfully landing on pea gravel, so I only tore up the heel of my hand and have a nice souvenir of ingrained dirt that hasn't worked its way free yet LOL). Of course, I am totally hooked on races now, so the Donald medal is just the first!

Right now I am planning on the Crescent City Classic 10K on March 30th, and the Back to Football 5K which was in September last year and I assume will be in Sept again this year. I am also planning on the Princess Half next year (2014). Other than that, I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for races that catch my interest and that I can register for as budget allows.

Thanks!!!

Welcome to the Ducks Jennie!

Congrats on your first half! I'm sorry about the fall though, ouch!

That's great you've got a couple races already planned!

Originally Posted by DizGirl20

... Liz - How cool that you are running in DL! When is it? I agree, you might as well go for it at this point

...

So this is my big question for everyone. Where does the Half Marathon start/finish? What about the 5K? Trying to figure out the best place to stay. I have DVC points so would prefer to use my points to stay at a DVC resort. I appreciate any input you guys have. Would like to be as close to the start/finish as possible.

I have a year to start training - ready to get started!

Hi Robyn! The Disneyland half and all is Labor Day weekend. I guess it is always that weekend?? Someone told me that.

As far as Marathon Weekend, Joe covered it all pretty much... I'll just share my opinion in that I think as a first timer you should take the bus to the start area and experience all of that (instead of walking to the corrals if you stayed near them like some of us did this year). I think a newbie should experience it ALL for their first race. So in that case it doesn't matter where you stay since all resorts will have race bus service. As Joe said, I would book your DVC room sooner than later so you get what you want.

Originally Posted by airman

... Liz: I forgot to mention, the Best Western is a easy walk to DL. We stayed at the hotel next to it and it wasn't a problem at all. The walk from your hotel to the start of the races near the DL Hotel is simular to the walk from race start to the corrals at WDW, maybe a little longer.
I have to admit, I am looking at flights to LAX that weekend, (I really want to do those races). I will keep you informed on what I do, but I better make a decision soon, I don't thing the DDD will last much longer than the opeing date in 2 days.

I had a good swim yesterday, I pushed myself a little more than usual. I think I will keep that up another week then run again.

Have a good week everyone.

Joe

Go for it!! Part of my thinking in doing the DDD is that there is always that chance they don't do it again. Look at the Chip and Dale relay, apparently one and done! I'm so glad I got that medal! If for some reason DDD is also one and done, I want to get that medal! Now, my opinion is that there's a better chance that they continue with DDD than C&D, just seems like there's no reason they wouldn't, but what do I know? I'm not taking my chances. Dumbo medal here I come!



Way to go on the swimming! I haven't run yet and probably won't until NEXT week, Jan 28th. The next race I'm thinking about is a 10K in May, so I have no need to push getting back into it. Want to let my legs have a good rest!

[sissy_ib]

My first half is in the books! I felt great out there. I do 3 minute run/1 walk and skip a run interval every two miles. It worked perfect! At mile 11 I started to picture my self crossing the finish line and speed up! The woman I was running with mentioned it, I hadn't even noticed, haha. So I slowed back down not to tire out. I did start to get tired at mile 12 but at that point I knew I had it and tryed to keep my pace. I can now say I run half marathons, lol. My husband was so awesome this morning, he found 3 different spots towards the beginning of the race to chear me on, got breakfast, then found two spots towards the end. We did an out and back from about mile 4.5 to about mile 11 so that was not feasible for him to walk to. The weather was a bit colder than I would have liked but still beautiful. I'll post a pick of the awesome medal later, I'm sitting in a cold bath now. Oh, my time, unoffical for now, 2:52! I was so happy to be under 3 hours!

[liznboys]

Congratulations Amanda! Sounds like it went well!

[liznboys]

I joined the DDD group on fb and there is a post there talking about DDD possibly selling out on or before tomorrow! Who knows if that will actually happen, but if you are thinking about doing DDD, I'd sign up today if I were you. They have gotten a lot of registrations at the Expos. Apparently even the Disneyland half, on its own, has more registrations so far this year as compared to last year at the same time.

[jenifred]

Hey Ducks!

So I went AWOL after the WDW Marathon. We've been redoing the floors at my house since we got back and I'm just beat in the evenings.

DH and I had a great time at the Marathon. I ate more bananas in two days than I care to remember, but I didn't have any cramping! I actually felt good enough that a 2015 Goofy seems doable. (Despite the fact that I swore I'd never do a marathon again.) But poor DH...on Saturday, he realized he left his running shoes at home. He had to run in brand new shoes. His feet were killing him by mile 13, but he was a trooper.

Mom finished the Half just fine. So proud of her...she's already talking marathon.

We are definietly doing these races this year.

March 20, 2013 - Crescent City Classic 10K
December 14, 2013 - Ole Man River Half

Thinking about Wine and Dine, but still on the fence about that one.

Welcome to all the new ducks. Glad to have you with us!

[disney_runner]

Originally Posted by liznboys

I joined the DDD group on fb and there is a post there talking about DDD possibly selling out on or before tomorrow! Who knows if that will actually happen, but if you are thinking about doing DDD, I'd sign up today if I were you. They have gotten a lot of registrations at the Expos. Apparently even the Disneyland half, on its own, has more registrations so far this year as compared to last year at the same time.

Way to put the pressure on, Liz. I shall report soon........

No other big races in my forseeable future. 2014 ToT is likely to be DD's first big race. But nothing big for 2013 for me.... yet.

[DizGirl20]

Joe & Liz - Thanks for the input re: where to stay. I think I am going to book AKV at 11 months... and then see if I can switch to OKW at 7 months. At least that's the plan for now. BUT first I have to get my behind in gear and get running! I started a new PT job that has me working FT hours (long story) - but as soon as I go back to my normal PT hours I am going to follow Jeff Galloway's training plan(s). There is a 5K here that I want to run in April. That will be my first goal. I have a year to train but I am sure it will fly by!

I LOVED seeing everyone's pictures from Marathon Weekend on FaceBook, it is great motivation!

[liznboys]

Jeni~Hi! There are a few of us who are also thinking about Goofy 2015 around here...
Your poor dh! I bet that wasn't a pleasant feeling when he realized he forgot them. Did he happen to use the new runDisney New Balance shoes?! ha

Tanya~Lol....Don't shoot the messenger! People on the fb group are now wondering how long it will take tomorrow for it to sell out. One says 2 hrs. We shall see! Who really knows, it could be days or weeks. Or, it could be tomorrow...lol

Robyn~Sounds like good plans! Your running plans remind me of when I first began in 2009. I did the C25K program starting in late February and ran my first 5K in May...so fairly close to your timeframe this year. You can do it!

[disney_runner]

OK, boys and girls. I'm in for the Dumbo Double Dare!!!! So excited! Best husband ever to agree to this, you have no idea.

Now I can relax, sit back, and watch it sell out quickly.

[liznboys]

Yippeeeeeeeee Tanya!!!!

Four Ducks doing the DDD now! Woohoo!