Marathon Weekend 2025

[Herding_Cats]

I know that it's a thing to bring all of your medals on Sunday following the marathon to get pictures. Nonetheless, is there an unofficial protocol for wearing your medals following the 10K and the HM? Obviously, most will wear their 10K and HM medals on Friday and Saturday respectively. But, I cannot recall seeing people wearing the medals that they got from the previous races as well.

 

[runwithperseverence7]

Honestly, theyv’e all lost a lot of accuracy the last few years - no idea why. But WESH is a local Orlando station that does a decent job, and the Weather Channel app is okay. Accuweather was once my go-to but something’s gone wrong there as of late. Really, any org will be pretty accurate within 24ish hours - long range is just a toss of the dice.

I’ve started stalking the weather channel app but don’t really start taking it serious until like the week before. Was hoping I didn’t have to bring my warm gear.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Who has the over on how many people dress up as Tally the elf for a race?

 

[PrincessV]

I’ve started stalking the weather channel app but don’t really start taking it serious until like the week before. Was hoping I didn’t have to bring my warm gear.

I know people get sick of hearing it, but for real: bring it all. Even a week out, the forecast isn’t guaranteed. In 2017, every forecast from every outlet only days out from MW was forecasting HOT weather - to the extent that a whole lot of runners were panicking about costume plans because they were afraid it would be too hot. Very, very few brought cold weather gear because the forecast was THAT locked in on warm weather. And then a surprise front blew in, canceling the half entirely and bringing one of the coldest WDW marathons ever.

Unless you happen to be someone who can wear the same gear in hot weather and cold and not be uncomfortable, BRING OPTIONS!!

 

[PrincessV]

A general comment on weather and MW packing from a Floridian of 30+ years…

The great thing about packing for winter races in FL is that it really doesn’t require much thought: you simply bring everything you’d want for temps from 20º to 90º, along with your choice of rain gear and throwaways, and you’re set for whatever Mother Nature brings on any given day.

The not-great thing about packing for MW is that this requires more baggage, of course. But not once in more than a decade of WDW racing have I heard anyone lament bringing too much… while I’ve seen endless comments from runners who wished they’d brought more.

 

[marty3d]

I know people get sick of hearing it, but for real: bring it all. Even a week out, the forecast isn’t guaranteed. In 2017, every forecast from every outlet only days out from MW was forecasting HOT weather - to the extent that a whole lot of runners were panicking about costume plans because they were afraid it would be too hot. Very, very few brought cold weather gear because the forecast was THAT locked in on warm weather. And then a surprise front blew in, canceling the half entirely and bringing one of the coldest WDW marathons ever.

Unless you happen to be someone who can wear the same gear in hot weather and cold and not be uncomfortable, BRING OPTIONS!!

Having gone through MW 2017 myself I couldn’t agree more. I was one of those people who believed the forecasts. Luckily I did bring some throw away layers but nothing for how cold and windy it turned out to be. Luckily they opened the merch tent before the race (I don’t know if they had planned to do this or it was done because of the weather as I don’t ever recall the merch tent being open pre-race). I was able to both buy a running jacket and stay out of the wind for a little bit. I don’t know how I would have made it through the marathon without that jacket.

Now I pack for any possible weather short of deep snow.

 

[The Expert]

All I can think about is having to take layers off to get rid of undershirts at some point (in a park, because I'm not attempting that in a porta!)

I can attest that the bathrooms in Tomorrowland at MK are conducive to clothing changes! Also, DH will be outside Bay Lake just outside MK in case you want to hand anything off with him.

Afternoon thunderstorms are only a thing in summer, caused by high heat + humidity + sea breeze from both coasts colliding. This time of year is our dry season and storms only come with fronts dropping from the north or coming from the west.

Yes and as discussed, those fronts can come fast and without a lot of warning and create dramatic changes!

A general comment on weather and MW packing from a Floridian of 30+ years…

Thank you for this. I will double down on PACK what you need, especially if you're from a colder climate. Florida stores carry a very small selection of gear for weather under 60 degrees and almost nothing if it gets much colder than that. Don't expect to be able to pop out and buy something for truly cold temps.

EDIT TO ADD that I will try to remember to pack my big box of hand warmers and bring extras for the morning meetups, just in case!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I got a beautiful "Every Mile is Magic" medal holder for Christmas! Can't wait to put all of my medals on it. My medals have only ever been in a tub under my bed

I've asked for one for two straight Christmases.
Her: You already have one (the smaller one she found on eBay)
Me: It's full already

I'll see if it shows up for my birthday next month, otherwise I'll order it myself. I want the one with the silhouettes of all the rides.

DW got new Hokas, but not for running.
Me? I got chocolate, coffee, a new coffee maker and some cool shirts. Anything running related? Nah.

I'm very excited to start planning for marathon weekend! I feel like I will be packing half my closet since I leave next Friday and the forecast could change so much from then. Just hoping the lows in the 40s and low 50s sticks around, if it's in the 60s+ at 3AM I'm in for a bad time!

Just back the car up to the front door. Throw all your running stuff and other clothes in, and start driving....

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I looked at the forecast again. (I know, I know guys!) I am not excited about the prospect of low 40s in the mornings. I’m just not.

We listen and we don’t judge.

[looks around]
Why are my ears burning?

