The WDW Marathon is 6 weeks from today.  SIX WEEKS!

Which means Christmas Eve is just 5 weeks from today…  Holy crap!

When I signed up for Dopey in February, this day seemed so very far away, and the thought of running a full marathon, let alone the 5K, 10K, and half marathon the 3 days prior, seemed daunting to say the least.  But it seemed like I had all the time in the world to train for it.  Suddenly, it’s almost here.  And I’ve just completed the longest run I will do prior to marathon day.

I have been following a self-made hybrid training plan.  A blend between the Galloway Dopey training plan and the Hal Higdon Dopey training plan, with my own tweaks based on what I know to be true of my body and my experience.

The big test:  a mock mini Dopey

The big test of all this training for most training plans is back to back to back to back runs, just like you’d do at WDW, except with slightly less overall mileage.

This weekend called for a mock or “mini” Dopey simulation.  Being that it’s Thanksgiving weekend, it fell on an ideal weekend for it, although unlike most people, I only had the actual holiday off, but I did not have to deal with travelling, so perhaps that is a bonus.  In reading the Dopey groups on Facebook, there are many different takes on what distances should be run for this mock Dopey.  The only consensus seemed to be it shouldn’t be the actual full race distances, although I’m sure there are some people who did that, probably those who have run marathons or Dopey before.

I feel blessed that the weather here in the Northeast was a little chilly, but otherwise perfect for running.  No rain, no snow, a bit windy Saturday and Sunday, and although cold, it certainly could have been much worse!

The 5K at race pace

I chose to run a 5K on Thanksgiving at the annual Gobble Wobble in my hometown.  It was a nice crisp morning and I think I PR’d it.  Will run for pie!

When I actually run the WDW 5K, I will be walking it with my mom and aunt, and the reward will be Kona Cafe for breakfast and then the Magic Kingdom for the day!!

The sub 10 K in the dark

On Friday, I ran a little over 5 miles after work.  It was dusk when I went out and dark when I got home.   A cool evening run, at an easy pace using 1 min:1 min intervals.  I used my new Tracer LED vest and a LED clip on light and I was both visible and able to see far enough ahead of myself I could be sure of my footing.

I did think about how all the races at Disney start in the dark, but I had no fireworks, awesome race announcers, or a well-lit course with entertainment for this run.  When I run the 10 K it will be at a much slower pace than my training runs, as I’ll do this one with my sister, and the goal is to finish ahead of the balloon ladies and have a blast!  After the race, we will rope drop EPCOT, do counter service breakfast, and then lunch at the Rose and Crown!

The “almost” a half

Saturday morning I intended to run 10 miles, but I ended up running around a cemetery (which I enjoy, I find it peaceful) longer than I anticipated, so I ran almost 11 miles.  Again at an easy pace using 1 min: 1 min intervals.  I ran faster than I thought I would.  By later that day, I started to feel as if I was coming down with a cold, as my throat was mildly “furry” and my head felt slightly congested.  We went out with friends but I was home and in bed by a little after 10.  I did not really eat as much as I should have.  I did not have much of an appetite and forced myself to eat what I did.

I also did not practice getting up at 2:30 am for any of these runs.  I really do fear that will be the worst part.

When I run the half, I will be running with a group I belong to called Team Shenanigans.  I’ve not met most of them, but I am positive we will have a blast and keep a slower pace than my training runs.

The reward that day will be Whispering Canyon for breakfast, then the hotel pool and hot tub for the rest of the day!

The mini “full”

Sunday morning I woke around 6 and my throat was a bit sore.  I took some Tylenol, some elderberry syrup, and had a cup of tea.  I headed out for a 22 mile run around 7:15.  I was well hydrated but not as well-fueled as I could have been.  I tried to eat some yogurt when I got up, but it was not happening.  I had a little applesauce instead.

The day was cold and windy, but mostly sunny and around 40.  I felt pretty good until about mile 17.  The Tylenol was wearing off and my throat was on fire, I was feeling more congested, more in my chest than my head, and my legs were finally feeling the fatigue of the cumulative runs.  I was drinking a ton (stopped to pee 3 times, a record!), and had two Honey Stinger waffle cookies one at about mile 8 and the other at about mile 18.  They definitely helped the energy level.

The last 5 K was more mental than physical.  I was tired, my throat hurt, and my legs were definitely getting tired.  I was running easy 1 min: 1 min intervals, but had slowed down a bit the last few miles.  I’d been running for 4.5 hours when I hit the rail trail back to where my car was parked.  At 1.5 miles to go, I kept telling myself in the full at WDW, I’d be on my way to the Studios at mile 21.  From here on in, it was going to be a progressive party.

I ran to mile 21.5, then I walked the last .5 mi.  I was starting to feel woozy and was coughing a bit when I took too deep of a breath.

When I sat in the car, I realized I had run 40 miles in the past 4 days.  Only another 8.6 and I’d be officially Dopey.  And I’d run all 4 of these days.  When I actually do Dopey, I’ll be walking the 5K, doing a super-slow 10K, a slow half and a slow full, taking full advantage of photo ops and entertainment.  I had zero entertainment these past 4 days and I ran more miles than I’ve ever run.  If I can do that, I can definitely run a marathon and finish Dopey!

