Disney is urging runners to bundle up for marathon races
News — By rtribou on January 8, 2010 at 10:17 am
Disney Marathon 2009
Runners participating in races at Walt Disney World’s Marathon Weekend need to bundle up for their run through the theme parks.
Race officials already are warning runners the weather is going to be cooler than normal, especially for Saturday’s Half Marathon and Sunday’s most popular 26.2-mile marathon, according to the event’s Web site.
Temperatures are expected to be in the low 30s in the early morning hours and most likely will no go above 50. Forecasters also predict snow flurries in the overnight hours.
(Check out more photos from the 2009 Disney Marathon)
“The best approach is to plan to dress in layers so that as you warm up during your race you can remove layers as needed,” officials said. “Mylar blankets will be available for runners at the finish line on both Saturday and Sunday.”
In case it gets too warm under those gloves, hats and coats, you can toss them off and know they’re going toward a good cause. Officials plan to donate all discarded clothing to charity.
Both marathons begin at 5:40 a.m. Runners in the half marathon, just over 13 miles, start their course at the Magic Kingdom and race to the end at Epcot.
The full marathon takes runners through all Disney attractions, including Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
– Walter Pacheco, Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer
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18 Comments
If you have not experienced an event like this in cold weather before, here is a tip to help you stay warm until the race starts. Purchase the largest garbage bags you can find (lawn and leaf types are best), cut a hole in the seam end just big enough to squeeze your head through and slip it on. After exiting your vehicle immediately start walking quickly or even running slowly to the start staging area. By the time you get there you will have built up a very comfortable level of body heat inside the bag. You can even stick your arms through the bag ends and run in it for a short time. Just pitch the bag when you dont need it anymore.
You will see many veteran runners doing this. It works very well and is much cheaper than throwing away your clothing. Good luck.
Good advise, but at Disney you will have to sit in the staging parking lot for 2+ hours before the start, that’s the worst part… good luck everyone. Bring disposable blankets, trust me.
thanks for contributing to litter in the roadway
Joe, It’s expected that runners discard outer layers in the roadway along with drink containers and snack wrappers. Runners don’t have a means to discard those items except to do this way. There are people who are assigned, paid or volunteers, to pick up the trash and clothing. It’s not littering when that’s what you’re supposed to do.
What’s the dif between a garbage bag or a sweatshirt in the road? Someone has to pick it up one way or another. At $90 a runner, Disney can afford to pay someone to drive around and pick up discarded trash bags. Think of it as job creation.
I ran the marathon in ‘98, what a wonderful race! It was cold that morning, but not as cold as they predict for this weekend.
Lots of runners use a garbage bag for warming up, but I like the idea of wearing layers of clothing. It’s great that the tossed clothing will be donated to the needy.
Bwa-ha-ha! Now the waddlers in purple shirts who have destroyed other marathons with their mass entries can now have their mettle tested with real marathon weather.
Al, the “purple shirts” are only a factor if you are a slowwwww runner, as most of them will finish in 4+ hours. If you dont like it then run faster. Bwa-ha-ha!
I can’t believe you are going to call people in purple shirts waddlers! They raised money for cancer research, and trained for the marathon! You don’t have to be the best runner to complete a marathon! I was one in a purple shirt, and finished under 4 hours! Thank you very much!
I’ll be wearing layers of shirts (short/long) and a throw away top and a pair of light running tights. 50’s in a t-shirt and tights will be just right for me.
Cut the ends off of long tube socks and use them for gloves. Pull them down over yor fingers and hold them in your palm When it gets too warm just roll up the socks.
Some tips for running in cold weather: http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.aspx?ID=291
I only run in the ultra super short marathons, which are just over 500 yards. In cold weather I put on up to 30 layers of socks.