 

[PrincessV]

Having gone through MW 2017 myself I couldn’t agree more. I was one of those people who believed the forecasts. Luckily I did bring some throw away layers but nothing for how cold and windy it turned out to be. Luckily they opened the merch tent before the race (I don’t know if they had planned to do this or it was done because of the weather as I don’t ever recall the merch tent being open pre-race). I was able to both buy a running jacket and stay out of the wind for a little bit. I don’t know how I would have made it through the marathon without that jacket.

Now I pack for any possible weather short of deep snow.

I got fooled by 2017, too. Never again lol! I remember running a little late on my departure day because I last-minute re-packed my half and full outfits to swap in tanks and skirts because we started getting rD notifications about possibly hot weather. Marathon morning I used everything I had available: calf sleeves under capris to make full-length “tights”, a thin long sleeve under a thin short sleeve under a thermal mock-turtleneck I never intended for running use, an old airplane blanket I kept in my car trunk for emergencies, a cut-off bottom of a cotton tee shirt to make a Buff for my neck… it was ridiculous!

Florida stores carry a very small selection of gear for weather under 60 degrees and almost nothing if it gets much colder than that. Don't expect to be able to pop out and buy something for truly cold temps.

^ Excellent point here. Early January, stores switch to tourist season items: tees, sundresses, etc. Temps drop down here and what little they had for cold weather disappears quickly.

 

[The Expert]

No running gifts for me this year, unless you count $100 in REI gift cards. But my birthday is Monday, so there's still hope!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I know that it's a thing to bring all of your medals on Sunday following the marathon to get pictures. Nonetheless, is there an unofficial protocol for wearing your medals following the 10K and the HM? Obviously, most will wear their 10K and HM medals on Friday and Saturday respectively. But, I cannot recall seeing people wearing the medals that they got from the previous races as well.

As noted prior, there aren't any rules.
For me, if I'm going into the parks, I wear the medal from that morning's race. Alternatively, if there was no race that morning (like on medal Monday) I wear the medal from the longest distance I ran.
And if you are going to wear a medal, take some cotton balls and pipe cleaners to secure some of the medals with moving parts. I had one that I wore and it clanked like crazy with every step. I wound up grabbing some tall grass and using a strip of it to wedge under the moving part.
YMMV

 

[runwithperseverence7]

Now that Christmas is over I can sit and give my race outfit planning my full attention. I’m planning on having everything from cold to hot weather options. I’m already an overpacker. I’ll just have to pack lighter for my not running attire and not bring multiple choices which I usually do in vacation. wonder if I can fit it all into my suitcase. I usually have to add some of my stuff to my DH’s bag too.

 

[PrincessV]

Wait, wait wait… I haven’t done Dopey in a while. Are you all saying we don’t do the Sunday-Monday CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! thing anymore?! That was tradition! ALL the medals, clanging away all over the parks, announcing to one and all, “Heck yeah, I ran 48.6 miles in 4 days and am now logging more miles in the parks, and I’ve got the HARDWARE to prove it!” That was a large part of what encouraged me to do Dopey in the first place lol!

I rarely wear any medals in the parks for long these days, TBH: they’ve gotten too heavy and kill my neck, so I’ll carry them in a bag and pull them out for photos.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Thank you for this. I will double down on PACK what you need, especially if you're from a colder climate. Florida stores carry a very small selection of gear for weather under 60 degrees and almost nothing if it gets much colder than that. Don't expect to be able to pop out and buy something for truly cold temps.

THIS. Because there's a good chance that it'll all be gone by the time you go to the store! We bought beach towels to use as blankets for Fantasmic in 2017, and Walmart was picked completely bare of any long sleeved tops!

 

[The Expert]

We bought beach towels to use as blankets for Fantasmic in 2017, and Walmart was picked completely bare of any long sleeved tops!

Bathrobes can work in a pinch too!

 

[azrivest]

kps7795 said:
I know that it's a thing to bring all of your medals on Sunday following the marathon to get pictures. Nonetheless, is there an unofficial protocol for wearing your medals following the 10K and the HM? Obviously, most will wear their 10K and HM medals on Friday and Saturday respectively. But, I cannot recall seeing people wearing the medals that they got from the previous races as well.

Agree with @Herding_Cats . I've worn my medals 2-3 days post race. Do as you please. You earned it!

 

[PrincessV]

Slow week? Need some diversion? I invite you back, back, over the falls… wait, no, that’s gone… back to 2017, when the half was canceled and the full was frozen (not Frozen.)

Our collective freak out as the news broke starts here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/marathon-weekend-2017.3462684/page-300

Hit page 323 for when we start panic-shopping/procuring cold weather gear, lol!

I cannot believe it’ll soon be 8 years since then. Feels so much more recent!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Slow week? Need some diversion? I invite you back, back, over the falls… wait, no, that’s gone… back to 2017, when the half was canceled and the full was frozen (not Frozen.)

Our collective freak out as the news broke starts here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/marathon-weekend-2017.3462684/page-300

Hit page 323 for when we start panic-shopping/procuring cold weather gear, lol!

I cannot believe it’ll soon be 8 years since then. Feels so much more recent!

They gave out TWO 1-day park hoppers as a refund????? I can't imagine them even considering that these days!

 

[The Expert]

I recall following along with this so vividly! I was still relatively new to rD and this section of the boards, but was signed up for Princess and avidly watching what was going on and Disney's response. It's cool to go back and read now that I know so many of you!