Half Marathon Runners' Retreat     

The Runners' Retreat package has sold out for the Marathon and only a few spaces remain for the Half Marathon.

 

View more information and sign up today!

The 2008 WALT DISNEY WORLD® Marathon Weekend is proud to offer a special Pasta Dinner for runners, friends, and family prior to the half marathon and marathon at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex during Disney's Health & Fitness Expo.  A limited number of seats are available and will be sold on a first come first served basis.

 

For more information, visit: Pasta Dinner Package

 

Champion®   understands the long hours, dedication, and demands of training and would like to offer you an opportunity to show your heartfelt appreciation to someone who’s supported you along the way.  In celebration of running and finishing the race, Champion® will offer a Commemorative Support Medal that reads “You’re my Champion”.  To receive your medal, visit the Family Reunion Area presented by Champion® after the race.

Medals are limited supply, while supplies last, one medal per finishing racer.  Show your Finisher Medal at the Champion® booth in the Family Reunion Area to receive your Commemorative Support Medal.

To find out more about Champion®, visit: championcatalog.com

Clif Bar Pace Team                                                                                                                 The Clif Bar Pace Team is excited to be the "Official" Pace Team of the Walt Disney World® Marathon! This group of runners truly enjoy helping runners of all abilities achieve their Marathon goals, and are looking forward to meeting and running with you at the 2008 Walt Disney World® Marathon! If you want to run with a pace leader who knows how to keep even splits, get you to the finish within two minutes UNDER the Clif Bar Pace Team time, and enjoy the camaraderie of a group working together towards a common goal, the Clif Bar Pace Team is for you! Groups being offered in the following official finish times: 3:10,3:20, 3:30, 3:40, 3:50, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 5:00, and 5:30. As always, participation is FREE, and registration is open to ALL runners of the Walt Disney World® Marathon.

Register at: http://www.clifbar.com/paceteam

Marathon Training Tips From the Clif Bar Pace Team!                                                            Certain aspects of training can help runners of all ability, and this includes incorporating pacing into your preparations. Here are some tips for using running on pace as part of your marathon training:

• Weekly long runs – your long training run pace should be about 1:30 to 2 minutes slower than your marathon goal pace. If you are training to run a 4:00 marathon, for instance, the race pace is 9:10 per mile, so try to do your long runs at a steady pace between 10:40 and 11:10 per mile. Start at the slower end of this range, and work up to finishing more quickly.
• Marathon pace runs – Each week, try to do some running at your goal marathon pace, if not a little faster. Do a 2 mile warm-up, then try to run for 3 miles at your goal pace, followed by a 2-mile cool-down. Each week add a mile until you reach 6 miles at race pace, then alternate adding a mile with going back to 6 miles each week (7 miles, back to 6 miles the next week, 8 miles, back to 6, etc.) until you build up to 10-12 miles at race pace.
• Marathon pace in shorter races – Find a 5-mile, 10K or half-marathon and run it at your marathon pace. DO NOT RACE! This will help you get a feel for the pace in a race situation but won’t leave you too tired for your training,
• Marathon pace in longer runs – During your final long runs (September, October) throw in 3 miles at marathon pace at the end of the run. This will give you an idea of what marathon pace feels like when you are tired (and help you understand that the pace team leaders on race day really aren’t speeding up at the end of the marathon, it only feels that way!).Drinking while running on pace – One of the places that many runners falter from keeping their pace is at the water stops. Carry fluids in a Fuel Belt or bottle, or place a bottle within easy reach on your training route, and try to drink without stopping. Slowing is fine – you want to get the fluids in! – but you won’t lose much time and will learn how to better stick with your pace group come race day.
• Practice eating during your runs – Energy depletion is a challenge for marathoners, but many times we don’t want to eat for fear of getting a cramp or otherwise losing time fidgeting with a gel pack, energy bar or plastic bag full of candy or other food items. Since you never want to try anything new during a race anyway, practice makes perfect when it comes to eating on the run.

 For more information about Clif Bar, visit: clifbar.com