My reward, after a nap and a shower, will be a celebration dinner at Trattoria and then Jellyrolls!

Recovery

I drove home after today’s run, put my legs up the wall for about 15 min, took a long, hot, shower, forced down some carbs and protein, had some echinacea and elderberry tea, and took some more Tylenol!  That was for my throat primarily.  A bit later I sat in the hot tub, and it was heavenly!

I’ve been home for 4 hours now.  My legs feel good, my throat and chest and head, not so much.  I’m starting to get hoarse, cough, and am super tired.  But as I sit here, I have thought about what this mini-Dopey, and the training that has led up to it, has taught me.  I knew I *could* do it, but the fact I’ve actually done the training to this point is surprising even to me.

In other news, my ass looks better than it has in a long time.  🙂

I’ve also thought about the strategies I’ve used to get myself to this point in my Dopey training, and thought perhaps they would be helpful to others who are on the road to their first marathon, race challenge, or Dopey.

What I’ve learned

1. The human body is freaking amazing.  You can take someone like me, who could barely run 1/4 of a mile when I embarked on a quest to run a 5K 8 years ago, and make her a marathon runner. If you had told me that 8 years ago, or hell, 15 months ago, I’d have told you no f’ing way.
2. That physical challenge and training requires just as much mental fortitude.  Running really is as much a mental sport as it is a physical sport, whether you run for fun, play an organized sport, or run professionally.  It takes the mental strength to get out the door or on that treadmill when the weather sucks, when you don’t feel great, when you are tired, when it’s dark, when it’s hot, when it’s cold, when there are better things to do, or when you just simply don’t want to.
3. Having a plan is essential.  Lay it out from the day of your goal race, backwards to where you are starting and stick to it.  I make appointments in my calendar for my runs and treat them as such.
4. Let someone know what route you will be running, ask them to track you, and if you run alone, carry pepper spray and an alarm or some sort of self defense.  It might be a person, or it may be an animal that you need to defend yourself against.  Best to be prepared and never use it than the opposite.  Having someone track you also helps to make you accountable and can keep you safer.
5. Take more water/fuel than you think you need, and have a plan for where you can refill water or use a bathroom if you need to.  Practicing what you’ll eat and drink before, during, and after those long runs is important! Knowing how much time bathroom breaks can take is important if you have a time goal.
6. Nothing new on race day!  Test run everything!  New socks, new shoes, costumes, a new flavor of gels, whatever it is, test it on a few runs of different distances to be sure there are no surprises!
7. Training for a marathon requires prioritizing your needs and sacrificing precious time for those long-ass runs.  Especially when you are not a fast runner.  4+ hours is a ridiculously long time to run, and when you factor in recovery time, it’s half the day if not more that is lost to a training run.  I was out there for 5 hours today.  Getting over the mental hurdle of knowing I’d be running for FIVE FREAKING HOURS was harder than actually doing it.
8. For the super long runs, I found it very helpful to craft a playlist that correlated with the Disney race course, and helped me play through the course in my head.  At mile 4 it’s the TTC (Welcome show medley), at mile 5 it’s the Magic Kingdom (Main St. Electrical Parade song), at mile 12 I’ll be at the Animal Kingdom (Lion King songs), at mile 23, I’ll be at the Studios…
9. When I really started to struggle, I focused my thoughts on things I have overcome in the past.  If I can birth all my kids, including my twins un-medicated, if I can bury my daughter 3 days before Christmas, if I can endure the pain of losing her all these years, I can put one foot in front of the other and run 26.2.  I also thought about friends and family who have or who are battling cancer or other physical challenges, who literally cannot run any distance right now, even if they wanted to.  I am blessed to be able to choose to run 26.2 miles.
10. Other strategies that help me through the tough miles are thinking about the fact I’ll be spending precious time with my parents and sister at WDW Marathon weekend.  It’s reminiscent of my childhood and the trips we used to take to WDW when we were kids.
11. Someone once suggested to me a way to grind through the tough miles is to dedicate each mile to someone you care about.  It could be someone facing their own health or other challenges right now, it could be in honor of someone who inspired you, or it could be in memory of someone.  Each step you take for that mile is for that person, to thank them for what they have inspired you to do or who they have inspired you to be.
12. I think about the example I hope I am setting for my kids.  That you can do anything you want, provided you are willing to educate yourself about it, work hard, and sacrifice, the rewards are great.  In this case, also instilling the value of the importance of taking care of your health, exercising, and the benefits one can reap from exercise.
13. I found myself thinking about what I was going to eat for a celebration dinner today!  Planning your reward can be motivating!
14. I look forward to calling my kids on January 7th and informing them their mother is a bad ass marathon runner!  🙂

Now what?

The next week will be an easy recovery week, with next weekend’s run being a mere 6 mile “long” run.  The following weekend I plan back to back 6 and 13 mile runs and the weekend after that back to back 13 and 15 mile runs, then it will be taper time, with 4-5 short runs 3 weeks out, 3-4 short runs 2 weeks out, and then rest up for race week!